In the Shang Shufang of the Qianqing Palace in the capital, Emperor Hongzhi called some important ministers to the Shang Shufang for a small meeting after the morning dynasty as usual to discuss national affairs.
But today is the second day of the general examination, and everyone is waiting for news about the general examination, especially to see what kind of test questions Liu Jin, the examiner, will give.
Therefore, Xiao Jing, who served Emperor Hongzhi, would look outside the door from time to time to see if any Xiao Huangmen came to inform him about the examination.
"What do you think of the establishment of the West African Fleet?"
Emperor Hongzhi held the memorial submitted by Liu Jin in his hand. Liu Jin was very lazy and rarely wrote memorials, but every time he mentioned things, they were real national events, and Emperor Hongzhi also attached great importance to them.
I have carefully read the memorial written by Liu Jin. It describes in detail the current complex situation in West Africa. The forces of all parties are intertwined, vying to carve up the colonies in West Africa, and they compete with each other at all costs, fighting openly and secretly. The situation in West Africa has become extremely turbulent.
The conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and Spain, Japan and Portugal, Portugal and Spain, as well as the troublemakers England, France, the Netherlands, etc., as well as the many colonial trading houses, vassal states, and pirates in the Ming Dynasty are just the beginning. We haven't really broken our skin to promote it yet.
Liu Jin had a hunch that once a real war breaks out in West Africa, World War I is very likely to break out. West Africa, the last colony in the world, is enough to attract all parties to rush into the war.
Regarding the chaos in West Africa, the Ming Dynasty could have stayed out of the matter. After all, the Ming Dynasty already had enough colonies and land, and there was no need to seize the last area.
However, many colonial trading houses, vassal states, etc. under the Ming Dynasty felt that their own land was small, so they would not let go of the Gold Coast and Ivory Coast in West Africa.
A large number of colonies and colonial strongholds sprouted here, and hundreds of thousands of Ming people immigrated to these places.
Once the situation here continues to deteriorate, I am afraid it will threaten Ming Dynasty's colonies and vassal states, and threaten Ming Dynasty's interests and security.
Therefore, Liu Jin also reported to Emperor Hongzhi, requesting the establishment of an additional West African fleet in West Africa to deter all parties, safeguard Ming Dynasty's interests in West Africa, and protect the safety of Ming Dynasty people.
"Your Majesty, our Ming Dynasty has many fleets in the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, Nanyang, Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Hong Kong, Golden Continent, Red Sea and so on. The number of warships exceeds a thousand and the navy has more than 100,000 people."
"Although the situation in West Africa is turbulent now, they are just pirates. In addition, they do not dare to plunder our Ming Dynasty's colonies and vassal states, and they do not pose a threat to our Ming Dynasty's interests in West Africa."
"Therefore, I believe that there is no need to establish a separate West African Fleet at all. We only need to order the Golden Continent Fleet to patrol the West African region on a regular basis, or divide some warships and personnel from the Golden Continent Fleet to be specifically responsible for the security of the West African region. "
Liu Jian thought for a while and was the first to stand up and said.
Although military power has now been returned to the emperor's control, Emperor Hongzhi will still discuss matters with everyone as before when it comes to national affairs.
"What Liu Gong said is true. Our Ming Dynasty already has enough maritime power. There is no need to establish a separate West African fleet. We only need to mobilize some warships from the Golden Continent Fleet to patrol the West African region on a regular basis. I don't think anyone dares to
Provoke me, Daming."
Li Dongyang also said very confidently.
The Ming Empire was powerful in all aspects. Not only did it possess powerful land power, but its maritime power was also extremely powerful, capable of sweeping across the world.
"If we give the West African Fleet another gift, I'm afraid we will have to add new warships and naval personnel, and the military expenditure will also be a huge amount."
"I also think that there is no need to increase the West African fleet, but we can dispatch part of the army to station in West Africa. If something happens, dispatching some warships can also protect our Ming Dynasty's interests in West Africa."
Zhang Mao thought for a while and said.
"What Mr. Zhang said is reasonable. Just send an army of 10,000 men to garrison in important places in West Africa. In addition, you can order the Golden Continent Fleet to patrol West Africa regularly."
Xie Qian thought for a while and said.
"Since all the princes feel that there is no need to build an additional West African fleet, they will no longer give away the West African fleet. According to Zhang Mao, an army of ten thousand people will be deployed to garrison key places in West Africa. If special circumstances occur, additional warships will be sent to
West Africa.”
Emperor Hongzhi thought for a while and finally made up his mind.
"Your Majesty's Holy Might~"
The ministers said quickly.
Everyone knows the situation in West Africa. Some of the big guys present are the major shareholders of some West African colonial trading houses. There are many colonies and colonial strongholds in West Africa.
However, I am not worried about the situation in West Africa, because no matter how chaotic it is, no one dares to provoke the Ming Empire, whether it is the greedy Japanese, the domineering Spanish, or the shameless English pirates.
Provoke the Ming people.
This is the powerful hegemony that Ming Dynasty has established over the years by relying on its strong military power and victory in foreign wars.
While Emperor Hongzhi and his ministers were discussing matters in West Africa, Xiao Huangmen hurriedly came to the door of Shangshu. Soon Xiao Jing came to Emperor Hongzhi and said: "Your Majesty, we will try this strategy.
The problem is today’s Ming Dynasty!”
"Today's Ming Dynasty?"
When Emperor Hongzhi heard this, he was slightly startled.
Originally, he was also thinking about the questions, thinking about what kind of questions Liu Jin would give, and he even had a premonition that Liu Jin would definitely not take an ordinary path in setting the questions.
However, who would have known that Liu Jin was completely uneasy about playing tricks and would not write questions on the Four Books and Five Classics at all.
"Today's Ming Dynasty?"
Many ministers on the side were slightly dumbfounded when they heard this.
"Isn't this random?"
When Li Dongyang heard this, he immediately frowned and said.
It is almost a rule that the questions in the imperial examinations come from the Four Books and Five Classics. However, Liu Jin did not follow this rule and came up with random questions.
Once this example is used, wouldn't this question be able to be randomly used in the imperial examinations that will be held every three years?
How should the scholars of that world prepare?
"It's just random~"
Liu Jian also shook his head slightly and said.
You can ask whatever questions you want, but you must come from the Four Books and Five Classics. The random questions you give are almost the same as the questions the emperor asked during the imperial examination.
Naturally, the emperor can set the questions based on all the current affairs of the Ming Dynasty. You, Liu Jin, are just the examiner who knows how to take the exam. If you set the questions like this, someone will definitely use this to criticize you.
Liu Jian could already see that in the coming time, there would be a massive amount of memorials coming like a raging wave, and without exception they would be impeachment and criticism of Liu Jin.
Why bother yourself with such a trivial matter.
"It's quite original~"
Emperor Hongzhi looked at the expressions of the others, smiled and said: "We will all go to the exams together then. I would like to see what special views and insights our talented people from the Ming Dynasty have on the current situation in the Ming Dynasty."
Obviously, Emperor Hongzhi didn't pay attention to Liu Jin's random questions, and he didn't think it was anything. It was just an exam question.
"Yes~"
The other ministers looked at each other and replied quickly.
At the same time, news of the purpose of the meeting was quickly spread to various ministries and yamen in the capital, and it was also quickly spread throughout the capital.
In the Hanlin Academy, many Hanlin officials were not in the mood to write books today. Instead, they were drinking tea and chatting while waiting for the news that they would ask test questions.
The entire Ming Dynasty was very concerned about the imperial examination held every three years, and many officials' sons also participated in this imperial examination.
For example, Jiao Fang, the right minister of the Ministry of Rites, his son Jiao Huangzhong, and Liu Henian, the son of the promotion official Liu Chun, etc., there were many sons of officials in the court who also happened to take part in this imperial examination.
Of course, many sons of officials participated in all previous imperial examinations. There were some children from poor families, but most of them were children of gentry. It can be said that more than 90% of the scholars who came to the capital to take the imperial examination could be said to be children of gentry.
Scholarly family background and so on.
Naturally, everyone attaches great importance to every imperial examination, and is especially looking forward to the Cewen examination, because the Cewen examination is the top priority, and the general marking is also worthy of the Cewen exam.
"I don't know what kind of questions Guild Liu will give."
In the Hanlin Academy, many Hanlins gathered together, drinking tea and chatting.
"Based on Liu Jin's character, his questions will definitely be unimaginable."
Someone followed and said.
"That's true. Liu Jin has always been unconventional, and he is a disciple of an elite. I think the questions he asked must be beyond our imagination."
"However, Mr. Liu has always attached great importance to innovation and change, and I am afraid that this type of thing is probably the center and main body."
"Innovation and change are not easy to write about. I'm afraid it's not easy to write a good article."
Many Hanlin officials were discussing it continuously.
At this time, someone hurriedly came over and said: "The question is out, the question is out~"
"Policy Problems, Today's Ming Dynasty!"
"What?"
"Today's Ming Dynasty?"
When many Hanlin officials heard this, they were all dumbfounded.
Based on their knowledge, they are already very familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics, and they also know that this is not the content of the Four Books and Five Classics at all, but a random topic that Liu Jin came up with.
"It's just nonsense~"
"The imperial court's ethics ceremony is like child's play, with random topics."
"Ignore Chao Gang, ignore the ancestral precepts, just act recklessly~"
"I must impeach you properly~"
The Hanlin officials were immediately furious, shouting and yelling. Someone immediately picked up a pen and ink and began to write a memorial to impeach Liu Jin.