Although the Ming Dynasty examination had three consecutive examinations like the provincial examination, it only focused on the first session. The first session tested the meaning of the scriptures, and only the first three chapters were focused on, so the next two examinations did not mention it.
After the third exam, Gao Pragmatic relaxed and rested at home. He even briefly looked at the news and requests for instructions from various industries in Jinghua, and most of them only approved and let them look at it. manage.
Both Guo Pu and Zhang Siwei sent people to inquire about his exam status, and Gao Pragmatic just answered "normal performance." He didn't know until he met Zhang Taizheng in the examination room that day that Zhang Siwei refused to serve as an examiner, in addition to avoiding Gao Pragmatic's suspicion. , and at the same time avoid his son’s suspicion.
The so-called resting at home after the exam is actually not accurate. In fact, until the examination is completed and the results are released, the candidates can participate in many banquets. A small banquet every three days and a large banquet every five days are all allocated by the imperial court. There are many names, but it can generally be seen as the imperial court's tacit permission for the people to deepen their friendship with each other, whether it is friendship from the same hometown or friendship from the same age.
Gao pragmatic did not attend all the banquets. He only attended a small banquet for Henan Juzi in his capacity as Henan Jieyuan, and a large banquet that all three Juzis from the North and the South attended.
Nothing special worth mentioning happened at the Henan Xiaoyan. Gao Pragmatic, as Jieyuan, didn't want to talk too much, lest he steal everyone's limelight when he opened his mouth. He pretended to be a little depressed, saying that he was too tired to prepare for the exam today and had to go early. He said goodbye and went back home.
However, during the Sanjuan banquet, he discovered some interesting people and things. In addition to several pairs of brothers, Gao Pingshi also discovered two Nanjuan Juzi who deserved attention.
One of these two people, one named Huang Kezuan, courtesy name Shaofu, was from Meilin, Fujian Province. Gao Pragmatic only vaguely remembered that he would be called "Huang Wubu" in his hometown in the future. He didn't know if he was the five ministers in turn; the other person was more... He is famous, his name is Gu Xiancheng, courtesy name Shushi, from Wuxi, Changzhou Prefecture, Nanzhili Province. He was later the founder of Donglin Academy and the first of the so-called Donglin Eight Gentlemen.
Gao Pragmatic couldn't remember their historical rankings in this spring, but it was almost certain that they were all undergraduates, so he was quite concerned about them.
Especially for Gu Xiancheng, Gao Pragmatic was very concerned. He had historical experience in later generations, so he disliked the Donglin Party.
In addition to internal and external troubles, institutional rigidity, constant natural disasters, etc., the decline of the Ming Dynasty was also caused by party strife. In the early years before he traveled through time, eunuchs had been shouted at and killed. , but later on, the most hated person was undoubtedly the Donglin Party.
Speaking of the Donglin Party, I am afraid that few people have never heard of it, because the name of the Donglin Party is very resounding in both film and television dramas and textbooks. There is also "Tombstone Story of Five People" in Chinese textbooks. Yang Lian, left The upright and unyielding image of Guangdou and other "Donglin gentlemen" makes people have a good impression of the huge political group behind them. However, most people who are truly familiar with the history of the Ming Dynasty, especially the history of the late Ming Dynasty, scorn the Donglin Party. , and even believed that the Donglin Party was the culprit of the demise of the Ming Dynasty. Why?
The Donglin Party is actually a kind of political freak born under the special political and cultural environment since the Wanli period. It is a group of politically frustrated activists represented by Gu Xiancheng, under the name of giving lectures at Wuxi Donglin Academy , formed such a political group with a strong voice among the people.
But they were different from other political groups. At the beginning, they did not have the support of strong political power at the top. They relied entirely on the academy as a link to integrate the political power of merchants, landlords, and scholar-bureaucrats in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
Compared with other political groups that have clear demands for power, the Donglin Party has set up a very high tone since its inception, using helping the world as its loud and clear slogan. Its representatives, such as Gu Xiancheng, Zhao Nanxing, Zou Yuanbiao, etc. The characters are all idol-level scholar-bureaucrats who have a strong reputation among the people all year round. At first glance, it makes people feel as if the sun is shining brightly and the darkness is not born.
What are the facts?
In fact, most of the Donglin Party members were admirers of Yangming's philosophy of mind, but they flaunted the concept of cultivating conscience, but they were unable to achieve the unity of knowledge and action like Wang Yangming did.
From Wanli to Chongzhen, they were at the center of power. Faced with the country's political dilemma and crisis, they made almost no constructive methods or policies.
Since they were unable to provide practical methods and policies, they devoted their efforts to "destroying trouble." When Xu Guangqi proposed ideas such as technological reform, the Donglin Party suppressed them with curses; when Xiong Tingbi made a splash in Liaodong, He also continued to use public opinion to attack Xiong Tingbi.
They talk eloquently but have high ambitions and low abilities. They cannot do it themselves, cannot do it, and do not allow others to do it to change the country. It is this group of Donglin Party members who think they are noble and talented, and seriously hindered the development of the country in the late Ming Dynasty. Reform and governance caused the Ming Dynasty to miss its last opportunity to reform and save itself.
A political group must have its own interests. As representatives of emerging businesses and landlords and literati, the Donglin Party did not hesitate to harm the interests of the country and the people in order to maximize their own interests.
In fact, since the Long and Wan years ago, emerging capitalism has sprouted, especially in the Jiangnan area, where business has been unprecedentedly prosperous. The fiscal reforms that took place during the Tianqi period introduced industrial and commercial taxes and mining taxes for industry and commerce, which effectively alleviated the financial problems of the Ming Dynasty at that time. of tension.
However, such policies harmed the interests of Jiangnan landlords and businessmen represented by the Donglin Party. When the Donglin Party came to power, they immediately abolished all this series of policies.
In the face of internal and external troubles, finance and taxation are particularly important. Suddenly, the tax revenue from industry and commerce is reduced, and it is understandable that the finances are tight. However, the court cannot really take advantage of the situation. In this way, the Donglin Party will have no choice but to The taxes were passed on to ordinary people, and the people were overwhelmed and had no choice but to rebel.
The Ming Dynasty, when capitalism was booming, was unable to increase tax revenue through industry and commerce for a long time. This strange and unimaginable thing in ancient human history was due to the Donglin Party.
What’s even more interesting is that when the country really can’t come up with money and they need donations, they all flaunt their honesty and cry out for poverty. But after the city was destroyed, tens of millions of wealth were found in their homes. It’s really a great irony. As for The Donglin Party, which has always believed in loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, fled or surrendered when the Ming Dynasty was destroyed, causing various farces such as "the water is too cold". How can such a Donglin Party be so pragmatic? Like?
Therefore, when he saw the young Gu Xiancheng for the first time, Gao Pragmatic even considered one thing: Should he criticize this guy in advance and then step on ten thousand people?
To be honest, Gao Pragmatic's overall impression of Nanjuan Jinshi was not very good. Compared with some Shanxi merchants in the late Ming Dynasty who smuggled food to feed the Jin Tatars, they only suffered from scabies. In traditional Chinese medicine, it can only be called a superficial disease.
It is a problem that is easy to deal with, but these "gentlemen" are the internal cause of the death of Ming Dynasty, and it is very difficult to deal with.
Gao pragmatic decided to observe carefully before making a decision, but what he never expected was that although Gu Xiancheng kept talking loudly with others during the banquet, he actually kept criticizing Xinxue in his words!
What the hell is going on? Is this guy still a practical disciple?
Gao Jingshi was dumbfounded: I am of the Shixue lineage, will I be dragged down by you in the future?