Daming: I became Zhu Yuanzhang's eldest son

However, apart from obeying, it seemed that Kong Xixue had no other choice at all. In front of this iron-fisted emperor, he would never give others a second option.

But no matter what, I am also Yan Shenggong at any rate, and this reputation is the foundation of my life. If I lose this point, I am afraid that the status of the Confucian government will not be guaranteed, and it will fall like a cliff among the scholars.

Thinking of this, he mustered up his courage, saluted Zhu Yuanzhang, and then Chen Zuodao.

"Your Majesty, although there is no problem with this matter, Your Majesty should also consider Zhu Tao. He is young and still has a lot of room for advancement. If he gets too popular, it may not be a good thing for him."

Of course Zhu Yuanzhang knew that this was Kong Xixue's excuse, but he would not give him this space.

"Could it be that Aiqing is unwilling to do this? Or do you think it's inappropriate to do so and lose the status of a saint?"

When Zhu Yuanzhang said this, his face was very peaceful and his tone was very gentle, but it brought invisible pressure to Kong Xixue.

Sometimes identity can really bring aura. Kong Xixue, as the head of civil servants in name, is also a model of the world's academy. He is unattainable in front of others, but in front of Zhu Yuanzhang, he is nothing. crushed state.

At this time, if he continues to talk about other reasons, he may encounter unforeseen disasters, so he can only say it from the perspective of caring for Zhu Tao.

"I'm not unwilling, but because Zhu Tao is too young. If he becomes famous all over the world because of this matter, some people may not accept it and come to provoke him. If Zhu Tao can't take it, wouldn't there be more embarrassment? "

After hearing Kong Xixue's words, Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to laugh, but he couldn't laugh, so he glanced at Yan Shenggong with contemptuous eyes.

I'm afraid that someone who can embarrass Zhu Tao in this world has not yet been born.

Even Li Shanchang, Liu Bowen and Song Lian were ashamed of themselves in front of Zhu Tao. If they really wanted to take part in the imperial examination, it would be considered low to be the number one scholar, but Zhu Tao disdained this kind of background.

My own unlucky son, who only wants to eat, drink and have fun, wants to be a dude. The Duke and Marquis given by the court look down on him, so how could he come out to take the imperial examination.

It's just that he used Kong Xixue's identity as Lord Yansheng to serve as a ladder for Zhu Tao, and he really took himself seriously.

Zhu Yuanzhang's patience has not been much, so he stopped talking nonsense with Kong Xi, stared, his face sank, and said.

"You can do whatever we ask you to do. You don't need to think too much about it. Do you understand?"

Having said that, Zhu Yuanzhang's patience may have reached its limit. If Kong Xixue wants to make irresponsible remarks and refuse to obey the court's arrangement, there may be unforeseen disasters.

Regarding this point, he himself knew it well. As the direct descendant of Confucius and Yan Shenggong, the leader of the contemporary civil service ranks, Kong Xixue was not only not stupid, but also extremely smart.

Without Zhu Yuanzhang's reminder, Kong Xixue knew that he, Yan Shenggong, was actually just a pet kept by the imperial court.

No matter how ugly it sounds, it is nothing more than a dog, occupying the literary world, biting whoever the court tells it to bite, and wagging its tail at whomever it tells it to.

At this point, Kong Xixue had no choice but to kowtow quickly, and then said to Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will go to visit Zhu Tao and discuss specific matters with him. Zhu Zhuangzhu will definitely be famous in the literary world and in the scholarly circle."

Only then did Zhu Yuanzhang turn his anger into a smile, and told Kong Xi to learn a word.

"It's no problem for you to visit Zhu Tao in Zhujiazhuang, but you must not reveal our identity. This is the most important thing, understand?"

What else could Kong Xixue say, he could only nod his head again and again, and retreated very depressed.

Kong Jian, who just kowtowed and didn't speak on the golden hall just now, said when he left the palace gate and saw no one around.

"Father, are we really going to pay a visit to Zhu Tao? He is still just a young man who has not reached the crown. If we ask him for advice, what is the dignity and face of Yan Shenggong? "

Kong Jian's idea is not unreasonable. If this continues, it will not only be a matter of losing face, but may even lose the inheritance status of the past 2000 years.

Seeing his son so restless, Kong Xixue just gave him a look, and then said in a low voice.

"You can do whatever your Majesty tells you to do, but isn't it up to us to decide how to do it? Do you remember the last time the imperial court ordered us to report the number of acres cleared? I asked you to be responsible at that time, how did you do it?"

With this sentence, Kong Jian immediately understood what his father meant, that is, in the face of the emperor's will, don't disobey it on the surface, but how to implement it in private, and to what extent, it is up to him.

The last time the imperial court strictly checked the land, but there was no way to do so. After several generations of land annexation, more than [-]% of the land in Qufu is now under the name of the Confucian government.

If you really report it like this, how can you live in the future? Paying more taxes will be a trivial matter. If the court pursues it, I am afraid that Duke Yansheng's name will still be lost.

In the end, the Confucian Mansion came with a lot of thunder and rain, and only gave up some barren land, but most of the fertile land was still hidden, but it was not pursued by the court.

So, Kong Jian said right away.

"Father, let's go to Zhujiazhuang right away and meet this ignorant kid. If we can persuade him to give us good words in front of the emperor, that would be a blessing to the Confucian family."

After the two returned to the post station, they tidied up a bit and rode fast horses to Zhujiazhuang.

On the way, Kong Xixue said to Kong Jian with an excited face.

"Father, I thought about it just now. Although this Zhu Tao is loved by His Majesty, he may not be really talented. However, if he can be subdued and become a loyal believer of my Kong family and be used by me, then it will be a good thing."

The father and son had a very good plan, and they already had a clear goal.

Since ancient times, the county magistrate of Qufu has been held by the Confucian family, but since Zhu Yuanzhang succeeded to the throne, this power has been transferred to the Ministry of Officials.

Therefore, Kong Xixue has his own wishful thinking, that is, if Zhu Tao is subdued, then the position of Qufu county magistrate will be taken back for him, then it will be a matter of course.

Kong Xixue and his son galloped all the way to Zhujiazhuang, but they were not familiar with the specific route, so they came to Fang Xiaoru's private school by mistake.

He only heard the catchy voice of reading from inside, so he ordered.

"Let's stop rushing around, go in and find out where Zhu Tao lives, or give this gentleman some loose silver and let him lead the way."