Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

King of Lu, family of Kong.

Tian Jingwen's pupils contracted violently.

The first King of Lu was the tenth son of Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang, and his fief was in Yanzhou Prefecture.

The one who has inherited the throne of Prince of Lu now is Zhu Shouyong, the fourth son of Prince Gong of Lu Zhu Yitan.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang hated corrupt officials, he was very generous to his descendants.

Although he was later stripped of his military power by Emperor Chengzu, he still enjoyed endless wealth and glory in his own fiefdom.

Not to mention the prefect of Yanzhou, even officials at the level of provincial governor did not dare to offend the royal family.

The Kong family, on the other hand, holds another level of status.

The Kong family of Qufu are naturally the descendants of Confucius.

Since 195 BC, Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty appointed Confucius' eighth-generation grandson Kong Teng as the emperor of worship, and Confucius' direct descendants have had hereditary titles.

In the second year of Zhihe in the Song Dynasty, Song Renzong changed his title to Yansheng Duke, and his title was raised to Duke, which was still hereditary.

The most important thing is that the hereditary nature of Yanshenggong is different from general hereditary nature. General hereditary titles will disappear in the long river of history with the change of dynasties.

The hereditary lineage of Duke Yansheng spans dynasties.

No matter which dynasty or who seized power, even barbarians such as Mongolia and Manchuria did not interrupt the continuation of the title of Yansheng Duke after they entered the Central Plains.

The reason is not difficult to understand. Since Confucianism completed its self-evolution and became the best tool for the ruling class to rule the people of the world, people should remember the people who dug the well when they drink the water. Naturally, they highly respect Confucius, who first established Confucianism.

If he wanted to secure the throne, he could only rely on Confucian scholars, and the ultimate belief of Confucian scholars was Confucius.

Anyone who dares to disrespect Confucius will be an enemy of Confucian scholars all over the world and will lose the support of the people.

In this place where whoever wins the hearts of the people wins the world, how can you sit firmly on the throne without the support of the people?

Therefore, no matter how the dynasties in the Central Plains changed, after the new emperor ascended the throne, he would always establish good relations with the descendants of the Kong family. This would be nothing more than recognizing the status of the Yansheng Duke, granting various awards, rewarding land, gold and silver, and conferring various titles, etc.

After nearly two thousand years, the power of the Kong family has expanded to an exaggerated level. It is better to say that Qufu belongs to the Kong family rather than to say that the Kong family is in Qufu.

Not only in Qufu, the influence of the Kong family had already penetrated into the surrounding prefectures and counties, and Yanzhou City was only a day's journey by fast horse from Qufu, so it was naturally within its sphere of influence.

Today, the lineage of Duke Yansheng has lasted for sixty-five generations. The current Duke Yansheng is Kong Yinzhi, the sixty-fifth-generation grandson of Confucius, and he is forty-seven years old.

It's Prince of Lu and Duke Yansheng. Chang Bizhen brought these two great men out, seemingly to remind Tian Jingwen, but in fact he did mean to dampen his enthusiasm.

You, Tian Jingwen, are very powerful, and the East Factory is very powerful. It’s great to bully officials like them, but do you dare to touch these two great gods?

If you don't dare, then you, Tian Jingwen, are nothing but a person who curries favor with the powerful and bullies the weak and fears the strong.

In that case, don't pretend to be selfless in front of them!

Tian Jingwen narrowed his eyes slightly as if he was making a decision. He certainly understood the status of these two people. After pondering for a long time, he suddenly remembered what the governor said to him before he left.

After a moment, Tian Jingwen's frown relaxed.

"Tian remembers that the imperial Ming ancestral precepts have regulations that royal family members cannot do business, farm, or serve as officials. How could the Prince of Lu break the law? I'm afraid that the prefect Chang remembered it wrongly?"

Tian Jingwen pondered for a moment and asked calmly.

Of course Chang Bi Zheng would not remember it wrong, so when Tian Jingwen said this, he immediately understood something.

He evaded the question by saying that he probably remembered it wrong, and at the same time, his evaluation of Tian Jingwen rose to a higher level.

“Tomorrow, I will investigate every store in this city.

Anyone who dares to raise prices privately will be arrested for obstructing the implementation of national policies.

Tian is not afraid that you will inform those merchants." Tian Jingwen looked around at the officials present and said.

Chang Bizheng said hurriedly:

"How could that be? We all support the national policy. How could we do such a thing? Captain Tian, you are too kind."

"Just don't let me find out!"

After saying that, Tian Jingwen stood up, bowed to Chang Bizheng and others, and then left the restaurant.

After Tian Jingwen left, Chang Bizheng and others didn't say anything, and didn't even move.

After three full breaths, He Caimao, the Tongzhi of Yanzhou Prefecture, quietly opened the door and looked out. Another official opened the window and looked at the surrounding streets.

He heaved a sigh of relief after finding out that all the people from the East Factory had really left and no one was monitoring them.

"Prefect Chang, this group of people are really going to do this. What should we do?" asked Co-prefect He Caimao anxiously.

The other officials also looked at the prefect Chang Bizheng, who was pacing back and forth in the box like an ant on a hot pan, and said impatiently:

"What to do? How do I know what to do?

When you guys collect money, you are all very quick and efficient, but when it comes to solving the problem, why do you all have no idea?"

Chang Bizhen said very dissatisfiedly.

Everyone was afraid to speak after hearing this, but the co-magistrate He Caimao advised:

"Governor Chang, calm down. Now that things have come to this, we have to think of a solution.

Now Li Ping is detained by the East Factory. This person knows a lot about us.

Once the truth is revealed, judging from the stinky face of Captain Tian, we will definitely be in trouble.

In my opinion, the most important thing for us is to solve the worry of Li Ping!"

"How do we solve this? The people from the East Factory are watching it personally!

Even if we can really kill Li Ping, wouldn't it be a case of trying to cover up one's own fault?

Tian Jingwen is not a fool!" Chang Bizheng frowned.

"Hehe, this is not difficult. I have three strategies: best, medium and worst!" He Caimao said very proudly, and then told everyone what he was thinking.

Chang Bizheng finally felt less panicked after hearing this. He glanced at He Caimao and said:

“You’re the only one with a lot of ideas.

But how do you plan to deal with those merchants?

"I think what Tian Jingwen said just now was no joke. If the people from the East Factory really carry out a large-scale arrest, there is no guarantee that someone will be unable to control his mouth." Chang Bizheng said again.

"This matter is no longer under our control. I suggest that we send someone to Jinan Prefecture immediately to meet with the governors.

Ask the Chief Secretary to make preparations in advance, and we will also inform the merchants that it is up to them to decide whether to reduce prices to cope with the situation or continue to fight.

After all, there are people behind these merchants." He Caimao continued.

Chang Bizheng nodded and looked at He Caimao and said:

"Then what are you waiting for? I will send someone to deliver a letter to the Chief Secretary later, and I will leave the matter of contacting those merchants to you."

After saying that, Chang Bizheng felt uneasy again and reminded:

"The people in the East Factory have many eyes and ears. You must be cautious in what you do. Don't joke with your official career."

Everyone agreed in unison.

……

In an ordinary inn not far from the prefectural government office, Tian Jingwen was writing something with a brush in the dim light of an oil lamp.

After a while, he put down the brush, pressed his seal on it, gently blew dry the ink, and carefully folded the letter and put it into the envelope.

"Immediately send this letter to the capital by express horse. Remember, you must hand it over to the Lord Governor in person!"

After his subordinates left, Tian Jingwen stared at the flickering candlelight in a daze.

After a long moment, he sighed deeply.

……