Chapter 154 Shameful Ambition and Follow-up
Liu still committed suicide for Zhang Shicheng, and stabbed Zhang Shixin to death before committing suicide.
Chen Biao couldn't understand it.
It was natural for Liu to hate Zhang Shixin, and it was understandable that she wanted to kill him. Chen Biao could not understand why Liu had the heart to abandon her young son and leave when the Hongwu Emperor had already given her a chance to live.
Even if I entrust my young son to someone else, how can it be better than raising him myself?
However, Chen Biao then thought of what his mother in his previous life said.
Why do women have to be tied to their children?
Some women prioritize their careers, some prioritize love, and some prioritize their children. Apart from the most important things, everything else is just an accessory.
Not only women, men too.
It doesn't matter whether others condemn or agree with you.
Even if Zhang Shicheng had concubines and illegitimate daughters before Liu, and had beautiful concubines after marrying Liu, Liu was willing to die for Zhang Shicheng, as long as she was happy.
It’s a pity for Liu and Zhang Shicheng’s two young sons.
Chen Biao's pity was soon forgotten, but how to deal with the public opinion that Liu killed Zhang Shixin and committed suicide for love, and how to raise Zhang Shicheng's two young sons, were the worries of Emperor Hongwu.
"We're just ordinary nobles, barely even making the list of meritorious officials. Let the bigwigs worry about us," Chen Biao said. "Dad, Mom, please don't push your luck. Even if I agreed to teach Zhang Shicheng his two young sons, I only agreed to let them attend the academy, not to help him raise them."
Ma Xiuying sighed, "Mother knows. You're still a child, how can I let you take care of a child? Mother just feels a little regretful."
Liu was so brave and courageous, how could she be fooled by Zhang Shicheng?
Zhu Yuanzhang, who was extremely worried about this matter, almost became upset after hearing Chen Biao's "sarcastic remarks" and let Chen Biao get involved in this matter.
Luckily, his fatherly side took over and he didn't do anything so abominable.
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled bitterly: "Of course I won't let you take care of children... Take care of children outside our family."
Chen Biao turned his head away and pursed his lips, saying, "Yes, I was still a child. I even helped the emperor raise the children of nobles. His Majesty the Emperor really knows how to oppress people. No wonder so many people in later generations wrote poems and essays to criticize him. If it were me, I would secretly criticize him too."
Zhu Yuanzhang : “…” He didn’t want Chen Biao to take care of the child at all, but to let this group of people help Chen Biao!
Emperor Zhu felt wronged!
Ma Xiuying glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang and said, "That's right. The emperor really deserves to be scolded. If they don't obey, you should drive them back. Even the emperor wouldn't say anything. Could he be so shameless as to let you, a child, take care of the children?"
Zhu Yuanzhang: “…That’s right.”
Zhu Yuanzhang hypnotized himself, my son and my wife were both scolding the emperor, what does it have to do with me, Chen Guorui?
Chen Biao sighed, "The first batch of students are like my disciples, different from the other students in Yingtian Official School. Once a teacher, always a father. Even though I am young, if these students do evil, won't my reputation as a teacher be affected? Even if I don't care about my reputation, I still care..."
Chen Biao was suddenly stunned, then scratched his cheek, with a somewhat embarrassed and annoyed expression: "In short, if I can teach, I will teach. If I can't, I will sever the master-disciple relationship. I absolutely cannot condone it!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was curious: "Biao'er, you haven't finished speaking yet. What are you worried about?"
Ma Xiuying was also very curious.
Chen Biao acted childishly and said, "Nothing!"
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately stopped Chen Biao: "Huh? What are you hiding from your parents? You can't leave until you tell me. Watch me tickle you and attack!"
Chen Biao laughed wildly and struggled, shouting for help: "Mom! Mom, help me, hahahaha! Bastard dad, stop it!"
Ma Xiuying waited for the father and son to play for a while before stopping Zhu Yuanzhang: "Okay, okay, your son is grown up now, and it's normal for him to not want to tell his parents some secrets. Don't want to know everything."
Zhu Yuanzhang loosened his grip and pinched Chen Biao's cheeks, which still felt very good in his hands. "Didn't he just say he was a child? Now he's grown up?"
Chen Biao muttered, "It's not that I don't want to tell you a secret, it's just a little embarrassing to say it out loud."
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Don't say any more. I'll really get curious."
Chen Biao slapped Zhu Yuanzhang's hand that was pinching his cheek twice, and asked his bastard father to move his claws away: "Don't be curious , I'll tell you."
Zhu Yuanzhang opened his eyes wide, waiting like a fool for something to make his son's face turn red with shame and anger.
Chen Biao said unhappily: "I don't care about reputation, but I do care, I care..."
Chen Biao's voice became softer and softer, and his cheeks became redder and redder, even his forehead and ears turned red, and his whole face turned into a big ripe apple.
"I care about the innocent people who might be harmed by them." Chen Biao hesitated. "I taught them skills, but what if they use them to do evil? So if I can teach them, I teach them. If I can't, I sever the master-disciple relationship."
The little selfishness in Chen Biao's heart emerged again.
I tried my best to teach them! If they still do bad things, as long as I sever the master-disciple relationship, it has nothing to do with me! I will not feel guilty for the people they harm!
The more Chen Biao thought about it, the more confident he felt: "That's right, that's it!"
Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying looked at each other and asked in confusion, "But Biao'er, is there anything embarrassing about what you said? You're blushing all over."
Chen Biao blushed and said, "You say I care about the people. Don't you feel ashamed?"
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Ma Xiuying: "Will it?"
Ma Xiuying gave a confused smile: "No."
Chen Biao explained: "For the common people! Don't you think this slogan is very immature and shameful?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "What does 'zhongni' mean? But why should I be ashamed? It's normal and good to have such ambitions."
Ma Xiuying stroked the frizzy hair on her son's bun and said, "Yes, it's great that Biao'er has such ambitions. Why would you be ashamed?"
Chen Biao: “…”
Huh? Aren't you ashamed? Aren't you embarrassed? Aren't you a bit of a middle school kid?
When Chen Biao went to bed at night, he was still thinking, could it be that his thoughts as a time traveler were once again inconsistent with the mainstream thoughts of this era? In fact, in this era, shouting the slogan "For the common people" is a very normal thing?
Chen Biao rarely returned to Yingtian. After the founding of the Ming Dynasty, he gathered in Yingtian, and several great scholars who served as officials in the central court came to visit him.
Even Ye Zheng came back and became the Minister of Revenue.
"I'm old and can't walk much anymore. From now on, Chen Qi and Xue Zhimo will follow Marshal Chang to farm." Ye Zheng said with a smile, "Actually, I think Marshal Chang is very suitable to be the Minister of Revenue. But leaving Marshal Chang in Yingtian would be a waste of talent."
Chang Yuchun's golden signboard of "Marshal of the Military Farm" was the fruit of Ye Zheng's hard work and effort. Ye Zheng naturally hoped to make the best use of it.
Chen Qi and Xue Zhimo were Ye Zheng's eldest and third disciples. Chen Qi assisted Chang Yuchun in cultivating the land, while Xue Zhimo was responsible for speaking and writing, ensuring Chang Yuchun's actions maintained a moral high ground. The two had already developed a perfect rapport, and Ye Zheng was confident in allowing them to serve as apprentices and accompany Chang Yuchun.
For those who believed in practical achievements, status was unimportant; what mattered was their ability to get things done. Like Chen Lin, who had gone to Beiping with his belongings to help Chen Biao, the two were very satisfied with their current positions and had no desire to return to the imperial court as high-ranking officials.
The two of them planned to assist Chang Yuchun in dividing land and establishing military farms throughout the Ming Dynasty.
Although Chang Yuchun didn't really want to, but the Hongwu Emperor said that Chang Yuchun wanted to, so Chang Yuchun was now holding the imperial edict and seizing the time to spend with his family. He would then go north to see his eldest daughter and eldest son, and by the way, go to the military farms and labor reform camps to provide technical guidance.
In fact, with Chen Biao in the north, there is no need for Chang Yuchun to take action.
But the people in the north listened to operas and storytelling every day, and were very curious about the Tuntian Marshal Chang Yuchun. They petitioned the prefect Chen Biao and also wanted to receive the Tuntian Marshal's teachings.
The people of Peking did not so much believe that Chang Yuchun would bring them hope as they did that they wanted to "chase a star."
Zhu Yuanzhang was very happy and immediately agreed to let Chang Yuchun travel around all the lands in the Ming Dynasty that he had not yet set foot on.
Chang Yuchun: "...I really thank you, Your Majesty!"
For the first time, Chang Yuchun's loyalty to Zhu Yuanzhang wavered. Every night as he clung to Lan's bed, he pondered whether his decision to join Zhu Yuanzhang was the right one.
Of course, his mind told him that it was absolutely right, but he couldn't help but have negative thoughts.
Chen Biao happily prepared to return to Peiping with Chang Yuchun, and then hung a large red banner at the gate of Peiping that read "Welcome Marshal Chang to Peiping for technical guidance."
Uncle Chang's expression must have been distorted at that time, right? Chen Biao smiled evilly in his heart.
"Ah, I also want to go to Beiping with you." Wang Xi was still as carefree as ever. "The Secretariat is so boring with all the paperwork every day."
Liu Ji said, "The Emperor intends to train you to be the Vice Prime Minister, and you still think it's boring?"
Wang Xi said, "If it's boring, then it's boring. How about we switch?"
Liu Ji said firmly: "No change!"
Liu Ji was now only the chief censor, responsible for supervising all officials and finding fault with Zhu Yuanzhang.
But his job now is not to find fault, but to finally start planning the "Da Ming Academy" that he has been dreaming of and organize a debate among literati.
As the organizer, Liu Ji would also personally come out to liven up the atmosphere. He had prepared many elegant curse words, hoping to repeat Chen Biao's miracle.
How could it be more interesting to go to the Secretariat to help Zhu Yuanzhang clean up the mess than to debate with the scholars of the world?
Liu Ji had long been annoyed with those people who looked down on Zhu Yuanzhang but wanted to be officials in the Ming Dynasty. This time he must dampen their arrogance.
Wang Xi snorted coldly: "Stingy. Senior brother, why don't you say anything about him!"
Liu Ji said, "Senior Brother Ji and Mr. Zhu Yunsheng are old, and your senior brother is going to take over their duties and go to the military camp to enlighten the soldiers. Only you are left behind."
Wang Xi widened his eyes and looked at Song Lian in disbelief.
Song Lian responded with a refined smile: "It was recommended by Mr. Ji and Mr. Zhu."
Wang Xi immediately pulled Ye Chen aside and said, "Why did you ask me to be alone? I have Ye Jingyuan with me! Ye Jingyuan is also the historian. Could he possibly leave Yingtian?!"
Ye Chen pulled his arm out of Wang Xi's grip, straightened his sleeves, and said, "I do want to stay in Yingtian, but Gansu and Shanxi have already been settled, and the lord has asked Hu Dahai to guard the Hetao area. He insisted on asking me to go there to help him govern the Hetao area, and I am helpless."
Ye Chen sighed. He didn't want to either. But Hu Dahai had cried, made a scene, and even threatened to hang himself, saying he couldn't even learn to read, so how could he be a good local official? Even if it weren't for him, for the people of Hetao who had suffered so much from the Yuan Dynasty, Ye Chen had to help him.
After Hu Dahai learned a few hundred words and could barely read on his own, he didn't learn anything else, but he became more and more skilled at flattering people.
Wang Xi was dumbfounded: "Am I the only one left?"
Everyone nodded.
Liu Ji said, "This is a good thing. How can there be so many high-ranking officials from the same place in the Secretariat? Be careful that the Emperor will treat us as fellow villagers and kill us all at once."
Wang Xi: "...What does this have to do with you leaving me to toil away at paperwork in the Secretariat?"
Everyone smiled.
A few people from eastern Zhejiang were bullying the youngest, Wang Xi. Zhu Sheng and Li Shanchang, who were planning to retire in a few years, sighed deeply.
Chen Biao was puzzled: "Mr. Zhu, Uncle Li, why are you sighing? Are you in trouble? Is there anything I can help you with?"
Ji Renshou smiled and said, "You can really help. They saw that Jiangnan was a land of outstanding people and talented people, and they were lamenting the lack of culture and education in the north."
Chen Biao understood.
Although there are no local factions in the Ming Dynasty officialdom yet, everyone has selfish desires. Seeing that all the high-ranking officials in the court are from the south, Zhu Sheng and Li Shanchang can't help feeling sad.
Ji Renshou added, "Zhu Yunsheng and Lord Li's concerns are also my concerns. The court cannot be dominated by one party. The positions of officials must be balanced, otherwise it will not be a good thing."
Ministers from the same region inevitably share a common interest and have their own concerns about what they do. The emperor would certainly feel wary of the court being dominated by scholars from a certain region. This would be bad for both the court and the ministers themselves.
Chen Biao said, "During the Yuan Dynasty's imperial examinations, many Jinshi were from the north. In terms of culture, the north isn't necessarily that much worse than the south, right?"
Li Shanchang smiled bitterly, "The Yuan people were wary of the south, so they recruited fewer scholars from the south. Almost all the northern Confucian scholars were absorbed into the Yuan court. Even if the emperor didn't mind, they would still hesitate about their own moral integrity if they were immediately appointed as officials in the Ming Dynasty."
Chen Biao hadn't anticipated this. Only after Li Shanchang's explanation did he realize that it was difficult for scholars to immediately switch to another master, and it would be difficult for them to be trusted. Northern scholars and officials would likely wait until the next emperor came before they were willing to serve.
Chen Biao scratched his head: "What a trouble. Fortunately, it has nothing to do with me. Let the emperor worry about it. I believe he will have a solution!"
Even several scholars in eastern Zhejiang stopped their internal fighting and stared at Chen Biao in silence.
Chen Biao was puzzled: "Is there something wrong with what I said?"
Liu Ji said, "That's right. Indeed, let the emperor worry about it. He is already the emperor, and this is a national policy that he should think carefully about."
Chen Biao nodded vigorously: "That's right."
Song Lian asked, "Biao'er, if it were you, what would you do?"
Chen Biao said, "I don't know. I wouldn't think about such a troublesome thing."
After saying that, Chen Biao knocked his head, pretending that his mind was empty.
Song Lian was helpless, but he didn't dare to continue asking.
They changed the subject and talked about what people in Yingtian City were talking about the most in recent days.
That was naturally the story of Zhang Shicheng and his wife who both committed suicide, leaving behind only a pair of young children.
Speaking of this, Liu Ji couldn't help but complain: "The emperor is simply... ah, messing around!"
Chen Biao immediately pricked up his ears: "What's going on?"
Li Shanchang asked, "Didn't your father tell you?"
Chen Biao said: "My father hasn't been home recently. I don't know what he is busy with."
Everyone thought, what are you busy with? Of course, it's this matter.
Zhang Shicheng's treatment was simple. Zhu Yuanzhang planned to bury him in Yingtian with the ceremony of a duke.
Liu is very difficult to deal with.
Zhang Shicheng's former generals believed that Liu Shishi was loyal to Zhang Shicheng and should be buried with him. As for the murder of Zhang Shixin, Liu Shishi believed that Zhang Shixin had killed Zhang Shicheng, and that avenging her husband was not a problem. Furthermore, Zhang Shixin's entry into Liu Shishi's room alone might have been an attempt at evil, and Liu Shishi was acting in self-defense.
However, the Zhang family clan and most scholars believed that Liu should not be buried with Zhang Shicheng.
First, Liu actually agreed to live in Zhang Shixin's house. Even if it was for revenge, it was also to seduce Zhang Shixin with her beauty and reduce his vigilance. Liu's seduction of Zhang Shixin was already a betrayal of Zhang Shicheng;
Furthermore, Zhang Shixin surrendered the city to the Ming Dynasty and was a meritorious official of the Ming Dynasty. Liu killed a meritorious official of the Ming Dynasty and was a criminal. How could a criminal be treated with courtesy? Who would dare to surrender to the Ming Dynasty in the future?
Third, Zhang Shixin was the only one left in this generation of the Zhang family, and he was also Zhang Shicheng's most beloved brother. Liu killed Zhang Shixin just to vent her personal anger, which went against Zhang Shicheng's wishes and also put the Zhang family into crisis.
The Zhang clan was the most agitated. They had lived a comfortable life with Zhang Shicheng for so many years that they had become accustomed to a life of luxury. Even after Zhang Shixin surrendered to the Ming Dynasty and became a high-ranking official, they were still able to live a comfortable life. Now that both Zhang Shicheng and Zhang Shixin were dead, would the Zhang clan be reduced to peasants again?
