I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Chapter 44 Famous Scene! Shen Nian’s Disciplinary Lesson (Part )

When admonishing the teachers of the Imperial College, one can use their career prospects, character and reputation as a threat.

However, this does not work for these students.

There are four types of students in the Imperial College, but they can actually be divided into only two types: one is the type that just lies down and does nothing, and the other is the type that has great ambitions but little talent.

Most of the Yinjian students (specially recruited students) and Lijian students (sponsored students) come from wealthy families and have backers.

They follow the current trend of "leisure is worse than fame and fortune" and focus on having fun.

I thought that as long as I could graduate normally, I could first go to the local area to work as a county magistrate or chief clerk, and then use my family and parents to seek official positions, and my life would be good.

Therefore, I don’t learn.

The failed students and the excellent local students were corrupted by the atmosphere of the Imperial College.

Knowing that studying hard is not as good as seeking personal gain, they all had great ambitions but little talent. They either made friends with the powerful and influential or criticized the government to earn a reputation so that they could write books and establish schools in the future to make a living.

In the Imperial College, are there any students who "study hard and want to serve the emperor like Yao and Shun"?
There really isn’t one at the moment!

Since the Jingtai era (the reign of Emperor Daizong Zhu Qiyu of the Ming Dynasty), the practice of requiring the Imperial College to pay grain was widely implemented, and a large number of students were recruited, which led to it becoming a place where official positions and titles were sold for money.

Scholars who were truly interested in the imperial examinations and had both good character and academic performance were either noticed by local officials and given intensive training, or they would seek out famous teachers and study hard, concentrating on the imperial examinations.

In recent years, there have been few students from the Imperial Academy involved in the compilation, editing, and review of the Hanlin Academy.

If the Imperial College was really good, Shen Nian would have been sent there long ago given his father's financial resources.

to be honest!
The current Imperial College trains low-level local county officials.

The Ming Dynasty selected officials.

There are mainly three types of origins to choose from.

One is Jinshi; the second is Juren; the third is Suigongsheng (here refers to Jiansheng).

Jiajing period.

An imperial censor once said, "Jinshi are usually promoted within three to five years, while Juren are slightly later. The annual tribute is five times the original number. Jinshi have the hope of becoming a minister or second in rank, while Juren are only one in a hundred who are admitted to the government. The annual tribute is even lower and has no high rank, and only ends at the rank of assistant to the government."

In short: students of the Imperial Academy are qualified to become officials upon graduation, but the upper limit is "Fu Zuo".

……

Shen Nian looked around and found that some students were looking at him provocatively.

It seems to be saying: I have money and family, and I am content with the status quo. I just want to graduate smoothly. Let me see how you discipline me?

At this time, Shen Nian put his hands behind his back and straightened his chest.

He was a Jinshi graduate and a serious official.

When facing these students who don't even have the status of a juren, he naturally has to act like a teacher.

There is no need for him to be polite to these young people!
"Cough...cough..."

Shen Nian coughed twice, attracting the attention of all the students, and then slowly looked around.

If someone looked at him, he would look them in the eye.

After about ten breaths, Shen Nian spoke.

"My fellow students, in my eyes, you are all worthless trash!"

Shen Nian emphasized the word "waste".

Swish!Swish!Swish!
All the students were dumbfounded.

I didn't expect Shen Nian to say such vulgar words directly, and he fired a large gun, scolding everyone.

This is the Imperial College.

Next door is the Confucian Temple, which enshrines Confucius.

"Shen Kaikai, how could you...how could you curse people?" a prisoner said angrily.

Shen Nian said in an unquestionable tone: "Listen to me first!"

"Waste is useless. Fellow students, what can you do?"

"You read classics every day, studying as a profession. But have any of your articles and poems sold well on the streets? Have any of you created theories that are hotly debated by scholars? Have any of you offered advice on any aspect of our Ming Dynasty's agriculture, commerce, water conservancy, military affairs, or politics? Have any of you made any contribution to the Emperor, the court, or the people?"

"Let me talk about something more minor. Is there anyone who earns his own living, without relying on his family or parents for support? Is there anyone who, when faced with financial difficulties, would consider becoming a notary instead of asking for money from his family? Is there anyone who has put his knowledge into practice and written a good article that is of practical use to the world?"

"Some rely on their prominent family background, others on their noble upbringing, finding pleasure in wine and pleasure in the pleasures of bed. They hold scriptures in their hands, but their minds are preoccupied with wine and feasting, without any real learning or achievements!"

"I am of no use to my country, my family, others, and myself. If I am not a waste, what am I?"

Shen Nian dared to say this because he had conducted a thorough investigation.

At this time, a student stood up.

"Shen Jiantao, don't look down on us because we're young! We're still in school, but if we enter the government someday, we won't necessarily be worse off than you!"

"Humph!"

Shen Nian snorted coldly. This was exactly what he was waiting for.

"What's your name?"

Upon hearing this, the student shuddered violently and said, "My name is not important. Shen, you are being too insulting. Don't we have any right to refute you?"

Swish!Swish!Swish!
Suddenly, dozens of students took a step forward at the same time.

They were afraid that Shen Nianru would expose their shortcomings by name like he did to the teacher, so they acted in unison and refused to reveal their names.

Shen Nian smiled faintly and walked down from the platform.

The two Jinyiwei standing below hurriedly followed him.

Shen Nian strode up to the group of students.

"You bunch of students, without any achievements or official positions, standing before me, I don't even know who you are! You have no right to puff out your chest and say to me: If you enter the officialdom one day, you won't necessarily be worse than me!"

"I'm talking about you right now. You're trash right now!"

"If you're not convinced, prove it to me. I hope that in a few years, one of you will become my superior and tell me that he's not a loser!"

"At this moment, you are useless to the country, the people, others, and yourselves. You are just trash!" Shen Nian repeated.

Shen Nian stood with his hands behind his back, only one step away from the group of students.

The students wanted to refute, but they had no real knowledge and no real achievements; when they wanted to take action, the two Jinyiwei guards beside Shen Nian were already touching their embroidered spring swords, and the outermost Jinyiwei guard was even holding a chestnut stick tightly.

At this moment, a young man suddenly walked out from behind the student.

Judging from his face and gait, he looks mature beyond his years.

"Reviewer Shen, you can call those students who indulge in alcohol and sex and only want to graduate good-for-nothings good-for-nothings useless, but you can't call me, Zhou Cheng, useless!"

"Since entering the Imperial College, I have submitted memorials to the court over ten times. Although they were all rejected, I have the ambition to save the world and serve the country, and to purify the world. I have written down all the new policies. I am not a waste!"

"Zhou Cheng, I know you. You've published articles in popular tabloids and discussed state affairs in street teahouses, often with many scholars catering to your needs. Is that correct?"

Zhou Cheng nodded with a hint of pride.

Shen Nian looked at him and continued, "Those students who indulge in alcohol and sex will achieve nothing if they get an official position. Their family members who fail to get an official position will at most become idlers."

"But, if a loser like you gets an official position, you will surely bring hardship to the people, mismanage the government, and even become a pest to the country!"

Zhou Cheng was a little confused by the scolding, and didn't know why Shen Nian said such a thing.

"Because you have no regard for the country and no heart for the people. Go back and look through your memorials. Which one is for the people? Which one is for the common people?"

"When the Performance Evaluation Law was implemented, you argued that the court was too harsh on officials and would easily lead to resentment among them; when the Postal Service Law was implemented, you jumped out and said that the emperor's grace was too weak and requested its withdrawal. You only care about yourself and your own interests, not the people."

"Empty talk without real learning, empty promises of serving the country without real achievements—aren't you a pest to the nation? As a student of the Imperial Academy, your primary duty is to learn, not to speak, especially to speak nonsense and question the imperial court. Do you understand?"

Hear this.

Zhang Juzheng in the front hall was drinking a bowl of iced lotus seed soup as if it were the hottest days of summer.

What he hated most were those who ridiculed the government and misled the people. It would be better for him to keep silent than to speak.

Zhou Cheng opened his mouth and stepped back. The more details he talked about, the more timid he became.

He was only focused on becoming an official and didn't care about people's livelihood or sentiments, so naturally he couldn't say anything.

……

A moment later, all the Imperial College students lowered their heads in response to Shen Nian's admonition, as if a large stone with the word "waste" written on it had fallen on their heads.

They had never found themselves so miserable.

Shen Nian's theory is rubbish.

It not only refers to them, but also includes all the useless scholars in the world.

Today is definitely the darkest day for the Imperial College in Beijing, and even the darkest day for all scholars in the world.

Shen Nian slowed down and began to summarize.

"Everyone, a true man standing between heaven and earth should have lofty ambitions. Wealth and glory will eventually fade, but talent and knowledge are like the sun and the moon, shining brightly forever."

"In establishing oneself, building moral integrity, and building words, one should always prioritize learning. I dare not demand that you all be determined to serve your country, but I only hope that you will live up to this life and not be a waste, an idler, or a parasite!"

……

"I am giving this admonition not to accuse anyone, but to convey my inner thoughts. Finally, I want to leave you with this message: Never give up on small things, and work hard for a long time to achieve success!"

……

Say it.

Shen Nian turned back to the platform, bowed towards the main hall of the courtyard, and said, "The admonition lesson is over!"

The students all bowed to Shen Nianxing, and the teachers also bowed slightly.

Whether you accept it or not, you still have to give Shen Nian enough face based on his performance today.

Shen Nian strode towards the front hall.

He did not expect everyone to change because of his words today.

He has done his duty conscientiously and has no regrets.

What he was sure of was that these remarks would offend countless scholars.

Many students would dream of becoming Shen Nian Shangguan one day, and then point at his nose and scold him: Students of the Imperial College are not trash.

……

lobby.

The moment Shen Nian walked in.

Zhang Juzheng, Lü Diaoyang, Zhang Siwei, Ma Ziqiang, Shen Shixing, Wang Xijue, and Zhou Ziyi all stood up.

This is the greatest compliment I can give him.

"Thank you for your hard work!" Zhang Juzheng walked up to Shen Nian, patted him on the shoulder, and then strode out.

Other officials followed closely behind.

Ma Ziqiang stayed until the end and said to Shen Nian, "Ziheng, I will send someone to protect you in the next few days. You must pay attention to your safety."

"I understand!" Shen Nian said.

……

At dusk that day, inside the Hanlin Academy.

Shen Nian's admonition draft has been compiled and will be printed and copied tonight, and will be circulated throughout Beijing tomorrow.

Academic Hall.

After Shen Shixing finished reading the draft of the admonition, he said to Ma Ziqiang, "Master Ma, it can be printed now!"

Ma Ziqiang thought for a moment and said, "Ziheng's article has trampled on the pride of all the scholars in the world. There must be many people who will insult him. Let's share some of the pressure for him!"

"Add another line to the end of the article: Hanlin Academician Ma Ziqiang, Hanlin Attending Academician Shen Shixing, approved for publication."

"Okay." Shen Shixing nodded.

With this line of words, the entire Hanlin Academy is behind this article.

……

Early the next morning.

Some tabloids in the capital were the first to report the news that the Hanlin reviewer Shen Nian had admonished the teachers and students of the Imperial College.

These writers are good at attracting attention.

Their summary of Shen Nian's admonition yesterday was titled: "The Hanlin Academy reviews Shen Nian's admonition: Imperial College teachers are incompetent, and students are useless!"

He also wrote extensively about Shen Nian's waste theory and explained it in detail.

For a while.

Shen Nian's "Waste Theory" became a hot topic of discussion among people on the street.

Some scholars asked Shen Nian why he didn't eat meat porridge, saying that he had no idea about the hardships of scholars without any official titles.
Some scholars announced loudly that they would find Shen Nian to debate and force Shen Nian to retract his ignorant words!

Some scholars also began to write articles opposing Shen Nian's views, publishing them at their own expense and distributing them everywhere.

……

The scholars were so excited, which further proved that Shen Nian had hit their weak spot.

at the same time.

Some funny things are also happening on the streets.

When some merchants and vendors meet some scholars who are talking loudly in teahouses, they will deliberately say loudly: Trash!

When some scholars went to brothels, the singing girls suddenly became less enthusiastic about these scholars who had no talent or moral integrity.

Shen Nian single-handedly lowered the status of all scholars in the hearts of the people.

Many scholars will get furious when they hear the word "waste", as if their tailbone has been stepped on.

Even more outrageous is that——

There was a rumor that Shen Nian might be the illegitimate son of Zhang Juzheng, the chief minister of the cabinet. Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to admonish a group of teachers and students in a fourth-rank government office with a seventh-rank position and steal the limelight.

After hearing this outrageous rumor, Shen Nian sighed: Fortunately, there is official history in the world, otherwise these unofficial histories would be wild to the sky!

……

Cabinet value.

When Zhang Juzheng heard that some people were saying that Shen Nian was his illegitimate son, he couldn't help but stroke his beard and chuckle.

"Let them spread it! This way, Ziheng might be safer!"

Hearing this, the officials and clerks in the duty room immediately understood that when they saw Shen Nian again in the future, that would be the Shen Nian with the suffix "mentor Zhang Juzheng" after his name.

Zhang Juzheng was planning to train Shen Nian as his own direct student, just like how Xu Jie trained his student Zhang Juzheng.

……

Inside the Wenhua Hall.

Little Wanli had a bitter face and was writing big characters with a pen.

A quarter of an hour ago.

He clapped his hands and exclaimed in delight after reading Shen Nian's admonition.

When Empress Dowager Li saw this, she scolded him for his lack of etiquette and punished him by making him copy ten passages in large characters.

Little Wanli dreamed of sitting on the throne and scolding officials in the court like Shen Nian.

He copied the big characters bitterly.

He imagined the time when he would personally rule the country. Zhang Juzheng bowed his head and folded his hands, while Empress Dowager Li lived deep in the harem. And he would wave his hand, speak eloquently, point out the country's problems, and rule the world...

Finally, little Wanli did not forget to write four words for Shen Nian: A gentleman is like Heng.

He ordered Feng Bao to deliver it to Shen Nian personally.

Next, it may take up to a month.

Shen Nian was escorted by the Jinyiwei whenever he went to and from the yamen, and his family was also protected by the Jinyiwei to prevent anyone from attacking him.

　Today is a big chapter. This chapter is particularly comfortable to write. I shamelessly ask for your monthly vote!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)