Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 345 Adding fuel to the flames
The news of the court opening the sea soon reached the ears of merchants in the southeast and the Fu family.

Fu Han already has a vested interest in the southeastern officialdom, and it is impossible that the southeastern officialdom does not have people in the court. With such a large smuggling interest chain, the southeastern officialdom would not have the courage to do so without giving benefits to the higher-ups.

Hangzhou, Fu Mansion.

In early September, autumn rain began to fall in Hangzhou, adding a bit of melancholy to the graceful Jiangnan region, just like Fu Han's complexion.

"Yuan'er."

"The Minister of Revenue proposed lifting the ban on sea trade in the court a few days ago. What do you think?"

Fu Yuan didn't care at all. He said to Fu Han calmly, "Dad, what are you worried about? Even if the Minister of Finance proposes to open the sea, there are so many officials in the court who have inextricable ties with the southeast. Will they allow it?"

"Besides, the laws passed down by our ancestors are there. Even the emperor doesn't have the means to open the sea. You should be at ease."

Fu Han pondered for a moment and said, "The Minister of Revenue is not a fool. Why did he bring up the issue of opening the sea for no reason? Doesn't he know the difficulties involved?"

"I always felt like something was wrong."

Fu Yuan said calmly, "When the enemy comes, we will stop him. When the water comes, we will block it with earth. Our interest chain in the southeast has been laid out. Didn't Hong Zhong come to the southeast? What did he find out? Even if he knows that merchants in the southeast are smuggling, can he find out who it is? Even if the Procuratorate wants to arrest them, they can only catch small fish and shrimps."

Fu Han nodded slightly and stopped worrying about it. After he left, Fu Yuan's expression became a little solemn.

He really didn't care about those people in the court. The only thing he was worried about now was that monster Chen Ce.

He always felt that Chen Ce was planning something for the southeast, and he seemed to be his chess piece, but so far he still didn't know what Chen Ce was going to do, and this was what worried him most.

……

Zhu Houzhao did not attend classes in the East Palace today. Instead, he came to Huaihua Hutong to find Chen Ce as usual. However, the autumn rain was still falling, so the two could only sit in the central hall to drink tea and chat.

"It seems that Minister Qin proposed to lift the maritime ban in the court a few days ago." Zhu Houzhao told Chen Ce about the recent court affairs. "Also, the elder brother of the Kong family killed Duke Yansheng."

Chen Ce said, "I know everything."

Zhu Houzhao asked Chen Ce, "Little brother, do you think the court should open the sea?"

Chen Ce said: "I was the one who proposed opening the sea."

"what?"

Chen Ce smiled and said, "If the court opens the sea, it can grab huge overseas profits. Opening the sea will naturally have great benefits."

Zhu Houzhao sighed and said, "But the officials in the court used the ancestral precepts of Emperor Taizu to resist. Even the emperor couldn't go against the ancestral precepts."

Chen Ce shook his head and said, "The ancestral rules are not difficult to break."

Zhu Houzhao: "..."

My dear friend, you are bragging. I admit that your wisdom is comparable to mine, but this is a bit too arrogant.

The laws established by ancestors have always been the guillotine hanging over the emperor's head, and the only magic weapon for officials to control the emperor. If the emperor dares to go against the ancestral system, he would be unfilial. The emperor dare not wear this big hat!
Zhu Houzhao smiled and said, "Oh? Then I want to hear your opinion, little brother. The ancestral system is not difficult to break. Why is it not difficult to break it?"

Chen Ce asked Zhu Houzhao, "Which ancestral precept says that the Ming Dynasty cannot open the sea?"

Zhu Houzhao: "..."

Oh my god, are you so outrageous? You don’t even know what the ancestral precepts are, yet you dare say that the ancestral system is not difficult to break?
Zhu Houzhao said speechlessly, "It is said in the Imperial Ming Dynasty's ancestral precepts that 'not a single piece of wood can be put into the sea'." Chen Ce said puzzledly, "But I checked the historical materials of the Imperial Ming Dynasty's ancestral precepts, and there is no record of these six words?"

Zhu Houzhao asked, "Really? Have you read the Imperial Ming Ancestor's Instructions?"

Chen Ce shook his head and said, "No, I was just kidding."

Zhu Houzhao: "..."

Chen Ce said: "Look, you actually don't know, so you can't debate with me because you can't refute me."

Zhu Houzhao thought for a moment and said, "I can go into the palace to look at the historical materials."

"Just wait, I'll challenge you to another debate tomorrow. This time I'll make sure you admit defeat!"

It seems that he has never defeated the younger brother in any debate. I'm afraid that the younger brother will be defeated by him this time. Zhu Houzhao is a little excited when thinking about it!
In the Ming Dynasty, it is not easy to defeat your younger brother!

Chen Ce smiled and said, "Okay."

"Oh, lend me a copy when you have time."

Zhu Houzhao nodded and said, "No problem!"

In fact, Chen Ce didn't need to read it again. He had already harvested historical materials of the Ming Dynasty's ancestral teachings in the vegetable garden in the courtyard and had already memorized them.

That night, Liu Jin gave all the rubbings of the Ming Dynasty's Ancestor's Instructions and the Taizu Shilu to Chen Ce.

The next morning, Zhu Houzhao confidently went to Huaihua Hutong again to find Chen Ce and continue the debate that he had not completed last night.

"Little brother, I looked up the records and ancestral teachings, and there is indeed no such thing as 'not a single piece of wood can enter the sea.'"

Zhu Houzhao changed the subject and said confidently, "However, in the fourth year of Hongwu, Taizu issued an order that 'coastal residents are not allowed to go out to sea privately'. Isn't this the ancestral precept of not allowing the opening of the sea?"

Chen Ce said, "Let's just count it for now, but in the fourteenth year, another decree was issued, prohibiting coastal residents from secretly communicating with overseas countries."

Zhu Houzhao thought for a moment and said, "Isn't this still a ban? The seafarers are still not allowed to go out to sea?"

Chen Ce said: "Compare it with the fourth year of Hongwu, have you seen the policy begin to relax?"

"In the fourth year of Hongwu, sea dwellers were not allowed to go out to sea without permission, and in the fourteenth year, sea dwellers were not allowed to have private contact with foreign countries."

Zhu Houzhao was stunned for a moment, and after thinking about it carefully, it seemed to be true. Compared with the fourth year of Hongwu, Taizu's policies in the fourteenth year of Hongwu had indeed begun to relax.

Chen Ce said to Zhu Houzhao, "Have you found any patterns in comparing the overseas policies of the past few years since you took office?"

Zhu Houzhao carefully looked through the historical materials. After waiting for a moment, he could not help but gasp. He looked at Chen Ce in astonishment and said, "It seems that the policy is gradually being relaxed!"

Chen Ce said, "Yes, if the ancestral precepts really were 'no piece of wood allowed to enter the sea', why did the policy gradually relax later on? This shows that Emperor Taizu also saw the benefits of the sea and did not blindly guard the sea. The gradual relaxation of policies is enough to show Emperor Taizu's attitude towards opening the sea."

"So the ancient rule that 'no piece of wood can enter the sea' is actually untenable."

Listening to Chen Ce's words, Zhu Houzhao's eyes gradually brightened. If this was the case, then wouldn't this prince be able to debate with all the ministers and pretend to be... a god in the Golden Palace?

Thinking of the admiring and astonished eyes of his father and the ministers, Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but tremble slightly!
Just thinking about it makes me feel so majestic!

Chen Ce looked at Zhu Houzhao with a slight smile on his face. He had achieved his goal!
(End of this chapter)