Chapter 23 Summary
Li Yuting, the manager who was guarding Anqing Mansion, was going crazy.
During the severe drought more than ten years ago, I had just been appointed editor and editor of the Hanlin Academy.
Many people think that the top scorer in the scientific examination is the most powerful, but in fact they are just country people who have never seen the world. Of course, being the number one scholar in the palace examination is not a big deal, but there is a lot of luck involved - for example, having a good appearance, or having a good name, and being liked by the emperor...
The scientific examinations of this dynasty were divided into three levels: the provincial examination, the general examination, and the palace examination. In the eyes of the country people, the "scholar master" was just a student who passed the child examination. He was not in these three levels at all, and could not be counted at all.
The rural examination is held once every three years and is held in August of the year when Zi, Mao, Wu and You are the year, so it can be called "Xiang Wei" or "Qiu Wei". The examination locations are at the offices of the Northern and Southern Zhili and the Chief Envoys of each province, that is, the provincial capitals. Those who pass the exam are called "Juren", and the first place is called "Jieyuan".
The examination was held in the spring of the next year after the provincial examination, that is, in the spring of Chou, Chen, Wei, and Xu years, so it was also called "Chunwei". The Ministry of Rites presides over it, and all the princes from all over the country attend the ceremony in the capital, so it is okay to call it "Li Wei". Those who pass the exam are called "Gongshi" and the first place is called "Huiyuan".
Back then, the tributes who passed the examination would participate in the "palace examination" personally presided over by the Holy Emperor. The Imperial Examination is also called the "Ting Examination". How can the Holy One, who has so many things to do every day, be able to read hundreds or even thousands of eloquent articles? In fact, it is still judged by the examiners, and they are divided into three grades, namely first-class (top), second-class, and third-class. Generally speaking, the examiners will select the ten best articles to present to the emperor, and the emperor will select the "three tripods", which are commonly known as the number one, the second, and the third overall - do you understand? Among the top ten in the country, it's hard to say how high anyone is compared to anyone else. Maybe it's because your handwriting is good, maybe the saint thinks you look pleasing to the eye, or maybe he thinks your name is auspicious, I don't know...
There are only three people in the "First Class": the number one scholar is awarded "Compilation and Compilation by the Hanlin Academy", the second and third best candidate is awarded "Compilation and Compilation by the Hanlin Academy", and all three are awarded "Jinshi and the rank". The number of people in the second class and the third class is different. The second class is given "Jinshi origin", and the first one is named "Chuanlu". The top three awards include "being born with Jinshi". This Sanding A and San Ding A are two completely different things.
A digression. Why is it called "tong"? Because it’s “different”! For example, "commanders know each other", which is one level lower than "commanders": there are some things that you should "know" in theory, but in fact, I won't tell you! Therefore, "Tong Jinshi" will have a somewhat derogatory connotation - Zeng Guofan in later generations was born with the same Jinshi. Zeng Guofan had two major hobbies, one was writing diaries, and the other was writing couplets, especially elegiac couplets - he would write them to his friends at home when he had nothing to do. Well, his friends were still alive and kicking, so Lao Zeng began to think about what elegiac couplets to send when you die. ! Once a friend came to visit, and Lao Zeng hurriedly crumpled what he had written into a ball. This friend thought that Lao Zeng was writing some pornographic article, so when he grabbed it and took a look, he became anxious on the spot: It was his elegiac couplet! Break up the relationship on the spot. Another time, Lao Zeng wrote a couplet to someone: "Ru madam" (that is, the little wife), and wanted to embarrass the other party. Unexpectedly, he was treated as "Tongjinshi" by the other party, and was equated with the little wife. He was very upset. Yan.
"San Yuan and the highest rank" refers to those who have won the first place in the provincial examination, the joint examination, and the palace examination, that is, those who have the titles of Jie Yuan, Hui Yuan, and Zhuang Yuan in one person. Very few in history.
Except for the three who directly enter the Hanlin Academy, the other Jinshi will take another exam, called the "Chaokao". The best ones were selected and admitted to the Hanlin Academy, and were called "Shujishi". Note: A scholar who has entered the Hanlin Academy cannot be considered a genuine Hanlin scholar!
The name Hanlin Academy is very particular. The original meaning of the word "Han" is the long and hard feathers on the golden pheasant, which were used for writing in ancient times. (Can't you think of it? Most people think that the quill is a patent of Europeans. We jumped from knives to carve bamboo slips to writing brushes. In fact, we have also used similar hollow feathers to make pens. By the way, the inventor of the writing brush was Fusu, the eldest son sent by Qin Shihuang to fight against the Huns in the north). Later, it was used to refer to excellent articles. Hanlin Academy—a place of majestic splendid buildings and forests, the country’s talent reserve!
Shu Jishi studied in the Hanlin Academy for three years and had to take the graduation exam - the graduation exam is called "Sanguan". Those who pass will be assigned to Hanlin editors and reviewers based on their merits; those who fail will be assigned to positions such as directors in various ministries such as Lihu, Li, Bing, Criminal, and Works, or will be given priority as magistrates and county committees.
The rank of Hanlin is not high, editing is from the sixth grade, editing is from the seventh grade - but it belongs to the literary lecturer of Long Live, who can meet the saint! Moreover, this dynasty has had an unwritten rule for a long time: those who are not Jinshi will not be admitted to the Hanlin, and those who are not Hanlin will not be admitted to the cabinet. The Shujishi who entered the Hanlin Academy were even respectfully called "Prime Minister" by everyone!
Therefore, the highest state of a scholar is not the number one scholar that country folk talk about, but the Imperial Academy!
Li Yuting, a young and successful young man, was full of ideas about Qi Zhiping. I dare not say that I have established my heart for heaven and earth to carry on the teachings of the saints and create peace for eternity, but it is my duty to establish a destiny for the livelihood of the people, so I worked hard and wrote: The severe drought in the world is a warning from God! Taxes should be reduced to support the people. Long live the villains around you...
Then... he went to prison and almost died there.
When the late Emperor Long Yun Jiutian, the Holy Emperor succeeded to the throne, and he returned to the imperial court*, in retrospect, he was really a man from two lifetimes.
After so many years, the enthusiasm for book business has long gone, but the enthusiasm for caring about the country and the people has not diminished at all. Seeing the bandits from all walks of life disappearing and growing, causing harm to eight or nine provinces, China was devastated, so he took the initiative to ask for help. Of course, the Holy One understood this heart of fist. He not only gave gentle words of encouragement, but also gave himself the Emperor's Sword to make him a powerful figure. He also appointed eight royal guards to accompany him - they were the Emperor's personal soldiers! However, when I got there, I realized that I was still too naive.
After dealing with rogue bandits for a year or two, Li Yuting realized that if the court really wanted to completely deal with those so-called giant bandits that made people laugh, they were actually not as difficult to extinguish as imagined: they were already determined and refined. There are only so many core people, and nine out of ten of them are refugees who are being held hostage - as long as these people can have food to eat, who is willing to become a thief!
If you want to eat, you must cultivate crops. Right?
Do you have fields?
Yes!
Wherever the rogues passed, the ground was thousands of miles long.
Red land is wasteland, and wasteland is terra nullius. If these ownerless lands are given to the refugees, won't the thieves and bandits lose the support of their tribesmen and become like water without a source and a tree without roots?
It sounds easy to say, but the actual operation is another matter. Li Yuting understood very well.
First of all, those censors who "hear the news" will definitely attack in groups. It's too easy to catch them: divide the fields? Is it still possible to be a thief? Then everyone should become thieves...you will be drowned alive by the spitting stars of these loud-mouthed men.
Secondly, this move will offend almost all military leaders, big and small.
It’s no wonder that no matter whether it’s a real or fake fight, they have spent all these years with the bandits. The soldiers themselves are as poor as beggars. Suddenly, they see guys with the blood of their comrades on their hands living on two acres of land in the blink of an eye. The happy life of a cow, a wife and a kid on a hot bed, why should everything be reversed? Besides, everyone is still eager to exchange these easy-to-beheaded heads for rewards. They can also ask for more supplies, food and grass, as well as rewards and pensions for "big victories"... This is obviously a waste of people and wealth - no matter how much the censors complain , at worst, pack up your clothes and go home, throw away your hat, and cut off the money of these Qiu Ba gang, maybe they will be hacked twice by a desperado in the dark and lose their lives!
In the end, even if everything goes as planned, with the efficiency and capabilities of the Ming Dynasty's bureaucracy, the resettlement of millions of refugees from dozens of bandits, large and small, will not be without trouble. No one can bear the responsibility of killing a few newly appointed parents and other officials somewhere else!
Besides, where does this almost astronomical resettlement fee come from? Can Tobe spare him?
Therefore, although it is the best policy to remove the firepower from under the cauldron, the plump ideal is not worth the skinny reality: it is better not to kick this red-hot iron plate.
Then just concentrate on conquering it.
Although treating headaches and treating head and foot pains only treats the symptoms but not the root cause, it is still the right strategy after all. No matter how powerful the bandits are, they are still thieves. The official army is a regular army after all, not to mention that he has been ordered to manage Henan, Huguang and Nanzhili. Combine the efforts of all provinces and urge all members to concentrate their efforts on destroying one or two of the largest groups, and leave the rest to fate. You can also go back to pay homage to the Holy Spirit.
But it's also impossible.
Although Li Yuting held the intimidating title of managing four provinces, he was always respectful and polite to him as governor or chief envoy, but in fact he could not command the troops of any province. Several times, after clearly chasing the bandits to the end, the remnant sneaked into the mountains at the junction of several provinces with their tails between their legs. It seemed that if they worked harder, they would be able to return victorious. The officers and soldiers here would definitely receive the troops from the provinces. Following the government's order to "quickly return to reinforcements upon discovering the enemy's presence", he turned around and withdrew the siege and went home! In just a few months, but no more than a year or two, the thieves healed their wounds and came back again, taking more refugees hostage, and their momentum was even greater than before!
Li Yuting, who has always been a Beijing official, did not expect it to be like this at first. However, after all, those years in prison were not in vain. I pondered a lot, and soon I understood the secret: each province only cares about its own part, and you selflessly cooperate with the neighboring provinces to exterminate this group of thieves, and you will lose the troops yourself. If your vitality is severely damaged, what will you do to deal with other thieves if they come again?
At that time, even if your colleagues from neighboring provinces show loyalty and send troops and generals to come over to help you, the army will need to eat and be paid. Is this normal? It is certain that the work will not be effective. If you lead 2,000 soldiers and ask for food and pay for 8,000, how can you go and count the heads yourself? The guest army has no local feelings for you, and will never be polite. Burning a few villages and towns, causing a lot of lives, and pushing it on the thieves' heads with both hands, you have to swallow this fruit whether you want to or not! Whether or not the thieves can be wiped out is still a matter of debate. It is certain that the province will turn into a white ground where the troops pass. By then, even if the thieves are beaten away, it will be the righteous help from next door that will turn the tide. If the thieves become bigger, others will Just pat your butt and leave. It’s because you failed to control the people and caused trouble to neighboring provinces. At the very least, you will be dismissed from your post and will never be re-instated! Therefore, no matter how this account is calculated, others will benefit and you will be ruined!
On the other hand, if the trouble is diverted to the east, no matter how big the trouble is, it is the guy next door's own business: even if he files a complaint - everyone is a penman, and they are just biting each other. Who is afraid of who will come? There was a true story a long time ago: a plague of locusts. It is impossible to exterminate locusts, but they can be driven away! A county magistrate led the whole city, young and old, and united as one, and drove the locusts to Linxian County with smoke and fire. The guy next door was really anxious and reported it to the Holy Emperor... What was the result? A fluttering piece of paper went straight to the imperial court: The humble minister was afraid of betraying the entrustment of the Holy One, so he stayed up for dozens of nights to protect the village - he could also lead the people to drive the locusts back... The Holy One, Longyan Dayue, gave the order, and the unlucky guy next door Dismissed and investigated! A living example is here. To put it another step back, even if the thieves come back after recuperating for a while - for one thing, by then I may have completed my term of office to suppress the thieves and have been promoted to other places to benefit the people. Even if I am still in office, who would want to be in this mess? Take it? Isn't it just "removed from office, retained in office, and committed to meritorious service"? The position is not yet secure! Therefore, as long as the provincial capital is not lost, it is a business that is sure to make money without losing money.
Li Yuting was also helpless about this.
Then make a decision: raise your own troops and do it yourself.
Anyway, before leaving, the Holy Saint Chrysostom also said: Let go of your hands and feet and do it boldly. "I don't worry about your Meng Lang, but I worry about your fear. On the day when the army is victorious, I won't begrudge you the reward of a prince!" Moreover, in order to silence those villains, before leaving the capital, I specially brought my mother and I from my hometown. My wife, children, and grandchildren were all sent to the capital! When he resigned, the Holy Emperor specially gave the whole family brocade, wine and food - this was very meaningful! At this point, both parties have reached a tacit understanding, and the subtext is tacitly understood. What I am saying here is: I must live up to the entrustment of the Holy One. I will keep my whole family in the capital as a pledge. If I do not betray the Holy Entrustment, I will chop down whoever I want. The Holy One also expressed his attitude: Let it go, I will protect your family's food and clothing. Worry-free…
After passing through the four provinces, the Ministry of Revenue will allocate some money and food no matter what.
When I read "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu on weekdays, I feel that there is nothing special about strategizing and clever strategies to defeat the enemy. But when I actually put up the recruiting flag, I realized that leading the army is not as simple as handing out a knife and a few coins. It actually involves so many specific problems: not to mention the formation of troops, baggage management, marching and camping, etc., in front of the enemy. Setting up the formation was even more of a dream: most of the guys who were so hungry that they defected to the army couldn't even tell the difference between left and right! That's it, but they are just sneaking around and making trouble, and all of them are self-taught - no wonder, there are not many good birds in the exiled army, and those recruited are all gangsters and desperadoes from the market - how can this be trained!
Li Yuting suddenly discovered that he and these guys were living in two completely unrelated parallel worlds. Just restraining the soldiers from harming the place made the general's head as big as a bucket. He couldn't help but look up to the sky and sigh: Soldiers are really human. What a scumbag!
Fortunately, the imperial court was restructured a few years ago, and the post of governor was added in some places. My brother-in-law, Qian Qianfu (also known as Jingong), established a military force during his tenure as governor of Shandong Province. He sent a cavalry team of 500 people to serve as the backbone, and with the help of Zhao Sanxi, he tried his best to help. , just barely pieced together a family of one thousand cavalry and three thousand troops.
These guys are really difficult to control. I beat my chest and beat my feet and talked about my righteousness until I was drooling. Seeing these guys trembling on the ground and kowtowing like garlic, do you think he has really repented?
That’s weird!
In the blink of an eye, he was back to harassing the rough-and-tumble country woman!
Thanks to Zhao Sanxi's control. The light arrow-piercing tour camp involves taking a different number of feather arrows and piercing them through the cheeks, ears, nose, etc. according to the severity of the crime, and then having people carry them on a traveling exhibition. The heavier ones chop off the head on the spot and beat the gongs and drums with a bamboo pole. The circle is used as a negative teaching material... In this way, I finally restrained myself.
Zhao Sanxi, who had been leading the cavalry army, didn't know much about infantry warfare, but according to him, the troops were rushed into formation. Even in the eyes of a semi-layman like him, these guys were just a mob and could only serve as city defenders with real swords and guns. After a few battles and seeing blood, he could be dragged out to fight in the field - and his cavalry had to use knives from behind to force the formation to prevent them from breaking up - winning or losing was still a matter of opinion!
This time the giant bandit Zhang Hu came out in full force. The main force went straight from Huguang to Anqing, and another partial force came from Henan to attack Luzhou Prefecture... Needless to say, the thieves have completely ruined that area and started fighting in southern Zhili. idea. If Jiang Ning falls into the hands of thieves, what awaits him is the sin of annihilation! Therefore, when he knew that the bandits were about to invade Anqing in large numbers, he not only rushed all the way from Jiangning, but also took the risk to divide his troops and sent Zhao Sanxi to assist Luzhou, hoping to defeat the bandits first, and then cooperate with Sun Jieri to defeat the main force of the bandits. Blocking the city of Anqing - annihilating it by one's own efforts is a daydream, but Southern Zhili is the foundation of the imperial court, and the Holy Emperor will definitely have strict orders. The governors and chief envoys of various provinces will not dare to sit idly by no matter how smart they are. The hat of bearing the divine grace cannot be taken off anymore. Whether you can save your life depends on whether Anqing's city wall can stop the thieves.
a bolt from the blue!
Zhao Sanxi didn't even see the city wall of Luzhou Prefecture, so he only brought back half of the defeated soldiers. Needless to say, Luzhou Prefecture was finished - Li Yuting guessed wrong on this point.
Li Yuting touched the dagger in his boot and made up his mind again: If anything happens... he will never be humiliated by the thieves. When the time comes, he must use this dagger - Li Yuting guessed this right. .
*This is a typical royal strategy.
The old emperor felt that he might not live long. He wanted to leave his son with a few ministers whose character and knowledge were trustworthy. It would be best if this guy caused some trouble recently, offending himself and his colleagues... He used the topic to play off the topic and demoted him to the point where the young and old were poor. The local government will be forced to follow the rules of the land, or they may be directly imprisoned, or even more cruelly, be put in jail for execution, but they will take care of their subordinates and not be killed. It's easier to deal with the one who is waiting to be executed in prison. Just don't put a check mark on his name every time...
Tell the prince secretly again.
When the new emperor comes to the throne, take this or these people directly from the ravine or death row and put them in important positions!
We are human beings in two lifetimes~ How can we not be grateful for the "kindness of knowledge and encounter" from "Mingjun"! He will work wholeheartedly for his son until death...
A more famous example is Lin Zexu of later generations. No matter who intercedes, including making great achievements in flood control, Daoguang will exile you to Xinjiang! When Xianfeng comes to the throne, he will be reused immediately! Of course Lao Lin was extremely grateful. Unfortunately, he was in poor health and died within a few days...
