The three-year examination of Hongzhi of Ming Dynasty was in full swing.
The list of candidates for the exam had already been posted outside the examination hall, and many of the candidates who had failed felt powerless.
Rather than calling them scholars who failed the examination, it would be better to call them nerds. Once the imperial court's focus was not on the eight-part essay, these people would immediately reveal their true colors.
"Let's organize the court examinations."
Zhu Youtang said to the Minister of Rites, Zhou Hongmo, and the morning court session ended.
Zhu Youtang returned to Yangxin Hall.
He still did not know what kind of talents the Hongzhi 3rd year examination would bring him, so he was looking forward to it.
After all, the current Great Ming, as its territory became more and more vast, would definitely need a batch of fresh blood to govern the Great Ming.
The next morning.
The court examination was held in the warm pavilion of the West Garden of the Forbidden City.
The sky was still dark, and it was not yet past midnight. The candidates for the examination, also known as the 'Chinese-style Jinshi', were waiting in front of the West Garden Palace Gate.
Their eyes were brighter than lanterns, and they were so excited that they couldn't control themselves.
What was the purpose of studying and taking exams? Wasn't it just for the sake of 'being a farmer in the morning and ascending the emperor's hall at night'? Now, after a series of cruel and inhumane tests, the 300 elites of the Great Ming Dynasty finally stood in front of Tian Zi's house. They were about to complete the final leap of the carp jumping over the dragon gate. Just thinking about it made one's bladder swell with excitement.
Of course, in the past three years, this group of students had personally experienced the revival of Hongzhi. They had seen the strength of the Great Ming Dynasty. Being able to be an official in such a country was something they were proud of.
All the scholars were looking forward to seeing the legendary emperor.
Soon, the officials from the Ministry of Rites began to sing."Xuan Hongzhi, Gengxu Branch Tribute Student!"
When everyone stood still, the music on the platform erupted. The yellow bells, Xiao Sheng's reed flute, the chimes, and the bronze chimes played together. The sound was so loud that it could pierce through the nine layers and cleanse the hearts of the people. It made the officials and tribute students in the hall all turn solemn.
Amidst the music, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Youtang, appeared in front of the warm pavilion.
" Greetings, Emperor. Long live, long live, long live…" The sound of shouting rang out. Zhu Youtang looked at the group of candidates and nodded calmly.
After Zhu Youtang finished his words of commendation, the court examination officially began.
The tribute students, who had witnessed the heavenly beauty and listened to the teachings of the Holy Prophet for the first time, were so excited that tears flowed down their faces. Although they did not scream or groan, a few of them were so nervous that they almost fainted.
"Let's start the exam."
After Zhu Youtang finished speaking, he left with his hands behind his back. The Ministry of Rites presided over the court examinations.
……
" Court examination champion: Wen Zhengming."
" Second place of the court examinations: Xu Zhenqing."
" Court examinations third place: Zhu Zhishan."
Zhu Youtang looked at the top scorer, second runner-up, and the top scorer in the third year of Hongzhi, and his eyes slowly closed.
The Four Great Scholars of Wuzhong, the Four Great Scholars of Jiangnan in history, only Tang Bohu was missing.
Tang Bohu was much younger than the three of them and had yet to participate in the scientific examination.
In reality, Wen Zhengming and the other two were born much earlier than Tang Bohu, but their careers were more bumpy.
Zhu Zhishan was the first to bear the brunt.
Zhu Zhishan was famous for his calligraphy and copybooks. He actually lived in a peasant household in Wuzhong. He had studied agriculture deeply since he was young and had his own unique ideas about current affairs, politics, and governance of the country.
However, because he wasn't good at writing eight-part essays, he was eventually eliminated. He was depressed and couldn't be happy. In the end, he became a ninth-grade official with the identity of a juren.
Zhu Youtang's fingers tapped rhythmically on the table while Zhang Min waited carefully at the side.
"Zhu Zhishan will be promoted to the county magistrate of the North Border Ming Guard. He will stay in the Ministry of Works for half a year and be transferred to the North Border.”
Zhang Min carefully noted down every word Zhu Youtang said.
Zhang Min didn't interrupt Zhu Youtang's train of thought and allowed him to continue thinking.
"Wen Zhengming was transferred to the southeast sea region and joined the army in the southeast governor's office.”
Wen Zhengming had made great achievements in fighting against the Japanese. In the early years of Jiajing, he joined the army under Hu Zongxian and made great contributions to coastal defense.
"Xu Zhenqing was transferred to Turpan as the county magistrate.”
Zhu Youtang methodically controlled the talents of Hongzhi for three years.
Zhu Youtang knew the talents of these well-known historical celebrities based on the memories of later generations.
As for the rest of the Jinshi, Zhu Youtang needed to look at their resumes, family background, and key points of policy discussion, and think about where to send them to be appointed.
……
The next morning.
Court meeting.
The Minister of Civil Affairs, Wang Shu, announced the appointment of this year's new candidates to the court.
The court was in an uproar.
"Your Majesty, after the trial, all first-rate scholars in the court examination have to participate in the Shushi examination to enter the Imperial Academy and become an official in the capital.”
"Now, almost all of the 300 scholars of the Ming Dynasty have been allowed to become local officials. This time, I'm afraid that the new scholars will have complaints about our emperor. How can we govern the country with peace of mind?”
The Imperial Censor slammed his head on the ground and continued,"His Majesty first changed the focus of the examination papers. Many students studied eight-part essay for their entire lives, but now they have been left with nothing. Now, he has canceled the precedent of the Hanlin examination and transferred the students to local officials…His Majesty, please leave a chance for the students!”
These court officials had all come through the cold window step by step, so they could naturally empathize with the tragic battle of the scientific examination.
Zhu Youtang nodded, glanced at Zhang Min, and said,"Xuan."
Zhang Min stepped forward. Abolish the imperial examination of 'only Hanlin can enter the pavilion'. Anyone who enters the pavilion needs to experience three years in the local area as a custom!”
This way, these scholars would not have any resentment and would even be full of energy when they went to the local government.
When Zhang Min finished reading, all the civil and military officials were dumbfounded!
If he really wanted to play politics, no one present could beat Zhu Youtang.
After he said this, all the civil and military officials immediately understood Zhu Youtang's intentions and methods.
In the past, Jinshi was proud to enter the Hanlin Academy because it was the only way to the cabinet.
However, Zhu Youtang messed up this fat meat and made local experience the primary condition for the entrance examination.
Manipulating people's hearts like this would not only not make the candidates develop rebellious psychology, but it would also make them energetic as local officials.
Just thinking about this caused a huge wave to rise in the hearts of all the officials!
His Majesty was really a little fox!
The officials in the court had nothing to refute. Liu Jian and Li Dongyang looked at each other and saw deep admiration in each other's eyes.
"My emperor is wise, long live!”
Baiguan Mountain shouted.
……
Liaodong.
The Jurchen people of Liaodong in Nurgan Dusi were not at peace now.
The Liaodong Jurchen were divided into three tribes. One was the Jianzhou Jurchen, one was the Bohai Jurchen, and one was the Savage Jurchen.
Among them, the Jianzhou Jurchen were the most powerful.
Its leader was Dong Shan, whose full name was Aisin Gioro Yunshan, the fifth ancestor of Nurhachi.
After submitting his credentials twice and requesting to open a horse market in the Ming Dynasty, he was rejected.
Yun Shan then looked to the east. To the east of the Liaodong Peninsula was the Korean Peninsula.
If they took down this country…then could they still rely on Da Ming?
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