Chapter 368: Xu Hongru Raises Troops in Rebellion

Xu Guangqi and Zhang Weixian, upon hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, hastily replied: "To answer Your Majesty, we have already heard."

Zhu Youxiao nodded, his expression calm as he said: "Actually, this matter did not come as a surprise to me. Ever since we arrived in Jining, we knew someone would rebel. Now that they've made their move, there's nothing strange about it."

Upon hearing this, Xu Guangqi and Zhang Weixian nodded simultaneously.

Of course, this was because the two of them knew the true situation.

Many people outside had criticisms about the Wenxiang sect's rebellion — they didn't believe anyone was truly rebelling, but rather that the Emperor was using rebellion as an excuse to eliminate dissidents.

Regarding that assassination attempt on the Emperor, some people even harbored suspicions, though they could only keep those doubts in their bellies and dare not voice them.

Now that someone had truly rebelled, it could prove that the handling of the previous assassination was correct, and no one would criticize it any longer.

Zhu Youxiao continued: "Regarding the matter of Kong Yinzhi, I have already issued a gag order. The Embroidered Uniform Guard will not leak any information. On this, both of you may rest assured. As for the specific details of the matter, no one will know."

"The Kong family has now been taken away. I will immediately send people to investigate and gather information, and stand ready to dispatch rescue at any time. In addition, Xu Xianchun has also been punished by me."

"If anyone outside inquires, then it was Xu Xianchun's incompetence that allowed the Kong family members to be taken. As for whether they were fetched away, whether they colluded with the rebels — what do the two of you think?"

After this question was asked, the faces of Xu Guangqi and the others showed some hesitation.

The reason was simple: although His Majesty spoke this way, both men present understood in their hearts that this matter could not possibly be concealed, and Xu Xianchun's near-fatal collision in the palace was even less concealable.

The moment the two of them left the palace, the news would surely have spread everywhere already. If a gag order were issued now, it would achieve the opposite effect.

As the saying goes, blocking the people's mouths is worse than damming a river — it can only be channeled, not blocked. If blocked, it will only grow more intense.

And the method His Majesty was now employing was blocking, which would only make the rumors multiply.

Human beings all possess a psychology of prying into the dark and hidden. What is presented on the surface, they will not believe; they will subconsciously probe for what lies concealed behind the matter.

When there is something hidden, even baseless rumors will be pondered by many.

Now that the news had spread, the Kong family's reputation was surely ruined in the streets. Not only had they sold disaster-relief grain to the rebels, now they were also in league with them — there was simply no way to explain it away.

Of course, it wasn't without benefits.

In this way, no one would dare criticize His Majesty's previous punishment of the Kong family. The title of Duke Yansheng had been lost, and no one would dare say it should not have been taken.

Xu Guangqi and Zhang Weixian exchanged a glance, roughly understanding in their hearts that perhaps this was His Majesty's purpose.

At this point, the two naturally would not object. To oppose would only displease His Majesty without accomplishing anything, and would instead incur his wrath.

"Your Majesty is sagacious! This handling is most appropriate." Xu Guangqi hastily said.

Zhang Weixian was a beat slower, and seeing that old fox Xu Guangqi had taken the lead, he also hastily said: "Your Majesty is sagacious! Most appropriate indeed."

After speaking, Zhang Weixian secretly shot Xu Guangqi a glare — shouldn't this have been said together? Why must you be a step ahead of me?

Zhu Youxiao nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile: "Then let it be done this way. Next, let us discuss the matter of suppressing the rebellion. After all, once rebellion erupts, the people will suffer disaster, and my heart cannot bear it. We must suppress the rebellion as quickly as possible. Whatever plans the two of you have, speak freely."

In truth, although Zhu Youxiao spoke with urgency, neither he himself nor Xu Guangqi and Zhang Weixian took this rebellion seriously at all.

It was merely a rabble of motley followers. When the imperial army came to exterminate them, it would cost little effort. Moreover, His Majesty had brought five thousand new troops.

As for the combat effectiveness of the new troops, both Xu Guangqi and the others knew it well. Last time when suppressing the rebellion in the southwest, these five thousand men had displayed extraordinary fighting power.

Their weapons, their equipment, their training, even the food they ate — all were beyond what outsiders could imagine.

She Chongming's men in the southwest had been utterly helpless against the five thousand new troops, let alone these rebelling commoners in Shandong?

So suppressing the rebellion was no problem at all. But judging from His Majesty's current maneuvers, there was indeed a problem here.

"Your Majesty, the most urgent task is to dispatch troops from all parts of Shandong to the Juye area to suppress the rebellion." Xu Guangqi stepped forward and said.

In fact, within the court, such matters all followed established regulations; there was no great difficulty involved.

When disaster strikes, send money and grain for relief; when someone rebels, send the army to suppress — no great mental effort required.

For the court ministers, it was actually harder to fathom His Majesty's intentions.

Although Xu Guangqi said this aloud now, in his heart he understood — he was watching to see whether His Majesty intended to do something, while also pondering how he should speak and act.

Zhu Youxiao looked at Xu Guangqi, nodded with a grave expression, and said: "We cannot be so rash; this must be deliberated at length. You will immediately send orders to all regions — someone is rebelling, and all localities must guard their territories strictly, absolutely no reckless advance of troops."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Xu Guangqi hastily bowed in reply.

Both Zhang Weixian and Xu Guangqi understood — His Majesty was indeed planning something.

To suppress a rebellion, one should strangle it in its cradle before the enemy could grow and develop — that was the best approach.

But from His Majesty's current behavior, he clearly did not intend to do so.

"Summon Qi Jin at once, recall Huang Kezuan, and have the staff officers come over. We need to deliberate carefully on how to suppress the rebellion." Zhu Youxiao looked at Xu Guangqi and said slowly.

This deliberation lasted three days, while messengers were sent to the capital to continue mobilizing troops.

During those three days, all sorts of news flew about, with word concerning the Kong family spreading the most fiercely.

The entire Shandong was abuzz with the matter, and it even began spreading in all directions.

For a time, chaos reigned.

Behind it all, besides the people's spontaneous spreading, more was being propagated by Chen Hong, with the Imperial Household Department cooperating as well.

Everywhere, people were saying the Kong family had defected to the rebels, or that the Kong family were themselves rebels.

Though there were many voices of rebuttal and many who did not believe it, some still did. After all, what the Kong family had done was right there for all to see — selling disaster-relief grain, and selling it to the rebellious Wenxiang sect.

Under such circumstances, on the morning of the fourth day, a shocking piece of news arrived:

Xu Hongru had raised troops in rebellion.

Xu Hongru issued a manifesto listing twenty great crimes of the court, proving that Zhu Youxiao was a fatuous ruler of the highest order.

In an instant, Shandong was shaken, and the news spread in all directions, stunning more than half the court.

What was even more unexpected and shocking was that this manifesto had actually come from the hand of Kong Yinzhi.

For a moment, the whole populace was in an uproar.

No one could believe such a thing had actually happened.

Those who had been defending the Kong family were suddenly silenced as if strangled.

Those who had disparaged the Kong family were as if rewarded, congratulating one another in celebration.

When Zhu Youxiao received this news, he was not at all surprised.

In fact, ever since Kong Yinzhi fell into Xu Hongru's hands, Zhu Youxiao had already harbored this suspicion.

The reason was also simple — if they had gone to such great lengths to rescue Kong Yinzhi, they naturally wouldn't just keep him fed and idle.

As for Kong Yinzhi resisting — a man like him, once fallen into their hands, would he even resist?

There was simply nothing to resist against.

Take a manifesto, for instance — did it really matter whether Kong Yinzhi wrote it?

All they needed was to fly Kong Yinzhi's banner. Whether he admitted it himself no longer mattered; Xu Hongru simply wouldn't care. After all, with the man in his hands, wasn't it whatever he said it was?

Though everyone knew Kong Yinzhi had been coerced, still no one dared to speak in his defense.

In this era, the standard was "Confucius spoke of achieving benevolence, Mencius spoke of embracing righteousness." The demands placed on scholar-officials were many, and "unable to bear humiliation, taking one's own life to die for the state" was a very conventional requirement.

Falling into enemy hands, surrendering and betraying the state — this was something utterly despised, especially for a family like the Kongs.

If the Great Ming had fallen, it would have been easier to handle.

If the Ming had already perished and the Kong family had changed their allegiance, many people afterward would have supported it, and it would have let people breathe a sigh of relief. After all, if the Kongs had surrendered, then "let's follow suit" — there wouldn't have been too many condemning the Kongs.

But right now the Great Ming was still alive and well — it was only some rebels causing trouble. The Kong family absolutely could not do such a thing as switching allegiance.

So all at once, the Duke Yansheng's reputation stank to high heaven, and Kong Yinzhi's name was beyond redemption.

Of course, there was also deliberate manipulation behind this. Xu Hongru wanted Kong Yinzhi to be a rebel, and Zhu Youxiao wanted Kong Yinzhi to be one too — both sides were slinging mud all over Kong Yinzhi.

Under such circumstances, his reputation naturally stank to the streets and was beyond saving.

Standing on the steps before the door, listening to Chen Hong's report, Zhu Youxiao let out a sigh of relief, then said with a smile: "The news is spreading like wildfire now — how are things outside?"

"Your Majesty, the people are anxious and uneasy." Chen Hong said with some hesitation.

Outside, people truly were anxious — after all, Zhu Youxiao had done many things before, such as elevating Xunzi's status, and reforming the academies. Now he had also cast aside the Kong family.

If scholars said their hearts weren't unsettled, that would be the real sign of a guilty conscience.

Having done so many things, Zhu Youxiao also knew that what is too rigid breaks easily — it was indeed time to soothe people's hearts.

So Zhu Youxiao looked at Chen Hong and said: "Have the news released. This time it must be done with great fanfare — it absolutely cannot be too small-scale. Understand?"

"Rest assured, Your Majesty. This servant understands." Chen Hong said hurriedly.

That afternoon, a few more people appeared in the city of Jining.

These people were dressed elegantly and groomed immaculately — one could tell at a glance they were scholars.

They walked into taverns and restaurants, sat down casually, ordered a table of food and drink, and began to eat.

They usually traveled in pairs, eating and chatting as they went — nothing about them seemed out of the ordinary.

Jining city, Yuelai Tower.

For the people of Jining, Yuelai Tower was a frequently heard-of place, considered a very upscale restaurant.

Though some rebels had risen up and the city was in a panic, Yuelai Tower's business had not been affected in the slightest.