Long before the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, Duke Yansheng Kong Xixue believed that the Mongol Khan was the legitimate emperor. Therefore, against the backdrop of the peasant uprising at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the Kong family stood firmly on the side of the Yuan Dynasty.
In order to protect the Yuan Dynasty, the Kong family even led their clansmen to organize militia in Shandong, intending to "defend the country"!
Such loyalty to the Yuan Dynasty was, of course, for their own interests.
Due to the differentiated treatment system implemented by the Yuan Dynasty, the Kong family became extremely powerful under the rule of Mongolia.
Duke Yansheng was highly respected by the Khan of the Yuan Dynasty and was a member of the ruling class of the Yuan Dynasty. Naturally, he looked down on Zhu Yuanzhang, who came from a poor family.
On the fourth day of the third month of the first year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, the father and son of the Kong family were captured by General Xu Da's northern expedition army and could no longer serve their king and father on the grassland.
After being captured, Duke Yansheng saw that the Yuan Dynasty was doomed and fled to the northern desert. When there was no hope of returning, he came to the capital of the Ming Dynasty, met with Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, and surrendered to the Ming Dynasty.
Because of his special status, he was not punished and was still granted the title of Yansheng Duke as usual. However, his territory was reduced a lot to only the area of ​​Qufu County. It was completely incomparable with his previous tremendous power.
now.
The various decorations in Confucius Mansion are extremely luxurious.
Duke Yansheng sat on the high hall, looking calm and composed. He looked at the great scholars who came hurriedly and smiled slightly: "Please take a seat, everyone!"
Several great Confucian scholars came to this holy place and met the descendants of Confucius. They did not dare to act rashly and bowed to each of them before taking their seats.
After sitting down, without any greetings, several great scholars quickly explained their purpose.
"The emperor today despises the learning of the saints and even tries to reestablish the dispute among the Hundred Schools of Thought. This is something we absolutely do not want to see."
"Opening an academy is a small matter, but provoking a dispute among the various schools of thought is absolutely unacceptable. The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty is simply playing with fire and getting burned!"
"The world is in ruins and needs to be rebuilt. It is the time for us Confucian scholars to govern the country and bring peace to the nation. However, the emperor despises us Confucianists. Duke Yansheng, you must stand up this time."
"Yes, Lord Yansheng, the foundation of the saint has been shaken. Do you want to see this happen?"
"All the literati in the world are united. Even the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty will have to give in to this force. If you stand up and say something, things will definitely turn around."
"Duke Yansheng, what do you think?"
Listening to the words of several great scholars, Duke Yansheng Kong Xixue agreed with them. His face was gloomy, and he said slowly: "You are right. The school should teach the knowledge of the saints. Those unorthodox and low-class things are not worthy of being in the elegant hall. They are actually taught in the school. This is an insult to us, an insult to the scholars of the world, and even more an insult to the saints!"
"Even if you hadn't come, I had this intention long ago! Now that you're here, I might as well make my attitude clear: I am willing to be a role model for all the literati in the world, and advise the emperor to withdraw his decision and give face to all the literati in the world!"
Listening to the words of Duke Yansheng Kong Xixue, several great scholars suddenly felt relieved and hurriedly bowed their hands to praise: "Duke Yansheng's words are profound and righteous. We are willing to follow his arrangements!!"
"Okay." Duke Yansheng Kong Xixue said quickly: "Although our Kong family is still a descendant of the saint, our power is no longer as strong as before. The emperor of the Ming Dynasty has never taken me seriously. Even if I stand up to advise him, I am afraid it will be ineffective."
"The only way now is to unite all the great scholars and writers in the world to persuade the emperor together!"
"The knowledge of the saints must not be tarnished in this way!"
With Duke Yansheng Kong Xixue standing out to set an example and under his righteous call, scholars all over the world united in protest, hoping that the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty would revoke his decision !
The power of these people gathered together cannot be ignored by anyone, not even the emperor!
Zhu Yuanzhang could punish corruption even if the blood flowed like a river, but it still did not harm the national dignity.
However, compared with the scholars in the world, the number of these corrupt officials is still much smaller and they are not at the same level at all.
Even Zhu Yuanzhang cannot kill all the scholars in the world!
If that happens, even the Ming Dynasty will collapse! !
In Yingtian Prefecture, inside the Imperial Palace, when Su Che saw the memorial, he couldn't help but sneer, "Are you so impatient to take action?"
Crown Prince Zhu Biao, who was standing by, naturally knew the news. He couldn't help but frown and became restless.
Before this, Zhu Biao had never thought that all the scholars in the world would unite together!
This is a very terrible thing!
If it is not handled properly, the whole country will be in turmoil.
Given my father's character, there is absolutely no way he would retreat!
But what should we do if we don’t retreat?
This matter is difficult to deal with!
This was the first time that all these scholars from around the world united together.
Their power is very terrifying.
The attitude of officials in the court was also very subtle.
After all, these officials were once scholars and their roots are the same.
"Biao'er, did you see that?" Su Che sneered and said, "We just want to build some colleges that are useful to the country, but these scholars have united together to express their opinions. What do they want to do?"
"Especially this Duke Yansheng, who wants to be a role model for all scholars in the world, is forcing me to take back my order?"
“Who are they fighting against?”
Zhu Biao said with an unpleasant expression: "They are against our father!"
"No." Su Che shook his head and said seriously: "They are going against the whole world..."
"These so-called scholars, who talk about the writings of saints and sages and serve the country and the people, are actually extremely filthy. For the sake of their own interests, they do not allow other academic disciplines to rise."
"Everything is inferior, only their saints' knowledge is the highest. Such nonsense can only deceive ignorant people."
"We want the world to prosper and the people to live a better life, so no matter whether it is the knowledge of a saint or not, as long as it is useful, we must use it."
"Let the people farm better, grow better crops, produce more spiritual rice, let the private economy circulate better, let the medical profession spread all over the world, let the court train more people who are both civil and military, and avoid taking the path of the weak Song Dynasty."
"What's wrong with this? Let them stand up and stop us? They say those saintly principles, but in fact they are just threatening us!"
Even Zhu Biao realized the nature of these literati at this moment. He remained silent and didn't know what to say.
Su Che smiled coldly: "We must let them know who is in charge of this world!"
As soon as these words came out, Zhu Biao's heart sank, and he quickly asked, "Father, what are you going to do?"
I only heard Su Che slowly say: "Destroy the Kong family store and rescue Master Kong!"
As soon as he opened his mouth to say this, there was a sudden thunder outside the house, dark clouds gathered, and in the blink of an eye, raindrops as big as beans began to fall.
Zhu Biao's eyes widened in disbelief, and he quickly said, "Father, are you planning to exterminate the Kong family? You can't do this... He is the root of all the scholars in the world. If you touch them, the consequences will be disastrous!"
As early as the period of Emperor Gaozu of Han Dynasty, Liu Bang passed through Lu from Huainan and made a brief stop to pay homage to Confucius. He also conferred the title of "Fengsi Jun" on Confucius' ninth-generation grandson, Kong Teng.
This was the first time that Confucius' descendants were given a title.
Because the early Western Han Dynasty advocated Lao Tzu's "rule by inaction" and respected the "Huang-Lao school of thought."
Therefore, the Confucian school was not regarded as orthodox, the descendants of Confucius at that time did not have many privileges, and "worshiping the emperor" was not a very high official position.
It was not until the first year of Yuanguang reign of Emperor Wu of Han that Dong Zhongshu, a doctor of lectures at the Imperial Academy, proposed "promoting Confucius and suppressing all other schools of thought."
This is what later generations called "abolishing all schools of thought and respecting Confucianism alone."
This established the orthodox status of Confucianism.
After this, Confucius' status continued to rise, and he was even posthumously named king in the Tang Dynasty. Confucius' descendants also benefited from this.
Since then, successive dynasties have bestowed varying degrees of honor on Confucius' descendants.
The descendants of the past dynasties were successively named as:
Marquis Chongsheng (Western Han Dynasty).
Zongshenghou (Cao Wei).
Fengsheng Hou (Western Jin Dynasty).
Marquis Gongsheng (Northern Qi).
Duke of Zou (Northern Zhou Dynasty).
Shaoshenghou (Sui Dynasty).
Duke Wenxuan (Tang Dynasty).
Yanshenggong (Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties).
Having been passed down through countless dynasties, the power of the Confucius Mansion has long been like an invisible pair of hands, covering the entire world.
Even if the imperial court wants to touch these descendants of saints, it cannot!
It will really cause big problems!
Didn’t you see that as soon as these words were uttered, thunder roared in the sky?
Su Che was naturally aware of Zhu Biao’s concerns, but he also had his own way to deal with this matter!
Su Che said slowly: "Of course we can't kill the Kong family directly, but we can support another Kong family. Since the Kong family of the Northern Sect is not a decent person, then we can support the Kong family of the Southern Sect!"
As soon as these words came out, Zhu Biao’s eyes widened immediately - is there such a thing?
Southern School!
Let the Southern Sect and the Northern Sect fight!
Zhu Biao couldn't help but exclaimed: "Father, your method is simply amazing!"
This method is so inhumane and extremely evil!
Of course, Zhu Biao couldn't and didn't dare to say this.
The division between the Southern and Northern factions within the Kong family began with the political turmoil at the turn of the Northern and Southern Song dynasties.
In the first year of the Jing Kang reign of Emperor Qinzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, the Jin regime established by the Jurchen nobles in the north sent its troops south to encircle the Song capital, Bianjing.
The following year, Bianjing fell, Emperors Huizong and Qinzong were captured, and the Northern Song Dynasty was destroyed.
This is also known as the Jingkang Shame in history.
Yue Fei once mentioned in his poem "Man Jiang Hong: Furious Hair Stirring Up the Crown": "The shame of Jingkang has not yet been avenged. When will the hatred of the ministers be eliminated?"
That year, two emperors and two empresses died in humiliation, and even the history books did not dare to describe it directly.
On the other hand, with the support of his old ministers, the ninth son of Emperor Huizong of Song, Prince Kang Zhao Gou, ascended the throne in Yingtian Prefecture in May of the same year, named himself Emperor Gaozong of Song, and changed the reign title to "Jianyan".
In the autumn of the second year of Jianyan, Emperor Gaozong of Song moved his temporary palace to Yangzhou and held suburban sacrifices in November.
In this year, Confucius' 48th generation grandson, Kong Duanyou, the inherited Duke of Yansheng, and his clansman Kong Chuan were ordered to accompany him and participate in the sacrificial ceremony.
At this time, the Jin soldiers divided into three routes and marched towards Shandong, Henan and Shaanxi.
The following year, the Jin army continued its southward invasion and occupied various areas in the north of the Huai River in the Central Plains. Emperor Gaozong of Song and his ministers hastily crossed the river and fled south to Lin'an Prefecture in Zhejiang.
Kong Duanyou and Kong Chuan led Confucius' direct descendants and crossed the river to the south with the wooden statues of Confucius and his wife Qi Guan carved by Zigong.
From then on, Confucius' family was divided into the Southern School and the Northern School.
A Yansheng Duke in the Jin Kingdom in the north.
A Yansheng Duke in the Song Dynasty in the south.
There were two Yanshenggongs in the world.
During the Yuan Dynasty, Kublai Khan destroyed the Southern Song Dynasty and unified the country. He believed that there should only be one Yanshenggong for each of the Southern and Northern branches of Confucius.
So they set about solving the problem of the Southern and Northern schools of Confucius.
Kublai Khan believed that the Southern School of Confucius was the orthodox and the main school.
Therefore, Kublai Khan summoned Kong Zhu, the descendant of Kong Duanyou, the eldest son of the Kong family and the Duke of Yansheng of the Southern Lineage, to the capital city of Dadu, and asked him to return to Qufu with his title to worship Confucius.
However, at this time, the pattern of Nankong emerged.
Nan Kong went south in the first place because he did not want to serve the Jin people. Now that the Yuan people rule the world, he also does not want to serve the Mongols.
Even if the price is losing the title and the family's decline from then on, it is worth it!
so.
Kong Zhu said, "The descendants of Qufu have made great contributions to their ancestors by guarding the ancestral tombs." He also stated that his ancestors for six generations had been buried in Quzhou and had a family temple built there. He had lived in Quzhou for many years and had an old mother at home. He could not bear to leave the ancestral temple and tombs and go to Qufu. At the same time, he expressed his intention to give up the title to the Northern Kong family in Qufu!
With such integrity, even Kublai Khan could not help but sigh: He is truly the descendant of a saint!
To a certain extent, it was the Northern Kongs who succumbed to the barbarians, first surrendering to the Jin Dynasty and then to Mongolia, and they did everything they could to gain wealth and glory.
Later, when the Manchus entered the Central Plains, Kong Yanzhi, the then Duke of Yansheng of the Confucius Mansion, immediately presented the "Initial Memorial", in which he praised the Manchu monarch in the most flattering way, expressed his loyalty with great fear and trepidation, and took the lead in shaving his head and wearing strange clothes.
This also made Shi Xiu the famous Duke of Yansheng.
The practice of surrendering the ancestors has become a traditional art of Northern Confucius.
But all this was done by the North Kong and has nothing to do with the South Kong.
The Southern Confucius even set rules for his descendants, forbidding them to compete with the Northern Confucius for the title of Duke Yansheng, and forbidding the descendants of the saint to kill each other for their own interests.
When the Northern Kongs inherited the title of Yansheng Duke for generations, enjoyed endless wealth and glory, and their fame reached the top...
On the other hand, the Kong family of the Southern School gradually declined after losing their title.
The ancestral temple was unable to be repaired, taxes on sacrificial land were re-imposed, and clan members found it difficult to enter officialdom. They could only rise and fall as academic officials such as presidents of academies and supervisors of Confucianism. They had no money and no power.
But even if we are poor, we have dignity!
Nan Kong's integrity is rare in ancient and modern times!
How shameless was Confucius from the north?
According to what Su Che knows.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in modern times, as the orthodox Southern Confucius, the ancestral wooden statue of Confucius was exhibited to the public.
However, when this wooden statue was exhibited in Shandong, it was snatched away by the Confucius family in Qufu, and a replica was made for Nan Kong!
Nankong in Quzhou demands the return of the heirloom wooden statue of Confucius, hoping that the statue can return to Quzhou.
However, the Kong family in Qufu believed that the wooden statue, which had been wandering outside for many years since the Jing Kang period, should stay in Qufu!
Even in modern times…Bei Kong is still at the forefront of embarrassment.
In terms of major and minor sects, Southern Confucius is the major and orthodox one.
In terms of moral integrity, Nan Kong is impeccable and worthy of China.
In terms of knowledge, Northern Confucius emphasized the importance of the basics and suppressed the trivialities, and that scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans should be selected as officials if they excel in their studies. However, Southern Confucius emphasized the promotion of commerce and the benefit of industry, and the study of classics and history for practical use.
Since the Southern Confucius was unwilling to fight with the Northern Confucius? Should they start a fight to seize the title of Duke Yansheng?
Well then, if you don’t want to fight, then don’t fight. If you don’t want to grab, then don’t grab!
Su Che directly issued an order to abolish the title of Duke Yansheng and deprive them of their political rights. He then asked the Jinyiwei to find evidence of Beikong's crimes and settle the score with him later.
At the same time, Su Che canonized the Kong family of the Southern School as "Duke Wenxuan" and established them as the root of scholars in the world. The reason was also very straightforward.
The Southern School is the major school and the direct lineage, and it also has a wooden statue of Confucius.
As for the Kong family of the Northern School, they have been practicing surrender for generations. Where is their integrity? How can they be called the orthodox family of Confucius?
When this decree was issued, all the scholars in the world were shocked!