Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 179: Confucianism as the Body and Hundred Schools of Thought as the Application

The head of the Beijing Camp also attended the meeting, and this meeting naturally also included matters concerning the Beijing Camp or the army.

This is also related to the Imperial College, and is the first private item that Zhu Changluo intends to insert into it.

"The advantages of weapons and armor, the ingenuity of construction, mathematics, calendar, medicine, agriculture, water conservancy..." Zhu Changluo looked at them, "All dynasties have considered these as minor subjects. For the court, there are still many talents who are proficient in these subjects. In the past, some capable officials made great achievements in some miscellaneous subjects due to their duties or hobbies, such as Pan Jixun and Li Shizhen. But if there is an urgent need, where can we quickly select them?"

When Pan Jixun was governing the Huanghuai area, Li Shizhen's Compendium of Materia Medica was presented to the court by his son.

Zhu Changluo restored the ancient and also hid the new.

"I think that those who are beneficial to the country should be carefully cultivated and employed according to their talents." He looked at everyone, "After the students were incorporated into the three academies of the Imperial College, the Imperial College was temporarily vacant. In the Han Dynasty, all schools of thought were abolished and Confucianism was the only one respected. I think that Confucianism should be the body and all schools of thought should be the use. It would be better for the Imperial College to set up a Hundred Schools Garden to select many interested scholars to study, form its own system, and cultivate talents for the country..."

There is the Imperial College on the right side of the Forbidden City, and the Baijia Garden next to the Confucius Temple.

The left is the most respected, which makes sense in terms of style.

However, the idea proposed by the emperor still surprised everyone and they were worried about public opinion.

Only Tian Le knew that this was the beginning of "all industries being included in the court."

"I think it's possible!" he said. "Your Majesty has the mind of a sage monarch. The theory of substance and function not only comforts the hearts of the gentry of the world, but also provides an additional step for those who are proficient in various studies and those who have other hobbies among the scholars to advance. If the Confucian school wants to revive the spirit of scholars, it would be good to have more encouragement."

The Minister of Works also felt directly that this was a decision that was beneficial to the Ministry of Works and immediately spoke out in agreement.

However, Shen Shixing, the Grand Secretary of the Imperial Academy who had been appointed to be in charge of the nation's culture and education, asked hesitantly, "How will the students of the Hundred Schools Garden be selected? How will they be selected after they have completed their studies and passed the examinations? Will they be given honors? Will they be officials or clerks?"

"Of course it's the same as a university. After completing the study and passing the examination, you can be appointed as an official and granted the same status as a Jinshi." Zhu Changluo gave everyone a shocking treatment without hesitation, and then explained, "This can be regarded as a different way, and it is naturally more difficult. The school system is different, and the examination method is also different..."

Naturally, what Zhu Changluo could let them hear were more novel methods.

The imperial examination now only tests the scholars' familiarity with the classics and their understanding of some specific matters. This understanding is generally explained from a high level, from the perspective of strategy and direction, and does not require too high specific operations and execution details.

However, Zhu Changluo adopted a model similar to "compulsory" plus "elective" for the Baijiayuan.

The threshold for participating in the examination for the University Garden within the Imperial College is to have been listed on the first or second place list in the provincial examination; while for the Hundred Schools Garden, the threshold for participating in the examination is to have a student's academic achievement, and the time is also staggered with that of the Middle School Garden.

During the examination, a comprehensive selection method was adopted, which combined the current imperial examination content scores with the miscellaneous subjects scores.

This means that a scholar might indeed surpass some juren in overall performance because they are more proficient in various subjects.

"After entering the Baijiayuan, one must study for at least five years. After being examined, one has the knowledge of a candidate for the imperial examination, and one or more other subjects can be considered an expert, so one can be granted the same status as a Jinshi." Zhu Changluo said, "One is still a Confucian student, but with other strengths."

This is what he meant by Confucianism as the body and the Hundred Schools of Thought as the application.

At least on the surface, this is just a diversion of some people from today's students, and it is indeed another path.

The future academic achievement will be the lowest among the Jinshi candidates, which is enough to dispel some people's concerns.

But this is just the beginning. For Zhu Changluo, there are many more things to do later.

In fact, some people have already thought of a very convenient way of doing this: first enter the Imperial College Primary School with the help of imperial favor, and after completing the course, you will have the title of student, and naturally you can continue to enter the Hundred Schools Garden with the help of imperial favor to study a specialty.

The academic system currently agreed upon by the various academies of the Imperial College is three years.

As long as one could successfully complete his studies and pass the examinations at the Imperial Academy, there would be a descendant with the title of a successful candidate in six years.

Although the Middle School selects students from all over the country every year, half of them are admitted from the Primary School of the Imperial College. How can the high ratio be compared with that of other places?

Although one would not immediately gain the title of a successful candidate after entering the middle school, if one fails to complete his studies and pass the examinations after three more years, he would be truly useless.

The emperor had the privilege of favor, and the favor in the Imperial College was limited to primary school, and one still had to take an exam to enter the middle school. But the Hundred Family Garden was obviously just for "using talents", to learn a skill, and since it was the Imperial College with a lot of favor, it was obvious that it could continue to be favored.

This means that after three years plus five years of studying at the Xiaoxueyuan and Baijiayuan, one can even get the status of a Jinshi in one year less than it would take to pass the Imperial College.

Zhu Changluo confirmed their guess and sighed, "The government and the public all despise miscellaneous learning. If the Hundred Family Garden can really cultivate talents for the country, I'm afraid it will be very difficult to get started. Meritorious officials are all willing to work for the country and relieve my worries. If there are talented children in the family, they can naturally still take the imperial examinations and win first or second place. If there are children with slightly less talent, I will grant them the privilege of entering the Hundred Family Garden to learn a specialty, and they will also be able to serve in the future."

At this point, who would oppose the establishment of this Baijiayuan?
It must be said that this is a good way to appease the gentry of the world: even if the ratio of preferential exemption is really reduced in the future, the number of scholars, candidates and Jinshi in each family is expected to increase.

Whether they can achieve the effect of no reduction depends on whether they choose to adapt to the new changes or remain stubborn.

This is Zhu Changluo's salami-slicing tactic. Now they will never think that the emperor will eventually abolish all preferential treatment.

Who will serve the emperor after he is deposed? How will the problem of corvée labor be solved?

After all, even the most stringent Taizu would exempt officials in office from corvee labor.

So they started discussing the subjects to be set up in the Hundred Schools Garden. The subjects proposed by Zhu Changluo were indeed directly related to the improvement of national strength: currently the main subjects were weapons research and development, medicine, agronomy, water conservancy... A meeting that would profoundly influence the future direction of the Ming Dynasty was held during this year-end financial meeting.

In order to implement the emperor's ideological guidance of "applying what you have learned", the water conservancy facilities of Shuntian Prefecture and various projects in the capital, the Military Equipment Bureau and the Armament Bureau of the Ministry of Works, the Imperial Medical Service, the Imperial Observatory, etc. will become some "internship bases" in Baijiayuan.

The chief academician of Baijiayuan was Xu Guangqi from the Baijiaguan of Hanlin Academy, and one of the assistant officials, the seventh-rank instructor, was Zhu Zaiyu, who was from the royal family.

This is another precedent for a member of the royal family to serve as an official.

"Shen Taichang."

Zhu Changluo changed his address, and Shen Shixing stood up happily: "I am here."

"As we just discussed, the cabinet should prepare the decree as soon as possible and also make clear the purpose and strategy, so that it can be announced to the world at the grand court meeting on the first day of the lunar year."

"I accept the decree!"

"Also, the Ministry of Works should send someone to inspect the West Garden first." Zhu Changluo looked over. "While running the school, the construction can be done at the same time, and the number of students can be increased slowly. The required silver should be calculated and submitted to me first, and I can borrow from the treasury. The Imperial College should also send the imperial edict to let the students prepare for the exam. Due to the establishment of the Imperial College, how should the Imperial College, the Imperial Academy and other government offices be changed? Which academic officials should be added and who should be selected? The Ministry of Personnel should also submit a proposal."

Only the chief officer and assistant officer of Baijiayuan were appointed on the spot, and the emperor seemed to attach more importance to Baijiayuan.

After the ministers left the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Changluo stood up and moved his arms and legs: "Let's go to Kunning Palace to see the queen first, and then go to the back garden of the palace to enjoy the snow."

"Your Majesty, then do you want to go to a certain palace and ask a certain lady to accompany you?"

"Need not."

On a snowy day like this, how could the people in the palace not guess that the emperor might go and take a look?

Even if it was just a chance, opportunities were always reserved for those who were prepared. Zhu Changluo knew that there must be someone in the palace back garden pretending to be the red plum blossom in the snow.

Zhu Changluo is in a good mood now.

Even if it was just to appease the emperor, they collected some more taxes after all.

The biggest problem of the Ming Dynasty was the lack of tax revenue. As long as more could be collected, even if the overall effect was not enough, it would be a good start after all.

Let’s look back at the Changming.

After visiting Guo Lanzhi, who was still carefully pregnant with her child, Zhu Changluo went straight to the back garden of the palace.

Holding a warm hot water bottle in his hand, he walked, looked and thought.

The range of activities is basically within the palace. When heavy snow falls, walking around and enjoying the scenery is a form of entertainment.

Zhu Changluo's nerves had actually been broken for more than a month. He had publicized the idea of ​​downgrading the rank, and although he had finally implemented an exemption period, he was not 100% sure of the local reaction, but he had already made psychological preparations.

Maybe it’s because the end of the year is approaching, maybe we are not ready yet, or maybe no one dares to oppose openly.

In short, there is no bad news coming from the local area on this matter.

Although there were many chaotic phenomena in the country and the financial difficulties seemed irreversible, there was no strong challenger after all.

Most people are followers after all.

At present, the Ming Dynasty has no powerful external threats, and considering the consequences of internal troubles, it will adopt a strategy of keeping its troops in place for the time being.

Endure until variables appear?

Zhu Changluo suddenly asked: "How is Nurhaci's son doing in the Jinyiwei School?"

"... follow the rules." Wang An replied.

"That's what Nurhaci told me before he went back." Zhu Changluo smiled, "Just pay attention to it."

He also kept his eye on Nurhaci.

Conflicts of interest will not disappear. If Zhu Changluo feels that the internal situation has been suppressed and that he has sufficient strength, and starts to resolve external conflicts, that will probably be the moment when internal and external conflicts erupt together.

Before that, we need to think more and prepare more.

As we approached Wanchun Pavilion, we could hear the long and distant sound of “Peace in the World”.

Zhu Changluo frowned. Which palace maid had committed a sin to be punished to ring the bell in the palace backyard on such a snowy day?

(End of this chapter)