At the beginning of May, Chongzheng Hall, Imperial Study Room.
Zhao Hong was at the head, and a group of ministers were sitting on both sides. The fragrance of tea lingers, and the monarch and his ministers discuss matters, which is the matter of selecting scholars through the imperial examination.
"Your Majesty, this is the list of candidates who passed the provincial examination of the Ministry of Rites this year, a total of 386 people. Please take a look at it."
Zaifu Xue Ji stood up and handed over the roster respectfully.
Under the new emperor, it was the first imperial examination to select scholars. As the new prime minister, he naturally had to be well prepared.
"386 people, why are there so few?"
Zhao Hong looked at the list and was slightly startled.
He vaguely remembered that in history, Lizong Zhao Guicheng of the Song Dynasty succeeded to the throne, and nearly a thousand people were selected in the subsequent imperial examination, which was the largest number of candidates in history.
Why are there only more than 300 people?
Could it be that because of his "tyranny", many scholars lost the motivation to take the imperial examination?
"Back to Your Majesty, most of the scholars from all over the country, including imperial students, have gone to Jinling University Hall and Jinling Lecture Hall. The number of scholars is divided. This may be the reason."
Zou Yinglong, who had recently returned to the Central Committee and was the Councilor for Political Affairs and Minister of Industry, was also one of the examiners for the provincial examination of the Ministry of Rites, so he hurriedly reported it.
It was originally thought that the new emperor would praise the Jinling University Hall and the Jinling Lecture Hall and suppress the imperial examinations. It seems today that this is not the case at all.
"So that's what happened."
Zhao Hong nodded and then understood the reason.
The probability of getting a scholar through the imperial examination is too low, only three or four hundred people will be selected in three years, sometimes even one or two hundred people. Unlike the Jinling University Hall and the Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall, which add up to 2,000 people a year, the imperial favor is truly immense.
"In the 24th year of Shaoxing's imperial examination, Zhang Xiaoxiang, a great poet of the bold school, a famous general Yu Yunwen, and three great poets Lu You, Yang Wanli, and Fan Chengda were produced. Among the five great celebrities, Zhang Xiaoxiang and Lu You were not recognized for their talents, and Yu Yunwen was late. It’s hard to say that Yang Wanli returned to the fields begging for help, but Fan Chengda can’t keep it up. The country is in dire need, and we are thirsty for talents. I wonder how good this year’s candidates will be?”
Zhao Hong pondered and said it.
Recently, he checked the list of Jinshi in the two Song dynasties and was surprised to find that the 24th imperial examination in Shaoxing during the Zhao Gou period of Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty turned out to be a gathering of celebrities, including Zhang Xiaoxiang, Yu Yunwen, Lu You, Yang Wanli, and Fan Chengda.
This made him sincerely sigh. It is indeed a wise saying that the Emperor Gaozong had ministers who restored the emperor but no emperor who restored it.
In the Xiaozong dynasty, there were restoration kings but no restoration ministers. If Yue Fei, Han Shizhong and others were placed in the Xiaozong Dynasty, what kind of situation would it be like if the king and his ministers knew each other?
Unfortunately, there is no if in history. During the Lizong period of the Song Dynasty, there was also a gathering of famous generals, including Meng Gong, Yu Jie, Wang Jian, Lu Wende and so on. Unfortunately, when the Mongol Empire was at its peak, two famous generals, Meng Gong and Yu Jie, both died unexpectedly.
There is no natural reason for the Song Dynasty not to perish.
This also shows how important a talented and strategic emperor was to the Song Dynasty.
Zhao Hong's words embarrassed all the ministers.
It would be a blessing if a great talent like Lu You and Yang Wanli could appear in this dynasty, let alone five at once.
That was an embarrassment that was unthinkable.
The ministers laughed and laughed, and Xue Ji said with a smile on his face:
"Your Majesty, I believe that there are beauties in the world, but there are thousands of horses. The personal fortunes of the ministers also depend on whether the king is discerning and how the court promotes them. Your Majesty knows people and uses them well, and is thirsty for talents. This imperial examination will surely bring great results. talent."
There was some relief in Xue Ji's tone.
Under Shi Miyuan, he was submissive and could hardly show his enthusiasm. The new emperor is in charge, and all good suggestions will be approved by the emperor. The king and his ministers know each other and feel comfortable.
"Xue Xiang, you said it well! Even if there are no great talents in the undergraduate selection of scholars, I will try my best to let the outstanding talents show their talents and not leave any regrets like Lu Fangweng. The remaining people shed tears in the dust and look south to the king. Another year as a teacher. Such a ridiculous thing must never happen in this dynasty!"
Zhao Hong nodded. Xue Ji's words spoke to his heart.
The emperor is the leader of a country. If officials become corrupt and their governance becomes corrupt, the emperor, as the country's decision-maker, will be held responsible.
What you do and what you say is pure nonsense. People and gods are indignant at occupying a manhole and not doing anything.
Xue Ji and others looked at each other, no one dared to say anything.
Zhao Hong is ridiculing his ancestor Song Gaozong Zhao Gou again. But Zhao Hong dared, but they didn't.
However, if we really count, Zhao Gou, Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty, belongs to the lineage of Taizong, and today's Emperor belongs to the lineage of Taizu. After eight or nine generations of dilution, the relationship between the two has already been out of five servers, and they are no different from strangers.
"My lords, please don't think that I am cynical and just complaining. I sincerely hope that our country of the Song Dynasty will be prosperous and strong, and that the people will live and work in peace and contentment. I will restore my homeland as soon as possible to comfort the kings and brave martyrs of the Song Dynasty."
Zhao Hong was serious and said a lot of nonsense.
"Your Majesty is worried about state affairs, and I am ashamed of myself!"
Sure enough, Xue Ji looked solemn and expressed his position on behalf of several ministers.
Of course, I feel ashamed. After all, I am the boss, and people like Xue Ji are part-time workers.
"What is the distribution situation of the students who graduated from Jinling University Hall this year?"
Zhao Hong nodded and turned to the next topic.
Jinling University College will graduate about 1,000 people this year on a merit-based basis. According to the plan of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, some will go to outlying areas and some will be in central cities. The distribution is different, but they all start from the bottom and need to intern in various ministries for half a year before being appointed.
"Your Majesty, according to the needs of various state capitals, they have been divided into officials. They are all assigned official positions based on their specialties. A small number of students choose to do business or do their own thing, and the court does not force them. As for their official ranks , which is lower than those obtained through the imperial examination, and will be promoted or dismissed based on their political performance."
Zhu Zhu, the Minister of Rites, quickly reported back.
Although Xue Ji is the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, he is the assistant to the prime minister and is old. As the Minister of Rites, he can only do the work for him.
"That's very good. It's better to go out and do things than to just hang around and wait to die."
Zhao Hong nodded and said, suddenly frowning.
"In the northwest border, are there any graduates from Jinling University who are willing to go?"
The first batch of graduates from Jinling University were all noble children of Lin'an City. These guys spent their days being licentious and doing nothing, and they ruined the social atmosphere of Lin'an City and even the entire Song Dynasty.
Jinling University is under military management. I hope these guys can change their appearance and start a new life after they come out.
"Your Majesty, there are more than 60 people who are willing to work in the northwest frontier. Many of these people are from poor families and want to find a way out. The remaining 2,000 people have not yet graduated. This year, more than 200 people went to Jinling to teach martial arts. Hall."
Xuan Zhen's words made Zhao Hong nodded slightly, feeling helpless.
Of the 3,000 powerful children, only more than 60 are willing to serve the country. Add in the more than 200 dudes who went to the Jinling Martial Arts Hall, even if they all became talented, they would only be one tenth.
However, if one tenth serves the country, it will be a gain. After all, most of these guys rely on their kindness to obtain official positions and simply train them to be used by the country.
"Xue Qing, tell the Propaganda Department that the more than 60 graduates who are going to the northwest frontier, as well as those who are willing to work in remote and remote places, should be publicized in the newspaper. Special attention should be paid to those with outstanding ability and integrity, and priority should be given to promotion."
Zhao Hong thought about it and said to Xue Ji and others.
Throughout all dynasties, what is most needed is talent, and what is most lacking is talent. The Jinling University Academy is the same as the imperial examination. They are both methods for the imperial court to select talents. There is no difference in essence.
"Your Majesty is wise. The number of officials in our dynasty who are promoted to official positions is more than twice as much as those obtained through the imperial examination. Your Majesty has worked so hard. After these three thousand honors, more than 10% can truly serve the country. Your Majesty's hard work has not been in vain. "
Xue Ji said with emotion that, despite some flattery, it seemed to be the best interpretation of what Zhao Hong said, "Even a pile of garbage has value."
By the end of Jiading in the Song Dynasty, 60% of the officials were from Yinbu, and only 30% were from imperial examinations. Looking at it, most of the officials in the dynasty were Yinfeng officials, and a large number of nobles later filled the court.
He fully agreed with the emperor's initiative to establish Jinling University.
"Your Majesty, the remaining 600 people from the first phase of the Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall have also graduated. According to the military allocation of each region, 300 people have gone to Sichuan, 100 people have gone to Huguang and Lianghuai, and the remaining 100 people have gone to the Song Dynasty. All other ways.”
After talking about the affairs of Jinling University Hall, Xuan Zhen, Minister of the Ministry of War, told Zhao Hong about the distribution of the first batch of graduates of Jinling Martial Arts Hall.
According to Zhao Hong's arrangement, Sichuan will be the center of war in the next ten years, and half of the graduates of Jinling Lecture Hall went to Shukou.
"The arrangements made by the Ministry of War are good, just what I wanted."
Zhao Hong looked at Zhen Dexiu and Xue Ji and smiled.
"Zhen Qing, your son Zhen Zhidao, you graduated and went to Shukou, don't you feel bad? Xue Qing, how about your grandson Xue Tan in the west of Beijing?"
Xue Ji's grandson, Xue Tan, graduated from the Martial Arts School last year and stayed in South Beijing Road to enlist in the army. Zhenzhidao graduated at the beginning of the year and followed him to Shukou, where he worked in the Lizhou Arms Manufacturing Branch, specializing in casting firearms.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Quanzi was so-so in his studies and barely graduated. He fell in love with those strange skills and went to Lizhou Rongsi and took a job in the Lizhou Ordnance Manufacturing Branch. The veteran was very pleased. Quanzi went home for a while. This time, the old minister almost didn’t recognize him. When I woke up in the morning, the bedding was neatly folded, he sat upright while eating, and the room was spotlessly clean. It’s been three days since we’ve been away, so I’m going to look at him with admiration!”
Zhen Dexiu and Xue Ji looked at each other, and Zhen Dexiu spoke first.
In fact, he was very satisfied and pleased with his son's changes. The son has a cowardly character, so it is better to work in the Lizhou Arms Manufacturing Branch than to fight on the front line.
"Your Majesty, Xue Tan, the foolish grandson of my old minister, sent a letter home, saying that he is determined to be Wei Qing and Huo Qubing of the Song Dynasty. He really doesn't know how high the sky is and how high he is. It makes Your Majesty laugh!"
Xue Ji shook his head and said, Zhao Hong, Zou Yinglong and others all laughed.
Wei Qing, Huo Qubing, it seems that many of these young people who have been trained in the martial arts hall have found their own aspirations in life.
"Your Majesty, my daughter is teaching at the Jinling Martial Arts Hall. Things are different now. I am worried that she is too high-minded and will not be able to find her husband's family."
Xuan Zhen followed Xue Ji and also interjected.
"Okay! It's time for the country to employ people. Let them work hard and live up to their time and the country. This is the new generation of the Song Dynasty!"
Zhao Hong smiled happily.
That playboy Zhen Zhidao was able to change his appearance and go to the frontier to endure hardships, which really blinded everyone.
Young people are the future, and their small changes are big changes for the country. In less than ten years, martial arts will surely permeate the entire army, and the future of the Song Dynasty can be expected.
Zou Yinglong secretly shook his head. Talking about the imperial examination, but returned to the martial arts hall. The emperor's concern for peripheral affairs can be seen clearly on the page in three sentences.
