"Your Majesty, please slow down and be careful of the steps!"
Lu Fang looked at the towering steps in front of Yangxin Hall and couldn't help but remind her.
When Jiajing heard this, he immediately stopped, turned around, and looked at Lu Fang with a puzzled look on his face.
"What's wrong?"
Lu Fang looked at Jiajing's vigorous and vigorous steps, silently held back what he wanted to say, shook his head inconspicuously, and immediately responded.
"nothing."
Jiajing did not doubt his presence, and immediately stepped onto the steps with extra steady steps.
Lu Fang, on the other hand, followed Jiajing's footsteps step by step. Although her face was very calm, Lu Fang's thoughts couldn't help but start to diverge.
"Your Majesty doesn't look like a man in his fifties at all. His physical condition seems to be much better than that of Prince Yu!"
Lu Fang continued to think along this line of thought, and the expression on his face gradually became frightened. A dangerous idea suddenly emerged in his mind.
"Is it possible that your Majesty has gained some experience after practicing Taoism for so many years?"
But soon, this idea was rejected by Lu Fang personally.
"No, it won't happen, Lu Fang, don't think so wildly!"
"Throughout the ages, there have been countless emperors who wanted to pursue immortality. But in the end, didn't they turn into a handful of loess?"
"Stop thinking about it any more. Serving His Majesty with peace of mind is what you should do now!"
While Lu Fang was still fighting between heaven and man, Jiajing's ancient well-waveless voice reached Lu Fang's ears, bringing him back to reality.
"Lu Fang, what are you doing standing there, why don't you come up quickly?"
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
After Lu Fang heard this, she suppressed the chaotic thoughts in her heart, responded, and immediately stepped onto the steps of the Heart Cultivation Hall.
After entering the Yangxin Hall, Jiajing sat on the dragon chair without any image, picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup of tea.
Seeing this situation, Lu Fang immediately stepped forward and asked respectfully.
"Your Majesty, do you need your servant to send some snacks from the royal kitchen?"
"Well, let them bring some over. I happen to be a little hungry."
Hearing this, Jiajing nodded and immediately gave instructions.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
After the words fell, Lu Fang waved to a young eunuch. After whispering a few words in his ear, the young eunuch quickly left the Yangxin Palace.
Jiajing saw all this, immediately picked up the teacup, took a sip, and asked Lu Fang.
"Lu Fang, what do you think of my speech today?"
After hearing this, Lu Fang organized the words in her mind and immediately said respectfully: "Your Majesty, I have been fortunate enough to attend the lectures of those Hanlin bachelors, but compared to them, I still think that your Majesty's lectures are better!"
When Lu Fang said this, there was a look of reverence in his eyes that could not be concealed.
"Your Majesty, you speak from simple to profound, even slaves can understand what you are talking about!"
Jiajing seemed to be quite impressed by Lu Fang's words. He chuckled and continued immediately.
"Lu Fang, tell me, what will happen if I set up a separate engineering subject to conduct examinations?"
Seeing a look of confusion on Lu Fang's face, Jiajing shook his head and then explained.
"I plan to classify arithmetic, astronomy, construction and other subjects into engineering subjects and conduct separate examinations!"
When Lu Fang heard this, she immediately looked stern. After thinking for a long time, she gave her opinion.
"Your Majesty, although I don't understand this very well, I feel that this must be a long-term process!"
"Oh, go on."
Hearing this, Jiajing couldn't help but become interested in what Lu Fang was about to say next, and immediately asked.
Seeing that the emperor was interested in this, Lu Fang paused for a moment, and then continued after organizing the words in her mind.
"Your Majesty, I believe that the scholars of all dynasties were those who were familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics, yearned for the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, and passed the imperial examinations, and were selected at different levels."
"As time goes on, there is a saying that everything is of inferior quality, only the best in education is the wise saying. Anything that cannot be helpful in the imperial examination is instinctively rejected by them."
"In the eyes of these scholars, the craftsmen who built ships and palaces, as well as the many technological innovations, are nothing more than fancy skills and cannot be put on the stage."
"No matter how skilled you are, in the end, you still have to obey these scholars who have gained high positions through studying the Four Books and Five Classics, and there are only so many positions in the court."
After listening to Lu Fang's words, Jiajing was thoughtful and quickly added.
"I understand. What you mean is that if I classify arithmetic, astronomy, construction and other subjects into engineering subjects and hold separate examinations, everyone will object?"
Seeing that the emperor understood what he meant, Lu Fang nodded and then added.
"Yes, Your Majesty, this is what I mean!"
"The integrated payment of grains by officials and gentry that you previously promoted only abolished the privilege of officials and gentry not to pay grains. In fact, it did not have much impact on the status of those officials."
At this moment, the prepared snacks were delivered from the imperial dining room, but Jiajing had no time to take care of them. He just asked him to put the snacks aside and continued to ask.
"Lu Fang, keep talking!"
After receiving encouragement from Jiajing, Lu Fang immediately responded respectfully.
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
"I believe that if you want to change this situation, you must break the halo of scholars!"
"They elevate their own status by belittling other industries, allowing everyone to follow the path that has been arranged, including the child examination, county examination, government examination, and even the final palace examination."
"And those who passed the palace examination and successfully became officials, how could they oppose them?"
"Moreover, the energy possessed by these gentry is so amazing. Their words are sometimes more effective than official notices posted by the government!"
After hearing what Lu Fang said, Jiajing also seemed to have a clear understanding. He looked away from Lu Fang and said silently to himself.
"It seems that in the final analysis, I still have to keep the right to speak firmly in my own hands!"
"What should I do?"
Jiajing supported his chin with one hand and fell into deep thought.
When Lu Fang saw the emperor starting to think, she didn't dare to disturb him and just waited quietly.
I don’t know how long time passed, but suddenly, Jiajing suddenly came back to his senses and laughed loudly.
"Why did I forget the newspaper!"
"With the newspaper, I can control part of the right to speak, and in the process, I can explain the court's policies, and then regain the right to speak step by step!"
Lu Fang was quite puzzled by the strange words Jiajing said, but he was very keenly aware of one thing the emperor mentioned, and that was newspapers.
Later, Lu Fang couldn't restrain her curiosity and immediately asked Jiajing.
"Your Majesty, what is the newspaper you just mentioned?"
Seeing this, Jiajing picked up a piece of pastry and put it into his mouth. After chewing it, he responded.
"The newspaper I just mentioned is, in the final analysis, just a thin piece of paper. However, this piece of paper is much cheaper than books, and everyone can afford it!"
"I can also use newspapers and send people to write corresponding articles to publicize the court's policies."
When Jiajing said this, he couldn't hide the excitement on his face, and he immediately spoke.
"In this way, won't all the previous problems be solved?"
After hearing Jiajing's idea, Lu Fang's eyes shone brightly, and she immediately knelt on the ground and said respectfully.
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
"In this way, all problems will no longer be problems!"
Jiajing was seen lifting Lu Fang up from the ground, pointing at the snacks placed on the table, and then said.
"Come, let's try the newly baked snacks in the imperial dining room first, and then call Yan Song and the others over to me later!"
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
After Lu Fang finished speaking, he took a piece of snack from the plate and put it into his mouth, savoring the taste.
…
In the cabinet, several people worked non-stop to deal with the memorials after returning to the cabinet from the Imperial Academy.
Despite this, Yan Shifan was still immersed in the previous scene of the steam engine running and could not extricate himself. Therefore, his speed in processing the memorial was much slower than before.
Yan Song on the side naturally noticed Yan Shifan's abnormality, and immediately turned his gaze to Yan Shifan, who was still in a daze, and said coldly.
"Yan Shifan, what are you doing standing there, why don't you hurry up and deal with the memorial!"
Hearing this, Yan Shifan suddenly came back to his senses and immediately responded.
"Yes, father!"
Hearing this, Yan Song snorted coldly, and said in a deep voice, "How many times have I told you, when you work, please do your job!"
Seeing this situation, Xu Jie quickly stood up and tried to smooth things over: "Mr. Yan Ge, please calm down. Mr. Xiao Ge didn't mean it."
At this moment, a subordinate official hurriedly entered the cabinet and reported respectfully.
"Mr. Ge, Eunuch Lu is waiting outside!"
"What are you still doing? Please invite Eunuch Lu to come in!"
Gao Gong on the side saw this, his face was full of eagerness, and he immediately ordered.
"Yes, Mr. Ge!"
After the subordinate responded, he quickly left. Not long after, Lu Fang was seen walking into the cabinet with a smile on his face.
Seeing Lu Fang's arrival, everyone stood up from their seats with respectful expressions on their faces: "I've seen Eunuch Lu!"
Hearing this, Lu Fang nodded slightly, looked around, and then spoke.
"We have followed His Majesty's order to invite you all to come over."
"Your Majesty has something important to discuss with you!"
After hearing this, everyone exchanged glances with each other, and finally Yan Song stood up and respectfully greeted Lu Fang.
"Yes, I'll go right away!"
Hearing this, Lu Fang took her eyes away from Yan Song and said slowly.
"Everyone, come with me!"
After Lu Fang finished speaking, he turned around and left. Seeing this, everyone quickly followed Lu Fang's footsteps.
…
"Your Majesty, Mr. Yan Ge and the others have arrived and are waiting outside!"
After Lu Fang led everyone to the Yangxin Hall, she immediately said respectfully to Jiajing who was sitting on the dragon chair.
"Well, I understand, let them come in!"
When Jiajing heard this, he nodded slightly in the direction of Lu Fang and immediately gave instructions.
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
After Lu Fang finished speaking, he called a young eunuch, whispered a few words in his ear, and then waited beside Jiajing as usual.
After a while, a high-pitched voice was heard: "Xuan, Yan Song, Xu Jie, Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng, and Yan Shifan are here to attend!"
After the words fell, Yan Song and others were seen stepping into the Nourishing Heart Hall.
As soon as everyone entered the Yangxin Hall, under the leadership of Yan Song, the chief minister of the cabinet, they knelt on the ground respectfully and said in unison.
"I bow to your majesty, long live my emperor!"
When Jiajing heard this, he looked away from the others and gave instructions in a leisurely manner.
"Well, everyone, get up!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After receiving Jiajing's permission, everyone slowly got up from the ground, while Yan Song reluctantly got up from the ground with the help of Yan Shifan.
Seeing this situation, Jiajing immediately ordered: "Come here, give Mr. Yan Ge a seat!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a eunuch brought a chair to Yan Song.
When Yan Song saw this situation, a look of gratitude appeared on his face at the right time, and he said loudly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"
Jiajing took in all the expressions on Yan Song's face, nodded slightly, and then went straight to the topic.
"I came to you today because I have something I want to discuss with you!"
After hearing Jiajing's words, everyone's vigilance suddenly rose to the highest level.
Because according to past practice, whenever the emperor says this, it means that I have already decided on this matter. You just need to go through the motions, and then think about it for me, whether there are any mistakes or omissions in it. That’s it.
Sure enough, as soon as Jiajing finished speaking, Yan Song mustered up the courage, gritted his teeth, and spoke to Jiajing.
"Your Majesty, please speak out!"
Jiajing was very satisfied with Yan Song's attitude. After a moment of pause, he spoke.
"I plan to establish some new subjects in the Imperial College, such as arithmetic, astronomy, construction, etc., and classify them all as engineering subjects. What do you think?"
After Jiajing finished speaking, expressions of astonishment appeared on the faces of Yan Song and others involuntarily. What they didn't expect was that the emperor went to such trouble to call everyone over just for this matter!
Before Yan Song could speak, Xu Jie on the side quickly stepped forward to express his support.
"Your Majesty is wise, I think it is very necessary to establish some new disciplines in the Imperial College!"
"The ancients said that there is a sequence of learning, and there are specializations in the arts. The establishment of arithmetic, astronomy, construction and other disciplines will be able to cultivate more professional talents for our Ming Dynasty, thus contributing more to the prosperity of our Ming Dynasty!"
"Establishing more disciplines and classifying them as engineering disciplines will be beneficial without any harm!"
After hearing what Xu Jie said, Jiajing agreed quite a bit, then looked around and asked.
"Well, I think Mr. Xu Ge is right. What do you think?"
The emperor had spoken like this, and the remaining people didn't know what they should say, so they immediately responded.
"Your Majesty, you are wise, we have no objection to the establishment of more disciplines in the Imperial College!"
(End of chapter)
