"Have you heard? A Yenching University will be opened soon."
"What is a university? How big is it?"
"It is said that it is a place where we can all go to school. After three years of education in the elementary school founded by Haiwang, and passing the exam, we can enter the university. I heard people say that Nanhai University in Guangzhou Prefecture is very powerful. Everyone
Once you graduate, you will find a job with a high salary, and people are rushing to get it."
"What does this have to do with me being a pig butcher?"
"You have no ambition. I want to send my son to school. As long as he goes to college, he will have the opportunity to be an official in the future. Even if he is unlucky, he can go to a bank or a factory."
"You have such a beautiful idea, you night-fragrant person. How much does it cost to go to school?"
"The tuition fees for compulsory primary schools are very low, and you only need to pay some book fees."
"Who are you trying to scare? How can such a good thing happen? Besides, I have to study hard for more than ten years before I can take the scientific examination. If your son goes and fails to pass the examination, it will be a waste of time. My son should kill pigs with me and start practicing when he is a teenager.
, when I’m in my twenties, I can earn a little money from this craft and marry a wife.”
"No ambition!"
"No future!"
There are a lot of discussions about Yenching University on the streets. Some people want their sons to go to school. Some people think it is a waste of time. It is a waste of money and energy for children with mediocre qualifications to go to school.
Nowadays, the discussion among literati is more about the Hongxi Literary Award.
In the Imperial College, a group of prison students were discussing during the break: "Have you heard? The judges for the Hongxi Literature Award have been announced. The judges are all very senior and have strong authority."
"Who is there? Who is there?"
"Wen Taiqing's wife, Mr. Qingshang Sun Zuo, Yang Rong, a bachelor of Wenyuange, and Shen Du, a bachelor of Hanlin, are the main judges."
"Ah? Are the two leaders still alive?"
"Don't curse others."
Wen Taiqing's wife is the longest-living female poet in Chinese history. She was born in the Yuan Dynasty. She is now more than 110 years old. It took a lot of effort to find her, but after learning that she could become a judge of the Hongxi Literary Award,
, the old lady is all in high spirits.
Sun Zuo, a Mr. Qing Shang, is rumored to be a descendant of Sun Jian of the Three Kingdoms. He was a scholar in the late Yuan Dynasty. When the war broke out, he took his family to escape from the army in Wu. He abandoned all his family property and only carried two carts of books. In the sixth year of Hongwu, he was hired to edit the "Da Ming Calendar" and was awarded the Hanlin Academy.
He was an editor, a professor at the Taiping Prefecture, and later entered the Imperial College. He was a famous bibliophile. His poems were neat and vigorous, and his writing was vigorous. Although he was not a great writer or poet, he still gave lectures to local students at home all year round. In the Songjiang area,
His status and reputation are so high that most of Songjiang's Jinshi scholars have called themselves his disciples over the years.
However, he only has a saying that scholars are his friends, regardless of whether they are masters or disciples, old or young, and his reputation is extremely high.
While several people were talking, a young supervisor came over. Hearing that several people were discussing the Hongxi Literature Award, he suddenly became full of disdain: "Humph, there is no first place in literature and no second place in martial arts. Let's make a literary award."
To give out prizes and let literati from all over the world compete is a nondescript and useless thing."
"Xu Youzhen, you were criticized by your teacher again yesterday. You are arrogant every day. What qualifications do you have to say this?" Another supervisor was dissatisfied with his tone and sneered.
The young supervisor is Xu Youzhen, who is only sixteen or seventeen years old now. Because of his short stature but old face, he is often called a little old man.
Xu Youzhen squinted at the supervisors who ridiculed him. In his eyes, these supervisors with mediocre qualifications were not even worthy of studying and writing in the same school as him.
"My husband didn't criticize me because of my articles. He has never criticized me because of my knowledge. I have been studying hard for decades, and I am a classmate of ordinary people like you. It is really ridiculous."
"you!
..." None of the young supervisors are the best among the best, and they all have quite bad tempers. They are about to start a fight.
Just when the two were about to punch each other, an elegant gentleman with a goatee came.
As soon as they saw him, everyone moved away, and Xu Youzhen also saluted respectfully.
Goatee is the imperial wine sacrificer Zhao Rui.
"You are all supervisors of the Imperial College. If there is a conflict, you will resolve it violently with fists and kicks, which damages the literati style."
"The student realized his mistake."
Zhao Rui gave him a simple lesson and left on his own. He was dressed in a blue shirt and looked like a distinguished gentleman.
Xu Youzhen followed quickly.
"Sir, the student has a question."
"What question?"
"Prince Hai is planning to hold the Hongxi Literary Award, and he is also going to open Yenching University. I heard that Mr. Hai was invited to be one of the judges. Is this true?"
"It's true. Hanlin Bachelor Shen Du has been a close friend of mine for many years. If he speaks, I have to go." Zhao Rui's words were very simple. Although he was not one of the four main judges, there were only about twenty people on the jury. Those who were invited or
A famous person either lived in the Great Yuan Dynasty.
Xu Youzhen said angrily: "Sir, the students kindly ask you not to participate."
"Why?" Zhao Rui looked puzzled.
"Sir, have you seen the list of students at Yenching University?" Xu Youzhen took out a list at this time.
The first batch of enrolled students at Yenching University has just reached 200, and there will be more new students in the future, and the list of new students has been announced.
"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
Xu Youzhen named a few of them and said: "Sir, many of them are Imperial College students who have failed many scientific examinations. The students heard that there are also sons of pig butchers, sons of grain, rice and oil shops, and even docks.
Son of a laborer, you said that these people... the place these people have created is a mess. You are a famous person in the dynasty. If you go there, you are not ruining your reputation. It is also for your husband's benefit that you are a student."
Zhao Rui looked at the list in Xu Youzhen's hand. He also knew that there were several students among them. Their qualifications were mediocre and they would not stand out in the Imperial College. They would probably never have a chance to pass the imperial examination in this life. However, Yenching University has admitted all these students.
Recruited.
It meant that there was either no one or limited ability, which made Zhao Rui frown slightly. As a famous person, he naturally has the style of a famous person, suave, free and easy, and he also has to draw a clear line between ordinary people.
Looking at Zhao Rui's appearance, Xu Youzhen said again: "Sir, you usually talk and laugh like a scholar, and you don't come and go. If you sit at the same table with those low-class people, it will damage your reputation."
After some discussion, Zhao Rui started to think about retreating. He really didn't want to be with those cooks and dock workers.
Celebrities always like to walk through the bamboo forest, drink tea, admire the moon and other elegant things. If they lose their style, they are nothing but elegant celebrities.
Xu Youzhen struck while the iron was hot and said: "Sir, it is said that Yenching University provides many facilities for students, as if they want to raise students in boudoirs. It is really degrading to gentlemen. You said that I am studying hard in the cold window, enduring all the wind, frost, rain and snow.
, Only then can you become talented, have a tenacious spirit, and a strong body. If you follow their methods and teach them to look like big flower girls with cute little tits, what's the use of studying."
"Xu Youzhen must not speak nonsense." Zhao Rui said in a deep voice, glaring at Xu Youzhen who spoke unhesitatingly.
Xu Youzhen bowed and apologized: "Sir, it was the students who were rude."
However, Zhao Rui thought about what Xu Youzhen said carefully, and it was not unreasonable. They all studied hard. Even if they are princes and nobles, if they have not read the book, they will be exposed after just a few words. The style of the Ming Dynasty was very high.
, they would all look down on the young master who is full of idiots. Although the conditions announced by Yenching University are good, they are despised by him.
Is this really a way to raise a big girl? It is said that there is a heater provided in winter.
Don’t they understand that the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold, and the edge of a sword comes from sharpening? How can one achieve full knowledge without experiencing suffering?
Because I have been caught in the rain, I always want to tear other people's umbrellas to pieces, and I also have to take off their clothes.
There are many stories in history about people who endured hardships and grew up from them, and these people became celebrities and were praised by future generations, so later generations began to praise the sufferings and forget about the perseverance of those people themselves.
Suffering is not directly related to success. We can only hear examples of those who succeeded in suffering, and those who fell and disappeared are the vast majority.
Don't thank the suffering itself or the people who brought you hardship, thank those who helped you when you were in trouble and yourself who struggled not to give up in the pain and crawled out of the cold and biting mud.
Xu Youzhen also represents the attitude of many graduates of the Imperial College. Due to the emergence of Yenching University, their status has plummeted.
The public now compares Yenching University and the Imperial College to be on the same level, even to the point of overshadowing the past. Some of the college students feel dissatisfied. They have worked hard to get to where they are now, and why suddenly another Yanjing University appears?
Beijing University, and there seems to be no threshold for recruiting people there.
Of course, there are no barriers. These students are either supervisors of the Imperial College, students from various places who come to Beijing, or outstanding graduates selected from compulsory primary schools.
But it was these people who lowered the social status of the graduates of the Imperial College and stole the limelight. Naturally, some of them were unhappy.
Xu Youzhen is one of the most typical ones. He loves to be in the limelight. He was an extremely pushy person in the Imperial College. He was criticized by his husband mostly because of his arrogance. He was not very old, so he always felt that he must have passed the exam at a young age and be high-spirited.
Zhao Rui was a little shaken by what Xu Youzhen said, and Xu Youzhen continued: "Sir, besides, this Hongxi Literature Award will definitely cause an uproar. Literary talents from all over the country may be dissatisfied. Why should you, sir, go into this muddy water? If someone is deliberately
The attack has been captured, sir, I can’t say anything to defend myself.”
Zhao Rui sighed: "How could you not know? Since ancient times, there has never been a first-class writer. If you choose the best, someone will inevitably be dissatisfied. If someone is dissatisfied, there will be a dispute. The award will be presented in the name of His Majesty. If the dispute becomes serious, you will have to go to court and cause trouble.
The city is full of trouble and I don’t know how to clean it up.”
Xu Youzhen immediately continued: "What's more, the Hongxi Literature Award will also set up a separate award, which will be at the same level as poetry. Isn't this insulting to gentlemen?"
Xu Youzhen, who was heartbroken, bowed to Zhao Rui, and her grief and anger surged up: "The student's heartfelt words are all for the consideration of the teacher. The teacher always teaches the students to keep it in mind and regards the teacher as a good teacher and friend. The students hope that the teacher will give more consideration to the teacher and do not make mistakes."
And that award.”
Zhao Rui patted Xu Youzhen on the shoulder and said, "You are good at writing, knowledgeable, and upright. You will become a great person in the future. I am very pleased to be my teacher."
"I hope you will give me more support, sir."
On that day, Zhao Rui withdrew from his seat on the Hongxi Literary Award jury, and he was not the only one to withdraw. Many people in the capital also quit.
This stumped the four main judges.
Zhu Zhanzhen called together the four chief judges, Wen Taiqing's wife, Mr. Qingshang Sun Zuo, Yang Rong, a bachelor of Wenyuan Pavilion, and Shen Du, a bachelor of the Imperial Academy. Dayuan and the folk literati sat at the same table.
But the first two have a very high status. Even if they don't have official status, no one dares to look down upon them.
Moreover, ancient people had great respect for the elderly. As long as you have lived over sixty, everyone who meets you must respect you. Otherwise, the name of respecting the elderly will be lost, and these literati and refined scholars cannot afford it.
Not to mention Mr. Qingshang's grandson Zuo is over eighty years old, and Wen Taiqing's wife is over a hundred years old.
As long as you live more than a hundred years, the emperor will have to call you the birthday girl when he sees you. It's a bit disrespectful for young people. You don't need to speak yourself, and other people around you will be drowned by their saliva.
Therefore, although they did not have official status, these two people still sat in the upper position, but the master Zhu Zhanzhen himself sat in the lower position.
"I have already ordered people to conduct the auditions for the Hongxi Literary Award. Articles and poems from all over the country are being selected. Only the best articles will be submitted to the jury. At that time, we will have to trouble the four main judges and the judges.
Group." Zhu Zhancheng was in high spirits during happy events, and the smile on his face was like a young man who was proud of the spring breeze.
Yang Rong sighed helplessly and said: "Your Majesty, more than half of the judges originally selected in the past two days have come to Weichen to decline the position on the jury. There is currently a serious shortage of manpower."
As courtiers, Yang Rong and Shen Du also have a lot of pressure to serve as the chief judges. There are many people in the court who oppose the Hongxi Literature Prize. However, because it is in the name of the emperor, the emperor also agreed to do it, so few people speak out.
Mentioning it is all about inciting the censor's book.
The colleagues around Yang Rong also secretly persuaded or put pressure on Yang Rong to resign as the chief judge. Yang Rong himself also had a little talk with Zhu Gaochi, but Zhu Gaochi meant that he had to do it.
You have to do it even if you bite the bullet.
Shen Du's situation was slightly better. Shen Du himself was outstanding in talent and learning, but he did not have much real power in the court. Moreover, he was very interested when he heard that calligraphy and painting also had to be judged this time. On the contrary, he could be a judge and could not participate in the election himself.
Zhu Zhanzhen understood Yang Rong's dilemma and thought for a moment and said: "Young Master Yang, many of the judges on the jury this time are from the Imperial College in Beijing. Since we can't retain them if they want to quit, I will re-select them from Yingtianfu Imperial College."
Some people come over."
"Your Highness, this..." Yang Rong looked confused.
Isn't this picking a fight?
As we all know, the capital of the Ming Dynasty was originally Yingtianfu. To this day, Yingtianfu still retains a complete set of imperial staff, which the emperor could directly use in the past. Therefore, Shuntianfu and Yingtianfu are called the two capitals. Zhu Gaochi even considered moving the capital to respond.
Tianfu.
It can be said that the Imperial College of Yingtian Prefecture and the Imperial College of Shuntian Prefecture disagree with each other, and both feel that they are the most authentic.
This kind of competition among intellectuals is the most terrible, and it is impossible for each other to give in. Now Zhu Zhanzhen is abandoning the Imperial College of Shuntian Prefecture and asking the Imperial College of Imperial College of Yingtian Prefecture to come over. This is not a slap in the face.
?
"Your Highness, this is probably inappropriate." Yang Rong felt that it was impossible for Zhu Zhanzhen not to know about the conflict between the two Imperial Colleges. He did it on purpose.
"What's wrong? They don't want to help, so I'll find someone else. They look down on us and won't allow me to replace them?" Zhu Zhanzhen said very straightforwardly and without mercy.