"This ambassador has also been replaced by another one..."
Zhu Yixi sighed, shifted her gaze, and once again immersed herself in the discussion in her ears to make herself more grounded.
But obviously, he didn't care.
It takes at least half a year to travel from Spain to East Asia. By the time Spain reacts, the day lilies are already cold.
Moreover, although the value of the Philippines is high, it is not as valuable as South America and North America. Whether it is climate, land, or products, the Philippines is very different.
To say the least, the Ming Dynasty allowed the Spaniards to freely do business, live and preach in the Philippines and Taiwan, which is already a very suitable place to stay.
When it comes to colonization, both white land and places with a lot of natives have their own advantages. For the Ming Dynasty, there is no shortage of people, and white land is more suitable for immigrants.
"Xiyi is so impudent? He even went to Yuquan Mountain!"
"Who says it's not the case? This world is becoming increasingly incomprehensible to people."
At this moment, two scholars in t-shirts, speaking Mandarin, slowly entered and sat down next to him.
One was a thin man with bright eyes, and the other was short and stocky with bow-legged legs. They were half a head apart, so they looked particularly suitable.
Seeing such a big posture, I was surprised, but I didn't take it seriously.
Yuquan Mountain has become a place for the royal family and nobles to stay. I don’t know how many second-generation people are playing and resting there. Just get used to it.
"Brother Li, you have failed the test, what are your plans now?" the short man couldn't help but ask.
"I'm going to prepare for the exam in Tianjin for the next day."
The person who was called Brother Li smiled bitterly: "I thought I would come to Yuquan Mountain, but prices are not as good as in Beijing, and Tianjin is cheaper..."
"As for you, Shimazu-san, you are very knowledgeable. My teacher said that if you work hard, you might be able to pass the exam."
Hearing this, Shimazu Hisari sighed: "My family is not as rich as yours, and I can only know Japanese..."
"The heavens are vast and the land is vast. It is extremely difficult for elites to gather together to compete."
Li Ziqiu said calmly: "However, in the past few years, I'm afraid this is an opportunity for you and me."
"In addition to the original eight-part essays, the current examination has also added supplementary tests to test geography, arithmetic, history, etc. If the eight-part essays are the same, the additional questions will take precedence."
"Oh?" Shimazu Hisari couldn't help but said, "What do you mean?"
"The last one was in the imperial examination, and this one is in the joint examination. It is said that it is in the next subject. I am afraid that it has completely changed the eight-legged essay."
Li Ziqiu whispered, his eyebrows full of joy: "If it's about eight-legged writing, you and I can't compete with the centuries-old literary style of the Chinese dynasty, but if it's about other things, we're on the same threshold."
"If you return to Japan at this time, wouldn't all your previous efforts be wasted?"
"Why don't you stay in Tianjin with me and help each other? Even if you just work as an accountant, you can make do with it for a few years without delaying the examination."
When Shimazu Hisunari heard this, his eyes flew and his heart was filled with excitement.
During the Edo shogunate period, the Tokugawa family would only appoint imperial family members (directly subordinate samurai) and gushidai daimyo (retainers from generation to generation), and they were always wary of weakening the gaibei daimyo (the daimyo before the Battle of Sekigahara), let alone appointing them.
Even if he has all kinds of talents, he will not be hired.
As for the Shimazu family, after the Ryukyu Kingdom was taken over by the Ming army, their fortunes plummeted, making it more difficult to raise samurai.
Therefore, a few years ago, Japan was included in the Ming Dynasty's version of the tribute system, and the shogun was canonized as the king of Japan. Since then, a monarch-minister relationship has been formed.
After coercing each other to trade, a large number of Japanese samurai could freely travel to and from the Ming Dynasty, and this place became a place for talents.
The same is true for North Korea's aristocratic imperial examinations. Like Japan, its talents flocked to Beijing in an attempt to succeed in the imperial examinations.
In view of this, the Ministry of Rites promulgated regulations that Korean Jinshi enjoyed the treatment of being a scholar in the Ming Dynasty and could directly sign up to take the examination.
People with no reputation in Japan, North Korea, etc. need to take the Imperial College examination. After passing the examination, they can register for the examination.
Note that after they become Jinshi, they can freely choose to return to their country or become officials.
If you are an official, look at it the same as ordinary Jinshi.
Colleagues, I will observe the administration for two years before being promoted to an official position.
In the previous subject, there were as many as twenty scholars from Korea and Japan who participated in the examination, but none of them entered the palace examination, which was full of regrets.
Despite this, no one has given up, and no one will give up the opportunity to leap over the dragon gate.
"That's not bad!" Shimazu Hisari couldn't help but agree.
"It's just that the Imperial College is too strict. There is only one test every year. Otherwise, all the efforts made by the Imperial College students will be wasted and they will lose their qualifications."
"Yes, the more people come to the Ming Dynasty, the more you and I can survive this year, the harder it will be next year -"
The two of them communicated in official language, and Zhu Yixi heard clearly from behind.
This thought made him smile, remembering the memorial to the Ministry of Rites at the beginning of this year.
One of the chief officials said that because of the vast territory and the large number of people, more and more people take part in the examination every year. Scholars from Japan and North Korea also come to participate, so we can increase the number of Jinshi places as appropriate.
After all, three hundred people are too few.
Looking at it now, this quota is indeed a bit small.
Thinking of this, he stood up, and under the surprised gazes of Liu Afu and Yang Le, he came directly behind him and smiled at them:
"I heard what you two said clearly. Now I have an idea. It can be regarded as a shortcut to the south. I wonder if you want to hear it?"
Li Ziqiu and Shimazu Hisari were unhappy with this man's presumptuous move. They were about to have a fit, but then they heard the word "Zhongnan shortcut" and immediately changed their attitude.
Respect with temptation:
"Brother, what kind of connections does this have?"
"It's hard to talk about connections, but there is a loophole. It's very convenient and suitable for two people, especially this Shimazu brother."
Zhu Yixi looked at the shorter Japanese and smiled slightly.
The latter was immediately moved, his pupils dilated, his lips opened, and he didn't know what to say.
"Come here and talk."
As he said that, he led the two scholars to the table in his corner by the window.
"Please have some tea——"
Zhu Yixi said politely.
However, Shimazu Hisari couldn't help it anymore and hurriedly asked: "This wise brother, I'm scratching you like a cat, you'd better just tell me!"
"No matter what the price, I am willing to pay——"
Although Li Ziqiu didn't speak, his expression was consistent.
Zhu Yixi understood their anxiety. A piece of news could change the fate of a person or even an entire family. Who could bear it?
"This matter has reached your ears and mine, and no one else should say anything."
He lowered his head slightly, and the two of them leaned over knowingly, listening carefully:
"I heard that Ryukyu Prefecture is adjacent to Japan, and the population is only tens of thousands, but there are a lot of scholarship quotas every year. You can be naturalized in Ryukyu Prefecture."
"There are very few scholars there. With the talents of the two of you, you should be able to get the reputation of a mere scholar. When the time comes, it will be feasible whether you go to the provincial examination or go to prison."
"No matter how bad it is, a scholar with a good reputation can still take part in the provincial examination. Although he is only a minor official, he has become an official of the imperial court and entered the rank."
As soon as these words came out, Shimazu was overjoyed and tried to kneel down, but was restrained. The excitement on his face could not be concealed.
Compared with the slim chances of becoming a Jinshi, the reputation of a scholar is extremely affordable. You can attack when you advance and defend when you retreat. This news is really valuable.
Li Ziqiu on the side was a little hesitant: "My dear friend, Brother Shimazu's family is in Kagoshima. The dialect is similar to Ryukyu's dialect. You can easily get through it, but I can't!"
"If you want to return to your hometown with honor, you can only take the exam honestly. If you really want to be an official in the Ming Dynasty, you can only naturalize."
Zhu Yixi said seriously: "There are a bunch of small islands along the coast of Denglai. You only need to go to the isolated islands to buy a few acres of land and apply for naturalization from the government. It is not difficult to take the imperial examination, but if you want to easily become a scholar, you can only go to Ryukyu Prefecture. "
The two thanked him profusely and asked about his name.
Zhu Yixi shook her head and said: "If we are destined to meet again, we will meet again. If we are not destined to meet, we will not know each other. Dust will return to dust, and dust will return to dust..."
After saying that, he left the wine shop under the protection of a group of guards.
Looking back, they still stretched their necks and looked excited. Then he shook his head and smiled.
In fact, during the conversation between the two, Zhu Yixi got a glimpse of the difficulties of foreign scholars.
In the Ming Dynasty's version of the tribute system, according to his ideas, it was usually not only possible to obtain trade wealth, but also to allow free circulation of talents.
In this way, talents from various countries can be absorbed through systems such as the imperial examination and then fed back to other countries.
As a result, the elites of the vassal countries will be bribed, and the imperial examination will become a prosperous era in East Asia, strengthening the influence of Confucian culture.
And Confucianism, isn’t it the Ming Dynasty?
He originally thought that there would be a gap in the Imperial Academy for them to participate, but he underestimated the difficulty of becoming a Jinshi.
There are thousands of people across the country, and the difficulty of admission is 20 to 1. In North Korea and Japan, where the cultural atmosphere is far less than that of the Ming Dynasty, this is an extremely difficult requirement.
This is equivalent to letting the national football team directly enter the finals, but their level cannot even get a World Cup ticket.
In the long run, it will be detrimental to absorbing talents from other countries and increasing political centripetal force.
Therefore, the gap of Ryukyu Island immigration is actually a foundation.
If you can't become a Jinshi, then you should first become a scholar or a scholar!
It is also good to absorb talents from various countries.
After all, scholars are scarce in any country in this era.
Even though the imperial examination was so prosperous, Zhu Yixi was certain that the national literacy rate never exceeded 10%.
On the way, Zhu Xixi had already prepared to establish a county on the Miaodao Islands in Dengzhou Prefecture, a string of islands called Salmon Island in the Song Dynasty, as a gap for Korean talents.
Just like Ryukyu Island.
After returning to the summer resort, it was almost dark.
As for the twin girls, he had long forgotten about them.
After staying in Yuquan Mountain for a long time, Zhu Yixi was really bored. He suddenly thought of the grassland and the countless cattle and sheep outside the Great Wall.
Holding Qiqige in his arms and feeling the Mongolian woman's thickness and elasticity, he couldn't help but ask: "Do you want to go to the grassland and see it?"
"Of course I have." Qiqige couldn't help but pouted: "I have been in Beijing for several years, and my son almost ran away, but he has never been outside the Great Wall..."
As if sensing something was wrong in the environment, she immediately added, "But being able to stay with His Majesty makes everything worthwhile."
"Okay, everyone feels homesick."
Zhu Yixi patted her thick buttocks and said with emotion: "How could the yellowness of Xi'an Mansion not be a nostalgia?"
Having said this, the emperor's yearning and curiosity for the grassland became increasingly difficult to stop.
The next day, he summoned his cabinet ministers and promised to go outside the Great Wall, namely Chifeng, to inspect Chahar's situation.
Unsurprisingly, everyone in the cabinet was unanimous in their opposition.
At this time, Zhao Shu didn't care about the etiquette of a monarch and his ministers, and spoke directly until all his words were just one sentence: "The monarch's body is so great that it should not be taken lightly."
And other dissuasion does not care about the recklessness of the Japanese, the unsafe conditions outside the Great Wall, etc.
The emperor refused to give in and said coldly: "The Chahar tribe has established a governor, and there are three cities, Chengde, Kuancheng, and Chifeng. There are tens of thousands of people in the Khan tribe, and hundreds of people are on duty in the bodyguard department. Why should we be afraid?" ?」
Having said that, the cabinet will never give in.
After a long stalemate, the cabinet also knew that with the emperor's prestige, this matter would be successfully implemented, so they could only compromise:
"Your Majesty is burdened with tens of thousands of responsibilities in the world. Chifeng is far away from the capital and deep into the grassland. Even if it is outside the Xuanwei Great Wall, you should not go there."
Zhao Shu said in a deep voice: "We can go to Chengde."
Hearing this, Zhu Yixi had a look of helplessness on her face: "That's all——"
He had never wanted to go to Chifeng. It was too far. Chengde outside Gubeikou was very good and he could return to the Great Wall at any time.
Seeing this, several people in the cabinet could not understand the emperor's plan.
Regret is not a problem, but don’t mention it in your heart
How awkward.
The co-authored emperor wanted to go to Chengde from the beginning. They worked hard for a long time, and their saliva was almost dry. Who knew that their efforts were in vain.
Helpless, the cabinet could only draft a decree.
First, the Beijing camp sent tens of thousands of people to Chengde for protection.
Secondly, the Ministry of Revenue had to transfer a large amount of money and grain from Taicang to Chengde. This was not only food for the emperor, ministers, and the army, but also a reward for the Chahar tribes.
After all, what *** people like most is rewards.
The Ministry of Rites not only had to arrange the journey, but also had to send people to notify the tribes on the grasslands, the Mongolian nobles, the monks, and the ministers, asking them to go to Chengde for an audience.
One after another, it is extremely troublesome.
The emperor said a word, not only the eunuchs had their legs broken, but also civil servants like them had to lose countless pens.
Here, as soon as Yang Le left the palace, he met Tian Fu.
"Eunuch Tian——" Yang Le saluted to show respect for the leader of the eunuchs.
Tian Fu waved his hand: "With the relationship between you and me, why do we need to be so indifferent?"
As he said that, he actually smiled and helped him: "Come on, get in my carriage, I will set a table with you, and we brothers will have a good time drinking."
When they arrived at the splendid farm house, Yang Le was no stranger, eating meat and drinking wine in a generous manner.
Tian Fu smiled and clinked glasses with him, almost drunk.
"Take all these away!"
After drinking and eating, the two sat opposite each other and looked extremely close.
"Brother Yang, are you hiding anything good from me recently?"
Tian Fu squinted his eyes and smiled drunkenly.
"You are the Chief of Ceremonies Bingbi, how can I hide anything good from you!" Yang Le's heart trembled and he quickly denied it.
"Huh, Brother Yang, it seems you still treat me as an outsider."
Tian Fu shook his head, smelling of alcohol, and said dissatisfied: "It seems that all my good intentions were in vain..."
