Chapter 603: The Imperial Examinations Are Stopped
, the first prince of the Ming Dynasty
Reviewing memorials was very time-consuming and energy-consuming. In the afternoon, Shen Shi and his father got up and went to Huagai Hall for a meal, and then returned to Jinshen Hall to summon some relevant officials to discuss government affairs according to their respective needs.
Then an interesting scene appeared. When the officials were summoned to the gate of Shen Shen Palace, they had to ask the eunuch on duty to greet them whether it was the Holy Emperor or the Prince who summoned them.
Tao Kai, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, thanked the eunuch in charge and stepped inside. When he arrived at the main hall, he saw important officials from the Zhongshu Province and the Imperial Academy's Etiquette Department kneeling in front of the Imperial Palace, kowtowing in apology.
Tao Kai did not dare to look any longer and bowed solemnly before walking to the desk of His Highness the Crown Prince: "I have been summoned to pay homage to His Highness the Crown Prince. His Highness may live a thousand years."
Zhu Biao raised his head and said with a smile: "Ai Qing, without courtesy, I have called you here to ask about the adjustment of the appointment and dismissal of officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs. There are several officials who are looked down upon by me, but they have to be transferred to important positions, so they are called Ai Qing."
Come and inquire."
Before the Minister of Civil Affairs could reply, the emperor's voice of rebuke came from the other side: "I set up the imperial examination to find talented people in the world. I must appoint people who have proven their practice, studied well, and have commensurate literature and quality! Now there are many future generations who have been selected by this department."
If a young man observes that his writing and words can be useful and put to practical use, very few of them will put into practice what they have learned!"
"This is the sin of the ministers. I ask the Holy One to use the body of a dragon as a weight to temporarily calm the wrath of the thunder."
The emperor was so angry that all the ministers bowed to him, and the Minister of Civil Affairs also turned around and knelt down to apologize. At the same time, there was a look of surprise in his eyes. Naturally, the Minister of Civil Affairs knew how many officials there were in the imperial court, and the imperial examinations were suddenly stopped.
Zhu Biao naturally walked out from behind the desk and knelt down, but Lao Zhu over there did not show any intention of appeasing his anger and continued to say coldly: "I seek virtue with sincerity and the world responds to me with false words. This is not my intention to seek virtue with sincerity.
Nowadays, it is appropriate to suspend the imperial examinations in various places, so that those who want to promote talents must be based on virtue, and literature and art come second. In a few days, ordinary people will know where to go, and scholars will return to the basics of service!"
The bachelor of the Hanlin Academy kowtowed and begged: "The imperial examination is the basis for appointing officials in the imperial court. How can we easily suspend and remove officials? How should the scholars in the world serve the country in the future? Please take back the order."
Officials from the Zhongshu Provincial Department of Rites and other officials also hurriedly begged for mercy. Although these important officials of the imperial court did not come from the imperial examination, they were still scholars in the final analysis. If something like this happened to the imperial court during their tenure, they would have to be dismissed by the world's scholars.
It is impossible to spit on and die.
But the emperor had obviously made up his mind and was not moved at all. Moreover, the officials were even more frightened when they thought of the morning meeting. It was obvious that a storm was coming, but they had no way to solve it.
Soon those officials withdrew in despair. For such an important matter, they had to contact their colleagues as soon as possible, especially the prime minister, to make the decision, otherwise something big would happen.
Zhu Biao stood up and sat back in his seat. Tao Kai, the Minister of Civil Affairs, wiped the cold sweat on his forehead with his sleeve and also stood up, but his body was obviously shaking. Being in a high position has countless benefits, but when something really happened, something happened.
, there is no room to hide.
After Zhu Biao sat down, he stretched out his hand to sweep the dust from his knees and said: "The head of the Ministry of Etiquette, Taichang Si Cheng Zhang Meng was also transferred to Shanxi Ancha Si Qianshi. I have some impressions of this person. His writing is very impressive, but the Ancha
The job of the Secretary is not just about well-written articles."
The Minister of the Ministry of Personnel calmed down and replied: "Your Majesty, Zhang Mengjian is an upright and upright official, and he hates evil as much as possible. Shanxi Province is very important for disaster relief and benefiting the people. His predecessor, the Minister of Civil Affairs, was cut off in half for embezzling food funds for disaster relief, so the Ministry of Personnel evaluated this person.
To take up the post is to rely on his uprightness."
Zhu Biao nodded and made a big mark on the memorial in front of him, then closed it and put it on one side, and then put another one in front of him: "In order to supervise the censors Ru Taisu, Dai Xin, He Wen, and Zheng Sixian.
In the Sichuan and Guizhou Experience Department, I know that the director of the Zhaomo Office is responsible for the Qian affairs. Ru Taisu, I know, how many other people are worthy of relying on?"
Faced with Zhu Biao's questions, the Minister of Civil Affairs answered them one by one, including details of his life history and reputation in the court. Zhu Biao had a general impression after listening to it. Of course, what he is like is another matter.
Come on, he couldn't confirm this one by one.
However, since it was recommended by the Ministry of Personnel, and he had inquired as usual, they would be partially responsible if anything happened, which would also make the Ministry of Personnel feel a little worried when hiring people.
Zhu Biao closed the last appointment memorial and said softly: "The Ministry of Civil Affairs must be cautious when hiring people, especially local officials. They represent the face of the Holy Emperor and the court directly to the people after they go to the local area. They must not be neglected."
The Minister of the Ministry of Personnel bowed and responded: "Old minister, I understand that I will live up to His Highness's teachings."
"Well, Tao Aiqing has always been on the safe side, and I can trust him."
"Thank you, Your Highness, then I will go down and sign the official letter of appointment and dismissal."
"Go ahead."
The Minister of the Ministry of Personnel saluted Zhu Biao and said goodbye. He bowed and took a few steps back. He turned slightly and bowed solemnly to Zhu Yuanzhang, who was still writing at his desk, and then slowly stepped back.
Zhu Biao took the new tea handed to him by Fugui and took a sip. The temperature and taste were just in line with his habits, which showed that Fugui had practiced well in private. It is not easy to do anything these days.
Lao Zhu, who was behind the case, frowned, balled up the rice paper stained with ink and threw it aside. He stood up and twisted his waist and said: "Biao'er, the imperial examination has stopped, but we have to leave a way. You can write a seal for us to the imperial court."
It’s an article about visiting talented people, it doesn’t need too many words.”
Suppressing dissidents and recruiting good friends was a two-pronged approach. The imperial court wanted to employ scholars anyway, but this time it only targeted literati such as Gao Qi, Zhang Yu, and Xu Bi who were unwilling to serve the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Biao responded, this kind of thing is not difficult for him, after all, it is not in vain to learn from Song Lian for so many years, not to mention that there are many articles on recruiting talents in all dynasties, and if you learn from them, you will get new ones.
Zhu Biao recalled the recruitment articles of the Han and Tang Dynasties, and then wrote: "There are talents in the world who are the treasures of the country. The ancient sage kings were always eager to seek talents. If Gaozong is to the legendary King Wen to Lu Shang, the two kings are
How can it be that his wisdom is not enough, let alone the disciples who build drums and swords, and have many talented people who are not prepared to rule."
"The swan can soar far because it has wings; the dragon can leap because it has scaled mane; the king can govern because he has wise men to assist him. How can the people of today's mountains and forests not be virtuous in literature and art?"
Those who are worthy of the title should be sent to the capital with a gift prepared by a minister, and I will appoint them to achieve great governance!"
When Zhu Biao was writing ink, Zhu Yuanzhang had already arrived behind his son, stroking his short beard under his chin and watching happily. The more he looked at it, the happier he became. He had studied for many years, could review memorials and write letters, and could even write.
Poems and lyrics, but articles like this are much worse.
It's one thing to look down on today's scholars, but it's another thing to have a son with outstanding literary talents. The mistake is that people can never be talented.
Zhu Biao read it silently several times after writing. This was to be spread throughout the world. After making sure there were no mistakes, he turned around and said with a smile: "What do you think, Father?"
With a straight face, Lao Zhu patted his son on the back of the head and said, "Let's see, it's okay!"
Zhu Biao silently stretched out his hand to support the crooked purple-blond crown. Zhu Yuanzhang reached out to pick it up and read it again before passing it to the eunuch aside and ordered: "Send it to the Ministry of Personnel and the Hanlin Academy for circulation, saying that it is the recruitment order drafted by the prince himself.
If you have seen it and have no objections, let it be known to all the prefectures and counties in the world."
"This slave obeys your order."
Zhu Biao sighed and said: "Why bother to put it in the name of a son again? This time it should be planned by the father himself."
The case of Wei Guan and Gao Qi is still fermenting, but the outcome is basically predictable. How could a case planned by the emperor personally end in an unexpected way? If there are no accidents, Gao Qi and others may not be able to escape death.
The remnants of the previous dynasty and the literati who had served under Zhang Shicheng, Chen Youliang and others but who refused to serve the new dynasty after the founding of the People's Republic of China were basically treated as examples.
After all, it was no longer the two or three years at the beginning of Hongwu. At that time, there were remnants of enemies in the southeast, northwest, and southeast of the imperial court. The people inside were ruined and most of the cities were in ruins. It was only out of desperation that Lao Zhu compromised and did not attack those people.
.
But Lao Zhu has always been a person who holds grudges. It is okay for a person to hold grudges, but for an emperor to hold grudges, it is a very scary thing. The wrath of the emperor, with millions of corpses lying dead and blood flowing for thousands of miles, is not a bluff, but
It's really possible.
The Taiping Emperor may have been restricted by all parties and dared not do this, but Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor who was about to conquer the world, was definitely not in this category. If he had the intention, he could really kill millions of people and bleed thousands of miles away.