Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 340 Foolish Means

Yan Mansion.

Yan Gonghong was the 61st generation grandson of Yan Hui and had his own residence in the capital.

After the two brothers of Duke Yansheng arrived in Beijing, they stayed at Yan's house to rest.

After Kong Hongxu's article was published in newspapers today, he was confident that Chen Ce would come to find him after reading it.

If public opinion ferments with such heart-wrenching words, Chen Ce will have no chance to save himself. He can only ask the Kong family for help as soon as possible to save his life.

Kong Hongxu is very confident.

In the article published in today's newspapers, he used the reputation of Yansheng Duke instead of his own.

Duke Yansheng had a very high reputation in the Ming Dynasty and was a role model for scholars all over the world. Only by using his reputation to publish this article would it have appeal.

But today, he waited from morning till night, but still did not see Chen Ce come to see him.

Is he really not afraid of death? Or does he simply not understand the power of this article? Does he really not know that sometimes an article can kill people?
Is this businessman really a fool?

"Someone is coming."

In the evening, Kong Hongxu finally couldn't help but call Yan Gonghong over.

"What's going on outside now?"

According to Kong Hongxu's prediction, the scholars outside must be in an uproar now, with voices condemning Chen Ce rising one after another and public opinion everywhere.

Tomorrow morning, the court will openly attack Chen Ce, and eventually Chen Ce will be arrested and brought to the Ministry of Justice for questioning... Of course, all this was what he had imagined.

However, Yan Gonghong said, "Master Kong, there is nothing going on outside."

Ok?
Kong Hongxu was slightly stunned, and asked in astonishment: "Are there no scholars in the teahouses and restaurants in the streets and alleys who denounce Chen Ce?"

Yan Gonghong said: "Yes, there are, but very few. Most of the scholars are...are..."

Kong Hongxu asked: "What is it?"

"Take the initiative to defend Chen Ce."

what?
What's wrong with this generation of scholars? They don't respect the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, but instead speak for a mere merchant? They are the opposite of Tian Gang!
Yan Gonghong said: "That group of scholars refuted that Chen Ce was not guilty, but benefited the country and the people, and made more scholars have a bite to eat. They should be grateful to Chen Ce. This voice is more than those who denounce Chen Ce."

Kong Hongxu was extremely shocked. What was going on? What about the prestige of the Kong family in the hearts of scholars? What about the prestige of Duke Yansheng?
How come instead of making Chen Ce suffer any punishment, it seems that he is now gaining fame?
Yan Gonghong swallowed his saliva and said to Kong Hongxu: "To some extent, it has indeed made Chen Ce famous. People who didn't know Chen Ce before have now begun to understand him, and they respect and appreciate Chen Ce very much."

Kong Hongxu's beard trembled slightly and his expression looked extremely ugly.

He thought that this method could force Chen Ce to come see him and even apologize, but the result was counterproductive.

He didn't understand and found it difficult to comprehend the thoughts of this group of scholars.

"What does the court say?"

Yan Gonghong shook his head and said, "Master Kong, the court also needs to consider the pressure from public opinion. Now all the scholars are in favor of Chen Ce. Even the court would not dare to arrest Chen Ce at will."

Kong Hongxu clenched his fists and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

A voice came from outside. Kong Hongtai dragged his sick body over with the help of servants and said to Kong Hongxu: "Let's go meet that kid tomorrow."

Kong Hongtai said hurriedly: "No!"

Kong Hongxu pressed his hand and said, "Listen to me, go meet him tomorrow. Also, you shouldn't publish that article randomly. It makes our Kong family look petty."

Listening to his brother's scolding, Kong Hongtai wanted to refute, but finally chose to shut up.

"Well, I'll go with you to meet him tomorrow."

Kong Hongxu nodded: "Yes."...

"Chen Ce...Chen Ce."

Cabinet, Liu Jian seemed to have heard this name somewhere, Xie Qian suddenly said: "The emperor seems to have mentioned him several times."

Liu Jian just remembered and said puzzledly: "The Duke of Yansheng published in the newspaper that he was the one who suggested to open the school of the Earl of Changning's family."

"Do you think he did it intentionally or unintentionally?"

When Liu Jian said this, Li Dongyang and Xie Qian were both stunned.

It would be fine if it was unintentional, but if he intentionally promoted the opening of such schools, then this kid's ambitions would be very big!

The three ministers did not stay in the cabinet for long. When the time was almost up, they went to the Fengtian Hall to attend court.

Today is a small court meeting.

The six ministries of the cabinet gathered together. The article written by Duke Yansheng had a great influence, so the Ministry of Rites asked Emperor Hongzhi whether he wanted to arrest Chen Ce.

The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works were the first to come out in opposition, and asked what crime the Ministry of Rites had committed.

Regardless of whether he was the one who asked Changning Earl Zhou to open an accounting school, even if he was, the Ministry of Rites should have condemned and held accountable the Zhou family rather than Chen Ce, right?

The three elders of the cabinet said nothing, but just watched the six ministries debate indifferently.

Emperor Hongzhi pressed his hand and said, "The people will make their own judgment on right and wrong. Who do the people support?"

The Ministry of Justice stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, many scholars in the society support Chen Ce."

Emperor Hongzhi said, "Isn't that right? If the court arrested Chen Ce, it would be a move that won the support of the people. If that's the case, why arrest Chen Ce and punish him?"

The third cabinet minister looked at Emperor Hongzhi thoughtfully.

It is obvious that there are not only people in the court who favor Chen Ce, but also quite a few of them, and even Emperor Hongzhi is protective of Chen Ce.

The three cabinet ministers are all shrewd old foxes, and the name Chen Ce is temporarily deeply imprinted in their hearts.

……

Imperial College.

High Priest Xie Duo looked at this morning's newspaper and felt a little disappointed. He had thought that Duke Yansheng was so great, but it turned out that he had become stupid because of reading too much.

Did he really not understand the current situation at all? He actually used such a low-level method to attack Chen Ce?
He thought he would see a big debate between Chen Ce and Yanshenggong Confucius, but now it seems that he was overthinking.

There was no need for Chen Ce to take action, the people of Confucius were defeated on their own.

This method is really stupid. The scholars in the society will not support you just because you are the Duke of Yansheng. Instead, it will make them support Chen Ce even more.

Grand Priest Xie shook his head in disappointment and threw the newspaper aside.

……

On the way to Huaihua Hutong, Kong Hongxu looked at the newspaper in his hand, sighed slightly, and said to Kong Hongtai: "Brother, I told you that you should be low-key and not show off in everything, and be kind to others. We are reasonable in looking for Chen Ce. How can you be reasonable with him by publishing this article?"

"If the scholars in the society see this, they will only think that our Kong family is bullying others by taking advantage of our power. This move will not only make us lose the support of the people, but will also make many high-ranking figures look down on our Kong family."

"Your move... is really a stupid one! Next time, don't act on your own before doing anything."

Kong Hongtai was very unhappy. Over the years, he was always scolded by his younger brother, both in front of others and behind their backs, just because he was the orthodox Yansheng Duke.

This honor should have belonged to me, but my younger brother took advantage of it. How can I accept this?

(End of this chapter)