I, Jiajing, successfully cultivated immortality

Chapter 391 Take back the right to speak! (two in one)

"Your Majesty, please slow down and watch out for the steps!"

Lu Fang looked at the towering steps in front of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and couldn't help but remind her.

When Jiajing heard this, he immediately stopped, turned around, and looked at Lu Fang with a puzzled expression.

"what happened?"

Lu Fang looked at Jiajing's striding steps and radiant look, silently suppressed what she wanted to say, shook her head unobtrusively, and immediately responded.

"nothing."

Jiajing didn't doubt that he was there, and immediately stepped up the steps with exceptionally steady steps.

And Lu Fang followed Jiajing's footsteps step by step. Although his face was very calm, Lu Fang's thinking began to diverge involuntarily.

"Your Majesty doesn't look like a person in his 50s at all, and his physical condition seems to be much better than that of King Yu!"

Lu Fang continued to think along this line of thought, and the expression on his face gradually became frightened, and a dangerous idea suddenly emerged in his heart.

"Could it be possible that His Majesty has practiced Taoism for so many years and has gained some experience?"

But soon, this idea was rejected by Lu Fang himself.

"No, it won't, Lu Fang, don't think about it!"

"Throughout the ages, there have been countless emperors who wanted to pursue longevity, but in the end, didn't they turn into handfuls of loess?"

"Don't think about it anymore, serving His Majesty with peace of mind is what you should do now!"

Just as Lu Fang was still at war between heaven and man, Jiajing's voice from the ancient well without waves reached Lu Fang's ears, pulling him back to reality.

"Lu Fang, what are you doing there, why don't you hurry up?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Hearing these words, Lu Fang suppressed the chaotic thoughts in her heart, responded, and immediately stepped onto the steps of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

After entering the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Jiajing sat on the dragon chair without any image, picked up the teapot, and poured himself a cup of tea.

Seeing this situation, Lu Fang immediately stepped forward and asked respectfully.

"Your Majesty, do you need a servant to send some snacks from the imperial dining room?"

"Well, let them bring some over, I happen to be a little hungry."

Jiajing nodded when he heard the words, and immediately ordered.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After the words fell, Lu Fang beckoned to call a little eunuch, and after whispering a few words in his ear, the little eunuch quickly left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Jiajing saw all of this, and immediately picked up the teacup, took a sip, and asked Lu Fang.

"Lu Fang, what do you think of my speech today?"

After Lu Fang heard the words, after organizing the language in her mind, she immediately said respectfully: "Your Majesty, I have the honor to go to listen to the lectures of those Hanlin scholars, but compared to them, I still think that your majesty speaks better!"

When Lu Fang said this, the reverence in his eyes could not be concealed.

"Your Majesty, you speak from shallow to deep, even servants can understand what you are talking about!"

Jiajing seemed to appreciate Lu Fang's words quite a bit, he chuckled lightly, and then continued.

"Lu Fang, tell me, what will happen if I set up a separate engineering course for the exam?"

Seeing the puzzled look on Lu Fang's face, Jiajing shook his head unrecognizably, and then explained.

"I plan to classify all subjects such as arithmetic, astronomy, and construction into engineering subjects, and conduct separate examinations!"

Hearing this, Lu Fang's expression froze immediately, and after thinking for a long time, she gave her own opinion.

"Your Majesty, although I don't understand it very well, I feel that this must be a long-term process!"

"Oh, go on."

When Jiajing heard the words, he couldn't help becoming interested in what Lu Fang was going to say next, and immediately asked.

Seeing that the emperor was interested in this, Lu Fang paused for a moment, and then continued after organizing the words in her mind.

"Your Majesty, this servant girl thinks that the scholars of all dynasties are all familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics, yearn for the way of Confucius and Mencius, and pass the imperial examinations, and are selected at various levels."

"If things go on like this, there will be a saying that everything is low-grade, but the wise saying of high-level reading, everything that can't help the imperial examination, is instinctively rejected by them."

"Those craftsmen who build ships and temples, and even many technological innovations, in the eyes of these scholars, are nothing more than ingenious skills and ingenuity, which are not on the stage."

"No matter how superb your skills are, in the end, you still have to obey these scholars who have gained high positions through hard study of the Four Books and Five Classics, and there are only so many positions in the imperial court."

After listening to Lu Fang's words, Jiajing was also thoughtful, and immediately added.

"I understand. What you mean is that if I classify subjects such as arithmetic, astronomy, and construction into engineering subjects, and hold separate exams, it will attract everyone's opposition?"

Seeing that the emperor understood what she meant, Lu Fang also nodded, and then added.

"Yes, Your Majesty, that's what the servants mean!"

"The integration of government and gentry payment that you previously promoted only abolished the privilege of officials and gentry not to pay payment, and it actually didn't have much impact on the status of those officials."

At this moment, the prepared snacks were brought over from the imperial dining room, but Jiajing had no time to take care of them, so he just asked him to put the snacks aside and continued to ask questions.

"Lu Fang, keep talking!"

After receiving Jiajing's encouragement, Lu Fang immediately responded respectfully.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"My servant thinks that if we want to change this situation, we must get rid of the halo of scholars who seem to have nothing!"

"They raise their status by belittling other industries, so that everyone can follow the path that has already been arranged, the children's test, the county test, the government test, and even the final palace test."

"And those who passed the palace examination and became officials successfully, how could they oppose them?"

"Furthermore, the energy possessed by these gentry is really astonishing. A word from them is sometimes more effective than a notice posted by the government!"

After listening to Lu Fang's words, Jiajing also seemed to have a clear understanding, and looked away from Lu Fang, and said silently to himself.

"It seems that in the final analysis, I still want to firmly hold the right to speak in my own hands!"

"What should I do?"

Jiajing supported his chin with one hand, lost in thought.

Seeing the emperor start to think, Lu Fang didn't dare to disturb him, and just waited quietly.

I don't know how much time has passed, but suddenly, Jiajing came back to his senses and laughed loudly.

"How did I forget the newspaper!"

"With the newspaper, I can control part of the right to speak, and in the process, explain the policies of the imperial court, and then regain the right to speak step by step!"

Lu Fang was quite puzzled by Jiajing's strange words, but he was very keenly aware of one thing the emperor mentioned, that is, newspapers.

Afterwards, Lu Fang couldn't hold back her curiosity, and immediately asked Jiajing.

"Your Majesty, what is the newspaper you mentioned just now?"

Seeing this situation, Jiajing picked up a piece of pastry and put it in his mouth, and only responded after chewing.

"The newspaper I just mentioned is, in the final analysis, a thin piece of paper, but this piece of paper is much cheaper than books, and everyone can afford it!"

"I can also use newspapers and send people to write corresponding articles on them to promote the imperial court's policies."

When Jiajing said this, he couldn't hide the excitement on his face, and he opened his mouth immediately.

"In this way, won't all the previous problems be solved?"

After listening to Jiajing's idea, Lu Fang's eyes were also full of light, and she immediately knelt down on the ground and said respectfully.

"Your Majesty Shengming!"

"In this way, all the problems will not be problems!"

Jiajing lifted Lu Fang up from the ground, pointed at the snacks on the table, and said.

"Come on, first taste the new dim sum baked in the imperial dining room, and call Yan Song and the others over later!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After Lu Fang finished speaking, she took a piece of dim sum from the plate and put it into her mouth, savoring the taste carefully.

……

In the cabinet, after returning to the cabinet from the Guozijian, several people have been processing the memorials non-stop.

Even so, Yan Shifan was still immersed in the previous picture of the steam engine running, and couldn't extricate himself. Therefore, his speed of processing memorials was much slower than before.

Yan Song on the side naturally noticed Yan Shifan's abnormality, and immediately turned his gaze. Yan Shifan, who was still in a daze at the moment, said coldly.

"Yan Shifan, what are you doing in a daze, why don't you hurry up and deal with the memorial!"

Hearing these words, Yan Shifan suddenly came back to his senses, and immediately responded repeatedly.

"Yes, Father!"

Hearing this, Yan Song snorted coldly, and said in a deep voice, "How many times have I told you that you are called a job when you are working!"

Seeing this situation, Xu Jie quickly stood up and made peace: "Mr. Yan Ge calmed down, and Mr. Xiao Ge didn't mean it either."

At this moment, a subordinate employee hurriedly entered the cabinet and reported respectfully.

"Master Ge, Eunuch Lu is waiting outside!"

"What are you still doing in a daze, please invite Eunuch Lu in!"

When Gao Gong at the side saw this, his face was full of eagerness, and he immediately ordered.

"Yes, Mr. Ge!"

After the subordinate staff responded, he quickly left. Not long after, Lu Fang walked into the cabinet with a smile on his face.

Seeing Lu Fang's arrival, everyone got up from their seats with expressions of respect: "I've seen Eunuch Lu!"

When Lu Fang heard this, she nodded slightly, and after looking around, she opened her mouth to speak.

"Our family has followed His Majesty's order, and we are here to invite you to come over."

"Your Majesty has something important to discuss!"

Hearing this, everyone exchanged glances with each other, and finally Yan Song stood up and said respectfully to Lu Fang.

"Yes, I'll go right here!"

Hearing this, Lu Fang withdrew her gaze from Yan Song, and said slowly.

"Everyone, follow me!"

After Lu Fang finished speaking, she turned and left. Seeing this situation, everyone hurriedly followed Lu Fang's footsteps.

……

"Your Majesty, Mr. Yan Ge and the others have arrived and are waiting outside!"

After Lu Fang led everyone to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, she immediately said respectfully to Jiajing who was sitting on the dragon chair.

"Well, I see, let them in!"

Jiajing heard the words, nodded slightly in the direction of Lu Fang, and immediately gave orders.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After Lu Fang finished speaking, she called a young eunuch, and after whispering a few words in his ear, she waited by Jiajing's side as usual.

After a while, a thin voice sounded: "Xuan, Yan Song, Xu Jie, Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng, and Yan Shifan are here!"

After the words fell, I saw Yan Song and others stepping into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

As soon as everyone entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation, under the leadership of Yan Song, the chief minister of the cabinet, they knelt down respectfully on the ground and said in unison.

"My minister bows to His Majesty, long live my emperor, long live long live!"

Hearing this, Jiajing withdrew his gaze from the few people and ordered unhurriedly.

"Well, get up!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After getting Jiajing's consent, everyone slowly got up from the ground, and Yan Song barely got up from the ground with Yan Shifan's support.

Seeing this situation, Jiajing immediately ordered: "Come here, give me a seat for Elder Yan Ge!"

As soon as the words fell, a eunuch soon brought a chair for Yan Song.

When Yan Song saw this situation, a grateful look appeared on his face at the right time, and he said loudly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"

Jiajing took a panoramic view of the expression on Yan Song's face, nodded indiscernibly, and then went straight to the point.

"I asked you to come here today because I have something to discuss with you!"

Hearing Jiajing's words, everyone's vigilance suddenly rose to the highest level.

Because according to the past practice, whenever the emperor utters this sentence, it means that I have already decided on this matter. You just need to go through the motions and think about it for me. Are there any mistakes or omissions in it? That's fine.

Sure enough, as soon as Jiajing finished speaking, Yan Song plucked up his courage, gritted his teeth, and spoke to Jiajing.

"Your Majesty, please speak up!"

Jiajing was very satisfied with Yan Song's attitude, and after a short pause, he opened his mouth to speak.

"I plan to set up some new subjects in the Imperial College, such as arithmetic, astronomy, construction, etc., and classify them all into engineering. What do you think?"

After Jiajing's voice fell, expressions of astonishment appeared on the faces of Yan Song and the others involuntarily. What they didn't expect was that the emperor took so much trouble to call everyone over for this matter!

Before Yan Song could speak, Xu Jie who was on the side quickly stepped forward to express his support.

"Your Majesty is wise, I feel that it is very necessary to set up some new disciplines in the Imperial College!"

"The ancients said that there is a sequence of learning, and there is a specialization in art. The establishment of mathematics, astronomy, construction and other disciplines will be able to cultivate more professional talents for our Ming Dynasty, so as to contribute more to the prosperity of our Ming Dynasty!"

"The establishment of more disciplines and the induction of them into engineering are really beneficial and harmless!"

After Jiajing listened to Xu Jie's words, he also quite agreed, and immediately looked around and asked.

"Well, I think Mr. Xu Ge's words are right, what do you think?"

The emperor had spoken like this, so the rest of the people didn't know what to say, so they responded immediately.

"Your Majesty Shengming, we have no objection to the establishment of more disciplines in the Imperial College!"

(End of this chapter)