Chapter 105: Duke Yansheng, Let Me Tell You a Story
Chapter 105: Duke Yansheng, Let Me Tell You a Story
The righteous gentleman Yang who remained unmoved with a woman in his lap…
Since he said one slept on the bed and the other slept under it, so be it. Who knew what the two of them did all night? Anyway, after this incident, Fang Tinglan could no longer marry anyone else.
Yang Xin’s group quickly headed south.
As for Huang Ying and the others, they naturally did not follow. They were only there to see him off. Huang Ying did not react much to this outcome either. In fact, she herself knew it was inevitable. In these times, a merchant’s daughter could only become a concubine. The social order was scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants, with merchants at the bottom. Although in reality, merchants’ power was second only to scholars by now, and they had even begun to merge with the scholar class. For example, after Zhang Juzheng, Zhang Siwei, who set things right, passed the imperial examination as a merchant-registered candidate and rose to become Chief Grand Secretary. Then his brother Zhang Sijiao became a Salt Merchant in Yangzhou. The brothers colluded—official and merchant—and rapidly amassed wealth comparable to that of a nation.
But this did not include small merchants like Huang Zhen.
For daughters from merchant-registered families like theirs, the best outcome was to marry an official or a member of the gentry as a concubine, thus attaching themselves to the scholar class for protection.
Such was reality.
Yang Xin’s group thus set off.
Once outside the Capital City, Xu Xianchun and Liu Shimin immediately showed their true colors. All along the way, they extorted, blackmailed, cheated, and swindled, fully displaying the nature of eunuch dogs and treacherous cliques…
Of course, this was inevitable.
A middle-ranking eunuch plus a Jinyiwei Assistant Commander—within the Capital City they were nothing special. Outside the Capital City, they were big shots. In the Capital City, Xu Xianchun’s position of Assistant Imperial Guard Commander was just someone who stood guard and ran errands in the Imperial Palace. Outside the Capital City, he was a major official of the fourth rank. In the Imperial Palace, Liu Shimin was just someone who copied and wrote things by the emperor’s side. Outside the Capital City, needless to say, a member of the Directorate of Ceremonial made officials along the way tremble with fear, even though he wasn’t even a Memorial-Submitting Eunuch, just a Fengyu, similar to an office clerk.
But he still wore the crimson robe. The color of this garment represented his special status.
Of course, this had nothing to do with Yang Xin.
Because the Grand Canal was frozen, their group could only travel south by land. In the deep winter, ice and snow were everywhere, and their progress was not very fast. It wasn’t until twenty days later that they finally reached Qufu.
By now, it was the first month of the forty-eighth year of the Wanli era.
At the Ting’en Gate of Qufu.
“The Magistrate of Qufu County, Kong Zhencong, respectfully welcomes the Imperial Envoy!”
An old man with white hair, wearing the robes of a seventh-rank civil official, led a group of officials and scholars to greet them before the gate. On both sides was a crowd of onlookers. However, it was clear that the common people in this land of sages were not living very prosperously. Most looked malnourished, though their clothes were all very neat—so neat they seemed specially made.
“County Magistrate Kong is too polite!”
Liu Shimin hurried forward to help the County Magistrate up.
The Magistrate of Qufu was hereditary, or more accurately, hereditary to the Kong family. It was generally nominated by the Duke Yansheng and appointed by the court, so it was equivalent to the chief steward of the Kong Mansion. This Magistrate Kong had already held the position for over twenty years, long enough for his hair to turn white.
“Government Student Kong Yinzhi of Qufu respectfully welcomes the Imperial Envoy!”
A young scholar beside him immediately followed with a bow.
The future Duke Yansheng, who would write such magnificent works as “All Directions Sing of a Prosperous Age,” was still very young at this time. He was a nephew of the current Duke Yansheng. The latter had no sons, so he was to be adopted as heir. However, at this time, his septuagenarian uncle was still alive. Although it was basically settled that he would be adopted, he could only greet them as an ordinary Government Student. Behind him were other prominent families of Qufu, like the Yan family, who bowed to Liu Shimin one by one.
Yang Xin and Xu Xianchun watched from the back.
“Is the Kong family very rich?”
Yang Xin asked quietly.
“Over two hundred thousand mu of tax-exempt Sacrificial Land, a family line spanning a thousand years. What do you think?”
Xu Xianchun whispered back.
“With their family so rich, aren’t there any bandits or robbers in the nearby mountains trying to plunder them?”
Yang Xin said.
“Who says there aren’t? The Duke Yansheng’s residence was rebuilt by the Emperor Shizong. Before that, it was looted and burned down by the rebel leaders Liu Liu and Liu Qi. Their ancestor was indeed a sage, but the descendants might not be. To put it bluntly, the Kong family are the local rulers of Qufu City. The County Magistrate is from their family, the land belongs to them, and the taxes from businesses in the city are collected by them. The whole city, though subjects of the Great Ming, are essentially Household Servants of the Kong family. Life and death, reward and punishment, all depend on a word from the Duke Yansheng. Their family lives more freely and happily than even the Prince of Lu next door. The Prince of Lu is called a feudal prince, but in reality, even leaving Yanzhou City is not that easy. But the Duke Yansheng is different.”
Xu Xianchun said.
“Plundering the Duke Yansheng’s residence… just thinking about it makes one yearn for it with deep admiration!”
Yang Xin exclaimed with feeling.
“Too bad we can’t be bandits!”
Xu Xianchun said regretfully.
“That’s not necessarily true. Just listen to me from now on. In short, the two of us have to make a haul on this trip. Not only do we have to make a haul, but we also have to get a haul for His Majesty the Emperor while we’re at it. Since the Duke Yansheng’s family is so rich, they should also share the burden for the country!”
Yang Xin said.
As he spoke, his gaze shifted to the right. Two burly men in the crowd quickly lowered their heads.
Yang Xin looked at them suspiciously.
By this time, Liu Shimin had finished the formalities there and began introducing them to Kong Yinzhi and the others. Yang Xin gave up paying further attention to those two men and turned to deal with Kong Yinzhi and the others. Soon, the tedious rituals ended. Amid the sound of gongs and drums, Yang Xin’s group entered Qufu City. This was actually the north gate. They continued southward along the main street, welcomed by common people lining the road, and then officially turned to the south gate of the Kong Mansion. The current Duke Yansheng, Kong Shangxian, led his clansmen in an official welcome. This seventy-nine-year-old man trembled as he knelt on the ground to receive the Imperial Edict.
After Liu Shimin finished reading that rather meaningless Imperial Edict, the public purpose of their trip was considered accomplished.
“Is this Righteous Yang?”
Kong Shangxian said, taking Yang Xin’s hand.
“Duke Yansheng also knows of Xin’s humble name? Xin is truly overwhelmed by the favor!”
Yang Xin said hypocritically.
“Righteous Yang turned the tide and saved Liaodong in its time of peril. Who in the world does not know of this? Though I, an old man, have long resided in this remote place, I also know that the Great Ming has produced another young hero!”
Kong Shangxian held his hand, chattering like a loquacious old man.
Yang Xin immediately understood. Someone must have sent word to him in advance, warning him to be wary of this troublemaker. It must be said that by this time, Yang Xin was indeed already taken quite seriously. At least, none of the civil officials still regarded him as an uneducated ruffian. And his coming along on this trip was clearly somewhat abnormal. Including the Wanli Emperor suddenly and inexplicably bestowing this reward on Kong Shangxian was also not normal. At his age, as long as he wasn’t senile, Kong Shangxian had already evolved into an old fox.
He was tentatively trying to win him over first.
“Duke Yansheng praises me too much. Xin is merely a commoner!”
Yang Xin said.
“A Commoner is even more admirable! Yinzhi, you and Righteous Yang are of similar age. I entrust Righteous Yang to your care. You must ensure Righteous Yang enjoys himself to the fullest in our Kong family. Righteous Yang fought enemies for the country. Since we cannot join him on the battlefield, we must let Righteous Yang enjoy himself to the fullest here!”
Kong Shangxian said.
Kong Yinzhi hurried forward and bowed to Yang Xin again.
The ensuing banquet was rather meaningless, just a bunch of guys hypocritically chattering nonsense. Yang Xin played the upright gentleman the whole time. After the drinking, Kong Yinzhi escorted him to his lodgings. It was a separate small courtyard, fully equipped with all sorts of servants and maids. Among them were two who looked quite lovely, probably left to warm the bed for Righteous Yang. How could one go without bed-warmers in the middle of winter?
“Brother Yang, we couldn’t fully enjoy ourselves at the banquet. How about we have a hearty drink now?”
Kong Yinzhi said.
“Then of course, the guest follows the host’s convenience!”
Yang Xin said with a smile.
The young maids quickly laid out wine and dishes.
Yang Xin, without ceremony, pulled over a beautiful maid. She gave a charming smile and sat right beside him. Another sat beside Kong Yinzhi. The warmed fine wine was poured, the lovely beauty brought the cup to his lips. Yang Xin gave a satisfied smile to Kong Yinzhi…
“Does Brother Dui Huan wish to know the real purpose of our group coming here?”
He said.
“Please enlighten me, Brother Yang!”
Kong Yinzhi said.
“This… It’s not convenient for me to say!”
Yang Xin said.
Kong Yinzhi, without hesitation, took out a stack of Silver Notes and pushed them right next to Yang Xin’s hand.
“This… this makes it convenient now!”
Yang Xin said contentedly.
“However, before that, I must first tell you a story.”
Then he looked at Kong Yinzhi with a strange gaze.
“It actually can’t really be considered a story, just some things the Emperor heard about the various countries in the West. As for where His Majesty heard them, I don’t know.
It is said that the various Western countries all believe in Yahweh, just like all in the Great Ming believe in Confucius. Therefore, the priests who preside over the sacrifices to Yahweh are the most revered. One emperor even gave a piece of land to the head of their priests. The latter is elected by those high priests and called the Pope.
Just like the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty also enfeoffed this Qufu to the Duke Yansheng.
Similarly, in every city, even every village, of these countries, there are churches belonging to the Pope and administered by priests he sends.
Just like our Confucian Temple.
Moreover, these priests also had the right to collect taxes. One-tenth of everyone’s income went to the church.
It was precisely because of this faith that the Pope and the priestly system he controlled gradually came to control all countries. All countries had to do as they said. They were the law. Even the succession of all monarchs required coronation by priests sent by the church. Otherwise, it was usurpation, and subjects no longer had to obey his power because his power was not granted by Yahweh, or rather, was not recognized by the Pope. For those monarchs who dared to disobey, the penalty of excommunication was applied. That is to say, this monarch was no longer under Yahweh’s protection. He not only lost the power to rule his subjects but also lost the right to stand in any country that believed in Yahweh. Anyone could kill him, any prince could replace him, any enemy country could seize his land.
Unless he could obtain the Pope’s pardon.
An emperor of the largest empire in the West, because he disrespected the Pope, was finally excommunicated. With no way out, in order to beg for forgiveness, he, along with his Empress, in such a winter, barefoot, climbed a high mountain in wind and snow, knelt before the Pope’s door for three days and three nights before being pardoned.
So, Brother Dui Huan, do you think this story is very interesting?”
He said ominously.
Cold sweat had already broken out on the face of Kong Yinzhi opposite him. Even though the room was heated by the stove fire like spring, he was there trembling as if standing in a world of ice and snow.