Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

The city of Beijing is being shrouded in dark clouds.

With the end of the autumn period, although there are many new imperial examination candidates who are proud of the spring breeze in the entire capital, there are also more "Jiang Feng Yuhuo versus Chou Mian" who failed.

"The Provincial Examination has always focused on the Four Books, but this time it is unfair!"

"What kind of register is Diao Min? This matter should be explained in the volume!"

"If I had known about the strategic theory earlier, I wouldn't have studied classics and history day and night!"

…

After a night in a brothel, they couldn't untie their worries after being drunk. Many students who failed the exam still couldn't let go, and they seemed aggrieved that the questions in Enke's provincial examination focused on policy theory.

In fact, this kind of situation is not only present in this year, even if the exam is conducted in a regular manner, there will be public opinion disturbances like Tang Bohu's.

However, this is simply unavoidable. Thousands of people participate in each Shuntian Provincial Examination. In the end, there are only 135 new candidates admitted to the imperial examination. It is destined to be impossible to satisfy the wishes of most people.

In Beijing at the end of August, the weather has gradually turned cooler.

It was indeed an unlucky thing. Autumn had just ended here, and three to four thousand candidates were in a period of frustration. As a result, it was suddenly revealed in the capital that Liu Daxia's entire family had been burned to death by Wang Zhi and that Zhang Zhen had died in court as a remonstrance.

The former is a notorious eunuch committing murder, and the latter is a wise minister of the Ming Dynasty who used his death remonstrance to prevent the emperor from making mistakes. One deserves to be criticized, while the other deserves praise.

These two incidents quickly spread in public places such as restaurants, teahouses and brothels in the capital, and storytellers began to tell vividly that "Wang Zhi locked the door and set fire to Liu Daxia's entire family" and "Zhang Zhen killed himself by ramming a stone lion to stop the erosion of the southwest."

Under the gloomy clouds, the city of Beijing seemed to be undercurrent.

"If Wang Zhi behaves like this, everyone will punish him!"

"The lives of dozens of members of Liu Daxia's family must be paid for with blood!"

"Since the Ming Dynasty, there has never been a eunuch who set fire to the whole family of virtuous ministers. Wang Zhi should be punished!"

…

When Wang Zhi locked the door and set fire to Liu Daxia's entire family, everyone pointed their finger at Wang Zhi. Public opinion in the capital unanimously demanded that the court punish Wang Zhi and set the law straight.

"The location of the southwest archives provided by Liu Daxia is false!"

"Even if Mr. Liu saw his family being burned to death, he still puts the people of the southwest first!"

"What kind of justice is there for a good official who cares so much about the people of the southwest to have his whole family burned to death?"

…

The matter about Liu Daxia's confession was beautified. Since the Annan files were not found in the location of the Jianzhou files, Liu Daxia suddenly became a strong-willed official.

Although Liu Daxia's behavior of disregarding the lives of his family is actually a kind of disrespect, literati have always been very double-standard and gave Liu Daxia's behavior the title of righteousness.

As for Zhang Zhen's death in front of a stone lion in order to stop the war, his voice was much lower. After all, the main battle this time was the cabinet, the six ministries and the emperor, and it was not a group of ministers who could completely control the public opinion in the capital.

Of course, the matter of Zhu Youtang "forcing" Zhang Zhen, the first sage of the Ming Dynasty, to die is destined to be difficult to calm down. Words such as tyrant, cruelty, and injustice are angrily echoed in the darkness.

These two things spread and fermented so quickly in the capital, so naturally there were people behind them fanning the flames, and it must not have been one or a few people who fanned the flames, but a group of people.

Fu Han was an out-and-out Hanlin official. He was transferred from the Hanlin Academy to the Imperial Academy last year.

Although Zhu Youtang has always intended to suppress the Ci officials, the Imperial College has always had a close relationship with the Hanlin Academy. For example, the Imperial Academy has always defaulted to the Hanlin officials for offering wine.

A teacher is someone who teaches, teaches, and resolves doubts.

It's just that in the actual teacher-student relationship, many disciples are actually the teacher's "cannon fodder", especially in the battle between the two parties, they always rush to the forefront.

When Fu Han learned that the ten disciples he taught who had just passed the imperial examination had come to meet him, he couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth slightly, but he knew that these ten disciples could help him push the storm forward.

Zhu Youtang doesn't act like a wise king, but he wants to be a tyrant. Prepare to go to hell!

Xiyuan, Yangxin Hall.

Wisps of green smoke rose from the copper furnace, and a faint scent of sandalwood floated in the air.

Zhu Youtang, who was wearing ordinary clothes, was sitting in front of the imperial court handling the memorials from the two capitals and thirteen provinces. He seemed not to be affected by the public opinion storm in the capital and was engaged in his daily work.

"All states and counties along the river must strengthen river embankment inspections and strictly prevent people from digging embankments to divert water..."

Zhu Youtang commented on the memorial in his hands. Although the war in Li Dynasty was very important, there were also many domestic affairs that he needed to deal with.

For example, the embankment of the Yellow River needs to be strengthened, the granary in Liaodong must continue to be consolidated, the Qingzhang in Huguang cannot be relaxed, and Datong needs to continue to penetrate Mongolia.

Fortunately, Zhu Youtang has the logical thinking to deal with affairs in the 21st century. Otherwise, ordinary emperors may be overwhelmed and eventually be forced to transfer power to the cabinet or the Supervisor of Ceremonies.

As for the whereabouts of the Annan files that are of greatest concern, although they have not yet been successfully found, there has been an unexpected gain.

Someone sent the information back to the capital first, causing the capital to transfer Annan's files. There is indeed a mysterious force hidden in the undercurrent of the capital.

"Is this really a student taught by us?"

Hanlin Minister Zhang Sheng and Hanlin Minister Xie Qian had been standing here for a while. Seeing Zhu Youtang's calm and leisurely handling of the memorial, they could not help but doubt themselves again as the man in front of them was becoming more and more emperor-like.

After Zhu Youtang finished handling the memorials in his hands, he asked the waiting Hanlin Minister Zhang Sheng and Hanlin Minister Xie Qian: "How are the affairs of Baijiayuan going?"

"Reporting to your majesty, the personnel have been in place one after another, and the branches of the Baijia Academy, the two capitals and the thirteen provinces have been set up!" Hanlin Minister Zhang Sheng immediately handed over his hands seriously, with a flash of excitement on his face.

Zhu Youtang saw the enthusiasm from these two younger Hanlins, so he nodded gently and said: "The most important thing in a hundred schools is the word "ming". I hope you can abandon all prejudices and spread various theories to the world impartially! "

"Yes!" Zhang Sheng and Xie Qian responded immediately.

The newly established Baijiayuan was placed under the cabinet. Zhang Sheng became the president of Baijiayuan, and Xie Qian became the vice president of Baijiayuan and the editor-in-chief of "Ming" magazine.

"Your Majesty, this is the first issue of "Ming", please take a look!" Xie Qian looked even more alert, and with just a look from Zhu Youtang, he presented the already prepared publication.

Liu Jin took the publication from Xie Qian and found that the cover turned out to be a picture of a bamboo forest, and then respectfully delivered it to Zhu Youtang.

Zhu Youtang lived in an era of information explosion in his previous life, so he naturally knew the value of the media throat. A certain richest man in the world did not hesitate to acquire it at a high premium because he saw the value in guiding public opinion.

The reason why the civil servant group is so powerful is largely because they master "writing technology" and have a large number of disciples as communication carriers.

Like the trend of public opinion in the capital this time, it was clearly Liu Daxia who hid the Annan files belonging to the imperial court privately and influenced the Ming Dynasty to send troops. As a result, he was portrayed as a loyal man who loved his country and his people.

Zhu Youtang is now on the opposite side of Qingliu, and Zhang Zhen's uncontrollable remonstrance will definitely affect his reputation, so he naturally wants to control the media in his own hands.

Although he did not intend to be a wise king who ruled from the top as advocated by Confucianism, he also did not want to be a mediocre king who was notorious among the people.

This publication called "Ming" records a wide range of content. In addition to traditional poems and songs, there are also some strategies that candidates like, and there is also an interesting fable.

Although serious content is conducive to the authority of the publication, if it is incorporated with corresponding fun, it will help to promote it quickly across the country.

Zhu Youtang found that Xie Qian was indeed a talent, and the contents were all compiled according to his own ideas. He couldn't help but nodded gently and said: "Very good!"

"Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty!" Xie Qian was overjoyed and immediately bowed his hands in salute.

Zhu Youtang continued to flip through the publications, and then spoke slowly: "Wan Ge is getting very old now, and Mr. Liu Ge has not been in good health recently. Since you are a subordinate department of the cabinet, you should go to the cabinet more in the future! This way! Well, every Wednesday, Saturday, and 9th, you will go to the cabinet and be responsible for assisting the two cabinet ministers in handling the voting matters, so that you two can familiarize yourself with the voting matters in advance!"

Goo!

When Zhang Sheng and Xie Qian heard this, they couldn't help but swallow.

If they follow the normal promotion process, I don't know how many years it will take before they have a chance to enter the cabinet. But what now? After they entered the newly created Baijiayuan, they simply reached the sky in one step.

Although they are not considered to be joining the cabinet, since they have been exposed to voting matters, it can be said that they are standing on the threshold of the cabinet, at least half a position ahead of Liu Jian, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites.

When Nanyang Zong Dingbo was young, he encountered ghosts while walking at night.

Asked: "Who?"

The ghost said: "It's a ghost."

The ghost said: "Who are you coming back to?"

Ding Bo deceived him and said, "I am also a ghost."

The ghost asked: "Where do you want to go?"

…

Zhu Youtang flipped through "Zong Dingbo Catching Ghosts" which was confirmed at the back, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but raise slightly.

Zi Buyu said that the monsters were messing with the gods, and now they had to mess with him, and this fable was quite interesting, so he said: "After you two arrive at the cabinet, don't forget the affairs of Baijiayuan. Especially now Baijiayuan The institute and the "Ming" magazine are founded, and you two must lay a solid foundation. This will also be a major achievement for you in the future, and I really have a reason to correct you!"

Political performance will be the assessment criterion that he values ​​most, rather than the qualifications and so-called character of these people.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to die for your Majesty!" Zhang Sheng and Xie Qian expressed their feelings with great emotion when they saw that Zhu Youtang had arranged a way for them.

After Zhu Youtang read the "Ming" magazine, he also made a decision and said: "Thank you, Master, if you add the Ming Dynasty's expedition to Annan at the end, this first issue of the "Ming" magazine can be distributed throughout the country. ! The selling price is as mentioned at the beginning, and it will be sold at two denarii."

For ordinary families, two coins can already cover their living expenses for half a year, but "Ming" magazine deals with a group of scholars, so they still have this spending power.

Of course, what he is pursuing now is influence, not making crazy money, so he does not need to set the price too high to affect sales.

"Yes!" Xie Qian was secretly happy and immediately said respectfully.

While Zhu Youtang was doing things in an orderly manner, the group of CI ministers who had been left out by him began to act like monsters again.

After receiving the thanks from the ten proud disciples of the Imperial Academy, Fu Han, the Imperial Consecrated Winemaker, began to encourage him as a teacher: "Liu Daxia refused to disclose the location of the Southwest archives to prevent corruption in the Southwest. He was the most righteous man since the Ming Dynasty. Now that you have finished your provincial examinations, and it is time for you to have some free time, publicize Liu Daxia’s deeds more in the city!”

Although many scholars in the capital are advocating, the actual effect is not as good as these ten new imperial examination candidates, especially when they are in the period of receiving the most attention.

But as soon as he finished speaking, the expressions of the ten new imperial examination candidates suddenly became strange, and no one responded.

Huh?

Fu Han was about to put the tea into his mouth when he realized that something was wrong with the expressions of these disciples.

"Teacher, this matter may not be successful!" The boldest one chose to refuse.

Snapped!

Fu Han was directly rejected and felt a burning pain on his face.

"Disciple, in one of the questions in the rural examination just now, there was a question: Liu Chun hid the map to stop the Han from committing transgression. Disciples, if you think about it carefully now, the question is quite similar to Liu Daxia's incident!" An example later revealed the truth.

Liu Daxia and Liu Chun, how could they not be similar?

A policy question in the just-concluded rural examination almost copied Liu Daxia's situation, except that the Annan file was changed into a map, and finally it became "Liu Chun hid the map to stop the Han from committing transgressions!".

The candidates who participated in this Shuntian Township Examination still retained their blood and criticized the official who had hidden all the plans to prevent the Han Dynasty from regaining the Yue Kingdom. This was also one of the conditions for the ten candidates to pass the exam.

"If I were to publicize Liu Daxia's deeds today, I'm afraid my words would be inconsistent with my actions!"

"Teacher, I have no free time recently! The teacher asked us to report to the Ministry of War together tomorrow and help find Annan's files in the Ministry of War's database!"

this……

Fu Han originally wanted to encourage his students to make trouble, but he didn't want to be disappointed.

I'm sorry that Zhu Youtang had already thought about the possibility of this dispute, so he had added this question to the provincial examination questions for the candidates to answer.

It's just that these candidates are full of enthusiasm now, so they will fall into the trap obediently, or they can only fall into the trap obediently.

"Teacher, if nothing happens, I'll leave first!" The ten disciples present also felt embarrassed and chose to leave.

Fu Han waved his hand helplessly, but he knew that it would be difficult for the public opinion offensive in the capital to rise.

September 1st was a beautiful and sunny day.

At Zhennanguan, Wang Zhi, wearing a bullfight uniform, stood on the city tower and read out a proclamation: "Since ancient times, emperors have ruled the world, and they have always lived in China to control the barbarians, and the barbarians have lived outside to serve China. However, the experiences of Li thieves have repeatedly hurt our Chinese people. , poisoning tens of thousands of lives, there was a village named Guzhai, and the Li thieves prince led his troops to plunder them all, leaving not a blade of grass... There were also Li generals who pretended to be pirates and killed our soldiers and civilians, burned my pearl boats, and took away my Southern Pearl King... Now, anyone who deprives King Annan of his title and offends my strong wisdom will be punished. Therefore, I would like to inform you."

"End of this volume"