Wanli Xinming

Chapter 424 Southern Tour ()

After the government meeting, Kong Shangxian's forehead lawsuit was all caused by money. After returning to the study and sighing for a long time, I had no choice but to condescend and write a handwritten note asking for help from Kong Zhenjiao, the magistrate of the old city, which said:

"In order to take over the mission, I respectfully allow the Holy Spirit to tour the south. Our tribe has received the country's favor in this world, and we should be blessed by him. Previously, there was a list of people living in the county who were willing to pay taxes and other duties in the government office, which was less than one-tenth of the previous years. My clan has consecrated Hanru, and has been blessed for many generations. To be a saint for a thousand years, and not think of repaying him even a little bit, is to have no idea of ​​the great significance of honoring the king and being close to my superior, which is extremely inappropriate."

"Although I don't want to disturb the people, I can't repay you very much to show our sincerity of love and gratitude. Now I want to persuade the people and tenants to donate some materials, including carriages and horses, troughs, guillotines, pot mouths, jars and basins, etc. In addition, the labor required to level the imperial road is not affordable. I would like to ask your county to urge you to pay Leshu. If there are those who are stubborn and disrespectful, please name them and ask your county to send you to help with the payment, etc."

This official document didn't look like an official document, and the letter didn't look like a letter. When something like a letter came into the hands of Kong Zhenjiao, County Magistrate Kong vomited it out in anger. He sneered and said: "This old guy can be considered a mastermind in our hands."

The pick-up was a big matter. Although Kong Zhenjiao did not intend to follow Kong Shangxian's method, he did not make any trouble on this matter. After receiving the letter begging for mercy from Duke Yan Sheng, he laughed three times and felt very comfortable. He asked a group of merchants to donate money and collected all the business taxes for the next three years.

In the end, the old and new cities each shared half of the money, and more than 23,000 taels of silver were collected to decorate the old and new cities beautifully. It was more than enough to entertain the emperor's family and accompany the ministers.

On April 13, the sixteenth year of Wanli, the Holy Master arrived at Queli. After Duke Yansheng followed the emperor, he recorded the rituals and drove, not to mention the grand ceremony and worship.

After the answer was finished, the emperor and the prince got out of the car, helped Kong Shangxian with his own hands, and said: "I'd better take a few steps in front of the saint's court."

Duke Yansheng repeatedly said that he did not dare, and asked the emperor to take the chariot and go straight to the second gate. Wang Xijue, the Minister of Rites who accompanied him, laughed and said, "You don't have to be like this, Mr. Yansheng. Your Majesty respects saints, not your family." Kong Shangxian didn't stop him.

When he arrived at the gate, the emperor looked at the word "Holy Palace" written in Yan Song's handwriting and smiled: "Yan Fenyi's calligraphy is still very good."

Kong Shangxian's face showed embarrassment and he replied: "What your Majesty said is that the eldest daughter of the guilty minister Yan Shifan is my humble concubine. When Yan Song's crimes were not obvious, he had good relations with his ancestors and father. Although his family was ruined. But I can’t”

Zhu Yijun originally just made a casual joke and listened to his rambling explanation, but he stood still and listened quietly.

Seeing that Yan Shenggong was getting more and more embarrassed as he spoke, Wang Xijue hurriedly said with gentle cheeks: "Your Majesty, the mother of Yan Shenggong, Zhang, is the daughter of the former Marquis of Jianchang. The Marquis of Jianchang was imprisoned by Emperor Shizong and asked to die. Old Yan Shenggong kept his promise. Marrying someone is considered a good news at that time."

Kong Shangxian listened to Wang Xijue's good words about his parents and hurriedly bowed to express respect and gratitude to him. Seeing that the conversation had ended, Zhu Yijun smiled and walked into the door.

After briefly looking at the bonsai flowers placed in the front yard, Yan Shenggong guided the emperor into the second gate. The plaque on the second gate reads "Sage's Gate", but it is handwritten by Li Dongyang, the chief minister of the Hongzhi and Zhengde dynasties.

Zhu Yijun smiled and said: "This plaque is still written by the chief assistant, but is it also a relative of the Duke's family?" This time, even Wang Xijue became embarrassed and laughed dryly on the side: "The emperor is the most sage."

Duke Yansheng, who was nearly fifty years old, felt that the emperor seemed to be connoting the Kong family. Because of the hot weather, his face couldn't help but turn red and his forehead was covered with beads of sweat.

Everyone entered the second gate and saw an exquisite gate standing alone in the courtyard with no walls on the left and right. This is the "Saimen" unique to Yuguotongxiu's family, also called "Yimen".

At this time, there are flowers on the left and right of the Yimen, setting off the most regulated gate of the Confucius Mansion, which is useless but rich and elegant. When Zhu Yijun looked up, he saw a plaque on the door that read, "Gifts give great light".

Kong Shangxian wiped his sweat and then introduced: "In the second year of Jiajing, Emperor Shizong granted him the name Chongguang, and he rebuilt the ritual gate to show his ministers' respect for God's grace." This was a small tribute to the emperor's connotation.

Afraid that the emperor would be really angry, Kong Shangxian raised his eyes to peek at the holy face, only to see the emperor staring at the ritual gate and wandering away, not knowing what he was thinking. Kong Shangxian was so frightened that his heart tightened, for fear that the emperor would be angry.

Zhu Yijun was distracted at this moment, but it had nothing to do with Kong Shangxian. Because he had seen this ritual gate in his previous life - at that time, he was not qualified to ask the local cultural and tourism department to open this gate and walk around. At this moment, seeing the closed door open, my heart turned over and over again, not knowing what it was like. While he was distracted, Wang Xijue, the best admirer, hurriedly picked up Yan Shenggong's topic and said: "Liu Liu Liu and Liu Qi's sins are not small, but it is not an exaggeration that Emperor Shizong attaches so much importance to your house's reconstruction."

Duke Yansheng didn't dare to say anything, so he nodded in agreement.

After the visit, Zhu Yijun moved into the palace prepared by Duke Yan Sheng - the Kong family's large villa on the edge of the ancient Panchi. The queen and others had been waiting here for a long time.

After dinner, Empress Zhuang saw that the emperor seemed to be taciturn, so she gossiped: "The expenses in the Confucius mansion are extremely luxurious, and the furniture and utensils are all extraordinary - at least the utensils from the Song and Yuan Dynasties are everywhere."

When Zhu Yijun heard this, he sighed: "This is the best family in the world. Since ancient times, there have been many dynasty changes, and there are also families that have been ups and downs. This is the only family that has lived together forever. Even the emperor does not dare to treat it lightly - maybe only one person can do it." However, I am far behind."

Empress Zhuang asked curiously: "I don't know this person?"

Zhu Yijun smiled and sighed: "You don't know this person." He paused and said, "You have never entered Confucius's house today. There is a monument of Taizu's commandments in the second door of his house. It is very interesting. It is the memorial tablet of Taizu after he became emperor. A dialogue between the fifty-fifth generation Yan Shenggong."

Seeing the curiosity on Empress Zhuang's face, Zhu Yijun smiled and told the inscription: "On November 14, the first year of Hongwu, the minister Kong Kejian went to the palace to present the imperial edict in front of all the officials. 'Old scholar, come here, how old are you?' Yes." Said: 'I am fifty-three years old.'"

Seeing the smile on Empress Zhuang's face, Zhu Yijun also smiled and said: "Yes, Taizu called Yan Shenggong 'Old Scholar', which also means approachable." Then he repeated:

"It said: 'I think you are a blessed and happy person, and I don't entrust you with any tasks. You often write books with your children. I think you are also kind-hearted and a married man. Your ancestors left behind three cardinal principles and five permanent principles that will last forever. Dharma. If your family doesn't study, it means you don't abide by the laws of your ancestors. How can you get ahead? You always write books to teach others, so don't be lazy. In my dynasty, how about having another good person in your family?'"

When Empress Zhuang heard this, she commented: "Taizu said that the relationship with him can be considered sincere." Zhu Yijun heard this and said with a smile, "Please wait and comment, there will be more later."

"On the 20th, I played under the corridor at the west end of the Jinshen Hall: "Those who have entered the palace in Qufu, please go back. I will prepare a detailed description of the imperial edict issued by the Lord on the 14th before leaving." The superior said happily: " With him, eat less wine and read more books. 'Qianyan Shenggongguozi offered wine to Kejian."

Empress Zhuang said with a smile: "'Eat less wine, read more', and there is a hint of knocking in it."

Zhu Yijun said: "Exactly. When Taizu first proclaimed himself emperor, he ordered Kong Kejian to go to Yingtian for an audience. Kejian thought that the world was undecided and the outcome was not yet known, so he complained of illness first and sent his son to Yingtian. Taizu was furious. The edict was issued saying, "Although I am from the common people, the ancients who proclaimed themselves emperors from the people are also the ancestors of the Han Dynasty. I have an illness, but I don't know whether it is true. If you call it an illness, you are slowing me down." After receiving the edict, Kong Kejian traveled day and night to Yingying. sky."

Empress Zhuang heard the emperor's ridicule towards the Confucius family, covered her mouth and said with a smile: "It turns out that his family members are just wallflowers and cheap people."

Zhu Yijun said sternly: "Yes, every time this family changes dynasties, they revise their surrender list very quickly. It's just because of the saint's legacy that all dynasties and generations have favored them. For such a mascot, it's like tofu falls into the ashes. It’s difficult to handle here.”

Queen Zhuang frowned and thought for a while, then she could only smile. Zhu Yijun recalled that before his rebirth, he learned about the various traitorous acts committed by Confucius' descendants in collaboration with the Japanese, and sighed: "Confucius taught Chinese people to be loyal and patriotic, but the behavior of his descendants during the Jin and Yuan dynasties was full of ugliness."

Empress Zhuang thought for a moment and said, "It is indeed difficult for the emperor to 'respect Confucius'."

Zhu Yijun raised his eyebrows when he heard this, and sneered: "I want to respect Confucius, but what does it have to do with the Confucius family? Let's wait until we pay homage to Confucius Temple the day after tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)