Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 193 Even the ancient tyrants Jie and Zhou were no more than this.
Early March.

As dusk fell like a huge, heavy curtain, it slowly descended from the sky, enveloping the entire Qufu in a hazy gray-blue hue.

The Confucius Mansion, this ancient and historically significant residence, is currently permeated by an invisible pressure, even the gilded wind chimes hanging under the eaves are silent in the evening breeze.

The council room, "Chong Sheng Tang," is less a hall and more a palace immersed in the glow of history.

The carved beams and painted rafters depict the stories of the ancient sages traveling around the states, and each sandalwood pillar seems to be imbued with the fragrance of a thousand years of books.

However, tonight, the fragrance of books was diluted by a chilling atmosphere, the air heavy and oppressive, pressing down on everyone's heart.

The hall was brightly lit, illuminating every corner in minute detail, but it couldn't dispel the gloom on everyone's faces.

In the main seat, the current Duke Yansheng, Kong Yinzhi, was in the prime of his life, with a refined and scholarly appearance, but at this moment he was so gloomy that he looked like he could wring water out of his skin.

He gripped a roll of letter paper from Tianjin tightly in his hand. The fine Huizhou Xuan paper was crumpled from his grip, and his knuckles were sickly pale from the excessive force.

Those seated inside the hall were all core figures of the Kong family, including clan elders, uncles, and sons and nephews who had served as officials, such as the current magistrate of Qufu, Kong Hongyi.

These people usually either hold great power in their clans or manage local businesses; each of them is an outstanding individual. But now, they are simply holding their breath, and even the sound of their clothes rubbing together sounds particularly jarring.

Finally, Kong Yinzhi moved. He raised his head and looked around at the surprised and uncertain faces of the crowd, his dry lips slightly parted.

"The letter was delivered at great risk by Kong Zhaoming, a member of the Tianjin clan. It was secured with three layers of secret codes and transported by five different fast horses along the way..."

He paused, as if each word weighed a ton and required all his strength to utter.

Then, Kong Yinzhi slowly unfolded the letter, which was almost soaked with his body heat, and read it aloud word by word. His voice was not loud, but it resounded like thunder in everyone's ears.

"...Tianjin. The Beijing cavalry, without warning, launched a thunderous attack; the Imperial Guards filled the streets and alleys, blocking land and water routes...their force was more ferocious than any military campaign. The Wang family...and thirteen other salt merchants, overnight, their entire families..."

Kong Yinzhi's voice faltered here, his Adam's apple bobbing violently. He took a deep breath before continuing:

"...The entire Wang family estate, along with its private harbor and docks, was stained with blood, and corpses littered the roads...All their property was confiscated, and the gold, silver, and other valuables were moved without stopping for two days... It is said that the Emperor issued an edict that all those involved in smuggling salt, regardless of their social status, should be severely punished. If anyone resists, they should be killed without question..."

Upon reading this, a collective gasp filled the hall.

But this was not the end. Kong Yinzhi's finger traced the end of the letter, where there was a dark red stain that was shocking to the eye.

"At the end of the letter, Zhaoming, with a blood-stained finger, tearfully pleaded..." His voice trembled uncontrollably, "'Your Majesty, the Emperor has gone mad! He no longer heeds the laws of our ancestors, nor the rules of the sages! The world is about to descend into chaos, and the Confucius family is in grave danger. We must quickly devise a way out!'"

As the last character for "road" fell, it was as if all the air in the entire Chong Sheng Hall had been sucked out.

Everyone's face was filled with horror and disbelief, as if they had heard not a letter from home, but a death warrant.

"Snapped!"

A crisp, loud crack, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly shattered the oppressive atmosphere.

A young man was so shocked that his wrist went limp, and the celadon teacup slipped from his hand and shattered on the smooth stone floor.

The sound of shattering seemed like a signal, instantly igniting all the suppressed emotions.

"Insane... Absolutely insane!"

"The salt merchant...how dare he...how dare he act like this!"

"This...this is slaughter! This isn't the imperial court, this is..."

The buzzing of discussion, like a beehive that had been punctured, instantly filled the entire hall.

Amidst the chaos, a figure suddenly leaped from his seat, the movement so forceful that it knocked over the chair behind him.

Kong Xingxie, a prominent figure in a collateral branch of the Kong family responsible for managing part of the family's businesses, was a middle-aged man who usually wore a shrewd and humble smile. But at this moment, he was pale as a ghost and staggered a few steps into the hall.

With a "thump," he knelt heavily on both knees, the sound of his kowtowing echoing loudly in the empty hall.

"Honorable Lord!" Kong Xingxie raised his head, tears streaming down his face, his voice hoarse and shrill. It was less a lament and more an outpouring of the immense fear that had been building up in his heart. "Honorable Lord! My uncles! This is no longer a matter concerning a few salt merchants, a few grain merchants, or even a prince's family! This is the Emperor declaring war on all the gentry of the land!"

His words struck a chord deep within everyone's hearts.

Those who were still immersed in the misery of the salt merchants were instantly pulled back to a more grand and relatable vision of terror.

Riding on this wave of grief and indignation, Kong Xingxie unleashed a torrent of words he had already rehearsed countless times.

"Please think about this, everyone! In just over a year, how many people has Zhu Youjian killed in this world?"

He stretched out his trembling fingers and began to list them: "The eight major Shanxi merchants were indeed traitors and sold out the country, but why were their homes ransacked and their families wiped out, from eighty-year-old men to infants in swaddling clothes, not even their married daughters were spared! Is this the behavior of a ruler?"

"The rice merchants in Jiangnan were merely hoarding grain during a year of famine, a practice that has been true since ancient times. Why should their entire families be executed, their entire clan exterminated? The blood has stained the Qinhuai River red!"

He paused abruptly, his tone shifting to a more sensitive topic, his voice lowering slightly, yet sounding even more sinister:
“Even his own family members with the surname Zhu! Zhu Cunshu, the Prince of Qin in Guanzhong, is a descendant of Emperor Taizu Gao! Just for a minor mistake, he killed him without hesitation, showing no mercy even to his clan! So cruel, so bloodthirsty, I think even the ancient tyrants Jie and Zhou were no better!”

After depicting the bloody horror, Kong Xingxie abruptly changed the subject, his words like the sharpest dagger piercing the most vulnerable and sensitive spots in everyone's lives.

"Killing is secondary! Gentlemen, the most terrifying thing is that he wants to eradicate the very foundation of our Kong family!" He raised his voice, his eyes flashing with despair.
"Officials and gentry alike must pay taxes! Isn't this a knife held to our throats? He really dares to think this, and he really dares to do it! Once this policy is implemented throughout the country, won't we, the descendants of the sage, have to pay taxes on the vast fertile lands of my family in Shandong, just like those peasants who toil for a living? This is not paying taxes; it's cutting flesh off our bodies, it's bringing our blood to our throats!"

These words stirred up a hornet's nest, and the hall immediately erupted in a chorus of angry curses and gasps.

For the Confucius family, the privilege of tax exemption was the cornerstone of their wealth and a material manifestation of the Duke Yansheng's extraordinary status.

To shake this is tantamount to digging up their ancestral graves.

Seeing this, Kong Xingxie knew the time was right, and he pointed even more excitedly to the north, towards the Forbidden City.

"Gentlemen! Cutting flesh and drinking blood is one thing, material possessions can be earned back! But what's most deadly is his contempt for the teachings of the sages! His disrespect for the Confucian tradition!"

Kong Xingxie beat his chest and stamped his feet, heartbroken and indignant. "He has postponed the palace examination again and again last year! Now all the candidates in the country are eagerly awaiting it, but where is the palace examination? It seems to be far away! What is he trying to do? Does he no longer want us Confucian scholars? Does he no longer need my Confucianism to govern the country!"

"Look at that so-called 'Royal Academy of Sciences' he set up in the capital, what kind of people are in there? They're all craftsmen messing around with 'physics' and 'mathematics'! It's all just strange and frivolous skills! The teachings of Confucius and Mencius, the fundamental principles and great truths, have no place there at all! Sima Zhao's intentions are obvious to everyone! He wants to abolish Confucianism, establish a new heresy, and fundamentally deny the very foundation upon which we scholars live!"

A series of accusations, progressing step by step, from killing to seizing property and then to destroying morality, vividly portrays the image of a tyrannical, greedy, and unorthodox emperor.

Everyone in the hall paled, and many were already drenched in sweat.

Finally, Kong Xingxie crawled on the ground and offered his solution, a plan born of desperation and a will to survive.

"Your Majesty! Delay will only lead to trouble! The Tianjin incident serves as a cautionary tale! While Shandong is still relatively stable, we must act immediately! We must sell off those easily resaleable farmlands and shops as soon as possible! The gold, silver, and valuables obtained, along with the youngest sons and grandsons of the core family, must be sent to Jiangnan as a backup plan!"

He paused, as if making a decision, and continued, "If Jiangnan is also unstable, if this tyrant really slaughters his way through... then we can only contact familiar maritime merchants and send our elite sons to Luzon in Southeast Asia!"

Even if it means leaving our homeland, we must ensure the continuation of the Confucius family line! Otherwise, the fate of the Wang family in Tianjin today will be the fate of the Confucius family in Qufu tomorrow!

Kong Xingxie's words caused a stir in the hall.

Those shrewd clansmen in charge of the family business nodded in agreement.

Rather than staying here and waiting to die, it's better to make preparations early. As long as we're alive, we can always rebuild.

"shut up!"

A thunderous roar, like a thunderclap exploding from the ground, instantly drowned out all the other discussions.

Suddenly, an elderly man nearing seventy years old stood up from his seat and slammed his right hand heavily on the rosewood table in front of him. With a loud "bang," the teacups on the table jumped.

The old man, with his hair and beard standing on end, was old but had bright eyes and an imposing presence. He was none other than Kong Wenshao, the younger brother of the previous Duke Yansheng and the great-uncle of the current Duke Yansheng, Kong Yinzhi.

"You worthless coward!" Kong Wenshao glared at Kong Xingxie, who was kneeling on the ground, his eyes like knives. "What is my Kong family? We are the Duke Yansheng's mansion, which has shared the fate of the nation since the Han Dynasty! We are the teachers of all ages, the embodiment of the moral order of the world! How dare Zhu Youjian, a mere child, touch my Kong family? Does he dare to defy the will of all scholars in the world?"

The old man's voice was strong and resonant, carrying an innate arrogance and confidence rooted in a thousand-year-old tradition.

His gaze was sharp as he slowly swept over the restless expressions of the crowd below. He let out a disdainful snort and then expounded on the set of principles deeply rooted in the Confucian tradition and revered as the golden rule.

"The emperor is the sovereign, but we are the teachers!" Kong Wenshao's voice was filled with undeniable authority.
"The ruler must follow the Way, and the Way is right here with us! How did the Zhu family come to rule? It was by relying on my Confucian doctrines and the Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues that they were able to sit in peace! If they dare to touch us, they are touching the very foundation of the nation!"
The spittle of three million Confucian scholars could drown him in the Forbidden City! Did Zhu Youjian dare bear the eternal infamy of 'betraying his teacher and ancestors'? Did he dare?!

The two consecutive "Dare you?" questions changed the atmosphere in the hall.

The initial fear and panic seemed to be somewhat diluted by this strong sense of traditional confidence.

Yes, the Kong family were not Shanxi merchants, not salt merchants, and not even vassal kings.

The Confucian family is the totem of this Confucian world!

Seeing that everyone's expressions had calmed down, a barely perceptible desire for power flashed in Kong Wenshao's eyes.

He depicted the dark clouds hanging over the Confucius Mansion as a completely different scene.

"I see this not as a crisis," he said slowly, each word carrying an allure, "but as a tremendous opportunity! The emperor's perverse actions, the slaughter of gentry, the disdain for Confucianism, and his wolfish policy of requiring everyone to pay taxes together have already drawn grievances from princes, gentry, and scholars throughout the land! This is the time for my Confucian family to rise up, set things right, and reshape the world!"

The words "correcting past wrongs" made everyone present hold their breath.

Kong Wenshao ignored everyone else and turned to Kong Yinzhi, who had been silent in the main seat. His tone became more forceful, almost commanding.

"Your Excellency! Hesitation will only lead to more trouble! We should immediately contact the Prince of Lu, the Prince of Fu, and even the princes of the vassal states, who have been on good terms with my family for generations! Then, in the name of the Duke of Yansheng's mansion, we should contact the Donglin Party members in Jiangnan and the upright officials of the country! Together we should submit a petition to cleanse the court of corrupt officials and condemn the treacherous ministers! We should force that foolish emperor to abolish the evil policy of 'collecting taxes in one go' and demolish his incongruous 'Academy of Sciences'!"

At this point, a chilling glint flashed in his eyes, his voice low yet filled with a frenzied, incitement. "If he remains obstinate... then we will unite with the imperial clan, follow the example of Yi Yin and Huo Qubing, depose this incompetent ruler, and install a virtuous one! At that time, our Kong family will be the key figures in this policy-making, and the unparalleled glory of 'Duke Baocheng and Duke Xuan of Han and Tang' will be restored in no time!"

The matter of Iho!

These four words, like a bolt of lightning, cleaved the roof of Chong Sheng Hall, sending a chill down everyone's spine.

Depose and install the emperor!

How outrageous and how tempting!

In an instant, the hall was divided into two distinct factions.

One side, led by Kong Xingxie, was ashen-faced, believing they were charging forward recklessly on the edge of a precipice; the other side, led by Kong Wenshao, had flushed faces and burning eyes, as if they could already see the future of the Kong family wielding power and commanding the world.

All eyes eventually focused on the person in the main seat.

Kong Yinzhi.

This contemporary Duke Yansheng is currently experiencing the most painful ordeal of his life.

His back was already soaked with cold sweat.

Kong Xingxie's words pierced his heart like icicles.

Shanxi merchants, grain merchants, the King of Qin, Tianjin salt merchants... those bloody scenes played out repeatedly in his mind, as if the emperor's butcher's knife was hanging on his neck, cold and sharp.

He knew better than anyone that the so-called orthodox traditions might be as fragile as a thin sheet of paper in the face of absolute violence.

run?
This thought lingered in his mind more than once.

However, he couldn't bear to part with it.

Kong Wenshao's words were like a raging fire, burning fiercely in his heart.

The supreme honor of the Duke Yansheng, the vast fertile fields of Qufu, the glory of the family that has been passed down for two thousand years... Is all of this going to be abandoned like a stray dog ​​in the hands of Kong Yinzhi, and forced to flee to a remote and desolate place overseas?
He is not willing!

He was the eldest grandson of Confucius, how could he become a runaway Duke Yansheng!

Fear and greed, like two venomous snakes, were tearing at the depths of his heart.

However, what truly broke the scales of his reason was another, heavier weight—a humiliation that was utterly ignored.

He repeatedly pondered every detail of the past year or so until he tasted the bitterness and resentment in his mouth.

It's not that he didn't pledge his loyalty to the emperor; on the contrary, he did more than anyone else!
From the beginning of his reign, the emperor personally wrote no fewer than ten letters of loyalty!

Each letter was filled with classical allusions and sincere words. In some of the more recent letters, he even offered to take the lead in donating part of his family property to help the country, setting an example for the gentry of the world.

But what about the results?

All the letters disappeared without a trace, as if they had been thrown into the sea.

There was no praise, no reprimand, not even a single "read" reply.

Nothing at all.

This indifference from the Forbidden City, this utter disregard, is more devastating than harsh rebukes.

Reprimands and threats at least prove that you are still on the chessboard and still have the right to play the game.

Ignoring you means that in the eyes of the player, you are not even worth being a piece.

He, the hereditary Duke Yansheng, and the leader of all Confucian scholars, are utterly insignificant!
He, Kong Yinzhi, didn't even have the right to receive a single reply from that young emperor in his own handwriting!

This humiliation was like a series of poisonous needles piercing the proudest part of Kong Yinzhi's heart.

It intertwined with his deep-seated fear of the imperial sword, fermenting wildly within his very being, and ultimately brewing into a twisted and intense hatred.

This resentful thought grew wildly like vines, taking root in his heart: Since you treat me like dirt, I will teach you what Mount Tai is!
However, despite his anger and hatred, Kong Yinzhi, as the helmsman of the ancient ship that is the Kong family, did not completely lose his rationality.

On the contrary, the extreme pressure brought him into an unprecedented state of clarity.

He knew the Kong family was standing on the edge of a precipice; one step forward meant an abyss, and one step back might also lead to the same abyss. At this moment, any single choice was a gamble, and the Kong family could not afford to lose.

The two immense forces continued to tear at his mind, but in the end, the Duke of Yansheng's rationality did not collapse.

Faced with the overwhelming humiliation of being ignored by the emperor and the burning fantasy of the eternal achievements of the founding fathers, it split into four parallel undercurrents.

He slowly rose to his feet, his movements heavy and deliberate.

The large rosewood chair, symbolizing the thousand-year glory of the Confucius family, seemed to transform into a heavy historical shadow behind him.

Kong Yinzhi's gaze slowly swept over the various expressions of surprise, joy, and fear in the hall, then over Kong Xingxie, who was slumped on the ground like a withered tree, and finally settled on his great-uncle Kong Wenshao's face, which was full of deep wrinkles yet also ambitious.

In his mind, four escape routes had already been laid out.

The first option is to kneel.

Keep kneeling before the Emperor!
He wanted to write another letter, the eleventh one.

This time, the words must be more humble than ever before, and the posture must be more submissive than ever before.

He was even prepared to offer up 30,000 mu of fertile land outside Qufu City under the guise of assisting in the suppression, hoping to elicit even a single word from the emperor. This was a last-ditch effort to test the limits, and he intended to walk this path quietly on his own.

Going a step further, we arrive at the link.

Unite all forces that can be united.

Prince Lu and Prince Fu, members of the imperial family and princes, as well as wealthy salt merchants and members of the Donglin Party in Jiangnan who had close ties with the Kong family, were natural allies.

Since the emperor's sword has already been wielded against the gentry of the land, let them unite into a force and see whether his sword is sharper or the gentry's foundation is deeper.

This path should be taken openly, with Kong Wenshao, this old but still tenacious mad dog, as the vanguard. Even if things fail, it can be claimed that the clan elders acted arbitrarily, and that the Duke Yansheng, out of consideration for his elders, would leave room for maneuver.

If the wind direction is wrong, then escape.

Although Kong Xingxie's words were harsh, they were invaluable.

A cunning rabbit has three burrows; how could a descendant of a sage be less capable than a cunning rabbit?
The clan’s gold, silver and valuables, as well as rare books and manuscripts, must be packed up and organized immediately. The most intelligent core members must also be selected and escorted south in batches by the most reliable clansmen under the guise of studying abroad!

First go to Yingtian Prefecture. If Yingtian Prefecture is unstable, then go to Guangzhou. If Guangzhou changes again, then go to Luzon in Southeast Asia, to that uncivilized land, to leave the seeds of learning for the Confucius family.

This path must be taken covertly, entrusted to the meticulous Kong Xingxie to atone for his crimes through meritorious service; this matter will remain a secret known only to Heaven and Earth.

The last option, also an escape, was Kong Yinzhi's own escape route.

He had already decided that once Qufu fell, he would never surrender without a fight.

He would take the Duke Yansheng's golden seal, family genealogy, and his wife and children, and head east, sailing from Dengzhou to Goryeo, and even to Japan.

As long as he, the Duke of Yansheng, is still alive, and as long as the golden seal remains, the Kong family will not fall!
If the situation changes in the future, he can make a comeback at any time.

In the blink of an eye, Kong Yinzhi had already made his decision.

He looked at Kong Wenshao and said in a deep voice:
"Grand Uncle...you are absolutely right!"

Upon hearing this, Kong Wenshao's faction instantly displayed an almost ferocious ecstasy, while Kong Xingxie and the others turned pale as if they had lost their parents.

"How can my Kong clan become homeless dogs without fighting!" Kong Yinzhi said each word slowly and deliberately, as if he were not speaking to his clansmen, but rather making a blood oath to his ancestors who sat high in the ancestral temple.

Then his gaze shifted to Kong Xingxie, who was slumped on the ground. But this time, his eyes were not cold; instead, they held a deeper meaning that no one could detect.

"Xing Xie!" he shouted sternly, "Your proposal to relocate people is misleading and deserves severe punishment! But considering that you are acting for the sake of your family, you will be spared the death penalty, but you will not escape punishment!"

Upon hearing this, Kong Xingxie suddenly looked up, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes.

"You are to be punished... to compile all the accounts and land deeds of the manor's properties in other places over the past ten years into a book within three days and submit it to me! There must be no mistakes!" Kong Yinzhi's punishment was actually a crucial preparation for the third path.

For many years, Kong Xingxie had been in charge of the clan's businesses, handling all the finances, general affairs, and the estates and shops across the country. Only he could quickly draw up this geomantic map of the southward relocation, which was crucial to the survival of the Kong family.

Kong Xingxie was incredibly astute; he instantly grasped the deeper meaning behind the Duke Yansheng's words. His hope was rekindled, and he kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "This sinner accepts punishment! Thank you, Duke Yansheng, for sparing my life!"

Finally, Kong Yinzhi's gaze returned to Kong Wenshao, a resolute flame igniting in his eyes. As the Duke of Yansheng, he issued the Mingqijun Decree, which had long concerned the fate of the family.

"Grand Uncle, quickly go to the treasury of the manor and prepare a generous gift, one that must be a rare treasure that can startle the King. I am going to Yanzhou Prefecture in person to pay my respects to His Highness Prince Lu."

He paused briefly, each word imbued with profound meaning:
"I want to hear it with my own ears and see it with my own eyes... what kind of plan this descendant of the founding emperor, the grandson of the emperor, has for the Zhu family's rule!"

The night wind outside had somehow entered the hall, causing the dozens of giant candles to blaze wildly.

The flickering firelight stretched everyone's shadows, making them appear longer and shorter, twisting and deforming on the ancient beams, pillars, and murals, like a ferocious dance of demons.

(End of this chapter)