As Zhang Mingwei expected, after the news about the Kong family in Qufu came out in the capital, it was like a huge stone smashed into a small pond, causing a huge response.
Before the Song Dynasty, the Confucius family in Qufu had been conferred titles such as Baocheng, Baozun, Zongsheng, Fengsheng, Chongsheng, Gongsheng, and Baosheng by successive emperors. However, by the time of Song Renzong, it was changed to Yansheng. Gong, "yan" means the continuous development of the saint's descendants and endless reproduction from generation to generation.
It can be said that since ancient times, the Confucius family has only had respect and no hostility towards them from the world.
All kinds of scholarly families, compared with the Confucius family, no longer dare to be called scholarly families. Qufu has always had a prosperous literary style. This is a matter of course. After all, it is the place where the descendants of Confucius and the Confucius Temple are located.
And if the writing style is at its peak, it means educating the world and making people's hearts good. It is a model advocated by Confucius and a holy place for scholars.
All this, but at the beginning of the seventeenth year of Chongzhen, it received a huge impact.
When ordinary scholars, or even ordinary people, hear these things about the Confucius family, their first reaction is that they were wrongly accused.
Scholars and eunuchs have always been antagonistic. The pen is in the hands of scholars. Therefore, throughout the ages, only eunuchs who cooperate with scholars, or in other words, with civil servants, can have a good reputation.
If someone is against a civil servant, he is definitely a heinous traitor. Even if this traitor becomes powerful at some point in time, the final impression he leaves on the world is that he is still a heinous traitor.
For example, in the minds of the world, Wang Zhi, the first admiral of the West Factory, was definitely a villain.
However, if you look closely at Wang Zhi's past, you will find that he punished lawless officials, suppressed the Jurchen rebellion in Jianzhou, fought against the Mongolian Tatars, etc. His achievements are truly beyond the reach of many civil servants. As a result, he became a big villain.
Based on all these, it is natural that the ceremonial eunuch Wang Erbiao reported the crimes of the Confucian family. In the eyes of most people, it was definitely a slander. It must be a problem of eunuchs, not a problem of the largest scholarly family that has been passed down for thousands of years!
Of course, no one here in the capital dares to say that this has anything to do with Duke Xingguo. After all, the fate of those who dare to go against Duke Xing is obvious to all.
However, when civil servants and scholars confront eunuchs, they are naturally just. In the words of later generations, that is political correctness.
As a result, public sentiment was raging, and many people wanted to stand up for the Kong family.
Under this situation, Emperor Chongzhen issued a decree and approved Duke Xingguo's proposal. The Three Laws Division will examine the Confucian family's major case. The factory guards will observe and monitor, and the trial will be held in public, and the people will be allowed to observe.
Of course, the so-called common people here actually have nothing to do with ordinary people. They are all those who are related to officials and have status.
On Chen Yuanyuan's side, when the report was sent to the capital, she also received a letter from Zhang Mingwei, asking her to prepare a special issue on the Confucius family for Ming Pao.
Therefore, before the start of the trial of the Confucius family's major case by the three judicial departments, "Ming Pao" published a special issue on the Confucius family's major case.
The content of this first issue is just a general description of the events of the Kong family case, as well as the upcoming joint trial of the Three Laws Division, and also includes various opinions and comments from the capital on this case.
Finally, at the end, it is written in big characters: This newspaper will continue to pay attention to the progress of this case and report the details of the trial as soon as possible, so stay tuned.
At this time, in addition to Yangzhou, "Ming Pao" branches had branches in the capitals of 13 provinces in Beijing and Beijing except Yunnan and Guizhou. And an expedited delivery mechanism of 800 miles was used to send the latest special edition of "Ming Pao" to all parts of the country.
By the time Zhang Mingwei returned to Beijing, all over the Ming Dynasty, no matter north or south, the same topic was being discussed: What is the truth about the Kong family case?
In addition to the capital, sources from other places could only rely on Ming Pao. Because "Ming Pao" not only has the most detailed news, but is also the fastest to deliver news. After all, very few people have the energy to use the eight-hundred-mile express delivery.
Suddenly, the special issue of "Ming Pao" was hard to find all over the country.
Unknowingly, public opinion in the Ming Dynasty was in the hands of "Ming Pao".
………………
The cavalry returned to the capital to continue resting and recuperating, and then prepared to report to Shanhaiguan to face the powerful enemy Jianlu.
Zhang Mingwei, on the other hand, was immediately summoned into the palace by Emperor Chongzhen.
"Sir, this is a wonderful strategy!" Emperor Chongzhen said with a smile as soon as he saw Zhang Mingwei, "Since the trial of the Sanfa Division, the direction of the capital's case regarding the Kong family has begun to change."
Zhang Mingwei smiled slightly after hearing this. This was obvious.
Wang Erbiao is indeed a talent. No matter what methods he uses, in short, the confessions, evidences, etc. he provides are enough to prove the bad things about the Kong family in this era.
Even if someone retracts the confession, the impact will not be big if there is a chain of evidence.
The people of the Kong family have been accustomed to pampering themselves for thousands of years, so they have experienced such things. There are really no outstanding people among them who are fearless in the face of danger and possess both wisdom and courage!
Even if the civil servants wanted to help the Kong family, it would actually be difficult.
During the interrogation, factory guards were watching; inside the prison, factory guards were also watching. It is absolutely impossible to communicate with the Kong family without leaving the factory guards.
However, as the interrogation progressed, one thing slowly emerged.
This was the original intention of the Kong family. They really did not intend to kill officials and truly rebel. They just jumped over the wall because their interests were harmed.
Emperor Chongzhen explained the situation to Zhang Mingwei, and then said with a smile: "Now the case of the Kong family, which is being tried by the Three Law Divisions, has reached the final stage. There are probably two ways to deal with the Kong family."
"The first type, mainly on the civil servants' side, suggests that people of the Kong family are guilty and should be punished according to the law. However, obedience to Confucius has existed since ancient times and cannot be abandoned. Among them, the Kong family members should choose to abide by the law and have profound Confucian cultivation. He will inherit the title of Duke of Yansheng. The magistrate of Qufu will be appointed separately by the court and will no longer be selected from the Kong family."
After a pause, Emperor Chongzhen glanced at Wang Chengen, the eunuch and eunuch in charge of the Li Supervisor who was waiting beside him, and then continued: "The Li Supervisor's intention is to kill one of them to serve as a warning to others, to deter the lawless, and to punish the nine clans based on the Kong family's conspiracy!"
Wang Erbiao was a eunuch, and what he did was naturally regarded by others as overall eunuch behavior. Faced with this kind of struggle, all the eunuchs had to unite and deal with the outside world. As for those who have opinions, they can only wait until afterwards.
At this point, Emperor Chongzhen smiled and said to Zhang Mingwei: "According to the Jinyiwei Daily provided by Mr., the public opinion is still leaning towards the first solution. If I agree to the first solution, the Kong family will have nothing." Knock him down. And if I approve the second treatment, I'm afraid the public opinion will be unfair! Sir, how do you think we should deal with it?"
The consensus he and Zhang Mingwei reached before was that Confucianism can exist, but the Confucian family must be overthrown!
Therefore, according to Emperor Chongzhen's original intention, he must have chosen the second option and just killed him. However, as an emperor, he cannot act arbitrarily and must consider everything comprehensively.
Zhang Mingwei smiled after hearing this and said: "The reason why this is the case is because the influence of the Kong family has been deeply ingrained after so many years. It is not that simple to change this situation easily. But your Majesty does not need to pay too much attention. Wait a little bit, the longer this case drags on, the more it will break the thousands of years of influence.”
Having said this, he smiled again and said: "In Ming Pao, I will find a few more influential people to comment and continue to discuss these crappy things about the Kong family. When the coat of the Kong family is really peeled off, , it’s time for His Majesty to issue the decree and finalize the decision.”
When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he immediately laughed and said: "It's so good, so good, I'll let them review it first!"
After saying this, he suddenly changed the subject and said, "Sir, my daughter is already fifteen now, how about setting a wedding date?"
Zhu Aona accompanied Zhang Mingwei into the palace, but she did not come to discuss matters with her, but went to see her mother.
At this time, Zhang Mingwei suddenly heard Emperor Chongzhen ask this question, and Zhang Mingwei couldn't follow his train of thought for a moment.
After coming back to his senses, he saw that Wang Chengen was the only one present, so he told the truth to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, in my time, the age of fifteen was still the age of going to school. This ideological understanding is engraved in my bones. It’s okay to get engaged, but it feels too small to get married.”
"That's it!" Emperor Chongzhen heard this and did not force it. Anyway, it is impossible for Zhang Mingwei, the son-in-law, to run away.
Moreover, he also has concerns.
Today, Jianlu has not been destroyed, and the southwest has not been pacified. Especially on Liaodong Jianlu's side, if someone else takes command. Emperor Chongzhen was really worried. What if he lost the battle again and ruined the good situation?
And Zhang Mingwei led the troops to conquer the north and south, and his achievements have proven that he is the most reliable candidate to lead the troops to regain Liaodong.
According to the practice of the Ming Dynasty, the consort who married a princess could only have a sinecure, but could not hold real power.
Although he could force an exception, the imperial censor's memorial would inevitably be lengthy.
Thinking of this, Emperor Chongzhen smiled and said: "Well, as you said, this matter is not urgent anyway, just wait for another two years."
After finishing speaking, he picked up a memorial from the table and asked Wang Chengen to forward it to Zhang Mingwei. At the same time, he said: "This is a memorial from Ma Xianglin, Shizhu's ambassador to comfort, requesting to be transferred to Liaodong to fight against the rebels. What do you think, sir?"
After hearing this, Zhang Mingwei didn't think much about it, and immediately said with a smile: "Your Majesty, among our Ming infantry, the military discipline of the Baigan Army is considered to be first-class. It should be possible to send them to fight against the Jianlu. If we give them more By changing their costumes, their combat power will be greatly improved."
