Although Zhu Yuanzhang only said that he wanted to hear what the Ministry of Rites said, he also said before that because it was his birthday, he didn't want to go on a killing spree.
In other words, if there is no sure solution after three days, someone will die!
Li Shanchang complained endlessly when the civet cat was replaced by the prince, which caused so much trouble. Moreover, since the alliance with Zhang Ximeng collapsed, Lao Li felt that he was unable to do what he wanted and felt even more difficult.
Both Jiang Nan's commercial department and this incident were beyond Lao Li's control.
He had no choice but to summon Tao Kai, the Minister of Rites, and Yang Xunwen, the Left Minister, and several officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Hanlin Academy the next day to discuss the matter together.
"Li Xiang, to be honest, we were really wronged. We didn't know about the civet cat changing the prince's drama. You said that the low-level officials are all court officials after all, how could they get mixed up with a group of actors!"
"Shut up!" Li Shan shouted, then glared at Tao Kai angrily and sneered: "You have just been transferred back from Shanxi. Judging from your appearance, practicing outside is of no use at all. Get out of the Ministry of Etiquette now. Don't do it."
Stay here!"
Lao Li showed off his power and scared Tao Kai to death. What on earth did he do wrong?
It doesn't make sense. Why is Mr. Li so angry?
Li Shanchang was really speechless when he looked at this thing that he still hadn't realized yet.
"Go and invite Shangshu Jiang over!"
There is only one Shangshu named Jiang in Zhongshu Province. Please invite her over?
Let a young woman teach us grown men how to do things?
Li Shanchang was so angry that he wanted to beat someone. If he didn't go to invite Jiang Nan, why should he ask me to go and beg Zhang Ximeng? Wouldn't that be even more shameless?
After a while, Jiang Nan came as expected, and after listening to Li Shanchang's words, Jiang Nan immediately said without any hesitation: "Ms. Li, when His Majesty raised the army, he asked Wu Tiju to choreograph and perform operas and perform on the stage very early. More than ten people
Years ago, we made it clear that the actors in the drama also have military status and will be treated as favorably as lieutenants and generals in the army."
"I decided to do this because this publicity is very important and cannot be careless." Jiang Nan said seriously.
Tao Kai was stunned for a moment and then said: "Jiang Shangshu is right. But now, ten years after the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the country is stable, the people are prosperous, and the world is in great rule. It is like the prosperous Ming Dynasty! At this moment, there is a distinction between high and low, and the officials of the court are different.
, how can you disregard your face and associate with those actors?"
Jiang Nan chuckled lightly, "Yes, actors are low-class, and they are not worthy of sitting in the court together with the officials. Treat them as if they are used and throw them away without taking them seriously... That's it. I'm tired too. Say goodbye!"
Jiang Nan stood up to leave, but Li Shanchang was so frightened that he quickly stopped him, "Jiang Shangshu, please don't misunderstand me. Tao Shangshu is too popular as a scholar. I will definitely teach him a lesson when I turn around. Now I ask Jiang Shangshu for advice on what to do."
That’s good!”
Jiang Nan laughed and laughed, "I think the habit of scholar-bureaucrats is too strong! I really have nothing to advise Mr. Li. If Mr. Li is willing, he can invite Mr. Liu or Mr. Qian to come over and discuss this matter."
After Jiang Nan said this, he stood up and left, not even bothering to waste another second.
Even though the Ming Dynasty was founded more than ten years ago, Zhang Ximeng has been busy talking about changing customs for so many years. To say that it has no effect is still nonsense. After all, it has no effect. How can Jiang Nan sit on the throne of minister?
Moreover, like Di Qing, she was not attacked and expelled from the court, which shows that Zhang Ximeng's hard work has not been in vain.
But to say that from now on, the world will change drastically, old habits will disappear, and everyone will change their views, and the Ming Dynasty will become new from head to toe... That is even more of a dream!
What is especially ironic is that the higher the official position, the more powerful it is, especially the more noble yamen such as the Ministry of Rites, the Imperial College, and the Hanlin Academy, the more difficult it is to transform.
We are all serious disciples of Confucius and Mencius. Even if we suffer temporary setbacks, sooner or later we will see the light of day. If nothing else, how old is Zhang Ximeng this year?
Let us convert to his disciples and call ourselves disciples of the Zhang family?
What are you thinking about?
Even if a knife is pressed against our necks, we are still dissatisfied!
That is to say, if an unscrupulous warrior like Mao Gui can be shameless, real scholars like us will never bow our heads!
Li Shanchang had long seen through the bezoar and dog treasures of these people. It was a dream to expect the Ministry of Rites to come up with any plan! Moreover, Li Shanchang heard a clue from Zhu Yuanzhang's words.
Lao Zhu said that just like the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Rites should be completely reformed.
Maybe in three days, if no suitable plan can be come up with, the Ministry of Rites will be wiped out.
Faced with this situation, Li Shanchang was really helpless.
A Ministry of Commerce is terrible. If there is another ministry, the little authority I have in Zhongshu Province will be gone. By then, Zhongshu Province will become a subordinate province.
Lao Li was full of anger and helpless.
He finally thought about it and decided to invite Qian Tang over.
Without him, after Qian Tang went north to Yanshan, he participated in revising the history of the Song Dynasty and wrote several good articles, which were highly appreciated by Zhang Ximeng and Zhu Yuanzhang.
He is the kind of person who is more able to figure out what is going on. Jiang Nan also said that Qian Tang was available, so Li Shanchang had no choice but to invite Qian Tang over.
Qian Tang came over quickly. After briefly explaining the situation, Qian Tang immediately said: "Prime Minister Li, let's call it a humble position. Since Wu Tiju went to Liangzhou, the imperial court has not been able to compose operas, explain national affairs, and serve the imperial court."
He is the one doing the propaganda. Now we should make up for it as soon as possible, and we must have something from the imperial court."
Li Shanchang smiled helplessly, "You said that this old man has also thought about it, but there is no one in the court who can do this. Do you want to call Wu Datou back?"
Qian Tang immediately shook his head, "Xiangong Li, Governor Feng and the others set out to the Western Regions with the intention of drilling through and restoring their old territory. The burden on Wu Tiju and the others is not light. And if the Ming Dynasty is so large, only Wu Tiju can be used.
That thing will never succeed!"
Li Shanchang sighed helplessly, "What you said is certainly reasonable, but there is really no suitable candidate at the moment... Do you have any ideas?"
Qian Tang paused and said, "Xiangong Li, it's not that the official is unwilling to take on the responsibility, it's just that the official is really not good at it... If anyone is more suitable, the official boldly proposes that Luo Guanzhong be responsible for this matter."
"He!"
Li Shanchang thought about it for a moment, and realized that this person could write novels. He was just fooled by Zhang Ximeng back then. Could this person be able to write novels?
Li Shanchang thought about it again, and it seemed that there was nothing wrong with it. After all, it was different now. When he was fooled by Zhang Ximeng, he had fought against Zhang Xiao. Even if he lost, it would be an honor!
"In that case, give him a chance!"
Li Shanchang thought for a moment and asked, "Qian Tang, do you think this is enough to make up for it?"
Qian Tang laughed loudly, "Li Xiang, where are we now? There are still too many things to do! Your Majesty blames the Ministry of Rites. It is really their own fault! No one else can be blamed."
This was said very rudely, especially for Qian Tang, who was in such a low position, and it was a bit rebellious. If it weren't for the current situation, Lao Li would have wanted to kick him out as a crazy student!
"Then you might as well tell me what should be done?"
Qian Tang said: "Prime Minister Li, the Ministry of Rites is in charge of education and is responsible for the establishment of schools... Ever since His Majesty entered Jinling, he has allocated huge sums of money to vigorously develop schools! For so many years, since Li Xi and Li Shangshu, the Ministry of Rites has only allocated funds and only issued funds.
Money has no education. The Ministry of Rites is just the money bag of each school, and the Minister of Rites has become the steward. Does this make sense?"
Li Shanchang was startled, but it made sense. Apart from the unpleasant tone, this was actually the case.
"What about other than that?" Li Shanchang asked, "Are there any shortcomings?"
"Of course there is. The Ministry of Rites is also responsible for sacrifices. For such a big thing, who should be sacrificed and who should be praised? Can't the Ministry of Rites have a list? For example, Bao Zheng, although this person is an upright official, he is a bunch of bastards in the Great Song Dynasty.
Among them, it is considered good. But how many days has Bao Zheng been the governor of Kaifeng? He has been an official for a long time, and he has been an admonisher. Such a person can be praised. What about those famous ministers who saved the country through reforms? What about those famous officials who saved the country with reforms?
How do you count if you try your best to expand the soil?"
"Integrity and honesty are what Confucianism advocates. In our Ming Dynasty, officials must be honest, but they must also make a difference. They must contribute to a strong country! If the country is not strong, the officials will lose face!"
Qian Tang talked eloquently, and what he was talking about was his idea of strengthening the country.
Li Shanchang thought about it and could only agree.
Basically, the Ministry of Rites has four missions, one of which is education. In the Ming Dynasty, it was to establish schools, which was said to be worthless by Qian Tang.
The second is foreign exchanges. The Ministry of Rites is responsible for handling the affairs of the vassal state. This item was abolished a long time ago, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was established separately.
The third one is the Spring and Autumn Sacrifice. Needless to say, this was also refuted by Qian Tang.
The last thing left is fine dining, which means that whenever there is an important occasion, such as Zhu Yuanzhang's birthday, a banquet needs to be held, and the etiquette department needs to coordinate.
To put it bluntly, it’s just eating!
This is the only dispensable content left in the dignified Ministry of Rites. Li Shanchang couldn't help but laugh, "According to this, it seems that the Ministry of Rites can be abolished!"
Qian Tang hurriedly bowed and said: "In reply to Prime Minister Li, the Ministry of Rites cannot be abolished, but the things done by the Ministry of Rites need to be changed."
"How to turn it around?" Li Shanchang asked curiously.
"Back to Prime Minister Li, in the past the Ministry of Rites was to select talents for the Lord, but now the Ministry of Rites needs to educate talents for the country. In the past, the Ministry of Rites was to offer sacrifices to the Heavenly Family, but now the Ministry of Rites is to offer sacrifices to the people, in order to educate the people and win people's hearts."
Qian Tang said: "The education of rituals and music, speaking of it, the Ministry of Rites in the past relied on this set of things to restrain the emperor and share the world with the king and father. The current Ministry of Rites should be to rectify people's hearts and protect the foundation of the country! Instead of focusing on causing trouble for His Majesty, why not
You should assist Your Majesty and govern the people!"
Li Shanda was shocked. Qian Tang's insights in these few words far exceeded his expectations.
Qian Tang seems to have explained a question: Why is the Ministry of Rites always on the verge of committing suicide and always confronting Zhu Yuanzhang?
There is no way, this yamen is responsible for national rituals and sacrifices... This thing has little restraint on ordinary people. To put it bluntly, from the beginning, the Ministry of Rites was designed for the royal family.
It implicitly means restraining the emperor by etiquette, such as the famous Great Ceremony...
That’s the original intention, it would be weird if we don’t add any obstacles!
Li Shanchang couldn't help but sigh, "If you say so, the Ministry of Rites really needs to do something!"