When the outside world learned that the imperial court had actually changed this year's imperial examination system, it immediately caused an uproar.
Although they were given ten points, they still could not accept such system changes.
Some of them have old-fashioned ideas and believe that the ancestral system cannot be changed.
Others simply believe that adding other topics and content will make their exams more difficult.
In this way, wouldn’t their chances of passing the examination be even smaller?
So this is also the true inner thought of most reference students.
They don't want to become victims. They want to pass the joint examination, participate in the palace examination, and then enter the official career as Jinshi.
They don't care about the emperor's purpose, as well as the benefits and necessity of reform. The first thing they think about is always themselves.
Especially those scholars who came all the way from Nanzhili to the capital were extremely dissatisfied with the reforms of the imperial court.
The emperor was not friendly to the gentry scholars in the south, and if he was going to reform and change things now, they thought he was targeting the Southern Zhili students.
Therefore, those who used this opportunity to cause the most trouble and the most ruthless actions were also student members from Nanzhili.
They relied on the fact that there were more people from the south serving as officials and the party was the strongest, so they were much bolder than the student members in other places.
"I heard that it was Gu Bingqian, the chief officer of the Department of Education, who was admonishing His Majesty for reforms in the court, and also caused the death or injury of loyal ministers who were admonishing the country and the people."
"This Gu Bingqian is really hateful. I heard that this person is very close to Wei Gong. It must be these two sycophants who have deceived Your Majesty."
"When I was studying hard in my hometown in Jiangxi, I heard my uncle talk about the incident in the capital. I didn't believe it. I didn't expect to see it with my own eyes today. It's really worse than that."
"In the Ming Dynasty, we have been reduced to the position where traitors and sycophants are in power. They are so rampant that they can harm the loyal and righteous people at will."
"The emperor also did not go to court all day long and ignored political affairs. It seems that he was blinded by those traitors and could not detect it."
"If one day I am selected as a Jinshi and serve as an official in the court, I will definitely bring these traitorous officials to justice to honor the souls of innocent people who died unjustly."
In a restaurant, several young students were taking advantage of the alcohol to criticize the imperial policies, and their dissatisfaction was very obvious in their words.
But another student member sitting with this stupid young man seemed much more stable. He did not pick up the topic, but asked doubtfully:
"What is the Department of Education? When did the Ming Dynasty have the Department of Education? What does it do?"
"You don't even know this. The Department of Education was established as early as the forty-eighth year of Wanli, when His Majesty just ascended the throne."
"But I don't know the details. In short, in the past year or so, many abandoned schools in Beizhili have been rebuilt and opened on a large scale."
"It's also involved in Nanjing. It seems to be similar to the tribute system issued by Emperor Taizu Gao in his time."
"As you can tell by the name, the Department of Education must be responsible for education and reading."
After hearing this answer, the young student who had just raised the question became thoughtful.
After a long while, he couldn't help but said:
"From this point of view, His Majesty should attach great importance to scholars like us, otherwise he would not have spent money and effort to build schools for this purpose."
This time the other two people were stunned.
They just heard about many things and did not understand the details and specific processes at all.
Just like the student who claimed to be from Jiangxi just now, the reason why he was so dissatisfied with the imperial court.
The main reason is that his uncle resigned from office and returned home after being beaten with a royal cane at the court meeting.
While they were studying and thinking deeply, there were bursts of noisy sounds outside.
They quickly got up to take a look, only to find that it was the notorious Jin Yiwei who was searching and arresting people on the street.
Several guards in golden clothes holding swords on their waists were escorting two Confucian scholars. They were surrounded by people watching the excitement, including some Confucian students.
Seeing this, the two arrested students knew that the situation was feasible, so they shouted loudly:
"The two of us have not broken any laws, but the Jinyi Guards want to arrest us and send us to prison for no reason. It is simply lawless. I hope you can help us bear witness."
Sure enough, they expected it, and some Confucian scholars watching understood it on the spot and cooperated with the two of them.
In an attempt to agitate people's hearts and minds on the street, exert pressure and force Jin Yiwei to release him.
This is their old routine, but it is a pity that ordinary people today are no longer so easily deceived and beguiled.
They have seen this kind of thing a lot. Anyone who goes out frequently has seen factory guards arrest people.
But they have never been arrested, they are law-abiding civilians. Instead, they have a very good attitude towards them and are very talkative.
And they also know that the emperor is punishing corrupt officials and helping them seek justice, so they are naturally on the emperor's side.
As for the Jinyiwei, they have already been reborn and will no longer be like before, fearful of offending because they are scholars.
A leading Xiaoqi shouted loudly:
"According to His Majesty's imperial edict, anyone who confuses the public with monstrous words and arbitrarily discusses and criticizes the imperial policies will be treated as a treasonous party and will not be tolerated."
"What's more, these two people have repeatedly disrespected His Majesty, confused right and wrong, and slandered the current cabinet ministers. This is a capital crime."
"What are your intentions here now by spreading rumors and causing trouble, obstructing our Jinyi Guards from enforcing the law, and supporting the rebellious party?"
"Anyone who makes any further statements will be regarded as an accessory and sent to prison."
After saying that, he took out the sword from his waist and pointed it at the Confucian scholars.
How have they ever seen this scene before? Playing words is their strength, how can they dare to challenge it with real swords and guns?
Seeing the polished long knife, these guys who were afraid of death honestly shut their mouths and secretly retreated.
The three people who watched all the people passing by in the restaurant only felt a chill running down their backs.
Especially the student from Jiangxi was so frightened that he broke into sweat. Thinking of what he just said, he felt frightened.
He could guess that these two people must have said similar words to him and were taken away by the Jin Yiwei.
"Brother Liu, you must be careful what you say from now on. You must never say the words you just said."
"The capital is no better than other places. This is the emperor's feet. If you are not careful, your life may be in danger."
This was a real lesson, and for the sake of their acquaintance, his two drinking buddies also reminded him kindly.
Such arrests were common in the capital a few days after the imperial court issued the document notice.
Zhu Youxuan felt that there were too many people for reference, especially those from the south, most of whom were members of Jiangnan interest groups.
Some of them are the children of powerful nobles, or they are puppets supported and cultivated by a certain force. In short, they are all his opposites.
He doesn't like people like this, and he doesn't need them. If he catches them now, he won't stain his own eyes.
What he really cares about in this imperial examination is the few students in Huangming College who he needs to consider, and Lu Xiangsheng, whom he respects and admires very much.