I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 821: How did he become a fourth-rank official?

The train started slowly, and the people seeing it off on the platform flashed past the window.

Hu Yinglin had sharp eyes and saw Sovna, who was leaning on Shu Youliang's arms and crying like a tearful person, from the crowd on the platform.

Wang Shisong also saw it.

The two couldn't help but look at each other, "I didn't expect the rumor to be true. Master Shu took a Western Yi woman as a concubine."

"I heard that Master Shu's concubine is a famous painter in Xiyi. Xiyi's paintings are very sophisticated, especially portraits, which can be said to be vivid and lifelike.

Even the Empress was impressed and hired her as a waiter in the Haichuan Pavilion in the Western Garden."

"Haichuan Pavilion? The sea embraces all rivers. Your Majesty has great ambitions."

“However, Master Shu’s concubine, Suo, does have some skills and abilities.

Not only is she good at painting, she is also very good at organizing. She has gathered together a group of female painters, female actors, female teachers, female mathematicians from the Imperial Observatory, and female Taiheng, and is planning to set up a Women Artists Association with great fanfare.

"Yuanrui, I also heard that she published articles in newspapers such as Shangbao, Shuntian Zhengbao, and Wenlinbao, strongly supporting the idea of ​​equality for all and freedom of marriage. It is said that she was attracted by these ideas and speeches and stayed in Ming Dynasty.

Some people say that Suo came to the court from the Western Barbarians and had not yet learned all the Chinese characters, yet she was so brazen as to write articles and advocate new ideas. Everyone is equal, and marriage is free, but she was willing to be a concubine.

This is ridiculous.”

Hu Yinglin lifted his shirt and sat down on his bunk, looking at Wang Shisong who was already sitting opposite him. "Uncle Zhong is very interested in new ideas and knows everything about them. He speaks very logically."

“In this era of great change, any student of new knowledge is hungry and thirsty for knowledge and cannot help but learn about any new academic disciplines and new ideas.

The knowledge that Master Zhuo Wu preached within his school had long been known to the court and the public. To be honest, when I was studying at Jiajing University, I read a handwritten copy from a senior student, called "The Book of Changes."

"Brother Zhong, the train is shaking so much, please don't drag me around."

Jin Xuezeng's voice interrupted the conversation between Hu Yinglin and Wang Shisong.

"Zihe Gong (Liu Yingjie) is the governor-general of Guangdong and Guangxi, and he is on the same train with us. He is an old senior, and it is a rare opportunity for us to ride on the same train with him. How can we not go and pay him a visit?"

The two men passed by the door of the box and bowed to Hu and Wang.

Jin Xuezeng said helplessly: "We will be back later."

As he spoke, he was pulled away by Wang Jiaping.

The train continued, and the clanging sound echoed rhythmically in the carriage like the sound of bells in a temple.

Hu Yinglin asked, "Brother Zhongshu, what is the name of the manuscript you just read?"

"Collection of Essays on the Same World."

"The Collection of Essays of Shitong?" Hu Yinglin pondered, "The Emperor praised my teacher as 'a man with a mind as broad as eight arms, and a knowledge that penetrates the ages. He is alone in the vast universe, untainted by dust and unhindered by anything', and said that his knowledge is 'the forbidden meanings of ancient and modern scriptures, and neither Buddhism nor Confucianism are retained. The world shares joys and anger, and the great way allows for kindness and hatred'.

"Shi Tong Wen Ji" is not derived from the idea that people in the world share the same joys and sorrows, and the great way allows for kindness and hatred?"

"Yuan Rui guessed it right. The Shi Tong Collection of Essays is said to be a collection of many of Zhuo Wugong's new ideas and speeches.

"Privateness is the heart of man. Only when man has privateness can his heart be revealed." "Heaven makes all things fair and the world is governed by the law of nature." This is a very good saying. It says that the exchange relationship and business transactions between people are in accordance with the law of nature.

Criticizing harsh government and corruption is like "the tiger crouched in the grass in the past, but now sits in the government office. The big ones devour people and animals, and the small ones do not spare fish and shrimps." Strongly advocate checks and balances in governance, separation of law and politics, multiple supervision, and the people holding the power

By praising the story of Zhuo Wenjun and Sima Xiangru, it advocates that marriage should abandon family prejudices and be based on the opinions of the parties involved.

Hu Yinglin smiled and said, "When you mentioned the story of Zhuo Wenjun and Sima Xiangru, I remembered an anecdote."

"What allusion?"

"This story was mentioned by our teacher when he was chatting with us disciples. He said that he had discussed the freedom of marriage with the emperor and used Zhuo Wenjun and Sima Xiangru as an example, but the emperor laughed at him."

Wang Shisong asked in confusion: "What is the emperor laughing at?"

"The emperor said Sima Xiangru was a scumbag and a Phoenix man, and that Zhuo Wenjun was a love-brained person."

Wang Shisong was even more confused, "What does the emperor mean by this?"

"My teacher said that he had the same doubt at that time, and the emperor explained it to him. My teacher also told us what the emperor said. The emperor said that judging from the subsequent developments, Sima Xiang was such a scheming person that he had Zhuo Wenjun and her daughter in his control.

Especially after the two eloped, Zhuo Wenjun wore a skirt and a thorny hairpin, went out to sell wine to support the family, and even said that she was supporting Sima Xiangru to continue his studies.
Zhuo's father was a wealthy merchant in Shu. Seeing his daughter in such a state, didn't he have any face? He had no choice but to give his daughter and son-in-law a fortune of one million, a hundred slaves, and countless other money.

Sima Xiangru became extremely wealthy overnight, and was able to move to Chang'an, make friends with the rich and powerful, and was recommended to Emperor Wu of Han."

Wang Shisong pondered, "Is Sima Xiangru really as bad as the emperor says?"

Hu Yinglin laughed: "Sima Xiangru was originally the Wuqi Changshi of Emperor Jingdi, and he bought this position with money! Unfortunately, Emperor Jingdi was not fond of poetry, so Sima Xiangru turned to King Liang.

Although the Prince of Liang was the brother of Emperor Jing, and had made great contributions in the rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms,

That’s right, anyone who has read a few history books knows that although Emperor Jing was very good to his brother, he was on guard against him.

Emperor Jing is going to pass the throne to his own son, why are you, his younger brother, joining in the fun and even instigating your mother, Queen Dowager Dou, to complain.

If not you, who should I guard against?
How to prevent?
Those who are close to you and those you want to promote will all be suppressed and not used!

Sima Xiangru was also keen on power. He was so eager for quick success that he made random bets without understanding the rules. He bet on the wrong door, and all his previous investments and expenses were wasted. He had to start all over again.

But the first problem is to find a big sponsor.

So after thinking about it, I thought of Zhuo Gong, who was also from Shu. He had a daughter who was newly widowed.
Wang Shisong understood when he thought of this, and then he continued to think about the legend that Sima Xiangru became dissolute and indulged in women after he became successful. He was indeed a scumbag!

Phoenix man, Sima Xiangru is famous for his pursuit of love, in fact it is a way to advance one's career. Phoenix man, it seems the saying is right.

And as for Zhuo Wenjun, the emperor was right when he said that she was love-brained.

She was such a smart person, but she was played around by Sima Xiangru. She was so affectionate that she was satisfied with her feelings and was willing to be an accomplice, threatening her old father in another way.
Seeing that Wang Shisong understood the meaning of the words he had relayed, Hu Yinglin smiled and said, "Master, I heard that the emperor gave a final summary that amazed him and he thought it was the essence."

Wang Shisong asked anxiously, "What?"

“The Emperor said that the economic base determines the superstructure.

Whether it is equality for all or freedom of marriage, economic independence is required.

Economic independence means personal independence. People are no longer dependent on each other but cooperate on an equal footing. Everyone is equal and marriage is free.

"It's just financial independence, how easy is that? In the real world, nothing is easy. People with lofty ambitions often find that sometimes it's better to eat well while kneeling than standing."

Wang Shisong murmured: "Only when you are financially independent can you have personal independence!"

He suddenly said in surprise: "Yuanrui, look, the newly rising team in Daming, the Labor Federation, various associations, including the Women Workers Association, the Nurses Association, the Women Artists Association, the Women Doctors Association and the Women Teachers Association, all have one thing in common!"

Hu Yinglin's eyes lit up and he blurted out, "Yes, the members of these associations all have their own jobs, can support themselves, and are financially independent!
Only when you are financially independent can you be independent in character, and only when you can support yourself can you speak with confidence. "

Wang Shisong added: "In order to preserve their own independent economy and maintain their independent personality, they united together, helped each other, communicated with each other, and then..."

Then it became a powerful force to restrain industrial and commercial entrepreneurs and business officials.

Especially the Labor Union, which includes workers in factories and mines, and new farmers who contract production to farms and ranches, all of them are laborers.

They are the strongest and the most difficult to deal with, not only because they have mastered the latest productive forces, but the emperor has also given them guns and artillery in the name of militia divisions.

Thinking of this, Hu Yinglin sighed: "Heaven and earth are unkind and treat all things as straw dogs! Unkindness that treats all equally is the great benevolence of heaven and earth!"

Wang Shisong also sighed: "The world is for the public. For the emperor, this is the world's public."

The two of them opened a new window and started a heated discussion until Jin Xuezeng and Wang Jiaping returned to the box.

"Brother Zhongbo, Brother Zilu, are you done visiting Master Zihe so soon?"

Wang Jiaping shook his head in surprise.

Jin Xuezeng said: "A younger family friend of Zihegong sat in Zihegong's box and kept pestering him.

We really can't stand it, but we are juniors and outsiders, so we can't say anything, so we just say goodbye, out of sight, out of mind."

Hu Yinglin asked curiously, "Why is that man pestering Zihegong?"

"That man's father was an old friend of Zihe Gong, and he was a fourth-rank official.

In May and June of this year, the central government and local officials were reshuffled, and his father retired due to illness, and not even the constitutional doctor retired. "

The four of them knew that this kind of official was a mediocre person.

There are no political achievements that would make the court keep you to continue offering advice and suggestions on state affairs.

There has been no corruption or dereliction of duty, or it has not been serious enough for the Censorate to investigate you.

Please be merciful and let you get ashore safely.

That's it, what else are you not satisfied with?
Hu Yinglin asked: "Could it be that this person is looking for Zihegong to ask for the position of Xianyi Dafu for his father?
How can Zihegong decide this?"

"It's not that outrageous. He asked Zihegong to intercede for his father and allow him to return to his hometown to retire."

The private room fell into silence, and the sunlight flickered on the car window.

After a while, Hu Yinglin couldn't help but mutter, "Isn't this considered wishful thinking? This is wishful thinking to the extreme!"

Wang Jiaping and Wang Shisong also shook their heads.

Jin Xuezeng raised his head and seemed to want to say something, but finally he shut up.

Wang Shisong could not help but complain: "According to the new official system in the first year of Wanli, officials of the first and second ranks must stay in the capital after retirement. If they are unwell, they can ask for permission to move to Nanjing and the two direct-controlled prefectures of Shanghai and Luan.

Officials of the third and fourth ranks who retired as Constitutional Officials may remain in the capital, while the rest must remain in the provincial capital of the province where they retired.

Officials of the fifth and sixth ranks who retire must stay in the county seat of the county where they retire; officials of the seventh rank who retire must stay in the county seat of the county where they retire; there are no regulations for officials of the eighth and ninth ranks, and they can reside wherever they want.

According to the partial official system reform this year, an additional clause was added, which stated that officials of the eighth and ninth ranks were not allowed to return to their hometowns to buy land and build houses, except for old houses inherited from their ancestors.

What does it mean?

That young master doesn't know, and the retired fourth-rank official doesn't know either?"

Yes, as a fourth-rank official, the central government has already called the Shaoqing of various temples and the Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, while the local government has called the Zuo Canyuang and the Censor. Even the emperor didn’t understand why he made this iron rule.
You even have the audacity to instigate your son to pester Zihegong to beg for mercy. How did you manage to become a fourth-rank official?

The four of them couldn't help but feel suspicious.

This is the iron rule set by the emperor, the red line drawn, how dare you violate it? Could it be that you have nothing to do after retiring, and you want to play with the tiger's whiskers?

The key is that if you want to die, don't drag your son and daughter into it.

Why is it the emperor’s iron rule and bottom line?

The four people in the private room exchanged glances with each other, revealing a tacit understanding.

A gentleman!
The wealthy and powerful families that control the local area!

This is one of the groups that the emperor hates the most. They are the ones who have been involved in many major crimes and killings in recent years!

The emperor decreed this iron rule in order to cut off the source of the gentry families.

Of course, the emperor gave a high-sounding reason. The living, medical and educational conditions in the capital, provincial capitals, county towns are all better than the previous one.

You have worked hard for the Ming Dynasty all your lives. I and the court cannot treat you unfairly. Staying in the town will be beneficial to you and your descendants.

Now the imperial examinations are divided into the junior high school entrance examination, the college entrance examination, the provincial examination (provincial examination) and the national examination (meeting examination), and they are held once a year. Jinshi and Juren are rapidly "depreciating", and if they do not become an official, they are nothing.

More importantly, the content of the examination papers has changed significantly, implementing "segmentation" and "standardization".

The "room teachers" and "seated teachers" who mark the test papers are teachers from various high schools and universities who organize the papers to mark the papers collectively and cross-wise in a closed environment.

The relationship between teachers and students has been greatly diluted and has depreciated.

The most crucial point is that the "chair teacher" and "room teacher" are all ordinary teachers, at most associate professors or professors, who cannot provide help to students in their careers. What's the point of recognizing such a "mentor"?

Why not find yourself another father?
As a result, the important members of the gentry group - Jinshi and Juren, and the important way to form cliques and factions - the relationship between teachers and students, were all destroyed and it was difficult for them to cause trouble.

Only retired officials are left.

Zhu Yijun directly cut off the source of the problem: officials could not return to their hometowns after retiring.

Even if Prime Minister Zhang Juzheng retired and stayed in the capital, people would only respect you on the surface, but in reality, they would still ignore you.

The new prime minister, the new left and right chancellors, the new six ministers and the new ministers of the six ministries, these incumbent officials are all dissatisfied with their favor, so how can they have the energy to hang around you retired officials?

Things are rare and valuable!

The capital is crowded with a large number of first and second rank officials, and the provincial capital is crowded with a large number of third and fourth rank officials. They are all piled up together and are worthless!

Your influence on the court and local governments is also very limited. If the current officials think your words are useful, they will listen to them. If they think your words are useless, they will just say something polite and then let them go with the wind.

Wang Shisong lost his temper and said, "This bastard, please don't harm Zihegong!"

Wang Jiaping stroked his beard and said, "Don't worry, you have to trust Zihegong. This kind of entanglement is a small matter for Zihegong."

Yes, we must believe in the political wisdom of Zihegong (Liu Yingjie).

The train continued to move forward. After an unknown amount of time, someone suddenly knocked on the door of the private room.

"Who?"

"I, Wen Qing."

"Please come in quickly."

The door opened and Zhu Lian was seen standing anxiously at the door.

"Four of you, have you read the newspaper? Something big has happened!"

"What's the big deal?"

The four people who were resting on their bunks all looked at him.

(End of this chapter)