The days when I fished in Daming

Where did Leng Tou Qing come from?
Everyone has one question.

Hearing that the sound came from behind him, Kong Xixue turned around to look.

I only glanced at it.

Then Kong Xixue felt a force coming from the back of his knees, and then he knelt forward uncontrollably. His left hand was then flattened behind him by a hand.

He knelt down, Kong Xixue knelt down.

Kong Xixue was not young either, and at this moment he did not have any extra reaction. He just tried hard to turn his head to see the person behind him.

A young man?

He really is a hothead.

This is Kong Xixue's idea.

Then a tremendous sense of humiliation overwhelmed him, and he began to struggle violently.

"Let go."

The man behind him remained unmoved, still holding Kong Xixue firmly, awaiting Zheng Xiong's orders.

This move not only subdued Kong Xixue, but also Zheng Xiong.

I thought I was going to get angry, but I didn't have to.

Are there really such hotheads in the world?

But this makes things much easier.

Seeing that shouting behind him was useless, Kong Xixue turned around and aimed his spear at Zheng Xiong.

"Zheng Xiong, I am the dignified Vice Chancellor, the new generation Duke Yansheng, and the chief officiant of the ancestral sacrifices. How dare you humiliate me like this? What about His Majesty? What about my family of Confucius? Are you planning a rebellion?"

"Stop talking about rebellion all the time. His Majesty is a man of great talent and ambition, and is in his prime. Who would dare to rebel? Who could possibly rebel? On the contrary, it is your Kong family that is wicked and whose crimes are beyond description. If anyone is going to rebel, it is your Kong family."

"If you want to find fault, you can always find a pretext. Today you have insulted me without cause, and I will not let this go."

"Heh, no reason? Where does your innocence come from? Today in Yingtian Prefecture, whether you're a dragon or a tiger, you'd better coil up for me. I'll ask you questions, and you'll answer them. Just say yes or no."

Zheng Xiong slammed his gavel and rebuked.

"This February, you, Kong Xixue, encroached on more than fifty hectares of land. Is that not true?"

Faced with the accusations, Kong Xixue panicked for a moment, but quickly regained his composure.

"Nonsense! That was to repair the temple of the former sage and restore the sacrificial fields. We had already informed His Majesty, and His Majesty had given his permission. How could it be considered encroachment?"

"The Kong family has been compiling surrender documents for generations. In each dynasty, they have been granted land and tax exemptions. As far as I know, in this dynasty alone, His Majesty has granted two thousand hectares of land. Adding the grants from previous dynasties, the Kong family has been granted several thousand hectares of land. Including the private land they secretly own, the number is countless. Why should they be granted more land for offerings? Isn't it because your Kong family has embezzled farmland to satisfy your own selfish desires? Isn't that right?"

"These are all just rewards, no need for you to worry about them, they have nothing to do with you."

Kong Xixue didn't want to argue, since it was pointless to say too much or make things worse.

However, Zheng Xiong had no intention of letting him go.

"Very well, this matter will be investigated by this government, and you will not be allowed to deny it."

"I'll ask you again. Your father, Kong Kejian, served as an official in the Yuan court and often offered advice. When the Yuan court was weak, His Majesty summoned him. Why didn't you come? Do you look down on His Majesty?"

These words were incredibly damaging; Kong Xixue broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing them.

“My father has passed away. Although he served the Yuan court, his life was wasted. In addition, he was old and sick. The journey was long and complicated. There was a reason for this. Please do not make false accusations.”

"Is that so! I have also heard that after your mother married His Majesty, she often corresponded with Yuan Ting. What is the explanation for that?"

"You said it yourself, you heard it from others. How much of that can be true?"

"If you ask me, it's highly credible; it's not just a rumor."

"What, does your Yingtian Prefecture intend to punish me based on this? How laughable."

"Isn't it ridiculous? You can't get away with this today, Kong Xixue. You've been caught. Go to jail! This government will investigate the matter thoroughly."

"Suit yourself, but you should be careful whether you can withstand the wrath of the Confucianists."

"I'm only targeting the Kong family."

"Then you might not be able to withstand it either." "Guards, throw these three into jail. The trial will be held on another day. Court adjourned."

Zheng Xiong made his stance clear, and Kong Xixue gave Zheng Xiong a deep look before being pushed and shoved toward an unknown place, where it was pitch black.

However, Kong Xixue believed that he would be out soon, and when he was out, it would be time to settle accounts.

And that day is today.

In fact, Kong Xixue's calculations were very accurate.

Within half an hour, a flurry of memorials, like snowflakes, drifted onto Old Zhu's desk, all impeaching Zheng Xiong.

In addition, a large group of people went to Yingtian Prefecture together, seemingly to seek justice for Kong Xixue.

Without exception, all those who came seeking justice were suppressed by Zheng Xiong and thrown into prison.

This time, the constables have undergone a preliminary transformation and are now acting without restraint.

An hour later, a figure quietly arrived at the government office.

"Your Highness, why are you here?"

Zhu Biao scrutinized Zheng Xiong from head to toe, as if trying to see right through him.

“This has blown up. My father is bombarded with memorials impeaching you and demanding your punishment.”

"Father had no choice but to send me here to tell you to secretly release the person, then take an iron certificate to confess your crime, and wait a few days until things calm down before making any further decisions."

"Does Your Highness also think I'm wrong? Alas!"

What do you mean?
Zhu Biao didn't quite understand.

I came here out of kindness to help you, and this is all so strange!

“I didn’t say you were wrong, nor did Father Emperor say you were wrong, it’s just that you acted impulsively in this matter.”

"Then I was wrong, Your Highness. Would you please hear my opinion?"

Zhu Biao nodded helplessly.

"Then tell me!"

"May I ask Your Highness, is it truly right for His Majesty to treat the Duke of Yansheng and the Kong family so generously?"

Forehead. . .

"With the country newly settled, treating the Kong family well is for the sake of stability, and that is the right thing to do."

"Your Highness is wrong, in my opinion."

"Why?"

"Since the Han Dynasty, the status of Confucius has risen steadily, and the Confucius family, as his own family, has also risen steadily in status."

"The Kong family worships Confucius, and the name has changed continuously, from Baocheng, Baozun, Zongsheng, Fengsheng, Chongsheng, Gongsheng, Baosheng, and then to Yansheng from the Song Dynasty to the present day, and its status has been rising continuously."

"His Majesty has granted the title of Duke Yansheng and treated him generously, which is the right thing to do now."

"Although he is the Duke of Yansheng, he is actually a sacrificial official. If he wants to perform family sacrifices, there is nothing wrong with that."

"However, it would be a big mistake to regard it as the orthodox Confucianism, and for Confucians to revere Confucius."

"Confucius said to achieve benevolence, Mencius said to uphold righteousness, Zhongshu believed in the unity of Heaven and Man, Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, Confucianism belongs to Confucius, so Confucianism belongs to everyone."

"Attributing Confucianism to the Kong family, and having the Kong family worship Confucian scholars, what does that represent? It represents that the Kong family is the orthodox Confucian school."

"For thousands of years, Confucianism has been deeply rooted in people's hearts."

"Today, His Majesty is able to rely on him to maintain stability and treats him with high-ranking official positions and generous salaries."

"And this process continues for ten years, a hundred years, two hundred years, three hundred years, with preferential treatment every year."

"Has Your Highness considered what kind of situation the Confucian family, which represents Confucianism, would be in?"

"Even if the Kong family doesn't rebel, those who do will come after them. And given their opportunistic nature, when our Great Ming is in turmoil, they will be the final straw that breaks the camel's back, destroying our foundation. We must be on guard!" (End of Chapter)