The Ming Dynasty started with saving the eldest grandson

Chapter 401 Someone Must Take the Blame

After the emperor issued an edict of repentance and ordered the Nanyang Navy to fight against the rebellious forces, discussions on the matter continued.

Everyone's enthusiasm for discussion has become even higher.

Wherever there are people gathering, there will be discussions about the Chinese ethnic group.

Scholars, especially those who aspire to a career in politics, are even more enthusiastic about this topic.

After all, the imperial examination will be held next year. It’s obvious that the test questions next year will most likely be related to this matter.

If we discuss and study this issue now, we will be able to gain a great advantage in the imperial examination next year.

Half of the space in Ming Weekly was reserved for related articles, which further fueled the trend.

"Qin Feng Wu Yi" has also become the most popular poem nowadays.

The military requires everyone to be able to sing, and during normal gatherings everyone is required to sing in chorus.

Scholars also often mention it.

The prostitutes in brothels and brothels also followed the trend and adapted the song into various ditties for singing.

In the past, when visiting brothels, people liked to listen to Shi Ba Mo, but now they must listen to Qin Feng.

"Who says I have no clothes? I share my clothes with you. When the king raises his army, I will sharpen my spears and halberds. I share the same hatred with you."

Walking on the street, listening to the street children singing Qin Feng Wu Yi in their childish voices, Chen Jingke felt sincerely happy.

In the past, if you wanted to judge whether a song was popular or not, you just had to walk on the street.

It's playing all over the streets, so it must be one of the most popular ones.

This principle also applied in ancient times. The nursery rhymes sung by children playing on the street were basically the most mainstream voices at the time.

"I didn't expect that our promotion of the Huaxia concept for so long would not be as effective as the Nanyang incident."

Zhu Xiongying sneered, "Tsk, if the sixth pancake is full, the first five are wasted, right?"

"Without our efforts over the years, how could there be such an explosion today?"

Chen Jingke laughed and said, "That's indeed the truth. After so many years of promotion, the concept of Huaxia is actually already well known to everyone."

"It just lacks an opportunity to ignite everyone's emotions."

"Even if there hadn't been the Nanyang Incident, something else would have happened to trigger all this."

Xu Yungong nodded, and couldn't help but recall the changes in public opinion in the army.

In the past, the envoys gave lectures to everyone every day when they talked about national policies, and everyone really enjoyed listening.

After all, this matter concerns personal interests.

But when it comes to concepts like China, ethnicity, and defending the country, the effect is not very good.

This can be heard from daily conversations.

What about defending the country and protecting the people? Do you really believe it?
If it weren't for the purpose of gaining military merit, who would be willing to put their head on the belt and join the army?

But now public opinion has changed, and defending the country and fighting for the ethnic group have become the most common words heard by everyone.

No matter whether they believe these words in their hearts or not, when saying these words becomes 'correct', many things have changed.

What's more, he could see that everyone's enthusiasm for the war was obviously higher.

"I have never seen soldiers so eager to fight..."

"From this we can see that they are not just talking about it, but have begun to believe it."

"I believe that the soldiers of the Shenji Camp will be ten or a hundred times braver than before when they go on the battlefield."

"Based on past experience, if an army loses more than 30% or 40% of its troops, it is almost defeated."

“Unless faced with a desperate situation, few armies would fight to the last man.”

"As for the current Shenjiying, I don't think any external enemy can defeat them."

Chen Jingke shook his head secretly. He was sure that Xu Yungong was having an illusion.

In all past and present lives, there is only one army that insists on fighting to the last soldier when they still have a chance to survive.

You can kill us, but you can never defeat us.

Obviously, the Ming army is far from reaching that level.

It can even be said that not even a shadow can be seen.

But the good news is that at least we have found a direction to work towards.

“When a person is certain that their actions are righteous, they have nothing to fear.”

"What is justice?"

"The standards are different for different tribes. For example, in Christianity and Islam, fighting for the gods is justice."

"We Chinese are different. Our unique concept of family, country and the world tells us that defending our country is justice."

"This is the case with the current Shenji Camp. They believe that conquering Nanyang is a fight for the tribe, which is why they can unleash unparalleled cohesion and combat effectiveness."

"The Shenji Camp belongs to the imperial army system and is stationed in the capital most of the time. Their feelings are not that deep."

"Although I haven't learned about it in detail, the improvement in the border troops' combat effectiveness is definitely the most obvious."

Xu Yungong agreed and said: "The cohesion of the border troops is indeed stronger, and they also pay more attention to the comradeship."

Zhu Xiongying seemed to have thought of something and made an expression as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Chen Jingke asked, "What's wrong?"

Zhu Xiongying said: "Let's go back to the palace and talk about it."

Chen Jingke and Xu Yungong looked a little surprised. Of course they returned to the palace to keep it secret. Did they think of some big problem?

Chen Jingke thought about it carefully and realized that it was nothing serious.

After returning to the East Palace and dismissing the attendants, Zhu Xiongying spoke:
"You mentioned justice just now, and I thought of something. If it is not handled properly, it may affect the formation of the concept of China."

Chen Jingke's expression suddenly became serious: "What's the matter?"

Zhu Xiongying said: "We planned the Nanyang incident. In Chinese culture, such behavior is unjust."

"If the truth were known to the world, not only would the Ming Dynasty lose its credibility, but the concept of China would also be tainted."

When Chen Jingke heard this question, he felt relieved.

It’s not that he doesn’t care about this problem, but he has thought about it a long time ago.

As a time traveler, how could he not think of this?

Just causes will produce just results.

Only just thoughts can shape a just community.

If the integration of an ethnic group is unjust, then its cohesion will be worrying.

It's not just ethnic groups, it's the same for countries.

When you are strong, these problems will be suppressed.

When you are weak, the hidden dangers left by these improper roots will cause the entire force to fall apart in a very short period of time.

The Jin Dynasty is the best proof.

The same thing happened with the lighthouse in the previous life.

Therefore, when designing the Nanyang Plan, he had already thought of how to solve this problem.

He was really relieved that Zhu Xiongying could think of this.

"Haha, you've accomplished something by thinking of this."

Zhu Xiongying: "..."

No, you have said this many times.

You want to go out on a mission all the time, right? How many times do I have to go out on a mission to be considered a true master?

However, he also realized that Chen Jingke had already thought about this problem and had a solution.

So he asked, "Do you have a solution?"

Chen Jingke nodded and said, "Why not just keep the secret secret?"

Zhu Xiongying frowned and said, "Not many people know the truth about Nanyang, but not a few either. It's impossible to expect so many people to keep it secret." Chen Jingke smiled and said, "I know, so we have to create a new false truth to cover the real truth."

Zhu Xiongying asked in confusion: "What do you mean? Explain it clearly."

Chen Jingke said: "In short, those who know the truth are given a gag order so that they dare not discuss it publicly."

"If you tell others privately, it's all gossip and has no credibility."

"In the official records, we record it as normal."

"The imperial court knows nothing. This is just an emergency in Nanyang..."

Zhu Xiongying interrupted him and said, "Impossible. Don't treat others as fools. This little trick can't be hidden from others."

Chen Jingke said calmly: "Wait for me to finish..."

"In the official history, we will write it as normal, and the court knows nothing."

"But in the daily records and the state secret files, they forged an investigation report that contained nine true facts and one falsehood."

"Don't say anything else in this report. Just say that the court has noticed something is wrong and is investigating privately."

"Then I discovered that this matter was indeed manipulated by someone."

"The ones manipulating this plan are Chen Jingke and the Noble Group..."

Hearing this, Zhu Xiongying became anxious and wanted to refute.

Chen Jingke stretched out his hand to stop him and continued:
"The promised fiefdom by the Emperor has not been fulfilled, and the noble group is anxious, so they found Chen Jingke, the wisest man in the world, to find a solution."

"Chen Jingke gave them this idea out of selfish motives."

"After the Nanyang was cleansed, there were many unowned lands, which were just right for the noble groups."

"Your Majesty is very angry, but due to the powerful power of the noble group, he can only turn a blind eye."

"It would be unpleasant if this matter got out, so the emperor blocked the news but kept the secret files."

"However, His Majesty also punished the nobles who participated in this incident in his own way."

"During the first great enfeoffment, all the nobles who participated in this were excluded."

"The vacant land in Nanyang was distributed to those who were loyal to the court."

"In the future, all the nobles who participated in this matter will be exiled to distant overseas countries."

Chen Jingke took a breath, and waited until they had almost digested it before continuing:

"Who would have thought that we would create such a fake report?"

“When future generations decrypt and discover these investigation reports, they will naturally regard them as true.”

“All the rumors that were spread privately have also been explained.”

"The Nanyang incident was indeed manipulated. No wonder there are so many doubts and so many contradictory rumors."

"It's just that it's not His Majesty who is manipulating this matter, but the noble group."

"The purpose of their manipulation of this matter is not to create the concept of Greater China, but for their own selfish interests."

"It's just that their actions objectively promoted the formation of the concept of Greater China."

"So, the court is innocent, the emperor is innocent, and China is still glorious and dazzling."

At this point, Chen Jingke spread his hands and said, "Look, does everything make sense now?"

Xu Yungong had a complicated expression and didn't know what to say for a moment.

Zhu Xiongying gnashed his teeth and said, "You are really great. I am so moved and I admire you so much."

Chen Jingke smiled bitterly and said, "I was the one who planned this, so it's not like I'm taking the blame, right?"

"So many people died because of my plan. I can't rest in peace."

"Let the people scold me, and I will feel much better."

"Besides, do you think I will be ruined by this?"

"The court is keeping it secret now, and no one will know the truth."

"As for the future... you don't understand those who have nothing better to do... well, you don't understand the thoughts of future generations."

"The Emperor Qin and Emperor Han will both be the objects of praise and eulogy in the future."

"Although some people will scold me, I have actually promoted the formation of Greater China, and more people will still come to praise me."

Zhu Xiongying said angrily: "I don't know what future generations will think, but you know it?"

"Still praising you? What the hell."

"What are you being praised for? Abuse of power for personal gain? Disregard for human life? Insidious and cunning?"

Chen Jingke was deeply touched. This is what a good brother is.

"Some things have to be done by someone, and some infamy has to be borne by someone."

"The Emperor, the Emperor, and you are all the rulers of the Ming Dynasty. You must maintain a great and glorious image."

"Then I will have to bear the responsibility."

Xu Yungong blurted out: "I...I will go find my father. My Xu family can also bear this crime."

Chen Jingke said with a smile: "Do you think this matter can escape your family?"

"It's not one person's responsibility to shoulder this responsibility. We need to involve several other companies in this responsibility."

"The Xu family and the Lan family are both accomplices in this matter. No one of them can escape."

"Then let His Majesty go and ask if there are any other families who want to be blamed, and add them to the investigation report."

Xu Yungong said seriously: "No, we can't involve more people. If too many people know about it, we won't be able to keep it a secret."

"Choose some influential dukes and write their names on it."

"Anyway, this investigation report will not be released immediately, and they don't know the truth either."

"By the time the report is released, we should all be buried. Can they still cause trouble for us in the afterlife?"

"As for their descendants... they will probably take this report as true and won't have any objections."

Chen Jingke laughed dumbly and said, "Old Xu is really thoughtful. They have become princes and enjoyed such great benefits. It is only right for them to bear the blame."

Zhu Xiongying felt very upset when he saw the two of them dividing the blame after arguing with each other.

He has no objection to letting others take the blame.

But he couldn't remain indifferent when Chen Jingke was asked to carry him on his back.

The key is that every other pot will have its day of being cleaned.

As for this matter, once all those who knew the truth have passed away, the investigation report will be the truth.

This means that you will have to bear the blame forever.

Humans are not plants or trees and are heartless. Chen Jingke has done so much for the Ming Dynasty and the Zhu family. If he has no feelings at all, he would be no different from an animal.

But reason told him that this was the best way.

Well...it's not like there are no other ways, such as silencing everyone who knows the truth.

But the consequences of doing so are even more serious.

Chen Jingke's method is the most effective and convenient.

It’s just that it’s hard to bear the bad reputation.

This decision was soon told to Zhu Biao by Chen Jingke himself.

After listening to this, Zhu Biao was silent for a long time, then patted Chen Jingke's shoulder heavily, turned around and left without saying a word.
-
Five months later, the latest battle report came, showing that the Ming navy swept across the barbarian forces in Southeast Asia and avenged the tragic deaths of the Han people.

After the news was announced, the whole country celebrated.

But at this moment, an urgent secret report from the Jinyiwei also reached Luoyang.

After seeing this, Du Tongli did not dare to delay and immediately reported it to Chen Jingke.

Chen Jingke was furious when he saw the contents of the secret letter and said more than ten times in a row:

"He deserves to be killed, he deserves to be killed, his entire clan should be exterminated..."

(End of this chapter)