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

Chapter 499: Going to Hangzhou to move the ancestral grave

Chen Ce stood on the Badaling Great Wall with his hands behind his back, looking at the snowy scene outside the Great Wall, and couldn't help but think of the winter four years ago.

Wang Yue was standing here at that time, gazing at the northwest frontier, his heart full of sorrow.

Wang Yue had always wanted to accept Chen Ce as his student, but Chen Ce did not agree. It was not because he thought highly of himself, but because he felt he was not worthy of being Wang Yue's student.

He is different from Wang Yue. Wang Yue is the kind of person who is willing to sacrifice himself for the country and the people. His ideals are lofty and he doesn't care about his own life and death. But Chen Ce is not like that. Even though he has done so many things for the Ming Dynasty, he will never be blindly loyal.

If Wang Yue had not committed suicide in the Jinyiwei prison, perhaps he would have been able to see the changes in the Ming Dynasty today.

The Northwestern Hami that he had always cared about was now handed over to the Turpan people by Chen Ce. If Wang Yue were still alive, he would never allow this to happen.

Chen Ce would never do that.

But the facts have proved that handing Hami over to the Turpan people and actively opening up tribute trade with the Turpan people was definitely the right move for the Ming Dynasty.

Hami is now peaceful, and its people no longer have to suffer from frequent wars. In addition, in order to maintain the tribute trade with the Ming Dynasty, the people of Turpan will take the initiative to defend Hami, which is far more cost-effective than the Ming Dynasty sending troops there itself.

Today, the population of the Seven Guards of Guanxi is growing year by year, and the economy is also increasing with the tribute trade.

The people of Turpan and the Ming army cooperated in the border defense to resist the Oirat regime, making it difficult for the Oirat people to enter Hami.

"What a pity, teacher, you will never see this scene in the northwest again."

"I still haven't changed my opinion. You are just too stupid! Some people want to live but don't have the chance. You can still live well, but you want to commit suicide!"

"You still want me to call you teacher?"

……

Xiaohua has already built the snowman. Chen Ce stands beside her, watching her build the snowman with a smile.

The sun came out, stretching the two figures, one big and one small, very long.

At the bottom of the city wall, Zhu Houzhao and Liu Jin looked up and happened to see Chen Ce's thoughtful face. Liu Jin couldn't help but sighed, "What a pity! Things are different now."

Zhu Houzhao also sighed and said, "My little brother and General Wang were standing there at the time, and I was making a snowman nearby."

"At that time, I didn't know that General Wang's visit to Beijing had already determined the outcome... Liu Daban, do you think that little brother is more powerful than Wang Yue?"

Liu Jin nodded in agreement. He said, "General Wang is indeed very capable, but he is inflexible. Master Chen is a truly talented person. The northwest was a mess, but Master Chen straightened it out. Not everyone can do this."

Zhu Houzhao hummed and was about to speak when Emperor Hongzhi appeared beside him.

"This old servant greets His Majesty." Liu Jin hurriedly bowed respectfully.

Emperor Hongzhi waved his hand and said, "Go to the side."

"Here."

Emperor Hongzhi said to Zhu Houzhao, "Let's go up and find him."

"Oh."

Zhu Houzhao followed Emperor Hongzhi to the Great Wall.

Zhu Houzhao came to Chen Ce with a smile and said, "The scenery of the north, the snow falling for thousands of miles..."

"This land is so beautiful that it attracts countless heroes. Even the Emperor Qin and Emperor Wu of Han were not as beautiful as him..."

Chen Ce looked at Zhu Houzhao in silence. This guy stood at the edge of the Great Wall with his hands behind his back, looking worried about his country and his people, and recited this poem.

Emperor Hongzhi was truly shocked by his son.

To be honest, the grandeur of these words...he feels ashamed of himself!

"What a beautiful country this is... What a great time to see the most outstanding people!"

"Chun Jian, what do you think of my son's poem?" Chen Ce: "..."

Zhu Houzhao's cheeks flushed, and he quickly said to Emperor Hongzhi: "Father, please stop praising me."

Emperor Hongzhi rolled his eyes at him and said, "Why? My prince wrote such a magnificent poem, shouldn't I be proud of it?"

Zhu Houzhao said: "Because this poem was written by my younger brother four years ago."

Emperor Hongzhi: “…”

He was a little embarrassed, but then he thought again, it was true. He should have judged his son's character long ago.

"I knew you didn't have this ability!"

Chen Ce smiled and said to Emperor Hongzhi: "Your Majesty, in fact, the Crown Prince is very capable. He is much smarter and more powerful than you think."

Emperor Hongzhi said to Chen Ce: "Because you taught well."

Zhu Houzhao:?

No, just praise each other for business, why would you mention me?
"Wang Yue didn't understand what I meant at the beginning, and I didn't know he would be so stupid."

Emperor Hongzhi still feels resentful about Wang Yue's death.

Chen Ce shook his head and said, "It has nothing to do with the emperor. Old Wang is a good general and a good official, but he is not a qualified minister. He has been on the battlefield for a long time and his understanding and cognition of the political field are not deep enough."

Emperor Hongzhi stared at Chen Ce and said, "What about you? You have never been involved in politics before... I have always been curious, why is there such a monster like you in this world?"

Chen Ce thought for a while and said to Emperor Hongzhi: "Wait a while. I will tell Your Majesty why before I die."

Emperor Hongzhi was surprised and asked, "Is there really a reason?"

Chen Ce smiled mysteriously and said, "This is a secret between the emperor and me."

Zhu Houzhao hurriedly asked: "What secret? Tell me quickly, little brother!"

Chen Ce said: "There is a chance."

"Your Majesty, I want to go to Hangzhou tomorrow to move my ancestral tomb here."

He had originally planned to go back after the beginning of the new year, but his health was getting worse day by day, so he didn't dare to delay and decided to finish everything he needed to do before he collapsed.

Zhu Houzhao said quickly: "Little brother! How can you still run long distances in your condition? No, no! Absolutely not!"

Emperor Hongzhi interrupted Zhu Houzhao and said, "Don't talk!"

He looked at Chen Ce and said, "Tomorrow I will send the East Factory, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Inner Factory to escort you back to Hangzhou."

"I am giving you a handwritten order. All officials along the way will see this order as if they were seeing me in person. You can make all decisions on the road and you can act first and report later!"

This was the greatest honor given to Chen Ce by Emperor Hongzhi.

Chen Ce said gratefully: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

……

As the sun set, Emperor Hongzhi and Zhu Houzhao got on the sedan chair and headed towards the Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Houzhao said to Emperor Hongzhi unhappily: "Father! Why did you allow my little brother to go to Hangzhou? You know his physical condition. What if something unexpected happens on the way?"

Emperor Hongzhi said to Zhu Houzhao earnestly, "Silly boy, if I don't allow him to go to Hangzhou, will he not go? His ancestral tomb should be moved here."

After a pause, he continued, "It is because I know his physical condition very well, and he himself knows it very well. If he can only lie in bed at the beginning of next year, will he still have the opportunity to return to Hangzhou in person to move the ancestral grave and fulfill his filial piety?"

Zhu Houzhao was silent, feeling very heavy.

(End of this chapter)