Chapter 95: The Incident of the Five Junzi
Chapter 95: The Incident of the Five Junzi
“How dare you! How dare you disrespect Confucius!”
“Go find the Censors!”
…
The Green Robed Scholars instantly erupted, each one shouting furiously.
“What I said is incorrect?”
Yang Xin sneered.
“Can your Confucius be placed above the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty? Is the Great Ming the empire of the Zhu Family or of the Kong Family? Don’t think that just because the court is lenient towards scholars, you can forget your place. The court is lenient towards scholars and reveres Confucianism only because His Majesty believes Confucius’s words have merit and can be used to govern the state. But that doesn’t change the fact that Confucius is just an ancient man who has been dead for over two thousand years. Nor does it change the fact that you Confucian scholars are first and foremost subjects of the Great Ming, and only then disciples of Confucianism. You can be respected, but don’t push your luck and think you can climb onto the emperor’s head. In this empire, no living person can be placed above the emperor.
Even among the dead, only the founding ancestors of the Great Ming can be placed above the emperor.
Confucius?
He does not have that qualification!”
He continued.
“Confucius indeed cannot be placed above His Majesty, but being placed above you is more than sufficient.”
Wang Wenyan stopped the Green Robed Scholars and then said with a cold smile.
“Assistant Commissioner Xu, who gave you your orders?”
Yang Xin said.
“Of course, it was His Majesty the Emperor!”
Xu Xianchun said.
“Then at this moment, the Imperial Guard represents imperial authority. You wish to oppose imperial authority.”
Yang Xin looked at Wang Wenyan as he said this.
“What of imperial authority? Heaven sees as the people see; Heaven hears as the people hear. The law of Confucius is the supreme law. Even the ruler should revere it. The Supreme Sage and First Teacher is the teacher of the monarch and officials of the Great Ming. Who dares not revere him?”
One Green Robed Scholar angrily said.
Wang Wenyan’s expression immediately changed.
“So the words of Confucius are above an Imperial Edict?”
Yang Xin said with a smile.
“Brother Li, don’t speak yet!”
Wang Wenyan hurriedly turned his head and shouted.
Yang Xin was actually playing with words. Refuting him was not difficult.
“Brother Wang, you need to study more. The words of Confucius are the supreme law. Even an Imperial Edict must not violate the way of the sages!”
That Green Robed Scholar said discontentedly.
Clearly, everyone knew what was up with Wang Wenyan’s Purchased Student Status. Although they trusted his cunning mind and numerous schemes, these Green Robed Scholars actually looked down on his scholarship. They were all well-read in the classics and deeply understood the way of the sages. Wang Wenyan, with his bought academic title, was clearly inferior to them on matters of great right and wrong. Not only Li the Green Robed Scholar, but almost all the Green Robed Scholars behind him echoed in agreement. What of an Imperial Edict? An Imperial Edict must also revere the way of the sages. If it doesn’t revere the way of the sages, it can’t even leave the Imperial Palace. The Grand Secretariat would return it sealed. The Chief Grand Secretary wouldn’t even draft a response. The Six Offices of Scrutiny would reject it. Your Imperial Edict has problems; take it back and revise it first.
What if the Emperor issues a direct order?
The Six Ministries wouldn’t pay it any attention.
The various Governors-General and grand coordinators would also toss it aside.
We are all disciples of Confucius. If the Emperor doesn’t revere the way of the sages, we cannot foolishly follow along.
“The words of Confucius are actually above an Imperial Edict? Assistant Commissioner Xu, does the Jiangshan of our Great Ming still belong to the surname Zhu? For what purpose did Taizu establish the Imperial Guard?”
Yang Xin said.
Xu Xianchun was also conflicted.
“Assistant Commissioner Xu, don’t let others use you as a weapon!”
Wang Wenyan said.
“Xu serves as His Majesty the Emperor’s weapon, only for His Majesty’s use. This Great Ming belongs to His Majesty, not to Confucius. In this empire, only the Imperial Edict holds supreme authority. Clear the road immediately, or don’t blame Xu for being impolite. Xu doesn’t care who you are or what you intend to do. The sky is vast, the earth is vast, but the Imperial Edict is greatest!”
Xu Xianchun sneered.
Immediately, he urged his horse forward.
The Imperial Guards behind him also urged their warhorses forward, quickly stepping onto the Yinding Bridge. Wang Wenyan watched Yang Xin with a deep gaze. Yang Xin was also looking at him, but Wang Wenyan quickly moved aside to the edge of the road. However, his clear-headedness didn’t mean his pig-headed teammates were the same. Those Green Robed Scholars stepped forward indignantly, quickly blocking the bridge deck. The bridge was only about ten meters long. Soon, they encountered Xu Xianchun.
Old Xu was now throwing caution to the wind. He clearly understood the nature of this matter, but since he had already placed his bet, there was no other choice. Like a true gambler, he would go down this path and leave the rest to fate!
Without hesitation, he picked up his horsewhip and lashed out at the Green Robed Scholar at the front…
The latter froze.
He clearly hadn’t expected Xu Xianchun to actually dare strike.
The whip made a sharp crack on his shoulder. Immediately, his clothes tore, revealing a bloody welt beneath. The Green Robed Scholar stared blankly at the wound, then suddenly let out a sharp scream. Without hesitation, he threw the Memorial Tablet of Confucius he was holding onto the ground, turned, and tried to flee to the back.
At the same time, the whips in the hands of the other Imperial Guards came down one after another.
The Green Robed Scholars instantly exploded into chaos.
On the narrow bridge deck, all the Green Robed Scholars crowded together, screaming in panic. Some shouted angrily at the Imperial Guards, even trying to step forward and pull Xu Xianchun off his horse. Some, seeing the situation turn bad, turned to run away. Some who were whipped wailed with heart-rending screams. Some, with nowhere to go, simply climbed over the guardrail, but they soon fell into the river under the bridge, which had already formed a thin layer of ice. On the bridge deck, the Imperial Guards continued to swing their whips, and some even used the scabbards of their swords to strike. Like hungry wolves driving a flock of sheep, they quickly beat the Green Robed Scholars back to the west bank.
Five Green Robed Scholars even failed to run away in time and were directly trampled under the hooves of the shying horses.
This was unavoidable. After all, it was just a small bridge only six or seven meters wide, with so many people crowded on it. Trampling a few was nothing unusual.
The Green Robed Scholars who retreated from the bridge deck instantly scattered like birds and beasts amid the screams of those five.
Yang Xin crossed the bridge proudly.
Then he turned to look at Wang Wenyan by the roadside.
“Have you ever considered how this will end?”
Wang Wenyan sneered.
“End? Brother Wang, you must understand, the Great Ming Dynasty ultimately belongs to His Majesty. His Majesty’s leniency towards scholars is not so that scholars can push their luck and ride on the head of imperial authority. Confucius? In our Great Ming Dynasty, he is the Supreme Sage and First Teacher. In the Song Dynasty, he was only the Duke of Culture and Propagation. The Literary Sage? He is the Literary Sage only because the Great Ming Emperor conferred that title upon him!”
Yang Xin said disdainfully.
Immediately after, he turned his head and spat a thick mouthful of phlegm behind him.
Then he and Xu Xianchun swaggered off.
Behind them, Wang Wenyan let out a long sigh, looking helplessly at the mess ahead. At this time, the scattered Green Robed Scholars regrouped. Instead, these fellows surrounded him and unanimously accused him, blaming him for not being firm-willed and retreating at the critical moment. Fortunately, Wang Wenyan took out Silver Notes, saying he would pay for the treatment of the injured and would treat everyone to drinks at the Eastern Court until they were drunk, and only then did the Green Robed Scholars stop accusing him…
Of course, that was no longer Yang Xin’s concern.
He and Xu Xianchun crossed the Yinding Bridge, then immediately turned south heading straight for Xianyi Neighborhood. Accompanied by cheers, they stopped in front of a residence.
“What is this?”
Yang Xin stared in surprise ahead.
Nine Thousand Years Old was standing at the gate with a smile. Behind him were Huang Ying. Xiaocao also seemed to have grown a bit taller. There was also a boy of about fifteen or sixteen, who should be Huang Ying’s younger brother.
“Conferred residence!”
Xu Xianchun patted his shoulder and said.
At the same time, following Nine Thousand Years Old’s shout, firecrackers in front of the gate were lit, gongs and drums sounded, and the commoners lining both sides of the road to welcome them cheered in unison. Above the main gate, the two large characters “Yang Residence” were strikingly prominent. Yang Xin dismounted and walked over. First, he clasped his fists in greeting to all around, then gave a separate bow to Nine Thousand Years Old. The latter immediately helped him up, then introduced a few minor officials from this neighborhood and some neighbors.
Yang Xin greeted them one by one. From now on, he would have to deal with them frequently.
Finally, after a chaotic and busy period, the welcome ceremony ended. Then, following Nine Thousand Years Old, he entered this Imperial-bestowed mansion.
Actually, it wasn’t some luxurious mansion.
It was just a three-courtyard residence with a garden. This was still the residence Wanli had prepared to confer upon him for that Jinyiwei Thousand-Household Officer position. Although he hadn’t accepted it, Wanli hadn’t taken back this conferred residence…
Of course, maybe it was just forgotten.
Allocating residences to newly appointed officials was mandatory. In fact, officials from other regions were strictly forbidden from purchasing any property in their place of service. Their residences were all assigned by the court, but they could also rent. For example, the one Xu Guangqi lived in was actually rented, and the land he purchased in Tianjin was bought during his period of resignation. Also, he had never served as an official in Tianjin.
This system of the Great Ming Dynasty was quite good.
No matter how high an official’s rank, even the Chief Grand Secretary, could not purchase property in the Capital City.
They could only be assigned residences or rent.
Of course, Fang Congzhe was different.
He was originally from the Capital City. His household registration was local, so he wasn’t restricted.
However, Yang Xin could actually purchase property in the Capital City himself because Wanli had conferred upon him a Imperial Guard household registration. If he had accepted, he would then be a person of the Capital City. He didn’t accept, but as a Commoner, he could purchase property. He would just have to resolve his household registration first, like whether it would be attached registration or temporary registration. There were various terms for this. If these couldn’t be resolved, he could only rent.
Fortunately, Wanli hadn’t taken back this conferred residence, so everything was resolved.
This residence now belonged to him.
This was the Yang Residence.
Not the Yang Mansion!
The term “Mansion” was not to be used casually. At the very least, one needed to be a commandery prince to use it. Even “Estate” was not allowed; one needed to be a first-rank official to use “Estate.” For a fifth-rank official, only “Residence” could be used. This was a system established since Taizu’s time.
Actually, nobody cared much about it now.
But since it was a conferred residence, it must comply with the system.
It wasn’t just a naming issue. The width, depth, number of rooms—all had standards. The number of rooms varied for different ranks. Even the roof beams were different. The color of the main gate, the screen wall shaped like an inverted ‘V’ in front—all were governed by regulations. Daring to exceed the standards meant violating regulations.
Well, just saying.
Overall, this Yang Residence was only slightly better than Nine Thousand Years Old’s place, at most having a small garden added. Nine Thousand Years Old’s place actually violated regulations as well. He didn’t even have a rank; at most, he should live in a small courtyard with three rooms. But these days, there weren’t many residences in the Capital City that didn’t violate regulations. For example, Fang Congzhe’s great five-courtyard mansion and the two large characters “Fang Residence” in front of the gate—both violated regulations. He could at most call it “Fang Estate.” His older brother’s four-courtyard residence also violated regulations. Zhu Yuanzhang used strict systems to restrict the extravagance of officials and commoners, regulating even the materials for things like residences, clothing, and wine cups. He dreamed of an agrarian society where everything was clear and orderly, where everyone followed the blueprint he designed to be diligent, thrifty, well-fed, and well-clothed.
But after his death, it all became scrap paper.
Human nature, after all, is not something that can be changed by one person’s ideals.