Daming: I am the most powerful emperor grandson, please abdicate the throne

After returning to the palace, Zhu Xuan first called in Zhang Gong and Xia Yuanji.

"Greetings to His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, a thousand years old..."

They were about to salute, but Zhu Xuan interrupted, "Okay, everyone, get up. I have something I want to talk to you about. It's a big deal. It concerns the rights and interests of ordinary scholars in the world."

Xia Yuanji and the other two thought what he said was very important, so they did not speak immediately but waited for Zhu Xuan to continue.

"I have some time today, so I went out of the palace for a walk. Mainly, I wanted to see how the scholars of our Ming Dynasty are preparing for the imperial examinations, and to see how the officials below are preparing. I happened to overhear a conversation." Zhu Xuan briefly told them about Jian Jinzhong.

Although the Ming Dynasty became increasingly prosperous, there was still a gap between the rich and the poor.

Moreover, the gap is not small.

Rich people remain rich, but it is difficult for poor people to become rich.

After listening to Zhu Xuan's words, Zhang Xun and the other person were silent for a while.

Xia Yuanji said, "Your Highness, life is indeed hard for ordinary scholars in the Ming Dynasty. Just as what the scholar surnamed Jian said, if ordinary scholars come to Beijing to take the exam and fail, they may never have another chance to come again."

It’s not that I’m not qualified to come, but that I don’t have the conditions to come.

"For an ordinary scholar to be able to go to the capital to take the exam, it is possible that he would empty out the entire village. If he lived in some poor counties, he might even empty out the entire county, just to ascend to the throne of the emperor, right?"

Zhu Xuan looked at them and asked.

They both nodded.

"There are actually quite a few such people among our Ming officials."

Zhang Xun thought for a moment and said, "Some were lucky enough to pass the exam, while others were unlucky enough to fail and never came to the capital again. On behalf of the poor scholars, I would like to thank Your Highness for his concern for them."

“Attention alone is not enough.”

Zhu Xuan said, "I sent you here for this matter. We have to find a solution so that those scholars who really want to serve the country will not even have the opportunity to take the exam in Beijing."

Thinking of Jian Jinzhong, Zhu Xuan felt a little emotional.

I don’t know whether Jian Jinzhong’s words came from the heart.

It is even less clear what his knowledge is.

However, Zhu Xuan did not deny that Jian Jinzhong's words at the time represented the voices of many poor scholars in the Ming Dynasty, especially those who were truly willing to serve the country and the people.

"May I ask your Highness how to solve this problem?"

Xia Yuanji bowed and asked.

"I plan to set up a special fund to support these scholars."

Zhu Xuan thought for a moment and said, "The first fund will come from my inner treasury. My first allocation is 100,000 taels, which will be handed over to your Ministry of Revenue for management."

They were both stunned when they heard it.

They seemed to understand what Zhu Xuan was going to do, but they did not interrupt and continued to listen.

"This money is a special fund used to support all students from poor families."

"But my support is not pure and unconditional support. Only those who meet the requirements can receive it. I focus on selecting suitable people for support based on their character and talent."

"The scholars who have both moral integrity and talent are the ones I support."

"A person with talent but no moral integrity will not receive a single penny from the fund even if he dies of poverty."

"To achieve this, we need the full cooperation of local officials. After all, it is easiest for local officials to investigate whether scholars have moral integrity." "What do you think?"

Zhu Xuan said, his eyes scanning over the two of them.

This move, it can be said, surprised them.

They all knew that His Highness liked military generals, but he would not favor them. This was best reflected in the fact that this special fund was for all the scholars in the Ming Dynasty.

"Your Highness, this is a great act!"

Zhang Xun excitedly said loudly: "There are countless scholars in the world who cannot take the imperial examination. Your Highness, by doing this, you are giving them a chance to truly enter the court."

It is conceivable that special funds will emerge.

Those who cannot afford to go to school will have more opportunities to continue taking the exam.

Scholars who are truly willing to serve the country and the people have more opportunities to enter the court. This is of great significance, especially for civil servants.

Zhang Xun absolutely supports it with both hands.

Xia Yuanji certainly supported it, but he quickly thought of a problem and said, "Your Highness, there are so many scholars in the world. If we continue to support them according to your measures, this special fund will become a financial pressure. What should we do?"

This is a very good question.

It is a good thing that the imperial court allocates funds to support scholars in taking exams, but we cannot allow those scholars to become a huge bottomless pit that drags down the Ming Dynasty’s finances.

There are indeed many scholars in the world.

"How about this!"

Zhu Xuan thought for a while and said, "In addition to the screening criteria of having both talent and moral integrity and good conduct, we have added another one for the scholars we support with funding. If a scholar fails the exam three times in a row, whether in the local exam or in the Beijing exam, his support will be cut off. This support is paid out on a quarterly basis. How much should be paid out each quarter without causing trouble to the Ming Dynasty's finances? This requires your Ministry of Revenue to discuss and decide. What do you think?"

Provide special support and add more conditions.

People who study will not become a bottomless pit, and those who cannot pass the exams mean that studying is not a path suitable for them. It is better for them to recognize their problems as soon as possible and find another way out.

People who are really capable of studying are given three chances. If they can pass, they will. If not, they will have to rely on their own efforts.

"If you, the Ministry of Revenue or the Ministry of Personnel, can think of better screening criteria, please propose them."

Zhu Xuan added: "We in the imperial court support ordinary scholars to ascend to the throne, but we will not support them blindly. We must have a sense of propriety."

Xia Yuanji thought about it and said loudly: "Your Highness's new conditions are good. I will go back and discuss a complete policy with the officials of the Ministry of Revenue for Your Highness, and then report it to Your Highness for review."

"it is good!"

Zhu Xuan nodded.

Zhang Xun also responded: "The records of the Ministry of Personnel contain many files of scholars from various places. I will go back and discuss with the officials of the Ministry of Personnel to set the selection criteria for Your Highness as soon as possible."

The people who benefit most from this move are scholars.

They are the people in charge of the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue. They all started out as scholars and they take this matter more seriously than anyone else.

We must assist Zhu Xuan to implement this measure to the fullest extent and provide the most complete plan that will not bring pressure to the Ming Dynasty and will prevent ordinary scholars from losing the opportunity to enter the upper class for a few pieces of silver.

"I leave this matter to you."

Zhu Xuan nodded solemnly and said, "I will pay for the first special fund, and I will also pay for the second one. I will allocate 500,000 taels. Once the first one is used up, the second one will be available immediately." (End of this chapter)