Chapter 295 Yang Shen returns to Beijing, shocking the Three Kingdoms
Chapter 295 Yang Shen returns to Beijing, the Three Kingdoms are shocked
With the establishment of the Prime Minister and the Minister of State and the emperor's decentralization of some political affairs, along with this round of county and township titles and titles, and the awards of rural sages, smart people know that the implementation of the new law will not be a problem in practice.
Whether the new law is effective or not is another matter. Anyway, it is what His Majesty requested. But the surviving officials have greater hope than before.
Now the emperor has first decided on one thing that he is likely to do in the next ten years at the national policy meeting and the military affairs meeting: to regain Jiaozhi. Along with it, is the attitude of being able to claim the title of king of Jiaozhi in the future.
Among the civil servants and generals who kept it secret and knew about it, who would have the ambition to start planning for their own "throne" with all their heart?
Now, Fei Hong, the first Prime Minister and Minister of State, asked the housekeeper: "How are my articles in Ming Pao discussed among the people in the market?"
Today is the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, there is no court meeting.
It was just dawn and Fei Hong was having breakfast.
Fei Hong, who once served as a cabinet minister, felt overwhelmed by the effort required every day after becoming this official.
Daily meals need to be carefully prepared. Even the breakfast in the morning is a health-preserving soup carefully prepared by Laoya using the finest ginseng, cordyceps and other medicinal materials foraged by the housekeeper. This soup calms down the fire, clears away heat and eliminates internal heat.
It strengthens the spleen and stimulates the appetite, and also improves the spirit and vitality.
Now Fei Hong is only concerned about the reaction of the government and the opposition to his speech in Ming Pao published yesterday.
The housekeeper was naturally paying attention yesterday, especially the news that came back at night.
"General Manager, all the scholars praised him, saying that the General Manager is a prime minister for eternity."
Fei Hong frowned and glanced at him, but continued to eat duck meat and soup.
The housekeeper smiled sarcastically, and then said: "I am quite concerned about the chief minister's statement that starting from this year, the general examination will also set up the main and deputy lists, and all provinces will set up provincial examinations. The examination syllabus will not be changed, but the examination system will be changed first."
The first major event after the prime minister came to power was to accept the emperor's favor and implement the policy of large-scale opening of subjects to recruit scholars. Of course the scholars were happy.
There are twenty-four generals in the first class, corresponding to the number of twenty-four advisors. This year, there are five hundred on the main list and one thousand on the deputy list. The senior officials are celebrating with their crowns.
Seeing that the chances of obtaining a prestigious family background have greatly increased, but I don't know how the examination system will be changed.
Fei Hong just nodded: "Continue talking."
The specific examination system will be analyzed in a special article published by the Ministry of Rites in the next issue of "Ming Pao".
It is true that the examination syllabus has not been changed yet. Except for Wang Shouren's set of books, there are not many other works on the new study. It is impossible to decide what content in the new study must be tested now.
However, in the evaluation of the examination papers, many questions that already exist will be given more clear grades, instead of the previous rough ranking of upper, middle and lower.
The marking officers are getting tired: in the past, each person only read a few copies, but now they have to read each copy and give their own score. In the end, someone will calculate the average score given by the marking officers for the same person and the same question.
point.
The final ranking is determined based on the total score.
Fei Hong knew that as a result, the status of "Master" would become increasingly diluted.
If there is a seated master, it will only be the emperor. Because the questions in the palace examination are given by the emperor, and the answer sheet is scored. The scores given by the important ministers have to be averaged anyway. Is everyone a seated master? On the contrary, the emperor submits the final score
Among the forty-nine examination papers, one must give his own score individually. The twenty-four people in the first grade, and even the final ranking of these forty-nine people, actually depend on the emperor.
The power can be delegated, but the name cannot be delegated.
This is also a precaution against future entrants becoming attached to important court ministers, especially prime ministers and ministers of state. No one can object - anyway, in the previous imperial examinations, the emperor could actually make the decision as to who he wanted to enter the first class.
With these thoughts in his mind, Fei Hong only listened to the steward continue: "There is another topic that the scholars have discussed more. After the government restructure this year, the number of provincial officials is around 10,000, and many people are discussing whether this is
Redundant officials and excessive expenses will increase the burden on the people."
Fei Hong only needed to know what the people in the opposition were talking about, and there was no need to explain anything to the housekeeper.
The housekeeper said one by one: "In regard to the three major issues concerning the farmers, the chief proposed a strategy of setting up special officers in each prefecture and state taxation bureau to supervise the iron work and the sale of iron farm tools, as well as the reduction and refund strategy, and also proposed the allocation of special funds.
Governments, prefectures, and county offices subsidize the money, and there are many discussions among the people in the market. I am afraid that the money will be faked and collected by businessmen, large households, and officials in collusion, both internally and externally."
Fei Hong sneered in his heart. His Majesty put this matter first in his New Year's message. I'm afraid the people below don't know that the Metropolitan Procuratorate is currently preparing an Audit and Cleaning Department to be responsible for reviewing financial plans. And these
After being selected, they will be taught by the emperor himself.
The advisers know best how appalling the emperor's talent and level in financial planning are. To be honest, in this aspect alone, the emperor's talent in this area is more terrifying than his new knowledge.
The new law will not be gentle. It will first allow more people to be officials, which is a favor; if they commit crimes, they will investigate and punish a few more. This is a threat.
Once the rules are established in the first few years, the foundation of the new law will be solid.
"Then there is the matter of clearing the land of Zhang Zhang and rebuilding the Yellow Register..." The housekeeper paused and said hesitantly, "We are only talking about whether the Yellow Register in Houhu, Nanjing, will be moved to Beijing..."
Fei Hong's heart trembled.
Yang Tinghe set off today.
The data in the Yellow Records Library in Houhu, Nanjing, are the basis for calculating the grain quotas of provinces, prefectures and counties in the Ming Dynasty. Nanjing has managed this Yellow Records Library, and it has made many things easier for more than a hundred years.
Now Yang Tinghe, Jiang Mian, Yang Tingyi, and Yan Song are the governors of Southern Zhili, Jiangxi, and the important areas of Zhejiang. The six yamen and relatives left behind in Nanjing have actually smelled some differences.
The people only talked about Houhuhuang Ceku, but in fact, after the incident of the imperial staff used to worship Confucius, they did not dare to say outright whether the emperor had the intention to abolish the various tribes in Nanjing.
At this point, Fei Hong needs to push this matter forward more than the emperor. Otherwise, in terms of civil affairs, the Prime Minister and Minister of State will face Nanjing for a long time, which is only responsible to the emperor.
"Please arrange more people to pay attention to this discussion." Fei Hong put down his spoon, "Yingtian Mansion has had traitors like Meng Chun. This time, His Majesty established the Baoyuan Bureau, an inconspicuous place like the Nanjing Ministry of Industry.
, I’m afraid he is the first to think of something unusual.”
Due to the different positions, Fei Hong was forced to start considering more overall issues with Zhu Houcong.
The new law can only be achieved step by step, and Fei Hong has determined a fundamental thing that he needs to do during his three years in office: lay a solid foundation for the new law's secret and undeclared money law.
If we don't solve this problem, everything we do now will collapse in the future.
After hearing Fei Hong mention the Baoyuan Bureau, the housekeeper also said: "Since a few years ago, many people have been talking about the new law to collect grain taxes, and the silver-folding law in the tax tax is harmful to the people. The chief executive pointed out that the treasure banknotes are already worth only one penny.
The imperial court will discuss the strategy and determine the method of banknotes, money, and banking. Everyone in the market thinks that banknotes will be abolished and banknotes and money will be used, and they are quite uneasy."
"I know." Fei Hong stood up, and the maid at home quickly stepped forward to put on his official uniform and tidy up his clothes.
Many taxes such as the grain tax and salt tax in the Ming Dynasty are still collected through the collection of treasure banknotes to try to maintain the value of the treasure banknotes. Facing the pressure from the subsequent surge in the number of officials and administrative expenses, the treasure banknotes will only become more and more embarrassing.
If it is not broken, it cannot be established. Now, if you want to slowly save this treasure, it will be difficult to reach the sky.
But the hasty demonetization is bound to cause an uproar.
Fei Hong sat on his special treat as the prime minister - the special wife of the State Palace. He closed his eyes and began to think about the issues he would discuss with the ministers of state today: how to deal with the Ming Dynasty's taxation and the preliminary preparations for many new laws this year.
Taking back all the treasures now will not harm Ming Dynasty's vitality this year.
…
Since the publication of Ming Pao, officials in the capital have always felt that there are too many things worthy of discussion every fifteen days.
This is not because of the "Ming Pao" itself, but because the Ming Dynasty is going to implement the new law throughout the country, and His Majesty and the court have too much new content to convey.
The candidates who have come to Beijing to take the exam have almost all arrived. It is too risky to arrive in the capital just before the Etiquette Examination in February. If there are some twists and turns on the way, won't they miss it?
Although there are people like this every year, such as Huang Zuo in the past.
Now, discussing the contents of the Emperor and the Prime Minister published in Ming Pao on the first and fifteenth day of the first lunar month respectively is just a way for the officials to release their inner pressure. They are all concerned about this year's examination regulations that will be announced on the first day of February.
"Why not publish it earlier? These days are spent practicing simplified Chinese characters, and I have to concentrate on reviewing my lessons."
Hearing his friend's comments, Tang Shunzhi had no choice but to keep a polite yet embarrassed smile.
Although everyone thought that they would not require the use of simplified Chinese characters for exams, the court's move was really damaging. It has delayed it from November last year until now and has not expressed its position. At least no one in this subject dared to ignore that kind of test.
Possibly, and in order to be able to write official documents well or gain favor in this subject examination in the future, they were forced to take time to practice simplified Chinese characters well.
"Finally, I've decided that I won't take the exam on practical studies." Someone wailed, "It's a shame that I studied Wang Shangshu's "Examination of Practical Studies and Dialectics" for four months, four months!"
For the sake of high school, who dares to ignore it?
New learning comes from the emperor, learn it, what if you pass the exam?
Not everyone is as talented as Tang Shunzhi. Now when they look at Tang Shunzhi, they can only have complicated eyes.
Tang Shunzhi said helplessly: "Why complain? After all, it is not a day's work. Talents are used to select scholars, and the court will not treat them differently just because they have mastered simplified characters. I said so last year, and you don't believe it."
"...That's because you already had the manuscript of "Jiajing Dictionary" a long time ago. What's the difference to you?!"
"...it has been two years since the new school came out. People who are studying should learn from it. I never said that I would definitely take the new school exam."
"But you often discuss new learnings with us!"
Tang Shunzhi was brought in by several friends today to question him. Firstly, they blamed him for not teaching them the simplified characters since he already knew them. Secondly, they criticized him for this.
As a result, Fei Hong now says that the exam syllabus has not changed. Doesn't that mean that these people made misjudgments and wasted a lot of time because Tang Shunzhi had a wide range of information and had too much information?
Tang Shunzhi could only smile bitterly: "I really like to study practical studies and dialectics. Besides, sooner or later it will be official studies. There is no harm in exchanging knowledge, so why be so resentful?"
"Zhang Guowu appreciates you so much. You will definitely be ranked first in this subject, maybe in the top three. Do you have any advice on how to take the exam in this subject?"
The purpose of questioning was to gather information. Tang Shunzhi couldn't laugh or cry: "How busy is Zhang Guowu? Moreover, now that the National Examination is coming, how can I not avoid suspicion and visit and inquire again? After all, the National Examination requires real talent and practical learning. Zhang Guowu only wants to be in prison for 10 years because of me.
After the article I wrote for the exam was circulated, I was called in to ask, why did you appreciate my words so much?"
In the first year he came to the Imperial College, Zhang Zilin, who served as the Minister of Rites during the annual examination, asked them to discuss the pros and cons of the Ming Dynasty's banknote law. Tang Shunzhi's answer sheet was a blockbuster, showing that he was rare among the Imperial College students and had a lot of practical insights, so he was summoned by Zhang Zilin
.
But that was not the only time later. Zhang Zilin was really looking forward to Tang Shunzhi, and even revealed that the emperor also admired his article quite a lot.
"Is it important that you go to Huangming University all the time? The exam syllabus remains the same, but there are some emphasis. I heard that you have many contacts with professors from the School of Calculation. Could it be that the current subject focuses on the Book of Changes?
?”
"...I just like arithmetic."
Everything was renewed in the Ming Dynasty. Tang Shunzhi, a guy with a wide range of hobbies, was completely different from other scholars. Now his every move is being scrutinized by them.
In the examination syllabus, there are five classics such as "Book of Songs", "Book of Changes", "Book of Rites", "Book of Changes", and "Spring and Autumn". During the provincial examination, there was a saying that the leader of the Five Classics was mentioned. And arithmetic and the Book of Changes have many origins, and they want to distort it.
Already.
In the midst of such worries about gains and losses, on the second day of February, a carriage slowly arrived in the capital.
Yang Shen opened half of the car curtains and looked at the city of Beijing, which had been away for more than four years. Now, it was still two or three miles away from the city, but some houses outside the city and the vague shadow of the city wall could already be seen.
Before leaving the capital, he was an aristocrat of the Hanlin Academy.
When he came back, he was the Duke of Nanhai County, a guest of the prince, and would be appointed as the right minister of the household department.
"Master, I brought it."
He didn't open the curtain specifically to see the city of Beijing and express his emotions, but because the servant who helped him make the outpost to pick up the new issue of "Ming Pao" arrived.
Yang Shen took the newspaper and put down the curtain to read it carefully.
Over the past four years, Yang Shen's bookishness has become weaker and weaker. He is very familiar with the city of Beijing. If anything is new, how much can be fresher than Guangzhou in recent years?
On the contrary, the things in this issue of the newspaper are related to him.
When I met with my father in Linqing a few days ago, I heard him say that this issue will contain content related to the examination.
When Yang Shen returned to Beijing, the first thing he had to do before taking up his new position in the household department was to serve as the examiner of the joint examination.
The emperor's compensation to Yang Tinghe and his trust and precautions towards the Prime Minister and Minister of State are evident from this arrangement.
After looking at the examination system announced above, in addition to the setting of main and deputy lists and quotas, the most important thing is of course the change in the marking rules.
Yang Shen thought of his experience in Guangzhou, and the corner of his mouth curled up slightly. This inconspicuous change will actually subtly make future scholars pay attention to arithmetic. Future officials must be able to settle accounts.
Think about it, in the future when the imperial list is published, in addition to the ranking, there will also be a string of numbers showing their scores. Can this string of numbers be ignored?
In addition, the Ministry of Rites will also arrange a special day this time to support the scholars in consulting the scores they received for each question on their answer sheets. After returning home, they are not allowed to do the calculations themselves?
Of course, they don't know who gets what score. Someone will copy out a form, call the name, and hand the paper to the candidate. That's it. They can go back and do the calculations themselves. It's called helping candidates understand their own knowledge.
The pros and cons of each place.
They are all small details, but they have a big effect.
Yang Shen knew that His Majesty wanted to organize these small details himself and do them well. There are many such small details in Guangzhou.
There was still some time before entering the city, so Yang Shen looked back page after page.
When he turned to the next page, he was stunned for a moment.
This edition does not have various "news" divided into grids. The entire page is densely packed with text.
"Romance of the Three Kingdoms".
Chapter 1: The three heroes of the Taoyuan Banquet became sworn brothers, and the first hero of the Yellow Turbans was killed for his meritorious service.
Original work: Luo Guanzhong. Note: Lin Xiyuan.
Yang Shen looked at the word "imperial approval" in astonishment. What was the emperor doing in Ming Pao?
His Majesty personally arranged to publish a story novel in something as important as Ming Pao?
This "Popular Romance of the Three Kingdoms" was easily found and read by Yang Shen, the number one scholar and the son of the first minister, during his leisure time in the Hanlin Academy. It was derived from Chen Shou's "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", but it is very interesting. As for the story
Literary talent... Yang Shen said it was just average, and it was just killing time at the time.
Now, Yang Shen began to read solemnly: Since it is the imperial edition, there must be some comments from the emperor in it, right? Just by comparing it with the old edition, you can continuously see some of His Majesty's tendencies and ideas? Maybe this was the emperor's intention.
Then he was struck by lightning.
"Linjiang Fairy".
The rolling water of the Yangtze River flows eastward, and the waves wash away the heroes. Right and wrong, success or failure, are all gone. The green mountains are still there, and the sunsets are red several times.
The white-haired fisherman and woodcutter on the riverbank is used to looking at the autumn moon and the spring breeze. They happily meet each other over a jug of wine. Many things in ancient and modern times are laughed at and talked about.
[The great age is approaching. I have reviewed the story of the Three Kingdoms. I think this book can be read carefully by both officials, gentry, and young children. It can distinguish between loyal and traitorous, think about choices, observe the art of Taoism, know the pros and cons, understand the gains and losses, and make a special comment on it.
Publish it so that people in the world can read it. Make a collection of words for the enjoyment of the subjects.]
Yang Shen was stunned, his eyes fixed on the song "Linjiang Immortal".
Zhuang Yuanlang savored every word and felt the hairs all over his body stand up.
I haven’t seen you for several years, but your majesty still has such literary talent?
Why didn't you show it at all back then?
This was just one aspect. Yang Shen who returned from Guangdong was no longer the Yang Shen who had obvious shortcomings in worldly sophistication and officialdom wisdom. He soon realized that after this issue of "Ming Pao" spread all over the world, the world would
What do you think of the emperor who has learned new knowledge and has great ambitions? He is also so talented in literature!
A masterpiece that can be passed down for centuries!
Even Yang Shen, the emperor in his mind now has a different kind of brilliance, it seems that he is an existence that can only be looked up to.
Just...how do you feel...do you feel like you have felt this way before? It seems like it was when you drank from the golden cup at the national policy meeting...
"Master! Master! Eunuch Huang Jin personally welcomed us!"
Yang Shen was shocked when he heard this: "What?"
Huang Jinzhen was ordered to wait outside the city gate. Yang Shen quickly got off the carriage and went over. He was flattered and said: "Your Majesty is so kind to me, I can't bear it!"
Of course this was what Zhu Houcong meant, and Yang Shen knew how to say it.
Huang Jin's expression was also a little strange.
Indeed, Fei Hong and others did not receive such treatment when they returned to Beijing, and he did not know why His Majesty asked him to come and greet them in person.
But this scene was still seen by many people, and everyone was just thinking: The emperor used this special way to express his respect for the holy family of Yang Tinghe who elected him and supported him in implementing the new law, so that the people of Southern Zhili
Weighing the weight of Yang Ting and Governor Nanjing also let Fei Hong know that he would listen to the emperor's wishes and work hard, and he would be good in the future.
Only Zhu Houcong himself knows why, and let others interpret the rest.
In the Hall of Yangxin, after Yang Shen had performed a prostration, Zhu Houcong asked: "How about "Linjiang Immortal"?"
Yang Shen was stunned for a moment, and then replied: "Your Majesty is so talented that I can't even match him..."
Zhu Houcong suppressed Yang's current weirdness, and only published the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". It was actually an important means for him to promote simplified Chinese characters and subtly export some ideas and influence. But since he wanted to do this, what was missing?
The first sentence always feels wrong.
Besides... I'm afraid Yang Shen won't be in that state of mind anymore. What if he doesn't write this song "Linjiang Immortal" in the future? Reports from Guangdong show that Yang Shen has become more and more mature.
He has become a workaholic who is proficient in practical matters.
"Praise, praise, praise, eat, eat."
Zhu Houcong was greeted with a table of wine and food. In the State Hall, Fei Hong and several state ministers looked at each other speechlessly.
When Yang Tinghe resigned, His Majesty held a separate banquet to send him off.
When Yang Shen returned to Beijing, His Majesty ordered Huang Jin to go out to welcome him and hold a banquet to wash away the dust.
But everyone knows that the emperor had the intention of "rewarding" Yang Shen for his recklessness and forcing Yang Tinghe to become the leader of the new party.
In addition, it is also for everyone to see: if you follow His Majesty, you will have many holy relatives.
What does it mean for the ruler and his ministers to be in harmony with each other?