Father can be an enemy to the country

The Nanbeibang case is a strange case in the late Hongwu years, also known as the Liu Sanwu fraud case.

To put it simply, after the test results were released that year, all the candidates recorded were from the south, and none from the north were selected.

This aroused public anger among the northern candidates, who jointly submitted a letter accusing Liu Sanwu and other examiners of being extremely biased towards southerners and excluding northern candidates.

It was strange enough that things had reached this point, but what was even more amazing was yet to come - after Zhu Yuanzhang received the complaint, he immediately ordered people to review the failed examination papers and add the northern candidates to the official list.

In the Ming Dynasty at that time, the four major Hongwu cases had just come to an end, and the air was filled with the smell of blood. Who dared not to listen to Boss Zhu?

However, after review, no northern candidates were admitted. The examination papers submitted by the review officials were all poor in arts and science, and contained taboo words. This was used to prove that Liu Sanwu was correct in admitting only southerners.

This is treating Boss Zhu as a fool. At that time, the Ming Dynasty had been founded for 30 years, and the imperial examination had been restored for many years. Northern candidates were indeed weaker than southern candidates, but the number was there, and there would always be a considerable proportion of northerners in each subject. There's no way you can get your head shaved!

Zhu Yuanzhang ordered people to review, which was actually a clear intention to add the Northern Juzi, but the review officials dared to turn a deaf ear and tried their best to prove that the Northern Juzi was weak and that Liu Sanwu was not wrong.

At this time, Boss Zhu was completely angered and ordered Jin Yiwei to investigate the case thoroughly. It turned out that Liu Sanwu and others secretly ordered the review officials to deliberately involve themselves in the case.

Zhu Yuanzhang was furious and executed all the officials involved... Ironically, Liu Sanwu was spared by Zhu Yunwen because he was Taisun's teacher, and was only exiled to the army. During the Jianwen Dynasty, he came back with a shy face and danced around for several years.

Later, the exam was re-opened, and all those admitted in the summer list were northerners. Later, the Ming Dynasty's ranking list became customized...

~~

It was difficult for Zhu Zhen to understand at the time what force drove Liu Sanwu and others to do something so absolutely. Even if Boss Zhu spoke, nothing would change?

Now that he has been fighting with civil servants for so many years, he has some understanding.

Because Confucianism is a religion, at least in the minds of Taoists. Once you understand this, everything becomes easier to understand.

Isn’t that what religion is? In order to pursue the "Tao" that one considers to be correct, one can unscrupulously exclude dissidents and even take pride in sacrificing oneself. They have always been extreme and unreasonable, at least they cannot be guessed using common sense.

Liu Sanwu and his gang are such defenders and fanatical believers.

Although history has completely changed due to his own fault. But it’s easy to change a country’s nature, and they will still do things of the same nature...

~~

"Your Majesty." Seeing that Zhu Zhen was distracted while going up the mountain, Song Can quickly reminded: "Be careful where you step."

"Yes." Zhu Zhen nodded and came back to his senses: "What you said makes sense. It is impossible that there is not only a northerner but also a college student... not to mention that the paper was issued by me?"

"So there must be something fishy here!" Song Can nodded heavily and volunteered: "Although I have been regarded as a traitor by them, I still have a few old friends who don't dislike me. Today I will go down the mountain to find them. Even if you are stalking me, you still need to ask for something."

Zhu Zhen wanted to say no, you can't ask anything. But then I thought about it, asking him to ask, at least it would make the teachers and students understand that their Xiao Song Siye's heart already belonged to Guozi University.

"Then let's meet Mr. Lao." Zhu Zhen said softly: "It's great that Mr. Lao is willing to stand with us."

"If my father were still alive, he would do the same thing." Song Can looked at the stone tablet beside the road with the words "The fire will continue" written by his father himself:

"In the last few years of his life, my father has realized that it is right for the prince to establish the Guozi University and allow a hundred flowers to bloom and a hundred schools of thought to contend. Only in this way can Confucianism stop being complacent! Only in this way can we cultivate students with stronger abilities, broader knowledge, and both civil and military skills. A new generation of scholars can prevent the Ming Dynasty from making the same mistakes as the Song Dynasty!"

"It's a pity that I have been away from the capital these years and have not had a good chat with Song Taishi." Zhu Zhen said with great regret after hearing this.

"My father also has the same regret..." Song Can sighed. In fact, it was difficult for his father, even if they met, he might not be able to say these words. "I can only use this monument to express my expectations for Guozi University."

~~

While talking, the two came to the small courtyard where Song Ne lived.

Song Ne's eldest son Song Lin heard the news and hurried over to greet him.

"No need to be polite." Zhu Zhen waved his hand and went straight into the house without letting Song Lin bow.

The hall was filled with a strong smell of medicine. Zhu Zhen opened the curtain and went inside, only to see Song Ne dying and lying on the hospital bed.

"Father, the prince is here to see you." Song Lin called twice, and Song Necai opened her eyes with difficulty and slowly looked at Zhu Zhen.

After confirming that the person coming was His Royal Highness the King of Chu whom he was waiting for, Song Ne slowly stretched out his skinny hand towards Zhu Zhen.

Zhu Zhen quickly held his hand, sat down by the bed and said, "Old Song, I'm sorry for you."

Hearing this, Song Ne couldn't hold back tears. After a while, Fang choked up and said: "Your Majesty, I can't help you, I didn't give you a good home. But I know the students I teach, with their level of talent, and their hard work." If you work hard enough, you will never get your head shaved.”

"Well, I believe in you." Zhu Zhen held his hand tightly and said solemnly: "I also firmly believe that none of my students will fail the exam."

"Yes, no matter what, you definitely shouldn't have your head shaved. There is definitely something wrong with shaving your head. The prince must find out and give justice to the Imperial College!" Song Ne burst into tears and used all his strength.

"Okay, I promise you!" Zhu Zhen nodded heavily and promised: "Please rest in peace and recuperate, the truth will soon come to light!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty..." Song Ne smiled with relief after hearing this, and then finally fell asleep.

Zhu Zhen came out of the room and said to Song Can: "Old Siye is afraid that he will no longer be able to take care of things. You will have to take more care of the school's affairs in the future."

"Don't worry, Your Majesty." Song Can nodded heavily and said, "No matter how difficult it is, we will persevere."

"Don't worry, I won't make things too difficult for you." Zhu Zhen said a resounding sentence and walked down the mountain without looking back.

~~

After leaving Guozi University, he did not return to the palace, but went straight to Jinyiwei Yamen.

"Oh, Your Majesty, what brought Mr. Xen here?" Zhen Fu, the gatekeeper, naturally recognized his old superior for many years.

"I'm here to see Lao Ba, is he here?" Zhu Zhen asked in a deep voice as he stepped over the high threshold of Jin Yiwei.

"Back to the prince, His Royal Highness Prince Tan is not in the Yamen at the moment." The Zhenfu hurriedly followed him in.

"Is Mao Xiang here?" Zhu Zhen asked slowly.

"Our Commander Mao is here." Zhen Fu responded and asked people to quickly ask for Commander Mao Xiang.