At present, for Ming Dynasty, the social effect of Di Bao is far greater than its economic effect.
In other places, due to distance, the spread was much slower. Zhu Ying did not hastily arrange for each province to launch a Di newspaper immediately.
If you cannot control the gun of public opinion in your own hands, then you are asking for trouble.
I'd rather go slower than lose control.
Zhu Ying is very young, too young. He has plenty of time to build his ideal Ming Dynasty.
It had only been seven days since the news broke up in Di, and the Spring Imperial Examination in the capital finally began.
The imperial examinations in the Ming Dynasty were divided into three levels: rural examination, general examination and palace examination.
The rural examination is a local examination held by the southern and northern Zhili and various chief ministers.
The examination is a national examination hosted by the Ministry of Rites, also known as Li Wei and Chun Wei.
Zhu Ying is currently presiding over the examination.
The examination is divided into three sessions, one held every three days.
Because this time it was Enke, the specific time was a little different from the past.
Students who took part in the imperial examination would wait in the capital for notification.
"The environment in this Gongyuan is really bad. Being able to pass the exam from this place is quite a feat."
Zhu Ying inspected the Imperial Examination Gongyuan and sighed.
There are tens of thousands of single rooms here, also called houses, five feet long, four feet wide and eight feet high, like a cage.
During the three exams, each lasting three days, for nine days and six nights, the candidates could only stay in this small cage, eating, drinking, and defecating.
The imperial examination has not started yet, so there is almost no smell.
Zhu Ying could completely imagine what the scene would be like in nine days.
The Ministry of Rites is mainly responsible for organizing the examination, but now that the Minister of Rites is vacant, the left and right ministers of the Ministry of Rites are in charge.
Examiners are usually from the Hanlin Academy.
After all, the Hanlin Academy represents the highest academic institution in the Ming Dynasty.
Soon, at Zhu Ying's signal, the gate of Gongyuan was opened, and tens of thousands of candidates filed in after being searched.
Find the corresponding number house according to your number plate.
"Your Highness Taisun, can we begin?"
The left servant of Tobe asked with a smile on his face.
Zhu Yingdao: "It is human nature to eat, drink, and defecate. I heard that during the Gongyuan examination, if a student goes to the toilet, a shit stamp will be stamped on the exam. Is this true?"
The left minister of the Household Department did not dare to hide it: "Reporting to Your Highness, this is indeed the case."
Zhu Yingdao: "From now on, students will be accompanied by guards when going to the toilet. When they come back, there will no longer be stamps such as shit stamps on the papers."
"The shit stamps here in Gongyuan will be discarded from now on. You all understand."
The ministers on the left and right, as well as the examiners from the Hanlin Academy, immediately stood up and bowed to each other: "I sincerely obey the order of His Majesty Taisun."
Zhu Ying nodded and told Guo Zhong: "Go and send the order."
Guo Zhong bowed and said: "Old slave, obey the order."
Then he winked at the few young eunuchs next to him, and they began to run away and stood in several areas of the Gongyuan.
When Guo Zhong saw that the little eunuchs were ready, he loudly said:
"I have received an order from Your Majesty Taisun. From now on, students are not allowed to use poop stamps when using the toilet!"
!”
As Guo Zhong's voice sounded, the second young eunuch immediately began to repeat and shout.
Then the third, then the fourth.
Spread throughout the entire Gongyuan.
Upon hearing this order, all the candidates immediately became excited, and some candidates even turned red.
They had all passed the provincial examination, so they naturally understood how uncomfortable it was to go to the toilet during the imperial examination.
The vast majority of candidates have already started to stop eating before taking the scientific examination in order not to use the toilet.
If the family is poor, they only need Qingshui Steamed Buns. At most, they can only bring a few steamed buns with them, as long as they don't starve to death.
If you are richer, you can take a ginseng root. If you are really hungry, you can take a bite of it.
Often after three exams are completed, all candidates will have to die half their lives.
It has long been the norm for people to fall into coma due to physical weakness during the imperial examination.
What is the difference between His Highness Taisun's order and saving lives?
After the edict was read out, a voice rang out: "Thank you, His Highness Taisun, for your grace!"
As this voice sounded, all the students in the Gongyuan Academy shouted together: "Thank you, His Highness Taisun, for your grace!"
The Gongyuan examination room was right by the Qinhuai River. The shouts of tens of thousands of people, even if they were not uniform, were enough to cause a sensation in Qinhuai.
"What's going on? Why are there such shouts?"
"Don't you understand? It must be His Majesty the Grand Sun who shows mercy."
"I don't know what kind of kindness it is, why these students are so excited."
"Don't think too much about it. Such a big event will be published in the newspaper in the next two days. We will know by then."
The students were very excited. Even after they got the question papers, it took a long time to calm down.
But as far as the exam is concerned, there is no shortage of time at all.
Of the three exams, only the first one is really valued, which tests the classics and meaning.
The so-called meaning of the classics refers to the Four Books and Five Classics.
In fact, there is a misunderstanding here. It does not mean that every student must master all the Four Books and Five Classics. During the exam, he can choose his own classics.
The so-called "Bi Jing" refers to determining a classic from the Five Classics "Book of Songs", "Shang Shu", "Book of Rites", "Book of Changes", and "Spring and Autumn" as the direction of their examination. Students only need to do the four questions above.
The meaning of the following four books is based on the answers to three questions from the four New Confucian classics: "The Analects", "Mencius", "The Doctrine of the Mean" and "The Great Learning".
Therefore, the examiner prepares twenty-three questions, and students only need to take seven questions.
Zhu Ying is just here for a formality, and his status as grandson does not allow him to stay here forever.
Before leaving, Zhu Ying told the left and right ministers of the Ministry of Household Affairs: "Every student here may be our future minister, minister, or parent official of this place."
"The imperial examinations were used to select talents, but they were used to torture them."
"I will send an order to Guanglu Temple to prepare dinner for all students today, including two meals for tomorrow."
"You'll have to worry about it then."
When the ministers on the left and right heard this, they did not dare to say anything more. They could only bow and bow: "I sincerely comply with the order of Your Majesty Taisun."
...
Zhu Ying's reform of Gongyuan was published in the Capital Newspaper on the third day.
Taisun's reputation for kindness resounded throughout the capital.
Whether they were students who had not yet taken the imperial examination or officials who had considered the imperial examination to become officials, they all praised His Highness Taisun's move.
These two actions made all the students feel the concern of His Royal Highness.
"You are a benevolent and wise king, you are a benevolent and wise king. Why worry about my Ming Dynasty not being prosperous?"
"His Royal Highness Taisun is righteous, has a heavenly heart, and cares for the people."
In less than half a day, all the literati were writing poems and odes to His Highness Taisun.
"Da Sun's move was really instant. We used to be too worried that Da Sun might be resisted by the literati. After this happened, the literati all over the world praised Da Sun so much that they all came back to their hearts."
Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile.
The aftermath of the rumors has not disappeared until now.
Although no one talks about this topic here in the capital, it is actually widely spread in other parts of the Ming Dynasty.
Even if it is prohibited by government order, it cannot stop the spreading of it by people who are interested.
In today's society, are businessmen the main target of communication?
No, he is a scholar.
The propaganda of businessmen is really like a younger brother in front of literati.
Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to see that all the unfavorable remarks about Da Sun were completely shattered after this imperial examination.
"Grandpa was so impressed. My grandson just came to Nagongyuan. After hearing about some of the rules and regulations regarding the scientific examination, he felt that they were too strict for the students."
"The imperial examination is like a carp leaping over a dragon's gate for students. Especially for students from poor families, it is the only way to change their destiny."
"These students from poor families study all night long, their limbs are not diligent, they cannot separate grains, and their bodies are very weak."
"This man, if he is extremely hungry, he will not have any ideas. It is not easy for us to select some talented people. It would be a pity if some people with outstanding talents lose their reputation because of this."
"After taking the imperial examination and becoming an official, one's achievements are no longer achieved overnight, but are achievements accumulated over several years."
"My grandson just hopes that these students who want to serve the country can fully utilize their talents."
Zhu Ying's tone was very serious, this was what he really thought in his heart.
In fact, if you think about it from another angle, in Zhu Ying's opinion, the current Ming Dynasty can be described as thirsty for talents.
The purpose is also very simple, that is, to gradually narrow or even close the recommendation from official positions.
Only in this way can the existence of cliques be less absolute.
During the middle and late Ming Dynasty, as long as you knew some writing and showed filial piety, you could be recommended as an official. On the contrary, the imperial examination was despised. This method of selecting talents would only accelerate the collapse of a dynasty.
Although Zhu Ying is already thinking of ways to popularize education, as the saying goes, it takes ten years to grow trees and a hundred years to cultivate people.
It will take at least two or three years for students in today's schools to be able to truly read and write.
It would take ten or eight years to completely get rid of illiteracy as defined by the current Ming Dynasty situation.
Among them, there are even fewer who can really be used by the court and Zhu Ying.
It is currently foreseeable that the talents that Zhu Ying can use in the next five, six, or even ten years are the current group of students who have been studying hard for a long time.
This is why Zhu Yinghui directly announced reform measures for Gongyuan, which was to show kindness to students.
If you want to change a student's views and thinking, the most effective thing is not the reform of the imperial examination, or the compilation of classics.
The fastest and most effective way is to make students worship themselves.
This method is actually similar to that of fans of later generations of celebrities, when students recognize their grandson from the bottom of their hearts.
Even if students don't understand many things, they will choose to support them without reason.
When you have an ideological leader, it becomes much easier to get things done.
...
The imperial examination soon ended amid discussions.
With the end of the imperial examination, each of these tens of thousands of students who have enjoyed the grace of Taisun in the Gongyuan is Zhu Ying's best propaganda.
When they started chatting with their former classmates, they were all talking about their great-grandson.
"I don't want to create a personality cult, but in this world, what can I do?"
Zhu Ying expressed her helplessness.
With the end of the imperial examination and a few days before the results were released, a piece of news began to spread rapidly through the Beijing News.
The Capital Military Academy was officially established.
From now on, the first batch of students will be admitted nationwide.
The deadline is August 18th.
It is planned to enroll 800 people. His Majesty will be the dean, His Highness the Grand Sun will be the vice-dean, and the teachers will be distinguished military generals at all levels, commanders and envoys.
Outstanding students can be awarded the title of Dunwu School Captain upon graduation.
Note: Those who are literate and have meritorious status will be given priority in admission.
As soon as this news came out, the capital, which had just been in a state of excitement, became excited again.
The storytellers in various teahouses explained the news in many ways, including the responsibilities, powers, and preferential treatment of Lieutenant Dunwu in detail.
Even an ordinary citizen knows how rare this opportunity is.
"It's a pity that this time the military academy only accepts students over the age of sixteen and under thirty, otherwise I could have tried."
"Come on, I'm not joining the army as a pampered official, but I'm actually going to fight."
"It's natural. If you continue to serve at the age of fifty or sixty, you will probably start to retire before you are trained. According to the regulations a few days ago, sergeants will also have to retire when they reach sixty."
"I'm already sixty, and I'm still fighting. There's nothing I can do."
The people are obviously quite yearning for this matter, and some strong young people are eager to try it.
Since the retirement regulations for sergeants were finalized, people suddenly discovered that joining the army is also a good choice.
And because of the previous turmoil in the Gongyuan Academy, many students were also shaken in their hearts.
"Brother Li, if we fail the imperial examination this time, how about we go to the Military Academy together."
"Brother Cheng, I think so too, but with our weak bodies, can we do it?"
"I don't think it's possible. Besides, the body can be exercised. Exercise is at least faster than studying. The newspaper clearly states that those with meritorious status and literacy will be given priority. We are all talented people, so we all have greater opportunities.
."
"Brother Cheng is right. If you wait a few days, I'm afraid he will have a lot of similar ideas to us. When the list comes down, if you fail the list, it might as well be a place to go."
"In my opinion, His Highness Taisun is now not only rectifying the civil affairs, but also paying more attention to the military. I heard a few days ago that in order to rectify military discipline and maintain the image of sergeants, the conscription of prisoners into the army has been cancelled."
The transfer of prisoners into the army is undoubtedly an important reason for lowering the image of the army.
Since the abolition of the consignment of criminals to the army was published in the Di newspaper, coupled with the continuous promotion of the strategy of elite soldiers, most people's stereotypes about the Ming army have been changed.
Three days later, the imperial examination list was announced.
Naturally, some people are happy and some are sad.
After the general examination, there is the palace examination, which has nothing to do with the person who failed.
However, on the day the results were released, an article quickly spread throughout the capital.
A certain person at the top of the list actually gave up the imperial examination and applied for the Capital Military Academy instead.