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

Chapter 79: Imperial Farmland Reclamation
The float for winter fishing needs to be adjusted and the bait needs to be changed, such as adding salt or oil to rice wine.

The old man generously told Zhu Houzhao the secret, but in Chen Ce's opinion, he most likely did it to get rid of Zhu Houzhao, the noisy guy.

There were crisscross wrinkles on his cheeks, and he was wearing a coarse linen shirt. He looked like an ordinary old man.

But how could an ordinary old man care about national policy? We can only say that his identity remains to be confirmed.

The old man looked at Chen Ce and asked seriously, "Why do you think that the person who spread the news on the street was Wang Yue himself?"

Chen Ce thought about it and shook his head, "Father-in-law, you also said that I was just guessing. Isn't guessing just nonsense? Do I need a reason?"

The old man laughed and said, "If you don't want to talk about it, forget it."

"Then why do you say with such certainty that Wang Yue is bound to fail?"

"So many soldiers on the frontier are waiting for an answer, waiting for justice. Thousands of soldiers are waiting for military merit, waiting for the emperor to bless their children and descendants, so that their families far away can enjoy the emperor's grace."

"General Wang is carrying the expectations of so many soldiers. How come you, a kid, say that he will definitely fail?"

"Could it be that some people can really cover the sky with one hand?"

Seeing his indignant look, Chen Ce had a bold guess in his mind.

Could it be that you are the Wang Yue?
There is a big gap between you and the image of a Confucian general in my mind. I would believe you even if you said you were my tenant farmer.

Chen Ce said, "If, I mean if, the rumors in the market were really spread by General Wang, then his purpose is to force the emperor to investigate this matter thoroughly, right?"

The old man nodded and said, "Yeah."

Chen Ce continued, "But this also pushed his opponent into a desperate situation. What he has to fight against is not a Ming Dynasty emperor, but a huge group."

"This group has so many resources and energy to mobilize. Can he, an old man alone, handle so many people?"

"How many chips does he have?"

"It's good to have justice and conscience in your heart, but aren't these two things what the world lacks the most?"

"When a dog is desperate, it will jump over the wall; when a pig is desperate, it will climb a tree. If the other party falls, it will not be just one government office that falls, but the high-ranking officials of countless government offices that fall."

"If you put yourself in your opponent's shoes, how do you think he would deal with General Wang?"

"We must do everything we can to get General Wang dead. Only then can this matter finally come to an end."

The old man snorted and said, "If General Wang was afraid of death, he wouldn't have returned to Beijing from the northwest."

"Wouldn't it be nice to be his governor in the northwest?"

"Also, how can you be sure that General Wang doesn't have any backing?"

Chen Ce was really not sure about this. Wang Yue had been operating in the northwest for more than a year and should have done something, but what specific preparations he had made and what power he had were all unknown.

These things hidden in the darkness will not be recorded in historical documents.

But no matter what trump card he has, Chen Ce doesn't think that Wang Yue can compete with such a huge civil service group.

That's why he said that what Wang Yue did was no different from seeking his own death and he was bound to fail.

Chen Ce was silent for a while, then asked the other party: "Which is more important, the military achievements of my subordinates or the peace of the northwest, or the individual or the country?"

The old man blurted out: “All important!”

No, why are you so stubborn, old man? Didn't I ask you to choose one?

"Do I have to choose?"

The old man was silent for a moment, thinking for a moment, and said: "The safety of the country is naturally higher than the life and death of an individual." Chen Ce spread his hands and said: "That's right."

"General Wang risked his life to argue for his own reasons, regardless of the possibility of failure. If he fails, the northwest will lose a famous general who terrifies the enemy."

"Hami will be in danger and could be surrendered to others at any time. The loss of national territory will be the territory itself."

"Father, you also said that the country comes first and the family comes second, so why take the risk?"

"Some things can be discussed with the emperor in private, without bringing them to the public. There is always a chance to ease the tension."

"If we bring this up on the table and even cause a big uproar, it will be hard to end it. It will be either you or me."

"If General Wang dies, who else will be available in the Northwest?"

"He hasn't trained the next generation of talents yet. Is there anyone in the Northwest who can take on the responsibility?"

The old man was silent for a long time this time, then sneered: "Clever words to persuade others! This is sophistry!"

"The logic of this matter should not be elevated to such a high level, just to ask for the merits that belong to the soldiers."

"Also, you are wrong. They have already started the war. General Wang is just fighting back."

"Why do you think they concealed their achievements?"

Chen Ce said: "I know, in order to make General Wang's subordinates fall apart, make the Northwest soldiers scattered, make Wang Yue lose his leadership ability, make the border troops' discipline loose, and even make them tired of war, so as to shift all the charges to General Wang and force him to withdraw from the Northwest."

The old man was dumbfounded for a moment when he heard Chen Ce's clear reply. After a brief moment of shock, he stared at Chen Ce with a serious expression and said, "Since you know this, does that mean General Wang can only passively take the beating?"

This is a talent, a promising prospect.

If the old man were younger, he would even consider taking in a disciple.

However, the betrayal by Tu Yu and Qi Zhong's beloved disciples had already made Wang Yue heartbroken.

Yes, this old man who looks no different from an old farmer is Wang Yue. His beloved disciple’s public betrayal at the court meeting today made him extremely sad, so he came to a remote place to fish with a fish basket on his back.

As soon as I arrived, I heard Chen Ce and Zhu Houzhao discussing how to read and write and how to kill the magistrate of Chun'an.

While Chen Ce was thinking, Zhu Houzhao came from the front yard with bait, and said to Chen Ce: "A few tenant farmers are looking for you, I brought them to you."

These were the tenant farmers that Chen Ce had just found in Kuihua Township. When they saw Chen Ce, they said in a panic, "Dong, Dongjia."

"problem occurs."

Chen Ce looked at the worried tenants suspiciously and asked, "What's the matter?"

Several tenant farmers lamented, "A group of people came this morning, claiming to be from the imperial palace, and they are going to take your ten acres of land and transfer it to the imperial farm. This is a document from the court."

Chen Ce narrowed his eyes. These tenant farmers might not understand, but Chen Ce knew.

You said to confiscate the imperial manor, so what? Did I agree?
A piece of official document can fool the people. Do you really think that everyone in the world is a fool?

It’s so unreasonable!

Zhu Houzhao looked embarrassed and explained: "The palace is not so unreasonable. There must be a villain."

He was filled with rage. Which bastard dared to do such a thing? Was he trying to save his life?
Randomly requisition land and enter the imperial farm?
Chen Ce had said before that the annexation of imperial farms was powerful, but he didn't believe it. Today he finally saw it for himself!

Wang Yue stood up and walked behind Chen Ce. He looked at the document from the Inner Palace Supervisor and said to Chen Ce, "Go and take a look. Come back and continue our conversation after you've dealt with it. Our conversation isn't over yet."

Chen Ce looked at Wang Yue in confusion, thinking, why are you joining in the fun again? You are just watching the fun and you don't mind making trouble!
I have made an appointment with the editor to put it on the shelves at midnight on Friday. There will be more updates after it is put on the shelves.
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(End of this chapter)