It concerns everyone's interests, and Cao Kai has no choice but to retreat.
Even if he was given a black mark, he could not retreat, otherwise he would be socially dead among the officials of his own faction.
As one of the leaders, he knew the consequences of social death.
At this time, you must be tougher. Even if it is just this time, just be tough once. As long as you get through it, the benefits to yourself will be considerable.
At this thought, Cao Kai became really hard.
"Kongdu Yushi, we are not making trouble unreasonably. In fact, the news circulating in Zhongdu these days has made us uneasy. We are very worried about our family members in Shandong. We don't know what their situation is, so I came to ask for details. I hope you can understand."
"Understand? Understand what? Understand that you came to Shangshu Province to quarrel when you were supposed to be doing things with Ming Dynasty's salary? Who is doing things in Shandong? It's His Majesty! It's His Majesty the Emperor! Will His Majesty the Emperor go out of his way to make things difficult for you?"
Kong Maojie's eyes widened and he said angrily: "His Majesty the Emperor is the most just person, and the decisions he makes are also the most just decisions. Don't have any other thoughts in your hearts, because even if you do, what can you do?!"
After hearing what Kong Maojie said, Cao Kai and others looked at each other and realized that what Kong Maojie said made sense.
If ordinary officials go to Shandong to fight corruption, they may still say that there is a possibility of confusing right and wrong.
But this time it was the emperor himself who was causing trouble in Shandong. Can they still slander the emperor and confuse right and wrong?
Can they dominate the emperor's thinking and make him act according to their wishes?
Well, when facing certain emperors, they are indeed not helpless.
But when facing Su Yonglin, they simply didn't dare.
So if it is found out, you are who you are, and if you are not, you are not you. If the emperor wants to ask you for your crime, you can't escape. If the emperor wants to let you go, you can't go to jail. So, can you still struggle?
Just wait!
Realizing the overtone of Kong Maojie's words, the Shandong officials could only nod their heads very worriedly and dejectedly, admitting that the situation they faced was not something they could change subjectively.
"Nevertheless, I feel a little rude when thinking about the family and the children, but this is also human nature. I think Kongdu Yushi can understand it, right?"
Cao Kai lowered his stance and used a flattering tone.
Kong Maojie looked at this group of people who were arrogant in front and respectful in back, and his heart was full of disgust and disdain.
Fortunately, there won't be too many days when everyone will be officials in the same court.
So Kong Maojie let them go "very rarely".
"Since you are talking about this, I am not a person who does not understand the ways of the world. I will not be too harsh on you this time. I will return to my post immediately. If you are negligent again, I will not forgive you!"
It's a long time since I died, and the ghosts in Zhongdu are so sad that they don't make things difficult for everyone!
He actually said that he also understands the ways of the world!
This is really the most bizarre thing in the world!
He actually didn't ask everyone to go to the Metropolitan Procuratorate to have tea and chat with him and then make up for his red and black list?
The officials immediately left Shangshu Province with a sense of rejoicing and full of disobedience, returned to their posts, and continued to uneasily inquire about the news, waiting for the fate to come.
They all left, leaving behind Yelu Chenghui and Huo Jianbai, who were still arguing with the scholars just now.
"The same goes for you, you are all high-ranking officials, how come you sound like a shrew when you scold someone? Yelu Zuocheng, I heard your voice just now from so far away."
Kong Maojie shook his head and looked at the elegant Yelu Chenghui with confusion.
Yelu Chenghui smiled a little sheepishly.
"Cao Kai's fellow directly called me a Northern prisoner. I really couldn't bear it, so I argued with him, which led to the scene just now. It was really laughable, but I think that I have worked hard for Your Majesty, abide by the law, and have no selfish motives. Cao Kai's fellow You still treat me like a barbarian, which I really can’t accept.”
Kong Maojie nodded.
"His Majesty also said that we are all citizens of the Ming Dynasty, regardless of Han, Khitan or Bohai people. Cao Kai's words are indeed excessive."
"That's good."
Yelu Chenghui breathed a sigh of relief.
Huo Jianbai is also suitable for Yelu Chenghui to stand on the united front in this matter, because when Cao Kai scolded Yelu Chenghui just now, he also scolded him together. He was so angry that he almost beat Cao Kai.
Kong Maojie did not embarrass them and let them do what they should do.
Now only Kong Maojie and Zhao Zuoliang are left.
Zhao Zuoliang clapped his hands, stood up, and walked to Kong Maojie.
"Thanks to you, otherwise I don't know when I would be able to rest after being disturbed by them today."
"You are always too kind, that's why some people think you are easy to bully. You must know that there are wolves, tigers and leopards in the officialdom, and there are very few kind people."
Kong Maojie said in a low voice: "Your Majesty is away from Zhongdu and has entrusted you to take charge of government affairs. You must have a posture to prevent others from looking down upon you."
Zhao Zuoliang shook his head with a smile.
"I don't know anything else, but there is one thing I know best."
"What?"
"In my position, it is only right to be bullied. Bullying others, the emperor, will not make you happy."
Zhao Zuoliang looked at Kong Maojie with a smile: "It's okay for you to be worried about ghosts in the capital now. Your position requires you to do this. The more you are worried about ghosts, the happier the emperor will be. But one day if you sit in my position, then You have to think carefully about what you should do and what you shouldn’t do.”
Kong Maojie was silent for a while after hearing this.
"What you are talking about is not something I want to consider. I just want to do what His Majesty has asked me to do seriously. As for the rest, I don't care."
"It's good that young people have ideas and motivation, but you can't just not care about some things if you don't want to. There are always many people who will force you to care."
Zhao Zuoliang shook his head: "You are a high-ranking official. There is no high-ranking official in the past dynasties who has not been taken seriously by others. Now it is just a matter of time and sooner or later."
"Even if that day comes, I will never let anyone manipulate me."
Kong Maojie shook his head firmly: "I am an official, not for the sake of being an official."
"Then I'll wait and see."
Zhao Zuoliang said with a smile: "If you really don't become an official for the sake of being an official."
"That's natural."
After Kong Maojie gave his answer, he suddenly thought of what he said when he and Su Yonglin faced each other that night.
In the end, who have never changed from beginning to end?
Kong Maojie once thought that no one would change and would only get better. However, the cruel facts were before his eyes and he had to believe that there were always some people who were hopeless.
"I heard that the emperor went on a killing spree in Shandong?"
Zhao Zuoliang took a piece of pastry that he liked very much and handed it to Kong Maojie.
Kong Maojie thanked him, took it, and stuffed it into his mouth.
"Yes, the Yellow River corruption case in Shandong was very involved. Many people were found out. Pull out the carrots and bring out the mud. There are so many corrupt officials that the manpower brought by His Majesty is not enough. We urgently transferred another batch from them."
"Is this why Lin Jingchun went there?"
"yes."
Kong Maojie said slowly: "I heard that the amount of corruption found in this investigation is as much as one billion yuan. This is only what has been investigated so far. The final result may be more serious and more people will be implicated. It will not end here. .”
"They are all from Shandong."
Zhao Zuoliang also ate a piece of pastry: "So, why did I need to argue with them just now? They are just a bunch of dead people anyway. What's the point of showing off to the dead?"
Kong Maojie looked at Zhao Zuoliang and felt that Zhao Zuoliang's heart was far from as peaceful as he said.
He will also be angry.
