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

Chapter 374: Ming Dynasty Besieged on All Sides

State affairs cannot be hidden. Although there was a time lag in information in ancient times, major events occurring in various countries, especially diplomatic events, would quickly reach the ears of neighboring countries.

Since the beginning of spring in the 14th year of Hongzhi, the Kingdom of Annan in the southwestern part of the country has been constantly testing the bottom line of the Ming Dynasty and has continued to increase its troops towards the Siamese border.

After Emperor Xuande of the Ming Dynasty issued a policy of "abandoning Jiaozhi", the Ming Dynasty lost actual control over Annan for a long time.

The negative impact of abandoning Jiaozhi was long-term and fatal. This incident dealt a heavy blow to the Ming Dynasty's international reputation in the Western region and shook the Ming Dynasty's status as a suzerain state. Losing Annan meant losing the West, which was probably something that Emperor Xuande Zhu Zhanji did not expect. From then on, Annan continued to harass the border and invade the land.

Siam had very friendly relations with the Ming Dynasty, and Siam was also a loyal brother of the Ming Dynasty. Annan's increase of troops on the Siamese border was a test of the Ming Dynasty's reaction.

All of this is closely related to the Ming Dynasty's loss of international prestige in the southeast. A tiny island country dared to defy the great Ming Dynasty and ignored its diplomatic threats. Naturally, the prestige of the Ming Dynasty in the eyes of some small countries in the southwest was greatly reduced, and it was no longer as powerful as it was during the Hongwu and Yongle periods.

The diplomatic failure in the southeast must have had a huge impact on the Ming government, not only because Annan was testing the bottom line of the Ming Dynasty.

North Korea has now begun to secretly resume private trade with the Jurchens of Liaodong.

Previously, the Ming Dynasty, as the suzerain heavenly kingdom, strictly prohibited trade between the Jurchens and Korea. Korea was obviously learning from Annan to test the bottom line of the Ming Dynasty.

International news was constantly sent to the Ministry of Rites, which then informed Emperor Hongzhi, who was furious.

He urged the Ministry of Works to manufacture the warships as soon as possible. If the Ming Dynasty's military power was not demonstrated in front of the Wa Island, the surrounding countries would only become more unscrupulous.

……

Chen Ce naturally knew about these international events. It was not the Neichang and Liu Hong's spies who told Chen Ce. They did not have such a wide range of informants to gather international news, and they would not risk going to the imperial court to eavesdrop on secrets.

Wei Wenli secretly told Chen Ce all this information.

There is no trivial matter in national diplomacy, and any insignificant incident will trigger a series of chain reactions.

In fact, even if the Jinyiwei did not tell Chen Ce about this news, Chen Ce could predict the current outcome. The more provocative the Japanese pirates were in the southeast, the greater their impact on the entire Ming Dynasty, and it would definitely trigger a critical point in the end.

When diplomacy cannot resolve a conflict, the only backing can only be a country’s strong military force!

During this period, Chen Ce would occasionally go to the Finance Bureau to work, but only occasionally. Every time he went to the Finance Bureau, he would hand Xiaohua to Madam Wu and ask Madam Wu to take her to the express delivery department to play.

On the 14th day of the first lunar month in the 14th year of the Hongzhi reign, Zhou Nan visited Chen Ce, and the Zhou family invited Chen Ce to visit the imperial palace with the Zhou family the next day during the Lantern Festival.

Chen Ce knew that this might not be the intention of the Earl of Changning, but most likely the intention of the Empress Dowager Zhou, who had served in four dynasties in the imperial palace.

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Chen Ce entered the Renshou Palace with the Earl of Changning and the sixth son of the Zhou family.

Queen Mother Zhou had a kind and benevolent expression. After lunch on the Lantern Festival, Queen Mother Zhou presented Chen Ce with a jade pendant and said to him with a smile, "Mr. Qian, you are as gentle as jade."

"Boy Chen, this jade pendant suits you very well."

Chen Ce hurriedly bowed and expressed his gratitude.

Queen Mother Zhou supported Chen Ce and said earnestly, "I heard what Zhou Yu said. Chun Jian, if you encounter any problems in the future, although I am old, I can still stand up for you."

This is the Zhou family's thanks to Chen Ce. If it were anyone else, after receiving the endorsement of the Empress Dowager, they would probably burst into tears of gratitude, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that their ancestors' graves are smoking.

After all, in the entire Ming Dynasty, as long as the old empress dowager was still alive, even Emperor Hongzhi had to treat her with respect. But Chen Ce was not as grateful as he had imagined, and remained calm, but he still had to follow the proper etiquette. He cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, old empress dowager, I am very grateful."

Naturally, Chen Ce did not stay in Renshou Palace for too long. In the evening, the Empress Dowager had to celebrate the Lantern Festival with Emperor Hongzhi and his family, so Chen Ce left tactfully.

Looking at Chen Ce's departing back, the old queen narrowed her eyes, which showed her everything, and said to Zhou Yu earnestly, "Brother! Be nicer to this boy in the future."

Zhou Yu smiled and said, "I know everything."

Queen Mother Zhou shook her head and said, "No, you don't know. I asked you to treat him better not because our Zhou family is superior to him, but because I want to rely on him from the bottom of my heart."

"what?"

Zhou Yu was shocked. He knew that Chen Ce had helped the Zhou family in two great ways, but to say that the Zhou family relied on Chen Ce, wouldn't that be going against Tian Gang?
Queen Mother Zhou murmured, "Look at his reaction. I gave him such a great gift and gave him some advice. If it were an ordinary person, he would have knelt down and kowtowed in gratitude by now."

"But what about him? Although he showed respect and gratitude on his face, he actually didn't feel much inside."

"Either he has no desires or he... doesn't like me!"

After hearing this, Zhou Yu was even more shocked. How bold must he be to look down on the Empress Dowager?

Empress Dowager Zhou smiled and shook her head, saying, "That's normal, because the Ming Dynasty belongs to the Zhu family and the emperor. No matter how powerful I am, can I be more powerful than the emperor?"

"What if he has a close relationship with the emperor? Why didn't the Five Military Commands and the Ministry of War get any advance information about the examination? Why was he able to give you some advance warning?"

Zhou Yu took a moment to react, and finally couldn't help but gasp, exclaiming: "Sister, what you mean is... the emperor informed Chen Ce alone of such an important matter, but notified the Five Military Commandery and the Ministry of War at the last minute?"

Queen Mother Zhou hummed in confusion, then sighed and said, "How long can I live? What will you do after I die? A new emperor chooses new ministers. How can a family prosper forever? The thousand-year-old families of the Tang Dynasty were able to continue because they knew how to invest."

"Perhaps the one you will have to rely on in the future is not me, but him!"

Of course, Queen Mother Zhou and Zhou Yu were unaware that Chen Ce was seriously ill.

……

On his way out of the palace, Chen Ce happened to meet the Zhang brothers who were entering the palace.

Zhang Heling looked at Chen Ce in confusion and asked, "Where did you come from?"

Chen Ce was silent for a moment, then said, "From the sky."

Then he walked away with his hands behind his back.

Zhang Heling: “?”

Good! Chen Ce, you bastard, how dare you tease me?
Zhang Yanling said calmly, "Brother, why are you asking when it's so obvious? Look at the direction, it's clearly coming from Old Lady Zhou's side."

Zhang Heling seemed to be thinking about something, then he slapped his thigh and said, "Great! This Chen Ce has taken refuge with Old Lady Zhou! No wonder he wants to help the Zhou family!"

"Go and complain to my sister!"

(End of this chapter)