Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 383 Private, Public Enemy

Ever since the early years of Taichang, when local governments were allowed to retain more money and set up public banks, there had been irreconcilable economic contradictions between the Yanzhou government and the Kong family.

Ultimately, the problem lies with the sacrificial fields, the Kong family's farmland, the specially-appointed households, the Kong family's adopted sons, and the hired workers.

"The governor, please understand! The governor, please understand!" Kong Shangxian held the booklet and cried, "Since the founding of the country, the Wutun has only 615 hectares, and the loss is nearly 70%!"

The prefect of Yanzhou interrupted and said, "Duke Yansheng, these numbers don't match the fish scale atlas in the government office's Jigkuli."

Xie Tingzan did not speak, but Shandong Governor Huang Kezan said, "In addition to the 38 rows of Jia in Yuncheng, Juye, Pingyang, Dong'e, and Dushan, there are 78 people who claim to be the heads of the rows of Jia households and sue the Yanshenggong Mansion for money and grain in summer and autumn. They all have the handwritten certificates issued by the Yanshenggong Mansion, as well as the handwritten certificates of the errands assigned by the Yanshenggong family to the border last year, and the handwritten certificates of the tribute gifts for the Wanshou Saint Festival this year. They have been exploited too much in one year, so they filed lawsuits everywhere. Yanshenggong, how should we deal with them now?"

Kong Shangxian looked at Huang Kezan.

We are old acquaintances. At the beginning of last year, he was still the Minister of Punishment. When the Khan's army approached Gubeikou and Xifengkou, Huang Kezan submitted a memorial to request peace talks, and the emperor lost his temper. Later, he was appointed as the Right Deputy Chief Censor to inspect Shandong, which was a demotion.

Huang Kezan is now very aggressive. He came so quickly, it seems that he wants to gain some merit from the Confucius Mansion so that he can return to the court.

"...There have always been many vacancies for the officials in charge. This must be because the village chief colluded with the villain to slander, or the village chief asked for it in the name of others. Governor, please be aware that these documents were all issued by the village chief and then returned in full." Kong Shangxian gritted his teeth, "Governor, you should know that the Yanshenggong Mansion has long been unable to manage the sacrificial land, and there are many people who buy and sell it privately! Otherwise, there would not be only three out of ten of the two thousand hectares of sacrificial land granted by the saints left now!"

"The numbers don't match." This was the only thing the Yanzhou prefect seemed to say.

Xie Tingzan finally spoke: "Well, if we want to find out the truth, the result will be very ugly. Lord Yansheng, the people are full of resentment now. We are not here to cause trouble to you, but to discuss how to deal with it. If Lord Yansheng keeps avoiding the important issues, the farmers, tenants, and sacrificial land affairs will surely make Shandong people have a bad year. If the news gets to the capital and an imperial envoy is sent, there will be no room for maneuver as it is now."

Kong Shangxian's hands trembled slightly, and he pursed his lips for a long time before asking, "According to the opinions of the governor and the governor, how should we deal with this?"

Huang Kezan and Xie Tingzan looked at each other, then cleared their throats and began to speak.

After Kong Shangxian returned to Qufu, he still maintained a positive attitude.

Many clansmen were sent to the Yanzhou government office to surrender themselves, which was a very good attitude.

But what is the core of the problem of the Confucius Mansion? No one has yet touched upon it - in fact, it is because they do not understand what the emperor wants to achieve.

Now, let’s touch upon the more core issue of interests.

Ever since the Kong family was conferred the title of King Wenxuan and granted sacrificial land in the Song Dynasty, they have enjoyed privileges in Shandong - in the name of maintaining the expenses of the Yanshenggong Mansion and the Shandong Confucius Temple.

The core of the specific practice is the sacrificial fields granted by the emperor and the settlement households appointed by the emperor.

To put it bluntly, they gave land and people. The output of these sacrificial fields was equivalent to paying the land tax to the Yanshenggong Mansion; the households appointed by the emperor were called Paijia households, and the Yanshenggong Mansion also had the power to assign labor to them.

Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, in order to win over the gentry, the lineage of Duke Yansheng was treated very well. The total amount of sacrificial land granted by the emperor was nearly 2,000 hectares, or nearly 200,000 mu; and the number of households allocated by the emperor to the Paijia Village was also 500.

More than two hundred years later, the Kong family said that only 600 hectares of sacrificial land remained, and the number of Pai Jia households had also decreased significantly. However, the prefect of Yanzhou said that the numbers did not match, and Huang Kezan said that another 78 people who claimed to be the heads of Pai Jia had sued the Kong family - and this was only the number of people who came forward to sue.

Because the Kong family naturally did not rely solely on these sacrificial fields to survive. In addition to the sacrificial fields, they also had their own farms and fields, as well as farmers and tenants who registered their names under the Kong family farms and fields.

According to the prefect of Yanzhou: five villages, four factories, and eighteen official villages.

Kong Shangxian earnestly said that there was only Baguanzhuang, and later said it was Eleven Guanzhuang...

Huang Kezan said leisurely: "Your Majesty has established a holy temple, re-established the Minister of Rites, and honored the sages. In my opinion, Duke Yansheng should still petition the court to abolish the old system of sacrificial fields, and change it to a fixed quota for Shandong and Yanzhou to pay for the needs of the Confucius Temple. Otherwise, it will only make things chaotic."

Kong Shangxian's hands trembled.

The prefect of Yanzhou agreed with this and nodded: In this way, the Kong family can no longer act as "tax collectors" outside the court system, and their own estates and fields can be treated and managed like other wealthy families in other places.

The problem now is: although the sacrificial fields have been reduced on the surface, anyone related to the Kong family, whether they are members of the Kong family or tenants or tenants, will use the excuse of sacrificial fields.

Before the imperial court gave a clear signal, it would not be convenient to put too much pressure on the Kong family.

In the past few years, various prefectures in Shandong have wanted to collect more revenue, but have faced many concerns.

Now that the signal has come, Huang Kezan casually made this suggestion.

"Governor..." Kong Shangxian hesitated to speak.

"You must know, Lord Yansheng." Huang Kezan looked at him deeply. "Now the nine borders, Chengdu Prefecture, and Liaoning Province are all surveying military settlements and registering civilians. It is only a matter of time for Shandong. I know that Lord Yansheng is in a dilemma. Internally, there are disputes between the main branch and the side branches, and between the inner and outer branches. Externally, there is the general trend of the new policy, and the top and the bottom are united. Now that there is such a change, it is also a chance for Lord Yansheng to reshape the Kong family. Although the scholars are watching, Your Majesty is not a tyrannical monarch."

Kong Shangxian looked at him and thought, you were demoted here by him, don’t you think he is a cruel king?

Huang Kezan had previously been able to become a second-rank official, so he was certainly no ordinary person.

Why did the emperor ask him to come here? Now I have figured it out. The reason why we must fight that battle and win it is to achieve the new policy.

Xiao Daheng had also been demoted from Beijing to Nanjing by the emperor before, and later became the head of the Executive Yuan.

Shandong is indeed the most difficult province to conquer because of the Kong family. But if it is conquered, Shandong will surely be the province where the new policies will be implemented most smoothly among all other provinces.

The current situation is rare, and Huang Kezan must seize it.

Kong Shangxian's heart trembled: having lost control over the sacrificial fields, he would only be the object of "alms" in the future. Could he still further subdue the elders of the clan?
Xie Tingzan said leisurely at this time: "There are only three families in the world, the Confucius of Qufu, the Zhang of Jiangxi, and the Zhu of Fengyang. Duke Yansheng, the children of your family are arrogant, and the family temple honors the title of the previous dynasty. Many people in Shandong know this. The book minister and the prime minister all think that Duke Yansheng is still successful in academic research. Now, why don't you know to act in the same way and make decisions when necessary?"

Kong Shangxian's body trembled again.

Zhang from Jiangxi has the spirit of a Taoist; Zhu from Fengyang has the spirit of a petty person.

The reason why the descendants of Confucius can make such arrogant remarks is naturally because of the preferential treatment they have received in all dynasties.

The only question now is whether these things should be put on the scale.

He knew that the Shanxi officials wanted to get the actual results before a big trend brewed in the court and before figures like Zhang Cong, who pointed the finger at the Kong family during the discussion on rituals, emerged.

If Kong Shangxian is unwilling to do so, then they will handle the matter impartially, first use the complaints as an example, and investigate "impartially and impartially".

Kong Shangxian also knew that he would not agree to investigate further. After all, the emperor had only been on the throne for ten years. If many old cases were investigated, many local officials and wealthy families would be implicated, and there would be many obstacles.

The problem is that they are all newly sent officials to Shandong. If they want to investigate, the court will support it.

If it were discovered that the Kong family was extremely corrupt and that corruption was rampant in the Shandong officialdom, the emperor would not necessarily be unhappy, and neither would the court.

The official system of the country is about to be overhauled, and there are many good positions!
"This is a serious matter. I..." Kong Shangxian's body seemed to collapse. "Please allow me to discuss it with my clan members..."

"Waiting for good news."

Huang Kezan and Xie Tingzan seemed to be sure of victory.

Before Kong Shangxian left, Xie Tingzan added: "I have now found out that some candidates have gathered to cause trouble and instigated people to pay homage to the temple of Master Dacheng. The purpose is nothing more than that the provincial examinations this year will also test new knowledge. Since Duke Yansheng has achieved great academic success through the study of things, he must not be used as a pawn."

"…Thank you for the reminder, Mr.

Kong Shangxian's body hunched over a bit more and he left in a daze.

How could he not know that he finally used this method to leave the capital? In the emperor's mind, the new learning was probably more important than the new policy. The sacrificial fields controlled by the Kong family were a symbol of the extremely special status of Confucianism in the past.

Does he really want to cling to this privilege?
……

Prime Minister, Ye Xianggao.

Privy Councilor, Tian Le.

Minister of Rites, Li Tingji.

The Minister in Chief of the Secretariat, Zhu Guozuo.

The Minister of the Chief Censorate, Wang Yingjiao.

Prime Minister and Minister of the Vassal States, Fang Congzhe.

The Minister of Public Security, Niu Yingyuan. The Superintendent of Public Security Police, Duke Dingguo.

Minister in charge of official property, He Shengrui.

In addition, there are the Minister of Finance Bi Ziyan, the Minister of Taxation Wang Dewan, the Minister of Culture and Education Xu Guangqi, the Minister of Rites and Law...

On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, the biggest sensation in the capital was that all the ministers and new second-rank officials of the Beijing central government had been appointed.

The imperial edict has been issued. On the ninth day of the first lunar month in the tenth year of Taichang, the emperor will pay homage to the prime minister in the Fengtian Huangji Hall, offer sacrifices to heaven and earth, and pay homage to the Taimiao with all officials.

Sooner than many expected.

A banquet was held in Fengtian Huangji Hall that night.

The long corridor in the middle has been cleared. We will be on holiday for the New Year after tonight and there will be no office work during the New Year period.

After next year, the layout of the Fengtian Hall will have to be changed because there will be three more courtyards.

So that night, there were only tables lined up in the corridor of the Fengtian Huangji Hall.

There are nine tables in the Huangji Hall.

The emperor invited the eight ministers to sit together in the northernmost seat.

The next eight tables were occupied by people who had already made reservations and were at least of the third rank or above.

Zhu Changluo stood up first, holding the cup. Naturally, no one was still sitting on the stool.

"A fresh start!" Zhu Changluo said loudly, "Those who have already been decided can go back and spend a peaceful year, but think about how to deal with government affairs starting next year. For those who are still missing, the Jinxian Academy will continue to examine and select after the new year."

Ye Xianggao was very excited and spoke first: "I will keep in mind the teachings of the Holy Spirit and live up to your trust!"

Zhu Changluo smiled and patted his shoulder, then got up and strolled among the ministers, looking at them one by one, and said, "I rely on you ministers to govern the country well! In the past two years, the war was tight, but the state affairs were not delayed. You all have contributed. The northern border is stable, but the Ming Dynasty is still far from being peaceful and prosperous. The road is long and arduous, and the monarch and his ministers will explore together!"

After saying that, he sighed again.

"Last year, I only went to Chengde Prefecture, Liaoning Province, and the two towns of Liaoxi and Liaodong. Many of these places were not real territory of the Ming Dynasty in the past. But I also saw how poor the people who moved to the border were."

Zhu Changluo looked at Yuan Keli, then at Tian Le, and finally at Fang Congzhe who had accompanied the emperor last year.

"Protecting the territory is to ensure the safety of the people. To ensure the safety of the people is to ensure that the people have a place to live, and have enough food and clothing!" Zhu Changluo paused for a moment, and he had already walked into the corridor, where there were more third-, fourth-, fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-rank officials. "Some of you come from official families, and some come from poor families. But you all know more or less about the sufferings of the people."

"The Privy Council is currently rectifying the nine frontiers. After next year, military spending will begin to slowly decline. But the court's finances are still the top priority! More specific matters will depend on you to execute."

After saying that, he turned around and pointed at Ye Xianggao from a distance: "Prime Minister Ye has presented a strategy, proposing to do some practical things related to the national economy and people's livelihood every five years. That's good. I will only discuss the general strategy with the other ministers, and from now on, most of the national affairs can be left to you. As the king and father, I will watch over it on behalf of the people."

Ye Xianggao bent down in the distance.

Zhu Changluo smiled and walked further south.

Here, basically all the people came out of the imperial examinations after he ascended the throne. Zhu Changluo smiled and nodded to some of them, occasionally exchanged a few words, and mostly asked about family matters.

As he was walking back, he continued, "It has always been difficult to reform. The Ming Dynasty has been established for more than 200 years, and Taiyue Gong started it because he could not continue financially. Although the northern border is now stable, I am always worried. Throughout the dynasties, the country has been so prosperous that it can be called a long-lived country. How difficult is it to ensure the eternal stability of the throne?"

When he walked in front of the ministers again, Zhu Changluo said something that shocked them: "After thinking it over, I have decided to give up the idea of ​​ruling the world with one family! Now I have appointed a prime minister and appointed ministers to tell you that I want to make it clear that the monarch and his ministers will rule together!"

After saying that, he looked at Ye Xianggao and the others and said, "Don't think that you can sit on the prime minister's throne just because of the emperor's favor. The emperor is a virtuous person, and this great position is no different. The Ming Dynasty is not only mine, but also yours, and even more so, it belongs to the millions of ordinary people in the world. I have to win the hearts of the people to be able to sit firmly on the throne of the emperor, and you also have to win the hearts of the people to be able to sit firmly on the official position!"

Zhu Changluo stretched out his hand and slowly circled it: "Tonight's banquet is a grand occasion, and it is the fat of the people all over the world. The monarch and his subjects drink together, and what they drink is responsibility, what they drink is commitment! I want to implement the new policy, and there are only three things to do, for the people, for the people, and for the people! The purpose of the new policy is to serve the people, and then we can win the hearts of the people. The people's hearts are stable, the country is stable, and the positions of the monarch and his subjects are stable. In the end, it is also for me and for you!"

He pointed at himself: "Private."

He pointed to the sky again: "Sir."

Finally, he raised his glass and said, "No need to be shy! The harmony of yin and yang, the balance of moderation, the Fengtian Palace is a big ship sailing on the sea of ​​​​the people. There may be unexpected storms above and undercurrents below. Whether this ship can sail steadily depends on my ability and yours. First of all, we must work together, respect heaven and earth, and respect the people."

"Gentlemen, drink together!"

Ye Xianggao was sensible and said immediately: "The teachings of the Holy Spirit are like the sound of heaven, awakening the deaf and dumb! All the ministers, let us drink this cup together, and first thank the people of the world and the common people!"

Zhu Changluo looked at him with a smile.

After sharing some of the burden with them, Zhu Changluo can just watch from now on.

Watch on behalf of the people of the world and be the spokesperson for their interests.

Is there any politics in the world that is more correct than this?
Of course, if he can do it, his descendants will also be able to do it, and they can truly give back to the people of the Ming Dynasty and bring them stability and prosperity.

If you can’t do that…

The descendants will have their own blessings.

Now Zhu Changluo wanted to tie the emperor and his subjects to the same boat on the surface.

When the boat capsizes, we all die together.

He still has a long life ahead of him, which is enough to make people all over the world understand that it is not just the royal family, aristocratic family, and wealthy family.

There is another concept, those who rule them, and those who are ruled.

He would like to be an open and honest enemy.

If the royal family does good, they are still the royal family. If the royal officials are unkind, they are public enemies!

(End of this chapter)