The Ming Dynasty started with caution

In the gate of the mansion, there is a door.

Kong Wenshao was surprised that Menzi was holding a thick booklet in his hand and drew pictures on the booklet.

"Kong Wenshao, Lord Yansheng, wants to see Master Yan. Please inform him."

The disciple raised his voice: "You can only meet the young master if you match the secret code. Mr. Yansheng, please listen to the question: Once you enter the palace gate, it is as deep as the sea."

Kong Wenshao recalled that she was Cui Jiao's gift maid.

As soon as Hou Men entered the deep sea, this person just changed Hou Men into palace gate to use it as a code word. The next sentence is:

"Xiao Lang is a passerby from now on."

Menzi shook his head: "No, it should be: An Neng can argue that I am male and female."

Kong Wenshao twitched the corner of his mouth. Once the palace gate entered, it was as deep as the sea. How could he tell whether I was male or female?

Are you writing about eunuchs?

The disciples complained that this generation of Yan Shengggong was really uneducated. After entering the palace and becoming a eunuch, wouldn't he be able to distinguish between male and female?

Suddenly, I admired my young master more and more, not only for his high official status, but also for his culture.

"Yan Shenggong has one more chance. Please listen to the question: Don't be afraid of the clouds covering your eyes."

Kong Wenshao did not dare to look down upon him.

Since it is used as a code word, it cannot be compared with common sense.

But after thinking about it for a while, I really couldn't think of anything, so I had to answer according to the original sentence: "The self-conditioned body is at the highest level?"

Menzi shook his head in disappointment and closed the door: "The next sentence is: Watch until the clouds clear and the moon shines."

Duke Yansheng is indeed a guy with a false reputation!

Kong heard that Shaoning was choked and speechless. He was not afraid of the floating clouds covering his eyes, and kept watch until the clouds opened to see the moonlight. It seemed reasonable...

"Here's one hundred taels of silver! Can you please open the door, little brother?"

The servant took out a hundred taels of silver ingots and waved them in front of the door for a few times.

The door opened, and after accepting the money, the doorman made an invitation to Kong Wenshao.

Kong Wenshao was overjoyed and walked into the courtyard while looking at the surrounding courtyards. The walls were dilapidated and withered vines hung on the walls like cracks, which was particularly ugly.

It seems like it will collapse if the wind blows.

I never imagined that someone would still live in such a dilapidated and dangerous yard.

In the main hall, there was a scholar wearing white clothes. He looked a little younger than him. He should be Yan Chengjin.

"Sir Yan, can you send your servants to avoid it? I have important matters to talk to Mr. Yan."

Yan Chengjin raised his hand, and more servants rushed in, including Jin Yiwei. Kong Wenshao looked confused.

Ye Zhun knew that Yan Chengjin asked him to come in to testify again and stood aside silently.

"I am an upright official in the court, and my words can be judged by the sun and the moon. What can't I say to Duke Yansheng?"

Kong Wenshao thought for a while and decided to adopt a roundabout tactic: "I heard that Mr. Yan is ranked among the three elements. He must have a profound knowledge of Confucianism and can be regarded as a disciple of Confucianism.

I don’t know if the Confucius family has offended Mr. Yan in any way, and I want to send someone to investigate secretly. You might as well tell me and I will deal with it. "

Put the matter in the open and let him handle it, so there is no need to report it to the court.

This is the best policy. He has made many preparations for this trip to Beijing.

Yan Chengjin looked at Kong Wenshao. He originally wanted to kill the Kong family, but you proposed marriage to Li Qing'e...

"Shenggong Yan, please come back. I have no enmity with the saint, so you can rest assured."

Kong Wenshao always felt uneasy, but the servants of the Yan Mansion had already come to catch up with the guests.

After leaving the mansion, return to the Tenth Prince's Mansion.

An old man in Confucian clothes came forward and said, "Shenggong, all the betrothal gifts given to the Li Mansion have been returned."

"Don't be afraid. I will personally propose marriage to His Majesty in the court hall tomorrow. The prestige of our Kong family is unrivaled in all dynasties, and Li Dongyang cannot resist the imperial edict." Kong Wenshao was confident that he could convince Emperor Hongzhi. After all, there was a scholar from the capital behind him.

The next day, it was early in the morning.

Hundreds of officials were lined up in the main hall. Li Dongyang knew that Yan Chengjin wanted to advise Tan Ding into his family, so he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Emperor Hongzhi was sitting on the throne. Xiao Jing shook his head and said, "I have an audience with the Holy Duke Xuan Yan!"

Yan Chengjin turned his head slightly and followed the officials' gaze.

I saw Kong Wenshao, wearing red uniforms and a Confucian crown, stepping into the hall.

"My minister Kong Wenshao has met your majesty!"

Emperor Hongzhi's face showed no joy. Duke Yan Sheng came to Beijing to pray for the scholars. He was originally very happy, but the Confucius Mansion occupied the common people's land in Shandong and used sacrifices to plunder the people's fat and anointing. The saint became a charlatan...

"Duke Yan Sheng has something to report when he comes to Beijing?"

"I want to ask your majesty for a marriage!

I heard that there is a daughter in Mr. Li's house who is waiting to be married. She is virtuous and graceful. I would like to ask your majesty to give her to me so that the people of Confucius' house can be prosperous and the inheritance of our ancestors can be passed down. "

Yan Chengjin thought for a moment.

Li Dongyang was the first to stand up: "My little girl has little talent and little knowledge. It is difficult for me to be worthy of being a descendant of the Confucius family. Besides, I already have a sweetheart."

"May I ask who it is?"

Kong Wenshao didn't believe it and turned to look at Li Dongyang.

Emperor Hongzhi was a little curious. Although he knew that Yan Chengjin was interested in Li Qing'e, he didn't know who Li Qing'e liked.

Li Dongyang bowed: "Let's discuss the matter of Shandong first. The prefecture is in ruins, and the fertile fields are deserted for thousands of miles, but the people have no way to make a living. This is the fiefdom of Yanshenggong. How should the Shenggong explain it?"

Yan Chengjin seamlessly connected and took out a pamphlet from his sleeve: "I want to impeach Duke Yansheng."

This sparse letter records the distribution of one million acres of farmland in Duke Yansheng's mansion in Shandong and other five provinces, as well as the number of hidden fields and the acres of barren farmland.

The faces of all the officials were as usual. The ancestor Yan Shenggong committed several capital crimes when he was the first emperor, and he was only dismissed from office.

Even if he committed a heinous crime, what could be done to him?

Emperor Hongzhi looked through the memorials and his expression gradually became serious.

The imperial court did not individually measure the land of large households, except by raiding their homes.

The land owned by the Duke of Yansheng Mansion is as high as 1.3 million mu?

In terms of grain, it is at least 1.2 million shi, which is enough to account for a quarter of the summer tax of the court!

Kong Wenshao was shocked for a moment, but soon his face returned to normal. Duke of Yansheng was different from the officials in the court.

Even if you impeach him, can His Majesty still take away the title of Duke of Yansheng?

"Kong Wenshao, do you know your crime!" Emperor Hongzhi shouted.

All officials were caught off guard.

Kong Wenshao was stunned for a moment, and bowed with courage: "I don't know, I hope Your Majesty will explain it."

"The Kong Mansion occupied more than 1.2 million mu of land, and 270,000 mu was barren. Even in Nanzhili, there are Kong Mansion's fields, but the people in Shandong are starving and eating each other. How could you not know in Shandong?" Emperor Hongzhi asked.

Kong Wenshao was shocked. The Kong Mansion's fields in Nanzhili were purchased privately and were not on the list. How could the court find out so quickly?

"This is left by my father, I don't know about it."

Yan Chengjin took out another memorial: "I still impeach the Duke of Yansheng."

The officials turned around and stared at Yan Chengjin's cuffs. There is more!

Emperor Hongzhi said with a stern face: "How many more are there? Take them all out."

"The third memorial impeaches Kong Wenshao."

"The fourth memorial impeaches Kong Wenshao."

Yan Chengjin wrote four memorials, which were actually memorials obtained by the four departments after a thorough investigation.

The Kong Mansion occupied a lot of good farmland. Logically, the tax should also be a large sum, but the silver paid by the Kong Mansion is less than 30%.

There is also the population loss of Shandong people, which is sharply reduced every year.

The people are the foundation of the country. The way to be a monarch is to save the people first. The Kong Mansion has violated the taboo of Your Majesty.

Yan Chengjin bowed: "I sincerely request to implement the land tax distribution in Shandong, return the land to the people, and leave only 1,000 acres."