Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

All five cabinet ministers spoke out in opposition. This was the first time that all the cabinet ministers had expressed such a formal collective opposition during a court meeting since Zhang Shikang and Chongzhen had cooperated to purge the court.

Even during the land reform and household registration reform, and the abolition of the corvee system, there was never such collective and strong opposition.

But even in the face of such strong opposition, Zhang Shikang's expression remained calm.

"Why are you all so excited?" Zhang Shikang asked with a puzzled look on his face.

"I don't quite understand. Elder Hai said that the imperial examination system has been in place for a thousand years, so it cannot be changed.

The corvée system has been in place for more than two thousand years, so why didn't you all oppose it so passionately back then?"

The imperial examination system has existed for only a little over a thousand years from the Sui and Tang Dynasties to the present, but the corvée system existed before the BC.

“And if I remember correctly, the imperial examination system also had a calculation system during the Sui and Tang dynasties, but it was cancelled during the Five Dynasties because it did not suit the situation at the time.

You see, the current imperial examination system is no longer suitable for the situation of the Ming Dynasty. Why can't it be changed?"

Whether Zhang Shikang was making a statement or asking a question, his expression was very calm. It doesn't matter if there is a controversy. Let's just debate it.

"The reason why the Ming Suan exam was cancelled was that the candidates who passed the exam could only become low-ranking officials, and there were few applicants, so it was cancelled.

The reason why the corvée system was abolished is because... because you, my lord, insisted on doing so.

This year, more than two million civilians have been conscripted to dig canals, and the money and grain consumed has reached an astronomical figure. My lord, you should know this.

If the money in the treasury is used up quickly, it will not be easy to restore the corvée system. " Hai Zhongqi retorted.

“Since the Ming Suan exam only allows candidates to become low-ranking officials, which is why so few people apply, why not remove this restriction?

I think since the rulers at that time included Mingsuan subject in the imperial examination, it must be because Mingsuan subject was very important. If it was important, why was it cancelled just because of this small reason?

As for the corvée labor issue that Lord Hai mentioned, look, you clearly didn't object to it at the beginning, but now you are saying that it was I who insisted on doing it, acting as if I am very overbearing.

If it is really my intention, then I will insist again now. I just want to add science and engineering subjects to the imperial examination. You can tell me whether you agree or not. "

Zhang Shikang changed his words.

You say I'm acting like a rogue, right? Since acting like a rogue can get things done, I'll show you.

"I don't agree." Cabinet Chief Li Banghua once again made a tough statement.

"Minister Li's words make sense. I second the proposal." Hai Zhongqi also said.

The other three also followed suit, disagreeing with Zhang Shikang's proposal to reform the imperial examination system.

"Then there's nothing to talk about?" Zhang Shikang was so angry that he laughed. He looked at Hai Zhongqi and shrugged.

Hai Zhongqi turned his head away and did not look at Zhang Shikang.

As a result, the court discussion temporarily came to a deadlock.

After a moment's silence, seeing that the uncles and old men were unwilling to give in, Zhang Shikang had to put away his smile.

There's nothing to talk about, so let's not talk about it!

"Since you are unwilling to answer my questions, then I will answer them for you.

The real reason for canceling the mathematics subject was actually very simple. The reason why there were few applicants was bullshit.

There is only one reason, and that is that Confucianism wants to dominate the imperial examinations!"

Zhang Shikang's expression suddenly became arrogant.

More than two years of fighting and hundreds of assassination attempts had already invisibly changed Zhang Shikang's temperament, but he had already trained himself to be able to control his temper with ease.

They were always smiling and laughing, and everyone discussed things from the court's perspective. Even if a dispute occurred, Zhang Shikang would patiently explain it.

But if you become unreasonable and start to act like a rogue, Zhang Shikang will definitely not tolerate it.

Starting from the abolition of all schools of thought and the promotion of Confucianism alone, over thousands of years, as autocracy continued to improve, Confucianism gradually penetrated into the flesh and blood of rulers and scholars all over the world.

It seems that if you understand Confucianism, you can really govern the world. Bullshit.

Zhang Shikang knew very well that Confucianism has always been just a superficial appearance. If there were no Ming Dynasty laws, and if you only relied on the so-called ethics, would you dare to go out at night?

All along, it is the Legalist school that has truly supported the country's order.

But it is an indisputable fact that Confucianism has almost monopolized the country's political resources as it has developed to the present day.

This is the reason why the Mingsuan Department was abolished instead of improving its treatment.

This is also the reason why we refused to include science and engineering in the imperial examination system.

If they agree, it would almost mean that Confucianism and Confucian scholars would give up some political resources, and Li Banghua, Hai Zhongqi and others would be criticized by Confucian scholars all over the world.

In such an era, the only thing that a court official like Hai Zhongqi, who is neither greedy nor corrupt, cares about is his own reputation.

They care about their reputation even more than their own lives.

But even so, Zhang Shikang still had to lift their fig leaf and point at their weaknesses and curse loudly.

Ask them, which is more important, your reputation or the future of the court?

“The reason you oppose the inclusion of science and engineering in the imperial examination system is that you don’t want other disciplines to share the political resources of Confucianism, right?

Can you deny the importance of science and engineering?

What do you eat, wear, and use? Which of them can be separated from science and engineering?"

When Zhang Shikang gets angry, he is merciless.

The so-called Ming Dynasty mathematics subjects are actually subjects related to geometry and mathematics. It is hard to imagine what the Ming Dynasty court would be like without the support of mathematics.

The science and engineering that Zhang Shikang mentioned is actually broader. If we only talk about science, it also includes mathematics.

In addition, science of course also includes subjects such as physics and chemistry that have strong relevance to industry.

As for the word "work", it is also a broad concept. It can be industrial work or craftsman's work.

But whether it is science or engineering, there is only one goal: everything that helps to achieve the industrialization of the Ming Dynasty should be included.

Only by adding science and engineering to the imperial examinations can we attract more talents to study them actively. The Ming Dynasty court also lacked real science and engineering talents.

The imperial examination system was a rare channel for ordinary people all over the world to achieve class transition.

It is not the only channel, but it is the safest channel.

After Zhang Shikang finished speaking, cabinet ministers including Hai Zhongqi, Li Banghua, and Fan Jingwen all frowned, looking somewhat embarrassed.

When things got to this point, Zhang Shikang didn't care whether these guys could come down or not. He only cared about how to achieve industrialization.

Confucianism, Confucianism, the whole head is filled with Confucianism. Confucianism will sooner or later destroy China.

Hai Zhongqi and others remained silent, and Zhang Shikang also refused to give in, and the court discussion once again fell into a deadlock.

"Ahem..." Upon seeing this, Emperor Chongzhen finally coughed and ended his slacking off.

……