"What's the matter?" Kong Zhaohuan asked.
"Xianwen, have you ever thought about why those who came to the south defected to the rebels so quickly?" Kong Jimu did not answer directly, but asked instead.
"What else could be the reason? It's just that they are currently occupied by rebels. If they don't surrender to the rebels, they will be killed by the rebels! Those rebels are just a bunch of mud-legged people. What kind of knowledge can we scholars have? Telling them that is just playing the harp to a cow. It is better to surrender to save your life. If the court fights and then surrenders, maybe the court will spare the lives of their family in the name of the world's scholars." Kong Zhaohuan said without thinking. replied.
"It makes sense to say that. In this way, our problem in Beikong is not big." After hearing what Kong Zhaohuan said, Kong Jimu couldn't help but nodded in agreement.
"No, third uncle, you just think too much." Kong Zhaohuan said, and then saw him lower his voice and said:
"We are all our own people, and we are not afraid to say something treasonous. Even if we are now recognized by the court as orthodox, if the court is defeated and the rebels win, the rebels still dare not do anything to our Kong family."
"As long as the rebels want to stay in power, they need scholars to govern the world, and my Kong family will be safe. The scholars in the world are the life-saving talisman of our Kong family. Without me, the Kong family recognizes its orthodoxy, and its name is not justified. Okay. When the time comes when we give them a step up, can they still obediently respect my Kong family as a saint?"
"Well, that's right. That's true." Kong Jimu was very impressed by Kong Zhaohuan's words. He brushed his not too long beard on his chin and nodded from time to time.
"So! No matter who becomes the emperor, our Kong family will always be safe as long as we know the current affairs." Kong Zhaohuan couldn't help but feel complacent as he spoke.
"Yes, yes. That's very well said. The reason why our Kong family has been able to stand for thousands of years is because we know how to understand current affairs. If you can see through this, I won't worry anymore." Kong Jimu replied excitedly.
"As Duke Yan Sheng, the head of the Kong family, I have naturally understood this for a long time. No matter how the world changes, my Kong family will always be a thousand-year-old family that will stand firm." Kong Zhaohuan said.
"Well said. Xianwen, I am completely relieved that the Kong family is in your hands." Kong Jimu couldn't help but leaned over and patted Kong Zhaohuan on the shoulder.
"Then Third Uncle, what were you planning to tell me so seriously just now?" Kong Zhaohuan asked with a smile on his face.
"Listening to what you just said, it seems like it's nothing." Kong Jimu waved his hand and replied.
"Since you're here, you're not afraid to talk! Besides, you uncle and nephew haven't talked about home affairs for a long time, so just treat it as a chat." Kong Zhaohuan continued to ask.
"Since you said so, I have nothing to hide." Kong Jimu looked like he couldn't resist Kong Zhaohuan. He took a deep breath and said slowly:
"Actually, what I want to say is that I received news that the reason why the south side defected to the rebels so quickly was because there was news that the rebel leader Zhang Rui was related to the royal family of the former Ming Dynasty. It is said that his grandfather was a descendant of Emperor Chongzhen of the former Ming Dynasty. .”
"What? Impossible? Who in the world doesn't know that all the descendants of Chongzhen of the former Ming Dynasty have been..."
Kong Zhaohuan subconsciously lowered his voice and continued: "...They were all killed by the imperial court. Even the last prince who had been on the run for decades was executed by the Holy Ancestor Kangxi, and his entire family was executed."
"So, where are the descendants of this Chongzhen lineage? Even the so-called Zhu Ming emperor's descendants are just surviving under the supervision of the imperial court①. It is said that the princes of other branches of Qianming have descendants. It is still possible to come down, but it is absolutely impossible for Emperor Chongzhen."
"I agree with what you say. But it is said that he has the prince's jade medal and seal of the former Ming Chongzhen Crown Prince Zhu Cihong, especially the token given to Zhu Cihong by the king of Song Dynasty when the intruders invaded the capital. If they are just the same, it can still be said that they are the same. It’s a coincidence, but having three things at the same time is really unreasonable,” Kong Jimu said.
"Three tokens? Who knows whether they are true or not. The person belongs to them, and they are the ones who test it. Why can't they make it up if they want to?" Kong Zhaohuan said still unable to admit it.
"Actually, I think so too. However, there are some rebels who claim to be the descendants of the former Ming princes and have recognized Zhang Rui's identity. It is said that these princes' descendants have also been tested and found to be true." Kong Jimu replied.
"Let's not talk about whether those princes' descendants are real. Even if they are real, it doesn't prove that Zhang Rui is real. Everything is just a relationship of interest. Now that the rebels are in power, they have to work out their relationship even if they don't have anything to do with it. . What’s more, what’s the point of being a rebel?” Kong Zhaohuan said with a smile.
"Yes! We can see through it, but can those mud-legged people see through it? There are other people with ulterior motives who won't tell them even if they see through it. So if the family in the south keeps causing trouble like this, the court can still What kind of good looks does it give our Kong family?" Kong Jimu couldn't help but worry.
"It's not unreasonable to say that. I didn't expect that there are so many stupid things. The family in the south really doesn't care about the entire Kong family. Why did they surrender to the rebels so early? The rebels will surely conquer the world? "
"Didn't the former Ming Dynasty, the Three Feudatories, and the Manchu Qing Dynasty all survive? Why can't those in the south understand it? Even if they don't surrender to the rebels, the rebels can't do anything to them. When the imperial court defeats the rebels, they I knew I was wrong. Really, in the end, our Kong family will still have to be implicated." Kong Zhaohuan couldn't suppress the anger in his heart and complained again and again.
"Then we still go to the imperial court to refute the remarks of the south?" Kong Jimu said casually, looking at Kong Zhaohuan who was complaining.
"Come on...why...don't...don't go up first..."
"No... damn, I really have a headache."
After Kong Zhaohuan muttered to himself for a while, he suddenly seemed to have figured something out and said seriously:
"Let's go to Shang Shu! Let's not talk about the fact that we are still under the rule of the Manchu Qing Dynasty. I don't believe that the rebels can have such great ability to defeat the Manchu Qing. To be disrespectful, even if today's rebels can be defeated So what about the Manchu and Qing Dynasties? As I just said, both the rebels and the Manchu Qing Dynasty need us, so they can't do anything to us. As long as we live a good life, it's enough."
"Xianwen! It's better than this. Now the Eight Banners border troops have arrived at the Jiangnan bandit suppression camp, and the war between the imperial court and the rebels is about to begin. How about we wait until this battle is over before making a decision on how to retreat?" Kong Jimu suggested.
Note ①: Friends who are interested in learning more can search for Zhu Zhilian.
②: Interested friends can also give some tickets, whether it is recommended tickets or monthly tickets, I will be grateful.
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