Since the academy is the new focus for selecting talents, His Majesty must pay close attention to everyone in the academy, including the headmaster and every gentleman.
So while the Xu family was receiving guests outside, Xu Ling hid in his big study and drank tea with great interest.
It is said that this study also has a story. It was the place where Li Xingchen wrote "The Story of Love Lotus" and met Lechang.
With a snap of his fingers, Xu Ling couldn't help but smile when he thought of what happened in the past.
The little boy and girl back then have now become the queens of the Holy Emperor and Mother Yitianxia, and this study has really witnessed an interesting history.
"New Year's greetings to Duke Xiaomu!" A voice suddenly sounded, pulling Xu Ling back from his memories.
Although Xu Ling didn't see any guests, there were still some people he couldn't help but see.
When these words came out, Shen Jungao couldn't help but be moved.
Stay safe... The last time I met Xu Ling was when Li Xingchen came to Jiankang Mansion for the first time to praise his achievements. At that time, the emperor sitting on the throne of Jiankang Mansion was still Chen Xu. At that time,
Shen Jungao was in charge of the East Palace, and he saw that after Chen Xu died, he was truly inferior to one person and superior to ten thousand people.
And Xu Ling himself was in the position of Zuo Pushe. Even though he was very different from Chen Xu, the title of "Xiaomu Gong" could not be underestimated by anyone.
Who would have known that in just a few years, the situation would change. Shen Jungao was demoted, became a prisoner, and now returns to the court. It can be said that he has experienced ups and downs that he had never imagined before, and it has completely changed his self-esteem.
The children of very tall aristocratic families have become completely mature after going through the waves.
After all, Shen Jungao's journey from inheriting his brother's mantle to taking charge of the East Palace was so smooth step by step that he actually lacked the ability to deal with setbacks. But now after experiencing these hardships, he stood in front of Xu Ling.
Shen Jun is tall and has long hair on his temples, but his eyes are still shining with heroic spirit.
Looking at Shen Jungao, whom he had not seen for many years, Xu Ling felt a little dazed for a moment.
It seems that this is still the Linquan hermit who was dressed in white on Shitou Mountain.
But...Xu Ling subconsciously reached out and touched more age spots and wrinkles on his hands, smiling to himself.
Time is not forgiving.
"Mr. Xiaomu, you are well." Shen Jungao's words still contained similar emotions, but they were more filled with anger.
Xu Ling did not follow Li Xingchen from Bashu to Jiangnan. Instead, he stayed in Chengdu to teach students and did not come back until the end of last year. After he came back, he stayed behind closed doors and did not see any guests. Therefore, he had already asked Xu Ling questions.
Shen Jungao of the mausoleum, even though today is the first day of the New Year, he still came with great momentum.
"You came to see me for something?" Xu Ling stood up slowly.
Shen Jungao subconsciously wanted to step forward to help, but he thought of something and stopped the movement of his hands. Xu Ling, who noticed this detail, just smiled but said nothing more.
And Shen Jun said in a deep voice: "I would like to ask Duke Xiaomu what he thinks of His Majesty opening an academy and gradually using the academy as the basis for selecting talents and promoting talents."
Xu Ling glanced at him. It was obvious that he had expected this question: "I don't have any opinion. There is nothing wrong with teaching and educating people. The ancient saints took it as their own duty to impart knowledge. I am already at this age and I can't help myself.
He is as good as the sages of ancient times, but he still has some ink. If he can pass on this wealth of knowledge, I will be satisfied."
As he spoke, Xu Ling stretched out his hand to push open the half-closed window and looked at the snowy scene outside the window.
In the wind and snow, several wintersweet trees are blooming in the wind, exuding a fragrance that is sometimes strong and sometimes light. The strong branches, white and yellow flowers and the white wall and black tiles behind form a perfect picture. It seems that Daiwa
It is the picture frame, and the white wall is the drawing paper. After splashing ink, the flowers and branches become lifelike.
Shen Jungao was obviously very dissatisfied with Xu Ling's ambiguous answer and even avoided the key points. He raised his sleeves and strode around to the front of Xu Ling: "Mr. Xiaomu, even if you are satisfied, have you ever considered such a big deal?"
What should we do after the Xu family? Can everyone use the academy as a way to get in? Your Majesty is just blocking the way for our families to directly provide talents. Who knows whether it will happen after this...
··”
"What will happen?" Xu Ling asked directly.
The old man squinted his eyes slightly, his gaze very sharp.
And Shen Jungao shuddered almost subconsciously, as if the young official standing in front of him was the same young official who scolded Chen Xu in the court. For a moment, Shen Jungao didn't dare to say anything.
Xu Ling turned around and said in a deep voice: "Ji Gao, I know what you are worried about. For three hundred years, the aristocratic family has always been the foundation for supporting a dynasty to move forward. In fact, many people don't realize that if the aristocratic family is not there,
By continuously providing talent and wealth, no dynasty will last long."
Shen Jungao was startled for a moment.
It is indeed true to say that. The reason why the Southern and Northern Dynasties were able to maintain such an evenly matched confrontation for a long time has a lot to do with the existence of aristocratic families. If a dynasty suddenly loses the support of aristocratic families, it will simply rely on the people who have received little education.
Soldiers who have no so-called national and national consciousness are unable to fight against any enemy.
The monarch of the dynasty can only gather all the power of the entire country into a whole through the family. Of course, the monarch must also ensure the existence of the family.
Rather than saying that the aristocratic families are seizing power, it is better to say that they coexist with the dynasty and the imperial power. They rely on the imperial power to obtain benefits, and at the same time, they also feed back the power of growth and progress to the dynasty and the monarch.
"In that case..." Shen Jungao's eyes widened.
"But everything needs to change after all." Xu Ling said lightly, "His Majesty is extremely talented and it is impossible not to understand that in fact the existence of the family does not pose a great threat to his rule, but he understands better that if he does not change
If so, then it will never be possible to truly turn this dynasty into a whole like the Qin and Han Dynasties."
Every aristocratic family has its own interests. They collude with each other, unite with each other and confront each other. Under this system of checks and balances, the one who actually does not need to worry about his position the least is His Majesty the Emperor. For example, at first it seemed that they were a whole and checked and balanced each other.
The Wang and Xie families needed an emperor to stand in the middle because of this confrontation.
This is why one family after another rises and falls, but the change of dynasty is not simply related to the change of family.
As a result, most of the power of this dynasty was consumed in internal friction, so it was never possible to move forward. (To be continued)