I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 807 Who agrees and who opposes?
Zhu Yijun did not expect the officials present to be able to answer them, after all, these knowledge were very advanced.

Although we have been cultivating new talents and instilling new ideas in them over the years, science and technology can develop from scratch and leap forward, but human thinking cannot.

Especially for the mainstream thought of the Ming Dynasty, which had been influenced by Confucianism for thousands of years, it was definitely not that easy to achieve leapfrog development.

Some of the new students trained in various universities should be able to answer this question.

But the more than one hundred ministers present here all came from the old era. They spent the first half of their lives studying the Four Books and Five Classics, which gave them the opportunity to become officials.

The fact that they can sit here today means that they are the best among the hundreds of thousands of Ming Dynasty officials who are quick-witted, easy to accept new ideas, or flexible.

However, it is not so easy to change their ideas that have been solidified for decades.

However, Zhu Yijun still had some illusions, imagining that one of the more than one hundred pillars of the Ming Dynasty present here would stand up and answer his questions.

If such a person really comes forward, my efforts over the past decade will have paid off. It will also mean that I have led the Ming Dynasty civil service group onto a path that allows them to get rid of the bad of the past and move towards a bright new future.

Zhu Yijun's gaze stayed on Pan Yinglong and Wang Yi'e's faces for a while, and he saw only shame and uneasiness.

Although he felt a little disappointed, Zhu Yijun still smiled at them and gave them encouraging and comforting looks.

Each generation has its own mission.

It is not easy for Pan Yinglong and Wang Yi'e to achieve this, and it would be too harsh to force them to do more.

Zhu Yijun glanced at the faces of the other ministers, but did not get the answer he wanted. He was about to open his own mouth to answer when he suddenly heard Hai Rui's unique voice with a strong Hainan accent.

"Why are you raising your hand?"

Zhu Yijun looked over when he heard the voice and saw that Hai Rui was talking to a secretary sitting at the recording desk on the left.

He was only in his twenties, with a heroic and handsome appearance, and was wearing a green official robe.

The man raised his right hand and said, "In reply to Lord Hai, I would like to answer the emperor's question."

"You are so bold. This place is full of important ministers, and no one dares to answer the emperor's question. How can a mere clerk like you answer it? You are probably talking nonsense and presuming on the emperor's will."

While Hai Rui was scolding the young clerk, he secretly glanced at Zhu Yijun.

"What's your name?" Zhu Yijun asked.

The young clerk stood up quickly, crossed his arms and bowed, "In reply to the emperor's words, my name is Zhao Shizhen, with the courtesy name Changji, and I am currently a clerk in the Tongzheng Bureau."

"Have you learned anything new?"

"I, your humble servant, graduated from the National Economy Department of the School of Finance and Economics of Wanli University in the third year of the Wanli reign. I passed the imperial examination in the autumn of the third year of the Wanli reign and first observed government affairs in the Ministry of Revenue. Later, because of my good handwriting, I was selected to work as a clerk in the Tongzheng Bureau.
When I was studying at Wanli University, I studied the Emperor's book "Political Economy" and gained some insights. "

Zhu Yijun smiled and said, "Political Economy is very boring. I didn't expect you could read it."

"In reply to your Majesty, I have been fond of learning since I was young. I was interested in mechanics and studied mathematics with great effort.

When he was studying in the capital in the second year of the Longqing reign, he boldly presented ten drawings for the improvement of guns and artillery to the Imperial Household Department, but he did not expect to be laughed at. Only then did he realize that the technology of the Ming Dynasty had advanced by leaps and bounds.

I was ashamed and then I became brave. With the guidance and recommendation of Mr. Hai, I applied to the School of Finance and Economics of Wanli University and was admitted to study economics related to the national economy and people's livelihood. "

Zhu Yijun looked at Hai Rui.

Hai Gong, it really has something to do with you.

Hai Rui smiled calmly, "Your Majesty, it was a coincidence that day. I had just returned home from work at the Censorate, and I passed by a foot shop. I was hungry, but luckily, your Majesty had helped me with some silver coins, so I couldn't help but go in and have a bite to eat.

Zhao Changji happened to be sitting at the next table, looking dejected and disheartened. Shu Youliang, the old minister's attendant, was a man who could not help himself, and curious, he went over to ask what was going on.

Zhao Changji was quite frank and described in detail the rejection he received at the Taipu Temple.

After looking at his drawings, Shu Youliang began to persuade him, saying that because of his interest in mechanics, he had actually taught himself mathematics and physics, and was able to think of ways to improve muskets and artillery and even draw such sketches. It seemed that he had learned better than the average public school student.

Although you are not good at studying mechanics, you are still a new-age compound talent that the court urgently needs. You can completely change your career and learn a new and popular subject.

If the west is not bright, the east will be bright!
At that time, Zhao Changji asked Shu Youliang, which field should he change to? Shu Youliang replied that economics was the hottest field now, and if he learned it well, he could benefit the country and the people, and make great achievements.

Moreover, the economics of the new era is different from previous economics and requires a good mathematical foundation, which you can go and study.

Seeing that Zhao Changji was a rare talent, the old minister recommended him to take the Jintai College entrance examination, and he actually passed. "

Hai Rui spoke eloquently and briefly recounted his relationship with Zhao Shizhen.

It was only because he was so respected that no one spoke out to stop him from talking about irrelevant gossip in such a solemn meeting.

Zhu Yijun nodded happily, "Zhao Changji, then answer my question."

Everyone looked at Zhao Shizhen.

If he answered incorrectly, the emperor would definitely not do anything to him and would even encourage him.

But the important officials present had all been in the officialdom for decades, and they all knew in their hearts that if they gave a wrong answer, Zhao Shizhen’s future would be ruined.

The emperor will not hold him accountable, he will just forget about him, but no one will promote him in the future.

Zhao Shizhen seemed to be aware of this as well. His Adam's apple twitched up and down a few times and his voice trembled a little.

"I would like to reply to Your Majesty. I believe that after the transformation of productivity that Your Majesty and Prime Minister Zhang started in the first year of Longqing, the contradiction between the old and new productivity has been initially resolved.

The new productivity is unstoppable and soaring!
The development of the Ming Dynasty entered a new stage, and new contradictions emerged. I believe that the main contradiction of the Ming Dynasty at present is the contradiction between the new productive forces and the old production relations.

This contradiction is mainly reflected in the contradiction between the superstructure such as political system, cultural consciousness, and social relations and the economic base. That is, the productivity of the Ming Dynasty has been completely renewed, and the economy has made great progress, but the production relations dominated by the superstructure have developed too slowly and cannot keep up. "

Zhao Shizhen talked a lot, leaving all the ministers either stunned, frowned, or looked solemn.

Everyone was looking at this newborn calf that was not afraid of the tiger.

A pleased smile appeared on Zhu Yijun's face, and he suddenly asked, "Zhao Changji, where are you from?" Zhao Shizhen was still waiting for the emperor's decision, whether his answer was right or wrong.

Although he felt that his answer was in line with the principles and arguments in "Political Economy" and had no problems at all, he also knew that if the emperor said he was right, then he was right, and if he said he was wrong, then anyone who came would be wrong.

But he never expected that the emperor would actually ask him where his hometown was.

Zhao Shizhen was stunned for a few seconds, then quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I am originally from Yueqing County, Wenzhou, Zhejiang."

“Wenzhou? Yes, it’s a good place.

During the Southern Song Dynasty, a great scholar emerged in your Wenzhou who summarized and created a school of thought.

Zhao Changji, do you know? "

"In reply to your Majesty, I know that it was the Yongjia School founded by Mr. Shui Xin (Ye Shi) in the Southern Song Dynasty."

"Well, the Yongjia School. This school advocates materialism, 'wherever there is matter, there is Tao.' It believes that what fills the universe is 'matter', and Tao exists in things themselves.

Advocate "combining profit with justice, not using justice to suppress profit"; integrate agriculture and commerce to strengthen the country and enrich the people
When I was compiling the Political Economy, I quoted some of Mr. Shui Xin's insights in the production process of production relations and distribution relations. "

Zhu Yijun looked around the meeting room, his eyes sweeping across the faces of the ministers.

"My question can be easily answered by carefully studying the book "Political Economy". I have listed this book as one of the must-read books for officials.

It seems that you still haven’t learned enough.”

Zhang Juzheng's four advisors stood up, and the other advisors also stood up, facing Zhu Yijun, and bowed with their arms crossed.

"We have failed the emperor's high expectations and are terrified. Please punish us."

Zhu Yijun waved his hand, "Okay, sit down, sit down!"

Everyone looked at each other, and seeing Zhang Juzheng and the other three sit down first, they followed suit and sat down.

"I know that all of you here are pillars of the Ming Dynasty, holding important positions, and have to deal with countless government affairs every day. You also have to learn new imperial edicts and decrees, new knowledge, and you are very busy. Time is indeed not enough.

During the Longqing period, I was still the Crown Prince, entrusted by my father to take care of state affairs. At that time, I was still able to hold regular study classes and teach ministers.

It's just that there are too many things to teach, or the knowledge taught is too diverse, and there is no way to apply what you have learned, so many people forget it quickly.

I don't blame you, the root of the responsibility is still on me. But if we find the problem, we will solve it later.

After the meeting, we will return to Beijing and go to the School of Finance and Economics and the School of Law and Politics of Wanli University together. We will spend a few days studying hard, filling in the gaps and making up for them. Regular study will be a custom in the future!

Sharpening the knife does not delay the chopping of wood! "

Zhu Yijun finished speaking and pointed at Zhao Shizhen, "Zhao Changji, sit down. Zeng Sanxing, the meeting will continue with the next item."

"According to the order."

Zeng Xingwu announced: "The second item of the meeting is to invite the Grand Secretary and the Chief Censor Zhao Zhenji to read out the "Report on the Adjustment Plan of Some Central and Local Government Offices and Some Officials" to everyone."

Zhao Zhenji took a stack of manuscripts and began to read.

"Your Majesty, my colleagues, I am here on behalf of the Advisory Bureau to present to you a report on the adjustment plan. The content is as follows.

The Censorate was split into the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Court of Justice. The Central Supervisory Council was established, as well as the Provincial Procuratorates that directly managed each province.
After the split of the Censorate, the Censorate and Deputy Censorate were set up to be responsible for local supervision and were under the dual leadership of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the provincial governor. The Inspection Bureau was merged into the Censorate.
The Law Courts were changed to the Constitutional Court.

Most of the reform plans for the Censorate and the Provincial Surveillance Commission were as Hai Rui had proposed, with only some minor adjustments.

"The above is the adjustment plan for the central and local government offices. Now is the adjustment plan for some officials.
Accept the resignation of Zhao Zhenji, the Grand Secretary and Chief Censor, and appoint him as the Left Grand Councillor of the Constitutional Council instead."

Zhao Zhenji, Cao Bangfu, Huo Ji, Lu Tong, Guo Qian and others retired by resigning and were appointed as left and right officials of the Constitutional Council, serving in the Constitutional Council but not idle.

"Hai Rui was appointed as the Grand Secretary of the Imperial Council, and was also granted the title of Chief Censor and Chief Justice of the Dali Temple."

The Chief Censor was in charge of the Censorate, with the first deputy being the Left Censor-in-Chief, and the three Right Censors-in-Chief as his deputies. Zhu Yijun also asked Hai Rui to take on the role of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court as well, to guide the improvement of the independent Supreme Court.

"Pan Yinglong was given the title of Advisor and Minister of Personnel; Wang Yi'e was given the title of Advisor and Minister of Punishment; Cai Maochun was given the title of Advisor and Governor of Jiangsu; Yang Fengming was given the title of Advisor and Minister of the Imperial Household; Li Sanjiang was given the title of Advisor and Minister of the Imperial Treasury."

The rest of the appointments were the same as those discussed and decided at the Advisory Council meeting, with one additional item.

"Liang Menglong was promoted to the position of Imperial Court Official, and was granted the title of Right Military Envoy, and concurrently the Governor-General of the Eastern Expedition, commanding the land and naval forces of Genxunzhou, and the Governor of Xiashang and other states."

Send Liang Menglong to Genzhou?

The appointment was somewhat unexpected.

Liang Menglong was the first director of the Navy Bureau, and it can be said that the new navy of the Ming Dynasty was created by him.

Now the emperor has sent him to Genxunzhou to expand the territory so that he can be awarded titles and honors, and he will be of great use when he returns.

It was like this with Hu Zongxian and Tan Lun in the past, and it is also like this with Wang Yi'e and Xu Wei now.

The farther and more difficult the place he is sent to, the more the emperor values ​​him and the brighter his future is.

However, Genzhou is quite far away, and it takes a year to go there and back. Liang Menglong was sent to the governor, and it would take at least three to five years for him to come back.

The ministers were more concerned about the adjustments of other officials.

After Zhao Zhenji finished reading, he took off his glasses and said, "The plan has been read out. Now everyone can give their opinions on this plan."

The emperor made it clear that he wanted to resolve the organizational structure and personnel issues first before discussing other matters.

Now that the official system and official adjustment plan has been read, who agrees and who opposes?

Speak up!

(End of this chapter)