OBS Chapter 397 This humble citizen was acting under the orders of the Left Chancellor of the Central Se
Chapter 397 This humble citizen was acting under the orders of the Left Chancellor of the Central Se
The famous decadent writer Kang Yu once said: Killing someone is just a matter of one blow, but destroying their spirit is what makes them feel endless pain.
So, following the principle of pairing shrimp with pork heart, Yang Shaofeng added, "Before you were arrested, your county should have already built a declaration pavilion, right?"
"I have always felt that Shenmingting is no good."
"After all, all sorts of messy and trivial matters have to be publicized in the Shenming Pavilion."
“Officials like myself, and gentry like you, spread all sorts of bad things around in the Shenming Pavilion. Don’t you think those peasants will laugh at us officials and gentry, and then gossip about us behind our backs?”
"..."
Yang Shaofeng's mouth opened and closed, which, in Zhu Jian's eyes, looked like a venomous snake constantly spitting venom.
However, Yang Shaofeng showed no sign of stopping.
"I have also heard that the court will publish these matters to the world in the form of an official gazette."
"In that case, it won't just be peasants who are cursing."
"Those scholars have such sharp tongues."
"Tsk tsk..."
The more Yang Shaofeng spoke, the more desperate Zhu Jian felt.
Unable to hold back any longer, Zhu Jian glared at Yang Shaofeng and shouted, "You, surnamed Yang! You're a scholar too!"
Yang Shaofeng thought to himself, "I have read five volumes of Dragon-Slaying Secrets, received the Twenty-Four Character Teachings, and am respected by the director of the admissions office of a certain military academy."
Yes, that military academy is really something else. It once hosted the largest campus brawl in history. There's a long-standing legend about how "upper bunk fights lower bunk, classmates fight with bayonets, junior students fight senior students, and the principal attacks the principal."
After the armed conflict that had lasted for several years ended, the principal moved to Ryukyu and established himself as a powerful figure.
So, how can you scumbags compare to me, Yang?
Yang Shaofeng shook his head slightly and said to Zhu Jian with a smile, "I am indeed a scholar, although my learning is not particularly profound. But even if I stood in front of Confucius, I would dare to call myself a gentleman. Do you dare?"
"Or rather, do you cruel and harmful bastards have the nerve to call yourselves scholars?"
"It's okay to fool others, but never fool yourself."
"Oppressing the people and treating the good as inferior is unbenevolent."
"To resell ironware and falsely claim to be Japanese pirates is unjust."
"To presumptuously call oneself a scholar is also impolite."
"To fail to see the situation clearly and still think that Hu Yuan will march south again, and you will once again impose taxes and fees, is unwise."
"They agreed to face the guilt together, but now they are implicating each other; this is disbelief."
"To eat the food of the Ming Dynasty, yet to smash the pot of the Ming Dynasty, is disloyalty."
“You are a bunch of heartless, unjust, impolite, unwise, untrustworthy, and disloyal bastards.”
"Besides filial piety and brotherly love, which can barely be used as a fig leaf, what else do you have?"
Holy crap, if I calculate it this way, wouldn't I be a perfect gentleman?
After all, I possess all the virtues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, trustworthiness, loyalty, filial piety, and brotherly love.
Yang Shaofeng cursed vehemently, but Zhu Biao's face turned ashen.
Was my brother-in-law wrong to scold me?
That's right.
You're right to criticize!
But if we follow the line of reasoning that my brother-in-law was cursing, then wouldn't "I humbly submit that the Holy Dynasty governs the world with filial piety" be a huge joke?
They don't even have the concept of "brotherly love" anymore!
No, I still take good care of those silly younger brothers...
No, now is not the time to consider this issue.
The most important question now is, what should we say next?
The statement reads, "I humbly submit that the Holy Dynasty governs the world with benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, trustworthiness, loyalty, filial piety, and brotherly love."
Just as Zhu Biao's thoughts were drifting further and further off course, Zhu Jian pointed a finger at Yang Shaofeng and angrily said, "You, you...you surnamed Yang, you..."
Yang Shaofeng smiled dismissively and said, "I'll ask you one more time: did you orchestrate the Empty Seal case yourself, or is there someone else behind you?"
Zhu Jian's face turned ashen, and he remained silent for a long while before finally speaking: "This humble commoner could never have caused such a commotion."
So there's someone else behind this?
Tsk tsk.
This is interesting.
I just don't know who's behind Zhu Jian.
Li Shanchang?
Liu Bowen?
Or perhaps it was Hu Weiyong?
It couldn't possibly be Yang Xian, who has already passed away, could it?
Just as Yang Shaofeng was pondering this, Zhu Jian continued, "This humble subject was acting on the orders of the Left Chancellor of the Central Secretariat."
Left Chancellor of the Central Secretariat?
Upon hearing the words "Left Chancellor of the Central Secretariat," everyone present, except for Yang Shaofeng and Zhu Biao, nearly wet themselves in fear.
Who is the Left Chancellor of the Central Secretariat?
Korean Prince Lee Seon-jang!
This was a founding hero who had followed Emperor Zhu in conquering the country long ago. His status in the martial arts world was even higher than that of Liu Bowen, and he was a prominent figure among the Huaixi nobles.
If it was really Li Shanchang, the Duke of Han, who instigated it, wouldn't the Zhu Emperor be furious?
After all, it was officials and gentry from Zhejiang, Fujian, and Jiangxi who were stirring up trouble over the blank seal case. If Li Shanchang was the one who instigated it, it would mean that the nobles of Huaixi and the gentry group of eastern Zhejiang were getting involved together.
How could Emperor Zhu sleep soundly if he didn't kill all these people?
Zhu Biao wasn't scared out of his wits for two reasons: first, he believed Li Shanchang couldn't possibly do such a despicable thing; and second, he was waiting for Yang Shaofeng to make his final conclusion.
Yang Shaofeng chuckled and looked at Zhu Jian, saying, "What is the name of the Left Chancellor you speak of? Where is he from? And how did he instruct you?"
Zhu Jian steeled his heart and replied, "The Left Chancellor of the Central Secretariat that I am referring to is Kökö Temür, whose Han name is Wang Baobao. He was born in Gushi, Guang Prefecture. The reason I am under his command is that someone contacted me on his behalf."
Zhu Biao breathed a long sigh of relief, but Yang Shaofeng sneered and said, "Who contacted you on his behalf?"
Zhu Jian answered tremblingly, "Yes...yes...Duke Yansheng Kong Kejian."
Kong Kejian?
Yang Shaofeng sneered again and said, "Besides Kong Kejian?"
Zhu Jian collapsed to the ground, crying out with a mournful face, "It's Zhu Kang! It's Zhu Kang!"
Yang Shaofeng didn't react for a moment, but Zhu Biao stood up and glared at Zhu Jian, shouting, "Do you have any evidence?"
Zhu Jian, still with a mournful face, replied, "Your Highness, I have no evidence, but Zhu Kang's steward should know all this."
Zhu Biao looked directly at Xia Yu with a dark expression and ordered, "Select two capable men to bring Zhu Kang's steward to me. Remember, do not alarm Zhu Kang."
After Xia Yu bowed in agreement, Yang Shaofeng couldn't help but ask with great curiosity, "Who is Zhu Kang? A relative of the imperial clan?"
Zhu Biao, with a dark and sour face, shook his head and replied, "If it were a relative, it would be easy to deal with; we could just arrest whoever it is. But this Zhu Kang is more difficult to handle because Zhu Kang is a legitimate descendant of Zhu Xi, which is not the same as someone who falsely claims kinship."
Yang Shaofeng naturally laughed.
"What difficulties are there after Master Zhu?"
"Since Zhu Jian has brought up Zhu Kang, then send someone to summon Zhu Kang and his steward to Dengzhou Prefecture."
“It was Zhu Kang who did it. He should be killed to clear Master Zhu’s name. We should not hold back just because he is a descendant of Master Zhu.”
"It wasn't Zhu Kang who did it. I should apologize to Zhu Kang as much as I should, and at worst, I'll admit my mistake in public at the Shenming Pavilion."
Zhu Biao opened his mouth, remained silent for a while, and then instructed Xia Yu, "Do as my brother-in-law says."
Xia Yu bowed again in agreement, but Yang Shaofeng then turned his gaze to Zhu Jian and asked, "Whether Zhu Kang did it or not can only be confirmed after Zhu Kang arrives. What about Kong Kejian? Do you have any evidence?"
"Furthermore, even with the secret help of the Hu Yuan Tartars, Kong Kejian and Zhu Kang alone probably wouldn't be able to transport away so many ironwares involved in the case, would they?"