Chapter 108: Mister Kong

In an instant, the winds and clouds shifted.

The civil officials and the nobility, spoiled rotten since the Hongxi reign of Emperor Renzong, were finally made to witness once more the cold ruthlessness of the Zhu family emperors.

Aside from the Grand Progenitor Emperor and the Chengzu Emperor, who had records of dealing with corrupt officials on a massive scale, no emperor had ever sharpened his blade so eagerly, ready to kill this many officials in one stroke.

Yet what drove all the civil officials and nobles in the court to despair was the discovery that they had no effective means whatsoever to check the Chongzhen Emperor.

When it came to face, Chongzhen made it blatantly clear that he simply did not care for it, utterly indifferent to whether he was called a tyrant or not.

When it came to public opinion, of all the literate government students, every last one of them—whoever dared to leap out, the Chongzhen Emperor would dare to swat them dead. The earlier examples of Zhang Pu and Zhang Cai were the best proof.

For the sake of their own families' meager tax exemptions, and out of the mentality that the nail that sticks out gets hammered down, it was impossible for the government students to unite wholeheartedly against the Chongzhen Emperor.

The nobles were even more docile than sheep. Ever since they had been completely screwed over by the civil officials at Tumu Fortress, the nobles had no power to control the army whatsoever; every one of them had become a parasite, just eating and waiting to die.

If not for the fear of being called harsh and ungrateful, Chongzhen would have been all too eager to strip these dukes and marquises of their titles and be done with it.

As for the common people, with the foundation of the Eternal No-Increase Tax Edict laid down, none of them believed the Chongzhen Emperor was a tyrant. An emperor who loved the people this much, a tyrant?

Bullshit. It must be that the officials who got killed were no good, and the Son of Heaven discovered it and had them executed.

And it was precisely with this confidence that the Chongzhen Emperor chose, without the slightest hesitation, to take down Wen Tiren—I have no golden finger, no old grandpa spirit following me around, and no Baidu search from the future to know everything, so only one choice remains: let the disobedient go die.

As for Wen Tiren, who had originally seemed loyal and devoted, the moment he voiced opposition in the court, Chongzhen had in fact already understood: the great clans passed down over two thousand years, favored and indulged by every dynasty with none ever punished, more like states within a state—they truly were not so easy to deal with.

After the court session ended, Wen Tiren's household was thrown into utter chaos. As the news arrived that Wen Tiren had been thrown into the Imperial Prison, panic instantly erupted throughout the mansion.

Wen Tiren's son, Wen Yan, a man of some resolve, shouted down the panicking crowd and summoned the servant boy who had come back to report. He asked, "What exactly happened? Tell me in detail."

The servant boy, upon hearing this, replied, "Answering the Young Master, this lowly one does not know the inside story either.

I only heard the officials leaving court discussing it, saying that today the Master said something or other that brought the dragon countenance's great wrath down upon him, and so the Master was thrown into the Imperial Prison. I'm afraid..."

Wen Yan, however, said, "Everyone, go do what you should be doing. It is merely being thrown into the Imperial Prison, not the confiscation of property and extermination of the family.

What is all this panic about? After you leave, no loose talk is permitted; anyone who does will be beaten to death with rods.

All of you, leave now."

After everyone had dispersed, Wen Yan then went to Wen Tiren's study. He also ordered a servant boy to invite the honored guest to meet him in the study.

Seeing that the one inviting him was Wen Yan and not Wen Tiren, and having noticed on the way over that the household was in a state of panic and fear, the honored guest understood in his heart that something must have gone wrong. He directly asked, "Young Master, has something happened?"

Wen Yan said, "Trouble has occurred at court. My father, likely because of last night's matter, has angered the Emperor and has now been thrown into the Imperial Prison."

The honored guest, upon hearing this, was greatly alarmed and said, "Such a thing has happened? Young Master, rest assured, this Kong will certainly do his utmost to rush about and will definitely think of a way to rescue Lord Wen."

Wen Yan, however, gave a bleak laugh and said, "Mister Kong, you trouble yourself too much. But once one enters the Imperial Prison, how many ever come out in one piece?

If the Emperor has not yet sent men to confiscate the household, then there is still room to maneuver. If by nightfall the confiscation party arrives, then all is over."

Mister Kong frowned and said, "Young Master, do not worry. After all, it has not reached that point yet; let us wait and see how things develop. This Kong will go out now to make contacts and see if we can jointly submit a memorial to make the Emperor release Lord Wen."

Wen Yan understood in his heart that his own family had likely become a discarded pawn. But since he could not afford to offend the man before him, he could only force a bitter smile and say, "I must trouble you greatly in all things, Mister Kong."

Mister Kong again offered a word of apology and then left the study.

But just as Mister Kong had walked a short distance out of the main gate of the Wen residence, he was surrounded by several officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The man leading them sneered, "Will you obediently come with us on your own, or must we gentlemen lend a hand in serving you?"

Mister Kong, however, was utterly unafraid and said, "You people act with reckless impunity right at the feet of the Son of Heaven—do you still have any regard for the king's law?"

The Embroidered Uniform Guard squad leader in charge laughed with complete indifference and said, "The king's law? I am the Son of Heaven's own troops, handling affairs for the Son of Heaven—what I carry out, is that not the king's law?

You're talking to me about the king's law? Have you never read a book?"

Mister Kong said, "You may run rampant for a time, but how long can you keep it up? Have you not seen the fate of Ji Gang in the Yongle era?"

The Embroidered Uniform Guard squad leader, upon hearing this, was struck speechless for a moment, then laughed and said, "Ji Gang? Have you read so many damn books you've gone stupid?

Do you know what the Son of Heaven's own troops are? Let me tell you: the Son of Heaven's own troops means forgetting all about right and wrong, life and death, and holding only the Son of Heaven in your heart.

If the Son of Heaven wants us to live, we live; if the Son of Heaven wants us to die, we die."

Having said this, and seeing people in the distance pointing and whispering, the squad leader raised his voice and declared, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard is arresting a man by imperial decree.

Those uninvolved, do not gather around and watch, lest misunderstandings arise and everyone's face be left looking unsightly."

Seeing that the crowd had dispersed and stopped watching, the squad leader grinned and said, "This gentleman, shall we?"

Mister Kong, however, said, "Do you people know who I am? I fear this Imperial Prison may be easy to enter, but if you want me to come out again, it will not be so easy to invite me."

The squad leader, upon hearing this, also laughed and said, "Who you are, sir, I don't know, and I have no interest in knowing. The more you know, the more dangerous it is—this principle, none of us are children, who doesn't understand it?

As for it not being easy to invite you out, that's not something a lowly squad leader like me needs to worry about. Enough nonsense—shall we?"

Mister Kong, upon hearing this, knew in his heart that further words were useless. He gave a cold snort and followed the squad leader in the direction of the Imperial Prison.

Upon arriving at the Imperial Prison, Mister Kong was led directly toward the cells inside. But as he passed the cell where Wen Tiren was held, Mister Kong read in the look Wen Tiren cast toward him a mixture of pity, resentment, and mockery at his predicament.

Though puzzled, the Embroidered Uniform Guard officers behind him gave him no time to think, nor did they permit him any eye contact with Wen Tiren. They simply shoved him hard and barked, "Move!"

Mister Kong angrily turned his head and glared, but what he got in return was an even rougher shove. Seeing that there was nothing he could do, he could only walk onward.

But when he reached the innermost cell, he saw someone he had never imagined he would see, and that person immediately called out his identity in a single breath: "Mister Kong, We have been waiting for you for a long time!"

(End of Chapter)