The Ming Dynasty started with saving the eldest grandson

Chapter 29 Amazed Zhu Chongba
Chen Jingke didn't know what Zhu Yuanzhang was thinking, and he became more and more excited as he talked.

However, he still maintained his rationality. For example, he did not say what Chen Sheng said, "Princes, princes, generals, and generals should be very kind to each other."

"Confucius broke the aristocracy's monopoly on learning and gained his current status."

"Shang Yang's reforms and the Qin State's implementation of the military merit system led to the great achievement of unifying the six kingdoms."

“Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was the first to promote filial piety and honesty, which made the Han Dynasty strong and prosperous.”

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but said: "Humph, the Qin Emperor and the Han Dynasty are no more powerful than the tyrants."

Chen Jingke did not refute it. Qin Shihuang, Emperor Wu of Han, and Emperor Taizong of Tang were the top three most popular emperors in the 21st century.

But that is what we, as future generations, consider from a civilized perspective.

Qin Shihuang unified the six countries and laid the foundation for the unification of China.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty exerted the power of the Han Dynasty, opened up the Western Regions, and spread the influence of Chinese civilization to all directions.

Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty pushed the influence of Chinese civilization to the pinnacle of feudal history.

The three people have made great contributions to Chinese civilization. Now that people are enjoying the benefits brought by the three people, they naturally feel that they are talented and wise kings.

However, in ancient times, from the perspective of people's livelihood, Emperor Qin and Han Wu were tyrants, and their reputation was not good.

Let’s not talk about Qin Shihuang’s harsh rule.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty carried out extensive construction projects, was extremely extravagant, sold his official positions, was cruel and murderous, and exploited the people.

He likes immortality and favors alchemists, and even marries his princess to the alchemists.

It can be said that if his name is hidden and only the things he has done are seen, Juebi will think that this is a subjugated king.

However, he was Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty.

Among these three people, only Li Shimin is regarded as a model of wise kings.

Zhu Yuanzhang came from a lower class and had no good impression of Emperor Qin and Han Dynasty, which is normal.

Therefore, Chen Jingke was not surprised to hear him disparaging these two people, and he did not want to refute.

Everyone's perspective is different.

There is no need to argue about whether or not these things exist for an ancient person.

But he did not echo Zhu Yuanzhang, but continued his own topic:
"Military honors and filial piety and integrity did indeed discover a large number of talents for the country at the beginning."

"However, as the bureaucracy grew, they monopolized the way to recommend Xiaolian. Those who were recommended were all the sons of powerful men."

"Later, the Nine-Rank Zhongzheng System appeared...the top-grade had no humble family, and the bottom-grade had no noble clan..."

"This is also the main reason why gentry clans were rampant in the late Eastern Han Dynasty and the Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties."

"Both the Sui and Tang dynasties were committed to cracking down on the gentry, and it was at that time that the imperial examination system was established."

"However, the gentry was very powerful at that time, and the imperial examination system only opened a gap in gentry politics."

"It was not until the end of the Tang Dynasty that Huang Chao and Zhu Wen slaughtered all the gentry, completely ending the rule of the gentry."

"In the Song Dynasty, people were painting on a piece of white paper, and the imperial examination system became worthy of its name and was perfected at that time."

At this point, Chen Jingke stopped to take a breath.

Zhu Yuanzhang felt itchy after hearing this, and urged: "Speak quickly, what's behind you."

Chen Jingke knew that he had been persuaded by him, and he was very happy:

"Civility and military force are the two legs of a country. Without culture, the country will not be governed, and without military force, the country will not survive."

"The Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty had an unfair control of the country. He was afraid that military generals would seize power, so he adopted a policy of advocating civility and suppressing military force. This is equivalent to being born with a lame leg."

"So the Song Dynasty was in a corner, and the little Xixia was riding on its head. It really made the world laugh."

"In order to bribe scholars, the Song Dynasty also said that they would rule the world with scholar-bureaucrats, and their uncontrolled favors to officials would lead to redundant officials."

The redundancy of officials in the Song Dynasty was really not caused by the imperial examination. It was held once every three years, and each session had as few as two or three hundred and as many as five or six hundred.

There is no way to create redundant officials.

The real reason is Enyin. As long as they are officials with good grades, they can appoint Enyin's children as officials.

The first grade can be a patron to ten people every year; the seventh rank can be a patron to three people every year.

I can be so generous every year.

A person who serves as a seventh-grade official for ten years can be a patron to thirty people.Over the course of a lifetime, all the cats and dogs in the family will be able to obtain official status.This is the real way for one person to attain enlightenment, chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.

Of course, no one will actually use all these slots.

If the favored disciple commits a crime, he himself will be implicated.

Therefore, under normal circumstances, Enyin who is more capable will be chosen.

But even so, it is still a huge number of data over the years.

Only 100 years had passed between the founding of the Song Dynasty and Wang Anshi's political reform, and redundant officials had become one of the three serious diseases of the court.

After some people pass the Jinshi examination, they have to wait for decades to find a vacancy.

Some unlucky ones will never have the chance to become an official in their lifetime, and will be on the waiting list until they die.

Throughout world history, this is a unique thing.

It can be seen from this that uncontrolled kindness has brought great consequences.

"Whether it is filial piety, kindness, or conquest, it is very easy for others to control it and nourish powerful families."

"Only the imperial examination system can prevent the emergence of powerful families."

"Although the children of powerful people can receive better education, they have great advantages in the imperial examination."

"But at least it leaves a promotion path for the poor men."

"So, in comparison, the imperial examination system is indeed the best official selection system in history."

Zhu Yuanzhang had been completely convinced, but he still said disdainfully:
"But those selected through the imperial examination are mostly mediocre people who only know how to read. How can we rely on them to govern the country?"

Chen Jingke also agreed with this point. Those scholars who became officials through the imperial examination were unable to govern themselves, so they could only ask for help.

So the group of masters came on stage.

Don't underestimate these masters, they will also form cliques to connect with each other.

Many times, the official sitting in the main hall is just their puppet.

The most famous among them is Shaoxing Master.

"There is no perfect system in the world, and the imperial examination naturally has shortcomings and loopholes, which we need to make up for."

"What you said is very light. How can you make up for it?"

"There really is a way. Let the scholars who pass the imperial examination go to the local yamen to work as swordsmen and pen clerks for two years. After the two years are over, they will be granted official positions."

This is the public examination system in the previous life, but in the previous life, only two years of grassroots work experience can be used as a reference.

Now after passing the exam, you have to train at the grassroots level for two years.

Upon hearing this method, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes suddenly lit up: "Wonderful, this method is wonderful."

"Being a swordsman and pen official is the most challenging place. There are not many stupid people who can pass the exam. If they work as a swordsman and pen official for two years, they will naturally know how to be an official."

But immediately he frowned again: "The official's status is low, I'm afraid these scholars are not willing to do it."

Officials were not humble before the Song Dynasty. Many people started as officials and eventually became generals and prime ministers.

But in the Song Dynasty, the way for officials to transfer to official positions was cut off, and once they became officials, they could no longer participate in the imperial examination.

Therefore, officialdom has become a lowly job that scholars despise.

Even if they are only allowed to serve as temporary officials, they are not willing to do so.

Chen Jingke chuckled and said, "This matter is easy to handle. Scholars like to compromise the most."

"For example, if we ask to open a window in the wall, everyone is opposed to it; if we ask to open the roof, everyone agrees to open the window."

"The same goes for the imperial examination. Let me tell you first that after passing the examination, you will start as a swordsman and pen official."

"When everyone objects, tell them to go and train as swordsmen, pens, and clerks for two years."

"If they still don't agree, then it doesn't matter if the imperial examination is not held. Then everyone will agree."

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately understood what he meant and said with a smile: "Haha... You are quite sinister, but we like it."

Chen Jingke waited for him to smile, and then suddenly said seriously: "However, the previous imperial examination system still had a big loophole, and a negative consequence that was difficult to avoid."

(End of this chapter)