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

The sudden news immediately dispelled the dissatisfaction of Xiong Mingyu and others, and they all showed shocked expressions.

"There should be no mistakes or omissions in the matter, but it is still unknown whether the Kong family actually wrote a letter of surrender."

Zheng Sanjun informed everyone of the news he had learned.

Liu Yuliang and Xiong Mingyu looked at each other and said:

"If it were any other family, it would be completely fictitious, but this Duke Yansheng..."

After all, he didn't say it very clearly, but the implication was very clear.

The Kong family might really be able to do this.

"No matter what, Zhang Shikang's extermination of the three clans of Duke Yansheng was illegal. We must not sit idly by and wait for death. We should use this opportunity to ask our colleagues in the court to attack Zhang Shikang." Xiong Mingyu thought for a while and said.

“That is why I have called you all here to discuss specific countermeasures.

Although the execution of the Kong family has reduced the support of Donglin, it is also an opportunity from another perspective." Zheng Sanjun replied.

"What Yong Zhang said makes sense. This dandy boy must have gotten too arrogant to even dare to tell the emperor.

Based on my understanding of our emperor, I don't think he would be happy to hear the news." Fang Fengnian took over the conversation.

"Not only that, think about it, everyone. What would the scholars in the world think if Duke Yansheng was executed?" Zheng Sanjun reminded.

"That would surely cause a huge uproar. Although Duke Yansheng is not a very famous person, the Confucius Mansion is the spiritual pillar of scholars all over the world after all.

Now that Zhang Shikang has so recklessly exterminated the entire clan, it will be a great help to us in our work once the news spreads to the world." Liu Yuliang said with great confidence.

Everyone nodded in agreement when they heard this.

"I think Zhang Shikang was aware that once Duke Yansheng was taken to the capital, he would be obstructed by all the civil and military officials in the court, so he dared to take such a risky move." Fang Fengnian thought for a moment and said.

"Humph, if Zhang Shikang was afraid of these things, how could he dare to do such things as exterminating Shanxi merchants and levying more commercial taxes?

Everyone may be unhappy to hear this, but that guy may have never cared about the opinions of scholars all over the world, let alone the opinions of civil and military officials in the court.

In my opinion, it is very likely that the boy covets the property of the Confucius Mansion. "Xiong Mingyu shook his head.

Since entering the court, Zhang Shikang first organized fundraising to cheat the nobles and relatives of the emperor, and then he went around to collect money. Everyone present knew about the Shanxi merchants. Wasn't it just that Zhang Shikang had his eyes on their property?

The lineage of Duke Yansheng has been passed down for nearly two thousand years, so their family fortune must be considerable. This makes sense.

"This matter is not important anymore, everyone. Without the support of the Kong family, Zhang Shikang dared to arrest Prince Lu. I think the merchants in Shandong must be afraid.

If the merchants over there compromise and lower their prices, once this spreads like wildfire, our plan will be ruined.

Yongzhang, I think it’s time to use your last trick.” Xiong Mingyu said to Zheng Sanjun.

As soon as Xiong Mingyu finished speaking, Liu Yuliang and Fang Fengnian frowned. Liu Yuliang said with fear on his face:

"It hasn't come to that point yet. You all need to think about it carefully. Once that plan comes out, we will really have no way out."

Liu Yuliang still had some reservations when speaking. Xiong Mingyu was ruthless and spoke more directly. He had always been dissatisfied with Liu Yuliang's cowardly character and said immediately:

"Of course I understand that if this matter is exposed, we will be tantamount to treason."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuliang touched his nose with his finger to hide his uneasiness. Xiong Mingyu continued:

“But if this is accomplished, it will be able to determine the fate of the world in one fell swoop.

We are familiar with history books and know that history books are written by the victors.

How can you achieve great things if you are so cautious? "

Xiong Mingyu stopped talking after he finished speaking. Everyone fell silent, as if they were all weighing the issue.

After a long time, Zheng Sanjun broke the silence first.

"Things have come to this. Even if we can't do this, do you think Zhang Shikang will let us go?"

After these words were spoken, everyone finally stopped hesitating and expressed their agreement one after another.

"Since everyone agrees, you can go back and contact your colleagues in different places and teach them to act according to the plan.

I will also write to Zhang Shenyan in Nanjing City, asking him to act together as soon as possible.

The capital is densely populated with factory guards, so you must be extremely careful when passing on information. This plan concerns our life and death and reputation, so I hope you will not take it lightly." Zheng Sanjun concluded.

Zhang Shenyan was the Minister of Personnel in Nanjing and one of the leaders of the Donglin Party in the Jiangnan region.

"Don't worry, Yongzhang. We will never joke about our own lives and property." Liu Yuliang said seriously.

“In addition, we should notify our colleagues in the court tomorrow. We probably won’t be able to make it tomorrow, so we will have them impeach Zhang Shikang again at the morning court the day after tomorrow.

The extermination of the Yansheng clan is no small matter. If the emperor knew about it, he would be resentful of Zhang Shikang. We must not miss this good opportunity." Xiong Mingyu said.

After so much trouble, it was almost dawn. If it were usual, they would be preparing for the morning court by now, and it would be too late to notify their colleagues in the court.

Everyone nodded in agreement. After the general discussion was completed, Zheng Sanjun suddenly sighed and said:

"I would like to let you know that the unspeakable thing has failed three times in a row, and the emperor should have been prepared for this.

Zhang Shikang has become more cautious since the last assassination attempt. He is escorted by at least three hundred personal guards whenever he goes out or comes in. We don't stand a chance at all.

Just as Liang Ru said, perhaps our only chance to turn things around is to trip up Zhang Shikang.

I hope you will unite as one and devote all your wisdom and loyalty to us." Zheng Sanjun stood up and bowed to his comrades in front of him.

"Don't worry about using Zhang, as long as we are united and have the gentry of the world to help us.

Now that the Confucius family has been destroyed, scholars all over the world are condemning Zhang Shikang.

This person has long been notorious in the Ming Dynasty scholars, and he will not be able to stay alive for long."

Xiong Mingyu and others also bowed and then left Zheng's house one after another.

On the evening of the 13th day of the first lunar month, after much haste, Zhang Shikang finally arrived in Beijing.

They had to sleep in the open air and endure countless cold winds along the way, and Zhang Shikang's butt was numb from being fucked by Ergou.

Fortunately, there was Lao Wu, a gift from Lu Xiangsheng, who was able to take the train. Although Lao Wu looked like a cow, he had great endurance and a mild temper.

Compared with Ergou, who is as lively and active as a Husky when running wildly, sitting on Laowu's back is as easy as walking on flat ground.

But no matter what, Zhang Shikang was leading more than 300 people, and it was impossible for him to travel day and night. He guessed that the group of people must have known the news in advance.

But no matter how he calculated, the news would at most have been transmitted back half a day earlier than him.

Thinking of this, Zhang Shikang didn't take time to rest and went to the palace immediately.

On the morning of the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, all the civil and military officials in the court gathered outside the Meridian Gate waiting for the morning court session.

Most of the civil officials learned about the tragedy in Qufu from Zheng Sanjun. The destruction of the Confucius Mansion was like a bolt from the blue for the literati all over the world.

All the civil officials were indignant and accused Zhang Shikang of his mistakes, and vowed to severely impeach Zhang Shikang at the court session this morning.

Many people even proposed death-defying protest again, and received responses from many people.

In their hands were all holding memorials impeaching Zhang Shikang, and they were talking excitedly when they suddenly saw Wang Chengen from the Imperial Household Department coming over with a group of eunuchs:

"My Lords, the Emperor has ordered that there will be no court today."

……