Prodigal Son of the Ming Dynasty

  Chapter 1361 Happy as you like

  Emperor Hongzhi saw that Zhu Houzhao was depressed, but smiled again: "I see that you have worked hard in Shuntian Mansion, and you are thinner than before."

   "Why..." Emperor Hongzhi stared at Zhu Houzhao: "Recently, what kind of mystery is Shuntian Mansion up to?"

Zhu Houzhao said: "Father, everything is fine here in Shuntian Mansion, but...they are waiting for the Ministry of Officials to formulate the detailed rules for selecting officials as officials. There is no charter from the Ministry of Officials, and my ministers have no confidence. gone."

  Emperor Hongzhi nodded.

  After Ouyang Zhi took charge of the Ministry of Officials, he had already begun to draft detailed rules for selecting officials as officials.

  In the area of ​​the New Deal, the effect of selecting officials as officials is very strong.

  You must know that the word official, the word official in front of it, is rare in number, and because of the scarcity, it is almost difficult for them to perceive the inferiority.

   Throughout the Ming Dynasty, those who really came into contact with specific affairs were often officials.

  These small officials are almost a bridge between the government and the people, and they are the media that truly convey the emperor's will and the government's decrees to the lowest level.

   But problems arise.

  The small official actually has no quota, no establishment, and nothing.

  Not only are they discriminated against, but they may be expelled at any time, and even... there is no standard at all.

   Just such a group of people, some are just domestic slaves brought in by the superiors, some are local rogues, and some are corvees of the imperial court recruited from the people.

  The ingredients are complicated, there are no regulations, and even... no fixed amount of money and food. With these people, can the court and the government solve the problem?

  Therefore... After Ouyang Zhi took office in the Ministry of Officials, he planned to use his experience in Baoding to regulate all officials.

   After Emperor Taizu Gao became emperor, the son of a commoner, everything was based on the principle of saving money. Where did the army come from? The imperial court can save as much as they can, don't need to raise it, give them a piece of land, let them grow the land by themselves, and eat themselves.

  The salary of being an official...Where does it come from...Save it, save it if you can, don't look at someone's title on the gold list, but in fact, the salary is outrageously low, if you don't have money, you won't think of a way?

  As for the small officials, they generally follow this policy.

  But now... today is different.

  The national treasury already has money, at least in the capital, Baoding, and Jiangnan area, the taxation is abundant.

  Under such circumstances, it is imperative to complete the establishment of officials, solve their promotion channels, and allow them to work with peace of mind.

  Because the affairs that the government has to manage have become more and more complicated and detailed. Without a group of capable officials, it is impossible to solve the various contradictions that will follow.

   On the side of the Ministry of Officials, the two places of South Zhili and North Zhili are the direction of the temporary pilot.

   Now, it's just waiting for Ouyang Zhi to draw up a complete charter, and then implement it.

  Emperor Hongzhi nodded and said, "Here in Shuntian Mansion...what does the crown prince think?"

Zhu Houzhao condensed his mind and said: "I have already prepared. As soon as the charter comes out and the emperor promulgates the decree, I will immediately start the selection of officials. What Jifan means is that the selection of officials must pass the exam. The imperial examination is different, the content of the examination will be changed, and it should be closer to the actual knowledge. On the other hand, because there are more quotas for the examination, the examination will be much easier than the imperial examination. The Tianfu must provide them with certain guarantees, and at the same time... they must also formulate a standard for political performance. Of course, the Ministry of Officials has not yet come up with a charter, and the Shuntian Mansion does not dare to act rashly."

  Emperor Hongzhi listened to Zhu Houzhao's words silently, and then sighed: "What about the previous officials?"

   "Take the exam as usual." Zhu Houzhao said: "Of course, the difficulty can be lowered. If they can pass the exam, they will stay in the job. If they can't pass such a simple exam, they have to find another job."

Emperor Hongzhi showed a bit of worry on his face, and said: "But the most difficult thing now is not these old officials, but the previous imperial examinations. What should I do? So many scholars have read the Four Books and Five Classics, and some people study hard. After half a lifetime, now suddenly in Beizhili and Nanzhili the selection of officials is also promoted, I am afraid that these people...will not obey."

Emperor Hongzhi paused, his brows furrowed deeper, and he continued: "The government treats scholars preferentially not just because they read the Four Books and Five Classics well. The fundamental reason is that behind these scholars are country gentry. Although the imperial examinations are still going on at the same time, people with discerning eyes can also see the general trend. For their own future, why are they willing to read useless books all their lives?"

  When Fang Jifan heard this, he also understood Emperor Hongzhi's concerns.

Around the imperial examination, its essence is the idea that the gentry and the emperor rule the world together. Now the selection of officials as officials is rampant. Even if it has not spread to the provinces, the imperial examination is still going on. Scholars and gentry know that the world is probably not the same as before. up.

  In their eyes, this is nothing more than a change of dynasty.

  Anyone whose interests have been damaged, will not let it go.

  The essence of this New Deal is to benefit a group of emerging people, but at the same time, it also makes the old group of people who have not kept up with the times lose the benefits they have always enjoyed.

  Are they willing to…let it go?

Fang Jifan thought for a while and said: "Your Majesty, Ouyang Zhi will definitely consider this situation. They will always give them some concessions. My son is thinking, they always say that they should take the world as their responsibility and be loyal to the court. You must be able to understand His Majesty's difficulties. Your Majesty does not need to worry, they will not make trouble."

   "Huh?" Emperor Hongzhi looked at Fang Jifan: "How can you see that?"

  Fang Jifan coughed, glanced at Zhu Houzhao, and said embarrassedly: "If they dare to make trouble, His Royal Highness will kill them."

  Zhu Houzhao straightened his waist, and his face was immediately bright.

  Shuntian Mansion now wants money, food, people, and people. Fang Jifan's words are not groundless.

  Zhu Houzhao was looking forward to it day and night, but someone rebelled.

   Come out one by one and kill the other, which is not so cool.

  Emperor Hongzhi shook his head and said, "I will discuss this matter with the cabinet, you guys..."

  He didn't continue talking, and shook his head again, as if he felt that young people don't know what to worry about.

  Zhu Houzhao and Fang Jifan bid farewell to the palace, and Fang Jifan was still thinking about Emperor Hongzhi's worries along the way.

  Selecting officials as officials is Ouyang Zhi's biggest move in the Ministry of Officials. This is tantamount to taking the future of countless scholars into the knife, and the pressure can be imagined.

  As his mentor, Fang Jifan wanted to share some of his pressure.

  Fang Jifan returned to his mansion thoughtfully, sat down, called someone over, and whispered something.

  The man nodded and went.

   After Fang Jifan had a few cups of tea, the man brought seven or eight nearby gentry.

  The faces of these gentry were miserable, they didn't know what happened, they looked at Fang Jifan innocently like frightened birds.

   But I saw Fang Jifan crossing his legs Shiran, holding the teacup, and looking at these gentry with a smile.

   "Student... student..." was led by a trembling old gentry, with white beard and hair, who didn't dare to lift his head, and forced a smile: "Student Wang Hanzheng, I don't know Qi Guogong..."

   "There is something I want to investigate." Fang Jifan cleared his throat and said, "Have you heard of the selection of officials as officials?"

  Wang Hanzheng has never heard of it, so he nodded immediately: "Listen... I have heard of it."

   "What do you think about this?" Fang Jifan said.

   "This... this... Qi Guogong means..."

   "Don't be nervous." Fang Jifan pressed his hands and said with a pleasant face: "The main reason is to investigate, nothing else, to test whether the public opinion is applicable."

   "This... this..."

   "It's okay, old man, you can speak freely." Fang Jifan's voice was very gentle

  Seven or eight gentry looked at me, I looked at you, and looked at each other. Wang Hanzheng immediately said: "Duke Qi, this is a great thing. It can be said to benefit the country and the people. Of course, the little old man strongly agrees."

   "Yes, yes, we strongly agree." Everyone nodded.

  Fang Jifan frowned, and said, "Do you have any children in your family who study?"

"Yes, there are." Wang Hanzheng glanced at Fang Jifan cautiously: "But who is Ouyang Butang? He is a capable official of our Ming Dynasty. If we sacrifice a little for the court and Ming Dynasty, what is it? As long as When Qi Guogong gave an order, not to mention the selection of officials as officials, but also to tell the little old people to go up the mountain of knives and down to the pan of oil, and we will be happy."

  Fang Jifan heaved a sigh of relief and said, "Well, I thought everyone was against it."

  Wang Hanzheng and others waved their hands: "No matter, no matter, whoever opposes it will be against us."

Fang Jifan was overjoyed, bent his lips and said with a smile: "It's so good, it's very good, this is what you said, come on, write down what they said, and post it tomorrow. It's Mr. Wang Han and others who will come to the door to cry and cry. Those who rob land must choose officials as officials."

  Wang Hanzheng: "..."

  At this time, they noticed that in the corner, someone had already picked up a pen and was recording their words.

   Recording is complete.

  The transcripts were sent to them, and they were signed.

  Wang Hanzheng: "..." Gritting his teeth, he pressed his finger on it without hesitation.

  When they came out of Qi Guogong's mansion, everyone felt as if they had walked around the Palace of the King of Hell.

  Wang Hanzheng and the gentry were all terrified and seemed to be afraid.

"Fortunately, the old man is smart, otherwise, I would never have come out of the Duke of Qi's mansion. That dog surnamed Fang... No, Duke Qi has a bad temper and is sick. Dealing with such a person is unreasonable. You argue In a few words, he is more vicious than you, if you slap the table with him, he will dare to get sick and beat you to death, and at the same time torment your family, hey... What a crime, what kind of crime is this..." Wang Han was stroking his gray beard Well, the years have brought him wisdom, and people who can live to his age basically have nothing left in their lives.

  (end of this chapter)