Jiajing Chengming

Chapter 100: The threat from the emperor, Shandong officials are scared!

Although Zhang Zan and other court officials were mentally prepared for the possibility of failure, they were still quite surprised and disappointed after hearing what Zhu Houcong said.

Wang Yangming actually managed to reach the capital and submitted a letter requesting an audience with the emperor.

This is indeed the result they least want to see.

and.

Zhang Zan and other court officials could not help but feel a little scared, fearing that the emperor might have discovered the conspiracy in advance through the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

But they also feel that this should not be the case.

After all, the strength of the Jinyiwei around the emperor is still limited at present. They are not so powerful outside the capital and can know everything that the Yanshenggong Mansion does.

What's more.

The emperor had just ascended the throne, and there were only so many Jinyiwei he could trust around him.

The Yansheng Duke has long been deeply rooted in Shandong.

Its history in Shandong is longer than that of the Ming Dynasty.

Since the pre-Yuan Dynasty and even earlier, the Kong family has been a prominent family in Shandong.

Commonly known as the only surviving aristocratic family of a thousand years in the world.

Until now.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Kong family is the biggest local emperor in Shandong.

Qufu, in particular, was an independent kingdom area and the imperial power could not reach here.

Therefore, Zhang Zan and others were not very willing to believe that the emperor really knew that it was Kong who did it.

But why didn’t Wang Yangming die?

Could it be that Wang Yangming has some other means?
The more Zhang Zan and other court officials who wanted Wang Yangming to die thought about it, the more uneasy they became.

Zhang Zan himself even looked embarrassed.

When Zhu Houcong saw Zhang Zan's embarrassment and some court officials' disappointment and surprise in their eyes, he couldn't help but smile slightly.

original.

Because Luo An, Wang Jing, Lu Song and other Jinyiwei he trusted still had to control the capital, and Lu Bing and other old members of the younger generation were still receiving training, Zhu Houcong had indeed not yet strengthened the power of Jinyiwei around the capital.

Such as Shandong, Henan and Shanxi.

but.

Zhu Houcong did not really leave these places alone or allow the powerful and wealthy people in these places to do whatever they wanted.

What's more.

Zhu Houcong, who came from later generations, had no filter for the local gentry, especially the Yanshenggong Mansion in Shandong.

Therefore, Zhu Houcong had reminded Wang Yangming, just like he reminded Zhang Cong, that he should not hesitate to speculate about the local dignitaries and wealthy people with the greatest malice.

In fact, Wang Yangming did not need Zhu Houcong's advice.

He himself was a descendant of a prominent family in Yuyao and had suppressed so many local tyrants. He would be more knowledgeable about the local dignitaries and gentry of that era than Zhu Houcong, and he would not be more simple-minded than Zhu Houcong.

Wang Yangming returned to the capital smoothly.

just.

He created a sleight of hand.

Many people mistakenly believed that he was returning to the capital by boat from the canal.

But in fact, he returned to Beijing by sea.

Soldiers who, deception also.

He has always been good at military affairs and always does things in an unconventional way. He is good at making a feint to the east and attacking in the west, making it difficult for people to figure out his pulse.

Although Wang Yangming was smart enough to avoid the attacks from both sides.

But Zhu Houcong had no intention of letting this matter go.

He is the emperor.

He has to take every opportunity to assert his power and then make a big fuss about it.

and so.

Zhu Houcong frowned and said:

"But the shipwreck did happen. According to an urgent report from Shandong Governor Wang Xu, the ship was sunk by human hands. And according to the subsequent investigation of nearby villagers, it was discovered that bandits appeared in a small boat and took advantage of the sinking of the ship of the Minister of War and Right Censor-in-Chief. They plundered and killed more than ten officers and soldiers at once."

Snapped!
"What's going on in Shandong?!"

When Zhu Houcong said this, he suddenly slammed the imperial desk. The court officials were immediately silent.

Zhu Houcong stood up and asked seriously:
"Shandong is the hometown of Confucius and Mencius, the land of saints. How come the local bureaucrats and gentry failed to ensure that the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, and instead allowed bandits to run rampant? They even dared to attack the imperial envoy's boat in broad daylight!"

“I am very disappointed about this!”

Zhu Houcong then said this.

Shandong officials including Grand Secretary Mao Ji, Minister of War Wang Xian, and Deputy Censor-in-Chief Wang Shizhong were all greatly frightened.

My hometown has disappointed the emperor.

So, is the future of my family and fellow villagers also doomed?

"I intend to revoke the preferential treatment given to Shandong scholars in next year's imperial examination!"

"Let all the Shandong gentry reflect on themselves."

"Reflect on how you have become a local sage, whether you have worked hard to help the poor and needy, whether your loyalty to the court has faded, and whether your kindness to the people has diminished!"

"also!"

"All Shandong local officials, from the governor down, are ordered to serve one month as a reward for their crimes. Within one month, they are to capture the bandits who attacked the imperial envoy's ship, or find out the truth behind it and catch the real culprit."

"If the public security in Shandong does not improve, the local officials will be dismissed on the spot! The imperial examinations for Shandong scholars will be postponed for another term! Until the public security in Shandong is completely improved."

After Zhu Houcong said this, he sat back.

he knows.

At the local level, the biggest challenge to imperial power came from the power controlled by the gentry.

Although local bureaucrats were officials from other places and were also literati, their greatest support in the local area was the imperial power, because it was the imperial power that gave them the power to counter the power of local literati.

As the saying goes, focus on the big and let go of the small.

This time, Zhu Houcong simply took advantage of this incident to be lenient with the local bureaucrats, giving them a chance to make meritorious contributions while serving their sentences. Even if they failed to do so, they would only be dismissed from office. However, he was harsh and strict to the local gentry. If the public security in Shandong could not be improved, the scholars in Shandong would never be able to make a name for themselves and enter the officialdom.

"If you have any objections, you can make a report."

then.

Zhu Houcong said this again as usual.

Among the court officials, those from other places wished this was the case, but the officials from Shandong not only had no objections, but their objections were very strong!
Because these days, most civil officials in the court were divided into factions based on their hometown.

If they sit idly by and watch their hometown lose an opportunity for imperial examination, it would be tantamount to completely giving up the power to divide the world pie to other local gentry!
Therefore, Grand Secretary Mao Ji knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down! This is all caused by some of the evil gentry and the powerful who perverted the law and oppressed the people. This has caused the customs of the people in my hometown to change drastically, the bandits have become more powerful, and the achievements of the saints' education have been greatly damaged. However, not all the wise men in my hometown are disloyal, unkind, and unjust!"

Mao Ji burst into tears when he said this: "I beg Your Majesty to give the scholars from my hometown another chance. They have all studied hard for many years, are loyal to Your Majesty, have a kind heart towards the people, and are determined to devote everything they have to the court! I also beg Your Majesty to show mercy and allow them to enjoy Your Majesty's grace and serve the court like dogs and horses!"

"His Majesty!"

"I second the proposal!"

"This is not the fault of the scholars in my hometown, but the fault of us officials."

"It is because we, the ministers, have failed to lead our people that some evil gentry and powerful people have been allowed to bend the law, causing the common people to be disrespectful and gradually losing the ability to follow the rules!"

"I am willing to be dismissed from office and return to my hometown to assist the government in catching the great thief, or even to give up my home and protect the people."

The Minister of War Wang Xian followed suit, also with a humble look on his face.

Wang Shizhong, the Chief Censor, kowtowed and cried, "Your Majesty, please do not abandon the people of Shandong! Since ancient times, when children are abandoned by their parents, the grief is so great that it can be said to be heart-wrenching!"

then.

Wang Shizhong then said, "I ask Your Majesty to give the people of Shandong a month to identify those who are disloyal to the court and give the court an explanation, so as to show Your Majesty's benevolence!"

"Thunder and rain, are they God's grace?"

"Your Majesty is wise. This time, such a serious incident happened in Shandong, and it happened on both sides of the canal where the population is concentrated and gentry gather. This shows how corrupt the morals of Shandong scholars are. You should reflect on yourself. Not completely eliminating the reputation of Shandong gentry is already a great favor!"

Zhang Run, an official from Shanxi, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, stood up and expressed his views.

At this time, the official from Henan, Jia Yong, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites of the Zhanshi Mansion, also stepped out and said:
"Your Majesty, I second the motion! Rather than blaming the bandits, we should blame the corrupt morals of the scholars in Shandong, which is why bandits abound and have turned the hometown of the saint into a turmoil! In my opinion, the imperial examination should not be banned just once, but for three consecutive terms. It won't be too late to restore the favor after Shandong regains the orthodox style of Chinese Confucianism. Otherwise, if such scholars are admitted to the court, it will only corrupt the administration and official style!"

Among the northern provinces, Shandong, Henan and Shanxi competed most fiercely in the imperial examinations.

Therefore, these local officials in Shanxi and Henan wished that the emperor would severely punish the Shandong gentry so that more Jinshi would appear in their hometowns.

Mao Ji, Wang Xian and others became even more panicked and looked at Zhu Houcong eagerly, hoping that the emperor would not be so cruel.

Zhu Houcong stood up again at this time.

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(End of this chapter)