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

Chapter 376 The Hongzhi Emperor's Taunting

After the Lantern Festival, Chen Ce went to the Sijing Bureau on the 20th day of the first lunar month.

Zhao Zhongping and Han Douyin were drinking tea in the Finance Bureau in the sun as usual. When they saw Chen Ce coming, they diligently poured tea and water for Chen Ce.

Chen Ce originally planned to report for work and leave. Since the end of the year, he has not come to the Economic Bureau to work very often. He always felt that it was not appropriate and he still had to go through the formalities.

However, Zhu Houzhao excitedly came to the Sijing Bureau to find Chen Ce, and then took Chen Ce to the back garden of the East Palace to appreciate the flowers.

"Little brother."

Zhu Houzhao was sitting in the pavilion of the East Palace, admiring the flowers and drinking tea. He asked Chen Ce casually, "Little brother, why do I find that my father is getting more and more worried recently?"

"It's just that Annan has transferred troops to the Siamese border. What's the big deal?"

"Let these foreign nations fight each other. Don't you think Father is worrying too much?"

It was obvious that he didn't know what Annan's troop movement meant.

Chen Ce patiently explained to Zhu Houzhao: "The Ming Dynasty is the suzerain state of Siam. Siam and the Ming Dynasty often have tributary relations. Siam is our most friendly foreign country outside of the Southwest Metropolitan Command."

"During the Xuande period, the Ming Dynasty gave up its control over Jiaozhi, and Annan declared independence."

"Annan is now moving troops toward the border. This is an attempt to plunder Siamese land. This is undoubtedly testing the bottom line of the Ming Dynasty to see if the Ming Dynasty will send troops over."

Zhu Houzhao finally understood what was going on and slammed the table, shouting, "This is simply not taking our Ming Dynasty seriously at all!"

"Knowing that Siam is under our protection, they still dare to invade Siam? I think they are really bold!"

Chen Ce said to Zhu Houzhao: "Do you remember the diplomatic letter that Ming sent to Wadao before? The envoys of Ming's Ministry of Rites are still trapped in Wadao, and Ming has not taken any action. Such actions are seen as a sign of Ming's weakness in the eyes of foreign countries."

"It has been a hundred years since the Hongwu and Yongle Ming dynasties demonstrated their military power in the southwest. They did not know the strength of the Ming Dynasty. So after seeing that the Ming Dynasty was helpless against the Japanese, Annan had the courage to test the bottom line of the Ming Dynasty. That's why they deployed troops on the border of Siam."

Zhu Houzhao snorted and said, "Annan is too arrogant! In my opinion, we should send a large number of troops to the border and beat them up severely to let them know the thunderous power of the Ming Dynasty!"

Chen Ce shook his head and said to Zhu Houzhao, "Now is not the right time. The issue on the Japanese island has not been resolved yet. The Ming Dynasty has no time to send troops to open up a second battlefield."

Zhu Houzhao asked in return: "If Siam is really invaded at this time, can the Ming Dynasty just sit back and do nothing?"

Chen Ce pondered for a moment and said to Zhu Houzhao: "It is not too difficult to solve this problem. The Ming Dynasty can transfer the troops of the Mu Palace in Yunnan to the Annan border and conduct a military exercise on the Annan border."

"What is a military exercise?"

Chen Ce explained: "We will train troops around them to let them know how powerful the Ming soldiers are. If they dare to invade Siam, the soldiers in the Mu Palace can turn the drills into actual combat at any time, so that we can contain Annan without sending troops."

Zhu Houzhao's face lit up with joy, and he said, "Yes!"

The emperor should have come to ask my little brother a long time ago. Why do you have to be so worried in the palace? Can't this matter be solved so easily?
Just then, a cold snort sounded.

But Yang Tinghe came over and said coldly: "Master Chen is simply talking nonsense!"

"When Emperor Taizu founded the country, he stipulated that there were no countries that would be conquered, and Annan was one of them. If you send troops to the border of Annan now, wouldn't that put the emperor in a position of disloyalty and injustice?"

"Master Chen, what you said is extremely treasonous!"

Chen Ce: “…”

He thought for a moment and said to Yang Tinghe, "It is better to have no books than to believe in them blindly. This principle also applies to governing a country." "If we blindly stick to the rules and regulations and follow the laws of our ancestors in everything, the country will sooner or later perish."

"How dare you!" Yang Tinghe shouted, pointing at Chen Ce: "Master Chen, please stop being so rude!"

Chen Ce asked in return: "If Annan really wants to attack Siam, will we just sit back and do nothing?"

Yang Tinghe said: "We can accuse Annan from a moral perspective and exert pressure. We can condemn them through diplomatic means to achieve the goal of Annan withdrawing its troops."

Chen Ce raised the corner of his mouth, smiled imperceptibly, and said, "Oh."

You've really damaged your brain from reading so much.

At this time, Yang Tinghe had not experienced too many political struggles and was still in fantasy, taking the Confucian saints' way of governing the country as his guiding principle. But after he came to power, he realized that benevolence, righteousness, and morality would not work in politics, because not everyone is a saint and knows propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame.

If this were true, there would be no disputes among any country.

Seeing Chen Ce's mocking smile, Yang Tinghe was furious. He clenched his fists in his sleeves and said to Zhu Houzhao, "Your Highness, it's time for you to go to class."

……

Qianqing Palace.

Emperor Hongzhi was worried. Annan and Korea were now provoking and testing the bottom line of the Ming Dynasty step by step. If he did not express his opinion, the dignity of the Ming Dynasty as the suzerain state would be lost. However, Emperor Hongzhi was unable to open up a second battlefield no matter what.

He was unwilling to fight a war and preferred to intimidate Annan and North Korea through gentle means.

But he thought about it for a long time and still couldn't figure it out.

Just when Emperor Hongzhi was worried, Yang Tinghe hurriedly found Emperor Hongzhi, clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, I beg you to dismiss Chen Ce, the proofreader of the Sijing Bureau."

Emperor Hongzhi rubbed his forehead with a hint of displeasure on his face. Last time he had clearly given Yang Tinghe a hint to stop bothering Chen Ce, so why was he doing this again now?
Emperor Hongzhi patiently asked, "Why?"

Yang Tinghe said, "Today, I overheard the conversation between the Crown Prince and Chen Ce in the East Palace."

"That Chen Ce even brazenly told the Crown Prince to ask the Ming Dynasty to transfer soldiers from Prince Mu's Palace to the Annan border for military exercises."

Emperor Hongzhi asked suspiciously, "What do you mean? What is a military exercise?"

Yang Tinghe explained Chen Ce's meaning.

Emperor Hongzhi's eyes suddenly widened, and then he suddenly understood, and his sad face gradually began to smile.

Yes!

We don't have to attack Annan. We can just send an army to Annan to demonstrate the strength of our Ming army. Then they will surely be afraid of the Ming's military force and will not dare to invade Siam rashly under pressure. In this way, the crisis in Siam can be resolved and the Ming's dignity as the suzerain state will not be lost.

I should have asked Chen Ce for his opinion earlier!

Seeing that Emperor Hongzhi not only did not condemn Chen Ce with him, but seemed very excited, Yang Tinghe could not help but remind him: "Your Majesty, Annan is a country designated by Emperor Taizu as a country not to be conquered. This is absolutely not allowed!"

Emperor Hongzhi's face gradually darkened. He stared at Yang Tinghe and said indifferently, "Sir Yang, wait until you become the Minister of War before discussing state affairs."

Yang Tinghe's face froze slightly when he heard the extremely sarcastic words of Emperor Hongzhi.

(End of this chapter)