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

Chapter 1098 The Final Decision

The scholars in the south were dissatisfied with the fact that the court only set up official schools in the north. The scholars in the common people were full of resentment. Every day, there were scholars and students protesting in front of the Ministry of Rites.

Most of these scholars had ancestral roots in the southern part of the country, and many of their elders had official positions. In addition, Yingtian was originally located in the south, so strictly speaking, all the people in Yingtian Prefecture could be considered southerners.

Although the capital was in the south, the imperial court wanted to set up schools in the north and recruit common people to attend.

After hearing the news, even the dissatisfaction of the people in the city was aroused, and people on the streets were talking about the court's decision.

If the previous commotion caused by the northern scholars was only five points, the commotion now is ten points.

"How unfair is the court's decision? Why can't scholars from the south take part in the special imperial examination? Is this court for all people in the world, or just for the northerners?" Some emotionally excited scholars have already said such treasonous words.

At the same time, a group of students in the Imperial College were arguing over this matter.

The students of the Imperial College were recommended by the provincial and prefectural governors, and they came from both the north and the south. However, due to the overall cultural atmosphere, the majority of them were from the south.

Among the great scholars in Beijing at this time, Liu Sanwu was the most respected. At that time, the imperial officials also served as teachers at the Imperial College to a certain extent. Liu Sanwu came to the Imperial College several times in the past few days to give lectures, peddling the theory that "a country is poor when it is rich, and it is easy to govern when the people are ignorant".

"Shang Jun once said: To defeat the strong with the strong is to become weak; to defeat the strong with the weak is to become strong."

"If a country is good, there will be many traitors."

“When a country is rich but poor is well governed, it is called emphasizing wealth. A country that emphasizes wealth is strong. When a country is poor but rich is well governed, it is called emphasizing poverty. A country that emphasizes poverty is weak.”

"Therefore, setting up many schools is a wasteful, unwise and weak move for a country."

"All the industries and trades in the world are like bricks in a wall, stacked high and low, each doing its part, to form a high wall."

"If all the bricks from the lower places were piled up on the higher places, how could a high wall be built? How could a castle in the air last long?"

"Therefore, to make the people learn to read and write is like building a castle in the air. It will surely make the people uneasy and this will lead to disaster."

"If all people live in peace, the world will be at peace."

On the podium, Liu Sanwu was calm and composed, narrating his own ideas. Below the podium, many of the Imperial College students were nodding their heads.

Liu Sanwu was satisfied. The students of the Imperial Academy could be said to be the backbone of the scholars in the Ming Dynasty. As long as the majority of the students in the Imperial Academy were on his side, it basically meant that all the students in the world were on his side.

Of course, some students expressed doubts about what Liu Sanwu said. For example, some students believed that what Liu Sanwu said was different from the "Theory of the Wealth of Nations" taught by His Majesty King Zhou. The Theory of the Wealth of Nations believes that if the people are rich, the country will be rich, and the wealth should be stored in the people, rather than just saving money and doing something like "rich country but poor governance".

Liu Sanwu believes that "hiding wealth among the people" does not mean using the treasury's money to enlighten the people. The so-called "hiding wealth among the people" means that the country should strive to improve people's livelihood so that "every household has surplus food". If the people have enough food and clothing, even if the treasury has no surplus money, the world will be prosperous.

However, enlightening the people was very costly and had no practical benefit. The people were eager to have scholars in their families, and sending their children to school would reduce the labor force in their families and reduce the output of their families' farming and labor.

Moreover, even though the number of scholars from commoner backgrounds increased, the number of people who could pass the imperial examinations and become officials was still limited. The imperial court spent money and grain to establish official schools and train scholars, but in fact it only consumed the imperial court's money and trained a group of scholars who were neither high nor low.

These people failed to pass the imperial examinations, but after studying, they were bound to be ambitious and would eventually cause trouble. It was extremely unwise to consume the money and grain of the national treasury and to draw labor from the people's homes just to do such a thing.

Liu Sanwu was a great scholar. No matter how knowledgeable the students of the Imperial College were, they were at most just young men who had not yet graduated. They could not further refute Liu Sanwu's analysis. As a result, more and more scholars agreed with Liu Sanwu's theory that "a country can be governed when it is rich, and it is easy to govern its poor people when they are ignorant."

In the end, there were even students of the Imperial Academy who were worried about the court's decision and were prepared to spontaneously gather their classmates to knock on the palace gate and write a petition to alert the emperor.

Since then, the southern scholars and the Imperial Academy students, the two largest scholar groups in the capital, have all become opponents of Zhu Biao's resolution - whether they are against the court's opening of the imperial examinations only for northerners and not for southerners, or against the emperor's plan to enlighten the people and set up many schools. In short, the "public resentment" for this new policy that has not yet been put into action has been completely boiling.

The restlessness of these scholars also made many officials who had already opposed this matter feel the support of "public opinion". They wrote to Zhu Biao more actively, asking the emperor to revoke this "disorderly order".

Memorials were delivered to the imperial city like snowflakes, exhausting the eunuchs such as Fu'an who were responsible for carrying them.

"These are all sent by the senior officials in the court to dissuade me?"

Looking at the endless pile of memorials that were being carried into the Jinshen Hall by the eunuchs like a stream, gradually forming a small mountain, Zhu Biao seemed to be smiling.

"Your Majesty, yes, yes..." Fu An panted. In the past few days, these officials have been submitting petitions like crazy, and the Majesty has kept them but not published them, but they are not discouraged.

The number of memorials submitted each day increased, which made it very hard for the eunuchs who were responsible for carrying them. Normally, they only had to carry them once, but now they had to carry them more than ten or twenty times.

Fu'an is not young anymore. He has been carrying all these memorials these days and his back and waist are sore from exhaustion. He has cursed those old scholars countless times in his heart.

Zhu Biao said "hmm" and picked up a memorial at random while sitting at the top. This memorial came from a Hanlin from the Hanlin Academy.

The above quotes classics and many other sources to refute Zhu Biao's practice of "opening schools only in the north". At the same time, it uses the theory of "a rich country can cure its poverty" to denounce Zhu Biao's proposal to enlighten the people as wasteful and extravagant. Finally, it uses the usual alarmist rhetoric, pointing out that if the emperor insists on doing so, the country will inevitably be ruined in the future...

"Oh, it sounds high-sounding, but it's full of nonsense..." Zhu Biao closed the memorial and weighed it in his hand. This "great article" had more than ten thousand words and it felt a bit heavy in his hand.

Looking at the pile of memorials, Zhu Biao laughed and said, "Since I am required to 'make the country rich and govern the poor', submitting such a large number of memorials every day is really a waste of paper and ink."

"Issue down that the monthly supply of pens, ink, paper and inkstones to all departments of the imperial court shall be reduced by 50%, to show the frugality of the court."

The pens, ink, paper and inkstones used by Ming officials to submit memorials were all paid for by the court. Reducing their expenses in this regard was enough to let them know that the emperor was dissatisfied with the content of their memorials.

After reading a long article, Zhu Biao was too lazy to read the remaining memorials. He said to the ministers in the cabinet who were summoned into the palace: "I'll trouble you to sort these memorials carefully."

"It's the same as this one. Just record the name according to the old rules and keep it in the library."

"Yes." All the cabinet ministers followed the order. At this time, Zhu Biao's cabinet was headed by the upright ministers Daotong and Luo Furen. These people were Zhu Biao's confidants who had been with him for many years, so they would not be loyal to Liu Sanwu and other Hanlin scholars.

After ascending the throne, Zhu Biao selected several talented young people to join the cabinet, including Yang Shiqi, the former director of the Maritime Affairs Department, and Yan Xizhe, the former Minister of Taxation. One of them was the favorite disciple of Zhou Wang Zhu Su, and the other was a person who positioned himself as a lone minister, so naturally he would not collude with Liu Sanwu and others.

The four of them all stood on Zhu Biao's side in terms of political stance, believing that promoting the construction of official schools in the north, thereby gradually enlightening the people, was the only way for the Ming Dynasty to become more prosperous and powerful. Therefore, seeing these mountains of opposing memorials, several people had worried expressions on their faces. Dao Tong said: "Your Majesty, the opposition faction has become a force to be reckoned with."

"If we force this matter, I'm afraid there will be many difficulties... Would it be safer to put it aside for the time being?"

Yan Xizhe also said: "Your Majesty, now Liu Sanwu and others have won over officials and scholars, and their influence is unmatched at the moment."

"The direction of the public opinion is now completely controlled by the other party. If we continue to let them do as they please, it will be very detrimental to your majesty's plan."

"If your majesty agrees, I can come forward to help your majesty win over people who support your great policy and compete with Liu Sanwu and others... When the time is right, your majesty's plan will naturally come to fruition."

"Haha, I know your sincere intentions." Zhu Biao waved his hand and rejected their proposal. Then his eyes turned cold and he said:
"Promoting education, cultivating talents, and calming people's hearts... What a good thing, but some people just don't think about it."

"These people's words are high-sounding, but are they really doing this for the Ming Dynasty?"

"It's just because the matter involves the north and the south, and involves the high status of these scholars...Now that the great cause of the Ming Dynasty is just beginning, and the four directions have not yet been completely assimilated into our Chinese land, some people have already developed a sectarian and regional mentality, and are looking for fame and reputation."

"My father and I have never played any imperial balance tricks. What we want is for all Chinese to unite as one and revitalize China. But they are trying every possible way to divide and win over, to create divisions, and to stir up factional strife."

"Let them jump. Only when they jump high enough, I will know how to select those who are hindering the progress of China..."

The cabinet officials had long guessed that Zhu Biao wanted them to write down the names of the ministers who had submitted the petition in order to settle accounts with them later. However, at this moment, they finally received Zhu Biao's confirmation, and they could not help but feel a chill in their hearts.

This seemingly gentle new emperor actually wanted to make a big move!
"But... Your Majesty, we must guard against the overwhelming public resentment," Yang Shiqi said worriedly.

"Liu Sanwu has won the support of the scholars. Even if Your Majesty takes drastic measures, I am afraid that the scholars and officials who have been instigated by him will be even more resentful."

"It is not possible to enlighten the people with just a decree. If the scholars and scholars do not support this move, I would like to say that even if we force it, it will be a failure."

"Your Majesty, we should still think of a way to counter it..."

"Yes." Zhu Biao nodded. "In that case, Yang Qing, do you have any plan?"

"Your Majesty, I think you can call His Royal Highness Prince Zhou back to the capital." Yang Shiqi said. "Liu Sanwu is the hope of the scholars, but His Royal Highness Prince Zhou and Master Song are the leading figures of the new learning of the Ming Dynasty."

"As long as His Royal Highness Prince Zhou is here, the scholars will not be instigated by Liu Sanwu and others, and great policies can be achieved."

"Distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. His Royal Highness Prince Zhou is accompanying the Emperor Retired in Xi'an. I'm afraid that by the time His Royal Highness Prince Zhou returns to Beijing, the scholars will have already started a riot." Luo Furen said worriedly.

"Haha." Facing the ministers who were full of worries, Zhu Biao still smiled warmly, "It doesn't matter. Although my fifth brother is not in Beijing, I still have the final say."

"As long as they launch a general attack, then..."

Before he could finish his words, Fu An, who had just left the hall, came in again in a hurry. He knelt down in front of Zhu Biao with a panicked look on his face and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, something bad has happened!"

"What's the matter?" Zhu Biao raised his eyebrows.

"Outside the palace... there are dozens of officials and hundreds of students kneeling at the palace gate to make their appeals."

"They say...they say that they want Your Majesty to rescind the evil policies that have ruined the country!"

Fuan looked pale.

The faces of the people in the cabinet changed and they couldn't help but look at Zhu Biao.

Zhu Biao laughed and said, "Are you going to label me a tyrant?"

"Haha, during the years when I was the crown prince, I was kind to others, but people thought I was easy to bully."

"Your Majesty is a benevolent monarch throughout history. Please do not even think about this." Several cabinet ministers hurriedly advised.

"No problem." Zhu Biao waved his hand. "A so-called benevolent ruler should also have thunderous means."

"I think the time I set is coming, and these people have finally lost their way." Zhu Biao stood up and said, "Everyone, come with me to take a look."

"See how they plan to 'admonish' me."

Having said that, he left the imperial desk with great interest. Yang Shiqi and others looked at each other and followed Zhu Biao out.

The time for reckoning has come... The current situation is overwhelmingly unfavorable to Your Majesty.

But I don't know what means Your Majesty is going to use to change the public opinion.

Yang Shiqi thought.

(End of this chapter)