Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 315: Your Majesty, are you good at both civil and military affairs?!
Hanlin Academy.

Zhu Biao was bending over his desk, flipping through various books.

Scholars such as Fang Xiaoru and Liu Sanwu took the opportunity to move aside.

The two looked at each other, their eyes full of curiosity.

Zhu Biao had come to the Hanlin Academy many times in the past, but never as eager as today, and he plunged in without listening to what they said at all. They had been in the Hanlin Academy for quite some time and believed that they had studied and understood the books there quite a bit. Moreover, the Hanlin academicians were supposed to quote classics for the royal family.

Fang Xiaoru bowed and asked, "May I ask what your Highness is looking for?"

"Although I have not been in the Hanlin Academy for a long time, I have read a lot of books. I hope I can help Your Highness."

Seeing that Fang Xiaoru had gotten there first, Liu Sanwu looked a little unhappy. He glared at Fang Xiaoru with dissatisfaction, then said with a smile, "This old minister is also willing to help Your Majesty solve problems. This old minister has been in the Hanlin Academy for a long time. I have read most of the books here, if not all of them. Although I cannot say that I am a man of profound knowledge, I do have some strategies in my mind."

Listening to the incessant chattering in his ears, Zhu Biao felt annoyed.

He glanced at them coldly and scolded, "Don't you have anything to do all day? Do what you should do. If I remember correctly, Xia Zhibai handed the book editing task to you. The textbooks are related to the future education of the Ming Dynasty. Is this your attitude?"

"If it still goes like this, don't blame me. I will report to His Majesty and ask for a new group of people to do it."

Zhu Biao didn't tolerate it at all.

He does have a fondness for men of letters.

But as the crown prince of a country, he still knows what is more important.

Hear the words.

Fang Xiaoru, Liu Sanwu and others' faces changed slightly, becoming a little unnatural, but they did not leave. Instead, they became more curious about what Zhu Biao was going to do. They instinctively felt that if they could help Zhu Biao, perhaps Zhu Biao would change his opinion of them.

This is more than half a year.

They all felt angry.

Xia Zhibai was younger than them and had not read as many books as them, but he ended up being over their heads, giving them orders and making arrogant remarks many times. They looked down on each other as fellow scholars, and they were actually very uncomfortable in their hearts. However, at that time, Xia Zhibai was highly regarded by His Majesty, so they did not dare to show too much dissatisfaction and could only let him do as he pleased.

But Xia Zhibai is too domineering.

Go your own way.

He refused to listen to what others said, and was even criticized for editing books. As a well-known and renowned scholar in the world, it was undoubtedly humiliating to be criticized and scolded.

I saw that some people hadn't left yet.

Zhu Biao snorted coldly and put down the book in his hand.

He sneered and said, "Can't you hear me? But since you want to stay, I will ask you some questions as a test."

"I am willing to listen to what Your Highness has to say." Liu Sanwu said hurriedly.

Fang Xiaoru also expressed his opinion.

Zhu Biao asked: "If I send you to the army to teach the soldiers, what will you do?"

Hear the words.

Fang Xiaoru and Liu Sanwu's faces suddenly changed.

There was a hint of panic on his confident face.

Fang Xiaoru said, "Your Highness, what do you mean by that? Sending scholars to the army? How can that be done? Scholars are scholars, and soldiers are soldiers. The two are clearly distinguished. Besides, the army is full of men with violent personalities who like to fight. If scholars are sent in, how can they end up well?"

"Besides, civil and military officials have always been at odds with each other since ancient times."

"."

Listening to Fang Xiaoru's nonsense, Zhu Biao said angrily, "Enough."

"I'm asking you to tell me what you would do, not asking you if it's okay to do it."

"It's not up to you to decide whether it's okay or not."

Fang Xiaoru fell silent.

Liu Sanwu looked at Fang Xiaoru warily, cursing in his heart. Fang Xiaoru pushed him to the front. But in front of Zhu Biao, he could not show his weakness.

Liu Sanwu pondered for a moment and said slowly: "I also think this is inappropriate. If Your Highness really wants to do this, then you can only follow the example of the Song Dynasty and use civil officials to control the military, and let the civil officials rank higher than the military officials. Only in this way can the safety of the civil officials be guaranteed."

"And I don't know what exactly your Highness's instructions are."

"Your Highness, could you elaborate on this?"

Zhu Biao nodded.

He said calmly: "Of course it is strict military discipline."

"Today, military discipline is lax, and many soldiers do not take it seriously, which has seriously damaged the image and identity of the Ming army in the hearts of the people. The court intends to correct this chaos, and the matter of discipline has always been done by scholars since ancient times."

"So I want to let some literati join the army!"

"Let the civilian officials take charge of the daily life of the army, and the military officials be responsible for leading the troops in battle."

Hearing Zhu Biao's words, Liu Sanwu felt relieved and said with a smile, "How difficult is this? The court can issue an order and let the civil officials supervise it, and the matter will be settled. Your Highness doesn't need to worry so much."

Zhu Biao's eyes turned cold.

I became more and more disappointed with Liu Sanwu.

If a piece of paper was really that useful, the world would have been peaceful and stable long ago.

How could there be so many right and wrongs?

Fang Xiaoru sneered and said, "I don't agree with Mr. Liu's suggestion. Civil servants and military men have always looked down on each other, and military men are often unruly. If civil servants were to go and teach them, the effect would probably be poor, and it might even backfire. If we want to really implement it, I'm afraid we can only use drastic measures."

"Give the military officers the power to kill and take life."

"At the same time, we need to send some people to protect the safety of the civilian officials."

"Use a high-pressure attitude to intimidate the military."

Zhu Biao shook his head.

This approach is also not advisable.

He wanted civil officials to restrain the soldiers, not to abuse their power.

If we really do that, what’s the difference from now?
Just a change of people.

Zhu Biao rubbed his temples and suddenly thought of a key point.

Civil and military officials look down on each other?

When did the civil and military officials start to look down on each other?

Zhu Biao said: "When did the civil and military families separate?"

Fang Xiaoru said: "Before the Song Dynasty, there was not much difference between civil and military affairs. But during the Tang Dynasty, the feudal lords were too brutal and everyone in the world was angry. Then during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Song, civil officials began to control military affairs. Since then, there has been a clear distinction between civil and military affairs."

“This approach is undoubtedly very clear.”

"During the Song Dynasty, there was no military separatism or vassal power as in the Tang Dynasty, and the local areas remained relatively stable."

"So the division between civil and military is artificial?" Zhu Biao said.

Fang Xiaoru's face changed slightly, and he explained: "Why do you say that, Your Highness? This is a natural distinction under the current situation in the world, not man-made. Military generals are good at fighting, and scholars are good at governing the country. Only when civil and military complement each other can the world remain prosperous. However, thousands of years of Chinese history have proved that military generals must be suppressed, otherwise it will be a big trouble for the stability of the world."

"Thus, there is the idea of ​​controlling the military with culture."

Zhu Biao did not comment.

He sneered and said, "Then let me ask you, is Duke Xin good at civil affairs or military affairs?"

Fang Xiaoru was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Of course it's literature, but scholars are all-rounders, so it's reasonable for them to be good at military affairs."

"What about Your Majesty?" Zhu Biao asked with a smile.

(End of this chapter)