In March of the 20th year of Orthodoxy, the new imperial examination was officially implemented.
Although the opposition is still loud, there are also many supporters.
No one is stupid. When the opportunity comes, how can we not seize it?
After nearly a hundred years of development, the gentry class has long been solidified. Although the emperor has been working hard to increase the school attendance rate of the people, it is difficult for ordinary people to get ahead even if they study.
The reason is that the original gentry class controlled most of the world's wealth, and if one more person came in, they would get an extra share of the pie. In order to protect their own interests, these people would go all out to eliminate dissidents.
It's better now, the old ones won't go away, and the new ones won't come.
Students from all over the world rushed to the capital.
These people are the fresh blood that Ming Dynasty urgently needs most, and they are the future of Ming Dynasty.
The traditional gentry was hit too hard, and almost all the remaining forces were concentrated in Donglin Academy. It seemed that this place had become the last pure land in the world.
Led by the great Confucian Sun Changhe, these people continued to study the Four Books and Five Classics every day. In their free time, they did not forget to criticize the current situation, give advice on the country, the country, and the country, imagining that one day they could make a comeback.
However, hope is getting slimmer and slimmer.
Zhu Qizhen was very pleased. My Ming Dynasty has never been short of people. If you don't come, then there will be no chance.
When new forces rise, people like Donglin Academy and their Confucian governance ideas will be completely submerged in the torrent of history.
A great man once said that political power comes from the barrel of a gun. How wise this sentence is!
Looking back on the past, I was still too conservative and often took into account the feelings of others. Every compromise represented the stagnation of the wheel of history. Looking back now, I realize that it doesn't seem that difficult as long as I just kill everyone I can.
For the sake of sacrifice and ambition, I dare to make the sun and moon change the sky!
If you choose to compromise again, I will really feel sorry for the soldiers who followed you and died in the counter-insurgency!
In short, whoever dares to stroke the tiger's beard will be killed!
"Your Majesty, General Shi's memorial has arrived."
Wynn hurried over with a memorial, because the emperor had specifically ordered that memorials from Japan Island must be submitted to the emperor as soon as possible.
After Zhu Qizhen opened it and read it again, the stone in his heart fell to the ground.
Tuo TuoBuHua did not lie. The Japanese who took refuge with him were indeed just some defeated daimyo who could no longer survive on the island, that's all.
However, Shi Heng also mentioned a person in his letter who was good at both things.
This person is Guan Bai of the Japanese state. This official position is roughly equivalent to the prime minister of the Central Plains and holds great power.
According to Shi Heng's description, Ichijo Kanliang has longed for the Central Plains culture since he was a child. During his growth, he traveled across China and visited famous teachers. He was very familiar with Confucian classics. Even among scholars in the Central Plains, he was known as a great Confucian.
At the end of the memorial, there is also a personal letter written by Jian Liang.
Zhu Qizhen unfolded the letter paper, and what came into view was the vigorous and powerful calligraphy of his hand.
As expected of someone who has studied Central Plains culture, the handwriting is beautiful and the wording is very particular. There is also a common Confucian shortcoming, which is verbosity!
Apart from a bunch of nonsense at the beginning, the content of the letter is actually very simple. Kaneyoshi Ichijo, as the Japanese official, is preparing to take his wife Aoi...
Zhu Qizhen was shocked and looked at it carefully three times. This girl's real surname was Aoi and her name was Aoi Shinyi.
Kanyoshi Ichijo was preparing to bring his wife Aoi Shini to the capital for an audience. He claimed that he had collected many books from the Tang and Song Dynasties and planned to dedicate them to the Ming Dynasty. At the same time, he hoped that the Ming Dynasty would send students from the Academy of Sciences to Japan for exchange and study.
"I knew this Baga had no good intentions!"
Zhu Qizhen smiled faintly and put down the letters and memorials.
Wynn asked cautiously: "Your Majesty, what is B...Baga?"
"You do not understand!"
Zhu Qizhen waved his hand and said: "The next imperial edict will allow you to have an audience with both good and good people."
"Yes, slave, go and prepare now."
Wynn is still wondering, what does Baga mean?
Why are the words coming from the emperor's mouth... so profound?
But Zhu Qizhen was still wondering, what does Aoi's new clothes look like?
The imperial edict was sent out, and the news spread quickly.
Among the scholars, Kanryō Ichijo is quite recognized. This person studied in the Jiangnan area when he was young and made friends with many nobles. Even though he is now in a high position in the Japanese country, he still travels among the Jiangnan nobles as a Confucian disciple.
When the news reached Donglin Academy, Sun Changhe seemed to see hope.
"Everyone, what a blessing, what a blessing!"
Xia Shaopeng, Cen Guangyao and others quickly asked: "What did you say, sir?"
Sun Changhe lightly tied his long beard under his chin and said: "My old friend from Japan, Ichigo Jianliang, is coming!"
Among the students, some did not know the best of both worlds and looked a little confused.
Xia Shaopeng, who was older, explained: "Although Ichigo Jianliang is a Japanese, he has been familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics since he was a child. He is known as a great Confucian among the scholars."
This was the first time Cen Guangyao heard about it, so he asked: "This man is so famous, how does he compare to Mr. Sun?"
"Why!"
Sun Changhe waved his hand and said: "There is a certain order of learning, and there are specializations in the arts. We are all disciples of saints. We read the books of sages and govern the world clearly, no matter who is higher or lower."
Cen Guangyao clasped his fists and saluted: "Sir, you are righteous, the students have been taught!"
Sun Changhe continued: "Speaking of which, Brother Jianliang and I have not seen each other for many years. This time Brother Jianliang comes to Beijing for an audience, he will definitely pass by this place and will ask for advice."
Some quick-thinking people have already sensed the meaning behind these words.
Today's emperor is obviously supporting the Academy of Sciences and suppressing the Hanlin Academy, which means suppressing Confucianism. To put it harshly, the emperor is deviating from the way of a saint!
Let’s look at the Japanese country, an uncivilized island country. People respect Confucianism so much. Isn’t it obvious?
If you, Zhu Qizhen, continue to do this, the things left by your ancestors will be inherited by outsiders.
Is it shameful for you, the emperor, to throw away your own good things, only for them to be regarded as treasures by outsiders? When word spreads about this, you, the emperor, are you?
Sun Changhe closed his eyes slightly and seemed to see hope.
Making good use of Ichijo Kanyoshi's visit to Beijing can create momentum and save face for Confucianism.
"Spread the news and say that Donglin Academy is waiting for the Japanese scholar to exchange lectures."
More people began to react and used their connections to build momentum after returning.
Soon, scholars all over the country knew that Ichijo Kanryoshi was coming and that he was going to Donglin Academy.
More people swarmed in, and the Jin Yiwei were all busy, sending secret memoranda one by one to the capital.
After Yuan Bin saw it, he did not dare to neglect it and immediately sent it to the palace.
After Zhu Qizhen saw it, his reaction was very calm and he didn't seem to take it to heart.
"Your Majesty, I feel that this momentum is not very good. Do you want to take action to control it?"
Zhu Qizhen waved his hand: "No need, let them do it!"