Chen Kan was determined to leave. He was afraid that if he didn't leave, he would fall into family affection.
Chen Kan stood on the boat, staring at the capital city wall getting further and further away.
Zhang Dong stepped forward and put on Chen Kan's cloak, and said in a low voice: "Master Hou, Jiang Feng is fierce, why don't you go back to your room and sit down for a while, while my subordinates will catch some big fish for you to make soup."
Chen Kan came to his senses and stopped looking at the city walls of the capital. He suddenly asked Zhang Dong, "Zhang Dong, do you think His Majesty is a good person?"
Zhang Dong was stunned for a moment, then shook his head slightly: "In the eyes of my subordinates, Your Majesty is the best king and father. He uses thunderous methods on officials, but treats the common people like spring breeze."
Chen Kan nodded, patted Zhang Dong's shoulder, sighed softly, and finally said nothing and walked slowly towards his room.
This time Chen Kan took a merchant ship, and the environment was naturally not as good as the treasure ship of the Hou Mansion. Even Chen Kan couldn't have a room to himself.
So Chen Kan lived with Chen Qia.
When he returned to the room, Chen Qia noticed the lonely look on Chen Kan's face and couldn't help but smile and asked: "Why, you can't bear to leave the capital?"
Chen Kan smiled and said nothing, and continued to ask the same question: "Mr. Chen, do you think His Majesty is a good person?"
Hearing this, Chen Qia's expression suddenly became strange and he asked, "Do you think His Majesty will show mercy to you?"
Chen Kan looked at Chen Qia steadily, frowned and said: "I believe that I have never done anything to harm Ming Dynasty, and I have never thought of replacing him."
"Ah!"
Chen Qia sneered and said: "Yes, you haven't done it, and I haven't done it either. I have worked hard for the Ming Dynasty for half my life, and I have ended up where I am now. Master Fang helped His Majesty stabilize the government when he first came to the throne. He even single-handedly quelled the criticism of His Majesty by scholars all over the world. What is the fate of Mr. Fang now? He even got involved in a fight with Chen Ying. Do you think you can be an exception?"
Chen Kan silently listened to Chen Qia's complaints.
After a moment, he suddenly laughed and said: "Yes, having expectations for others is a stupid thing in itself."
Chen Qia nodded matter-of-factly: "The Ming Dynasty has never treated scholars favorably."
"But you know how to prepare for a rainy day, so you're not that stupid!"
Chen Qia rolled his eyes and complained, then pointed to the wine bottle on the table: "Give me a drink!"
Chen Kan picked up the jug and poured a glass for Chen Qia, and then he drank it while holding the jug.
In fact, as early as when Chen Kan first came to Ming Dynasty, he had a vague premonition that he and Zhu Di would eventually part ways because of certain things.
That's why when Queen Xu offered Zhu Zhanji to Chen Kan, Chen Kan didn't refuse.
He thought that in the worst case, he would outlast Zhu Di and Zhu Gaochi, and teach an emperor who he was satisfied with.
But Chen Kan never thought that this day would come so quickly and so unexpectedly.
His original expectation was ten years, because Zhu Di was not in the right position. Even if he was pretending, he had to pretend to be a virtuous king for ten years to show his attitude to the people of the world.
And now, in just five years, what Chen Kan had predicted has become a reality.
It can only be said that people’s calculations are not as good as God’s calculations.
Of course, what Chen Kan has done for Ming Dynasty over the years has also had a certain catalytic effect.
But the time was reduced to only half of what was originally expected, which still made Chen Kan feel uncomfortable.
He is really a little confused now.
History has been changed beyond recognition because of his arrival, and he can no longer be that young marquis who had foresight and could control the overall situation effortlessly.
He should have thought that Zhu Di essentially inherited Zhu Yuanzhang's violent factor.
It's a pity that Chen Kan can't change anything now. In five years, Zhu Di has completely secured the throne.
The Ming Dynasty ushered in the famous Yongle era in history, and the prosperity of this era was more worthy of the name than the original historical time and space.
In the original historical time and space, there would still be Mongolians on the grassland who would come from time to time to attack Zhu Di's self-confidence, reminding him that his prosperous age was not a peaceful one.
But now, the prairie people on the grasslands are fighting each other to death because of Chen Kan's small tricks, and they are unable to go south to invade the Central Plains.
Even if Chen Kan kidnapped their nominal Great Khan back to the Central Plains, they could only choose diplomatic means to get it back. In the original time and space, Arutai would have led an army of hundreds of thousands southward.
So, where should he go next?
Continue to contribute to the Ming Dynasty, or just sit on the sidelines?
Noticing the tangled look on Chen Kan's face, Chen Qia turned away unconsciously.
What he hated the most was Chen Kan's indecision. He wanted to rebel and become emperor, but he didn't have the courage. He wanted to be wise and protect himself, but he was also greedy for glory. It was a complete failure.
Chen Kan put the wine bottle back on the table and lay on the bed in a large shape.
"Old Chen, tell me, if I go overseas and become a local emperor, will I be able to do anything?"
Chen Qia's body tensed up and he asked alertly: "Don't you want to hibernate and play a big game?"
Chen Qia's almost bandit-like speech immediately made Chen Kan dumbfounded: "What are you thinking? I am the Marquis of Jinghai personally conferred by His Majesty the current emperor. It is normal for me to return to the sea!"
Chen Qia looked at Chen Kan coldly and said: "It's not normal, it's too abnormal. Why are you running to the sea? Besides, I have discovered that you have no respect for the imperial power at all."
Chen Kan twitched the corner of his mouth and decided to end the conversation with him.
There is no denying that Chen Kan did have the idea of hibernating overseas, but Chen Kan really had no interest in becoming an emperor.
Even if he can dominate one side in the future, he will not give up his connection with Ming Dynasty.
Otherwise, he would eat too much and push forward the Age of Discovery.
Of course, if one day, the descendants of the Ming Dynasty still fail to hold the two capitals and eighteen provinces of the Han Dynasty, he, as the Jinghai Marquis of the Ming Dynasty, has the obligation to clean up the old mountains and rivers.
After chatting for a while, Chen Kan had no intention of eating, so he closed his eyes and began to fall asleep.
Chen Qia could only drink gruel these days. As for the wine Chen Kan gave him, it was naturally rice wine.
Therefore, his dinner was very simple and did not affect Chen Kan's sleep.
...
...
November has passed by in a flash, and the Laba Festival is coming as promised.
The merchant ship Chen Kan was traveling on was stationed in Dongchang, Shandong Province.
Considering that today is the Laba Festival, Chen Kan decided to get off the boat and buy some grains to make Laba porridge.
Speaking of which, Dongchang Mansion can be regarded as a blessed land for Chen Kan.
The last time I happened to pass by Dongchang, I easily eliminated Zhu Jihuang, a potential threat, and Yun Ji, the last remnant of the White Lotus Sect.
I don’t know if there will be any surprises this time.
After getting off the boat, Chen Kan dismissed some of his personal guards and walked towards the market in Dongchang with only Zhang Dong and the other two.
He remembered that there was a mutton kebab shop in the market that tasted very good and had a generous portion. He wondered if it was still open now.
The two of them drove their horses to the market, left the horses in the stable at the entrance of the market, and walked in with their hands behind their backs.
Even though Zhang Dong has the word "dynamic" in his name, he is a rare calm talent around Chen Kan. He is completely the opposite of a live treasure like Cheng Feng, Fang Xu, and Li Si.
So when he entered the market, he followed him politely, ready to defend Chen Kan from all kinds of dangers.
Seeing this, Chen Kan couldn't help but said calmly: "Don't be so nervous. No one here knows my identity. There will be any danger. You can buy whatever you want. Our family is not short of money."
Zhang Dong was unmoved, just staring at some malicious eyes.
I don’t know if God wants to slap Chen Kan in the face, or if Chen Kan is just too conspicuous.
As soon as the two of them entered the depths of the market, a group of people who looked like the Skinny Rangers surrounded them.
"It's you, how dare you come to Dongchang!"
Several of the gangsters stared at Chen Kan with hatred on their faces. If looks could kill, Chen Kan was probably dead at this moment.
Chen Kan was a little confused. He tentatively raised his hands to several people and asked, "I wonder when have I ever offended all of you heroes?"
Chen Kan had just been born, and Zhang Dong was already ready to go.
To be honest, he could beat up a hundred of these little gangsters!
When one of the gangsters heard Chen Kan's question, he suddenly became furious: "How dare you pretend not to know us. Do you think you can walk out of Dongchang City unharmed today just by pretending to be stupid?"
Chen Kan turned to look at the angry rogue, and couldn't help but feel a little confused. He really didn't know when he had offended these people.
After all, he has offended too many people, and the people who can be remembered by him are either high-ranking officials or dignitaries.
And this is his second time in Dongchang. When he first came, he surrounded a restaurant, but it was to arrest Zhu Jihuang and Yun Niang. Besides, with his power at that time, those people in the restaurant should not have the courage to look for him. It's just trouble.
Seeing that Chen Kan was still confused, the rogue couldn't help but said angrily: "You are still pretending to be stupid. It seems that if you don't want to let you suffer, you don't understand who has the final say in Dongchang City."
Chen Kan thought for a long time, but he couldn't figure out when he had offended these people.
But it doesn't matter, just because they dare to threaten themselves, they already have a way to die.
There were only twenty or thirty gangsters on the left and right, and Zhang Dong could handle it. Even if Zhang Dong couldn't handle it, he still had two portable pistols in his arms, one on the left and one on the right.
The leader of the ruffians looked at Chen Kan and said calmly: "Don't say that we bullied you foreigners. You broke the legs of several of my brothers and ran away last year. Now you still dare to come. Is it reasonable for us to ask you for some soup and medicine?" "
"I crippled the legs of several of your brothers?"
Chen Kan pointed to his nose in disbelief, then looked at the angry ruffians and found that they were indeed walking a little awkwardly.
Then he suddenly realized: "Oh, it's you!"
He remembered that he also came here to buy things. Later, he was targeted by a few gangsters who wanted to rob him. However, he was attracted by Yun Niang and had no time to talk nonsense with them, so he gave them a gift. A gun.
Unexpectedly, after so long, they still haven't learned how to behave.
One of the ruffians sneered: "Remember?"
"We were short of you at that time, now I see where you can escape!"
