Daming: At the start of the showdown, Lao Zhu was stunned

Chapter 1097 Education is the cornerstone of social progress
The court meeting lasted for half a morning, and no one in the court had come to a conclusion on the issue of "reopening the imperial examinations to enlighten the people." There were still many opponents, but they could not muster enough strength.

Although they had made preparations before the court meeting, those preparations were intended to oppose the emperor's reversal of the special examination rankings and his own support for northern candidates to pass the exam.

Now Zhu Biao took a different approach, enlightening the people and setting up a special examination. These two combined efforts made them suddenly not know what to oppose.

On the contrary, most northern officials were ecstatic.

There were too many officials from the South in the court. After the scholars from the north and the south competed against each other, this tendency inevitably affected the officials in the court. The officials each spoke up for the scholars from their hometown, and there was actually a clear trend of division in the court.

Officials from the north were undoubtedly at a disadvantage because of their small number. Now that His Majesty wanted to hold a special examination for the northerners, they naturally came together to give their full support.

Although they were few in number, they were of one mind. As one side gained strength while the other lost, the southern officials were unable to argue with them and were defeated by their rebuttal.

"...Okay, since none of you can give a clear reason for your opposition, then this matter is settled." After allowing the officials from the north and south to debate for a while, Zhu Biao, as the referee, made the final decision and announced the result of the matter in a lightning-fast manner.

"The six ministries and the cabinet, please submit a proposal on this matter within this month and send it to the Jinshen Palace for my review... I will adjourn the court!" After saying this, he stood up and left with his hands behind his back.

The officials who were still racking their brains for a way out of the impasse felt as if their throats were suddenly strangled. Even if they had something to say, they were forced to swallow it back.

He thought to himself that after returning, he must write a long and eloquent article and hand it to the emperor so that he would revoke his decision.

However, although they could write memorials, the emperor also had the power to keep them in his cabinet and pretend not to have seen them... Zhu Biao had already decided that from now on, he would keep all memorials that obstructed the reopening of the imperial examinations and dissuaded the people from enlightening themselves, and he must push this matter forward.

……

The court meeting in the imperial city was tense, and outside the imperial city, everyone was eagerly awaiting the outcome of this court meeting.

Now, the confrontation between scholars in the north and south is in full swing and almost unending.

The northern scholars were reluctant to leave the capital, waiting for the court to seek "justice" for them; some even intercepted officials and wanted to file complaints with the emperor.

The reputation of those successful candidates in the southern region was also greatly damaged by this incident. Moreover, according to the old rules during the Hongwu Dynasty, they should have received official certificates from the Ministry of Personnel, and specific official positions would have been arranged for them, and they would have traveled far and wide to take up their posts.

But now, due to the impact of this incident, the court has been slow to grant them official status.

Without a certificate of official status, it meant that they were not yet officials. If the emperor changed his mind and admitted that there was fraud in the imperial examination, their status as Jinshi would be revoked.

Even those southern scholars who did not pass the exam may have hoped that the results of the special examination would be cancelled... After all, if the special examination was retaken, it would prove that they would have another chance.

The matter had become more and more serious, and all parties were waiting for the emperor's final decision. Naturally, this New Moon and Full Moon Court was also the focus of everyone's attention.

Those scholars who were stranded in Beijing and had connections paced back and forth at home anxiously, waiting for news from their elders who had gone to court.

Those who had no connections gathered in the teahouses and brothels where they were most informed, waiting to get first-hand information.

"Have you heard? At today's court meeting..."

"What? Your Majesty has already made a decision? Will the imperial examination be reopened?"

"What do you mean by reopening? It means reopening again! The imperial court is preparing to hold another special examination, specifically for northern scholars!"

"Really! The emperor's grace is so great, so great!"

Although it was not what they had expected, this result was undoubtedly more in line with the wishes of the northern scholars. Moreover, the southern scholars who had already passed the exam also breathed a sigh of relief when they learned that their results would not be cancelled.

At least from the perspective of the scholars, everything was a happy one. The contradictions naturally disappeared with the news of the new imperial examination.

Yingtian City, Liu Mansion.

Liu Sanwu's mansion is located in the southern city of Yingtian, mixed among the houses of ordinary people and merchants.

His family's courtyard has only two entrances. As for its origin, it was given to him by Zhu Yuanzhang when he was recommended to come to Beijing by Ru Rong in the 18th year of Hongwu, in order to show his respect for the wise and humble.

The rivets on the door were mottled, and many of the furnishings in the yard were old. It can be said that Liu Sanwu was indeed a Confucian scholar and an upright official with clean hands.

At this time, many officials in official robes gathered in the small and old courtyard of Liu's mansion. Because there were more than ten people, the courtyard even seemed a little crowded.

Most of these people frowned and sighed.

"Master Liu, this...what should we do next? You should make a decision!"

"Yes. To hold another imperial examination after the imperial examination, Your Majesty, isn't this... isn't this nonsense?"

"And we need to enlighten the people... The common people are cunning and treacherous. If they could learn to read, who knows how much trouble they would cause!"

"If you enlighten the people, they will be difficult to control... Our Ming Dynasty is now prosperous, I really don't know why Your Majesty suddenly came up with such an unrealistic idea."

"If we really enlighten the people, I'm afraid my country will go from bad to worse tomorrow."

Compared to the scholars who only cared about the imperial examinations and their own fame, they, who had already become literati, were obviously more concerned about what Zhu Biao called "enlightening the people."

They are the ruling class, a member of the ruling group and vested interest group of this huge empire. In their view, in order to ensure the long-term stability of the huge number of people in this empire, cultivating their "obedience" is the first priority.

The best people are those who are submissive. People only know what is happening within a radius of ten miles, and their range of action in their lifetime will not exceed ten miles. Such people are the easiest to control because they don't even know how to resist. Even if they encounter any accidents, they often have only one way to deal with it, that is, "endure".

After learning to read and knowing the wider world, the people's morale will naturally rise. In this way, when they encounter something they are not satisfied with, they will think of making trouble, when they encounter loopholes, they will try to be cunning and sly, and when they encounter injustice, they will even learn from their ancestors to revolt... They will learn many ways to resist officials, and such people are difficult to control.

Only ignorant people are the easiest to rule and are most in line with the ruling class's preferences. The reason why Shang Yang was able to strengthen Qin was due to two sentences: "A rich country is easy to rule when it is poor, and an ignorant people is easy to rule." In fact, many scholars regard these two sentences as the golden rule.

But now, the emperor actually wants to enlighten the people... The emperor is the largest ruling class, and it is in the emperor's best interest to keep everyone ignorant, but this emperor wants to enlighten the people...

They even wanted to say, "Ming Dynasty Pills", but in the end they did not dare to actually say such treasonous words.

"Alas." As the oldest and most virtuous official among these officials, and the most powerful scholar in Yingtian Prefecture after Song Lian left Yingtian, Liu Sanwu had his own awareness of "upholding the holy way."

He felt that Zhu Biao's desire to enlighten the people was contrary to the words of the sages and was ignoring the thousands of years of teachings of his ancestors.

In his mind, this matter had even gone far beyond the dispute between scholars from the north and the south, and had become a major event that would shake the country's destiny and orthodoxy.

"Your Majesty... you were diligent and studious in your early years, and you looked like a benevolent ruler. How come you have become like this now?" Liu Sanwu shook his head and sighed. "Could it be that a treacherous minister has slandered your majesty?"

Liu Sanwu frowned deeply, his face flashing with worry for the country and the people. Seeing a young man deep in thought in a corner, he asked him, "Weizhe, judging from your expression, do you have any ideas?"

Weizhe is the courtesy name of Xia Yuanji, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Xia Yuanji is a prudent person with remarkable political achievements, and is already a leader among the younger generation.

Liu Sanwu was a great scholar of the new school, while Xia Yuanji was a student of the Imperial Academy when the fifth prince Zhu Su taught there. He was a legitimate disciple of the new school, so he and Liu Sanwu had always had a close personal relationship. Liu Sanwu knew Xia Yuanji's talent and ability, so when he asked this question, he actually wanted to learn from him.

"Mr. Liu... I was just wondering..." Xia Yuanji chose his words carefully, "Is it really true that enlightening the people will only bring disadvantages?"

"When I was young, I was illiterate. It was only after I read books and understood the truth that I set my goals for myself and served the country."

"Since we have read books and can understand the truth, why do we have to think that ordinary people will commit crimes after reading books?"

"When I was in the Imperial College, I heard the Fifth Prince say: 'Talent is the foundation of a country's prosperity, and education is the cornerstone of social progress.'"

"Opening up the people's wisdom means that China will have a steady stream of talented people, driving the continuous progress of our nation and country."

"Why do you have to think that enlightening the people will make their lives miserable? Will it lead to chaos in the world?"

"..." Xia Yuanji's words caused the slightly crowded courtyard to fall into an eerie silence. Liu Sanwu looked at Xia Yuanji in shock and said, "Weizhe, could it be that you support His Majesty in enlightening the people?"

"I think what your majesty said makes sense." Xia Yuanji nodded. "From ancient times to the present, the world may have had prosperous times, but they only lasted for a few decades."

"Your Majesty wants to enlighten the people. Perhaps this is a new path that will make China ever stronger..."

"Ignorance!" Liu Sanwu's face suddenly changed, and he angrily scolded: "You only saw the surface, how dare you make such a conclusion!"

"If all the people can read, how can they obey us officials to govern the people? They will definitely be resentful."

"When there is anger in one's heart, resentment and anger arise, and when resentment and anger arise, trouble will arise... A scholar causing trouble is a hundred times more terrifying than a warrior!"

"Have you not seen the history books about Huang Chao's uprising?"

Xia Yuanji opened his mouth and was about to argue, but Liu Sanwu shouted, "Enough!"

"People with different beliefs cannot work together. Since we are no longer on the same path, please, Xia Weizhe, leave this old man's place."

Xia Yuanji was expelled from Liu's house, but he did not get angry. He just calmly tidied his clothes and left indifferently.

This time, I was expelled from Liu's house, which must have been seen by many people. Then, when the reckoning comes in the future, I will not be affected.

The dead bones in the grave...

Xia Yuanji returned to his home and chose to stay out of it.

Your Majesty must have already made plans for this matter. I just need to come forward at the right time and help Your Majesty put an end to this matter.

The era of the Yiwen Dynasty seems to be about to begin in terms of popular education.

……

Liu Sanwu gathered all the officials and discussed in the palace for a night, and finally unified the opinions of most of the southern officials. The next day, memorials from the southern officials were delivered to Zhu Biao's desk like snowflakes.

The contents are all similar, except that Your Majesty should not be biased towards the north and the south. If you want to establish official schools, you should open them in both the north and the south.

The newly-established special examinations should also treat students from the north and south equally.

If this cannot be done, the court will be unfair.

Liu Sanwu was an old and experienced man, but he was not completely ignorant of political affairs. All the memorials that directly criticized the enlightenment of the people were kept by Zhu Biao.

He naturally knew that Zhu Biao was determined to enlighten the people. So what he had to do was to teach them that this could not be done.

The purpose of making the imperial examination treat students from the north and south equally was to relieve the pressure on the court and allow the southern scholars to compete with the northern scholars again. As the chief examiner of the last imperial examination, Liu Sanwu knew that in terms of knowledge, the northern scholars could not match the southern scholars even if they flattered them.

As long as most of the candidates who pass the special examination are from the south, the northern scholars will certainly be even more resentful. Amid the public outcry, the dispute between the northern and southern scholars will break out with a momentum thousands of times more serious than it is now.

By then, the imperial court might not have the energy to promote the enlightenment of the people. The restlessness of the northern scholars could also serve as a counter-example of the harm caused by the enlightenment of the people, and could be used to oppose it when Your Majesty is ready to discuss this matter again in the future.

However, it is simply impossible to open schools in both the north and the south at the same time... You know, the reason why Your Majesty wants to do this only in the north first is because the court only has the spare capacity to do this in the north now.

You have to know that the establishment of official schools, the investment in the construction of official schools, and the salaries of teachers all have to be paid from the national treasury. The population in the north is sparse, so there is no need to open too many official schools to meet the needs, while the population in the south is dense, so if official schools are to be opened, the number must be twice that of the north.

At that time, even with the current financial resources of the court, Your Majesty will have to weigh it carefully. You can't let the national treasury be depleted for the sake of a vague hope of enlightening the people.

In order to make Zhu Biao pay attention to their memorials, Liu Sanwu even instigated the scholars in the south in the past few days to learn from the previous northern scholars who opposed the results of the imperial examinations and strongly opposed the court's preferential examinations that only benefited the north and only recruited northern scholars.

Since Your Majesty has made concessions to the northern scholars and came up with the idea of ​​reopening the imperial examination, now that the southern scholars, who are several times more numerous than the northern scholars, are dissatisfied, Your Majesty should also make concessions.

Liu Sanwu thought so.

(End of this chapter)