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

Chapter 286 The Greasy Old Man

Liang Chu was in no hurry to speak, and asked Chen Ce: "I have a lot to say, so I need to speak slowly. It will be a kind of support for you, and will be of great benefit to your future life."

"Go in and talk."

Chen Ce: “…”

It would be great if the Zhang brothers were here. Chen Ce still said with a stiff upper lip: "Please."

After Liang Chu sat down, Chen Ce politely poured him a cup of tea. Liang Chu nodded slightly and said, "You know etiquette and justice, and your future is limitless."

After a pause, Liang Chu began to speak at length, teaching Chen Ce: "I know you a little bit. Yes, you are a good candidate. Let me be frank. I admire you."

If it were someone else, hearing the old scholar from the Hanlin Academy say that he admires him, he would probably be flattered, because this would be a real political resource in the future. However, Chen Ce had the most such thing and did not care about it.

Apart from the fact that he has extremely strong political connections, he also doesn't have many years left to live, so he doesn't take these things seriously.

It is not enough to understand a person's temperament from his appearance, but from his conversation, we can know that Liang Chu is really greasy! He is a veteran official.

Liang Chu continued to speak, saying to Chen Ce: "Since Emperor Taizu founded the dynasty, he has set the basic national policy of emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce. Merchants still have a low status in today's society."

"Even though you have done well enough, you still can't get rid of the reputation of a businessman. Don't worry, I can recommend you to study at the Imperial College in the future. This is the first step in your transformation. The business in your hands can be handed over to someone else to manage."

"You did a good job in not exposing your identity to the point where everyone knows about it."

Liang Chu looked down on business from the bottom of his heart, but what he didn't know was that the Ming Dynasty was developing rapidly and traditional ideas could no longer keep up with the pace of development.

Chen Ce roughly knew why Qin Hong could become a powerful official like a minister, while Liang Chu could only study in the Hanlin Academy.

If Emperor Hongzhi really wanted to promote this greasy old scholar to a powerful official at the ministerial level, it would not be a good thing for the country.

Liang Chu smiled and said, "You are still young and immature, so it is inevitable that you may not be thoughtful when handling things. It doesn't matter. In the future, you will have more contacts and invite your colleagues to drink more when you enter the Imperial College. Your social skills will improve."

“When that time comes, you will find that the social circle you come into contact with is completely different from the one you have now.”

"Everyone has their own social circle. Don't try to fit in if your circle is different from yours. This will make it difficult for you to move forward."

Chen Ce really couldn't stand Liang Chu's greasy feeling and couldn't listen to him anymore. He didn't know what he was going to say. He talked for a long time but didn't get to the point. He just kept showing off how awesome he was and how wide his social circle was.

I get it. I know you’re great. Stop bragging.

Seeing that Chen Ce was listening seriously, Liang Chu thought that Chen Ce had understood and said with a smile, "For example, the daughter of Lord Ning."

Finally, they started to talk about business. Chen Ce wanted to hear what Liang Chu was going to do.

"Ning Junrui treats you well. After all, your two families have a history of friendship. Junrui is a man who values ​​friendship and loyalty, and he has never forgotten his roots."

"But your marriage with Miss Ning has ended. Have you ever thought about the reason?"

Chen Ce nodded and said, "Yes, because I am sick."

Liang Chu: “…”

"Haha, Xiao Chen, don't complain or feel sorry for yourself."

He thought Chen Ce was just being angry, so he said this. He didn't know that Chen Ce was really sick.

"I'm going to say something unpleasant, don't take it to heart, and don't blame anyone. The reason is that you are from different circles. If you really get married, it will harm you."

"Lord Ning is a doctor in the Ministry of Rites. What about you? What is your family background? If you really want to get married, how will Lord Ning's colleagues and friends view you?"

"Since ancient times, people have always emphasized matching up with each other..." Chen Ce suddenly asked Liang Chu, "Is Lord Liang from Dunhuang?"

Liang Chu shook his head and said, "No, I'm from Shunde, Guangzhou."

I thought you were from Dunhuang. There are so many murals.

"I have a beloved disciple named Lun Wenxu. He and Miss Ning..."

Chen Ce said, "I understand. Sir Liang came here this time to tell me that Lun Zhuangyuan and Miss Ning are a perfect match made in heaven. He wanted me to stop wishful thinking and stop disturbing their marriage. Is that what he meant?"

"Your Excellency could be more direct, there's no need to be so tactful."

Liang Chu: ...Aren’t you afraid that you can’t bear it mentally?
He smiled and said nothing, which was considered as his agreement.

Chen Ce said, "I understand, I know, I am not pestering Miss Ning, Lun Zhuangyuan does not need to belittle himself, just go and get married boldly, and I also have a girl I love, the girl next door, she is very good, simple and unsophisticated, just like me, we are both ordinary people."

"Are you satisfied with Lord Liang's answer?"

Liang Chu stroked his beard and said, "I know... I still say the same thing, if you want to go to the Imperial College..."

Chen Ce bowed his hands gratefully and said, "Thank you, Sir Liang. If you have this need, I will definitely trouble you. Is there anything else, Sir?"

Liang Chu shook his head and said, "No more."

Chen Ce said, "Then I won't delay Sir Liang. Sir Liang has taken the time out of his busy schedule to help me. I am very grateful. Please."

Liang Chu nodded, stood up and left. After walking for a distance, he seemed to remember something... He still doesn't know where I live, so how can he trouble me in the future?

When he returned, Chen Ce's yard was closed. No matter how hard he knocked on the door, no one answered. Liang Chu guessed that Chen Ce might have gone out.

……

In the 13th year of Hongzhi, at the end of March, the leader of the Left Guard of Jianzhou, Aisin-Gioro Tuo Luo, wrote a letter to the Hongzhi Emperor of the suzerain state, begging the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty to allow the people of Jianzhou to come to Beijing to pay tribute.

Emperor Hongzhi summoned the six ministries of the cabinet to discuss the matter, and finally the Ministry of Rites suggested allowing the Jianzhou Jurchens to pay tribute to the capital.

The two uncles of the Zhang family walked out from the harem.

Just now, the Crown Prince boasted about his friend in front of Empress Zhang and Emperor Hongzhi, saying that Li Mengyang was his friend's student, and his friend just said a few words lightly, which made Li Mengyang dare not act rashly.

"Brother, Chen Ce is so awesome!" Zhang Yanling was full of admiration.

"But I have a question. That guy only suppressed Li Mengyang temporarily. This bastard is not kind to us brothers. What if he regrets it one day and continues to mess with us?"

Zhang Heling was stunned for a moment, and said with a look of fear: "That's right! Second brother, you are right! You are finally not so stupid anymore!"

"How to do?"

Zhang Yanling said with a fierce face: "I don't know, big brother, you are always very smart, you should think of a solution."

Zhang Heling was silent, but soon he smiled slightly and said lightly: "This matter... is easy."

Zhang Yanling asked hurriedly: "How do we do this?"

Zhang Heling smiled and said, "If we become Chen Ce's teacher, we will be Li Mengyang's master. Will he dare to touch us?"

(End of this chapter)