The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 417 A Millennium Foundation Gambled on Life and Death, The Emperor's Personal Army
As soon as Kong Yuancuo got out of the carriage at the Kong Family Mansion, he saw that the clan elders had already arrived one after another.

The news spread extremely quickly, and when the clan elders learned that it was a matter of life and death, none of them dared to be negligent.

Without further hesitation, Kong Yuancuo led everyone straight to the ancestral hall. The hall was filled with the smoke of incense, but it could not dispel the tense atmosphere in the air.

He walked to the ancestral tablet of Confucius, slowly knelt down, and silently prayed: "Ancestors above, chaos is about to descend, war between the Ming and Jin is imminent, and the Central Plains are in danger of falling into ruin once again."

"The Kong family faced a life-or-death decision and prayed for the protection of their ancestors to help their descendants overcome the difficulties, protect their ancestral home, and continue their cultural heritage."

When he stood up, Kong Yuancuo's eyes had regained their firmness.

He turned to look at the elders, his voice steady yet carrying an undeniable power: "Elders, an urgent message has just arrived from Zhongdu: war is about to break out on the Ming-Jin border."

“Once war breaks out, the Jin state will definitely divert troops from various places to support the border, making Shandong's defenses even more vulnerable, and the threat posed by the rebels to Qufu will suddenly increase.”

"What's even more frightening is that once the Ming army marches south and breaks through the Jin's defense line, Shandong is likely to become a battlefield."

"The Kong family has been operating in Qufu for a century. If they cannot make preparations in advance, not only will they be unable to preserve their ancestral temple, but the entire family may also be destroyed."

"We must come up with a solution as soon as possible."

Kong Yuan sat at the head of the table, his eyes sharpening: "Should we continue to rely on the Jin Dynasty, or secretly contact the Ming Dynasty? Should we concentrate our forces to defend Qufu, or move our grain and people ahead of time?"

"This concerns the century-old foundation of the Confucius family. We must come up with a plan today, otherwise... Qufu will be in danger!"

The incense smoke inside the ancestral hall cast flickering light on the faces of the clan elders.

Upon hearing the two core questions posed by Kong Yuancuo, the third clan elder, sitting on the far left, was the first to slam his fist on the table and stand up, his white beard trembling with anger.

"To submit to the Ming Dynasty? That's just wishful thinking."

“How can those barbarians from the northern frontier be called ‘Han people’? They are clearly barbarians who do not respect Confucius and Mencius.”

His voice was urgent and sharp, filled with deep disgust: "Back then, when they confiscated land in Guanzhong, they nationalized all the land owned by the gentry. Anyone who dared to resist was met with the extermination of their family and clan."

"Although the Jurchens and Khitans are foreign peoples, they still know how to respect Confucius and Mencius and maintain the dignity of our gentry. But what about the people of the northern frontier?"

“They don’t even hold the imperial examinations anymore, relying entirely on military officers to become officials. This is clearly a sign of the country’s downfall.”

"How could such a court possibly tolerate our Kong family?"

The words of the three elders were like a pebble, stirring up a resonance among the elders.

The elder of the five clans, leaning on his cane, spoke slowly, his tone full of worry: "What has enabled our Kong family to achieve what we have today in Qufu?"

"It is a tax exemption and exemption from corvée labor granted by the imperial court; it is a power of high autonomy."

"If the people from the northern frontier attack, can we still keep these things? Absolutely not."

"Given their nature, they'll either force us to hand over the land, or they'll confiscate our property and exterminate our entire family if we don't."

"Even if we hand over the land, we still have to work in the fields like peasants."

"We've lived a life of luxury, how can we endure this kind of suffering?"

“That’s right.” The seventh elder immediately echoed, his eyes filled with fear.

“I have heard that the gentry in Guanzhong are now either dead or have become serfs or miners, and they can’t even keep their ancestral homes.”

“We can’t follow their old path. Qufu is the root of the Confucius family. We must not let the barbarians of the northern frontier destroy it.”

The elders spoke one after another, their disgust and fear of the Ming Dynasty evident in their words.

Kong Yuan sat at the head of the table, not interrupting, but listening quietly.

He had anticipated the elders' reaction. The Kong family was too deeply bound to the Jin state; their privileges, status, and wealth were all bestowed upon them by the Jin state, and they would never give them up easily.

After the elders calmed down a bit, Kong Yuancuo slowly spoke: "What the elders say is absolutely right."

"If the Ming Dynasty enters Shandong, the century-old foundation of the Kong family will likely be destroyed in an instant."

"Therefore, we must come up with a solution as soon as possible to stop the Ming army from advancing south."

"In my opinion, we should first support the imperial court."

The second elder's eyes sharpened: "The imperial court is currently short of military rations, but our Kong family's granaries are full. We can donate a batch of grain to the front lines."

Another clan elder quickly added, "But it can't be given away for free; we have to ask the imperial court for benefits."

"Many members of our Kong family hold positions in the court, but most of them are honorary civil officials without real power. This time, we can take advantage of the opportunity to donate grain to ask His Majesty to grant us a few substantive official positions so that we can have more say in the court."

"And there's the clan's protective army."

The elder of the four clans continued, "Shandong's defenses are weak, and the rebels will definitely take the opportunity to cause trouble. We must quickly organize a clan protection army."

“Select the strong and able-bodied from the tenant farmers, equip them with weapons and armor, and have them led by members of the clan. This will not only help defend against rebels, but also give us more confidence when we fight against the Ming Dynasty’s southward advance in the future, and help us defend Qufu.”

The clan elders nodded in agreement, and quickly reached a consensus.

We will support the Jin Kingdom at all costs to preserve the Kong family's privileges in Qufu.

But at that moment, the elder who had been silent suddenly spoke, his tone tinged with caution.

"Our Kong family has been able to continue for a thousand years not because we blindly follow a dead end, but because we know how to leave ourselves a way out."

"What if... I mean, what if we support the imperial court, but the imperial court still can't defeat the Ming Dynasty? What then?"

These words instantly silenced the noisy ancestral hall.

The elders looked at each other, a hint of panic flashing in their eyes.

They only thought about fighting against the Ming Dynasty, but did not consider the consequences of the Jin Dynasty's defeat.

The elder continued, "We've all heard about the fighting prowess of the Ming army. In the Battle of Guanzhong, the Jin army suffered heavy losses."

"Now the court is beset by internal and external troubles. Whether the court's army still has the fighting strength it once had, and whether it can defeat the Ming army, is all unknown."

"We can't put all our eggs in one basket; we have to be prepared for both possibilities."

As soon as he finished speaking, Kong Yuancuo nodded first and said, "Uncle's words are the way of the wise."

He then shared his thoughts.

He lowered his voice and said, "We can secretly send someone to the Ming Dynasty to make contact with them."

This was his original intention, but before he could even voice it, the clan elders overwhelmingly declared their unwavering support for the imperial court.

Now, with the support of a highly respected elder, his idea can be realized.

Bet on both ends.

"Tell the Ming people that the Kong family is willing to help them, on the condition that the Kong family must be preserved in its original state when the Ming Dynasty takes over the Central Plains."

"The hereditary title of Duke Yansheng, the land of Qufu to be given to the Kong family, the county magistrate and yamen runners to be recommended by the Kong family, and the tenant farmers and servants to remain unchanged..."

"As long as they agree to these, we can secretly send messages to the Ming Dynasty, such as the Jin Dynasty's defenses and military supply routes."

"When the Ming Dynasty really attacks, we can be the first to respond, representing all Confucian scholars in the land to pledge our loyalty to them, so that they can rightfully rule the Central Plains."

The elders were stunned, then a hint of approval flashed in their eyes.

The three elders hesitated and said, "That's true, but the risk is too great."

"We're donating grain and asking for official positions to the imperial court on one hand, and secretly colluding with the Ming Dynasty on the other. If the court finds out, we'll be in big trouble."

His words made the atmosphere tense again, and several younger clan elders nodded in agreement: "The Third Clan Elder is right. Although the court is lenient towards our Kong family, it cannot tolerate disloyalty."

“There was a gentry family in Shandong who had secret dealings with the Song state. When they were discovered, their entire family was executed, and even their ancestral graves were dug up. We must not follow in their footsteps.”

The elder slowly shook his head, his eyes revealing a calmness born of experience: "Do you all think that the current imperial court still has the energy to investigate our little tricks?"

"They had to deal with the Ming army pressing in on the border while also suppressing the Red Turban Army in Shandong. They couldn't even gather enough military rations, so how could they have the mind to keep an eye on the situation in Qufu?"

"As long as we keep it discreet and the people we send to the Ming Dynasty keep their mouths shut, nothing will go wrong."

Of course, the most important thing is that the Kong family was extraordinary.

Other families that betrayed the country and committed treason would certainly be punished with confiscation of their property and extermination of their clan, but when it came to the Kong family, the consequences of confiscation of their property and extermination of their clan had to be considered.

Therefore, even if the bomb explodes, it will most likely result in the execution of a group of key figures, including Kong Yuancuo. The Kong family will decline for a period of time, but it will never be extinct.

This is the worst possible outcome; the Kong family can now confidently collude with the Ming Dynasty and betray the interests of the Jin Dynasty.

The elder paused, then added in a more serious tone: "Moreover, we have no choice."

"You all know how bad the Ming Dynasty's attitude towards the gentry was; the fate of the Guanzhong gentry serves as a cautionary tale."

"They don't even respect Confucius and Mencius, so why would they give our Confucius family special treatment?"

"How can we possibly win them over if we don't show some 'sincerity'?"

"This 'sincerity' means that we must first present our pledge of allegiance."

The elder continued, lowering his voice even further: "Secretly send them the Jin Kingdom's defense map and military supply routes, so they know we can help."

"When they attack, we will be the first to respond, representing all Confucian scholars in the world to pledge our loyalty, so that they can use our reputation to 'legitimately' rule the Central Plains."

"These are the prices we have to pay."

“But the price…” the Fifth Elder hesitated before speaking.

"What if the Ming Dynasty accepts our pledge of allegiance but then denies it?"

"In that case, we will have offended the Jin Kingdom and failed to please the Ming Kingdom. Wouldn't we end up losing out on both sides?"

"We still have to gamble."

The patriarch slammed his hand on the table, his tone resolute as if he had nothing to lose: "Our Kong family has survived for a thousand years, every time we've walked on the edge of a knife."

"Hundreds of years ago, when the Xianbei Duan clan entered Shandong, we surrendered. When the Jin dynasty took control of the Central Plains, we surrendered to the Jin dynasty again. We relied on being 'pragmatic'."

"The Ming Dynasty is currently at its peak. If we don't pave the way in advance, and if the Ming Dynasty really unifies the Central Plains one day, we won't even have the right to negotiate."

He looked at everyone, his eyes full of sincerity: "For the continuation of the Kong family for another thousand years, this risk is worthwhile."

"Even if we lose the bet, at least we tried; but if we don't gamble, we can only wait for the Ming Dynasty to invade and be wiped out."

"Are you willing to watch the century-old legacy of the Kong family be destroyed in our hands?"

The elders fell silent; none of them were willing to accept that outcome.

The three elders sighed and slowly said, "Eldest brother is right, you can't catch a wolf without risking your cub." "Let's do as you say, send trusted confidants to the Ming Kingdom, make sure it's done secretly, and don't make the slightest mistake."

"Also, we need to handle the matter of donating grain to the imperial court in a more refined manner."

The second elder added, "Not only should we donate grain, but we should also send a few members of our clan to the front lines to 'join the army.' Even if it's just in name only, it will make the court think that our Kong family is loyal and will lower their guard against us."

The elder clan leader said firmly, "When negotiating with the Ming Dynasty, we must adopt the stance that 'we can help you stabilize the Central Plains.'"

"They do not respect Confucius and Mencius, but if they want to rule the Central Plains, they cannot do without the support of Confucian scholars. This is our bargaining chip."

"Even if we fail to reach an agreement, we will not suffer any losses and can still continue to cooperate with the Jin Kingdom; but if we succeed, our Kong family can preserve its thousand-year legacy."

The clan elders nodded in agreement, offering no further objections.

The incense in the ancestral hall still swirls, but the fate of the Kong family has already been quietly decided in this discussion.

First, we should fully support the Jin Dynasty, providing manpower and funds as needed. Winning this war and preventing the Ming army from advancing south would naturally be the best outcome.

However, if all else fails, the only option is to secretly contact the Ming Dynasty in advance and seek a glimmer of hope for the family's survival amidst the chaos of war.

Kong Yuancuo walked to the memorial tablet of Confucius, knelt down again, and silently recited the sutra.

“With our ancestors above us, we, the descendants, have no choice but to do this disloyal and unjust thing in order to protect our ancestral home.”

"May our ancestors bless us so that the Confucius family may overcome this calamity and continue its cultural heritage for a thousand years."

Across the Central Plains, countless other aristocratic families, like the Confucius family in Qufu, were engaged in tense discussions.

In the Zhao family's council hall in Cizhou, Hebei, candles burned all night as the clan elders sat in a circle, their faces solemn.

“The Ming Dynasty is pressing us step by step. If the court cannot withstand it, we gentry will probably repeat the mistakes of Guanzhong.”

The Zhao family patriarch pounded the table, his tone urgent: "The most urgent task is to fully support the imperial court, donate grain and provide manpower, even if it means emptying our family coffers, to drive the Ming army back to the northern border."

But as soon as he finished speaking, an elder shook his head and retorted: "That may be true, but the Jin Kingdom is currently beset by internal and external troubles, and no one can say for sure how long it can hold out."

“Our Zhao family has been passed down for decades; we cannot perish with the Jin Dynasty.”

He lowered his voice, his eyes gleaming: "We need to prepare a backup plan in advance, and secretly send someone to the northern frontier to sound out what conditions the Ming Dynasty would offer to the surrendered gentry."

"As long as we can preserve our family line and land, we are willing to pay a greater price."

These words fell silent in the council chamber, and eventually everyone reached a tacit understanding.

Similar scenes were repeatedly played out among aristocratic families such as the Liu family of Hunyuan and the Yuan family of Taiyuan.

In chaotic times, no one is truly willing to die for the Jin Dynasty; preserving oneself is the top priority.

Time slipped away quietly amidst the tense preparations of all parties, and the Jin Dynasty ultimately failed to hand over Wanyan Chun.

The border markets in the northern desert were completely closed, and the once bustling trade routes became deserted.

The armies of the Ming and Jin dynasties faced each other across the border, their armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight, and the air thick with the smell of gunpowder.

Besides mobilizing large armies and stockpiling supplies, a covert war was also quietly brewing between the two sides.

Jinyiwei spies infiltrated the heart of the Jin Kingdom, while Jin spies attempted to infiltrate the Ming army camp. On the unseen battlefield, the life-and-death struggle never ceased.

A valley in Laizhou, Shandong, exudes a different atmosphere.

In the Red Coat Army's camp, the crisp sound of horses' hooves grew louder as seventeen-year-old Yang Miaozhen rode a large red-brown horse galloping towards them.

She was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, with a leather belt around her waist. Her long, black hair was tied up high, revealing her smooth forehead. Her eyes and brows did not have the usual girlish gentleness, but instead exuded a heroic spirit.

With her red-tasseled spear slung diagonally behind her back, the red tassel at the tip swaying gently with the horse's movements, and coupled with her upright posture, she looked every bit the heroic and spirited woman.

"Brother, this horse is amazing."

Yang Miaozhen pulled on the reins, and the horse reared up, letting out a loud neigh.

She dismounted, reached out and stroked the smooth mane on the horse's neck, her eyes shining like stars.

"These horses are much bigger and taller than our previous Jurchen horses. They run steadily and fast. When we go into battle, they will definitely be able to kill more Jurchen dogs."

Standing to the side, Yang Anguo looked at his sister's excited expression and a gentle smile appeared on his face.

His Red Turban Army was the strongest rebel force in Shandong Province, and they were active in the Jiaodong and Taishan areas for many years.

He had his younger sister Yang Miaozhen and his uncle Liu Quan, among others. Over the years, his forces had grown larger by killing Jin soldiers and robbing landlords.

After annihilating a Jin army squad and capturing this northern frontier horse, he immediately gave it to his beloved younger sister.

The horses in the Central Plains region were mostly Mongolian horses brought by the Jurchens. Although they were hardy, not prone to disease, and had strong endurance for long-distance runs, their small size was an indisputable fact.

Adult Mongolian horses are mostly less than five feet tall at the shoulder, which makes them look less imposing.

Yang Miaozhen was different from ordinary women from a young age. Not only was she strong-willed, but she was also tall and slender, a head taller than many of the male soldiers in the camp.

She had long disliked Mongolian horses for not being "imposing enough" and had always longed to own a tall and majestic horse from the northern frontier; this time, her wish was finally fulfilled.

"If you like it, then this horse is yours from now on."

Yang Anguo laughed and said, "Practice your horsemanship and archery well, and next time you fight, let the Tartars taste your prowess again."

Yang Miaozhen nodded emphatically, mounted her horse, took out her bow and arrows from her back, and gently squeezed the horse's flanks with her legs, causing the horse to gallop again.

She drew her bow and arrow, her gaze fixed on a distant tree trunk. With a "whoosh," the arrow struck the tree trunk precisely, drawing cheers from the surrounding Red Coat soldiers.

“This horse is so majestic, it’s a perfect match for Auntie.”

"With this fine horse, Auntie will definitely be even more formidable in the next battle."

Just then, a soldier quietly ran up to Yang Anguo and said, "Boss, I encountered something strange today."

"The brothers just robbed a caravan, but the leader was not only unafraid, he also said he wanted to see you and had a big deal to discuss with you."

"Oh?"

Yang Anguo frowned, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes.

In recent years, the Red Turban Army has become increasingly famous in Shandong. Ordinary caravans would avoid them if they saw them, but this leader actually dared to take the initiative to meet him.
So, out of curiosity, he said, "Bring him over here. I want to see who's so bold."

Before long, two Red Coat Army soldiers escorted a man over.

The man was tall and wore ordinary coarse cloth clothes, yet his imposing presence was undeniable.

His posture was as upright as a pine tree, his eyes as sharp as knives, as if he had experienced countless life-and-death battles. The faint but palpable aura of menace emanating from him caused the guards around Yang Anguo to instinctively tighten their grip on their weapons.

The man glanced at Yang Anguo, a faint smile playing on his lips: "This must be the Red Turban Army's leader, Yang, right?"

Yang Anguo crossed his arms, scrutinizing the other man warily, and nodded slightly, saying, "That's right."

"Who are you? What do you want from me?"

The moment Yang Anguo saw this man, he knew that this was no ordinary businessman.

Like myself, we were all in the business of risking our lives.

"Naturally, I'm here to do business with the boss."

The man spoke slowly, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers and tents in the camp: "I see that the leader's troops are disciplined and have high morale. They must have won many battles over the years."

"only……"

He changed the subject, his tone becoming somewhat probing: "With so many victories, there must be a lot of gold and silver captured, but I'm afraid all of that gold and silver is of little use to the chief, isn't it?"

Yang Anguo narrowed his eyes slightly.

The Red Turban Army did indeed plunder the homes of many landlords, accumulating a considerable amount of gold and silver.

However, nowadays the Jin Kingdom strictly controls supplies, and there are many checkpoints in various places. These gold and silver cannot buy military equipment or food. They can only be piled up in the camp, no different from a pile of stones.

The army's food supplies are only enough to last for half a month, many brothers are still using broken wooden sticks, and the weapons urgently need to be replenished. This is his most pressing need.

"what do you want to say in the end?"

Yang Anguo's eyes turned stern, and his aura suddenly intensified.

The man met Yang Anguo's gaze, his expression remaining calm, and he even slightly raised the corners of his mouth: "Don't be in a hurry, Boss."

"Let me tell you about this business first. I can provide you with enough military equipment."

"Aside from armor and warhorses, which I can't get, I can get you as many ordinary weapons as you need, such as spears, crossbows, swords, and shields."

"We can also transport grain for you, enough to feed your entire army for three months. As for the price..."

He paused, a hint of amusement in his voice, "How about exchanging them for those 'useless stones' you have?"

Yang Anguo's breath hitched, his eyes filled with shock.

The fact that the other party could provide so many strategic materials is something that ordinary merchants could not do.

He stared intently at the man, his voice low and menacing: "Who exactly are you? Who's backing you? What do you need me to do for you?"

There's no such thing as a free lunch. This man's willingness to provide so much military equipment and supplies must have something to do with him.

money?
These military supplies are all under strict control; you can't buy them even if you have money in Shandong.

The weapons of Yang Anguo's Red Coat Army were partly captured from the Jin army and local landlord militias, and some were made by themselves, but in small quantities and were very rudimentary.

He urgently needed sufficient weapons and provisions.

The man had clearly figured out his weakness.

The next second, the man slowly straightened up, his murderous aura instantly receding, replaced by a more dignified air.

He looked at Yang Anguo and said, word by word, "I am Yang Rui, a centurion of the Imperial Guard, the personal army of His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty."

"Speaking of which, I'm actually from the same clan as Chief Yang."

As he finished speaking, a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

Yang Anguo stood there, feeling a buzzing sound in his head.

Jinyiwei!
They were actually from the Ming Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)