First Prince of Ming Dynasty Chapter 126

Chapter 126 Adapting measures to local conditions

Zhu Biao thought for a while and said: "My minister thinks that policy theory should be considered, not classics."

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned. He had already planned to make the definition of the scripture examination into an iron rule in the future, and it would be better to fix the format, so that the candidates could only answer the questions according to the contents of the Four Books and Five Classics.

If someone dares to question this decision, it is natural to let him know what the unfathomable power of the sky is.

But he didn't expect it to be his own son, so Zhu Yuanzhang could only prepare to chatter. After all, the family business will be passed on to him in the future, otherwise he will not be able to control it when he kicks his legs and his son changes his position.

Zhu Yuanzhang said in a deep voice: "Biao'er, why do you think the scriptures are not good? Although policy discussions are important to current affairs, most of them are just empty talk of candidates who don't know the heights of the sky and the earth. They talk about how to govern the country and the world. Even a district or a county cannot be governed."

Zhu Biao nodded and said earnestly: "I think that if you only test the classics, it is easy to find a group of nerds who only know the Four Books and Five Classics. Such officials are just puppets of the local gentry when they go to the place. What's the use of it."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed suddenly: "You, you are still too young, do you think that the content of the exam we set is aimed at those scholars?"

Zhu Biao was taken aback for a moment, and Zhu Yuanzhang pulled his son to him: "What is the biggest problem for our Ming Dynasty now?"

Zhu Biao looked at his father and said: "The local officials are in short supply, and the family and clan control the lifeline of the local area, so that the imperial government's decrees cannot be implemented quickly."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "Among the students who are taking the exam today, how many are from poor families?"

Zhu Biao made a calculation in his mind and replied: "Most of those who can study in troubled times and have the money to go to Beijing to catch the exam should come from rich families."

In ancient times, the poor family's rich road was no joke.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him and said: "These big families have thousands of volumes of books in their homes, and they are taught by special teachers. Their children's vision is by no means comparable to those of poor families. This book? If it is the chief examiner, then the first and second graders are all descendants of aristocratic families."

Zhu Biao just came back to his senses. He was only thinking about the conflict between the North and the South and the harm of stereotyped scholars, but he forgot the most urgent issue at present.

The content of the textual research comes from the Four Books and Five Classics. These books are now very popular, and the price is also acceptable to the public.

In this way, no matter the students in the capital city or the students in the frontier thousands of miles away, there is a unified teaching material. Everyone can compete on the same starting line, so that poor students have the opportunity to "be a farmer in the morning and go to the Tianzitang in the evening".

Otherwise, if the content of the exam is based on policy theory, which is more based on personal knowledge reserve and vision, then when books are not popular at that time, there will inevitably be unfair education.

Rich families can buy a large number of books for their children to study, but poor families not only cannot afford books, but also cannot even buy the corresponding books in many places. Some precious books are orphans and will not be printed at all. This is tantamount to closing off the opportunity for poor students to climb the ladder.

The meaning of the test scriptures can also be relatively fair and impartial to the examiners who mark the test papers. As long as the candidates' answers conform to the norms in all aspects, the examiner cannot eliminate them due to personal preferences. This also relatively reduces the investigation of fraud.

Zhu Yuanzhang knew from his son's expression that he understood. He patted him on the shoulder and said, "It is good for poor students to study scriptures and define standards. This is their only way out."

Zhu Biao nodded slowly. Although he came from later generations, his personal vision and knowledge are also limited. Just this time, when he heard the scriptures, he thought of the stereotyped scholars who were criticized by later generations, but forgot This is probably the perfect choice for the current era.

After all, after the emergence of stereotyped essays, the rulers of the Ming and Qing dynasties adopted stereotyped essays for the imperial examinations. It is impossible for them to be aware that the talents selected in this way have great defects, but they may not have intended for students to learn A world-class discipline.

The main purpose of the eight-part essay test is to select the most willing to work hard among the students in the world. As for the ability of specific work, it is too late to develop slowly after the entrance examination.

As long as students are willing to work hard and can endure hardships, there is no need to worry that they will not be able to learn specific jobs. Just like Xu Jie, Zhang Juzheng and others were also born in the imperial examinations of the Ming Dynasty.

Thinking back now, my method has many mistakes and omissions, and the South Examination of Jingyi and North Examination of Policy Theory cannot convince the scholars who failed the ranking, and it will easily intensify conflicts at that time.

Zhu Biao suddenly became a little confused, and Zhu Yuanzhang comforted his son: "It's good if you can find out the pros and cons of this matter first, not to mention adapting measures to local conditions, and it's not impossible to change it later."

Zhu Biao let go of his confusion and said, "Would it be divided into two lists, north and south, each with a hundred and fifty candidates?"

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a while, and after thinking about it just now, he made a decision and said: "Biaoer, you are afraid that there will be too many southern scholars in the court in the future."

Zhu Biao nodded, and Zhu Yuanzhang said: "But have you ever thought about it? The publication of the North-South List seems to have balanced the number of scholars in the North and South, but it also intensified the contradiction between the North and the South.

"Everyone knows that the literary talents of southern scholars are higher than those of northern scholars. How can those southern scholars who fail the ranking be convinced? If their strength is not as good as others, it's fine. But because of the region, people who are obviously inferior to themselves become new scholars."

Zhu Biao gritted his teeth, and began to reflect in his heart. After the Northern Expedition, he was indeed a bit swayed. Although he was still the gentle and jade-like prince on the surface, his arrogance had already risen.

Zhu Yuanzhang reached out and squeezed his son's clenched teeth: "Biaoer, you are too cautious in doing things, but many things in the world don't need to be done so properly, just like this."

Zhu Biao's teeth were pinched by his father, and he naturally loosened his clenched teeth: "Please give me your advice."

Zhu Yuanzhang said slowly: "As long as the selection of scholars is fair, it can be foreseen that there must be a large number of southern scholars in the court in the future, but so what, do the suppressed northern scholars have other options besides relying on you?"

Zhu Biao was busy trying to balance things out, but he forgot that there was a referee above the imperial court, and only he could decide the winner or loser of that side. As long as the northern and southern officials above the third rank were roughly balanced, the imperial court would not be chaotic, and local factions would fight. In the control of the emperor.

Zhu Biao was ashamed this time. He vowed to Song Lian that he could persuade his father, but he was educated.

Fortunately, only Song Lian knew about it, and he was also his teacher, so he would never say anything about it.

Zhu Biao bowed to his father and said: "My son Chenjin has been taught.

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't say anything anymore, he waved his hand and let his son go out. He still had memorials to review, that is, his son, he had no choice but to waste time explaining.