amaotonovel Chapter 1051 discusses how, when it comes to utterly immoral behavior, it ultimately comes down to t
Chapter 1051 discusses how, when it comes to utterly immoral behavior, it ultimately comes down to t
Li Shanchang unconsciously avoided Liu Bowen's gaze.
If looks could kill... I'd be riddled with holes by now, wouldn't I?
But then again, isn't this all for our own good?
After all, I'm not just selling you Liu Bowen!
Li Shanchang stroked his beard and continued to say to Emperor Zhu, "Your Majesty, besides the Censorate, I believe there are two more important personnel that we must make good use of."
Emperor Zhu was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "Who?"
Judging from Li Shanchang's words, it seems that Old Zhu has failed to make use of two important and capable people.
The problem is that all the old brothers in Huaixi, as well as his adopted sons, have been taken away by that scoundrel Zhu Biao to lead troops, leaving only Krupp in the capital.
The poor scholars in eastern Zhejiang were either working as slaves in the Censorate or in various ministries, temples, supervisory offices, and academies, and there was hardly any manpower available for transfer.
Even the second-generation nobles and the Jinshi graduates of the past two years have all had their destinations arranged well in advance.
How could we possibly leave two important and capable people unused?
Just as Emperor Zhu was pondering this, Li Shanchang stroked his beard and smiled, uttering two names that Emperor Zhu had never expected.
"Kong Xixue".
"Kong Xilu".
"And there are Kong Xiren, Kong Xiyi, Kong Xili, and Kong Xizhi."
A long list of names came out of Li Shanchang's mouth.
Emperor Zhu and Liu Bowen were completely dumbfounded.
Is that old scoundrel Li Shanchang planning to use both the Southern and Northern Confucian schools as laborers?
wrong.
This old scoundrel doesn't intend to use the people of the Southern and Northern Confucian schools as laborers at all; rather, he plans to push both schools into the limelight and make the Duke Yansheng's family take the fall!
Li Shanchang continued, “Your Majesty, the lineage of the Duke Yansheng has been passed down for a thousand years and is a model for Confucian scholars throughout the land.”
Ok?
Emperor Zhu and Liu Bowen stared blankly at Li Shanchang—the Duke Yansheng was a model of Confucianism.
The example is that anyone who comes will surrender and then be granted the title of Duke Yansheng.
Or is it a model of the extraordinary phenomenon of three Dukes of Yansheng existing at the same time?
Or is it setting an example of how to forget one's roots and ancestors?
That old scoundrel Li Shanchang is now shamelessly lying through his teeth!
Emperor Zhu and Liu Bowen were internally ranting and raving, while Li Shanchang continued, "The officials and gentry of today all come from Confucian families."
“After becoming officials, Confucian scholars became corrupt and greedy, and local gentry ran rampant in the countryside, oppressing the people. In fact, this was a reckless act that ruined the reputation of Confucianism.”
"The appointment of officials from the lineage of the Duke of Yansheng as inspectors to oversee corruption among officials and the oppression of the people by gentry is a matter of rectifying the situation and restoring order."
"I hope the person in charge will think twice."
Liu Bowen's eyes darted around, and he immediately bowed to Emperor Zhu, saying, "Your Majesty, I second your opinion."
What's so bad about the Censorate being unlucky?
With the even more unfortunate lineage of the Duke Yansheng leading the way, even if the Censorate suffers misfortune, I am willing to accept it!
Emperor Zhu hesitated.
It's fine to let the Duke of Yansheng take the blame.
The problem is that the Northern School has just finished compiling books such as the "Hongwu Great Dictionary" and the "Hongwu Zhengyun," and is now working hard on the "Agricultural Treatise" and the "Industrial Treatise," while the Southern School has been competing with the "Hongwu Great Encyclopedia."
Judging from the progress reported by Kong Xixue and Kong Xilu, it will be difficult to get a result in less than ten or eight years.
If we transfer both the Southern and Northern Kong families to take the blame at this time, what will happen to the book revision?
Seeing that Emperor Zhu was hesitant to make a decision, Li Shanchang pondered for a moment and then continued, "Upon ascending the throne, the inspector does not need Kong Xixue and Kong Xilu to personally lead the team."
"The matter of compiling books can be handled by the lineage of the Duke Yansheng, but not entirely by the lineage of the Duke Yansheng."
"Transferring people from the Southern and Northern Confucian sects to serve under the Prince Consort is truly a win-win or even a win-win-win strategy."
Emperor Zhu blinked.
When it comes to utterly immoral behavior, it has to be Mr. Shanchang.
The first benefit was that it made the Confucius family take the blame, and made the Duke Yansheng offend officials, gentry, and scholars.
The second benefit is that it lets our good son-in-law deal with the Kong family—that scoundrel has always disliked the Kong family. If the Kong family falls into his hands, how can they possibly prosper?
The third benefit is to take this opportunity to gradually remove the Confucius family from the project of compiling books, and at the very least destroy the Confucius family's opportunity to gain fame by using the "Hongwu Encyclopedia" and "Agricultural Book" and "Industrial Book".
To put it bluntly, it means using them but not giving them any benefits, while also making them feel uncomfortable.
Emperor Zhu nodded. "Then we'll do as Mr. Shanchang says. You can think about how to use these people and then report back to us."
……
As is well known, the Ming Dynasty court was sometimes almost like a sieve, with all sorts of court decrees, rumors, and gossip flying around freely.
For example, in more than a hundred prefectures and counties in Jiangnan, news emerged that local gentry were raising the banner of "purging the emperor's inner circle" and preparing to attack Xinghua County to kill Yang Shaofeng.
The officials in the imperial court wouldn't believe that the local gentry could kill Yang Shaofeng.
After all, Yang the Madman had the personal guards of the Imperial Son-in-Law's residence and the royal command flag that could be mobilized at any time.
Not to mention that a whole bunch of ruthless villains like Xu Da, Chang Heizi, and Li Wenzhong were all in the capital.
The Krupp Li Mingchen alone, trained by Yang the Madman, was enough to suppress these idiots.
However, this matter will only add to Yang Dianfeng's troubles—it is the people who are rebelling, how does Yang Dianfeng plan to deal with it?
If you suppress rebellious people, we'll call you a bloodthirsty butcher who outwardly shows benevolence to the people.
If we don't suppress the rebellious people, then we'll just quietly watch the rebellion grow stronger and stronger, and then wait for your head to roll.
Among the many officials, Kong Xixue, the former prospective Duke Yansheng who almost inherited the title, was the most outstanding. If it weren't for Yang Dianfeng, I would be the rightful Duke Yansheng now, instead of becoming a "former" prospective Duke Yansheng.
Kong Xixue was especially pleased when he heard the steward bring back rumors that Yang the Madman was currently parading the prefects of Yangzhou, Gaoyou, and Xinghua through the streets, making an opera troupe perform "The White-Haired Girl," promising to stand up for the people, and forcing the people of Xinghua to publicly express their grievances.
It's good to force the people to complain.
This is a bitter experience that needs to be properly expressed.
In this way, Yang Dianfeng offended not only the local gentry and gentry, but also the peasants of Xinghua County. They would hate him. The scars that had been so hard to forget were being reopened by Yang Dianfeng. Would those peasants be willing to accept that?
Besides, even if those peasants were willing and cooperated with you, Yang the Madman, to complain and testify against the local gentry, what difference would it make?
As long as you, Yang Dianfeng, can't make their lives better, they will feel that their lives are getting harder and harder.
But to say they should live a good life?
What, do you think you, Yang the Madman, can make Xinghua County as prosperous as your Ningyang County?
Kong Xixue became more and more delighted as he thought about it, and immediately instructed the steward: "Have the kitchen prepare two more dishes for tonight, and heat up a pot of wine."