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

Chapter 400 Hangzhou Provincial Government

The atmosphere in the Qianqing Palace was solemn these days. After the Japanese ships were attacked, Emperor Hongzhi summoned all the officials overnight to discuss countermeasures.

Some people supported attacking the Japanese invaders, while others supported peace talks.

Most people are unwilling to start a war in the southeastern Japanese islands at this time. Once stuck in the quagmire of war, it is unknown how much national power the Ming Dynasty will consume.

Although Emperor Hongzhi was determined to open up the southeastern battlefield, more and more people in the court opposed it. Finally, he had to ask the Ministry of Rites to send a letter to Japan again, severely condemning Japan's attack on Ming warships.

After the successful coup of Prince Jinseong of Joseon, Li Long was overthrown and Prince Jinseong Yi Gye successfully ascended the throne and became the new king of Joseon.

The four barbarians knew very well that Prince Jincheng was able to successfully stage a coup thanks to the support of the Ming Dynasty. This incident gave the Ming Dynasty a great shock in the four barbarian countries. The national prestige that the Ming Dynasty had previously lost in Korea was now fully recovered.

It has been only half a year since the incident happened. On the surface, most people in the Ming Dynasty have only seen the results, are too excited, and deeply admire the great strategy of Emperor Hongzhi.

But only a small group of people in the empire knew that the person who really pushed the coup in North Korea was Chen Ce! He was the most inconspicuous handsome boy.

……

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Chen Ce was summoned by Emperor Hongzhi to the warm room of the Qianqing Palace.

Emperor Hongzhi handed Chen Ce a letter of appointment, promoting him to the position of Right Instructor of the Eastern Palace.

Chen Ce wanted to refuse, but when he saw the half-smile on Emperor Hongzhi's face, he knew that Emperor Hongzhi did it on purpose. He knew that Chen Ce did not want to be promoted, but he promoted Chen Ce anyway.

It was just to take revenge on Chen Ce for what he had done to him in the welfare home last time.

Chen Ce had no choice but to accept this fact.

However, Emperor Hongzhi still said, "Okay, you will be promoted. As for the Eastern Palace, you can still go there or not at any time. I will tell the Eastern Palace officials later that they will not impeach you."

Yes, they won’t impeach me, but Yang Ting and that jealous freak may get jealous.

Emperor Hongzhi said solemnly, "Chun Jian, there are two things I am undecided about. Please help me with the advice."

Chen Ce's expression gradually became serious and he listened attentively.

Emperor Hongzhi said: "First, the fleet that our Ming Dynasty sent to the southeast Japanese island for military exercises was attacked by Japanese slaves, and three soldiers were killed or injured."

Chen Ce was stunned for a moment, his mind racing with thoughts.

Is this really the work of the Japanese? Isn't this the initiative to provoke a war?
Emperor Hongzhi continued, "I have held a small meeting for a few days, and the court did not recommend that the Ming Dynasty send troops to the Japanese islands. What do you think?"

Chen Ce shrugged helplessly and said to Emperor Hongzhi: "Of course I suggest sending troops to the Japanese islands. This should show the bloodiness of the Ming Dynasty. The problem is, I suggest this and the emperor agrees with it, but can it be implemented?"

Emperor Hongzhi smiled bitterly and said, "Yes, it cannot be implemented. As long as the majority of people in the court are opposed to it, attacking the Japanese invaders will be nonsense."

War is not a trivial matter. There are too many factors to consider. If there is no unity of thought in the country, especially among the top officials in the court, it will be very difficult to launch this war.

In fact, to put it bluntly, the timing was not right, and the conflict between the Japanese and the Ming Dynasty had not yet escalated to the point where a war was necessary.

But it will be soon, Chen Ce has a feeling.

Emperor Hongzhi added: "The coup d'état of Prince Jinseong of Joseon was successful, overthrowing the rule of Li Long."

"The arms trade has brought in a lot of income. In your opinion, will we still need to engage in arms trade in the future, or engage in arms trade with other countries?" Chen Ce nodded and said, "This matter is not important. The most important thing right now is not North Korea."

"Oh?"

Emperor Hongzhi asked curiously: "Where should that be?"

Chen Ce said indifferently: "Liaodong Jurchens!"

Previously, the Jurchens ignored the dissuasion and traded with the Koreans in private. This was enough to show that this group of Jurchens had great ambitions. The horse market trade in the Northeast once a month could no longer satisfy their appetite.

They want to drive their economic development through North Korea.

Emperor Hongzhi actually did not realize this, not only Emperor Hongzhi, but the entire court did not realize it.

The reason is simple. They never took the Jurchens, who were huddled in a corner of the northeast of the Ming Dynasty, seriously.

Only Chen Ce knew that as the ambitions of this group of Jurchens continued to expand, they would gradually begin to cause great trouble to the Ming Dynasty.

Chen Ce continued, "Your Majesty, you'd better send someone to check which of the three tribes of Liaodong Jurchens is doing private trade with North Korea this time."

"If we find out, we will give them a serious warning, cut off their horse market trade with the Ming Dynasty, cut off their trade with North Korea, and make their economy suffer a serious setback. We will give them the most severe punishment and let them know the consequences of pretending to obey the Ming court but actually disobeying it."

"We can't just leave them alone. The Jurchens are extremely ambitious, and this was revealed as early as the Chenghua period, which is why the Chenghua campaign of sweeping the land and destroying the land took place."

"But the Ming Dynasty cannot continue to start a war in Liaodong now, so we can only be on guard in advance and completely suppress their ambitions!"

Emperor Hongzhi nodded thoughtfully.

……

Far in the southeast.

In the Hangzhou Provincial Government Office, Zhejiang Provincial Governor Chen Mao summoned the Dusi and the Tixingsi Envoy for a secret meeting.

This is because Fu Yuan's actions in the southeast have become more and more crazy recently. He even organized an attack on the Ming Dynasty's southeast fleet. Moreover, he used not only the warriors of the Japanese pirates, but also a group of retired old soldiers in the dusi as his death squad.

If this matter is discovered by the Censorate, the entire Zhejiang Sansi Envoy will be in danger of being exterminated!
Initially, they just colluded with Fu Yuan to gain financial benefits in the southeast coast. They were also seeking money, but who could have thought that this madman would become more and more crazy.

Chen Mao suggested that Fu Yuan should be dealt with secretly, otherwise there would be endless troubles.

But the Zhejiang Provincial Criminal Division Envoy did not recommend this. He said, "Sir Chen, just in case, if the Zhejiang incident is exposed, Fu Yuan will be our best scapegoat!"

"He's going to die now. If our affairs are exposed in the future, who can take the blame?"

"Besides, things haven't come to that point yet. Fu Yuan is indeed a talented person. He can make too much profit for us outside. If he dies now, it would be a bit of a loss."

"My suggestion is that we should wait until things have reached a point of no return before pushing this person out to give the court an explanation."

All in all, Fu Yuan is still useful now, but in their eyes, Fu Yuan is no different from a dead person.

Chen Mao nodded, hummed, and said, "Then let him go for now, but remember in the future, we must draw a clear line with this person and have less contact with him."

This man is simply a madman, and he is also very smart. Who knows when they will be tricked by Fu Yuan without knowing it!
(End of this chapter)