Si Cong rode ahead quickly, and it didn't take long to reach Yuezhou Prefecture. After all, Yuezhou Prefecture was adjacent to Wuchang Prefecture.
There are seven counties and one prefecture in the prefecture, and the prefectural government is located in Baling County.
The most famous one in the county is probably the Yueyang Tower, but now Si Cong has no intention of visiting the ancient monuments.
He is now not far east of Yuezhou Mansion Office, sitting on top of a restaurant and looking at the Yuezhou Guard Office not far away.
In Yuezhou, the commander of Yuezhou Guard actually had an immediate boss: Dongting Guard.
Because Yuezhou Prefecture guards the confluence of Dongting Lake and the Yangtze River, it has become a natural military fortress: based here, you can trace the river up to Jingxiang, Sichuan and Shu, and go down the river to Wuchang and Jiangnan.
.After going deep into Dongting Lake, you can also go deep into the southern hinterland of Huguang via the Dongting Lake River.
Therefore, a Dongting garrison was set up here to take orders from the Huguang General Army and control the guards on the Dongting Lakeside.
Si Cong knew that what he had to wait for was for Marquis Zhenyuan to confirm the position of the Dongting garrison before telling him that he could take action.
In addition to the commander Xiang Falong, the Yuezhou Guards also had commanding colleagues, commanding officials, thousands of households, hundreds of households, etc.
On the way here, he already understood the situation clearly: the current Yuezhou Guards should have 5,174 soldiers according to the roll.
Si Cong doesn't know how many there actually are.
But no matter what, if you want to capture Xiang Falong, you must take into account the subsequent reaction of the Yuezhou Guards.
Maybe the advantage now is that Xiang Falong didn't expect Marquis Zhenyuan to be so decisive.
Inside the Yuezhou Guard Station, Xiang Falong asked his own soldiers: "Has the letter been delivered to General Xiong?"
"I sent it to you personally from my humble position. General, you can rest assured."
"Okay! General Gu will naturally be angry, but when he is angry, he must also ensure that the guards will not be short of food and salary. That's how scrupulous it is!" Xiang Falong grinned, "We don't want too much either.
, as long as the new law is implemented in the future, everything in our guard station will be as usual. Severe drought will inevitably bring bandits, and Dongting Lake is so big, bandits are escaping. General Xiong, the Dongting garrison, can hire a navy this time to recruit troops to suppress it.
It’s a bandit.”
"General, I think the Marquis is quite displeased. Will our Yuezhou Guard...become the standout?"
"Of course the Marquis is not happy." Xiang Falong disagreed, "But at this time, Mr. Sun Ge, the Marquis, and Eunuch Gu have to pay attention to too many things. There are so many vassals in Huguang, and the water conservancy reform involves
There are so many people, and now there is a severe drought, do they want to let the guards also get into chaos? The best policy is to appease them!"
In the Dongting garrison's official residence not far from the city, Dongting garrison Xiong Weiyang read the letter sent to Falong.
After Yongle, many vassal kings began to move inward to Huguang, and after the guard army was reduced, the hinterland of the Ming Dynasty remained peaceful for a hundred years without major chaos. The Dongting garrison had no opportunity to make meritorious deeds, and it was difficult to be promoted.
Those military general positions at higher levels almost all have to have the status of a distinguished minister or have outstanding military achievements to be able to rise to the top.
Xiong Weiyang has been guarding this Dongting for more than seven years.
It's not a big deal, and the Dongting garrison is usually a sinecure. However, at least in name, he can exert influence on some military and government affairs in several government offices around Dongting Lake.
Seven years is enough time to do a lot.
One of these things has made it difficult for Xiong Weiyang to accept many things at present: the construction of embankments and farmland on the shores of Dongting Lake.
The 800-mile Dongting only becomes as vast as the sea during the summer flood season when the water from the Yangtze River pours back with silt.
But the terrain varies, and if we can encircle and build embankments in many places, we can get fertile farmland and fertile ponds created by the impact of a large amount of rivers and lakes.
Growing food and raising fish are all very good.
The construction of embankments around Dongting Lake has been around since the Tang and Song Dynasties. Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, thirteen embankments were built in the Yuanjiang River during the Hongwu period, and forty-eight embankments were built in Huarong County. In the 28th year of Hongwu, Taizu even issued a decree
It is decreed that all newly reclaimed land after the 27th year of Hongwu's reign, no matter how small or large, will not be punished. Anyone who disturbs the land by increasing the number will be punished.
Encouraging land reclamation may be difficult in other places. But here on the shores of Dongting Lake, it is really just a matter of choosing suitable beaches for reclamation every year in autumn and winter when the water level is low.
Over the past hundred years, how many fertile fields and fishing grounds have been added to Dongting Lake?
No one has systematically checked.
But for example, in the eleventh year of Zhengtong, the Prime Minister of Longyang County built a large embankment with a circumference of more than 35,800 feet and a length of 120 miles.
Now if there is no water conservancy rectification and no new laws, so many fertile fields and fishing grounds will be "unruly land."
The lake level of Dongting Lake has decreased, and knowledgeable people are aware of the impact it will have on flooding in the Yangtze River.
In the current severe drought, people related to the interests of the "unexplored land" accumulated over the years by Dongting Lake are actually still thinking about the grain business. Although their reputation is not yet obvious, there is already a Dongting businessman by Dongting Lake.
help.
"Zehou, what do you think?" Xiong Weiyang handed Xiang Falong's letter to his staff Zhang Zehou.
After reading the letter, Zhang Zehou pondered for a moment and then said: "I feel that what I said to the command post is very important. Now that there are many discussions about things in the world, and there is a great disaster, if your majesty still wants to implement the new law, the five prefectures and the local governors and guards cannot mess up.
"The choice of the frontier to go south is just to guard against this. As long as there is no rebellion and the court's appeasement is not enough, how can we go to war?"
Xiong Weiyang frowned and nodded.
"At this time, we can instead ask to take advantage of the severe drought and the water level to drop, and use work instead of relief to build dikes and enclosures, so that we can obtain new fields and accommodate the victims. Of course, Jingzhou Prefecture has been warned first, so the general can
Discuss with the governor to write a petition in advance without announcing it to the people. In addition, in order to prevent the people from fleeing due to disasters, the general can indeed petition to recruit troops and set up naval camps to prepare for banditry."
"You can help me draft the memorial first, and I'll think about it later."
Xiong Weiyang always felt that there was something fishy about His Majesty's intention to order all the vassal kings and relatives to come to Beijing to celebrate this year's Longevity Festival.
This is really different from the old practice. Naturally, the vassal king no longer guards the place as he did in the early days of the Kingdom, but honorable ministers like Zhenyuan Marquis Gu Shilong really play this role.
These people will leave for Beijing one or two months before the Longevity Festival, so the time is already very close.
Back and forth, it takes several months.
How much change is possible in a place over such a long time?
Doesn’t the imperial court really know how involved the local governors and prefectures, gentry and merchants were in land, business and taxation, and many other aspects?
Xiong Weiyang was still hesitating and thinking, and his own soldiers came to report: "General, someone from the capital is here, Geng Qian is here to visit."
"...please quickly!"
Although his heart was shocked, Xiong Weiyang did not dare to neglect.
The commander-in-chief of the capital makes the commander-in-chief Qianshi, who has real power and is of the third rank. Together with the commander-in-chief Tongzhi, he is in charge of farming, training, general affairs and other matters.
Geng Yongfeng was in charge of all affairs, and Xiong Weiyang had many dealings with him.
Under the steps outside the hall, Xiong Weiyang was full of spring breeze: "Brother Geng, neglect, neglect, this morning, I cried, I still wondered what kind of noble guest is ..."
Geng Yongfeng looked at him and felt that Xiong Weiyang was as smooth as a veteran among civil servants.
He followed him politely into the signing room. After Geng Yongfeng sat down, he said, "I have something to say to Xiong Shoubei in private."
Xiong Weiyang was stunned for a moment, then he dismissed the serving soldiers and servants, looked at Geng Yongfeng and asked: "But what is the secret order of the Marquis?"
Geng Yongfeng stared at him for a moment, and then said: "Xiong Shoubei, before, the Marquis brought his second son to the capital to plead guilty, because the second son Gu and the Chu Palace secretly bought fertile land. Do you know the reason?"
Xiong Weiyang was stunned for a moment: "I really don't know this..."
Why is he talking about this?
Geng Yongfeng said again: "The Marquis asked for forgiveness, but Your Majesty did not ask for forgiveness. He still ordered the Marquis to take up his original position. Xiong Shou Bei, the Marquis ordered me to send a message to you: If your heir also has these things, how do you choose?"
Xiong Weiyang's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at him in disbelief, not knowing how to reply.
The questions asked among the military attaches were so direct.
Xiong Weiyang naturally has an heir, but now it's obviously not just his heir's problem.
What to choose? Should I choose whether to plead guilty or not to plead guilty?
Geng Yongfeng went straight to the topic when he came up. Xiong Weiyang's mouth was dry: "Brother Geng, I don't understand..."
"The Marquis is about to enter Beijing, and I don't want to leave any trouble in Huguang." Geng Yongfeng's eyes were sharp, "The Shenji Battalion will arrive at Wuchang Mansion in less than twenty days, and the Marquis ordered me to control it. Xiong Guards, I have brought the military order
Come here, whatever you choose, I will do."
Xiong Weiyang looked at him with his heart beating fast.
Geng Yongfeng didn't bring many people with him. He came alone, or at least sat alone in front of him.
But now he has to force himself to confess and plead guilty.
What I said before is very clear. If you plead guilty now, plead guilty, and cooperate with what he is going to do next, you can "remain in your original position."
What if it's perfunctory? Then he has another military order?
"Brother Geng, I still don't understand..." Xiong Weiyang's eyes also became sharp, "Brother Geng is asking if my Xiong's descendant also invades and buys people's farmland, how will Xiong choose? Then Xiong will naturally follow Hou's example.
"Master."
"Okay!" Geng Yongfeng raised his eyebrows, "Then please ask Brother Xiong to send your son to Wuchang Mansion!"
Xiong Weiyang stood up suddenly: "But Xiong's son is not guilty of this crime!"
Geng Yongfeng just stood up slowly, stared at Xiong Weiyang and said slowly: "Xiong Shoubei needs to think clearly. Mr. Hou doesn't want to leave any future troubles. Geng came alone. Xiong Shoubei only has one choice. Xiong Shoubei, I might as well put him
To put it clearly: if you plead guilty, you are loyal; if you do not accept the sin and perform meritorious service, you are rebelling!"
Xiong Weiyang's chest was rising and falling.
Just now, he was discussing with Zhang Zehou that the emperor wanted to appease the generals.
But now, Geng Yongfeng relayed Gu Shilong's opinion: Now there is a military order asking him to send his son as a hostage to Wuchang Mansion to "please plead guilty"!
If you don’t follow, is it anti?
Who gave Gu Shilong the courage to do this?
But Xiong Weiyang just wants to take advantage of this opportunity to avoid the interests of local health offices being affected by the new law in the future, and he just wants a guarantee.
He never thought of rebellion.
Why force him so much?
Geng Yongfeng was still looking at him, not afraid of the consequences at all.
"Brother Geng came to Yuezhou, what exactly do you want to do?"
Geng Yongfeng didn't say anything and just waited for him.
Xiong Weiyang looked at him with an ugly face and gritted his teeth.
The two were in a stalemate for several breaths before Geng Yongfeng spoke word by word: "I said, it's to avenge the crime and make meritorious deeds. Choosing the front to go south is not for defense, but for offense!"
Xiong Weiyang was shocked.
If you perform meritorious service, your crime will naturally be wiped out, and you may even be promoted.
And the sentence about choosing a forward to go south for offense is even more terrifying.
Who to attack?
...anti-thief!
Xiong Weiyang looked at the extremely calm Geng Yongfeng, and after a while he said in a dry voice: "Xiong has no way to teach his son, so I will send him to Wuchang Mansion."
Geng Yongfeng did not hesitate, took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and said: "Xiong Weiyang obeys the order!"
"...a certain general is here!"
"The commander of the Yuezhou Guards, Xiang Falong, listened to the rumors and disturbed my king's mind. He ordered Xiong Weiyang to temporarily assume the post of commander of the Yuezhou Guards, and Geng Yongfeng to temporarily assume the post of the Dongting garrison. They would conduct an inventory of the Dongting guards' farming, training, and business activities.
Regarding the matter, Xiong Weiyang must be at your disposal and make meritorious deeds!"
Xiong Weiyang stood up and took the piece of paper and continued to ask in disbelief: "Without going through the Five Governments, the Ministry of War?"
Geng Yongfeng replied calmly: "The Marquis of Jing'an, Governor Hu Guang, has the power to make arbitrary decisions when the opportunity arises. Just report it. Commander Xiong, whether you want to fight the rebels or the officers and soldiers, it's all a matter of thought. I
Then paraphrase Cui Shence’s words to the Marquis: Your Majesty will implement new laws and be ready to suppress rebellion! All the crimes in the past are the past events of the previous dynasty; those who are loyal to the emperor in the future will not be treated poorly."
Xiong Weiyang couldn't believe it.
But the emperor is the emperor. If the emperor's determination has already been strong enough to prepare for a rebellion, can he really rebel to defend the benefits he has gained before?
Either the rebellion succeeds, and you are given a title and rewarded; or you are killed as a traitor, and your family is confiscated and your clan is exterminated...
Geng Yongfeng stared at him: "Xiang Falong is worried about food and salary. Commander Xiong naturally knows where the food and salary are by Dongting Lake. If you want to make meritorious service, Commander Xiong can start telling this guard a list of names."
Soon after, the captain under Si Cong walked up to the restaurant and leaned into his ear: "The people sent by the Marquis have arrived. Let's go to the Dongting garrison hall to discuss matters."
Si Cong's eyes lit up: It seems that the position of the Dongting defense has been made clear.
In that case, the chaos caused by the more than 5,000 soldiers of the Yuezhou Guard will not be too big.
Gu Shilong decided to "leave no further trouble" to shock Huguang before entering Beijing. Things were still going on there, and another piece of news reached Wuchang Prefecture like a bolt from the blue.
The weather was too hot, and the seriously ill King Zhu Zhige of the Liao Dynasty suffered from heat sores again. He suddenly fell ill and returned to the west, where he died just like this - not long after His Majesty had just issued a decree to ask Sun Jiao to invite famous doctors to diagnose and treat him.
It’s less than four months since I was officially crowned a king!
A memorial from the Jingzhou magistrate has already been delivered to the capital: There are too many clans in the Liao vassal, and now the King of Liao has passed away without a son. The court should remove the Liao vassal and relieve the heavy burden on the people of Jingzhou.
The imperial edict sent by Zhu Houcong to various places is still on the road, and under the scorching sun in the south, the horse is running desperately.
The news that fourteen people were killed with sticks outside Chengtian Gate and more than 200 people were beaten with imperial sticks had not yet spread. Kong Wenfang of Shandong Province did not know that his son's buttocks had been beaten to pieces.
But the imperial edict regarding Confucius' ritual ceremony has already reached Shandong.
After Zhang Fujing knelt in the courtyard outside the main hall of Yan Shenggong's mansion and listened to the imperial edict, he bowed and shouted: "I accept the edict, Your Majesty is wise!"
But Kong Wenshao, Kong Wenfang and many others could only keep their faces solemn and shouted long live the mountain unwillingly.
After Zhang Fujing stood up, he took the imperial edict and turned to look at them: "The ceremony has been decided. The birthday ceremony will be held next month. We will prepare the etiquette according to the ceremony. Duke Yan Sheng, the magistrate of Kong County, time is tight. This is the plaque of the Confucius Temple and the decorations of the temples.
As for the wood owner, we need to step up the renovation."
"...Dutai, we only have a month and a few days left. In such a hurry, how can we..."
Zhang Fujing narrowed his eyes: "Tear down some statues and carve some plaques. It's just the owner of the wood. How much trouble can it be?"
After saying that, he turned around and looked in the direction of the Confucius Temple: "Where are the pacesetters?"
"The mark is on!"
Zhang Fujing looked at Kong Wenshao and Kong Wenfang and smiled: "The two of you are very attentive to the matter of carving the plaque and the owner of the wood. Let me do it for you to tear down the statue, so as not to embarrass you two."
The two brothers Kong Wenshao lowered their heads with angry expressions.
Zhang Fujing's visit to Qufu these days was like traveling around the mountains and rivers.
He was the one who published the "On Confucius Sacrifice Code". After he came, he took the initiative to mention the matter in the Confucius family school and argued with Shandong officials and Kong Wenshao and others.
But who can argue with Zhang Fuking?
Of course, Zhang Fujing was not convinced by these people - after all, the position of the buttocks was different.
However, he is the governor and he has personal soldiers.
Now, after receiving the imperial edict, he went to the Confucius Temple with his soldiers.
"Wen Fang, what should we do?"
What can Kong Wenfang do?
Fortunately, the title of Duke Yansheng is still there, and that is enough.
Confucius's royal title was removed, and the sacrificial rules were re-established. From now on, Confucius would be sacrificed only once a year, and the Yanshenggong Palace took the opportunity to demand a lot of sacrificial expenses. There were many fewer reasons.
This should be enough, right?
I didn't see Zhang Fujing visiting the villagers and having any intention of using the case to investigate Duke Yan's Mansion.
But in this case, wouldn't Kong Wenshao still be able to sit firmly in the position of Yan Shenggong?
So Kong Wenfang replied: "How can the Duke allow warriors to destroy the statues of our ancestors? Even if the statues can no longer be erected in the Holy Temple, they should be carefully removed by the Lord. Only descendants of the Kong family can worship them in the back house of Duke Yansheng's Mansion.
, this is the head office, right?"
Kong Wenshao nodded repeatedly when he heard this: "Yes! I cannot be unfilial and let others destroy the statues of my ancestors!"
After saying that, he quickly led his men to chase Zhang Fuking.
Kong Wenfang's eyes showed a trace of expectation.
The purpose is to destroy, not to remove.
Will Kong Wenshao's move be considered an obstruction?
Outside the Confucius Temple, Zhang Fujing had already arrived with a large group of soldiers.
In fact, he didn't want to be so arrogant that he planned to smash it inside the Confucius Temple. He also respected Dacheng Wenxuan.
But when Kong Wenshao, the Duke of Yansheng, arrived, he started crying and shouting before he even reached the door: "Dutai! The unfilial descendants cry and beg Dutai to show mercy! The body shaping of our ancestors must not be destroyed by the hands of reckless men.
, please allow me to order people to dismantle it carefully."
As soon as these words were shouted out, all the pacesetters under Zhang Fujing showed angry faces.
Zhang Fujing, on the other hand, turned his head in astonishment and saw Duke Yan Sheng, fully dressed, running in with tears streaming down his face. After entering, he knelt down in the direction where the words "Dacheng Hall" were still hung: "Unfilial descendants cannot protect the kindness of their ancestors."
If you are proud and considerate, your descendants will be unfilial!"