dognovel Chapter 1054: To advance is to die, to retreat is to die, so when can one live?
Chapter 1054: To advance is to die, to retreat is to die, so when can one live?
When Yang Shaofeng and Zhu Biao received the news that Kong Xixue and Kong Xilu were requesting an audience, they were genuinely a bit stunned.
Zhu Biao muttered, looking completely bewildered, "My dad really put a knife to their throats?"
Yang Shaofeng, equally bewildered, said, "Has the Duke of Yansheng's mansion really become so spineless?"
No.
It would be better if a few articles were published in the "Da Ming Newspaper".
After all, there's an old saying: "It's easy to talk when you're not the one suffering."
Regardless of how many dirty things the Duke Yansheng's family has done in private, on the surface they are all descendants of saints and exemplars of etiquette.
Even Qufu has gained the reputation of being a land of saints and a place of etiquette.
Even if Kong Xixue and Kong Xilu published articles in the "Da Ming Bao Bao" (Da Ming Newspaper), the officials and gentry of the world might not take them seriously.
If it weren't for this reason, I wouldn't have schemed against Black Sesame Dumplings and others, and even considered having them take charge of discipline and supervision in the future.
Of course, this kind of division of responsibilities is not a real division of power, but rather the kind where one may not necessarily receive credit for their efforts, but must take responsibility for any problems that arise.
But to everyone's surprise, before they could even discuss things with the black sesame dumpling, the brothers Kong Xixue and Kong Xilu came knocking on their door, saying they were ordered to inspect officials, gentry, and scholars throughout the land, and to ensure that things were righted and things were set right.
At this critical juncture when officials and gentry were "purging the court of corrupt officials," weren't these two brothers just rushing to Xinghua County to their deaths?
And the spineless Duke Yansheng's mansion, which could make its hereditary cultivators submit a surrender document, willingly come to their deaths...
Old Deng's knife is sharp enough this time!
While inwardly complaining, Yang Shaofeng instructed Chang Xiaojiu, "Have someone go and greet the two inspectors."
After Chang Xiaojiu left to carry out his orders, Yang Shaofeng couldn't help but chuckle gloatingly and said, "That's great. I was just figuring out how to deal with them, and they've delivered themselves right to my doorstep."
Zhu Biao smiled maliciously and said, "It's a good opportunity for them to follow the opera troupe and visit all the villages and communities under the jurisdiction of Xinghua County."
After a slight pause, Zhu Biao continued, "Brother-in-law, should we scare them a little first?"
Yang Shaofeng's eyes lit up immediately.
To scare Kong Xixue and Kong Xilu?
That's a great suggestion!
……
In fact, before Yang Shaofeng could figure out how to intimidate Kong Xixue and Kong Xilu, the two were startled by Zhu Biao sitting in the lobby.
The current crown prince is also in Xinghua?
My goodness!
The mere presence of Yang the Madman in Xinghua County was enough for those officials and gentry to "purge the court of corrupt officials" and exterminate his entire family or even his nine generations of relatives.
Now that there is another crown prince, the so-called "purging the emperor's inner circle" by those officials and gentry will completely turn into a rebellion.
This isn't just wiping out the entire family and exterminating nine generations of relatives; this is aiming to wipe out nine generations of relatives!
After all, executing nine generations of a family leaves some survivors, while exterminating three generations essentially means total annihilation.
If the entire family is exterminated... even the dogs on the street will get stabbed!
Kong Xixue and Kong Xilu were filled with unease, but they still obediently bowed to Zhu Biao and Yang Shaofeng, saying, "Your subject pays respects to His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Imperial Son-in-Law."
Zhu Biao first gestured for the two men to dispense with formalities, then gestured for them to sit down, and then said with a smile, "I have already read the articles you two published in the Ming Dynasty newspaper."
"Both of you gentlemen have written very well."
"If all the officials, gentry, and scholars in the world had the awareness of two ministers, why would so much trouble have arisen, and why would so many major cases have been stirred up?"
Kong Xixue and Kong Xilu felt bitter—it was a good thing that the Crown Prince had taken a liking to their article, but this good thing came at the cost of the reputation of the Southern and Northern branches of the Duke Yansheng!
Zhu Biao glanced at the two men and continued, "I never expected that you two would come to Xinghua County together."
As the saying goes, "A strong wind reveals the strength of the grass, and a time of turmoil reveals the loyalty of a minister."
"The fact that you two ministers came to Xinghua at this critical juncture is enough to show your loyalty."
Kong Xixue and Kong Xilu both bowed to Zhu Biao and said, "We are Your Majesty's subjects, and it is our duty to share Your Majesty's burdens."
Zhu Biao nodded, then suddenly changed the subject, saying, "Although I am very pleased that you two gentlemen have come to Xinghua, the timing of your arrival is rather unfortunate."
Kong Xixue and Kong Xilu were slightly taken aback, but Yang Shaofeng chuckled and said to them, "What Your Highness means by 'unfortunate' is that Xinghua County is currently at the center of the storm, and the rebels may attack at any time."
"But since the two of you have just arrived in Xinghua and are serving as inspectors, Your Highness cannot simply send them back to the capital."
"On the contrary, Your Highness must entrust the two with important tasks to demonstrate to the world His Highness's determination to crack down on corruption and exploitation by officials and gentry, and to clean up the officialdom and the people's morals."
As soon as Yang Shaofeng finished speaking, Kong Xixue and Kong Xilu were immediately thrown into a state of confusion.
Could the rebels reach Xinghua at any moment?
When did the rebels become so powerful?
What about Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, Lan Yu, Li Wenzhong, and Li Mingchen?
If the rebels weren't that powerful, then you deliberately allowed them to attack Xinghua, and then wiped them out in one fell swoop.
wrong.
Is this some kind of decision about how powerful the rebels are, or whether the two of them are using themselves as bait to lure and kill the rebels?
No!
Whether they were using themselves as bait or planning to lure and kill the rebels, it's all obvious!
Because no matter how powerful the rebels were, they couldn't possibly defeat Xu Da and Chang Yuchun.
Otherwise, the current name of the country might not be Ming, and the crown prince might not be surnamed Zhu.
Now we should be considering what Yang Dianfeng just said: "We still need to entrust the two of you with important responsibilities!"
With Yang the Madman offering slanderous advice to His Highness the Crown Prince, how could His Highness possibly entrust us with any important responsibilities?
Maybe they're just trying to push us out to draw the rebels' attention!
They might even deliberately let the rebels kill us, and then use the pretext of avenging us!
What's worse is that even if His Highness the Crown Prince might send us out to our deaths, we have no choice but to obediently go and offer ourselves up for death, without even having the thought of escaping!
Because fleeing would implicate nine generations of relatives, young and old!
The more Kong Xixue and Kong Xilu thought about it, the more frightened they became. The thought inexplicably arose in their minds: "To advance is to die, to retreat is to die, so when can we possibly live?"
Yang Shaofeng glanced at Kong Xixue and Kong Xilu, whose faces were pale, and suddenly laughed and said, "You two should relax."
"Although the rebels could attack Xinghua at any time, the presence of the Crown Prince's personal guards and the Imperial Son-in-Law's personal guards is enough to ensure the safety of Xinghua County."
"You two just need to carry out His Highness the Crown Prince's instructions."
Kong Xixue and Kong Xilu almost collapsed on the spot.
What good are the Crown Prince's guards and the Prince Consort's guards, no matter how powerful they are?
The Crown Prince's personal guards are there to protect him.
The Imperial Son-in-Law's personal guards are there to protect you, Yang Dianfeng.
What does this have to do with the two of us?