The adjective "full of evil" cannot be used casually. At least as far as Academician Confucius knows, except for traitors, conspirators and many criminals who murder and swindle, no one will easily use this word on Dr. Taichang. At least,
Zhu Tingfang, the eldest son of Zhao Guogong who was praised by everyone as having both civil and military skills, could not possibly be unaware of this taboo.
Although he felt like he had been hit hard on the head, he still cheered up and sneered: "Master Zhu said that he is full of evildoers. I am very curious about what crimes he has committed to deserve these four words?"
Seeing that Grand Scholar Kong directly used him to refer to Mr. Kong Jiu this time, with a vague intention of drawing a clear line, Zhu Tingfang smiled faintly, and then casually told the story of how he hired a murderer to assassinate his colleague's youngest son, and then listed them one by one.
Listed are the many misdeeds that Mr. Kong Jiu has done over the years, such as fighting for property, land, favors, and even human lives.
It wasn't until the whole face of the Grand Master Confucius twitched together that he said slowly: "So, let my sister-in-law cry and say that the Wucheng Army and Horses Division doesn't care about the life or death of your brother, Grand Master Confucius, and insists on killing people.
Take him back to the Yamen, but I have to say, when he was doing harm to the world, did he ever consider the life and death of others?"
Academician Kong really didn't know that his brother, who always seemed smart and capable, would do such outrageous things behind his back in private. Fighting for property was easy to say, considering how many high-ranking officials and dignitaries there are in the capital.
How can he be so noble that he never competes with the people in private? But using his name to talk about favors, which even involves lawsuits involving human lives, is bad.
However, what makes him most unbearable is that his brother, for his own benefit, can even assassinate his colleague's youngest son... This is simply a snake-hearted thing, and he deserves death!
With a breath stuck in his throat, Academician Kong felt that his whole body was not breathing smoothly. Of course he hoped that Zhu Tingfang was slandering others and was trying to incriminate him... But the problem was that he knew Zhu Tingfang very well, and he knew Zhu Tingfang deeply.
Knowing that it is absolutely impossible to arrest someone without a thorough investigation or even physical evidence.
However, it was impossible for him to just let Zhu Tingfang capture his younger brother so helplessly. He immediately said with a sullen face: "Master Zhu has been talking about a series of cases. How come no one has exposed so many cases before? Is it possible?
When Wang Datou, who was never afraid of trouble, was around, his selflessness was still inferior to that of you and Qin Guo Gong, who were in charge of Shuntian Mansion alone, and who were in charge of the Five Cities Military and Horse Division?"
If it were any other young man, faced with such questioning and provocation, he would probably fly into a rage, but Zhu Tingfang was as quiet as a virgin and as active as a rabbit. Hearing these words, he didn't even move his eyebrows.
"Wang Datou is indeed the most responsible and selfless character, but if even the sufferer himself thought that what happened was an accident and did not go to the government to report it at all, then even if he has great ability, he will not be able to do anything unless he is interrogated in the underworld at night.
Otherwise, it would be impossible to follow the clues and find the real owner. Therefore, I am just lucky in these cases that Wang Datou did not discover at the beginning."
Zhu Tingfang raised the corners of his mouth as he spoke: "Who let my brother-in-law have a housekeeper who can do everything? Some people couldn't bear to think of it and had to intercept him halfway. As a result, he was killed alive by a gangster who was very good at doing dirty work for the houses of these dignitaries.
?This guy has confessed to some things. Of course, Bachelor Kong, you can also think that he is talking nonsense, but..."
He paused and said nonchalantly: "But you should have heard about the haunting in the house of your clan brother next door not long ago. He sent his subordinates to several temples to watch for an unknown person.
The young son of a colleague who died at a young age spent two to three thousand guan just on offerings and incense to perform rituals. Have you ever heard of it, Bachelor of Confucius?"
Academician Kong originally thought that Zhu Tingfang got all the clues from a certain guy who was arrested, and originally planned to make a fuss about this, but when he heard Zhu Tingfang say that Mr. Kong Jiu actually spent a lot of money just because of a mere haunting.
He couldn't help but feel a little nervous about spending such a large amount of money to perform rituals for a child who died young.
Based on the character of his clan brothers who are unwilling to do anything to benefit themselves early, this is definitely not normal!
Even so, he still smiled and said: "Although I don't know what happened when he suddenly spent a lot of money to perform rituals, but if he is to be convicted just because of this, Mr. Zhu doesn't think it is true.
Is it too far-fetched?"
"It's not far-fetched, God knows. At least, when I brought people to appear in front of your brother, he was frightened and kept saying that every injustice has its debtor, and he asked me to go to the person who did it to claim my life. He said
, it’s all that guy’s doing!”
Zhu Tingfang smiled as he spoke, but the smile looked a little ferocious: "I forgot to tell Master Confucius that my guard who went in first was wearing the attire of a judge. He was probably very frightened as he was already unconscious."
Zhu Tingfang, who pretended to be a ghost to scare people, was a totally unappreciable tactic, but he spoke calmly and calmly, as if he was not afraid that the Confucian scholar would instigate impeachment in a fit of anger, or use other means to exert pressure.
But Academician Confucius only thought about questioning Zhu Tingfang's dirty tricks at the beginning, but this thought was fleeting. Because even if the matter spread, Zhu Tingfang would at most be scolded by the emperor for being ridiculous - and he was in his early twenties.
There is indeed an excuse for nonsense, but Master Kong Jiu is different.
Dr. Taichang, who should be the most polite, is afraid of ghosts and gods? If you don’t do anything wrong, why are you afraid of ghosts knocking on the door? Knowing that you fear ghosts and gods, you should never have such harmful thoughts in the first place!
The hand hidden under the quilt of the Confucian University has been clenched into a fist, and the nails have even penetrated deeply into the palm, but he uses this sting to remind himself not to be easily angered by Zhu Tingfang. You know, last time
Zhu Tingfang blocked the door. If he hadn't been angered and his wife was frightened and made a big mistake, he wouldn't have been forced into such a passive situation.
After being silent for a long time, he asked in a hoarse voice: "So, Master Zhu must take the person away today?"
He thought he would hear an affirmative answer, but he didn't expect that the first thing he received was a laugh from Zhu Tingfang: "That's not necessarily true. My brother is now in a daze, as if he has really hit a ghost.
, I just took him back by force, and I didn’t even ask him what he was doing. I couldn’t explain clearly with all my words. But, Bachelor of Confucius, you have to show your attitude.”
Although Zhu Tingfang expressed that everything could be discussed, Scholar Kong was not relieved, but became even more vigilant. He was too lazy to test back and forth, and simply asked bluntly: "What is your attitude?"
"Of course it's...sincerity."
Zhu Tingfang, who had always been aloof, suddenly put on this gesture as if he was asking for a bribe. He also knew that as long as the Confucian scholar was not stupid enough, he would not be able to believe it. At that moment, he simply opened the tent that the Confucian scholar had just put down.
Came face to face with someone.
Seeing that Master Kong's face was innocent, his eyes were sullen, and his face was much thinner than the last time he saw him, as if he was really ill. He couldn't help but laugh: "If your brother's case becomes too big, what's wrong with you, Master Confucius?"
I’m afraid that Mr. Ge will inevitably learn from Mr. Jiang Ge. And if such a scum appears in the family, I’m afraid that the future of many younger generations will be implicated.”
Naturally, Academician Confucius couldn't bear such an explicit threat. He knew very well that in the officialdom, when faced with coercion or blackmail, the result of taking a step back would be to be forced to step back step by step, and in the end he would be more likely to fall into an abyss. Therefore,
Without even thinking about it, he sneered and said: "If that's true, the Kong family will be closed to study for three generations!"
Of course, this is an angry remark that seems to break a jar. The price of not serving as an official for three generations is devastating to any scholarly family committed to passing on the family name. What's more, this is not because of offending the emperor.
Or a powerful official was forced to live in seclusion at home, but it was because he gave birth to an unworthy son who ruined the family name.
But at present, the Confucian scholar can only use such a tough attitude to deal with Zhu Tingfang, because he knows that Zhu Tingfang's character is the same as Zhu Jing's, and he has learned the essence of Sun Tzu's art of war. As the saying goes, "It is as fast as the wind, as slow as the forest, and invades and plunders like fire.
"Unmoving like a mountain, unknowable like the shadows, moving like thunder." This is the kind of person he is talking about.
Therefore, he could only show his determination to defeat the enemy in a desperate attempt to show that he would never compromise.
Sure enough, under his own glare, Academician Zhu Tingfang just laughed and sat back leisurely: "So, Academician Kong doesn't think that as an elder brother and a cabinet minister, you
Should I comfort the families of the victims on your behalf? My colleague who innocently lost his son has passed away now, but he still has his daughter alive."
"As for those who were innocently deprived of their property, some are living a very difficult life now, and some are already struggling to revive their family business, but they are all struggling to survive. Should you help them, or use someone who is the instigator?
Family property as compensation?”
"Another example is those lawsuits that have been settled. Should they be reopened to give justice to the party who originally had the right?"
Academician Confucius understood immediately. What Zhu Tingfang meant was that the most serious sin of his clan brother, that is, hiring a murderer to kill a colleague's son, could be wiped out without others knowing, and the price was
It is necessary to "compensate the other party", but compared with the subsequent incidents, this compensation can be done quietly in private.
Of course, Mr. Kong Jiu will still be held accountable, but that will only be for seizing property and talking about favors. At least it will not give the Kong family an indelible reputation.
For Zhu Tingfang's obvious concession, Scholar Kong could not accept it with peace of mind, because he knew that Zhu Tingfang was not easy to talk to. He took a gentle breath, and then asked in a low voice: "You have said so much, then, what are the terms of exchange?
Woolen cloth?"
"The terms of exchange... are very simple." Zhu Tingfang smiled, and then said nonchalantly, "The day before yesterday, Grand Master Ge invited many people to gather at the house, and they were full of praise for Guangdong Chen Baisha. I heard that he was the former Imperial Concubine of the Qianji Temple.
He came to the capital on a wine recommendation, but his scheduled lecture at the Imperial College was disrupted, so I planned to invite him to give a lecture at the public school."
Seeing the face of Master Confucius, his face became very interesting indeed. It seemed that he had anticipated what he was going to say next. Zhu Tingfang said with a smile: "Of course my father plans to go see and listen to the people that Master Ge admires."
, the same is true for Duke Guo of Qin. As a highly respected cabinet minister, Scholar Confucius hopes to be able to attend."
This is undoubtedly Zhu Tingfang's exchange condition. At first glance, it seems to be simpler and less harsh than he expected. However, Bachelor of Confucius had been upset by this matter before, so he was not willing to give it like this at this time.
People to help out?
Zhang Shou seemed to have great reputations and even became the prince's teacher. However, Ge Yong was indeed respected by countless people in the scholar community, but this respect would not be passed on to Zhang Shou, because what Zhang Shou inherited was not
The title of Ge Yong's Qi Yuan Ji Di was not due to his talent in writing and poetry, but merely to arithmetic.
What's more, Ge Yong accepted disciples very casually, even if he was not interested in arithmetic. Therefore, among the important officials in the dynasty, in addition to Chen Shangshu of the Ministry of Revenue and Li Shaoqing of Dali Temple, the remaining few Gemen
The disciples are all local. Looking at this situation, no one from the Ge family will join the cabinet in the future. Not to mention Zhang Shou, even if he becomes the emperor's master, it will only be superficial.
However, the Chongren School is different. It is a very large group! Once Ge Yong's support is obtained, the meaning will be different. There are many heroes who come to study in an instant, and it will become a world-famous phenomenon in an instant.
from.
Academician Kong squirmed his lips, and a straightforward refusal was already on his lips, but in the end he just smiled and said: "Since Mrs. Ge wants to make the public school famous in this way, then if I refuse, wouldn't it be true?"
Too reserved? Yes, when Chen Xianzhang lectures at the public school, I will definitely go and support him."
But he secretly added in his heart: It's not just Chen Xianzhang, there are so many famous people who go to public schools to give lectures. I will pick a few people to support them all. I will even invite more people when some people give lectures.
Go and help out, otherwise, the goal you want will not be achieved!
Although this also means making the public school famous, after all, the public school is only a place for teaching. Those students may not stand out even after one and a half years, ten, eight or even more years. What does he have?
worried?
Is it possible that he still has to worry about those weak-legged sons who will be able to take the imperial examination after studying? With the public school's eclectic enrollment model, if the public school can produce two talents in ten years, then
It’s already amazing!
Outside the door, Mrs. Gu stopped her sister-in-law Zhao, who was in tears. It took a long time before she saw Zhu Tingfang come out of the house calmly. At this time, the two women, who were both very worried about their husbands, could no longer bear it.
After stopping, they all hurriedly rushed forward to greet him.
Before they could speak, Zhu Tingfang said lightly: "Since Master Kong has interceded and Mr. Kong Jiu is seriously ill, I will not take him back today. However, I hope he will be honest."
At home, after all, many lawsuits involve him. In the future, all these cases will be handed over to Shuntian Mansion, and Qin Guogong will be the one to administer justice."
Seeing Zhu Tingfang say these words and walk away, Mrs. Zhao's legs immediately went weak. If the girl beside her hadn't helped her in time, she almost sat down on the ground. When she woke up, she would have to show her kindness to Mrs. Gu.
Thank you, but I don’t know that this sister-in-law, who I have always respected, is feeling bitter at this time. This is obviously a compromise, and I don’t know how much the master has paid!