King Luhuang of the Ming Dynasty: My father, Ming Taizu

"New assessment items?"

Lord Wang was even more confused. "I wonder what Your Highness means..."

"Scholars, you can't just read books without working hard and not knowing how to distinguish the five grains! You have to be able to govern the country and maintain peace, and be able to..."

Zhu Tan paused here deliberately, and Lord Wang immediately continued:
"You can farm the fields!"

"Bullshit!" Zhu Tan slammed the table, frightening Lord Wang. "Am I the kind of person who advocates that men farm and women weave?"

Lord Wang was sweating profusely and asked cautiously:
"Then...then what Your Highness means is..."

"This scholar must develop in all aspects, morally, intellectually, physically, aesthetically, and laboriously!"

Zhu Tan stood up, hands behind his back, eyes flashing with sharpness, "What I want is someone who can be both civil and military, who can govern the country on horseback, and who can also... "

"Get off your horse and write a poem!" Lord Wang learned his lesson this time and quickly responded.

Zhu Tan glanced at him and snorted, "Get off your horse and fight! Writing poetry is useless!"

Lord Wang shrank his neck in fear and dared not speak any more.

"Starting tomorrow," Zhu Tan's voice became more dignified, "Shandong Provincial Administration Office will be responsible for organizing the new imperial examination! The examination content includes, but is not limited to..."

He paused, took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and unfolded it. Lord Wang stretched his neck to read it and saw the following words written on it:

1. Policy essay: This will still be tested, but it must include insights into current political affairs and prospects for future national policies!
2. Poetry: This also needs to be tested. After all, it is something left by our ancestors. However, the requirement of parallelism must be included. We can’t just write a few sour poems and get away with it like before!
3. Arithmetic: This also needs to be tested. After all, you will be an official in the future, so how can you survive if you don’t know how to do accounting?
4. Martial Arts Test: Here comes the key point! Starting tomorrow, all candidates taking the imperial examination will have to take a martial arts test! They must be proficient in archery, horse riding, boxing and kicking!
5. Talent: For this one, you can be a little more relaxed. It can be music, chess, calligraphy, painting, singing, and dancing. As long as you are good at one of them, that's fine!
……

The more Lord Wang read on, the more shocked he became. This was not an imperial examination at all; it was even stricter than the selection in the military camp!

"Your Highness, this...this..."

Lord Wang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said hesitantly, "Isn't this request a bit too high?"

“Is it high?” Zhu Tan sneered, “I don’t think it’s high at all! Back then, I…”

He suddenly stopped, as if he remembered something, and a trace of loneliness flashed in his eyes.

In his previous life, the three years of college entrance examinations and five years of simulation tests tortured him a lot.

"Your Highness?" Lord Wang called cautiously.

Zhu Tan came back to his senses and waved his hand, "It's settled now, go down and prepare!"

"Yes, I obey your command!" Lord Wang bowed and retreated as if he had been pardoned.

After leaving the main hall, Lord Wang found that his back was soaked with cold sweat.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Lu is becoming more and more unpredictable!

……

Shandong has been the hometown of Confucius and Mencius and a country of etiquette since ancient times. It has countless scholars, and each of them claims to be a disciple of the sages.

The order to reform the imperial examination system issued by Prince of Lu Zhu Tan was like a stone that caused a thousand ripples, and all the scholars in Shandong were in an uproar.

"How ridiculous! This is sheer nonsense! We have studied hard for more than ten years, is it just to wield swords and guns like that reckless man?!"

In a teahouse in Jinan Prefecture, several scholars gathered together and discussed indignation.

"That's right! Is His Royal Highness Prince Lu crazy? He changed the imperial examination system so easily. Where does he put scholars like us?!"

"I think that His Royal Highness Prince Lu is just a warrior. How can he understand the principles of governing a country and maintaining peace? He only knows how to wield swords and sticks!"

For a time, similar discussions were heard all over Shandong.

These scholars have been influenced by Confucian classics since childhood, and their minds are full of the idea of ​​"study hard and then become an official".

Asking them to practice martial arts now is, in their view, an insult to their personality.

Soon, some people began to take action. Some respected scholars jointly wrote a memorial and sent it to Nanjing, asking the emperor to revoke his order.

The memorial was written in earnest words, expounding on the pros and cons, and criticizing Zhu Tan's reform of the imperial examination system harshly, calling it "tyranny" and "retrograde action."

What's more, some radical scholars even raised the banners of "oppose tyranny" and "give us back the imperial examination system", and gathered in front of government offices in various places to protest and demand that Zhu Tan revoke his decision.

For a time, the entire Shandong province was in turmoil and undercurrents were surging.

In a secluded house in Jinan Prefecture, several elegantly dressed gentry were sitting together, discussing countermeasures with serious expressions.

"Everyone, the King of Lu's actions clearly show that he treats us like nothing! We have been nobles for generations, how can we allow him to bully us like this?!"

A fat gentleman with a mustache slammed the table and said angrily.

"Brother Wang is right! The Prince of Lu has relied on his status as a vassal king to do whatever he wants in Shandong. Now he has gone even further and even wants to change the imperial examination system. If this continues, how can we stand firm?!"

Another gentleman with a pointed chin and monkey face also echoed.

"In my opinion, we should jointly submit a petition to the imperial court to denounce him! I just don't believe that there is no law in this world!"

"Write a letter? What's the point of writing a letter?"

A thin gentleman with a goatee sneered, "Have you forgotten how many scholars the King of Lu killed before? The court has completely abandoned us in Shandong!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone fell silent.

They all knew that Shandong was now Zhu Tan's world.

These gentry were still local gentry in name only.

But in fact, he no longer had any say in front of Zhu Tan.

"Then according to Brother Zhao, what should we do?"

The gentleman with the mustache asked, with a hint of panic in his tone.

"For now, we can only wait and see what happens."

……

Zhu Tan naturally knew that the scholars in Shandong were very resistant to his reform of the imperial examination system, but he did not care.

He knew clearly that the reason these people opposed it was simply because their interests were affected.

"A bunch of corrupt scholars with short-sightedness!"

Zhu Tan threw the information in his hand on the table and sneered:
"I want to see what tricks you can come up with!"

He decided to give these scholars a severe blow to let them know who is the master of Shandong.

"Somebody come!"

Zhu Tan shouted in a deep voice.

"What are your orders, Your Highness?"

A guard came in immediately and asked with a bow.

"Send the order to gather all the scholars above the level of Xiu in all the prefectures and counties in Shandong. In three days, come to Jinan Prefecture to see the king!"

A cold light flashed in Zhu Tan's eyes, "I want to have a good debate with them!"

The guards took the order and left.

Zhu Tan's order was like a huge rock that smashed into the originally calm lake in Shandong, causing huge waves. The news spread quickly to every corner of Shandong along with the post horses on the official road.

For a time, from the prosperous Jinan Prefecture to the remote Yizhou Prefecture, from the wealthy Qingzhou Prefecture to the tough folk Dengzhou Prefecture, all the scholars were excited.

Discussions about this matter could be heard everywhere in teahouses, taverns, academies and schools.

"What is the Prince of Lu planning to do? He is actually summoning all the scholars in Shandong to go to Jinan Prefecture. What does he want to do?!"

"What else can he do? He must be trying to intimidate us and make us scholars obey him!"

"This is too much! When have we scholars ever been treated like this?!"

"That's right! Prince Lu is trying to force us to rebel!"

Most of the scholars dared to be angry but not to speak out when faced with Zhu Tan's orders.

After all, Zhu Tan has the final say in Shandong today. Anyone who dares to oppose Zhu Tan will be seeking his own death.

……

Just like that, amidst chaos and quarrels, the three-day period passed in a flash.

On this day, just after dawn, the city gate of Jinan Prefecture slowly opened.

Thousands of scholars from all over Shandong who had been waiting outside the city gates poured into Jinan City like a tide.

These scholars came from all corners of Shandong. They had different family backgrounds and different academic insights.

But at this moment, they all have a common identity - scholars summoned by Prince Lu Zhu Tan.

They gathered outside Prince Lu's palace, forming a black mass, blocking the wide street.

"His Royal Highness Prince Lu has arrived—"

With a loud "hello", the gate of Prince Lu's Mansion slowly opened, and Zhu Tan, surrounded by a group of guards, slowly walked up the stone steps in front of Prince Lu's Mansion.

He was wearing a black python robe today, with a gold jade belt around his waist and a purple gold crown inlaid with oriental pearls on his head. He looked majestic and noble.

His gaze, like that of an eagle, was sharp and cold. He slowly swept across the dark crowd below the stage, and a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.

The moment these scholars saw Zhu Tan appear, the noisy voices suddenly stopped as if an invisible big hand had strangled their throats.

"Everyone, I believe you all know the purpose of my summoning you today."

Zhu Tan's voice was deep and powerful, echoing over the square.

"Since ancient times, the Chinese people have been able to maintain peace through literature and to stabilize the country through military force. However, the Mongols are eyeing us covetously. As citizens of the Ming Dynasty, how can we only know how to recite poems and write essays without thinking about defending our country?"

There was a sudden commotion in the audience, many scholars looked indignant, and some even cursed in a low voice.

"Bullshit! We have studied hard for more than ten years in order to pass the imperial examinations, bring honor to our family, and serve the court! Practicing martial arts and fighting are the things for crude warriors!"

A short and fat scholar blushed and shouted at the top of his voice.

His words resonated with many people, who echoed him:

"That's right! Your Highness Prince Lu's actions are clearly absurd!"

Zhu Tan's expression remained unchanged, but a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He slammed the table beside him, making a loud noise that made everyone's eardrums buzz.

"Ridiculous? You bunch of corrupt scholars, do you know what the situation in Shandong is like now? The Mongol cavalry may march south at any time. When that happens, can the poetry and books in your hands stop the sharp blades of the scimitars?"

Zhu Tan's voice exploded like thunder, suppressing all opposing voices.

"Today, I will tell you that I have revised the imperial examination system! From now on, the imperial examinations in Shandong will not only test literary talent, but also martial arts! Only those who are both civil and military are qualified to serve as officials and protect the country and the people!"

Zhu Tan's words were like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, instantly causing a thousand waves.

The scholars in the audience were in a complete uproar. All kinds of shouting, questioning, and wailing came one after another, as if they were going to overturn the entire Jinan Prefecture.

“You are tyrannizing!”

"I will never obey you even if I die!"

"Give me back the imperial examination! Give me back justice!"

Facing the indignant scholars, Zhu Tan seemed to have expected it.

He stood with his hands behind his back, letting the spit splash onto his face, but his eyes became more fierce, like a sword drawn from its sheath, carrying a threatening cold light.

"Good! Very good!" Zhu Tan suddenly laughed out loud, his laughter full of disdain and ridicule, "It seems that you won't cry until you see the coffin! Come on, take down all those who refuse to obey!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the guards who had been lying in ambush in the crowd rushed up like wolves and tigers.

Those scholars who shouted the loudest were pinned to the ground one by one.

"Your Highness Prince Lu, what are you going to do? Are you going to rebel?"

"How dare you attack a scholar in broad daylight? Aren't you afraid of being punished by God?"

The scholars who were pinned to the ground were still shouting and cursing at the top of their lungs, but their struggles seemed pale and powerless in the face of Zhu Tan's iron-blooded methods.

Zhu Tan glanced coldly at the subdued scholars, with a cruel arc on the corner of his mouth.

"I will say it again, those who obey me will prosper, those who disobey me will perish! I will give you one last chance, do you want to obey my orders or do you want to be beheaded!"

Zhu Tan's sharp eyes swept across the entire room like an eagle. His powerful aura seemed to condense into substance, suffocating the clamoring scholars.

The originally noisy crowd gradually quieted down, leaving only heavy breathing and uneasy whispers.

"What, mute?"

Zhu Tan sneered, with a hint of sarcasm, "Where did your courage go just now? Huh?"

A thin scholar in the crowd asked timidly:

"Your Highness, may I ask what exactly this martial arts test is about? We are so weak that we cannot even tie a chicken. How can we compare with those warriors?"

Zhu Tan glanced at him with a hint of contempt in his eyes:
"Why, do you think that I want you to go into battle and kill the enemy?"

"I want you to strengthen your bodies and understand the principles of defending your country! This martial arts test will test your archery, boxing and kicking skills, and more importantly, your courage and spirit!"

He paused, looked at the crowd, and said in a loud voice:

"Three months later, outside the Prince Lu's mansion, I will see with my own eyes how capable you scholars are!"

The crowd became agitated again, this time no longer shouting in anger, but whispering mixed with anxiety, confusion and a hint of expectation.

"This... What should I do? I have never even killed a chicken since I was a child. How can I take the exam for archery?"

"That's right. What can we learn in three months? Isn't this embarrassing for us?"

"I don't think so. Your Highness Prince Lu's move may not be a bad thing."

"Think of Confucius, who once said, 'A gentleman's six arts are ritual, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy and mathematics.' Only by mastering both civil and military arts can one achieve the right path!"

"That's right! A real man born in this world, how can he only know how to write poems and essays, without thinking about defending his country? I will sign up now and practice martial arts hard, and I will definitely impress those guys who look down on scholars!"

In the crowd, two completely different viewpoints collided fiercely and intertwined, forming a strange atmosphere. (End of this chapter)