Emperor Zhengde

Chapter 281 Severe punishment (6100 words)
"This Lord Kong Yan is really cruel. Does he think I will let it go just because of this?"

Zhu Houzhao put down the memorial from Duke Kong Yan. He knew that Duke Kong Yan's actions now meant that he could no longer blame Kong Wenyun's sins on him, Duke Kong Yan. By the way, asking Kong Wenyun to pay 300,000 shi of grain as compensation felt like he was bribing himself in the name of donation and spending money to ask for forgiveness from the emperor.

However, Zhu Houzhao did not want to forgive Lord Kong Yan so easily.

There were many powerful people in the Ming Dynasty, and Lord Kong Yansheng was just one of them.

Although Zhu Houzhao knew that these powerful people were parasites attached to the people of the Ming Dynasty and were the culprits who exacerbated social contradictions.

The more ruthless Zhu Houzhao was to these powerful people, the more beneficial it would be for his own kingdom.

After all, now is not the time to conquer the world, and he no longer needs the support of these powerful people.

But Zhu Houzhao also knew that he could not attack these powerful people at will, at least not without reason. First, many of the powerful people did have contributions from their ancestors in the establishment of the Ming Dynasty. Second, once the powerful people were forced into a desperate situation by him, they would support new masters.

What's more, many of the powerful and wealthy are his confidants, and are the basis for his effective rule over the Ming Dynasty.

But Duke Kong Yan, Zhu Houzhao must be touched.

First of all, Lord Kong Yan is not his confidant, so there is no need for him to keep him as his running dog.

Moreover, Zhu Houzhao also knew that Duke Kong Yan could not be a loyal lackey, but was only suitable to be a fence-sitter, relying on the reputation of his ancestor Confucius to beg for mercy from rulers of various dynasties in order to gain a respected status.

Secondly, Lord Kong Yan did not follow the rules.

As for whether they had committed other crimes that other gentry and powerful people could do, such as annexing land, lending money for profit, and manipulating the officialdom, Zhu Houzhao did not know yet, but at least what Zhu Houzhao could be sure of now was that the people in Kong Yanshenggong's Mansion were involved in manipulating the grain prices in the capital.

A person who is neither his confidant nor a member of a military or honorary family who has made contributions to the Ming Dynasty has now committed a crime, and naturally, as the emperor, he can take action.

Of course, Zhu Houzhao also knew that the real obstacle to his move on the Duke Yansheng's Mansion were some so-called Neo-Confucian officials in the court. In their eyes, the Duke Yansheng, who became powerful because of Confucius' status in academic thought, was more noble than the military meritorious ...

After all, respecting the status of Confucius is equivalent to respecting the status of Confucianism, and is also equivalent to maintaining the status of these upright ministers of Neo-Confucianism.

Of course, Zhu Houzhao also knew that in addition to himself, the emperor who was possessed by a time traveler, emperors of all dynasties would also respect the status of Lord Kong Yan.

After all, the emperor also needed to maintain the status of Confucianism in order to ensure the stability of his rule and to more permanently enslave the people of the entire empire.

What Zhu Houzhao wanted was to free the Ming Dynasty from the agricultural civilization society under the rule of Confucianism, not just to be the world's largest slave owner. Therefore, he was destined to not tolerate the Kong family having such a high status.

"Send an order to the Ministry of Rites. Kong Wenshao failed to control his clansmen and almost caused unrest in the capital. I am very disappointed. I will strip him of his hereditary title of Duke Yansheng and demote him to a commoner!"

As soon as Zhu Houzhao finished speaking, even the eunuch Liu Jin opened his mouth in surprise. He thought that Duke Kong Yan would let Kong Wenyun's father hang himself, and then pay 300,000 shi of grain as compensation to appease the emperor, but he did not expect that the emperor would actually abolish Duke Kong Yan's hereditary title.

"According to the order!"

Liu Jin did not dare to resist Zhu Houzhao's decision, and as an eunuch, he did not have such a strong protective sentiment for the Kong family.

When Zhu Houzhao's decree to deprive Kong Wenshao of his hereditary title of Duke Yansheng of Kong reached the cabinet, the chief minister Liu Yu was also surprised, but he was the chief minister who only obeyed the emperor's orders, and he also knew that there was no need for him to disobey the emperor for the Kong family, so he naturally did not raise any objections and had to accept the decree.

Zhu Houzhao could also foresee that although there were civil servants in the court who were willing to protect or respect the Kong family, and even believed that the existence of the title of Duke Yansheng was the orthodox doctrine, these civil servants who were willing to protect themselves did not dare to openly resist the will of themselves as the emperor.

Therefore, just like that, the abolition of the title of Duke Kong Yansheng became an fait accompli.

"I accept the decree!"

When Kong Wenshao received this imperial edict, he looked as pale as death. He had never expected that his family's hereditary dukedom would be lost just like that. Naturally, he had some complaints against Emperor Zhu Houzhao in his heart, but he also knew that the emperor was still the most important in the Ming Dynasty, and the status of his Kong family was originally given by the emperor. Now that the emperor wanted to take it back, he could not have any complaints.

Kong Wenshao could only hope that the new emperor would restore his Kong family's title when he ascended the throne. He could not help but say in his heart: "Now that the emperor does not value Confucianism and even hates it, he will naturally not allow his Kong family to make any mistakes. The same goes for Wenyun. He must do business and make profits when this tyrant is in power!"

Zhu Houzhao knew that since he treated the Kong family in this way without showing any mercy, the Kong family and many Neo-Confucian officials would be very dissatisfied with him. However, he was the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and even if the Kong family and many Neo-Confucian officials were dissatisfied, they could only be dissatisfied in their hearts and could not do anything to him.

however.

Zhu Houzhao had not planned to end it there. Two million shi of grain were burned by Kong Wenyun and other descendants of the Kong family, which almost caused unrest in the entire capital due to famine. It also caused heavy losses to the Ming court and even made him eat sweet potatoes for a long time. He could not just let it go because the Kong family sent him 300,000 shi of grain.

"Decree! Although Kong Wenyun's family has been expelled from the family tree by his father, Kong Wenyun was still a descendant of the Northern School of Confucius when he burned two million shi of grain. And his family cannot expel Kong Wenyun from the family tree and escape punishment just because of his misdeeds!

The two million dan of grain burned by Kong Wenyun was the emergency grain for the capital. However, Kong Wenyun's burning almost caused unrest in the capital and destroyed the Ming Dynasty. The consequences were very serious. Although it did not happen, it should be severely punished! The Kong family is required to pay a compensation of 7 million silver dollars, of which 6 million is calculated based on the grain price of 3 yuan per dan in the capital at that time, and 1 million is the interest that the Kong family did not pay in time after Kong Wenyun burned the grain! The court gladly accepted the 300,000 dan of grain he donated!"

After Zhu Houzhao's order was given to Kong Wenshao, Kong Wenshao almost fainted.

He thought that the emperor would easily forgive his Kong family, but he did not expect that Emperor Zhu Houzhao not only deprived his Kong family of their hereditary dukedom, but also required his Kong family to pay a compensation of 7 million silver dollars!

Kong Wenshao had no way to say anything when his title was stripped away, nor could he object, after all, the title was given to him by Emperor Zhu Houzhao.

But Kong Wenshao could not accept and did not want to accept the requirement that his Kong family pay 7 million silver dollars as compensation to the imperial court!

Because seven million silver dollars is an astronomical figure for his Kong family.

If he really had to pay compensation of 7 million silver dollars, it would mean that all the land that his Kong family had acquired over the years would have to be sold, all the male and female servants in the family who had been transformed from slaves to long-term workers would have to be dismissed, and all the shops and properties in Qufu that his family had acquired through trickery and robbery would also have to be sold, which meant that his Kong family would completely become an ordinary commoner family.

"The imperial court has already taken away our Kong family's titles, and now they are going to take away our Kong family's property. In this way, our Kong family will completely become powerless commoners! Brother, you can't pay these seven million silver dollars as compensation. Even if you want to pay, you can't pay so much! The Kong family members of the concubine branch are fine, they can still farm their own fields, but do we, the Kong family members of the direct branch, have to farm as well?"

Kong Wenshao's younger brother Kong Wenli also spoke excitedly at this moment.

"For now, we can only go to the governor to find a solution and quickly seal up 3,000 silver dollars!"

A few days after Kong Wenshao said this, he found Shandong Governor Pan Zhen and said, "Your Excellency, you must save our Kong family! His Majesty actually wants us to pay 7 million silver dollars! Our Kong family can't afford it even if we sell everything we have. At that time, we can only mortgage the temple property (Confucius Temple), but I really can't bear to mortgage the temple property. Your Excellency is also a disciple of Confucius and Mencius. Can you bear to see the great sage unable to be supported and worshipped by his descendants? Woo woo!"

"Although you have failed to discipline your people, the court has indeed gone too far in this matter. I am afraid that it was caused by the slander of treacherous officials. But no matter what, I will speak up for you once and plead for you. After all, the most holy teacher is blameless!"

Pan Zhen accepted the silver dollars from Kong Wenshao, but he did not say that he would not help Kong Wenshao.

Kong Wenshao was overjoyed when he saw this: "Thank you, Governor. If you can waive or reduce the compensation, I will give you a generous reward!"

Pan Zhen did not say much, but asked his advisor to write a memorial to the capital according to his wishes.

"I, Pan Zhen, the governor of Shandong, report to Your Majesty. I heard that Your Majesty wants the Kong family to pay 7 million silver dollars! But as far as I know, the Kong family can't afford this huge amount of money. I am worried that if they pay so many silver dollars, the direct descendants of the Kong family may be guilty and should be punished by bankruptcy. However, the Kong family's minor branches are the common people of Qufu. If they also lose their property, I am afraid that it will undermine Your Majesty's original intention of loving the people, and it will also increase people's resentment and cause unrest in Shandong. Therefore, I dare to advise that even if it is based on the intention of understanding the people, can Your Majesty reduce the compensation by one or two silver dollars?"

After reading Pan Zhen's memorial, Zhu Houzhao felt that what Pan Zhen said made sense. He couldn't help but say, "I overlooked the issue that Kong Wenshao would transfer the 7 million silver dollars of compensation to the common people of his Kong family. This Shandong Pan Zhen really hit the nail on the head!"

"So, Your Majesty means that you agree with the advice of Shandong Governor Pan Zhen and reduce the compensation?" asked Kang Hai, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet on duty. Although he did not dare to directly persuade Zhu Houzhao to spare the Kong family easily, now that there was an opportunity to reduce the punishment for the Kong family, he did not forget to take advantage of the opportunity.

But Zhu Houzhao was not an emperor who was easily fooled by the officials below. He admitted that what Pan Zhen said made sense, but he would not really reduce the compensation because, legally speaking, the Kong family had to pay so much compensation, and he, as the emperor, did not ask for more or less.

Therefore, Zhu Houzhao said directly:
"Your Majesty, don't joke! The imperial edict has been signed by your cabinet. How can you withdraw it and reduce it? You still have to pay the seven million silver dollars, and every day you delay, you have to pay one more day's interest! Besides, it is legal to ask the Kong family to pay seven million silver dollars in compensation! How can the laws of the Ming Dynasty be lenient just because the common people of the Kong family will be implicated?!"

Kang Hai did not expect that the Emperor was still unwilling to show leniency, so he could only nod and say, "Your Majesty is right. I am a little confused now. How can the law be changed because of human feelings? The Kong family is just a commoner in Qufu. If the tax is really increased because of the seven million silver dollars, it is not your Majesty's intention."

"I will issue another decree, ordering only the three direct descendants of the Kong family to pay compensation. In addition, I will send the Jinyiwei to go to the Kong family to collect compensation. First, confiscate the Kong Wenyun family. If it is not enough, then confiscate the Kong Wenshao and Kong Wenli families. If they still can't collect 7 million silver dollars, plus interest, then escort Kong Wenshao, Kong Wenli and other three direct descendants to serve in Mobei! Until the compensation is paid in full!"

After Zhu Houzhao said this, Kang Hai solemnly replied: "Your Majesty is wise." At the same time, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "Your Majesty is really cruel! Only the direct lineage of the Kong family within three generations will be executed, which means that no direct lineage of the Kong family will be spared, while the common people of the Kong family will not be implicated. This can prevent the direct lineage of the Kong family from using the court's request for compensation from all the Kong family members to coerce the Kong family members to cause trouble. By directly sending the Jinyiwei, it can also prevent the government from secretly helping the Kong family."

Zhu Houzhao was indeed not confident about the Shandong government. He was worried that if he directly asked the Shandong government to search the Kong family, the Shandong government would shield the Kong family. However, if he directly sent the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he naturally would not have to worry about this problem.

Kong Wenshao was struggling. He thought that with the help of a Shandong governor, he could avoid losing everything. However, he did not expect that Emperor Zhu Houzhao would absolutely not tolerate anyone doing anything to shake the foundation of the Ming Dynasty. The compensation of 7 million silver dollars was just a punishment for the Kong family for disregarding national interests.

It was not until the Jinyiwei appeared in Qufu City that Kong Wenshao truly realized that he was completely finished.

Because Zhu Houzhao only demanded compensation from the direct descendants of Confucius, most of the common people with the surname Kong in Qufu were not organized by Kong Wenshao. Of course, the Jinyiwei appeared too suddenly, making it impossible for Kong Wenshao to organize them. What's more, the common people with the surname Kong might not be willing to follow their direct descendants to rebel against the court.

Therefore, Kong Wenshao had no choice but to invite the Jinyiwei into the Kong Mansion with his head down.

The Jinyiwei naturally did not hold back and confiscated the property of Kong Wenshao, Kong Wenli, Kong Wenyun and other direct descendants as quickly and thoroughly as possible. However, what surprised the Jinyiwei was that the assets of Kong Wenyun's family alone were no less than two million, and together with the assets of the two brothers Kong Wenshao and Kong Wenli, the value of the assets reached eight million silver dollars.

Of course, these assets include all land, title deeds, shops, etc.

Zhu Houzhao had never expected that the Kong family could really find so much property. He thought that the 7 million silver dollars would bankrupt the Kong family and eventually turn them into commoners, but he did not expect that the family was so rich that the direct descendants of the family had a family property of no less than 8 million! You know, 8 million silver dollars is not much different from more than 6 million taels of silver, which is more than three times the income of the national treasury in the early years of the Zhengde period.

Shandong Governor Pan Zhen never expected that his advice would prompt His Majesty to change the way he asked the Kong family for compensation, directly mobilizing the Jinyiwei and only confiscating the property of the direct descendants.

This meant that although Pan Zhen, the governor of Shandong, had received benefits from Kong Wenshao, he did not help him, and on the contrary, caused Kong Wenshao to suffer even greater losses! He did not even have the opportunity to transfer the compensation to other members of the clan.

Of course, Shandong Governor Pan Zhen did not feel any guilt about this.

In his opinion, he, as the governor, had made a good suggestion to his superiors, and he also received three thousand silver dollars. As for the confiscation of the Kong family, he naturally did not care too much about it. At most, he felt sympathy, but also regretted that the emperor did not let him, as the governor, confiscate the Kong Mansion, so that he could get more benefits through the confiscation.

Zhu Houzhao also knew that none of the officials were good people. He could guess that Shandong Governor Pan Zhen might have some connection with the Kong family, but he could not produce any evidence at the moment. Even if he was the emperor, he could not make the entire Ming officialdom clean at once. Confucians used literature to disrupt the law, and knights used force to break the ban. As the emperor, he could not use his imperial power to dictatorially punish these officials before their misdeeds became apparent.

But Zhu Houzhao would naturally not forgive those whose guilt had been proven, otherwise it would be enough to warn dishonest people.

Kong Wenyun was sentenced to death by slicing by Zhu Houzhao.

Other criminals who conspired with Kong Wenyun to manipulate grain prices and burn grain were also sentenced to death by slicing.

The Marquis of Yongchang was also sentenced to immediate execution.

Zhu Houzhao did not let Nie Zhen, the Minister of Justice, off the hook either, and directly wrote:

"As the Grand Chancellor of the Ming Dynasty, in charge of the laws, he broke the law knowingly, plotted to murder others in prison, and even tried to shield the suspect, deceiving the emperor and his superiors. His crime is even more serious, and he shall be sentenced to be quartered! His property shall be confiscated, and all the titles and privileges of his parents, wife, and children shall be revoked!"

"Your Majesty, Nie Zhen is an important official of the court. Although he is guilty, he should not be punished so harshly. I risk my life to plead for Lord Nie. I beg Your Majesty to revoke your order!"

Kang Hai crawled in front of Zhu Houzhao and replied, because in Kang Hai's opinion, it was common practice not to punish doctors. Even those who committed heinous crimes would be executed at most. After all, Nie Zhen was the Minister of Justice, and it was not treason and regicide. It was cruel to directly tore him apart by chariots!

At this time, Ouyang Dan, the Minister of Rites, who came with Kang Hai to report the matter, also prostrated himself:
"Your Majesty, I have risked my life to plead for Lord Nie. Although he broke the law knowingly and deceived the emperor, you should not be treated so harshly! Harsh laws are not good governance for the country, Your Majesty!"

"I originally intended to gradually reduce the severity of the laws and not to rule the country with harsh punishments, but the incident with Nie Zhen made me realize that the people are not only ignorant, but also you, and the Minister of Justice Nie Zhen who tried to help the Kong family escape responsibility and deceived his superiors! The people are also ignorant! All of you stand up!"

Zhu Houzhao pointed at the cabinet ministers kneeling in front of him and shouted.

Kang Hai and Ouyang Dan had no choice but to stand up. For a moment they didn't understand why His Majesty said that they, the court officials, were also ignorant.

"As the Minister of Justice, Nie Zhen should only handle cases according to the law. That is why when he advised that suspects like Kong Wenyun should be transferred to the Ministry of Justice according to procedures, I agreed with him. However, he took advantage of his position as the Minister of Justice and assassinated the suspects in an attempt to cover up the truth! He is protecting the Kong family! Is he a minister of the Ming Dynasty or a slave of the Kong family?"

"This kind of minister of justice is ignorant and does not know the concept of governing the country by law! Nor does he know the concept of putting national interests first! He only knows how to maintain the orthodoxy! In addition, there are you, how come you think you are important officials of the court, and then kneel down to beg me for mercy, and I should be deeply touched and give him Nie Zhen leniency?

You are already first-rank officials. Is it difficult for me to ask you to stand up? Why do you insist on kneeling down? Do you just like kneeling down? "

Zhu Houzhao roared in anger. He really realized that the so-called lack of enlightenment among the people did not just refer to the common people. Aren’t these knowledgeable Jinshi civil servants in the court also lacking enlightenment among the people?

Even these cabinet ministers, when they disagreed with the emperor, only thought of forcing the emperor to compromise by kneeling down, thinking that they could make the emperor surrender by giving up their dignity, rather than making suggestions based on rigorous logical analysis.

Kang Hai and Ouyang Dan both stood up. They did not expect His Majesty to be so furious, and they could not help but feel a little scared for a moment. But what frightened them even more was that they did not know who or why Their Majesty was angry. Therefore, they immediately backed down, shrank their necks, and waited for Emperor Zhu Houzhao's next instructions.

Seeing his two close ministers looking confused and frightened, Zhu Houzhao didn't know how to reprimand them, so he just ordered, "Listen to my order! Grand Secretary Kang Hai, supervise the execution, execute Nie Zhen immediately!"

"Yes, sir!" Kang Hai replied.

Now he didn't know what to do with his cabinet ministers. It seemed that kneeling down and begging was not a good idea, and standing up and singing against the emperor was not a good idea either. So he thought that he might as well just be a yes-man and do whatever the emperor told him to do.

Kang Hai even considered resigning because he found that he really could not understand the emperor.

"Woo woo, I don't want to die yet!"

When Kong Wenyun and his accomplices were being executed by slicing, Nie Zhen, the dismissed Minister of Justice, was also brought up. He had never expected that he would be sentenced to death by chariot simply because he had leaked some information to the Kong family and caused his people to accidentally kill someone. Therefore, he could not help but struggle hard and loudly asked Kang Hai, who was supervising the execution:
"Lord! Why do you want to dismember me? I am not a traitor!"

"Your Majesty said that when people are still ignorant, strict laws and severe punishments are the only way to stop lawlessness and disorder! If I don't tear you apart today, the next Minister of Justice will dare to continue to use his power to manipulate judicial justice!
This is not only a helpless move by the court, but also the only most effective way!
His Majesty said, Lord Nie, you should be happy, because your death today will be an example for future ministers of the Ministry of Justice to learn from! Your death completes the justice of the laws of the Ming Dynasty!"

Liu Yu followed Zhu Houzhao's instructions and gave the order: "Execute!"

"what!"

After a scream, Nie Zhen was torn into pieces by five horses.

Zhu Houzhao also issued an edict after the Mid-Autumn Festival in the 15th year of Zhengde, ordering the provincial inspection offices and the three judicial offices in the capital to enforce the law strictly and not to tolerate any criminals. He also required the provincial inspectors to strictly investigate cases of corruption and bribery. Once verified, the perpetrators would be skinned and flogged!

After all, it was really unacceptable that officials were still corrupt after Zhu Houzhao had greatly improved the treatment of Ming officials. Moreover, Zhu Houzhao had to admit that before the people's wisdom was awakened, that is, before the people's education and literacy were completely improved and effective civil supervision was formed, severe punishments were indeed the only way to maintain clean administration.

(End of this chapter)