Emperor Zhengde

Chapter 216 Are you, Zhu En, worthy of the title of "national scholar"?
The Minister of Rites Zhu En was a person who was not very sensitive to new things. He basically only read books of sages. Therefore, he had basically never read the various important industrial and agricultural production data of the Ming Dynasty published in the Huang Ming Daily.

So, now that Zhu Houzhao had scolded him like this, Zhu En didn't know how to defend himself for a moment. He didn't expect that he would appear so useless in front of His Majesty the Emperor. Even his own memorials became nonsense in the eyes of the Emperor. Even his questions in the court did not satisfy His Majesty, and it seemed that he was just a piece of empty talk in the eyes of His Majesty.

Zhu En could only remain silent. He suddenly realized that being the Minister of Rites was not easy. He could be caught by the emperor for making a random remark. The emperor in front of him seemed to be able to discover his flaws quickly, forcing him to follow his pace. He didn't even know where the emperor had moved on to his idea of ​​not restraining the gentry by etiquette and laws.

Zhu Houzhao looked at the cabinet chief Wang Hua and other university scholars:

"How do you select officials by imperial recommendation? Why do you only consider the ability of the officials selected, regardless of their moral character? How can they be the nine ministers if they are so unworthy? The imperial court selects civil officials by imperial recommendation for fairness and strictness. The fundamental purpose is to select those who are more suitable to be in charge of the country!
Nowadays, the ministers of rites elected by the cabinet and the nine ministers are either seeking power and usurping the throne or forming cliques for personal gain. The minister of rites elected so far is only good at empty talk! He can't even talk well. He doesn't know the output of grain and cloth in the empire. Not only does he not know, he is not even ashamed of it. As the minister of rites, he does not run for the maintenance of the rites, the improvement of the rites, the promotion of virtue and kindness, but instead intercedes for the gentry. Is he the minister of rites for the common people or the gentry of the world? "

Zhu Houzhao suddenly lost his temper, and Wang Hua and other cabinet ministers had to be serious at this time. Among them, Wang Hua had to explain in detail: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. When the court recommends people, the cabinet ministers and the nine ministers usually refer to the character and qualifications of the person being recommended, and talent comes second. As the saying goes, those who govern the country value virtue first, and talent second!

Zhu En had the experience of being the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and he also had a good reputation and had never done anything bad! Therefore, I think that Zhu En's pedantry and incompetence is not the fault of the court, but the fault of the imperial selection! Zhu En of the Ministry of Rites was first in the Hanlin Academy, then promoted to Zhanshi, and finally transferred to the Ministry of Rites as the Right Vice Minister. In the third year of Zhengde, he was transferred to the Left Vice Minister. When he was in the Hanlin Academy, he naturally had no chance to get familiar with practical affairs. After being transferred to the Ministry of Rites, he was directly appointed as a hall official, so naturally he didn't know the details of the Ministry of Rites! The only thing he is good at is naturally the rules and regulations and the emperor's preface, so it is not surprising that he doesn't know practical affairs! "

"He is also good at playing before the emperor? He is pretty good at showing off his knowledge before the emperor. Zhu En, do you think you are qualified for the position of Minister of Rites?"

The meaning of Zhu Houzhao's question was of course very clear. He wanted Zhu En to admit that he was incompetent and resign voluntarily.

Zhu En didn't expect that he was just trying to speak up for the gentry, but in the blink of an eye he would be forced to resign by the Emperor.

In his heart, Zhu En did not want to resign. After all, he had finally become the Minister of Rites, which was only one step away from the Cabinet. However, civil servants were always those who would rather save face than live in misery, and he, Zhu En, was no exception. Now that the emperor had asked him this, as a scholar, he naturally had to humbly reply:
"I have disappointed Your Majesty. I am of low moral character and talent, and I am not qualified to be the Minister of Rites. After all, the Minister of Rites is an important minister of the country. With my moral character, how can I be worthy of such a position? I was fortunate to be recommended by Your Majesty and the other officials in the court, so I took on the position of Grand Master with great reluctance. Today, since I have not satisfied Your Majesty, I will resign!"

"Zhu En, from what you said, it seems that I forced you to resign. Even letting you become the Minister of Rites was forced by me. Let me ask you, are you not disappointed in yourself?"

Zhu Houzhao really wanted to say that it is important for people to know themselves, but seeing that Zhu En was also over 60 years old, his tone was not too vicious.

Zhu En just bowed in fear and said, "I dare not!"

"Why don't you dare? Are you afraid to say that I am forcing you, or are you afraid to be disappointed in yourself?" Zhu Houzhao continued to ask.

"I dare not have the slightest dissatisfaction with Your Majesty. Your Majesty is the emperor and father. To a subject, thunder, lightning, rain and dew are all grace from the emperor!" Zhu En hurriedly argued back, but he felt very uncomfortable in his heart. He was afraid that Zhu Houzhao would chop off his head if he was unhappy, but he was also unwilling to be played around by the emperor Zhu Houzhao.

He couldn't help but think that it would be better to resign. It was very difficult to be a comfortable minister of an emperor like Zhu Houzhao. Not only did he have to be both virtuous and talented, but he also had to be precise in his words, articulate in his conversation and have insight. At the same time, he had to be able to withstand a scolding from the emperor. It was not at all as comfortable as being an official during the Hongzhi period, when usually the ministers educated the emperor and the emperor would humbly accept the advice.

"Zhu En, you don't need to say these angry words to me. I know that you civil servants are all arrogant and proud of your talents. You always compare yourselves to Bi Gan and Zhuge Liang. The emperor cannot be a sage without your education!

As long as I am a little strict, you will act like a wronged young wife, saying that thunder, rain and dew are all grace from the emperor. If you really have this slave mentality, I wouldn't be so exhausted and even have to kill people so repeatedly!

Of course, I now understand that you are bullying me because I am the emperor of the Han people. No matter how cruel I am, you all know that I will not use you as slaves, but only as state officials, so you are fearless. If it were in the previous Yuan Dynasty, would you dare to stand and talk to me like this? ! "

"Well, I don't want you all to become slaves. I also hope that you can all be heroes who enrich the country and protect the people. But, ask yourself, Zhu En, are you worthy of the title of 'hero'?!
What are the benefits you seek for the country? What are the things you do for the people? If you really abide by your duty as the Minister of Rites, advocate frugality, and hope that the world will follow the etiquette, you can be regarded as a patriot who plans for the country for thousands of years. But you come to persuade me not to prohibit the gentry with the etiquette!

However, this is also possible. I have long intended to return freedom to the people of the world. It is not enough to not use the etiquette to restrict the gentry, and we should not use the etiquette to restrict the common people. A son can disobey his father, a wife can leave her husband, and the people can dismiss their officials. If you dare to make such a suggestion, I will still appreciate you. I appreciate your courage to abolish the etiquette and free the people of the world from bondage!"

Zhu Houzhao spoke up at this time, but when he said that if the gentry were not prohibited by the etiquette system, then the common people should not be prohibited by the etiquette system, Zhu En had nothing to say, and could only bow his hands and say: "I know my crime! I resign!"

Zhu Houzhao did not say anything else. He only watched Zhu En put the crown on his head on the ground, and then said: "When you return to your hometown, teach and educate people well and benefit the people, don't just think about seizing land."

Zhu En couldn't help but stop, turned around and bowed, saying: "I will remember your majesty's teachings. Please rest assured, your majesty, although I have failed you, I will never fail the people. After I return to my hometown, I will distribute the land to the people and only keep a small part for myself. From now on, I will farm and teach!"

"So good!"

Zhu Houzhao smiled slightly.

Thanks to the book friend Chaoxuexuechi for his 100 Qidian coins reward and the book friend Max for his 100 book coins reward


(End of this chapter)