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

Chapter 380 The Zhang brothers show their might
on the official road.

The Zhang brothers rode their horses as fast as they could. According to what Liu Jin had told them, their first task was to intercept the envoys from the Ministry of Rites going to Korea in advance.

Ning Cheng's envoy team must have passed through Liaodong before going to Korea, so the route is the same.

After all, the envoy team going to Korea is relatively slow. As long as the Zhang brothers ride faster, they can still catch up with Ning Cheng's envoy team.

The emperor said that as long as these two tasks were completed, Zhang Yanling's title of marquis would be restored.

Zhang Yanling wished he could grow wings on his horse.

When they arrived at the post station and changed horses, Zhang Heling still felt something was wrong. He said to Zhang Yanling, "You said the emperor asked us to pass on the decree, why didn't he ask the eunuchs from the palace to come?"

"What's the matter with asking the East Palace to come and deliver the decree?"

"Hiss! Could this imperial edict be fake?"

Zhang Yanling laughed and said, "Brother, I always thought you were wiser than me. Why are you confused now? Is the imperial edict fake? Who dares to forge an imperial edict? Even our eldest nephew wouldn't dare to do such a thing, right?"

Zhang Heling hesitated for a moment and thought that might not be the case.

However, Zhang Yanling did not give Zhang Heling time to think further. He hurriedly said, "Brother, hurry up and get on the road, or you will miss the envoys' team."

Zhang Heling said helplessly: "Okay."

The two men mounted their horses and continued to charge forward with the soldiers of the Eastern Palace, finally catching up with Ning Cheng's envoy team on the third day.

At this time, the journey was already halfway through. Ning Cheng saw that the Zhang brothers blocked his way. He couldn't help feeling puzzled, so he ordered the envoy team to stop.

The Zhang brothers sat on horses, holding the imperial edict, and said to Ning Cheng: "Ning Cheng, the Right Doctor of the Ministry of Rites, received the order. It is urgent. I order you to return to the capital by the same route. This matter is of great importance and there is no delay!"

Ning Cheng was a little confused. When the Zhang brothers gave the imperial edict to Ning Cheng, Ning Cheng looked at the seal on the imperial edict with some suspicion. The imperial edict did not look fake. The emperor's seals were all there, but those of the Imperial Household Department and the Cabinet were missing. This was an imperial edict, which meant that the emperor was very urgent when he issued this imperial edict.

But despite this, Ning Cheng was still skeptical. Zhang Yanling pointed at Ning Cheng and said, "How dare you! Why don't you accept the order? Do you want to disobey the emperor's order?"

Ning Cheng was still a little hesitant at first, but when he saw the emperor's two brothers-in-law coming in person to convey the emperor's decree, Ning Cheng felt that there shouldn't be any big problems.

But he didn't know why the emperor had to call him back urgently.

"The minister obeys the order."

Ning Cheng took the imperial edict and had no choice but to lead the envoy team to Korea back to Peking.

The Zhang brothers continued to ride at full speed towards Liaodong. Their main mission was to go to Liaodong to release the Korean criminal Ren Shihong.

Three more days later.

The Zhang brothers' team arrived in Liaodong. When Hou Qian, the governor of Liaodong, saw the imperial edict coming, he immediately led the Liaodong officials to welcome the envoys.

Hou Qian originally thought that the envoys sent by the imperial court would only rest for a while in Liaodong, and then would take a boat from Liaodong to Korea.

The envoy team sent by the court this time turned out to be the two uncles of the emperor. Although they were not in the capital, they knew how important these two uncles were in the heart of Emperor Hongzhi.

So many civil servants in the court impeached the two brothers-in-law of the Zhang family for their evil deeds, but they were not punished at all and were all protected by Emperor Hongzhi.

The two uncles of the Zhang family could not wait to announce the decree to Hou Qian.

After the imperial edict was read out, all the ministers and generals of Korea were dumbfounded.

The emperor actually... wanted to release Ren Shihong? Let him go back to Korea? They were naturally aware of the recent situation between Korea and Ming Dynasty. The King of Korea, Li Long, sent a letter to Ming Dynasty, promising that Ming Dynasty could not trade privately with the Jurchens of Liaodong, but Ming Dynasty had to release Ren Shihong and return home.

This was considered a provocation to the Ming Dynasty by anyone. They had thought of many possible outcomes, and they were even ready to go to the Korean islands to fight. However, they never expected that Emperor Hongzhi would actually give in. Would he give in to Korea?
This is impossible!
Even if Emperor Hongzhi dared to do so, the six ministries of the court would not agree.

When Hou Qian saw the imperial edict, he saw that the seals of the Imperial Household Department and the Cabinet were missing. He could not help but doubt the authenticity of the imperial edict, so he carefully asked the two uncles of the Zhang family: "My two uncles, is this imperial edict... really issued by the emperor?"

Zhang Heling said angrily: "What are you talking about? Do you dare to doubt the authenticity of the imperial edict? If it is not true, would we come to read it out in person?"

"The emperor has his own arrangements and considerations. How can you warriors understand that?"

"Don't worry about it, just follow the emperor's order!"

Hou Qian was silent for a while. He had planned to wait two days before executing the imperial edict to see if there would be any other reaction from the court and whether the imperial edict was true or false.

But the Zhang brothers saw through Hou Qian's intentions, and Zhang Yanling threatened: "I tell you, if you delay the national affairs of the Ming Dynasty, you can't afford it!"

"Why don't you hurry up and carry out the imperial decree? If you are delayed, you will be beheaded!"

Seeing how confidently Zhang Yanling spoke, Hou Qian felt that the imperial edict could not be false.

Perhaps the court was really playing a big game, one that they, the officials, could not understand, so Hou Qian could only clasp his fists and say, "As you wish!"

He quickly ordered his men to release the Korean relative Ren Shihong, and then personally dispatched a ship and a group of soldiers from Liaodong to send Ren Shihong across the Taedong River and let him return to Korea.

The Zhang brothers were very satisfied. That night, the two brothers were extremely excited, especially Zhang Yanling.

All the tasks have been successfully completed. When I return to Peking, the Emperor will restore my title of marquis. Two marquises in one family, how glorious it is!
Zhang Yanling had a wonderful dream that night. Early the next morning, the two brothers hurriedly mounted their horses and quickly returned towards Peking.

……

This morning.

The envoy team from the Ministry of Rites that went to Korea to issue an imperial edict has returned to the Ministry of Rites.

When Ning Cheng arrived at the Ministry of Rites, Cheng Minzheng, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, looked at Ning Cheng in astonishment and asked, "Why are you back?"

Ning Cheng said: "Your Excellency, I received the Emperor's decree on my way to Liaodong. The Emperor summoned me back."

Cheng Minzheng: “?”

He looked confused, as if he had not heard that the emperor was going to summon people from the Ministry of Rites back. With doubts in his heart, Cheng Minzheng went to find the Minister of Rites Yuan Shouzhi.

"Sir, has the emperor ordered the envoy from the Ministry of Rites to return?"

Yuan Shouzhi asked suspiciously, "What?"

Cheng Minzheng's expression suddenly became serious, and he said to Minister Yuan, "Doctor Ning is back."

"what?"

Yuan Shouzhi was shocked. Ning Cheng should have arrived in Liaodong by now, preparing to cross the river to Korea to convey the emperor's order. In any case, he should not have come back at this time.

He pondered for a moment and said, "I am going to the cabinet! You take Doctor Ning with you and go with me!"

(End of this chapter)