Xue An

  "Mr. Chen, several of the Zheng family members have agreed to hand over the newly arrived immigrants." After using the authority of the regent and the temptation of money, Zheng Kezang finally managed to calm down a group of Zheng family's courtiers. He immediately sent someone to invite Chen Yonghua over. "Next, we will still need to trouble Mr. Chen with the follow-up matters on this case." Chen Yonghua also let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but he was too optimistic. "Mr. Chen, my father appointed me as regent and told me to follow you to learn about governance. Shouldn't I come up with a schedule, that kind of daily routine that outlines what time I should do what and what I should study?"

  Although Chen Yonghua did not intend to make Zheng Kecang a puppet, he was still caught off guard by Zheng's request. Just as he was about to mumble something and go through the motions, Zheng continued: "Before we discuss this schedule, I have a few things to tell Mr. Chen first. Firstly, regarding the children's camp, I will be going there every other day, and on inspection days, it would be best if Mr. Chen didn't arrange anything major."

  "Secondly, Mr. Chen also knows that I still have some interest in the Ministry of Works, and Governor Yang has just gone to Qiongzhou, so if possible, I would like to take charge of the Ministry of Works as well. As for other departments, I only want to know their composition and procedures, and leave the specific supervision to others. I'll just take a look at some documents. If Mr. Chen thinks it's necessary for me to know, he can also send officials from that department to explain things to me in detail. However, I will only listen and not make any judgments, and generally afternoons are more suitable, as mornings I still need to follow Master Fu to continue reading."

  Zheng Kezang's words gave Chen Yonghua an excuse for not taking out his schedule on the spot, but it made him feel a bit embarrassed.

  Here is the translation:

  Firstly, Zheng Kechang's tone was somewhat overbearing or arrogant, but this can be understood. After all, he was a 15-year-old boy who suddenly became someone with great power and influence, so it's normal for him to speak bluntly due to his youth and inexperience. As he gains more experience in life, he will naturally change and become more refined, so there's no need to worry.

  Secondly, Chen Yonghua's re-request for Zheng Kechang to take over as regent was not only a representation of the Chen family apologizing to Zhu Jin for Chen Xiwu's dismissal but also partly intended to use government affairs to restrain Zheng Kechang's mind and prevent him from indulging in heretical thoughts again. However, looking at it now, Zheng Kechang seems to be doing his own thing without any restraint, which makes Chen Yonghua feel somewhat heartbroken and worried.

  However, Chen Yonghua was a self-proclaimed non-chancellor chancellor. With his own plans in mind, he naturally couldn't directly oppose Zheng Kechang's words. After some thought, Chen Yonghua expressed: "Yuanshi, inspecting the Tongziying and having officials teach Yuanshi are all easy to say, but as for concurrently managing the Ministry of Works, should we still report to the Emperor?"

  "It's not that troublesome," Zheng Kezang chuckled, thinking he knew what Chen Yonghua was worried about. "The personnel of the Ministry of Works will not be arbitrarily controlled by me, it's just that with this title of concurrent management, it's more convenient to go to the iron workshop and cement kiln to take a look. Moreover, I have plans to use cement to repair roads and build bridges, first repairing the roads between the two states and Anping, then repairing the roads from each state capital to each county, slowly extending to Gongshun's Shefan, old military villages and new civilian villages, making the entire Chengtian Prefecture accessible in all directions."

  "How much is this going to cost?" Chen Yonghua was stunned by Zheng Kecang's grand plan, and subconsciously linked it with Qin Shi Huang's construction of the Straight Road, Sui Yangdi's repair of the Grand Canal, and Zheng Kecang's plan. "No way, absolutely not, Dongning doesn't have such manpower or financial resources, Yuanzi mustn't be reckless and impulsive, if this shakes the foundations of the country, how can I and Yuanzi face the Emperor and our ancestors?"

  "Mr. Chen, please calm down." Zheng Kezang hurriedly explained to Chen Yonghua, whose blood vessels were about to burst. "This plan, I didn't think it would be completed in just one year, this is only a long-term plan, and it can't be done all at once, it needs to be implemented in stages, and it will take at least three to five years to see any results." After explaining, the benefits of repairing the road were also made clear, but of course, they couldn't use phrases like "to get rich, one must first repair the roads". "Mr. Chen, if this road is repaired, our control over the entire Taiwan will be even more solid, not to mention being able to travel from dawn till dusk, at least in case of emergencies in the north and south, it won't spread chaos, and Taiwan is only so big, Dongning is just a small part of it, if the road is opened up, it will be easy to travel, and we can bring all of Taiwan under our control, and our chances of recovering the mainland and restoring the Ming dynasty will increase."

  "Ah!" Chen Yonghua slowly calmed down, he concentrated his mind and thought about what Zheng Kezang had just said, connecting road repair with the relocation of Taiwan. At this point, Zheng Kezang's plan was already clear on paper. As soon as he thought of this, Chen Yonghua compromised. "I understand, but the prince must still consider the national strength, absolutely cannot be too hasty."

  "So we need to explore a little and repair a little, first inside then outside, first south then north, slowly. Zheng Kecang's face showed a hint of joy, clearly understanding Chen Yonghua's implicit meaning. So Zheng Kecang stood up and bowed deeply to Chen Yonghua. 'Thank you, Mr. Chen, for your praise. I am young and ignorant, please teach me from time to time, and help me make up for my shortcomings.'"

  ??”

  Chen Yonghua left after Zheng Kezang repeatedly promised not to come uninvited, but Zheng felt that he had forgotten something. However, thinking back on what he had just said, he couldn't figure out where the mistake was. Feeling a bit anxious and confused, he put down his pen and walked into the courtyard: "Jin Shi Jiu, prepare my horse?"

  The dull thud accompanied by a shout that was almost a scream should have startled the gatekeeper, but it seemed to fall into the sea like a stone, and there was no movement inside the tightly closed gate. However, Zheng Ke's eyebrows were furrowed as he urged the crowd in front of the stone: "Smash! Keep smashing, if the person still doesn't come out, then smash open the door!"

  Upon receiving Zheng Kezang's order, the accompanying officials at the Wang Mansion became even more vigorous in their knocking, and the loud banging on the door was so intense that even passersby outside the alleyway heard it and peeked inside. However, upon seeing a group of fierce-looking officials surrounding a young man riding a horse, they knew he must be someone important, so they pretended not to see him.

  But this way also has its advantages, at least the people in the hospital finally heard it, and soon a hurried footsteps came over, followed by an old voice: "Coming, coming, don't smash, don't smash."

  Although the big gate, which was once bustling with people coming and going, did not open, a small door on the side opened a crack, and a white-haired head stretched out to take a look outside. The old man let out a mournful wail: "Heavens! It's finally come to this! What kind of sin is this? The Xue family has been serving the king for many years, but now they've fallen to...?"

  The old man's words were interrupted by a guard: "What's the point of talking so much nonsense, open the door quickly!"

  The old man resignedly wiped away his tears, then immediately opened the door. Taking advantage of the moment when Chen Yonghua's guards rushed in, the old man turned and ran inside, shouting: "Disaster has come! Disaster has come! The government is bringing the emperor's edict, this time it's really going to be a family extermination! Heaven, why don't you open your eyes?"

  Zheng Kezang dismounted his horse and crossed the gate, just in time to hear the faint sound of Lao Cangtou's wailing. He furrowed his brow, what was going on here? However, the other party had already run away without a trace. Zheng Kezang naturally couldn't let the guards rush over to stop them, otherwise, a group of people would have rushed over with great fanfare, which would be almost like a house raid.

  Passing through the sedan hall and walking through the main hall, there was no one to be seen along the way. Zheng Kezang was still in doubt when he suddenly saw a group of people wearing white mourning clothes kneeling at the entrance of the inner court. There were old and young among them, with black heads densely packed together, numbering around twenty or so. The old man who had just been shouting loudly was also kneeling at the back of the crowd.

  "Madam Xue, the widow, has brought all twenty-one members of her household to pay their respects to Your Excellency's emissary," a middle-aged woman kneeling on the ground with a tray in her hands said in an extremely calm tone, as if she were talking about cats and dogs. "The Xue family's assets and population are all accounted for here, please have the emissary inspect them."

  Zheng Kezang pushed aside the guard in front of him, walked over and picked up a clear book from the plate, flipped through a few pages, and casually threw it back onto the plate: "Hehe, everything is already prepared, what? Are you all thinking of dying or something? Unfortunately, unfortunately, you've misread the situation. I'm only here to catch an escaped soldier, not to ransack your house or take people away for questioning."

  "Ah!" Zheng Kezang's words were like a huge stone falling into the already stagnant pond, instantly stirring up a massive wave. The crowd of kneeling Xue clan members looked up, and among them, Xue An, who knew Zheng Kezang, exclaimed: "Camp officer!"

  "Yingguan?" The Xue family members, of course, knew who the Yingguan was that Xue An mentioned. Their expressions changed slightly as they became restless and exchanged glances with each other. Only the middle-aged woman at the forefront hesitantly confirmed in a uncertain tone. "Is it Yuānzǐ? Didn't Yuānzǐ come to execute the entire Xue family?"

  "Which ear did I say such a thing with?" Zheng Kezang said with a straight face. "I am now the dignified Regent, is it possible for the Regent to personally take charge of searching and arresting people? You are absurd, but you also want to drag me in, this is simply unreasonable." Zheng Kezang looked very angry, but it was precisely this attitude that made people believe him. A stone in Xue's heart fell to the ground, and many people could not withstand the stimulation and even fainted on the spot. "Look, look, all of you leave, except for Xue An and Madame Xue, everyone else get out!"

  The Xue family, who had narrowly escaped death, did not have time to confront the old man who had falsely reported enemy information. One by one, they retreated with gratitude and good fortune, leaving only Xue An anxiously following Madame Xue to stay in the inner hall. Zheng Kezang didn't look at them either, finding a place to sit down with a thud. After all, Madame Xue was the mistress of the inner hall, and after the initial panic, she regained her composure.

  "Originally, wasn't it just said that this was about capturing a fleeing soldier?" Madam Xue, who had sat back down in her main seat, asked with some deliberation. "Xue An is a member of the Xue family, and as long as the Emperor does not issue an order to deal with the Xue family, he will be considered a prisoner waiting for punishment every day, and needs to be confined to avoid suspicion. So, isn't what Yuanzi said about fleeing soldiers somewhat excessive?"

  "Mrs. Xue is right," Zheng Kezang sneered. "But I've told them, once they enter the camp, each person only has one chance to regret it. If they miss it, they'll be my soldiers for life. Others I may not care about, but my soldiers, I will take care of." As he spoke, Zheng Kezang pointed at Xue An. "Follow me back, and I won't show mercy to deserters either."

  Xue An looked at Madame Xue, who nodded thoughtfully: "An'er, the one right thing your father did in his life was to send you to the children's camp. Now, hurry back with Yuanzi and accept your punishment!"

  Xue An suddenly understood and immediately knelt down with Zheng Kezang: "Commander, save the Xue family!"

  "Get up!" Zheng Kezang stood up and kicked him. "Saving your whole family, I'm not sure if I have the skill, but saving you is still a good story to tell, okay, stop acting like a child, follow me back to camp, don't think you can escape punishment, you'll at least get 40 military rods!"

  Xue An stood up straight, tears streaming down his face, and gazed at Madame Xue with a reluctant expression. Seeing Xue An's state, Zheng Kezang knew he couldn't move forward, so he signaled the brave guards behind him to bring him out. After dragging and pulling Xue An away, Zheng Kezang finally spoke: "Madame Xue, Xue An is my soldier. I'll plead for mercy on his behalf to the Emperor, but even if his death sentence can be commuted, it's unlikely he'll escape punishment. You should prepare yourselves and seek good fortune."