Chapter 36 To Speak or Not to Speak of the Unpredictability of Fate?
Songyang County has a very good public security situation.
This was also due to the appearance of Hei Fu and his men; they were such strong men, especially Yuchi Jingde, who looked fierce and menacing.
Not to mention that it could stop the crying of children in the Tang Dynasty, even in Songyang County, adults would use Yuchi Jingde to scare disobedient children.
For example, a child crying:
"If you cry again, the yamen runners at the city gate will carry you home."
At this moment, the child thought of the fierce and evil Yuchi Jingde, and immediately went from crying loudly to sobbing softly.
For example, a child who doesn't eat properly:
"If you don't eat properly, I'll hand you over to the guards at the city gate."
......
In short, Yuchi Jingde has become a nightmare for all children.
Qin Shubao and Hei Fu were no better off.
Both men were burly and strong; if they stood on the street, even thugs would give them a wide berth.
In contrast, Zhou Yu seemed out of place—handsome and gentle, he always attracted the attention of young women and wives alike when he walked the streets. Unfortunately, being too popular also had its troubles; every time he patrolled the streets, he caused severe traffic jams.
Zheng He was just right; he could easily blend in with the local people when he toured the streets.
In just one morning, Zheng He already knew that this place did not belong to the Ming Dynasty, nor to any dynasty before the Ming Dynasty.
Is this place Penglai?
However, historical records indicate that Penglai Mountain is in the sea, and there is no sea near Songyang County.
All day long, Zheng He did nothing but inspect the area and try every possible way to obtain information; even the lunch he ate at noon did not arouse his interest.
Braised chicken with rice is delicious.
But after a whole day, they still haven't figured out the details of Songyang County.
How will he report back to the Prince of Yan?
With this in mind, he persevered until his shift ended. He used his wages to buy high-yield wheat seeds, having heard from Magistrate Jiang that this was even better than rice, and at least it could be used for seed.
Neither Yuchi Jingde nor Qin Shubao wanted to go back. Although His Highness's watching of the TV series didn't cause any real harm to anyone—Hou Junji only demoted him to attack Goguryeo—well...
Knowing that the Crown Prince would follow the example of the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Li Shimin seemed to age several years in a short period of time. He even wondered if he had made a mistake on the day of the Xuanwu Gate Incident.
Jiang Ge patted Yuchi Jingde on the shoulder to comfort him and said, "Tell your emperor not to just watch Tang Dynasty dramas, but also to look at the later dynasties, to see how much the people of the Tang Dynasty loved and respected him, and to see how later generations evaluated him. Then all these worries will disappear."
Everything has a price, but if the benefits far outweigh the costs, people won't care about the cost; it's just a necessary loss on the road to success.
"Really? Magistrate Jiang, don't try to fool me this time." Yuchi Jingde was still traumatized by that TV drama where someone shot someone in the eye.
This is completely made up!!!
"Really." Jiang Ge said sincerely, putting his hand on his heart, that Li Shimin did a very good job as emperor. During his reign, the government was clean and efficient, he was good at accepting advice, the economy was prosperous, the people lived in peace and contentment, and the military was strong.
A true emperor of all time.
Yuchi Jingde and Qin Shubao decided to trust Jiang Ge one more time.
While they were dawdling, Zhou Yu had already finished his shift; he needed to hurry back to Eastern Wu to work.
Zheng He, who was on duty for the first time, had just returned to the frontier.
Zhu Di caught him red-handed: "Sanbao, are there really immortals? Is this all true? What's the immortal realm like?"
The letter has already been sent, but Zhu Di is still wondering if it's true; he wants to see an immortal!
Today, Sanbao works for the immortal, and tomorrow the immortal will give him the elixir of immortality.
hey-hey.
Even though Zhu Di doesn't currently have the intention of becoming emperor, he still pursues immortality.
Zheng He found it difficult to speak. Although he did not know the future, he had already vaguely predicted some clues through his conversation with Magistrate Jiang.
Take navigation as an example. If Crown Prince Zhu Biao were to ascend the throne, why not entrust this lucrative and rewarding job to his confidant?
Does the Crown Prince lack capable people around him?
Obviously not.
In Zheng He's mind, two thoughts were fighting fiercely like two ferocious beasts. On one hand, there was his loyalty to the King of Yan, wanting to tell him the truth. On the other hand, there was his worry about the uncertainty of the future, fearing that his words would cause unpredictable consequences.
To speak or not to speak?
In the end, Zheng He still chose to tell Zhu Di, since hiding and running away was not the solution, but he used a little trick.
"Your Highness, all of this is true. The place is called Songyang County, and it has many things we've never heard of, such as 'braised chicken rice' and high-yield wheat seeds that can produce a thousand catties per mu. She also knows me..."
“That’s right, the immortals are all-knowing and all-knowing. Sanbao, why would the immortals want to hire you?” Zhu Di was still excited when Zheng He gave him the accurate answer.
“Magistrate Jiang said… said I am a navigator.” Zheng He no longer hesitated and repeated what Jiang Ge had told him.
What Zheng He could think of, Zhu Di could naturally think of as well. His hands began to stiffen, and his face became solemn. He had never thought of becoming emperor, at least not while Zhu Biao was alive.
"Doesn't that mean the immortals know about the future?" Zhu Di's voice was inscrutable. He struggled, but couldn't help his curiosity.
Zheng He nodded: "That's true. Magistrate Jiang seems to know everything about the Ming Dynasty; she said I would make seven voyages to the Western Ocean..."
Seven times?
If the first instance was due to the ability to maintain three guarantees, then what about the subsequent instances?
It seems I can't pretend to be stupid anymore.
Zhu Di narrowed his eyes, lost in thought. He paced back and forth in the tent a few times, then suddenly turned and asked, "Sanbao, what do you think of Magistrate Jiang?"
Zheng He cautiously replied, "Magistrate Jiang is kind and fair, and the people of Songyang County are doing quite well under her rule. However..." He hesitated for a moment, "Magistrate Jiang seems to have an exceptionally clear understanding of the course of history, and even mentioned that some things are predestined."
"Destiny?" Zhu Di sneered. "I refuse to believe in such nonsense!" He slammed his hand on the table. "Sanbao, go to Songyang County again tomorrow and find out exactly what will happen in the future! Especially what concerns my elder brother and Father!"
Zheng He inwardly groaned, but could only bow and agree: "Your subordinate obeys."
Just then, a guard announced from outside the tent: "Your Highness, Mr. Yao requests an audience."
Zhu Di's expression softened slightly: "Please come in quickly."
Yao Guangxiao, holding a string of Buddhist prayer beads, slowly entered. His gaze lingered on Zheng He for a moment before he smiled and asked, "Did Eunuch Zheng gain anything from this trip?"
Yao Guangxiao, whose Buddhist name was Daoyan, became a monk in his early years. He was well-versed in the teachings of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, and was skilled in divination, military strategy, and tactics. In the fifteenth year of the Hongwu reign, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the eminent monk Zongle to select lecturers for the princes, and Yao Guangxiao was recommended to Prince Yan, Zhu Di.
Zheng He bowed to Yao Guangxiao and briefly recounted his observations of Songyang County. Yao Guangxiao listened, his eyes gleaming: "Interesting. Magistrate Jiang can foresee the future and travel through time. If such a person could be put to my use..."
This "black-clad prime minister" has always been eager to stir up trouble. For him, stirring up trouble was not for wealth and glory, but purely to prove his ability—such a purely ambitious person is truly rare in history.
Zhu Di interrupted, saying, "Master Daoyan, this matter requires careful consideration. The most urgent task is to clarify the situation."
Everything has its priorities, and Zhu Di felt that immortals could never be of use to them; his illusions about immortals had been shattered.
Let's try to get information out of them first, and then talk about it when we know what's going to happen.
Yao Guangxiao, twirling his prayer beads, said meaningfully, "Your Highness, destiny is fickle; only the virtuous rule. Since Magistrate Jiang was able to recruit Eunuch Zheng, perhaps..."
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Author's Note: This chapter is a transitional one, so it's a bit short. Please be patient. [Panda head emoji]
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