Chapter 8, Aristocracy
After the Incident at Tumu Fortress, Emperor Yingzong was captured by the Wala people. Under the leadership of Minister Yu Qian, Emperor Yingzong's younger brother, Zhu Qiyu, was supported to ascend the throne, becoming Emperor Daizong, also known as Emperor Jingtai, who subsequently defeated the invading enemies
Whether they acknowledge it or not is another matter, but doing nothing at all does not align with Sun Dan's standards of being a person. Therefore, he decided to take a risk and make a bold move
The Wala people, seeing that continuing to hold the Yongzheng Emperor captive was no longer meaningful, released him in August 1450
However, during the Ming Dynasty, the government maintained strict precautions against interference from the imperial relatives. According to ancestral regulations, whether they were princes or imperial relatives, they were to be treated like livestock by the state and were prohibited from participating in politics
Moreover, this concern and support are not without significance, as no one can predict that his descendants will not benefit from the patronage of the benefactor
After the restoration of Emperor Yingzong, the Sun family ran rampant in their hometown, extensively encroaching upon state-owned lands. At the height of their power, the family possessed thousands of acres of fertile land and had a thousand servants. Their lands were spread across Shandong, Zhili, and Henan. In later generations, there was even a place in Tianjin known as Huichanghou Land.
Such a prominent family is unmatched even by the meritorious figures of the founding era
All this information is stored in Sun Dan's mind, and he only suddenly recalled it. Speaking of which, Sun Dan's father is indeed a collateral relative of the Wang Changhou Sun family; however, after so many generations, this bloodline has faded considerably. His father's name has also not been recorded in the Sun family genealogy.
To illustrate, an ordinary farmer who wishes to attain a certain social status must pursue education and enter officialdom. This path is long and arduous, requiring the efforts of several generations. Firstly, the farmer must toil diligently to accumulate a certain level of financial resources in order to support his descendants in their studies without the burden of labor.
However, Empress Sun deeply enjoyed the favor of Emperor Xuande and turned a blind eye to the political activities of the Sun family
In the first month of the eighth year of the Jingtai era, Emperor Jingtai fell gravely ill. On the sixteenth day, Deputy Censor Xu Youzhen led troops to enter the Southern Palace at night, supporting Yingzong in regaining the throne. This event is known as the "Usurpation of the Gate" and also referred to as the "Restoration of the Southern Palace"
Therefore, in the general perception, when a person achieves high office through scholarly success, it is not solely due to their individual efforts; their success is closely related to the shared ancestry of several generations. Thus, it is the obligation of successful individuals to provide assistance to their relatives who share the same surname and have the same ancestor when needed
Sitting in the signing room, Sun Dan took a deep breath, organized his thoughts in his mind, and felt much more at ease.
However, the Sun family of the Marquis of Huichang is an exception
Indeed, the Sun family of the Marquis of Weichang is what is referred to as an imperial in-law
Moreover, the Sun family are individuals who do not tolerate any disrespect, having always been accustomed to their domineering ways. If one could establish a connection with the Sun family, it would be a provocation against them for Zou Ping to send Sun Dan to perform hard labor. Any person in the position of this county magistrate would have to weigh the consequences carefully.
Sun Dan observed her lips moving gently, her hands clasped together, seemingly murmuring something.
The prominence of the Sun family began during the reign of the Ming Xuanzong, specifically under Emperor Xuande, Zhu Zhanji. The empress of Emperor Xuande, Empress Xiaogong Sun, hails from the Sun family of Zouping, Shandong.
Generally speaking, when officials arrest someone, they tend to be loud and boisterous, while the person being apprehended usually appears dejected and downcast, resembling someone mourning a loss. However, Sun Dan walks with a swagger, almost as if he is on his way to a banquet. Passersby find it amusing and begin to whisper and point as they observe the scene.
Sun Dan observed the figure in the illustration and secretly nodded. This water chief, after all, is an official, yet he appears modest and cautious, resembling a person of substance, possessing the qualities of a seasoned politician from later generations. This individual is not as simple as he seems on the surface. He appears harmless, yet to attain the position of chief constable in this county, he must have his own means. If one wishes to navigate this small place in the future, it would be worthwhile to befriend such a person. He appears harmless, yet to attain the position of chief constable in this county, he must have his own means. If one wishes to navigate this small place in the future, it would be worthwhile to befriend such a person
Now, the key issue is how to deceive the members of the Huichang Marquis Sun's family, making them acknowledge this impoverished relative.
Looking back, amidst the surging crowd behind me, the graceful figure of the branch lady appeared and disappeared in the throng.
This incident reflects the status of the Sun family in the eyes of the emperor
However, as for future matters, it is best to wait until this hurdle is crossed. Although I have managed to deceive these two by claiming to be a member of the family of the Marquis of Huichang based on my memories from later times, the county magistrate will certainly seek to verify this with the people from the Marquis of Huichang's household. At that point, whether I can handle the Sun family remains to be seen. If I am exposed then, it is likely to lead to significant trouble
As stated in "The Fifteenth Year of Wanli," this economic relationship has been elevated to an abstract moral principle
After all, everyone shares the surname Sun and has a blood relationship. Although it may be somewhat distant, we are still family at the end of the day, and this fact cannot be denied
"Why are you walking so fast, are you in a hurry to be reincarnated?" Lao Si muttered from behind.
The little emperor's uncle, Sun Taohou's brother Sun Jizong, also served as an official in the Ming Dynasty and was granted the title of Marquis of Huichang
However, in essence, this is still a matter of economic interests
However, when faced with such situations, one cannot simply do nothing and wait passively.
I wonder if the Sun family of the Marquis of Huichang is willing to acknowledge this distant poor relative.
Regardless of the era, dedicating oneself to studying full-time is a significant expenditure, often requiring the simultaneous contribution of the entire family. Moreover, this investment may span several generations.
Upon arriving at the yamen, County Magistrate Zhang was not present due to his earlier inspection following the sandstorm. The water captain had no choice but to personally seek out Magistrate Zhang, while also dispatching someone to the Huichang Marquis's residence to report the matter and request their presence for questioning. Subsequently, Sun Dan was placed in the county yamen's signing room. This matter could not be solely based on Sun Dan's account; it was indeed necessary to gather all three parties together to clarify the situation.
The matter concerning Sun Dan and the family of the Marquis of Huichang is neither trivial nor significant. If one were to downplay it, it is merely the capture of a laborer to be sent to the front lines; recently, Zouping has dispatched over a thousand men to the southern front. However, Zouping County is a major county under Jinan Prefecture, a prosperous and fertile land. Over the course of more than 150 years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, peace has prevailed across the realm, and the people of Zouping are not lacking in money, with most opting to pay in cash to avoid labor service. The military is also willing to extract silver from the localities to purchase provisions and recruit laborers on the spot in Jiangnan. If one were to escalate the situation, should Sun Dan indeed be a member of the Sun family of the Marquis of Huichang, he would inherently enjoy the policies of exemption from rent and labor. If he were to be arbitrarily seized, it would be a provocation against the Sun family, and should the Marquis of Huichang be truly angered, the situation could become quite dire.
Feeling annoyed at being watched by others, the fourth brother glared fiercely around with his round, bulging eyes.
This is the clan system of the feudal society, the grassroots organization of the ruling class
The yamen is not far, merely a little over a mile from where Sun Dan resides, a distance of three streets. In Sun Dan's impression, the street where the county yamen is located is called Yamenkou.
The act of embezzling official lands was considered a grave offense during the Ming Dynasty, as these lands were the emperor's personal property. To reach into the emperor's pocket was naturally an unforgivable crime. At that time, Zhang Mao, the Duke of England, and Zhang Jin, the Marquis of Taiping, who conspired with Sun Jizong against the emperor, were arrested by the Jinyiwei, imprisoned, and their families were exiled. As for the Sun family, the emperor merely stripped a few subordinates of Sun Jizong of their official positions, hastily concluded the case, and then adopted a stance of ignorance, pretending to be muddled. After all, he was his own uncle, and it was indeed difficult to take decisive action.
On the surface, the Incident of the Seizing of the Door was attributed to Xu Youzhen, but behind the scenes, it was orchestrated by Sun Jizong.
Sun Dan strode ahead with an air of confidence, walking with a certain elegance, while the water catcher and the fourth constable trailed behind, running along and appearing like two attendants, which amused Sun Dan somewhat. A person who is fearless naturally possesses an indescribable demeanor, and their mood becomes naturally pleasant. The saying goes, one first humiliates oneself before being humiliated by others. In this life, even if one cannot live as freely and casually as in a previous life, one must at least live with dignity and cannot allow oneself to be humiliated. A person who is fearless naturally possesses an indescribable demeanor, and their mood becomes naturally pleasant. The saying goes, one first humiliates oneself before being humiliated by others. In this life, even if one cannot live as freely and casually as in a previous life, one must at least live with dignity and cannot allow oneself to be humiliated.
Moreover, relying on their status as relatives by marriage, the Sun family acted with arrogance, daring to engage in all sorts of reckless and audacious deeds
When it comes to the prominent families and noble clans of the Ming Dynasty, there were indeed quite a few during its founding period. For instance, the Chang family, the Lan family, the Tang family, and the Liu family from Qingtian. However, Zhu Yuanzhang executed many of his meritorious officials, leading to a significant loss of the founding generals and ministers, and many prominent families also vanished from the annals of history. After the Tumu Fortress Incident, the noble families accompanying Emperor Yingzong on his northern expedition suffered heavy casualties, and the once illustrious clans of the Ming Dynasty, which had flourished at the beginning of its establishment, ultimately faded away, with barely one in ten remaining.
After the restoration of Emperor Ying, Sun Jizong, as the maternal uncle, was naturally reinstated. He was promoted to the position of Chief Minister of the Cabinet, overseeing military affairs in the five military camps and concurrently managing the affairs of the Rear Military Governor's Office. In this way, Sun Jizong held significant military and political power, rightfully earning the title of the foremost figure in the Ming Dynasty.
Emperor Xuande passed away at the age of thirty-seven, and the throne was inherited by the seven-year-old Ming Yingzong, Zhu Qizhen, who was the instigator of the Tumu Fortress Incident. As the mother of the young emperor, Empress Dowager Sun resided in the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
The water collector, still wearing a broad smile, greeted each of the neighbors one by one, occasionally exchanging a few words.
With a quiet bitter smile, Sun Dan almost let out a long sigh: In my previous life, I conducted myself and my affairs with a clear conscience, loved learning since childhood, respected my parents, and was diligent in my duties. After starting work, I neither flattered my superiors nor bullied my subordinates, and I was a qualified civil servant. How did I end up facing such a misfortune as time travel?
In ancient times, people placed great importance on clan and kinship. Once the head of a prominent family achieved distinction, distant relatives would feel obligated to seek assistance, regardless of how far removed they were. This obligation was not temporary, nor merely a moral duty; it was rooted in profound socio-economic contexts.
When it comes to the foremost family of the Ming Dynasty, in a certain sense, the Sun family is the most powerful branch.
The Sun family of Zouping also took the opportunity to soar to great heights, with the brothers Sun Jizong being conferred as marquises, and over twenty descendants of the Sun family attaining high-ranking official positions of fifth grade or above
More than fifty years have passed since the reign of Emperor Yingzong, yet when it comes to familial ties, the current Emperor Zhengde can still be considered a relative of the Sun family. Even though the Sun family has seen a decline in influence in recent years, it remains the foremost clan in the realm, not something a mere county magistrate of Zou Ping can provoke.