Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 214 Permanent Abolition!

Wen Tiren bowed and took his leave, trembling with fear, leaving only Zhu Youjian in the large warm pavilion.

"Criminal Records" and "Warning Hall" are two physical hammers he intends to use to smash that entrenched gentry world.

But before the hammer falls, he must first use his pen to set the sole tone and the sole reason for this impending raging storm.

Zhu Youjian took a deep breath, completely suppressing the overwhelming murderous aura in his heart. His gaze fell on the pristine white paper, as if he could already see the faces of the gentry leaders in Jiangnan, shocked and angry after hearing about the Qufu massacre, preparing to launch a verbal attack.

After a long while, the purple brush in Zhu Youjian's hand finally moved.

With a flourish of the brush, its unique sharpness and spirit are freely expressed on the paper.

Two days later, early in the morning.

Countless fast horses galloped out from the imperial camp outside Qufu City, with the riders carrying specially made oilcloth wrappings on their backs, rushing off in all directions.

Their destinations were the various prefectures of Shandong, the capital, Henan, Shanxi... and even the more distant Jiangnan region.

What they carried were horrific bloodshed, the emperor's thunderous wrath, and stacks of freshly printed copies of the *Da Ming Daily*, the ink still warm from printing.

……

In a teahouse in Lixia District of Jinan Prefecture, the place was already bustling with noise just past Chenshi (7-9 AM), but the atmosphere was not noisy, but rather heavy and solemn.

The room was filled with scholars in blue robes, gathered in small groups, all with expressions of surprise, whispering excitedly.

"It's true! Absolutely true! News of his death has come from Qufu. The Duke Yansheng... was... was executed by slow slicing! The entire Kong family, including more than seventy ringleaders, has been executed!" A young scholar who had just received the news trembled, his face ashen.

"He's gone mad! The emperor has gone mad!" An old scholar's teacup clattered to the ground and shattered.

He stroked his goatee, his face filled with disbelief and fear. "Even if it was a heinous crime, he was still... the Duke Yansheng! He was of saintly blood! The face that had been passed down for two thousand years, just like that... torn to shreds by the Emperor himself?"

"It's more than just tearing them apart!" A richly dressed scholar at the next table slammed his fist on the table, his voice filled with grief and indignation. "This is a slap in the face to all the scholars in the world! This is a trampling of the orthodox tradition! If the emperor can treat the Duke of Yansheng like this today, he could put a butcher's knife to our necks tomorrow! Such a tyrannical and disrespectful ruler, how can we... how can we sit idly by!"

These words were like lighting a powder keg.

The immense fear and anger of "the rabbit mourns the fox's death, the lips are gone and the teeth are cold" quickly spread through the teahouse.

They may have heard of the arrogance of the Confucius family, but compared to the subversive horror of the imperial power slaughtering the descendants of the saint, those crimes were simply insignificant.

In their minds, the image of an emperor who was "tyrannical, murderous to saints, and destroying Confucianism" had already been formed.

Just then, a hurried commotion and the sound of horses' hooves came from outside the teahouse.

"Extra! Extra! Special edition of the Da Ming Daily! The truth about the crimes of the Duke of Yansheng's mansion has come to light! The Emperor himself has personally written the 'Edict of Self-Reproach' and the 'Edict of Respect for Confucius'!"

A newsboy's voice boomed like thunder.

The teahouse fell silent instantly. Everyone seemed frozen in place, staring intently at the entrance.

"What? A crime? And... the emperor's self-reproach?"

"The Edict on Honoring Confucius? He killed the Duke Yansheng, so how can he talk about honoring Confucius?!"

The next moment, everyone in the teahouse went crazy.

They rushed towards the door without regard for anything else, knocking over tables and chairs and spilling tea all over the floor.

Everyone wanted to see this thing, which was completely different from what they had imagined, as soon as possible.

The old scholar, who had just been denouncing the tyrant, took advantage of his seniority and seniority to snatch a copy first, and unfolded it with trembling hands.

Hundreds of eyes in the entire teahouse were focused on the newspaper in his hand.

The most prominent position on the front page featured large, bold characters, conveying a heavy sense of self-reflection and resolve.

Edict of Self-Reproach

"I, having inherited the throne through virtuous means... have now traveled south to Shandong to personally investigate the case in Qufu. Seeing the countless white bones and hearing the cries of wronged souls, I realize my own mistakes!"

The opening line, "It is my fault," sent the entire teahouse into silence. Everyone stared wide-eyed, thinking they had misread it.

After personally ordering the execution of the Duke of Yansheng by slow slicing, the first thing the Emperor did was admit that he was wrong?
The old scholar's hands trembled even more violently, but he continued reading:
"Duke Yansheng Kong Yinzhi, originally..." The newspaper meticulously listed Kong Yinzhi's numerous crimes, including deceiving heaven and earth, seizing land, disregarding human life, and privately amassing armor and soldiers. The details of the descriptions and the solidity of the evidence far exceeded the rumors circulating among the people.

However, just when everyone thought this was an attempt to justify the execution of the Duke Yansheng, the pen suddenly took a sharp turn, piercing directly at itself!

"...Confucius's crimes are heinous and unforgivable under the law! However, his crimes began with his greed and were completed due to my oversight! It is because I am an unwise ruler that such a beast in human clothing has been allowed to occupy a high position, wreak havoc on the sacred land, and tarnish the sacred name! This crime does not lie with Confucius alone, but with me personally!"

"I hereby apologize to all the people of the world! I apologize to the state of my Great Ming! I apologize to the most sage and teacher of the past two thousand years! I have used thunderous means to cleanse the holy land of its filth and to purge the traitors of Confucianism, but the oversight I have made is ultimately unforgivable!"

It’s his mother’s fault!

Everyone's minds went blank.

Their prepared proclamations denouncing the emperor's cruelty and the trampling of imperial authority on tradition vanished in an instant.

They brandished the fists of morality and etiquette, only to find that the other party did not defend himself at all. Instead, he cut open his chest, admitted his guilt, and "corrected" his mistakes in the most brutal way.

Can you still call an emperor a "tyrant" who just executed a descendant of a sage by slow slicing, yet immediately bowed to the world for this "fault of oversight"? If you do, wouldn't you seem even more unreasonable and heartless than the emperor?

Just as these scholars were mired in deep self-doubt and mental confusion, their gazes involuntarily drifted to the article below the "Edict of Self-Reproach," which was in a completely different style.

The title of this piece is only three words, yet it seems to carry a powerful, earth-shattering force.

Edict on Honoring Confucius

"Confucius, the teacher of all ages... is the foundation upon which our Chinese civilization stands, shining through the ages without ever dying."

However, the brushstrokes suddenly turned chilling and cold, filled with a fierce and murderous aura!
"However, how can the brilliance of sages be tarnished by villains? How can the pure reputation of the orthodox tradition be trampled upon by traitors! Now, the Duke Yansheng, Kong Yinzhi, as a descendant of a sage... goes against the tide, deceives his teacher and destroys his ancestors... His actions are not merely unworthy, but 'destroy the Way'! He is not a descendant of Kong, but a traitor to the Confucian school!"

"Thief!" This single word struck like a thunderbolt, resounding deep within everyone's soul!
"Therefore, what I am doing today is not to destroy Confucius, but to honor him!" "What I am doing today is not to destroy Confucianism, but to protect it!"

"The Duke Yansheng's mansion has become a festering sore in the Confucian school, and Kong Yinzhi has become a traitor to the sage! If the festering sore is not removed, the sage's body will be uneasy; if the traitor is not eliminated, the orthodox tradition will not be at peace! I, in the name of the Son of Heaven, will use thunderous means to execute this traitor, in order to cleanse the sect of the most holy teacher, to remove the poison from the bone! To restore a bright and clear world to Confucianism!"

"It is my fault, and the Confucian scholars' good fortune!"

When those last eight words struck the depths of everyone's minds like the resounding toll of a morning bell, everything changed.

For a moment, no one spoke in the teahouse except for heavy breathing and the clattering of teeth.

The scholar who had previously shouted "trampling on the orthodox tradition" turned from red to purple with frustration. His lips moved for a long time, but he was like a fish thrown ashore, unable to utter a single word.

How to refute it?
To criticize the emperor for being tyrannical? He has already openly admitted his guilt, taking the blame for "oversight" upon himself, lowering himself to the dust. If you continue to criticize him, you will be unforgiving and lack gentlemanly conduct, making you appear even more harsh than the emperor.

To accuse him of destroying Confucianism? He raised the banner of "honoring Confucius," branding Kong Yinzhi as a "traitor to Confucianism," and using swift and decisive measures to "clean house for the sage." If you oppose him, wouldn't you be openly declaring yourself an ally of "traitors to Confucianism"? Admitting that rotten carbuncle is the true orthodox Confucianism? Who can wear that label, and who dares to wear it?
This is a dead end! An impeccable conspiracy woven from lofty ideals, sage words, and bloody facts!
With a "crack," someone finally crushed the teacup in their hand due to excessive force, completely unaware that the scalding tea and porcelain shards had cut their palms.

He just stared intently at the sentence "It is my fault, but the Confucian scholars' fortune" on the newspaper, his eyes filled with humiliation, resentment, and the madness of having his throat choked and his intellect forcibly crushed.

The emperor perfectly distanced himself from the opposition of the Confucian family, and then stood beside Confucius, transforming into the most steadfast and authoritative guardian of the Confucian orthodoxy.

At this moment, all the disgruntled, angry, and terrified scholars in the teahouse painfully realized that although they were dissatisfied, they were unable to refute it!
……

If these two articles were merely a tremendous intellectual upheaval, then the second special issue of the *Da Ming Daily* concerning the Kong Family Case was a fatal blow aimed at undermining the very foundation upon which the entire literati relied for their existence.

This time, the emperor issued a formal edict from Qufu that was cold, clear, and left no room for argument.

With overwhelming force, it heralded a momentous change that would shake the very foundations of the nation and bring about a radical transformation!
The edict contained three parts:

Firstly, it is called "abolished".

"The lineage of the Duke Yansheng, the Kong family, has long enjoyed the Emperor's favor, yet their virtue is unworthy of their position, and their conduct is rebellious. They have no face to be descendants of the sage. I have already executed the ringleaders in Qufu. Now I proclaim to Heaven and Earth, and to all our ancestors, that from this day forward, the hereditary title of 'Duke Yansheng' is permanently abolished! This serves as a warning to all families in the world who hold hereditary titles, so that they may know that while the Emperor's favor is heavy, virtue is even more important. Without virtue, the favor will be severed!"

In a single sentence, like a mountain crashing down, that name, which had endured for two thousand years, was utterly crushed into dust. Not just temporarily suspended, but permanently abolished!

Secondly, it is called "collection".

"The Confucius Temple and Confucius Cemetery in Qufu are sacred sites for Confucian scholars from all over the world to pay homage to, and are not the private property of any one family or clan. From this day forward, they shall be placed under the direct administration of the Ministry of Rites of the Imperial Court, and the 'Supreme Sage and Teacher Sacrifice Academy' shall be established... All expenses shall be allocated from the national treasury to demonstrate the Imperial Court's respect for Confucius."

It truly cuts off the roots! It completely severs the bloodline and land rooted in this place for the descendants of Confucius, as well as their intricate web of interests.

Thirdly, it is called "establishment".

"To glorify the Holy Teachings and to reward virtue and talent, the position of 'Grand Priest of the Sacrificial Temple' has been established in the 'Sacrificial Temple of the Supreme Sage and Teacher'... This position is not hereditary, nor is it for life. No one is asked about their background or social status; only those whose virtue and learning are recognized by the Confucian community can be appointed!"

"...The Grand Priest, a third-rank official, is selected by the Grand Secretariat, the Hanlin Academy, and the Imperial Academy, who jointly recommend three candidates. The Emperor himself will then conduct a consultation to determine the best candidate. The term of office is three years...Their name will be engraved on the stone tablet in the Temple of Confucius, alongside the sages, and their fame will last for generations."

"This position represents the pinnacle of Confucianism and the pinnacle of scholar-officials. I wish to use this as a motto for all scholars in the world!"

An unprecedented storm, a mixture of ambition, desire, excitement, and fervor, swept across the entire Ming Dynasty!
The deposition of the Duke Yansheng only instilled fear, mixed with pleasure or hatred in the scholars.

The establishment of the "Grand Priest" ignited the spirits of all scholars in the Ming Dynasty, especially those from humble backgrounds!
The Duke Yansheng is like a star in the sky, something that can be admired but never reached.

But now, the emperor himself has torn down this ceiling that was blocking the heads of all scholars!
"Not asking about origins, not valuing social status!" What does this mean? It means that a poor scholar from Jiangxi or a schoolteacher from Huguang could replace the Duke Yansheng and stand on the altar that originally belonged only to the Confucius family, becoming the "leader of the Confucian school"!
Following the imperial edict, another report in the Da Ming Daily, titled "Rewards for Virtue: Talented Individuals Appointed Without Being Bound by Conventions," reported on several Shandong scholars and students who dared to testify in the "Qufu Case," and included the emperor's decree: Scholar Zhang Desheng was exceptionally promoted to the Imperial Academy; student Li Cunyi was specially appointed to the position of a ninth-rank patrol inspector!

A thousand pieces of gold to buy a horse's bones! Cashed out on the spot!

……

Jiangnan, Songjiang Prefecture, Qian Mansion.

Qian Qianyi and Qian Longxi, the two leaders of the Donglin Party, were sitting idly in the waterside pavilion in the back garden.

On the rosewood table in front of them, several copies of the *Da Ming Daily*, delivered by express courier from the north, were also laid out.

“Brother Muzhai…” Qian Longxi’s voice was dry and hoarse. He pointed at the “Edict of Self-Reproach,” his lips trembling, “How could he… kill someone and then plead guilty… This… this…”

"He kicked the Confucius family off their pedestal and then sat on it himself." After a long silence, Qian Qianyi finally spoke, his voice sounding like it was being ground from his throat. "He didn't kill 'Confucius,' he killed 'traitors to the Confucian school.' Then, he defined his act of killing the traitors as saving 'Confucius.' What a brilliant tactic, truly brilliant!"

"That's not even the worst part!" Qian Longxi picked up the second newspaper, his hands trembling like leaves in the wind. "Abolish the titles of nobility, seize the Confucian Temple, and establish a high priest! This is cutting off the source of the problem! This is a blatant conspiracy!"

He slammed his hand on the table, his face contorted with fear: "He has turned the Confucian family from a sacred symbol into a corrupt obstacle that blocks the path of all scholars! Who will sympathize with the Confucian family now? Who dares to sympathize with the Confucian family? To sympathize with the Confucian family is to be an enemy of all the poor scholars in the world!"

"The Kong family... has already died twice in the eyes of public opinion." Qian Qianyi closed his eyes, his face filled with despair. "Not only did they execute Kong Yinzhi by slow slicing in Qufu, but they also used these few newspapers to completely erase the sanctity of the 'Duke Yansheng' from everyone's minds and memories. From now on, the Kong family of Qufu will only be a symbol of greed, stupidity, and evil."

“The most insidious thing is that phrase, ‘I don’t care about birth or social status!’” Qian Longxi said, almost groaning. “The emperor used a vague and illusory position of ‘High Priest’ to win over the hearts of ninety percent of the scholars in the land!”

The two looked at each other and saw the same emotion in each other's eyes: a deep-seated fear.

He was able to uproot the Confucian family, which had a history of two thousand years, on his way south, using such unbelievable yet flawless methods, and also win over the hearts of scholars all over the world.

So... what are they in Jiangnan, the real target of his trip?
Qian Longxi's body began to tremble violently.

The unseen blade, along with the emperor's carriage traveling south, is drawing ever closer.

This time, however, they were no longer able to raise the banner of the orthodox tradition to resist.

Because the emperor had taken the banner from their hands and polished it to make it even shinier and more sacred.

“Brother Muzhai…” Qian Longxi’s voice was already choked with sobs, “His Majesty… is on his way! His dealing with the Kong family was just an appetizer, a bloody warning! He dared to touch even the Kong family and the vassal kings, let alone you and me!”

"We can't stay here any longer..."

"Where to?" Qian Qianyi's face turned ashen.

“Japan, Siam, Luzon! I’ll go anywhere!” Qian Longxi suddenly stood up, his eyes filled with terror and determination. “If I stay in the Ming Dynasty, I’ll be crushed like an ant sooner or later! I… I don’t want to be slowly sliced ​​to death!”

Outside the waterside pavilion, the spring breeze rippled the clear water of the pond, also dispelling the last vestiges of tranquility and serenity in Jiangnan!

(End of this chapter)