When the ministers stopped talking, Emperor Hongzhi looked at Liu Jin. There was no doubt that Emperor Hongzhi wanted Liu Jin to speak for Zhu Houzhao.
"Your Majesty, I think this matter can be explained to everyone by His Highness himself."
"It's just the appointment of a few seventh-grade officials, which is not a big deal. What's more, His Royal Highness also wants to better manage Shuntian Mansion, plan the construction of the capital, and select professional talents to do this."
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has no intention of destroying the imperial examination system. He only wants to demote talents in an eclectic way and select those who are capable."
Liu Jin thought for a while and replied.
"Well, that's good."
"There are many scholars nowadays. Although these newly-learned scholars have not learned the eight-part essay and rarely studied the Four Books and Five Classics, the knowledge and content they have learned are of great use. Many things require newly learned professional talents."
"The same is true for urban planning and construction. This is a large, systematic project that is extremely complex. Without professional talents to do this, I am afraid it will be difficult to complete."
"The prince has nothing wrong with doing this."
Emperor Hongzhi nodded with satisfaction after hearing this. It is necessary to protect the calf, not to mention that Emperor Hongzhi was also very satisfied with what the prince did. As for appointing a few people, this is nothing. They are on the line here, one by one.
Everyone thinks that traditional scholars are very good. If you were really good, would you be able to carry out these big systematic projects?
"Your Majesty, you can't say that."
"City construction is indeed a systematic project that requires a large number of professional talents, but there is no need to appoint them as officials. They can be given the status of junior officials and they can also do these things."
"Yes, Your Majesty, it is enough to give the status of a minor official. This has been the case since ancient times. Does it mean that the officials in charge of weapons manufacturing also need to be able to make bows and arrows?"
"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's original intention is naturally good. It is also for the construction of the capital and for the people of the capital. This systematic project does require professional talents."
"Being an official also requires professional talents. Scholars like us study hard in the cold window. The Four Books and Five Classics are the way to govern the country. Only scholars like us who can truly govern the country well are the most suitable to be officials."
Who knows, as soon as Emperor Hongzhi finished speaking, the ministers began to refute again, and even used Emperor Hongzhi's words to oppose Emperor Hongzhi.
Traditional scholars are the most suitable to be officials, because the Four Books and Five Classics they have learned are the true classics for governing the country.
Hearing this, Liu Jin wanted to vomit.
If the country could be governed well by relying on those few Confucian classics, these dynasties would not only have a lifespan of three hundred years. If these traditional scholars were all professional officials, the Ming Dynasty would have prospered long ago.
Already.
They are just the only people in this era who have mastered knowledge. The rulers have no one else to use except to use them to govern the country. It does not mean that they are really suitable to be officials and can govern the country.
Now with the rise of new learning, the people who master knowledge are not just these traditional scholars. These scholars of new learning have even more and broader knowledge than they do. If you are trying to govern the country, they may not be better than you.
These traditional scholars are even worse.
It can even be said that these new scholars with broader knowledge can definitely do better than these traditional scholars.
Traditionally, these scholars only studied the Four Books and Five Classics, and basically did not learn anything else. In addition to being able to write good and beautiful articles, how much talent do you expect them to have?
How much do they know about astronomy, geography, mathematics, physics, etc.?
There are only a few scholars who have read a lot of books, and they can know more or less, but they have not studied systematically, and they are definitely not as good as new scholars.
These ministers are good, but now they are talking without shame. Are they professional officials?
In later civil service examinations, the question design was very particular. It was the most basic for examinations such as astronomy and geography. What was more important was flexible thinking and adaptability.
Do you think these scholars who have read the Four Books and Five Classics and taken the eight-part essay exam are the most suitable to be officials?
Maybe it was the case in the past because they were the only ones who could read and write, but now, with the rise of new learning, they may not be the case.
"Your Majesty, since ancient times, there has been a clear distinction between officials and officials. Officials are officials and officials are officials. Naturally, we have nothing to say when we are officials, but we absolutely cannot do it when we are officials."
"Yes, Your Majesty, the prince's move is really inappropriate."
"Your Majesty, I think the three of them should be appointed as minor officials, and additional officials should be appointed."
The ministers were saying something to each other, and Emperor Hongzhi could not speak to so many ministers when he opened his mouth. He could only get angry for a while, but could not refute.
"Your Majesty, I think that since everyone thinks it is feasible, we might as well ask a few ministers of the court to try to see if they can make a detailed plan for the city's construction, and then let a few people appointed by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also make the plan.
Let’s take a look together and compare with each other.”
Gu Yan
Liu Jin looked at the situation, thought about it and suggested.
"Your Majesty, this is inappropriate. We scholars have studied the Four Books and Five Classics, the Confucian classics, and the true way of governing the country. We have not studied these professional construction projects, so how can we compare with them."
When some ministers heard this, they expressed their objections on the spot with great self-knowledge.
We are not good at this matter and cannot compare with you, but we are very good at being an official. The meaning is as simple as that.
Isn't this just being a rogue? If you can't do it, then why can't you replace it with someone who is capable? You have to let people become minor officials. Why can't they become officials and you become a minor official?
"Since you can't do it, and you insist on occupying the position, do you still need to do this urban construction plan?"
"Or should we just keep going like this and forget about it?"
Liu Jin was speechless. These scholars were so thick-skinned that they were really invincible.
Although my abilities are not good, I am suitable to be an official. Although they have professional abilities, they are not suitable to be officials. They can only be minor officials to guide us scholars to become officials.
"Liu Gong, city construction and planning must be done. We can also appoint them as minor officials to assist officials in doing these things."
Zhong Zhong also stood up and expressed his opposition.
"I used to be the Minister of Accounts, and I didn't know how to settle accounts. But as long as I have subordinates who know how to settle accounts, it's fine. Why do I have to do everything myself?"
"Yes, yes, what you said makes sense."
"This is like the emperor governing the country. The holy emperor governs the country, and all ministers perform their duties. Naturally, the country can be peaceful and the people are safe."
Some ministers also nodded, and even went online to the emperor's rule. There was a faint intention to criticize the current emperor's rule, saying that the current emperor was unwilling to delegate power to the ministers below, and even took back military power. He did not trust them.
A minister who is a professional official.
The emperor should be like a puppet. He only needs to sit on it, be a Bodhisattva, and let his civil servants manage everything.
"Little official?"
"I think you have underestimated the new scholars. None of them want to be petty officials."
When Liu Jin heard this, he immediately laughed.
These new students are all very popular. Who wants to be a petty official? Not to mention the low income and little future, wouldn't this be self-destructive?
Why run a new school on your own? Over the years, there have been many new students who have graduated from various colleges and universities, but so far none of them have become petty officials.
Everyone would rather work in a trading house or factory than as a petty official. What's more, in overseas colonies, vassal states and the like, you can become an official at any time in these places, and you can be promoted very quickly.
Anyone who lives a casual life can live a very comfortable life. Who would want to be a small official? Not to mention the arrogance of these traditional scholars, there is no way to make money or a future.
"No one wants to be a petty official?"
"How is this possible? Even if you are a petty official, you are not an official, but you still get royal food. How can no one be willing to be a petty official?"
When the ministers heard this, they all said in surprise.
"Yes, yes, we, the scholars, and some of the scholars who have not been able to pass the examination will choose to be petty officials."
"How could they not become petty officials? When they are petty officials, they also eat royal food."
"Although there is no future for being a minor official, it is still a good job. Many people try their best to become a minor official but fail to do so."
"It's like if you want to be a police officer, an official, or a government servant now, you must be a retired soldier. Ordinary people who want to do these things have no chance. What's not satisfying about being a petty official?
"
"That's right, I don't believe it."
Many ministers also expressed doubts one after another. In their opinion, being a minor official is already very good for scholars who are learning new things. After all, they are also eating royal food. What are they dissatisfied with? I don’t know how many people want it.
I can't even be a minor official.
"You don't believe it?"
"You might as well give it a try and see if the various ministries can recruit people from Xinxue School as junior officials."