The Ming Dynasty started with saving the eldest grandson

Chapter 361 Everyone's Destiny

The two of them talked about everything in detail and it took them a long time to finish.

This gave Chen Jingke a more detailed understanding of Temasek's affairs.

A naive person who thinks that once everything is back on track, those people will be able to do business in peace.

A mindless protector who helps cover up the problem even though he knows there is a problem.

Eventually things got out of control.

He did not blame the two, but said to Xu Chai Lao:

"Write down your experience there. This is a very vivid example that can help the court avoid many detours."

Xu Chai Lao said ashamedly: "Yes, I will write it as soon as possible."

Chen Jingke nodded and said, "Have you reported to the government office?"

Xu Chai Lao said quickly, "I went, but I just took a holiday for the New Year. The Ministry of Personnel asked me to wait at home for a few days, and Brother Cen and I came to apologize to my companion."

Although there were people on duty in various central government offices during the Chinese New Year, most minor matters would be postponed until the end of the holiday.

The matter between Xu Chailao and Cen Xintong is not a small matter, but it is not a big deal either.

Chen Jingke asked, "What are your plans next?"

The two looked at each other and smiled bitterly. Cen Xintong replied, "My crime is unforgivable... I just hope I can avoid bringing trouble to my family."

Xu Chai Lao also said: "I am a criminal, so why should I talk about the future? I just hope that the court can forgive my family."

Chen Jingke said: "This matter is primarily my fault. I hired the wrong people, which led to today's result."

"I'm not in the habit of shirking responsibility, and you two don't need to do that."

The two of them bowed again hurriedly: "It is all the fault of our humble officials. How dare we implicate our companions."

Chen Jingke said: "Let's not talk about whether it is implicated or not. The court has its own laws for employing people."

"You two can be saved, but you will be punished accordingly."

"You..." He looked at Cen Xintong and said:

"Your identity is special and your crime is even greater. You can escape the death penalty, but you cannot escape the punishment of life. Your whole family will be exiled to Paradise Island."

Cen Xintong immediately realized that what happened on the ship that day had already reached Chen Jingke's ears.

This is tantamount to betraying your benefactor and joining others.

Instead of blaming him, Chen Jingke helped him.

This made him feel both ashamed and grateful.

"I feel ashamed to be your study partner. I wish to repay your kindness in my next life by working like a cow or a horse."

Chen Jingke ignored him and turned to Xu Chailao and said:

"You can't be an official anymore, so go to Canghai Province and be a think tank, and write down your experience."

Xu Chai Lao also stood up to express his gratitude.

After that, Chen Jingke didn't say anything else and just served tea and saw the guest off.

From the court's perspective, this matter was due to his improper use of personnel and he should take responsibility.

But from a personal perspective, I gave them so much trust, and this is what happened.

Chen Jingke is not a real saint, so how could he act like nothing happened?

You won’t be killed, but you can forget about becoming an official in the Ming Dynasty.

Allowing Xu Chailao to go to Canghai Province to serve as a staff adviser was already the last act of tolerance towards him.

From another perspective, it is also waste utilization.

After all, the experience of failure is also experience, and it is very valuable to the Ming Dynasty.

If used properly, it can help Canghai Province avoid many detours.

Cen Xintong wants to go to Qin State to seek refuge with Zhu Chong, so let's help him.

Zhu Chong will face many difficulties when he leads tens of thousands of people to Asia Minor.

There is no doubt about Cen Xintong's ability, and he has contributed whatever he could in the past.

If he died on the way due to unfamiliar climate, that was his own choice.

After watching the two leave, he got up and went to the study, where he took out the Datong Thought for a new round of revisions.

Xu Chailao and Cen Xintong both breathed a sigh of relief after walking out of the Chen Mansion's gate.

Then they all bowed deeply towards the gate without any prior agreement.

What Chen Jingke said was basically the final solution, so they and their families were saved.

Then the two found a quiet place to sit down.

Xu Chai Lao stood up and saluted first, saying, "Thank you, Brother Cen, for your help all along. I am ashamed of you."

Cen Xintong accepted his greeting and said, "Okay, this matter is over, let's not talk about it again."

"Fortunately, Chen Bandu was magnanimous and let us go."

"But from now on, we brothers will be separated from each other. I don't know if we will ever meet again."

Xu Chai Lao said with guilt: "Brother, please take care of yourself on this trip. There is still a long time to come and we will meet again."

Cen Xintong did not comment, and continued: "The Qin State was just established, and the King of Qin is in urgent need of manpower. It should not be difficult for me to get a position."

"But you, have you thought about what to do next?"

Xu Chai Lao sighed and said, "Let's go to Canghai Province first and do what Chen Bandu asked us to do."

Cen Xintong asked: "What about the future?"

Xu Chai Lao heard the hidden meaning in his words and asked, "Brother Cen, if you have any advice, please speak up. There is no need to be polite between us brothers."

Cen Xintong nodded and said, "You no longer have the opportunity to serve as an official in the Ming Dynasty."

"You come from a merchant family. Even if you were expelled from the family, you would have no chance to become an official."

"It was Chen Bandu's strong support that enabled you to become the Governor of Temasek."

"If you can achieve something there, and with the support of Chen Bandu in the court, you may be able to make up for the shortcomings of your status."

"pity……"

"It's useless now even if Chen Bandu still supports you."

Qualifications are very important. Even in times of chaos, qualifications are still important.

However, in times of chaos, people with real talent and knowledge are promoted faster.

You can even get promoted continuously in a short period of time.

In a stable regime, people are more rule-based.

The Ming Dynasty had entered the period of the second generation of monarchy, and the employment system had long been fixed.

The promotion system also has strict standards.

Even if the emperor wants to promote someone, he has to follow the standards.

Chen Jingke is still only the prince's companion so far, of course, he also has the identity of the prince consort.

In the past, he served as an aide to the emperor, offering advice and suggestions.

Officially, his status was still the Imperial Concubine's Captain and the Prince's Companion, and the officials would not say anything.

If he were to be made the Minister of one of the six ministries, or even a Cabinet Scholar, it would arouse opposition from both the government and the public.

Abilities are abilities, and rules are rules.

If you make an exception for a capable person today, someone will use it as a cover to abuse a crony tomorrow.

Xu Chailao was born into a merchant family and had never been an official in the first half of his life, so there was almost no possibility for him to become a government official.

Temasek was a newly acquired territory and people in the court did not care much about it.

With the support of Chen Jingke, he had the opportunity to achieve success overnight.

If he can achieve results, everything will be fine.

Apart from anything else, he definitely has a place in the newly established special zone, Canghai Province.

If I can make some more achievements in Canghai Province, the shortcomings in qualifications can be made up.

Unfortunately, no if.

Now there is no place for him in the Ming Dynasty officialdom.

The reason he was able to go to Canghai Province to be a staff member was because of Chen Jingke's face and his experience working in Temasek.

Xu Chai Lao naturally understood this principle, so he smiled bitterly and said, "But, do I have any choice now? I can't go back to doing business, right?"

Cen Xintong shook his head and said, "Being a businessman is a lowly profession. It's not easy to get out of it, so how can we go back?"

“Even if you don’t consider yourself, you should consider your descendants.”

"I mean, why do we have to stay in Ming? We can still display our talents in vassal states."

Xu Chai Lao's heart moved, and he asked, "Chu State?"

Cen Xintong nodded and said, "Isn't it possible? The King of Chu is determined to reform and treats you with great courtesy. If you go to him, you will definitely be valued."

Xu Chai Lao thought: "You asked me to go back to worship my parents just to test the attitude of the King of Chu towards me, right?"

Cen Xintong did not hide it and nodded and said:
"Yes, I have been following the State of Chu. I know that the King of Chu is an accomplished monarch who has always wanted to adopt new laws."

"So I asked you to go back and worship your ancestors as a test."

"There is another reason why I asked you to go back and worship your ancestors. It is to tell the world that you have not forgotten your roots."

"this point is very important."

"It is useless in normal times, but often very deadly in critical moments."

The Chinese people value their ancestors, rituals, and clans.

Even though the clan has abused me thousands of times, I must treat the clan like my first love.

How many people were bullied by their clans, and when their clans came to them for help after they became rich, they refused to accept them and were impeached and dismissed from office.

Of course, if someone is bullied and expelled from the clan, under normal circumstances it doesn’t matter if they don’t recognize each other.

But if you can put aside past grudges and take the initiative to resolve hatred, people will think much more highly of you.

The higher your position, the more important this is.

Although Xu Chailao was a Han Chinese, he had lived in Southeast Asia since he was a child and knew little about the officialdom, so he did not know this.

Cen Xintong was different. He was very clear about some of the unspoken rules in officialdom, so he suggested that Xu Chai Lao go to worship his parents.

It can be said that he really worried about Xu Chai Lao.

After thinking it through, Xu Chai Lao was moved and said, "Brother Cen is so kind...how can I repay him?"

Cen Xintong shook his head and said, "Let's not talk about these things anymore. Let's think about the future."

Xu Chai Lao said: "Brother Cen has planned so much for me, what else can I say?"

"I will go to Canghai Province first, finish what Chen Bandu asked me to do, and then go to Chu State."

Cen Xintong said with relief: "I'm glad you can figure it out. You should also contact King Chu more often when you are in Canghai Province."

Xu Chai Lao nodded, and suddenly said with guilt: "I just feel guilty about Chen Bandu's trust."

Cen Xintong said seriously: "You can repay Chen Bandu better if you go to Chu."

Xu Chai Lao was stunned for a moment and asked, "What do you mean?"

Cen Xintong said: "You are very clear about Chen Bandu's plan, with Chu and Temasek as the core, to control the entire Nanyang."

"Then spread Chinese culture in Southeast Asia and completely assimilate this place."

"You go to Chu to implement the new policy, and then cooperate with Temasek to complete the control of Nanyang."

"Then use the strength of Chu to promote Chinese culture throughout Southeast Asia."

"and……"

Having said this, he subconsciously lowered his voice and said:
"If I'm not mistaken, the Ming Dynasty is preparing to take action against the barbaric countries in Southeast Asia."

Xu Chai Lao was surprised and asked: "How did you know?"

Cen Xintong said: "The King of Qin's move against the Nanyang clan is a signal."

Xu Chai Lao was puzzled: "This..."

How come he didn't see that?
Cen Xintong explained: "You still don't understand the thinking of big shots. They never make a big fuss about useless things."

"Besides, Chen Bandu's plan is to assimilate the entire Nanyang and eradicate the Nanyang clans. Who will carry out this plan?"

Xu Chai Lao was still confused: "Now the Nanyang barbarians are nominally all vassals of the Ming Dynasty. How can the imperial court take action against them?"

Cen Xintong shook his head and said, "I don't know. I have too little information and can only analyze this much."

"But since the imperial court has done this, they must have a backup plan."

Xu Chai Lao nodded. Although he was confused, he did not doubt Cen Xintong's judgment.

If the imperial court really wanted to take action against the barbarian countries in Southeast Asia, it would indeed be an opportunity to show its strength.

What's more, the King of Chu had always been very courteous to him.

I don't want to become the prime minister directly, but I will definitely be valued.

Moreover, Luzon Island is where he has lived for decades.

Although most of the acquaintances are gone, there are still deep feelings there, so going there might be a good choice.

Thinking of this, he nodded and said, "I will pay attention to this matter. If the court is really preparing to take action against Nanyang, I will certainly cooperate."

Cen Xintong warned: "Remember to hurry, we must go to Chu before the court takes action."

Xu Chai Lao nodded and said, "I understand."

After that, the two began to pack their bags and sell their property in Daming.

Four days later, the respective punishments were announced. Xu Chailao was dismissed from office, and Cen Xintong and his family were exiled to Qin State's Paradise Island.

The two went to say goodbye to Chen Jingke again, and then left Beijing and embarked on a new journey.

Cen Xintong took his family to Quanzhou first, where they waited for more than three months, and then set off for Jile Island on the imperial fleet sailing to the West.

It took us nearly half a year to reach our destination, stopping and starting along the way.

When he stepped onto the island, he felt like he had entered another world.

From the environment to the flora and fauna, it is completely different from what I have seen before.

But one thing he was sure of was that the island was small and had a harsh climate, making it not suitable for establishing a country.

Why did the Supreme Emperor and the Emperor establish the Qin State here?
Is it really exile?

Cen Xintong didn't believe it at all.

So… looking at the map in his hand, his gaze rested on Asia Minor and the surrounding lands.

I'm afraid this is the real purpose of asking King Qin to come here.

Thinking of this, his expression became excited.

The bigger Qin's goal is, the more room it has to maneuver.

He did not stay any longer and found the officials at the dock and asked them to help inform the King of Qin.

About half a month later, Zhu Chong finally met him.

After the meeting, Zhu Chong didn't say a single polite word, but directly assigned the task:
"Xinghong went to Asia Minor to gather intelligence. As a woman, it is inconvenient for her to do things. You go and help her."

Cen Xintong immediately accepted the order, settled his family, and then took a boat to his destination.

The ship did not go directly to the Asia Minor mainland, but instead docked at a prosperous island in a bay.

Here he saw a completely different Xinghong.

She was wearing local clothes and had a calm and confident smile on her face.

Seeing Cen Xintong, she smiled and said, "Captain Cen, you are really here."

Cen Xintong bowed and said, "That's all in the past. You can just call me by my name."

"I am here to assist you in your work by order of the King."

"If you have any mission, please tell me."

Xinghong's expression also became serious, and she said, "The island under our feet is called Basilin."

"It has precious fresh water and is rich in pearls. It is also an important trade transit point and a springboard to the mainland."

"This place was ruled by several great powers before."

"After the Mongols arrived, the dominant country here was destroyed, and Basrin became a semi-unowned land."

"It is now controlled by several barbarian tribes."

"Our first task is to spend money to buy this island."

Cen Xintong did not ask stupid questions like "What if the other party doesn't sell it?", but said excitedly:

"Okay, I will cooperate with Miss Xinghong to take over this island."

(End of this chapter)