"Why, you heard me talk about the emperor and you didn't dare to listen?"
Su Jing looked at Liu Bowen and calmly took a sip of tea.
This is the Ming Dynasty, and it is quite serious to discuss the emperor's behavior unreasonably.
Su Jing naturally knew, but he was not that afraid.
Because he had no intention of slandering Zhu Yuanzhang, and at the same time, the old Liu in front of him was very knowledgeable and had heard more exciting content.
If you were really scared, you should never come to see yourself.
"Please also ask Mr. Su to discuss it in detail."
Liu Bowen finally chose to continue listening.
This was a question Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to know, and he had to listen even if he didn't want to.
Su Jing said calmly: "As for why the imperial examination was stopped, there are many reasons."
"But the most important reason is that it has the deepest relationship with the Emperor."
"Old Liu, let me ask you, where did you come from today?"
Liu Bowen immediately replied: "A commoner."
He did not dare to say that Zhu Yuanzhang was a beggar.
Su Jing smiled and said: "Buyi is exaggerating. Our emperor is actually an out-and-out peasant, and he established the Ming Dynasty in troubled times."
"It can be said that today's hero is so talented that few emperors in the past and present can match him."
Hearing Su Jing praising Zhu Yuanzhang like this, Liu Bowen felt a little relieved.
Fortunately, it was not a slanderous or sarcastic statement.
However, before he could finish breathing, Su Jing continued: "But precisely because of this, the emperor also has his limitations."
limitation?
Liu Bowen asked: "What does Mr. Su mean by this?"
Su Jing said: "It's very simple, because our emperor was originally a peasant. Even if he became the emperor, he could not change some of his peasant thoughts engraved in his bones."
"Of course, these old farmer ideas don't mean they are bad."
The thought of an old farmer?
Liu Bowen frowned slightly, as if he was a little unfamiliar with Su Jing's description.
But if you taste it carefully, it seems to make some sense.
What do farmers think?
If it is confirmed with some of Zhu Yuanzhang's thoughts, it turns out to be very consistent.
"Master Su is a great talent, and Old Liu has learned a lesson."
Liu Bowen cupped his hands towards Su Jing and said.
"Is this a great talent? Old Liu, you are not very good at flattering me. No wonder you don't feel comfortable living with your master."
Su Jing teased.
But these words made Liu Bowen suddenly startled. Is this the problem in his relationship with Zhu Yuanzhang?
I flattered Zhu Yuanzhang too little!
Zhu Yuanzhang, who thinks like an old farmer, is actually very good at flattery.
Of course, it can’t be a blind shot, and it’s not okay to take a picture of a horse’s legs during class.
"Thank you Mr. Su for your advice."
Liu Bowen once again thanked Su Jing.
This made Su Jing a little embarrassed. Her casual teasing was actually taken seriously by Liu Bowen.
Fortunately, Su Jing was thick-skinned and quickly returned to her normal expression.
"Let's not talk about this anymore. Let's continue talking about the emperor. The emperor, who thinks like an old peasant, what is the most important thing for the talents selected by the imperial examination? What does old Liu Qian think?"
Su Jing asked Liu Bowen.
Liu Bowen thought for a moment and said, "It should be talent."
The imperial examination is for selecting talents, and naturally talent comes first.
Su Jing nodded and said: "That's not bad, but it needs to be more detailed. This talent is not the ability to study, but the ability to deal with practical matters."
The ability to read and deal with practical matters.
Su Jing made this suggestion, and Liu Bowen's face suddenly became enlightened.
That's right, Zhu Yuanzhang focused on practicality when selecting talents!
Su Jing continued: "Old Liu, look at the talented people under the emperor today. Let's not talk about military generals. The imperial examinations do not select military generals. Let's talk about civil servants."
"Of all the sincere men in South Korea, who is the best among men? They have both talents."
"The emperor, who is used to having these subordinates, suddenly selected a group of people through the imperial examination. In the eyes of the emperor, they may not be called talents at all."
I am afraid of comparison in everything.
The people under Zhu Yuanzhang are all capable people. How can the talents selected from the first imperial examination after the founding of the Ming Dynasty compare with these young and capable people.
There is a big gap in my heart, and I naturally feel that the talents selected by the imperial examination are too ordinary.
Liu Bowen listened carefully to Su Jing's words and nodded unconsciously: "Master Su has seen everything thoroughly."
Su Jing glanced at Liu Bowen and said: "It's not that I see clearly, but sometimes you are so afraid of the emperor that you don't dare to think about him in everything."
The idea of the supremacy of imperial power was like a steel seal, deeply engraved in the minds of everyone in the feudal dynasty.
Even if there is a change of dynasty, this idea will be continued and reinforced by the next king.
For as many years as the feudal dynasty lasted, this ideological stamp was strengthened.
"Master Su, be careful what you say!"
Liu Bowen's face changed slightly and he warned Su Jing.
He really cares about Su Jing, although Zhu Yuanzhang seems to have no intention of taking action against Su Jing now.
But the cunning rabbit is dead and the lackeys are cooking it. It's not that he won't retaliate, it's just that the time has not come yet.
Su Jing's thoughts were really too avant-garde, and even Liu Bowen was afraid of them.
What does it mean to fear the emperor too much?
Respecting the Emperor is the right thing to do. What does it mean to be too much?
Is there any level of reverence for the emperor?
Su Jing's remarks are more terrifying than predicting the demise of the Ming Dynasty in the future!
After all, that is a matter of speculation based on historical facts, and it is reasonable and well-founded.
"I know, I'll pay attention next time."
Su Jing nodded and agreed, but the expression on her face did not change much.
Liu Bowen looked at Su Jing and sighed in his heart.
Su Jing is indeed a person of such great talent, and has nothing to fear at all.
"Master Su, after thinking about it carefully, I feel that this imperial examination matter may not necessarily be just the emperor's fault."
Liu Bowen said to Su Jing.
Su Jing smiled and said: "Are you talking about the aristocratic landowners, nobles, officials and gentry who are entrenched in those places?"
Liu Bowen nodded and said: "That's right. Before the war, the emperor used the recommendation system, so naturally a large number of useful talents were selected."
"But the power to recommend people is mostly in the hands of local aristocratic families and landowners. Above the court, their power is even more intricate."
"Nowadays, the Ming Dynasty's foreign troubles have not been eliminated, and the current situation needs to be stabilized. I guess there will be many people who will oppose the imperial examination next year."
"At least they won't let the recommendation system just disappear."
Even though Liu Bowen spent all day at home growing flowers and drinking wine, he was well aware of the events of the Ming Dynasty.
In a few words, the current situation of the Ming Dynasty and the resistance to the implementation of the imperial examination were explained from another aspect.
"Not bad, Old Liu, you have a great vision."
Su Jing nodded and said with some surprise: "I guess there are not many ministers in the court who have your vision."
As a later person looking at history, it is easy to view things very simply, because everything is laid out clearly and the conclusion is naturally obvious.
Su Jing didn't think that knowing this was a big deal, it was just a matter of reading more books.
But the old Liu in front of him was definitely not an ordinary person who could analyze the current situation in Ming Dynasty.
"No, I just stayed with the master for a long time and know a little more. Don't Mr. Su also see it very clearly?"
Liu Bowen explained immediately.
Not to mention, there are really few people in the Ming Dynasty who can compare with Liu Bowen.
Or rather, none.
Su Jing looked at Liu Bowen and said with a smile: "Okay, don't be modest. What I see clearly is different from what you see clearly, but what you said does make sense."
"These vested interests will definitely hinder the implementation of the imperial examination for their own benefit."
"Of course, they may succeed this time, but when today's situation is clear, and when the Ming Dynasty's foreign troubles are almost resolved, this little resistance will not matter at all."
Su Jing still remembers that in the fifteenth year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang opened the imperial examination again.
The situation around the Ming Dynasty was stable, and the court was also quite stable. Nothing could stop Zhu Yuanzhang from implementing the imperial examination system.
From recommendation to imperial examination and then to recommendation and then to imperial examination, the route of selecting talents in the Ming Dynasty was quite tortuous.
"Master Su is right. Today's emperor is indeed a man of great talent and strategy. Nothing can stop him."
Liu Bowen nodded.
Even though he was already suspected by Zhu Yuanzhang, this did not affect Zhu Yuanzhang's impression in Liu Bowen's mind.
Being able to counterattack as a beggar and become the Ninth Five-Year Master.
With this ability and courage, it is difficult for him to do what he wants to do.
"Old Liu, you are asking about the imperial examination. Do you want to take part in the imperial examination?"
Su Jing suddenly said to Liu Bowen.
Su Jing remembered that there was no age limit for the imperial examination.
It is not a rare thing in history for a father and his son to be in the same examination room.
The talent and learning Liu Bowen displayed was extraordinary.
Seeing that he didn't seem to be living a very good life during this period, Su Jing had such a guess.
Is Liu Bowen because Zhu Yuanzhang was unwilling to recommend him, so he could only think of ways to take the imperial examination.
Liu Bowen immediately shook his head and said, "No, Mr. Su, I have no intention of taking part in the imperial examination."
Liu Bowen really couldn't reveal his identity, otherwise he would tell the truth that he had participated in the imperial examination of the Yuan Dynasty.
"It's okay if it's unintentional."
Su Jing immediately said: "What if you take part in the imperial examination? Being an official in the Ming Dynasty is really boring. There is no money and corruption is not allowed. Look at how many officials were killed in the Ming Dynasty only two years ago."
"Your master may not be very talkative at times, but following him will at least end up better than those officials who were killed."
Su Jing has always complained about the extremely low salary of officials under Zhu Yuanzhang in the Ming Dynasty.
Lao Zhu completely regarded the officials of the Ming Dynasty as the cattle and horses of his Zhu family. He still refused to give the horses grass and made them run away.
Simply "inhumane"!
Listening to Su Jing's words, Liu Bowen fell silent.
His current situation is only slightly better than those of the officials who were killed.
Maybe he will be among the next batch of officials killed.
When it comes to killing officials, Zhu Yuanzhang is unparalleled among emperors in the past.
"What's wrong, Lao Liu, why are you in a daze?"
Su Jing shouted towards the stunned Liu Bowen.
"Um?"
Liu Bowen came to his senses and said immediately: "Master Su, I'm really sorry, I thought of something."
As he spoke, he rubbed the bridge of his nose. At this age, his eyes get tired easily.
Su Jing said: "Old Liu, you can be casual here, there are not so many rules."
"Thank you Mr. Su."
Liu Bowen nodded, picked up the tea cup and took a sip.
Su Jing looked into Liu Bowen's eyes and waved her hand in front of his eyes: "How are you? Can you see clearly?"
Liu Bowen was stunned, shook his head and said with a bitter smile: "Mr. Su, I'm old now, and my eyesight has long been bad."
"Can you still see things in the distance clearly?"
Su Jing asked again.
Liu Bowen shook his head and said, "I can't see clearly. I can't see clearly unless I'm in front of me."
After hearing Liu Bowen's answer, Su Jing knew better.
"Sit down and wait for me."
Su Jing said something to Liu Bowen, then got up and left the living room.
Liu Bowen was a little curious, what was Su Jing doing?
However, he still chose to sit where he was and just looked at Su Jing's home.
The decoration is simple and plain, and there are no luxurious items.
There is an extreme mismatch with Su Jing's net worth.
The door of the living room faces the courtyard, and the scene of Zhu Biao and Zhu Rui studying and thinking seriously can be seen at a glance.
A place like this is truly a paradise.
I don’t know how long the life here can last.
Thinking of this, Liu Bowen felt a little guilty towards Su Jing.
When he first met Su Jing, he strongly recommended Su Jing to Zhu Yuanzhang.
It seems now that if I had said fewer words at that time, maybe everything would have been different.
Soon, Su Jing came back, holding a wooden box with a book on top.
"Master Su, what are you doing?"
Liu Bowen said a little surprised.
Su Jing put the things on the table and said with a smile: "Let me test your eyes, Lao Liu."
Test your eyes?
Liu Bowen frowned slightly, not sure what Su Jing meant.
But he still trusted Su Jing and said, "How do I need to cooperate?"
Su Jing opened the box and found a large pile of circular lenses inside. They were all concave mirrors that Su Jing had tried to make before. They were available in various degrees. Of course, the specific degrees were not precise.
"Come on, Lao Liu, put these lenses in front of your eyes one by one and try to see something."
As Su Jing spoke, she took out a lens and handed it to Liu Bowen.
After the test just now, he roughly judged that Liu Bowen was nearsighted.
The lenses of myopia glasses are concave lenses, so Su Jing used concave lenses.
It's just that Su Jing didn't have a professional instrument to measure the power of her eyes, so she could only let Liu Bowen try it piece by piece.
"Okay, Mr. Su."
Liu Bowen nodded, picked up the lens and put it in front of his eyes, then looked at the thing: "No, I still can't see clearly."
"Change."
Su Jing took out another lens.
In just half the time of burning incense, Su Jing only had two lenses in her hand.
"Master Su, why is this thing so magical? I can see it clearly after wearing it."
Liu Bowen said with a surprised look.
He had never seen it before, and he didn't expect that his eyes could actually see things clearly.
"This thing is called glasses. As for the specific principle, you can ask Niu Yi. I will help you make a frame first. You wait a moment."
Su Jing smiled and got up to look for tools and materials.
Liu Bowen's eyes were filled with brilliance. After some thought, he got up and came to the yard, and asked Zhu Biao about the glasses.
(End of chapter)
