"This Kong Yan Holy Father is really ruthless enough, do you think that I will forget it because of this?"

Zhu Houzhao put down Kong Yan's recital, he knew that now Kong Yan's Shenggong is doing this, which means that he can no longer blame Kong Wenyun's sins for his Kong Yan Shenggong's sake, and by the way, he paid 300,000 stone grains, and there is a feeling of bribing himself in the name of donation and spending money to beg for forgiveness from the emperor.

However, Zhu Houzhao didn't want to forgive this Kong Yan Holy Father so easily.

There are many powerful people in the Ming Dynasty, and Kong Yan Shenggong is just one of them.

Although Zhu Houzhao knew that these powerful people were parasites attached to the people of the Ming Dynasty, they were the main culprits who aggravated social contradictions.

The more ruthless Zhu Houzhao is to these magnates, the more beneficial it will be to his country.

After all, now is not the time to fight the world, and I no longer need the support of these powerful people.

But Zhu Houzhao also knew that he couldn't attack these magnates casually, at least he couldn't attack these magnates without reason, first, many magnates were indeed because their ancestors had meritorious contributions to the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, and second, once the magnates were forced to a dead end by themselves, they would support the new masters.

What's more, many powerful people are their own henchmen, and they are the basis for their effective rule over the Ming Dynasty.

But Kong Yansheng Gong, Zhu Houzhao must move.

First of all, Kong Yan Shenggong is not his confidant, and there is no need to raise him as his own lackey.

What's more, Zhu Houzhao also knew that the Holy Duke of Kong Yan could not be a loyal lackey, but only suitable to be a grass on the wall, relying on the reputation of his ancestor Confucius to wagging his tail and begging for mercy from the rulers of various dynasties to obtain a respected status.

Secondly, the Holy Father of Kong Yan did not follow the rules.

As for whether he did the crimes that other gentry and magnates could do, such as annexing land, lending for profit, manipulating officialdom, etc., Zhu Houzhao still does not know, but at least what Zhu Houzhao can be sure of now is that this person from the Kongyan Shenggong Mansion was involved in manipulating the price of grain in Gyeonggi.

A family of military commanders who is not his confidant and who has made meritorious contributions to the Ming Dynasty, now that he has committed something, he, the emperor, can naturally move.

Of course, Zhu Houzhao also knew that the real obstacle to his own movement of the Confucian Shenggong Mansion was some so-called ministers of science in the imperial court, in their eyes, Yan Shenggong, who became a powerful man because of Confucius's status in academic thought, was more noble than the martial arts who became a powerful man by fighting the country back then.

After all, respecting the status of the Holy Duke of Confucius is equivalent to respecting the status of Confucianism, and it is also equivalent to maintaining their status as the chief ministers of science.

Of course, Zhu Houzhao also knew that in addition to himself, the emperor possessed by the traverser, the emperors of previous dynasties would also respect the status of the Holy Duke of Kong Yan.

After all, the emperor also needed to maintain Confucian status in order to ensure the stability of his rule and the enslavement of the entire empire for a longer period of time.

What Zhu Houzhao wanted was to get the Ming Dynasty out of the agrarian civilization under the rule of Confucianism, not just to be the largest slave owner in the world, so he was destined to not tolerate such a high status of the Confucian family.

"In the Ministry of Rites, Kong Wenshao was not effective in restraining the clansmen, which almost caused turmoil in the capital, which disappointed me even and removed him from the hereditary title of Yansheng Gong and demoted him to a commoner!"

As soon as Zhu Houzhao's words came out, even the minister Liu Jin opened his mouth in surprise, he thought that the Holy Duke of Kong Yan would let Kong Wenyun's father hang himself, and then pay 300,000 stone grains to make His Majesty the Emperor angry, but he didn't expect His Majesty the Emperor to remove the hereditary title of the Holy Duke of Kong Yan.

"Yes!"

Liu Jin didn't dare to resist Zhu Houzhao's decision, and as a minister, he didn't have such a big protection for the Kong family.

Zhu Houzhao's will to remove Kong Wenshao and Kong Yansheng's hereditary title came to the cabinet, and Liu Yu, the first assistant of the cabinet, was also shocked when he saw this, but he was the first assistant who only obeyed the emperor's orders, and he also knew that he had no need to disobey the emperor for the sake of the Kong family, so naturally he did not raise objections, so he had to accept the will.

Zhu Houzhao could also expect that although there were civil officials in the court who protected or respected the Confucian family, and even thought that the existence of the Duke of Yansheng was a Taoist system, these civil officials who were wise and protected their lives did not dare to explicitly resist their will as the emperor.

Therefore, in this way, the abolition of the Duke title of Kong Yansheng has become an established fact.

"Command!"

When Kong Wenshao received this holy decree, his face was like ashes, he didn't expect that his family's hereditary duke title would be gone, and he naturally had complaints about Emperor Zhu Houzhao in his heart, but he also knew that Daming was still the emperor's biggest, and his Confucian family's status was originally given by the emperor, and now that the emperor wants to take it back, he can't have any complaints.

Kong Wenshao could only look forward to the restoration of his Confucian family's title when the new emperor ascended the throne, and couldn't help but say in his heart: "Now that His Majesty the emperor doesn't attach importance to Confucianism, and even has hatred, he naturally won't allow his Confucian family to make the slightest mistake, and Wenyun is too, so he has to do business and profit when this tyrant is in power!"

Zhu Houzhao knew that he treated the Confucian family like this, without leaving any affection, the Confucian family and many ministers of science would be very dissatisfied with themselves, but he was the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, even if the Confucian family was dissatisfied with many ministers of science, he could only be dissatisfied in his heart, and he couldn't do anything about himself.

However.

Zhu Houzhao didn't plan to end there, two million stone of grain was burned by Kong Wenyun, a descendant of the Kong family, and others, which almost caused turmoil in the entire capital because of the food shortage, and also caused a lot of losses to the Ming court, and even let himself eat sweet potatoes and potatoes for a long time, and he couldn't just count it because the Kong family sent 300,000 stone of grain.

"Message! Although Kong Wenyun has been expelled from the family tree by his father in the first room, Kong Wenyun was still a descendant of Confucius of the Northern Sect when he burned two million stone grains, and his family could not expel him from the family tree and escape punishment because of the Kong Wenyun incident!

The two million stone grain burned by Kong Wenyun was the emergency food of the Beijing Division, but it was burned by Kong Wenyun, which almost led to the turmoil in the Beijing Division and destroyed the Ming Dynasty, and the consequences were very serious, although it did not happen, it should be severely punished! The Kong family compensated 7 million silver dollars, of which 6 million was calculated according to the price of grain in the capital at that time, 3 yuan and 1 stone, and 1 million was the interest that the Kong family did not compensate in time after Kong Wenyun burned the grain! The 300,000 stone grain donated by him was gladly accepted by the imperial court! ”

After Zhu Houzhao's will was issued to Kong Wenshao, Kong Wenshao almost fainted.

He originally thought that the emperor would easily spare his Kong family, but he didn't expect that Emperor Zhu Houzhao would not only get rid of the hereditary duke of his own Kong family, but now he would also have to pay seven million silver dollars to his own Kong family!

The removal of the title, Kong Wenshao has nothing to say, and he can't object, after all, the title was given by Emperor Zhu Houzhao.

But if he wants his Kong family to compensate the court with seven million silver dollars, Kong Wenshao can't accept it, and he doesn't want to accept it!

Because seven million silver dollars is an astronomical amount for his Confucian family.

If he really wants to lose 7 million silver dollars, it means that all the land acquired by his Confucian family over the years will be sold, all the male and female servants in the family who have been converted from slaves into long-term workers will have to be dismissed, and all the shops and properties that his family has seized by cunning in Qufu will also be sold, which means that his Confucian family will completely become an ordinary common family.

"The imperial court has taken away the title of my Kong family, and now it is going to take away the property of my Kong family, so that my Kong family will completely become a powerless commoner! Brother, you can't pay for these seven million silver dollars, and even if you want to pay for it, you can't pay so much! The Shuzhikong family is okay, and they still farm their own fields, but it is difficult for our Yanzhikong family to farm the land! ”

Kong Wenshao's younger brother Kong Wenli also said excitedly at this moment.

"For today's plan, I can only go to Lord Futai to find a way to quickly seal three thousand silver dollars!"

Kong Wenshao found Pan Zhen, the governor of Shandong, a few days after he said: "Lord Futai, you can save our Kong family!" Your Majesty wants us to pay seven million silver dollars! Our Confucian family can't afford to sell even if they smash pots and sell iron, and they can only pawn temple properties (Confucian Temple) when the time comes, but the old decay really can't bear to pawn and sell temple properties, and adults are also children of Confucius and Mencius, can they also bear to see that the holy ancestor can't offer sacrifices for his descendants? Whining! ”

"Although you are not effective in disciplining the clansmen, the court has really done too much in this matter, I am afraid that it will be caused by traitorous ministers, but in any case, this official will help you speak once and intercede for you, after all, the Holy Ancestor has no fault!"

This Pan Zhen accepted Kong Wenshao's silver dollar, but she didn't say that she wouldn't help Kong Wenshao.

And Kong Wenshao couldn't help but be overjoyed when he saw this: "Thank you, Lord Futai, if you can waive or reduce the compensation, you will be thanked!" ”

Pan Zhen didn't say much, and only let her master write a song according to her own meaning.

"Your Majesty, the governor of Shandong, Pan Zhenqi, heard that His Majesty wants the Kong family to compensate seven million silver dollars! But as far as the minister knows, the Confucian family can't afford to pay this huge amount of money at all, and the minister is worried that if he compensates so many silver dollars, the descendants of the Confucian family may be guilty and should be punished by their bankruptcy, but the Confucian family's branch is already the common people of Qufu, if it is also bankrupt, the minister is afraid that it will damage His Majesty's original intention of loving the people, and it will also increase the people's resentment, and may make Shandong uneasy. ”

Zhu Hou took care of Pan Zhen's recital for a while, and felt that what Pan Zhen said also made some sense, and couldn't help but say: "I ignored the question that Kong Wenshao would transfer the compensation of seven million silver dollars to his Kong family, but this Shandong Pan Zhen got the problem to the point!" ”

"Then Your Majesty means to agree with the advice of Pan Zhen, the governor of Shandong, and reduce the compensation?"

Kang Hai, the cabinet university on duty, asked, although he didn't dare to directly persuade Zhu Houzhao to spare the Kong family, but now that there is an opportunity to reduce the punishment of the Kong family, he will not forget to get off the donkey down the slope.

But Zhu Houzhao is not an emperor who is easy to be fooled by the officials below, he admits that what Pan Zhen said is reasonable, but he will not really reduce the compensation, because legally speaking, the Kong family has to pay so much, and his own emperor is neither more nor less.

Therefore, Zhu Houzhao said directly:

"No jokes! The decree issued has also been signed by your cabinet, how can it be said that it will be lowered if it is withdrawn? Seven million still have to be paid, and one more day of delay, one more day of interest! Besides, it is in accordance with the law to demand that the Confucian family pay seven million silver dollars in compensation! How can he be implicated because of the common people of the Confucian family, and my Daming law will be lenient?! ”

Kang Hai didn't expect that His Majesty the Emperor was still unwilling to be lenient, so he had to nod for a while and said: "What Your Majesty said is that the ministers are a little old and confused, how can the law be changed because of human feelings, but the common people of the Confucian family are only ordinary people in Qufu, if it is really because of these seven million silver dollars, it is not Your Majesty's intention." ”

"I will make another will, only let the Confucian family descendants of the Sanfu clan make up for it, in addition, I will send Jinyiwei to go to the Kong family to recover compensation, first check the Kong Wenyun family, if it is not enough, then check the Kong Wenshao and Kong Wenli clans, if it is not enough to make up seven million silver dollars, and there is interest, then I will escort Kong Wenshao, Kong Wenli and other Sanfu clansmen to serve in Mobei! Until you lose enough money! ”

After Zhu Houzhao said this, Kang Hai solemnly replied: "Your Majesty is wise", and at the same time, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "Your Majesty is really ruthless!" Only copying the clansmen in the three suits of the Confucian family is equivalent to not letting go of any of the Confucian family's descendants, and the common people of the Confucian family will not be implicated in any way, so that the Confucian family descendants can avoid the Confucian family members from making trouble with the fact that the court wants all the Confucian clansmen to make up for it, and directly send Jinyi Wei to avoid the government from secretly helping the Kong family. ”

Zhu Houzhao is indeed not at ease with the Shandong government, worried that if he directly asks the Shandong government to raid the Confucian family, he is afraid that he will let the Shandong government protect the Kong family, and directly send Jinyi Wei, so naturally he does not have to worry about this problem.

Kong Wenshao was struggling, he thought that a governor of Shandong could help him avoid bankruptcy, but what he didn't expect was that Emperor Zhu Houzhao would never tolerate anyone who would shake the foundation of the Ming Dynasty, and the loss of seven million silver dollars was just a punishment for the Kong family for disregarding the interests of the country.

When Jinyiwei appeared in Qufu City, Kong Wenshao really knew that he was completely finished.

Because Zhu Houzhao only asked the descendants of Confucius to make up for it, most of the common people surnamed Kong in Qufu were not able to be organized by Kong Wenshao, of course, the appearance of Jinyiwei was too sudden, which also made Kong Wenshao unable to organize, not to mention, the common people surnamed Kong may not be willing to follow their descendants to make the court rebel.

Therefore, Kong Wenshao only lowered his head and invited the brocade guards into the Confucian Mansion in frustration.

Jin Yiwei was naturally not polite, and copied the family property of Kong Wenshao, Kong Wenli, Kong Wenyun and other descendants at the fastest and most thorough speed, but to Jin Yiwei's surprise, the assets of Kong Wenyun's family alone were no less than two million, plus the assets of Kong Wenshao and Kong Wenli's two brothers had reached a value of eight million silver dollars.

Of course, these assets include all the land title deeds, shops, etc.

Zhu Houzhao didn't expect that the Kong family would really be able to confiscate so much property, he thought that seven million silver dollars would be able to bankrupt the Kong family and eventually become commoners, but he didn't expect that the family had so much so much that the descendants of the clan already had no less than eight million family assets! You must know that eight million silver dollars is not much different from more than six million taels of silver, which is more than three times the income of the treasury in the early years of the imperial court Zhengde.

Pan Zhen, the governor of Shandong, didn't expect that his advice would make His Majesty find the Kong family in a different way to ask for compensation, directly use Jinyiwei and only confiscate the descendants of the clan.

At this moment, it is equivalent to Pan Zhen, the governor of Shandong, although he received the benefits of Kong Wenshao, but did not help Kong Wenshao, and on the contrary, Kong Wenshao suffered greater losses! There is not even a chance to transfer the compensation to other people.

Of course, Pan Zhen, the governor of Shandong, did not feel any guilt because of this.

In his opinion, he, the governor, made a good suggestion to the above, and he also received three thousand silver dollars for himself, and as for the confiscation of the Confucian family, he naturally didn't care too much, and at most sympathized with it, and at the same time regretted that the emperor did not let him, the governor, inspect the Confucian Mansion, so that he could get more benefits through the raid.

Zhu Houzhao also knew that none of the officials were good at stubble, he could guess that Pan Zhen, the governor of Shandong, might also have anything to do with the Confucian family, but he couldn't come up with evidence for a while, even if he was the emperor, he couldn't make the entire Ming officialdom clean like water at one time, Confucianism and law were chaotic, chivalry was forbidden by force, and he couldn't be the emperor with imperial power, and before the bad deeds of these officials appeared, they were questioned because of suspicion.

But for those who have been proven guilty, Zhu Houzhao will naturally not forgive, otherwise it will be enough to warn those who are dishonest.

Kong Wenyun was sentenced to Ling Chi by Zhu Houzhao.

The other prisoners who followed Kong Wenyun to plot the grain price manipulation case and the grain burning case were also sentenced to Ling Chi's punishment.

Even the Marquis of Yongchang was also sentenced to be executed.

For Nie Zhen, the secretary of the Criminal Department, Zhu Houzhao did not let go, and directly criticized:

"As the great secretary of the Ming Dynasty, he is in charge of the law, but he knows the law and violates the law, murders others in prison, and intends to shield the suspect, deceive the king, and the crime is increased by one degree, that is, the car will be cracked! Confiscated his home, and the shadow of his parents, wives and children was completely removed! ”

"Your Majesty, Nie Zhen is an important minister of the court, although he is guilty, he should not be so strict, the minister risked his life to intercede for Nie Gong, and begged His Majesty to take back his life!"

Kang Hai replied in front of Zhu Houzhao at this time, because in Kang Hai's opinion, it was common practice to not be punished by doctors, even if it was a heinous crime, he would abandon the city and be beheaded at most, after all, Nie Zhen was the secretary of the criminal department, and he was not a rebel and murderer, so it was not cruel to directly crack the car!

At this time, Ouyang Dan, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites who came with Kang Hai to report the affairs, also prostrate:

"Your Majesty, the minister also risked his life to intercede for Duke Nie, although he knows the law and violates the law, and deceives the king, but he should not be so harsh! Strict punishment and strict law are not the good governance of the country, Your Majesty! ”

"I originally intended to gradually reduce the severity of the law and not rule the country with severe punishment, but Nie Zhen's incident made me realize that the people's wisdom is not only the common people's wisdom, but also you, as well as the criminal department Shangshu Nie Zhen who tried to help the Kong family evade responsibility and intended to deceive the superiors and subordinates! It's also that the people's wisdom has not been opened! Stand up to me! ”

Zhu Houzhao pointed to several cabinet ministers kneeling in front of him and shouted.

Kang Hai and Ouyang Dan had no choice but to stand up, and for a while they didn't know why His Majesty said that these court officials were also unwise.

"He, Nie Zhen, as the secretary of the Criminal Department, should only know that it is to deal with it according to the law, and because of this, when he said that Kong Wenyun and other suspects should be transferred to the Criminal Department in accordance with the procedures, I agreed to him, but he relied on the convenience of being the secretary of the Criminal Department, and assassinated the suspect, wanting to hide it from the world! Cover the Kong family! Is he my minister of the Ming Dynasty or the slave of the Confucian family! ”

"This kind of criminal department is the concept that the people's wisdom has not been opened, and they don't know the concept of the rule of law and the country! I don't know the idea of the supremacy of national interests! I only know how to maintain the Taoist system! In addition, there are you, why, think that you are an important minister of the court, and then kneel down to intercede with me, I should be greatly moved and treat him leniently?

You are already a first-class member, is it difficult for me to let you stand up, you have to kneel at every turn, is it possible that you like to kneel?! ”

Zhu Houzhao roared angrily, he really found that the so-called people's wisdom is not only the common people, how can these knowledgeable Jinshi civil officials in the DPRK and China not be the people's wisdom?

Even when these cabinet scholars disagree with the emperor themselves, all they think of is to force the emperor to compromise by kneeling, thinking that by sacrificing their dignity, they can make the emperor soften, instead of making suggestions with rigorous logical analysis.

Kang Hai and Ouyang Dan both stood up, they didn't expect His Majesty to be so angry, and they couldn't help but be a little scared for a while, but what made them even more afraid was that they didn't know who their Majesty was angry about because of what, so they were now resolute and tightened their necks, waiting for Emperor Zhu Houzhao to sit down next step.

Zhu Houzhao saw that his two close ministers looked confused and scared, and he didn't know how to reprimand for a while, so he had to directly order: "Listen to the order!" University Shi Kanghai was sentenced and Nie Zhen was immediately executed! ”

"Yes!" Kang Hai replied.

Now he doesn't know what to do with his cabinet ministers, as if it is not okay to kneel down and plead, and it seems that it is not okay to stand and sing against the emperor, so he thinks that he should simply be an echo worm, and the emperor will do whatever he wants.

Kang Hai even came up with the idea of resigning because of this, because he found that he really couldn't figure out his Emperor Majesty.

"Woo, I don't want to die yet!"

When Kong Wenyun and his accomplices were both on the execution ground at this time to accept Ling Chi's punishment, Nie Zhen, the secretary of the criminal department who had been dismissed, was also taken up, and he didn't expect that he would be sentenced to car splitting because he had told the Kong family some news and let his people kill someone by mistake, so he couldn't help but struggle hard, and asked Kang Hai who was in prison loudly:

"Elder Ge! Why do you want to crack Nie's car! Nie is not a rebel! ”

"Your Majesty said that when the people's wisdom is not opened, strict punishment and strict law is the only good medicine to stop violations of law and discipline! If you don't crack your Nie Zhen today, the next criminal department Shangshu will dare to continue to use his power to manipulate judicial justice!

This is not only a helpless move by the imperial court, but also the only most effective way!

Your Majesty said, Gong Nie, you should be happy, because your death today will be an example for all future criminal department secretaries to take as a warning! Your death is the fulfillment of the justice of the Ming law! ”

Liu Yu followed Zhu Houzhao's instructions and then ordered: "Execution!" ”

"Ahh

After a miserable scream, Nie Zhen was divided by five horses.

And Zhu Houzhao also issued an edict after the Mid-Autumn Festival in the fifteenth year of Zhengde, ordering all provinces to strictly enforce the law according to the judges and the three legal divisions of the capital, and not tolerate any criminals, and asked all provinces to patrol the imperial history and strictly investigate corruption and corruption.

After all, it is indeed unreasonable for officials who are still corrupt after Zhu Houzhao has greatly improved the remuneration of Ming officials, and Zhu Houzhao has to admit that before the people's wisdom is opened, that is, before the people have been able to form effective civil supervision because of the improvement of their educational literacy, strict punishment and strict law are indeed the only way to maintain the clarity of officials.