The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Confucius is the first saint respected by scholars, and many future generations receive his teachings.

Most of the officials in the DPRK believed in Confucius and would use this as a reason to attack.

It's empty talk and we have to wait for Li Dongyang to return to Beijing before he can reveal it.

Yan Chengjin wanted to implement the method of apportioning people into acres in Shandong and return the fertile land occupied by Yan Shenggong to the people and reduce it to a thousand acres.

However, the Kong family has been passed down for thousands of years, and its branches are huge. It has already spread to most of Shandong.

The Kong family is not a royal family in the court, but their number is more than that of the vassal kings, and they are all supported by the court.

Moreover, Duke Yan Sheng often begged the court for more land because he had too many people.

Careful calculation shows that they have occupied dozens of lands in five provinces, totaling one million acres of land.

He also used sacrifices and greedy payment of money, food, labor, tribute, etc., and he was called the fattest gentry in the Ming Dynasty.

Yan Chengjin pondered, how to reply to Emperor Hongzhi?

"I haven't reached a conclusion yet. We need to wait for Mr. Li to return to Beijing before we can conduct a thorough investigation."

The techniques of deceiving the emperor are getting better and better.

Emperor Hongzhi didn't know whether it was true or not, so he looked at Liu Jian: "What is the auspicious day for sacrifice?"

"Today is the day." Liu Jian thought for a while and said.

Even if Li Gong rushes back to the capital at full speed, it will still take ten days.

Under normal circumstances, ten days would have passed in the blink of an eye.

But now the people in Shandong are worried and uneasy, just like an injured person who has to wait ten days before the wound can be bandaged, which is uncomfortable.

"Your Majesty, there is no need to worry. I have submitted a memorial to Mr. Li and will investigate the matter in Qufu."

You can find out the fertile fields and land that Kong invaded by just asking the local big family.

I'm afraid that the big family and the Kong family will become enemies.

Emperor Hongzhi looked at the memorial and had no intention of asking any more questions, so he ordered Yan Chengjin and others to retreat.

…

The Ministry of Punishment is on duty.

Several people sat down one after another. Xiong Gan looked solemn and announced: "The Metropolitan Procuratorate is conducting a thorough investigation of Yan Shenggong, and this official only heard about it."

Xiong Gan knew something about Kong Hongxu's scandal.

Since the time of Yingzong, this man has been doing great things to bring trouble to women, which is an insult to the saint's family tradition.

But after all, saints are models for scholars in the world.

This year is another year for imperial examinations. If the imperial court respects Confucius and Confucianism, it will undoubtedly become the laughing stock of the world.

"What are you worried about?"

"I don't know what kind of changes Yan Chengjin will take advantage of this matter. I am worried that he will reorganize the company again." Xiong Gan said.

"The saint has made great contributions to the court. Today, we all receive the teachings of the saint, and all the scholars in the world respect the saint. How can we allow his Yan Chengjin to be tarnished?"

Yanyin harmed the interests of most officials and gentry. Officials felt as if they had seen a ghost when they heard the word "reorganization".

I'm afraid that Yan Chengjin will cause trouble again.

Xiong Gan nodded: "That's very good."

…

Qufu, Shandong,

The imperial court has sent people on fast horses to inform Confucius.

Three days ago, the Confucius Mansion ordered people to prepare sacrificial vessels, and the Confucius Temple was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, making it very lively, just waiting for Li Dongyang's arrival.

After Li Dongyang entered the Confucius Temple, he first put incense on the body of Confucius, then offered sacrifices to heaven and earth, and then read out the memorial inscription of Emperor Hongzhi.

Kong Wenshao led his clan members to kneel on the ground and listened to Li Dongyang finish reading the memorial text.

"Mr. Li is tired from the long journey, why don't you stay at your house?"

"I have important matters, so I won't stay here any longer." Li Dongyang said with a straight face.

From the look on his face, it could be seen that Li Dongyang was unhappy. Kong Wenshao had offended him somewhere. He looked at the clan members aside, and everyone was confused.

Xu Tianxi saw Li Dongyang at the sacrificial ceremony and followed him quietly.

As the censor of the Supervision Department, he was sent here.

When the Confucius Mansion held sacrifices, the money spent became extremely large, and there was some slack in external relations. He found a lot of evidence.

Li Dongyang was quite surprised when he saw him: "Did Yan Chengjin send you here?"

"After your Excellency received the memorial, the student left Beijing. I just didn't expect that the teacher would come to Qufu to offer sacrifices."

Xu Tianci was also surprised when he met Li Dongyang.

The person sent by the imperial court to offer sacrifices was his mentor Li Dongyang.

"This is evidence of the student's investigation in Qufu. You can give a copy to your Excellency."

Li Dongyang was slightly shocked.

It seems that even if he does not come to Shandong, Yan Chengjin will report the matter to His Majesty sooner or later, a thick pile of incriminating evidence.

At first, he wanted to betroth his daughter to Kong Wenshao, the Duke of Yansheng.

But after going deep into Shandong, I felt more and more that the father and son were nothing, bah! How can such a person be worthy of marrying Qing'e?

Well, although Yan Chengjin is as timid as a mouse, his character is quite upright.

A little better than Kong Wenshao.

Li Dongyang gradually recovered his thoughts and looked at the file. There were land deeds, complaints, and account books: "How did you find out?"

Xu Tianxi bit his lip and bowed: "Students are not allowed to reveal the methods taught by Master Yan. My teacher forgives me."

He brought one hundred thousand taels of silver, but all was spent.

It was used to bribe the people of the Confucius clan, as well as to manage the local gentry, and then to disperse the money and flee the common people.

It is not easy to obtain these supporting evidences.

Li Dongyang rushed on his way while investigating, and when he arrived in Qufu, he already knew most of it. There were also records of land rewards in the court that could be checked.

I just didn't expect that Yan Shenggong's mansion also had so many hidden fields.

With these supporting evidences, there is no need to continue the investigation.

"Let's set off and return to Beijing early!"

…

Li Mansion is full of spring.

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye, and Yan Chengjin came to the door as usual and counted down the number of days until Li Dongyang returned to Beijing. There was only one day left.

When Li Dongyang was there, although the atmosphere was not harmonious, it was still open and above board, without any scruples.

When Li Dongyang was away, Li Qing'e became reserved. She was still unmarried, but she was meeting a man in private. If it got out, it would not be good for her reputation and would also ruin the Li family.

Every time he came to visit, Xue would sit aside, which made Yan Chengjin anxious and made it impossible to make a deal.

"Tomorrow, your father will be back. Now he is one year older. Your mother is worried about you. I will urge him to come back." Xue felt distressed when she saw Li Qing'e.

Li Qing'e was only twenty years old, which was considered late in the Ming Dynasty.

It was not that no one came to propose marriage for a woman to marry at the age of fifteen. Thinking of this, Xue secretly blamed Li Dongyang.

Yan Chengjin said, "Thank you, Madam."

Xue stood up with her hand on her forehead and returned to the central hall, leaving Yan Chengjin and Li Qing'e alone, and He Neng and Feng Jiao.

The main hall suddenly became quiet. Due to etiquette, women could not talk too much, which would make them look charming and rude.

Yan Chengjin said, "I can read palms. Can I show it to you?"

Li Qing'e blushed slightly and stretched out her hand without thinking too much.

He Neng secretly gave Yan Chengjin a look. The young master clearly wanted to hold the young lady's hand.

Yan Chengjin pinched his fingertips. Needless to say, the touch was soft and comfortable.

It was agreed that I would only take a look, but I didn't expect that Lord Yan would do it. Li Qing'e's heart rhythm was unbalanced, and it was reflected on her flushed face.

"Your palm is really good. I avoided a marriage, but in my opinion, it is a disaster and not worth regretting."

"I knew that you had a plan to let me leave Beijing!"

Yan Chengjin turned around and saw Li Dongyang walking through the courtyard.

Returning home a day early, but deliberately sending someone to inform that he would come back tomorrow? I was careless and didn't think too much. Old silver coins...

Li Qing'e didn't expect her father to come back a day early, and she felt a little ashamed.

Yan Chengjin took his hand back and changed the subject: "What did Lord Li find out in Qufu?"

Li Dongyang took a deep breath, took Yan Chengjin's arm, and said solemnly: "You follow me into the palace to see the emperor."