I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 22: Only the Duke can ride on the throne? I, the Duke of Yansheng, do not accept

Just like the performance evaluation method.

Amidst complaints from officials, the "Regulations on Post Stations" quickly spread to the northern and southern Zhili provinces, the thirteen provincial governments, and the more than one thousand post stations under their jurisdiction.

This time, Zhang Juzheng chose to lead by example.

He hired an ox cart.

He ordered his third son Zhang Maoxiu to return to his hometown in Jiangling, Hubei to celebrate his father's birthday.

A blacksmith must be strong himself, and a politician must lead by example.

Although Zhang Maoxiu looked reluctant.

But he still took the simple gifts, sat on the swaying and slow ox cart, and headed towards Jiangling, 2,500 miles away.

An oxcart could only travel fifty miles a day at most.

This takes into account factors such as being unable to travel due to wind and rain, sick cows, broken wheels, and having to take a long detour.

Zhang Maoxiu will be able to reach his hometown in about two months.

The Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15th will definitely be spent on the road, and the Double Ninth Festival will most likely be spent in Jiangling.

Zhang Juzheng's move did not quell the anger of many officials.

Many officials began to wait and see.

Many officials were unable to enforce this regulation, and many people violated it, forcing the court to abolish it.

There are quite a few such examples.

……

Soon, someone violated the "Post Office Regulations."

Not a small official yet.

Zhao Bei, the Shaoqing of Dali Temple, went on an outing outside the city and enjoyed a rich lunch at Changping Post Station, which exceeded the regulations. The staff of the post station reminded him, but he still did not take it seriously, thinking it was not a big deal at all.

In the past, such matters would not even be worthy of being put on the table.

But at this time.

After hearing the news, a group of officials rushed forward and submitted memorials, impeaching Zhao Bei for violating the "Regulations on Postal Provision".

Everyone wants to take a look.

Would the imperial court severely punish a fourth-rank Dali Temple Shaoqing for an excessive lunch at a post station?

The cabinet is very efficient.

In less than half a day, the results of the handling were announced.

"Zhao Bei, Junior Secretary of the Dali Temple, violated the Regulations on Postal Provision and was demoted to the position of Assistant Secretary of the Dali Temple."

The Dali Temple's Secretary is of the fifth rank, two levels lower than the Dali Temple's Shaoqing.

These two levels.

Even if Zhao Bei works hard for five years, he may not be promoted.

One meal will add at least five years of detour.

This punishment is very severe.

For a while.

Some officials have become cautious, and the complaints have subsided somewhat.

However, on the second day after the Dali Temple Shaoqing was demoted.

Something happened again!

Tang Qing, a third-rank judicial inspector, was ordered to leave the capital. He asked for three more horses at the post station to transport wine, food and servants.

When the post officials tried to dissuade him, he scolded them. He thought it was just a policy of much ado about nothing.

When the officials heard the news, they were even more excited and submitted memorials again to impeach Tang Qing.

This time, Zhang Juzheng was furious.

Tang Qing was directly dismissed from his post and taken back to the capital by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. In addition to being fined half a year's salary, he was demoted three levels.

Tang Qing cried like a tearful man and submitted three petitions of apology, requesting a lighter punishment.

Xiao Wanli and Lü Diaoyang both felt that the punishment was too severe, but Zhang Juzheng's face was icy as he said, "The rules cannot be broken!"

……

Another day.

In Zou County, Shandong Province, goods are piled up like mountains in front of an inn.

There are medicinal herbs, cloth, tea, wine, woven fabrics, ceramic products, and even dried and fresh fruits such as gum dates, ivory dates, dried persimmons, and green onions.

If you don’t know, you might think you have arrived at a market.

Anyone who can transport so much cargo must be a big businessman.

At this moment, He Sanlang, the head of the Zou County Post Station, was bending over and apologizing to a middle-aged man in gray clothes in front of him.

His eyes kept glancing at a man with a fair and elegant face, wearing a long silk gown, who was sitting in the shade not far away.

"Master Jiu, I'm truly sorry. The imperial court has just issued a regulation that only officials can ride in a post carriage. This shipment cannot be transported via the official post station, but the Holy Lord can come in and rest!"

After saying that, He Sanlang handed over the "Regulations on Postal Delivery".

There is only one person in Shandong who can be called "Holy Duke".

That was Kong Shangxian, the 64th generation grandson of the great sage Confucius, the grandson-in-law of Yan Song, and the heir to the title of Duke Yansheng.

present.

Standing opposite He Sanlang was the Kong family's steward Cao Jiu, nicknamed Master Jiu.

The man in his thirties sitting in the shade was Kong Shangxian, Duke of Yansheng.

According to the ancestral system, all the successive Dukes of Yansheng had to go to Beijing to meet the emperor every year.

Kong Shangxian is not very talented, but he has a good business acumen.

Because the Kong family had to frequently repair the Confucius Temple and hold many cultural activities, the expenses were quite high, so he came up with a special way to make money.

When entering Beijing, he carried a large amount of contraband.

in this way--

Official post stations provide food and accommodation, transportation vehicles, and are exempt from commercial taxes.

Get more in one fell swoop.

It's almost like getting something for nothing.

Once the goods arrived in the capital, they could be sold at least five times the price. Moreover, the goods were stored in Feng Bao's warehouse, so there was no need to worry about not being able to sell them.

A trip to Beijing would allow the entire Kong family to live a comfortable life for the whole year.

In today's trend, everyone is obsessed with comparison. Rich and educated people are respected, and those without money are considered poor.

Kong Shangxian didn't feel that the smell of money on his body was a disgrace to his ancestors. Instead, he felt that he was strengthening the Kong family step by step.

Cao Jiu flipped through the "Regulations on Postal Provision" and raised his eyebrows.

"Master He, are you short of money again? Don't worry, I'll give you your share later. You can just use these goods as clothing and food for the Archbishop when he goes out, right?"

He Sanlang glanced at the mountains of goods not far away.

These goods can provide food for thousands of people, so they are not enough for just one person.

"Master Jiu, I'm not trying to make things difficult for you. According to the regulations, these goods won't be able to pass through any post station!" He Sanlang looked embarrassed.

……

Then, Cao Jiu came to Kong Shangxian and told him the details.

Kong Shangxian frowned.

"This regulation is for low-level officials to see. Am I a low-level official? This post is preventing this Yanshenggong from seeing the emperor!"

He can talk about "eating and drinking with public funds and using public vehicles for personal purposes" so confidently.

If Confucius heard this, he would probably be so upset that his coffin would not be able to hold it down.

Cao Jiu thought for a moment and said, "Master, I don't think it will work even if I try to persuade you. I suggest you write a letter to Eunuch Feng and ask him to make an exception."

Kong Shangxian curled his lips slightly.

"Nonsense! How could I write such a letter? It's a disgrace to the civilized world! It's a disgrace to the civilized world!"

As a moral leader of the world, it is not shameful for Kong Shangxian to do business, but it is a bit embarrassing to ask a eunuch for a backdoor!
The writings of the Kong family must be recorded in history.

He didn't want to write.

Cao Jiu thought for a moment and said, "Master, how about this? You go to the capital via the post station first, and then talk to Eunuch Feng in person. I believe Eunuch Feng will be able to find a solution. If Eunuch Feng won't help, I suggest you ask Elder Zhang and Elder Lu for some leniency. Our dried and fresh fruits will go bad if they're left out for too long!"

Kong Shangxian shook his head again.

"There's no problem communicating with Eunuch Feng, but Zhang Taiyue is too stubborn. If he refuses my respect, I will bring shame to my ancestors!"

Cao Jiu was helpless and said, "Master, how about this! After you arrive in Beijing, hang out in the Hanlin Academy. You are the Duke of Yansheng, and our second master is a hereditary doctor of the Five Classics. Returning to the Hanlin Academy will be like coming home. The Hanlin Academy is the son of the Cabinet. You only need to make a few suggestions, and someone will convey the matter to the Cabinet on your behalf."

"In this way, our Kong family will also have face, and things will be easier to accomplish."

The Doctors of the Five Classics were of the eighth rank and were affiliated with the Hanlin Academy. All of them were hereditary descendants of sages, such as the descendants of Confucius and Zhu Xi.

The current heir of this position in the Kong family is Kong Shangtan, the cousin of Kong Shangxian.

Kong Shangxian's eyes lit up and he said, "That's a good idea."

In Kong Shangxian's eyes.

The Hanlin Academy was full of scholars, and they had great respect for Confucius.

If he appeared there, he would definitely be admired by everyone, and many people would want to help him.

　Note: When Duke Yansheng Kong Shangxian went to Beijing to meet the emperor, he often brought contraband goods to sell. This is not my fabrication, but is recorded in history. For details, please refer to Li Bo's lecture series "Zhang Juzheng, the Backbone of the Ming Dynasty".

　　
　
(End of this chapter)