In the Confucius Forest during the Jianwen period, there were no buildings such as Eternal Changchun Square, Zhishenglin Square, and Erlin Gate. There were lush trees all the way to the depths where you can see the tomb of Confucius.
The tomb is ten feet from east to west, eight feet and five feet from north to south, and one foot and five feet high. There is a stone tablet in front of the tomb, with the seal script "Tomb of King Wenxuan, the Most Holy Saint of Dacheng". This title was given by the Yuan Dynasty, and this tombstone was also erected during the Yuan Dynasty.
Zhu Yunwen had no intention of ruining it, nor did he intend to imitate Zhu Qizhen and get a stone tablet for Confucius. He just looked at Confucius's tomb quietly, no one knew what he was thinking.
Kong Gongjian looked at Zhu Yunzhen nervously. His attitude towards Confucius was directly related to the attitude of the court and the future of Duke Yansheng's mansion.
Zhu Yunwen first sighed softly, then raised his hands and bowed deeply towards the tomb of Confucius.
This bow is the master of Confucianism!
This bow is a model for all generations!
This bow is for Chinese civilization!
No matter how many people criticize Confucius and Confucian culture, no matter how many people look down upon them and trample on "The Analects" and "Spring and Autumn", no one can deny that more than two thousand years of cultural inheritance, the maintenance of a unified country, and the feudal dynasty's Continuation, a prosperous age that builds on the past, and a great revival cannot bypass Confucius!
Zhu Yunwen could only say that there were many emperors, but there was only one Confucius.
Kong Gongjian was a little tearful. You must know that since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang has been a "preaching" attitude towards Duke Yansheng's mansion. I am the best in the world, and Confucius cannot say that he is second, but I can ask, who are you, Duke Yansheng?
There is a stone tablet in Confucius' mansion, which is engraved with the conversation between Zhu Yuanzhang and Kong Kejian. Zhu Yuanzhang asked directly: Old scholar, come here, how old are you?
Then he said, "I think you have a good temperament and you are a married man. Your ancestors left behind the Three Cardinal Guidelines and Five Constant Rules, which are good laws that will last forever. If your family doesn't study, it means you don't abide by the laws of your ancestors. How can you win?"
What this means is that you just stay at home and study, and don't think about other "activities." As for the "activities" here, it refers to being a lackey of the Yuan Dynasty, or just wanting an official position. It's hard to say.
But in any case, it is a fact that Zhu Yuanzhang respected Confucius and demoted the Duke Yan's Mansion. Now Zhu Yunwen bows to Confucius' tomb. Although his movements are gentle, the signal sent out is strong, that is, the Jianwen Dynasty will still implement Hongwu's will and respect Confucius as his teacher.
The difference is that Zhu Yuanzhang has never been here, Zhu Yunwen came in person. Come or not, Confucius' tomb is here, but the meaning is unusual. At least it shows that Zhu Yunwen gave Yanshenggong's face more than Zhu Yuanzhang.
"Teacher to all generations, leader in the righteous way."
Zhu Yunwen gave a comment, standing in the position of an emperor.
Kong Gongjian couldn't bear it any longer and quickly knelt down and kowtowed. This was Zhu Yunwen's recognition of Confucius and a kind of protection for Kong. Zhu Yunwen had no intention of visiting other people's graves. After asking Kong Gong to take notice, he said: "I am planning to let the Kong family go to the northeast for the purpose of planning the fate of the Ming Dynasty. We must not neglect it."
Kong Gongjian quickly promised: "We will do our best to achieve success."
Zhu Yunwen left with satisfaction and headed for Jining.
During the journey, Yang Shiqi couldn't help but ask: "Everywhere is hungry for teachers like drought and rain. Why did the emperor let the Kong family go to Liaodong?"
Zhu Yunwen fell silent. He couldn't tell Yang Shiqi that more than two hundred years later, with the rise of the Jurchens, hundreds of thousands of barbarians would rule tens of millions of Ming people, right? The Jurchens are indeed no threat to the Ming Dynasty now, and it is not difficult for the Ming Dynasty to deal with them.
During the several Northern Expeditions in the early Ming Dynasty, including Zhu Di's Northern Expedition in history, the Jurchens were barely marked on the battle maps. In other words, these people were just ants and were not even qualified to be the enemies of the Ming Dynasty.
But the problem is, Ming is not the enemy now, but in the future!
"Although the Jurchens are now scattered, weak and vulnerable, we should not ignore the old history of the Liao and Jin. Once the Jurchen ethnic group is reunited again, its combat effectiveness and destructive power will be no worse than that of the Tatars and Oaras."
Zhu Yunwen said seriously.
Yang Shiqi frowned and looked at Zhu Yunwen in confusion.
At the peak of the Jin Kingdom, the population was more than 50 million, which is an extremely terrifying number. The current Ming Dynasty only has a population of more than 60 million. Of course, among the more than 50 million Jin people, the Jurchen population is only more than 3 million.
There are more than three million Jurchens who cannot be offended. I think back then, 20,000 Jurchen elites defeated 700,000 of the Liao Kingdom (allegedly, roughly 420,000) and abandoned their armor. The foundation of the Liao Kingdom was almost destroyed in the first battle!
There are less than ten thousand Jurchens, and they are invincible. This is not just talk.
But these things have become a thing of the past. After the Mongols destroyed the Jin Dynasty, this ethnic group of several million has been slaughtered to less than 100,000. Even during the Yuan Dynasty, it was suppressed to death. Even after hundreds of years of recuperation, its total population is only 300,000, still scattered across the vast land of Liaodong. Some larger tribes only have more than 10,000 people, and small tribes only have a few hundred people.
In this case, the Jurchens can't get on the stage at all. Do we need to worry about them? Your Majesty, are you worried too much? After all, the Ming Dynasty still has the Liaodong Dusi. If someone really messes up, the Liaodong sergeants can go north to suppress one or two, and any guard can kill one of their tribes. Are you worried about this...
Zhu Yunwen looked at the sky, his eyes a little gloomy.
Knowing that the future is a heavy one, no one has cared about the Jurchens in Liaodong, even the Hongwu Emperor and Yongle Emperor in history. What they did was just a policy of restraint, surrender was enough, and they did not actually control Liaodong. During the Zhu Zhanji period, Nuer Gandusi was simply lost. Such a vast piece of land was lost!
lost!
A cold light flashed in Zhu Yunwen's eyes.
Zhu Zhanji was highly praised by historians for his rule of benevolence and prosperity, and for the peace of the country and the people. But in Zhu Yunwen's view, these were not enough to make up for his mistakes, and he took the initiative to lose Jiaozhi, the Hetao, and Liaodong!
Yes, he has his difficulties, but no amount of hardship can exchange for territory!
In Zhu Yunwen's view, losing territory is a national humiliation, and his name should be engraved on the pillar of shame. His diligence, kindness, and intelligence cannot prevent him from seeing his stupid side.
Zhu Yunwen did not intend to let Ming Dynasty lose another inch of land, so with the Jianwen New Deal and the great financial improvements, it gave Zhu Yunwen the confidence to control a larger territory. Now, it is time to start thinking about how to completely control Liaodong.
This is a big game of chess, and it doesn’t mean that you can just make a move.
Zhu Yunwen has not yet made up his mind as to what policy should be adopted towards the Jurchen tribe, whether to massacre and wipe out all the Jurchen tribes in Liaodong and completely exterminate them, or to adopt an appeasement policy, which mainly focuses on coaxing and appeasing, or whether to adopt a half-massacre and half-appeasement policy. .
Siluke
Either way, Zhu Yunqi must plan in advance. Letting the Kong family prepare his husband to go to the Northeast is out of appeasement considerations. However, Zhu Yunqi also has a worry. If the Jurchen tribe is really pulled from a nomadic or even primitive state to a feudal state In this era, Ming Dynasty will be troubled by raising tigers.
Zhu Yunwen thought for a long time and gave an order to Liu Chang: "Investigate the situation of the Jurchen tribes in Liaodong, send a message to Chen Di, and ask him to draft an order and send people to Liaodong to appease the Jurchen tribes and observe their movements and attitudes."
No matter what actions are taken later, we must first investigate clearly and see the attitude of this group of people.
If they are really willing to be their younger brothers, then the Ming Dynasty will be able to build cities and new guard posts in Liaodong, forming a situation of containment and division. If they feel wronged by being younger brothers, they can only be wronged and let them go to Siberia to build igloos with Eskimos to live together.
Liu Changge happily accepted the order and found someone to deliver the news.
Because Qufu is close to the Yishui River, which leads to Jining, and because Ma Enhui and Xian Fei's carriage was bumpy along the way and they couldn't rest well, Zhu Yunwen and his party took a big boat instead.
On this day, the ship approached Ziyang City and slowly stopped.
Zhu Yunwen was sitting at the stern of the boat, passing the time with one foot on the fishing rod. When he saw the boat stopped, he couldn't help but turn his head and look. Liu Changge came over and reported in a low voice: "There are three official ships blocking the way and they are boarding the boat for inspection."
"Why?"
Zhu Yunwen was puzzled as to why he was still doing the interrogation.
Liu Changge replied: "They were checking passing ships in the name of searching for the remnants of the White Lotus Sect."
"The remnants of the White Lotus Sect? Where did the remnants come from?"
Zhu Yunzhen was surprised. The bandit leader of the White Lotus Sect was killed and the Buddha Mother died. In addition to the Qingzhou incident, the court went deep into the countryside to investigate. The White Lotus Sect had disappeared and did not dare to show its face. It has been more than a year since this happened. Why are they still using this? An excuse for a roadside search?
Putting away the fishing rod, Zhu Yunwen walked to the bow of the boat and looked ahead. Two boats were stopped not far away. Several government officials laid planks and boarded the boats to inspect. Not long after, a woman's screams were heard. The sound of a man's pleading was heard. Soon after, the government servants were seen carrying two packages and a box back to the official ship, leaving only the lonely ship behind and fleeing for their lives.
"Is this a government investigation or a Roadhog robber?"
Zhu Yunwen asked coldly.
Yang Shiqi and Xia Yuanji came out and saw the previous scene, their expressions were ugly.
"Let them board the ship and inspect it!"
Zhu Yunwen sat directly on the bow of the boat and gave the order coldly.
As the ship moved forward, the officer heard a loud voice shouting: "Stop the ship for inspection!"
Before the ship could stop, the government officials reached out with a long hook and hooked it to the side of the boat. After pulling it to a certain distance, they spread wide planks of wood and the four officials with knives stepped on the planks and boarded the ship.
"Who are you and why are you passing by here?"
The leader of the squad, Wu Tian, was arrogant, looking back and forth at the people on the ship with a pair of stern eyes. He looked into the cabin from time to time, but unfortunately he couldn't see clearly through the curtain.
Zhu Yunwen didn't say anything at all. When Liu Changge saw this, he said bluntly: "We are businessmen from the capital, and we want to go to Jining this time."
"Why did the capital go to Jining from this direction? You exposed some flaws. Let me tell you, you are the remnants of the White Lotus Sect. If you want to go to Jining to cause trouble, come on, catch me."
Wu Tian spoke, and other government officials stepped forward and caught Liu Changge.
Liu Changge glanced at Zhu Yunwen and saw that he didn't say anything, so he had to let the two government officials catch him.
At this time, Ma Enhui and Concubine Xian opened the curtain and walked out. Wu Tian was immediately shocked, his eyes brightened, he rubbed his hands and walked forward: "If you are smarter, you will save yourself a beating. If you are not smart, you will be beaten." If you are caught, you will lose your head."
PS:
I was drunk today and couldn't type. I saved a single chapter. There will be a drinking party tomorrow. I'm about to stop updating. Haha, I'll go back and make up for the National Day debt. Thank you for your understanding.
