Since the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the imperial examination had become the most important way for scholars to advance by the Ming Dynasty. It has even shaped the lifestyle of millions of people to a considerable extent.
For example, when the wife works and the husband has free time, the only reason he saves money is to study.
There is also a family that sells iron and steel to provide education for their children.
It is often said that one of the four great joys in life is when one is named on the gold list.
At present, in the Ming Dynasty, I don’t know how many students are still making eight-legged essays and memorizing classics. They forget about food and sleep, study hard in cold windows, and study in a way that is almost life-consuming.
At this time, one of the questions in the imperial examination was suddenly changed. What kind of concept is that?
Furthermore, the criteria for selecting candidates for the imperial examination actually reflect the status of Confucianism. This is not a question of changing a question, but actually changing Confucianism.
At the beginning, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty only respected Confucianism and adopted the principle of unifying thought.
But everything has good and bad points. Thoughts are unified, but when all the people in the world are Confucian scholars, it will be difficult even for the emperor to move.
That's why Lin Han kneeled down so fiercely and objected so loudly.
Because he knew that once the emperor really made such big changes to the imperial examination, Confucian scholars throughout the Ming Dynasty would oppose it in various ways such as poems and articles. What would happen then? Burning books and humiliating scholars again?
Lin Han couldn't imagine such a scene.
Zhu Houzhao tapped his index finger regularly... to shake a big mountain, you can't just push it up, but you have to find a way to shake it first. And his purpose is not to eliminate Confucianism. He is a pragmatist and uses whatever is useful.
"Lin Shangshu, some things can be said but cannot be said, some things can be said but cannot be done, and some things can be done under another name. I have never said that the imperial examination will no longer test the Four Books and Five Classics, but the Four Books and Five Classics are fundamentally about solving the problem for the people of the world. Is it a question of eating, right? What I am asking is also a question of eating for the common people. Different paths lead to the same goal. Don’t be so excited yet."
Lin Han didn't know whether he could believe the emperor's lie or not. Anyway, he didn't dare to say directly, "Your Majesty, don't lie to me even if you don't think I'm honest." So he reminded him somewhat uneasily: "Your Majesty, this matter concerns the world's scholars. Make no mistake, the imperial examination is the only way for scholars in the world to advance!"
Zhu Houzhao looked relaxed, "That's right, I still choose the best among the scholars. Don't worry, the questions in the general examination will not be separated from the Four Books and Five Classics, nor the people's livelihood. The people are the foundation of a country, and the foundation strengthens the country. Ning. But how can the people be the foundation of the country be embodied in concrete terms? The imperial examination should also embody the people being the foundation of the country, right? So I came up with a question to test how these scholars can achieve the people as the foundation of the country in specific government affairs. What’s the problem? Isn’t this just what the saint said?”
"This..." Lin Han's round head had a big question mark, and he didn't know what to say for a moment.
Anyway, Zhu Houzhao gave himself this name, and when the time came, he would come up with a question:
What do you think about sea trade?
What do you think about the imperial court’s plan to build roads?
What do you think of the city that never sleeps?
…
Let these people line up and look over one by one.
However, this way of asking questions is actually unfair, because candidates at different levels are exposed to different information. The children of high-ranking officials naturally understand the court policies, and they are immersed in the things inside and hear others talk about them. In fact, they are not necessarily his own opinions.
So this is a test for the questioner, and you can think about it more carefully at that time.
"Your Majesty... The imperial court can lift the sea ban, and that is for the people along the coast. The salt policy can be reformed, and that is to remove the disadvantages of the salt policy. But what is the purpose of changing the imperial examination? There will always be no problem with this."
"Nonsense!" Zhu Houzhaoyang scolded angrily: "Who said the imperial examination is about to be moved? I tell you, don't go out and talk nonsense. Benevolence, justice, etiquette, wisdom and trust, and filial piety first, these are the most important gifts of the Ming Dynasty!"
"Lin Shangshu, I'm still thinking that one of my most important things right now is a wedding, and the other one is to add children to the Tian family. I also want to have a prince."
Lin Hanmeng nodded, "If your Majesty can think so, that would be the best."
"Of course I think so." Zhu Houzhao got down from the dragon chair and approached the old man, "Our Han court is a country of etiquette, and I am the emperor of heaven, how can I not respect etiquette? Otherwise, wouldn't it be heaven? The underground is in chaos!"
"exactly."
"So, don't worry, the imperial examinations and weddings are all passed down from our ancestors. Everything will continue as usual."
Lin Han's heart was finally no longer in doubt. He even heard that the emperor also valued etiquette, and he couldn't help but feel happy again.
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
"Okay, okay. If there is nothing else, Lin Shangshu will go and do the work, right?"
The old man felt much more relaxed and said, "Yes, Wei Chen is resigning."
When he was gone, Zhu Houzhao looked at his back and couldn't help laughing, "You must respect the old and love the young...I forgot again."
The imperial examination is also held in October, so just choose something close to the Four Books and Five Classics. Anyway, if some people object, he will continue to talk about Confucianism.
In the afternoon,
Li Dongyang, Xie Qian, Min Gui, Liang Chu, Han Wen and Wu Jiao, the minister of Dali Temple, came together.
With so many people wanting to meet you, it is no small matter at first glance.
Jin Gui did not dare to delay and handed the note over in person. At that time, Zhu Houzhao was reviewing the memorial. Seeing this, he had to stop and said "Xuan"!
When ministers see you, they will naturally salute you.
After the salute, the Korean text read, "Your Majesty, the 28th of the last month of this year is the autumnal equinox. After the autumnal equinox, the judgment can be carried out. This is the roster. I submit it here for your Majesty's inspection."
The so-called goujue is a procedure before killing.
Generally, when the imperial court executes prisoners, as long as they pass through the normal yamen such as Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment, they will not kill them immediately, but will wait until later in the year to be executed.
The Jin Yiwei Zhao Prison is a different matter, or the crime and punishment are too severe, so you can drag him out and behead him.
But under normal circumstances, killings occur in the autumn, so Gou Jue is also called Qiu Jue. After the autumnal equinox, the list of death row prisoners is submitted to the emperor. Those who have been Gou Jue by imperial pen will be approved and then executed.
Under normal circumstances, not all the people on the list would be executed, but some would be left behind to show that the emperor actually did not have the heart to wipe out lives and made a benevolent gesture.
The corrupt officials arrested in the previous Lianghuai Salt Works Campaign, as well as those prisoners during last year's Kaihai Campaign are all on the list.
This was their last chance to survive - the emperor had a thought and thought that this person might not be killed.
This was not the first time that Zhu Houzhao had engaged in a fight. He looked at his ministers seriously and said in a deep voice: "Bring it over."
Han Wen lowered his head and Liu Jin went down to hold it up.
"... Thirty-three people were first tried. Where are their names?"
Forty-six people in the Lianghuai Transportation Department Yamen were found to be involved in illegal salt trading. At that time, the emperor was furious and urged them to convict them quickly.
Therefore, all the ministers also understood what the emperor's words meant.
"Da Situ, can you point it out to me?"
The atmosphere was slightly depressing.
The emperor had an excellent memory. When he was a child, he could basically remember an article after reading it four or five times. It seems that it is impossible to expect the emperor to forget.
"This one..." Han Wen pointed his finger,
Zhu Houzhao didn't even have an expression on his face. He just made a "wow" sound.
"And here, Song Yu..."
With his voice, small red ticks continued to appear on the paper, and the emperor couldn't help but complain, "Next time there are many people, remember to write them together. Fortunately, there are only thirty-three people. Please spread these people out now." , how troublesome is it to rummage through page after page?”
"Yes, I will pay attention to improvement next time."
"I'll count them later, but I only managed to tick thirty-two of them, and I don't even know. There are still some others left, and they've been reviewed, right?"
"Everything has been reviewed."
Keeping these people is a waste of national food.
As I said at the beginning, those who indulge in illegal activities will die, so you can't keep your word.
Some minor officials in other situations can indeed save their lives. But if you don't hook up, it doesn't mean that you will be released tomorrow and let you go home to have a wife and children.
How could such a good thing happen? At least it would be an exile for thousands of miles. Don't even think about the good days in the future.
"When will it be executed?"
"After Your Majesty's collusion, the Ministry of Punishment will issue an approval document for the collusion, and the execution can be carried out three days later." This was what Min Gui, the Minister of Punishment, said.
Such a large group of people came here, maybe they were begging for mercy.
But the emperor's words and deeds directly eliminated their thoughts, and their anger was still there, so it was useless to say anything.
However, although Min Gui was in charge of punishment, he had always been kind. Seeing the emperor execute the prisoners without any hesitation, he gradually couldn't help it.
"His Majesty!"
Zhu Houzhao raised his head and asked, "Min Shangshu has something to say?"
"...When I was hearing this case, I saw that there were old mothers and young children in the house. I was very frightened. Is it possible for the next generation of your majesty, a kind and kind king, to spare one or two of the death penalty, so as to show the virtue of the court and your majesty?"
Someone took the lead, and Wu Jiao, the minister of Dali Temple, dared to speak, "Wei ministers seconded the proposal. The Master said: Tao is based on government, and order is based on punishment, and the people will be exempted from shame; Tao is based on virtue, and regulation is based on etiquette. Ge. Your Majesty's severe punishments are as they should be. However, the Huaihe Transportation Department has been withdrawn and the law of auction has been established. The court has to execute so many prisoners at once. The people are also frightened when they hear this. "
Zhu Houzhao ignored them and continued to do whatever he needed to do.
Min Gui and Wu Jiao were slightly disappointed.
The only sound left in the Qianqing Palace was the sound of turning pages.
Zhu Houzhao glanced at Han Wen, then at Li Dongyang and Xie Qian. They all looked a little concerned.
It's really annoying.
Snapped!
The emperor suddenly became angry, "Since you don't want me to fight, why do you have to pass a note into the palace again?!"
There was a commotion and everyone knelt down, "Your Majesty, calm down."
"Why calm down? I'm afraid in your hearts, I am just a cruel king who kills without blinking an eye!"
Just at this time, there was a sudden commotion outside Qianqing Palace, and it seemed like someone was shouting something vaguely,
Liu Jin's expression changed, but nothing happened.
"His Majesty……"
"Don't say anything!" Zhu Houzhao's stern voice shouted over them.
These old men are deaf, but he is not deaf.
The voice came from far to near, as if it was shouting...
"Datong... it's Datong!" The emperor suddenly stood up, and the expression on his face failed to manage, "Good news for Datong!
Shout out to the good news of Datong! "
