The Ming Dynasty started with caution

For the sake of his descendants for eighteen generations, Yan Chengjin spent 10,000 taels of silver to buy Zhu Houzhao's paintings.

Zhu Houzhao couldn't help being happy, just like a thousand-mile horse caught by Bole, he wanted to paint a few more paintings.

All officials looked confused.

They didn't care whether the new emperor's paintings were worth money or not. What was important was how to recruit scholars, but they knelt in front of Fengtian Hall all night and still did not cancel the imperial edict.

Although the cabinet disapproved, they did not come to stop it. They thought that the Supreme Emperor Hongzhi would show up, but there was no movement.

So all the officials knelt for two days, and Zhu Hou took pictures for two days.

The quota for the general examination will be determined by default.

"The Emperor doesn't show up, which means he agrees."

Li Dongyang sighed.

"My foolish brother believes that although today's Ming Dynasty cannot be called a prosperous age, it can be considered a prosperous literary world. Ten steps forward, all the talented people in the world have been gathered in the imperial court, and the country can be considered peaceful and the people are safe."

Cui Yan comforted himself by saying that it was impossible to recruit so many scholars during the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

That's why there are so many poems about unrecognized talents that have been praised to this day.

This is the best dynasty for scholars.

"Let's consider it the new emperor's achievement."

Jiang Mian also comforted himself with the spiritual victory method.

As the day of the general examination is getting closer, the capital is gradually getting warmer.

In a blink of an eye, it was the day of the trial.

Yan Chengjin came to the Metropolitan Procuratorate to check in. When he saw Zhang Cong and Xia Yan waiting, he seemed to be grateful to pay homage to his mentor.

But Yan Chengjin did not accept the courtesy. Firstly, he did not give any guidance, and secondly, he had no intention of accepting disciples.

These two people were smart and did not go to Zhu Houzhao.

If you are labeled as a disciple of the new emperor/a disciple of Zhu Houzhao/a rebellious minister, you will become a slash Jinshi.

It will be difficult to get an official career.

After ordering people to drive them out, Yan Chengjin walked to the desk and sat down.

"Where did the Great Emperor go?"

During the Fengtian Palace Incident, more than 200 officials cried and remonstrated. If they were more forceful, perhaps even the Queen Mother Zhang could be forced out.

For such a big event, the Supreme Emperor did not return to the palace.

Happy to miss Shu!

This is Adou’s possession!

"Leaving the capital." Fang Xuedao.

…

Yongqing.

The carriage stopped in the open space of the county town. The Supreme Emperor Hongzhi opened the thick cotton curtain, and a chill came in.

What came into view was a huge papermaking workshop. The laborers carried the tree wood, threw it into large wooden barrels, boiled it, added paper chemicals, removed the water and squeezed it, and then fished it in the pool.

Yellow and white paper appears in a wooden frame.

Everything is in order.

"This paper mill is really big. There are tens of thousands of people there, right?"

"Yes, it is comparable to the Weaving Bureau in Jiangnan."

Xiao Jing responded with a smile.

The Supreme Emperor Hongzhi looked intently and saw a huge thatched shed next to it, with a roof made of pine leaves and countless dark wood piled underneath.

The laborers next to him cut the paper and transported it to the capital, where everything was prosperous.

An hour later, when I opened the cotton curtain again and looked, I saw beggars wandering around on the road and people wrapped in coarse clothes and rags.

How could this be?

"Master, we have arrived in Bazhou."

The Supreme Emperor Hongzhi stepped out of the carriage, and the chill in his body was washed away.

"Sure enough, as the Yan Qing family said, there is a huge difference between the capital and the outside of the capital, and it cannot be prosperous."

The Supreme Emperor Hongzhi frowned and walked into the Yamen Hall from the main entrance.

Seeing an old Confucian scholar coming to report the crime, the government officials cheered up.

The county magistrate Zhao Liang wanted to sleep until late and then go to court again, but he was touched by the county magistrate.

"Master Zhao, he has been promoted to court..."

The Supreme Emperor Hongzhi was already standing in the main hall, looking at the face of the county magistrate Zhao Liang to identify the loyal and the traitor.

"Master Zhao, Bazhou was a sacred place during the Tang and Song Dynasties. Why do you look at the people in the state and act so counterproductively?"

Zhao Liang put on his official hat and looked at the people in the hall blankly, "Who are you?"

I have seen people come to the Yamen to complain, but I have never seen people come to the Yamen to ask for complaints.

"I came from Fengyang in the south of the Yangtze River to go to the capital to obtain merit. I passed by the treasure land and wanted to ask about the people's livelihood in Bazhou."

Zhao Liang looked at the old Confucian scholar in front of him. Scholars are easy to get angry.

As the saying goes, you just like to see uneven roads.

Good thing!

"Bazhou is a blessed land, it's true, but it's precisely because of this that it brings disasters. According to the law of the imperial court, nothing can be grown except pasture."

The ground here is covered with reeds, cattails, and barnyard grass, which are used to support war horses.

The people barely make a living by digging up medicinal materials.

"This place is different from Yongqing. If you want to support war horses, it will be useless for me to report to the court."

Zhao Liang sighed deeply.

The Supreme Emperor Hongzhi pondered for a moment, looked at Zhao Liang and said: "If you tell me about Bazhou, if you are the number one scholar in high school, I will schedule it at the Chuanlu Ceremony and submit the memorial to me."

Zhao Liang lost his composure. The emperor and officials were all present at the ceremony.

This old Confucian scholar is too bold.

"this……"

Xiao Jing gave Zhao Liang a look: "My master asks you to write, so just write."

…

Beijing, the trial is over.

There were more Jinshi in Jinke, so Yan Chengjin sent Fang Xue and Zheng Qian to Dongge to review the papers.

Liu Lai walked into the check-in room.

"Sir, this is a message from Bazhou."

After glancing at the cover, Yan Chengjin threw it back, "The Metropolitan Procuratorate only received bullets, and sixteen ministerial affairs were submitted to the cabinet."

"Sir, Jin Yiwei said it was for you."

Has my reputation for integrity spread outside the capital?

Too careless...

Yan Chengjin opened the memorial and wanted to fill in the loophole, but was stunned by the four words on the memorial:

I have read it

Is this a memorial that the Supreme Emperor Hongzhi has read? It seems that we have arrived in Bazhou.

After a while, Yan Chengjin roughly understood the content of the memorial. Bazhou has fertile land, but it was requisitioned by the court for grassland.

Now that there is no war in the nine borders for the time being, County Magistrate Zhao wants to ask for an order to reduce the grassland.

Return the grass to the fields.

Yan Chengjin wrote a few lines and then told Liu Lai, "Return it to the Jinyiwei."

...

Bazhou,

In the small courtyard of Zhao's mansion, the retired emperor Hongzhi and Zhao Liang were talking happily, and the maids beside them brought side dishes from time to time.

"Please forgive me for the inconvenience of bothering you this time."

"Brother Zhu is polite."

"After entering the capital, Zhu will present the memorial. Brother Zhao, don't worry. I have some background in the court."

The retired emperor Hongzhi seemed to be a little drunk and very happy.

Zhao Liang smiled and agreed, you took six followers to take the exam.

"I guessed it a long time ago."

At this time, Xiao Jing suddenly received a memorial from the capital.

Walking in the ear of the retired emperor Hongzhi, "My Lord, Lord Yan has come to make a memorial."

The retired emperor Hongzhi got up and walked outside the courtyard on the pretext of going to the toilet, and opened the memorial sent by Yan Chengjin.

The situation in Bazhou was unfair, and it was difficult to leave with peace of mind.

I saw a line of small words below.

No.

Horses are like oxen, the most important transportation force in the world, supplying the capital, and the grassland must not be reduced. Please think twice.

Moreover, I am not the chief minister of the cabinet. If I rashly submit a memorial, I am afraid that I will be alone.

I hope the retired emperor will burn it after reading it.

"Humph, this guy wants me to give him an official position again."

The retired emperor Hongzhi closed the memorial angrily and was a little angry.

But, this also proves from the side...

This kid has a way to avoid reducing the grassland.

Seeing that the emperor was dissatisfied, Xiao Jing also smiled and said, "I think Lord Yan's career is too smooth."

The emperor Hongzhi turned his head and glanced at Xiao Jing, who quickly shut his mouth.