The ensuing conversation between the two scholars pointed out the current ills of the dynasty, and revealed some insights that Zhu Houzhao had not thought of. Regarding the Ming Dynasty's health system, the scholar had to take the imperial examination due to his father's request. But in his heart, he was thinking about joining the army.
Except for the right to temporarily recruit during wartime, which is only supernumerary, the real soldiers of the Ming Dynasty have always been guards in various places, hereditary military households, heroes of fathers, and heroes of sons. These people have long been inferior to each other from generation to generation. They are said to be guards, but in fact they have become Being reduced to a farmer, cultivating and farming fields year after year, how much fighting power can he still have? In addition, without training for a long time, it has become one of the main shortcomings of the Ming Dynasty.
There are also three major shortcomings: land donation, enfeoffment of vassal kings, and commercial taxes. These are the main causes of the weakness of the Ming Dynasty.
The martial arts examination system of the Ming Dynasty was established very early. Originally, it was held concurrently with the civil examination. During the Yongle period, more martial artists took part in the examination. Later, until now, each generation has become worse than the previous one. The martial examination examination is not as good as the civil examination examination. Today's scholars are not diligent in all aspects. Regardless of the grain, if you win the exam, it means that good times are coming. It’s no wonder that the court’s treatment is so good. The scholars they raised only know how to shake their heads and talk every day. They have long been spoiled, and the martial arts exam is in vain, and even No more classes.
Some scholars who wanted to make a difference could only choose to follow the trend in the face of these general trends. The words of Liu Zizhang and Tan Zongzheng touched some of Zhu Houzhao's bold ideas.
These questions were raised by later generations. This kind of vision and insight is not something ordinary people have. These two scholars are not simple.
"They reminded me that the scholars of the Ming Dynasty were not just useless and pedantic bookworms, such as Wang Shouren, Yu Qian, and later Dong Qichang and Zhang Juzheng. These were all scholars. I was misled, so that Blind, they just have a chance to shine. There is no guarantee that they will not be my Yu Qian, my Wang Shouren, and Zhang Juzheng." Zhu Houzhao gestured towards Liu Jin.
Liu Jin immediately understood what Zhu Houzhao meant, came to the table and said, "You two, my young master invites you." After saying this, he gestured towards Zhu Houzhao.
The two of them followed his line of sight and saw a handsome young man in brocade clothes opposite him. In fact, they had seen it before but didn't pay attention. They didn't expect that the young man would take the initiative to invite him.
Zhu Houzhao held up a folding fan and sat on a chair with his hands clasped.
Tan Zongzheng and Liu Zizhang looked at each other, got up and followed Liu Jin. They saw that the young master in Jinyi in front of them was not simple, but they didn't know what he meant and didn't want to offend, so they came to listen to what he had to say.
Liu Jin stood behind Zhu Houzhao with his hands behind his hands, with a humble and flattering attitude. However, this guy had a beard and a strong body. He had no idea that he was a eunuch. Otherwise, it would not be difficult to guess Zhu Houzhao's identity.
Liu Zizhang was the first to speak, "I wonder what kind of advice this young master wants from us."
Zhu Houzhao said with a smile, "I was drinking with the two of you at the next table. I saw the two of you chatting lively, and I am a person who likes to make friends, so I invite you to sit down."
Tan Zongzheng sat down as he was told, hearty and heroic, while Liu Zizhang was polite and magnanimous, and thanked him with his hands.
Zhu Houzhao saw their performance in his eyes and smiled: "I just heard your tone, it seems that Enke has a lot to do this time, I wish you both high school in advance."
Then, he gently shook the folding fan and said to Liu Zizhang doubtfully, "I have a question, and I would like to ask Brother Liu to enlighten me. Yunnan and Guizhou in the southwest are in turmoil. Since I became Emperor Chengzu, there has been no peace. The wars have been a waste of money, food and soldiers. Brother Liu said if In high school, I want to invite myself to serve as an official in Yunnan and Guizhou in southwest China. I wonder what strategies Brother Liu has planned to bring peace to the people?"
Liu Zizhang took a good look at the young man in front of him. He could see that the young man in front of him was well-dressed and had an extraordinary bearing. His tone was even more arrogant. When he opened his mouth, he was about to take the exam. His identity must be extraordinary. Perhaps he was the descendant of some noble family, but he was not. Knowing what he was planning, he said cautiously.
"Liu made a mistake while drunk. Master, please do not take it seriously."
Tan Zongzheng was no longer so cautious. Hearing this, he spoke on behalf of Liu Zizhang, "Brother Zizhang is a great talent. Brother Zizhang has long been aware of the troubles in the Southwest. In the past, he traveled throughout Yunnan and Guizhou and walked through the forest for three years. Only done..."
"Good brother...!" Liu Zizhang quickly stopped him from continuing.
Although Tan Zongzheng was puzzled, he did not continue talking.
Liu Zizhang cupped his hands and said, "Don't blame me, sir. This brother of mine is outspoken, but he is talking nonsense. Thank you very much for your kind invitation today, but I and my dear brother still have to prepare for the exam. I am not sorry to say goodbye."
After saying that, he pulled Tan Zongzheng and stood up to leave. He did not want to get too involved with the young master in front of him. This era is all about relationships, and it is a taboo to have shallow conversations, not to mention he is an honorable man who does not know the ins and outs of the people. My son, that's not someone they can afford to mess with.
Liu Jin was ready to stop them from leaving. If you dare to be rude to His Majesty, we will skin you if we don't, but Zhu Houzhao didn't speak, so he could only watch them leave.
Tan Zongzheng's unfinished words just now made his eyes light up. This Liu Zizhang is not simple. He has such courage at a young age. He walked for three years on foot to explore the Yunnan and Guizhou areas, just to solve the border problems of the imperial court. , it can be seen that he really means it. No matter what his plans are, this persistence is worthy of praise.
Zhu Houzhao did not stop them from leaving, but secretly ordered Liu Jin to send someone to keep an eye on them and see where they lived, so that he could summon them at any time in the future.
"Go back to the palace."
If Zhu Houzhao was like that before, I'm afraid he would turn into a gangster and beat me up with fists. If he dared to talk to me like this, he would be beaten.
After the two came out of Xia's restaurant, they did not go out for a stroll. After returning to the palace, Zhu Houzhao directly ordered Liu Jin to send a copy of his decree to Xu Qiong in the Ministry of Rites.
Ministry of Rites.
Xu Qiong has been very busy recently, extremely busy. It was originally the most leisurely yamen, but it has become a yamen with more work than the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Works, because His Majesty decided to add Enke this time. Regarding the selection of topics, Decisions, as well as policy research, all need to be considered by him.
The topic is very rigorous. He has to select the quotations from scriptures, accept the topic, solve the problem, and solve the problem. He must not be sloppy at all, and he cannot pretend to be an outsider, otherwise it will be leaked, which will be a serious crime and will be submitted to His Majesty's Holy Judgment in the end.
Just as he was buried in hundreds of questions, Liu Jin arrived with Zhu Houzhao's order.
"Xu Qiong, Minister of Rites, kneels down to receive the order."
"Official, take the order"
After Xu Qiong knelt down and raised her hands in the air, Liu Jin handed over a decree, helped Xu Qiong up, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty told us to tell you that when choosing candidates' strategic answers, this article should be used as the standard answer. , the one closest to you will be the first, and we will proceed in order. Our family has already conveyed His Majesty’s words, so we will go back to reply to the order, and we will take our leave.”
Xu Qiong waited for Liu Jin to leave, then slowly opened the imperial edict. There were only a few sentences on it, and there was also an article mixed with the imperial edict, written on royal paper. After he read the article carefully, he was not only deeply moved He praised loudly, "This is a very high theory, a very high theory, a very high theory."
He recognized that it was His Majesty's handwriting. He never expected that Your Majesty would have such high opinions. Although he was the Minister of Rites, he also knew how feasible and possible it was to be realized. It seemed that His Majesty did not know that this article If this thousand-word article reaches the court, everyone will be ashamed.
After so many years, why has no one thought of changing their ways? After Emperor Hongwu changed his native land and returned to Yunnan, the Yongle Dynasty also promoted the reform of his native land and returned to Yunnan. However, it was gradually not recognized by the court because the current situation was different. Your Majesty is really a genius. This article is aimed at the current situation. Pointing out the feasible strategies, he now wished he could pass this article to the cabinet for circulation. How lucky the late emperor was.
Xu Qiong is a self-proclaimed clean person, but he is worldly, not pedantic, and loyal. In the past, the prince was always angry and glared at him. The late emperor always protected the prince. He thought that the future of the prince was confused after he ascended the throne, but since Prince Ning After the usurpation and these days, judging from His Majesty's administration, I have misunderstood His Majesty.
Today, he was impressed by Zhu Houzhao again. His majesty's beautiful articles and the insights of this policy eclipsed those so-called talents.
What is shameful is that Zhu Houzhao simply put forward the policy of reforming his native land and returning to his hometown based on what he remembered. He only drew this article based on the research experience of later generations and the inferences of eight generations. The research results of many academics have become the fruit of him alone. However, even if he admitted that he plagiarized, looking at Xu Qiong's look, he would not believe it. He still felt that His Majesty was humble.
No matter what others think, Zhu Houzhao is very proud. He knows how much reputation this article will bring to him when it is published, and it will make him worship again in the government and the public. It is nothing to kill these ancient people, as long as he uses small means. That's it.
Everything can be false. Only by conquering the hearts of these ministers can it be real. The case of King Ning is a good start, and Enke is another beginning of conquering the scholars. After the ruling and opposition parties are solved, then there will be As for the army, as for the people, the requirements of the people are actually simpler. As long as they are not hungry and have enough to eat, they will not care what you do. As long as you can feed them, you will be a good emperor and a wise king. Even if he is precarious, No matter how good his reputation is in the government and the public, he is still an incompetent and foolish king.
Therefore, as long as Zhu Houzhao can find a way to keep them fed, everything will be fine and the world will be peaceful. The current grain yield is only three to five dan per mu. It is still the rice fields in rich places like Jiangnan. Other places are not so good. If the conditions are met, can grain production be increased? Yes, but how.
Well, this is really not a problem for Zhu Houzhao. Are there three essential artifacts for time travel? Gunpowder, potatoes, and hot air balloons. Potatoes are not available now, but I know where they are. Just go and get them. The world belongs to me. Yes, if you don’t give it, I will use cannons to wash away the land. I will give it anyway if I give it. If you don’t give it, I will destroy you. I will get it myself. Okay, that’s it.
"Liu Jin, go to the Ministry of War and ask Liu Daxia to bring me Zheng He's sea chart and the blueprint of the lucky ship. Tell him that if he doesn't have the blueprint, he will be imprisoned. Moreover, if the nine tribes go together, the whole family will die. I only need the blueprint, and nothing is missing. "
For Liu Jin, as long as it is His Majesty's order, it must be done. He doesn't care whether it is the Minister of the Ministry of War or the Minister of Rites. If he doesn't have those drawings, then he will die.
"My slave obeys the order." Liu Jin accepted the order and left.
