Just as Fang Er uttered this sentence, Li Xiaogong casually pulled Xie Bian to his side and whispered a few words.
Then, Xie Bian turned around, called a team of his subordinates, pushed through the scholars, and headed straight for Qufu city.
Before long, Xie Bian returned from the city with a group of civilians.
"Your Grace, I've brought some civilians from the city. They didn't hear what was said earlier, so I've briefly explained it to them."
Fang Er nodded approvingly. These civilians had arrived at just the right moment.
"You all know what just happened. Old Master Kong said that the matters of the Four Houses have nothing to do with the Kong family. Do you believe him?"
Among the civilians brought back, a man in his thirties' eyes immediately turned red. He gruffly pointed at Kong Yingda and cursed.
"I believe his ghost! This old scoundrel is wicked!"
"The Emperor is here now, what are you afraid of?"
"Seeing how things are, the Kong family won't have a good ending. Now is the time to repay grudges and settle scores."
"His grandson, Kong Hui Chu, forcibly took my sister as a concubine. My sister refused and was beaten to death by his grandson."
"The Prefect of Qufu didn't dare to meddle in the Kong family's affairs!"
After saying this, he knelt down with a thud and said, "Your Grace, you must give me justice. My sister died so miserably! Wuwuwu!!"
"Hmph! I never expected, never expected that the Kong family, who always claimed to be descendants of sages, could also do such things?"
Fang Er mocked Kong Yingda and then said to Wang Xuance, "Take people into the city and bring that Kong Hui Chu back for this Duke!"
"Yes!"
Wang Xuance led his men away, but Kong Yingda showed no sign of panic on his face.
Fang Er couldn't understand the source of his confidence, so he looked at the other civilians.
"What about you all?"
"Reporting to Your Grace, Old Master Kong is spouting nonsense! During the New Year, I still saw people from their Four Houses return to worship their ancestors."
"If he really said that the Four Houses were kicked out, what right would they have to return?"
"Yes, yes, yes. A while ago, I saw Kong Hui Qing. Yes, that's the head on the ground!"
"I saw Kong Hui Qing bring back some unfamiliar faces."
"I saw it too. When Kong Hui Qing left, Kong Laotou's son personally came out to see him off."
"His son is called Kong Zhi Liang!"
The civilians chattered, recounting what they knew. Clearly, they didn't believe a word Kong Yingda said.
Fang Er stared at Kong Yingda and asked, "Old Master Kong, do you still dare to say you knew nothing about the national debt?"
"Guards! Enter the city and bring Kong Zhi Liang out too!"
"Yes!"
This time, Yan Shuang Ying led the men into the city.
However, Kong Yingda maintained his composure, as if he had no reaction to Fang Er sending people to arrest them.
"My son is innocent! My grandson is also innocent!"
"The Kong family knows nothing about the national debt, nor is it related to the Kong family in any way!"
"If you wish to destroy the Confucian heritage, state it directly in front of the Emperor and the people! Why feign sincerity by using the national debt as a pretense!"
"If you have the ability, produce the evidence!"
"Otherwise, do not slander the Kong family here and become a laughingstock of the world!"
"Heh heh, hahahahaha~~!"
Fang Er threw his head back and laughed heartily. Even at this point, he was still being stubborn!
"This matter was originally very simple. This Duke could have ordered the Kong mansion to be raided."
"I anticipated that you would say this, which is why I patiently argued with you here!"
At this moment, a rumbling sound suddenly came from the sky. Hearing this sound, everyone involuntarily looked up.
It's a helicopter!
The helicopter sent to Weishan Lake has returned!
Others did not know what this meant, but Fang Er and Li Xiaogong knew it very well.
"Move aside and signal the helicopter!"
"Yes!"
Liu Meng quickly relayed the order and took out his walkie-talkie to contact Zhang Tian and Xue Rengui in the helicopter. If nothing unexpected happened, those two should be on board.
Indeed, after the helicopter landed, Zhang Tian jumped out.
"Fifth Division of the Skyfire Army, Zhang Tian, greets His Majesty!"
Walking along the path cleared by the guards, he saw Li Shimin and quickly paid his respects to him first. The rules must be followed; both big and small kings must be distinguished.
"You are dismissed. Go."
Li Shimin waved his hand and sent him away.
"Report to Your Grace, the lake bandits of Weishan Lake have been completely eradicated!"
"We killed over six thousand three hundred lake bandits and captured over one thousand seven hundred alive!"
"The remaining seven hundred firearms were all recovered. During the bandit suppression, seven Kong family disciples, three remnants of the Zhao Commandery Li clan, and two of the Boling Cui clan were also apprehended."
As Zhang Tian reported, another group of people descended from the helicopter. Led by Xue Rengui, twenty paratroopers were escorting a group of bound bandits towards them.
Fang Er looked over and carefully noted the number of people. Exactly twelve were bound!
He turned and sneered at Kong Yingda, "Come, Master Kong, take a look. Are those your good-for-nothing sons?"
At first, Kong Yingda couldn't see the appearance of the approaching people from a distance and looked at Fang Er with some confusion, not understanding what he meant.
But as Xue Rengui and the others got closer, and their appearances became clear, Kong Yingda's face instantly turned ashen. His chest began to heave violently, and his breathing became rapid.
Hoo~~ Hoo~~ Hoo~~
His heavy panting sounded like an old ox returning from field work.
Pfft~~~~
Suddenly, a mouthful of blood spurted from his nose and mouth. He extended the hand that was still able to move, pointed at the bound people, and said,
"Rebellious son! Rebellious son! Rebellious son!"
"My Kong clan's thousand-year purity has been ruined by you!"
Pfft~~~
Before he could finish speaking, another mouthful of blood gushed out.
"Paratrooper One, Xue Rengui, greets His Majesty and Your Grace!"
Xue Rengui, walking at the forefront, had already been informed of Li Shimin's presence. After a quick glance, he identified who Li Shimin was.
"That fellow sitting on the strange boat, with his legs crossed and smoking a cigar, must be him."
Li Shimin remained silent. He propped himself up with his right hand on the deck and jumped down. He threw the cigar on the ground and crushed it under his foot.
Then, he reached for Xue Rengui's waist and pulled out the paratrooper's sidearm.
After skillfully chambering a round, he walked up to Kong Yingda with the gun and pressed the muzzle against his forehead.
"Come, argue a few more words, and give me a reason not to kill you!"
"Kong family disciples, remnants of the Cui and Li families, Weishan Lake bandits, these factions are all intertwined. If you still dare to say that the national debt was not related to the Kong family, then you are treating everyone in the world as a fool!"
"Hahaha, shoot then!"
Kong Yingda had fallen into madness. The bloodstains at the corners of his mouth and his gaunt skin made him look like a fierce ghost.