Chapter 592
The Censor Impeaches the Kong Family!
The darkness before dawn had not yet completely faded, and only a faint glimmer of light appeared on the eastern horizon.
The winter wind, already carrying a biting chill, howled as it swept across the empty Huangji Hall Square.
However, this chilling atmosphere did not deter the court officials.
Since the great victories of pacifying Liaodong and pacifying Chao, today marks the first day that the emperor has officially assumed court, a momentous occasion.
"Boom-thump-thump-"
The deep and resonant sound of the Jingyang Bell echoed over the Forbidden City, breaking the silence of dawn.
The palace gates opened one after another, and under the guidance of the eunuchs, the officials filed in and stood solemnly in the majestic Hall of Supreme Harmony according to their rank.
The enormous golden pillar with coiled dragons, the towering caisson ceiling, and the dragon throne suspended in mid-air all exude a breathtaking majesty.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
With a sharp yet drawn-out announcement from the eunuch in charge of ceremonies, Emperor Chongzhen, surrounded by several eunuchs, slowly appeared on the steps of the imperial road and entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony, which symbolized supreme power.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
The thunderous roar of worship echoed through the vast, towering palace, making everyone's eardrums buzz. Officials knelt, foreheads touching the ground, not daring to look up.
Emperor Chongzhen sat down on the dragon throne.
By the light of the countless thick tallow candles in the hall, some sharp-eyed ministers secretly raised their eyes and noticed that His Majesty's face seemed a little pale, with faint dark circles under his eyes, and his expression revealed an undisguised fatigue, and even a hint of absent-mindedness.
That's not hard to understand.
In the past two years, Emperor Chongzhen had been fighting in the harsh and cold land of Liaodong, enduring wind and rain, and had also been traveling around the recovered Korean Peninsula. After returning to the capital, he only had three days of rest before facing the long-awaited and inevitably tedious court assembly.
Physical exhaustion was secondary; the greater burden was the mental pressure—Emperor Chongzhen knew what was to come.
Last night, Zhu Cilang sent someone to report that he had reached an agreement with the cabinet and that they would "take action" this morning.
Emperor Chongzhen originally thought he would wait until all the matters concerning the rewards to Liaodong and Korea were settled and the court situation was completely stable before taking such drastic measures. However, he did not expect his son to be so impatient, bringing this fire directly to the grand court assembly.
Emperor Chongzhen had previously agreed to this matter.
But as he agreed, when the moment came, especially in such a formal setting, in front of the entire court, he couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.
However, he also understood Zhu Cilang's considerations.
With the nation currently in high spirits and morale at its peak, this is the perfect opportunity to seize this momentum and decisively eliminate certain deeply entrenched and powerful forces.
If the bestowal of titles and rewards is completed and the balance of power is restored, it will likely be much more difficult to move against the "descendant of the sage."
With the die already cast and his son's arrangements complete, Chongzhen had no choice but to brace himself and prepare for this storm that was destined to be anything but calm, and might even unleash a monstrous tempest.
It is also worth mentioning that Zhu Cilang was not seen at today's court meeting.
The crown prince, who had just achieved unparalleled feats and was enjoying unparalleled popularity, seemed to have deliberately chosen to be absent.
"All of you, rise."
Chongzhen's voice came through the empty hall, slightly hoarse, but still carrying the unquestionable majesty of an emperor.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The officials rose and stood respectfully with their hands at their sides.
The vast court was so quiet that only the occasional crackling of candlelight and the faint sound of wind from outside could be heard.
Wang Chengen, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, stepped forward and stood to the side of the imperial steps, and loudly proclaimed in his signature high-pitched and penetrating voice:
"Speak if you have something to say, otherwise the court is adjourned!"
As the last syllable of "朝" still lingered among the beams and pillars, a censor in a blue robe with a serious expression stepped forward from the ranks of civil officials, holding an ivory tablet.
He walked firmly to the center of the imperial path, knelt down, and spoke in a loud and clear voice:
"Your Majesty, I, Zhang Wenqing, the Censor-in-Chief, have a matter to report! It concerns the laws and principles of the state, and the will of the people; I have no choice but to speak out!"
coming!
Emperor Chongzhen's heart stirred, and he lowered his gaze slightly to look at the censor.
He vaguely remembered this person's name; he was a rather outspoken figure in the Crown Prince's faction, and he was the "opening act" of today's grand drama.
Emperor Chongzhen remained unmoved, merely nodding slightly, and said in a deep voice:
"Granted. Bring it here."
Zhang Wenqing took a deep breath, as if to draw upon the pure energy of heaven and earth, then held a prepared memorial aloft with both hands, raised it above his head, and proclaimed in a clear voice:
"Your Majesty, I hereby impeach the family of Duke Yansheng, Kong Yinzhi, who have received the Emperor's favor for generations but have disregarded the Emperor's teachings. In Qufu, Shandong and other places, they have relied on their status as descendants of the Emperor to run rampant in the countryside, acting lawlessly and without restraint. Their crimes are too numerous to list! This is a memorial from Your Majesty listing some of their crimes. I request Your Majesty's perusal!"
Upon hearing this, the civil and military officials were stunned and momentarily speechless.
At the same time, Wang Chengen immediately stepped forward with small steps, took the seemingly heavy memorial from Zhang Wenqing's hands, carefully carried it back, and presented it to the imperial desk.
Emperor Chongzhen unfolded the memorial and slowly scanned the densely packed official script characters.
The above-listed examples are all instances of misdeeds committed by descendants of Confucius in Shandong:
They forcibly seized farmland, causing people to be displaced; they abducted men's wives and daughters, tearing families apart; they colluded with local officials to establish their own courts, disregarding human life; they levied exorbitant taxes and exploited tenants; and their powerful servants abused their power, committing all sorts of evil deeds.
Each and every case, with its time, place, victims, and evidence, is still vaguely discernible.
If these charges were leveled against any ordinary gentry member or even a high-ranking official, they would be enough to result in the confiscation of their property and the extermination of their entire family, and death several times over. But the accusations in black and white are against the "descendants of a sage," the lineage of the Duke Yansheng, who has been enshrined on the altar for thousands of years.
Chongzhen's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, a complex emotion flashing deep in his eyes. He then slammed the memorial shut with a "bang," his face instantly turning ashen, his gaze like two icy spikes piercing Zhang Wenqing below. His voice rose abruptly, filled with suppressed rage:
"How dare you! Zhang Wenqing! Do you know who you are suing?! You are slandering and defaming the descendants of a sage, shaking the very foundation of education and culture! Do you know what a grave crime this is?!"
This sharp shout, like a thunderclap in winter, instantly shattered the false tranquility of the court.
The civil and military officials finally realized what was happening, and countless eyes turned to the censor kneeling on the cold gold bricks, while they also secretly glanced at the emperor on the dragon throne, who seemed ready to explode at any moment.
Most people were still in shock and confusion, completely unaware of what earth-shattering things this usually low-key Imperial Censor Zhang had written in his memorial that could provoke the Emperor's fury so much that he was directly accused of "shaking the foundation of education."
Zhang Wenqing trembled at the thunderous rage, but stubbornly straightened his neck, slamming his head heavily to the ground with a dull thud, and shouted with exceptional clarity:
"Your Majesty, please be wise! As an imperial censor, it is my duty to report what I hear and to impeach those who break the law! What I have reported today is not unfounded; it is based on my extensive investigation and the evidence is irrefutable! Behind every crime lies the blood and tears of the people, and is a disgrace to the laws of our Great Ming! I am willing to stake my life on this: if I have uttered even a single falsehood, or falsely accused a loyal official, I am willing to be torn apart by five horses to atone for my sins!"
"Good! What a wonderful 'conclusive evidence'! What a wonderful 'willing to accept the death penalty'!"
Emperor Chongzhen, in a fit of rage, slammed the memorial onto his desk, grabbed it, and handed it to Wang Chengen beside him, saying sternly:
"Since Imperial Censor Zhang says everything he said is true, then read it aloud! Read it loudly! Read it to all the officials in the court without missing a single word! Let them all hear what kind of 'good deeds' our Great Ming's 'descendant of the sage' has done!"
"This servant... obeys the decree."
Wang Chengen took the scalding hot memorial with trembling hands, steadied himself, cleared his throat, and then began to read it aloud in his unique, slightly high-pitched but steady voice.
"Your subject respectfully reports: Upon investigation, Kong Xingxie, a cousin of the Duke Yansheng Kong Yinzhi, forcibly seized thirty mu of paddy fields belonging to Wang Laoshi, a farmer west of Qufu City, in the spring of the third year of the Chongzhen reign. He drove Wang Laoshi's father to his death, Wang Laoshi's wife hanged herself, and his young son wandered off and disappeared without a trace..."
"In the summer of the seventh year of the Chongzhen reign, Kong Fang, the steward of Kong Yinzhi, under the pretext of a sacrificial ceremony, forcibly conscripted twelve women into his mansion to 'serve' them, but in reality, to provide them with his sexual pleasure. Three of them, unable to bear the humiliation, threw themselves into a well and died..."
"The sacrificial lands under the Kong family's name have accumulated over 300,000 taels of unpaid taxes to the imperial court over the years, and the local government dares not demand payment..."
"Kong Zhenyun, a member of the Kong clan, beat a merchant named Li Si to death in the street during a verbal dispute in the tenth year of the Chongzhen reign. Afterwards, he only paid ten taels of silver in compensation, and the local county government refused to file a case..."
One by one, the horrifying charges flowed through the solemn and majestic Hall of Supreme Harmony, accompanied by Wang Chengen's emotionless voice.
At first, there was only suppressed commotion and whispers in the court, but as more and more details were revealed, especially the cruel facts involving murder, rape, and property seizure, many civil officials began to turn pale, their foreheads were covered in cold sweat, and some even shook their heads in disbelief.
On the military side, some could no longer contain themselves, their faces revealing undisguised contempt, anger, and even murderous intent, their fists clenched so tightly they cracked.
"This...this is utterly inhuman!"
"How could a descendant of a sage act like this?!"
"I had long heard of the power and influence of the Confucius Mansion in Qufu, but I never imagined it would be so decadent!"
"If that's really the case, where is the law? Where is justice?!"
The whispers and murmurs could no longer be suppressed, and they exploded like water into boiling oil, crackling and popping throughout the hall.
No one expected that at the first grand court assembly after the emperor's return to the capital, the first issue to be brought to the table would be such an impeachment case that would shake the world and overturn a thousand years of understanding! The target of the impeachment was the family that had been worshipped by scholars for thousands of years!
Before everyone could recover from the overwhelming information and process the suffocating content, another censor stepped forward—an official from the Censorate.
With a solemn expression, holding a tablet, he said in a clear voice:
"Your Majesty! The report submitted by Censor Zhang is not an isolated case! Recently, the Censorate has also received a series of joint reports from the Shandong Provincial Surveillance Commissioner and many retired officials and scholars. The content of these reports is highly consistent with the information in Censor Zhang's report! After the Censorate sent personnel to conduct a secret investigation, most of the details were found to be true!"
Your Majesty, I believe this matter is no ordinary impeachment; it involves the descendants of a sage and local governance, and is of grave importance! I humbly request that the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Western Depot be immediately ordered to intervene, together with the Censorate and the Ministry of Justice, to conduct a thorough investigation to uncover the truth and uphold the law!
"what?!"
These words caused an uproar at the scene!
If what was just Zhang Yushi's personal "rumored report," though sensational, might still have been "exaggerated" or "biased," then now that officials from the Censorate have stepped forward to publicly confirm that it is "basically true," and have directly proposed using the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Western Depot—two of the most feared imperial secret agencies—for a joint investigation, the nature of this matter has fundamentally changed! This means that this is no longer just the "wild talk" of a certain censor, but the prelude to a formal investigation by the court!
The scandals of the Kong family have gone from being mere "rumors" to being brought to the forefront and are about to be examined by the empire's highest machinery of violence!
Those officials in the court who were well-informed had heard about the sordid affairs of the Kong family to some extent.
For thousands of years, the Confucius Mansion has been shrouded in the "halo of the sage," holding a transcendent status and forming a subtle symbiosis and tacit understanding with the imperial court and the local area.
Everyone tacitly agreed to turn a blind eye, maintaining that facade of "refined manners."
But now, this facade has been ripped apart in public, the festering sore has been completely exposed, and it's even reached the Emperor, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Western Depot. This can no longer be resolved with "tacit agreement" or "mutual understanding." This is serious business, and bloodshed is imminent!
Emperor Chongzhen, who had been seated upright on the dragon throne with a somber expression, now appeared calm, even with a faint, cold smile playing at the corners of his lips. He glanced at the chaotic court below, observing the panicked civil officials and indignant military generals, and after a moment, spoke in a flat tone devoid of emotion:
"It is hereby announced that Li Ruolian, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Fang Zhenghua, the supervisor of the Western Depot, have been appointed."
"Summon—Li Ruolian, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Fang Zhenghua, the eunuch in charge of the Western Depot, to the palace!"
Wang Chengen drew out his voice and sang again.
Before long, the sound of boots clattered, and Li Ruolian, dressed in a brightly colored flying fish robe, with an embroidered spring knife at her waist and a cold and stern face, and Fang Zhenghua, dressed in a scarlet python robe, with a white face and no beard, and a soft and effeminate look, walked quickly into the main hall one after the other, and knelt down in unison at the foot of the imperial steps to pay their respects.
"Your subject Li Ruolian pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
"This servant, Fang Zhenghua, greets Your Majesty!"
"Flat body."
Emperor Chongzhen waved his hand, his voice still steady, yet carrying an invisible, heavy pressure.
"Just now, the censor impeached the Kong family, the family of the Duke Yansheng, for many illegal activities in Shandong, and the Censorate also has corroborating evidence. I have come to ask you, the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Western Depot, whose duties are to investigate and monitor the whole country, have you heard anything about the Kong family's affairs? Have you found any concrete evidence?"
Li Ruolian and Fang Zhenghua quickly exchanged a glance, both understanding each other perfectly. (End of Chapter)