Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 279 Zhu Yunhuan: I am an illiterate who has never been to school? Ambition!

After hearing what she said, Zhu Yunhuan was stunned.

I call him a good guy in my heart.

Are you just familiar with the historical books such as "Records of the Grand Historian", "Book of Han", "New Book of Tang", "Zizhi Tongjian" and so on?
Can you barely memorize thousands of Tang and Song poems?
Is this something a human being can say?

Many people in later generations have said that reading "Zizhi Tongjian" once in a lifetime is enough!

What do you mean?
Even if you read books all your life, it would be enough if you can finish reading the entire "Zizhi Tongjian".

This is of course an exaggeration.

In fact, it means to start from "Zizhi Tongjian" and conduct in-depth research.

But in any case, this is the domain of historians.

Strictly speaking, the little historical knowledge that ordinary people learn in junior high and high school is not even the basics.

As for memorizing thousands of Tang and Song poems...

As the saying goes, "If you read 300 Tang poems, you will be able to recite them even if you can't compose poems."

If you can recite thousands of Tang and Song poems, you can be called a "top student" no matter where you are.

Gu Panjun said that she had only attended a private school for three years. This must be true. She would not lie to him. After all, it would be too easy to expose.

In later times, studying for three years, that is, graduating from the third grade of elementary school, is still considered a typical illiterate.

However, Gu Panjun's ability to learn on his own...

Of course, the three years of private school in this world and the three years of studying in later generations are not the same concept.

There are not so many subjects in this world, there is only "Chinese".

The "science" pioneered by Zhu Yunhuan was only popular among Taixue students and provincial, prefectural and county schools, and students mainly learned on their own rather than under the guidance of teachers.

Others who study "science" are also adults.

The private schools that children attend still only teach "Chinese".

Of course, I have learned more and more deeply about this.

The ancients said that studying hard for ten years is actually only equivalent to nine years of compulsory education plus one year of kindergarten, which is the cultural level of junior high school.

But if we only compare poetry, essays, and historical allusions, the scholars in ancient times who spent ten years studying hard can definitely beat the students in later generations who have received nine years of compulsory education by a hundred miles.

Even those who only study for three years are not necessarily inferior to junior high school graduates in later generations.

After all, what later generations of students read is different.

Of course, people are even more different.

There are differences between students with the same junior high school education.

A top student who graduated from junior high school, and an ordinary junior high school student who barely passed. Although both of them graduated from junior high school, the actual cultural level gap between them is like a chasm.

However, someone like Gu Panjun, who only studied in a private school for three years, taught himself so much knowledge that no matter where he is placed, he would be a "top student" or even a "god of study".

No wonder her speech and behavior are far beyond those of an ordinary country girl.

After reading so many books, how can I be the same as the ordinary illiterate country girls of this era?

What's more, she can memorize historical books such as "Zizhi Tongjian" and thousands of Tang and Song poems by heart, which shows her high IQ and good memory.

This talent for reading is something that ordinary people cannot match.

Of course, this is also because there are not many entertainment activities in this world.

There is no lure of the Internet, nor the appeal of short videos.

For readers of this era, reading itself can be an extremely interesting entertainment activity.

People in later generations may prefer to read online novels and other easy-to-understand novels.

On the one hand, this is because of the generalization of entertainment in later generations. On the other hand, it is because of the different education received from childhood to adulthood, which makes people in later generations find the content of history books too obscure and difficult to understand.

But the scholars of this era do not have this problem.

Just as Gu Panjun said, she read history books and Tang and Song poetry for entertainment and to pass the time.

This is probably the same as how people in later generations read online novels.

She didn't find studying painful, nor did she feel tired. On the contrary, she found it fun and interesting.

That's why she can read so many horror books.

Bookworms in later generations who like to read online novels can read hundreds of online novels a year.

Reading books in the same way as Gu Panjun does is actually similar.

The difference is that because there are not many entertainment activities and the number of books is limited, Gu Panjun may read those history books a second time, a third time... until he knows them by heart.

The second is that the books they read have different contents.

People in later generations often forget what they read after reading online novels.

This is another matter from Gu Panjun reading history books and reciting Tang and Song poems.

If Gu Panjun was born in later times, given her love for reading Romance of the Three Kingdoms, she might also become addicted to online novels instead of spending a lot of time reading history books and memorizing Tang and Song poems.

After all, in comparison, online novels are obviously more interesting.

Gu Panjun had no utilitarian purpose in studying because, as a woman, she could not take the imperial examination.

She was just bored and thought reading was interesting and fun...

Zhu Yunhuan asked Yang Rong beside him: "Have you read all those history books? How many Tang and Song poems have you memorized?"

Yang Rong was stunned for a moment, and then said modestly, "I have read it, but I don't remember it very well. I have done some research on the contents of the Annals, Tables, Books, Family Histories, and Biographies. For the other contents, such as seasons, geography, and official positions, I have to look up books."

"As for Tang and Song poems, I can recite some, but not too many, probably about a few thousand or even tens of thousands."

"Although Miss Gu is a woman, she is well-educated and well-read. She is not inferior to me. I am ashamed of her."

Isn't reading history books just about reading some annals, family histories, and biographies?

It would be outrageous if you knew the tables and books by heart.

As for the seasons, geography, and official positions...you are not a humanoid computer, so how is it possible that you can remember them all?

You haven't memorized many Tang and Song poems, only a few thousand or tens of thousands?

Zhu Yunhuan rolled his eyes in his heart.

I shouldn't have asked Yang Rong such a question.

In real history, he was a successful Jinshi and a very famous scholar, otherwise he would not have later become the prime minister.

Comparing yourself with someone like Yang Rong, who has read history books and memorized poems, isn't that just asking for trouble?
Zhu Yunhuan was a little depressed.

It turns out that among the three people in this carriage, I am the only "illiterate" who can't even recite all 300 Tang poems?
"In terms of profound knowledge, who in the world can compare to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?" Gu Panjun blinked his bright eyes with a look of admiration.

"Of course." Yang Rong followed up, "People say 'there is only one stone of talent in the world, and Zijian alone has eight bushels'. However, in our Ming Dynasty, the talent of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is worth one stone and eight bushels, and the rest of the world still owes him eight bushels."

"Your Highness is so talented and thoughtful that we mediocre people cannot even imagine it."

"Just by creating a new line of science, it has set a precedent for all ages."

The corner of Zhu Yunhuan's mouth twitched slightly.

He was too lazy to say anything more modest. He accepted Yang Rong's flattery without blushing or changing his expression. He quickly changed the subject and asked Gu Panjun in his arms with a smile:

"Xu Miaojin's offer is good. The Xu family is a founding family with no merit. Xu Miaojin's elder brother, Xu Huizu, is the hereditary Duke of Wei."

"He is also handsome and talented. Among the young nobles, there is almost no one who can compare to him."

"Why did you firmly reject her request?" Gu Panjun smiled slightly.

"Panjun grew up in a small mountain village."

"When I was young, I was loved by my parents and loved by my clansmen. They never abandoned me and they all looked forward to seeing me."

"Since she was little, Pan Jun knew that she was quite pretty, because almost everyone around her praised her for her good looks."

"When I was studying, Mr. Lian also looked at me differently."

"There are hundreds of students in the village, big and small. The teacher has mentioned many times that I am the most talented among them."

"I am always the first one to finish the homework that the teacher assigns us to memorize every day."

"Until the time of the assessment, he had always been ranked first among the students who entered the school with him."

"Although I only studied for three years because of my status as a woman, I developed a very high self-esteem."

"Later, when I was free and reading, I often thought about the outside world. I wanted to meet heroes and see picturesque landscapes. I only regretted that I was a woman and could not leave home to explore the world."

"When His Royal Highness the Crown Prince came to power and founded the Ming Daily, the clan also subscribed to it. I read it every day to learn about the outside world, and I admired His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's talent and character."

"Although I have never told anyone about this, I have sworn in my heart that if I ever get married, I will marry a hero like His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"As the saying goes, a real man should have lofty ambitions, manage his family, govern his country, and bring peace to the world."

"A man of ambition can either lead an army to fight on the battlefield and kill enemies for his country, or pass the imperial examinations and become a prime minister to rule the country for the king."

"Although I am a weak woman, when I read the Ming Daily and read the stories of the current emperor's entrepreneurship, the person I most want to be is Empress Ma."

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, is extremely talented and unrivaled in the world. Even if we trace back thousands of years, no one can match him."

"If I can marry His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in this life, even if I become one of the three thousand beauties in the harem, it will be worth my life in this world."

"Later, someone from the Investigation Department found me and brought me to Master Daoyan and Mr. Yang. They said they would make good arrangements for me and present me to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"This is your lifelong ambition, how can I not be overjoyed?"

"Although knowing this matter is ethereal and illusory, it is not easy."

"But firstly, I hope you are still somewhat confident in your own looks; secondly, if you don't try this, how can you know the Crown Prince's intentions?"

"If I really agreed to Sister Xu's request and married Duke Wei, I'm afraid I would feel unhappy for the rest of my life and would have a knot in my heart."

"In that case, why not take a gamble?"

"Master Daoyan and Mr. Yang are both trusted aides of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Even they think I have a chance, so why shouldn't I give it a try?"

"If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince shows mercy, then perhaps I can realize my life's ambition."

"These are my sincere words. I dare not hide anything. I hope Your Highness the Crown Prince will understand."

Listening to her story, Zhu Yunxun was somewhat surprised.

In fact, men and women are the same in many things.

Even the people at the bottom of society are eager to see the scenery at the top.

It is just like the lower-class people in later generations always like to talk about national affairs, and the poorest people like to talk about the lives of the richest people.

It has been like this since ancient times.

After all, everyone has a dream in their heart, whether it can be realized or not.

A beggar who is so hungry that he can't even get enough food still fantasizes about what he will eat when he becomes an emperor.

Even if what they imagine is a million miles away from reality, it does not stop them from continuing to fantasize.

Men and women are the same in this regard.

The poorest and ugliest woman also has a dream of becoming a domineering president.

Men, on the other hand, often dream of becoming a general, number one in the imperial examination, or becoming a wealthy man!

However, except for a very few, most people can still distinguish between dreams and reality.

When it comes to "dreaming", as human beings, there is no difference between ancient people and people in later generations.

If there must be a difference, it is that men in ancient times could only dream of becoming a general or a prime minister, and did not dare to easily dream of becoming an emperor.

Because that would involve treason and the entire family would be executed.

As for whether you really have such terrible thoughts as "Are kings, princes, generals, and ministers born with different races?" in your heart, I'm afraid only you know it.

It is normal for men to dream of being kings, princes, generals and ministers. Conversely, it is also normal for women to dream of being queens.

Otherwise, there wouldn’t be the song sung by Queen Wei in the Han Dynasty that goes “No joy at giving birth to a boy, no anger at giving birth to a girl, but only see that Wei Zifu dominates the world.”

But having a dream does not mean you have the courage to speak it out frankly, as this will cause you to be laughed at.

Especially in feudal society, the ideological restrictions on women were particularly severe.

Gu Panjun grew up in a small mountain village. In her environment, she was recognized as the most beautiful person. When she was in school, she was also regarded as a "top student" by her teachers and the student with the best grades.

If these two things are applied to a person, her spirit will definitely become higher.

If she had not been able to leave the small mountain village in this life and had married an ordinary man, she would probably have been depressed all her life.

But since there is a chance, she would certainly prefer to take a chance.

There's nothing wrong with that, it makes sense.

What Zhu Yunhuan appreciated was her honesty.

In this era, the requirement for women is "marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog", and they cannot have too many delusions.

Even in later generations, although countless women dream of becoming a "domineering president", few dare to admit it in reality.

Gu Panjun could say very frankly that she was too proud to even marry a duke.

This just shows that she is smart enough.

Ordinary women will subconsciously conceal these true thoughts in their hearts to show their weakness and simplicity in order to win the love of men.

However, Gu Panjun knew that it was impossible to hide her little thoughts from Zhu Yunhuan, so she might as well admit it frankly.

Compared to those who try to cover up and act smart after being exposed, her way of handling things is obviously much smarter.

Dealing with smart people always saves time and effort.

At least you won't waste your energy on the other party's "cleverness", and you won't "act" for no reason or inexplicably.

As for ambition, Yao Guangxiao had it, Yang Shiqi had it, Yang Rong had it, the old generals who followed Zhu Yuanzhang to conquer the world had it, and all the civil and military officials in the court had it!

If you have no ambition and no aspirations, why would you come out to conquer the world and why would you be an official in the court?

Just find a secluded place where there are few people.

Since you come out to conquer the world and become an official in the court, you are an ambitious person.

The world is bustling with people, busy for fame, busy for profit, busy for the ideals in their hearts. Everyone has something to pursue, which is the natural law.

Of course, there is also Zhu Yunhuan himself.

Zhu Yunxun asked with a smile: "Is that all?"

Gu Panjun lowered her beautiful eyes and said softly, "I have some guesses about what Sister Xu is thinking. But this is just my guess after all. I don't dare to say anything nonsense in front of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince without any evidence."

Zhu Yunhuan burst into laughter.

……

(End of this chapter)