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

Chapter 487: Trial voyage is successful, Liu Jian retires

From the time Hong Zhong and Yang Yuzhen set out to the end of November, about a month had passed. The surrounding maritime countries had completed their voyages and had returned safely. After the fleet arrived at Guangzhou Port, Hong Zhong sent envoys to deliver the news to the capital as soon as possible.

cabinet.

It snowed heavily today and the weather was freezing cold.

Liu Jian came to the cabinet to serve as usual. Recently, public opinion has become increasingly intense, and almost all of them are paying attention to the Ming Dynasty's maritime affairs.

Liu Jian was very anxious and was hoping that Hong Zhong and his group of navigators would fail in their voyage.

If the voyage failed, it would be enough to prove that Liu Jian's action of advising Emperor Hongzhi in the Wuying Palace at that time was correct and just.

But if the trial voyage is successful, his position as the Prime Minister of the Cabinet will probably be over.

The top officials of the court now all believe that he was the one who created the overwhelming public opinion outside. After all, he publicly went against the emperor's wishes in the Wuying Hall and failed to stop Emperor Hongzhi from sailing to the West. He felt resentful and went outside to spread rumors in order to prove that his decision was correct. Emperor Hongzhi did not listen to his advice, which eventually led to a disaster.

But the prerequisite is that the voyage must fail in order to prove that one's opinion is correct.

Liu Jian felt bitter in his heart. The emperor's move was truly brilliant. If the voyage was successful, everyone would be happy. At that time, the emperor could stand for justice and dismiss him as the chief minister of the cabinet.

If the voyage failed, Chen Ce would take the blame for him, and the rumors outside would not be able to harm Emperor Hongzhi.

Your Majesty is roasting me on the fire!

……

A cavalry envoy rushed to the Forbidden City and was about to go to the cabinet, but met Li Dongyang and Xie Qian on the way.

"Meet the two elders."

Li Dongyang looked at the other party suspiciously and asked, "Why are you so anxious? Do you have something to report?"

The envoy hurriedly said, "My Lord, good news! Lord Hong's fleet has returned. The voyage was a success, and all the routes were exactly the same as on the sea map. Lord Hong asked me to come to the palace to announce the good news."

Swish!
Li Dongyang and Xie Qian were stunned, their faces changed, and they exclaimed: "Success?"

They were really shocked. In other words, Chen Cezhen drew a nautical map of the eunuch Sanbao's voyage to the West based on historical materials, and the map he drew was accurate!

This is incredible!

But soon, the two looked at each other, and their eyes suddenly withdrew, with worry on their faces!

This voyage was a success, so what should Liu Ge Lao do? He spread so many rumors outside, as if he was sure that the voyage would fail.

Once the voyage failed, Liu Ge Lao's prestige and credibility in the court would undoubtedly increase to the extreme. In the future, Emperor Hongzhi might not dare to go against his wishes and would listen to his advice on everything.

But the thing is...the voyage was a success!
Then, what Liu Ge Lao did outside was not against the emperor? At this time, even if Liu Ge Lao wanted to stay in the cabinet, would Emperor Hongzhi allow him to continue to be in charge of the cabinet?
Liu Jian is old, he is sixty-three years old this year, and it is time for him to retire.

Thinking of this, Li Dongyang and Xie Qian looked sad. They were afraid that Lord Liu’s time in the cabinet might not last long!
He, Chen Ce... drove away a prime minister for no apparent reason?
Thinking of this, Xie Qian and Li Dongyang were so shocked that they had no time to think about it and could only walk quickly towards the cabinet duty station.

Liu Jian was used to Li Dongyang and Xie Qian coming late, and when he saw the two assistants, Liu Jian sighed and said, "This year's snow is so heavy, I don't know how long it will last."

"All local authorities must do a good job in preventing snow disasters."

Li Dongyang stared at Liu Jian deeply, sighed, and said to Liu Jian: "Lord, the fleet is back."

"What?" Liu Jian's hand holding the tea stopped in mid-air, staring at Li Dongyang blankly.

Li Dongyang was silent for a moment before he said, "We just met an envoy on the road. Hong Zhong sent a message to Beijing that their trial voyage has ended."

"We followed the nautical chart that Chen Ce gave them, and the route was exactly the same as the one drawn by Chen Ce. The seas were calm along the way, and we arrived at the islands of various countries one after another without any deviation."

"In other words, the nautical chart drawn by Chen Ce is correct, reliable and credible."

After saying that, Li Dongyang looked at Liu Jian cautiously again.

Liu Jian looked a little dazed, and it took him a long time to react. He smiled and said, "Ah, so... that's good."

That's not what you said in Wuying Palace at that time. You were criticizing Chen Ce with righteous words at that time.

You have already become the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, but you still don't know how to control your temper? You embarrassed the emperor in front of so many people in the hall, but the emperor did not give in and supported Chen Ce.

Now that the voyage is over, proving that Chen Ce was right, what will you do?
If you had made appropriate concessions at the beginning, this wouldn't have happened. What's more, you were so audacious as to spread public opinion in the capital afterwards... How will this end?

Liu Jian still kept smiling and said, "This Chen Ce is indeed quite capable. I was impulsive and shouldn't have questioned him. Even if I did question him, I shouldn't have done it in front of the emperor and not given him any face."

"Binzhi, Yu Qiao, Chen Chunjian is really capable, but it's a pity that he didn't live long." He smiled bitterly and said, "It's a pity that I am so old and still jealous of a junior. It's really ridiculous."

"You should be careful with Chen Chunjian in the future and don't do anything out of line. The emperor trusts him more than anyone else, and he, Chen Chunjian, does have some abilities."

"Hey!"

Liu Jian raised his hand and drank the tea in one gulp, but the tea was boiling hot, which made Li Dongyang and Xie Qian tense.

Sir...don't you think it's too hot?
"Hiss!" Liu Jian's tears were burned and he gasped.

It was obvious that he was confused.

"I, mys, will go to the warm room and tell the emperor about this good news."

After he finished speaking, he put on a cloak and slowly walked out of the cabinet. He stood in the empty snowy field, looking back at the cabinet, his eyes becoming moist.

I’m afraid... I’ll never have the chance to enter this office again in the future.

Looking at Liu Jian's departing old back, Li Dongyang and Xie Qian sighed slightly.

Not long after, Liu Jian arrived at the warm room and bowed, saying, "This old minister pays respect to the emperor."

Emperor Hongzhi glanced at Liu Jian and asked, "Is there anything wrong, Lord?"

Liu Jian said loudly: "Congratulations, Your Majesty. Lord Hong's fleet has returned safely. This voyage was a success."

Emperor Hongzhi's face lit up with joy. The stone that had been hanging in his heart for a month could finally be put to rest!
Chen Ce!

He actually drew the nautical chart based on historical materials!
Liu Jian continued to bow and said, "Your Majesty, I am seriously ill recently and would like to take a leave of absence for a while. Please approve it."

Emperor Hongzhi looked at him and said calmly, "Your health is of the utmost importance. I approve it."

(End of this chapter)