Chapter 648 Condolences
The Chen residence was already filled with people crying.

Zhu Houzhao had to return to the palace at this time. He summoned the six ministries of the cabinet and announced the news of Chen Ce’s death.

All the senior officials from the six ministries of the cabinet were stunned. Upon hearing such tragic news, even some people who had grudges against Chen Ce had to fall into grief.

They may have different positions from Chen Ce and consider different interests, but everyone has to admit how outstanding Chen Ce’s contribution to the Ming Dynasty is!
They all remembered what Chen Ce had done for the Ming Dynasty, and everyone was aware of his contributions to the Ming Dynasty.

Chen Ce is dead, and the Ming Dynasty has lost its right-hand man!

Zhu Houzhao asked the Ministry of Rites to give Chen Ce a separate page in the Veritable Records, and asked the Hanlin Academy and the Ministry of Rites to immediately compile the life story of Chen Ce, the Prince of the State.

At the same time, the six ministries of the cabinet also discussed Chen Ce’s posthumous title. Zhu Houzhao wanted to give Chen Ce the highest posthumous title for civil officials, Wenzheng.

However, the Ministry of Personnel believed that this posthumous title was too high. The previous person to be given such a heavy posthumous title was Fan Zhongyan of the Song Dynasty.

Fei Hong asked the Minister of Personnel, “Isn’t Chunjian’s deeds and abilities comparable to those of Fan Zhongyan of the Song Dynasty? This posthumous title is not heavy at all. It’s not that Chunjian is not worthy of the posthumous title of Wenzheng, it’s that Wenzheng is not worthy of the posthumous title of Chunjian!”

Yes, Chen Ce used these seven years to accomplish what Fan Zhongyan, Wang Anshi and others could not accomplish in their entire lives.

How could such ability and outstanding contribution to the dynasty not be worthy of the posthumous title of a first-class civil official?

The Minister of Personnel said nothing more and nodded silently in agreement.

Fei Hong also requested Zhu Houzhao to confer a higher title on Chen Ce, and Zhu Houzhao conferred on Chen Ce all the honors including the Prince’s Tutor and the Grand Scholar of the Huagai Palace.

This was not enough, Zhu Houzhao went on to confer upon Wu the title of a first-rank lady, the title of Duke of the State, and the privilege of having his children inherit her estate, etc.

Zhu Houzhao basically gave all the rewards that could be given to Chen Ce.

But even so, his little brother will never have a chance to come back…

……

Chen Mansion.

Zhu Zhishan almost stumbled all the way into the mansion, crying loudly, “Teacher, teacher!”

Tang Yin and Xu Jing hurriedly supported Zhu Zhishan and said, “Yun Ming.”

Zhu Zhishan was heartbroken: “I am an unfilial student! I am an unfilial student! I deserve to die for not being able to accompany my teacher on his last journey!”

“Teacher, come back alive!”

Zhu Zhishan fainted several times while lying in front of Chen Ce’s coffin.

Xu Jing comforted Zhu Zhishan and said, “Don’t be sad, Yunming. We still need to help take care of the affairs after the teacher’s death. The teacher’s wife is an orphan and a widow, and she can’t handle these things.”

“There will be a lot of people coming to pay their respects to the teacher these days, and we can’t let outsiders see and laugh at us.”

“Before he died, my teacher asked me to tell you something. He said he was sorry for you. He should have transferred you back to Peking after the Southwest Affairs was over, but Hami really needed manpower, so he had to let you and Wang Wubi go there.”

Zhu Zhishan shook his head: “I have never blamed the teacher. The teacher has told me in the letter that I know the teacher is training me, and I will definitely not let the teacher down.”

Among Chen Ce’s three disciples, Zhu Zhishan is slightly inferior, so he needs more training to understand the officialdom and how to govern the country, rather than just reading from a book.

How could Zhu Zhishan not know these things?

He lay in front of Chen Ce’s coffin, watching Chen Ce lying quietly inside the coffin, his heart dead. But what Xu Jing said was right. Chen Ce died, leaving behind an orphan and a widow. Many people would come to pay their respects in the future. As Chen Ce’s student, of course he had to help take care of it.

Tang Yin had already handed over the mourning clothes and said to Zhu Zhishan, “Yunming, put them on. Someone will be here soon.”

Zhu Zhishan nodded and put on his mourning clothes.

Early in the morning, officials from the court came to Chen’s house one after another to pay their respects to Chen Ce.

Near noon, a carriage stopped outside Chen’s house.

Then Ning Cheng and Ning Zhijun slowly walked in from outside. Xu Jing looked at the father and daughter with a puzzled look. Ning Cheng and Ning Zhijun came to Madam Wu, and Ning Zhijun said softly: “Sister Wu, I am sorry for your loss.”

Madam Wu nodded slightly.

Ning Cheng came to Xu Jing and said to him, “I want to see Chun Jian for the last time.”

Xu Jing didn’t say anything. No matter how much hatred he had in the past, it had already disappeared with Chen Ce’s departure.

Xu Jing said: “Go ahead.”

Ning Cheng and Ning Zhijun came to the coffin and looked at Chen Ce lying quietly in the coffin. They felt as if their hearts were pricked by a needle.

“Ah! Chun Jian…”

“I’m sorry, old man!”

Ning Cheng shed a few tears, feeling very upset. Seeing the Chen family leaving one after another, how could Ning Cheng feel good?

He felt that he was especially sorry for Chen Ce. If he had not rejected Chen Ce at the beginning… Alas!

The past is over, and Chen Ce must have been very happy during these seven years, and that is enough.

Ning Zhijun looked at Chen Ce lying in the coffin, thinking of the past, and felt a little uncomfortable.

Liu Jin came with a group of eunuchs and read out the imperial edict of Emperor Zhengde, conferring upon Chen Ce the titles of Prince Taifu, Grand Secretary of Huagai Palace, Duke of Fuguo and his descendants, and bestowing upon him the posthumous title of Wenzheng, and also conferring upon Lady Wu the title of First-Rank Lady, among other rewards.

This was the pinnacle of civil service, and Madam Wu brought her family to thank the emperor for his grace.

……

In Annan, when Zhu Jiewei heard the news of the death of Chen Ce, the Duke of Ming Dynasty, he immediately found Li Yi and told him the news.

At the beginning, Chen Ce designed to use economic means to crush Annan, which resulted in Annan becoming more and more dependent on Ming Dynasty, and the domestic economy is entirely dependent on Ming Dynasty.

Li Yi had always lived in Chen Ce’s shadow. Hearing that Chen Ce was dead, he was very happy, but then he thought again and asked, “What then?”

“He’s dead, so what? Can we still start a war against Ming Dynasty now?”

Zhu Jie smiled slightly and said, “Why not?”

Li Yi pondered for a moment and asked Zhu Jiewei, “Master, what do you think?”

Zhu Jiewei said: “We will take back all the territories we lost last time while Chen Ce is dead.”

“Da Ming is now busy with Chen Ce’s funeral and dealing with the affairs of the Western Regions, so it has no time to take care of the South.”

“Take advantage of this opportunity to take back this land!”

Li Yi nodded and said, “Okay! I will mobilize the troops now.”

Zhu Jie nodded slightly and left.

Looking at her back, Li Yi sneered and said, “Do you think I’m a fool?”

“You want to take revenge on the Ming Dynasty and let me bury you with the entire Annan?”

“What do you think of attacking the Ming territory? The powerful Oirat and Tatar were destroyed. How strong do you think my Annan is?”

“Come here! Go and mobilize the troops to the palace. When I go to look for the Imperial Master at night, take the opportunity to kill him.”

“Here!”

Although Zhu Jiewei has troops in the palace, this is a good opportunity to kill her!
(End of this chapter)