The Prosperous Era of Longwan

After the establishment of the official of education in the Ming Dynasty, due to the imbalance between duties and powers, some officials tried to break the restrictions of the order and build academies outside the official school to get out of the institutional dilemma.

The academies built by the officials of education in the Ming Dynasty included three types: government offices, sacrificial ceremonies, and gathering students for lectures. The most influential one was the gathering-students-lecture-type academy. Among them, the provincial academies achieved the highest level of elite education, which to a certain extent filled the gap at the provincial level in the official school system.

After the rise of Wangxue in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, Wangmen's followers took advantage of the opportunity of serving as officials of education to spread new ideas by building academies, and introduced the lecture system into the official academies. Through the dual penetration of ideas and systems, the teacher-student order in the official school system was disintegrated, and the group was formed by the affiliation of lecture comrades.

At this time, the officials of education, who held the power to select scholars, faced accusations of private transfer when selecting members of the lecture group, which led to Zhang Juzheng's reform of education in the early Wanli period, and ordered the officials of education to "not create academies separately."

After that, the action of the educational officials to "teach scholars" by building academies was hit, and gradually changed to the function of "schooling scholars".

In the Ming Dynasty, after Mr. Wang Yangming proposed the heart-learning with "reaching conscience" as the core, he believed that even fools and women were equal, and his student, He Xinyin, who was also a scholar who opposed Zhang Juzheng, proposed in his book "Original Learning and Original Lecture" that learning knowledge requires lectures.

Lectures themselves require a place, and this place is the academy. Therefore, there are many academies in the Ming Dynasty, and the style of lectures is prosperous. Scholars learn knowledge in the academy, inherit the style of the academies of the two Song Dynasties, and boldly discuss politics. At the same time, with the academy as a node, they emphasize the friendship among the traditional "five relationships" and develop personal friendships.

The five relationships are the relationship between monarch and minister, father and son, brothers, husband and wife, and friends.

At that time, many local prestigious scholars joined the scope of lectures in the academy and formed a deep friendship.

Such a force cannot be ignored by the court, especially since some grassroots officials often participate in the activities of the academy. Some officials even bring the problems encountered in daily government work to the academy for discussion, and the scholars decide how to deal with them.

Later, the scholars in the opposition gathered in Donglin Academy and exerted great influence on the government, which was accumulated from the subtle influence of academies in various places on the government.

Zhang Juzheng may have sensed the bad signs from the recent gathering of scholars, so he wrote "Please Apply the Old Rules to Rectify the Educational Affairs to Revitalize Talents".

However, Wei Guangde only heard of the Donglin Party and knew that Donglin Academy was very powerful, but he did not fully know how they gathered strength and then steadily developed and thrived in the court, becoming the biggest cancer in the late Ming Dynasty.

Therefore, after seeing Zhang Juzheng's memorial, his first reaction was that Zhang Juzheng wanted to retaliate against the scholars.

"Brother, although the Emperor Taizu did ask scholars not to interfere in politics, there seems to be nothing wrong with establishing a separate academy and giving lectures, which can spread wisdom."

"Shan Dai, you have not experienced it personally, so you cannot understand the harm of gathering to give lectures like this."

Wei Guangde hesitated to start, but was interrupted by Zhang Juzheng, who began to explain the news he had heard from his disciples before.

When the "love was seized", not only did the government and the public react fiercely, but the scholars in the private sector also gathered and criticized Zhang Juzheng for his greed for power and immorality.

Zhang Juzheng believed that Wei Guangde had heard about these, so he was not afraid to open the wound.

He had lost face, but he could not be afraid to speak because of this. Even if he found the harm, he was unwilling to mention it because of his face.

So, Zhang Juzheng explained to Wei Guangde the disadvantages of the scholars participating in politics one by one. After all, Wei Guangde had not experienced it, so it was difficult for him to understand it.

After hearing Zhang Juzheng's explanation, Wei Guangde couldn't help but think a lot.

In later revolutions, the sparks of revolution were also spread through campuses, allowing a large number of students to join in and continue to fight.

It was not until a great mentor saw that the scholar's rebellion had failed for three years that he turned to guide the sparks to the vast rural areas on the Chinese land, and finally turned the sparks into a big fire.

And what ignited this fire were the countless campus sparks.

"If the local scholars are in a turmoil, local parents will also be coerced by them?"

Zhang Juzheng said excitedly, and directly pointed out the part that affected the government.

Originally, in Wei Guangde's view, local scholars should be controlled by the government, but thinking of the court caning in the Ming Dynasty, officials were willing to accept the court caning for false reputation, and even enjoyed it. It is conceivable that when the scholars are united, what choices will the officials make.

With his right hand on the coffee table, Wei Guangde was also thinking about the truth in Zhang Juzheng's words, tapping rhythmically.

Gradually, he was persuaded.

"In the fifth year of Jiajing, Gui E, the Minister of Rites, proposed to strictly examine the candidates for the Supervisor of Education.

In the sixteenth year, with the impeachment of the censor You Jujing against Zhan Ruoshui for advocating pseudo-learning and privately founded academies as a precursor, Emperor Shizong ordered the banning of privately founded academies and cracking down on the teaching activities of Wang Shouren, Zhan Ruoshui and others.

The second ban was carried out the following year, and the spearhead was directed at the "officials of the Fu'ansi".

The Supervisor of Education of the Thirteen Provinces was under the jurisdiction of the Anchashisi, so it was naturally within the scope of the warning. In fact, it was to prevent the kidnapping of officials by public opinion."

Zhang Juzheng continued to talk about the countermeasures of the Jiajing Dynasty in previous years. However, after a few decades, the literati seemed to have revived, and privately founded academies appeared again in large numbers, which was really a bad sign.

However, it was obvious that the policy of banning academies in the Ming Dynasty was unpopular. The two ban policies during the Jiajing period had limited effects, and the momentum of the Supervisor of Education to establish academies did not diminish.

In fact, the Ming Dynasty did not prohibit private establishment of academies. Almost all provinces exist. However, these academies were either circulated in previous generations and were recognized by this dynasty, or after private creation, local officials reported to the court and received plaques from the court. Such a academies do not belong to Private trespassing is considered to be recognized by the court.

In order to cater to local gentry, local officials are often willing to do this to show that they have made contributions to promoting culture and educating the people.

"Academies should be more important for scholars and professors, and should not be used to teach ideas, or even encourage each other to fight each other.

Just like the psychology and Neo-Confucianism in Jiangnan today, everyone gathers to give lectures and attacks each other, which makes it easy to get angry. ”

Zhang Juzheng used the current situation in Jiangnan as an example. The Ming Dynasty is now fighting hard with the Mind and Mind, and has even affected the imperial examination.

When the examiner is from which school, the candidates are often mainly recruited by this school, and they feel very tangled.

"Uncle, I have to think about this matter carefully. I can't answer you now."

Wei Guangde thought for a long time and felt that this matter had a great impact, so he still had to take a good idea.

Is it right to restrict Shilin from speaking out? From his current position, of course, he should support Zhang Juzheng.

But instinctively, Wei Guangde felt that he shouldn't have done this.

"The sound of wind and rain sounds and reading is heard, and family affairs and national affairs are concerned about everything in the world." This couplet is known to Wei Guangde, who has received nine years of compulsory education. It is usually used to educate people to be dedicated to reading and Be concerned about politics.

Why does it seem like something is wrong with this now?

Scholars should study. Don’t talk about what is there or what is not. You should care about the world and wait until you become an official.

Wei Guangde said goodbye and left the chief minister's duty room, and went straight back to his side, still thinking about this question in his mind.

Although he knew that if Zhang Juzheng was determined to do it, he would definitely be able to force this matter.

In the cabinet, the two cards can already control the cabinet's discussion, and even if he opposes, it will not be of much use.

However, once he opposes, the support from the government and the opposition will not be small, and he will treat him as the leader of the opposition.

However, with Feng Bao's help from the inner court, I think it can still be done by forcing me to pass the mark.

Wei Guangde has not yet settled down, after all, he has not read a copy of his memorial today.

This is performance. If you don’t finish the transferred memorial today, then tomorrow will be your own. It’s not a trivial matter if you accumulate work.

To be honest, many of the memorials of the Ming Dynasty, after half a year of disposal, will not affect the operation of the government, because nearly half of the memorials are nutritious reporting work, congratulations to the congratulations, there is no practical work at all.

However, the quick handling of memorials also shows the efficiency of the court and the cabinet, so we cannot ignore them just because the memorials are nothing.

It still needs to be read, and the tickets must not be missing.

However, before Wei Guangde moved his footsteps to the desk, Lu Bu came in with a memorial outside the door before his seat.

The things sent in like this are actually the practice that the Sixth Department is anxious to deal with and cannot be delayed.

"What, where?"

Wei Guangde asked casually.

"Master, it's a document from the Ministry of War."

Lu Bu bowed and presented the documents with both hands.

Wei Guangde reached out to take it, quickly returned to his seat and sat down, and read it carefully.

It is not a big deal, but it is not small. It means that the Southwest has escorted the Burmese King and a group of Burmese tribe leaders to Beijing.

Although there are still a small amount of remnants in Myanmar, it has no longer affected the overall situation.

The main areas of Myanmar, such as southern Myanmar, have been firmly in the hands of the Ming Dynasty, and only western Myanmar and northern Myanmar still have remnants fighting internally to compete for the initiative.

The Ming Dynasty did not want to struggle to fight, and planned to wait until their internal strife was completed before Li Chengliang could send troops to suppress the attack, so that the losses could be minimized.

Take the opportunity to continue to train the Burmese army, so that they can become the main force to wipe out the remnants of the Touyu Dynasty in Myanmar.

Wei Guangde supported this strategy when he reported to the capital before.

He also gave the Burmese people to govern Myanmar. The mutual hatred of various Myanmar tribes is more conducive to the long-term stability of the Ming Dynasty.

However, in this matter, the matter is not considered as a matter that has been decided long ago, but how the court will deal with the rebels of the Burmese King.

Yes, Wei Guangde had long regarded the Ming Dynasty's conquest of Myanmar as the same nature as the domestic storm of rebellion, so that he could avoid the controversy that might arise in the future.

The Ming Dynasty must first kill Myanmar was included in the Ming Dynasty two hundred years ago, but the Ming Dynasty gave them high autonomy.

However, the Burmese King himself was committed to death, and the Ming Dynasty gave them benefits, but he was not greedy and wanted to retaliate against the Ming Dynasty.

Of course, this is not considered as the Ming Dynasty's punishment without teaching, but the wolf's ambition is obvious and everyone can punish him.

However, when you reach Wei Guangde's position, you have to consider more.

How should we deal with the Burmese King family and those tribal leaders, or not?

It is absolutely impossible to let them go back to Myanmar.

He is not Zhuge Liang, so he is playing the trick of seven captures and seven traits. Maybe it's fun to take it off, and the trouble will be big.

The easiest way is to kill everyone and end it all.

However, Wei Guangde had to consider the consequences of doing so, and whether it would be detrimental to the Ming Dynasty's future rule over Myanmar.

As for the impact on other countries, Wei Guangde was not worried.

Perhaps, countries in Southeast Asia and South Asia will feel sad, but Wei Guangde feels that showing his power is better than showing his kindness.

If he is not killed, then he will be exiled, but where will he be exiled to?

Liaodong? Or Xiaoliuqiu?

Thinking of the year before last, the Ming Dynasty just held a captive offering ceremony and killed Wang Gao. Should it be done again?

After thinking for a long time, Wei Guangde did not make a decision.

Killing Wang Gao was to deter the Liaodong Jurchens. It was to suppress the rebelliousness of the Jurchens and to stop their intention to contact Mongolia.

In fact, the main reason for killing Wang Gao was that his contact with Mongolia was intolerable to the Ming Dynasty.

Without thinking about how to deal with it, Wei Guangde simply left the document and planned to talk about it at the cabinet meeting later and listen to the opinions of Zhang Juzheng and Zhang Siwei.

We still need democracy and cannot be a one-man show.

In the past, most of the decisions of the Ministry of War were made by Wei Guangde.

Not only did Wei Guangde suppress the memorial, but Zhang Juzheng was also upset after Wei Guangde left.

In fact, he knew that Wei Guangde might not be so easy to accept the memorial in his hand.

Moreover, he had never shown it to Zhang Siwei and others.

In Zhang Juzheng's eyes, if he showed it to them directly, even if they all chose to support it, they would be dissatisfied.

Wei Guangde's attempt made him believe that there were many people in the court who were interested in this.

However, Zhang Juzheng was determined to force this matter, so he planned to persuade Wei Guangde first.

As long as Wei Guangde supported or acquiesced, others would not make any waves.

In fact, Zhang Juzheng had a longer view on rectifying the academic affairs.

At this moment, the imperial examinations in the Ming Dynasty were full of drawbacks. What he wanted was not only to prohibit the scholars from discussing politics, but also to rectify the style of study and stop the malpractices of finding ways and worshipping the imperial examinations.

From the Ming Dynasty to the present, corruption was prevalent from top to bottom, and one of the drawbacks was the solidification of classes, especially the fraud in the imperial examinations.

Zhang Juzheng had something he didn't say when he talked to Wei Guangde before, because he knew that Wei Guangde's eldest son had already set off to return to Jiangxi to participate in the imperial examination in Jiangxi.

And Wei Guangde had made arrangements for this six months in advance, which was to adjust the education policy in Jiangxi.

Wei Guangde didn't say it, but Zhang Juzheng knew it in his heart. It can be said that he wanted to ensure that his son won the title of a scholar.

As for the provincial examination, it was still early, and Wei Guangde might have other actions at that time.

These were all things he couldn't refuse.

If Zhang Juzheng had said at that time that he wanted to rectify the style of study, Wei Guangde would have thought too much and might have resolutely rejected this policy.

"Alas"

Zhang Juzheng sighed, feeling very tired. Why was it so difficult for him to do something? (End of this chapter)