At the same time, many merchants in the capital were arrested by Jin Yiwei. Zhu Houzhao personally issued an order to arrest them. These people were so shameless, could they still be kept for the New Year?
Just like Liu Jin said, don't you dare to have someone rush to do it as usual. If the emperor's merchants don't obey, just replace them. How many rich people were there in the Ming Dynasty?
These were quite provocative. Among those who were waiting and watching, there were one or two imperial merchants who escaped. Because they did not run around and conspire to collude with the ministers, Liu Jin was lucky enough to tell Fan Ting to let them go and warned them to be informed. , don't be stubborn anymore, no matter how rich you are, just one word from the palace is enough to make you die without a burial place and your whole family will be robbed, think about it carefully.
All wealth and splendor and wealth are just fleeting. Entering the imperial prison of Jinyiwei means entering the gate of hell. Don't think about the chance of coming out. If I had known, why would I do it today? Who would have thought that those scholars are such useless people? , before the emperor could do anything, they were silent. It was true that they succeeded less than they failed, and they were invincible, and they regretted it.
The Tiqi of the Jinyiwei took people out openly, but no one dared to stand up. Most of the merchants in the capital were opened, and the rest were sealed and ransacked. The ministers looked on with cold eyes, and the people clapped and applauded, dividing the two sides.
The eldest son of the Kong family walked silently on the street. Looking at this scene, he couldn't understand it. Today, judging from the situation he knew, this shouldn't be done. There must be a big war. The war had indeed started. They only targeted the emperor's merchants, not the ministers. How could it end up like this? The big waves just started and then they fell into the blue waves. This doesn't look right no matter how you look at it. What happened in the palace.
Just when he couldn't figure it out and was extremely disappointed with Wang Qiong and others, several figures like high walls suddenly appeared on the roadside.
"Eldest Young Master, please go slowly, my master has invited you." Five burly men blocked the Eldest Young Master's way, each with a sinister look on his face and cold eyes.
He looked at these people and knew that he couldn't escape. Seeing that they all looked different from ordinary people, they must be Jin Yiwei, but he didn't know why they were stopping him.
"Who is your master?" the eldest son asked calmly.
One of them seems to be their leader. You can tell by the respectful attitude of several people towards him. He said in a cold voice, "I'll let you know when the eldest son comes, please." The threat is obvious, so don't give it a try.
The eldest son of the Confucius family disappeared in the streets of the capital without causing any disturbance.
Wang Qiong knelt shaky outside the Meridian Gate. After so many days of planning, he failed. What happened in the palace, but one thing is for sure, he is really finished this time.
Thousands of miles away, Nanjing Prefecture.
"Caomin Zhang Ji, on behalf of the people in the city, thank you two adults. My benefactors, the people are ignorant. If it weren't for the two adults, we would have been ruined. Mr. Qingtian, woo hoo."
In September of the 18th year of Hongzhi, the Nanjing Prefecture and the surrounding towns under its jurisdiction were shaken by the earth dragon. The earth collapsed, landslides and ground cracks occurred, and all life was devastated. The aftermath spread across seven cities and lasted for three days. About the next day, the earth dragon gradually returned to peace. The disaster destroyed countless houses and money, lost fertile farmland, blocked rivers, and caused flooding. The number of casualties reached 200,000, resulting in millions of refugees without a stable place to live. For another ten days, some refugees gathered to cause chaos, and the ten months ended.
This catastrophic disaster in history, the disaster caused to the entire Ming Dynasty, is now gone, and there is a turning point here.
After the disaster, Jiao Fang ordered the opening of the granary in the state capital for disaster relief, and organized people to build roads, provide pipelines along the way, rebuild houses, and dredge rivers. After the disaster, epidemics would inevitably occur. Zhu Houzhao had already told him to deal with the aftermath, so that he could quickly The disaster was stabilized.
The people spontaneously came to Songjun to return to Beijing. They are no longer needed here. The rest will be left to the Nanjing government to handle. Everything that needs to be done has been done. If these people still can't do it well, then they will wait to be dealt with by His Majesty.
"Fellows, folks, I am following the emperor's decree. I did not dare to state it clearly before, and everyone misunderstood me. I am ashamed to accept it. The emperor is kind and cannot bear the suffering of the people. I am willing to accept the misunderstandings of the people and the questioning of the courtiers to help everyone. , you thank me and Eunuch Zhang, but on behalf of Eunuch Zhang, I tell you that this is all because of the wisdom of the emperor, so I dare not accept it. If the folks want to thank you, just thank the emperor." Jiao Fang is a good person, No one is qualified to receive this unprecedented feat, only the emperor can.
Zhang Zhong silently wrote down his words and deeds, and nodded secretly.
The people suddenly understood. It turned out to be like this. No wonder these high-ranking officials from the imperial court suddenly appeared and led an army to drag them away from the disaster area. It turned out to be the emperor's idea. It turned out that the emperor had been Care about them so much.
When you think about it, it's true. Your Majesty not only exempted them from taxes, but also required them to do corvee labor. Your Majesty, who cares about the people's livelihood in this way, is truly the Holy Lord and Mingjun. Who dares to say otherwise? Look at the old man and I won't kill him.
The common people are not to be fooled. Whoever keeps them fed and clothed and who treats them well is a wise king and a holy king. Zhu Yuanzhang has a violent and surly personality, but he is really good to the people. His descendants, even if they are as ridiculous as Emperor Hua, The same is true. He may not be a good emperor to the courtiers, but when it comes to the people, that is not necessarily the case.
Do you think it is really what was shown on TV? The people are all stupid. Whoever treats them well can understand clearly. Just like now, the people understand that anything that forces them and makes them homeless is because the emperor has a heart. With love for the people, he would rather be misunderstood by the people and the court, and would not hesitate to be infamy.
Such an emperor is not good, who is good?
"The elder is right, the emperor loves the people as his sons, but we were confused and wrongly blamed the emperor. The common people are going to write a book of ten thousand people and dedicate it to the elders of the court so that they don't misunderstand the emperor. Please take it back and show it to them. Look, the emperor is a good emperor, don’t misunderstand him.”
The common people are simple, Jiao Fang is secretly happy. If this Book of All Peoples is brought back, the Holy One will definitely be very happy, it will be a great achievement, and the imperial court will definitely criticize the Holy One at this moment.
I was originally going to leave, but now I have decided to leave a day later. Anyway, I am not in a hurry. After I go back, let the courtiers take a good look at how beloved the Holy One you criticized is in the hearts of the people.
Capital, the prison cell of Jinyiwei.
The eldest son of the Kong family was brought directly here. The eldest son was suddenly shocked. He did not expect that the Jin Yiwei would bring him here so unscrupulously.
"You know my identity and you are so bold. Don't you worry that it is easy to invite me in, but it will not be so easy to ask me out." The eldest son said calmly.
In the prison, shrill howls could be heard from time to time, and the sound of whips flying and whipping. Can you imagine what is happening? The eldest son forced himself to calm down.
In front of him was a dirty and damp prison. However, there were three people inside, a young man, two middle-aged men, and a middle-aged man in a python robe. He knew who it was without even thinking about it. The commander of the Jinyi Guards, Mou Bin, standing on the right hand of the middle-aged man, is a white-faced and beardless man. Although I have never seen him before, I know who he is. He must be an eunuch. Who could he be?
Looking at the young man's heroic and majestic demeanor, combined with Mou Bin's attitude and the eunuchs beside him, the eldest master also came to his senses. He was undoubtedly the emperor of the day. Unexpectedly, the master mentioned by the minions of the Jin Yiwei was the emperor. He I should have thought of it a long time ago, and a coldness spread in my heart.
Zhu Houzhao looked at the eldest son with a smile in his eyes, his expression half-smiling but not smiling.
"Kong Shangyi, a common man, comes to see my emperor. Long live, long live, long live my emperor." Kong Shangyi bowed three times and kowtowed nine times. He has not yet ascended the throne, so he called him a citizen. Don't common people have to bow three times and kowtow nine times when they see the emperor? , a big ceremony to meet him, he will not take any imperial examinations, and he has no place in claiming to be a student, so he is still well-informed and knowledgeable.
Zhu Houzhao said lightly: "How come you are so smart now? You have been very restless in the past half month. Why?" He did not ask Kong Shangyi to stand up, but asked him to kneel and speak.
"Your Majesty, please forgive the innocent people." Kong Shangyi prostrated himself on the ground again. His Majesty did not ask him to get up, so he naturally did not dare to get up and kept his posture very low.
Just kidding, at this time, people are entering the imperial prison, and it was ordered by the emperor. How can you show off and listen to the screams in the imperial prison, unless you also want to try it.
Zhu Houzhao nodded and said, "You speak, and I listen." He wanted to listen.
"It is recorded in ancient books that when an emperor comes out, his aura is like clouds, all of which are dragons and tigers, forming five colors. This emperor's aura, wherever the aura gathers, there must be a strange person below him. The saint is heroic and has extraordinary demeanor. His Majesty has ascended the throne as a young man, and King Ning has been punished. The party, Enke takes office, scholars all over the world celebrate the festival, exempt the world from food and tax for a year, and the people all praise the benevolence of the emperor, the establishment of a sea ban, the introduction of business taxes and a series of actions, all of which make people applaud, the emperor is wise and courageous His wise and majestic appearance has long been spread throughout the world, and he can be accompanied by a royal guard commander who has been given a python robe by the Holy One and a father-in-law. Apart from the current Holy One, who else can have such magnificence? The common people boldly guessed that it must be the emperor. The common people ask the emperor to atone for the crime of being negligent." Kong Shangyi knelt on the ground. Although he was talking eloquently, his clothes were already wet with cold sweat behind his back. Therefore, he was extremely careful when he spoke, not daring to show off his arrogance in the slightest. Words of flattery.
Zhu Houzhao said coldly: "You are good at talking, but you do good things, but it makes me very embarrassed. I think you are not too stupid, and you are very smart, but smart people do stupid things. What are you doing today?" Tell me, if I am satisfied, you can live and the Northern Sect can survive. If I am not satisfied, the Northern Sect's thousand-year inheritance will be wiped out. The Southern Sect will also be qualified to inherit the mantle of the most holy teacher. I think they will not Refuse, what do you think?"
When Kong Shangyi heard this, he was shocked and at the same time extremely angry. Could it be that the emperor really had no scruples? He said these words so easily. Since he wanted to destroy his Northern sect lineage, he also wanted to support those wishful thinking guys of the Southern sect. , so majestic and evil, he simply didn’t take me, the Saint Queen, seriously, which is really hateful and annoying.
Zhu Houzhao looked at him like this and said calmly: "Why, you can't answer, or you still don't want to answer, are you afraid that I will kill you in anger?" Zhu Houzhao answered what was in his mind for him.
Kong Shangyi was sweating coldly and lowered his head. He didn't know what his expression was at this moment.
According to the unwritten rules of the past, the emperor ascended the throne and expressed congratulations and praises to the Confucius Mansion. Then, the emperor issued an imperial edict to bestow a title. Although it was a false courtesy, it had not changed since Emperor Hongwu until the late Emperor Zhu Youtang, and it had always been respected by the world. People and courtiers regard it as a symbolic ritual of the emperor's respect for Confucianism, and it is an indispensable unwritten rule.
When Zhu Houzhao ascended the throne, he not only did not show his courtesy, but also neglected him, the first heir of the Confucius family. He randomly sent a palace steward out and told him that His Majesty was busy with state affairs and had no time to summon him. He should go to the Ministry of Rites and wait for the decree. Waiting for several days made him upset.
When he came, he wanted to rely on his status to discuss etiquette with the emperor. He was used to being a local emperor in the Confucius Mansion. How could he have been so wronged? After being complimented by Hanlin Li Jingyang, he was used by Wang Qiong. , who attracted so many scholars to go outside the Meridian Gate. He is not stupid. He is not convinced that he is being ignored, even if that person is the emperor. He has been shrouded in the aura of the descendant of the most holy teacher for too long, and he thinks that he is the emperor. A saint.
Now that Zhu Houzhao used his supreme imperial power to show off his power, he finally realized that he had overestimated the status of the Confucius family. If people respect you, you are the most holy teacher. If people don't care about you, you are just a statue of a god carved from clay and wood. If you change someone else, you can still do it. If you think about it, you must change your self-heat and cater to the emperor's heart, so that you can gain the emperor's favor and enjoy the halo of glory brought by your ancestors.
"The common people, Kong Shangyi, beg your Majesty to forgive you. The common people are willing to share your worries for the Emperor. No, no, no, the entire Kong family is willing to obey His Majesty's orders. No one dares to disobey. Your Majesty, the common people sincerely surrender and serve. Please grant Shangyi a loyal heart." Let's do it." Kong Shangyi had no choice but to do this.
Zhu Houzhao's meaning is very obvious. I will give you two ways to choose, one is to die, and the other is to live. The way to die is to continue playing with me until I kill you and your whole family. The way to live is to follow me well and do what you want. My people, you and your whole family can survive and live well.
Kong Shangyi is a smart man. If Zhu Houzhao doesn't come to see him, maybe he will really die inexplicably. Now that he has appeared, he may survive. After all, the opportunity was said by the emperor himself. In fact, Zhu Houzhao didn't want to hear it. His explanations, no matter how much you explain, are useless. Whether or not he will kill you depends on my words.
He said before that he wanted to satisfy him. He said that smart people do stupid things, so this was a reminder to him.
Kong Shangyi understood the meaning and naturally expressed his loyalty quickly. What kind of righteousness and unyielding power? If Yuan Haowen was not afraid of death, why should he respect Kublai Khan as the great master of Confucianism? Why did the Kong family accept Meng Yuan's canonization and return it? Isn't it because Kublai Khan is strong and murderous? Is it really because Kublai Khan is studious? Give me a break.
The Yi and Di people are not of my race, and their minds must be different. If they are strong, they will be bandits and thieves. If they are weak and humble, they will not care about kindness and righteousness. This is what Wei Zheng said.
Kong Yingda, the 31st generation grandson of Confucius, once made a correct interpretation of the idea that those who are not from my race must have different minds. It can be seen that the descendants of the old master are not all useless people. On the contrary, the Confucius family a hundred years ago But some people forgot about it, received the title of Kublai Khan, and sang praises to foreigners.
After Zhu Yuanzhang expelled Meng Yuan and established the world, there were still scholars who held Meng Yuan's tablet and refused to participate in the imperial examination because they looked down on Zhu Yuanzhang, the grassroots emperor. It goes without saying who was behind it.
Because the Southern Sect refused to give in, the dispute between the North and South direct lineages arose. To be honest, the Southern Lineage was more upright and left the Confucius Mansion in Qufu. They went to the south of the Yangtze River and claimed that they were the direct lineage of the Supreme Saint. They were not ashamed of the Northern Lineage. In what he did, he always believed that Confucianism should not recognize foreign races as the mainstay, but he also looked down on Emperor Hongwu, who was almost the same as Beizong. This result is really disappointing and helpless.
As for the orthodoxy of the direct line, there is no way to test it. After more than a hundred years of fighting, no one can tell who is the authentic one.
Zhu Houzhao doesn't care about their fight. As long as it doesn't get in the way, you can do whatever you want. But now that he is being bullied, he will naturally use the imperial authority to be strict. He must be allowed to use it. If Kong Shangyi doesn't surrender, Bei will be destroyed. Zong, support Nan Zong, they are all saints anyway, I don’t care.
"This is what you said, I didn't force you." Zhu Houzhao said shamelessly.
Kong Shangyi breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he had made the right bet on the emperor's heart, and bowed to him: "The emperor is brave and wise, and he is a wise king. As everyone knows in the world, it is truly a blessing for the common people and their family to share the emperor's worries. Why? Let’s force it out.”
Zhu Houzhao stood up with a smile, put his palm on his shoulder, patted him, and said, "You are very smart, I am very happy. Since you are willing to share my worries, I really have something to lend you to the Kong Mansion." I wonder if you are willing to do so."
Kong Shangyi hesitated for a moment, and then quickly responded, saving his life is the most important thing now, not only that, but also saving Beizong.
"The grassroots are willing." He answered readily.
Zhu Houzhao let go of his hand on his shoulder, helped him up, pointed to a table in the corner, and said, "I intend to collect business tax, but some people don't understand it. Every time I mention it, they If you dare to accuse me of competing for profits with the people, I want you, the Kong family, to petition you to collect commercial taxes, and to ask the gentry to pay taxes as one, and write a memorial based on this and submit it, and let everyone in the world know that this article is yours I’ll give you a month to do it, are there any difficulties?”
After hearing this, Kong Shangyi was shocked again. If he really wrote such an article, he would offend all the vested interests in the world. Even if his home is a sacred place in the eyes of scholars, he would not dare to go through such trouble. Your Majesty This is not a joke, it means you are serious. Do you have a choice?
"Caomin ~ Caomin..."
He hesitated. He finally understood this method of killing people invisible.
Mou Bin's eyes sparkled, and he was happy for the late emperor. Because the late emperor was so fond of Confucianism at the time, he did not get a good evaluation and was often criticized. Now, the current emperor is still powerful. The imperial power has been played to the extreme, and he is suppressing you. If you don't accept it, your whole clan will be destroyed. It depends on whether you accept it or not. It turns out that you are still the same willful and reckless character as before, but you are no longer reckless, and you are much more calm in doing things.
Liu Jin laughed in his heart, you and I criticized His Majesty back then, but now you are forced to surrender by the Emperor, it feels good, hehe...
Zhu Houzhao sighed lightly and said, "It's a pity. I thought you sincerely confessed and surrendered. It turns out that it was just wishful thinking on my part."
He turned to Mou Bin and ordered: "Mo Bin, entertain Mr. Kong well. It seems that he is not smart enough, so let him learn how to be smart."
"I obey the order." Mou Bin said in a deep voice, looking at Kong Shangyi with cold and ruthless eyes, but with a cruel smile on his face that chose others to devour, which made people look at him with horror.
"Humph." Zhu Houzhao took one last look at Kong Shangyi, snorted coldly, and walked away.
Zhu Houzhao left without even giving Kong Shangyi a chance to react. By the time he reacted, Zhu Houzhao had already been carefully waited on by Liu Jin and left.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, don't leave. The common people are willing to share your worries, Your Majesty..."
Zhu Houzhao is not impatient, but he knows that majesty alone is not enough without some means. If you want people to surrender without corresponding ruthless means, are you really so unbearable for a thousand-year-old family?
The Confucius Mansion is famous and wealthy, but those people have never suffered. Even in the most turbulent days, no power has touched them. What are they afraid of? Naturally, they were afraid of emperors who dared to hurt their bones, such as Kublai Khan, a foreigner who killed without batting an eye.
If Zhu Houzhao doesn't give him some color, Kong Shangyi will definitely do things perfunctorily and will not surrender completely. Zhu Houzhao likes to do things neatly and does not like to divide one thing into several pieces. Therefore, Kong Shangyi can only enjoy the imperial edict. The treatment in the prison cell, judging by his tender skin and tender flesh, he must be "enjoyed" here.
Mou Bin said to the corridor, "Here comes someone."
"My subordinate is here."
"Give me a good treat for this young master."
"Subordinates take orders."
"No, Commander Mou, you can't do this, no, don't, Your Majesty, Your Majesty... the common people know their mistake, and they are willing to share the emperor's worries~ Ah... ah... Your Majesty, spare your life... don't... ··!”
In the prison, all the shrill howls seemed to have disappeared, and only Kong Shangyi's frightened and desperate cry drowned out all sounds.
Zhu Houzhao paused and sneered in his heart, "If you had known this, why would you have to go against me? I am not a pedantic scholar or a Confucian saint in today's dynasty?" I don’t care, just enjoy it. I believe you will become really smart in a few days, hehe...!
