In fact, Zhu Yijun was not interested in who was the descendant of Confucius and who was the direct disciple of Confucius. Zhu Yijun believed that no one in the world would be interested either.
The disciples of the Confucian Sect all held onto Master Kong's banner in order to unite and work on their own matters.
According to their own ideas, the Confucian disciples were divided into different factions, such as Neo-Confucianism, Neo-Confucianism, and so on.
This was a circle and a rule that had been tacitly accepted by the world.
For Zhu Yijun, Kong Shangxian was an idiot, so it was easy to deal with him.
He glanced at the kneeling Kong Shangqian and said lightly, "You may dispense with the formalities!" Then, he ordered Zhang Jing, "Bring a stool for you."
Zhang Jing quickly turned around to bring a stool, while Kong Shangqian's heart sank.
The Hanlin Academy's Five Classics Scholars could not be granted a seat by the emperor, so he could only be a descendant of the Kong family.
Thinking of this, Kong Shangqian was both worried and excited.
What kind of life had the Southern School of the Kong family been living for so many years?
Ever since the destruction of the Song Dynasty, the Southern School of the Kong family had declined, and it was getting worse with each generation.
In comparison, the Northern School of the Kong family was like the sun in the sky. It was like heaven and earth.
Everyone was the descendant of Confucius. Why could you live like that while we had to suffer all day?
After Kong Shangqian sat down, Zhu Yijun asked with a smile, "Do you have any family in Qu State?"
Kong Shangqian was stunned for a moment before he replied, "Your Majesty, my mother is still alive. My wife and children are also in front of my mother to show their filial piety."
Zhu Yijun nodded and said with a smile, "I have been reading books these days. I read some Confucian classics and gained a lot of insight.
The words of the Sage are enlightening. Prime Minister Zhao Pu of the Song Dynasty said that half of the Analects of Confucius could rule the world. It can be seen that his words were true! "
Kong Shangqian was excited when he heard Zhu Yijun's flattery of Old Master Kong.
"The birthday of the Sage is coming soon!"
Zhu Yijun glanced at Kong Shangqian and said with a smile, "When I thought of paying respects to the Sage in the Temple of Confucius, I thought of you."
Kong Shangqian immediately became excited. The Emperor was going to worship Confucius, and he was going to be the host.
It had been more than a decade since Wanli ascended to the throne, but he had never publicly worshipped Confucius.
Not to mention Zhu Yijun, in fact, even the Daming Emperor was not interested in Confucius. There were very few large-scale sacrifices.
"I wish to hold a large-scale ritual at the Temple of Confucius. All expenses shall be covered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The ritual will last for seven days!"
Zhu Yijun's words were very, very shocking, causing Kong Shangqian's face to be filled with excitement. He quickly knelt on the ground, "This official will definitely do his best and not let down the emperor's great trust!" As he said this, he kowtowed to Zhu Yijun.
Large-scale sacrificial ceremonies and the emperor's presence were all major events.
He was the one in charge of this matter, so the meaning of this favor couldn't be more obvious.
Watching Kong Shangqian leave, the smile on Zhu Yijun's face gradually disappeared. In fact, compared to the Northern Kong Clan, the Southern Kong Clan was much easier to deal with.
Of course, even if he supported the Southern Kong Clan, Zhu Yijun would not continue to keep the Southern Kong Clan in Qu Province.
It was better to pull the Kong Clan to his side and to the capital.
Glancing at Zhang Jing, Zhu Yijun's eyes flashed coldly, "Is everyone ready?"
Zhang Jing hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, everything is ready."
Zhu Yijun retracted his gaze and nodded, "Then let's begin!"
After the news that the Emperor was going to worship Confucius on Confucius's birthday spread, it was immediately praised by many people. Countless people sang praises. Naturally, many people felt that this was a sign of the prosperity of culture and education.
However, there were also people who were smart. When they saw that the host of the ceremony was Kong Shangqian, they were so scared that they shrunk their necks.
After the matter had been fermenting for three days, the appearance of a memorial made everyone realize that a storm was coming again!
The person who presented this memorial was not a big shot. He was just the Shandong Provincial Inspector, a seventh-rank official. However, because of this memorial, Feng Kuan's name became the focus of discussion in the capital in just a few days.
As the news continued to spread, Feng Kuan's name was basically known throughout the world.
The content of the memorial was very simple. It was to accuse the Northern Kong Clan of not being a direct descendant of Confucius. They had usurped the position of a descendant of Confucius, deceived the world, deceived the emperor, and obtained the title of Duke Yan Sheng. It was a heinous crime.
This memorial did not directly point to the Kong Clan's Northern and Southern Kong Clans. That period of history was too messy, and it was difficult to distinguish them.
Feng Kuan pointed the spearhead at the Kong Clan's fight for the throne many years ago. He directly put the blame on the current branch of Duke Yan Sheng.
Yuanren Zongyan?
In the second year, the Kong Clan sent a memorial to the emperor, saying that Kong Zhi's son, Kong Sicheng, was a concubine.
The Yuanren Emperor sent his minister, Yuan Mingshan, to investigate and personally obtained the Kong Clan's genealogy. He confirmed that the successor of the Zongzi was Kong Sihui.
Kong Sihui and Kong Sicheng were the seventh-generation grandchildren of Kong Ruoyu, the third son of the 45th generation Kong Zongyuan. Kong Sihui was the eldest legitimate grandson of the 49th generation Kong Fu's eldest son, Kong Yuanxiao. Kong Sicheng was the eldest legitimate grandson of Kong Fu's second son, Kong Yuanyong.
Therefore, Yuanren Zongyan?
In the third year, Kong Sicheng was deposed and Kong Sihui was conferred the title of Duke Yan. He was also conferred the title of Senior Advisor of the Central Council, a fourth-rank official.
Feng Kuan targeted the fight for the throne. He said that Kong Sihui had colluded with the Meng Yuan Empire to destroy the world. It was a heinous crime.
In fact, Kong Sihui was the eldest grandson of the second branch, while Kong Sicheng was the eldest grandson of the first branch. In order to usurp the title of Duke Yan Sheng, Kong Sihui flattered the Yuan Emperor, colluding with the eunuchs around the Yuan Emperor to give him heavy gifts.
In any case, the accusations that scholars liked to make and the stories that they liked to make were all pinned on Kong Sihui.
The current Duke Yan Kong Shangxian was Kong Sihui's direct descendant. If Kong Sihui was disgraced, then Kong Shangxian's bloodline would completely lose the right to be Duke Yan Sheng.
Framing people of the same clan, deceiving the world, deceiving the emperor, and usurping the title of the direct descendant of a saint was a heinous crime.
As for whether Kong Shangxian's bloodline would benefit Kong Sicheng's bloodline, it was impossible to say.
Once Duke Yan of Kong Shangxian's bloodline was deposed, it would be up to Zhu Yijun to decide who would be the next Duke Yan.
As soon as this memorial was released, it immediately spread like wildfire. Everyone in the streets and alleys were discussing it. It could be said that the news had spread all over the world.
However, some people said this, while others said that. The debate was endless.
Someone mentioned that the Kong family had a genealogy.
Therefore, many people once again accused Kong Sihui of tampering with the Kong family genealogy.
If Kong Sihui was the eldest grandson of the first branch, then why did the title of Duke Yan Sheng fall into Kong Sicheng's hands?
It was obvious that the genealogy was tampered with, and then there was the move to abolish it.
After all, the eldest grandson of the first branch was the eldest grandson of the first branch. No family had passed the title of nobility to the second branch.
As soon as this argument came out, it was instantly approved by most people.
No matter which family it was, there was no such thing as finding out that one was the eldest grandson of the first branch after the inheritance was passed down. This did not make sense!
After a few days of debate, countless memorials were sent to the palace. Some demanded that those who slandered the descendants of a saint be severely punished, and some demanded that the truth be investigated. The bloodline of the Kong family should not be tarnished.
Forbidden City, Wenhua Hall.
Zhu Yijun looked at the newly appointed Grand Secretary of the Cabinet Wang Xijue in front of him with a smile on his face.
In fact, although Wang Xijue had entered the Cabinet, all the ministers in the court knew that he had a task in entering the Cabinet, which was to preside over the opening of the vassal state.
Everyone understood that if this matter was done well, Wang Xijue was expected to have a glimpse of the position of Prime Minister.
If it was not done well, then Wang Xijue would not only have the position of Prime Minister, but also be kicked out of the Cabinet as soon as he entered.
Zhu Yijun glanced at Wang Xijue and said, "You know about what happened to the Kong family?"
"Your Majesty, I know!"
Wang Xijue nodded and said. It had been noisy outside for a long time. If he didn't know about it, he would be a fool.
Compared with those who clamored outside, a big shot like Wang Xijue knew more.
It seemed that someone was impeaching the Kong family, but Wang Xijue knew that this matter was complicated.
Now the Tax Department was pushing the officials and gentry to collect taxes together. All the gentry in the country were looking at Shandong, and the whole of Shandong was looking at the Kong family. From the news that came back, the situation in Shandong was not optimistic.
The Kong family resisted passively, the local officials were obstructing them, and the gentry were pretending to be obedient.
The whole of Shandong was in trouble, and the source of the trouble was the Kong family. At this time, the matter of the Kong family broke out. As long as one wasn't a fool, he would know what was going on.
How could anyone who could become a big shot be a fool?
Although Wang Xijue had just entered the Cabinet, he was the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites before he entered the Cabinet!
What was more, Wang Xijue was not a practical official. Otherwise, he wouldn't have made a ban on opening the border area when he was the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites.
"I want you to go to Shandong!"
Zhu Yijun looked at Wang Xijue and said lightly, "The descendant of the Sage is a big deal, and there can't be any mistakes. Since there is such a memorial, we have to investigate it."
"It is necessary to send an important official of the imperial court to deal with this matter. I think you are very suitable."
Wang Xijue sighed in his heart. As expected. In fact, he had expected that the emperor asked him to do this.
It was not a big deal to find out the truth. But who didn't know that the emperor had praised Kong Shangqian before?
If he played dumb at this time, the result could be imagined. Wang Xijue hurriedly said, "Yes, Your Majesty. I will go to Shandong early tomorrow morning."
Zhu Yijun nodded and said with a smile, "That's great!"
"What are you going to do when you arrive in Shandong?"
When Wang Xijue heard this, he knew that the emperor was worried about him. He sighed in his heart, but his expression was still very serious as he said, "I will definitely find out the truth and severely punish Kong Shangxian."
This time, it was Zhu Yijun's turn to be embarrassed. He waved his hand and said, "You can go now!"
Looking at Wang Xijue's back, Zhu Yijun didn't expect that Wang Xijue would have such a temper. Was it because he was used to getting along with Shen Shixing, who was such a nice guy, that he suddenly changed his style?
This Wang Xijue's temper was too straightforward. It must be. Didn't you see this fellow even say words like "severely punish Kong Shangxian"?