Daming Town Haiwang

Chapter 2172, Proposal for Imperial Examination Reform
Because of the arrival of the imperial examinations, the whole capital city became very lively. Talented scholars from all corners of the country continued to show off their talents in various parts of the capital. Various activities such as poetry gatherings, receptions, literary meetings, etc. also emerged in endlessly.

The imperial court is also preparing for the imperial examination this time. There are too many people who came to take the imperial examination this time. More than [-] people came to the capital to catch up with the examination. To hold such a huge imperial examination, all aspects are needed Be well prepared.

Gongyuan, the place where the test will be held.

At this time, Liu Jin and Wang Shouren, accompanied by Fang Yongliang, Minister of Rites, were inspecting the preparations for the Gongyuan. This was the first time since Zhu Houzhao took the throne that an imperial examination was held. Zhu Houzhao also attached great importance to this matter. The chief examiner this time was the cabinet minister Wang Shouren , the level is much higher than before, which also shows how much the emperor attaches importance to this matter.

"It's been so many years. Why hasn't the Tribute Court changed at all? This is not acceptable. My Ming Dynasty has developed in all aspects, and the Tribute Court has also undergone some changes."

Liu Jin walked up and down in the Gongyuan, inspecting it constantly. It was now the second year of Zhengde, and it was the [-]th year of Hongzhi when he took the imperial examination. Thirty years have passed.

However, apart from the larger scale of the Gongyuan, other aspects remain the same as before. The examination seats are still cramped, and sitting is fine. If you want to sleep in it, you can't stretch out your body at all.

Also, the hygienic conditions here in the Gongyuan are still the same as decades ago, and the test seats near the latrines are still stinky. If anyone is unlucky and gets a bad number, the combat effectiveness during the test will be reduced by more than half.

Seeing this, Liu Jin was quite dissatisfied.

From a small tribute courtyard, it can be seen that the progress of ancient society is extremely weak. For decades, great changes have taken place in Ming Dynasty, but here, it is still so simple, without any changes. .

"Liu Gong, this place of scientific research has always been like this. If it is easily changed, isn't it good?"

Fang Yongliang heard it, thought for a while and said.

"What's wrong?"

"This examinee has worked hard and studied for decades, just to be able to stand out one day, but how can he take the exam well in such an environment?"

"Take the time to make rectifications, such as installing electric lights. It was already winter during the exam. It was late and early, and it was hard to see clearly. The brightness of the candles was limited, and it was not safe and convenient. Just replace them all with electric lights, which are brighter and clearer. Safe and convenient."

"There is also this hut that needs to be rectified here. There must be running water for flushing and a sewage system to prevent the stench from affecting the candidates. In addition, a boiling water room is added here in the examination room, so that candidates can drink boiled water during the exam. Drinking cold water in winter will cause diarrhea. , affect the test."

"In addition, the number of people taking the exam this time is very large. More than 5 people will come to the capital to take the exam. The relevant preparations must also be prepared well, and don't make a mess."

Liu Jin looked around and said.

"Yes!"

Fang Yongliang nodded quickly when he heard it.

As long as Liu Jin opens his mouth, it will be easy. Anyway, the imperial court has money now, and everyone has nothing to say about the money spent on the imperial examination. Besides, if this is changed, the students who take the imperial examination will also be praised. word.

"This condition is indeed too crude."

Wang Shouren smiled and sighed: "I think we also walked out from here back then. The few days of the exam, it was really difficult."

"The times have changed now, and some things should indeed change."

Wang Shouren was also full of emotions. When he took the scientific examination, he was still a young man under 30 years old. Thirty years have passed in a blink of an eye, and he will soon be sixty years old.

A scholar back then has now become a cabinet minister with great power, time flies too fast.

Thinking about how hard it was for a few days in this small test room, it was really not easy when I thought about it.

"Yes, I will make the rectification carefully."

Fang Yongliang also said hastily.

"Old Wang, time flies so fast. You and I were at the same time back then. Thirty years have passed. Time is not forgiving!"

Liu Jin smiled and recalled with Wang Shouren the time when they took the imperial examination together.

"That's right, it's been thirty years, but I still remember it vividly. Back then, I took the exam in No. 23 test shed, C Zi."

Wang Shouren also nodded with a smile, and then came to a test room and said.

"Haha, then you are not very lucky. This place is not too far from the hut. My position at that time was very good."

Liu Jin suddenly laughed.

"It's okay, it's okay, if I go to a few more places, I guess I might lose my name."

Wang Shouren also smiled.

Fang Yongliang next to him and officials from the Ministry of Rites also listened carefully.

In my mind, I was also recalling the scene when I took the imperial examination. Of course, there is no comparison with the two in front of me.

I have reached the position of Minister at a very old age, and I don't think it will be long, but the two in front of me, not only became extremely ministers early, but the key is that they are still very young.

Wang Shouren will only be sixty years old next year, and Liu Jin will only be forty-nine years old.

There are also Liu Jin and Wang Shouren who produced many celebrities in the imperial examination in the [-]th year of Hongzhi, and Liu Jin and Wang Shouren in front of them are the most famous.

Back then, Liu Jin was the number one scholar, and Wang Shouren was the second. Now Liu Jin is the chief assistant of the cabinet, and Wang Shouren is the second assistant. Both of them are highly valued and trusted by the emperor, and both are talented ministers who can govern the country. It's clear.

In addition to these two people, many people who were born in the imperial examination in the [-]th year of Hongzhi have now achieved middle and high-level positions. For example, Fengxi, the governor of Tianjin, is now a third-rank official. If he has the opportunity in the future, he will definitely be able to enter Six books of ministers.

There is also Lun Wenxu from Liaodong Province, who was Tanhua in the past, and now he is now a senior official of the third rank. In addition, there is also Tang Bohu, the governor of Hong Kong, an official of the fourth rank, and it is said that he will be promoted to the third rank soon.

In addition, there is Liu Long, the chief minister of Hezhong Province, who is also a third-rank official in the frontier. It can be said that the generation of the imperial examination in the [-]th year of Hongzhi was called the golden generation by the students behind.

Because there are too many, too many good people among the candidates of this generation.

And as the older generation retreated one after another, their generation was rapidly emerging and became the pillars of the Ming court.

Of course, this also has a lot to do with Liu Jin and Wang Shouren. The two of them hold great power, and my friends at the same time will naturally have a lot of support. As long as they do performance, promotion is indispensable.

Liu Jin and Wang Shouren also came to the palace to report to Emperor Zhengde after visiting the Gongyuan.

"Your Majesty, I just inspected the Tribute Courtyard. This Tribute Courtyard is completely the same as it was decades ago. Now my Ming Dynasty is flourishing, changing with each passing day, and the atmosphere is myriad."

"This imperial examination is also related to the well-being of my country and the people of Ming Dynasty. I think that some reforms should be carried out appropriately. Not only some changes should be made on the side of the Gongyuan, but some reforms should also be carried out on the content of the imperial examination. .”

In Shangshu's room, Liu Jin also spoke to Zhu Houzhao.

"Oh?"

"How to change?"

When Zhu Houzhao heard this, he immediately became interested.

This is the first time an imperial examination has been held since he ascended the throne. Zhu Houzhao attaches great importance to it, and also hopes that there will be some new changes and changes.

"First of all, on the side of the Gongyuan, I thought that electric lights should be added, which will be brighter and more convenient to use. Secondly, the toilets in the Gongyuan should be changed to make them more hygienic, so as not to affect the surrounding test sheds."

"The other thing is to increase the number of boiling water rooms. The exam is already in winter in October, and the weather is very cold. If you drink cold water, it will be bad for the examinee's health. Adding boiling water rooms will also allow candidates to drink hot water."

Liu Jin also spoke out in detail some of the things he felt needed to be changed.

"Ok!"

"What you said makes sense. Our Ming Dynasty is developing rapidly and changing with each passing day. It is indeed time for the examination room of the Tribute Academy to keep pace with the times and make some changes."

"Just do as you say."

Zhu Houzhao nodded and agreed after listening. He also went to the Gongyuan, and he knew that the conditions in the Gongyuan were extremely simple. Candidates had to stay there for several days during the exam, and those days were absolutely uncomfortable.

Making some appropriate changes now is also keeping pace with the times and for the sake of candidates.

"Secondly, in terms of the content of the exam, I think that we should learn from the new school, add a new school, including mathematics, history, geography, physics, chemistry, etc., and make the status of this new school exam improve."

Liu Jin thought for a while and suggested again.

Up to now, Liu Jin feels that it is time to reform the content of the traditional imperial examinations. Rote memorization and excerpts of the imperial examinations will only restrain people's thinking, and restrain the imagination and creativity of talented people. and development is useless.

It is necessary to increase the content of the new learning, so that the new learning will gradually replace the old learning and become the mainstream of the Ming Dynasty. Only in this way can the progress and development of the Ming Empire be truly promoted.

The new learning has been developed to the present, and it cannot always be outside the center of power. If it continues for a long time, it will inevitably cause huge problems and contradictions. The final result may be a bourgeois revolution that overthrows everything that existed before.

Of course, in Liu Jin's view, the most important thing is to emancipate the mind. Only in this way can we truly promote the scientific and technological progress and social progress of the Ming Dynasty, and establish the foundation for the Ming Empire to be invincible.

(End of this chapter)