The struggle for the throne during the Jiajing reign

Chapter 94 Debate

He paused, gathered his thoughts, and as reason returned, he slowly organized his scattered emotions into a coherent whole: "Your Highness just asked me what my views were. I dare to offer my humble opinion."

First of all, governing a country depends on employing the right people. Without people to employ, everything is in vain. The imperial court selects officials solely through the civil service examination.

Industry, agriculture, commerce, medicine, military strategy, and water conservancy—these practical disciplines, though not tested in the imperial examinations, are the real skills for governing the country. Nowadays, scholars bury themselves in the Four Books and Five Classics, only knowing how to ponder the meaning of the classics and polish their essays, trapped in the rigid framework of the eight-legged essay for their entire lives.

They are completely ignorant of the people's hardships, river and canal transport, military defense and border defense. Once they pass the imperial examination and enter officialdom, they use their empty knowledge to manage local civil affairs, military affairs and finance. How can they not accumulate a lot of problems?

While it is not advisable to abolish the eight-legged essay and the imperial examination system, it is possible to first supplement the examinations with additional special examinations, with local governors and prefects recommending candidates each year.

Anyone who is knowledgeable in agriculture, water conservancy, military strategy, criminal law, and arithmetic can be appointed as an assistant, county or prefectural official, river worker, or border guard without going through the provincial or metropolitan examinations, but after being assessed by the imperial court. If they achieve outstanding results, they will be promoted.

Zhu Zaizhen hadn't reacted yet, but Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but frown upon hearing this: "This is wrong. The imperial examination system has been in place for a hundred years. It selects people based on the classics and emphasizes cultivating one's character and understanding the principles of morality and ethics."

If unauthorized channels are opened up, the process of recommendation will inevitably breed favoritism and favoritism, leaving no way for scholars from humble backgrounds to rise in society, and ultimately undermining the fundamental principles of the nation.

Xu Wei looked at Zhang Juzheng and asked, "What is your background, Mr. Zhang?"

Zhang Juzheng said, "I come from a military family with an ordinary background. I suffered from extreme poverty in my youth, and my family was so poor that we could not even afford a single stone."

Xu Wei's gaze softened considerably: "With such a background, and considering that Mr. Zhang is much younger than me, yet he holds a position in the Hanlin Academy and serves as a lecturer to a prince, it is evident how outstanding his talent is."

But in this world, there are very few people like you, sir, who are exceptionally gifted, and whose talent happens to lie in the imperial examinations. Are those with extraordinary talent in agriculture, water conservancy, and mathematics not qualified to serve in the imperial court?

Zhang Juzheng's expression remained unchanged, but a hint of solemnity appeared between his brows. He cupped his hands and slowly said, "What you say, sir, seems to be considerate of practical matters and to broaden the path for the virtuous, but in fact it harbors hidden dangers. Our ancestors established the imperial examination system to select officials based on the Four Books and Five Classics and the principles of morality. This was not only to select officials, but also to establish people's hearts and rectify the world."

People have abandoned the classics and moral principles, and are rushing into agriculture, sericulture, water conservancy, divination and other miscellaneous studies. Scholars no longer cultivate themselves and understand etiquette, but only value strange skills and trivial professions.

If this continues, the traditional moral code will collapse, the scholarly atmosphere will become decadent, and where will the foundation of the nation lie?

Furthermore, the recommendation system, while seemingly unrestricted, is actually most easily controlled by local gentry and powerful figures. Today they recommend relatives and friends, tomorrow their protégés; personal connections outweigh fairness. Those from poor and destitute families, unable to even secure this single-plank bridge of the imperial examinations, are even more wronged.

Both men were in high spirits and stood face to face, sharing their ideas. Zhu Zaizhen, on the other hand, leaned back in his sandalwood chair and watched with a smile, looking relaxed and content.

Xu Wei no longer cared about Prince Jing; he only had eyes for Zhang Juzheng. He shook his head and said, "No, no. When the court appoints these people as officials, although some great talents sometimes emerge, most of the time they just follow the rules and regulations and stick to the old ways. What have the people done wrong, and what good has the region done?"

What I mean by supplementing the imperial examination system is not abolishing it, but supplementing it. The imperial examination system will still select scholars according to orthodoxy and preserve the social order and etiquette.

The imperial examination system recruits practical talents to fill vacancies in court administration; these two paths run parallel and do not contradict each other. How can this be considered a violation of social norms?

Moreover, supplementing the civil service examinations is an expansionary measure, while rectifying official conduct is the fundamental solution. I believe there are three methods for governing officials.

First, rigorous assessments should be conducted—with practical results as the core. Those who encourage agriculture and sericulture should be assessed based on increased production; those who manage rivers and canals should be assessed based on ensuring water safety; those who adjudicate cases and administer justice should be assessed based on redressing grievances; and those who command troops and defend garrisons should be assessed based on their training performance.

Secondly, the system of breaking up cliques was implemented—the system of regional and academic year avoidance was enforced. Local officials could not be from the same province, and subordinate officials could not be from the same hometown or from the same academic year as the official. Every recommendation had to be recorded in black and white. If the recommended person was corrupt or broke the law, the recommender would also be held accountable.

Thirdly, it fosters integrity – when Emperor Taizu Gao set the salary, it was based on the prices during the Hongwu era, and it was already low. Now, the country has been at peace for over 150 years.

Prices have skyrocketed, yet salaries remain unchanged. The entire government relies on the salary of the head official alone; how can they survive without corruption?

Zhang Juzheng first nodded and then shook his head: "What he said is correct, but it is just theoretical and too idealistic. In the early years of Jiajing, Grand Secretary Yang Tinghe proposed to reform the examination system. What was the result?"

Former Grand Secretary Xia Yan proposed increasing salaries to encourage integrity, but what was the result? A censor submitted a memorial accusing him of currying favor and seizing power, and the matter ultimately ended inconclusively.

Xu Wei and Zhang Juzheng engaged in a long and eloquent exchange for more than two hours, until lunchtime, when Ma Dezhao finally stopped them with a dark expression.

"You two," he said, his face expressionless, but he stopped the two people who were arguing and trying to outwit each other.

"Your Highness should eat. Aren't you hungry? Your Highness still needs to grow."

The two were in the middle of a lively conversation when they were interrupted by this voice. They were startled at first, then turned to look at Zhu Zaizhen. They had been so focused on each other that they had completely forgotten about the person next to them.

Zhang Juzheng straightened his sleeves and bowed to Prince Jing, saying, "Your subject has been impolite."

Xu Wei, on the other hand, was somewhat at a loss and did not know how to express himself.

Zhu Zaizhen clapped his hands and stood up with a smile: "That's right. If we're all polite and flattering each other as soon as we meet, it'll be a waste. Let's go have a meal together."

Lunch was arranged in the small flower hall. The dishes were served as soon as they set off: crystal pork knuckle, braised venison, steamed silver fish, crispy roasted goose, bamboo shoots with rare mushrooms, and lotus seed cake.

A jar of Man Dian Xiang aged for twenty years, and a pot each of Longjing and Guzhu Zisun tea.

After bowing to Prince Jing, the two took their seats. Zhang Juzheng was fine; he had been dining with Zhu Zaizhen quite often lately, and this fellow was also fond of luxury and pleasure, and never tired of fine food.

Xu Wei, on the other hand, was rather reserved, and his expression darkened when he saw the table full of delicacies.

Zhu Zaizhen noticed but didn't say anything. He simply calmly asked his attendant beside him, "Has it been delivered?"

Ma Dezhao didn't look at Xu Wei: "I've already sent Zhang Xing to deliver twelve dishes to Madam Xu, all of which are suitable for her."

"That's good, now Mr. Xu can eat in peace."

Xu Wei was surprised that Prince Jing still cared about his mother. His expression immediately changed. He knew that his mother was a concubine and had been sold off by his stepmother. Even the neighbors looked down on them.

Xu Wei was deeply moved by the unexpected thoughtfulness of a prince. His nose tingled and tears welled up in his eyes. He had never imagined that a prince would be so considerate. He had never imagined that a ruler would treat him as a national hero.

This moved him far more than bestowing upon him gold, silver, silk, high-ranking official positions, and generous salaries.

Xu Wei stood up from his chair, took a step back, and lifted his robes as he prepared to bow down.

This is a clumsy way of expressing gratitude. He is clearly such a talkative person, but when it comes to flattery, he is probably on par with Hai Rui.

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