Sui Dynasty: I, Yang Guang, am both scrupulous and stable

Chapter 356
  When Yang Guang said bluntly that he was unwilling to respect Confucianism alone, Kong Boyang looked horrified. It seemed that no one had ever spoken like this since ancient times. Regarding Confucianism and Confucianism, few people dared to confront it since the prosperity of the Han Dynasty. .

Kong Bowang said: "Your Highness, please be careful what you say."

Yang Guang sat steadily: "Mr. Kong, why do you think the etiquette in the school is completely chaotic? Is it just because the students think Confucianism is not good?"

"How can a group of young people in their teens and twenties talk about the teachings of saints? How can they speak arrogantly if they haven't read hundreds of books?"

Yang Guang smiled disdainfully: "Yes, etiquette must be paid attention to. Mr. Kong, young people cannot question the saint's principles. Can other people do the same?"

Kong Bowang was hung up on this question. If he said no, then this group of Confucian students and below would be guilty. If he said yes, then the discussion of Confucianism among the young students in the school that he mentioned before would be Just leave it to chance.

Kong Bowang is no novice when it comes to debating this matter.

"Your Highness, you should not talk about things in the same way. The teachings of saints have been passed down for many years, and everyone can learn from them. As for the so-called offenders below, a king should be magnanimous and tolerate the outspoken advice of his ministers. Yes, just like your Majesty today, you have never punished anyone for the advice given by civil servants in the court, and this is how you can create the prosperous age of the Sui Dynasty."

To suppress people, bring out our own father to suppress them.

"Mr. Kong, it seems that your requirements for me and my father are always higher than others. What is this?"

Kong Bowang smiled and replied: "Those with high moral character and respect should shoulder more burdens. Only those with more virtue can occupy high positions."

Yang Guang replied: "In the same way, can more virtuous knowledge be called the study of saints? Those in high positions should be able to tolerate the admonitions of ministers, so should the knowledge of saints in high positions also be able to tolerate the questioning of students? ?”

Kong Bowang didn't know how to answer for a while. After thinking for a while, he said: "Your Highness, I think you seem to have misunderstood something..."

Next, Kong Bowang just gave it a try, but it was nothing more than putting the principles in the book on the surface, and in the end he couldn't argue with Yang Guang.

Yang Guang waved his hand and said: "Mr. Kong, you have said a lot of truths, and I understand them all. You don't need to repeat them. I just want to ask you, do you think these young Confucian scholars are deliberately being provoked? You want to give me a show of strength when I come to Qufu, so that I can kill my prestige."

"Your Highness, how can Confucian scholars be so courageous? They are all young students who do things without caring about the consequences. They will do some outrageous things on impulse. Your Highness, please show your kindness."

"Mr. Kong, I made it very clear just now. I did not ask Governor Cui to do this. If you put this hat on my head again, I will really be angry."

Kong Bowang smiled slightly when he heard these words: "Yes, yes, yes, I am old and confused. I can speak clearly now that I am older. I hope Your Highness will not be surprised."

Yang Guang stood up, coughed slightly, and walked back and forth: "Mr. Kong, I was assassinated by Kong Sheng and Kong Bo in Daxing City. Logically, the crime of assassinating me should be at least the Yi tribe, but considering the two They are members of your Kong family, and they were also the pillars of the Kong family before, so my father only placed the blame on these two people, and they should be your nephews."

Kong Bowang was about to hit the ground with the crutch in his hand, making a harsh sound, and then said: "Your Highness, these two people without fathers and kings are really despicable people. We have already treated them and His wives, concubines, children and grandchildren have all been removed from the family tree. Your Highness, these two of them have nothing to do with our Kong family."

This vowed to draw a clear line with the two of them first, which was also a statement to Yang Guang.

"Having said that, the two of them are members of the Kong family after all. Old sir, I think I can reasonably suspect that more than just two people know about this matter. After all, two people may not be enough to plan such a thing. "

Just as Kong Bowang was about to speak, Yang Guang continued what he was saying and stretched out his hand to signal him to stop talking.

"I was assassinated by the Kong family. When I came to Qufu, I met this group of Confucian scholars who wanted to give me a slap in the face. It seemed that these people did not take me, the great Sui prince, in their eyes at all. They were so bold and arrogant. I doubt the real The real culprit behind the attempt to assassinate me is still hiding in the dark and directing all this remotely."

"So, although I did not instigate Governor Cui's arrest this time, it just so happened that maybe we could interrogate him, lest the thief who wanted to assassinate me was hiding behind, and I was stupid enough not to know."

Kong Bowang stood up respectfully: "Your Highness, I guarantee that this will never happen."

"Oh? Really? How can you guarantee that you are the one who planned to make the Confucian scholars bully me?"

At this time, Kong Bowang realized that he had been tricked by Yang Guang, but his more than ninety years had not been in vain. He said without changing his face: "His Royal Highness, you have misunderstood. I am the guarantee. There is absolutely no one else in our Kong family involved." When it comes to the matter of Kong Sheng and Kong Bo, since this incident happened, our Kong family has strictly investigated the children of the family, and there is absolutely no one who has anything to do with this matter."

"As for what His Highness said, there are people who want to give you authority, that definitely does not exist. Confucian scholars are proficient in Confucianism and cannot be incited to do such things. Since ancient times, it has been a noble act for scholars to die for admonishment. Maybe they want to You must imitate your ancestors, and your Highness should not be angry because they imitate their ancestors.”

Kong Bowang talked to Yang Guang, and the more he talked, the more confident he became. Although Yang Guang did not relent, Kong Bowang understood that Yang Guang had scruples. He was not as scrupulous as Lai Huer or Wang Yi. Enough.

Then dressing people up will always be useful.

Eventually he will give in and compromise.

No one can compete with the greatest truth in the world.

When Yang Guang heard Kong Bowang's remonstrance, he knew that Kong Bowang was using this matter to suppress him. It was impossible for a normal person to kill these Confucian scholars. He thought he was just teaching Kong Bowang a lesson. After finding out this matter, it is time for both parties to negotiate with each other.

"Your Highness, I would like to apologize to these young people and to you. I will teach these people a lesson and have them all come to apologize to you, Your Highness."

Yang Guang snorted coldly. If so many people really came to apologize, where would he put himself? At that time, everyone will say that Yang Guang is bullying others.

"Old sir, you'd better check first to see if there are any evil people with evil intentions behind them who are instigating and provoking these Confucian scholars. If you don't find out clearly, it will really make you sleepless and sleepless."    "It's better to do this. , Mr. Kong, please help me check."

Yang Guang suddenly invited Kong Bowang to investigate. Kong Bowang was not a fool. He knew that Yang Guang wanted Kong Bowang to give him an explanation. Even if he wanted to pull someone to take the blame, he had to pull someone out. But once he found out the person, it was This means that the Confucian circles in Qufu are really deliberately targeting the current prince, and they will not be able to explain it when the time comes.

Just as Yang Guang insisted that the arrest of the Confucian scholars was not his fault, Kong Bowang also had to insist that the Kong family did not deliberately want to intimidate the prince.

Both parties feel that the other party must have done it on purpose, but neither will admit it.

Peeing in the swimming pool is the same thing as standing on the edge of the pool and peeing in the swimming pool, but the nature is completely different.

Kong Bowang declined and said: "Your Highness, how can I, a bad old man, investigate the case? If His Highness really wants to investigate, it's okay. If there are people in Qufu City who really want to target His Highness, I, the old man, will be the first to do so." If I don’t agree, don’t think I’m old, I’ll just kill these traitors for you, the Crown Prince.”

Yang Guang looked at Kong Bowang meaningfully: "I am very pleased that you have such a heart. I benefited a lot from talking to the old man today. Unfortunately, my body has not recovered yet. I am very tired today. I will be here soon." I'll keep the old gentleman here. As for what the old gentleman wants, I already understand. I will send someone to intercede with Prefect Cui. If there is no guilt, it is better not to imprison the scholar."

Finally getting Yang Guang's answer, Kong Bowang's mission this time was completed.

He saluted Yang Guang respectfully and said, "I would like to thank His Highness the Crown Prince on behalf of these young people. I will definitely remind them of His Royal Highness's kindness."

"It doesn't matter whether you remember it or not. It's just that Mr. Kong, I always like to be quiet. If there are too many things happening and I can't be quiet, I'm sure I'll have a headache."

Kong Bowang agreed: "I will definitely teach these boys a lesson when I go back."

An unpleasant conversation ended like this. Kong Bowang walked out of the mansion and looked back at the house under the night. He couldn't help but feel chilly in his heart: "Fortunately, His Highness the Crown Prince is not really cruel, otherwise these people would I’m afraid I really can’t get out of that prison.”

The people around him supported Kong Bowang and said: "Mr. Kong, as expected, just like the rumors from the outside world, His Royal Highness does not agree with the exclusive respect of Confucianism. I'm afraid it will be detrimental to us in the future. If he treats us like this this time, I'm afraid he won't do it in the future either." What a good look."

Kong Bowang's expression was deep: "Our Highness, the Crown Prince, has a heart for the city. Before, I thought it was a brainless and impulsive move for him to arrest so many people. But in the past few days, let Lai Hu'er deal with me first. Let the eunuch deal with me again, and finally come to see me pretending to be seriously ill."

"From the beginning of the war to investigate and the final compromise of begging for mercy, everything was under his control. It's really scary for such a young man."

But people around him said: "But Mr. Kong, our goal has been achieved. In the end, didn't His Highness compromise and let all the Confucian scholars go?"

Kong Bowang asked back: "Then what do you think you can do if you don't let him go? Lock him up until old age, exile, or execute him? From the beginning of arresting these people, his ultimate goal is to punish them well. We should go there early Let them out some time, otherwise they will suffer some physical pain and they will be released later."

As he spoke, Kong Bowang's expression became more gloomy.

"The prince's carriage arrived at Qufu City and was blocked by so many Confucian scholars. The prince's face must not be lost. You guys do things one by one but you are really careless. There are already lessons from Kong Sheng and Kong Bo. We, the Kong family, are here We can't stand in front of Dali. If these Confucian scholars are really found out by the trial this time, and the prince really pursues them, after all, they are the masters of suffering, and we can't stand."

The person who was reprimanded looked embarrassed and said somewhat unconvinced: "Mr. Kong, everyone has respected Confucius since ancient times, but we are just not convinced. Besides, the prince didn't find anything during the interrogation. Our Confucian scholars are all very ambitious. Otherwise, how could we release him?"

Kong Bowang was anxious to pick up a cane and hit someone: "You idiot, your head has grown into a neck? How do you know that they didn't interrogate? Maybe they didn't intend to interrogate at all, or something happened during the interrogation but they didn't do anything about it. Article, there are hundreds of people of all kinds, so many people are really interrogating their words and deeds, let alone if there is something wrong, even if there is nothing, they can interrogate and find out the reason."

"I'm so angry. How can I read all the books with a brain that is dumber than a wild boar in the forest? Are we so anxious to fish people out because we are afraid of being interrogated to find out who is behind the scenes? They have given us a step up. Come down, just hug the steps and come down properly!"

Several people were so scolded that they didn't dare to talk back.

Kong Bowang calmly said: "Tomorrow morning, remember it's early morning, no! I'll send someone to wait outside the government office tonight, pick these people out as soon as possible, and then ask carefully if there are any Someone said something unfavorable to our Kong family."

"Then early tomorrow morning, let Kong Shun take all the descendants under the age of thirty who are registered in the family tree of Kong's family to come to the house to invite His Highness the Crown Prince. The rest of the people are preparing the most solemn welcome ceremony at the house and waiting for His Highness the Crown Prince's arrival."

After being taught a lesson like this, I had to obey it so respectfully.

Yang Guang in the palace sent Kong Bowang and others away. Wang Yi asked in confusion: "Your Highness, you lifted it up so high and put it down gently this time. I saw that old man relying on his old age and still showing no respect for you." the meaning of."

"Respect? I don't need his respect. The old man is almost a hundred years old. What's the point of arguing with him? Besides, what can we do if those Confucian scholars don't let go?"

Yang Guang sighed softly: "Humans, you have to compromise somewhere, even for me. My father asked me to come to Qufu to improve the relationship with the Kong family, and also gave me the imperial edict to canonize the Kong family. I can't break it." For his big event, just let it go. As for the follow-up, it depends on whether the Kong family can grow eyes or a head."

Early the next morning, there was an unprecedented grand scene in Qufu City.

A young team of hundreds of people came to the place where Yang Guang was staying. They were all dressed in green shirts, with solemn demeanor and looks of praise on their faces.

When the door of the mansion opened, the prince walked out slowly, wearing a purple robe and gold belt, looking down at everyone.

Kong Shun, the grandson of Kong's parents, and many other clan members saluted the prince one after another.

The voice was deafening: "The Kong family welcomes His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

(End of this chapter)