An office with a few clerks dared to openly challenge the authority of the number one company in Jiangnan . This is simply outrageous.
When the news reached the Zheng family, the clan leader Zheng Zhu suddenly stood up and could no longer remain calm: "What?!"
"How dare they?"
"Those lands have been in my Zheng family for many years. We acquired them with complete formalities, legally and in compliance with regulations. There was no coercion! Now that so many years have passed, you are actually turning the tables? This is outrageous!!"
"Could it be that those people couldn't survive and sold their land, and I bought their land, saved their lives, and made them my tenants, supporting so many of them for generations, but this has become a sin?"
"How can such a thing be justified in this world? My Jiangnan family has been passed down from generation to generation. We are all kind-hearted families. How can we be bullied and humiliated like this?"
"Is there still law in this world?"
"My Zheng family has been personally awarded by His Majesty: the No. 1 family in Jiangnan. How dare these blind officials, who are as small as sesame seeds, come and cause trouble for us?"
At first, Zheng Zhu was arrogant and didn't care about this small office at all. Who could have thought that the Zheng family would be bullied just after the office opened? How could this be tolerated?
Although he was angry, Zheng Zhu had experienced the transition from Yuan to Ming Dynasty after all, and had seen all kinds of storms. It didn't make sense for him to fail at his own doorstep.
The most important thing is that the Yansheng Dukes in the north were almost exterminated, and the inheritance of countless years was cut off. This reminded Zheng Zhu.
Compared with the Kong family of Duke Yansheng, his Zheng family is just an insignificant aristocratic family. The emperor could even cut off the inheritance of Duke Yansheng, let alone him?
So, Zheng Zhu forced himself to calm down. He did not act violently, but hoped that the clerks would handle the matter impartially.
Zheng Zhu repeatedly stated that those spiritual fields have contracts and are legal transactions, and there is no forced buying or selling!
But soon, before long, another piece of news came - some young people in the Zheng family could not help but take action, and smashed the office, beat up the clerks, drove them all out of Zhengzhai Town, and also pushed down the literacy classes set up by those clerks.
Upon hearing the news, Zheng Zhu's heart skipped a beat, his head felt dizzy, his legs felt weak, and he lost his balance and sat down on the ground.
"broken!"
"Something bad has happened!"
The maidservant nearby was shocked when she saw this scene and quickly helped the master up.
Zheng Zhu stood up with a very grim look on his face. After hearing the news, he stared at the servant who delivered the message and asked hurriedly, "When did this happen?"
"This... half, half an hour ago." The servant saw his master's reaction and realized the seriousness of the problem, so he stammered.
"Half an hour ago?" Hearing this, Zheng Zhu couldn't help but widen his eyes and asked angrily, "Why did you tell me now?"
"Because I just found out about it too..." the servant explained hurriedly.
"Okay, you can leave now!" Zheng Zhu waved his hand and rubbed his brows involuntarily, feeling irritated. Although he felt that the Zheng family should not be punished for such a small matter, his intuition told him that this matter was not that simple!
Zheng Zhu stood up and went to the so-called "township office", which had been smashed to pieces and was littered with scraps of paper.
Zheng Zhu picked up a relatively intact piece of paper with strange symbols marked on it. There was a word under each symbol.
These words are also very strange, and when put together, they do not form a complete sentence.
"What about splashing, touching, and touching?"
"What's this?"
Zheng Zhu frowned.
After looking at it for a while, he roughly guessed the meaning of these characters. The text below is to mark the pronunciation of these characters?
But what’s the use of these?
Obviously.
These strange things were promoted by the court offices.
Was it used by the imperial court to promote literacy?
"Who invented this thing?"
Although he couldn't understand the meaning of these characters, Zheng Zhu's subconscious told him that this thing might not be that simple and might be very useful!
Shaking his head, Zheng Zhu threw the paper in his hand to the ground. Looking at the messy office, he couldn't help but sigh.
"I'm afraid this matter won't end so easily. Send those members of the clan who took action to the government, and then find someone to make concessions and ask them to apologize..."
Zheng Zhu said softly, now that things have come to this, this is the only way.
This is the greatest sincerity Zheng Zhu can show.
However, the seriousness of this matter...
It seems to be much more serious than Zheng Zhu thought!
When he tried to resolve the matter by using his connections, those close friends with whom he used to drink and talk about everything now waved their hands, saying that they were powerless to do anything about the matter and that they had to wait for the court's decision before resolving it.
This matter has reached the ears of Heaven!
When Zheng Zhu heard the news, he was stunned. It was just the expulsion of a few low-level officials, but how could it have been reported to the emperor?
How... is this possible?!
Zheng Zhu, who already felt something was wrong, felt an even stronger sense of crisis.
The seriousness of this matter is much more serious than Zheng Zhu had imagined.
As the first family in Jiangnan, they have always been known for their integrity, frugality, filial piety and righteousness, which have been passed down from generation to generation.
However, such a big family actually openly resisted the implementation of the imperial decree. Although no one was killed, the clerks were beaten and injured.
Then this matter cannot be ended so easily. Even if Zheng Zhu has subsequent remedial measures, it will still be of no help.
The news seemed to have wings and soon reached the cabinet.
When the cabinet ministers saw the news, they were immediately in a dilemma.
The Zheng family!
This is the first one in Jiangnan!
Such a family actually openly resisted the imperial court. Are they going to be the same as Bei Kong?
Fortunately, there is still a file.
That was Zheng Zhu’s subsequent remedial measure. He sent the clansmen who beat people to the government. His attitude of admitting his mistake was very good!
Upon seeing this document, several cabinet ministers breathed a sigh of relief.
"This Zheng Zhu is not that confused!"
"Yeah, in this way, the consequences shouldn't be that serious!"
"That's right, it was just the private behavior of the tribesmen. It's not as serious as what happened to Bei Kong, where they were all executed directly..."
"Should we put this later document in front? And put the earlier document in the back?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, if you first see Zheng Zhu's apology and then read the previous documents, you shouldn't be so angry..."
Some cabinet ministers were clever and tried to use this method to make the emperor less angry.
But this behavior was quickly stopped.
"Are you crazy?" Cabinet Minister Zhen Shou widened his eyes and said speechlessly: "Your little cleverness is simply ridiculous in the eyes of His Majesty. If you really do this, it is likely to have a counterproductive effect!"
When these words were spoken, everyone looked at each other. After thinking about it carefully, they all felt that it made sense. If they really did this, it would most likely have the opposite effect!
After all, what a wise and intelligent person is the current Majesty?
"Then put them together! Next to each other!"
"That's fine!"
Even if these cabinet ministers had ten thousand guts, they would not dare to conceal such news.
If the truth comes out and is investigated, the consequences will be very serious!
soon.
This memorial came into Su Che's hands.
After glancing at the content, Su Che raised his eyebrows.
"What a great place to be the best in Jiangnan."
Soon, Su Che saw the second document, which was right next to this memorial.
"Oh? The tribe members' behavior is not what the tribe leader Zheng Zhu intended?"
"But even so, this matter cannot be let go like this."
"Since your clan leader doesn't discipline us strictly, then you should stop interfering in the future..."
In just a moment, Su Che thought of a solution.
The reason why the Zheng family is so prosperous is because all the family members stick together.
They had their own private schools and their own school fields. These people gathered together like a small country, and Zheng Zhu was like the king of this country.
However, where there are classes there is oppression. The reason why the Zheng family is so powerful is that most of the members have shed blood and sweat for this family.
These families have been passed down for so many years, and many times, they have put their own families above the country. In the face of foreign invasions, they would kneel down in order to preserve their family status.
Although the aristocratic families that had existed for thousands of years had basically been destroyed, there were still many powerful families that had existed for hundreds of years.
These families are like blood-sucking worms, sucking blood from the country, sucking the fat and blood of the people. The weaker the country is, the stronger these families become.
When the country is destroyed, these families will support new leaders.
In that case, let all these influential families divide up their businesses for me!
As long as we split up the family, all the things that happened before can be forgiven!
This so-called division of the family was, in a sense, a "small favor order" for the gentry and wealthy families.
The state has forced it to be implemented, and the gentry and wealthy families, big and small, have to agree even if they disagree. If they still don't agree, don't blame the court for being rude!
This plan of dividing the family was truly a bolt from the blue and a devastating news to the patriarchs of the gentry and wealthy families.
But for the other families who don’t have much benefit to gain, this is great news!
Originally, they could only make a living in the family and lived a difficult life. The prosperity of the family had little to do with them. They were all part of the people who were sucked dry and started working for the family after they became adults!
But now, they can get a part of the family property!
How much property does this cost?
Without a doubt.
These people will naturally strongly support the court's policies!
After all, there are only a few people with foresight. For most people, what does the prosperity of the clan have to do with them? It can't bring them any benefits, and it's not real as the benefits of splitting up the family!
Su Che did not hesitate and directly implemented the policy of dividing the family to the Zheng family members, and also to all the wealthy and powerful families in the world.
If you want to blame anyone, just blame the Zheng family!
If it weren't for the Zheng family, he wouldn't have thought of doing this for a while!
Of course, under this decree, only the wealthy and powerful families need to split up, while ordinary people at the bottom do not need to. Splitting up households requires a very high standard, and most people cannot meet this requirement.
It is foreseeable that once this decree is issued, there will be chaos!
This is exactly the case.
As soon as the decree was issued, countless gentry and wealthy families wailed everywhere.
In the Zheng family.
When Zheng Zhu heard this decree, he was so scared that his soul was scared to death!
Finished!
Zheng family!
Finished!!
For a family with the primogeniture inheritance system, splitting up the family is an absolute killer move. No branch of the family can resist such temptation. There is no need for the court to come, they can split up the family by themselves! Divide up the benefits!
Originally, the imperial court set up an office to promote private literacy schools, which was tantamount to standing in opposition to all the gentry and wealthy families. Naturally, it was extremely difficult to implement.
But now, with the move of splitting up the family, all family members turned their attention to their own family, and a chaotic internal struggle was about to begin! !
But this was an order from the imperial court, which was equivalent to the imperial court standing behind these people, giving them enough confidence to openly challenge the families!
"I have thought of many kinds of punishments, but I didn't expect that the final punishment would be this..." Zheng Zhu murmured, sitting dejectedly on the chair. He could not accept this reality.
at the same time.
Many patriarchs of large families gathered together, came to the Confucian Temple, and began to cry bitterly.
The patriarchs of these large families still have a lot of influence in various places. They are all nominally "good families" and can win over quite a number of civilians as long as they are given some small profits.
These people, along with many common people, cried bitterly in the Confucian Temple and told the statue of Confucius worshipped in the temple about their sufferings and grievances.
"We are a kind family, with four generations living together, happy and contented, but we never thought the court would separate us..."
"Since ancient times, how could the imperial court force the common people to divide their property?"
"Master, Master, we are suffering..."
The civilians who followed these clan leaders here were all moved when they heard these words.
This is the so-called crying temple.
Obviously.
This caused quite a stir.
The news also reached the imperial palace in Yingtian Prefecture.
"Crying temple?"
Su Che was stunned and realized the methods of these people. They hoped to use this trick to make the court revoke its decision. To put it bluntly, they wanted to coerce the common people at the bottom to fight against the court together!
This matter is serious , and it is really serious!
If this isn’t dealt with in time, clan leaders all over the country will start following suit, and that’s going to be a problem!
Without hesitation, Su Che sneered and said:
"To coerce the people and threaten the imperial court, what a good plan!"
"Pass the order down, drag all those crying in the temple out and kill them!!"
"Since you want to die, then go ahead and die!"
Originally, Su Che had been gentle enough towards these gentry and wealthy families. He did not kill them all, but only let them separate.
Obviously, these people did not feel Su Che's kindness.
What a pity!