If I fail to overcome the tribulation, I can only return to the Ming Dynasty and become a prince.

Chapter 242

While the emperor's carriage was still stationed at the inn, the city of Qufu had already received news of the emperor's upcoming arrival.

After all, the emperor has his own rules for every move he makes when he travels. Naturally, the emperor must be prepared to receive guests wherever he decides to go.

This kind of preparation is certainly not the common practice in various plays and scripts, where corrupt officials cover up and deal with all problems before the emperor comes, and clean up their hands so that the emperor cannot find any mistakes or omissions.

Although this kind of thing happened, it was not the main reason to notify the local emperor in advance that he was going to pass.

The real purpose is to have the place prepare a reception for the emperor that meets the specifications, arrange the emperor's food, clothing, housing and transportation, and most importantly, prepare to place the army.

After all, he is the emperor. Even if he is not particular about the level of food and clothing, if he can enjoy himself with the people and eat the same food as the common people, you must at least ensure that the emperor's food is clean and hygienic, and ensure that no one poisons the food. ?
Moreover, the emperor cannot travel alone. He is accompanied by ministers, palace attendants, etc., as well as an army of guards. The food and accommodation of these people are also very important to the local area.

Later generations of national leaders still need to close streets to clear roads when traveling, let alone this is the emperor of the feudal dynasty?
Therefore, it is a certainty that the emperor will come to Qufu, and the place in Qufu must naturally be prepared to receive the king.

However, unlike other places, the local officials in Qufu do not have the final say. In other words, the local officials in Qufu are just humble existences in Qufu. The whole of Qufu is in charge of power, and the one who has the ability to decide all affairs is another existence - the Kong family.

In fact, it is not difficult to understand. In other parts of the Ming Dynasty, although local officials were not suppressed and humble, they still had to have a good relationship with the local squires.

After all, if your official wants to build bridges and pave roads, you still need these big households to donate money. If you want to do something, or if the court issues any decree, you also need the cooperation of the squire.

Especially under the grain chief system implemented in the early Ming Dynasty, these large households took on the task of supervising the collection and transportation of grain in the area. If there was a shortage, the large households had to make up for it.

Therefore, it is very important for local officials to manage the large local households and let them cooperate with them.

In Qufu, this situation does not exist at all, because this is the hometown of Confucius and his descendants live here.

When it comes to the influence of the Confucius family, it may be difficult for ordinary people to imagine, but you only need to think about one thing, that is, Confucius was a person from the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, which has been nearly 2000 years ago. His descendants can exist for such a long time. time, and has been sought after by rulers of all dynasties since the Han Dynasty. Can it really be summed up by the phrase "cultivate the descendants from generation to generation, and promote the saints from generation to generation"?
If the Kong family did not have enough influence, they would not have been praised by rulers of all dynasties.

Similarly, it is precisely because the Kong family has such a strong influence that local officials and even the court did not dare to do anything to the Kong family easily.

When Zhu Yuanzhang established the Ming Dynasty, he summoned Duke Yan Shenggong of the Confucian generation to Nanjing for an audience. As a result, he pretended to be ill and asked his son to go for him, making it clear that he would not give Zhu any face.

But Zhu Yuanzhang could only pinch his nose and suffer, and couldn't really do anything to the Kong family.

Even during the entire Ming Dynasty, the Kong family did not pay much attention to the Ming Dynasty. They even abandoned the titles conferred by the Ming Dynasty and still respected the Meng Yuan in the past.

It stands to reason that the Kong family is so desperate for death. From Zhu Yuanzhang to Zhu Di, and even the subsequent emperors Jiajing and Wanli, no one is easy to deal with. The Kong family should have been exterminated long ago, so why are they left here today?The reason is naturally very simple. It is the influence of the Kong family. After all, this is the descendant of the saint!

Just like now, knowing that the emperor is coming to Qufu, the county magistrates of Qufu dare not stay in their own county offices. Instead, they rush to the Confucius Mansion to pay homage to the contemporary Yan Shenggong and ask the Kong family for advice on how to receive the emperor.

There is no way, who made the entire Qufu the property of the Confucius family?Not only the whole of Qufu, but also the whole of Shandong... That's all the Kong family has the final say.

The current Duke Yansheng is Kong Yanjin, the eighth generation of the Confucian family. After listening to the county magistrate's request, he pondered for a moment and said: "Receiving the holy master is a major event, and it is our natural duty to be in the Kong family. If there is anything we need to cooperate with, the county magistrate will just ask you." If you open your mouth, my Kong family will definitely help you."

Although the Kong family has the final say in Qufu, some things must be done to save face. After all, as the head of the Kong family, Kong Yanjin cannot be as arrogant and domineering as those playboys.

Although the Kong family has the capital to be proud, they are not so arrogant as to be written on their faces. The reputation of Shilin still needs to be maintained.

Besides, it’s all about showmanship, and you still have to give others the face they deserve.

After all, the county magistrate personally visited the house to pay the bills. If the Kong family still acted arrogantly and took advantage of Qiao, it would be too arrogant and domineering.

Although the Kong family is indeed used to being arrogant and domineering, and no one dares to take care of even committing crimes in Qufu, there is always a strong point, right?Although the county magistrate in front of him gave the Kong family face and showed an attitude of humbly asking for advice, if the Kong family humiliated others too much, the county magistrate would lose his hair and lose his head. When the emperor came to Qufu, the Kong family would be killed. Some of the things I did were revealed in front of the emperor...

Although this will not have a big impact on the Kong family, it is not a good thing after all. Therefore, even if Kong Yanjin is really crazy about this, he will not really treat the county magistrate as a slave. go.

Even the county magistrate of Qufu is in a sense inferior to his servant of the Kong family.

"You are so polite, Mr. Yansheng. We need the help of the Kong family to receive the Holy Emperor this time. I wonder if you, Mr. Yansheng, have any regulations?" There were people carrying the people in sedan chairs. Of course, the county magistrate would not take Kong Yanjin's politeness seriously. But he still asked him how to deal with the matter of receiving the Holy Driver.

Kong Yanjin was very satisfied with the county magistrate's attitude, but he did not show it on his face. He just said casually: "This matter should be handled in accordance with the laws of the imperial court. The local county magistrates who need the cooperation of our Kong family can just say so." , As for the matters concerning our Kong family, I will explain them later, so that nothing will go wrong."

"The students will be relieved if Duke Yan Sheng says this. Then I will go back and draw up the regulations and ask Duke Yan to correct them." The county magistrate felt that getting this promise from Kong Yanjin was enough, so he prepared to leave.

However, before he stood up, Kong Yanjin spoke again: "Receiving the Holy Master is not a trivial matter. Everyone in the Kong family will take it seriously. The county magistrate must also be more careful to prevent anyone from colliding with the Holy Master. That will not be a big deal." alright."

"What Duke Yan Sheng said is that I will go back and ask people to pay more attention to it!" The county magistrate heard the implication of Kong Yanjin's words and nodded quickly to make sure.

(End of this chapter)