Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 407: As stupid as a pig!
"Is Xia Zhibai so powerful?" Li Qi was a little stunned.

Li Shanchang did not explain.

He raised his head, looked at the budding peach tree, and said calmly: "For the time being, you should stay quiet. Don't walk around and don't have too much contact with people outside. The situation is unclear at the moment. If you make a mistake, you will be crushed to pieces."

Li Qi nodded quickly and said, "Don't worry, father. I'll remember it."

Li Shanchang shook his head.

He held his hands and returned to the study.

Li Qi hesitated for a moment and followed him into the study.

Li Qi whispered, "Father, when I came back, I heard something. Xia Zhibai often used the sea route to send information, which made many local officials resentful. The court originally intended to ban the sea, but he did this and the ban on the sea was in name only."

"And in order to maintain this sea route, local officials have spent a lot of time and money."

"Some officials in the south wanted me to pass on a message to my father, asking if my father could tell His Majesty not to let Xia Zhibai mess around, which is not only costing the people money, but also distracting the local officials."

"By sea?" Li Shanchang frowned.

Li Qi nodded.

Li Shanchang looked at Li Qi closely. Li Qi lowered his head, afraid that Li Shanchang would notice something, and quickly explained: "Father, I didn't accept any benefits, but you also know that because of your "reminder", many people in the south have lost a lot of money. Now they have a request, and it is difficult for me to refuse."

"After all, this isn't a big deal."

"Just a casual remark."

Li Shanchang did not comment, and said in a cold voice: "Just a casual remark? If it was really a casual remark, they would have written a letter themselves, and why would they use you to let me tell His Majesty? This clearly shows that they have something to hide!"

Li Qi was stunned and said uncertainly: "This shouldn't be the case, right?"

"What else can the sea route do? Aren't there Japanese pirates overseas? This is also to prevent them."

Li Qi explained.

Li Shanchang was unmoved. He said in a deep voice, "The imperial court banned the sea voyage because it did not want to have any dealings with the Japanese pirates. However, the local officials may not have the same intention. They are probably just worried that Xia Zhibai's sea route would have unstable sailing times and he would see something he shouldn't see on the sea."

Li Qi's expression suddenly changed.

He said anxiously, "Father, this is impossible, right?"

"Are local officials so bold?"

Li Shanchang snorted coldly, looking at Li Qi with a shocked expression, and said with some regret: "They don't have the courage? What don't they dare to do? If the local officials didn't dare, how could there be the Empty Seal Case and the Guo Huan Case? Isn't it just that the local officials are too bold?!"

"You don't need to mention this anymore."

"I won't agree to it, and I can't agree to it."

"Do these local officials really think that the officials of the imperial court are fools? Do they really think that Xia Zhibai is a fool? Doesn't Xia Zhibai know that Yuhang is faster by water or land than by sea? The reason why he wants to build a sea route is intentional."

"They are trying to burn your father and me to death!"

"If His Majesty thinks that I am secretly colluding with them, and if they really find out something, your father will die without knowing how he died. How dare you agree to such an obviously stupid thing?" Li Shanchang glared at Li Qi.

Li Qi's face turned pale with fear, and he said anxiously, "Father, I really don't know this."

"If I knew what these bastards were up to, I would never agree to it. Father, you must believe me."

Li Shanchang waved his sleeves and said, "Okay, don't mention this anymore. Keep it to yourself. Don't tell anyone. Just pretend it never happened. If you took any benefits from others, return them as soon as possible. Since Xia Zhibai has set his sights on you, it is very likely that His Majesty has also noticed it." "The Jinyiwei are in the south right now. You don't think they are going south for a spring outing?"

Li Qi quickly said, "I understand, kid."

"I will never let this matter bring trouble to my father."

Li Shanchang sighed and said, "You are tired after the long journey. Go down and rest first. You should stay at home and don't go anywhere or meet other people. The affairs of the court are enough to worry me."

"You still don't stop."

"Do you really want to piss me off to death?"

Li Qi lowered his head in embarrassment, not daring to breathe.

He bowed to Li Shanchang and retreated respectfully.

Li Shanchang sat on the chair, feeling extremely irritated. The affairs of the court already made him uneasy, and Li Qi caused him trouble everywhere. Moreover, he did not believe what Li Qi said at all. How could the court not know that Li Qi, such a grown-up, was going to the south?
It is even very likely that the court has investigated clearly what Li Qi did and who he met in the south.

If Li Qi was just going to clean up the mess, he wouldn't have to worry about anything. But Li Qi even went to get involved in the sea route. Isn't this courting death?

Do you really think Your Majesty is incapable of lifting a knife?
Do you really think that Your Majesty dare not make any move on your family?

Before, Xia Zhibai reminded himself that he could only be 'Sima Yi' or 'Li Si' for now, and he was actually still a little unwilling to accept it. But now that he saw the idiot Li Qi, he felt more and more that his future was not going to be good. No matter how cautious he was, he could not guarantee that these idiots would not cause trouble for him.

Li Shanchang was also a little annoyed.

He prides himself on being smart and resourceful, so how come all his sons are so stupid?

Others have put the fire pit there, but you still insist on jumping into it, fearing that you will be dragged down.

"idiot."

"I, Li Shanchang, have been famous all my life, so how could I have given birth to such a stupid son?" Li Shanchang howled to the sky, his eyes filled with grief and resentment. Unfortunately, all his resentment turned into a long sigh in the end.

Be it reluctance or resentment.

What else could he do? He could only grit his teeth and accept it.

After all, he is his own son, he can't just stand by and watch him die.

However, the room left for him became smaller and smaller. Li Shanchang even pessimistically believed that he might be led by Xia Zhibai in the future, because Xia Zhibai was obviously on the same side as His Majesty.

Li Shanchang lowered his head, looking a little lonely.

He sat on the chair, his hands on the handles, and remained silent for a long time.

During the period when Li Shanchang remained silent, the matter of erecting monuments for the soldiers who participated in the major battles of the Ming Dynasty was finally settled. No matter how much the civil officials in the court opposed or raised opinions, they were unable to change Zhu Yuanzhang's mind.

With the issuance of funds from the imperial court, everything began to proceed in an orderly manner.

It is also difficult for military generals to be united.

Some people sent their own children to supervise.

As the construction progressed, there was no longer any objection to the matter.

(End of this chapter)