Towards evening, a young scholar came to the pedestrian gate not far to the west of You'anmen.
There are people working here now, and they are demolishing the palace wall on the south bank of the Waijinshui River. On the north bank of the Waijinshui River, several buildings are being built between the Sheji Altar and the Waijinshui River, which is very lively.
The young scholar's eyes couldn't help but be attracted by the sight of bricks and stones, and he heard a voice shouting: "You Xian!"
"Master Zhang!" Hai Rui turned around when he heard this and saw Zhang Ji coming out of the pedestrian department. He immediately bowed and saluted, "The student is late. I have to thank Master Zhang for waiting."
"It's not too late, it's not too late!" Zhang Ji was in a good mood. After helping him stand up, he looked up and down, and then asked with a smile, "What are you looking at?"
Hai Rui asked in confusion: "Why should this palace wall be demolished?"
"Talking while walking." Zhang Ji was waiting for him here and immediately led him to the north. "The State Council led the Ministry of Etiquette and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to submit the new regulations of the imperial city. The east and west sides of Chengtian Gate
The side palace walls, as well as the left and right gates, were demolished and renovated. Two new ones were added, and the official office was not enough."
Zhang Ji pointed to the construction site that Hai Rui was looking at before: "Here are the Ministry of Finance and Taxation, Daming Bank, and Baoyuan Bureau. To the south of the Ancestral Temple are the Ministry of Culture and Education, the Ministry of Etiquette, and the Mingbao Bank."
Hai Rui nodded, collected his thoughts and asked, "Master Zhang, the student is still confused. Why did Your Majesty summon me?"
Zhang Ji smiled bitterly, and then said with emotion: "You also know that the teacher is cautious by nature and indifferent to fame and fortune. Maybe your majesty has never listened to the teacher's request. This time is quite strange, right? I want to see what the teacher is like.
What kind of people are you asking for grace for?"
"... Master Zhang's kindness will be unforgettable by the students." Hai Rui was also a little worried, "It's just that the students are stupid and hard-working, and have few talents and little knowledge. I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to win favor with His Majesty."
Zhang Ji shook his head: "That's not a big deal. You have been upright since you were a child. Even if you don't have the talent of Marquis Jingbian or the courage to rejuvenate the country, it is enough to have an innocent heart. Before you were in Guangzhou, you went back to Qiongshan every year to read newspapers for the farmers in your hometown?
"
"It's Hainan, Master Zhang." Hai Rui smiled, "Students don't have any other skills nowadays. The farming experience published in "Ming Pao" can still be done by students if the children in the countryside can read."
"That's good."
While they were talking, the two of them had already entered the alley west of the original Baochao Division.
Today, this is the Baoyuan Bureau, but the New Money Seal is not here. It is mainly an office.
Hai Rui pointed to the west curiously: "What is going to be built here?"
"Boyan Institute." Zhang Ji recalled his family treasures, "As my teacher, I am now serving as the Royal Academy, and I also serve as a priest at Huangming University. This is another favor given by Your Majesty. This Polytechnic Institute is the physics department of Huangming University.
Those who have achieved success in Taoism will be awarded a Ph.D. in Physics and receive a salary to continue studying the Tao of Physics."
"This creation paradigm..." Hai Rui asked doubtfully, "Does it not follow the rules of etiquette?"
"We mostly deal with water, fire, gold and stone. Your Majesty has decreed that fire protection is the top priority, so we use more masonry and cement." Zhang Ji continued to walk forward and pointed to the northwest, "The spiritual platform is also here, and it will also be the Polytechnic Institute in the future."
Hai Rui's heart was moved: "The heavenly phenomena are unpredictable, so this path of heavenly principles can also be classified as the path of physics?"
Zhang Ji was stunned: "Why do you want to come here?"
"...The student is lying."
The so-called Lingtai is the viewing platform.
The armillary sphere and so on here were built by Guo Shoujing and others during the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty. Observing the time from heaven and issuing the calendar are only part of it, and the Qintian Prison is also here.
The connection between heaven and man was originally a very important point in Confucianism. Nowadays, with the spread of new learning, people who talk about it are gradually becoming more secretive. But Hai Rui saw that the emperor had also assigned this spiritual platform to the Institute of Physics, which is devoted to the study of physics.
, naturally one cannot help but be surprised.
The two of them were silent for a moment, then passed through a door and arrived at the southwest corner of the Forbidden City.
Under the turret, many eunuchs could be seen busy.
Zhang Ji lowered his voice: "When entering the palace, you still have to be careful in your words and deeds."
"Students understand..."
"This is the place where the Queen's Supervisory Office works..."
Zhang Ji turned into a tour guide and continued to introduce to him the distribution of government offices here.
The imperial prison is on the east bank of Shichahai, and on the other side of the lake is the scope of Huangming University.
The two of them walked all the way to Xihua Gate. After the announcement, they were led in by the eunuch who was the Supervisor of Ceremonies.
Don’t talk too much along the way and move forward silently.
Hai Rui entered the Forbidden City inexplicably even though he was just holding a ceremony. He just used his peripheral vision to look at it.
After passing the Wuying Hall, crossing the Neijinshui Bridge, passing by the Wu Tower, and passing through another gate on the west side of the west wall of the Guoyi Hall, I caught a glimpse of the plaque of the Huangming Assets Bureau next to it, and then arrived at the Yangxin Hall.
Entering the courtyard, there is a row of covered rooms on the left, two small side halls in front, and a main hall directly in front.
The young eunuch lowered his head and said: "Master Zhang, your Majesty is still in Wuying Hall. You go to Zhiyuan Zhai and wait for a while. Eunuch Huang has already told you that your Majesty will have dinner with General Counselor Xia and others. You and this Haiju
Whatever you want to use, just tell your servants."
"How dare you? We'll just wait."
"Then slave, go and pass some refreshments over..."
Hai Rui held his breath, thinking that this place was called Zhiyuan Zhai, could the small side hall opposite be called Mingzhi Zhai?
Zhang Ji first made a joke in a low voice: "If you are an ordinary third, fourth or fifth grade, you can only wait at the concierge at the courtyard gate. Only the counselors want to see you, and your majesty is busy, so you let them wait at Zhiyuan Zhai now."
For a moment, when encountering big things, you need to be calm, so that you can go far."
Hai Rui was immediately startled: "That student..."
Zhang Ji smiled and shook his head: "It doesn't matter. My teacher is the father of Concubine Jing, and he is also the imperial scholar. Besides, this place is empty now. It's a good sign for you. Zhiyuan Zhiyuan, Your Majesty is willing to meet you."
, we can go further in the future."
Hai Rui didn't know what to say and didn't dare to ask blindly.
Sitting there, after passing the gate of Zhiyuanzhai, I saw that at the door of the side hall opposite, ministers were coming in and out all the time, all holding memorials in their hands.
After a long separation, Hai Rui gradually got used to it to see if the emperor would come over soon. He answered Zhang Ji's questions about his knowledge and chatted about the changes in Guangdong over the years.
It wasn't until the southwest side became more noisy that Zhang Ji stood up first and said, "His Majesty may be back."
After saying that, he led Hai Rui out and stood in the courtyard. Sure enough, he saw Huang Jin, Xu Jie accompanying the emperor back, and Gao Gong who came out of the imperial study.
"See Your Majesty."
Zhang Ji just gave a normal salute. After all, he was both the emperor's "father-in-law" and the "principal" of the princes.
But Hai Rui had to kneel before him with a great ceremony: "Hai Rui, a common man, comes to see your majesty! Long live your majesty! Long live! Long live your Majesty!"
Zhu Houcong stopped in the courtyard, where he saw only Hai Rui's thin back and the cloth on his body under the eaves lights.
"Come on," Zhu Houcong said with a smile, "I wanted to have dinner with you, but I spent more time in Wuying Hall and chatted in the imperial study."
This sentence seems like an explanation, but does the emperor need to explain anything to them?
Zhang Ji listened and felt that the emperor wanted to meet Hai Rui not just out of curiosity. If he just wanted to take a test, was it necessary to have a meal together?
This is not a grace that ordinary ministers can easily obtain.
And when Hai Rui stood up and walked forward, Zhang Ji clearly saw the emperor looking back at Hai Rui's appearance.
When we arrived at the main hall where the imperial study room was located, it was bright and bright inside.
"There's nothing to do today, Xu Jie and Gao Gong, you should take your time and go back. Concubine Jing and the children are in the backyard, right? Bring Zhang Xuezheng over to get together, and let me test this Hai Rui."
"I resign..."
"I accept the decree..."
Xu Jie, who followed Zhu Houcong to attend the Wuying Hall meeting, and Gao Gong, who stayed in the imperial study to sort out the memorials, both looked at Hai Rui curiously, then excused themselves and left home.
Zhang Ji could hear the implication, so how could they not hear it?
Hai Rui? Who is it?
If you call yourself a grassroots citizen, you will not have an official position.
Hai Rui was the most nervous under Zhang Ji's silent and helpless reminding eyes.
Zhu Houcong looked at Xu Jie with a smile, and Gao Gong restrained himself from doubting and left. He couldn't help but think of the scene in his memory of the drama where the two were interrogating Hai Rui. It was quite interesting.
But right now, everyone's status and circumstances are different.
Zhu Houcong deliberately arranged this game, but Hai Rui stood there a little uneasily.
"sit down."
"The common people don't dare, the common people just stand and answer..."
"That's alright." Zhu Houcong sat down by himself and glanced at the imperial desk full of things. He couldn't help but ask Huang Jin, "What are you doing with all these congratulatory forms?"
Huang Jin said aggrievedly: "Your Majesty, you have to read everything you said yourself, and then review the words and deeds of these officials recorded in the internal affairs department. There are still many of them here. If Your Majesty doesn't want to read them, I will move them."
Go back and save it."
Zhu Houcong had a severe headache.
I really wanted to get acquainted with the new generation of officials who have entered the officialdom in recent years, so I had previously arranged this task for the Internal Affairs Department.
This Longevity Festival is so solemn that orders have been sent to the local authorities for a long time, and everyone from the seventh rank to above is on the congratulatory table. It is not only to congratulate, but also to give them an opportunity to show their merits and make suggestions. The people below only think that the emperor wants to promote talents, but they don’t know that the emperor just wants to promote talents.
I want to get to the bottom of it.
However, when it was time to actually do this job, Zhu Houcong felt tangled.
After all, I am afraid that his ambitions have inflated after the victory of the Northern Expedition. How many seventh-grade and above Ming Dynasties are there now? Zhu Houcong has been reading their congratulatory list for more than half a month and has not finished it yet.
"Look, we'll continue watching later."
Zhu Houcong shook his head and moved the pile in front of him first. Huang Jin quickly came to help.
He didn't know that the emperor actually wanted to have a long talk with Hai Rui. He thought he was just going to show Zhang Ji a favor and send him back, so he piled up the place.
Now I was helping the emperor clean the imperial desk more loosely. When his hand became unsteady, the congratulatory form on top of a stack slipped down and spread out on the imperial desk.
"My slave is clumsy, my slave..."
Zhu Houcong didn't take it seriously. When he took it in his hand and was about to close it and hand it over, he accidentally glanced at the contents and was suddenly stunned for a moment.
After a moment, he stopped laughing.
After looking at the cover, Zhu Houcong looked at Hai Rui again: "You'd better sit down first. I'll take a look at this congratulatory form first."
After reading it carefully, he asked Huang Jin: "What Fei Maozhong said in his congratulations, is your side also classified as an internal department?"
"Return to Your Majesty, they have been filed away."
"What do you think?"
Huang Jin was helpless: "I don't care about this, I just remember one thing."
"How do you remember it?"
"Record it truthfully. Huguang has made great achievements in academic and political studies, and the new knowledge has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. There is a nine-year-old child who can speak in detail. I wish His Majesty a long life. Fei Shenzheng quoted his words and congratulated Your Majesty on the stability of the country and the prosperity of culture and education under his rule."
Zhu Houcong smiled and asked: "Do you believe this is an article written by the nine-year-old child himself?"
"Your Majesty, I am a servant who cares about my errands but has no brains in government affairs, so don't ask."
Zhu Houcong waved the congratulatory form to him meaningfully, as if pointing, but said nothing more.
After putting down the congratulatory form, he said: "Tell Fei Maozhong to send this child to the capital. If he is really talented, I will let him be the prince's companion. If it is just for nothing, then he will be in the capital."
Huguang has really made culture and education prosperous."
Huang Jin was surprised.
Does the emperor believe this or not?
The prince is now ten years old, and the child is nine years old. But if the prince is not accompanying the prince to study, he will have a bright future in the future.
On the one hand, it was an unimaginable good fate, and on the other hand, the emperor's implicit criticism of his practice of reporting "auspiciousness".
"This slave is going to draw up the royal letter right now."
In addition to the decree, there is now a habit of exchanging letters between the emperor and local ministers.
Hai Rui heard this and didn't know what happened.
Fei Maozhong and Hai Rui were still aware of Huguang's involvement in politics. He entered Beijing from Guangdong and passed through Huguang.
The nephew of Fei Hong, the first Prime Minister and Minister of State, and the first number one scholar after His Majesty ascended the throne.
Zhu Houcong continued to look at Hai Rui, and after looking at it for a while, he said: "Hai Rui, you started at Huangming Primary School and then went to Guangzhou Prefecture Middle School. I want to hear your thoughts on the new learning and the past Neo-Confucianism.
view."
Hai Rui became nervous, stood up first, and then said: "How can you say anything if a commoner is not good at school?"
Zhu Houcong felt a little disappointed. Shouldn't this guy be someone who dares to speak?
Now that he is in front of me, he looks quite submissive.
But Zhu Houcong then thought about it. After all, he was still just a student who had not really entered the society. Suddenly he was in front of him again, and the person he saw in front of him was not the Jiajing that Zhu Houcong remembered.
"Sit down." Zhu Houcong changed the subject, "I just want to hear some of your feelings over the years, as you learned new moves when you were a young boy. In daily life, there are always some older scholar friends who chat with you.
I can’t help but mention it. In addition, Guangdong was the first to trial the new law. You are from an ordinary family, and you must have your own judgment on the changes brought about by the new law in Guangdong. Speak freely. I will neither blame you nor anyone for what you said today.
.”
"Then... let me talk about my experiences over the years..."
Hai Rui is a person who changed his destiny because of the opportunities of the new law in Guangdong.
Since the person who happened to go to Qiongshan Prefecture to be a schoolboy was Zhang Ji, who had been pre-selected by the Empress Dowager for Zhu Houcong, and Zhang Qinghe was later made a concubine, Hai Rui entered the Huangming Primary School that was originally established at that time.
In the early years after the implementation of the new law in Guangdong, there were many conflicts between the local gentry and the new law. Civil discussions and people's lives were the most intense collisions and changes in the entire Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Houcong started asking questions from Hai Rui's personal experience, which can be regarded as another perspective.
For some reason, Hai Rui felt the emperor's kindness towards him.
I thought it would be a very dignified test, but now it has really become a commonplace conversation.
Zhang Ji was worried about the situation here. When he returned here, he heard the emperor say: "My original intention in promoting this new study and new law is indeed pragmatic and concerned about the national economy and people's livelihood. Now that the examination syllabus and examination system have been changed, scholars are studying the new
Learning is indeed only because of the imperial examination. The people's vitality has improved, but it is still very limited. I know it in my heart..."
Hearing a sigh, Zhang Ji was startled. He didn't know what Hai Rui said to make the emperor sigh.
Hai Rui continued: "Your Majesty, the common people believe that the new study emphasizes practice is the basis of principles, but the principles of Neo-Confucianism are ethics and the key to self-cultivation. It is also the basis of human principles. Your Majesty is now focusing on the path of physics, and everyone knows it. He wishes to make the country rich.
, hundreds of officials follow. Encouraging industry and commerce, and relying on money will inevitably breed cunning and corrupt laws and disciplines. The common people are stupid and think that in addition to stating the laws and regulations, they must also mention more about cultivating oneself and managing one's family."
Zhang Ji was startled and couldn't help but say: "Ru Xian! You are just making a move, don't make any arbitrary comments!"
Zhu Houcong waved his hand: "It doesn't matter, I let him speak freely."
After finally chatting about daily life, Hai Rui talked about some new phenomena in the officialdom and among the people in Guangdong's prosperous industry and commerce, which aroused some of Hai Rui's passion and said these words.
No system is perfect, and human nature dictates that there will always be people who find backdoors under any "new law" to seek personal gain.
Hai Rui simply felt that some of the things that were previously highly praised in Neo-Confucianism should continue to be vigorously promoted, even though some of them were fictitious.
But this is actually what Zhu Houcong has been thinking about, something ideological.
Today's Ming Dynasty is not like five hundred years ago. It has gone through agonizing hardships, experienced repeated attempts and fusion of ideas brought about by seeking history, exploring foreign countries, and finally awakened.
At this moment, if there is a loud slogan that the gentry of the Ming Dynasty can shout in public, it is nothing more than self-cultivation, harmonization of the family, governance of the country and peace of the world, and it is nothing more than the four sentences of "Hengqu".
There are many idealists and many practical people in this era, but what unites their common ambitions is still mixed with complex things such as loyalty to the emperor and respect for Confucianism.
From Zhu Houcong's point of view, based on today's common people's ideas, it would be difficult for him to take a big step forward in his thinking.
Only when the real world slowly changes, and only when it is really difficult for old ideas to adapt to the new situation, will new trends of thought emerge.
Now, civil servants, military generals, relatives, state-owned enterprises, rural sages, businessmen, craftsmen, farmers, and in the future there will also be some forces from outside the Ming Dynasty. It is obvious to the naked eye that the Ming Dynasty will form many different interest groups.
By then, there will be a lot of disputes and huge contradictions, which even Zhu Houcong may not be able to control.
This is a situation he has guided with his own hands, but he is not sure where this situation will go.
He couldn't do it even if he were asked to follow the rules and wait for the people in this land to experience misery before rising from the ashes.
The room in the imperial study became quiet. After Zhu Houcong was silent for a while, he smiled and said, "Hai Rui, do you know that if I summon you today, your path will be different in the future?"
"Your Majesty is so kind, but the common people are terrified..."
Zhu Houcong smiled at the corner of his mouth: "Those who were noticed by me before they even started serving as officials include Marquis Jingbian, Marquis Hanhai, and Yang Bo. Now they have gone to the Nanyang Protectorate. Those who were promoted by me as soon as they made suggestions and suggestions include the current president.
Auxiliary, general staff."
"Your Majesty's ability to recognize people is rare in ancient times. The common people are stupid and extremely ashamed, fearing that they may fail the holy hope..." Hai Rui said truthfully, "I took the exam three times and was lucky enough to be on the list..."
"You were summoned by me. Now Xu Jie and Gao Gong know about it. I think more important ministers will know about it soon." Zhu Houcong said these words that made Hai Rui confused, and then said, "Next, you will enter the capital in the capital."
If you learn, they will naturally interact with you. After all, there is a precedent. If you soar into the sky in the future, this good relationship is worth forming."
Hai Rui couldn't help opening his mouth, but was speechless.
"Hai Rui." Zhu Houcong became serious, "With what happened today, you will probably be able to pass the imperial examination next year. Although the imperial examination is more fair than before, you have many good connections and many people know you.
With your essay style, many people will naturally recognize you and will not hesitate to give you more points to help you. This is also human nature."
Hai Rui knelt down and said, "The common people know that their talents are dull, and they have given up on the idea of becoming a Jinshi. Even if they are born as a juzi, they can repay the emperor's favor and benefit the people. Now, with the support of Master Zhang and His Majesty's grace, the common people are lucky enough to enter the school.
On the way to Beijing, I also made up my mind to study hard behind closed doors, not daring to be complacent and socialize with people everywhere. If it is as your Majesty said, how can ordinary people think of themselves as Jinshi? I ask your Majesty to decree that ordinary people are willing to go to the border areas or return to Hainan to teach Meng.
born."
"No." Zhu Houcong said, "I want to make friends everywhere, and I want to be a Jinshi."
Hai Rui raised his head and looked at the emperor.
Zhu Houcong had a smile on his face: "I will watch. There are so many courtiers who are willing to befriend you and help you. Can you always cultivate yourself, be loyal to the emperor, love the people, and abide by the law? There will be many more in the future Ming Dynasty.
New questions, new learning, where will the new law go, how can the monarch, his ministers and the people be of one mind? If you have a strong balance in your heart, you don't need to worry about these trivial matters. I would like to see how far you can go in this life. The towering tree of the Ming Dynasty
What will the tree look like?"
Hai Rui was stunned and didn't understand why the emperor wanted to connect his life with what the towering tree of the Ming Dynasty would look like.
"Go ahead and report to the Political Management Yuan tomorrow."
In the Huangming University, there is a pragmatic department called Political Science, with Classics at the top, General History at the bottom, and Humanities at the bottom. Except for the Imperial College, those who study directly in the Political and Management College have a very clear goal: to study in the New School.
He passed the examination and became an official.
Zhang Ji and Hai Rui thanked them and left the Yangxin Hall in a daze.
Zhu Houcong picked up Fei Maozhong's congratulatory form on the imperial case again.
Zhang Juzheng also appeared. Can this eight-year-old kid really be able to write a decent and elegant article of praise and congratulations in parallel prose?
But it doesn't matter, he is younger, and in the following years, Zhu Houcong also has more leisure.
Xu Jie, Gao Gong, Hai Rui, Zhang Juzheng... more people will appear on the future stage of Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Houconn did not want this towering Ming tree to grow strangely, wither or die in an inexplicable way after being fertilized by him.
In this case, we need to think about how to refine our thoughts, convey our values, and inherit our mission.
Huang Jin sent the prepared imperial letter. After reading it, Zhu Houcong nodded, and the letter began to enter the Tongyi Bureau's system and headed south.
"Your Majesty, after a long day's work, why don't you just read these congratulatory lists? I have filed them all over there. Your Majesty will check them later so that they are clear to you."
"This is part of the government, aren't you brainless?"
"This slave is so attentive when doing errands!"
Zhu Houcong smiled: "I'd better take a look first. He Biao looks very happy."
The congratulations are all filled with praises and virtues, which makes me really happy to see.
Hai Rui talked about some new changes in Guangdong, some good and some bad.
Zhu Houcong knows that this is inevitable. There will always be problems and problems must be solved.
Take your time, governing a big country is like cooking a small one. He has already shaken things up a lot, and just now he was preparing to shake things up in the military system.
There will always be troubles, but Zhu Houcong is used to it.
So I need to adjust it a bit and see what sounds good.
In addition: "Go to Duan Concubine's place, I will stay with her today."