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

Chapter 346: Back off, I want to show off
On September 14th, the weather is getting cooler.

In the central hall of the Qin Mansion, white steam was rising from the tea. Chen Ce was sitting on the armchair, sipping a cup of tea.

Qin Hong was a little confused. He had proposed opening the sea at the grand court meeting half a month ago, but because there were too many people opposing it, the matter ended up being left unresolved.

Now Chen Ce asked me to take the initiative to write a letter to open the maritime affairs tomorrow. Isn't this a redundant move?

Qin Hong didn't understand why Chen Ce insisted, so he said to Chen Ce: "Chun Jian, I know your sincere heart. I have checked the historical data recently. As you said, the value of Ming Dynasty porcelain and silk sold to Korea and the Western Regions can certainly double."

"From the founding of the country during the Hongwu reign to the present day, we have also made huge profits from the tribute trade."

"If the sea is opened, it will certainly enrich the national treasury, but the ancestral law is difficult to break. During the New Year's Day, I just mentioned it, and many colleagues refuted it."

"Even if I bring up the matter of opening the sea again tomorrow, the sea still won't be opened. Why do you still insist?"

Chen Ce put down the teacup and asked Qin Hong, "Sir, let's not consider other obstacles for the time being. If we put aside all obstacles and just consider whether opening the sea can bring benefits to the country, do you think it is appropriate to open the sea or not?"

Qin Hong thought for a moment and said firmly: "Yes!"

Chen Ce said: "That's fine, let's give it a try. If it doesn't work, forget it. At least I can have a clear conscience."

Qin Hong sighed deeply, looked at Chen Ce and said, "Chun Jian, sometimes governing a country doesn't necessarily need to be done so quickly. It's just like building a house. If the foundation is not solid, even if a tall building is built, it will still collapse when a strong wind blows."

"I know you're not feeling well and I'm worried, but some things can't be rushed."

Chen Ce nodded and said, "I understand, so I will plant the seeds first. After I am gone, maybe there will be descendants who can irrigate and germinate them."

Qin Hong stared at Chen Ce in amazement. What reason did he have to reject Chen Ce at this moment? He nodded and said, "Okay, I will mention the matter of opening the sea again at the grand court meeting tomorrow."

Chen Ce bowed and said, "Thank you, Minister Qin."

……

Liu Jian was sitting in a sedan chair on his way to the Forbidden City. He casually opened the curtain along the way and glanced at a young man leaving in front of the Qin Mansion, but he didn't take it to heart.

Lord Liu was a little confused. His mind was now filled with thoughts on why Emperor Hongzhi would go to meet Chen Ce in private.

"Let's go to Huaihua Hutong first."

Liu Jian instructed the sedan bearers, and when the sedan arrived at Huaihua Hutong, he happened to see the young man who had left Qin's mansion not long ago, dragging his long gown into the alley.

"It's him?"

Is he Chen Ce?
Liu Jian narrowed his eyes, and was even more shocked. It seemed that this guy was not only familiar with His Majesty, but also had a close relationship with the Minister of Revenue.

Considering the series of things the Ministry of Revenue had done before, Liu Jian couldn't help but suspect that many of the Ministry of Revenue's financial reforms were closely related to this kid.

Especially, we heard from the Zhang brothers that it was Chen Ce who promoted the school run by the Zhou family.

The construction of the school also followed the development of business and the demand for professional talents.

When a series of events came together, Lord Liu couldn't help but gasp.

As Lord Liu's sedan chair gradually went away, he could not help but lift the curtain to look back. When he saw the Crown Prince also entered Huaihua Hutong, the expression on Liu Jian's old face became even more distorted.

Why, the prince went there too?

He was already a little confused. He always felt that there was an invisible hand controlling the changes in Daming. Liu Jian had seen all the recent changes in Daming. If all this was done by that young man...

There is also the change in the Crown Prince. The previously naughty prince has gradually become more and more impressive during this period. Before, they initially suspected that it was Yang Tinghe's good teaching, then it was Jiao Fang, and finally they had to suspect that it was the emperor himself who was teaching the prince and paving the way for him.

But what if none of the above is true, and the one who really taught the prince was the kid from Huaihua Hutong?

Just thinking about it, Lord Liu couldn't help but gasp!

……

On September 15th, I hope to see the sun and attend the imperial meeting.

Today, as the grand court meeting was about to end, the Minister of Finance Qin Hong once again raised the issue of opening the sea.

Liu Jian stared at Qin Hong with complicated eyes. Chen Ce had just met Qin Hong yesterday, and today he once again proposed to open the sea. Liu Jian had to think about Chen Ce.

Qin Hong is the Minister of Revenue. He knows that the possibility of opening the sea is very slim, so why does he bring up this issue today?
Or after meeting Chen Ce yesterday?
Unless the issue of opening the sea was not proposed by the Minister of Revenue, but by Chen Ce!

Oh my god, a little-known businessman in the folk is controlling the situation in the court? How could this not surprise Liu Ge Lao!

At the grand court meeting, the opposition voices of the censors were still loud and clear, especially those headed by the Right Censor-in-Chief Liu Daxia.

Liu Daxia was reinstated as the Right Censor-in-Chief this year. He stepped out of the line and refuted Qin Hong, saying, "Minister Qin clearly knows the ancestral precept that 'not a single piece of wood can be put into the sea', but he has repeatedly begged for the sea to be opened. I wonder what his purpose is?"

Qin Hong was speechless, but at this moment, a slightly childish voice came from outside the hall.

Zhu Houzhao strode into the hall arrogantly, and the eunuchs behind him hurriedly followed Zhu Houzhao and tried to dissuade him from entering the hall.

After all, the court is holding a grand court meeting, and it is against the rules for you, the Crown Prince, to come in at this time.

But Zhu Houzhao didn't care about that. He kicked the eunuch and said angrily: "I am the crown prince! Why can't I participate in state affairs?"

The eunuch was sweating profusely and tried to stop him. Emperor Hongzhi waved his hand helplessly and said, "Let the prince come in and listen to the government."

Zhu Houzhao walked in with a smile, looked up at Liu Daxia, and asked, "Which ancestral precept of our Ming Dynasty says 'not a single piece of wood can go into the sea'?"

Get out of the way! I'm going to start showing off!

Qin Hong was stunned for a moment. When he saw Zhu Houzhao appear in the hall, Qin Hong suddenly thought, is the crown prince the sword in Chen Ce's hand? !
But even if the crown prince came forward, what could he do? Not to mention the crown prince, even the emperor could not do anything about the ancestral precepts.

Qin Hong shook his head slightly.

Liu Daxia bowed to Zhu Houzhao and then said calmly: "To answer your Highness, the Veritable Records and the Ancestor's Instructions both record that in the fourth year of Hongwu, the Ming Dynasty and Japan fell out, and Taizu then made a rule that 'coastal residents are not allowed to go out to sea privately'."

Zhu Houzhao said, "Oh, what are you talking about? Is this a sea ban? Grandfather Taizu only made it forbidden to go to sea privately, but didn't the eunuch Sanbao go to the West later?"

When Liu Daxia heard that eunuch Sanbao was sailing to the West, he was slightly stunned.

Soon Liu Daxia said, "Since it is forbidden to go to sea privately, it also shows Taizu's policy and strategy on the sea ban. Eunuch Sanbao's voyage to the West is a manifestation of Taizong's display of national power. It does not mean that the sea ban can be lifted. People living near the sea are still not allowed to go to sea."

"Your Highness, please understand!"

Qin Hong sighed inwardly. Liu Daxia was the Chief Censor and was best at quoting classics. It was almost impossible for the prince to win the debate against Liu Daxia.

(End of this chapter)