After Xu Hongru and others were escorted to Wenhua Hall, all the civil servants stared at them angrily.
If looks could kill, they probably wouldn't even have any scum left.
If the emperor hadn't been here, they would have swarmed up and killed Xu Hongru and others on the spot.
Xu Hongru was actually very frightened these days.
Although Cui Yingyuan gave him a promise and guarantee, the pressure was really not that great.
After seeing Zhu Youxiao sitting in a high position, he felt a lot more at ease.
It seems that the emperor really wants to destroy the Kong family, so his life will most likely be saved.
Therefore, when Zhu Youxiao interrogated him, he was also calm and composed, and slowly spoke the confession that he had already learned by heart.
The first is how the Confucius family supported their White Lotus Sect and developed their followers in Shandong and accumulated power.
Then he said how much grain the Kong family had given them as capital for the uprising.
And when asked why the Kong family did this, Xu Hongru was not afraid at all.
"People from the Kong family told me that the current emperor is the most comatose and tyrannical king in history. He has only been on the throne for only two years, and civil uprisings broke out across the country. This is when Zhu Ming's energy is exhausted."
"The Kong family are the descendants of saints who plan for the world. They should set an example to overthrow Zhu Ming and create a prosperous age."
As soon as these words came out, the officials present finally couldn't bear it anymore.
Many extreme officials, regardless of whether the emperor was here or not, rushed up in anger and tried to kick Xu Hongru.
It's a pity that Cui Yingyuan had already made arrangements. As they were taking action, the gangsters immediately stepped forward to protect Xu Hongru and others.
"Your Majesty, this thief is so insane that I think he should be killed immediately to quell the public's anger."
Zhu Youxiao almost laughed out loud when he heard this.
"You are angry? I am still angry."
"How great a crime is rebellion?"
"I think this Xu Hongru is normal. I wonder where the man you said earlier is crazy, where did he come from?"
Seeing that there was no hope of killing Xu Hongru immediately, a few calmer officials suppressed their anger and advised:
"Your Majesty, the Confucius family has been passed down from generation to generation for more than two thousand years. In all dynasties, when has there been any rebellion or rebellion?"
"The words of this thief are extremely vicious, and the intention is extremely sinister. Even a three-year-old child may not believe it. Your Majesty is too sensitive."
Zhu Youxiao had no time to engage in verbal warfare with them, it was a waste of time.
Therefore, he asked in a slightly threatening tone:
"So, you want to use your nine clans as a guarantee for the Kong family?"
"Those of you who keep saying that you want to ask for an order to kill Xu Hongru are going to use your nine clans as a guarantee for the Kong family?"
As soon as they heard that their nine tribes were to be used as guarantees, many officials immediately gave up.
If other emperors said this, they would definitely look like they were ready to die and not afraid of the ax.
But this one can't do it. He is true to his word and will really kill your nine clans.
Of course, there are also some officials who don't know whether they believe that the Kong family will not do anything rebellious, or whether they want to firmly support the Kong family.
On the spot, he expressed his willingness to use the lives of the nine clans as a guarantee for the Kong family.
Zhu Youxiao didn't bother to guess their thoughts, and he didn't care which party or faction they belonged to.
As long as the Kong family is attacked, the officials in the court will inevitably have to change their blood again.
The same is true for the government agencies and the gentry and wealthy families in Shandong.
After all, it is the hometown of Confucius and Mencius. For them, it doesn't matter who the emperor is, but the Confucius family must exist forever.
His words were originally intended to be used by the civil servants.
Regardless of whether they are willing to provide this guarantee, Zhu Youxiao will have a reasonable excuse afterwards.
Of course, it would be better if they dare to export and promise to provide guarantee.
In short, the goal has been achieved, and Zhu Youxiao doesn't want to waste any more words.
Civil servants are meant to be killed, and a group of them must be killed every once in a while. This can effectively avoid party strife.
It can also prevent civil servants from collaborating to fight against the emperor and weaken the imperial power.
And there is another benefit, that is, it creates jobs and can continuously replace them with fresh blood.
After all, people are not born bad, and similarly, officials are not born corrupt.
Young people are motivated, have not experienced so many human experiences, and have a pure conscience in their hearts.
If the Ming Dynasty wanted to develop rapidly and create a prosperous world faster, it had to let young people with ambition and conscience come.
Wasn't that what Emperor Taizu was like back then?
In just thirty years, the cruel scenes of the chaotic times at the end of the Yuan Dynasty were swept away, and the country became stable and prosperous.
Even after fighting Zhu Di for four years in Nanjing, Zhu Di still had enough confidence to conquer the grasslands in the north, conquer Annan in the south, sail to the West, and expand the city of Beijing.
With such a successful case of Emperor Taizu in front of him, how could Zhu Youxiao not follow suit?
Zhu Youxiao glanced around and made a rough estimate. There were at least twenty or thirty officials who promised to guarantee it, but they were all of low rank.
Like the six ministers and ministers, they all chose to remain silent and did not dare to participate at all, or did not want to participate.
"Okay, since so many of you are willing to use the lives of the nine tribes as guarantee, then this matter must be investigated thoroughly."
"If things are really as Xu Hongru said, don't say that I will not be merciful when the time comes."
The officials and ministers also understood at this time that the emperor clearly wanted to make the matter bigger and had no intention of protecting the Kong family.
This made them extremely dissatisfied. Since they had already broken their skins and bet on the nine tribes, they would naturally not be submissive.
Immediately, a bold official asked:
"Then if it's not what the thief said, what would your Majesty do?"
Zhu Youxiao was not impatient and replied calmly:
"What should I do? When I arrive, I will naturally tell the world and restore the Kong family's innocence. Are you satisfied?"
"As for rebels like them, no matter what the outcome is, they will all be guillotined."
This answer directly angered those officials and ministers who risked their lives to protect the Confucius family.
Who are the Kong family? They are descendants of saints, how can they be defiled at will?
As the emperor, you don't want to protect the Confucius family and win the favor of the gentry and students all over the world. Instead, you want to investigate whether there is rebellion and target him to death.
Since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty only respected Confucianism, nothing so outrageous has ever happened.
Of course, they would not dare to say these words directly.
Otherwise, before the results come out, their heads will have already moved.
However, they did not remain silent, but expressed their thoughts tactfully, saying that if they were innocent, then Your Majesty, you have failed the Kong family and chilled the hearts of the world.
When the time comes when the foundation of your own rule is unstable, and you lose the support of the people, leading to turmoil in the country and the country, it will be your fault alone.
At the very least, you need to issue a self-indictment, stating all your mistakes and mistakes since you took over the throne.
It is actually an exhortation, but in reality it is an indirect persecution.
During the Wanli Dynasty, they used similar tactics to deal with Emperor Wanli, and they worked repeatedly.
It's a pity that Zhu Youxiao was not Emperor Wanli, let alone Zhu Youjian who didn't dare to take the blame and was a coward.