First Minister of Ming Dynasty

The old man is sitting under the grape arbor with a pot of tea and two cups.

Zhang Ximeng couldn't help laughing when he saw it, "Mr. Fenglin, you are so old."

Zhu Sheng smiled wryly, "Master Zhang, please stop swearing at others... As long as this old man is useful, it's not that it's useless!"

What was placed in front of the old man turned out to be a draft of a female ring.

Zhu Sheng told the story very simply. At first, he didn't expect that there would be troubles, but when the outline of the book came out, Zhu Sheng knew that something was wrong.

The following people follow the main purpose of the women's precepts in the past dynasties, and the core is inseparable from the three obediences and four virtues, this set of things.

But obviously, Zhang Ximeng advocated letting women come out to do things, and Zhu Yuanzhang also said that he should not be the emperor of only half of the people.There was even a debate on this matter earlier, and it stands to reason that Zhang Ximeng has already explained it very clearly.

The results turned out to be very different. I really have to sigh, some things are stubborn.

"Mr. Fenglin, since you know the problem, why haven't you found a way to deal with it?"

Zhu Sheng smiled bitterly and said: "The meaning of superiors is nothing more than to educate women and sweep away Hu Feng, but when they come to the Ministry of Rites, they can only pick up virtuous women from past generations, commend their virtues, and set an example for the world. It is not surprising that they have cultivated this thing. Although the old man knew it was wrong, it was difficult for me to suddenly think of a way to cultivate something different, after all... I also read these things."

Zhang Ximeng was slightly startled, but smiled wryly: "No matter how the book is repaired, someone has already made a fuss. I think we should erect a stone tablet for Huang Daopo and send it to Suzhou as soon as possible."

Chapter 539 The Provincial Examination

Coming out of Zhu Sheng, Zhang Ximeng's face became more and more solemn. It was not because of anger, but because of an indescribable pressure... In fact, Zhang Ximeng has already said too much about how to treat women.

There is no need for anything else, just treat people equally, both morally and developmentally are necessary.Zhang Ximeng has talked too much about the truth here, and he is already a little tired.

Can it really work?

Maybe there is, after all, there are already women who have entered the court as officials.

But then, it seems that's it.

Even people like Zhu Sheng don't know how to revise a female ring?

It seems that they should be furious, and even kill them, and deal with these corrupt scholars.

But the problem is that Zhu Sheng is not a corrupt scholar, he even agrees to allocate land to women.It's just that when it comes to the issue of female rings, he really doesn't understand.

You have studied all your life, and only followed Zhu Yuanzhang after half a hundred years. Do you want the old man to forget all the things he learned in the first half of his life?

That's too unreasonable.

Looking at the officials in the court, Zhu Sheng is considered enlightened.

Some people don't understand, some people commit crimes, and some people don't understand and are even worse.

Under the leadership of this group of people, it is not surprising that this female ring was produced and how it was cultivated.

"Go, invite Yao Guangxiao here."

It's just that Yao Guangxiao rushed over. He always has a sad face and drooping triangular eyelids, but the occasional flicker of cold light in his eyes makes you feel that this person is not easy to get along with.

"Tell me, how is the preparation of the things I asked you to arrange?"

Yao Guangxiao hurriedly said: "Mr. Zhang, during the time you went to Suzhou, I did some research and found many things, which seem to be very troublesome."

Zhang Ximeng said with a sullen face, "Speak!"

"Zhang Xiang, I have counted the humble positions. More than [-]% of the current court are old officials of the Yuan court. Among the remaining [-]%, most of them are Confucian classics. They entered school as early as the Yuan court. Enlightenment. In the past few years, Cuncui has entered school, passed the imperial examination, and entered the officialdom, which is rare."

This result did not surprise Zhang Ximeng, but it also explained the root of the problem of women's rings.

"Since the beginning of the army, it has only been ten years, and it has only been seven or eight years since the establishment of a large-scale school. And it is only limited to the south of the Yangtze River. Those who pass the imperial examination must have some accumulation and the right age. It is not all the legacy of the Great Yuan Dynasty. gone."

Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "Actually, you were educated in the Yuan court. After reading so many books, do you believe in the way of Confucianism?"

Yao Guangxiao sneered, "Zhang Xiang, although I dare not say that I am proficient in the three religions, I will not be restricted by the mere way of Confucius and Mencius. In contrast, I think that Zhang Xiang's proposition is really in line with the principles of heaven and people!"

Is this flattering myself!

Zhang Ximeng said suddenly: "Yao Guangxiao, if you are asked to practice this women's ring, how do you think it should be done?"

Yao Guangxiao was stunned, and then said: "Naturally, it means that men and women are the same. Pick some outstanding women from past dynasties and record them in it, such as the Queen Mother Xuan who assisted the Qin State, Xun Guanniang who went out of the city to ask for help, and Hua Mulan who joined the army in place of her father... loyal and brave warriors , martyrs and talented women, just as Zhang Xiang said, women can do everything well."

Hearing Yao Guangxiao's words, Zhang Ximeng's eyes lit up, and he finally smiled. His thoughts were indeed good, and he really didn't have much to criticize if he was a nun.

Perhaps only Yao Guangxiao, an outlier, can keep up with Zhang Ximeng's thoughts!

"Actually, you can think about this matter a little deeper. Why should women be granted land, why should women be encouraged to come out to work... Actually, this makes sense. The cost of using female workers is relatively lower, and they are also suitable for more focused work. We must first develop industry and commerce, and we must first consider the cost. Now so many people criticize female workers with vicious words and low-level methods, I am afraid that they do not want the workshops controlled by the imperial court to overturn their jobs! These big families in Suzhou still do not Willing to make a radical change!"

Yao Guangxiao immediately said: "Then kill! Zhang Xiang, I think that the trip to Suzhou is still relentless. If we can get rid of 2 or [-] people, maybe the situation will be better... If Zhang can believe it, I am willing to go to Suzhou again to replace him." Zhang Xiang get rid of these silverfish!"

Zhang Ximeng had no choice but to smile wryly, his killing was ruthless enough, but he still didn't catch this man's eyes, it really is possessed by the Heavenly Killing Star!

"I still care about things in Suzhou. You don't need to worry too much. The most important thing at the moment is the officials in the court."

Yao Guangxiao was taken aback for a moment, and quickly said: "Mr. Zhang, could it be that the big exam for the officials is about to start?"

"It's not a big exam, it's just an ordinary small exam. It's a simple test to see if the officials understand the policies of the DPRK and China over the years, and see if they are qualified for their jobs!"

Zhang Ximeng put it lightly, it was just a small exam.

But Yao Guangxiao felt chills on his back and trembling all over, I believe you ghost!

Brewing for such a long time, and letting Yao Guangxiao prepare in advance, can be called Zhang Ximeng's ultimate move.

If it was that simple, it would be to underestimate the IQ of the big guy.

But Yao Guangxiao wasn't worried, after all, he had just passed Zhang Ximeng's simple test without any difficulty!

Come on, let the horse come!

Yao Guangxiao is eager to try, but this matter still needs Zhu Yuanzhang's approval.

As a result, Zhang Ximeng handed over the memorial, and Lao Zhu nodded immediately.

Indeed, we also want to see what kind of character, what kind of heart, can cultivate such a female ring for us!

A decree came down and sent to Zhongshu Province.

Li Shanchang took it in his hand, but he wasn't surprised at all, what was supposed to come was still coming, and Zhang Ximeng made a move after all.

Li Shanchang has nothing to say about this matter, he just wants to know one thing, does he need to take the exam?

Facts have proved that he is not special at all with Lao Zhu, but in order to take care of the face of the left minister, he only asked Li Shanchang to take the exam in Zhongshu Province.

Zhu Sheng is also still in the Zhongshu Provincial Examination,

Neither of these two survived, not to mention the other civil servants.

All were listed, and none escaped.

Faced with this result, the officials below had mixed reactions. Some people felt that the provincial examinations were all inside the officialdom, and they were just going through the motions. What could really happen?

Others complained that we have all passed the imperial examination, we are all well-educated people, and after so many years of experience in the officialdom, we have long been among the dragons and phoenixes, with outstanding abilities.

What exam is there that we can't pass?

Unless Zhang Xiang is deliberately targeting us, if that is the case, Zhang Xiang will be unkind.

Of course, there are still people who insist that they have become officials, and if they still use the exam to insult the big guy, it will be polite and sweep the floor, affecting the dignity of all officials.

But no matter who it was, they still didn't have the courage to question Zhang Ximeng directly, not to mention that it was supported by Lao Zhu.

The big guys could only keep their spirits up, flipped through the official documents of these years, and read the articles written by Zhang Ximeng... probably just for meaning, anyway, it was just a quiz, nothing special.

Then the gang fell into the pit.

That's right, this inconspicuous provincial examination really measured the weight of many people.

When Zhang Ximeng came to see Zhu Yuanzhang with the final result, Li Shanchang, Zhu Sheng and others had already been waiting.

These two people are still full of confidence. After all, with their abilities, they can't make mistakes in this matter. But when Zhang Ximeng announced the results, the two of them were a little nervous.

When he heard that he had successfully passed, Li Shanchang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and then said: "Master Zhang, I think this exam is not difficult, and there should be only a few who fail it?"

Zhang Ximeng was noncommittal, but said calmly: "Mr. Li, we have been talking about expelling the Hulu and restoring China for so many years. What is the meaning of this sentence?"

Li Shanchang was slightly stunned and said: "This is what Zhang Xiang said long ago. After Yashan, China will be covered with dust. We will expel Yuan Ting, wipe out Hu Feng, and revive China's clothing and education!"

Zhang Ximeng nodded, "That's true, but why do more than a dozen officials think that expelling the Hulu is to expel the Mongols?"

"what?"

Li Shan was taken aback. He really couldn't believe what Zhang Ximeng said, that even this kind of basic common sense could be mistaken?

No way!

Fearing that he would not believe it, Zhang Ximeng handed several papers to Li Shanchang, and by the way, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Sheng also brought them over and checked them separately.

When the big guys take a look, they are all jaded.

What Zhang Ximeng said was not an exaggeration at all. There are still people who give wrong answers to such programmatic things!

Needless to say anything else, it asked questions about why men and women should be treated equally... Some people actually answered that men are fathers and women are mothers, and children should be filial to their parents.

Seeing this answer, Zhu Yuanzhang snorted angrily.

God is sorry, Zhang Ximeng has already mentioned this issue. He believes that it is because of labor that both men and women have contributed to the enrichment of the world. Both are indispensable, so men and women are equally important.

In fact, as long as you look for Zhang Ximeng's propositions over the years, the problem in Suzhou is not difficult to solve.

In fact, the answer lies there.

But I'm sorry, there are just some people who turn a blind eye.

Li Shanchang secretly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He has such a group of useless subordinates, no wonder he is always suppressed by Zhang Ximeng.

On the other hand, Zhu Sheng had other thoughts.

Over the years, Daming has spared no effort to cultivate talents, but due to the need for too many officials, the training cannot keep up.

Many people can pass the exam and become officials as long as they can read and do arithmetic, and memorize a few essays temporarily.

But the problem is that after becoming an official, this group of people has long forgotten this thing, and what they can remember is only those things that they have read since childhood.

Zhu Sheng sighed a long time, "If you can't completely rectify the position, I'm afraid that after a few years, these idiots will take power, and all the hard work these years will be in vain!"

Lao Zhu's face was particularly ugly, "Those who failed the assessment and made many mistakes will be dismissed immediately and sent back to their hometowns, and will never be used again! As for other officials, choose a time, let them go to school, study hard, and understand the truth. We don't even know what it means to drive out the barbarians, so we just peeled his skin!"

5 Chapter Forty

An exam that wasn't too big, but it tore away the officialdom of Ming Dynasty. Those so-called learned scholars and Confucian officials who were full of knowledge and experience couldn't even explain the simplest national policy. , Reviving Huaxia, the difficulty is really so big!

"Mr. Li, you are the head of all officials, and the Ministry of Officials is in charge of the promotion and inspection of all officials. Could it be that you recommend this kind of lake officials? With them, can the world be governed?"

Li Shanchang is sweating profusely, so there is no need to say more about it, but why do you still mention me as the head of the hundred officials at this time, I am willing to let Zhang Ximeng!

I just ask for His Majesty's permission, and I am willing to abdicate to the virtuous.

It's a pity that Li Shanchang dared not say anything, and Zhu Yuanzhang would not let him go.

"The results of the assessment have come out. Those officials who are unqualified will be expelled from the court immediately. What to do with the rest will be determined in detail."

Li Shanchang hurriedly agreed, and it was another job to offend others, but he had no choice but to leave and go on with it.

Zhu Yuanzhang was still angry, so he asked Zhu Sheng and Zhang Ximeng to stay and discuss the matter together.

Zhu Sheng's old face was flushed. Although he passed the exam and agreed with Zhang Ximeng's proposition, he really didn't integrate this set of things into his bones.

When thinking about problems, it is inevitable to be influenced by what you have learned in the past.

This matter is almost unavoidable, he has lived such an old age, many things have been deeply ingrained, and he can't get rid of it!

"Superior, the veteran thought that he should ask Zhang Xiang to preside over the lectures and teach the officials. Let the officials understand the national policy of the court as soon as possible and practice it. Otherwise, even if they wait for the newcomers to enter the officialdom, they will not be immune to the influence of these old people."

Zhu Sheng paused, then suddenly said: "Superior, the old minister thinks, is it possible to let some old people abdicate as soon as possible, so as not to affect the overall situation... The old minister is ashamed and willing to take the lead and go back to his hometown to study and cultivate the fields."

As he spoke, Zhu Sheng lifted up his robe and knelt down on the ground.

Although he did not participate in the training of the female precepts, he did nothing in the end and could not escape the charge of dereliction of duty, so he should resign and return to his hometown.

But Zhu Yuanzhang didn't want to let Zhu Sheng go.

"In any case, Zhu Qing can't leave. There are not many old ministers. What should I do? I can't do without you." Zhu Yuanzhang kept Zhu Sheng, but he also said: "It is true that there are some things that are vegetarian and must be expelled from the court. Tang. We didn’t have suitable officials in the past, but now, with so many scholars, it should be enough.”

Old Zhu glanced at Zhang Ximeng, and asked, "Sir, how many talents can we still have?"

After Zhang Ximeng thought for a while, he shook his head and said, "My lord, we set up schools after we crossed the river. We cultivated schoolchildren one after another. Until now, those who have fully received education are probably under 20 years old. Most of them have just graduated and are not educated. Sophisticated and lacking in ability to do things. If you want to count on them to play a role, I'm afraid it will take ten years of work."

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he was in a bad mood, and said directly: "We can't wait any longer, and we will open Enke immediately... Tell me, anyone over the age of 15 can participate. The young talents in the school are indeed outstanding, and they can Down to 13 years old. All in all, we must absorb new players as soon as possible."

Zhu Yuanzhang's attitude was firm, and even Zhu Sheng agreed, so naturally Zhang Ximeng would not say anything more.