Chapter Thirty-Three: Confucius Is Good (for further reading)
Just as we were heading south, we bumped into the Kong family.
Who can blame this?
Of course, the Kong family had too much land and the property had expanded too much.
We must know that the two largest landowners in Shandong during the Ming Dynasty were the Lu Prince's Mansion and the Kong family. Both sides were neck and neck. If we had to say it, the Kong family seemed to have more. After all, they had a rich heritage.
Now it's good, the Zhu family is finished, and only the Kong family is left, so there is no need to fight.
Zhu Yiyuan did not dare to neglect, so he got a horse and took more than 20 rebel soldiers to quickly cross the original mountain and enter Laiwu territory.
He arrived just in time. At this time, Liu Bao and Luo Yi were definitely not in a good situation.
"Sir, the Kong family came here to collect the land tax. They increased the land tax to 70% in one go. The people couldn't bear it and complained." Liu Bao explained to Zhu Yiyuan.
"Then you decided to go out and eliminate harm for the people?" Zhu Yiyuan said.
Liu Bao had a dark face, Luo Yi rolled his eyes and said, "It's my decision, it's none of Uncle Liu's business."
Zhu Yiyuan glared, "What is it, Uncle Liu? You are rebel soldiers, don't do what the village did. Tell me, what happened after the fight?"
After being scolded by Zhu Yiyuan, Luo Yi became more honest and lowered his head.
Liu Bao said in confusion: "Master Zhu, we thought that just like in Dazhuang Village and Zichuan County, we eradicated the bad guys and the people would listen to us. But who knew that when the news spread, several surrounding villages were alarmed. Especially
It was some elderly people who came over and told us the reason, gave us some food, and sent us off."
Zhu Yiyuan frowned, "Are they afraid of being implicated?"
Liu Bao nodded, "Indeed, they said that the Kong family are descendants of saints, and those who beat them will go to hell if they offend the Kong family. They also said that we are all thieves and will not last long. Even if the dynasty changes, the Kong family will
My family is also as stable as Mount Tai, and I am not afraid of anything. If you go against the Kong family, you will not end well. In short, it will be as unpleasant as possible."
Luo Yi finally had the courage to say: "Sir, those old guys are so unpleasant to talk to. If you hadn't stopped bullying the common people, I would have beaten them."
Zhu Yiyuan snorted heavily. The Kong family has gone through thousands of years and has become deeply rooted in this land. This is not something you say casually.
Many dynasties have disappeared, but they still stand firm.
Even if the Qing army enters the pass, don't we still have to respect them?
Regarding the Kong family, Zhu Yiyuan had some ideas.
I was originally thinking about developing it to Yanzhou and it would come in handy.
Who would have thought that as soon as they entered Laiwu or Jinan Prefecture, they would encounter the forces of the Kong family. I can only say that this family has really long hands!
As for the villagers' thoughts, Zhu Yiyuan can also understand.
Facing such a behemoth that no one can move, you think you are doing chivalry and eliminating violence, but in their eyes, it is actually harming them.
Zhu Yiyuan thought for a while and then said: "Do all the villagers think this way? Is there anyone who hates the Kong family?"
Liu Bao immediately said: "There are, especially many young people. They say that the land rent collected by the Kong family is too high and they can't survive at all. Instead of sitting back and waiting for death, it is better to imitate the heroes of Liangshan and rebel. Some people also ask us, how can we survive?"
They don’t accept people and want to follow us to punch the servants of the Kong family. Without these people, we would all think that the people would still be cowards and cowards!"
Zhu Yiyuan pondered for another moment, thinking in his heart, the situation was very clear, the people really couldn't hold on anymore, they were being squeezed too miserably and couldn't survive.
The behavior of the Kong family is indeed hateful.
However, due to the long-term accumulation of prestige, they did not dare to challenge the authority of the Confucius family.
Ordinary people are born out of this delicate balance.
"Are there any places like Confucius Temple around here?" Zhu Yiyuan suddenly asked.
Luo Yi immediately said: "Yes, there is a Confucius Temple not far away."
Zhu Yiyuan said: "Well, I want to go and offer incense to Confucius."
"Incense?"
Zhu Yiyuan nodded, "Yes, not only am I going, but you should immediately notify the surrounding folks that I am coming, and invite everyone to come and have a chat."
Luo Yi and Liu Bao didn't understand what he meant, but they could only agree. Under the protection of the rebels, Zhu Yiyuan went directly to the Confucius Temple. This one was of course not the one in Qufu, and was only the size of three houses.
But the incense seemed to be very good, and people who were studying around came to offer incense and pay homage. During every year and festival, they would give some tribute to Master Confucius.
When they heard that Zhu Yiyuan was coming, the villagers arrived one after another and formed a large, dark circle outside the temple gate. There were hundreds of people.
There was suspicion, fear, even anger and hostility in their eyes...
Zhu Yiyuan did not panic at all. He first picked up a stick of incense and respectfully offered incense to the portrait of Confucius, and then said a few good words to praise Confucius.
Then Zhu Yiyuan turned around and went to the temple gate, smiled at the villagers and said: "We are all Shandong people, how lucky we are to grow up in the hometown of Confucius and Mencius, bathe in enlightenment. We cannot envy other places. Although we are rebels, we also know that
This is absolutely not intended to offend Confucius or insult the saints."
After listening to what Zhu Yiyuan said, an old man came out. He had a deep face and seemed to have some authority.
"You are right. Now that you understand, please lead your troops away. You have caused us a lot of trouble."
Zhu Yiyuan smiled and said, "Old sir, don't worry, in front of the Confucius Temple. I want to ask you, do you know why the Confucius is a sage and what did he say?"
The old man was startled. He knew a few words, but he couldn't read the classics and couldn't say anything.
Most of the villagers were like this, and it was really difficult for them to tell them what Confucius said.
After a long while, someone bravely said, "I talked about the Analects of Confucius."
Zhu Yiyuan laughed loudly, "Yes, the Analects of Confucius is a book that records the words and deeds of the Confucius, but I want to ask the folks, did Confucius teach people to plunder and plunder, in a land of fish and meat? To squeeze the people, to break the bones and suck out the marrow? To bring trouble to one party, surrender to the enemy and betray the country?
Did Confucius say this?"
Now the villagers started whispering to each other. The sages of Confucius and Mencius would naturally not teach such a bastard to fart.
Zhu Yiyuan smiled calmly and said: "Confucius is an ancient sage. He has always taught people to learn good things and encourage people to do good. The Master has talked about benevolent government all his life. He warned the emperors to govern with virtue, and warned ordinary people to walk among themselves. There must be
My teacher, you should see the wise and think of them. This is the teaching of Confucius. But..."
Zhu Yiyuan paused, and suddenly said with sadness: "What I see now is the servants of the Confucius family, acting recklessly, fishing the common people, and squeezing oil from the bones. Not to mention the Master's teachings, they are worse than ordinary landlords. I want to ask the big guys
, what would happen if Confucius had knowledge under the spring, or in other words, the Master came to life?"
What would happen if Confucius came to life?
The villagers looked thoughtful... Zhu Yiyuan continued: "I think if Master is alive, he might kill these unscrupulous descendants and clean up the house himself. After all, Confucius was a powerful and strong man who was versatile in both civil and military affairs. No way.
It is allowed to lead animals to eat humans.”
Zhu Yiyuan laughed and divided Confucius and the Kong family.
It takes great courage to oppose Confucius, but it seems much easier to oppose the Confucian government.
Seeing that the heat was almost over, Zhu Yiyuan continued: "Perhaps you still don't know that the current Yanshenggong inherited the title during the Wanli period and endured decades of great kindness from the Ming Dynasty. Even in the seventeenth year of Chongzhen, the Ming Dynasty was in turmoil.
He also gave his son a second-grade crown and belt. The Ming Dynasty felt sorry for the people, but it never failed the Kong family."
"It's just that our Duke Yan, after Li Zicheng came to Beijing, immediately enshrined the dragon throne of Emperor Yongchang of the Dashun Kingdom, offered paid horses, and knelt down to receive the seal of Dashun."
The villagers only knew that the Kong family was superior, but they didn't know these things clearly, so they all stared wide-eyed. Isn't this just the seller seeking glory?
Zhu Yiyuan continued: "Not only that, after the Qing army entered Beijing, he changed his face again, and immediately wrote a letter to the Qing Emperor, saying that the mountains and rivers of the Holy Emperor will shine with the sun and the moon, and the country and Zuo will be together forever. Not long ago,
The Qing court ordered hair shaving, and our Duke Yansheng wrote in the "Song of the Supreme People's Court for Shaving Heads" and led the tribe to shave their heads."
Zhu Yiyuan chuckled and said: "For two thousand years, the Confucius family has served many dynasties. Not to mention how many dynasties they have served, Duke Yansheng himself has served three dynasties. Duke Yansheng? He is just a man with three surnames!"
What a man with the third surname, he is clearly a slave of the third surname!
It turns out that this is what everyone is in awe of. What a bad luck!
"Folks, we are not against Confucius. Master is naturally good. We are just adhering to Master's teachings and dealing with some members of the Confucius family who have done evil. Even if Master knew about this kind of thing, he would only applaud him." This chapter has been completed!
