Author: Potato Sweet Potato Pie

Wherever the parade went, people knelt down. The common people, merchants and officials fell to the ground and shouted long live.

Of course, this is not to kneel to Xia Yuan, the number one scholar, nor is it directed at him. This is to worship the imperial edict in his hand. This is to express the imperial power that the imperial edict symbolizes. The emperor is shouting long live.

Soon, the parade arrived at the Dongsi Archway, and according to the rules, the number one scholar was to be sent back to the mansion.

Of course, this was just a formality. It was said that he was being sent back to the mansion, but in fact he just walked twice in front of the mansion and then went directly back to the palace. After all, he still had to attend the Enrong Banquet.

The sound of gongs and drums came from afar, and the servants in the mansion all ran out to take a look. They saw the tall man on the horse from a distance. They were all jumping up and down happily, "Look, look, it's the Number One Scholar."

It’s the master!”

"Go and call Madam!"

When Xia Yuan arrived in front of the mansion on horseback, a crowd of people had already gathered at the door. He saw his little wife in the crowd, Zhao Yuerong's excited little face turned red, and his clear eyes

It was fluttering, and little stars were popping up inside.

If it weren't for the fact that both hands were holding the imperial edict, Xia Yuan would have really wanted to wave to her.

Soon the starry-eyed scene was no longer visible, and a group of people fell to their knees with cheers.

The parade circled back and forth in front of the palace gate a few more times, and then marched toward the imperial city amidst the sound of gongs and drums.

Next, there is the so-called Enrong Banquet, where a group of new scholars are entertained.

The dishes were very rich, and the presentation was as exquisite as the others. However, after Xia Yuan ate it with high expectations, he felt that he was disappointed. The taste was just average, neither delicious nor unpalatable.

It's hard to describe the feeling.

When the honor banquet was over in the afternoon, all the new scholars stood up to express their thanks and left the hall.

Then, under the leadership of Xia Yuan, the new champion, he left the palace, walked through Huangji Gate, Meridian Gate, Duan Gate, Chengtian Gate, and finally walked out of the imperial city.

At this time, everyone should have gone back to their respective homes, but this group of Jinshi saw that Xia Yuan, the new champion, had gone back again.

It was the end of Shenshi time at this time, which was about four o'clock in the afternoon, almost five o'clock, so it was still early.

Xia Yuan had something to ask for and wanted to see the emperor. He was about to go home, but he didn't see any edict being read out.

"I wonder if this father-in-law can inform you that Xia Yuan needs to see your Majesty for something."

The eunuch who was about to return to the palace was puzzled as to why he didn't tell him something happened during the Enrong Banquet.

But he didn't ask after all. He knew who this person was. Not only was he the top scholar in the current subject, he was also praised as a great talent by the emperor himself in the Jinshen Palace a few days ago.

Even a fool knows that such a person can participate in discussions in the Jinshen Palace without having any official status.

Who knows why he asked to see the emperor, and he couldn't afford to suffer any delay.

"Master Zhuangyuan, wait a moment, I'll go and inform you."

"Thank you, father-in-law, oh, yes."

As he spoke, Xia Yuan seemed to remember something again, took out a few taels of silver from his arms and handed them to the father-in-law's hand.

The eunuch seemed a little embarrassed. Of course he wanted the free money, but it also depended on who was receiving it.

After struggling for a long time, he returned the money to Xia Yuan and said, "Young Master Zhuangyuan, don't do this. It's just a trivial matter. How can I accept your money?"

"You stay here, we will go and inform you right away."

After saying that, the eunuch turned and left.

Xia Yuan could only put the money back into his arms, but he didn't expect that there would be a eunuch with cool sleeves.

After waiting for about a stick of incense, Xiao Jing led several eunuchs out in a hurry and said, "Master Xia, come with us quickly. Your Majesty has summoned you to see him at the Nuan Pavilion."

Seeing that Eunuch Xiao came out in person and in a hurry, Xia Yuan knew that the emperor might have misunderstood.

"Well, Eunuch Xiao, I am actually"

"Master Xia, if you have something to do, please don't tell me, we don't dare to listen."

In the final analysis, Xiao Jing is just a eunuch, and he is very clear about his position.

Usually when the emperor asked him something, he would help answer everything. When nothing happened, he would pat the emperor's horse, no, dragon's fart.

If you talk about some state affairs with foreign officials, you will definitely violate the taboo of eunuchs.

Although the No. 1 Scholar has not yet been awarded an official position and is not considered an official of the foreign court, the few things that come out of his mouth are of great importance.

Seeing that others did not dare to listen, Xia Yuan had no choice but to follow them into the palace, Duanmen, Meridian Gate, Chengtianmen, and then walked through the side door of Qianqing Gate, and then entered the Nuan Pavilion.

Zhu Youtang had been sitting behind the imperial desk waiting for a long time. When he saw Xia Yuan come in, he directly raised his palms without waiting for a courtesy and said, "You will be excused from the ceremony."

After that, he asked again: "I wonder what you want to see me about? But about the preferential treatment in the imperial examination?"

".no."

"Then why should we govern the barbarians? Yes, I remembered that last time, we only discussed the matter of preferential treatment in the imperial examinations and then dispersed. I have not heard from you about the discussion of the governance of the barbarians."

Zhu Youtang's eyes were full of endless appreciation and deep emotion. He knew that Xia Qing cared about his family and country, but he didn't expect that he would reach this level.

After attending the Enrong Banquet, I just left the palace and didn't even return home. I immediately went to the palace to offer advice.

"Sir, please tell me. I am listening attentively."

"."

Xia Yuan's face twitched a little, and after struggling for a while, he said: "The students' theory of governing the barbarians is a long story, how about that?"

"It doesn't matter. No matter what you say, I am willing to listen to it. Xiao Banban, go and find some eunuchs to come here and record it."

Seeing that the emperor was about to find someone to take notes in a small book, Xia Yuan could say nothing else. He could only take a deep breath and first talk about the so-called theory of governing barbarians.

"This theory of governing barbarians is based on education first, and education is nothing more than assimilation through education."

"In the eyes of students, education means letting others learn our language and writing, letting them abandon their own cultural customs, accept and follow our cultural customs, until they completely become us."

After hearing this, Emperor Hongzhi looked a little strange. Why did such a sacred and great thing as education seem to have changed its taste in this guy's mouth?

But when he thought about it again, he realized that this was really the case. It was just that other scholars were far from being as straightforward as he was. They always used many words of praise to promote this teaching as extremely sacred and great.

But in fact, this education is not just about transforming the people, changing their customs, and turning them into my kind.

"So this education must be implemented. First, schools must be built in remote areas such as Southwest and Guangdong and Guangxi, where barbarians gather."

"Building schools?"

"Yes, school, or academy."

"I understand what you mean, does this school need to be funded by the imperial court?"

This is the issue that Zhu Youtang is most concerned about. Emperor Hongzhi, or the Emperor of Ming Dynasty, had a shortcoming. You can talk about anything, but don't talk about money.

After all, the Ming Dynasty was a deformed dynasty with rich people and a poor country. The word poverty was a black mark that the Ming Dynasty could not avoid.

Today is the Hongzhi Dynasty, the middle of the Ming Dynasty, a period called the Hongzhi Zhongxing in history books.

In such a period, the annual treasury revenue is only over 10 million taels, sometimes even less than 10 million taels. For example, last year, due to border troubles and natural disasters, the annual income was only over 9 million taels.

In the late Wanli Dynasty, this figure would be even more terrifying, with an annual income of 4 million taels, but annual military expenditures of 4.5 million taels.

By the time of the Chongzhen Dynasty, the poor had no choice but to hang themselves.
Chapter completed!