Chapter 710: The Foremost Warrior of Confucianism!

"A treasure from the Confucius Grove?"

"Wh-wh-what is this? What is it?"

"Is it something good?"

"Could it be a lost writing of the Supreme Sage?"

"A lost writing? That would be extraordinary!"

"Your Majesty, tell us quickly!"

The Hall of Venerating Heaven erupted at once, and no one cared about the Imperial Academy anymore — the treasure from the Confucius Grove mattered more! Those who could come to the Hall of Venerating Heaven to discuss policy were, apart from useless princes like the Prince of Fu, all great Confucian scholars from every region.

As great Confucian scholars, they naturally understood the value of a treasure from the Confucius Grove.

If it was a plank from the Supreme Sage's coffin, that would not be very interesting — but what if it was a "lost writing"? And what if that "lost writing" expressed ideas at odds with the Confucian doctrines currently prevailing? What then?

Whose word would be followed in the end? Would whoever held the lost writing hold the final authority to interpret the Supreme Sage's great Way?

Zhu Cilang cleared his throat: "Gentlemen, We only know that a treasure has appeared; We do not know whether it is genuine, nor what the treasure is. Therefore, We wish to find a few great Confucian scholars, along with Kong Yinzheng and the Minister of Rites, Qian Qianyi, to go together to Lüshun and take a look. If it is something good, We will spend some money to buy it — we cannot let a treasure of Confucius be lost! And if it is a lost writing, that would be even more extraordinary! We must certainly find some great scholars to study it together carefully! Lord Zhengjun, are you willing to make this trip?"

Together with Kong Yinzheng?

The great scholars could not help frowning — this Kong Yinzheng did not seem like a descendant of Confucius, but rather a descendant of the robber Zhi! Moreover, his bloodline was far too distant from the main line of the Duke for the Perpetuation of the Sage; he was of a collateral branch, and for a collateral branch to leap over the near kin to become Duke for the Perpetuation of the Sage truly violated ritual propriety.

So the great scholars all resisted Kong Yinzheng's succession, and to this day he had still not formally become Duke for the Perpetuation of the Sage.

But if he were now put in charge of the "treasure purchase," and if something good were bought, then his position as Duke for the Perpetuation of the Sage would be secure.

A Duke for the Perpetuation of the Sage who was also responsible for organizing the treasure or the lost writings — what did that mean?

It meant the authority to speak for Confucianism would fall into his hands.

And how had Kong Yinzheng's dukedom come about? What role had Zhu Cilang played in it? And how had Kong Yinzhi died?

The great scholars present were not lacking in men with sharp ears and well-informed sources!

If Kong Yinzheng held the final authority to interpret Confucius's treasure, then Zhu Cilang could also revise Confucian doctrine to suit his own needs.

"Your Majesty," Zhu Zhiyu turned it over in his mind and also felt this matter was of great consequence, "this subject is willing to make the trip to Liaodong, but this Duke-designate..."

Zhu Cilang's expression darkened slightly. "Kong Yinzheng is merely handsome in appearance and mighty in physique — why can he not be Duke for the Perpetuation of the Sage? The Supreme Sage himself was a valiant warrior, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted. Kong Yinzheng resembles him greatly!"

"But the Duke for the Perpetuation of the Sage should be thoroughly versed in Confucian learning."

Zhu Cilang said, "How does Lord Zhengjun know that Kong Yinzheng is not versed in Confucian learning? Of the Six Arts of the gentleman, he is proficient in every one. If you do not believe it, you may summon him from Shandong and have him demonstrate publicly."

Zhu Zhiyu nodded and said, "If the Duke-designate is truly proficient in the Six Arts, and surpasses those of the near branches, then he may indeed inherit the Kong family line."

"Good!" Zhu Cilang smiled and nodded. "Then let him come and be tested by Us and the Retired Emperor, and also call upon Wei Zaode, Qian Qianyi, and you, Lord Zhengjun, plus Wang Prefect and Huang Daozhou, to serve as judges together."

"This..." Zhu Zhiyu knew that Zhu Cilang now needed him, Wang Prefect, and Huang Daozhou to lend their endorsement together — this was exactly the time to set conditions. "Your Majesty, once the matter of the Confucius Grove treasure is clarified, can the Imperial Academy then be opened?"

"Ah," Zhu Cilang thought for a moment and nodded. "The Imperial Academy will of course be established, but what to teach still needs careful consideration!"

The Zhu Emperor naturally knew of the north-south factional strife throughout the court — north-south factional strife was necessary! If north and south were perfectly harmonious, his position as emperor would be hard to maintain! But the north-south strife could not be allowed to intensify too much. Most importantly, he himself, as emperor, could not wholly plant his backside on the side of the northern faction.

Factional strife was for those below to fight out — not for the emperor himself to enter the fray. So opening an Imperial Academy to let the northern and southern factions continue their struggle was also not a bad idea!

The appearance of a treasure from the Confucius Grove was earth-shaking news!

Before evening fell, it had already stirred the whole city — the scholarly circles and antique dealers of Nanjing were all astir! And Ji Kun, who had returned from his post as Censor of the Left Circuit in Shandong and was awaiting appointment in Nanjing, was transformed overnight from a universally loathed harsh official into a man everyone wanted to invite back as an honored guest.

"Chunfan, you have come at just the right time. Tell your teacher about the robbing and excavation of the Confucius Grove."

The first to invite Ji Kun was Qian Qianyi, who had also been named by Zhu Cilang to go to Liaodong to buy the treasure. This matter truly put him in a difficult position! He did not know much about antiquities — what if he bought the wrong thing?

Besides, Qian Qianyi also needed to understand clearly whether the Confucius Grove had actually been dug up, and to what extent.

"Teacher, the Confucius Grove was indeed robbed!" Ji Kun said with certainty. "At that time this subject was serving as Censor in Shandong and knew of the matter."

"How do you know?" Qian Qianyi pressed. "Were you not in Dengzhou?"

The provincial capital of Shandong had now been moved to Dengzhou, so Ji Kun had left office from Dengzhou.

"Teacher remembers incorrectly," Ji Kun said. "This student only went to Dengzhou later. When Qufu was occupied, this student was at Wohushan City."

"Then you did not see the excavation of the Confucius Grove at Qufu with your own eyes, did you?"

"Indeed it was not personally witnessed," Ji Kun said, "but this student later went to Qufu by imperial order to supervise the restoration of the Confucius Grove, and what I saw there had indeed been excavated. Moreover, this student also heard that Dorgon fell ill from digging up the Confucius Grove and in the end had to withdraw his troops from Qufu. It is said that at the time Dorgon was so ill he was barely clinging to life, and fearing that after his death his daughter would be purged by political enemies, he hastily sent her to Your Majesty."

Qian Qianyi had heard of this matter too. He also knew that Dorgon's health later improved somewhat because the great lama chanted sutras, and so he had still not died — this was all Wu Sangui's fault. If he had kept holding the great lama, Dorgon might well have been cursed to death by Confucius's spirit in heaven!

"Then have you heard anything about the treasure?" Qian Qianyi asked again.

"I have heard of it." Ji Kun said, "There is certainly a treasure, but whether it is a treasure of Confucius can only be known after it has been appraised."

"Appraised?" Qian Qianyi was startled. "You understand such things?"

"I do!" Ji Kun nodded. "This student is fond of exactly this. All the money I have acquired over the years has gone into buying antiques!"

All genuine antiques? Qian Qianyi thought to himself: You have not been cheated, have you?

"Teacher," Ji Kun continued, "this student also knows many appraisal experts, all of them highly skilled! Every time this student went to confiscate a household, I brought them along."

Confiscate a household?

At the thought of that, Qian Qianyi grew unhappy. He was also a corrupt official! It was only that Zhu Cilang had not allowed anyone to investigate him. If anyone really looked carefully, he too would have to retire to the island of Taiwan.

"Very well," Qian Qianyi said. "If we truly must go north, this old man will petition His Majesty to have you transferred to accompany us."

"Your Majesty, do you truly intend to have Kong Yinzheng demonstrate the Six Arts?"

The Forbidden City, the Imperial Garden, the Western-Style Building.

Zhu Cilang had finally moved into the Western-style building he was accustomed to living in — a foreign-style house inlaid with Venetian glass. For these not-very-transparent panes of glass, the Zhu Emperor had spent quite a bit of silver!

Now he was in the study of the Western-Style Building, summoning the Chief Grand Secretary Wei Zaode.

"What? He cannot do it? Did We not tell you to find someone to teach him?" Zhu Cilang raised his eyes and looked at Wei Zaode.

The Zhu Emperor had instructed long ago that Top Graduate Wei should find several tutors to give Kong Yinzheng supplementary lessons!

Wei Zaode shook his head. "This subject — this subject did indeed send people to teach him, but as for the results, this subject has no way of knowing!"

He was the prime minister, with far too many matters to handle — how could he keep track of everything?

"Oh," Zhu Cilang smiled. "It is no matter. You will set the examination. You are the top graduate and the leader of the Donglin faction — no one can object to your setting the questions. Then you will go and give him supplementary lessons. You must make sure he passes."

Zhu Cilang paused. "When We were in Shandong, We examined him. Of the Six Arts, he is not bad in the three of archery, charioteering, and mathematics. His calligraphy is also not bad — he knows quite a few characters, and his brushwork is decent. It is only in the classics, rites, and music that he is somewhat lacking."

"This subject — this subject will certainly find a way." Wei Zaode was at a loss too. He was the top jinshi, a grand secretary, and now he had to go help the Duke for the Perpetuation of the Sage cheat. He wondered whether this affair would be written into the annals of history.

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