Master Yuan, start!

The housekeeper, Kong Cheng, panicked and began to speak without thinking: "As a member of the Kong family's collateral branch, we have been renting land from the Kong family for generations. It has always been this way. How can we not rent land?"

The defendant, Kong Zhengchu, refused to budge, and asked with a determined look in his eyes, "Has it always been this way? Is that right?"

Yes, it has always been like this, right?

The people outside the hall fell into deep thought. Could it be that Kong Zhengchu's ancestors for several generations had cultivated the 5 acres of land, and as a descendant, did he have to do the same?

What's more, the land tax is getting higher and higher.

Arthur Morgan's eyes lit up. He seemed to see the shadow of a philosopher from the Enlightenment in this Chinese man named Kong Zhengchu.

Has it always been like this? Is it right?

Zhang Taiyan's eyes were burning with anger. He felt that these words were very suitable for China at that time. The imperial court had always done this, so it was defeated by the guns of foreigners. This proved that the imperial court was wrong and must change!

When Tan Sitong heard this, he kept questioning himself in his heart, Confucianism has always been the foundation of governing a country, but is it right to have always been like this?

Seeing that the situation was right, Song Qing decisively questioned:

"Plaintiff Kong Cheng, the defendant did not sign, so it cannot be considered as evidence.

Without evidence, how can I convict someone?"

Kong Cheng was completely panicked at this time. Listening to the chattering of the people behind him, he didn't understand why he was facing so much opposition.

In a hurry, Kong Cheng looked at Kong Lingyi who was sitting next to him, only to see him shaking his head slightly, as if to say that one should not give up easily.

Seeing that he was supported, Kong Cheng boldly said:

"Sir, this is how the Qufu County Court has always ruled. Regardless of whether one signs their name or not, as long as their ancestors have cultivated the land, it is implicitly agreed that their descendants will inherit the responsibility of cultivating it!"

Should the tenancy rights also be inherited by the son after the father's death?

This one sentence immediately caused an uproar among the people outside the hall. They wanted to cultivate the land without signing the contract. This was no different from forced buying and selling.

Does Duke Yansheng know that you are doing this?

Moreover, according to what he said, the Qufu County Court has always been like this. How could such an illogical decision be made so openly by the county magistrate?

Seeing this, Kong Lingyi couldn't help but close his eyes and lean back on the armchair. He knew that this housekeeper was completely hopeless.

However, he cannot be implicated in the Kong Mansion!

After making up his mind, Kong Lingyi suddenly stood up and said sternly to the housekeeper Kong Cheng:

"Nonsense!

How could the Qufu County Magistrate not follow the law? It seems to me that you were trying to extort five mu of land but failed, so you are accusing others of abandoning their land."

Seeing that Duke Yansheng, who had just hinted at him with his eyes, now stood up to refute him, Kong Cheng was a little stunned for a moment, his mouth moving up and down, not knowing what to say.

"Sir Song, since this is the Kong Mansion's land," Kong Lingyi turned to Song Qing and said, "I will award these five acres to this person and will not charge him any rent."

Return to the earth for free!

This was a great thing. The slight doubts that the onlookers had about Duke Yansheng disappeared at this moment.

I said it, Duke Yansheng would definitely not be so picky about these land matters. If he did, it would be a disgrace to the family tradition of the saint.

Butler Kong Cheng was stunned, not understanding why he was abandoned, but Song Qing quickly made a judgment, ruling that the accusation was false.

Immediately, a bailiff came forward and took away the housekeeper Kong Cheng and the defendant Kong Zhengchu.

Seeing that the incident was over, the onlookers dispersed one after another, but the crowd was too large and they could not disperse in time.

"Sir Kong, you are truly wholeheartedly serving the people and supporting the weak and the poor." Yuan Xiangcheng stepped forward and said.

"As long as we can help the people, that's the duty of Duke Yansheng." Kong Lingyi replied politely.

"But giving up five mu of land is like a drop in the bucket for you."

Yuan Xiangcheng's words were so confusing that Kong Lingyi didn't understand what he was saying.

"I just don't know, if the foreigners come to ask for land, how much are you willing to give up?" Yuan Xiangcheng said in a low voice, but his words made Kong Lingyi's hair stand on end.

Does he know about writing a letter of surrender?

Kong Lingyi was extremely panicked and didn't know how to respond.

"Kong Lingyi, do you admit your guilt?!"

The roar frightened the 19-year-old Kong Lingyi so much that he almost knelt down on the spot.

Oh no, I shouldn’t have come to Yantai! Kong Lingyi was filled with regret at this moment.

When Tan Sitong, who was queuing up to leave, heard Yuan Xiangcheng's shout, he suddenly turned around and widened his eyes.

Yuan Xiangcheng's voice of questioning was so loud that everyone who had not yet left the yamen could hear it clearly.

Is the Duke of Yansheng guilty? What a big gossip!

The people who had not yet dispersed quickly poured into the hall again, even more crowded than before, wanting to see this rare event that would only be seen once in a thousand years.

Chapter 162 Confucius on Trial

A few days ago, in Qufu City.

The procession of Duke Yansheng had been gone for several days, and with the departure of the master, the Confucius Mansion became somewhat deserted.

Mrs. Kong, Sun, who usually loved to be lively, was unusually quiet. The maids said that when they passed by the inner room, they could faintly hear Mrs. Kong sobbing.

This is a bit strange. Mrs. Kong was originally the daughter of the Grand Councilor Sun Yuwen. She was only 16 years old when she married Duke Yansheng. She was at the age of being lively and active, and was quite loved by Duke Yansheng.

So after Sun got married, the Kong Mansion was bustling with people every day, rarely quiet. No one knew what had happened recently.

1However, the servants can only guess and dare not spread it randomly.

In the evening, it was time for dinner. A maid ran out of the Kong Mansion and went to a nearby teahouse.

The desserts were still there and were delivered to the mansion a quarter of an hour later.

"Okay!" The shopkeeper responded and went to the back kitchen, passing by a dining table.

At this time, there were two diners sitting at the table, one of whom looked at the pocket watch in his hand from time to time.

"Chief Ming, let's get started." Lu Tian, ​​the stationmaster of Yantai Station, was getting a little impatient and put down his pocket watch and made a decisive suggestion.

"No rush, wait a little longer." Ming Ye waved his hand.

After Yuan Shikai's influence expanded to Jiaodong, he also set up an intelligence station in Yantai and sent Lu Tian, ​​a native of Shandong, as the station chief to take charge of related affairs.

As for Ming Ye and Lu Tian, ​​they came to the Kong Mansion with a mission. Taking advantage of Kong Lingyi's trip to Yantai, they wanted to find evidence of the Kong family's collusion with foreigners in the Kong Mansion.

"Has the French missionary been dealt with?" Ming Ye turned around and talked about something else: "Where is he buried?"

"Don't worry, Chief Ming," Lu Tian patted his chest and said proudly:

"I turned to Jinan and then headed south. The missionary's body is now in the Yellow River, Wenshui River, and Sishui River.

I placed his head inside a Buddha statue in a village south of Tai'an Prefecture, hoping that the Buddha would bless him, even though he doesn't believe in our Buddha."

Ming Ye felt a little horrified when Lu Tian described such a cruel thing so lightly.

He stared at Lu Tian's face for a long time, and finally said slowly: "You really lived up to what the head instructor said.

What a genius for spying!"

Lu Tian held the pocket watch in his hand and said: "Thanks to the support of the chief instructor, I am where I am today."

"Have you investigated the missing child's case?" Ming Ye asked.

"I understand. The missionary still has the banknotes and lists of names on him!" Lu Tian stretched out his hand to take them out from his arms.

"No need to take it." Ming Ye stopped him decisively: "After the Kong Mansion incident is over, we can take the list and confiscate the family property. No matter what kind of famous family they are, if they dare to violate such taboos, they deserve to be beheaded!"

When Bai Dingshan was wandering around Shandong, he heard from the local militia that child trafficking was rampant in Shandong. However, at that time, the White Tiger Regiment needed to support the National Defense Army's southward advance, so it had no time to deal with these matters.

It was not until Feng Guozhang led the National Defense Army south to Shandong that they finally began to address the issue.

After some investigation, it was found that most of the abducted children ended up in churches in various places.

After learning about this, Lu Tian, ​​the stationmaster of Yantai Station, decided to go all out. He simply kidnapped a bishop who was trafficking children and tortured him severely until he found out the origins of these children.

However, as soon as the interrogation results came out, Yuan Xiangcheng ordered the Yantai Station to go to the Confucius Mansion to collect evidence.

Time was running out, and Lu Tian had no time to ask further questions. He could only burn down the church and find a death row prisoner from Yantai Prison and throw him in, creating a "bishop burned to charcoal" drama.

As for the real bishops, they have now been spread across Shandong by him.

"Chief Ming, what are we waiting for?" Lu Tian looked towards the sunset in the east. "It's almost dark. We've already set the time several times. Today is the perfect opportunity."

"Waiting for help." Ming Ye smiled slightly. Just as he finished speaking, the sound of horse hooves came from the street.

"National Defense Army is suppressing bandits! We have discovered bandits sneaking into Qufu City. All males must immediately go to the south of the city for identification.

Those who fail to arrive by the time limit will be treated as collaborators with the bandits!"

"National Defense Army Suppresses Bandits"

Qufu is not big, and a dozen horses quickly spread the news throughout the city. The people were very puzzled when they heard the news.

It's almost dark, why are the bandit suppression forces coming to the city? And will it really be effective if they check people in the dark?

The Wehrmacht cavalry passed orders throughout the city until one of them rode up to the gate of Confucius' residence.

Putting away his whip, Wang San, commander of the National Defense Army cavalry battalion, said to the doorman, "You, call out all the men in the mansion. Don't leave any one out!"

"Do you know where this is? The Confucius Mansion! How could this soldier come here without eyes?" Even if he was a gatekeeper, he was still the gatekeeper of the Confucius Mansion, so he was very arrogant.

"Snapped!"

A whip cracked, and a red mark appeared on the doorman's face.

The National Defense Army does not bully innocent people, but this time they have a mission, so Feng Guozhang specially selected some "veteran soldiers" in the army.

"You dare to hit me?" The doorman was shocked at first, and then his face quickly turned red: "You dare to hit me?!"

Wang San, riding on his horse, said coldly, "Can't you hear me? The National Defense Army is suppressing bandits. All males must line up in the south of the city for identification!"

"Even if you are the king of heaven, you will have to kneel down and kowtow today!" The doorman was furious and shouted into the mansion, "Kong Shiba, come out and arrest him!"

There were clanging sounds, and a group of strong men holding iron bars ran out from the gate of Confucius Mansion, staring at Wang Sanhu.

The doorman snorted coldly and looked at Wang San with contempt: "Get off your horse quickly and kneel down to kowtow!"

However, as I said before, Qufu is not big and can be reached in a short time.

Seeing the battalion commander being surrounded, friendly troops soon arrived on the same street. Within a few minutes, more and more of them gathered.