Dragon map of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1559 The First Examiner of the Imperial Examination

When Hu Zhao said this, Mu Jing was a little surprised. He was not surprised by Hu Zhao's high morals, but that Hu Zhao was able to endure such great achievements.

The imperial examination system is a milestone in Mujing's system reform, and it will also be a historical record that bury the filial piety system of the previous dynasty.

Who will open the imperial examination system and benefit thousands of scholars in the future, this is an opportunity to make people famous in history.

No matter if you are obsessed with official career or you are a pure scholar, all scholars will pay special attention to the opportunity to make their own name in history.

It may not be about profit, it may not be about power, but fame, that is the weakness of all scholars.

Hu Zhaoning would rather give up this opportunity.

I also want to pull myself into the relationship between Cai Yong.

This is because he felt a sense of crisis. The power of the ministers comes from the power of the monarch. Now the power of the monarch is too strong. On his own, Hu Zhao no longer has the confidence to stabilize the court.

Unless Cai Yong can join forces with his own, then he will have a slight chance to continue to resist Mu Jing's dictatorship.

"The old man is indeed the most suitable, but the candidate for the chief examiner of the imperial examination must be more cautious!" Mu Jing thought for a while, and did not continue to threaten. Since Hu Zhao gave up, he was invulnerable, and continued to attack , that is to tear the face, this is not what Ming Jun said.

"How about this!"

Mu Jing said: "Let the old man remove his position as Minister of Rites first, let him participate in politics as Zhaoming Pavilion, the right minister of the court, and take full responsibility for the imperial examination. As for the chief examiner, it will be decided at that time!"

"Your Majesty, hurry up!"

Hu Zhao cupped his hands and said, "The county examination will be up soon, and the county governments in various places are making preparations. If the chief examiner of the imperial court cannot be selected this time, it will put a lot of pressure on the local government offices!"

"I know!"

Mu Jing smiled, and said: "As for the Department of Education, I will ask Shi Xie to send some people to assist the government offices in various places, so that this time the county exam can be done well!"

The county examination, from the formulation of the questions, to the examination, to sealing and correcting the papers, is a series of things, and now there will be some delays in preparation.

However, county examinations are generally a local matter, and Mu Jing has already decided to hand them over to the local government. The imperial court is more in charge of the overall situation, and as long as there are no other accidents, it will not interfere with the local county examinations.

The chief examiner of the county examination has already been decided early in the morning, the local parent officer.

As for whether it will change in the future, that is a matter of the future.

Now, Mu Jing will hand over the task of chief examiner to the biggest person in the area, otherwise it will affect the completion of the imperial examination system.

This is also an exchange of benefits.

Although there will definitely be conflicts of interests in reforming the law and reforming the system, it does not necessarily mean that you will live to the death. If I take your interests away, I can also give you new interests.

Of course, some people will be upset, of course.

At this time, he needs to support other people to support the New Deal and the reform.

"promise!"

Hu Zhao cupped his hands, expressing his agreement with the result.

………………

In the next few days, Hu Zhao was really a plaster of dead skin. Anyway, he was stalking him so hard that Mu Jing couldn't feel at ease. This year was a waste.

But Mu Jing was helpless.

On the tenth day of the Lunar New Year, the Daming Palace resumed its comings and goings, and the Riyue Street also returned to its former bustling end. At this time, the first Zhaoming Pavilion meeting in the second year of Taiwu was held.

Eight floors, Zhaoming Pavilion.

Above the main hall, surrounded by spacious floor-to-ceiling windows, the sunlight was refracted in, and it was a little soft. Figures lingered around a long table and sat down.

And Mujing sits on the top of the list.

He didn't even want to see Hu Zhao anymore.

He has been tortured a lot by Hu Zhao in the past few days. Hu Zhao is the prime minister on the left. He is in charge of the affairs of the court. He can repay some things and suppress them. It depends on his scale. If he is concerned about trivial things There are legitimate reasons for nagging Mu Jing, and it is very rare for Mu Jing to want to live in peace.

The other participating ministers looked at Mu Jing and Hu Zhao and couldn't help smiling.

Between the monarch and his ministers, fights return to fight, but sometimes they are very naive. Both of them are for the good of the court. Everyone agrees on this point, but when they disagree on some small things, they will be special. Careful.

They used to think that Hu Zhaohui was quite magnanimous, but now it seems that Hu Zhao has become ruthless, and he can make you feel miserable with a little trick like a smile.

"New year, new atmosphere!" Mu Jing started to speak first, but he didn't speak, everyone didn't speak, and the atmosphere became weird. He opened his mouth and said, "This is our first time this year. At the Zhaoming Pavilion meeting, let's talk about some goals and plans for this year!"

"Yes!"

The ministers began to become serious, but anyone who entered Zhaoming Pavilion could not limit himself to one-third of an acre of land, and had to look at the development of the entire Ming Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, let me tell you about our Privy Council's plans for this year!" General Huang Zhong said in a low voice, "We plan to expand our army this year!"

"Army expansion?"

This is not a very unexpected thing. Many people have a consensus that the Ming army will expand its scale, but at this time the Privy Council released the plan, which caught some people off guard. Too many people's eyes were obsessed with the imperial examination.

"Da Ming will definitely rest and recuperate in the past two years. This is our best opportunity to expand the army. We want to dominate the world in the future. It is insignificant to rely on the current number of soldiers and horses!"

Huang Zhongdao: "So we are going to expand the army, not only to expand the scale, but also to train the elite. We can't ignore our combat effectiveness because of the expansion!"

"and many more!"

Liu Jin pressed his hand and said to Huang Zhong: "General, what you said just now is not about expanding the army, but about expanding the army, so how big are you going to get?"

"More than double!"

Huang Zhong replied indifferently.

"No!"

The ministers were boiling.

"Double the military expansion, how can the court support it!"

"Does the place need to develop?"

"Da Ming finally came to peace, so we can't use military force!"

Many ministers are against it.

This kind of pressure is too heavy, and the military expenditure alone is enough to completely overwhelm the imperial court.

"Do you all think that our Ming Dynasty is peaceful and prosperous now!" Huang Zhong frowned, his face sank, and he raised his eyebrows angrily, "We don't have enough military strength, and it's difficult for us to even defend our own territory. , how can there be the ability to dominate the world!"

"Unable to rule the world, are you planning to draw borders with the old dynasty?" Xi Zhicai added grimly.

When the ministers heard the words, they immediately looked at each other.

The Ming Dynasty was established, and the interior was stable. Although there were legal reforms and system reforms, life was getting better and better, and the economy was developing adequately. Enjoying it will kill some people's fighting spirit.

Fighting means death.

Some of them avoid war, and some hate war. Their emotions at this time will affect some of their fighting spirit.

There have always been peacemakers, not because they are soft-boned, but because the war is too cruel. They would rather be soft than start a war. Although the war is bloody, it will always wither their lives. Come on, how many families have been torn apart.

So even if there is a moment of peace, many people are unwilling to think about the so-called future and go to war.

Huang Zhong and Xi Zhicai's blow to the head really woke up some people. Now is not the time for a horse to let go of Nanshan, the world is not unified yet.

Mu Jing didn't have any special thoughts.

This is just Huang Zhong's already given test, and it is also a test of his. It is to test the opinions of the people in the court on the matter of military expansion.

"The matter of military expansion will be discussed later!" Mu Jing waved his hand and said, "The Privy Council must have a detailed plan, and then submit it to the Zhaoming Pavilion. After the left and right ministers have reviewed it, they will go to the court to discuss it!"

"Your Majesty, in this way, the efficiency is too low, and it will affect the time of our Privy Council. We can wait, but those princes of the Han Dynasty, eager to fight, may not give us more time. If they attack in advance, we will not be able to Organize and expand the army and train the elite, then we will definitely suffer a lot!"

Huang Zhong said in a low voice.

"Han Sheng, trust the left and right ministers, they know the importance, those things can be delayed, those things can't be delayed, they have a steelyard in their hearts!"

Mu Jing smiled: "Just make the plan and bring it up, I believe it won't take long, and it will be pushed directly to the court!"

As he spoke, he glanced at Hu Zhao and Cai Yong.

The two old guys want to unite, dream, don't mess you up, I will be the emperor for nothing.

Hu Zhao and Cai Yong looked at their hearts, as if they couldn't hear, and they didn't show any expression. Their calm demeanor was admirable.

"The imperial examination is coming soon!"

Mujing changed the topic, and said: "Today, we might as well discuss the matter of the imperial examination first. The imperial examination is one of the core of the New Deal, and it must replace the outdated recommendation system, so I will not allow even the slightest mistake. If something goes wrong, I will do it to anyone, and no one will lose face!"

He expressed his thoughts very directly, and did not give anyone a chance to sway. In a word, whoever caused trouble, he killed. Now that the knife is in his hand, it depends on who wants to compare, whether his neck is strong enough.

"In addition, there are still more than two months. The county examination will be held in March. The chief examiner has not been able to confirm it for a long time. The impact on this place is not good!"

Mu Jing said in a low voice: "I have decided that under the Zhaoming Pavilion, based on the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Officials, plus some prestigious people from the local scholars, an imperial examination committee will be established to take charge of the examination matters, including the main The writing of questions, revision of papers, evaluation, and posting of rankings are all under the management of the committee, and the head of the committee is the chief examiner!"

"The imperial examination committee?"

The ministers were a little curious when they heard the words, but they gradually accepted Mujing's endless new tricks.

"Who will be the examiner?"

This is a very deliberate question.

But gradually, all eyes fell on Cai Yong. Looking at the court and the people, no one could surpass Cai Yong's influence.

The imperial court has left ministers who can overwhelm right ministers, and there are great Confucian scholars in the local area who can be comparable to Cai Yong, but if the combined influence of the imperial court and the people, Cai Yong ranks first.

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Cai is the most suitable!"

Liu Jin said very directly: "Looking at the court and the world, there is no one who is more suitable than Cai Xiang to be the chief examiner. Moreover, Cai Xiang's character is well known in the world. Only if Cai Xiang presides over it can avoid the possibility of fraud. It can appease the hearts of scholars!"

"I also agree!"

"Seconded!"

"Seconded!"

All the ministers raised their hands and said.

Zhaoming Pavilion now has a total of nine seats participating in politics, only Mu Jing is a little helpless, no matter what position the others stand on, Cai Yong, who agrees with him at this time, is the examiner.

Mu Jing had also anticipated this scene. With old man Cai's knowledge and prestige, coupled with his status as the right minister of the court, there really was no one more suitable than him to preside over the imperial examination.

"I also think that Prime Minister Cai is the most suitable!"

Mujing pinched his nose and recognized it.

It's not that he doesn't want to, it's that he always feels that Hu Zhao is digging a hole for himself, and it feels like the hole is more or less filled.

But it doesn't matter, his trump card is not here.

"Cai Xiang is expected to be in charge of the imperial examination, but it is difficult for Cai Xiang to do anything alone. The imperial examination is a major issue in the world. We need to find some assistant Cai Xiang!"

Mu Jingdao: "Shi Xie, the head of the Department of Education, is quite knowledgeable, and the Department of Education is in charge of enlightenment, and has the most authority in setting out the questions. I think that he should be the deputy chief examiner, in charge of county and state examinations. There should be no problem with the examination, but it is naturally the examiner's job to be able to take the examination!"

"The minister agrees!"

"This person is talented, he can take the county and state exams!"

The ministers also knew that at this time, Mu Jing's offer was equivalent to an exchange of conditions, who would dare to stand in the way, Hu Zhaodu avoided his edge, and the most important thing was to keep Cai Yong's position.

But Mu Jing's ultimate trump card is not here. Shi Xie can't influence Cai Yong. He has to find someone to suppress Cai Yong. At least he can't let the imperial examination deviate from his own course.

"In addition, should we consider the influence of the place!" Kuai Liang said.

He made a trip to Jingzhou, and then came back again, tossing back and forth for four or five days.

It can be regarded as the matter entrusted to Mujing, and it has been done.

"Shilin?"

The ministers thought about it, but they thought what Kuai Liang said was reasonable. The imperial examination was a matter of recruiting talents, and the influence of the locality was still great.

If someone with talent and learning is suppressed and not let go, there is nothing you can do about it. Although there is no shortage of such one or two people, if the scholars unite, this time the imperial examination will become deserted. That's all gone.

It is necessary to consider local influences and the ideas of Shilin.

"Master Kuai, what do you think?"

Someone asked Kuai Liang.

"I think that some white-bodied Confucian scholars from Shilin should be added to the imperial examination committee to see it as fair!"

Kuai Liang said in a low voice.

"It makes sense!"

Although everyone was speculating on Kuai Liang's thoughts, they did not deny this idea.

"Who is suitable?" Mu Jing quickly cut through the mess and asked the candidate directly.

"Dean of Lumenshan Academy, Sima Wei, is quite capable, has extraordinary knowledge, educates the common people, has made great contributions, and can win the trust of scholars all over the world!"

Kuai Liang recommended it very directly.

Anyone who dares to object at this time will offend Sima Wei.

Sima Wei is unwilling to become an official?

Not necessarily.

Just no chance.

Moreover, the matter of the imperial examination involved the new policy of the Ming Dynasty, and it was an opportunity to leave his name in the history, so how could Sima Wei not be moved.

This made Hu Zhao's face a little gloomy.

Mujing is Mujing.

The emperor's heart is not something he can casually guess.

(End of this chapter)