King Luhuang of the Ming Dynasty: My father, Ming Taizu

For a moment, the hall was in chaos with discussions.

Zhu Tan did not stop him, but just listened quietly with a playful smile on his face.

When everyone had finished speaking, Zhu Tan slowly opened his mouth and said:

"What you said makes sense. I know that. But the matter of river management cannot be delayed. I have made up my mind and it must be done!"

Everyone was stunned when they heard this.

His Royal Highness Prince Lu is really as man of his word as the rumors say.

"Your Highness, you don't know something!"

Kong Xianglin stood up and said, "River management is not just about building dams and dikes. More importantly, it is about dredging the river and reinforcing the dikes. This is a huge project with huge costs. It is definitely not something that can be accomplished overnight!"

"Mr. Kong is right. I understand."

Zhu Tan nodded and said:

"So, the reason I came here this time is to implement new policies, rectify the administration, develop the economy, raise funds for river management, and solve the problem!"

"New Deal?"

Everyone looked confused when they heard this.

"Yes, new policy!" Zhu Tan said loudly:

"I will break the old system and establish a new order so that the people of Shandong can live a good life!"

Afterwards, Zhu Tan explained the contents of the new policy in detail to everyone.

After hearing the content of Zhu Tan’s new policy, the lobby suddenly exploded.

The local gentry all blushed, jumped up like cats whose tails were stepped on, and pointed at Zhu Tan's nose and cursed.

"Ridiculous! It's absolutely ridiculous!"

"Your Highness, you are trying to shake the foundation of our country!"

"We have been farming and studying for generations, paying taxes to the country. Why should we give our land to those peasants?"

……

Compared with the anger of the gentry, the officials' reactions were much more "restrained".

Although they were also shocked by Zhu Tan's new policies.

However, their many years of official career had made them cautious, and they did not immediately jump out to oppose like the gentry did.

Instead, they were whispering to each other, as if observing the situation and thinking out their own little thoughts.

Zhu Tan watched all this coldly and sneered in his heart.

These people usually talk about benevolence, righteousness, and morality, but when they encounter something that shakes their own interests, they immediately show their ugly faces!
"enough!"

Zhu Tan slammed the table and shouted angrily:
"I summoned you all here today, not to listen to your nonsense! The new policy is imperative. If anyone dares to stop it, don't blame me for being rude!"

Zhu Tan's roar exploded in the hall like thunder, making everyone's eardrums buzz.

The gentry who had been shouting the loudest suddenly shut their mouths in fear. Their faces turned pale, they trembled, and they dared not speak anymore.

The officials also lowered their heads, not daring to meet Zhu Tan's gaze.

Although they were dissatisfied in their hearts, they did not dare to offend Zhu Tan at this time.

After all, Zhu Tan is the local emperor of Shandong. If you offend him, you will suffer the consequences.

"Very good! It seems that you all are people who know the current situation."

Zhu Tan's tone softened a bit, but his eyes were still sharp:

"In that case, let me say a few more words."

He looked around at everyone and said in a deep voice:
"I know that some of you have doubts about the new policy, or even resistance."

"But I can tell you that the new policy is for the long-term stability of Shandong and for the people to live and work in peace and contentment. Anyone who dares to obstruct the new policy is my enemy and a sinner of Shandong!"

"I will give you three days to think about it. After three days, I will see your reply! I hope you will not make mistakes!"

After saying this, Zhu Tan turned away, leaving all the officials and gentry in the hall looking at each other in bewilderment, at a loss as to what to do.

As soon as Zhu Tan stepped out of the lobby, the originally quiet lobby exploded.

It was like a drop of hot oil dropped into a pot of cold water and it immediately began to boil.

"Is His Royal Highness Prince Lu crazy?!"

A fat gentleman in fancy clothes slammed the table, and his fat began to tremble:

"How dare he propose such a ridiculous policy! He is trying to overthrow us!"

"Mr. Wang, please be patient, please be patient."

An official with a mustache and shrewd eyes came over and said in a low voice:
"His Highness Prince Lu is young and energetic, so he is bound to be impulsive when speaking. We old foxes should not follow him and make trouble."

"That being said, if this new policy is really implemented, won't our land, shops, and tenants be divided up by those peasants?!"

Mr. Wang was obviously not appeased and his face was still full of anger.

"That's right! My family's land has been passed down from generation to generation. Why should it be distributed to those lazy and unruly people?" Another gentry also echoed indignantly.

Most of the officials did not respond, but just exchanged glances with each other, with unfathomable smiles on their faces.

These old foxes who have been immersed in officialdom for many years, who doesn’t have some calculations in mind?

His Royal Highness Prince Lu has just arrived, and it won't be easy for him to take advantage of these local tyrants.

In the crowd, Kong Xianglin, who had been silent all the time, became the focus of everyone's attention.

As a representative figure of Shandong gentry, Kong Xianglin is highly respected and has a significant influence in the local area.

At this moment, he just squinted his eyes slightly, holding a string of agarwood Buddhist beads in his hand, turning them slowly, as if everything had nothing to do with him.

"Mr. Kong, what do you think?"

Finally, someone couldn't help but ask Kong Xianglin for advice.

Kong Xianglin slowly opened his eyes, and his cloudy gaze swept across the crowd, finally landing on the face of the official with a mustache, with a meaningful smile on his lips.

"New policies? Oh, it's just the playfulness of a child."

Kong Xianglin spoke calmly, but his tone was filled with unquestionable majesty:

"I have lived for most of my life, and I have seen all kinds of storms. If His Royal Highness Prince Lu wants to gain a foothold in Shandong, he has to ask us old guys whether we agree or not!"

As night falls, the study in the Confucius Mansion is brightly lit.

Several prestigious Shandong gentry were sitting around a rosewood table with serious expressions.

"Mr. Kong, you called us here, but do you have a plan to deal with it?"

A thin gentleman was the first to break the silence, with a hint of anxiety in his tone.

Kong Xianglin did not speak, but took a sip of the teacup, then slowly said:
"Prince Lu is coming with such a fierce momentum this time, he has no good intentions."

"Humph, what kind of trouble can a young boy like him cause? I think he is just crazy about money, so he came up with such a bad idea!"

Another burly gentleman said in a gruff voice:
"As long as we jointly write a letter to denounce him, I don't believe he will dare to force his way in!"

"Don't be reckless."

Kong Xianglin put down his teacup and said in a serious tone:

"His Royal Highness Prince Lu is not a pushover. Since he dared to propose a new policy, it means he has made preparations. We cannot act rashly."

"Then according to Mr. Kong's opinion, how should we respond?" asked the thin gentleman. Kong Xianglin showed a sneer at the corner of his mouth:
"Since he is unkind, don't blame us for being unjust. I have arranged for people to spread rumors secretly, saying that His Royal Highness Prince Lu is using the name of river management to embezzle and abuse the power to oppress the people..."

Kong Xianglin's voice became lower and lower, and finally disappeared in silence.

The atmosphere in the study room became even colder, like the calm before a storm, making people feel suffocated.

……

Kong Xianglin is indeed an old fox. He is well versed in the ways of folk communication, the saying "Pretend to manage the river, but really make money".

Combined with the carefully fabricated so-called "inside story", it quickly spread among the people of Shandong.

The people who had originally had high hopes for the new policy began to become panic-stricken.

In teahouses, taverns, streets and alleys, people were talking about Prince Lu and his new policies.

"Have you heard? The King of Lu is not here to tame the river. He wants to take away all our land!"

In the teahouse.

A big bearded man lowered his voice and spoke mysteriously.

"That's right. My second brother-in-law's sister-in-law's neighbor is working on river repairs for the government. He said that the river bank doesn't need to be repaired at all. It was all a trick that King Lu came up with to enrich himself!"

Another skinny man came over and added fuel to the fire.

"Oh, what should we do? We have worked hard all our lives to save up this fortune, we can't let Prince Lu take it away!"

An old woman was immediately panicked when she heard this and stamped her feet anxiously.

Zhu Tan is not a stupid person.

Rumors about him have been spreading like wildfire in Shandong these days. How could he not have noticed?

"Your Highness, these pedantic scholars really don't know what's good for them! We came here with good intentions to tame the river, but they are spreading rumors and causing trouble behind our backs. This is simply outrageous!"

Inside Prince Lu’s Palace.

The guard commander Zhao Hu spoke to Zhu Tan angrily, his rough face full of indignation.

Zhu Tan played with the jade ring in his hand, with a sneer on his face:
"Zhao Hu, do you really think these rumors were spread by just a few scholars? How dare they be so bold without someone backing them up?"

Zhao Hu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized:

"Your Highness, are you saying that the Kong family is behind this?"

“Besides them, who else has such great power?”

Zhu Tan's eyes flashed coldly:

"The Kong family has been favored by the imperial court for generations, and they are deeply rooted in Shandong. Now that I want to touch their cake, they will naturally jump out to obstruct it."

Zhao Hu clasped his fists and said:
"Your Highness, how about I take some people to arrest those guys who spread the rumors and torture them severely to see if they dare to talk nonsense again!"

"Reckless man!" Zhu Tan glared at him. "Do you think arresting a few people can solve the problem? It will only alert the enemy!"

"So what Your Highness means is..." Zhao Hu scratched his head, looking puzzled.

"You have a good plan, and I have a wall ladder."

A sly look flashed across Zhu Tan's eyes:
"Since they want to play, I will play with them. Come on, prepare the horses, I want to go on a secret visit!"

……

A few days later, in the study of Confucius Mansion.

"Master, Prince Nalu has been inspecting projects outside the city these days. He has also been distributing porridge and medicine to the people, showing sympathy for them. He has no intention of doing anything bad to us, right?"

A spy reported in a low voice.

Kong Xianglin sat upright on the armchair, holding a string of heavy red sandalwood Buddhist beads in his hand, his brows furrowed:
"He is retreating to advance, trying to win people's hearts! We must not take it lightly."

"Master is wise!" the spy quickly agreed.

"Keep sending people to keep an eye on him, and report every move to me!"

Kong Xianglin snorted coldly, "I want to see how long he can keep pretending!"

……

……

Thirty miles outside Jining City, there is a small village called "Qinghe Village".

The village is not big, with dozens of families living along the river, relying on fishing in this clear river for generations.

However, since King Lu began to control the river, the good days of Qinghe Village have come to an end.

"Hey, when will this day end?"

Under the old locust tree at the entrance of the village, several old men were sitting there with sad faces, smoking their pipes and sighing.

"Who says it's not true? Ever since the government requisitioned our fishing boat, we have lost our livelihood and our family is almost unable to make ends meet!"

"That's right! I heard that those officials took the money from the court, but instead of repairing the river embankment, they enriched themselves. It's really a sin!"

"Hush! Keep your voice down! Don't say that casually, or you'll be caught by the government!"

A few old men were talking when they suddenly saw two figures walking towards them from a distance. They were so frightened that they fell silent.

"Why does this old man look so sad? Is there something wrong at home?"

Zhu Tan walked up to the old man and asked with a smile.

Old man Wang looked up and saw a young man standing in front of him. He was dressed in coarse cloth, but his noble appearance could not be concealed. He couldn't help but admire him in his heart.

"Sir, you are..."

"Oh, my name is Zhu San, I'm a peddler, passing by Guibaodi, and I want to inquire about something."

Zhu Tan made up something nonsense and, as he spoke, he took out a string of copper coins from his bosom and stuffed them into Old Man Wang's hand.

Old Man Wang had no choice but to accept it, but he was even more confused. How could this generous man look like a peddler?

"Mr. Zhu, what do you want to know? As long as this old man knows, I will tell you everything I know!"

"I heard that a river embankment is being repaired nearby, but is that true?"

"That's right! This river bank has been under repair for more than half a year, but it's still not finished..."

Once Old Man Wang started talking, he began to complain to Zhu Tan incessantly, from the government's forced requisition of fishing boats, to the delay in repairing the river embankment, to the fact that someone in the village had contracted a strange disease but had no money to treat it. He talked about every detail, no matter how big or small, and Zhu Tan frowned as he listened.

"These bastards!"

Zhu Tan was furious, but his expression remained calm:

"Old man Wang, don't worry. I know a few doctors with good medical skills. How about I take them to your village to have a look?"

Upon hearing this, Old Man Wang was overjoyed and hurriedly took Zhu Tan's hand, thanking him profusely.

"Mr. Zhu, you are truly a living Bodhisattva! If you can cure the villagers' illnesses, we will set up a longevity tablet for you!"

"No, no, it's just a small favor."

Zhu Tan said this but sneered in his heart.

For the next few days, Zhu Tan lived in Qinghe Village.

While providing free medical treatment, he was secretly investigating the evidence of the Kong family's crimes.

He discovered that the Kong family not only tampered with the river management funds, but also forced the villagers to sell their land at low prices.

He even colluded with bandits, harassed villagers, and committed all kinds of evil. (End of this chapter)