"I am stupid, I don't know what your majesty means?" Zhu Fangyuan asked with his heart trembling.
"What I mean is that North Korea imitates the Ming Dynasty and establishes scholarly and civil service titles. It also establishes county examinations, government examinations, college examinations, provincial examinations, joint examinations and palace examinations, etc., to select talents from among the common people to serve you."
"Your Majesty, our primary school in North Korea has a population of only one million. How can we implement such a multi-level imperial examination?"
"That's right. I remember that North Korea is divided into two levels, Dao is one level, and the lower level, animal husbandry, county, and county are parallel. What is the purpose of setting up so many parallel yamen? It is better to simplify it to two levels of counties and counties, and the whole country
The government is divided into three levels." Yunxi made an impromptu decision and started gesticulating about the local government setup in North Korea.
After saying this, Yunxi went on to talk about the imperial examination: "From now on, North Korea can implement two-level examinations, the county examination and the government examination. Those who pass the examination will be scholars, those who pass the Taoist examination will be judged, and those who pass the national examination will be academicians."
.Academicians in North Korea are like the Jinshi of the Ming Dynasty, appointed to serve the government."
"I also know that there is no precedent for North Korea to implement such a complete imperial examination system, so I can send officials from the Ministry of Rites to help North Korea reform the new imperial examination system."
After listening to Yunxi's words, Zhu Fangyuan fell into deep thought.
Wang Xi was surprised: 'Although the official said it casually, the king of Joseon Zhu Fangyuan was by no means a dull person. He could definitely hear that the official meant to intervene in Korea. Why was he brooding?'
Wang Xi was puzzled. From his experience, he could see that Zhu Fangyuan was very wary of Ming Dynasty's intervention in North Korea, but why didn't he refuse immediately after hearing these words?
The reason why he was so puzzled was because he did not understand the situation in North Korea. Although North Korea was known as Little China, the country advocated Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, and also established an imperial examination system, the nature of its political power was completely different from that of the Ming Dynasty.
The aristocratic families in North Korea were very powerful, and the royal power could not completely suppress the aristocratic families. Therefore, both Goryeo and Lee's Joseon could only compromise with the gentry in order to stabilize their political power. Even when the imperial examination system was mature, they still implemented the nine-rank system like the Wei and Jin Dynasties.
The Zhongzheng system is a general system. It is certainly biased to say that the imperial examination is a complete formality, but the vast majority of the seats are from the gentry. In this regard, Annan is better than North Korea. The North Korean system is approximately equal to the Wei and Jin Dynasties, and Annan is approximately equal to the Sui and Tang Dynasties.
Naturally, neither the kings of Goryeo nor the Joseon Dynasty were satisfied with this. They had been thinking of various ways to limit the power of the gentry, but they had never been able to achieve it.
But now that the Ming Dynasty wants to intervene in the imperial examination system, the situation has changed. Zhu Fangyuan can completely use the strength of the Ming Dynasty to deal with the domestic nobles on this matter. If the domestic nobles accuse him of breaking the rules, he can push everything to the
Regarding the officials sent by the Ming Dynasty, even if the nobles knew that they were shirking their responsibilities, there was nothing they could do.
Theoretically, there is a way for the Ming Dynasty to collude with the gentry in North Korea to suppress Zhu Fangyuan, but after thinking about it, he felt that it was impossible. Colluding with the gentry could only be cheating on scientific examinations. It is not easy to cheat under his nose. If it is exposed, it will be
Being ruined will also damage Ming's reputation.
Of course, Ming Dynasty will also increase its influence in North Korea. This matter has both advantages and disadvantages for him. So Zhu Fangyuan fell into deep thought.
Just as Zhu Fangyuan was thinking about whether the disadvantages outweighed the benefits or the benefits outweighed the disadvantages, Huang Lu walked in with a bowl in his hand and said softly to Yunxi: "Your Majesty, the medicine boiled for His Royal Highness is ready."
Yunxi took the bowl and said to Zhu Fangyuan: "Brother Fangyuan, the medicine is ready. Brother Fangyuan, drink it while it's hot." As he said this, he stood up and walked to Zhu Fangyuan's side.
Zhu Fangyuan hurriedly took the bowl from Yunxi's hand, thanked Yunxi, raised his head and drank the medicine. Yunxi handed over another bag of medicinal materials: "This is the medicine prescribed for you by Dr. Zhang from Shicai Tai Hospital.
There are three sets in total, one for today and one for tomorrow. After you go back, let your servants cook it, and I will ask Dr. Zhang to go to Prince Qin’s Mansion to take your pulse the next morning."
"Your Majesty is so kind, I am very grateful for it." Zhu Fangyuan said. He was a little moved.
Perhaps this touch played a role, or perhaps Zhu Fangyuan believed that the advantages outweighed the disadvantages. He finally agreed to the matter and said: "Compared with the Ming Dynasty, the imperial examination system in our country is still crude. Your Majesty is willing to send ministers to help our country make it complete."
, I am naturally willing.”
"Okay." A smile appeared on Yunxi's face: "I will definitely send the most skilled ministers in this matter."
After deciding the matter, Zhu Fangyuan seemed a lot more relaxed, and Yunxi also looked relaxed. He didn't say anything more serious, and even invited him to have lunch with him. Zhu Fangyuan happily agreed.
During the meal, they talked about some anecdotes and discussed the handling of some political affairs, and they were very happy.
As they talked, they talked about the education of their children. Yunxi said: "Brother Fangyuan, I have put a lot of effort into teaching the children of the royal family. Since ancient times, the dandies have few parents, and I want these people with a privileged life to study hard and become the pillars of the family.
It’s not easy. Even if I discipline you so harshly, there won’t be many evildoers, but there will only be two or three diligent people out of ten, and the rest will just sit on their hereditary titles and earn their salaries.”
"My North Korea is also average." Zhu Fangyuan also said: "Since my father became the king, these ministers' younger brothers and nephews are much slacker than us. No matter how I rectify it, it just makes them dare not do evil. Maybe
There are very few people who become pillars.”
The patriarchs of the two respective families discussed this for a while, and finally reached a consensus: "We must be stricter on them, set regulations, and severely punish those who violate them, and reward those who are diligent."
Talking about the education of his children, Yunxi asked: "Brother Fangyuan, I remember that your eldest son is already twelve years old this year."
"Your Majesty, my eldest son Zhu Bao was born in the 27th year of Hongwu. He is twelve years old this year."
"That's very kind of you. Since the eldest son is the legitimate son, he doesn't have to worry about anything. What books has Zhu Bao read now?"
"But I have read the Four Books well and am about to learn the Five Classics. I also ordered people to teach him martial arts and military strategies. I hope he will become a man with both civil and military skills." Hearing Yunxi mention his son, Zhu Fangyuan couldn't help but say.
"I heard that there are great Confucians in North Korea, but let the great Confucians in North Korea teach Zhu Bao how to read?"
"Of course." Zhu Fangyuan replied: "Although our country in North Korea is small and weak, there are quite a few great scholars. I invited them all to the palace to teach my son."
"I have an idea, Brother Fangyuan, please listen to it. I want to invite the great Confucians from the Ming Dynasty, Korea, Fusang and other countries to the capital to exchange knowledge. What do you think? The so-called knowledge requires not only learning but also asking, everyone.
The great Confucian scholars exchanged knowledge together, and perhaps during the exchange, some previously obscure points were analyzed by everyone, making Confucianism closer to the original intention of Confucius. What do you think, brother Fangyuan?" Yunxi suddenly said.
"Of course this is a good thing. I wonder when your majesty will summon the great scholars from all over the world to exchange knowledge? I will definitely let the great scholars in the country come to the capital." Zhu Fangyuan was actually not too cold about this, and instinctively felt that Yun Xi had other purposes, but he did not If you refuse for any reason, you can only agree.
Yunxi smiled and said, "I haven't told the envoys from other countries about this matter yet. I will decide the date after I have talked to them."
"If a date is set, you must send someone to North Korea to inform me."
"must."
At this point, the meal had been finished, and Zhu Fangyuan stood up to leave. Yunxi sent him to Qianqing Gate and arranged the warmest carriage to take him back. When Zhu Fangyuan's carriage disappeared, Yunxi took his eyes back and returned. Qianqing Palace.
Huang Lu couldn't help but advise: "Officials, even if Zhu Fangyuan is a prince, your majesty's etiquette towards him is too much."
Yunxi didn't answer. He just stood at Qianqing Gate and seemed to be watching the carriage going away, but he was actually thinking about something. Huang Lu saw that Yunxi didn't speak or even reacted at all, so he thought he hadn't heard. He was about to say something more, Wang Xi quickly stopped him.
Wang Xi actually felt that Yun Xi treated Zhu Fangyuan, the king of Korea, a little too high, but he knew Yun Xi's purpose, so he stopped Huang Lu. Seeing this, Huang Lu understood that the emperor must have his own plans, so he did not dare to speak anymore.
After Yunxi returned to Qianqing Palace, he told Wang Xi: "Call Qin Song here immediately."
Wang Xi accepted the order and came down. Not long after, Qin Song walked into the side hall and bowed and saluted, "I have seen your Majesty."
"Sit." Yunxi pointed to the seat next to him.
Qin Song hesitated for a moment, bowed again, and sat next to Yun He.
"Qin Aiqing, I didn't want to announce you to the palace during the Chinese New Year. But this matter is very important. After the New Year, I will be busy with the expedition to the northwest. I am afraid that I will forget it, so I have asked you to enter the palace to explain it now."
"I am an official in the capital. I also have days off to spend time with my parents, wife and children at home. From my point of view, these New Year's Day days are not much different from the past days. Your Majesty, please feel free to give me orders if you have anything to do." Qin Song said.
Yunxi knew him very well and didn't talk nonsense: "Is there anyone in Jinyiwei who is proficient in Confucianism?"
"Your Majesty, I have a judge who is quite good at Confucianism."
"That's good. You ask him to read Confucian classics more diligently this year. Next year or the year after, I will convene the world's great Confucians to discuss Confucianism in the capital, and I will use him then."
The main purpose of Yunxi's proposal to convene a "World Confucian Congress" was to unify the Confucian thoughts of various countries that advocate Confucianism and infiltrate them ideologically, so that the elites of each country would be similar to the elites of the Ming Dynasty, thereby bringing them closer. The relationship with the Ming Dynasty even prepared for lower resistance during future annexation.
In addition, there is a small purpose to target North Korea. Li Fangyuan is now very wary of Ming Dynasty, and it is not easy to penetrate North Korea; but Zhu Fangyuan is going to die after all. In order to speed up the penetration of North Korea after his death, he needs to make sure that North Korea's future The king admired Ming Dynasty and was not as vigilant as his father.
Yunxi originally wanted Zhu Fangyuan to let Zhu Bao come to study in the capital of the Ming Dynasty, or send a scholar to Seoul to teach him, but after thinking about it, he felt that Zhu Fangyuan would never agree, so he decided to use a roundabout way to achieve his goal.
