I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 216 The List is Out! The Weight of Public Opinion Outweighs the Dignity of the Sage.

July 22nd, early morning.

The back office of the Qufu County Government.

Shen Nian, Shi Qing, Tang Xianzu, and Zhao Xian, the governor of Shandong, sat facing each other.

Shen Nian looked at the three of them and spoke first: "Half an hour ago, the Duke of Yansheng sent the memorial to the capital by post. It is expected that His Majesty's decree will reach Qufu County around midnight on the fourth day. I suggest that we must move the statue of the sage in Dacheng Hall and find the list of members of the Zhongxin Society before sunset on the fourth day!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian was taken aback.

“Shen…Lecturer, what does this mean? Didn’t you agree with the Duke of Yansheng last night that His Majesty’s decree would decide whether to move the statue of the Sage?”

Shen Nian shook his head slightly.

"Based on my understanding of His Majesty and the three Grand Secretaries, they will surely require us to first find evidence that the Zhongxin Society's register is hidden in the Dacheng Hall before they will allow us to move it. However, Xue Zheng is now dead, and it will be difficult for us to find evidence. If this matter is delayed, the register may be destroyed by some people. Therefore, we must act decisively, even if we are punished and have a criminal charge, we must move the statue and find the register immediately!"

Tang Xianzu straightened his chest and said, "If we offer sacrifices, burn incense and offer wine before moving the statue, the most we can do is eighty strokes of the cane, which I can accept!"

“I can accept that too, but it will probably take some effort to disperse the Kong family members who are guarding the statue!” said Shi Qing, a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Both of them knew that some things couldn't be delayed, because if they were, the truth might never be found.

In addition, this is a major event involving the "Confucian orthodoxy".

Emperor Wanli had to consider the court's respect for Confucianism, so even if he wanted to move the statue of the emperor, he would not write "agree" in his memorial.

Shen Nian and the other two were focused on how to complete the mission, and they thought it was worth it to be punished for it.

"I disagree! If we can find the list of names under the statue of the saint, the sin might be less serious. But what if we can't find it? Who will bear the blame for blasphemy against the saint, or even for the greatest disrespect? Don't you care about your own careers at all?"

Shen Nian said, "We will definitely find it!"

"Where do you get your confidence from?" Zhao Xian asked, puzzled.

Shen Nian said seriously, "We have ruled out all other hiding places. This one place, however unbelievable it may seem, must be where the anonymous book is hidden."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian was both amused and exasperated.

There is absolutely no empirical evidence.

"Nonsense! Utter nonsense! You two are imperial envoys, I can't control you, but I can choose not to get involved!" Zhao Xian stood up and was about to leave.

Shen Nian looked at Zhao Xian.

“Governor Zhao, you may choose not to participate, but afterwards we will immediately impeach you for negligence in supervision, dereliction of duty, and protecting corrupt officials and acquiescing to your subordinates. I believe that, given the abilities of myself and Commander Shi, it will be no problem to get you to retire and go home!”

"Shen Nian, you...you...you dare to threaten me?" Zhao Xian, who was usually good-tempered, was completely enraged by Shen Nian.

"So what if I threaten you! The list of members of the Loyalty Society has turned Yanzhou Prefecture into the Xue family's private domain. They disregard the laws of the Ming Dynasty, collude with powerful figures, and seek personal gain, turning this sacred Confucian land into a cesspool. Isn't this a dereliction of duty on your part as governor?"

"Some of the officials on the list may still be redeemed, while others must be severely punished. If we don't find them and give the people of Yanzhou an explanation, even if we kill Xue Zheng, there will be a second Xue Zheng!"

"The reason why the governance of counties and townships in our country is so chaotic at present is because there are too many cases of powerful people colluding with each other to seek personal gain! Only by taking this case as a negative example and announcing it to the world can we reduce the occurrence of such things."

"And you, as the head of a province, only think about your own career advancement and performance evaluation. Have you ever thought about what you have truly done for the people while serving as an official? Now, I suspect that you are also on the list!"

……

Zhao Xian's face burned from Shen Nian's scolding, and he wished he could disappear into the ground.

He paused for a moment, then sat back down and looked at Shen Nian, saying, "You make the arrangements. I do care about the people of Shandong!"

At this moment, Zhao Xian was about to leave.

This will only increase Shen Nian's suspicion that he is also on the list.

If the list cannot be found, Shen Nian could report this suspicion to the imperial court, which would almost certainly end his career.

Then, Shen Nian explained the strategy she had come up with the night before.

"Moving the statue must be done with a legitimate reason. I suggest that the county government immediately issue a public notice to inform all the people of Qufu County about the Zhongxin Society, an evil cult, and also spread the news that the Zhongxin Society's list may be hidden in the Confucius Temple, so that the people can discuss whether or not to move the statue for investigation."

“I believe that the vast majority of the people in the countryside will agree with us moving the statue of the saint. In this way, we can move the statue of the saint under the guise of following the will of the people.”

"It is estimated that this public opinion will spread within three days."

"In the past three days, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has been responsible for studying how to move the statue of the Sage quickly and how to resist the obstruction of the Kong family, and must ensure that the statue of the Sage is not damaged."

"Furthermore, I would like to trouble Governor Zhao to write a 'Proclamation on Moving the Saint's Image,' which we will recite in front of the Dacheng Hall before moving the saint's image. In addition, we will organize a group of people to pray and watch, and then all the necessary ceremonies will be complete!"

"As long as we can find the list, we can offset our sins with our merits. After the sins are shared, we can definitely withstand it!"

"Early on the fourth day, we will go to the Dacheng Hall of the Confucius Temple, first burn incense and offer wine, then read the sacrificial text for moving the statue, and then forcibly move the statue of the sage. As long as we can find the list of names, the Kong family will be guilty of failing to protect the Confucius Temple, and they will stop making noise and causing trouble!"

……

"Does anyone have any objections?" Shen Nian asked.

“No objection!”

Shi Qing and Tang Xianzu said in unison that Shen Nian's actions had minimized their sins and were the most appropriate course of action.

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Xian said, "I have no objection either."

……

At noon that day.

Tang Xianzu then ordered his yamen runners to post the notice on the streets of the county town, inside and outside the city gates, and in the villages.

As Shen Nian had predicted, the people of Qufu County reacted strongly.

After learning that Xue Zheng had died and that Marquis Yangwu, Xue Bian, had been imprisoned in the county jail, some people reported the crimes committed by the Xue family to the county government.

And this moment.

In front of the Dacheng Hall of the Confucius Temple, in addition to more than ten Imperial Guards, there were nearly a hundred guards from the Confucius family.

They were terrified that the Embroidered Uniform Guard would forcefully move the statue of the sage.

Once the list is found, the Kong family will be guilty of failing to properly protect the ancestral temple, and the Duke Yansheng will certainly be the principal offender.

……

Night fell, and the moon and stars were few.

After having dinner, Duke Yansheng Kong Shangxian wandered around the Dacheng Hall for nearly an hour before returning to the Duke Yansheng's residence.

These past two days, he hasn't dared to sleep at all, nor has he been able to sleep at all.

Because he knew that the list of members of the Loyal and Faith Society was indeed hidden beneath the statue of the saint.

Although he was not a member of the Zhongxin Society, he made an agreement with Xue Zheng for money. Xue Zheng would hide the list of members of the Zhongxin Society under a mechanism under the statue of a saint, and Kong Shangxian would protect it. In return, Xue Zheng would pay Kong Shangxian 10,000 taels of silver every year for safekeeping.

Because Xue Zheng would lock the wooden box with a lock every time he stored the list of names, the Duke Yansheng had no idea what the list contained.

He feared that Xue Zheng would record their transaction in the register, and even if he didn't, he would still be held responsible for failing to protect the ancestral temple.

Kong Shangxian felt that the imperial court would certainly not allow Shen Nian and others to move the statue of the saint without evidence.

As long as the statue doesn't move, he is in a completely safe position.

Currently, before the imperial edict arrives.

What he feared most was Shen Nian forcefully moving the saint statue.

In the past two days, many people in the county and townships have been inclined to move the statue of the saint in order to seek the truth.

This made Kong Shangxian feel somewhat uneasy.

He placed a dagger by his bedside, threatening to commit suicide if he learned that Shen Nian had sent people to forcibly move the statue of the saint.

He believed that, given the title of "Duke Yansheng," Shen Nian would certainly not dare to act recklessly.

……

Late on the third night, in the room of Shi Qing, a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Three Imperial Guards stood before him.

One of the Imperial Guards whispered, "Boss, are we really going to do this? Isn't it a bit despicable? Are we really not going to inform Scholar Shen?" "No! The plan is despicable, but it works. I have to consider the future of my brothers. If anything goes wrong, I'll take the blame!"

Shi Qing plans to put sleeping potion in the breakfast and tea of ​​all the guards at the Confucius Temple and Kong Shangxian's family early tomorrow morning.

in this way.

They could reduce a lot of trouble when moving the statues of saints.

He didn't tell Shen Nian because he wanted to bear the blame himself.

It's perfectly normal for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to use any means necessary to achieve their goals.

However, if it were to be revealed that Shen Nian ordered them to use sleeping pills, it would damage Shen Nian's reputation and affect his career.

Therefore, Shi Qing had to keep it a secret from Shen Nian.

In addition, this method effectively avoids accidents when moving the statue. If the emperor were to lose an arm or a leg in the scramble and pushing, the Imperial Guards responsible for moving the statue would be severely punished.

With the sleeping potion, Shi Qing could take the blame for even greater crimes upon himself.

……

On the morning of the fourth day, as the sun rose.

Shen Nian, Zhao Xian, Shi Qing, and Tang Xianzu, along with the Imperial Guards, soldiers, clerks, and hundreds of onlookers, arrived in a grand procession in front of the Confucius Temple and the Dacheng Hall.

Shen Nian was puzzled to find that there were no Kong family guards in front of the Dacheng Hall, and then looked at Shi Qing.

Shi Qing chuckled sheepishly and said, "They were all knocked out by sleeping pills!"

"Next time you use drugs to do this kind of thing, be sure to tell me. I'm not ashamed!" Shen Nian said this, naturally to take responsibility.

"Okay!" Shi Qing nodded readily.

Immediately, Shen Nian looked around and shouted, "Keep everything simple and proceed with the ceremony quickly!"

Ever since.

Led by Tang Xianzu, the people of Qufu County burned incense and offered wine in prayer. Then, Zhao Xian, the governor of Shandong, quickly recited the sacrificial text "Moving the Statue of the Sage" at twice the speed.

The sacrificial ceremony, which would normally take at least half an hour to complete, was finished by Shen Nian and his group in less than a quarter of an hour.

At this moment, the Kong family had not yet arrived.

Shi Qing looked at Shen Nian, and after Shen Nian nodded to him, he shouted, "Brothers, follow me into the hall!"

Suddenly.

The Imperial Guards responsible for moving the statue of the sage quickly entered the Dacheng Hall with their tools.

Next, they will move all the statues of Confucius, the Four Sages, and the Twelve Philosophers from their original locations.

First examine the statue, then examine the base of the statue.

"Be gentle, be very gentle!" Shandong Governor Zhao Xian kept shouting at the door. He had never done anything so thrilling before.

Meanwhile, inside the Duke Yansheng's mansion.

Wow!

A bowl of cold water was splashed on the face of Duke Yansheng, Kong Shangxian, who slowly opened his eyes.

"Master, something terrible has happened! Those two imperial messengers have led a large group of people into the Dacheng Hall! All our guards have been drugged with sleeping pills!"

"Shen Nian, I'm going to kill you!"

Kong Shangxian picked up the dagger beside him and ran quickly toward the Confucius Temple, followed by a group of Kong family guards.

……

Inside the Dacheng Hall.

It took the Imperial Guards more than fifteen minutes to finally move all the statues to their new positions, and then they began to carefully inspect them.

Shen Nian and the others waited anxiously outside.

Just then, Duke Yansheng Kong Shangxian arrived with a large group of his family members.

"Shen Nian, you...you have broken your promise and blasphemed the Sage Confucius. This is extremely disrespectful. Get all these people out here!"

“Duke Yansheng, the will of the people cannot be defied. The list of members of the Loyalty Society is related to the interests of all the people of Qufu County. I have no choice but to offend the sage, but I believe that the will of the people is more important than the dignity of the sage. I believe that if Confucius knew this in the afterlife, he would not blame me!”

Shen Nian deliberately raised her voice.

These words were prepared long ago, so that he could use them as a basis when Kong Shangxian impeached him, and the surrounding people would all be witnesses.

"Get out here now! Otherwise... otherwise I will die in front of the Dacheng Hall and use my blood to cleanse you of your blasphemy against my ancestors of the Confucius family!"

Kong Shangxian placed the dagger against his neck and glared angrily at Shen Nian.

Shen Nian never expected Kong Shangxian to dare to do this.

He never thought Kong Shangxian was on the list; at most, he thought it was just that the Kong family guards protecting the Dacheng Hall had been bribed by Xue Zheng.

But at this moment, he felt that there was something wrong with Kong Shangxian.

At this moment, Zhao Xian, the governor of Shandong, became anxious.

"Duke Yansheng, please...please don't do anything rash. We'll stop immediately and get them out right away!"

If the Duke Yansheng were forced to his death under such circumstances, they would be infamous for eternity.

Knowing that Shi Qing would only obey Shen Nian's orders, Zhao Xian immediately looked at Shen Nian and said, "Shen Shijiang, quickly bring out the Embroidered Uniform Guards!"

Shen Nian looked at Kong Shangxian with a gloomy expression.

"Are you... are you trying to force me to my death?" Kong Shangxian brought the dagger close to his neck again, and a bloody gash quickly appeared on his neck.

Just then, a loud voice came from inside the Dacheng Hall.

"We've found the directory of Chung Shin Society members!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Nian, Zhao Xian, and Tang Xianzu all became excited.

"boom!"

Kong Shangxian dropped his dagger to the ground, and then collapsed to the floor.

"Send two people to take care of Duke Yansheng immediately!" Shen Nian said.

At this moment, Shen Nian was certain that the Duke Yansheng knew about the fact that the register of names was kept in the Dacheng Hall.

……

After a while.

The Imperial Guards moved the five mahogany boxes out from under different base mechanisms and then quickly smashed off the copper locks on them.

Suddenly, forty-eight directories of the Chung Hsin Society appeared before everyone.

Shen Nian, Zhao Xian, Shi Qing, and Tang Xianzu picked up the booklet and began to read it carefully.

The contents were shocking.

It contains detailed information about each member of the Zhongxin Society, including the bribes they received, the illegal and disorderly conduct they committed, their handwritten membership forms, and so on.

Within the inner volume.

There were eunuchs from the capital, officials from the Six Ministries, and in Shandong Province, in addition to the Provincial Administration Commissioner and the Imperial Inspector, there were also Left Councilors of the fourth rank, Records Officers of the sixth rank, Prison Officers of the ninth rank, and Inspectors of the Bureau of Investigation and Verification.

Just then, Shen Nian saw the name of Duke Yansheng, Kong Shangxian.

"Duke Yansheng Kong Shangxian, a close friend of the Zhongxin Society, receives an annual stipend of ten thousand taels of silver and is responsible for keeping the list of members of the Zhongxin Society," Shen Nian read out directly.

"Kong Shangxian, you have truly disgraced Confucius! The Duke Yansheng should be replaced!"

Upon hearing this, Kong Shangxian's eyes rolled back and he fainted.

(End of this chapter)