Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

[Wow! I actually guessed the Emperor’s thoughts correctly once! I’m amazing!]

Gu Xian’s mind was in turmoil, but he couldn’t think clearly. Completely stunned, he could only struggle and shout, “Your Majesty! This is an insult to culture! It’s truly an insult to culture!”

The old Emperor smiled coldly, “I, a beggar who rose to the throne, don’t understand what ‘culture’ means.”

Gu Xian suddenly realized, trembling with fear. It seemed he wanted to explain himself, perhaps saying his words were not meant to target the Emperor’s background, but rather to express that the Emperor was divinely chosen, the Son of Heaven, under the favor of the heavens.

His words were all meant to support the Emperor’s rule!

“I… I…” Every syllable was filled with terror. Gu Xian realized that someone had already influenced the Emperor’s view. No matter what he said now, it would only sound like a defense to the Emperor.

The old Emperor’s voice grew colder. “Criminal Gu Xian! From today on, if you wish to wear clothes, you must buy them yourself; if you wish to eat, you must farm your own land; if you want to use porcelain bowls or dishes, you must make them yourself! The same goes for everything else!”

Even the Kong family members, who had been displeased with Gu Xian, stood stunned in shock.

This… this was too harsh!

[This is like reducing someone to the status of a primitive man, worse than an ordinary commoner!]

In his fury, the old Emperor couldn’t help but wonder, What is a primitive man anyway?

Meanwhile, the surrounding commoners, shocked at first, began to applaud.

Several voices shouted, “It should be like this!”

They were told they could only be lower-class all their lives, that they were vile, and yet, they were not made of clay! They had their pride!

Gu Xian was stripped naked in public, and the Emperor showed no mercy. As Gu Xian held his head in his hands, he cried out, “How could this happen? Why did it turn out like this?” He was dragged away by the Imperial Guards, completely dejected.

The Kong family exchanged a glance and bowed in unison, saying, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

However, they kept as much distance as propriety allowed, pulling back as far as possible within the bounds of etiquette.

The old Emperor took a full ten breaths to realize that these people were on guard against him.

The old Emperor: “…”

Forget it. Having some respect was better than none, right? Isn’t that so, Xu Yanmiao?

A flash of lightning split the sky, followed by the rumbling of thunder, and a torrential downpour began.

In the blink of an eye, it was November.

At this time, the Marquis of Yongchang stood aboard a large ship, leading the navy toward the island of Japan.

The idea of attacking Japan puzzled many of the sailors.

It was such a barren place, and it was said that it was sometimes plagued by foul winds, with earthquakes occurring from time to time. It was far and poor, and posed no real threat to the Da Xia Empire. What was the point of conquering it?

Had the Da Xia fallen so low that it had to seize even the little money a beggar might have?

The Marquis of Yongchang didn’t mention anything about gold or silver mines on the island. First, there were too many people, and second, if they knew about it, they might act rashly, and that could result in a great loss of the empire’s power.

When the fifty thousand Da Xia naval troops, with two hundred warships, arrived at the shores of Japan, the Japanese were immediately stunned.

They hadn’t encountered warfare in a long time. Typically, they just sailed small boats to Da Xia to beg for small handouts, occasionally raiding fishermen along the way, and fleeing after the plunder. They had never seen an army like this.

The cities on the outskirts of the island were thrown into chaos, and Japanese voices echoed all around:

“What is going on?”

“Are those soldiers from Da Xia?”

“Why has Da Xia suddenly declared war on us? We haven’t done anything!”

As for the pirates… they had only killed a few fishermen! Was that so bad?!

“Boom—”

Some Japanese, confused, asked, “What’s that sound…?”

Like a thunderclap from the ground, they looked up in disbelief. In the dark, ominous sky, one cannonball after another flew toward the city, growing larger in their sight.

Fear grew more apparent on their faces.

“Boom, boom, boom—”

The thunder roared.

Cannonballs crashed down, explosions rang out, and smoke and dust filled the air. The brief cries of animals and people turned into lifeless bodies on the streets, and the air was thick with the smell of blood.

The war had begun.

On the other side, the old Emperor gave orders to change the direction of the imperial procession.@@novelbin@@

It had been a year of inspection, and it was time to return to the capital.

Those fortunate enough to have escaped the Emperor’s inspection—the county magistrates and regional officials—were overjoyed, secretly weeping with relief.

It was over!

Finally, it was over!

They no longer had to worry about being singled out for their mistakes by the Emperor!

Regarding the Kong family, there are both good and bad aspects, so it’s unfair to generalize.

For example, some Kong family members were among the first to shave their heads:

【The following individuals have shaved their heads as instructed: Kong Yinchun, County Magistrate of Qufu, Kong Yinyu, hereditary Doctor of the Five Classics at the Hanlin Academy, Yan Shaoxu, Zeng Wendao, Zhong Ziwei, Professor at Sishi Academy, Wang Shilu, Professor at Nianshan Academy, Kong Xingrong, Director of Zhusi Academy, and others, including officials overseeing farming, music, records, and writing, all have obeyed the imperial edict and shaved their heads.】

—From “Head Shaving Memorial”.

＊

Others of the Kong family fought desperately to have the head-shaving edict abolished:

Upon hearing the decree, Kong Wenbiao from Shaanxi sent a memorial stating: “Our family’s patriarch, Kong Yunzhi, has already led his descendants to honor the ancestors’ temple, and all have obeyed the edict. However, considering that our ancestors were the founders of proper rites, and that the three great sages—Yan, Zeng, and Meng—upheld these rites, it would seem improper to change the attire of the sages, which has remained the same for three thousand years. If we change it now, I fear that it may contradict the revered customs we have long adhered to. Should we be allowed to maintain the old practices to restore our ancestors’ garments?”

The imperial response was: “Strict order: Any disobedience will not be tolerated. Kong Wenbiao’s petition to keep the old practices violates the decree and is punishable by death. However, considering his noble lineage, he shall be spared death, but he will be stripped of his official position and never reinstated.”

—From “Historical Record”.