Thousand-year-old family: its rise began with Shang Yang’s reforms

Chapter 436: Coup d’état (Part )
When the Minister of the Central Secretariat, the Minister of the Chancellery, and the Minister of the Palace arrived at the Qinzheng Hall, they were all stunned.

They didn't quite understand what was going on, nor did they understand why the eunuch who came to convey the imperial edict was so angry - and expressed the emperor's anger.

Isn't this a common practice?

When there is anger among the people, we first try to calm down the anger and then settle the score later.

"Your Majesty, I bow to you——"

"Long live your Majesty."

Since the current Emperor ascended the throne, he changed the routine greeting to "Long live the emperor". He almost never concealed his wish for longevity. After all, the current Emperor's reign title is "Long live the emperor".

Live forever, who can do it?
The three people including the Minister of the Central Secretariat were waiting for the emperor's etiquette, but the emperor was not polite at all. He looked at the three people directly and asked: "Let me ask you, what does this memorial say?"

"What do you mean by abolishing the artisan and Buddhist disciplines in order to appease the public anger?"

"If they cause public outrage in the future, will I even have to abdicate in order to appease the public outrage?"

Such heart-piercing remarks coming from Zhang Annian's mouth stunned the Shangshu Ling and others for a moment, and then they woke up in their hearts, wondering what the emperor wanted to do?
The emperor's next words made Shangshu Ling and others a little confused. Only the doorman "Jiang Ze" heard something, and there was a thoughtful look on his brow.

He seemed to understand what the emperor wanted to do by losing his temper, but he was not entirely sure.

So he continued to wait.

Waiting for the emperor's next move.

The Minister of the Chancellery quickly said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. We have no such intention."

Zhang Annian's anger seemed to be unquenchable. He just continued to ask, "A few years ago, weren't the students of Jianwu Department angry and making a fuss? Even the Imperial College was besieged for a full fifteen days."

He was like an angry lion.

"At that time, why didn't anyone say that this was unfair and asked me for fairness?"

"The status of Jianwu students is low. This has been the case since the time of Emperor Chengwu. How come it has become an unforgivable sin in my time?"

Zhang Annian turned his head sharply and looked at the Shangshutai You Pushe who was kneeling in front of him. His eyes were as calm as a pool of stagnant water. "Deng Anmin, tell me, who is angry behind this, the common people or the master behind you?"

Zhang Annian said this very calmly, but it sounded like thunder to Deng Anmin's ears.

He took a step forward. He really didn't expect that he would have a role in today's drama. However, Deng Anmin was very courageous and ambitious. "Why do you say that, Your Majesty?"

"I am a Jinshi of Wansui three years. If we talk about masters, Your Majesty is my master."

"What's more, I am a student of the Jianwu Academy and a disciple of the emperor. I once paid a visit to Your Majesty in the Golden Palace and performed the teacher-student ceremony with Your Majesty at the Golden Autumn Banquet."

"How could there be someone behind me?"

He lowered his noble head, like a docile dog, but everyone knew that he was definitely not a docile dog, but a "hungry wolf", a hungry wolf that was ready to bite to death anyone who had been unkind to him after he became rich.

Deng Anmin said softly, "Your Majesty, I think the students' uproar this time is only temporary. It is just a routine."

"Since Emperor Chengwu, there have been students who are not satisfied with their quota every year, but the imperial court only has a certain number of quotas each year. Only in this way can the normal operation of the court be maintained."

"If there are too many, then there won't be enough official positions within the court."

"The number three hundred and sixty is the natural law."

Zhang Annian sneered and said nothing. He just sat there quietly, watching Deng Anmin talk nonsense.

In fact, the number three hundred and sixty is indeed too small.

Why was the number of 360 set during the Jianwu period? On the one hand, it was because of the court environment at the time, and on the other hand, it was because of the number of scholars among the people at the time.

During the Jianwu period, when the imperial examination was first held to select scholars, among the 360 ​​people, only a few dozen were from truly poor backgrounds, and the rest were either from aristocratic families or from humble backgrounds.

This is because the reading and literacy rates among the people are not high.

Productivity was not very developed at that time, and in that situation, people could only fill their stomachs first.

When the granaries are full, one knows etiquette; when one has enough food and clothing, one knows honor and disgrace.

Only when people are well fed and well-dressed will they consider matters of propriety, righteousness, integrity and shame.

Therefore, the large-scale imperial examinations at that time did not ease the situation in the court. Instead, it would continue to allow these aristocratic families to control the government.

But it's different now.

Although every emperor would add some subjects according to his own "interests and hobbies", the "Jianwu Examination" had never been cancelled, and it still existed no matter how few places there were.

Among them there were certainly some scoundrels like Deng Anmin who had defected to aristocratic families, but there were also many genuinely talented people.

For example, Jiang Ze.

Jiang Ze was a Jinshi who passed the imperial examination in the second year of the Wansui reign, and was the "number one scholar" of that year. After being chosen by the emperor, he was promoted rapidly over the years and almost became the emperor's confidant.

There is also the Zhongshu Ling "Wang Hong", who was a Jinshi in the third year of Wansui and also the "number one scholar" of that year. He read the Jianwu Encyclopedia and had a clear understanding of the major events of the national dynasty.

Although the emperor added the categories of actors and alchemists starting from the Wansui period, the number of places in the Jianwu category did not decrease much, and those who emerged from such fierce competition were the best among the poor children.

Unknowingly, the "Jianwu Party" in the court had become a very powerful force.

Jiang Ze, who was waiting on the side, understood the emperor's true intention. He secretly gave a look to the person next to him. Zhang Chun, the "Left Minister" standing next to him, also instantly understood the emperor's meaning and immediately stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I feel that the cause of today's incident was planted in the past, and thus the result is today's result."

Zhang Chun’s character has always been that of an “upright and impartial” minister of remonstration, so he is the most suitable person to say such words.

"Oh?"

It was hard to tell whether Zhang Annian's voice was more angry or more "curious". He just looked at Zhang Chun calmly and asked, "What does Minister Zhang mean by the reason for that day?"

Zhang Chun said calmly: "Your Majesty, during the reign of Emperor Chengwu, the subjects and content of the imperial examinations were amended at will, which led to the subsequent emperors' preference for amending the subjects of the imperial examinations."

“This is the reason for his future.”

"The reason today is that the number of places in the imperial examination is too small. Therefore, after the places were divided among several subjects, when it came to the Jianwu subject, the number of places became very small."

“This will naturally cause dissatisfaction among everyone.”

"People's dissatisfaction has been pent up for many years and it suddenly erupted, so it was so fierce."

"This has nothing to do with Your Majesty. It's just that the situation has reached this point."

After hearing Zhang Chun's words, Zhang Anyan was silent for a while. He frowned and tapped the table with his fingers. After a moment, he whispered, "How does Minister Zhang think this matter should be handled?"

Zhang Annian's words made the others feel relieved. When the emperor was furious, few people dared to step forward.

The Majesty in front of me is not a good person.

Less than two years after he became emperor, a very favored eunuch beside him was dragged out and beaten to death for saying something wrong. It was said that the eunuch was crying and begging the emperor to give him a chance to live out of their past friendship. At that time, there was another very favored eunuch serving beside him. Upon hearing his words, he just begged for mercy as per custom and was also dragged out and beaten to death.

This guy has no sense of nostalgia at all, and he has a very crazy personality and wants to kill people at any time.

It’s a great thing that we can calm down now.

Zhang Chun continued, "Your Majesty, since there are two causes, we must find two corrected "results" to deal with them."

"I propose that we increase the number of candidates for the imperial examination. The number of 360 Zhoutian is already too few. I suggest that we take 7749 and take the number of 490."

"Secondly, the imperial examination has become a routine now, but the rules of the Jianwu exam are no longer up to par."

"I suggest that we should not hold the examinations in the order of county and township examinations, prefecture and county examinations, and the Dayu imperial examinations, but hold fixed examinations at a fixed time."

"For example, in spring and summer every year, when spring ploughing has just finished, people are not too busy and the weather is suitable - examinations are held on fixed dates on such days. After the previous examination, a certain imperial title is bestowed. For example, after the county and township examinations, candidates can be called "county talents" or "scholars", based on the saying "a tree that stands out in the forest becomes a talent."

"Those who passed the provincial and county examinations were given the title 'juren', and those who passed the imperial examinations were given the title 'jinshi'."

"After you have a reputation, as long as you don't make a big mistake, you can keep this reputation forever, and students who have a higher level of reputation can take the exam for the next level."

"For example, a Juren who passed the third year of Wansui can also take the Jinshi exam in the tenth year of Wansui."

"This will give those who failed the exam some opportunities, so they won't be judged as such. On the other hand, it will give them hope and continue to motivate them to study."

Zhang Annian nodded slightly. He looked at Zhang Chun and said with a little relief, "Not bad."

He looked at Zhang Chun and asked, "What else?"

Zhang Chun stood there silently, not saying a word.

The atmosphere around began to become weird.

Jiang Ze secretly wiped his sweat. What was going on? Why did the atmosphere suddenly seem to change?

Zhang Chun slowly opened his mouth, exhaled a breath, and then said: "Your Majesty, the origin of cholera was Emperor Chengwu. I request Your Majesty to issue an edict to clarify Emperor Chengwu's faults and to blame himself."

"As the emperor, I have issued an edict that the examinations for the Imperial College, Jianwu, and Opera classes will no longer be divided up by subject, but will be held together."

"As for the content of the exam, it is mainly based on the Jianwu Ceremony and various classics, with poetry, prose, and other subjects as the carriers. Every year, the exam will be based on the Jianwu subjects."

Zhang Chun raised his head. He knew what kind of storm his words would cause, but he was also willing to die for his ideals and beliefs.

"The students we recruit are all talented. There are no quotas for the Imperial College for aristocratic families or other subjects. Everyone takes the exam based on their own abilities. If you pass, you pass. If you don't, forget it."

Zhang Chun came from a poor family and he spoke quite directly.

After he said this, he stood there honestly and calmly, as if he didn't realize how big a landmine he had dropped.

But the Shangshu Ling and others on the side were speechless.

Compared with the edict of repentance, canceling the quota for the Imperial College does not seem to be something unacceptable.

Jiang Ze took a step forward and looked at Zhang Annian, who was sitting there with an uncertain expression, as if he was in a state of rage. He said respectfully, "Your Majesty, Minqiao is definitely not forcing Your Majesty to issue an edict of guilt."

"Your Majesty, please forgive me."

The others also echoed, but their voices were very low, and they seemed to be afraid to speak.

They were afraid that as soon as they opened their mouths, the emperor would have them dragged out and killed.

This person can really do such a thing.

In the calm after the storm, Zhang Annian spoke slowly. He was not as furious as Jiang Ze and the others thought. Instead, he was very calm and subdued: "You mean, you want me to issue an edict of apology?"

Zhang Chun seemed not to feel the anger, nor the hand pulling his sleeve.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I suggest you issue an edict of repentance."

"And not only blaming oneself, but also rebuking Emperor Chengwu, etc."

Zhang Annian laughed, and there was something strange in his laughter.

Jiang Ze subconsciously thought, it turns out that when people are extremely angry, they will really laugh out loud?
"You mean, you want me to issue an edict of repentance and also blame my father and ancestors?"

He suddenly became angry and said, "You mean, since Emperor Chengwu, all my ancestors have done wrong, and you, a minister, have to criticize them?"

Zhang Chun's expression remained unchanged. He stood there, as tenacious as a bamboo in the storm.

His answer was still those two words.

"Yes."

Zhang Annian stood up and walked to Zhang Chun's side, as if he had just met him for the first day.

"Great, great Zhang Minqiao."

"I really underestimated you before."

His expression remained unchanged as he turned and left.

"You want to be a minister of remonstrance? I will satisfy you."

"Go kneel outside the palace."

"Kneel for ten days, and if the people of the country petition for you, I will satisfy your wish as a 'remonstrant minister'. You will be a wise and enlightened ruler for once, and we will leave a good name for eternity."

"If you can't kneel any longer, take off your clothes and resign from your post."

Zhang Chun looked at Zhang Anmin's back without changing his expression.

"I accept the decree."

Winter of the twelfth year of Wansui.

Heavy snowfall.

Outside the palace gate, a figure was kneeling there, and no one dared to step forward.

At the same time, Zhang Chun's words and proposals in the imperial study spread among the people, and even his former political enemies admired them.

Does this person know what he is talking about?
(End of this chapter)