Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

As a typical example of reviving and continuing the family line, the situation of the Wang Chaopin family attracted the attention of Zhu Youjian.

Upon learning that Wang Fuzhi was his son, Zhu Youjian was overjoyed:

"Yet another thinker!"

"If the Ming Dynasty wants to advance to a higher level, it needs the efforts of these people."

Zhu Youjian tolerated those who opposed monarchical autocracy, like Huang Zongxi, and naturally preferred those who posed no harm to the monarch, like Wang Fuzhi.

If the Ming Dynasty's civilization is to advance to a higher level, it needs these thinkers to put forward more ideas.

Zhu Youjian arranged for Wang Fuzhi to study under Liu Zongzhou, and also had Wang Chaopin participate in the erudite scholars examination, hoping to be admitted to the Datong Academy.

Once Wang Chao is admitted to the academy, Wang Fuzhi, who has been taught by his father, will certainly be influenced and adopt the ideal of Great Harmony.

Zhu Youjian needed more talented people to perfect the ideal of Great Harmony.

With this in mind, he held the Examination of Learned Scholars on March 15th.

The Ming Dynasty considered itself to be a group of learned and virtuous scholars, and they were basically all recommended to come here.

Among them was Shu Yuejing, who had passed the imperial examination and served as an official, and was as famous as Chen Jiru.

Zhu Youjian read his article and found that this headmaster of Bailudong Academy was indeed a man of great learning.

He said to Song Yingxing:

"Your teacher is indeed very talented."

"It's a pity that Feng Tang grows old so easily; I wonder how many more years he can continue."

At the age of seventy-seven, Shu Yuejing was clearly unable to serve as an official in the imperial court.

However, he was the leader of the Jiangxi scholars, and Zhu Youjian insisted on recruiting him.

He included Shu Yijing in the first batch of academicians of the Datong Academy and asked him to write more about his views on Datong.

Then look at Wang Chaopin. His writing is somewhat pedantic, but it is still quite reasonable. Zhu Youjian also included him, as a researcher at the Datong Academy.

Besides, Zhu Youjian selected and employed anyone who did not oppose the court or disrupt the current atmosphere. Basically, anyone over fifty years old with some reputation could become a researcher at the Datong Academy.

Those admitted through the erudite and learned scholars examination were called "learned scholars," and naturally, no top scholar or runner-up could be selected. Zhu Youjian ordered the Hanlin Academy to arrange them by the number of strokes in their characters, without any order of precedence.

Those who were not elected were accepted as members of the Datong Association and sent to local areas to expand the membership of its branches.

Their income must be earned through their own efforts. Certified Confucian merchants must pay a certain percentage of their income annually.

It can be said that the Datong Society was a Confucian organization: it had ideology, organization, and money.

The first task Zhu Youjian assigned them was to write a manifesto outlining a strategy for conquering Japan.

First, analyze the situation in Japan and find out the reasons why the Ming Dynasty attacked them.
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Looking at this topic, Wang Fuzhi said to his father:
"His Majesty is using the Datong Academy..."

"It seems somewhat like Emperor Wu, who heavily relied on the Gongyang School in order to attack the Xiongnu."

His elder brother, Wang Jiezhi, said:
Why do you care about these things?

"The important thing is to conquer Japan. Should our family establish a domain there?"

They discussed it for a while and felt that establishing a domain in Japan would be very difficult.

This place is too close to the capital, and many nobles in the capital are planning to establish their own fiefdoms here.

They were not only more deeply rooted than the nobles of the Jingnan Rebellion and the Restoration, but even the hereditary officials in the capital had deeper connections.

The idea of ​​acquiring a good piece of land in Japan is basically wishful thinking.

The Way of the King:

"It's better to go to Annam; it's newly opened there."

“My teacher, Mr. Liu, has influence in Annam and can help in various ways.”

"His Majesty bestowed so many titles upon the founding dukes and marquises; he would never mistreat them."

Wang Chaopin agreed with the idea and looked at his eldest son.

Although Wang Jiezhi felt Annam was too hot, it was already the best land around the Ming Dynasty. He asked Wang Fuzhi to collect relevant information to prepare for the trip to Annam.

Wang Chaopin looked at the topic again and said:
"The article still needs to be written; you should all take a look at the Japanese materials."

"This place is truly a barbaric land, they even have the custom of climbing at night."

"It's worse than wild sex, and it's comparable to the Jurchens' maternal den." "I plan to write an article to criticize it and explain the importance of educating the barbarians."

Wang Jiezhi and Wang Fuzhi nodded in agreement, also agreeing with the idea of ​​educating the barbarians.

The task of exposing the barbarians in the surrounding areas to their ugliness was assigned by Zhu Youjian to the inner court propaganda personnel. Many barbarian customs were made known to the people of the Ming Dynasty through newspapers.

The scholar-officials of the Ming Dynasty felt that things like the deer antler culture, the mother's nest, and levirate marriage were all morally reprehensible.

Looking at the night climbing in Japan, I feel it shouldn't exist.

Looking around the area surrounding the Ming Dynasty, it seemed that only the Ming people were civilized, which instilled a sense of urgency in them:

"There are so many barbarians; they need our education and guidance!"

"Korea is truly a role model; it has actually broken away from the barbarians and become half-Chinese."

"Truly a model of a vassal state!"

They greatly admired Korea as a model vassal state.

Wang Jiezhi even planned to go to North Korea to recruit some talent.

Since it is a model vassal state, it should not be hindered in this respect.

After they were established as vassal states, they were both vassal states of Korea and should have had exchanges with each other.
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King Injo of Joseon is currently very troubled by these things.

Because so many Ming Dynasty nobles came to Korea, they wanted everything.

They wanted literate people who knew Chinese characters, and they also actively recruited soldiers who could fight and craftsmen who could make things.

Even farmers who know nothing but farming and working hard may be promised land as long as they are honest and willing to work.

If one performs meritorious service in the army, one can be promoted to a hereditary official position.

In fact, they were ninth-rank sergeants, and were allocated corresponding hereditary lands. In a broader sense, they were also called hereditary officials.

The overall recruitment criteria are slightly less favorable compared to recruiting people from the Ming Dynasty within the country.

However, North Koreans, who had no chance of advancement under the yangban system, flocked to the area.

Many good and lowly people chose to seek refuge with them. Even some noble slaves risked their lives to escape.

The nobles of the yangban class in Korea complained bitterly, and Yi Jong said to Hong Chengchou, the minister stationed in Korea:

"Mr. Hong, shouldn't there be some restrictions on the Ming Dynasty's recruitment of Koreans?"

“North Korea’s population was already small after the chaos of war, and now that people are being recruited away, there’s no one left to farm the land.”

"If no one farms, where will the food for attacking Japan come from?"

Hong Chengchou knew his predicament, but he could not afford to offend the powerful figures in the capital because of it.

He said somewhat unhurriedly:
"Your Highness, this is a good thing!"

"Farming doesn't require that many people."

“If someone abandons their land and flees, we should take it back.”

"Your Highness can seize the land and build up the garrisons that are loyal to you."

"This is an important matter ordered by His Majesty. Every nobleman of the Ming Dynasty should have a hereditary official position in a garrison."

"This is the art of rulership taught by His Majesty. Don't you believe me?"

Li Zong had already learned about the advantages and disadvantages of the garrison system when he was in the capital.

Upon hearing Hong Chengchou's request to collect land and establish garrisons, Li Zong's heart immediately fluttered with excitement:

Compared to the complaints of some yangban nobles, it would be better to take over the land and establish garrisons.

The hereditary officials of the garrison would be more loyal to him, and he could also emulate the Ming Dynasty's Embroidered Uniform Guard to consolidate the Joseon royal power.

Therefore, Li Zong quickly changed his mind and allowed the Koreans to be recruited.

He even began recruiting talent, planning to take advantage of the conquest of Japan to establish his own Korean Three Guards.

Driven by the slogan of attacking Japan to avenge their defeat, many Koreans chose to join the army, ready to make a name for themselves.

The competition for the command of the Japanese expedition also reached a fever pitch, eventually reaching Zhu Youjian's ears. (End of Chapter)