Chapter 135: New Dynasty, New Atmosphere [End of Ming Dynasty]

February 27, the first year of Xianqing, at 7:00 p.m., in the southern part of Beijing.

"I got it! I got it! Handsome Master will be the top scorer in the high school exam!"

"Congratulations, Master Shuai. Congratulations, Master Shuai. You will be the champion in no time."

As soon as the gate of Zhengyangmen opened, several middle-aged men dressed as servants ran towards the target inn in the south city. As soon as they arrived at the door of the inn, they started shouting loudly and asked for wedding money.

The handsome master they were talking about was named Shuai Zhongli. He came from a military family and was extremely good at arithmetic.

As early as last year, Emperor Xianqing announced to the world that starting from the first year of Xianqing, a special imperial examination would be held for three consecutive years, and the scholars and juren of the previous dynasty could continue to take the exam.

It was just a new dynasty with a new atmosphere. In addition to the Four Books and Five Classics, ten mathematical books such as "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art" and "Xiahou Yang's Mathematical Classic", five major agricultural books such as "Qimin Yaoshu" and "Chenfu Nongshu", military books such as "Jixiao Xinshu", and foreign mathematical books such as "Elements of Geometry" were all added to the scope of questions in the imperial examinations and palace examinations.

The main feature is to soak up both rain and dew.

The original Four Books and Five Classics were still within the scope of the questions, but any discerning person could see that given the new emperor's eccentric personality, the newly added arithmetic, military and agricultural classics were the focus of selecting candidates.

After the results of the imperial examination were announced this morning, the people who saw the results and the candidates who took the exam finally understood the changes in the new dynasty's selection of officials.

The original five top champions of the Classics were combined into one top champion of the Book of Classics, while the top champions of the Mathematics, Agriculture, and Military Sciences each occupied the top four places.

Shuai Zhongli's original book is the Ten Mathematical Books.

The waiters and the innkeeper were so shocked that their mouths widened. No one could imagine that such a simple inn where merchants and porters could rest temporarily could produce a great scholar.

Which scholar would look down upon an inn that mainly has large dorm beds?

They hurried to find the so-called handsome master.

During this period, several runners from the Five Military Governor's Office came to report the good news to the commander.

When the people living nearby heard the news, they surrounded the inn. It was the nature of the people in the capital to join in the fun. They also wanted to see what the champion looked like and get some good fortune at the same time.

After busying around in the inn for half a day, they finally found Mr. Shuai, a middle-aged man with a somewhat dazed look, clean-shaven face and no beard. He wore a linen cotton coat and his hair was wrapped in a coarse cloth. Outsiders would never associate him with the first place in the imperial examination.

When he heard that he had won the first place, he just responded faintly without any additional expression.

The first wave of people who arrived to announce the good news were servants from the Huguang and Nanzhi guild halls. It was said that the ancestors of this handsome man were from Huguang, and later they lived in She County, Huizhou Prefecture, Nanzhili. Therefore, both places recognized this handsome man as one of their own.

The second wave of yamen runners came from the Five Military Governorates. These five yamen were in charge of military household affairs, and they also recognized the commander-in-chief as one of their own.

Afterwards, all kinds of people came to this inn, some to give gifts, some to establish relationships, but Shuai Zhongli just responded indifferently, as if the noise outside had little to do with him.

On the contrary, the innkeeper and the waiters were happier than the inn owner after they were busy with the money.

The innkeeper who heard the news was so happy that he even had hysterics. He kept muttering "I got it, hey, I got it!" and other words, and laughed so hard that he ran in the front hall of the inn.

His behavior was really inappropriate. It was the Marshal's wedding day, and those who didn't know would think that he had won the top prize in the imperial examination. So a yamen runner from the Central Army Governor's Office slapped the innkeeper in the face to wake him up, and let him go crazy.

"The elders of She County presented Mr. Marshal with five hundred taels of silver."

The gifts brought by those who arrived later were much more valuable, especially those from Huizhou Prefecture.

Some enthusiastic citizens explained the situation to the people who were watching the fun, and they finally understood why the wealthy businessmen in She County were so generous.

It turned out that during the Longqing and Wanli years of the previous dynasty, Huizhou Prefecture had a silk tax case, and She County paid more silk tax than the other five counties of Huizhou Prefecture. Shuai Zhongli's great-grandfather and grandfather settled this century-old bad debt and reported it to the higher government, which reduced the silk tax burden for She County, and the remaining five counties paid the shortfall in silk tax.

But the other five counties were so angry that they joined forces to cause a civil uprising. The court beat each of them with fifty lashes of the stick, increased the silk tax on the five counties, and also beat Shuai Zhongli's grandfather Shuai Jiamo with the stick and exiled him three thousand miles away to serve as a soldier in Jizhen.

The Shexian native Shuai Jiamo was written into the county annals, praising this righteous man who pleaded for the people as a brave and chivalrous man.

This miraculous event amazed the onlookers. In their eyes, the handsome man's original stupidity turned into a man with a wise mind and chivalrous spirit.

This year was the first special examination. All kinds of anecdotes about the new champion spread rapidly to every corner of the capital city like wings. People with or without intention used this as a topic of idle gossip after dinner.

In the main hall of Kunning Palace in the imperial palace, Empress Dong, Concubine Qi Wang, Concubine Hui Shang, and Concubine Li Zhou gathered together. It was Emperor Xianqing's request to hold tea parties with the princes and princesses every day.

"Dear sisters, have you heard about the Enke? The first place in the examination is actually a fool. I don't know how the big wooden stick was selected." Concubine Qi Wang said with a smile.

Wang was of humble origin and had not received much education. She often spoke in vulgar language. The big wooden stick was her private name for Emperor Xianqing.

"This Shuai Zhongli was born in She County, Nanzhili, and is a military household. His ancestors served as soldiers in the camp. In my opinion, this man will definitely be the top scorer in this year's imperial examination."

Queen Dong said indifferently.

There are only three concubines in the harem now, and the only one who gave birth to a prince is Huibin Shang. She does not pose much threat to Dong, who gave birth to the eldest son of the emperor and was canonized as queen early on. Therefore, Dong only hopes that her eldest son will grow up quickly every day, and does not care much about other things.

"My sister has the same opinion." Shang smiled at the plainly dressed queen. "This Shuai Zhongli's ancestors pleaded for the people, but were sentenced to exile three thousand miles away. Now that the new dynasty has just been established, such a calculating talent can rise to the top, which shows the wisdom of our Tang emperor."

Dong came from a farming and reading family, and Shang was well-known for her talent. Their opinions were often superior to those of the other two concubines.

The Queen analyzed from the perspective of Shuai Zhongli's background, while Dong started from the comparison between the previous dynasty and the present dynasty. Each of them has their own reasons.

Although Zhu Ming and Li Tang went through formal abdication ceremonies, the abdication edict of King Wu was full of sarcasm. The sentence "The country was overthrown, but the king saved it; Liaodong was overgrown with weeds, but he restored it again" was clearly accusing Emperor Xianqing of merely recovering Liaodong and not doing enough to save the country from collapse.

Later generations of scholars understood it at once.

But the new dynasty was also secretly mocking the two brothers Zhu Youxiao and Zhu Youjian.

The title of King of Wu was only specially conferred on Zhu Youxiao. After he died of illness last year, his title was changed to Duke of Wu, which was inherited by his younger brother Zhu Youjian. Zhu Youjian's original title of Marquis of Fengyang was directly stripped away. After all, the new emperor had made it very clear at the beginning that only Duke of Wu was a hereditary title that would last forever with the country.

The title "Wu" was originally bestowed upon Zhu Yuanzhang by Han Lin'er, and was then bestowed upon Zhu Youxiao and his brother in the Xin Dynasty. This comparison reveals the ruthlessness of the Zhu family back then. At least the Xin Dynasty still retained the title of duke for the Zhu family.

The new imperial examinations must have also been designed to ridicule the previous dynasty for not being wise enough. Shuai Zhongli's ancestors had done real good for the local people, and they also pointed out the mistakes that Ming officials had neglected for a hundred years, but they were punished with 100 strokes of the cane and exiled 3,000 miles.

In the hands of the new dynasty, such a wise and capable descendant was able to rise from a low-level military household to become the new top scholar. The political significance of this is self-evident.

The other two concubines echoed what Dong Shang and the other two said. They had no say in such matters.

The subsequent developments were just as the Shang family had expected. Within a few days, the story of Shuai Zhongli's grandfather spread throughout Beijing. Even the old farmers in Shuntian Prefecture knew that the first place in the imperial examination was a loyal minister. It was because the previous dynasty was so bad that such a loyal person like the Shuai family was exiled to the border area.

Officials from the Ministry of Rites also presented the Shuai family with a plaque and even prepared to erect an archway for Shuai Jiamo in She County, Huizhou Prefecture.

In early March, the entire capital and even several surrounding provinces were focusing on the upcoming palace examination. This was the first special examination of the new dynasty. Although there were only more than 1,800 candidates taking the exam, there were still 350 vacancies for Jinshi, so the probability of passing the exam was much greater.

On the day when the names of the candidates were called out for the palace examination, all the rumors that were circulating wildly in the outside world were finally verified.

"First class, first place, Shuai Zhongli~"

"First place, second place, Chen Zilong~"

"First place, third place, Qi Yaozu~"

The palace guards passed the names chanted by the Ministry of Rites officials out in groups, and like waves, they reached the ears of the prospective Jinshi candidates kneeling in front of the Huangji Hall.

An official from the Honglu Temple immediately stepped forward and, smiling, invited the number one scholar, Shuai Zhongli, to kneel at the top of the steps.

The Aotou was the kneeling place exclusively for the number one scholar. Hundreds of envious and jealous eyes were cast on Shuai Zhongli, especially the other 349 candidates for the imperial examination.

Being of the same year and hometown are the basis of the relationship between officials. If nothing unexpected happens, Shuai Da Zhuangyuan will be the leader of this subject's Jinshi.

Although a new dynasty had been established and more examination subjects had been added, the unspoken rules in officialdom had not changed much.

Shuai Zhongli's expression finally showed some fluctuations at this moment, but others couldn't tell whether he was happy or sad. They just felt that Shuai Zhuangyuan was really unfathomable and would definitely become a prime minister in the future.

"Brother Qi, look at this handsome man, he already has the qualities of a minister!"

The runner-up Chen Zilong was both envious and admired. He felt that he couldn't be so indifferent.

"That's right. I still feel like I'm in a dream."

Qi Yaozu, the third place winner in the imperial examination, was not handsome at all. He was a burly man. He had originally planned to take the military examination, but when he heard that the new dynasty actually allowed military candidates to take part in the civil examinations, and that the questions would include "Jixiao Xinshu" written by his great-uncle, he came to Beijing to take the examination with an attitude of giving it a try.

I didn't expect that I would win the first place in the military book examination and rank fourth, and even be chosen as the third place in the palace examination. This was really a pie in the sky.

"Now that things have come to this, Brother Qi, are you still planning to take the military imperial examination?"

Chen Zilong joked.

Judging from the unruly character of the current emperor, it seems that the boundary between civil and military officials is not as strict as in previous dynasties.

"As long as the court allows it, I will take the exam," Qi Yaozu said firmly.

It's possible that he could even become the top scholar in martial arts. Being the third in literature or the top in martial arts would bring honor to the family.

The Jinshi scholars kneeling around laughed. Some of them had originally planned to follow the path of the previous dynasty's military preparation department or to lead troops as inspectors, so they had practiced martial arts since childhood, and it was not difficult for them to pass the military examination.

The status of military generals in the new dynasty was greatly improved. Some people with quick minds were already ready to try leading troops. If Qi Da Tanhua could succeed, they would also give it a try.

After all, there are small-scale unrest in various provinces from time to time, and leading troops to suppress civil unrest can help you get promoted much faster than working hard to govern a place.

Although the number of candidates for the first examination was nearly half of the normal 3,500, the number of Jinshi was still 350, and all the candidates were very satisfied.

After the opening of the imperial examination system, the provinces that had been turbulent due to the imperial court's seizure of land, torture and recovery of stolen goods finally calmed down a lot. The gentry could not defeat the fully paid border soldiers, and the lower-class people did not join them in causing trouble, so they just accepted it with a pinch of their noses, and most provinces began to get back on track.

Chieftains such as An Bangyan in Shuixi and other places in Guizhou in the southwest also refused to obey the orders of the new dynasty. Therefore, the new emperor, who had stabilized the Han provinces, led an army in person in the second year of Xianqing and pacified the chieftains such as Shuixi in one fell swoop.

Following the method used in Bozhou at that time, Shitu prefectures and counties were established, and Shitu garrisons were dotted in the Shitu prefectures and counties. These disobedient minority settlements were governed directly by using a combination of imperial officials and locally conscripted garrison soldiers.

In addition to stabilizing the interior, the Xianqing Dynasty had been actively developing southern Xinjiang, and had attacked the Toungoo Dynasty of Myanmar several times. It also continued to immigrate from densely populated inland provinces, finally allowing the Han people to gain a foothold in the Red River Plain of Annan Province, and recovered most of the Indochina Peninsula, turning the many Xuanweisi appointed by the Ming Dynasty into actual prefectures, counties, and guards.

In the north, the powerful New Tang Dynasty was limited by the insufficient grain production during the Little Ice Age and was unable to expand its territory. It only strengthened its management of the Mongolian tribes in order to control the barbarians with one man.

As for the various Jurchens in the northeast, the New Tang continued to capture able-bodied men, and after mixing them with the garrison troops in the Korean province, they were sent to attack the island country and achieved considerable results. At least the large silver mines in the Kyushu region were firmly controlled by the Tang army, and prefectural and county governments were established in Kumamoto, Fukuoka and other places, which were governed by officials appointed by the court.

Japan's situation is special. There is only a window period of four or five months each year when the imperial court can send reinforcements of soldiers and supplies from Korea, Tianjin, Shandong Denglai and other places. Therefore, it is impossible to directly attack Hokkaido in one go. However, the advantage of the New Tang Dynasty has been expanding. After conquering Kyushu, Shikoku and Honshu are also slowly advancing.

The taxes levied on the people of the island nation during the shogunate era were also frighteningly heavy. In some places, the tax rate was six officials and four civilians, or even eight officials and two civilians. Throughout history, both in China and abroad, this tax rate has firmly occupied the first tier.

Therefore, when the Tang army attacked, there were actually people from the island country who volunteered to lead the Tang army to attack the daimyo's castles.

Unlike the Central Plains dynasty, the island kingdom only officially began to defend itself after the city was captured. The island kingdom also had many mountains and hills, so the Tang army had a difficult time fighting, but they continued to advance northward.

In the Han provinces, Emperor Xianqing has been cracking down on gentry, even digging up old accounts of overdue taxes from the previous dynasty and practicing a game of elimination against the disobedient gentry.

Finally, in the 37th year of Xianqing, when the prince was 38 years old, he had achieved 100% clearance and died of old age.

Li Hao's body lies in the coffin of the late emperor, but his soul is independent and has traveled through countless time and space and arrived at the Western Jin Dynasty in a certain world. The stage here is even bigger than that of the late Ming Dynasty. There are more insects headed by the Sima family, and there are more heads that need to be chopped off by Marshal Li.

The copy was completed at the end of Ming Dynasty.

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(End of this chapter)