Although he handed over the power to Song Yingxing and Xu Guangqi, he still needed to control the themes and content.
The subject matter of their first test paper did not meet Zhu Youxiao's ideal expectations.
He rejected it without hesitation, and then discussed with the two of them for two full hours, telling them all his thoughts.
Xu Guangqi and Song Yingxing had no choice but to go back and work overtime to draft the theme again.
Outside the palace, the imperial guards, who had been ordered by the emperor, arrested more than twenty students for reference, 90% of whom were from Nanzhili.
After Zhu Youxiao read the list, he was so angry that he even thought about changing the North and South lists.
Give these southerners some eye drops so that they can more clearly understand the authority and ability of an emperor.
But in the end, he didn't act impulsively. After all, he couldn't estimate the impact, so he had to be cautious.
However, he couldn't just let it go. He abolished all the qualifications of these people, stripped them of all their academic achievements, and turned them into common people.
They were also put on a blacklist and were banned from participating in the imperial examination for the rest of their lives.
Moreover, their last escape route was sealed, and even aides could not serve as staff. Anyone who violated the rules would be deemed to be guilty of the same crime. Officials who violated the rules would be dismissed from office and their homes would be confiscated.
Zhu Youxiao doesn't kill people easily anymore. It has indeed had a great impact on his reputation.
And there is no way to kill all of these people, you have to catch them within seven inches.
If a scholar cannot take part in the imperial examination to gain fame or become an official, then he is not even as good as a farmer.
This is their seven inches.
As soon as this imperial edict was issued, it was opposed by many officials.
Officials from Jiangnan quickly gathered together to discuss countermeasures after learning about it.
Finally, they decided to fight to the death and gathered everyone to kneel at the Meridian Gate to protest, vowing to force the emperor to take back his sacred mandate.
This time they are not as afraid of death as before. There is no reason. The emperor is digging their roots.
After several jails and massacres, the officials from Jiangnan suffered the most losses.
Those whose interests have been harmed the most are also the wealthy noble families in Jiangnan.
The emperor doesn't want the Jiangnan nobles to survive.
If they don't stand up and fight, it won't be long before the Jiangnan officials in the court become extinct.
In order to increase their own power and possibility of success, Jiangnan officials even joined forces with Donglin Party members.
But unity can only be based on profitability, even though everyone knows the emperor's true purpose and intention.
But there are still some selfish, greedy and fearful people who choose to retreat at this critical moment.
Not to mention other officials, they will not speak for the Donglin Party members and Jiangnan officials.
Especially the officials of the three parties of Qi, Chu, and Zhejiang, now they are burning incense if they don't add insult to injury.
In this way, one after another, in just a few hours, as many as thirty-seven officials were kneeling outside the Meridian Gate.
After Zhu Youxiao learned about it, he ignored them at all and did not expel them. Instead, he made them kneel to see who could consume more energy than the other.
If it weren't for the lack of food in the north, Zhu Youxiao might have ordered them all to be killed.
Now I just let them kneel outside and don't care, which is an advantage for them.
But his patience had its limit. After two days, Zhu Youxiao felt that he needed to express his attitude and show off.
Wei Zhongxian came outside the Meridian Gate to convey the emperor's wishes.
"Your Majesty said, if you really want to die to remonstrate, you might as well borrow a knife from the guard and commit suicide. This will have a faster effect, the greatest influence, and is most beneficial to you."
"There's no need to show off here. It's a waste of your time and the Emperor's patience. There are also many people paying attention to this matter, so don't keep them waiting."
"I'll give you a stick of incense and time to think it over carefully. If you really have this idea, just tell us and we will definitely help you pick out a good knife."
"If you don't want to die, you have only a quarter of an hour to exit the Meridian Gate immediately, go home and have a good rest for a day, and then continue your errands tomorrow."
Wei Zhongxian's understatement was particularly harsh in the ears of these officials.
They knew that the emperor didn't want to see them, but they didn't expect that he had reached this point and actually treated them like nothing.
But when they really face death, their anger is gone.
Seeing that the time had come and no one stood up and wanted to die generously, Wei Zhongxian smiled contemptuously and said lightly:
"Your Majesty is kind to you. All the officials who participated in this kneeling remonstrance will be fined for two years. Others will be let go. I hope you will not be ignorant of good and evil."
"If there are still people kneeling here after a quarter of an hour, they will all be dismissed from their official positions, their titles will be abolished, they will be demoted to common people, and they will never be hired."
After saying that, he led everyone back to the palace. Peace returned to the outside of the Meridian Gate, leaving only the guards on duty and a group of heartbroken officials.
Soon after, they supported each other and left the palace.
A middle-aged official glanced at the palace when he left, and couldn't help but whisper:
"Let's see how many days you can still dance."
At this time, Zhu Youxiao didn't know that someone had murderous intentions towards him.
He was in the main hall of Qianqing Palace, receiving the envoy from North Korea who had traveled thousands of miles and almost lost his life to reach Ming Dynasty.
When Pu Chengzhong and Jin Zhiwang met Zhu Youxiao, they were so excited and aggrieved.
Just like the son who was bullied by others outside, the scene was exactly the same when he saw his father complaining.
The two took turns telling the story, and finally told Zhu Youxiao the whole story.
Zhu Youxiao was also greatly surprised after hearing this. This Mao Wenlong was really ambitious and courageous.
Even though he was extorting money in North Korea, he actually dared to use chicken feathers as arrows to threaten the King of North Korea in his own name and seek personal gain for himself.
The most hateful thing is that he actually got together with Jiannu, and he really betrayed his trust in him.
After working hard, it took him more than a year, and tens of thousands of soldiers were killed or injured, before he suppressed and sealed the old slave in the deep mountains and forests.
The original idea was to weaken Lao Nu's strength through the blockade of resources and materials.
So that when we conquer him in the future, we can be more relaxed and reduce the casualties of soldiers.
But he didn't expect that there was such a hand behind him, and the efforts made by himself, Xiong Tingbi, Yuan Keli and others were all in vain.
He knew what kind of person Mao Wenlong was, but he still resolutely used him.
Just because he has the ability, he is a good hand in fighting, and he is also a sharp blade to deal with the slave establishment.
I originally wanted to give him trust and give him enough stage to perform to his heart's content and make up for future regrets, but in the end I misjudged him.
It seems that none of these generals with warlord ideas can be used. In the end, the only one who will cause harm is himself.