Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 218: The people only need to farm, while the officials have a lot more to consider!

Zhu Biao looked slightly strange.

I couldn't help but marvel in my heart.

Liu Sanwu is highly regarded by his father. Although he is indeed a bit pedantic, his talents are real. However, he is repeatedly defeated by Xia Zhibai and is even speechless, which makes Zhu Biao laugh secretly in his heart.

He quite agreed with Xia Zhibai's point of view. Both Confucianism and Legalism were merely tools for governing a country. However, scholars in the world today had put the cart before the horse. They held the Four Books and Five Classics in their hands and regarded the contents therein as the golden rule. They had completely lost their own ideas and had completely become puppets of Confucianism.

This kind of trend certainly cannot be encouraged.

He studied Confucianism.

But it is just a tool.

I don't want to be bound by Confucian scholars.

Zhu Biao said: "Okay."

"Xia Daxueshi's words are indeed enlightening and thought-provoking, and Liu Daxueshi's words also make sense. As the saying goes, haste makes waste. Changing the world's education system cannot be done in a hurry. It requires the cooperation of scholars all over the world and cannot be done overnight."

“But it is indeed a direction.”

"The world has been suffering from a serious illness for a long time."

"Too many scholars hold a book in their hands and think they understand the truth of the world. I have never dared to make such a boast over the years. The current trend of boasting and empty talk in the world should be curbed."

"Since Grand Secretary Xia has made up his mind, I will just listen to him for once."

"From now on, the scholars of the Hanlin Academy will obey the orders of Grand Secretary Xia."

"Gu is also very curious."

"What kind of teaching materials can Xia Daxueshi compile for the world?"

"If this can really change the world's customs and restore some of the purity of scholars, I will personally ask for credit on your behalf to the emperor."

Hear the words.

Scholars such as Fang Xiaoru and Huang Zhang's faces changed slightly.

Fang Xiaoru asked, "Your Highness, should we consider this matter in the long run?"

"I think this matter is of great importance and should be decided after consultation with the ministers of the court. Moreover, the compilation of textbooks involves the vast majority of scholars in the world. If it is not handled properly, it may have a significant impact on the court. Please think twice, Your Highness."

Huang Zhang also said: "Your Highness, please be cautious."

"I admit that what Grand Secretary Xia said makes some sense."

“But the world is not governed by words.”

"Scholars are the foundation of the country. Since the Zhou Dynasty, a hundred schools of thought have been allowed to bloom. However, the current broad integration and unification will only cause dissatisfaction among many scholars in the world. This move will also kill the trust of many scholars in the court. I think we should think twice before acting."

Scholars such as Dong Guan also advised against it.

Although everyone can see that Liu Sanwu lost the argument, talking is one thing and whether to change it is another. Given the current emperor's strong power, once the textbooks are compiled according to Xia Zhibai's ideas, he will most likely order them to be promoted throughout the country, which will have a huge impact on the world.

First of all, it directly pulled Confucianism off the altar.

Many Confucian scholars cannot accept this.

Secondly, if the whole country uses the same textbook, does that mean that the content of future exams will also change? Wouldn't that mean that the literary heritage of the South would be wiped out and completely leveled out? How could the gentry in the South agree to this?
Thirdly, if the textbooks are unified throughout the country, the teaching will certainly be unified as well, and many scholars will lose their livelihoods as a result.

This is very detrimental to the stability of the world.

After listening to the advice of the scholars, Zhu Biao also felt a headache.

There is too much resistance.

Not only was there resistance from the imperial court, but there was also resistance from the local areas, and even more resistance from the landlords and gentry who were mixed up with the scholars. In fact, when he came here and heard what Xia Zhibai said, he knew that this matter could not be let go so easily.

These ministers of the Ming Dynasty are all very cunning.

If I back down today, they will only have more excuses and justifications when I bring it up again in the future.

He knew these ministers too well.

Especially these "learned" scholars, who could quote classics and use historical lessons to pressure others at will. Now Xia Zhibai could still leave them speechless, but this was mainly because he caught them off guard. Once these people were prepared, it would be extremely difficult to achieve the current effect.

Zhu Biao was silent for a while, then said coldly: "I will make my own decision."

"The purpose of the Ming Dynasty's selection of scholars was to select the most capable people. After a few years of implementation of the recommendation system, most of the people recommended by local officials were mediocre talents. The imperial examination system was just restored, but as Xia Xueshi said, the world was severely devastated by the Mongols, and there was a great divide between the north and the south. Many scholars and common people also lost their sense of family and country."

“This phenomenon must change!”

"Scholars are the foundation of governing the world, so they should naturally bear the brunt of it."

"However, since ancient times, the promotion of rituals and music, the establishment of systems, the support of the country, and the achievement of the beauty of governance have all been based on Confucianism. Confucianists know the past and the present, and understand the truth, which is not comparable to mere grammar clerks."

"I think this textbook should be edited."

"But we need to focus on something, but there is no experience in the world."

"So for the time being, I think we should still follow the direction set by Grand Secretary Xia. However, the textbooks we have compiled are only preliminary drafts. They will be finalized after the court has discussed them in the future. Therefore, I am afraid that they will be revised many times, and I am sorry to bother you scholars."

Zhu Biao bowed slightly to everyone.

See this.

Huang Zhang and others' expressions changed slightly.

They were about to open their mouths to object again, but Zhu Biao had already stood up straight and said indifferently: "This matter is settled for now."

"The compilation of textbooks is a matter of great importance. I don't want the matter to become a hot topic in advance. If everyone knows about it, it is still unknown whether the court will adopt it in the end. I don't want anyone to leak the fact that the Hanlin Academy is compiling textbooks. For the sake of stability in the world and to ensure strictness, I will send Jinyiwei to guard the Hanlin Academy." "Scholars can write boldly."

Done.

Zhu Biao continued, "I have heard a saying."

"People can promote the Tao, but it is not the Tao that promotes people!"

"Since the Ming Dynasty has tried so many ways to recruit talented people in the past, but still failed to achieve its goal, why not change our mind and start with the textbooks? I promise you that if this is really feasible, the names of all the scholars will be engraved on the textbooks and admired by scholars all over the world."

"I believe that you are responsible for the Ming Dynasty."

"There is also a sincere heart."

"I am grateful."

Zhu Biao bowed to everyone again.

Seeing that Zhu Biao did not give them any chance to interrupt, Huang Zhang and others knew what Zhu Biao was thinking. It was obvious that he agreed with Xia Zhibai's idea and wanted to make something out of the textbooks. He also strictly forbade them to leak these things.

After hesitating for a long time, Huang Zhang and the others finally gave in and said in a deep voice: "I will do my best and will not let your Highness down."

Zhu Biao laughed and nodded with satisfaction.

"Since all the scholars have no objection, I am relieved."

"I am waiting for your good news."

Done.

Zhu Biao left immediately.

After leaving the Hanlin Academy, Zhu Biao stopped, looked back, and sighed: "This Xia Zhibai really has ideas, but some things are not so easy to accomplish. If the Ming Dynasty really compiles it and promotes it throughout the country, I am afraid that the local areas will still be in chaos for a while."

Zhu Biao rubbed his temples and also felt a headache.

The thing is right.

It's just not easy to do.

He is not a prince who is ignorant of the world. He has been handling state affairs for more than ten years and is well aware of the difficulty of governing the world. He is also well aware of the great resistance to the implementation of many policies. This time, the scholars are still involved, and I am afraid that the commotion caused will be even greater.

But Zhu Biao just had a headache.

Scholars cannot stir up trouble.

He did respect scholars, but that was all.

When it is really necessary to be ruthless, I will never show mercy.

Moreover, if this could really be accomplished, it would bring too many benefits to the Ming Dynasty. Not only would it greatly weaken the voice of scholars, it would also strengthen the publicity of Ming Dynasty laws, and even more so, it would enhance the patriotic consciousness of the people of the Ming Dynasty.

There are many benefits.

Hanlin Academy.

As Zhu Biao walked away, the originally quiet attic became lively again.

Many people glared at Xia Zhibai.

Their original duties were simple, just to read books, write memorials, and give advice to His Majesty, but Xia Zhibai's actions pushed them to the forefront. Xia Zhibai was not worried about too many accounts or too many lice, but they were not.

Once word gets out that they were involved, their reputation will be ruined.

He will also become the public enemy of scholars all over the world.

Dong Guan looked at Xia Zhibai coldly and said in a cold voice: "Are you satisfied now? Because of you, we are going to become sinners in the world. I don't understand why you have to force yourself to be the leader? Isn't it better to be content with your lot?"

"Do you really think you can change the world by yourself?"

"When I heard you wanted to 'waste the scholar' before, I didn't take it seriously and even just thought it was a joke."

"But now I know that you are a lunatic."

"What on earth do you want to do?"

"What good will it do you to offend the whole world?"

"And how long have you been in the court? How much do you know about the world?"

"Do you know what an official in the court should do? And which of these things you want to change is useful for governing the country?"

"You keep saying that you're thinking about the people, but I think you're deceiving yourself. All the people have to do is farm, but we officials have a lot more to consider. You don't understand at all. You're the only one who's willing to believe what you want to believe."

Dong Guan was already a little hysterical.

He didn't even dare to imagine the pressure that these scholars would face from all over the world if these textbooks were really compiled.

This enormous pressure is enough to crush them.

Xia Zhibai looked calm. He looked indifferently at Dong Guan, whose face was red with anger, and sneered, "Maybe."

"But according to what you said, scholars only need to study, while farmers have to plant crops, weed, water, serve in the army, pay taxes, etc. Don't they have less to consider than scholars? It is precisely because there are so many people like you that the education system has to be changed."

"otherwise."

"Sooner or later, the scholars of the world will still think that food grows on the shelves."

"I just want to tell the world that food is grown by farmers, and the tools people use in their daily lives are made by craftsmen. These are not created by scholars. I just want to tell the world this truth. Nothing in the world can be grown by itself at home."

(End of this chapter)