Not to mention that Jia Ke was preparing to give some hints to the visiting students, and there were several people plotting in a house not far from the city wall.
These people are all dignitaries, but now they live in a small courtyard.
In a dark room, four or five people were sitting in the dark.
One of them had an old voice, "Everyone, everyone has clearly seen Jia Ke's words and deeds during this period, and we can't delay it any longer."
Another middle-aged man's voice said: "Even so, we are weak after all, and we don't have the military power to control. If the trouble goes too far, we will be found out, but the whole family will be implicated."
When he said this, several other people began to agree, "Yes, I'm not sure yet. Let's talk about it after a while."
The old man in the middle was furious when he heard that the people below them began to repent, "What are you talking about? The country has been raising scholars for nearly a hundred years, isn't it just for today?"
"My lord, what you said is wrong. What time is it now? The sky is about to change, and you are still here talking to me about how to support the dynasty."
Then another person said: "Even if we are making a fuss, we can't hurt Jia Ke in the slightest, and we will involve ourselves in it in the future. What is the reason for this?"
The other people also agreed very much, and together they began to denounce the old man sitting in the middle.
The old man sitting in the middle, after listening to their denunciations, knew that it would be impossible to sway these people based on righteousness alone, so he changed the subject and said: "Jia Ke is now monopolizing Chao Gang. Youdao is the only one."
As an emperor and a courtier, I wonder if you have ever thought about your status in the future."
The few people looked at each other, and finally looked at the old man in the middle with disdain and said: "Even if Jia Ke wins the world, he still needs support from us people. And are we being reused now? The emperor didn't give it without even seeing it.
What rights do we have?"
After hearing this, the old man in the middle took a long breath, knowing that there was nothing he could do this time, so he spoke again: "In that case, let's do our own thing, but I hope you can rest easy."
Don't be impatient. Wait until this matter is over before you report me."
It turned out that the old man in the middle had noticed that the others had given up, and that one or two of them had ulterior motives. He could not save his life this time.
The others looked at each other, then nodded and stopped talking.
There was only one who remained silent, but there was a ghostly light in his eyes.
The next few days seemed to be peaceful on the surface, but there was a turmoil in the Imperial College. Many professors of the Imperial College were secretly in contact with the radical elements among the students.
The actions of these students had long been noticed by Li Shouzhong, the Imperial Academy's Jijiu. Originally, he and Jia Ke were natural allies because his daughter married into the Rongguo Mansion.
But in this matter, Li Shouzhong could not side with Jia Ke, because Jia Ke's reputation was already bad among the scholars. If he openly spoke for Jia Ke, he would be despised by the scholars all over the world.
Therefore, although Li Shouzhong was offering wine, he was very aware of what was going on, but did not interfere in any way.
Three days later, Jia Ke and his courtiers were worshiping the Supreme Emperor.
Li Deshan, as Jia Ke's personal eunuch, was guarding outside the palace. Suddenly a young eunuch broke in from outside, came to Li Deshan and whispered a few words.
After hearing this, Li Deshan sneered on his face, then waved his hand to make the little eunuch retreat.
After a long while, Jia Ke led everyone out of the main hall of Qianqing Palace where the Supreme Emperor's Palace was located.
When Li Deshan saw Jia Ke coming out, he quickly took a few steps forward and came to his side, and said softly: "Master, the students are already making noise outside the Meridian Gate."
As Jia Ke walked forward, he asked expressionlessly: "Who is the leader, so bold?"
Li Deshan said softly: "Returning to the master, it's Zhang Wei, the director of the Imperial College."
Jia Ke frowned when he heard this. He thought it was a big fish, but he didn't expect it to be a useless fish.
When Li Deshan saw Jia Ke's appearance, he understood that Jia Ke did not take this person seriously, so he quickly and quietly reminded: "Master, this person is not simple."
Jia Ke was a little surprised after hearing this. He was still working as a clerk in the Imperial College at such an old age. He originally thought he was an incompetent corrupt scholar, but after hearing what Li Deshan said, he must have some background.
"Master, this man can be considered a great Confucian, and has some reputation among Confucian scholars in the world. Moreover, his family is considered a wealthy family in Jiangnan. He is connected with many businessmen and his strength is not small."
Jia Ke didn't say anything after hearing this, but just walked forward silently. Suddenly he asked: "Does this Zhang Wei have anything to do with the Zhen family in Jiangnan?"
"My master is indeed very discerning. This old man's daughter is married to the second brother of the current head of the Zhen family."
After hearing this, Jia Ke sneered, "Let me tell you, no one else has such courage except his family."
What Jia Ke is thinking now is that the Zhen family is so powerful in Jiangnan that it can almost be said to control the economy of Jiangnan. Now that I have just taken power, he has jumped out to make trouble, probably because he wants to compete with me.
In Jia Ke's view, the Zhen family is not satisfied with their current status and wants to further enter the court and then divide their rights with themselves in the center.
"Did Li Shouzhong, who offered wine at the Imperial Academy, report the matter in the Imperial Academy to the court?"
"Returning to the master, I have never heard anything reported to the court by Mr. Li."
Jia Ke was silent for a long time after hearing this. It seemed that he was already notorious among scholars, and even his relatives did not dare to have anything to do with him.
But this is only temporary. When one day he really takes charge of the world, these people will only sing praises for themselves in order to become officials. Isn't this what these literati have done in all dynasties and after dynasties change?
"Master, what should I do with the imperial students outside?"
Jia Ke thought for a while, each of these imperial students has a gentry behind them. If they are all dealt with at once, I am afraid that the families below will cause trouble. Although Jia Ke is not afraid, he still has to clean up the mess. Take some effort.
So Jia Ke ordered: "Send someone to tell these imperial students that if you retreat now, forget about it. Remember, if you continue to cause trouble, you will be deprived of your honors."
"Master, I'm afraid it won't have much effect. Quite a few of these college students are stupid."
"Since ancient times, people should be polite before fighting. If they don't listen to the advice, they will be taken together and sent to the Ministry of Punishment to listen and then punish them."
After hearing this, Li Deshan quickly said: "I will obey my master's orders, but how should I punish Zhang Wei?"
Jia Ke thought for a while, the Zhen family in Jiangnan would have to eradicate it sooner or later, so there was nothing wrong with offending them now.
"There is no need to ask. The offender will be punished for committing chaos. He will be kept in jail and awaiting his punishment."
Li Deshan received Jia Ke's order, bowed and saluted Jia Ke, and then retreated.
Jia Ke went straight to the Yangxin Hall as if nothing had happened. There were still many things to deal with today, but there was no time to delay.
Besides, Li Deshan took Jia Ke's advice and brought a dozen eunuchs to the gate of Wuchao.
As soon as he arrived at the door, he heard thunderous shouts from outside. Li Deshan frowned, and then led the people to the village gate as if nothing had happened. He saw one or two thousand scholars standing outside the door, and then an old man with white hair and beard was standing outside.
Slogans were shouted there, and others kept echoing them.
"Return power to the emperor and punish the traitors."
"When Jia Ke goes to the countryside, the world will be at peace."
Seeing this, Li Deshan felt angry and evil in his heart.
So he ordered his subordinates to shout: "Gong Yan, the Prime Minister has ordered that if all the visiting students return to the Imperial College to continue their studies, they will be forgiven. If they persist in their studies, they will all be deprived of their honors and honors, and will be imprisoned and punished."
Originally, the imperial students who were outside were just relying on the strength of their numbers, and they were all famous, so the court did not dare to do anything to them, so they followed the crowd and came to the Meridian Gate.
Now when they hear the eunuchs shouting like this, some of them feel guilty. This fame is hard-won. Not only did the family spend a lot of money, but they also worked hard for a long time after waking up at midnight and crawling through the night.
If all their previous efforts are wasted because of this incident, the elders in the family will not beat them to death when they return home.
There were a few smart people who looked around and quietly withdrew from the team.
For things like this, as long as one person deserts, the others will follow suit. After all, everyone wants to avoid disaster and get good luck.
So soon these imperial students left in groups of twos and threes, calling for friends. In the end, three to four hundred people were left behind.
These people either belonged to Lang Touqing, who thought they wanted to practice the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, or the real central emperor.
Then there are the protégés of Zhang Wei, the director of the Imperial College, especially these people who cannot quit even if they beat the drum, because once they quit, their reputation will be ruined.
From now on, there will be no way to mix in the Shilin, and the family will be humiliated, so now I can only bite the bullet and follow Zhang Wei, hoping that the big issues in the court will be reduced to trivial matters.
When Zhang Wei saw that there were only a few hundred people left in the end, he was so angry that his white beard was beating and he kept sighing, "As the world becomes more and more popular, people have forgotten the ways of Confucius and Mencius."
Seeing this scene, the smile on Li Deshan's face never diminished. These scholars are indeed very nutritious, but there are some dangers, and they can hide faster than anyone else.
"Mr. Zhang, who led these college students to make noise at the Meridian Gate, doesn't it mean he doesn't know the king's law?"
Zhang Wei was furious at the eunuch in front of him, "Huh, who doesn't know the king's law? Who is the traitor to the chaotic dynasty? I'm afraid you know better than me."
"Old sir, this is your fault. Before the Emperor's body was cold, you encouraged the students to cause rebellion at the Meridian Gate. Could it be that all the teachings of Confucius and Mencius over the years have been read into the dog's belly?"
After listening to Li Deshan's words, Zhang Wei had a sneer on his face, "You, a castrated dog, also know the way of Confucius and Mencius? Today I will tell you what it means to be benevolent and to be righteous."