Chapter 3: Explanation (Part 1)

"Where is there a father who teaches his son not to be an upright person?" Chen Zhaoniang lightly tapped Zhu Jin, but her face bore a hint of a satisfied smile, as if Zhu Jin's recent words, which included the term 'governance,' contained some implicit suggestion that pleased her. "Qin She is only twelve years old; Jin She must not lead him astray."

Certainly, Zheng Kezang, who has lived two lives, would never display his inner thoughts on his face. Instead, he knelt before Zhu Jinxuan and proclaimed loudly: "I wish my father success in this endeavor to pacify the world, eliminate the demonic influences in the realm, and establish achievements for all generations!"

In response to his father, the son has now learned a chapter from the Book of Rites. Zheng Kezang respectfully addressed Zhu Jin's question. Every morning, he practices stabbing the spear two hundred times, cuts fifty straw targets, and shoots fifteen arrows. The son has also learned to ride a horse and swim, but he is still hesitant to let the horse run fast and does not dare to dive too deep.

"Who is gossiping?" Zhu Jin angrily commanded his personal attendant. "Investigate, and upon finding out, exile them to Langjiao."

Zhu Jin's question seemed quite ordinary, but Zheng Kezang had to ponder for a moment before responding. However, before he could speak, Chen Zhaoniang pouted and said, "What more is there to say? Qinshe is still so young, and the King dotes on him. It is already quite excessive to bring him to the court to listen to state affairs, and now you have embarrassed him in public. Word has spread throughout the inner court, with people saying that a mere child does not know his own limitations..."

"Has Qin She already studied the Book of Rites?" Zhu Jin did not pursue the details of Zheng Kezang's martial studies, but instead showed great interest in his grasp of the liberal arts, which reflects the longstanding tendency of Chinese rulers to prioritize culture over military affairs. "Then let me test you, Father. The ruler is one who enlightens, not merely one who enlightens others. The ruler is one who nurtures, not merely one who nurtures others. The ruler is one who serves, not merely one who serves others. Therefore, if the ruler enlightens others, there will be mistakes; if he nurtures others, there will be insufficiencies; if he serves others, there will be loss of position. Thus, the common people govern themselves for the sake of autonomy, nurture the ruler for the sake of security, and serve the ruler for the sake of distinction. The ruler is one who nurtures, not merely one who nurtures others. The ruler is one who serves, not merely one who serves others. Therefore, if the ruler enlightens others, there will be mistakes; if he nurtures others, there will be insufficiencies; if he serves others, there will be loss of position. Thus, the common people govern themselves for the sake of autonomy, nurture the ruler for the sake of security, and serve the ruler for the sake of distinction. Therefore, when rites are established and distinctions are clear, all people cherish their death and worry about their life. What is the interpretation of this passage?"

Zheng Kezang's facial muscles twitched slightly as he murmured: "Father, the teacher has only taught me these few lines from the *Tushu*, and has not yet had the chance to explain how I should interpret them. Therefore, I do not know how to make sense of it."

Although the response may seem somewhat childish, it is the result of Zheng Kezang's careful consideration. This is a stroke of genius he derived from both domestic and foreign influences, synthesizing insights from Peter the Great and Kangxi. While it may appear that an army composed of young boys is somewhat frivolous in the short term, Zhu Jin's expedition lasted a full six years. After six years, these peers will become Zheng Kezang's direct and loyal forces, as if they were extensions of his own arm.

This indeed highlights the hypocrisy of the powerful officials, as they choose to mention the much younger legitimate son while disregarding the elder Yuanzi. Since neither the left nor the right is acceptable

Although the decision to send troops to Fujian to support Geng Jingzhong has been made, it is not a simple matter to mobilize soldiers and ships, as well as to prepare food and military supplies; it requires a certain amount of time to complete the necessary preparations. However, these trivial matters are not the most important. Before Zhu Jin embarks on his western expedition, it is essential to decide who will remain to guard the fundamental territory of the Zheng army, Taiwan

"What it means to govern, my son actually does not dare to think too much about it; he only wishes to become a great general like his father. " Zheng Kezang has been contemplating how to command a reliable military force these past few days. Upon hearing the topic shift to this, he seized the opportunity. "In the future, I hope to follow my father and together drive out the Tartars, restoring the Han dynasty."

Well said, well said!

"Servant, I am from the Jin Hua Courtyard, sent by the princess to invite the prince for a conversation. Let go, please let go!" The person struggled while responding. "Your Highness, no, young master, I did not intend to pry. Ouch, that hurts! Young master, please spare me this time."

"You also said it is a rumor, so why believe it?" Chen Yonghua shook his head. "As for being envied, does pushing out a five-year-old legitimate son mean that others will have no objections? What I fear is that the criticism will only grow louder at that time"

The fire wielder over there let out a quiet sigh, but Zheng Kezang wore a mischievous smile. Despite his concerns about Tang and Niang not hitting or scolding him, the internal struggle had lasted at least half an hour. If he were to sleep a little longer, this unfortunate fire wielder would have to wait for over an hour, which would inevitably lead to some hardships. Moreover, this would also hinder any developments on the topic from the Jinhua Courtyard.

Jinhua Courtyard?" Zheng Kezang furrowed his brow, clearly aware that Tang and Niang's side was also impacted by Chen Yonghua's recent actions, thus they specifically sent someone to spy on Zhu Jin's movements. "Then why did you see this young master running away? Are you guilty?" After throwing out this devastating remark, Zheng Kezang's expression suddenly changed. "However, since you are from Jinhua Courtyard, I shall not punish you too harshly. You will just kneel here and wait for my father to come out. Keep a close watch; if my father does not come out, you are not allowed to get up."

"You should inquire about the price of the cannons from the English and the salary required for the artillery instructors." Zheng Kezang was not in a hurry to purchase cannons or hire instructors; he was not that impatient. Some matters had to wait until the orders from Zhu Jin were issued, and operations could only commence after the army's westward expedition. "Additionally, ask about the price of the three long spears from the Japanese and report back to me."

"Qin She, were you unhappy that your opinions were not adopted in the last court discussion?"

"It is indeed cold at great heights," Chen Yonghua explained while stroking his beard. "You and I, as uncle and nephew, are not of the royal lineage, but have relied on the trust of the emperor. In just a decade, we have risen to high positions, and now we even oversee Taiwan. I fear that while those old ministers may not voice their thoughts in front of the emperor, they have long harbored deep resentment towards us."

"Qin She still wants to be a great general." Zhu Jin pinched Chen Zhaoniang's slightly cool jade hand, then casually nodded at the eager Zheng Kezang. "Alright, if your father agrees, then it's settled. However, there is one condition: you must not neglect your daily studies and books, otherwise, when your father returns, he will certainly punish you..."

The eunuch beside him swiftly seized the opponent who was unable to evade, and Zheng Kezang slowly stepped in front of this person: "Hmm? Your face looks familiar, I feel like I've seen you somewhere before. Now tell me, who exactly are you and what are you doing here?"

Zheng Kezang secretly sneered, thinking that Zhu Jin truly believed that with Geng Jingzhong's promise, the western expedition would surely succeed. How premature his confidence was, underestimating Kang Mazi and those traitorous lackeys who have forgotten their roots.

"Uncle, what do you mean by this?" The military officer Chen Shengwu, summoned to the private residence by Chen Yonghua, glanced at the memorial that the latter had specifically brought for him to see, and his expression changed. "Uncle, the king entrusting me with an important task is a sign of his confidence in the Chen family. Why do you insist on pushing that twelve-year-old Yuanzi forward?"

However, this episode tells Zheng Kezang that his long march of ten thousand miles has only taken an insignificant first step: "Jin 19, last time you told me that there is a British merchant house outside our Eastern Capital, and it seems there are also Japanese trading houses?"

Chen Shengwu suddenly realized: "So it turns out that my uncle has considered it this way. In this light, it seems that I, as his nephew, have been rather narrow-minded..."

Zheng Kezang's quiet murmuring did not last long, for just after he left the courtyard where Chen Zhaoniang resided, a shadowy figure appeared before him: "Stop! I told you to stop, yet you dare to run. Someone, hold him down."

As the saying goes, "A gentleman cherishes virtue while a petty person fears authority." It seems that these filthy individuals cannot be properly taught a lesson. That said, there was a hint of satisfaction in Zhu Jin's gaze. "Very well, I will heed Qin She this time." With that, Zhu Jin changed the subject and asked with concern, "Qin She, how has your reading been lately?"

Zhu Jin was overjoyed, as he was about to embark on a campaign. He had originally hoped for a favorable omen, and to his surprise, he heard it from his eldest son. Consequently, his gaze towards Zheng Kezang became increasingly satisfied. Since he felt that his eldest son's actions aligned with his own intentions, and having just received news that someone in the palace intended to harm him, Zhu Jin decided to give this eldest son some compensation

These two shameless individuals, engaging in inappropriate activities in broad daylight. Zheng Kezang, who had just received a promise from Zhu Jin, had not yet had the chance to feel happy when he was driven out by the blushing Chen Zhaoniang. Of course, this was euphemistically called a midday rest, but everyone on Earth knew the truth. Thus, Zheng Kezang grumbled to himself all the way. "Isn't it just a matter of circles and crosses? It's just that my body hasn't fully developed yet. When it comes to beautiful women and romance, my experience..."

Chen Zhaoniang was taken aback, having never expected her son to say such a thing. However, Zhu Jin burst into laughter upon hearing it: "What great ambition! It is indeed time to let the Tartars know the capabilities of our Han people, so they do not think there is no one in the Divine Land. However, Qinshe, this time, when Father leads the troops westward, he might just drive the Tartars out of the passes. At that time, you must not say that Father did not leave you any Tartars."

If you know, just say you know; if you don't, just say you don't. This fellow is indeed sincere. However, not being hypocritical is also a virtue, but he is too straightforward. In the future, he may face biases in governance and will inevitably have to endure some hardships.

Qin She remembered correctly, the chief eunuch who followed Zheng Kezang closely responded: "The king is also purchasing artillery from the Yinggui Li people and hiring artillery instructors. However, the Japanese merchants mostly operate in Jilong, and there are none here in Chengtian Prefecture"

No ... ...

Then let's simply not submit the memorials," Chen Shengwu suggested. "After all, the king will reject them anyway, so it is better not to cause such trouble.

With this one sentence, you should be rewarded! Speak, and whatever you desire, your father will grant you.

Zhu Jin coldly stared at him, while Zheng Kezang maintained an unwavering gaze in return. After a long while, Zhu Jin suddenly burst into laughter.

"Is any reward acceptable?" After receiving confirmation from Zhu Jin, Zheng Kezang suppressed the excitement in his heart and calmly proposed, "My son wishes to recruit about a hundred companions of similar age to establish a children's camp, so that he can train them in military formations every day.

"Troubles cannot simply be avoided by wishing them away." Chen Yonghua sighed. He was not unaware of his nephew's thoughts, but compared to his nephew's petty calculations, his own troubles might be even greater. "Rather than being in the dark about when something might happen, it is better to uncover it sooner, so as to take the opportunity to gauge the Emperor's intentions."

"Father, please do not be angry; what others say does not matter, for the son is not truly upset." Upon hearing this, Zheng Kezang was immediately taken aback. He and Chen Zhaoniang, mother and son, had already been seen as thorns in the eyes of others, and with this, who would dare to associate with the He courtyard? "It is unnecessary for these vile individuals to tarnish Father’s reputation for benevolence even further."

Chen Shengwu remained silent, acknowledging that indeed, one of his own relatives was accompanying Zhu Jin, praising and painting military strategies, while another was in charge of the entire rear. This would certainly provoke envy. However, pushing Zheng Kezang forward for this reason would likely backfire. Moreover, he had recently supported that young man's views. With this thought in mind, Chen Shengwu closed the memorial. "Uncle, the Crown Prince is not of legitimate birth, and there have long been rumors that he is not the son of the king. If you strongly advocate for the Crown Prince, it may instead invite resentment."

Chen Yonghua's proposal was understandably rejected by Zhu Jin, but the matter had already spread throughout the entire Dongning. In light of this, Zhu Jin felt the need to provide an explanation to the woman he loved and his eldest son, so he made a special trip to the Lotus Courtyard before his departure

Due to the avarice and coarseness of Zhu Jin's brothers, and the fact that his sons were still young and inexperienced, it was necessary to select a person from among the officials. This choice naturally fell upon Chen Yonghua, who had previously assisted Zhu Jin in seizing the title of Prince of Yanping and had effectively implemented land reclamation to restore Taiwan's economy during his tenure in Dongning.

In the fourth month of the twenty-eighth year of the Yongli reign, Zhu Jin removed Chen Yonghua from his position as the overall commander of military and state affairs in the vassal region (specifically, the Grand Commander of Dongning and the Rear Guard of the Eastern Capital), and formally appointed the essentially puppet Zhu Shugui as a Grand Scholar of the second rank, granting him the title of a civil official. In a short time, Chen Yonghua wielded significant power in Taiwan