In the imperial garden, there was a battle of beauty. In order to win the emperor's favor, these little girls each used all their skills.
If Zhu Houjie didn't favor them, then their ending would be very sad.
When the old palace maid sent by Imperial Consort Li to observe saw the Emperor laughing like never before, she hurriedly ran back to Cining Palace and reported,"Consort Dowager, it's not that His Majesty doesn't eat the beauties of the mortal world, he's already very happy!”
"Is that so? Was that so? Was that so? That would be great! Ah Zhu, go and prepare. Tell Huang Jin that he will send two or three beautiful women every night. The emperor will choose them himself. There is no need to flip the signboard during this period of time.”
"Yes, Consort Dowager."
In the twilight, when Zhu Houxin returned to Yangxin Palace Hall, he was followed by five pretty girls…
The next day, these five beautiful women were conferred the title of beauties. From then on, they were concubines and could enjoy a lifetime of glory and wealth. They would not have to endure until they were old and withered.
————
At this time, it was already mid-February of the first year of Jiajing.
The most important thing for the empire during this period of time was the general exams.
After the provincial examination ended last autumn, the entire Ming Empire had produced more than two thousand candidates through the imperial examination. According to the regulations, these candidates could be officials and could go to the Ministry of Personnel to register as candidates. If there was a vacancy in any county in the empire, the candidate magistrate could take up the post.
However, the vast majority of the candidates would choose to take another step forward and participate in the general exams next spring.
The examination was held in the capital and organized by the Ministry of Rites.
The candidates from all over the country had to rush to the capital to take the exam. Some of them would borrow money from the local yamen or wealthy merchants to pay for the travel expenses.
One hundred taels, one hundred and fifty taels…If they took the imperial examination, they would pass the imperial examination. The local yamen and merchants would not ask for the money they borrowed, but would even prepare generous gifts to build relationships.
A Jinshi could directly become an official of the imperial court. The merchants and wealthy families would not even have time to curry favor with him…
If they were from a rich family, the young master would be accompanied by a study boy all the way to the capital. If they were to get their names on the golden list, the officials and wealthy businessmen of the entire Sangzi would come to celebrate. It was a happy and harmonious occasion.
Passing the exam was the greatest blessing in one's life!
The road to official career had already been opened for the Jinshi. As long as they did not commit too big of a crime, they could eat imperial food until they were old.
When a poor family was admitted to the imperial examination, they would be like a carp leaping over the dragon gate. It would change their lives and the reputation of their family.
It could be said that the imperial examination was an extremely important matter for the people of the Ming Empire.
It was the same for Zhu Houyi. If he wanted to wage war against the aristocrats, he needed a large number of people who could understand his reform policies and ideas!
And in the current court, such people could be counted on one hand.
And in the provincial examination last autumn, Zhu Houjian proposed that the world was reform and selected the best.
Therefore, if the candidates passed the general exams, they would be his reform officials. With this group of officials, Zhu Houjin could settle all the big aristocratic families in the world without hesitation.
This included those in the royal court who ate corpses, those who opposed the same party, those who were conservative, those who were from the same village, and those who were supported by financial groups…
——
Just as Zhu Houjin was looking forward to the exam, Huang Jin bowed and said,"
"Reporting to the emperor, the annual silver and tribute from the vassal countries have arrived. This is the list, please take a look at it, Your Majesty.”
Zhu Houyan took the list and looked at it, and found that one of the tributes was from the Tubo.
The Tibetan gifts were 10,000 taels of gold, 100,000 taels of silver, 500 pieces of jade, 200 pieces of various agates, and 50 beautiful women.
The memorial of the Panchen Living Buddha to the Ming Emperor wrote: The Tubo people would forever submit to the Ming Empire and would not change for generations.
Zhu Houyan looked at the list of gifts from the Tibetan army and asked the eunuch beside him, Huang Jin,""Is Tubo so rich now? Did you pay tribute in the past?"
As a eunuch with the seal of the ceremonial director, Huang Jin had direct contact with the cabinet and knew many important matters of the empire.
" Your Majesty, it's not just Tubo. Even many small countries in Southeast Asia have traveled thousands of miles to pay tribute this time. Some of the small countries are led by their kings. As for Tubo, they are most afraid of Your Majesty regaining their land. The surrounding countries all know that Your Majesty can destroy whichever country you want. Some countries privately say that Your Majesty is warlike…"
"That's right! I love to fight! If they were not warlike, would there be so many vassal countries bowing and sending over such generous gifts?”Zhu Houjin said with a smile.
Huang Jin also knew that the little Emperor would definitely receive Great Ming's territory in Tubo.
This was because the Tibetan territory was a strategic high ground, and the vast Western Regions were in the past.
And the Western Regions was the place that the little Emperor had been longing for. The Empire's massive military force was already making all sorts of preparations to recover the Western Regions.
As long as the time was ripe, the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty would march west and take back the rule of the Western Regions that they had lost for 800 years!
Just as Zhu Houyi and Huang Jin were discussing the Tibetan incident, a eunuch outside the palace came in to report that the Minister of War, Wang Yangming, had requested an audience.
"Xuan."
After a while, Wang Yangming entered the hall. After saluting, Zhu Hou ordered the eunuch to bring a stool for him to sit on.
After Wang Yangming sat down in fear, Zhu Houzhen pointed to the exquisite porcelain plate on the Dragon Book table and said to Wang Yangming,"Minister Wang, don't be in a hurry to report the matter. Have a piece of pineapple cake. This is a tribute from the Nanyang vassal country.”
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Wang Yangming was not as reserved as the other ministers. Since the Emperor had opened his mouth, if he did not eat it, he would be embarrassed.
In the eighth year of Emperor Xianzong's reign, Wang Yangming was born into a prominent family in Yuyao County.
His father, Wang Hua, was the top scholar in the 17th year of Chenghua and was the official of the Ministry of Civil Affairs in Nanjing.
Wang Yangming was still unable to speak at the age of five, but he had memorized the books his grandfather had read. An eminent monk passed by his house and touched his head, saying,"What a good child. It's a pity that I exposed him."”
According to the Analects of Confucius, Duke Ling of Wei, his grandfather said,"If you know it, you can't keep it. Even if you get it, you will lose it."
She changed his name to "Shouren" and then he spoke.
Wang Yangming had a good family background when he was young, so he had a very good learning environment.
Today, Wang Yangming had received an imperial edict to meet Zhu Houjian. He wanted to ask him about the exam, and as the chief examiner of the provincial exam, Wang Yangming had done a good job.
However, the current cabinet was piled up like a mountain and could not be separated from him. Therefore, the chief examiner of the examination was the Minister of Rites, Wang Yong, as usual.
However, Zhu Houyi wanted to know Wang Yangming's thoughts on the imperial examination.
After dismissing Huang Jin and the other eunuchs, Zhu Hou asked Wang Yangming,"
"Minister Wang, there is no one else here. Tell me something from the bottom of your heart. Do you really support the reform of the imperial examination system? In the provincial examination last year, I only changed the examination questions. All the officials in the court strongly opposed it. Only you and Yang Yiqing remained silent, so I appointed you as the chief examiner.”
Zhu Houjian looked at Wang Yangming. During the provincial examination last year, almost all the civil and military officials expressed their opposition to the Imperial Examination's question setting reform.
In the end, Zhu Houzhi pushed for the reform of the imperial examination, and the results were great.
Wang Yangming held the pineapple cake in his hand and was reluctant to eat it. After listening to the emperor's inquiry, he said,"
"I know that Your Majesty does not want those pedantic people who only know the books of the sages and do not know how to do things. Your Majesty wants officials who can govern the world.”
"Oh? Since that was the case, why didn't the beloved minister stand up and publicly support me at that time?”Zhu Houjin asked.
"Your Majesty, I don't dare to be greedy for credit. Now, the more than two thousand students who passed the Imperial College Entrance Examination are all grateful to Your Majesty. This is what I think. In the provincial examination last year, Your Majesty was wise and mighty and had already obtained the ruling power of the Empire. No matter how many officials opposed it, it would be useless. If I stood up, they would only fight with me, and they would definitely not dare to do anything to Your Majesty.”
Pausing for a moment, Wang Yangming stood up and bowed,""The world belongs to Your Majesty alone. Only Your Majesty can achieve the world's grace and power!”
Listening to Wang Yangming's words, Zhu Houzhen admired this old man more and more. Wang Yangming's wisdom was much greater than the other courtiers. If the current cabinet was not supported by him and Xu Jie, it would be difficult to operate.
His relationship with Xu Jie could be considered very good, and Xu Jie also respected Wang Yangming.
However, now that Yang Yiqing was on sick leave, the position of chief assistant was vacant. The two of them were like fire and water. Other than official business, they had to communicate with each other.
Zhu Houzhen was well aware of the fierce battles in the royal court.
The East Chamber had already sent their private information to the Dragon Book Case every three days…
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。