Chapter 153: Leave the little one behind and take care of the big one
Similarly, there were some reasons that Zhu Yuanzhang did not tell this little palace guard.【】
If the imperial court persists in this kind of inequality that seems to be equal, and injustice that seems to be just, even if the northerners are willing to endure it and will not rebel, it will inevitably lead to a political situation in which the southern scholars dominate.
Southerners not only developed economically and culturally and cultivated more students, but the actual framers of the imperial examination in the Ming Dynasty were Liu Ji and Song Lian, the "Four Sons from Eastern Zhejiang". Their examination specifications, examination scope, and examination requirements were more suitable for students from Jiangnan.
.Every time a subject is opened, students from the south are naturally "familiar" with it.
After taking the imperial examination, you will become an official, and the pattern of imperial power in the south and the north is taking shape. Nowadays, students from the south have an increasing advantage in all previous imperial examinations. In addition to competing for the few places in the imperial examination, the students from the north can only pass the imperial examination.
, recommendation and other non-imperial examination methods to become an official. Once they become an official, because of the small number of people and their irregular background, they are also suppressed and discriminated against in the officialdom.
They all say they are loyal to the emperor, but no matter how loyal they are to the emperor, they are not morally flawless saints. How can they not take care of their fellow villagers and those who are related to them? The relationship between teachers and students of southern officials and the relationship between fellow villagers is intertwined, and cliques are formed.
It is inevitable that they will eventually become cliques. This is extremely detrimental to the country. In order to insist on the equality and fairness of the examination, it destroys the stability of the country. This is something Zhu Yuanzhang cannot tolerate.
What is the real purpose of the imperial examination? It is to win over scholars from all over the world to serve the imperial court. How can we put the cart before the horse for the sake of so-called fairness and let the imperial examination become the source of provoking confrontation between the north and the south and causing chaos in the world?
As a far-sighted politician, Zhu Yuanzhang's considerations are clear, correct, and wise. Unfortunately, those nerds are not at this level, or even if they are there, they are unmoved and will not deny it due to any external reasons.
The "Tao" in their hearts. Nothing in the world is immortal. A dynasty also has its moments of destruction, but the "Tao" in their hearts is eternal and immortal.
After hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, Xia Xun couldn't help but be moved by his good intentions, and couldn't help but say: "What the emperor said is that those who don't plan for the overall situation can't plan for a region, and those who don't plan for the eternity can't plan for a moment.
Any great way, if it cannot bring benefits to all people, is just a foolish and useless way."
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up and he sighed: "If you don't plan for the overall situation, you can't plan for a region; if you don't plan for the world, you can't plan for a moment. Good! That's good! The elites gathered in the imperial court are not as knowledgeable as you, a mere imperial guard.
!”
"The grandson of the emperor has arrived"
"Deng Keng, the imperial envoy of the Imperial Procuratorate and the capital, has arrived."
"Zheng Yi, Minister of Rites, arrives"
"The Minister of Punishment has suddenly arrived"
After several roll calls, Zhu Yuanzhang, who was still not interested in making any progress, suppressed his smile, nodded to Xia Xun, and said pleasantly: "Please step back." Then he said to the waiter: "Xuan!"
"The grandson of Emperor Xuan, Deng Keng, Zheng Yi, Bao Zhao, come to see you"
Xia Xun hurriedly stepped back. Cheng Jinyu, who was standing on the right side of the door, looked at him enviously and wanted to ask him what the emperor had said to him. Unfortunately, they did not dare to whisper to each other while standing here, so they had to stand upright.
The emperor's grandson and others entered one after another, and Xia Xun saw the future Emperor Jian for the first time. He was handsome and elegant, and his every move was full of elegance, and he also had a graceful and elegant demeanor.
"Here you are, grandson, sit down next to your grandfather."
Zhu Yuanzhang and Xia Xun had just complained, and their anger was not so strong. When they saw the emperor's pleasant expression, they secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Zhu Yun followed his words and sat down on the brocade pier beside Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang said to Zhu Yun: "You must already know what happened in the court today. What do you think we should do now?"
Zhu Yun thought about it for a while, then plucked up the courage to say: "My grandson thinks that Liu Sanwu and Zhang Xin are right! The imperial court selects scholars based on just one chapter. This is the most fair thing. Since there is no personal violation of the law in examining the examination,
, then we should tell the world that the list is correct."
Zhu Yuanzhang's face sank when he heard this: "Opening a subject to recruit scholars? Why does the imperial court open a subject to recruit scholars? Isn't it ridiculous to recruit scholars just for the sake of recruiting scholars and forget the purpose of recruiting scholars? Yes, with such a look, you can only do
How can a qualified Confucian scholar become a qualified emperor?"
This was a very serious criticism. Zhu Yun hurriedly left his seat, bowed down in the tunnel and said: "My grandson is ignorant, please give me some advice from the emperor's grandfather."
"Sit down!" Zhu Yuanzhang pointed to his seat unhappily, then turned to Deng Keng, the imperial envoy of the Imperial Procuratorate, and asked: "Deng Qing, what are you doing?"
Deng Keng has always been upright, jealous of evil, and does not follow personal interests. In March of this year, Ouyang Lun, the prince-in-law of Zhu Yuanzhang's beloved daughter Princess Anqing, took the opportunity to send more than 100,000 kilograms of illegal tea out of the country on behalf of the emperor when he was sent to Shaanxi.
Tea is smuggled out of the country.
According to the law of the Ming Dynasty, anyone who sells private tea out of the country or fails to check the pass will be punished. There is a folk song spread throughout the city of Xi'an that goes: "The prince-in-law's carriage is hidden in the private tea; the yamen protects and the officials guard each other; when the prince breaks the law, the common people are guilty; once the case is reported
, Use stolen goods to catch ghosts." However, because he was the emperor's uncle, all the military officials in the court pretended to be deaf and dumb. Only Deng Keng stepped forward to impeach Ouyang Lun.
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard the news, he was furious and ordered Ouyang Lun to be put to death. Others related to him were punished as they should be. Deng Keng's reputation for integrity became famous throughout the world, and he began to be appreciated and reused by Zhu Yuanzhang.
However, although Deng Keng was not afraid of power in his illegal impeachment, he was very scratching his head about this case. It was now clear that Liu Sanwu and other examiners did not bend the law for personal gain and should not be punished. However, if Ding Chou's examination case cannot satisfy the northern magistrates and northern officials,
It is bound to cause even greater trouble.
The imperial examination has almost become the only way out for scholars. Thousands of troops and horses cross the single-plank bridge. If this bad case is not resolved to the satisfaction of all parties, what will happen to the scholars in the north and the gentry, landlords and local celebrities behind these scholars?
, everything will be offended. Whether the world can be stable or not is another matter. This is not Deng Keng's strong point.
He hesitated for a moment and replied: "Your Majesty, I think that we may send officials to review the matter again."
Zhu Yuanzhang sneered: "Retrial? When will the trial last? Zheng Yi, tell me!"
Zheng Yi's career as an official is somewhat legendary. Because his reputation reached the ears of the emperor, he was promoted to the capital in an exceptional manner, and was promoted from his white-clothed status to the position of Minister of Rites.
He is from Pujiang, and his family has not been separated for more than 300 years from the Song Dynasty to the present. He is known as "Yimen" and has a family of more than a thousand people. They are well-organized, love each other, live in harmony, and have few disputes.
, Zhu Yuanzhang personally gave him the plaque "Xiaoyi Family". It was because of this that Zheng Yi rose to the top and became the Minister of Rites.
The Minister of Rites did not like being an official at all and did not get involved in court affairs. When the emperor asked him, he bowed and replied: "Your Majesty, students from the north are less talented than students from the south. This is an indisputable fact. But the north
If students are less knowledgeable, the court should encourage and promote them. If they are ignored, the northern religion will inevitably deteriorate. Governing a country is like governing a family. The weak and poor tribesmen should be supported and helped so that they can catch up with other families.
How can you, my brother, despise oppression and ignore it?"
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he couldn't help but nodded repeatedly and said happily: "What Ai Qing said is reasonable. In the whole world, is it the land of the king? Is it the land of the king? Is it the ministers of the king? No matter whether they are from the south or the north, they are all my subjects. As king
My father is like the elders of a family. Whichever descendant is poorer and weaker, they all want to support and help them more. How can they just leave him alone just because he has no future? Does Zheng Qing have any good ideas? "
Zheng Yi said: "Speaking of the north, not all places are weak in education. Shandong and Shanxi have always had outstanding education, no less than the south. Shanxi has experienced few wars, but what about Shandong? Although wars are frequent, the hometown of saints and local officials
You have always attached great importance to teaching, how dare you relax?
Therefore, in the future, the imperial court can order the governments in various parts of the north to strengthen education. The imperial court will allocate funds to build more government schools and county schools, and then invite more famous scholars from the south to teach in the north. Over time, the gap in education between the north and the south will inevitably narrow."
It is easy to say, but extremely difficult to do. Besides, this is a long-term plan. People often say that it takes ten years to cultivate trees and a hundred years to cultivate people.
There is no chance to become an official. If you build a school in each village, how many people will be willing to study hard?
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed and said: "The water from afar cannot relieve the thirst that is near. How can we solve today's situation?"
Zheng Yi lowered his head and said: "I... am ashamed."
Zhu Yuanzhang stood up and walked slowly in the hall. After a long time, he stopped and turned to Baozhao, the Minister of Punishment. Baozhao was directly awarded the post of secretary of Dali Temple when he was a son of the Imperial Academy. Later, he served as chief secretary of Peking and participated in politics.
Yushi Zuodu Yushi and others were just promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Justice this year. Because the Minister of the Ministry of Justice was old and sick, he presided over the affairs of the Ministry of Justice and was known for his frugality.
Zhu Yuanzhang pointed at him and said in a deep voice: "Bao Zhao!"
"I'm here!"
"Liu Sanwu, Zhang Xin and others colluded to deceive the emperor and persisted in their obsession. This is a serious crime. You go back and interrogate them strictly. You must find evidence that they violated the law. I must deal with them severely!"
Bao Zhao was startled. He didn't expect that the emperor would still punish Liu Sanwu and others severely. He came to the emperor with the intention of taking the heads of Liu Sanwu and others to quell the anger of thousands of families in the north. How could Bao Zhao dare to contradict Zhu Yuanzhang, so he had to force
He nodded and agreed.
"Okay, let's all get down!"
Several officials did not dare to say anything more, and all bowed and left. Zhu Yun, who had just been scolded, saw that his grandfather was unhappy, so he did not dare to say more, so he quietly left.
The rain outside the palace was getting heavier and heavier. The rain was as dense as a bead curtain and formed a rain curtain along the eaves of the palace.
The sky became even more cloudy. Occasionally, a flash of lightning flashed, accompanied by a sound that shook the window lattice, making Xia Xun and Cheng Jinyu, who were standing to the left and right of the door, look green and green. The power of the sky was unpredictable.
Between them, the dark entrance to the palace looked like the entrance to the Palace of Hell.
"Kala!" Following a thunderous sound, a deep and majestic voice came from the entrance of the Palace of Hell: "Yang Xu, come in."
Xia Xun almost thought that he heard wrongly, until the second call came, and he hurriedly turned around and entered the hall.