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

Chapter 559 No Billion, No Belief
In the Forbidden City, Cabinet Chief Minister Li Dongyang originally planned to find Emperor Hongzhi, but Emperor Hongzhi rarely showed up in public during this period.

Huai En said to Li Dongyang respectfully: "Lord Li, the emperor said that if you have anything to discuss, just discuss it directly with the crown prince."

Li Dongyang was helpless. The emperor was clearly still in his prime, so why did he almost ignore state affairs and leave all government affairs to the crown prince?
He understood the emperor's painstaking efforts to train the prince, but he still bowed and said, "Please tell the emperor that I have something important to report. It has to be to the emperor."

Huai En still shook his head. He said to Li Dongyang, "Lord, no matter how important the matter is, you can report it directly to the prince. This is the emperor's intention. Even if I go to the emperor again, the result will be the same. Please forgive me."

Li Dongyang didn't understand, but nodded and said, "I understand."

He had no choice but to go to the warm room to find the Crown Prince Zhu Houzhao, and bowed and said, "Your humble servant pays respect to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhu Houzhao was concentrating on reading the memorials. Chen Ce had told him last time that if he became emperor in the future, he would need to consider the overall situation of the entire Ming Dynasty.

Therefore, he must be clearly aware of all the major and minor matters of the country.

Although Zhu Houzhao protested to Emperor Hongzhi and hoped that Emperor Hongzhi would take over quickly and he didn't want to do it anymore, Emperor Hongzhi still refused Zhu Houzhao.

Zhu Houzhao could only honestly review all the recent memorials, and then he retrieved important files from the six ministries, especially the finances of the Ministry of Revenue and the military affairs of the Ministry of War, and looked at them very carefully, so that he could become familiar with the current situation of the Ming Dynasty.

"Oh, Lord Li, what do you want from me?"

Li Dongyang hesitated for a moment, but still said: "Your Highness, Tai'an Hou has recently transferred many merchants to Annan, and some merchants even went to Annan to borrow money."

Zhu Houzhao asked, "Is there anything wrong?"

Li Dongyang said: "This will cause a large number of merchants to leave the Ming Dynasty, and the Ming Dynasty's economy will decline as a result."

One or two merchants may not affect the overall situation, but now it is not a problem of one or two merchants. Many big merchants in the Ming Dynasty have flocked to Annan. Many loans that should have been borrowed from the Ming Dynasty money houses are now all borrowed from Annan.

In addition, a large number of businessmen choose to do business with Annan, which will enable Annan's economy to develop rapidly.

What Li Dongyang actually wanted to say was that Chen Ce's actions were tantamount to supporting Annan's development.

Annan also has an outlet to the sea in the south. The things that Ming merchants need could have been traded directly with other countries, but now through Annan as an intermediary, Annan can earn a large amount of the price difference, which will quickly enable Annan's economy to develop.

The Ming Dynasty did not want to see a developed neighbor to the south. You have to know that the entire southwest is relatively poor. Once Annan develops, a large number of people are likely to flee.

This is not in line with the Ming Dynasty's development plan.

Li Dongyang really couldn't understand why Chen Ce would mobilize so much manpower to encourage merchants to go to Annan to do business.

This will do more harm than good to the entire Ming Dynasty.

Of course, Zhu Houzhao supports Chen Ce in his heart. Even if you, Li Dongyang, are the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, it won't do any good!

His younger brother is both his teacher and friend. It is no exaggeration to say that they are like close brothers. He doesn't care whether what Chen Ce does is right or wrong. As long as Chen Ce does it, he supports it.

Of course, Zhu Houzhao couldn't get too upset with the cabinet chief, so he asked Li Dongyang: "Has Lord Li investigated it? Why would those merchants listen to the orders of Marquis Tai'an?"

Li Dongyang: “…”

He really had no way to answer this question, but anyone with a discerning eye knew that if it wasn't for the order from a big shot in the court, would the merchants dare to do such a thing? Whether they went to Annan to borrow money or do business, the settlement method was to pay the interest first and then the principal. This was obviously a loss.

How could those shrewd businessmen harm their own interests if there was no one at the top directing them to do so?
And who else in the entire Ming Dynasty could do all this and have the courage to do so except Chen Ce?

Chen Ce had vowed that he would deal with Annan, but was this how he was going to deal with him?

Li Dongyang was silent for a moment, then said to Zhu Houzhao: "In the current Ming Dynasty, I am afraid that only Chen Ce can do such a thing."

Zhu Houzhao shook his head and said to Li Dongyang: "Lord, we should not use speculation to judge anything we do. Confucianism often teaches us that if we are not prepared for deception, we should not trust it. But those who are aware of it first are wise."

Li Dongyang was somewhat embarrassed. He was also a scholar and had passed the imperial examinations twice. He naturally knew the teachings of Confucius by heart. Even if he had the courage, he would not dare to overturn Confucius' words.

He suddenly felt that Zhu Houzhao had changed. The previous prince would always act unreasonably and would always resort to sophistry when there was no point. This made it easy for the civil servants to find fault with him, allowing the civil servants to stand on the commanding heights of morality and etiquette.

But now, Zhu Houzhao no longer uses those rogue methods to refute himself. His rebuttals are all reasonable and well-founded. Although you know that he is biased towards Chen Ce in his heart, you can't scold him directly.

Because he is using reason to appeal to your point, if you want to refute him, you need to have reasons and evidence.

He is developing into a qualified and difficult monarch!
This is the most intuitive thought in Li Dongyang’s mind.

After being humiliated by Zhu Houzhao, he just smiled awkwardly and said, "Then I will investigate, but this matter is serious and we must be on guard, Your Highness!"

"With so many big merchants fleeing, if other Ming merchants follow suit, our economy will decline. We must pay attention to this matter."

Zhu Houzhao nodded and said, "Yes, I know. Then please trouble Lord Li to investigate further and find out what is going on."

Li Dongyang cupped his hands and said, "I obey your order."

After he left, the gratified voice of Emperor Hongzhi came from behind the warm room, saying: "My son did a good job, a good job!"

Emperor Hongzhi was both moved and relieved. The child had grown up, the prince had grown up, and people always said his son was naughty, but no one had ever said his son was not smart.

Now, after only three or four months in this position, I have already become quite capable and can deal with civil servants with ease. I no longer have to be helpless like before.

Zhu Houzhao hurried to the back hall and said to Emperor Hongzhi: "Father, do you think I look like a qualified emperor?"

"You should feel relieved now, right? You should take charge of the government soon. I don't want to help you govern the country anymore."

"Have you rested enough?"

Emperor Hongzhi shook his head and said, "No, your father has been tired for so many years, what's wrong with taking a rest?"

"You little brat, take care of your political affairs. I'm going to the harem to look for your mother."

Zhu Houzhao: "..."

(End of this chapter)