Daming: At the start of the showdown, Lao Zhu was stunned

Chapter 994 Li's Ambition
Old Zhu hesitated for a moment, then issued an order: "Go, pass on my order, and ask the crown prince and all the cabinet officials to come to the palace to see me."

"...Also, send a sedan chair to invite Master Song. Since the Annan people mentioned his name, let him come and listen to this matter."

Since an eunuch had left in response to the order, Old Zhu did not reply to Ren Ang. He just stood up and looked at the map of all nations on the screen, wondering what he was thinking about.

After a while, Zhu Biao, Feng Sheng and their group arrived, and Song Lian, who had been in seclusion in the Imperial College for many years, was also invited out.

The old man had white hair and a youthful face, and was in high spirits. He first straightened his clothes and hat in a very formal manner, and then was about to bow. How could Old Zhu let him kneel down? He said directly: "Mr. Song is old, there is no need to be polite."

"Come on, bring us a seat, give Song Qing a seat!"

Over there, a eunuch had already brought a chair over, and Zhu Biao personally helped Song Lian to the chair: "Master Song, please sit down."

Song Lian thanked Zhu Biao and Old Zhu, then sat down on his own, holding the armrest. Then he asked Old Zhu solemnly, "Your Majesty suddenly asked me to come here, but is there anything that I can do for you in the court?"

"Mr. Ren, please say it again." Lao Zhu said to Ren Ang.

Ren Ang then repeated the request of Annan envoy Li Jibai in front of these people. After hearing this, Song Lian frowned slightly and said, "You want me to go to Annan to give lectures?"

"If you really want to promote new learning, it would be fine for me to go there. But why did this matter alarm Your Majesty?"

The old man had a kind and bright personality and had devoted himself to academic studies for many years. He could not think of anything unusual about the desire of the Annan people to learn. He just thought that if Annan really wanted to learn, it would be a good thing to promote this new academic discipline.

"Hey, if he really wanted to learn, we wouldn't have to call all of you here." Old Zhu smiled coldly while sitting on the dragon chair, "Jiang Li."

"I'm here." Jiang Li had received Zhu's instructions. He turned around and said to everyone, "Your Highness, my Lords, according to the information we have obtained from the Jinyiwei, this Li Jibai..."

Therefore, Jiang Li informed all the ministers of the specific situation of the Li family in Annan, the various power struggles in Annan, and how the Li family gradually came to power, without any detail.

"That is to say, in the country of Annan, the ministers are strong and the master is weak, which is the opposite of Tiangang. Li Jili has the ambition to dominate Annan...but what does this have to do with inviting Mr. Song to Annan?" Ren Ang was still puzzled.

"Father, could it be..." Zhu Biao frowned deeply. "The Li family wants to use the power of the new school to win over the Annan family?"

"Your Highness, what do you mean?" Ren Ang asked in surprise.

"Mr. Ren, you may not know that this country of Annan was also Chinese territory in the past. Its ruler was named Chen. Its founding ruler Chen Guangbing referred to the Chinese system and established the Imperial Academy and Imperial College in Annan to promote Confucianism."

The person who answered was Daotong, a cabinet minister who came with Zhu Biao. Daotong was upright and honest, and he cared about the people. He was a well-known capable official in the court. In the original history, when he was an official in Panyu, he could not stand the Yongjia Marquis Zhu Liangzu colluding with the big families to harm the people, so he resolutely came forward to petition for the people, but was killed by Zhu Liangzu.

At this time, Zhu Liangzu had been stripped of his title and his entire family exiled decades ago because of the case in which his son Zhu Xian "assassinated" the fifth prince Zhu Su, so Daotong was able to survive.

This good official, who was wholeheartedly devoted to serving the people, successfully climbed from the local level to the position of cabinet minister with his passion and ability.

The reason why he knew about the situation in Annan was because he once served as the magistrate of Panyu County, and Panyu had many connections with Annan.

During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, Emperor Wu conquered Nanyue. Panyu and Annan were both part of Nanyue. Later, during the Three Kingdoms period, Shi Xie was in charge of Jiaozhou. Panyu and Annan were both under his rule. It was Shi Xie who spread Confucian culture to Annan and was regarded as the ancestor of culture by Annan.

The legend of Shi Xie's spreading of education was still widely spread in Annan, Panyu and other places at that time. Therefore, Daotong, who was once the magistrate of Panyu County, also heard about the situation of Confucianism in Annan.

"Confucianism is also flourishing in Annan. Could it be that the Li family is trying to borrow the power of the Ming Dynasty to start a 'struggle between the new and old academic cliques' in Annan?" Daotong guessed.

Old Zhu nodded approvingly and glanced at Jiang Li. Jiang Li understood and continued, "According to what my Jinyiwei has learned,"

"A few years ago, the Prime Minister of Annan, Le Qui-Lie, ordered his envoys to purchase a large number of new books and articles of our Great Ming when they came to pay tribute. When he was in charge of the Annan Imperial College, he also preached the new learning to the students. During the Annan examination last year, he taught the Annan candidates the principle of 'applying knowledge to the world and studying things to gain knowledge'..."

"Practice what you learn and gain knowledge through investigation of things" is the most basic principle of the new learning of the Ming Dynasty. It is obvious that Li Jizhen wants to establish himself as the leader of the new learning of Annan.

"This person wants to use the new learning as a banner to win over the hearts of the people in the Annan court in order to seize more power." Zhu Biao, who had already fully understood, explained to Ren Ang and other officials who were still confused.

Everyone suddenly realized why inviting Song Lian could be linked to Li Ji's evil ambitions. Li Ji's invitation to Song Lian, a great scholar of the new school, was to use the name of academics to strengthen the strength of his Li family.

The academics of Annan all come from China, and the most famous Chinese scholar is Song Lian. If Le Chi-li had invited Song Lian, it would have been like an irrefutable saint suddenly falling from the sky. The old Confucianism of Annan would have been in decline, and the influence of the new Confucianism would have greatly increased.

As the influence of the new school of thought increased, the power of the Li family, who had established themselves as the leader of the new school of thought in Annan, would inevitably grow. More students from Annan would surely join the Li family because of their admiration for Song Lian.

After all, Song Lian would return to the Ming Dynasty eventually! After Song Lian left, the new learning "legacy" he left to Annan, this huge political asset, would be inherited by the Li family.

Moreover, Song Lian was once a high-ranking official of the Ming Dynasty. The crown prince and other princes were all taught by Song Lian. If the Li family invited Song Lian, it could be interpreted by the Annan government and the public as the Ming court supporting the Li family. The shock to the major families of the small Annan court and even the king of Annan can be imagined.

This move will greatly accelerate the path of the Li family to become a powerful official. The most important thing is that Song Lian is a scholar. If Ren Ang is not alert enough and really recommends Song Lian to the Annan people, Song Lian may really be pleased with the Annan people's admiration for new learning and happily agree to go south to give lectures...

This kind of shady conspiracy disguised as academic research made Song Lian tremble all over. He slapped the armrest and said angrily: "What a thief, he actually used such a sacred thing as academic research to realize his personal ambitions!"

"Your Majesty, I ask the court to expel the Annan envoys and send an envoy to reprimand the Li family... New Learning is the hard work of the Fifth Prince, Liu Qingtian, and thousands of other New Learning disciples. How dare the Li family covet it?"

"Besides, Annan is our vassal state. If the Li family really has ambitions, the Ming Dynasty, as the suzerain, should also alert the Annan ruler Chen family and make them be on guard..."

The old man was upright and incorruptible, and he kept scolding them, but Old Zhu, Zhu Biao and others looked a little strange.

The Li family was indeed ambitious, but the Chen family, who had been the ruler of Annan for many years, was not a good person either. In Zhu's mind, he was still thinking that the Li and Chen families would fight each other so that the Ming Dynasty would benefit, so he naturally did not warn the Chen family.

"Hehe, Mr. Song, after all, this is just our guess. If we rashly condemn Li, and if Li really admires learning, wouldn't we be the bad guy in vain?" Old Zhu said somewhat embarrassedly.

"I asked you to come here this time because I want to discuss whether we should send people to Annan to promote new learning..."

"Your Majesty, are you going to comply with Li's request?" Song Lian was a little surprised and said angrily, "If Li really has evil ambitions, how can I, a new student, become a tool to help the tyrant to commit atrocities?"

"Please forgive me for my rudeness. I think this is inappropriate!"

After saying this, the old man stood up from the chair, lifted his robe, and was about to kneel on the ground.

"You... you old man, why are you so impatient?" Old Zhu was amused by the straightforward old man. Seeing that Zhu Biao had quickly supported Song Lian, he continued, "When did we say that we would help the Li family and help the tyrant to commit atrocities?"

"Annan has always been disrespectful to our Ming Dynasty. Besides, they are all thieves who harm the people. Why should we care about the Li family or the Chen family?"

"Song Qing, have you forgotten...Annan was also our Chinese land in ancient times."

Song Lian was startled. He wanted to break free from Zhu Biao's support, but he had forgotten how to do it. He had been absorbed in academics for too long and had not heard anything outside. He was not really ignorant of politics. He had understood Zhu's hidden meaning after hearing what he said: "Your Majesty means that the court wants to recover Annan?"

"You've recovered enough after taking some rest. Even a sword needs to be unsheathed and wiped from time to time." Old Zhu said meaningfully.

"What the Ming Dynasty needs now is to win back the hearts of the people of Annan."

"Oh~" Song Lian let out a long "oh", his face turning from cloudy to sunny. "Your Majesty, do you want to take this opportunity to promote new learning in Annan and win the hearts of the people of Annan?"

"That's right." Zhu nodded. The rumor that the imperial court wanted to conquer Annan had always been spread only among the highest-ranking military meritorious officials and a few people who knew about it. Zhu had never publicly admitted it. But this time, it was the first time that Zhu admitted the Ming Dynasty's ambition for Annan in front of the civil officials.

"We asked you, Song Qing, and all of you cabinet officials to come here to discuss this."

"Who can go on behalf of Mr. Song and complete the mission of promoting new learning in Annan? Remember, this is not an easy task. Not only do we need to promote new learning, but we also need to avoid alerting the Li family. We need to recruit new learning students for the Ming Dynasty, not for the Li family."

"This person must not only be knowledgeable and well-known, but also alert and intelligent. Do you have any candidates?" asked Lao Zhu.

Everyone looked at each other in surprise when they heard this. Being sent as an envoy to other countries, playing both sides among the leaders and ministers of other countries, and secretly buying the hearts of the scholars and the people for the Ming Dynasty... This is a great cause like Ban Dingyuan, Su Qin, and Zhang Yi. If it can be accomplished, it will surely go down in history.

But at the same time, this is indeed extremely difficult, no less than the ancient alliances. Although most of the cabinet ministers are new students, they are also eager to try to expand the territory for the Ming Dynasty, but they think about themselves and feel that they may not be able to accomplish this great task.

Although it is tempting to make achievements, it is not good if one's talent is not matched with the position and misses the big things.

Song Lian thought for a moment, then took a few steps forward and said, "Your Majesty, let me take care of this matter."

"First, the person that Li Jibai originally invited was an old minister. It would be safest to let an old minister go so as not to alert the enemy."

"Secondly, please forgive me for my wild words, but when it comes to reputation, I'm afraid no one here can compare to me. Only if I go, I will have enough influence and a chance to succeed."

"Song Qing." Old Zhu said, "Just now, didn't you feel that something was wrong?"

"Is it inappropriate?" Song Lian blinked his eyes. The old man was a little playful and deliberately pretended to be confused. He said, "What's wrong with promoting knowledge?"

"I am old and have a bad memory. I have forgotten when I said that it was inappropriate!"

Zhu Biao and others were surprised when they heard this, but Old Zhu couldn't help laughing. This old man Song had mastered the new method of "applying knowledge to the world" perfectly. When he heard that it would benefit the Ming Dynasty and China, he immediately changed his tone.

However, this is more pleasing. If he is really a pedantic scholar, I should really consider whether I should clean up the Ming academic world for Biaoer and my eldest grandson.

After all, too much prestige in the academic world is not a good thing. He always kept in mind the threat of the "Donglin" in the late Ming Dynasty.

However, although he was very happy about what Song Lian said, Old Zhu still did not think of letting Song Lian go. He said, "Mr. Song is old, and the students of the Imperial College still need Mr. Song's guidance. There is no need to talk about this matter."

Zhu Biao also advised: "Yes, Song army, Annan is a smoky and humid place, and it is thousands of miles away. How can we let the Song army travel so far!"

Song Lian's eyes widened, and he asked, "Your Majesty and the Crown Prince, do you think less of me?"

"Although Lian Po is old, he can still eat ten dou of rice. Although my hair and beard are white, can I not stand the wind and frost on the road?"

"An old horse in the stable still has ambitions to run a thousand miles. Your Majesty, why do you underestimate me... I am the most suitable person to go there for this matter. Can Your Majesty think of other candidates?"

Old Zhu was silent, pulling at his beard. Most of the new scholars were in the cabinet, and others such as Yang Shiqi and Xia Yuanji were younger and less prestigious. After all the calculations, Song Lian was the most suitable.

Among the others, there was only... Thinking of that lazy boy who would definitely have a big fight with him, Lao Zhu couldn't help but hold his forehead.

Zhu Biao and Old Zhu obviously wanted to go together. At this time, Zhu Biao stepped forward and said, "Father, I recommend my fifth brother to go to Annan on behalf of Master Song."

Old Zhu looked at Zhu Biao with a strange look and said, "Old Five, are you sure?"

"He just had a baby boy today, and now you want him to go to Annan on business..."

"That rebellious son is not someone you can easily get along with. Are you sure you want to recommend him to go to Annan?"

(End of this chapter)