Starting in Saarhu, it is a bit difficult to make a comeback.

Chapter 213 The third surname Yan Shenggong commits suicide (please subscribe for monthly tickets)

Shandong is known as the "hometown of Confucius and Mencius". In Yanzhou and even Shandong as a whole, the most influential people are not the vassal kings of the Ming Dynasty, but the Confucius family in Qufu.

The civil servants of the Ming Dynasty completely controlled the voice of the court, and the status of the Kong family of Yanshenggong was also elevated to a new height.

The canonization of descendants of Confucius began in the twelfth year of Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty (195 BC). Kong Teng, the 8th grandson of Confucius, was enshrined as the enshrined king. Since then, the eldest grandson of Confucius has had hereditary titles.

In the following thousand years, the title changed many times. It was not until the second year of Zhihe in the Song Dynasty (1055 AD) that it was changed to Yanshenggong. It was once changed to Fengshenggong, and then changed back to Yanshenggong. The title has been followed by later generations. .

Of course, the derivative company did not have a high status at first.

Yanshenggong was equivalent to an eighth-grade official in the Song Dynasty, and was promoted to a third-grade official in the Yuan Dynasty. In the early Ming Dynasty, he was a first-grade civil official, and later became the "head of the class".

The Yanshenggong Mansion where he lived was the largest mansion in the Ming Dynasty after the imperial palace.

The Kong family in Qufu has received titles and gifts from emperors of all dynasties. It has a well-organized pedigree and has received titles from generation to generation.

From Li Xianzhong's perspective, the Kong family is a big fat sheep!

As early as the second year of Tianqi, he used the Kong family's affair with the White Lotus Sect, which was proclaimed emperor, as an excuse to steal a large amount of money and food from the Kong family.

Today, Li Xianzhong's 20 acres of fertile land in Yanzhou is still the meat that was originally cut from the Kong family.

As a family with a history of thousands of years, the Kong family has a very keen sense of politics.

They were accustomed to changing dynasties. Whether it was the Jin Kingdom or the Mongols, whoever occupied Shandong, the Confucius family in Qufu was basically the first to offer a surrender.

Therefore, the Yanshenggong family has gained the reputation of "the world's greatest cultivator".

And today's Yanshenggong Kong Yinzhi is the famous "Three Surnames Yanshenggong" in history. In addition to the Ming Dynasty, he is also the Yanshenggong of the Great Shun and the Qing Dynasty.

The Kong family did not passively accept the change of dynasty. They had very good ears and eyes, and their orders to reduce their imperial status were often sent to others before they entered Shandong.

Now that the Jurchen Three Guards have been directly merged into the Ming Dynasty by Li Xianzhong, the Qing Dynasty's Yanshenggong Kong Yinzhi naturally has no chance.

However, after Zhu Yousong became emperor, he, Yan Shenggong, still needed to draw a clear line with Emperor Chongzhen.

According to the past habits of the Confucius family, when Chongzhen was expelled from the capital, they should take the initiative to declare their support for Emperor Hongguang and draw a clear line with the pseudo-emperor Chongzhen.

But Kong Yinzhi didn't do this.

The reason is that Li Xianzhong's "gentlemen and gentry receive food from one body" abolished the privileges of scholars all over the world.

As the leader of scholars, the Confucius family naturally strongly opposed it.

Otherwise, wouldn't this be a slap in the face? From another perspective, the Kong family themselves were the largest gentry and landlords in Shandong, and Li Xianzhong's "Hongguang New Deal" greatly damaged the interests of the Kong family.

If it were someone else, the Kong family would still be able to gain privileges with their huge influence.

The Confucius family in Qufu has been causing trouble to Yanzhou for a long time, and the county magistrate of Qufu is monopolized by the Confucius family.

Even if the children of the Confucius family committed many evil deeds, Shandong officials would often turn a blind eye; even if they brought trouble to the emperor, they would usually only receive a light sentence.

But now it is the big devil Li Xianzhong who is leading the troops south.

When he was just a Marquis of Ningyuan, he dared to extort millions of dollars in food and 20 acres of fertile land from the Kong family.

Now that he has become the king of Liaodong County, can he still negotiate terms with the Kong family?

Even if he borrowed courage from Kong Yinzhi, he would not dare to bargain with Li Xianzhong.

Zhu Yousong's imperial estate and Li Xianzhong's private fields were not exempted from taxes. They just told people in the world not to have illusions and pay their taxes obediently!

So when he learned that Li Xianzhong personally led his army south to attack Jinan, Kong Yinzhi submitted a memorial to Zhu Yousong, indicating that the Kong family supported the Hongguang court and denounced Chongzhen as a false emperor.

Although for the Kong family, this "downgrade" letter was already very late, but it was still one step ahead of those lords and gentry.

Because of this, Kong Yinzhi felt that the Kong family was already on Zhu Yousong's side.

Although Li Xianzhong will inevitably extort some money and food in the end, there should be no problem in maintaining the status of the Kong family.

After all, Zhu Yousong, the great emperor of tomorrow, also needs the endorsement of Yanshenggong and the Kong family.

The weight of the Kong family is much greater than that of several vassal kings.

So when Zhang Zhiji led his troops to Duke Yansheng's mansion, all the Kong family were shocked.

They never expected that Li Xianzhong would go directly to Qufu to arrest someone, and the person he arrested was the current Yanshenggong Kong Yinzhi!

However, the servants of the Kong family are usually arrogant and indulgent.

They actually relied on their large numbers to try to prevent Zhang Zhiji from entering the house.

Moreover, the Kong family even incited thousands of local people in Qufu to come to help!

These are not melon-eating people watching the excitement, they are all armed people holding hoes and rakes.

They were excited and shouted: "Qufu is the hometown of saints. Today, Yanshenggong has done nothing wrong. Why do you take people randomly?"

Zhang Zhiji snorted coldly and said: "Qufu is really the hometown of saints. When did the imperial court need the consent of ordinary people like you to recruit people? Is this the way of saints in Qufu?"

Then Zhang Zhiji brought out Shang Fang's sword and said: "Someone reported that the derivative master Kong Yinzhi secretly communicated with the intruder Li Zicheng and wrote to him to flatter him."

"Under the order of Li Xianzhong, the king of Liaodong County, I am taking Duke Yansheng Kong Yinzhi to Yanzhou for questioning."

"This is the Shangfang Sword personally given by His Majesty Hongguang. All officers and soldiers must obey the order. Anyone who dares to stop it will be killed without mercy!"

As soon as Zhang Zhiji finished speaking, the three hundred Liaodong troops accompanying him drew their sabers!

After all, they are veterans who have been on the battlefield for a long time. They are all covered in armor, not angry and intimidated, and everyone has a chilling air in them!

When they saw the cold light flashing on the tips of these soldiers' swords, the people around them began to get scared and began to retreat unconsciously!

At this time, Zhang Zhiji directly raised Shang Fang's sword and stabbed the leader of the Kong family servants who was standing in front of him!

When the sword penetrated his chest, the man's eyes widened and he showed an incredible expression, as if to say: "How dare you kill someone in front of Yanshenggong's mansion?"

Zhang Zhiji was very domineering at this time. He drew out his sword, kicked the servant down, and shouted at the remaining servants: "You guys, why don't you get out of the way?"

They soon entered Duke Yansheng's mansion.

At this time, Kong Yinzhi's clan brother Kong Yinkai also persuaded: "Mr. Yan Shenggong, we must calm down at this time. I think Li Xianzhong just wants to extort some money, food and land!"

"If our armed resistance to arrest gives him an excuse to take down our Kong family, we must not fall for his trick at this time!"

Kong Yinkai's words were quickly recognized by the elders of the Kong clan.

You can't let the entire Kong family get involved just because you, Kong Yinzhi, are afraid, right?

Although when Li Zicheng's 600,000-strong army marched eastward to Kaifeng and approached Yanzhou, Kong Yinzhi did send someone to secretly send a letter to Li Zicheng stating that the Kong family was willing to pledge allegiance to Dashun.

But this letter is in Li Zicheng's hands, and Li Xianzhong has no evidence of his own. Even if he can find a witness, he can't give in if he refuses to admit it, right?

In the end, Kong Yinzhi had to follow Zhang Zhiji to Yanzhou.

Although this is not the first time Kong Yinzhi has dealt with Li Xianzhong, this is the first time the two have met. Years ago, Li Xianzhong was Kong Yinzhi who asked Zhu Chunchen to go to Qufu to blackmail him.

Li Xianzhong was too lazy to talk nonsense with Kong Yinzhi, but directly threw the letter of allegiance written by Kong Yinzhi to Li Zicheng in front of him.

He said: "In the second year of Tianqi, when my king was conquering Yanzhou southward, Duke Yan secretly supported the White Lotus Sect for money and food. I didn't expect that after so many years, you still haven't gotten rid of this problem; you actually hooked up with Li Zicheng again. How can you really think of the Ming Dynasty?" Is the imperial court just a decoration?"

Kong Yinzhi was shocked when he saw the letter on the ground.

He originally thought that Li Xianzhong had only heard some rumors and could not produce any substantial evidence. Who knew that he actually had the original letter in his hand.

Could it be said that Li Zicheng has his people around him?

However, Kong Yinzhi's fearful eyes flashed away, and he said with a smile: "I don't know who is talking to the prince, but I have no idea about this so-called letter!"

Kong Yinzhi dared to say this, so he naturally had something to rely on.

He had been caught once by Li Xianzhong many years ago, and it was impossible for him to make the same mistake again.

This so-called "handwritten letter" to Li Zicheng was not written by him at all.

So he can completely deny it!

Unexpectedly, Li Xianzhong said with a smile: "As the saying goes, 'Every time you take a bite, you gain wisdom.' Duke Yan Shenggong has indeed become smarter and did not write this so-called autograph letter himself."

"But you shouldn't let your son-in-law write the book, otherwise you'll have nothing to do with it!"

Li Xianzhong's words shocked Kong Yinzhi. How could he know everything? Is there someone from Li Xianzhong in the Kong family?

Li Xianzhong said: "You don't have to look at me like this, Duke Yansheng. I don't recognize the handwriting of this letter, so naturally someone does."

At this time, a person said: "Kong Yintao, a member of the Intelligence Department, has met the prince!"

Then he said to Kong Yinzhi aside: "Mr. Yansheng, why are you still so impatient after not seeing him for many years? Li Zicheng just arrived in Kaifeng and you are eager to express your loyalty and courtesy to him!"

"You first pledged your allegiance to Chongzhen, then expressed your loyalty to Li Zicheng, and now you have declared your allegiance to Emperor Hongguang. You are really a 'Three Surnames Yanshenggong'!"

Eight years ago, Kong Yinzhi sent his clan brother Kong Yintao to bribe Wang Xifan of the White Lotus Sect, but was caught by Li Xianzhong.

Kong Yintao was also taken as a hostage by Li Xianzhong and taken to Liaodong.

Over the years, there has been no news about Kong Yantao, and the properties in his name have naturally been divided up by his tribe.

It seems that this Kong Yantao is coming now with bad intentions?

He pretended to be concerned and said: "Yantao, it's great to see you here. How have you been in these years?"

At this time, Kong Yantao just replied coldly: "Thanks to Shenggong Yan, everything is going well for Yantao these years."

Then he changed the subject and said, "Do you admit or not that you had an affair with Li Zicheng?"

"Your good son-in-law Tian Bokuang has already confessed!"

"You guys." Kong Yinzhi was so angry that he was shaking all over, and he finally squeezed out these words from his mouth.

Originally he thought that Li Xianzhong was just extorting some money and food from the Kong family, but now it seems that he has made things simpler.

In the end, he could only say helplessly: "What is the prince's plan? Why don't you just tell me?"

Li Xianzhong said: "Based on Duke Yan's judgment of the situation, I am afraid that sooner or later the Kong family in Qufu will be plunged into an abyss. I think you should abdicate and give way to someone more worthy!"

"Colluding with others to rebel is a serious crime against the Nine Clan. I will reward you with a whole body. If I exchange your life for the safety of the Kong family in Qufu, I believe the elders of the clan will not object."

"As for the Kong family's affairs, it has nothing to do with you. Kong Yantao will naturally take on this important responsibility!"

At this moment, Kong Yinzhi's mind went blank. He understood the thoughts of the elders in the family best.

As long as these evidences and conditions are put in front of them, they will recommend Kong Yantao to the position without hesitation.

The most indispensable thing for the Kong family is the heir to Yan Shenggong.

What's the point of struggling and resisting?

If he complies with Li Xianzhong's wishes, at least his family can inherit part of his property.

Even if he disobeys, it will not change the result of Kong Yantao's rise to power, it will only make his death more ugly.

Soon Kong Yinzhi returned to Qufu accompanied by Kong Yuntao!

On the first day of October in the first year of Hongguang, Kong Yinshi, the Duke of Yansheng, committed suicide in the Mansion of Duke Yansheng in Qufu.

A few days later, Emperor Hongguang Zhu Yousong decreed that Kong Yantao should succeed the 66th Duke Yansheng.

Kong Yintao, Duke Yansheng, strongly supported the "Hongguang New Deal". The Confucius family in Qufu donated 120 million taels of silver, 80 shi of grain, and more than 63 acres of farmland across Shandong to the Hongguang court.

Li Xianzhong also made some concessions and retained the 3 acres of farmland in Qufu under the name of Duke Yansheng's Mansion.

There are many children of the Kong family, and most of the excess farmland of the Kong family is actually allocated to the personal names of the children of the Kong family, but each household is not allowed to exceed one thousand acres.

In fact, Kong Yantao carried out a land division movement within the Kong family, so he also won the support of many Kong family descendants, especially the distant branches.

As for receiving food, the Kong family has no privileges!

Neither the 3 acres under the name of Duke Yansheng nor the land in the hands of many Kong family members are tax-free.

At this time, Dengzhou, Laizhou, and Qingzhou occupied by Zheng Zhilong also declared their allegiance to the Hongguang court.

The entire Shandong region has also implemented the "Hongguang New Deal" policies of "dividing the land into acres" and "paying grain to the gentry as one body".

Li Xianzhong ordered the construction of a large military port in Weihaiwei, Dengzhou, as one of the home ports of the "Liaodong Navy".

A large commercial port was built in Fushanwei under Jiaozhou, named Qingdao Port, and Qingdao City was built around the port.

At the same time, Lu Xiang was appointed governor of Shandong, leading 2 Liaodong troops and 2 surrendered troops from Shandong general Liu Zhaoji.

The "donation" of the Shandong feudal gentry greatly alleviated the financial crisis of the Hongguang court.

In particular, the Confucius family in Qufu had a great influence on the gentry all over the world.

Therefore, Li Xianzhong's next step was naturally to seize Nanzhili, the richest place in the world.

At this time, Li Xianzhong's southern expedition army already numbered 5 people. In addition to the 3 Liaodong Army who followed him south from the capital, there were also 2 horses under Mao Wenlong and the Yulin Camp under Zuo Liangyu. Strong soldiers and strong horses!

Originally, he had ordered Zuo Liangyu to attack Xuzhou, and Mao Wenlong captured Huai'an and pushed the front to the Huaihe River.

Unexpectedly, he received an urgent report from Hong Chengchou that Chongzhen had broken through the blockade of Dashun Army and crossed the Yellow River south.

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(End of this chapter)