Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 70 It has always been like this, is it right? !
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes moved slightly.

Xia Zhibai's sudden words actually made him very unhappy.

But what Xia Zhibai said was actually quite to his liking. He was not restricted by any rules in employing people, and he especially liked to promote people from all over the world.

He had always extremely disliked the seniority-based system among scholars in the past. As for many ministers in the court, as long as they were truly talented, he never stuck to any rules and would never restrict them by seniority-based rules.

Instead, they directly promote him vigorously.

This is also the reason why he could say: "The qualifications are set for the common flow. If there are talented people, why should we be bound by the common rules?"

Of course, a big part of the reason is that looking back at history, we know the harm of scholar monopoly.

Scholars have teachers and personal relationships, so it is easy for them to stick together for warmth and eventually form cliques.

Song was weaker than this.

He was well-versed in history and would fully absorb historical experience. Therefore, he had always tried to adjust the interests and power distribution among various regions within his rule through various means.

He had repeatedly promoted the sons of dukes and princes over the years in the hope that these sons of dukes and princes, who shared the honor and disgrace of the Ming Dynasty, could compete with the imperial examination candidates who came from the gentry and landlord families.

Then achieve political balance in the court.

However, this vision was gradually shattered as the sons of dukes and marquises became closer and closer to the scholars, so he began to use force to eliminate the hidden dangers.

He once asked Song Lian a question privately.

Since ancient times, the people who have been co-governing the world have been the scholars and officials. Today, the scholars' habits are not correct, and they are in a hurry to see small results. Now we want to correct the scholars' habits and restore the right path, but what method can we use?

Song Lian did not give an answer.

However, he did not give up. He kept making various attempts and reading widely, trying to learn from the lessons of history.

He learned from the lesson of the Song Dynasty where civil servants dominated the imperial examination system, and referred to the Yuan Dynasty's experience of making use of Semites, Hui people, and Confucian scholars, and he explored a new path on his own.

This is what Xia Zhibai summed up as recruiting talents without any restrictions and employing people from all over the world.

The effect is just average.

Now that Xia Zhibai had pointed it out, he vaguely knew where his shortcomings lay in employing people.

He seeks talents.

What I have been looking for is a scholar!

Ever since Guan Zhong proposed the concepts of scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans in the Warring States Period, the world had gradually been roughly divided. He had often complained in the past that the scholars summoned to the court had little practical ability except for their eloquence, and were a mess in doing their work.

No real talent!

It is indeed a good idea to promote reputable farmers and craftsmen.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded secretly.

He looked expressionless and indifferently at Li Shanchang standing beside him, and asked, "Bai Shi, you are the Grand Master of our Ming Dynasty, please tell us something."

Li Shanchang's eyelids twitched.

He stepped out slowly, bowed and said, "I think this is absolutely not allowed, Grand Secretary. The court has clear job requirements for Grand Secretary."

"Even if they are to tutor the prince and serve as advisors to your majesty, what can farmers and craftsmen do when they are allowed to enter the court?"

"Would you like to help His Highness farm and forge iron?"

"Moreover, farmers and craftsmen do not know etiquette, literature, or how to govern a country. If they enter the court, they will only disrupt the normal order of the court."

"There has never been such a precedent in the world."

"I beg to differ."

"It is enough for farmers and craftsmen to stay in the fields and workshops. The court is not the place for them. If farmers and craftsmen are allowed to enter the court, it will only disrupt the social order. The country will be in chaos and will be in danger."

Li Shanchang directly denied it.

Xia Zhibai's idea was too absurd. The court had always been a place of nobility and refinement since ancient times. How could it allow the common people from the lower class to come up?
That would break the rules.

It also degrades the scholars.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked calm and asked Xia Zhibai to respond, as if he was watching the two of them fighting each other. Xia Zhibai stepped out again.

He bowed slightly to Li Shanchang and said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "History has already proven since the Song Dynasty that a country cannot be strong just by relying on scholars from the imperial examination system. The Ming Dynasty is not just made up of scholars and warriors."

"Just like your majesty's broad mind, the Ming Dynasty is not just about southerners, but also northerners. The Ming Dynasty has never been just about half of the country."

"Except for the scholars."

"There are tens of millions of farmers, millions of apprentice craftsmen, and hundreds of thousands of peddlers and merchants."

“They are also part of the world.”

“From the people, to the people.”

“Only in this way can the court always last forever and always be in the best condition, only by being open to all and not just limited to scholars.”

“The world can flourish.”

"Let professionals guide professional matters. If scholars are asked to teach farmers how to farm, to teach craftsmen how to forge iron, or to teach merchants how to do business, isn't this confusing right and wrong?"

"Indeed."

"Farmers, craftsmen, merchants, they may not be as knowledgeable and talented as you, but they are enough to be your teachers in their own fields."

"Confucius, the sage of Confucianism, once said: When three people walk together, there must be one who can be my teacher. I will choose the good ones and follow them, and change the bad ones."

"You have read a lot of books by sages, but you are far inferior to the ancient Confucian scholars. Confucius was not ashamed to ask questions from those below him, so how can you be said to be noble?"

"The reason why you look down on farmers, craftsmen, etc. is simply because they are of low status now."

"If one is in a low position, one will be ashamed; if one is in a high position, one will be in trouble."

"How sad."

Xia Zhibai shook his head and didn't want to say more.

He roughly knew Zhu Yuanzhang's thoughts. Zhu Yuanzhang was a qualified emperor, but in Xia Zhibai's opinion, he was still a little too "conservative".

After the aristocratic politics of the Han and Tang dynasties withdrew, the world urgently needed to rebuild a political ecology that could mobilize the enthusiasm of officials, maintain strong combat effectiveness, and achieve internal checks and balances.

This is what Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to do.

Zhu Yuanzhang had many ideas, but he had not yet broken away from the influence of the times and was still confined to the category of scholar.

And someone in history gave the answer.

Come from the masses, go to the masses.

The scholars do have broad horizons and extensive knowledge, but the workers and peasants are not without their merits, and they do have unique experiences.

The vast majority of workers and peasants who have escaped from the bottom of society.

It means being out of touch with the masses.

Today's court officials are all bound by "form" and believe that authority is truth. As long as their status is higher than yours, then that is the truth.

The ministers and even scholars present here are all considered to be prominent people. What they say is the truth in the eyes of people of lower status than them.

This is a sense of respect for one's identity.

"enough!"

Li Shanchang waved his sleeves and shouted angrily: "When we were officials, didn't we know more about governing a country than you? You are just a scholar who has not yet obtained an official position. How can you talk to us about governing a country?"

"You are not qualified!"

"Learning from the past and looking into the future, although the times and events are different, people's hearts are the same!" Xia Zhibai raised his head and stared straight at Li Shanchang without any retreat.

Li Shanchang's face darkened.

A fierce look in his eyes.

Xia Zhibai turned his head and ignored Li Shanchang. Instead, he looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, bowed respectfully again, and said, "Your Majesty, I dare to ask, is it right to always do this?"

(End of this chapter)