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

Chapter 378: Treason

On the second day of the second month, the dragon raises its head and the weather is no longer as chilly as in early spring.

Chen Ce was sitting in the study wearing a long gown. Xiaohua brought some medicine to Chen Ce and blew the hot steam on the medicine soup carefully.

Seeing the little guy's serious look, Chen Ce felt a little uncomfortable.

The little girl was also a miserable person. Chen Ce rubbed her head, drank the medicine soup, and said to Xiaohua: "Go play, don't go too far, just play in the alley."

It is still unknown who the eunuch who imprisoned Xiaohua was, and he did not dare to let Xiaohua run too far alone.

Although Liu Hong and Li Zhen both went to check, there is still no news.

There is still a lot of filth and darkness under the revived empire!

Zhu Houzhao angrily strode to Chen Ce's yard with Liu Jin, "This is too much, this is too much!"

Zhu Houzhao cursed and said to Chen Ce: "Little brother, you don't know how shameless North Korea is!"

Chen Ce sat at the tea table in the middle hall and drank honey water. The medicine soup was too bitter, so he could only use honey water to relieve the bitterness. He asked Zhu Houzhao curiously, "What's wrong?"

Zhu Houzhao snorted, "The Ministry of Rites has sent another letter to Korea, reprimanding Korea for its unjust private trade with the Liaodong Jurchens, and once again requesting the King of Korea to stop private trade with the Liaodong Jurchens."

"The King of Korea agreed."

Chen Ce was stunned for a moment. How could Li Long agree to this? Wasn't he very tough before?

Zhu Houzhao had more to say. He angrily said, "But the condition is that the Ming Dynasty releases the Joseon official Ren Shihong and allows him to return to his country."

Ren Shihong caused the Bomu Rebellion during the reign of the previous Joseon Emperor Seongjong. He was demoted for his crimes and later fled to Liaodong. After communication between Emperor Seongjong of Joseon and the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty cooperated with the Joseon side and imprisoned Ren Shihong in Liaodong Military Region.

After the death of King Seongjong of Joseon, the current King of Joseon, Lee Long, ascended the throne. After Lee Long ascended the throne, his power had been checked by the prime minister and the censors. He needed a relative to help him consolidate his power. Ren Shihong was undoubtedly the best choice.

From Zhu Houzhao's perspective, the small country of Korea negotiating terms with the Ming Dynasty was in itself a provocation to the Ming Dynasty.

Just ask yourself, in the past, would North Korea dare to fart in the face of the mighty power of the Ming Dynasty?
Not only is the Ming Dynasty now being provoked by Japanese pirates in the southeast, but you, Korea, actually dare to negotiate terms with the Ming Dynasty?

This was a blatant provocation to the power of the Ming Dynasty. As the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Houzhao was furious when he heard that his country was being insulted and threatened in this way.

After hearing the whole story, Chen Ce asked Zhu Houzhao in astonishment, "Is Ren Shihong imprisoned in Liaodong, Ming Dynasty? Not in Korea?"

Zhu Houzhao nodded and said, "Yes, what's wrong?"

This is the key figure in the Jiazi disaster, and he knows a big secret of Li Long...

Chen Ce was thinking rapidly in his mind how to use Ren Shihong to stir up the Jiazi War in Korea, so as to achieve the goal of defeating the enemy without fighting!

"What is the court's attitude?"

Zhu Houzhao said: "My father will not give in. If it were a normal time, if they had legitimate reasons to make this request to the Ming Dynasty, my father might consider it. Now he is using conditions to threaten the Ming Dynasty to release the people. He is just dreaming!"

The court's reaction was within Chen Ce's expectations. Just as Zhu Houzhao said, if the relationship between Ming and Korea was eased, and Korea sent envoys to talk to Ming with emotion and reason, Ming might consider it.

But now you are threatening the Ming Dynasty to let Shi Hong go by cutting off private trade with the Jurchens in Liaodong, which is somewhat disrespectful to the Ming Dynasty.

Anyone in the court who agrees to this condition will probably be scolded. The Ming Dynasty is not the Song Dynasty and cannot do such a weak thing!

But Chen Ce's focus was not here. He stood up in a hurry and said to Zhu Houzhao, "Let's go to the palace."

"Take me to see your father."

Zhu Houzhao scratched his head and asked Chen Ce, "What are you doing?" "My father has already sent an edict to Korea, and the envoy is on the way."

"What to do?" Chen Ce asked.

Zhu Houzhao said as a matter of course: "Of course it is to let the Ministry of Rites criticize North Korea's unreasonable ideas!"

"Oh, the one who delivered the decree was your former father-in-law, Ning Cheng, the Right Doctor of the Ministry of Rites, Ning Junrui."

Chen Ce: “…”

You are such a jerk, you are bringing up all sorts of issues, what ex-father-in-law...

Chen Ce pondered for a moment. He knew it was too late to persuade Emperor Hongzhi now. Once the words were spoken, it would be hard to take them back. It would not be easy to get Emperor Hongzhi to withdraw his decree. Many procedures would be required. By that time, Lord Ning might have arrived in Korea.

Chen Ce stared at Zhu Houzhao and suddenly asked, "Find a way to write another imperial edict, stamp it with your father's imperial seal, and send it to Liaodong."

"Let the Liaodong Commandery release Ren Shihong back to Korea."

"Write another imperial edict to intercept Ning Cheng's envoy team."

Zhu Houzhao: "..."

My dear little brother, are you crazy? You are forging an imperial edict. One is not enough, why are you f**king sending two?

Of course, he was not afraid that his father would punish him. What was the point of doing this? Wouldn't this tell the outside world that the Ming Dynasty had given in to North Korea?
The prestige of the Ming Dynasty was already damaged. After what you have done, how can the Ming Dynasty still have any dignity?

Although Zhu Houzhao is sometimes heartless, he is not a fool. He admits that his younger brother is awesome, but isn't this a bit too much from any angle?

Chen Ce said to Zhu Houzhao: "There are some things I can't tell you in detail. Ren Shihong knows some secrets of King Yeonsangun."

"He was imprisoned in Joseon not because of Emperor Seongjong's intention, but because of the Joseon nobility."

"Because...Yeonsan-gun is not Queen Jeonghyeon's biological child. Ren Shihong knows that if he returns to Joseon, it will cause turmoil in Joseon. This is why King Seongjong of Joseon did not imprison Ren Shihong in Joseon but in Liaodong...Ahem, anyway, you listen to me...Ahem."

"I know this is crazy, but... ahem."

When Zhu Houzhao saw Chen Ce start to cough rapidly and his face became more and more red, he was frightened. He quickly patted Chen Ce on the back and said, "Okay, okay."

"Don't get excited, little brother. Don't get excited. Speak slowly."

Chen Ce said: "It's too late. We have to stop Ning Cheng before he goes to North Korea. Time is running out... ahem."

"Your Highness, please believe me, ahem."

Zhu Houzhao certainly believed Chen Ce, even though the crime of forging an imperial edict was a serious one, but he was the crown prince, so why would he be afraid of Mao?
"it is good!"

"I'm going back to the palace now. Don't get excited, little brother. Your health is more important than anything else. Can't I do it?"

"Liu Jin, let's go! Let's go back to the palace!"

"Little brother, I'm back at the palace. I'll ask Liu Jin to call Liu Wentai over. Stop talking and have a good rest."

Chen Ce nodded.

He has been thinking about how to deal with North Korea, and today he finally found an opportunity. There is no better way than to create civil unrest in North Korea. Only in this way can North Korea be completely disciplined!

(End of this chapter)