Ming Dynasty: Zhu Biao's younger brother, the most rebellious son in history

Chapter 111 I, Zhu Kai, am born strong!

Using fifteen years of national treasury income to do a thankless task, only his younger brother would do such a thing.

If Zhu Kai hadn't taken action, it would have been fine, but when he did, it was amazing, and Zhu Biao was so moved that tears filled his eyes.

I have never seen such an outstanding brother.

"Brother Kai, you don't have to say anything. Just tell me when you need money, and I will do my best to get it for you."

Zhu Biao clenched his fists and said to Zhu Kai, "I heard that the Mongolian court in the north has a lot of gold and silver treasures. When they evacuated Yuan Dadu, they took away all the gold and silver they looted. Should we fight them again and take back the gold and silver?"

"???"

Isn’t my elder brother a gentle and kind elder brother?

Why do you start talking about robbery as soon as you open your mouth?

Zhu Kai almost felt that the person he recognized was a fake big brother.

But Zhu Kai had no idea that the reason why Zhu Biao wanted to rob the Mongol Yuan Dynasty court in the north was entirely because of Zhu Kai. He felt that he was sorry for Zhu Kai that as a younger brother, he had to do such a big thing.

Zhu Kai has always been taking care of his elder brother.

Zhu Biao didn't want to put all the pressure on Zhu Kai, he had to take on his responsibility as the eldest brother.

It is Zhu Biao's responsibility to find money for Zhu Kai.

Seeing that Zhu Kai wanted to say something else, Zhu Biao waved his hand and said to him: "Brother Kai, don't say anything. Just let me find the money. You are so stubborn that you are unwilling to ask others for help even if you have to swallow your anger."

Zhu Kai was shocked and said quickly: "Brother understands me!"

You are right, I, Zhu Kai, am born to be strong!

Without saying anything, Zhu Kai picked up the wine barrel and poured it into the quilt: "Brother, don't persuade me, I'll drink this wine, you can do whatever you want! Thank my brother!"

There is nothing wrong with every word in the conversation, but why do I feel that the five words "thank my big brother" are not good words when I hear them?

Zhu Biao was so moved that he didn't have time to think about it. He put his arm around Zhu Kai's shoulders and continued singing and drinking.

The entire mansion was filled with the ghostly howlings of the two brothers.

……

At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang in Yingtian Prefecture did not know about the conversation between the two brothers Zhu Kai and Zhu Biao. If he knew, he would definitely be very pleased.

The eldest and the second son both have strong personalities, of course they inherited it from their father.

Just thinking about it makes it perfect!
It has to be said that Zhu Yuanzhang was indeed born with a strong will. Even though he was illiterate, he could still write famous works such as "Huaiyou Commoner".

Now, Zhu Yuanzhang had to sit in the court and wait for the confrontation with his ministers.

Before the confrontation, Kong Xixue, under the leadership of Song Lian, found Li Shanchang.

Song Lian had come to see Li Shanchang in advance. The current Li Shanchang was not as unattainable as before. When Song Lian came, Li Shanchang bowed politely to greet him. After hearing Song Lian say that he wanted to speak for the Kong family, Li Shanchang agreed without saying a word and said that he would mediate.

This led to the scene where Song Lian brought Kong Xixue to meet Li Shanchang.

When Kong Xixue heard that Li Shanchang would choose to help, a happy smile appeared on his face and his heart was filled with joy.

This is exactly what he wants.

Li Shanchang, the number one civil servant.

Such a person can help himself, Kong Xixue can make his back teeth show when he smiles.

Kong Xixue came to the Duke of Korea's mansion happily, and after seeing Li Shanchang, he bowed down and saluted.

Li Shanchang helped Kong Xixue up, and then said: "No need to do this, you are much younger than me, I will call you my nephew."

It sounds like Li Shanchang is taking advantage, but in fact, this is an opportunity for Kong Xixue to build a closer relationship. Kong Xixue naturally understood it immediately and kept flattering Li Shanchang, saying that he deserved the status of the head of the civil servants.

Song Lian watched from the side, standing like a minion.

But he doesn't care about these empty things, he only cares about whether things can be done well.

Li Shanchang and Kong Xixue talked about this and that, and no one took the initiative to talk about business, which made Song Lian, who valued time, very unhappy.

I brought you two together to discuss things. Why are you not saying a word now?

Unable to contain himself, Song Lian spoke his mind and asked Li Shanchang for a way to save the Kong family.

Li Shanchang already had an idea in his mind.

Moreover, although he was helping the Kong family on the surface, he was actually on the same side as Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Kai.

"Jing Lian is still the same as before, impatient."

Li Shanchang said this with a smile, as if teasing Song Lian, and then his face changed, revealing a hesitant and struggling expression: "Jing Lian, my dear nephew, I have understood what you want me to do. This matter is not so easy to solve."

Kong Xixue quickly said: "That's why I need your help even more."

"It's not that I don't want to help you, but what you did is too much!"

Li Shanchang's words made Kong Xixue's face choke. He frantically signaled Li Shanchang with his eyes not to continue. You have to know that Song Lian didn't know about the bad things their family had done, and he had already perfunctorily answered Song Lian's previous inquiries with simple words. Now that Li Shanchang brought it up again, what would Song Lian think?
But Li Shanchang seemed not to notice Kong Xixue's look, and continued to talk: "The Lu family in Guan County is your branch, right? They dared to collude with the Japanese to rob the people, and your family even accepted their money and provided them with protection. Sigh... I'm not saying anything bad about you, my nephew, but what does His Majesty think of you doing this?"

Although he was accusing Kong Xixue's family of doing something dishonest, Li Shanchang's eyes were always on Song Lian. From the moment Song Lian started to plead for mercy, Li Shanchang had already guessed that Kong Xixue did not tell the truth to Song Lian, an honest man, and was hiding many things from Song Lian.

As expected, after hearing what Li Shanchang said, Song Lian's face darkened.

The news that Song Lian heard might be false. Could it be that the news that Li Shanchang heard was also false?
Song Lian felt that he had been deceived, and this feeling of being deceived made him angry.

Kong Xixue felt the atmosphere in the room becoming increasingly wrong, and a layer of sweat broke out on his forehead. He didn't want to offend Song Lian, but now he had something to ask of Li Shanchang. Helpless, Kong Xixue could only bite the bullet and say to Li Shanchang: "Duke Han, this news is fake. It was the Second Prince and Hu Weiyong who threw dirty water on our family. We have passed down our family traditions through poetry and books, and we would never do such things."

"Can't do it?"

Li Shanchang's face fell, "My dear nephew, you came to me for help, don't hide some things! I want to hear the truth!"

The words were convincing and it seemed that they had sufficient evidence. Song Lian was still hopeful when he first heard Kong Xixue's rebuttal, but after hearing Li Shanchang's words, he chose to believe Li Shanchang. Li Shanchang was his old acquaintance, and based on his understanding of Li Shanchang... Li Shanchang would not pressure Kong Xixue on such a matter.

Is the Kong family really not a good family?
Song Lian felt cheated and was very angry. If he had not promised Kong Xixue that he would help him, he would have chosen to leave right away.

What's the point of helping such a beast?

Faced with Li Shanchang's relentless pressure, Kong Xixue was so anxious that he didn't know what to say for a moment. If he didn't admit it, he would offend Li Shanchang, and if he admitted it, he would offend Song Lian, two big guys he couldn't afford to offend!
Why is it so difficult to save the family?

Or... just go?

Fortunately, Li Shanchang chose to give Kong Xixue some face in the end: "Maybe it's because you haven't taken charge of the entire family yet. What Chief Kejian did was indeed not authentic."

This matter has been pushed onto Kong Kejian, so you, Kong Xixue, can't refuse this honor, right?

Since Li Shanchang gave him face, he had to dare to accept it.

It is the greatest act of filial piety to speak of one's father's mistakes in front of others. Kong Xixue could only answer tactfully: "I really don't know about this matter. When I return to Qi and Lu, I will definitely ask my father. If it is true, I will come to apologize to the Duke of Han in person."

His words also showed that he acknowledged what Li Shanchang said.

Song Lian had a gloomy face throughout the whole process and didn't say a word. He chose to be an outsider and not get involved in Kong Xixue's affairs. Kong Xixue was a guy with no martial ethics and actually deceived an old man like him. He would never go along with this guy again.

Kong Xixue had no idea at this time. He could deceive Song Lian but could not hide it from Li Shanchang. Li Shanchang kept calling him "nephew" and "tell the truth" and beat him so hard that Kong Xixue did not even have a chance to resist. He could only be a tool and obey Li Shanchang's arrangements.

"My dear nephew, what your family has done is too much. His Majesty loves the people like his own children. This matter is not easy to handle." Li Shanchang was ready to talk, and then said to Kong Xixue: "I know why you came to me. You want me to save the Kong family and your father, but you can't have your cake and eat it too. I can only save one at most."

He saved Kong Kejian and the Kong family was buried with him.

Kong Kejian took the blame for saving the Kong family.

You can only choose one of the two. To have the best of both worlds... is simply impossible!

Li Shanchang directly rejected Kong Xixue's idea!
Kong Xixue naturally wanted to choose the Kong family. Kong Kejian was already old, so why not just burn himself to light up the Kong family?
However, the key issue remains: filial piety!
Filial piety is the essential bargaining chip that runs through everything. Kong Xixue is unwilling to give up his own personality, and Song Lian next to him is already dissatisfied with him because of the previous deception. If Song Lian becomes even more dissatisfied with him because of a simple word "filial piety", it would really be a loss.

Song Lian was also looking at Kong Xixue, and seemed very interested in the decision made by Kong Xixue.

Kong Xixue hesitated for a while, but still said to Li Shanchang: "Duke Hanguo, no matter how wrong my father was, he is still my father. I beg you to help me save my father from the fire and give him a chance to live. Xixue would like to thank you."

After saying this, Kong Xixue bowed and knelt.

"Humph!"

Song Lian snorted angrily, not even wanting to listen anymore, he stood up and walked away.

Li Shanchang understood Song Lian's character.

He did not care about Song Lian's rudeness. On the contrary, he was happy to see Song Lian leave.

Only in this way can he set a trap for the distraught Kong Xixue!
Thanks for Song Lian’s anger when he left!

Seeing Song Lian leave angrily, Kong Xixue was really at a loss.

He couldn't figure out why Song Lian left. Was what he said wrong?

Not even filial piety?

After Kong Xixue came to Yingtian, he has been running around for the Kong family and has had little time to rest. Now his father has been thrown into jail by Zhu Kai in Qilu, and the Kong family has lost all its wealth. In this situation, isn't it wrong to abandon the Kong family to save his father?

Isn’t this the ultimate filial piety?
"My dear nephew, why did you say you wanted to save Brother Kejian in front of Jinglian?"

Li Shanchang shook his head, saying that Kong Xixue had made the wrong choice: "What do you understand as filial piety? What does he understand as filial piety? In my opinion, what Jing Lian wants is that you put aside minor filial piety and pursue major filial piety!

What is true filial piety? Brother Kejian inherited the legacy of Duke Yansheng, so he must cultivate himself, govern the country and bring peace to the world, but has he done it?

Looting the people, is this also self-cultivation, governing the country and pacifying the world? His behavior has gone against the inheritance of Yanshenggong, so is there any need for him to exist?"

After Li Shanchang's reminder, Kong Kejian suddenly became enlightened.

Oh, so that’s what you mean.

I should put family heritage first.

Dad did something wrong, he violated the inheritance of our ancestors, he is the one who deserves to die!
After figuring it out, Kong Xixue wished he could smash his head to pieces. He couldn't even answer such a simple multiple-choice question. He was too tired these days and his brain wasn't working properly.

What a miscalculation. What a miscalculation.

"I'll go get Mr. Song back."

Seeing that Li Shanchang was willing to help, Kong Xixue was naturally happy, but he was a grateful person, and Song Lian's help to him was the greatest, so Kong Xixue wanted to explain it clearly to Song Lian and did not want Song Lian to misunderstand.

"No, once you express your thoughts in the court, Scholar Song will forgive you."

Li Shanchang looked so confident and sure of victory that Kong Xixue gave up the idea of ​​looking for Song Lian. After all, Li Shanchang was the head of the civil servants, and all their plans now required Li Shanchang's help to solve.

At this time, Kong Xixue was completely led by Li Shanchang.

He had lost his most basic judgment and followed Li Shanchang's lead in everything.

But, could Li Shanchang be so kind?

"My dear nephew, do you know why you are being targeted?"

Li Shanchang continued to persuade Kong Xixue, but Li Shanchang's question was exactly what Kong Xixue didn't understand. He really didn't know why the Kong family was targeted so harshly: "Is it because, when His Majesty summoned my father, my father didn't come immediately? Duke Hanguo, there is a reason for this. Back then..."

No one would believe this kind of reason even if he made it up. Li Shanchang was unwilling to listen to Kong Xixue's story. He waved his hand and said with a smile, "It's not like that. Your Majesty is not intolerant. Things are not as simple as you think."

Not as simple as I thought?
Why?

Kong Xixue expressed his incomprehension and pretended to listen attentively. Li Shanchang continued to persuade him, "Your Majesty has great ambitions that far surpass those of the Qin Emperor and Han Emperor, but your Confucianism has not changed, which makes Your Majesty dissatisfied. Have you heard of the story of Dong Zhongshu's proposal to Emperor Wu of Han to 'abolish all schools of thought and respect Confucianism alone'?"

Who doesn’t know this?

Kong Xixue learned this since he was a child, and Dong Zhongshu made him master it by heart.

In the Han Dynasty, the most famous school of thought was the Huang-Lao school, and Confucianism was only ranked in the lower middle position. However, Confucianism used its own way to move forward step by step. After Dong Zhongshu, Confucianism became the dominant school.

Why is that?
However, Dong Zhongshu knew that it was not the times that chose Confucianism, but Confucianism that chose the times. Confucianism could give Emperor Wu of Han whatever he wanted. On the contrary, other schools of thought still insisted on their old views. But what was the use of these views?

Without the emperor's favor, all opinions are worthless.

It was precisely because of this reform and renewal, and the tolerance of all things, that Emperor Wu of Han liked it, so he chose Confucianism.

Kong Xixue understood that Li Shanchang was using the story of Emperor Wu of Han and Dong Zhongshu to remind himself: Don't think about keeping things unchanged. The Confucianism of the past is no longer suitable for the current emperor. If you Confucians want to continue to lead the way, you must update yourself so that Zhu Yuanzhang can accept it.

Kong Xixue fully supported Li Shanchang's remarks.

It can not only save the Kong family, but also update Confucianism and prevent the Kong family from being hostile to Zhu Yuanzhang. Why didn't I encounter such a good thing before?

There is an old saying: A blessing in disguise.

Kong Xixue shouted in his heart: The ancients never deceived me!
Thinking of this, Kong Xixue no longer hid his feelings and bowed down to Li Shanchang: "Please teach me, Mr. Hanguo."

Li Shanchang also posed and said tactfully: "Nephew, please stand up!"

Then, Li Shanchang began to explain to Kong Xixue his understanding of Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yuanzhang's idea of ​​reforming Confucianism. Kong Xixue was fascinated by what he heard.

At the end of the conversation, Li Shanchang patted Kong Xixue on the shoulder and said to him with a smile: "My dear nephew, if you lead the Kong family and assist His Majesty wholeheartedly, how can His Majesty target you again? By then, you can completely take back what your Kong family lost at the hands of your father, and even go further."

"Yes, nephew understands."

Li Shanchang said so much to Kong Xixue, and finally he summed it up in two words: useful!

You have to be useful to be liked by Zhu Yuanzhang.

"I remember that it is recorded in ancient books that a gentleman should learn the six arts, but today's scholars are just reading books and forgetting what the most basic Confucianism is."

Li Shanchang expressed his recent insights and said to Kong Xixue: "My dear nephew, why don't we restore Confucianism to the past, so that scholars all over the world can understand what a true gentleman is, and then take its essence and discard its dross, and apply it to the Ming Dynasty and to Your Majesty..."

Today's scholars have no heroic spirit, and they don't even have any rusticity.

Zhu Yuanzhang was born into a peasant family and started to study Buddhism later in life. This has led many people to use this as a means to attack Zhu Yuanzhang. How can this be acceptable?
Back then, Confucius took his disciples to travel around the world to study. They were capable of doing everything. His students could even lead troops to fight in battles during their travels. Why don't you scholars learn from such an amazing thing?

Kong Xixue agreed: "This is a big operation. We need to study it slowly. I will write an article when I get back and ask you, Mr. Han Guo, to help organize it."

"can."

Li Shanchang became happier as they talked, and so did Kong Xixue. He felt that he had gained a huge advantage.

They chatted for a long time, and it was almost time to strike night before they finished.

(End of this chapter)