Zhao Huang, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, said: "I am ill and cannot bear the heavy responsibility."
Wang Yuan smiled and said: "Let's tell the truth."
Zhao Huang was silent for a few seconds and said bluntly: "I have an old relationship with the contemporary Yan Shenggong. I received a private message from him two days ago. I am in a dilemma and just become an official."
"Just such a small thing?" Wang Yuan asked.
Zhao Huang said: "The old man's health is indeed not good. If he doesn't return to his hometown as soon as possible, I'm afraid he won't be able to go back alive."
"It's such a pity." Wang Yuan couldn't force him to stay.
Zhao Huang couldn't help but said: "Since Yan Shenggong has entrusted me with something, I might as well convey it to you."
Wang Yuan smiled and said, "Just tell me."
Zhao Huang said: "Duke Yansheng wants to be in-laws with the king."
"His granddaughter?" Wang Yuan asked.
Zhao Huang nodded: "Exactly."
Wang Yuan sneered: "I'm afraid of staining the Wang family's family tradition."
The contemporary Yanshenggong was Li Dongyang's son-in-law, but Li Dongyang's daughter died within a few years of her marriage. The granddaughter of Yanshenggong was the granddaughter of Zhang Yanling, Marquis of Jianchang, who was also the distant cousin of the young emperor Zhu Zaiyi.
, the Kong family wanted to marry this granddaughter to Wang Yuan’s concubine.
This is the consistent practice of the Kong family. They like to marry the chief minister and their relatives.
Wang Yuan refused, and Zhao Huang did not try to persuade him. He was about to resign anyway.
Zhao Huang is one of the core members of the reformist group. He has been in charge of the Ministry of Industry for many years, and there has never been any trouble. The Ministry of Industry is running well in his hands. It is a pity that after all, he is old and not in good health. He can still survive in the capital.
In less than a few years.
Zhao Huang reminded: "Xiang Wang, after he retired from office, even if he asked Song Boqing (Song Cang) to be in charge of the seal of the Ministry of Industry, he could not recall Qin Guosheng (Qin Jin)."
"I understand." Wang Yuan nodded.
Qin Jin and Song Cang were both Yang Tinghe's party members.
Qin Jin was older, more qualified, and more prestigious. He had been minister in Nanjing for several years. Many veterans, including the royal party, requested that Qin Jin be recalled to Beijing.
Before Wang Yuan presided over the opening of the sea, Qin Jin had quietly "opened the sea" in Guangdong, allowing merchant ships from various countries to trade freely in Guangzhou Bay. But this person was by no means a true reformist!
In history, the Qin and Jin Dynasties were "two ministers in the five capitals, and nine ministers in three dynasties". His talents, knowledge and character were highly praised. However, this man was born in poverty, but he was able to build a big house in his hometown and embezzled more than a little money.
.His big house was named Qinyuan, which later became known as Jichang Garden as well as the Humble Administrator’s Garden.
Once Qin Jin is recalled to Beijing, with his qualifications and reputation, he will inevitably become the leader of the anti-reform faction.
In fact, Yao Rong and Qin Jin were already involved in Nanjing, and they often privately attacked Wang Yuan's reform policies. With the two as the core, an opposition group gradually formed in Nanjing, and a cultural association was formed to carry out counter-propaganda.
In the winter of this year, the cabinet ministers Wang Jun and Liao Ji, the Minister of War Li Chengxun, and the Minister of Industry Zhao Huang all retired from official positions and returned home due to health reasons.
Two cabinet ministers resigned, but Wang Yuan did not replace them. There were only five cabinet members left: Wang Yuan, Mao Ji, Wang Qiong, Wang Xian, and Wang Hong.
Ling Xiang, the left minister of the Ministry of War, was promoted to Minister of the Ministry of War.
Song Cang, the left minister of the Ministry of Industry, was in charge of the seal of the Ministry of Industry, and the position of minister was left to Zhang Cong.
Although Zhang Cong has just been promoted to the position of Inspector of Shandong, he is very old and has a high reputation. This reform of Confucius' memorial memorials has made the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty aware of his academic skills. Being promoted to the position of Minister of the Ministry of Industry is not a big deal.
.
The contemporary Yanshenggong Kong Wenshao secretly wrote to Zhao Huang, asking Zhao Huang to intercede with Wang Yuan.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Huang resigned and ran away!
The entire Qufu County, including Qufu Confucius Temple and Yanshenggong Mansion, was supervised by Zhao Huang. Zhao Huang had a very deep relationship with the Confucius family. It is not difficult to understand why Zhao Huang was so excited when the Confucius family's letter for help arrived.
Huang even resigned as minister.
Qufu Confucius Temple has been plagued by disasters. It was struck by lightning in the sixth year of Hongzhi's reign and burned to the ground. The imperial court allocated more than 150,000 taels of silver to rebuild it.
Only more than ten years later, Liu Liu and Liu Qi's rebel army came and not only burned the Confucius Temple, but also razed the Confucius family and the county town to the ground! This time, the county town, Confucius Mansion, and Confucius Temple were rebuilt together, with a total of ten repairs.
It was only completed in the year. Moreover, the imperial court only allocated more than 30,000 taels, and the rest had to be raised by local governments, which directly ruined the Yanzhou government's finances. The recruitment of forced labor forced countless people to live in ruins. The Kong family also took the opportunity to annex the land of these serving people.
The Kong family had only moved into the Yanshenggong Mansion that Zhang Cong was facing for ten years, and it was far more grand and grand than the old house before.
Shandong has had a bumper harvest for two consecutive years, but along the way Zhang Cong traveled, there were actually poor people in Yanzhou, braving the severe cold in winter and heading to the eastern coast to beg for food.
Especially when approaching Qufu, Zhang Cong saw a refugee team of hundreds of people. Zhang Cong, not wearing official uniform, stopped an old man and asked, "Did my father-in-law's family suffer a disaster?"
The old man did not dare to answer.
Zhang Cong quietly stuffed the money over and said in a low voice: "Don't be afraid, old man. I am the censor sent by the imperial court to thoroughly investigate corrupt officials, the vassal king and the Kong family's illegal activities."
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The old man held the money and finally boldly replied: "There is no disaster at home. I am running away from the army. After the New Year, we will sacrifice to Nishan Academy, Zhusi Academy and Zisi Academy, and then there will be a big sacrifice to Confucius. There will be a sacrifice."
One after another, the largest number of slave laborers was recruited in Yanzhou. The whole family of the grassroots was suddenly designated as a slave laborer this winter. The government said that there was no need to send a slave laborer, and it was enough to hand over two taels of silver as a slave laborer. But in the cold winter, there were no slaves.
Where can I get two taels of silver at home? The whole family of grassroots people has not yet repaid the loan they owe the Kong family."
The Kong family would not do such dirty things personally, nor would they look down upon those few servants. Most of them would be the assistant officials and yamen servants in the county who would do the looting in the name of offering sacrifices.
Zhang Cong suppressed his anger and said: "The Kong family still lends money at usury?"
The old man said: "It's not Duke Yan who lends money, it's a branch of the Confucius family. The descendants of Saint Kong are kind and don't force me to wait for the common people. King Nalu is cruel and often forces people to borrow money. It's impossible for the common people to live in Yanzhou."
I’m thinking of taking my family to Denglai to try my luck. Denglai has a port and is very wealthy, so it’s more convenient to beg for food.”
The so-called forcing people to borrow money is something that powerful people often do. Even if you have money, you are forced to borrow money at usurious rates, and you are not allowed to repay it early.
Where there are forced loans, there are forced borrowings.
For example, a powerful person targets a rich man and insists on coming to borrow a hundred taels of silver. After you borrow it, you can pay it back without asking him to repay it. If you dare to come to collect the debt, he will immediately arrest you and beat you until you tear up the IOU.
, create another IOU, and instead you owe those powerful men hundreds of taels of silver.
"Zhang Cong, the Chief Envoy of Shandong Province, is here to visit!" Zhang Cong handed over the greeting card.
The doorman was polite and said with a smile: "Please wait a moment."
Zhang Cong was invited into the drawing room and waited for tea. Finally, someone came who could talk. But it was not Kong Wenshao, the Duke of Yansheng, but his younger brother Kong Wenli.
Kong Wenli was a doctor of the Five Classics of the Hanlin Academy. He was responsible for offering sacrifices to Zisi. It was this person who started offering sacrifices to Zisi, the younger brother of Duke Yan Shenggong. He had a wide robe and long sleeves, and was graceful and polite. He bowed and said: "I'm here, Kong Wenli. I've seen Zhang
Press the stage!”
The inspector came to the door in person, but still couldn't see Yan Shenggong?
Zhang Cong became more and more angry and forced a smile to say: "I have met Dr. Kong and I have admired his name for a long time."
Kong Wenli smiled smartly and said: "Please have some tea."
Zhang Cong was too lazy to beat around the bush and said: "The prefect of Jinan cleared thousands of acres of land on the outskirts of Licheng County. They all said that this was the property of the Confucius. Prefect Nie Bao did not dare to neglect and came to Qufu in person to seek confirmation, but he could not see it.
To the Kong clan. Therefore, I can only visit in person and ask the Kong family to produce the relevant land deeds and tax stamps."
Kong Wenli looked surprised: "Does the Kong family also have land in Licheng County? That must be the property of a branch of the Kong family."
Zhang Cong asked: "I wonder which side branch it is?"
Kong Wenli said: "This... I'm going to inquire about it."
Zhang Cong asked: "When can I ask clearly?"
Kong Wenli said: "It's hard to say. The Kong family has luxuriant branches and leaves. We should inquire carefully."
Zhang Cong stood up: "In that case, I will ask Magistrate Nie to take the land back to the government first and wait for the Kong family to claim it. If no one claims it, it will be an ownerless land. If someone claims it, it will be without the land deed and the land."
Even if you bring the land deed and the deed, if you cannot issue a tax stamp, you still have to pay the tax when the property is transferred!"
Kong Wenli opened his mouth, but stopped talking.
Zhang Cong asked: "Dr. Kong, what else can you say?"
Kong Wenli's mind was spinning, and he suddenly laughed and said: "Even if the Kong family has farmland in Licheng County, it is certainly not as large as a few thousand acres. Most of the acres in Licheng County belong to King De. It is possible that the officials of Qingtian made a mistake.
"
In order to avoid clearing the land, King De passed the property to the Kong family, but it was not really resold.
Instead, they relied on the influence of the Kong family to scare off the civil servants in Qingtian. During this period, King De paid some remuneration to the Kong family.
Seeing that the name of the Kong family could not suppress Zhang Cong and Nie Bao at all, Kong Wenli immediately sold King De, saying that the Kong family did not want to wade into this muddy water.
Zhang Cong sneered: "That's it, excuse me, take my leave!"
Kong Wenli enthusiastically persuaded him to stay: "Zhang Yuntai is a master of etiquette. Since I am called 'Wenli', I should ask for advice. Why not, how many more days can Zhang Yuntai stay in Duke Yansheng's mansion?"
Zhang Cong suddenly smiled brightly: "That's so good, I won't be polite!"
"Uh..." Kong Wenli was embarrassed and speechless.
I just casually said a treat, and you just sat down and ordered?
In the next few days, Zhang Cong spent time discussing knowledge with Kong Wenli.
As a doctor of the Five Classics of the Hanlin Academy, Kong Wenli knew the four books by heart, but he only knew one of the Five Classics, the Book of Songs. He discussed academic matters in front of Zhang Cong, just like an undergraduate facing an academician, and he really only had the role of "asking for advice"
Son.,
On the fifth day of asking for advice, Kong Wenli suddenly said: "Mr. Yan Shenggong has a granddaughter who is close to the hairpin and has never been married. I heard that if Wangge Lao has a prosperous heir, it is better to marry Qin and Jin. As for Wang Xiang, it is okay to have a son from a concubine.
, with the status of a king and a heavenly being, the concubine will not disgrace the Confucius family by giving birth to a son."
Zhang Cong was furious: "I am an official of the imperial court, not that nine-tier matchmaker. Why are the Confucius family so ungrateful? It is simply a disgrace to politeness and an insult to the name of Confucius!"
Kong Wenli quickly lowered his head to apologize, his old face flushed with embarrassment.
Suddenly, another guy came in, but it was his younger brother Kong Wenyin. Kong Wenyin whispered a few words in Kong Wenli's ear, and Kong Wenli suddenly changed his face, hurriedly said goodbye to Zhang Cong, and ran to see the eunuch who came from Beijing to deliver the order.
With a smile on his face, Zhang Cong slowly left the Confucius Mansion and gathered the people he brought with him from the inn.
The emperor has decreed that statues of Confucius should be demolished across the country, and from now on only statues of Confucius are allowed to be enshrined and worshiped.
During the three days of fasting and bathing, the Confucius family received the imperial edict, and Zhang Cong led his men to the Confucius Temple. He wanted to personally destroy the statue of Confucius in the Confucius Temple in Qufu.