The imperial examination reform that Zhu Youxiao wanted to implement was earth-shattering and unprecedented.
He decided to imitate the examination system of later generations, with a total score of 100 points, and then customized more standard answers and unified the questions for review and scoring.
The question system is no longer limited to the content of the Four Books and Five Classics, but will add agriculture and people's livelihood, as well as some national governance issues.
Such questions must be personally reviewed by the school committee, and they must be those who can truly identify talented people who can manage local people's livelihood or maintain the court's economy.
Of course, stereotyped writing still accounts for the majority of the share. After all, this kind of reform requires boiling a frog in warm water, and it is impossible to eat a fat man in one bite.
But just such a small amount still caused a huge backlash in the court.
Because this kind of reform harmed the interests of these gentry scholars.
I have been studying the Four Books, Five Classics and Eight-part Pattern for half my life, and I am about to show off my skills, but you change the content of the questions. No one wants this.
"Your Majesty, since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the title has been based on the content of the Four Books and the Five Classics. It has not been changed for more than two hundred years. Why is there a sudden change this year?"
"Isn't this an unfair move to the scholars in the world who are taking the exam as a reference?"
"Your Majesty allowed the students of Huangming College to take the exam through the back door, which is a violation of the ancestral system. Now he wants to change the eight-part essay of the Four Books and Five Classics, which is even more treasonous."
Liu Ke Yan Guan Wang Tu's voice could be said to have resounded throughout the Huangji Palace. He was using all his strength to speak out and resolutely oppose the emperor.
After Zhu Youxiao heard what he said, he seemed extremely calm and calm, neither angry nor scolded.
He knew that this was just an appetizer, and he wanted to wait for all the opponents to come out and then catch them all.
Zhu Youxiao will not reason with them. These people are so talkative that they are too lazy to waste time arguing with them. It is better to just ignore them.
Sure enough, when they saw the emperor sitting at the top without making any movement, some people thought that the emperor was timid and was considering the matter carefully, so they felt relieved and bolder.
Qiao Yunsheng, a member of the Ministry of Etiquette, added fuel to the fire:
"The imperial examination system was established by Emperor Taizu Gao. If Your Majesty wants to change it, you will be openly opposing Emperor Taizu Gao. Are you going to be such an unfilial son and grandson and be criticized and reviled by the world?"
"Your Majesty suddenly changes the test questions and system. If the scholars who are taking the exam are not convinced and gather a crowd to cause trouble, what will your Majesty do?"
"The ancestral system cannot be changed. If Your Majesty insists on going your own way, wouldn't you offend the scholars of the world? How can you face the previous emperors?"
As soon as this statement came out, countless people in the court echoed.
Zhu Youxiao glanced over and saw that there were probably more than ten or twenty of them, with murderous intent in his eyes.
But the opposing officials standing below with their heads lowered had no idea that they thought they had a chance to win and would become famous among the scholars.
The head of the Education Department, Gu Bingqian, a die-hard supporter of the emperor, was finally the first to speak out in support.
Just listen to him:
"A bunch of mediocre people are mistreating the country and the people. How can they know that His Majesty is a man of great talents and great strategies?"
"Since the party struggle in the Wanli period, the people's livelihood and economy in our Ming Dynasty have been declining day by day. Today, even the military's food and salary and the official's salary are already stretched."
“Isn’t the reason for everything so far caused by you mediocre people who only care about power and profit, and are greedy for false fame, and are negligent in politics?”
"If we don't select and allocate a group of talented young people who have real abilities and can do practical things, how can we revive the Ming Dynasty?"
"Isn't it possible that you are just talking words and doing superficial things to achieve this?"
Gu Bingqian's words can be said to be truly heart-wrenching, hitting them in the gut.
Wang Tu was so angry that he immediately yelled at him:
"It turns out that you, a treacherous villain, was the slanderer behind my back. Now you still dare to openly slander us and other loyal ministers in the court. It would be a pity to be cut into pieces."
"I didn't expect that in our Ming Dynasty, there would be such a flattering and sycophantic person like you. It is really the fault of our officials and it is really a disaster for the country."
Wang Tu's roar had no effect, but Gu Bingqian scolded him again:
"A man who only cares about his own interests and status, how dare he claim to be a loyal minister in front of the court, in full view of the public?"
"The country of Ming Dynasty was ruined by mediocrity like you."
Seeing that he was rebellious, Wang Tu's face turned red with anger. No one had ever dared to scold him like this.
After scolding a few words in return, he bowed to the emperor on the throne and said:
"What we are admonishing today is for our country, the Ming Dynasty, and everyone knows that we are loyal."
"Your Majesty, please kill this man to calm the hearts of the world's scholars."
"If we don't kill him, the scholars in the world will be furious. Let's not talk about whether the imperial examination can be successfully held. It may cause great chaos."
In order to put enough pressure on the emperor, Qiao Yunsheng and others directly knelt down to remonstrate, with a rather imposing attitude of either you die or I die.
Zhu Youxiao, who had been silent until now, saw that the heat was almost over and began to express his unquestionable and opposing attitude.
"Shut up."
The emperor's roar instantly suppressed the voices of admonishment below.
Seeing that Zhu Youxiao became quiet, he finally stood up from the throne, walked to Danbi's steps and said:
"The matters discussed today are related to the country of our country, the country of Ming Dynasty, and are the key to the situation and changes in the future of our country of Ming Dynasty."
"But you officials, who receive imperial salary and keep claiming to serve the country and the people, only care about your own selfish desires and actually curse like shrews in the court."
"If this spreads to the people, where is the majesty and credibility of the imperial court? Where is the national prestige of our Ming Dynasty?"
"Draw all these people out to me, give them fifty imperial rods, and fine them one year's salary."
"Jinyiwei, execute it."
Zhu Youxiao waved his hand, and the guards standing on both sides of the hall quickly stepped forward and dragged out all the scolding officials.
Naturally, these included Gu Bingqian and several other officials who supported the emperor.
Although they are his own people, Zhu Youxiao will not directly and blatantly treat them differently under the attention of all officials.
But it was different outside the palace. It didn't take long for more than a dozen officials on Wang Tu and Qiao Yunsheng's side to be beaten until they cried for their fathers and mothers.
As for Gu Bingqian and others, they just lay on the stools and looked at them with smiles on their faces, showing their mockery. The sticks hit them with no pain at all.
Wang Tu and others saw it with hatred in their hearts. They all gnashed their teeth and wished they could rush over and eat Gu Bingqian and others alive.
But this painful sound penetrated the main hall through the gate of Huangji Hall.
There was a chill in the backs of all the officials. From the beginning to the end, no one dared to say anything to plead for mercy. They just closed their eyes, but their ears could not be closed.