Chapter 484: Chapter 265: Li Family
Kong Kangda was an ancestor of Kong Taichang, deeply respected by scholars across the land.
During the previous dynasty, a Family Head of the Kong Family disregarded the Kong Family rules and supported Prince Yun, who was then a commoner’s son, in his quest for the throne. He even aided and abetted in committing several atrocious deeds, including the persecution of some officials and scholars.
At that time, Prince Yun was notorious among both scholars and the common populace. Scholars and students throughout the land were extremely opposed to Prince Yun’s rise to power. To remove any obstacles for Prince Yun, that Family Head of the Kong Family went as far as to launch a literary persecution, wrongfully condemning and killing many scholars.
Driven by his ambition, the Family Head of the Kong Family forced the scholars to accept and acknowledge Prince Yun, killing anyone who opposed him. At that time, nearly all the scholars and students in the capital were arrested.
At that time, Kong Kangda’s health was not good, and coupled with his advanced age, he was in seclusion for rest. The Family Head of the Kong Family ordered that no one was to disturb his recuperation. However, Kong Kangda eventually learned about the actions of the Family Head.
Kong Kangda not only saved the wronged scholars but also vindicated the scholars who had been falsely accused and killed. He deposed the Family Head and toppled Prince Yun.
If Kong Kangda hadn’t intervened, who knows how many more scholars would have been harmed by Prince Yun and that Family Head of the Kong Family. Many believe that Kong Kangda preserved the seeds of scholarship. Because of this, scholars throughout the land always held a sense of gratitude towards the Kong Family and were not entirely disappointed in them.
Though Kong Kangda was ill at the time, he would not have died if it weren’t for saving the scholars of the world. After his death, every year on his birthday, scholars would hold a memorial for him.
This year marks the centenary of Kong Kangda’s passing, a significant event for the Kong Family. Without Kong Kangda, their family would have been ruined.
The ministers from the Crown Prince’s faction proposed to the emperor to hold a grand memorial for Mr. Kong Kangda.
The emperor did not agree to this during the early morning court session. Yet, he did not reject it either.
After the court session, the emperor summoned Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu to the Imperial Study.
"What do you two think about the proposal to commemorate the centenary of Kong Kangda’s passing?" the emperor asked, slouching in his chair with no regard for decorum, his body seemingly boneless.
Sun Kui and Sun Doudou brought in chairs and invited Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu to sit.
After sitting down, Grandmaster Liu sneered, "Who is Kong Kangda, and why should we commemorate him?"
"Old Liu, you know they say Kong Kangda preserved the seed of scholarship," the emperor quipped sarcastically, "they regard him as the hero of scholars."
Grandmaster Liu retorted with a cold laugh: "How is he a hero? Was it not the Kong Family that harmed the scholars in the first place? Saving them was merely what he should have done; how does that make him a hero?"
Prime Minister He echoed Grandmaster Liu’s sentiments: "Indeed, the ones who harmed scholars were from the Kong Family, and Kong Kangda merely did what was expected of him; he’s no hero."
"Preserved the seeds of scholarship?" Grandmaster Liu mocked, "Doesn’t the Kong Family feel ashamed?"
"Old Liu, haven’t you noticed that the Kong Family takes pride in Kong Kangda?" The emperor picked up a memorial from the imperial desk, playing with it. It was the memorial submitted by the Crown Prince’s faction, requesting the commemoration of Kong Kangda. "What do you think the Crown Prince aims to achieve by proposing this commemoration?"
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince’s faction proposed commemorating Kong Kangda to win the support of the Kong Family and gain the backing of scholars nationwide," Prime Minister He stated directly.
When speaking to the emperor, He and the other confidants would not mince words. They always spoke straightforwardly, without fear of offending the emperor.
The emperor looked towards Grandmaster Liu: "Old Liu, what do you think?"
"Pointless and redundant," Grandmaster Liu’s words were both crude and incisive.
Standing nearby, Sun Kui nearly burst out laughing upon hearing Grandmaster Liu’s remark.
"Hahahaha..." The emperor laughed heartily, pointing at Grandmaster Liu, "Old Liu, you couldn’t have put it better."
The Crown Prince, as the eldest legitimate son, was already designated the heir by the emperor; he needed nothing further to gain the support of the Kong Family and recognition from the scholars across the land.
Although the Kong Family had not explicitly shown support for the Crown Prince, he was the acknowledged heir in their eyes, and they would never act against him unless he committed an outrageous misdeed.
"Is it because of the Fourth Prince that the Crown Prince proposes commemorating Kong Kangda at this time?" Previously, Kong Kangda’s death anniversaries or centenaries hadn’t prompted the Crown Prince to commemorate him. Now, with the sudden proposal for his centennial passing, it was highly unusual.