First Minister of Ming Dynasty

According to Liu Sanwu's promise, all provinces will increase the number of places, and correspondingly, the number of students in Jiangxi and other places will be reduced.

Counting forward, it was the first time that Zhang Shuning spoke out for the students, helping the poor children. Since then, a large number of normal schools have been established, and the proportion of poor students enrolled has greatly increased.

Over the years, the enrollment ratio of students from the north and the south is about [-]% to [-]%, that is, the north is [-]%, and the south is [-]%, and the situation between the rich and the ordinary people is [-]% to [-]%, that is, the rich are [-]% and the poor are [-]%.

In fact, in this proportion, the rich still have an advantage. After all, their number is probably only [-]% among all the people. It is very lucky to get [-]% of the quota.

But people don’t agree, after all, in the Song Dynasty, people took [-]% to [-]%, and Tang Dynasty even more, if it goes back to the Han and Jin Dynasties, it’s the time when the nine-rank middle school was established, you poor ghosts have no chance at all!

But now the poor have not only taken [-]% of their money, but the trend is getting worse and worse. If they get [-]% or even more, what will this world be like?

I can't even think about it!

"Father, I seem to have figured it out."

Zhang Chengtian sat across from Zhang Ximeng, the little fat man looked serious and serious today.

Zhang Ximeng frowned, and said with a smile, "Tell me, let me see what you figured out!"

"Father, I think Chen Di still wants to keep the family business. There are many people who think like him... because they feel threatened!"

"Why?" Zhang Ximeng asked Dandan.

"Because their children can't pass the grace to enter the officialdom, and if they want to take the imperial examination, they have to compete with so many poor children. The chances of them entering the officialdom are not high. Over time, in the court, the children from poor families will also occupy a large part of the imperial court. proportion."

Zhang Ximeng groaned for a while, but even smiled and said: "Keep talking, I'm listening!"

Zhang Chengtian seemed to have been inspired by something, and continued: "There are not so many people in the officialdom, and they can't enjoy power. They will naturally be worried, and they are afraid that when the court will follow the law of equalizing the land, and then implement the policy of equalizing the rich and the poor, so They are so hostile to the various measures of the early days of the country!"

Zhang Ximeng smiled, "What you said is not unreasonable, but I want to ask you, what do you think?"

"Me? I want to eat shredded chicken wonton, and I want to eat roast duck. As for other things, I'm not interested!" Zhang Chengtian suddenly laughed and said, "Father, you said that one day, the children of the Zhang family will become mediocre, what do you think? ?”

"Me? I can't ask for it!" Zhang Ximeng smiled and said, "Whether it's you, your elder brother, or your third or fourth younger brother, I hope that you will go out of your own way and do what you like. Look at the world and have the common people in your heart." Do whatever you want, but don't think about continuing the glory of the Zhang family. I don't have any interest in continuing the family business, four generations and three fathers. In the court, I don't have private parties. What relationship and contacts will be managed for you. Including your commander, it was given by His Majesty. You should know what you think about your father. "

Zhang Chengtian grinned suddenly, "Of course I understand, my child, but there are still too few people in the world who think like you. Whether it is the Qin and Han Dynasties, or the Tang and Song Dynasties. If one person is an official, his descendants will receive favor. Court, so they don't worry about family property or family. But now, they can't help it."

The little fat man finally revealed the truth of the matter, because the Ming court has carried out many reforms over the years, such as the system of grace, the system of vassal kings, including the nobles in the court... There is only one purpose of all reforms, and that is to maximize fairness!

In Zhang Ximeng's capacity, the two sons were only given to Jin Yiwei's hundred households, and they only received money.

After Zhang Shuning became the head of the mountain, Zhang Chengtian took charge of the Gongwei Division, but he also gave up.The third and fourth members of the Zhang family, including the next generation, will lose their grace.

At the same time, the military system reform presided over by Tang He is also crazily reducing the authority of nobles. Except for the eldest son who inherits the title, other children have to study and take exams before they can enter the army, just like ordinary soldiers.

As for the vassal king's clan, not to mention, Lao Zhu made more restrictions.

All nobles of the clan have been cut down to this level, let alone ordinary civil servants.

The salary was cut off by Zhang Ximeng a long time ago. Although the rest can live, they will definitely not be able to live as well as the Song Dynasty.

Moreover, the Song Dynasty also had a habit of favoring the children of officials at every turn, usually one person was an official, and the chicken and dog ascended to heaven.

With so many relatives and descendants entering the officialdom, they will naturally form a force that will work hard to protect the interests of the family and prevent outsiders from invading.

Some people may ask, can they protect it?

Even in the Song Dynasty, there were many poor children, wouldn't they be able to make a move?

Will not!

Because in the Song Dynasty, there may be poor students, but there are absolutely no poor scholars.As long as you pass the exam, Yan Ruyu, the golden house, many cars and horses, everything will come immediately.

Becoming a Jinshi is equivalent to entering the circle of scholar-bureaucrats. Naturally, you can receive a big gift package for beginners.

In a word, people quickly formed one body, trying to shake them is tantamount to shaking a big tree!

But in the Ming Dynasty, things were completely different.

On the one hand, the special treatment of officials was crazily cut off, and on the other hand, countless poor students joined the track, which swept the officialdom to the extreme.

To be an official means to be more stable than ordinary people, with dignity and status... As for the others, there are really not many.

Although this alone can make most young people risk their lives, it is completely different from the previous rules.Like Chen Di, who has been an official for 20 years and became an official with the title of Shangshu, he is not even sure that he can preserve the glory and wealth of his descendants.

No matter what the higher authorities think, there are always thousands of "humble public tools" who do things. Once [-]% of them are poor children, it is self-evident who the imperial court's decree will be inclined to!

And this matter has already begun to emerge, otherwise, who proposed the taxation of inheritance?

The new generation of officials hopes that since it is to be fair, it must be carried out to the end.

Education is fair, officials are not allowed to be gracious, and the clan's noble stomach is restricted... How can wealth be passed on smoothly?

We are not going to rob, but pay some taxes, there is no problem!

This kind of matter has been debated for several years, but because the implications are too extensive and the operation is too troublesome, there has been no conclusion yet.

But as the old group of courtiers retire, sooner or later they will be exposed.

You can't hide, so it's better to output some ideas while you still have some influence, win over a group of supporters, and continue to pester like this.

As long as Lao Zhu completely abdicates after a while, Grand Master Zhang will no longer interfere with the government, there may still be a chance of redemption...

"Father, in fact, you can rest assured that there are children here, even if you keep your eyes closed, I won't let them mess around, don't worry!" Zhang Chengtian comforted Zhang Ximeng seriously.

As a result, he suffered a brittle forehead!

"Why hit me?"

"Can you say something? Your father and I are not dead yet! Besides, you don't think about your own weight. If you go to threaten the prince, it's considered an intervening matter? If your father closes his eyes, the prince will give you an order. I can take you to prison!"

Zhang Chengtian was dumbfounded, he rubbed his head, it seemed that what the old man said was right, but the question was how would he operate it?

"Father, I know that the crown prince is your student, and he can be regarded as my senior brother. I don't want to form a clique for personal gain, let alone have any other intentions. I just want to know, if the crown prince does something wrong, or if there are treacherous seducers around him, what should I, what should I do?" what to do?"

Zhang Ximeng didn't answer immediately, but lowered his eyelids slightly. After a long while, Zhang Ximeng said slowly: "Go and open the door, Your Majesty is coming."

Zhang Chengtian was startled, he still didn't understand what was going on, but subconsciously stood up to meet Zhu Yuanzhang.

After walking a few steps, Zhang Chengtian heard hurried footsteps, that's right, Dongdong is powerful, it's Lao Zhu!

Father really knows it like the palm of his hand!

Ah!

Zhang Chengtian seemed to understand what his father meant in an instant... In fact, the method is very simple, just like how Zhang Ximeng dealt with Zhu Yuanzhang, he used a dense net to trap Lao Zhu, so that Lao Zhu could not shake off the key issues at all. Open Zhang Ximeng, at the same time, Zhang Ximeng will not threaten the authority of the emperor.

This is easy to say, but too difficult to do!

Throughout the ages, abandoning the general example of the relationship between the monarch and his ministers, the real one is Zhang Ximeng alone!

Am I going to take over from Dad?

Zhang Chengtian's whole body shook, and his whole body instantly grew taller.

"I have seen Your Majesty!"

Lao Zhu just glanced at it and said, "Where's your father?"

Zhang Chengtian quickly led Lao Zhu over. At this time, Zhang Ximeng had prepared Guizhou high mountain tea and poured Lao Zhu a cup.

"My lord, please use it."

Old Zhu took a deep breath, "We won't talk nonsense when we come here. Sir, I want to ask you, what's wrong with the money earned by people's hard work and ability, and passed on from father to son? Commercial tax, every business has already paid the tax, why do you have to do it again? Not to mention whether it can be collected, I just ask you, what is the reason?"

Zhang Ximeng laughed loudly, "Your Majesty, over the years, the imperial court has established rules, enacted laws, provided loans, built bridges and paved roads... We have done so much, are we still only relying on our own ability to make money? It is Daming who fulfilled them, without Daming I'm afraid these people are far from today's property! Secondly, Daming protects the property in his hands, but does not protect the property from generation to generation. If you want to pass it on to the next generation, you need to make a new agreement with the court, that is, you You have to spend a sum of money so that the imperial court can ensure the safe inheritance of your property, otherwise, the imperial court will not be responsible for any accidents!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was startled for a moment, then clapped his hands and laughed, "Mr.

Chapter 885 The Prince's Confusion

Zhu Yuanzhang was very pleased that he got what he wanted from Zhang Ximeng. He turned his head and saw Zhang Chengtian, and suddenly said, "You brat, get the hell out of here!"

Zhang Chengtian hurried over, "I've seen Your Majesty."

Lao Zhu looked him up and down, then snorted coldly: "We heard that you went to threaten the prince? What did you say that he deliberately forced us to abdicate, scaring him enough! Let me ask you, you don't know what the prince and we are Relationship? You dare to talk nonsense!"

Zhang Chengtian rolled his eyes, peeked at his father, suddenly puffed up his chest, and said proudly: "I know that your Majesty and the crown prince are deeply in love with each other, but I think that even if they are biological father and son, they may not be of the same heart. What's more, Daming is still there." In His Majesty's hands, the honorable generals are all His Majesty's people, not the Prince's. For future convenience, the Prince suppressed the nobles, slandered the generals... It is reasonable to even damage His Majesty's reputation, and I have to be on guard! "

"You bullshit!"

Old Zhu asked sharply, "Zhang Chengtian, based on your words, we will punish you for instigating the feelings of the Tian family, and you will not escape!"

Zhang Chengtian's heart was beating wildly. It would be a lie to say that he was not afraid, but just now, his conversation with his father seemed to make Zhang Chengtian understand something.

"Your Majesty, the relationship between father and son is different from the relationship between the emperor and the prince. Don't forget that some people under the crown prince also have their own thoughts. They also have their own thoughts. of!"

"Bold!" This time Zhu Yuanzhang was furious, and he was really angry. He said with a dark face: "The prince is the future emperor. How could he damage his own foundation? How is this different from digging his own grave?"

On the contrary, Zhang Chengtian was not so afraid. He said calmly: "If there are so many princes in the world, there will be no change of dynasty, and the country will rise and fall. The prince grew up in a peaceful age, and he doesn't know how hard it is to build a country. Just like a minister, he didn't know how to act. At the beginning, there were such meticulous military regulations. I thought that His Majesty was a mob at the beginning of his actions. The prince didn't understand something, and he trusted civil servants. He thought that governing the country was just a few orders, and it was just a matter of effort! This is different from Your Majesty. I'm not saying that he intends to corrupt the national code and destroy Ming Dynasty. It's just that this situation has happened in all dynasties, and most of the princes are no exception. If your majesty wants to punish you because you told the truth, I have nothing to say!"

"Fart!" Zhu Yuanzhang was furious, "Zhang Chengtian, you said you have nothing to say, but you said a lot! I want to ask you, what is your intention? By the way, your father is here, Mr. Zhang , you, what do you think?"

Zhu Yuanzhang turned his head abruptly, and found that Zhang Ximeng had lowered his eyelids, as if he had fallen asleep.

"Mr. Zhang, Mr. Zhang!"

Zhang Ximeng just woke up from a dream, and said vaguely: "My lord, Zhang Chengtian's commander was appointed by you, and I don't know what to say, everything depends on His Majesty's decision!"

"You, your son is talking nonsense, you father don't care?"

Zhang Ximeng said with a wry smile: "He, he and His Majesty are talking about state affairs, and there is no father and son in court. If he breaks the family law, I will definitely punish him severely!"

"Absurd, absurd!" Zhu Yuanzhang was furious, "Mr. Zhang, we have learned... Zhang Chengtian, your commander is gone!"

After saying this, Lao Zhu got up, angrily left.

"Your Majesty, go slowly." Zhang Ximeng sent him out, but Lao Zhu just snorted and left without looking back.

When Zhang Ximeng turned around and returned to the study, he found that Zhang Chengtian was still there. The little guy didn't feel depressed at all because of his loss of office, but instead had a scheming smile all over his face.

"Father, have you done a good job?"

Zhang Ximeng gave him a blank look, and after a while, he sighed softly, "The marks of the ax chiseling are still too heavy, His Majesty will think it over later, maybe he will go back on his word."

Zhang Chengtian immediately said: "Father, don't worry, I have already graduated from middle school and have the qualifications for the imperial examination."

"Oh?" This sentence made Zhang Ximeng startled, "You, you plan to take the imperial examination directly? Don't you go to Jimin Academy?"

Zhang Chengtian chuckled, "I can take the imperial examination first, and then take the time to study in Jimin Academy... In this way, I can earn three years more qualifications, and I can also go to other places to practice, and go directly to the imperial court. I'm afraid I won't be his opponent. "

Zhang Ximeng frowned slightly, and after a while, he laughed out loud, "Well, you really surprised my father, yes, you are a bit talented."

Zhang Chengtian chuckled, that's a beauty, finally got his father's approval, it's not easy!

What kind of charades are these two playing?

There is no doubt that Chen Di's case must be severely punished without discussion.

Zhang Chengtian went to force Zhu Biao to help Zhu Biao out.

But the problem is that Zhu Biao is the prince of Jian Guo. If there is no explanation, it will hurt Zhu Biao's prestige.

It is completely reasonable for Lao Zhu to pretend to be guilty.

But Zhang Chengtian's reaction was interesting, he didn't beg for mercy, and secondly, he didn't admit his mistake, instead he argued with reason and said a lot of things, which made Lao Zhu furious!

But what are you going to say about what Zhang Chengtian said wrong?

Not really!

It's just that Zhu Yuanzhang has always valued the relationship between father and son more than anything else, even surpassing the royal father-son practice!

You know, there are no fathers and sons in the royal family, and the Xuanwu Sect is a trivial matter. Sons kill their fathers, fathers kill their sons, and even dynasties like Liu Song and Nanqi, after ascending to the throne, destroyed all their families and killed their clans. .

This is the routine operation of the past dynasties, so it is not surprising that the prince would pour dirty water on the old man!

After all, the emperor's father's power is not his power, so it doesn't hurt to sell his father's land.

It's just that Lao Zhu's situation is special. He came from a humble background and relied on his own strength to sit on the dragon chair.He had lost too much, so he attached great importance to the family relationship between father and son, and even did not hesitate to let the prince supervise the country in his prime, with great authority.

So what Zhang Chengtian said can be said to any emperor, except Lao Zhu!

But Lao Zhu also understood the truth of this, so he just dismissed Zhang Chengtian's commander and did not take any further action.

The most interesting thing here is Zhang Ximeng. He didn't speak for Zhang Chengtian at all, nor did he plead guilty to Lao Zhu, as if he had nothing to do with him.

If Zhang Ximeng was willing to say a good word, Zhang Chengtian would not lose his official position.

Why is Zhang Ximeng unwilling to help?

The mystery here is also very simple, because Zhang Chengtian needs to change to a more suitable stage at this time.If you want to play a role in the court, you can serve as the commander of the guard department.

To play a huge role, sorry, the arch guard is still too small.