In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Zhu Houcong was indeed looking at Tang Shunzhi's answer sheet.
With special care, Tang Shunzhi's answer sheets were naturally the first batch to be copied, and then the first batch were sent to fellow examiners to read and grade the papers before being sent to the palace.
This revealed a lot of interesting information.
First of all, Yang Shen knew that the emperor was paying attention to Tang Shunzhi, but he did not let more people know. It was just that Yang Shen knew about it. Although other people have finished marking the first batch of answer sheets, they don’t know who this person is or where he comes from. Therefore, they gave the scores first, so as not to affect Tang Shunzhi's ranking in the examination, and then he was presented to the palace.
Secondly, Yang Shen also understood that with the emperor's arrangement, it didn't matter what Tang Shunzhi's performance was. So what if the score is not high? How many test pieces are there? How many of Jane’s are in the emperor’s heart? The examination is not that important in His Majesty's mind.
In the end, what Your Majesty is most concerned about is the answer sheet of the third examination on current affairs. The emperor paid more attention to current affairs, and Yang Shen became more clear.
Looking back on Guangdong's gains and losses over the past four years, Yang Shen felt a little dazed for a moment: practice and knowledge are indeed far apart. But why can His Majesty pay so much attention to practical matters and yet write the "Linjiang Immortal"?
There are a total of five current affairs policy questions in this examination.
The Huguang rebellion is one, the Tuen Mun naval battle is one, the Huanghuai floods are one, the disadvantages of treasure money are one, and the science and discipline are the disadvantages.
The imperial examination questions are actually closer to reality than most people think - they are the focus of the current emperor and the court.
Zhu Houcong paid attention to Tang Shunzhi, naturally because of his reputation.
Among the famous ministers of the Jiajing Dynasty, Tang Shunzhi's reputation was not great. After all, there were too many outstanding people at the same time.
But the name Tang Shunzhi still remained deeply in Zhu Houcong's mind because of the nagging talk of his old friend who was a history buff.
There is no need to talk about anything else. He is both civil and military and Qi Jiguang's teacher. That's enough.
Qi Jiguang has been born. Qi Jingtong's official career changed during this life. After succeeding Ma Cheng as the commander-in-chief of Shandong Dusi, Qi Jingtong finally gave birth to his son, also named Jiguang.
His father is still the same father, so I don’t know if his education will go astray or if there will be other changes.
But the apprentice may become different, but the master is already an adult.
Tang Shunzhi is very good!
After Zhu Houcong read his answer sheet for this examination, he covered it and sighed.
In this answer sheet, Tang Shunzhi focused on expressing his appreciation for the role of factory guards, and proposed "definite temple strategies", "solid military personnel", "excellent coaches", "enough soldiers' pay", "Qingtun farming", "drum army" There are ten principles, including "discipline", "public rewards and punishments", "dispersing the thief party", "strict city defense", "surrendering edicts", and "using spies". At the same time, it was also boldly mentioned that since the emperor intended to order the kings "not to leave the capital without a purpose", then the previous king Fengrui was indeed suspected of being a bait to vassal Hengzhou. The "temple conspiracy" aspect needs to be discussed.
It can be regarded as a direct criticism of the emperor's decision.
Tang Shunzhi also gave his opinions on the Battle of Tuen Mun, the Huanghuai Flood, the shortcomings of treasure notes, and the shortcomings of scientific regulations, showing that he was not a person who "had no ears to hear what was happening outside the window and only read the books of sages." Ordinary moves.
Although this year's examination syllabus has not changed, the current five-level policy involves politics and military affairs, naval warfare and diplomacy, geography and people's livelihood, economy, and taxation. The requirements for candidates' knowledge are still very high.
Tang Shunzhi handed over an answer sheet that was above the standard.
Now Zhu Houcong sighed softly, just because he was happy after confirming that Tang Shunzhi did have two brushes.
Just because he puts his current focus on ideology, military and technology does not mean that he ignores other aspects, especially the personnel aspects that have the greatest impact on all aspects.
Following the generation of Yang Tinghe, Fei Hong, Wang Qiong, Yan Song, Zhang Fujing and others, the new power of Ming Dynasty is ready to appear.
Tang Shunzhi should shine brightly and should not waste his life due to party disputes and other reasons.
But don't worry, there is still the imperial examination.
After the general examination, Zhu Houcong had to prepare the questions for the palace examination.
There will only be one question in the palace examination. Usually, several courses were drawn up by the cabinet ministers and others, and one was selected by the emperor.
By now, the emperor had made "extraordinary achievements" in knowledge and had written wonderful poems such as "Linjiang Immortal". Prime Minister Fei Hong was temporarily "contented", and the emperor had to "work hard" on the palace examination questions.
Different from the "Asking How to Make the Country Rich" in the 16th year of Zhengde and "On the Pros and Cons of Reform" in the 2nd year of Jiajing, this year Zhu Houxuan drafted a very specific topic, which is also an issue that he will pay attention to for a long time.
[One: The old system of the Ming Dynasty, based on the fish scale book and the yellow book, the land tax was fixed based on the original color and the folded color, and the service was collected and distributed according to the laws of Junyao, Licha, Yincha, Zafan, etc., as well as salt class, iron class, tea class, etc. Various taxes such as housing taxes, city taxes, customs duties, and shipping taxes are collected to supplement the annual income. Official land, preferential exemptions, and discounted silver are the three major problems of taxation and corvee. 】
[Second: For all items such as money, food, military reserves, etc., between Hongwu and Xuande, those who should be in the true color must be collected in the true color, and those who should be in the folded color must be collected in cash. In the past few years, whenever there was a defeat, silver coins were collected at every turn. Every year, the cashier is compiled, either under the sole name or under the name of a friend, which involves the pain of dumping and dripping supplements; when collecting, there is the pain of weighing, burning, and routine; when delivering, there is the pain of wastage and waiting. For every one thousand taels received, the fee is fifty or even one hundred taels. 】
[Third: There is a discussion among the people: Today's officials, big and small, have numerous documents, ten times as much as in ancient times, and their work is delayed. There is nothing like paper, pen, food, etc., the hands are tied, the sages are at a loss, and they have to take it internally and from other provinces. The prefectures and counties that the big officials take, return to the source bit by bit, they still belong to the people. He also said: The corrupt officials in modern times are twice as harmful as those in the Tang and Song Dynasties. Therefore, money is heavy and difficult to transport, while silver is light and easy to change. If it is difficult to luck, take less and think it is more; if it is easy to blame, take more and think it is less. It is not the case that officials in the Tang and Song dynasties were very honest, but today's officials are greedy, and the situation makes them so. However, if the silver is flowing, the money is stagnant, and the treasures of the officials are the thieves of the people. 】
[Discuss the first one: the pros and cons of paying taxes in exchange for silver. 】
[Part 2: The pros and cons of banks in preventing and controlling corruption. 】
[Third: The pros and cons of the Ming Dynasty Money Law. 】
The policy title was sent to the Wenhua Hall, and the other six ministers of state couldn't help but glance at Fei Hong.
We had just discussed the money law before, and His Majesty asked about the money law, and the arrow pointed vaguely at the administration of officials - it was difficult for the prime minister of the Ming Dynasty to do this.
Fei Hong was also looking at it, and after a while he just said: "Dumping, dripping subsidy, weighing, fire consumption, routine, discount, waiting... Just looking at these words, His Majesty knows very well about the local methods used to collect silver. . Although there are considerate words such as "The sage Mo Tso", we are terrified and cannot come up to relieve your worries."
Although the ministers of state were among the top civil servants of the Ming Dynasty, they could not help but look sad at this moment.
You must know that Ming Dynasty's current financial plan can still continue, which is supported by the asymmetry in the "silver exchange" link. Among the people, one stone of grain was worth three or four taels of silver, but the ratio at the time of collection might be eight or nine taels of silver or even one tael. If you go to another place, plus the fire consumption, routine, etc., it may be worth two taels or even three taels of silver.
The imperial court's financial planning is basically based on silver, while the local government is still based on grain and stone. The difference between this is the secret to maintaining the imperial government's finances.
Now, the emperor has exposed these problems in the palace examination. This is not because they think the important officials in the court cannot do it, but because everyone really can't come up with a better way.
This involves the tax system, official administration, transshipment, and the direction of Ming Dynasty's military and civil affairs expenditures.
So one person said: "The questions in this palace test...are too difficult?"
This is not a topic that can be discussed in general terms such as "How to make the country rich" or "The pros and cons of reform".
Take a look at the three materials given in the question itself. There is so much information that Gongshi, who is not familiar with practical matters, would not even know what behavior it refers to.
The next three questions cover both the pros and cons of specific policies, issues such as official governance, and macro issues of national policy such as money and law.
The guidance conveyed will also make the tributes cautious: Now that a new law is being implemented, is the court selecting like-minded people, or is it asking for extensive advice when encountering problems?
If a conclusion has been reached, one must be careful when writing. If there is no conclusion yet, he also told the world through the palace examination that the imperial court intended to make a fuss about money law.
Fei Hong saw it clearly: "Everyone, we all know that if there is no good plan for the money law, the new law will fall short. The unification of subjects, the sharing of family members into acres, and the integration of gentry and gentry to receive money are all wrong. It is not your majesty's determination to implement it. We are your ministers." It is absolutely difficult to accomplish these three things. These three methods harm the interests of the gentry and make it difficult for the people to run out of money. Therefore, there are purchasing methods to relieve the people from the suffering of corvee service, business methods to relieve the gentry from worries, and tax laws to alleviate the difficulties of financial planning. However, after a large amount of banking, , if private casting is still popular and circulation is inconvenient, the disadvantages will be doubled."
Reiterating the current problem, Fei Hong said: "There are five hundred candidates for the general examination, and one will get twenty-four. The harder one is better. Regarding this money method, it doesn't matter whether you are your majesty or we, the six ministries, nine ministers, counselors and There is no good strategy for anyone above the third rank. There is nothing wrong with asking the tributes. If someone has a good idea, it will be a blessing to the Ming Dynasty and a blessing to us. Besides, we only ask about the pros and cons and do not let the world think that demonetization is imminent. .”
"...There are many smart people." Yang Tan, who was born in the Ministry of Finance, smiled bitterly.
What matters is the signal.
Since His Majesty and the imperial court are worried about money laws, as the most obvious money law, how can smart people not understand it?
"So it is also helpful for collecting money." Fei Hong said solemnly, "I think that after the imperial examination, this policy topic can be published in Ming Pao, and another insightful article in Yijia can be published, and then encourage the gentry all over the world to discuss it That's it. Don't forget that treasure banknotes have been determined, and old banknotes need to be abolished. After the method of silver coins, and then using the mechanism of silver coins to gain trust in the world, new banknotes can be printed, which can solve the problem of lack of silver. "
"...General Manager, let's focus on collecting money in these three years first, so as not to cause chaos in the world."
Minting silver coins and printing new banknotes is a matter for the next generation, and the next generation after that.
In the past three years, it would be good for the Ming Dynasty to transition from a situation in which treasure banknotes, copper coins, and silver coins stand side by side to a situation in which copper coins and silver coins run in parallel.
The emperor's proposed imperial examination questions were not blocked by the State Council, because the direction was the same: the first ministers of the State Council who fully implemented the new law all knew the importance of the Qian Law to the new law. If it fails to succeed, the new law will inevitably be compromised in the future, and the future of the new party and its heirs will naturally be affected, and even the fate of the family.
At this moment, the candidates for the new imperial examination did not know that the imperial examination questions would be so "difficult" and so practical. In fact, the five hundred official tributes who are qualified to participate in the palace examination have not yet been born.
News about the "Martial Arts Examination" is the new hot topic.
What is the concept of conferring a job with a guaranteed fifth rank? Among the many Jinshis who are awarded the title every year, most of them can reach the fifth rank in their lifetime and become a magistrate, which is the end of it.
Although the rank of military generals is always a little higher than that of civil servants, this is the starting point for an official career.
Compared with the starting point for the conferment of ordinary Jinshi at the sixth or seventh grade, the favor and honor of this Wu Jinshi and Wu Zhuangyuan has really improved too much.
Lu Bing couldn't help it any longer: "I am actually seventeen years old! Your Majesty has already ascended the throne and become the emperor when he was fifteen years old!"
Lu Song slapped him on the head: "What kind of status do you have, can you compare yourself to His Majesty?"
How rebellious is it to say that you really don’t have a roof over your head for a day? It seems like you should ascend to the throne at the age of seventeen.
Lu Bing protected his forehead in grievance: It has been almost five years since the 16th year of Zhengde's reign! It took me five years to study from Jinyiwei School of Health to Huangming University!
In such a long time, my father has only been promoted to the rank of fourth rank in Jinyiwei, where he can "direct people's affairs", and his actual duties are still only in the palace.
Lu Bing doesn't necessarily want to be a high official, but there have been turmoils in recent years. The incident of Hui Anbo's rebellion in the capital camp was so exciting!
Now that he has a martial arts exam, Lu Bing burst into tears: "I can even take the martial arts exam first this year!"
"I said you should go to school with ease first, then you should go to school with ease!" Lu Song hated the iron, "Your Majesty is always thinking about you, why are you so anxious!"
"Your Majesty, I haven't seen me for a long time!"
Lu Bing was very aggrieved. Nowadays, he and his father only go to the palace to congratulate the emperor every year during festivals, as if it were a routine matter.
"You don't have the skills, what are you doing?" Lu Song understood the importance clearly. "You and His Majesty have an extraordinary friendship. His Majesty will use you to control the Imperial Guards in the future. Do you have that ability now? If you pass the Wujin exam, Shit, should I ask you to be a thousand households or to be a governor? You haven't even grown up yet!"
Lu Bing wanted to take off his pants to prove something, but in the end he could only sigh.
He is also a young man. How can His Majesty be able to control the wind and rain and be so happy at the age of fifteen?
Among his friends, Tang Shunzhi had already finished the senior high school entrance examination, and Yan Shifan, a stinky boy who was fourteen years old, also said: "I will wait until I pass the martial arts examination this year."
Only he, Lu Bing, was still suppressed by His Majesty and his father.
Fortunately, Huang Jin's godson came to the Lu family and said to Lu Song without being seen at all: "General Lu, His Majesty has decreed that your son should also try the martial arts exam this year."
Lu Bing was overjoyed: "Your Majesty is wise!"
"...I accept the decree and thank you for your kindness."
The emperor had a purpose, so Lu Song naturally no longer insisted on it.
But after sending others out, Lu Song looked at his son with a very dangerous look: "It's okay if you don't take the test. If you want to take the test, you will lose His Majesty's face, lose the face of Brother Luo and Commander Wang, and lose the face of Brother Luo and Commander Wang." If you show off the face of the Lu family, I will skin you! I will test the same things on horseback, arrows, knives, spears, swords, halberds, fist fights and stabbings, camp gunpowder, chariot warfare, astronomy and geography, all in one day!"
"...Dad, you don't understand everything."
Lu Bing is relatively modest, but in fact his father may not be considered a good person in many ways.
Lu Song was furious.
"Not to mention martial arts, as for the art of war, astronomy and geography, I'll go find Tang Yingde!"
"...That Tang Shunzhi? With his talent, he should be preparing for the imperial examination, right?"
"That guy doesn't need to prepare anything."
"...Let me see your horse steps first! Go to the courtyard and squat for an hour!"
"..."
At Yan Song's house, Yan Shifan was well controlled by the housekeeper Yan Song left in the capital, but the housekeeper now had a headache.
"Sir, how many times have I told you that His Majesty has specially arranged for you to go to health school. Just wait for His Majesty's arrangements. I am still just the governor of a province, so you'd better not come forward now. You're only fourteen!"
Yan Shifan couldn't bear it: "Now in the School of Health, which of the students is not gearing up? How can the Jinyiwei lag behind others in the Kewu Palace Examination?"
"...Young Master is only fourteen!" the steward thought to himself. If we were to compete in martial arts, how could a fourteen-year-old like you compare with those in their prime and in strong health?
But Yan Shifan had a cruel intention: "What's wrong with Fourteen? I've been learning from Brother Lu for several years, and I've never been afraid of anyone with my fists and kicks!"
The housekeeper didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Everyone knows that the young master is the son of the master..."
Yan Song was the first chief of the imperial study and governor of a province. Yu Qian was entitled to the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the initiator of the compilation of "Da Ming Zhong Ren Jian".
With such a unique image and style, how could Yan Shifan hide his past and subsequent fights with many officials?
At this moment, the news that Yan Shifan wanted to take the martial arts examination had not yet reached Zhejiang and Yan Song's permission had not yet been obtained, so the housekeeper felt it was inappropriate.
But the news that the martial arts examination will be held is spreading.
Yan Shifan already knew that it was difficult for him to pass the liberal arts examination, and he also heard from his father about His Majesty's intentions, so he felt that this was one of the roads His Majesty had paved for him and he must seize the opportunity.
But more middle- and lower-level officers and ordinary soldiers were filled with enthusiasm.
Starting from the Beijing camp, we then went to Beizhili, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, and then to Huguang.
Zhang Zhen also knew the news, and he could only lament: "It's a pity... I'm old."
"It's not bad to be in the Public Security Bureau!" Zhang Cheng said disdainfully, "No matter how good the martial arts champion is, can he be better than the literary champion? In the future, our Zhang family will have to rely on Bai Guiguang to honor our ancestors!"
Zhang Zhen looked at his infant grandson speechlessly: You just had a dream, you don't have to take it so seriously, right?
Why is it so easy to take the No. 1 Scholar examination? When the new examination system spread to Huguang, many scholars in Jingzhou Prefecture were wailing: After three years, I am afraid that they will have to take the test of simplified characters, new styles, and new learning, and they will not be able to take the exam. .
By early March, that issue of "Ming Pao" reached Fujian just over half a month later.
Yu Dayou has "according to the decree" to replace his father's official position as Deputy Qianhu, but as a filial piety at home, he is mainly concerned about two things.
First, whether to respond to the "policy" and end Ding You's appointment so that he can support his family while also fighting for another honor for his sacrificed father.
Second, the news in the military system was faster than that in the Ming Dynasty. In June, there was a competition among generals above the fifth rank. The commander of the Quanzhou Guard knew that Yu Dayou had extraordinary martial arts and was trying to persuade him.
The Deputy Qianhu from the fifth rank is also a fifth rank and has this qualification.
Yu Dayou asked his art of war teacher Zhao Benxue: "Sir, what should students do?"
Zhao Benxue looked dissatisfied: "You are no longer calm!"
He spoke little, but Yu Dayou was a little ashamed and bowed his head in silence.
Indeed, if you already have a fixed opinion, why bother asking?
"This is not the time to have both loyalty and filial piety! You are only twenty-four years old, what will happen in three years?"
This is Zhao Benxue's point of view. He believes that keeping filial piety is more important, not for anything else, just because he is his biological father.
Yu Dayou listened, apologized and left.
But the tree wants to be quiet but the wind is not stopping. The governor of Fujian was originally a small transparent person who was participating in the policy, and the chief minister of Dali Temple. The newly appointed commander of the Fujian capital also wanted to show his face in front of the emperor.
In this year of great competition among serving military generals, the meaning of which province's generals are bravest among the three armies is naturally different.
What's more, no one can ignore the two people the emperor separately approved in the memorial to the Ministry of War at that time: Gu Shilong, the Duke of Jingguo, and Yu Dayou, the son of the Fujian martyr.
The former was the first to suppress the rebellion in Huguang and was the most recent Duke of the Ming Dynasty.
The latter is the son of a mere hereditary deputy Qianhu.
Besides, I heard that my martial arts skills are pretty good?
"In the military, there are already more love-struck people! Now that the Taiyuan Coast Defense Station has been established in the new platform, it is the time to hire people. If you have figured it out, it is the Coast Defense Station Thousand Households!"
Yu Dayou was a little confused again.
At twenty-four, he is no longer young.
Now that he has joined the army, his path to the imperial examination has been cut off.
Now, they naturally want to participate in the competition among serving generals themselves.
Yu Dayou looked at his father's memorial tablet and thought about his father's expectations for him during his lifetime. He shook his head and said, "I would like to take the martial arts examination first, and then the martial arts examination!"
The Yu family is not considered rich, and now the burden of the whole family rests on Ding You's Yu Dayou. He also does not want to fall from the lintel because his family has already reached heaven.
The first military champion in the Ming Dynasty who passed the palace examination is different from the second, or the serving military general who won the championship alone, right?
After making up his mind, he went to visit Zhao Benxue again the next morning.
After the other party let out a long sigh, he looked at his proud disciple with complicated emotions: "The martial arts examination will be held again, and I don't know how many heroes there are in this subject. You have not fulfilled your filial piety, so how can you feel at ease if you don't win the first place? How easy is it to win the first place?" "
"There is still half a year, students should study hard and practice hard!"
Yu Dayou had great confidence in the provincial martial arts examination.
But the examination and palace examination are indeed as Zhao Benxue said. This year, the salary and standards have been set so high, and more emphasis has been placed on military force rather than strategy. How many people are gearing up?
"...He is the commander of the division, but he is also the master of military strategy!"
Yu Dayou's face did not change: "If a student abandons literature and pursues martial arts, how can he only choose to be a brave general? He should be a commander! First choose brave generals, and then learn strategies. Strategy is more important!"
"...Then let's go inside."
In Zhao Benxue's home, in addition to the tablets of his father, grandfather and others, there is also an unnamed tablet at the top.
He glanced at the tablet, turned around and led Yu Dayou into the study.
The ancestors valued culture and suppressed military power, and ultimately lost the country. Zhao Benxue regretted it all his life and devoted himself to studying the art of war.
Now, the master of the Ming Dynasty has actually opened the martial arts examination, hoping to stimulate the enthusiasm of the martial arts people all over the world.
Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures, Mobei, Southern Yunnan...
Zhao Benxue, who is in his middle age, has witnessed closely the attempts of Fujian and Zhejiang coastal defense roads to seize the west coast of Taiyuan and expand the territory. Fujian has gained a small area that is not a foreign land. Very few people in the world are talking about this matter because it has nothing to do with them.
But Zhao Benxue was very useful, and he had a faint appreciation for the current emperor.
Then the martial arts examination will be held again. After a few years, before he returns to the dust, will he see the day when the Ming Dynasty will repeat his tricks again and Shi Yanran will be sealed as a wolf?
In front of Zhao Benxue, there is only one student who he values in his heart.
"Today, let's talk about "Tao Qian's Internal and External Chapters" in detail!"
In the morning light, Tang Shunzhi, Wang Shenzhong and others also walked into Fengtian Gate.
The hall was called Guoyi Hall, and the gate was still called Fengtian Gate.
The emperor serves as the ruler of the world, and all ministers assist him in managing state affairs.
But at this time, it was the reserve force of the ministers, and five hundred tribute soldiers were sent to Danqi.
Tang Shunzhi saw the emperor on the throne from a distance. He knelt down first among the crowd and said, "Students, see your majesty. Long live your majesty! Long live! Long live your Majesty!"
After the palace examination, they are all disciples of the emperor.
The desks outside the hall were arranged neatly, and everyone took their seats one by one, waiting for the hall test questions to be announced.
Gong Yongqing was a little uneasy.
On the day the list was released, although he was on the official list, he didn't even make it into the top 100.
I went to the Etiquette Department to check my scores and found that the scores in the third game were lower.
This chilled his desire to be ranked number one.
The imperial examination will still be about practical current affairs questions, right?
After a while, unlike in the past, the questions for the palace examination were not read out, but a piece of paper was handed out to everyone.
Gong Yongqing's face turned blue after reading it.
Where to answer this?
(End of chapter)
