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

Chapter 46: Two Domineering Brothers

It snowed in Peking today, and the suburbs were covered in white. Chen Ce stood in the snow with an umbrella, walking alone in the mountains and fields.

A green dress, an umbrella, and the endless empty fields, isolated from the world.

Occasionally, a few tenant farmers would invite the small landlord to their homes to escape the cold and drink a bowl of hot tea, but Chen Ce would always smile and refuse.

This inevitably caused the old farmers to whisper to each other, and some even thought that Chen Ce was crazy. It was hard to describe the feeling, but they just felt that he had been a little abnormal recently.

However, the tenant farmers soon stopped focusing on Chen Ce, because many people gathered on the ridge of the field 500 steps away, kneeling on the snow and begging the two middle-aged men.

Chen Ce smiled slightly and walked over with an umbrella.

The two uncles-in-law, Marquis of Shouning and Earl of Jianchang, were still as domineering as before. Zhang Heling kicked a commoner on the shoulder and said angrily, "Can you please stop touching me? You almost pulled my pants off!"

"It's no use begging me. I'm determined to take this piece of land. Even the Buddha can't protect it. I say it!"

Zhang Yanling has always admired his eldest brother. Look at what he said, how majestic he is. After such a threat, would the unruly people in Qingshan Township dare not sell their land?

He tried hard to imitate his elder brother, saying, "You, you, and you all! I'm not afraid to tell you that no landlord in the surrounding area dares to buy your land. My elder brother said so!"

“So if you want to sell the land, you can only sell it to us.”

"What? Seven taels of silver is not enough? Oh, then we won't buy it!"

More than a dozen common people and old farmers were in tears, as if they had lost their parents. These were all top-quality fertile fields, which would cost at least 100 taels of silver if converted to market value. Even if it was barren land, it would probably be worth 40 or 50 taels of silver... Is this buying land for 7 taels of silver? This is clearly robbery!
However, due to the authority of the two brothers, they did not dare to accuse the other party of robbery.

Chen Ce could only watch silently, powerless and sighing in despair. There were too many such things in the Ming Dynasty. Emperor Hongzhi favored Empress Zhang alone, and his love for the Zhang brothers was also evident.

After this natural disaster, how will the people survive until the summer grain harvest? Borrow money to get by? Who dares to lend money? The two uncles of the emperor have already discussed it. Who dares to lend money to these unruly people?

To put it bluntly, they just want to grab this fertile land.

Yes, it’s a blatant robbery.

But who dares to seek justice?
The fact that the two brothers came out in person to collect the land has already made everything clear, indicating that they are determined to get these lands, and no one should be ungrateful. Otherwise, they could just send a manager, why would they come out in the cold weather themselves?
In the end, this farce ended and the result was self-evident. The outcome was already predetermined and Chen Ce could not change it.

The two Zhang brothers were very satisfied. They got a hundred acres of fertile land and were in a great mood, as if they had won a great victory on the battlefield and were ready to go back and drink a celebratory wine.

"Who are you? Why are you stopping me? Do you want to die?" Zhang Heling looked arrogantly at Chen Ce who was blocking his way.

Chen Ce clasped his fists and said, "I greet the two Lords."

"And then?" Zhang Heling still looked arrogant and domineering.

Zhang Yanling, on the other hand, became more cautious and whispered in his elder brother's ear, "Brother, this kid is not simple."

"Look at the common people, they would tremble with fear when they hear our reputation. Why is he not afraid?"

Zhang Heling was stunned for a moment, then pointed at Chen Ce and asked, "Are you the Imperial Censor?"

Chen Ce: “…”

"No."

"So what kind of official are you?"

Didn't I just introduce myself? So you automatically filtered me out, right?

"I have met the two Lords."

A troublemaker? No, aren't you afraid of death? How dare you talk to us like that? No, I get it!

"What are you doing?" Zhang Heling looked at Chen Ce warily, fearing that he would suddenly pull out a knife and die with him. There was no shortage of these guys pretending to be heroes. Thinking of this, he took two steps back and stood behind Zhang Yanling. Chen Ce still said calmly: "After the natural disaster, the number of livestock decreased, and countless oxen were killed and injured. The country was short of oxen, and farming was not going well."

Are you stupid?

The country is short of cattle, that is the country's shortage, not our brothers. Isn't it easy to get a cattle? Why do you have to worry about it?

Zhang Heling lost interest and turned to leave.

Chen Ce blocked their way again. The Zhang brothers only brought two servants out today, and they were not masters, but he was still afraid!

He was afraid that this seemingly fragile little guy was a master in disguise, otherwise he would not be willing to listen to Chen Ce.

If the other party was not a top master, why would he dare to block his way again and again, not to mention that he knew his noble identity?
This only means...the other party has the confidence!

Zhang Heling silently praised his own analysis. Just in terms of meticulousness, he, Zhang Heling, thought he was very strong!
"What on earth are you going to do? Let me tell you, attacking the royal family is a serious crime that will lead to the confiscation of property and extermination of the clan. Think about your parents, think about your brothers and sisters, young man, don't do anything impulsive!"

Chen Ce: “?”

He didn't know what Zhang Heling was talking about, but he insisted on finishing his words, so he continued: "The country is short of cattle, and it will be difficult to reclaim the land. I have an immature idea that I would like to share with the two marquises."

Oh, so you are trying to offer advice to gain fame. That’s easy.

"What do you think."

Chen Ce said: "Dai Geng rack."

"Use a long rope to connect the two windlasses together, two people stand on both sides of the windlass, and one person holds the plow behind to maintain the direction of the plow..."

He said a lot, but he knew that the two brothers would not understand him.

The fact was just as Chen Ce thought. The Zhang brothers seemed to be listening to a book from heaven. They said with a fierce face, "What's the use?"

Chen Ce said bluntly: "In the absence of oxen, maximize production capacity."

The Zhang brothers understood what this guy said, and from what he said, this thing seemed very powerful!

If this were presented to the emperor, wouldn't it be a great honor for the brothers?
Zhang Yanling said happily: "Very good! Now I understand what you said, it is indeed very..."

"generally."

Zhang Heling interrupted his brother and asked Chen Ce, "What do you want?"

Chen Ce shook his head and said, "I don't want anything."

Zhang Heling said, "That won't do! You have to do it. If you show your kindness for no reason, you are either a traitor or a thief! Let's put it this way. We will protect you from now on. If anything happens to you, it will be a slap in the face of us brothers... But the premise is that your attitude must be useful."

This was what Chen Ce was going to say in his next sentence. He certainly wouldn't be so bored as to offer advice to the Zhang brothers for no reason.

But since the other party has said it on his own initiative, I don’t have to say anything else.

He didn't finish talking about the structure of the farming frame, only half of it, but it was enough to arouse the interest of Emperor Hongzhi.

In fact, it would be best to let Zhu Houzhao do this, but Zhu Houzhao was the crown prince after all, and Chen Ce didn't want him to do things like killing people and arson.

The Zhang brothers and the Marquis of Zhou are more suitable.

He had been waiting for these two rabbits these days.

Chen Ce will use them as knives for the time being.

(End of this chapter)