The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Yan Chengjin walked out of the Meridian Gate.

Three carriages stayed here, and Han Wen and the Wang brothers became the new guards of Yan Mansion.

Zhu Houzhao still climbed over the wall and left the palace, and soon sat on the carriage, beaming with joy. He had not left the palace for a long time.

The carriage drove through Fangshan but did not stop.

Going further, he was about to leave the capital. Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but ask: "Lao Gao, where are you going?"

Isn’t this guy Lao Gao refusing to leave the capital?

"You'll find out soon."

The carriage left the capital and entered Baoding Prefecture. Two words were engraved on the stone tablet: New City.

Zhu Houzhao got off the carriage and looked around. He saw a dry, yellow and cracked plowed field, and the cultivators were pulling oxen.

Not far away, white smoke rose from a cluster of low thatched houses.

Yan Chengjin looked at the fertile fields in the distance and said to himself: "The world is still far from the prosperous age. This place is only twenty miles away from Fangshan, and it is so desolate.

The new emperor, do you know why you rebelled in many places after you ascended the throne? "

Zhu Houzhao was also wondering: "Why?"

Yan Chengjin didn't answer and walked into a village not far away. The paths in the village were full of cow dung, and the air was filled with a strange smell.

Standing in front of a dilapidated thatched cottage, Zhang Xian walked into the house and moved the rice vat out.

I reached out and grabbed only half a handful of brown rice.

Zhu Houzhao frowned and looked at Yan Chengjin: "There is a lot of farmland in Xincheng, why is there no rice in the tank?"

Yan Chengjin pointed to a house not far away. In the house, his husband was teaching children to read.

In the dilapidated house, six children followed the book carefully.

"The villagers of Xincheng hired a private school teacher from the capital, and the rice cultivated by the people was used here."

The private schools jointly established by the gentry allowed only the children of the gentry to enroll.

In the south of the Yangtze River, there were upright officials who set up private schools, which taught students from poor families without accepting any money.

But thousands of miles away from here, and even in the south of the Yangtze River, there are only a few private schools.

Yan Chengjin said: "The rebellion in Shu and Damaoshan was caused by the wealth of the capital."

Zhu Houzhao's heart moved slightly, and he was a little confused.

Zhang Xian helped an old man come over, and Yan Chengjin asked, "Why does my father want to set up a private school?"

The old man seemed to be a little deaf. Zhang Xian repeated it once before he could hear clearly and replied: "To send the children from the village to the capital."

Yan Chengjin asked again: "Why do you want to enter the capital?"

"The imperial court favors the people of the capital. Only by entering the capital can you live a good life!"

Yan Chengjin said to Zhu Houzhao: "We don't worry about poverty but about inequality. In the past, there were many homeless people in the capital. Now, not only can we have enough to eat in the capital, we can also get paid as engineers and live a prosperous life.

Therefore, the people put their hope in their children to become officials in Beijing or get a job.

Xincheng is poorer than Jingcheng, Mancheng is poorer than Xincheng, and Hanzhong and Damaoshan are poorer than Mancheng.

The people just want to go to the capital to settle down and start a business. "

Tai Mo Shan, later known as Hong Kong Island, was under the jurisdiction of Xin'an County and is still a fishing village.

The poorer you are, the more you rebel, otherwise you will not be able to survive.

In the eyes of people outside Beijing, Beijing may be a paradise.

It was difficult for Yan Chengjin to tell Zhu Houzhao how the government decree could lift the world out of poverty.

Zhu Houzhao took a deep breath: "Lao Gao, just tell me what you have in mind!"

"Allocate money from the national treasury and set up private schools of the imperial court in various prefectures. They do not accept money from the people."

"I have this intention, but where can I get so much money?" Zhu Houzhao knew the importance of literacy.

Even the little eunuchs in the palace are more useful than those who have not read.

Yan Chengjin did not answer him, lest the Jin Yiwei would spread it to the ears of the princes.

Compulsory education is the first step, and the literacy rate in Ming Dynasty was higher than that of other dynasties.

Even women can teach children to read simple words.

Education is the beginning of governance in a prosperous era.

…

Forbidden City, Fengtian Palace.

When the Supreme Emperor Hongzhi saw more and more sparse notes on the imperial case, he couldn't help but ask Xiao Jing: "Where is Hou Zhao?"

"I left the palace with Yan Chengjin and seemed to have gone to Fangshan."

Xiao Jing has not received the latest news and dare not report it rashly.

Li Dongyang said: "Your Majesty has read the memorial recently, but the speed is still extremely fast."

Zhu Houzhao has read the memorials, and all the princes have to read them again. Some private matters are not discussed in the court.

Xiao Jing was about to go out to find out the news, but met Zhu Houzhao and Yan Chengjin.

The Supreme Emperor Hongzhi said with a straight face: "Where did you go over the palace wall again?"

"When I went to the new city, the people outside the capital were thousands of miles away from the capital. I saw something strange."

Hongzhi's face moved slightly and asked, "What's the matter?"

Zhu Houzhao bowed slightly: "I saw that some poor people outside the capital were seeking private tutors just to make a living in the capital. Now the capital is rich, but many places are poor.

People who had seen the prosperity of the capital returned to their hometowns and spread rumors that the imperial court favored the people of the capital, arousing public outrage.

Therefore, when the rebels in a poor land rebelled, the people responded to their call. "

Jiang Mian looked at Zhu Houzhao, still a little frightened.

Yan Chengjin only took Zhu Houzhao out to the capital for one trip, but he was able to learn so many truths.

Liu Jian and others were thinking deeply.

Zhu Houzhao continued: "My son wants to set up private schools of the imperial court in the fifteenth province of the two capitals, free of money, for children from poor families to attend school, so as to eliminate the disadvantages of barbarians."

Wang Qiong's brows moved slightly. There were many prefectures and counties in the two capitals and thirteen provinces. "How much money will this cost?"

"Take the first question of the rural examination to raise money by donating money to the gentry's children who donated money." Zhu Houzhao said.

Without real talent and practical learning, even if you pass the provincial examination, you may not be able to pass the national examination.

You may not be able to become an official.

Jiang Mian said: "This move is too reckless. Not to mention whether it can raise money, such a blatant issue will definitely arouse resistance from the people."

In this way, the gentry had to solve one less question than the poorer children.

There are advantages in both time and score.

Zhang Sheng nodded: "Master Jiang is right."

Yan Chengjin stood up and said: "If the purpose of raising money is written on the imperial list and the residence newspaper, the people will understand."

The Supreme Emperor Hongzhi thought for a while and said: "You are allowed to beg."

The imperial decree was spread out of the capital in just half a day. When the gentry saw the decree, they wiped their eyes in disbelief. Can they use money to buy the first question of the first round of the provincial examination?

“Good governance!”

Wang Qiong stood at the Hubu Yamen, waiting to collect the money from the gentry.

In just half a day's work, thirty thousand taels were raised, which was enough to hire a thousand private school teachers.

"Hey, let's go to the palace and report first."

…

Xiyuan, Xiangfang.

The little eunuchs moved the cage and were almost frightened to death by the beast in the cage.

Gu Dayong brought two peacocks from the Grand View Garden in Liangxiang to make the elephant room more beautiful.

Zhu Houzhao was sitting on the big chair, blinked his eyes and looked at Gu Dayong, and said happily: "Gu Banban, is Lao Gao here?"

"My slave has sent someone to invite him. He should be here soon."

At this time, Yan Chengjin walked into the elephant room and saw a red carpet in the middle, small desks on both sides, and then various caged beasts.

Directly in front is an imperial chair and imperial desk, and Zhu Houzhao is reading the memorial very seriously.

"Your Majesty will move the reading room to Xiyuan. Does the Supreme Emperor know about it?"

Zhu Houzhao smiled happily: "I haven't asked yet. I will send someone there soon."

A quarter of an hour later, Fengtian Palace.

The little eunuch hurriedly ran in: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty has built an elephant house in Xiyuan, and you will go to court in Xiyuan."

Hongzhi squeezed the pen in his hand tightly: "This... this evil boy!"