The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 727: Direct Minister
"Since your majesty ascended the throne, you have been rectifying the powerful families and promoting the humble ones. This has been a great show, but it has been of no avail."

"For years, when selecting officials, scholars from humble backgrounds were not seen. When studying classics at the Imperial Academy, the voices of commoners were not heard. Your Majesty has sent renowned scholars to various places to conduct research. They fill the halls with distinguished guests and give lectures, yet scholars from humble backgrounds are not allowed in!"

"Your Majesty yesterday relocated the great clans of Wu to Pingzhou, and today you are relocating the great clans of Shu to Shazhou."

"And tomorrow, officials in Pingzhou will be appointed by the nobles of Jiangdong, and minor officials in Shazhou will be appointed by the famous families of Shu."

"Within a hundred years, they will be the nobles of Pingzhou and the famous families of Shazhou."

"Your Majesty's governance is like pushing a boat on land—laborous and fruitless! Yi's way is not archery; Zaofu's technique is not driving; Xi Zhong's skill is not carving!"

"If you don't understand the fundamentals of things and only care about the surface, this is how kings have brought ruin to their countries since ancient times!"

Huangmen Lang Zou Gui stuttered as he read the memorial, glancing at Cao Mao from time to time, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

Cao Mao sat in the upper seat, sipping tea in his hand, his expression very calm.

He glanced at Zou Gui.

"Why did you stop? Keep reading."

Zou Gui continued to read the memorial.

Even after Zou Gui finished reading, he still felt a lingering fear. He placed the memorial in front of the emperor and quickly stepped aside.

Cao Mao put down his tea, picked up the memorial, looked at it for a few seconds, and then burst into laughter.

"This is directly comparing me to the many kings who lost their country!"

"Since I took power, no one has ever dared to submit such a petition!"

"There's actually a doctor of economics like this?"

Cao Mao smiled and looked out the door, "Man Changwu!!"

Man Changwu walked quickly into the hall and bowed to Cao Mao.

"Go to the Imperial College and invite a doctor named Liu Yi."

"I want to see how this crazy person dares to be so rude to me!"

At this moment, Yang Zong, who was standing nearby, hurriedly advised, "Your Majesty, although this man's words were disrespectful, he is indeed a loyal minister. If you want to govern the world well, you definitely need such loyal ministers to assist you. Please, Your Majesty, forgive his crimes!"

It can be seen that this guy's temperament is very similar to Yang Zong's.

In Sima Shi's time, submitting a memorial to curse the emperor was nothing special, but nowadays, anyone who dares to submit a memorial to curse the emperor is a true warrior.

At a time when the moral standards of ministers were generally low, Yang Zong felt that he could protect such a minister.

Cao Mao shook his head. "Let's call him over first and see what he can say. If he can give his reasons and convince me, I will promote him. If he can't say anything and just wants to become famous in this way, I will never let him go!"

Yang Zong suddenly didn't know what to say anymore.

Cao Mao continued to look at the memorial in his hand, with a half-smile on his face, making it impossible for others to see his true thoughts.

But this guy named Liu Yi is really brave!

How dare you write such a memorial?

Several close ministers were looking forward to it at this moment. They also wanted to see what kind of person this person was.

Cao Mao had only watched for a moment when he heard hurried footsteps outside.

Man Changwu was a taciturn person who stuck to the rules. If Cao Mao ordered him to stay at the door and not let anyone in, even if the queen wanted to come in, he would stop her and she would not be able to enter at all.

But his strengths are also obvious, he is very efficient in his work.

As soon as Cao Mao gave the order, he rode his horse quickly to tie up Liu Yi.

Liu Yi was a tall and famous scholar, but when standing in front of Man Changwu, he looked very petite.

Man Changwu dragged him and walked steadily in front of Cao Mao, then let him go, saluted and said, "Your Majesty, Liu Yi has been brought here."

Liu Yi didn't bother to scold Man Changwu at this moment, and bowed to Cao Mao.

Cao Mao gestured to Man Changwu and asked him to leave.

Then he lowered his head and looked at Liu Yi in front of him.

Liu Yi, who dared to submit a memorial to reprimand Cao Mao, looked different from Zhong Hui. There was not much arrogance on his face, and there was no problem with etiquette.

It's just that he is plain-looking and there doesn't seem to be anything worth praising about him.

Cao Mao looked at him for a moment before he said, "Get up."

Only then did Liu Yi stand up.

Cao Mao gestured to the memorial in his hand and said, "You know why I called you here."

"I know."

"How dare you say that I am like a king who lost his country? Do you know what this crime is?"

"I know." Cao Mao smiled and asked several ministers to leave.

After everyone left, he frowned, "Since you knew this, you still dared to do this? This is disrespecting me. Do you think I dare not kill you?!"

Cao Mao's voice became extremely cold.

Liu Yi said seriously, "Your Majesty, if you kill someone in anger because of the advice of your ministers, you will be no different from a king who has lost his country."

"well."

"Over the years, I have implemented the reward system, relocated the powerful families in two places, reorganized the powerful families in Liang and Yan, abolished the Zhengzhong system, established schools, and opened libraries. These policies have already achieved such a level of success, and you dare to say that I am doing useless work? Are these policies useless?"

Hearing Cao Mao's question, Liu Yi replied:
"Your Majesty, the Land Reward Order merely abolishes the privileges of the great families and requires them to pay taxes. Your Majesty is powerful now, so they will pay. But if they do so later, they will be able to conceal the truth again. This is entirely because you are using your power to coerce them, which is not very clever. Moreover, even if they lose their privileges, they can still annex and continue to cultivate the land. This will not affect them."

"As for the matter of relocating the great clans, I've already said it. Your Majesty, we're just moving the great clans of Jiangdong to Pingzhou. Can't they rise again in Pingzhou? This is useless. It only alleviates the current problem. Even if Your Majesty relocates the great clans across the country, it can only maintain peace for a hundred years."

"As for the Zhongzheng system, Your Majesty is now recruiting talents through assessment."

"However, whether it's the local assessment or the imperial assessment, those who pass are all high-ranking scholars. In the past, high-ranking scholars were reluctant to participate in local assessments and were unwilling to serve as local officials. Poor people did have some opportunities, but once the land reward order was issued, they also participated, and the poor people had no chance at all."

"Your Majesty, could you please go to the Ministry of Personnel and ask how many of the officials who have been evaluated over the years are from humble backgrounds?"

"As for the school, that's even more ridiculous. Has Your Majesty ever been to the local county school in person?"

"Are there any poor people there? And what about the library? What people lack is not just books, but people who can interpret the contents for them."

Liu Yi quickly denounced many of Cao Mao's policies as worthless.

Cao Mao did not get angry again.

He glanced at Liu Yi and asked, "Since you despise the government affairs so much, what are your thoughts?"

"I'd like to listen to it."

There was a smile on Cao Mao's face. Even if what Liu Yi said made some sense, what he needed was a minister who could solve the problem, not an old man who could only talk big.

He wanted to see what insights this person could come up with.

Liu Yi said, "Your Majesty, I believe the key lies not in farmland or official titles, but in learning."

"Knowledge is only in the hands of a few, so these people can occupy official positions and obtain privileges, thereby strengthening their clans and triggering annexations. Only when knowledge spreads and talents emerge throughout the world, and the humble can compete with the children of the aristocratic families, will this pattern be broken."

"First, we must reform the local schools. Local schools will be run by academic officials, all of whom come from prominent families. They will teach those of similar origins, making it difficult for less privileged students to enter. Therefore, Your Majesty can instruct them to recruit more scholars from humble backgrounds."

At the beginning, Cao Mao listened seriously, but when the other party kept talking about school matters, Cao Mao could no longer listen.

He shook his head and said, "Recruit more? Give them a quota?"

"How can it be that easy?"

"You said my policies were only superficial, but your thoughts aren't profound enough."

Liu Yi said seriously, "I simply feel that the current policies are insufficient to change the overall situation. I am not talented enough. Your Majesty can summon truly talented people to discuss this matter further."

Cao Mao was not angry.

Liu Yi's background was also not low. As a member of a prominent family, he could still say these words and ask himself to take action against the prominent family. Just based on this point, he was superior to more than 90% of the children of prominent families.

This was something Cao Mao appreciated. Moreover, although this guy was a little dull and his words were unpleasant, it was obvious that he had thought about and analyzed many current issues.

His personality is not suitable for handling government affairs, but it is suitable for other things.

Cao Mao then spoke, "The root of many problems lies in poverty. The war has just ended, and the people's strength has not yet recovered. Scholars from poor families can hardly afford to eat. Even if they want to study, they may not have such opportunities."

"So, the root lies in making the world strong. Once the world is strong, the many problems you mentioned will be solved. What do you think?"

Liu Yi was stunned for a moment before he saluted Cao Mao and said, "Your Majesty is right, but if we want to make the world strong, we must suppress these people."

"That's right, so I did these superficial things now."

Liu Yi was completely speechless this time.

Cao Mao said, "You have some understanding of the situation. It would be a pity for you to stay in the Imperial Academy. How about this? You will go to the Censorate starting tomorrow."

"I appoint you as the Minister of Imperial Households. From now on, you will investigate and fill gaps. If you are wronged, you can report it."

Liu Yi bowed again and said yes.

Cao Mao waved his hand and drove the man away.

Only then did he let the people outside in.

Yang Zong walked in with a smile. He knew that His Majesty would not kill this man. Cao Mao looked at the memorial in his hand again and suddenly asked, "Why haven't I seen Zhong Hui for two days? What has he been doing recently?"

Hearing the question, Yang Zong pursed his lips and said, "Zhong Hui has been in Zhang Hua's house these days, discussing state affairs with Lu Kang and others."

"ah????"

(End of this chapter)