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

"Wu Ji, let's just discuss the matter. Why are you being so aggressive?" Emperor Chongzhen threw down the agronomy book, stood up and walked over.

After hearing this, Zhang Shikang also turned his head, and the direction he turned his head was exactly symmetrical with Hai Zhongqi's.

This old man actually acted as a peacemaker!

“Lord Li, Lord Hai, what Wuji said does make some sense.

I know you care about your own reputation, but if your personal reputation is placed above the development of the court, is this what the sages taught you?"

As Emperor Chongzhen spoke, he sat between Zhang Shikang and Li Banghua.

"Before the Ji Mao incident, Wu Ji and I had thought about how much those scholars would hate us after we killed so many gentry and landlords.

I think... you think so too, right?

But what was the result? Although most of the people were illiterate, they were also sensible.

If you go to the fields and ask the farmers, you will know the people's true evaluation of me and Wuji.

If the scholars and officials hate me and Wu Ji, then let them hate us.

This world, after all, belongs to me and my people, what do you think?" Emperor Chongzhen said calmly.

This is the lesson Zhang Shikang taught him over the past two years.

It is always difficult to satisfy everyone. If you allocate interest to one group of people, the other group of people will get less benefit.

As a person in a higher position, one must know how to make choices. There will certainly be resistance, but if one wants the court to be stable and secure for a long time, it is like putting the chips in the hands of the majority.

The nobles, royal family members, and literati are that small group of people. The former Emperor Chongzhen believed that distributing the interest to this group of people would reduce a lot of trouble. After all, the common people would not go to the court to oppose it.

But the result is that the common people will not go to the court to oppose, but they will pick up their hoes to rebel!

The benefits were distributed to nobles, royal family members, and literati, but the court could not get any benefits from them.

When the imperial court is in danger, no one will give up money and grain for the sake of long-term wealth and glory.

Emperor Chongzhen spent ten years proving how much of a failure he had been.

If the benefits were distributed to the people, the financial stability and balance of the court could be achieved through taxation in the future.

The distribution of land is for this purpose, as are other reforms. The inclusion of science and engineering in the imperial examination system is also for this purpose.

Emperor Chongzhen said this to make the cabinet ministers present, such as Li Banghua and Hai Zhongqi, understand that adding science and engineering to the imperial examination system was not only Zhang Shikang's idea, but he, the emperor, also agreed.

When Zhang Shikang first told him about this matter, Emperor Chongzhen actually didn't care much. But after listening to what Zhang Shikang said just now, he finally realized that Zhang Shikang was right.

Confucianism has penetrated into every aspect of the Ming Dynasty and does not want to give other disciplines any chance. Even he, the emperor, did not realize it.

In fact, several years ago, Emperor Chongzhen realized that the Donglin Party should be curbed, and he promoted many officials who were not inferior to those of the Donglin Party.

But the problem is that whether it is the Donglin Party, or the Chu Party and Zhejiang Party decades ago, their foundations are all Confucian schools.

The entire court turned into an internal struggle among Confucians. Thinking about it now, it was really scary.

Emperor Chongzhen's meaning was very clear. He understood the difficulties faced by Li Banghua and others, but in the face of the court's development, no one was allowed to block it for any reason.

You can't argue with Zhang Shikang any more than he can, you just keep opposing him blindly. There's no such thing.

"Your Majesty, I think this matter should be brought to the court for discussion."

The emperor has spoken, and as the chief minister of the cabinet, Li Banghua had to express his opinion.

But Emperor Chongzhen knew what Li Banghua was planning, so he simply blocked the loophole.

"Lord Li, do you want to make another collective death petition?" Emperor Chongzhen said to Li Banghua with a smile.

But that smile was not really gentle.

You cabinet ministers know that this matter will affect your reputation. Don’t other ministers in the court know this?

What do you mean by asking for public opinion? To win over more court officials to oppose together?

"I reiterate that this matter must be voted on by you first. If you cannot convince me and Wuji with the righteousness of the cause,

Just resign from office." Emperor Chongzhen said calmly.

Although his tone was calm, his words were unquestionable.

Even Zhang Shikang looked at him with a new respect, thinking that the current Chongzhen brother was truly domineering.

Perhaps sensing Zhang Shikang's gaze, Emperor Chongzhen immediately said:

"If you are so short-sighted, then the titles I bestow upon you are inappropriate.

If you, the ministers, go against the teachings of the sages and want to preserve your own reputation, I will deprive you of all the official titles I have bestowed upon you.

I may also inform the people of the world of this matter through the factory guards and the Ming Monthly Report, so that the people will know what you are thinking."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shikang secretly gave Brother Chongzhen a thumbs up with his left hand.

Not only does he kill someone, he also destroys their heart. This guy has made progress.

To obstruct the revival of the Ming Dynasty is an unforgivable crime. He should resign from office and be stripped of all honors. Then the matter should be made public so that the people will know the causes and consequences.

This is tantamount to destroying their reputation among 100 million people.

This depends on whether cabinet ministers such as Li Banghua and Hai Zhongqi care about their reputation among Confucian scholars or their reputation among the people.

I have to say, it’s great!

Have courage!

Sure enough, when Emperor Chongzhen said this, Li Banghua immediately became restless.

"Your Majesty, I am ashamed. I have failed to live up to the teachings of the saints. Please forgive me!" Li Banghua stood up and bowed to Emperor Chongzhen.

Hai Zhongqi frowned and finally gave in.

"I… second the motion."

With two people taking the lead, the other three cabinet ministers also expressed their submission one after another.

Even though Emperor Chongzhen pressed them so hard, Hai Zhongqi and others, who valued their reputation more than their lives, still felt extremely uncomfortable.

Zhang Shikang wanted to laugh when he saw this. He even guessed that this stubborn guy in Hai Zhong had probably never been so conflicted in his life.

So he suggested:

"You elders, there is no need to look as if you have lost your parents. I will give you a suggestion.

When you go back later, you can help the officials from various departments to prepare themselves psychologically.

Let them know what will happen if they dare to oppose the court tomorrow morning.

Don't glare at me. His Majesty is very tough. If they really dare to object, Ming Monthly News will know, right?

The sales volume exceeded five million copies last month, and their reputation among the people was in tatters in a matter of minutes.

But if they stood on the same side as several others and agreed to reform the imperial examination system.

You won't have to show up when the time comes. As for me, I know a little bit about the writing style of the Spring and Autumn Period, and I will make sure that the blame will not be on you.

This is the unanimous agreement of all court officials. What does it have to do with you?

You said that, right? "

……