The Zhou and Zhao families were the top tycoons in Bianliang City, but their families were raided and exterminated overnight. This matter instantly caused a huge sensation in the city. Some accused the Ming army of killing indiscriminately, some were worried about their own safety, and some applauded.
Zhu Biao then asked the Northern Expedition Army to write a 2,000-word notice. The notice detailed the crimes committed by Zhou Quantai and Zhao Shuangji, such as betraying their ancestors, betraying their country, being heartless to the rich, raising the price of grain, exploiting the villagers, killing people with power, and so on. There were more than ten articles in total.
This time, all the people were agitated and no longer complained about the injustice for the Zhou and Zhao families. Hundreds of people also petitioned outside Zhu Biao's palace, hoping that Zhou Quantai and Zhao Shuangji would be carved into statues and kneel in front of the Yue Wang Temple to repent for their crimes and be cursed by the world.
Yue Wang Temple was the temple where Yue Fei and Yue Wumu were worshiped. Because Yue Fei was conferred the title of King E after his death, the common people called him Lord Yue.
Yue Wang Temple was very prosperous in the middle and late Southern Song Dynasty. It was built in many places. However, after the Southern Song Dynasty was destroyed by the Yuan Dynasty, the Mongol nobles suggested to Kublai Khan to destroy Yue Fei's temple and prohibit the people from worshipping Yue Fei.
Because Yue Fei's biggest attack was to resist the Jin Kingdom. The Jin Kingdom was built by the Jurchen of the alien race, and the Yuan Dynasty was also an alien race. Wouldn't worshipping Yue Fei indirectly imply that he had made contributions in resisting the alien race? The lice on this monk's head were obvious. How could he do that?
However, Kublai Khan was a man with outstanding political skills. It was no coincidence that he could defeat other competitors and seize the throne after the death of Brother Meng.
Kublai Khan believed that even though the Southern Song Dynasty had been destroyed and the Mongol people had entered the Central Plains, expanding the Mongol Empire into the Dayuan Empire, the Mongol population was small and their rule in the Central Plains was still very weak. They had to unify their thinking and win over the hearts of the Han people to wear down their rejection and resistance.
Therefore, after some consideration, not only did he not accept the suggestions of those nobles, he even did the opposite. He repaired Yue Fei Temple, allowed folk sacrifices, and ordered the Hangzhou government to hold official sacrifices during special seasons.
It was to tell the Han people that the Great Yuan Dynasty would preserve all their customs and rituals, and that the Great Yuan Dynasty would not suppress their beliefs. They would worship loyal heroes, and they would also love loyal heroes. We Mongolians were the same as the Han people.
Therefore, Yue Wang Temple was the temple with the most incense offerings for hundreds of years in the Song and Yuan Dynasties and the Ming Dynasty. Yue Fei was also the hero that the people respected the most. Many people called him Grandpa Yue in private.
Later, in the Manchu Dynasty, the Tartar emperors faced the same problem as the rulers of the Yuan Dynasty. However, they did not have the heart of Kublai Khan, but they also had methods to weaken Yue Fei's influence. It was very simple. The imperial court was wantonly praising another hero that the Han people admired, Guan Yu. They were using Guan Yu to suppress Yue Fei.
The Yongzheng Emperor even conferred Guan Yu the title of Martial Saint and built a Martial Temple. He was on the same level as Confucius and enjoyed the state sacrifice.
It had to be said that this method was indeed insidious and efficient. Unknowingly, from top to bottom, from the imperial court to the people, Guan Yu's influence quickly rose, while Yue Fei was gradually forgotten.
Actually, if they were to compare, Second Master Guan and Lord Yue were from different eras, so there was no way to compare their martial arts skills. Second Master Guan might be slightly stronger, but if they were to compete in martial arts, even the Five Tiger Generals combined would not be able to defeat Lord Yue.
Zhu Biao thought for a moment and decided to satisfy the people's request. He ordered Song Zhong to find a craftsman in the city to carve the kneeling statues of Qin Hui, Zhou Quantai, and Zhao Shuangji on stone and move them to the Yue Wang Temple in the west of Bianliang City.
In front of the temple, Zhu Biao first lit three incense sticks for Yue Fei, then walked to the stone statues of Qin Hui, Zhou Quantai, and Zhao Shuangji. He examined them for a while. In fact, Zhou Quantai and Zhao Shuangji could not be compared to Qin Hui. They were just two merchants who only cared about profits and ignored the national righteousness. In Bianliang, they were considered big figures, but in the country, they were small figures.
"Zhou Quantai, Zhao Shuangji, in order to warn future generations, I can only punish you severely. However, it can be considered as a compliment. To be able to kneel side by side with the number one treacherous minister of the Southern Song Dynasty, Qin Hui, you will definitely leave your names in history!”
When they returned to the palace, Song Zhong reported that the Zhou and Zhao families 'properties had been confiscated. They had confiscated a total of three million taels of silver, ten bags of golden leaves, and a hundred thousand catties of rice, wheat, and other food, enough to feed two hundred thousand soldiers for two months.
Zhu Biao put down his brush and sneered,""They actually hid so much food and dared to say that they had no food. They closed the grain store and watched people starve to death. These two old things really didn't die in vain!”
Song Zhong bowed and said," Reporting to the Crown Prince, it was not an injustice to kill them. They have so much food that several rats have died from the bloating in the warehouse. They just don't want to give it to others!" Crown Prince, apart from these, they also found three boxes of indentities and promissory notes! What do you think we should do with these things?”
Zhu Biao thought for a moment and said," Return the gold and silver to the national treasury. Give half of the food to the people in the city, and the other half to the army. It just so happens that we're going to attack Dadu. We'll need it when the time comes!"”
He pondered for a moment and then said,"As for those deeds and promissory notes, burn them in front of the people!" The world was difficult. Many people sold their bodies and borrowed money in exchange for a bite of life. They should be given a chance to get rid of their shackles and start anew!”
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