A loophole? An inevitable consequence?
Zhu Yuanzhang's expression became solemn: "Tell us, where is the loophole and what are the consequences?"
Chen Jingke said: "Let's talk about the loopholes first. There are rich and poor in all parts of the world, some have prosperous culture and education, and some have not."
"If the current imperial examination system is followed, it won't be long before the court will be occupied by scholars from a wealthy place where culture and education are prosperous."
"What I fear most is that these people form cliques for personal gain and suppress people who come from poor places."
"For example, if all the people in the court are Southerners, it will inevitably happen that all the Southerners in one subject are from the South, and no Northerners are successful."
Zhu Yuanzhang's expression became more solemn, but what he was thinking of was not the conflict between the north and the south, but the Huaixi faction and the Jiangsu-Zhejiang faction.
The imperial examination is likely to become a tool for them to develop their power... No, it will definitely become like this.
By that time, his plan to suppress the Huaixi faction and the Jiangsu-Zhejiang faction will be even more difficult to implement.
He opened the imperial examination because there were not enough officials, and he wanted to select more talents to dilute the Huaixi and Jiangsu-Zhejiang officials, thereby achieving the purpose of suppressing the two factions.
Now it is very likely that I will make wedding clothes for others.
Thinking of this, he once wanted to give up and restart the imperial examination.
But he immediately thought that since Chen Jingke raised this issue, there might be a solution.
"Do you have a solution?"
"There is a way."
"Quickly tell me, what can I do?"
Chen Jingke came up with the final solution: "Allocate admission quotas according to regions."
After finishing speaking, he felt very proud and waited for Lao Zhu's praise.
However, Zhu Yuanzhang just looked him up and down, making his hair stand on end before he spoke:
"Young man, tell us, what else do you want?"
Chen Jingke breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that he was afraid of his talent and wanted to kill himself.
"Actually... I like to read books without asking for detailed explanations, and I don't like to bury myself in a pile of papers studying knowledge and writing articles."
"I just like to guess when I have nothing to do. If you think too much, you will always gain something."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "I don't know if you are just guessing, but I know your gains are amazing."
"Today's two strategies, any one of them, can compare with the officials in the court."
Chen Jingke said modestly: "Your Majesty has given me the compliment, but he is just standing on the shoulders of his predecessors."
In the 30th year of Hongwu in the previous life, the "North and South Bang" case broke out.
Those who passed the exam in one subject were all from the south, and none of the northern scholars passed the exam.
In fact, the reasons are not complicated, just economic differences and regional conflicts.
The South is located in the rear area, there is no war, the economy is developed and culture and education are prosperous.
The north was on the front line with the Mongols, and wars continued, so culture and education naturally could not flourish.
Since the imperial examination was restarted in the 15th year of Hongwu's reign, most of the candidates admitted were southern scholars. By the end of Hongwu's reign, almost all the people in the court were from the south.
At first, no one paid much attention to this situation. Culture and education in the south were prosperous, and it was normal for many scholars to be admitted.
But in the 30th year of Hongwu, officials from the south did a big thing.
It is the famous North-South List case.
Even a fool would not believe it if there was nothing fishy about it.
Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the exams to be re-marked, but the Ministry of Rites responded unceremoniously that the exams were fair, but northerners just couldn't do it.
Anyone with a discerning eye knows that it was the Zinan people who bullied Zhu Yuanzhang because he was old, and Zhu Yunwen was too young, and wanted to seize power.
Then they begged for a hammer. Although Lao Zhu was old, he could still use the knife.
All the officials who presided over the imperial examination were executed, and all those involved were severely punished. The review officials were even executed late.
However, this situation has not fundamentally changed. In subsequent imperial examinations, the admission rate of southern scholars was basically over 80%.
During the reign of Emperor Renzong Zhu Gaochi of the Ming Dynasty, Yang Shiqi proposed the north-south list system, plus the transfer of Kyoto to Shuntian Prefecture (Beiping).
The political center also moved northward, and this difference between the north and the south was alleviated.
During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, the problem of regional differences was solved by abolishing the Northern and Southern Lists and implementing a system of allocating quotas by province.
This system has been implemented for hundreds of years and is still in use until the college entrance examination in the 21st century.
In the previous life, many people criticized the quota allocation system. What they didn't know was that the quota was really cancelled, and people in remote areas had no chance to study in key universities.
It can be said that quota allocation is the last line of defense to protect students in remote areas.
Unless one day humans can eliminate the poverty gap and achieve equal educational resources.
Otherwise, the allocated quota cannot be cancelled, nor can it be cancelled.
When Zhu Yuanzhang proposed to restart the imperial examination, this was the first thing that came to Chen Jingke's mind.
Zhu Yuanzhang was indeed shocked. He only thought Chen Jingke was talented, but that was all.
Everyone has it when an idea strikes, and the cabinet system seems to have been perfected on the system of four auxiliary officers.
The imperial examination system is different.
Chen Jingke first sorted out and analyzed the ancient and modern official selection systems, which shows that he understands history very well.
Then based on the existing system, problems that may arise in the future were foreseen and solutions were proposed.
Everyone can summarize experiences and lessons from history, and it is a rare ability to predict problems by drawing inferences from one example.
People with this ability are the core of promoting national progress.
It's hard to say whether Chen Jingke can achieve great success, but at least he has the potential in this area.
It is really a good thing that such a talent appears next to him and is his great-sun's reading companion.
However, he did not forget about the business and asked again: "You said that the imperial examination will have negative consequences. What's going on?"
If he thought Chen Jingke was too exaggerated just now, now he only takes it seriously.
Chen Jingke did not reveal the answer directly, but asked: "Your Majesty, if you were a scholar, passed the imperial examination and became an official, how would you treat your relatives at home?"
Zhu Yuanzhang blurted out without even thinking: "Of course I will help them buy land and property so that they can live and work in peace and contentment."
Chen Jingke continued to ask: "There is a lot of land in the world, especially fertile land. Who is willing to sell it?"
Zhu Yuanzhang didn't understand why he asked this question, but he still replied: "There will always be people who can't survive when they encounter difficulties..."
The more he spoke, the softer his voice became. In the end, he became silent and his face became gloomy.
He has realized the problem, and the best and fastest way is to take advantage of it.
Chen Jingke stopped beating around the bush and said bluntly: "If you are more particular about it, ask people who can't survive to buy it. But on the other hand, why are there people who can't survive?"
"If you don't pay attention to it, just take advantage of it, you will suffer more victims."
Zhu Yuanzhang said coldly: "Then kill them. We formed the Jinyi Guards just to deal with them. We will kill every one we find."
"We want to see if it's their necks that are tough or our knives that are sharp."
Chen Jingke shook his head and sighed: "The most terrifying thing is not that they are corrupt, but that they will form a gentry group that covers the whole country."
