The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 323
Zhang Zhou talked about how to gain a foothold in front of Lin Han.

This is what annoys Lin Han, even if you and I will be Weng's son-in-law soon, and even my promotion depends on you, but you just told me directly that you want to treat Xiao Jing as an enemy, and even influence the court. You are preparing to kill yourself, and you are preparing to make me completely treat you as a traitor.

"Humph."

Lin Han snorted softly, almost scoffing at Zhang Zhou's words.

Zhang Zhou seemed to disagree and said: "I'm afraid it's hard for people to agree with what I'm doing in the court today."

Lin Han said: "Then you shouldn't be on the opposite side with Chaozhong Qingliu."

Don't think that Lin Han looks down on Zhang Zhou, but he is not the kind of person who wants to break up with Zhang Zhou directly. Even if he has already judged Zhang Zhou as a "close sycophant" in his heart, as an educator, he The first idea is to bring my future son-in-law to the "right path".

What else?

Push the daughter into the fire pit, and the two families will have no contact with each other since then?Doesn't that mean that I won't even see my daughter's face in the future?
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "For others, there are many friends in the DPRK and China, and there are many paths, but in my opinion, it is only with multiple political enemies in the DPRK and China that we can face the wind and rain, otherwise it will be really difficult."

Lin Han frowned.

He probably understands that Zhang Zhou has no political enemies, and he has to face the difficulties to create political enemies... But the problem is that Zhang Zhou is all enemies in the government and the opposition, so he still has to find enemies for himself?

Xiao Jing treats you politely, yet you classify him as a dissident?Just for trouble?Is this called being born in sorrow and dying in peace?
Lin Han thought to himself, it seems that you are just looking for trouble when you have nothing to do.

Just as he was talking, Xiao Jing greeted the two of them from a distance.

Zhang Zhou greeted him, changed what he had said to Lin Han before, that he would treat Xiao Jing as a political enemy in the future, as if the two were close, and said politely, "Eunuch Xiao, we're done talking, is there something wrong?"

Xiao Jing said: "That's right. Your Majesty just ordered you to deal with the matter of the Kong family. Earlier, Duke Yan Sheng also wanted to see you, but Dongchang blocked you. Now there are different opinions about the arson of Xuansheng Temple. You need to come out and preside over the situation."

Lin Han was listening, frowning and said, "Is it his turn to deal with such matters?"

Xiao Jing said with a smile: "Mr. Lin, please forgive me. It has nothing to do with Mr. Zhang. However, Mr. Zhang was the first to warn of this matter. Outsiders will also suspect that some of them want to set fire to blame the Kong family. Mr. Zhang will come out." Reconciliation is also the best."

Originally, Lin Han, as a literati, naturally resisted the court's request to investigate the Kong family.

But when he heard that the emperor asked Zhang Zhou to reconcile on his behalf, he just nodded and stopped talking.

……

……

After watching the yard.

Lin Han had no choice but to go back and prepare to move.

Xiao Jing said to Zhang Zhou: "Your Majesty has something to say first, as long as there is nothing wrong with Mr. Lin's palm, the yard will be transferred to his name in the future. From now on, he will live in the capital. His Majesty will not transfer him to other places for the time being. He will treat you the same in the future." kind of help."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding." Zhang Zhou sighed.

Xiao Jing smiled and said: "Your Majesty's trust in you is really increasing day by day, but I heard that you have submitted a memorial to Your Majesty earlier, but I don't know... what are you talking about?"

After Zhang Zhou arrived in Beijing, he gave Zhu Youtang a secret performance in his private capacity, not to mention the Guanbai cabinet, and even the supervisor of rituals didn't know what it said.

Because it seems that this performance does not need to be reviewed by the emperor at all.

When Xiao Jing and others thought about it, it was probably Zhang Zhou's prophecy about what was about to happen in the future. At least after the emperor read it, it was "Longyan Joy".

Zhang Zhoudao: "Others doubted my ability to manage the affairs of the Ministry, so I made a report, made a bold prediction on the future personnel arrangements of the court, and also wanted to see if I could communicate with the Ministry of Officials. Is there any coincidence between the election and the results of the imperial court's deliberations?"

"Ah? That's...that's it?"

Xiao Jing thought it was a big event, but this time it had nothing to do with the prediction of the battle situation?Or an advance insight into natural and man-made disasters?

Just to prove that you have such a good vision that you can even hit the officials recommended by the Ministry of Officials and the court in advance?
Zhang Zhou sighed: "Your Majesty has too high expectations of me, and always wants to ask something earth-shattering from me, but you know that I am only a courtier of Daming, and this spying on secrets is often something that can be encountered but not sought."

"Ha ha."

Xiao Jing is smiling wryly.

Zhang Zhou asked, "Are you going to see Lord Yan Sheng today, or the former Sheng Sheng?"

"You choose yourself. If it's convenient for you, you can meet both of them." Xiao Jing said, "In His Majesty's opinion, you predicted earlier that the arson of Xuansheng Temple has achieved the desired effect, and it's time for a major event Turn the little things into nothing."

Zhang Zhou pretended to be puzzled and asked, "What expectation?"

Xiao Jing smiled, but didn't answer.

He was also thinking, why are you pretending to be stupid, a smart person?The expectation is of course to suppress the prestige of the Confucian family, and by the way, reverse the Confucian family's internal decision that Kong Hongxu's son, Kong Wenshao, will succeed him.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Scholar Cheng, Shilang Lin and others gave a memorandum, proposing to change the rules of title succession, especially the succession rights of the heirs of those who have been deprived of titles due to crimes. Is that what they said?"

"Yes." Xiao Jing nodded.

Zhang Zhou sighed: "It's a pity, the two brothers of the Kong family can't pick a third person, so they have to inherit from the side branch? Or... let's choose some other adoptive heir for the present Duke Yansheng?" ?”

Xiao Jing didn't know how to answer for a while.

Regarding the issue of the inheritance of the Kong family, not to mention that he is now just the eunuch who is the supervisor of ceremonies and holds the pen, even if he becomes the eunuch of the palm seal, or the emperor, there are still great constraints in determining the order of his inheritance.

What Confucianism emphasizes most is etiquette, and the Confucian family should take this as an example. The matter of the Confucian family's succession is likely to become a model for the Ming Dynasty in the future.

Kong Hongxu was confiscated for his crimes, but the problem is that Kong Hongxu’s father, Kong Chengqing, only had two sons, and Kong Hongtai lost his father when he was born in July. As the eldest son of the Kong family, the relationship between the two brothers can be said to be very close Well, even though Yan Shenggong has fallen to Kong Hongtai, Kong Hongxu, the eldest brother, basically decides all matters of the Kong family.

It is precisely because the title is gone, but since the elder brother is the father, Kong Hongxu has the power to act arbitrarily. In addition, he has many sons. In the eyes of outsiders, no matter how much crime Kong Hongxu commits, as long as Kong Hongtai has no sons, the title still remains. Pass it to Kong Hongxu, otherwise the title will fall to the side.

Zhang Zhoudao: "That is to say, even His Majesty has not made a decision?"

"Yes."

Xiao Jing nodded, "Actually, how do you look at it, it seems that... this Yan Shenggong has to... Sigh! It's good to achieve the goal, some things still have to go with the flow."

Zhang Zhou wanted to say, why is it called letting nature take its course?

Kong Hongxu couldn't inherit the title, so he must give it to his son?Even if it is too late for Kong Hongtai to have another son, it is not impossible to give him an adoptive past. Who said that the stepson must be chosen from among Kong Hongxu's sons?
After the rules are set, isn't the initiative all on the emperor's side?
At that time, whoever the emperor asked you to adopt as the heir will be who?
……

……

Jinyiwei North Town Fusi.

Xiao Jing, the owner of Dongchang, came in person and brought Zhang Zhou with him, which made the Fusi people in Beizhen very nervous. Mou Bin, the commander of Jinyiwei, came out to greet them in person, and led them to the flower hall.

"Mr. Zhang and Eunuch Xiao, under the emperor's order, guarded Kong, the eldest son of the Kong family. Come to see me, and let them all go."

Kong Hongxu seems to be in prison, but he is actually on vacation.

Xiao Jing asked: "Where is the person who set the fire?"

Mou Bin said: "I have committed suicide in fear of crime."

Xiao Jing smiled wryly, then looked at Zhang Zhou, and said: "That means death has no proof?"

"This...you can say that." Mou Bin said, "But this person is Kong's servant, and he has worked in front of Kong for many years. If there is no connection between the two, it is not enough to convince the world."

It means that even if the person is dead, but the person is the person around Kong Hongxu, it is actually obvious whether he was appointed by Kong Hongxu or not.

If it is forced to say that there is no connection between the two, unless it is to treat the people of the world as fools.

Zhang Zhou said: "That's easy to say, isn't it enough to notify the Ministry of Punishment of the result?"

Xiao Jing was afraid that Zhang Zhou didn't understand the rules of Dongchang and Jinyiwei's trials, and he was also afraid that Zhang Zhou didn't understand the details of the connection between the prison case and the Sanju Department. He explained: "Unless there is a confession from the former Shenggong Otherwise, neither the Ministry of Criminal Justice nor the Dali Temple will be able to continue to investigate. This case may have to be left alone."

Xiao Jing had never been so cramped before anyone fell into the hands of Dongchang and Jin Yiwei.

Because Dongchang and Jinyiwei have ten thousand ways to make the other party submit, even if they do nothing, it can become an iron case.

But the problem is, it was Kong Hongxu who came here this time, and he couldn't beat him, and he couldn't even frighten him. How can he be convicted without witnesses and Kong Hongxu's confession?

The case fell to the Sanju Division, but the result was nothing but nothing.

Because the officials of the Sanfa Division are all civil servants, even Dongchang and Jinyiwei dare not use torture, let alone know how to use torture, so this case is a mess.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "In my opinion, there is no result anyway, so why detain him? It's fine to release him! Handing over to the Ministry of Punishment just happens to hand over the troublesome matter to the Ministry of Punishment. Even if the Ministry of Punishment protects the Kong family again, can it be If there is a case of arson, how can they hide it? What should happen to the case!"

"What does Mr. Zhang mean?" Xiao Jing asked on behalf of Jin Yiwei.

Zhang Zhoudao: "It doesn't matter what the outcome of this case is. Even if there is sufficient evidence to prove that this person committed the crime, will this crime be greater than the crimes he committed before?"

"Then... no."

Xiao Jing also answered for Mu Bin this time.

Just set fire to the Xuansheng Temple. It sounds serious, but how serious is rape, looting and murder?

It's just that Kong Hongxu's charges were suppressed by the court. Outsiders knew that Kong Hongxu was deprived of Duke Yansheng, and most of them believed that he had exceeded the system. This was also the reason why the court was giving face to the Kong family in order to protect the Kong family.

Now what Zhang Zhou wants is to write a special book about Kong Hongxu's crimes, and it is best to give the world the impression that Kong Hongxu is guilty, but the court dare not punish him.

Mu Bin was puzzled and said: "If the situation is serious, I'm afraid it will damage the prestige of the court, but it will not do much harm to Kong...."

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Then find someone and ask the imperial court to investigate the crimes committed by this person through a petition. The imperial court originally wanted to make major incidents into minor ones and not pursue them. However, due to the excitement of the crowd, His Majesty will have to resign himself to it." Conduct a thorough investigation. At that time, if a former Shenggong who has no fame can use torture and interrogation at will... Will it be difficult to get the result?"

Xiao Jing and Mou Bin looked at each other.

Both of them understood.

Before catching Kong Hongxu, it gave the impression that the emperor was too anxious.

It seems that the emperor was very anxious to convict Kong Hongxu, and even now Kong Hongxu has been detained, and even the arsonist died, the emperor did not pardon Kong Hongxu.

This will make the literati feel rebellious, and they will unconsciously stand on the side of the "weak".

Zhang Zhou's suggestion is that the case should no longer be interrogated by the Imperial Prison. Here it is regarded as "closed", and the case should be transferred to the Ministry of Punishment, so that the scholars in the world will think that Kong Hongxu's crime was found to be unsubstantiated and released, and the court will no longer be harsh on him. In this case, Kong Hongxu's previous crimes, as well as the details of the arson, are all made public.

That is to say...

Using the power of public opinion to judge Kong Hongxu has a more direct effect than using the imperial edict to judge Kong Hongxu.

Let's be more blunt.

To convict Kong Hongxu and forcibly put the court on the opposite side of the scholars, it would be better to let him die.

Don't you Kong family members want to use the power of public opinion to exonerate Kong Hongxu?Who said that public opinion is only limited to literati?The public opinion should include the people of the whole world, and then drown you, Kong Hongxu, with the saliva of the people of the world, and then the imperial court will make a favor and convict you, so that your Kong family can't lift their heads from now on.

Xiao Jingdao: "Mr. Zhang, it's good to do this, but I'm just afraid..."

"Eunuch Xiao, but it's okay to say, you know me, so there's nothing to taboo about." Zhang Zhou said.

Xiao Jing understood as soon as he heard it, he said: "Our family was worried that you would put yourself on the opposite side of Confucianism, but you are mentally prepared, so let us talk too much. I hope you will understand everything and don't think about it afterward. Worry about it."

"Haha." Zhang Zhou smiled casually, "I have been prepared for all this since I wrote to His Majesty that someone would set fire to the Xuansheng Temple. The man is fearless."

……

……

Inside Kunning Palace.

After Zhang Heling returned to the capital, he finally had the opportunity to enter the palace to meet Queen Zhang. By the way, he showed his sister what he had seen and heard along the way, as well as the military achievements he had gained, and "making a fortune" in the Northwest.

Empress Zhang said: "I didn't expect that Bing Kuan took such good care of you, at least he still has a bit of conscience."

"Sister, what do you mean?" Zhang Heling said, "Actually speaking, this Mr. Zhang is no different from the previous Li Guang. He should also know current affairs and know that offending our Zhang family will have no good end."

Empress Zhang said angrily: "But your brother-in-law is often in and out of the palace gate now, what is he doing outside, you can't even ask."

"what?"

Zhang Heling didn't expect that her sister, as a queen, would complain to him about this.

"So hurry up and check, especially your brother-in-law's whereabouts after leaving the palace, where he went, who he met, and whether he met anyone secretly. The most important thing is to meet people other than Zhang Bingkuan... But think about that Zhang Bingkuan has not been in the capital before, it is very strange for your brother-in-law to leave the palace."

Empress Zhang has the sensitivity of being a woman.

The husband became more and more indifferent to himself, and once used some small tricks to make him be deluded by him.

But now, Zhu Youtang only came to visit her occasionally. Apart from sleeping alone in the Qianqing Palace, he usually went out of the palace...sometimes he didn't return home at night.

Even though Zhu Youtang hadn't mentioned to her that there were any women out there, and she hadn't proposed to make anyone a concubine, she still felt that she had fallen out of favor.

Zhang Heling said: "Sister, that won't work, I'm going to Liaodong soon, and I'm going to be the commander-in-chief."

"You... are you crazy?" Queen Zhang almost vomited blood in anger.

This younger brother is simply obsessed with military achievements. At this moment, she can't wait to see her. The younger brother actually only wants to make military achievements?
Zhang Heling said righteously: "Sister, I'm not a younger brother to persuade you. Since ancient times, there has never been a monogamous king. In recent years, my sister has not given birth to a prince. Can you not worry about your brother-in-law? There are good rumors that my eldest nephew is not His Majesty's own."

"Nonsense!" Queen Zhang was annoyed.

No one else can say that. You, a younger brother, are talking nonsense in front of Bengong?
Zhang Heling said: "There is also the matter of my brother-in-law leaving the palace. Don't say I am unable to investigate it. Even if I can investigate it, the result is not what my sister wants. What do you want me to do as a younger brother? To stop it? Or help my sister?" ...to kill people?"

Empress Zhang had a sullen face and didn't say anything, but she meant that she wanted both.

"Sister, I heard from Mr. Zhang that there is still a large iron mine in Yongping Mansion. As long as it is mined, it will bring in at least tens of thousands of taels of silver a year. If it is better, open a few more coal mines..."

"enough!"

Only then did Queen Zhang realize that her younger brother had betrayed her.

For a little profit, even her elder sister can't control her.

"You don't know why you have the status you have today, do you? If your brother-in-law had someone else's concubine, do you think you can sit here like today? You still have a chance to be favored by Zhang Bingkuan?" Zhang The queen angrily taught her younger brother a lesson.

Zhang Heling was surprised and said: "So I have to work hard, brother. So what is Zhu Zhijie? He can make a living, why can't I? At that time, we want money to have silver, military merit to have military merit, and military power in the Northwest." It's all in the hands of me and Yan Ling, so sister still has to worry about other things at that time?"

"Sister, you are well! Even if your brother-in-law accepts a concubine, you will still be the queen, and your eldest nephew will still be the prince. Everything will be as usual."

"Unless my sister thinks that I can keep my brother-in-law by my side for the rest of my life, but what is there a saying? This woman is short-lived. In a few years, my sister will be old and pale, and she won't even be able to have children. Brother-in-law At that time, it was still in the prime of spring and autumn, and he would accept it if he didn’t pay it, it’s better to be sparse.”

What Zhang Heling said was exactly what Zhang Zhou said in the Jiaofang Division when he first met him.

He used to think it was all nonsense, but now he thinks... these are simply wise words.

No matter what you think sister.

The younger brother jumped first.

Let's dance first.

(End of this chapter)