After ten years of accompanying me in my studies, the entire court begged me to shut up.

Chapter 114 Did His Majesty personally lead the expedition?

"Your Majesty, the imperial meal is ready."

Xiao Jing pushed open the door and came in, his face full of smiles.

The Hongzhi Emperor coldly said, "Get out."

Xiao Jing was taken aback, thinking he had misheard, and looked up at the Hongzhi Emperor.

The Hongzhi Emperor's face was grim, his gaze sharp as a knife.

Xiao Jing shivered and quickly bowed, "This old servant obeys the decree."

After saying that, he quickly left and the door closed softly.

The imperial study fell silent again.

The Hongzhi Emperor stared at Yang Shen and said, word by word, "Why the Crown Prince?"

Yang Shen met that gaze without flinching: "Your Majesty, regarding the Liaodong war, whether we fight or not, the court will send someone. It could be Grand Secretary Liu Jian, Right Censor-in-Chief Wang Zongli, or someone else. However, given the chaos at court today, whoever goes will most likely be in favor of war."

Why?

"Because if we don't fight, people will talk behind our backs, saying we're cowardly and afraid of the enemy, and no one can bear that reputation."

The Hongzhi Emperor frowned: "Won't the Crown Prince be criticized if he goes?"

Yang Shen shook his head: "That's not what I meant. I meant that this person must be able to control the situation. Otherwise, his words will carry no weight, and his trip will be pointless. He might even be swayed by those arrogant and boastful officials, resulting in even greater losses in the end. The Crown Prince, on the other hand, has a rather free-spirited personality and is unwilling to listen to advice. Once he has made up his mind, it is difficult for others to change it."

The Hongzhi Emperor sneered: "Just say that the Crown Prince has a bad temper, I can understand that."

Yang Shen quickly waved his hand: "Your Majesty misunderstands! The Crown Prince is not eccentric, but rather magnanimous. He speaks and acts decisively, and he is very intelligent and quick-witted. He learns things very quickly and has great perseverance. Whatever he wants to learn, he will definitely be able to learn it."

The Hongzhi Emperor waved his hand, interrupting him: "What you're saying is useless. Just tell me, why is it the Crown Prince?"

Yang Shen saw the deep worry in his eyes and said softly, "Your Majesty, as I just said, if others go, they won't be able to control the situation."

The Hongzhi Emperor remained silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "That place is a bitterly cold land, and the Crown Prince is only twelve years old."

Upon hearing this, Yang Shen felt a complex mix of emotions.

The person before me is the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, the emperor worshipped by all in the court.

But at this moment, he was just a father worried about his son.

He said softly, "It is only natural for Your Majesty to worry about your son as a father."

"But has Your Majesty considered that the soldiers who died in the border towns also had parents and families?"

Emperor Hongzhi stiffened slightly.

The Imperial Study was extremely quiet.

After a long silence, Yang Shen spoke again: "I suggest that the Crown Prince go, and there is actually another reason."

77

The Hongzhi Emperor did not turn around: "Speak."

Yang Shen glanced subconsciously at Liu Qing beside him.

Liu Qing was standing in the corner, blinking as she watched the commotion, completely unaware of the tense atmosphere, and was still secretly observing the furnishings in the imperial study.

The Hongzhi Emperor said in a deep voice, "Xiao Jing!"

The door was immediately pushed open, and Xiao Jing jogged in: "This old servant is here."

Emperor Hongzhi waved his hand: "Take Miss Liu to have her meal first. Minister Yang and I will be here shortly."

Xiao Jing walked up to Liu Qing, bowed, and said, "Miss Liu, please come this way!"

Liu Qing was stunned for a moment, then looked at Yang Shen.

Yang Shenchong nodded to her.

Although Liu Qing was full of doubts, she still obediently followed Xiao Jing out.

The door closed again.

The Hongzhi Emperor turned around and looked at Yang Shen: "Speak."

Yang Shen took a deep breath and slowly said, "His Majesty once said that there is a chasm between you and the people."

The Hongzhi Emperor nodded: "I remember."

Yang Shen looked at him and said seriously, "Has Your Majesty ever considered that there is also a chasm between you and the soldiers on the front lines?"

The Hongzhi Emperor was stunned.

Yang Shen continued, "What you have seen and heard all comes from reports by local officials or generals. How much of these military reports are true, and how much are false?"

"Just like the hidden land that Wang Shouren investigated in Wuqing County, the actual number of acreages was nearly 50% more than what was recorded in the ledgers. Those gentry had kept this from the court for decades, and if it weren't for Wang Shouren's investigation, they would still be in the dark."

The Hongzhi Emperor's expression changed.

Yang Shen continued, "By the same token, what is the actual situation at the border? What are the demands of those rank-and-file soldiers? Are their rations and pay sufficient? Are their cotton-padded clothes warm enough? What are they thinking? Does Your Majesty know all of this?"

The Hongzhi Emperor remained silent, unable to utter a single word.

Yang Shen didn't stop, continuing, "And also, for whom are those soldiers fighting? For the court? For His Majesty? For the people? Or for their generals?"

That was a sharp question, like a knife piercing straight in.

Emperor Hongzhi suddenly felt a tightness in his chest and a wave of dizziness.

Yang Shen lowered his head and continued, "Actually, the person who should be going to the front lines the most is Your Majesty."

The Hongzhi Emperor raised his head and looked at him.

Yang Shen said, "Emperor Taizu conquered the country, Emperor Taizong launched five expeditions to the northern deserts, Emperor Xuanzong also personally led an expedition, and Emperor Yingzong—right? Although Emperor Chenghua did not personally lead an expedition, he wiped out the entire Jianzhou Jurchen tribe, the Tatars fled far away, and Hami submitted. By the Hongzhi era, although there were constant battles, large and small, overall, our Great Ming suffered more losses than gains."

The Hongzhi Emperor frowned: "That's not right! Although I did not personally lead the campaign, I am very clear that in all the battles, large and small, over the years, the Ming Dynasty has won more battles than it has lost."

Yang Shen looked at him and said softly, "What you're referring to are just reports from the border towns, but you haven't been to the front lines, so how do you know if they're true or false? Take the Tuda rebellion in Ningxia, for example. In the first year of the Hongzhi reign, the court sent troops to quell it, and the report said that both suppression and appeasement were used, and the area was pacified. In the fourth year of the Hongzhi reign, it rebelled again. It was suppressed again, and the report said it was pacified again. In the eighth year of the Hongzhi reign, it rebelled again. How many years did it take to fight like this? If it was really pacified, why did it have to be fought every few years?"

The Hongzhi Emperor's face darkened.

Yang Shen continued, "Every time there's a rebellion, the court has to mobilize troops, raise funds, and requisition grain. After it's over, there are reports of victory and rewards. A few years later, it happens again. Has Your Majesty ever considered how much of those reported victories and countless kills are exaggerated? Why did those Tuda people, driven to desperation to rebel, repeatedly rebel and surrender?"

The atmosphere in the Imperial Study was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Yang Shen knew his words were harsh, but he didn't stop.

"Your Majesty is in poor health, and I dare not advise Your Majesty to lead the campaign in person. That is why I suggested that the Crown Prince go in Your Majesty's stead. Only when the local people see the Crown Prince come in person will they truly feel Your Majesty's love for them. Only when the soldiers on the front lines are fighting will they know that they have not been forgotten. Only when they bleed will they know that they are bleeding for the Ming Dynasty, not for some general."

After he finished speaking, he took a step back, bowed his head, and said, "I have said all I have to say."

The Imperial Study remained quiet for a very long time.

The Hongzhi Emperor stood by the window, motionless.

After a long while, he finally let out a long sigh.

That sigh contained weariness, helplessness, and a hint of relief.

"you're right."

He turned around, looked at Yang Shen, his gaze complex.

"I've always been thinking about how to help the Crown Prince grow up as quickly as possible. I've found him the best teachers and made him read the most books, but I've never thought about letting him go out and see the world."

He paused, then gave a wry smile: "I can't bear to part with it!"

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