The most reckless man in the Ming Dynasty

Tang Hao's words were always harsh.

As long as the Zhongshan Marquis opens his mouth in court, he will definitely have nothing good to say.

What he said just now can be said to have directly torn off the fig leaf of scholars.

In fact, whether they are scholars or civil servants, they are shouting about "studying hard for more than ten years" all day long, but is this really the case?

Zhu Yuanzhang, the great emperor of the Ming Dynasty, started with a bowl. He was born in a humble peasant family. He worked as a beggar, worked as a monk and ran a clock, and participated in the rebel army and rebelled... It can be said that he was the person with the worst background among the heroes in the late Yuan Dynasty.

All the heroes came together to compete in the world, but in the end it was Zhu Yuanzhang who fought against the rebellion, wiped out all the heroes, and established the Ming Dynasty!

Comrade Zhu Chongba himself was a very studious person. He attached great importance to the important role of education in governing the country. He placed education in an important position in national development and established the cultural and educational policy of "governing the country with education first and education with schools as the basis". , vigorously develop school education.

Schools are set up in the countryside, and every thirty-five families run a "social education" with no quota of students to provide enlightenment for young children; there are county schools, prefecture schools, and government schools in the local area, which provide students with food every day and provide food to the world. Students carve out a path to study.

But he couldn't just give up. He finally seized the opportunity and hit the painful foot of the civil servant Jin Shen. Naturally, he had to get enough benefits in exchange. This was the benefit exchange that Tang Hao entrusted to him!

Beheaded by beheading, exiled by the army, fifty people were cut off from official career.

"Your Majesty, Yuan Fu's words are true advice!"

Most of them are officials who have resigned and returned home!

These scholars with titles or official positions could rely on the preferential treatment and privileges granted by the court, such as exemption from taxes and exemption from corvee, etc., and used various means to annex fields. Naturally, money and food gradually accumulated. Through the efforts of one generation, He became a powerful gentry!

Now, you, the Emperor of Zhengde, want to abolish the academic title at the same time, setting a precedent. What will the world's gentry think, and what will the world's scholars think?

Ma Wensheng's words were actually a reminder to the little emperor not to act recklessly and destroy the foundation of the Ming Dynasty!

A scholar with a great reputation!

"Yuanfu, and you guys, don't talk to me about these nonsense anymore!"

Even if your family is poor, as long as you are willing to study hard, you can enter social studies, county schools, government schools, etc. to further your studies and cultivate virtues step by step. At the same time, you can also pass the imperial examination to gain the title of scholar, candidate, etc., and obtain the corresponding preferential treatment and privileges!

On this point, the court officials present were very clear about this. After all, they also entered official careers through the imperial examination!

Which one is more important?

It's just that he, Da Sikong, has always been upright and upright, so he can't be regarded as a partisan of Li Dongyang, Liu Daxia and others.

This is the so-called "imperial power does not go to the countryside"!

So where did the gentry and powerful people come from in these places?

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the thirty-two people whose crimes are serious shall be executed according to the "Great Ming Law"; the eighteen people whose crimes are minor shall be dismissed from their posts and exiled to the army; the six whose crimes are the most minor shall be demoted!"

Fame!

When the ministers heard the final result of the little emperor's decision, they all took a deep breath.

Or, allow the little emperor to set a precedent for the past generations, deprive scholars of their academic status, and cut into the arteries of civil servants and gentry!

What do you mean?

Buy one get one free?

This is undoubtedly a difficult problem!

The courtiers present looked at each other, and the three true kings remained silent.

The real role of scholars with fame is to maintain the stability of the place and educate the people to prevent them from having other thoughts!

What do you think?

Gather a crowd to cause chaos, raise an army to rebel, and overthrow your old Zhu family’s Ming Dynasty!

After all, since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the only Ming emperor who really vigorously punished corruption was Zhu Chongba, who had a rough start!

But now, the rules set by Zhu Chongba have become a powerful weapon for Tang Hao and the young emperor to suppress the civil servants and gentry!

Praise Comrade Zhu Chongba!

Now, before the civil servants and gentry, there are actually two choices.

The tentacles of the imperial court can only reach the county government level, but in the countryside behind the county government, even if the government sends people there, it may not be useful. Instead, it must rely on the powerful gentry in these places!

In a sense, if the local gentry is powerful, it is far more effective than the local county government!

Thirty-two people should be killed!

Eighteen people should be exiled as soldiers!

Six people should be demoted!

The last six people were even more miserable. They were exiled to Qiongzhou Mansion, which was far away. Moreover, the little emperor also strictly ordered not to change their transfer and promotion, which meant that they could only die in Qiongzhou Mansion for the rest of their lives and could not even go home. There is no chance of returning home!

Even if you can still keep your official position, it is no different from being exiled!

But compared with the farmers, craftsmen, and merchants mentioned by Zhongshan Hou Tanghao just now, this little bit of hardship is nothing.

"What the General Constitution just said is absolutely true. Scholars serve as officials in the government and as gentry in the countryside. They bear the heavy responsibility of educating the people and maintaining laws. They are the cornerstone of the imperial court!"

"Ha! A reputation for benevolence?" Zhu Houzhao chuckled and said, "What other reputation for benevolence do I have in your eyes?"

Or, let the little emperor severely punish these fifty-six people, activate the "Da Ming Law", and restore the severe punishment laws of the Hongwu Dynasty!

As for the teachers in the rural schools, the county magistrates and magistrates select those with good academic skills. The rural schools also have one exam every three years, and there is a very complete promotion system for both teachers and students.

After completing their studies, they were summoned by the emperor and promoted by subject. They were appointed to positions such as censor, prefecture magistrate, county magistrate, instructor, experience, county magistrate, secretary of the Ministry and Academy, and history of the five prefectures.

"Emperor Taizu Gao once punished corruption with strict laws. I was just following the ancestral system. What? Is there any problem?"

It is hard to say whether the "ancestral system" mentioned by the civil servants and gentry is the rule set by Comrade Zhu Chongba. After all, these scholars are the most shameless. Who knows whether the ancestors they recognize are other people, such as those who control the government. Sanyang!

But the "ancestral system" in the little emperor's mouth is very obvious. Hold high the banner of Comrade Zhu Chongba!

Do you spend so much money to raise these talented people in vain?

Students recruited by prefectural, prefecture, and county schools must be outstanding children of officials and ordinary people, who are over fifteen years old and have read the "Four Books".

It's just that in different periods, emperors of all dynasties attached different importance to imperial examinations and schools.

It’s not easy!

No matter how miserable you are, at least you don't have to worry about food and drink, and you can just concentrate on studying and cultivating virtue.

"The reason why scholars can distinguish right from wrong and educate all people is not only because they read and learn calligraphy and cultivate virtue, but also because scholars enjoy the privileges of fame and fame. They are not restricted by road guides and can freely travel around the world and learn from all directions!"

Tang Hao nodded with a smile and couldn't help but give a thumbs up to the little emperor.

"I don't want to hear you arguing for scholars here!"

"Your Majesty, I know that I am not worthy of my position, and I am old and foolish... I am begging for my bones."

"Your Majesty, if this is the case, it will be a disservice to Your Majesty's reputation!"

Then the little emperor can do the same!

After all, the person who formulated the ancestral system was his serious ancestor, the great Comrade Zhu Chongba!

However, the great ancestor Zhu Yuanzhang did not attach much importance to the imperial examination at first. According to his plan, those who participated in the imperial examination must be school students. However, school students did not have to pass the imperial examination to become officials. For example, students from the Imperial Academy could serve as officials after passing the examination. .

of course not!

"General Xian, according to the Ming Dynasty Laws and Orders, how should they deal with it?"

However, at this moment, Zeng Jian witnessed the young emperor suppressing the civil servants and gentry again and again, and pointed the finger at the Huguang Township Party. He inevitably felt a sense of sadness in his heart, and he actually directly resigned, trying to express his feelings. With my own attitude, I hope that the little emperor can take back his life!

After all, the resignation of an important minister at the level of the Six Ministers is very important. At least His Majesty the Emperor should retain him according to the system.

Ma Wensheng is an official who always speaks radically, and what he said was extremely explicit.

Double happiness?

So Tang Hao quickly glanced at the little emperor. Based on the long-term tacit understanding between the emperor and his ministers, Zhu Houzhao also understood what this thief and savage meant, and his face instantly darkened at a speed visible to the naked eye!

"Da Sikong, what did you just say? Do you want to resign?"

"Behead those who deserve to be killed, exile those who deserve to be sent to the army, and the remaining six people will all be demoted to Qiongzhou Mansion. They cannot be transferred or promoted without an edict!"

"Okay!" Zhu Houzhao started his performance and angrily said: "You want to resign as soon as things don't go your way. What are you doing as a court? Do you come and leave when you want?"

The prosperity of schooling in the Ming Dynasty far exceeded that of the Tang and Song Dynasties, and a complete system was formed from rural social studies to prefectural and county official schools to central government schools. It can be said that "within the four seas, schools are like forests, and the buildings are crowded." Door".

There are small exams every month and major exams once every three years. Those with outstanding results will be sent to the province first, and then the best ones will be selected and sent to the capital to study and cultivate virtue in the Imperial College. Their wives can accompany them, and the Imperial College will be responsible for all food and lodging expenses.

Therefore, the Ming Dynasty implemented a policy of intertwining schools and imperial examinations in selecting scholars. "The imperial examination must start from the school, but the school does not need to start from the imperial examination."

This life is completely over!

Faced with such a harsh result, Liu Jian couldn't help but speak.

"If His Majesty easily sets a precedent for "eliminating scholars' honors", and all emperors will do the same in the future, then how can scholars propagate enlightenment after losing their honors? How can they maintain rural laws? Wouldn't it be possible for bandits to be rampant, rites and music to be ruined? , Doesn’t the discipline exist?”

In other words, to participate in the imperial examination, you must first go to school. The best in the school can be admitted to the official position without going through the imperial examination.

"With their fame and privileges, they can understand the major political policies of the country. They can convey His Majesty's holy words to the countryside for the court. They can become a bridge for the court to communicate with the people in the countryside. But once they lose this fame and privileges, Then what qualifications do scholars have to educate the people? They will live self-sufficiently in their own fields like the people in the countryside, and they don’t know what time it is in the outside world!”

"Do you still see me as your king and father? Do you still have the duty of a minister in your heart?"

A literati's pen kills people without blood, which is more terrifying than a warrior's sword!

If we choose the latter and allow the young emperor to remove his fame, then none of the courtiers present will have a good reputation. Not to mention the loss of their reputation, the world's scholars will still call them traitors. The sycophant may even be infamy for eternity!

Therefore, compared to this, the former seems more acceptable!

However, at this moment, an accident happened suddenly!

I want to expunge their fame, but you don't want to!

There is no way, the little emperor's hand is too cruel!

"Now, I just want to ask you one question: Are the fifty-six officials of the Ministry of War involved in the case and breaking the law?"

The little emperor was not stupid, so he naturally understood the underlying meaning of Ma Wensheng's words.

"In this case, the crime will be punished according to the "Great Ming Law"!"

Zeng Jian lowered his head, not noticing the scary expression on the little emperor's face.

The little emperor began to call the names, and Zhang Fuhua had no choice but to answer.

But, no matter what, the little emperor must not be allowed to set a precedent for getting rid of his fame today!

At this moment, the courtier's expression suddenly became strange, and he was lucky not to be angry to death on the spot.

After all, the imperial examination is an important system for the country to fairly select talents, and it is the pillar and foundation of the country.

As soon as these words came out, the whole place was in an uproar!

However, after hearing his words, Zhu Houzhao was dumbfounded and looked at Tang Hao subconsciously.

Liu Jian, the old chief assistant, spoke solemnly.

That's great, then act in accordance with the "Laws of the Ming Dynasty" and see who can endure it!

But how many of the farmers, craftsmen, and merchants in the world are not fully clothed and hungry?

Therefore, there is no way to refute these words of Tang Hou!

The four people, scholars, farmers, industry and merchants, represent the four classes, and there is no comparison at all.

Therefore, their next statement will soon be related to the future interests of scholars all over the world. If they are not careful, they will lose everything, and they will be infamy for thousands of years!

Zhu Houzhao sneered.

Looking back on your journey of studying for the academic examination, was it difficult?

Of course it's a bit bitter.

But no matter what, the life of scholars in the Ming Dynasty was not really hard.

"If you want to keep these fifty-six people, then let me revoke their honors. If not, then let them die!"

Tang Hao was also stunned, and a smile flashed across his face.

"Your Majesty, think twice!"

How to choose?

The Minister of Industry, Grand Sikong Zengjian, suddenly asked to resign!

"Your Majesty, my old minister is old and feeble-minded, and I beg you to be promoted to an official position!"

For example, Yongle Emperor Zhu Di obviously paid more attention to the imperial examination.

This punishment is not too severe!

After all, these fifty-six people are all military officials, not petty officials. Even the three true kings of the court felt a pang of pain at this moment.

"Well!"

After watching the show for so long, the little emperor finally learned something real.

They all knew that the little emperor wanted to test the bottom line of the civil servants.

Following Liu Jian's train of thought, Tianguan Ma Wensheng continued to talk in depth.

Don’t the civil servants and gentry like to shout “ancestral system” and wave the banner of “ancestral system”?

After a brief moment of shock, Liu Jian's face changed drastically and he winked wildly at Zeng Jian, signaling him not to resign at this moment!

Now is the time for the little emperor to seize the opportunity to slash at the civil servants and gentry. As a result, Zeng Jian suddenly resigned. You are forcing the little emperor to kill you and other Huguang officials!

That's right, Zeng Jian, courtesy name Keming, was from Chenzhou, Huguang.

Why did the imperial court give scholars the privilege of fame and fame?

Facing the little emperor's severe accusation, Zeng Jian suddenly panicked and opened his mouth to defend himself.

However, Zhu Houzhao did not give him this opportunity and shouted directly: "Zeng Jian disobeyed the decree and despised the king. He was dismissed from all official positions, stripped of all honors, and his whole family was exiled to Liaodong!"