Zhu Di excitedly called over all the civil servants of the third rank and above in the imperial court, and Xu Jingchang was also among them. He knew very well the significance of the imperial examination to all officials.
It is even more difficult for Zhu Laosi to move this area.
But it is also fun to see Emperor Yongle fighting with his ministers.
Xu Jingchang has always liked liveliness. He walked briskly and was in a happy mood. He arrived at the main hall and stood at his place. The audience was in place, just waiting for the show to start.
"Autumn is coming soon, and the beginning of next spring will be the year of great competition. I have thought carefully about selecting talents for the country. I must select a few useful talents to assist the emperor and father and govern the people. You all have them.
What do you think? Tell me...especially the Ministry of Rites. This is your responsibility. Do you have proper arrangements?"
Zhu Di asked.
Song Li, the Minister of Rites, hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, I have already sent documents to all provinces, and selected a group of examiners from Hanlin officials who are both good in character and academics, and asked them to go to each province to preside over the examination. We must strictly check for fraud and put an end to plagiarism and fraud.
Your Majesty, please be at ease in recruiting scholars for the country."
It has to be said that the military order at the beginning of the year is really effective. In order to avoid jail and not have to spend the New Year in Tianlao, even the most lazy Ministry of Rites will risk their lives.
But that's not what Zhu Di asked.
"It is natural that there are no disadvantages in opening up a subject to obtain scholars. What I want to ask is the content of the scholarship. Can it add some people's livelihood, economics, and practical knowledge, such as these three books."
Zhu Di's questions were obviously angry, and ordinary courtiers would not dare to parry.
Zhu Di, who was temporarily frustrated, looked solemn and asked again: "What do you think?"
It is simply insulting to gentlemen, and I absolutely cannot agree to it.
But if you ask them specifically how much they know, they can't answer. They can only use half of the Analects to rule the world and fool people.
After all, it just doesn’t work. I want to do something, but why is it so difficult!
"You say this is a miscellaneous book and is useless. As a courtier, what kind of books should you read and what is considered useful?"
His Majesty the Emperor wants to find an ally to speak for himself.
The two ministers took the lead, and soon other courtiers came forward, all of whom expressed opposition.
He can be regarded as having a clear idea of the temper of the courtiers... These people are accustomed to pretending to be knowledgeable, omniscient, and omnipotent in front of the emperor.
After he finished speaking, Liu Jun, Luo Qian and others all stood up and agreed. As long as the foundation is solid, there is no need to waste energy on other details.
"Your Majesty, to assist the country and govern the people, courtiers must possess both ability and political integrity. Confucius is a teacher for all generations, and the teachings of Confucius and Mencius have been a thousand-year-old official school, the only orthodox school in the world. Zhao Pu, the Ming Prime Minister of the Northern Song Dynasty, once said that half of the Analects governs the world. Since the establishment of the Analects of Confucius,
Since the beginning of the imperial examination, the teachings of Confucius and Mencius have been the main focus. I believe that as long as all the organs can understand the meaning of the sage, cultivate oneself and manage the family, they can naturally assist the emperor and father, govern the country and bring peace to the world. In addition, the courtiers may study it, but they do not need to be included in the list.
During the imperial examination, I wonder what your majesty thinks?"
"Your Majesty, please think again!"
Xu Jingchang looked around and found that Jian Yi and Xia Yuanji were both old foxes and difficult to deal with. Only Song Li, the Minister of Rites, was more scholarly. In the past, he was also the easiest person to deal with during meetings in the General Affairs Department.
…
Xu Jingchang hurriedly said: "I just remembered a happy thing."
"What happy thing?" Zhu Di hummed: "Say it and make me happy too."
Xu Jingchang turned his head, looked at Zhu Di, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, this is why I was laughing just now. I wonder if your Majesty might be able to clarify my doubts?"
Six ministries and nine ministers stood up to oppose one after another. Zhu Di was not surprised, but among this group of people, there was Xu Jingchang, which surprised Zhu Di.
Xu Jingchang could only smile and said: "Your Majesty, it's hard for me to tell you this directly. I want to ask a few courtiers and talk to everyone... I think with your Majesty's wisdom, you will naturally understand."
It’s you!
Inviting ancestors and using power to suppress others is simply a special skill of civil servants, and it is the kind that has been tried and tested.
As he spoke, Zhu Di took out the three free books and said loudly: "At present, Yingtian is full of businessmen and people who are asking for these three books. It can be seen that these three books are of great use and are related to people's livelihood.
I intend to make these three books must-read for all students and to draw questions from them for the imperial examination. What do you think of it? If you think it is feasible, spread the message as soon as possible to avoid delaying the important event."
Zhu Di hummed and said: "Jian Tianguan quoted the scriptures and listened to your words. I can't agree even if I don't agree. I just want to ask you, can you help the country and govern the people just by relying on the teachings of Confucius and Mencius?"
At this time, Zheng Ci, the Minister of Punishment, raised his head and said righteously: "Replying to your majesty, I believe that the most important thing in selecting scholars through the imperial examination is literary talent and virtue. It seems that some trivial things should not be included in the imperial examination, so as not to ruin the solemnity of the ceremony.
I dare not say that these three books are useless. The people's livelihood is naturally extremely important. However, after all, they are folk miscellaneous books and are not considered legitimate. It is a bit hasty to include them in the imperial examination."
In the end, it fell on Jian Yi, the Minister of Civil Affairs.
Xu Jingchang said with a smile: "The Minister of the Song Dynasty is indeed very eloquent... What you mean is that the emperor has some shortcomings and needs help from his ministers. The ministers need to know much more than the emperor?"
Not only did we not agree, but even my father refused.
Zhu Di sneered and said: "I can't answer your doubts, but I know that the imperial examination must be changed. The imperial court does not need nerds who can only study."
"It turns out that officials also want masters!" Xu Jingchang said with a smile on his face, "Then I would also like to ask you about some things about the king's rule and ministers' duties... For example, this time, you are admonishing His Majesty and speaking uprightly. Naturally, you are serving the country and the people, which is admirable.
.But if you do this, there must be something the emperor doesn’t know about, and it needs to be corrected by the ministers?"
This kid Xu Jingchang is really awesome.
Song Li raised his eyebrows, "You should know that there are many ministers who are proficient in this way. Local officials often recruit masters to help them handle official affairs."
At this time, Xia Yuanji hurriedly stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the Tao of Confucius and Mencius is intended to rectify people's hearts and cultivate morality. Only in this way can we assist the emperor and his father and convince everyone above and below. This is the fundamental Tao. If the root is solid, the branches and leaves will flourish.
If the source is pure, it will nourish the people. I hope Your Majesty will be able to see clearly."
Zhu Di took a deep breath and smiled on his face.
If you are distracted by these complicated things and fail to understand the essence of Confucius and Mencius, it will be unsightly.
Song Li pondered for a long time. He knew very well how cunning Xu Jingchang was. This boy was definitely more difficult to deal with than anyone else. The question just now made him a little dazed. He had to consider it carefully and deal with it carefully. After a long while, he said: "Even if you are an ancient sage, there are few
Those who are born to know, therefore set up the Three Dukes to assist and teach. The emperor is in the ninth level, so naturally he does not know everything, so he must rely on his ministers.
This is a time when a wise king is prosperous. Duke Dingguo, you in the General Affairs Department should understand this truth."
Zhu Di nodded, "Okay, I want to see how funny it can be."
Zhu Di was categorical and unquestionable.
"Your Majesty, please think twice!"
Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "Yes, I'm just a little confused now... His Majesty just wanted to add more content to the imperial examination. You said it was unnecessary. Those are just miscellaneous subjects. As long as all officials know the way of Confucius and Mencius, they can assist the emperor. But now he said
The ministers know a lot of things, and they are enough to advise His Majesty to bring peace to the kings, Yao and Shun. Now I just want to find out, do the courtiers know more or less? Why does the emperor want to add some assessment content to you, but you say no
Increase, I understand enough now. When I talked about how ministers can assist the emperor, you also said that ministers know everything and are omnipotent... Please forgive me for being stupid, I really can't understand."
"Mr. Dingguo, what's the matter with you? Do you mean something different than what you say?"
The ministers were horrified. Could it be that the emperor wanted to overthrow the teachings of Confucius and Mencius?
Song Li was startled, wondering what this guy was going to do? Is he trying to instigate a relationship between the king and his ministers?
"Ding Guo Gong, there are strengths and weaknesses. Since ancient times, hundreds of officials have been established to assist the Holy Lord. This is the reason. You are also a court official!"
These are my courtiers, and these are the talents who came out of the imperial examination!
The courtiers looked at each other, even though they were frightened, they all stood up together.
It's a pity that no one wants to get into trouble, including Xu Jingchang.
No one dared to stand up and support.
"Song Secretary, you said that as long as all officials understand the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, they can assist the country and govern the people. What about those new scholars who have gone to the local government to serve as officials, and they just arrived and don't understand anything? What should they do?"
What kind of junk thing dares to be compared with the teachings of Confucius and Mencius and the learning of Zhu Xi in just one sentence?
Zhu Di's face became darker and darker, and his anger kept rising.
Zhu Di lifted his weight lightly and casually threw a thunderbolt. All the ministers were shocked, especially Song Li, the Minister of Rites, who finally got rid of Xu Jingchang. Why did Your Majesty start causing trouble again?
No, these three pamphlets were created by Xu Jingchang. Your Majesty and he are working together to cause trouble. It’s terrible!
Song Li had no choice but to stand up and said, "Your Majesty, these three books have also heard that the Materia Medica for Relief from Famines is about wild vegetables, and the other two books are also miscellaneous studies, not pure Confucianism or Confucius and Mencius.
Emperor Taizu said at the beginning that the imperial examination would not read books other than those of Confucius and Mencius, and would not teach anything other than the teachings of Zhu Xi. There seems to be something wrong with including these three books in the imperial examination, and I hope your majesty will tell you clearly."
Zhu Di naturally has a strong character, but in the face of this situation, all the ministers unanimously opposed it, but they were in vain... Do they have to give up?
But he suddenly noticed that Xu Jingchang's face was half-smiling, and Zhu Di couldn't help but frown, "Dong Guo, what do you have in mind?"
Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "Your Majesty, that's not what I meant. I just think it's a little too slow. Now we require students to study, then take the imperial examination, and then enter the court as officials. I don't know how long it will take! I have such a
The idea is that Your Majesty needs the help of virtuous ministers, and the courtiers do not know everything... Why not ask for virtuous talents from all over the world directly, and those who are outstanding will be directly awarded official positions regardless of their origins or qualifications. Wouldn't it be faster?"
Song Li was shocked, "Dong Guo, if you do this, it will disrupt the imperial election. You must not do it."
Xu Jingchang laughed loudly and said: "How could it be! Song Shangshu has already admitted that officials will use masters, and they are very capable... In this case, wouldn't it be better if your majesty directly recruits masters to do things without officials interfering in the middle?"
My computer broke down in the morning. After it was repaired, I hurriedly finished a chapter... It's not easy to find a computer repairman on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year...
