It was early December, and the cold wind was blowing.
Xiao Ruxun led the army into Shandong and captured Jining after a short period of weak resistance. After that, Xiao Ruxun ordered the army to reorganize in Jining. Then, he took Ye Mengxiong, Yuan Huang, and other civil officials and personally led the army to attack Ziyang County, the capital of Yan Province.
On the fifth day of the twelfth month, the magistrate of Yan Province and the magistrate of Ziyang County surrendered without a fight. They offered up the city to welcome Xiao Ruxun. Xiao Ruxun entered the city easily and ordered the magistrate of Yan Province to persuade them to surrender to Qufu City, the hometown of Confucius and the residence of the current Duke Yan, Kong Shangxian.
How could they not worship Confucius?
Hehehehe …
The magistrate of Qufu was also a member of the Kong family and had been a member of the Kong family for generations. He was very sensible and opened the door to surrender. Xiao Ruxun entered Qufu City without firing a shot.
Before entering Qufu City, Xiao Ruxun took off his armor and put on the clothes of Duke Qin. The other party was also a duke. In this regard, they were of the same rank in the imperial court and could provide convenience for Xiao Ruxun.
Kong Shangxian also led the main members of his family to the city gate to welcome Xiao Ruxun.
The descendants of Confucius had always been sensible. When the Jin and Song were enemies, there was a Duke Yan on each side and they were called the Northern and Southern Sects. When the Jin and Jin existed at the same time, there were even three Duke Yans. It was not until the unification of the Mongol Yuan Empire that there was only one Duke Yan.
When the Manchurian Qing first came to the Central Plains, the Kong family submitted a petition to persuade them. Dorgon was happy to see that the descendants of the Kong family were so obedient. Out of the need to stabilize the rule, he continued to protect the honor of the Kong family and was still titled Duke Yan. He could also ride horses in the Forbidden City and inherit the title of Qufu County Magistrate. He enjoyed all kinds of privileges.
The rulers of the past were well aware that the Kong family was just a tool in their hands to win over the scholars.
Since the Kong Clan was so obedient and respectful, gaining the Kong Clan's persuasion was equivalent to gaining the support of the scholars. Moreover, all he had to do was give them an empty title and grant them a piece of land in Qufu. Then, he could obtain the entire world. Why wouldn't he be happy?
Since the beginning of the Song Dynasty, the title of Duke Yan had been maintained for hundreds of years. No matter how much the land of China changed, the Kong family would not budge. They would provide the rightful title to whoever was the ruler in exchange for the special treatment of a ruler. For the Kong family, this was also a very good deal.
That was why the Kong Family was able to continue to exist. It was all because of their intelligence and practicality that they became the number one family in China throughout the ages.
As the spiritual leader of all the scholars in the world, aside from the top-notch scholars who clearly understood their true nature, many of the hotheads who had yet to undergo the tempering of observation still held the Kong Family in high esteem. Strictly speaking, the books they read were the intellectual property of the Kong Family's Confucian School, and they were their spiritual disciples.
Therefore, the Kong Consortium was still very influential.
Xiao Ruxun would never make an enemy of the Kong Consortium, certainly not now. On the contrary, he would send troops to protect the Kong Consortium, maintain the Kong Consortium's local interests, protect the Kong Consortium's land and property, and allow them to continue living a comfortable life.
As for paying a visit to the Kong Consortium, it was Ye Mengxiong's suggestion. Ye Mengxiong believed that paying a visit to the Kong Consortium was a very important political signal. With the Kong Consortium's support, he could suppress Shen Yicheng in the name of the rightful title, reduce the resentment of the scholars, and gain the advantage of righteousness in eliminating Shen Yicheng in the future.
The government team unanimously agreed, and so did the accompanying civil officials who had nothing better to do. Therefore, Xiao Ruxun openly used the name of Duke Daming Qin to pay a visit to the Kong Consortium.
The Kong Consortium was very tactful. Duke Yan, Kong Shangxian, personally came out of the city to welcome him. Of course, Xiao Ruxun also gave the Kong Consortium enough face. He dismounted from his horse from afar, walked up to Kong Shangxian, and bowed deeply to him.
"Xiao Ruxun pays his respects to Duke Yan!"
Kong Shangxian quickly returned the greeting.
"Not at all, not at all. Kong Shangxian pays his respects to Duke Qin."
Then, the two of them got up at the same time and smiled at each other.
"The Kong Consortium is very happy to have Duke Qin here. I have ordered my family to prepare some wine in the city. Duke Qin, please come with me. We will continue in the city."
"Then, I will have to trouble you."
Xiao Ruxun naturally accepted Kong Shangxian's good intentions.
The two of them walked side by side in front, with countless people behind them. The group slowly entered Qufu. The army was stationed outside the city and did not enter.
"In recent years, the country has been at war frequently. Is Duke Yan doing well in Qufu? If there is anything you need, you can tell me. I will do it for you. "
Kong Shangxian hesitated for a moment before slowly saying, "Although the country is at war frequently, thanks to the blessings of our ancestors and the protection of His Majesty, the Kong Consortium is still stable. Qufu is still peaceful and has not been affected."
"Mm, that's good. I am just worried that the world is not stable. Qufu is vulnerable to attacks from the surrounding bandits and bandits, which could pose a threat to the Kong Consortium. Today, I have also brought a group of troops with me. There are not many of them, only a thousand, and they are all elites. With this army stationed in Qufu to protect the Temple of Confucius, I am sure that nothing will go wrong. Duke Yan, you can rest assured."
Xiao Ruxun looked at Kong Shangxian with a smile.
Kong Shangxian was taken aback at first, but then his face was full of smiles.
"Hahaha, how can I not respect Duke Qin's kind intentions? I have long heard that Duke Qin is skilled in training and leading troops, and that you are the number one general in the Daming. With Duke Qin's troops protecting Qufu, there will be no more worries! Hahahahaha … "
What a smooth talker!
Xiao Ruxun was very impressed with his eloquence.
It was no wonder that the Kong Consortium had been able to stand for a thousand years.
"It's alright, it's just a little help. Although I am a martial artist, I have a rough understanding of literature, and I have great respect for the Sage of Confucius. It has always been my wish to do something for the Sage's descendants. Today, my wish has finally been fulfilled, and I have to thank you, Duke Yan."
Kong Shangxian pondered for a moment and keenly sensed that there was something else going on.
"It is the Kong Consortium's honor to be able to work for the Daming Dynasty. The Kong Consortium has been greatly indebted to the Emperor for generations, and we dare not be careless."
He decided to test Xiao Ruxun.
"That's only natural."
Xiao Ruxun smiled and said, "You and I are both subjects of the Daming Dynasty, and it is only natural for us to be loyal to His Majesty. However, with His Majesty in trouble and treacherous officials ruling the court, I had no choice but to mobilize my troops in order to restore the legitimacy of the Daming Dynasty. I wonder if it is the fifth day of the twelfth month of the 26th year of the Wanli calendar, or the first year of the twelfth month of the Taichang calendar?"
Kong Shangxian's heart skipped a beat.
Then, his mind raced.
"As a subject, I should be loyal to my duty. There is only the 26th year of the Wanli calendar in the world today, so how can it be the first year of the Taichang calendar?"
Kong Shangxian was very serious.
However, he put his hands behind his back and made a gesture that only his trusted aides could understand, asking him to go home first and burn the imperial edict of the Taichang calendar that Shen Yicheng had sent to the court.
That thing was now equivalent to a death warrant!
Then, he had to quickly contact people in the capital and find a way to destroy the congratulatory watch sent by the Kong Consortium before Xiao Ruxun killed Shen Yicheng. That was a congratulatory watch of the Taichang calendar written in Kong Shangxian's name. Whether it was the restoration of the Emperor or Xiao Ruxun's rise to power, if the Kong Consortium was caught red-handed, they would not be able to get anything out of it!
"Shen Yicheng, Shen Yicheng, if you dare to harm my family, I will not let you off!"
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