Eighth year of Chongzhen

Chapter 422 Zhuang Yuanzhou's Thoughts and Choices
With the retraction of the cable tied to the iron pier of the wharf, a few thick pennies were lightly tapped, and the double-decker passenger ship slowly left the Tongzhou Wharf with more than [-] passengers, and sailed south along the current.

Zhuang Yuanzhou, who was dressed in a blue straight gown and a square scarf on his head, was sitting in the cabin on the second floor, his eyes closed and his brows furrowed, contemplating.

The layout in the not-so-spacious cabin is simple, with only one couch, one chair and a few, and even such a room would cost five kuai a day.

The butler Zhuang Cheng, who was over fifty years old, entered the cabin quietly, stretched his head to look at the teacup on the side table beside Zhuang Yuanzhou, lifted the teapot to refill half a cup, then walked out of the cabin lightly, turned around and opened the cabin door gently. Cover up.

Since the tenth year of Chongzhen, Zhuang Yuanzhou's one-year period of observing politics in the Ministry of Rites expired. The Ministry of Officials arranged for the county magistrate of Qufu.

During the period when the Ministry of Rites was watching the government, as Sun Chuanting led the Qin army to Beijing, the two would gather and have a small banquet in the Sun's residence from time to time, exchanging views on current affairs and how to deal with them. The death of Yan Shenggong was also mentioned. As a result, the title was vacant.

Regarding the truth of Kong Yinzhi's death, even someone as clever as Sun Chuanting did not realize that it was caused by man, but only discussed the reason why the emperor vacated the title of Duke Yansheng.

Due to the scandals of the Confucian Mansion occasionally released by Jin Yiwei at the behest of Zhu Youjian, the impression of the two of them on the Confucian family has also been greatly damaged. The rumors of the saint's mansion are full of dirty and dirty, which makes the Confucian Mansion have the halo of a saint for 2000 years. Gradually disappear.

Zhuang Yuanzhou believes that if the Confucian family in Qufu does not show the determination and courage of a strong man to break their wrists, and repent of the rumored evil deeds of stealing, taking human life, and self-enriching the people, the image of the Confucian family in the hearts of the world will plummet, and it will even affect the people in the world. The dominance of sage doctrine in scholastic circles.

Sun Chuanting keenly observed that the emperor was already very dissatisfied with Confucianism, but he didn't know that this was because Zhu Youjian reacted in advance to the series of servile and ugly behaviors of the Confucian family in his previous life.

Sun Chuanting, who was born as a descendant of an aristocratic family, did not quite agree with the emperor's intention to lower the status of Confucianism by attacking Confucianism, but so far, it has not been revealed what kind of thought the emperor wants to promote, so he, like most officials, Temporarily adopted a wait-and-see attitude.

However, he and Zhuang Yuanzhou agreed that the conduct of the Confucian family had deviated from the basic category of sages' benevolence, righteousness, propriety and wisdom, and was no different from those local tyrants who had no background. The court must take measures to punish them accordingly.

What Zhuang Yuanzhou didn't expect was that after half a year, he actually came to face Kong's family as the county magistrate of Qufu.

Thinking of this, the corners of Zhuang Yuanzhou's mouth twitched with a calm expression, revealing a wry smile.

He has already heard that this assignment was obtained under the emperor's personal instruction, and the content contained in it made people have infinite reverie.

Direct access to Shengting, the emperor's favorite person, this is the official circle's most intuitive understanding of his appointment.

All the important court officials knew that Sun Chuanting had close friends around him during his years as an official in Shaanxi, and Zhuang Yuanzhou was the most famous among them.

Although he is only a newcomer to the officialdom, he has already been labeled as the Sun Party.

The emperor's trust and reliance on Sun Chuanting is well known. On different occasions, the emperor often used Sun Chuanting as an example to express his favor to Sun.

Although this move caused many courtiers to be envious and jealous of Sun Chuanting, until now no one dared to jump out and attack Sun Chuanting.

Because there is really no way to catch Sun.

From the time when he went to Shaanxi with great enthusiasm, until he wiped out several big thieves who caused disasters in Shaanxi, he even directly captured Gao Yingxiang, a mighty bandit in the world.

Countless thieves have been killed, and countless lives have been saved. These political achievements are obvious to all, and there is no fault at all.

Now that Sun Chuanting had gone outside the customs to command the battle against Jianzhou, Zhuang Yuanzhou had no time to write to ask for advice, and started the trip after making some preparations.

Although his family had a lot of money, Zhuang Yuanzhou didn't spend 50 taels of silver to charter the entire passenger ship. Instead, he chose to mix with many people of all kinds on a ship as an ordinary scholar.

When the future is uncertain, you should not be too high-profile, lest you will be ridiculed if you fail to show achievements after taking office in the future.

Zhuang Yuanzhou didn't have much confidence in his assignment this time.

The emperor's intentions were already very obvious. The magistrate of Qufu County was to suppress the Kong family. This time he was entrusted with great trust, but the emperor did not give him any hint.

No matter what happens in Qufu in the future, it is his personal behavior and has nothing to do with the emperor.

The king of a country will not stand up for a seventh-rank magistrate in person, even if he is a member of Sun Chuanting.

Zhuang Yuanzhou knew in his heart that he was not qualified to attract the emperor's full attention, unless he did a very good job in dealing with the Kong family, then he could let the emperor take a high look.

Qufu is not only the starting point of his career, but also the end of his career.

He discussed with Sun Chuanting the behavior of the Kong family, although it was disgusting, it didn't seem to be too angry.

Many big gentry households have also done this, and the emperor has not seen any special reaction to this.

It's just that under the banner of the saint's people-oriented and benevolence first, the Confucian family did many unrighteous things, which is indeed a lot to be underestimated.

The goal of suppressing the Confucian family and vacating the title of Yansheng Duke is aimed at Confucianism.

There are rumors in the market: the emperor seems to appreciate the fact that the southern sect of the Confucian family has always cultivated and studied, and has not been contaminated by the bad habits of a wealthy family. Could it be that this is to force the northern sect to give up the position of Duke Yansheng and let the southern sect return to its ancestral home?

Most likely!

Thinking of this, Zhuang Yuanzhou couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat.

If my judgment is correct, then it is not simply to suppress the Confucian family in Qufu, but to completely destroy it.

The emperor is testing his courage and courage.

Because if you fight to the death with the Confucian family, you will face double pressure from the officialdom and scholars.

This is tantamount to making an enemy of most of the officialdom and scholars.

If he lacks enough courage and perseverance, and after a trial, retreats because he can't bear the huge pressure, then his official career will definitely come to an end.

If you don't agree with the emperor, why does the emperor use you?

Even with Sun Chuanting's face, I can only hang out in the lower class for the rest of my life. As long as I am in power today, I have no chance of turning over.

Then again, I am an official of the Zhu family. As long as the emperor is satisfied, the glory and wealth are also rewarded by the emperor. No matter how good the scholarly reputation is, who will give you these?

Fight!

In fact, it is not too hard.

As long as he stands firmly on the emperor's side, even if he is against the entire official circle, his future will be smooth.

The emperor's actions over the past few years have become more and more powerful, and no one in the court and the opposition dare to take his edge head-on.

All of this is based on the fact that there are thieves inside and enemies outside.

Zhuang Yuanzhou has full confidence in the official army sweeping outside the pass.

With a strong army of absolute loyalty in hand, tax reduction and exemption, and won the hearts of the people all over the world, if anyone in this world dares to be disobedient, they will really seek their own death.

I went to Qufu to break the situation, so I don't have to worry about success or failure. In the end, the emperor will clean up the mess.

Zhuang Yuanzhou, who understood the key points, finally showed a long-lost smile on his face.

　Thanks to the Smurfs for the reward.To promote books for newcomers, one "Strategy for the World" and one "I'm Not a Bandit" are better than mine, please support them.Here I will first explain the background and characters who are going to deal with the Kong family, and I have to go back to fight outside the pass. I will mention it to avoid being abrupt when I get it. Zhuang Yuanzhou's inner thoughts are also normal. People have selfishness, and choices are very important.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)