The Holy Emperor of Ming

Chapter 185 That’s it?

Zhu Houzhao listened carefully. Although he knew most of it in advance, a hint of anger still rose from time to time.

“Let’s talk about the Kong family first. A total of 2,368 people from the Kong family and their minions were arrested, and 1,236 of them deserved to die.

The rest of them also committed serious crimes.

Nearly one million acres of land were confiscated and used for sacrifice.

There are more than 5 million acres of private land, spread across the five provinces surrounding Shandong.

The number of people hidden by it is as high as more than 200,000 people.”

"The gold, silver and treasures are worth more than 30 million taels, and the various properties are worth more than 8 million taels.

As for business, the Kong family only secretly supported people in doing business, and some businesses gave shares to the Kong family.

The total value is about 50 million taels." Guo Bujing told the approximate figure of what he got from the Kong family.

"How many people of my Ming Dynasty will die?" Zhu Houzhao clenched his fists with murderous intent.

"In the past hundred years, it has been impossible to find out the details." Guo Bujing also sighed.

In the eyes of the Kong family, ordinary people are no better than livestock or even weeds. The number of people killed by them can only be said to be countless.

"Go on." Zhu Houzhao suppressed his emotions and said coldly.

"The officials involved with the Kong family are mostly from Lu, but there are also many from other places, and they have all been arrested.

The highest-ranking one was the former Grand Secretary Li Dongyang, and there were three provincial governors and five second-rank provincial judges or military governors.

There are thirteen officials of the third rank, twenty-one officials of the fourth rank, two hundred and fifty-six officials of the fifth to ninth ranks, and two thousand one hundred and three clerks.

“A total of about 2.56 million mu of farmland was confiscated.

There were about 6.69 million taels of gold and silver treasures.

The property is worth approximately 2.37 million taels.

The commercial value is about 13.58 million taels..."

Guo Bujing continued to talk in detail for a long time. When he stopped, Zhu Houzhao said coldly: "Hold the three courts to conduct a joint trial as soon as possible and inform the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple. It must be quick.

I will skin them all alive."

"Yes." Guo Bujing and Cao Zhengchun responded.

Zhu Houzhao was sulking again, and asked seriously, "In your opinion, what is the martial arts power in Lu?"

"Your Majesty, Lu has produced many heroes since ancient times.

However, this is the hometown of Confucius, so the martial arts forces are relatively restrained. However, the White Lotus Sect, I feel that the White Lotus Sect has a considerable influence in Lu. "Guo Bujing pondered.

"Yes, Your Majesty, the White Lotus Sect is best at misleading people." Cao Zhengchun added.

"The White Lotus Sect is nothing at all. As long as the people of the Ming Dynasty can live a good life, who would rebel?" Zhu Houzhao didn't care about the rebellious White Lotus Sect at all.

Seeing this, Guo Bujing and the other man didn't say much.

"We must not be careless about the martial arts forces in Lu. We must conduct more investigations. When the time comes, we must wipe out all those martial arts forces and gangs that violate the law and commit crimes." Zhu Houzhao said firmly.

"Yes." Guo Bujing and the other man replied.

"Old Guo, you are back and have made great contributions in Lu. Then the position of commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard will be given to you." Zhu Houzhao smiled again.

"I obey your command. Thank you, Your Majesty." Guo Bujing did not refuse.

Everyone knows that this position is reserved for him.

For this reason, Zhang Fengfu took the initiative to give it up.

"Just do your job well. The Jinyiwei needs to be stronger and care more about the people." Zhu Houzhao said with high hopes.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I and the Embroidered Uniform Guard will never let Your Majesty down." Guo Bujing said solemnly, his eyes, tone, and even his will becoming more and more determined.

Cao Zhengchun glanced at Guo Bujing with a hint of envy and resentment.

He knew that Guo Bujing's strength would improve by leaps and bounds again.

But he's not bad either.

The more the imperial power grows, the more trust His Majesty has in him, the more powerful the East Factory becomes, and his strength is also increasing.

After talking for a while, Guo Bujing left, and the imperial edict appointing him as the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was also issued.

With a commander who is capable of satisfying insiders and intimidating outsiders, the development of the Jinyiwei will surely be faster and smoother.

The return of Guo Bujing and the other man also made the Jinyiwei and Dongchang even busier, and their fighting spirit was the same.

Zhu Houzhao's attention shifted to Jin again.

After such a long period of preparation, the brand new society and county schools are finally going to be implemented in Jin.

It's like the land of Jin has been cleared of haze and has been given a brand new look.

"Did you hear that clearly? On September 10, all children aged seven and above and under fifteen, regardless of gender, must go to community school.

There is no excuse, you must go, this is the emperor's decree."

"Ah, I have to go to community school, so what about my family's work?"

"Yes, if my two boys and one girl go, how will we do the housework?"

"Why would the emperor issue such an order? It doesn't matter if it's for boys, but why do girls have to go to community school?"

"Yes, it has never happened before."

"A bunch of women, you dare to complain about the emperor. If it weren't for the emperor, would we have the good life we ​​have today? With less taxes paid, no one dares to bully us. Letting our children go to school is a good thing."

"Yes, the emperor has allowed our children to go to school, we should be grateful, why are you talking so much?"

"I know it's a good thing, but did you hear me? We have to study for eight months every year, and only have two months of vacation in winter and summer. How can we do farm work?"

"Well, no matter what, it's always good for children to study. At worst, we can just work harder."

"Yeah, what can we do? Let's work harder. Didn't you hear what the official said just now? Not letting children go to school is a crime and must be punished."

····
"Mom, can I study too?"

"Study, go to school with your brother. I don't know what the emperor wants girls to study for? Oh." "Great, I can study too."

····
"Dad, I don't want to study. Studying is not fun at all. Can I not go?"

"I don't want you to go either, but it's a crime, so you have to go. If you don't go, I'll beat you to death.

Now that you are there, you must study hard. If you don’t study well, I will beat you to death.”

·····
"Brother Li, have you heard that this county school has changed since then?

You have to pass the assessment before you can enter.

It is divided into six subjects: classics, history, medicine, business, mechanism, and craftsmanship, with classics and history being compulsory subjects.

Then choose one of the other four doors.

Alas, how can we, who are reading the books of sages, learn medicine, business, and such strange and lewd techniques?"

“Yes, I heard that these four branches correspond to the four academies established by the Imperial Academy.

In the future, those with excellent grades will be able to enter those four colleges."

“Also, regardless of gender, one can attend community schools, take the entrance exams to county schools, or even take the entrance exams to the Imperial College.

Is this to allow women to serve as officials on a large scale? Isn't this absurd?"

"Great news, great news. From now on, there will be no more college or provincial examinations in Jin. You can only enter the county school.

Then those with excellent grades will go to the four major colleges of the Imperial Academy for the high school entrance examination."

"What? How could this happen?"

"Then what should we do with all the scholars in Jin? How can Your Majesty treat us like this?"

"Hey, stop talking, let's go and see how to get into the county school."

"Go together."

·····
The implementation of the new community schools and county schools caused a huge stir in Jin, which had just become somewhat peaceful.

Not only in Jin, but officials outside Jin and even people from all walks of life such as the martial arts world were watching closely.

Everyone knows that these new community schools and county schools were implemented on an experiment basis in Shanxi.

If it succeeds and the Ming court has the ability, it will definitely be implemented nationwide.

The contents of the new community and county schools...
It caused huge discussion among officials and the public.

Mainly focused on two points.

First, women were also required to attend community schools and be able to take entrance exams to county schools and the Imperial Academy.

Will it be possible for women to serve as officials on a large scale in the future?
Second, it’s okay for community schools, as the classics are books written by sages, and mathematics and history are not out of the ordinary.

But the four subjects taught in the county school covered all the aspects of business, from the ways of commerce to the strange and lewd arts.

How can I learn this?
Instead of reading the books of sages wholeheartedly, why are you learning these lowly ways?

How could this be? How could this be?

Scholars all over the world were excited.

Forget about the imperial examination that tests current affairs, and forget about adding business subjects.

The abolition of the Kong family was a minor issue, but the establishment of the four academies in the Imperial College was also a minor issue.

But the emperor obviously wanted to completely abolish the status of the books of sages and make all education in the Ming Dynasty learn those lowly ways.

They couldn't and wouldn't tolerate it anymore.

"My fellow students, how can the sage book be abolished? Your Majesty must have been deceived by this lowly person. We must work together and write a joint letter to the government and the Royal Guards to remind Your Majesty."

"Yes, we must remind His Majesty, but we must do it reasonably and legally, and not force it."

"That's right. We are scholars of the Ming Dynasty. We must abide by the law and must not offend the government. We want to write to His Majesty peacefully."

"Yep."

·····
Similar sounds appeared everywhere in the Ming Dynasty.

The scholars' voices were loud but also calm, a calmness not seen since the Ming Taizu.

There is no way, this Emperor Shengwu is too cruel.

Thousands of scholars were killed or dismissed at will.

The honor that he had worked so hard to obtain through the examination was gone, and he didn't even know where he was going to perform his labor service.

Just a few months ago, their friends and relatives taught them a hard lesson.

Don't get excited, don't be impulsive, and don't break the law.

It’s not that they are afraid of death or anything like that. The main reason is that they are educated people, well-informed and well-mannered, and they cannot break the law knowingly.

The scholars were outraged, and naturally many officials were dissatisfied, but no one dared to say anything.

The bodies of our predecessors are not yet cold.

Your Majesty was relatively lenient towards the scholars, saying that they were young and ignorant.

They are even more ruthless and show no mercy to officials like them.

They could only be obedient and report the joint letter from the scholars within their jurisdiction.

Officials of the third rank and above also received corresponding memorials one after another.

Anyway, His Majesty hasn’t said anything, so we can’t comment on this matter.

If it were not for a clear regulation that officials below the third rank could not submit memorials directly to His Majesty, then memorials would have been flying from all over the country.

Of course, Zhu Houzhao knew the reactions from various places at the first time.

Then, he was slightly stunned: "That's it?"

(Chapter 3, thank you for your support.)
······
(End of this chapter)