The Holy Emperor of Ming

Chapter 156 Take them all
"Your Majesty, these three officials and six old scholars are just worshipping Confucius. They have not committed any crime. Why are you treating them like this?"

"Yes, Your Majesty is a wise and enlightened ruler. Why do you treat a saint's disciple like this?"

"Your Majesty, all scholars in the world are disciples of Confucius! You are one too."

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"enough."

Amid the rising and falling voices, Zhu Houzhao shouted impatiently, swept his eyes, and his overbearing and powerful majesty enveloped the sky: "Today, I asked you to come here so that you can watch and listen carefully."

“First, the blessings of any person can only last for a few generations. The imperial family of the Ming Dynasty has only eight generations now. Those who have no merit are just ordinary people of the Ming Dynasty.

No one is an exception, let alone the Kong family, which has no merits and only harms the people.

I don’t care whose descendant he is, even if he is the king of heaven, I will destroy him.

Taizu followed the previous dynasty and made this mistake, and I will correct it for him today."

“Second, I am not a disciple of Confucius. I am born a Saint Emperor. No one is qualified to be my master.

I am also warning you officials and scholars.

The Ming Dynasty allows you to study so that you can better govern the country and lead the people of the Ming Dynasty to live a better life.

I am not asking you to regard this as your belief or that as your ancestor.

There is only one thing you should believe in, and that is the people, the people, and the people.

Those who only care about Confucius and not the people are not worthy of being scholars in the Ming Dynasty. Get out of the Ming Dynasty immediately."

These words, which were considered extremely treasonous in the ears of many people, made them feel as if they were struck by lightning and as if they had lost their parents.

Looking at the emperor in disbelief.

Although it was not stated explicitly, every sentence revealed disrespect and even disdain for the saint.

Kong Hongxu, who had felt a little relieved because so many people pleaded for him, opened his mouth wide.

Only a few people, such as the royal family members, felt happy.

That's right, that's it.

Our Zhu family will be exterminated after eight generations, so why should your Kong family continue to exist for thousands of years?

"Why? Can't accept it?"

Zhu Houzhao had no intention of stopping, he felt that this was far from enough.

"If you can't accept it, get out of Ming Dynasty. Ming officials can only care about the people and the country.

You must not make a fuss over a descendant of a saint who has been around for who knows how many generations. People like that should get as far away from you as possible.

Now, I ask you, is there anyone who still opposes abolishing the title of Duke Yansheng?
stand out. "

The naked words completely tore off all the veils.

The officials and scholars all blushed and felt embarrassed.

Liu Jian and other senior executives sighed helplessly.

Your Majesty is too tough and not tactful at all.

If this time we only talk about dealing with Kong Hongxu without mentioning the abolition of the title of Duke Yansheng, there would not be many people objecting.

Now, Your Majesty is directly using power to force the scholars present to give up their reverence for Confucius.

If we give up so easily, what backbone and integrity do scholars have left?
But just stand up like that?
No one doubted that His Majesty would show mercy.

However, there are still people who swear to defend the saint and the Confucius family to the death.

Just as they were about to step forward, Li Dongyang took a deep breath, stepped forward, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, I dare to ask.

You often say that the people of the Ming Dynasty should be upright and strong-willed men.

But all the scholars in the Ming Dynasty are indeed disciples of Confucius. Yet today you want to oppress us with force and abandon the descendants of Confucius.

If the scholars of the Ming Dynasty today give up and succumb, how can they stand tall and proud?"

These words, combined with his identity, were truly earth-shattering.

It makes those who oppose it feel like they have found a backbone.

"Yes, Lord Li is right."

"That's right. As a disciple of a saint, how can I give up the descendant of a saint today?"

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The voices first rang out from the officials, and then some scholars followed suit after knowing the identity of the person who spoke.

'Brother Bin!'

Liu Jian, Xie Qian and others looked at Li Dongyang in surprise.

I didn't expect Li Dongyang to stand up at this time and confront His Majesty.

You know, among the three, Li Dongyang's political stance has always been the most compromising, but unexpectedly...!
What on earth was he thinking?
Is it really because of the family relationship that he is trying his best?
But Your Majesty will not give in. Others may not understand, but can't you see it?
Li Dongyang did not look at the others, his face was more resolute than ever before, and he continued: "I have another question, all the officials and scholars in the Ming Dynasty are disciples of the saint, you cannot change this.

The whole world also reveres Confucius.

Now that you are so disrespectful to Confucius and want to abolish the title of Duke Yansheng, it will inevitably lead to turmoil in the court and the country and will be detrimental to the people.

I beg Your Majesty to revoke your order for the sake of the people and the stability of the country."

"I beg your Majesty to take back your order."

One after another, thousands of scholars and hundreds of officials bowed and spoke loudly.

The remaining scholars and officials also had many ideas, but when they looked at the emperor and the many silent high-ranking officials, they did not dare to do so and remained silent.

"Ah."

Zhu Houzhao looked at Li Dongyang coldly. After he finished speaking, he sneered disdainfully, "Is there anyone else who would like to oppose it?"

A chill suddenly struck the hearts of these scholars, officials, including Li Dongyang.

Those who were about to stand up immediately stopped.

"Take them all down." Zhu Houzhao waved his hand and gave an iron-blooded order without hesitation. "Yes!!"

The Jinyiwei responded loudly and pounced on the officials and scholars who were paying their respects like wolves and tigers.

The officials and scholars were in chaos.

The feeling of fear increased.

How can you arrest someone directly?

Don't you even want to argue?

Almost all officials and scholars were caught off guard, and the people around the officials and scholars who were performing the salute immediately moved away to leave them alone.

Some officials and scholars who were paying their respects did not care about anything else and ran away as soon as the gifts were accepted.

Because there were too many people in the crowd where the scholars were, many of them ran away.

But it was difficult for the officials to escape. One hundred and three officials, including Li Dongyang, were arrested directly.

There was chaos among the scholars, and only more than 600 people were captured.

"Your Majesty!" Li Dongyang was overwhelmed. He couldn't accept such a direct approach to arresting people.

"What? Do you think I was joking with you?

Everyone, follow the same procedures as before." Zhu Houzhao shouted coldly.

"Your Majesty, this is punishment without teaching. We, the officials, will not accept this." Li Dongyang said in a sad voice.

A wave of fear followed, and many people immediately regretted their decision.

"I don't care whether you obey or not?

Now, you are no longer the people of the Ming Dynasty." Zhu Houzhao glanced at them coldly and didn't look at them anymore.

He glanced at the other officials, royal family members, scholars, and hundreds of thousands of civilians, and said in a softer tone, "Do you know why I arrested them directly?"

No one spoke, and everyone looked at His Majesty the Emperor with even greater awe.

Hundreds of officials, including the Deputy Prime Minister.

There were also thousands of scholars who were arrested without any hesitation.

To be treated like that, no one, except a very small number, would not feel awed.

"I am very relieved that you did not stand up, because you are still lying with open eyes, and your reading has made you extremely stupid and pedantic.

Today, I will talk to you in detail." Zhu Houzhao said loudly.

After a pause, he pointed at Li Dongyang and said, "Let's start with what Li Dongyang said.

Giving up on the descendants of Confucius means surrender and lack of backbone and integrity?
Pooh.

He has the nerve to say that, thinking that I can't see his dirty thoughts? "

Li Dongyang's face turned red, unable to endure such humiliation.

“People all over the world read Confucius’ books and worship him as a saint. I have no objection to that.

But Confucius is Confucius. How can a descendant who is separated from him by who knows how many generations represent Confucius?

ridiculous.

If that is the case, do the descendants of the previous dynasty all represent the founding emperor?
The Chinese people, counting back from ancient times, are all descendants of Yan and Huang. Their ancestors are Huangdi and Yandi, including the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.

Who is nobler than whom?
In this case, does each of us represent Huangdi and Yandi?
What? Confucius' descendants who have been separated by countless generations are noble? We, the descendants of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, are not noble?" Zhu Houzhao raised one hand on his waist and gestured with the other hand.

Many officials and scholars couldn't help but twitch their eyebrows when they heard Your Majesty mention Confucius all the time.

But if you think about it carefully, it does make sense.

Although there are still differences, when Your Majesty says it, the people will think it is right, because we are all descendants of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.

It seems that the descendants of Confucius are not much nobler than us.

As expected, the people immediately began to talk excitedly in low voices.

Li Dongyang and others are so anxious, how can they make such a comparison?

When someone wanted to speak, the Jinyiwei behind them hit them with their swords, preventing them from opening their mouths.

Didn’t you see that His Majesty didn’t let you speak?

"Do you know why these people are desperately trying to protect the Kong family?" Zhu Houzhao raised his voice and immediately answered: "Except for some of them who are too pedantic and bookish.

The rest are all evil-minded.

Because they want to protect the Kong family, so that the concept that everyone is a disciple of the sage can be deeply rooted in people's minds, and all scholars can be considered a family.

In this way, they can protect each other, form cliques for personal gain, and oppress the people.

The Kong family is just a signboard they put forward to make it easier for them to form a group and do bad things.

Otherwise, there would be no Yanshenggong in the Han Dynasty, and before that, including the Sui Dynasty.

A bunch of damned things."

These words made most of the people present change their expressions.

The officials were trembling in their hearts. Some sighed helplessly in secret, while others looked at Liu Jian and other senior officials. Was this really the case?
The scholars were confused and questioning. Is this really the case?

Your Majesty, what you said makes sense!

The royal family members, nobles, martial artists, and common people believed it more and looked at the civil officials with doubt.

That's it!

It turns out that you civil servants are really bad!
"Your Majesty!" Li Dongyang was furious, but he could only utter one word before he was secretly stopped by the Jinyiwei and could not speak any more.

(Chapter two.)
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(End of this chapter)