Escape: I rely on the food exchange system to survive to the extreme

Old Mrs. Mei didn't expect that after so much difficulty entering Yaolin City to see Lin Qin, she was so nervous from the moment she entered the city, and she was still so nervous when she finally met Lin Qin.

Lin Qin talked about the recent impending storm in Yaolin City.

King Yongning has already recaptured a large area of ​​land in Jiangbei, which should make everyone happy.

However, the Southern Court had long since labeled Prince Yongning a traitor, and many people in the court now wrote to the emperor suggesting that the Yuan River be used as the dividing line to divide the country into north and south.

Even Old Lady Mei felt that this was inappropriate.

"We are all brothers from the same family, why do we have to divide the country into north and south?"

Because Lin Qin was at his house, the Ji family next door had left Yao Lin some time ago because of Ji Qing's transfer order, so the house became vacant, so Lin Qin simply rented it as well and connected the two houses directly.

This house has become bigger, and if you talk loudly inside, the neighbors can hear it.
Mrs. Mei's words were not very subtle. If her voice had not been so low, Lin Qin would have shouted "nonsense".

“Because they know they can’t win.”

They didn't dare to fight the Western Rong people, so how could they dare to fight the army of King Yongning who defeated the Western Rong people?

What are you thinking?

What made Lin Qin feel even more amused was that there were people in the court who suggested that Qi Yu personally write an imperial edict and send it to Jiangbei to appease King Yongning.

He said that as long as Qi Yu forgave Prince Yongning and his men for their rebellion and promised them a hereditary princeship or something, the other party would definitely agree.

Who wouldn't say that it's shameless when hearing such shameless words?

That person also said that if King Yongning did not accept it, he would be a complete rebel. They in Jiangnan would be standing on the moral high ground, accusing the other party of being disloyal, unfilial, unkind and unjust, and let the people of the whole world despise him together.

After these words were spoken, it is said that Qi Yu's expression when he went to court that day was as terrible as if he had eaten a fly.

Lin Qin's mouth twitched when he heard this, and he also made a teasing remark when talking to Old Lady Mei and Mei Erhu.

Old Lady Mei smacked her lips and asked, "How can such a person...become an official? Is there anything wrong with his brain?"

···
“It is not a good idea to recruit officials based on the Four Books and Five Classics alone.

In particular, in order to prevent those noble families from finding that there is no place for them in the court of Jiangbei and thus sinking along with the broken ship of Jiangnan, Your Majesty will sooner or later agree to no longer restrict the children of noble families in the imperial examinations.

In terms of cultural background, who can catch up with the children of aristocratic families? "

Mei Qian said as she poured the boiling tea into the three teacups in front of her. She then respectfully handed two of them to Chu Ji and Qi Chen, and then continued,
“Your Highness also knows that the one in Jiangnan treated the imperial examination and conscription differently, and his preference for the poor children was too obvious, which led to the aristocratic families making small moves in secret.

If we adopt the same method as the one in Jiangnan, as the saying goes, 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend', it would be a big trouble if those noble families join forces with the one in Jiangnan again.

But in this case, they choose to sink with the man in Jiangnan. Once you, Your Majesty, mobilize the troops, you may be able to solve the problem of the aristocratic families at one time.

However, if this happens, Jiangnan will certainly be dragged into the flames of war, and the people will suffer the most casualties.”

Chu Ji listened to Mei Qian's last words and nodded with satisfaction. He appreciated that Mei Qian took the people into consideration.

Then Chu Ji also said: "Therefore, the prince should still promise not to restrict the children of aristocratic families from participating in the imperial examinations, take measures to win over and value aristocratic families, and unify the south first.

There is no longer any restriction on the children of aristocratic families to participate in the imperial examinations. Given the background of aristocratic families, many of them will eventually pass the examinations."

Then the imperial examination reform that Mei Qian mentioned was to start balancing the situation in which the children of imperial examination families had the upper hand.

Chu Ji had been here for several days, and he already knew about the previous conversation between Mei Qian and Qi Chen.

Qi Chen did not completely deny Mei Qian's argument, but felt it was too idealistic. He could not help but examine it carefully and asked Chu Ji to comment on it. Chu Ji said it was not a bad idea. However, his focus was not entirely on female households and the female imperial examination. His focus was on the imperial examination. Mei Qian also proposed some corresponding methods.

After all, there are examples to refer to in later generations, and it will be fine as long as they are changed to suit the current situation.

This kind of thing was also thanks to Chu Ji who helped Mei Qian to find and fill in the gaps.

This was after the final decision of not announcing the secret decree today. At the end of the meeting, Chu Ji and Mei Qian followed Qi Chen to talk about the more detailed parts after not announcing it.

"The content of the imperial examination has changed, and the examination contents for different positions should be different."

Mei Qian said this and glanced at Qi Chen and Chu Ji. Seeing that they were silent, Mei Qian continued, "As I said before, it's better to muddy the waters and allow women to take the imperial examinations.

In this way, by then, the noble families will have to study why women are allowed to take the imperial examinations before they understand whether the reform of the imperial examination system is aimed at them, Your Majesty."

Mei Qian was quite patient today and only mentioned the issue of the women's imperial examination at the very end.

Afterwards, she talked about the issue of establishing a household for girls again, but she seemed not as radical as last time.

"Since women can serve as officials, the heretical doctrine of obeying husbands, fathers, elder brothers and younger brothers at home should not be allowed to grow. Women should be allowed to be independent and make their own decisions.

Otherwise, if you can't stand up on your own, how can you expect to be an official?"

Mei Qian directly described the so-called Three Obediences and Four Virtues as heresy, and Chu Ji and Qi Chen could not help but twitch their lips.

"If you are an official, there is a legitimate reason to establish a female household."

"You mentioned dividing the family property that day..." Qi Chen reminded Mei Qian of what he said last time. Mei Qian said, "Well, I thought about it. Dividing the family property... I said it in a hurry. It would be bad if my true intention was exposed.

"Teacher, you are right. There is no rush for this matter. Anyway, the first step is to establish female households so that those women who pass the examination and become officials can be independent."

"What about the second step?"

"The second step?" Mei Qian said, "As long as you support the first step well, those women will take the initiative to help you take the second step."

After Mei Qian finished speaking, Chu Ji chuckled and looked at Qi Chen and said, “Although the family is huge, it is also the most conservative.

Girls from aristocratic families receive the best education from a young age, but their final destination is still marriage, which maintains the connection between the various families.

Once they are given a chance to escape from this fate, they will never be willing to go back to the past."

Mei Qian nodded after hearing this: "They are all educated and knowledgeable. Men can talk about government affairs and classics. Women, on the other hand, can only teach their children what they have learned. They learn so much but in the end they can't even leave the house.

I don’t believe that among the ladies from aristocratic families who have read so many books, no one has a different idea.”

"What if the noble families do not agree to allow their daughters to take the imperial examination?"

Qi Chen asked again.

"If you don't agree, will all the women in the world die?

Compared to the conservatism of the aristocratic families, the women of some large merchant families are more open-minded, as well as the daughters of some officials who do not have a rich background. Will they not participate?
Moreover, if the aristocratic families do not agree to their daughters taking the imperial examinations, I can only say that they are courting their own destruction.

As proud as a girl from aristocratic family, she has always been proud of her family name.

As a result, the women outside have entered the court as officials and can stand together with their fathers and brothers to discuss state affairs. Can they be willing to accept this?" (End of this chapter)