The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 122 Talents are rare
Ma Xun knew that some things were really unavoidable, so he just accepted them calmly.

If you can't change some real situations, then change your mood and perspective. This is not a big problem.

When it comes to adjusting his mindset, Ma Xun thinks he is very good at it.

Zhu Biao was somewhat curious and said to Ma Xun, "Uncle, are you really not going to take a look at the Imperial College?"

"That's not the case. Although I am busy building the school, I still have to keep an eye on the people in the Imperial College." Ma Xun said with a smile, "It's just that Wei Guan is doing a good job now, so I don't need to worry too much."

Zhu Biao nodded and said, "That's true. Although Wei Guan has a lot of selfish motives, he is still commendable in the management of the Imperial College."

Ma Xun thought the same thing. "I still think we should focus on the teaching content of the Imperial College, and more importantly, the students' character."

Zhu Biao knew it clearly, but felt helpless. "What do you think about the first imperial examination in the country?"

Ma Xun weighed it carefully and said, "I'm not optimistic about it. I've also asked some people. The students in the Imperial College are average in talent, and many people don't want to study here."

Zhu Biao did not refute because he knew more specific information than Ma Xun and he knew that this was the fact.

Three years after the founding of the Ming Dynasty, not to mention the people in the north, there were still many people in the south who had no sense of belonging to the Ming Dynasty.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang started the Imperial Academy early and trained some scholars there, the range of selection was relatively small.

Gathering the best talents from all over the world, the Imperial College cannot do these things nowadays.

Xu E brought tea, and Zhu Biao asked with concern, "Aunt, didn't you say you would go back to see me?"

Xu E smiled and said, "What is there to see? He can't even fight a war well. Even with the mistress looking after him, he has no future in the army. He is becoming more and more useless."

Everyone knows the situation of Xu E's family. She was Ma Xiuying's personal maid, and she also struggled to survive with her younger brothers and sisters in her early years.

Now her younger sister was married and had gone to Yangzhou with her husband, while her younger brother had just returned from the Northern Expedition and was busy visiting relatives and friends all over the capital.

"Aunt is asking too much." Zhu Biao said with a smile, "Mother also said that he could be promoted to general. He has become much more stable in the past two years."

Xu E said with disdain, "Don't say that, Your Highness. I know my brother. It's fine for him to hold a knife and kill people, but it's not okay for him to command troops."

Zhu Biao did not object, because Xu E's brother was like this, he was a brave general. It was no problem for him to lead the troops, and it was his duty to lead the troops. He did not understand how to command a hundred households.

Zhu Biao then said, "Then ask Aunt Min to make me some apricot blossom cake. I've been missing this since she left the palace."

Xu E said quickly, "Then I'll go and tell them right away. If Your Highness likes it, just let them know and have them deliver it to the East Palace."

This is Ma Xiuying. After Ma Xun opened his mansion, he sent several reliable and trusted maids. Many of these maids watched Zhu Biao grow up and had a good relationship with him.

Ma Xun said, "Just try it for a new taste. Min'er is pregnant, so she shouldn't be too tired."

Xu E said disapprovingly, "Master, we are not that precious. Besides, Min'er has given birth to children, so it won't be a problem for her to do some light work."

In the Prince's Mansion, Xu E and others still felt very comfortable, because the Prince's Mansion was very polite and tolerant, and was very kind to everyone in the mansion.

However, these trusted maids of Ma Xiuying were basically sensible people, otherwise they would not have stayed by her side for so many years, nor would they have acted so unruly just because of Ma Xun's tolerance.

When Xu E left in a hurry, Zhu Biao whispered, "Auntie E is the most powerful. I am most afraid of her among all the people around my mother. She has the most violent temper and will never remarry no matter what."

"She likes to gossip." Ma Xun also complained, "She also knows the big things. She helps your aunt and knows everything about the people in Huaixi."

Zhu Biao said, "Mother asked Aunt E to come here for this reason. She was afraid that Uncle would not understand some of the things happening in Huaixi. In two years, Aunt E will have to go back to help me manage the Eastern Palace."

Ma Xun pretended not to hear. Although Xu E often "told tales" about him, he didn't care at all.

Not to mention Zhu Biao, even if Ma Xiuying wanted to take Xu E back, Ma Xun would not agree. Such a capable butler is priceless.

Seeing that Ma Xun didn't say anything, Zhu Biao became anxious, "Uncle, I'm getting married next year."

Ma Xun said, "Then go to your mother to ask for help. She has many capable people around her. If all else fails, go to your father. The people around him are even more capable."

"How can they be the same?" Zhu Biao said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, "The people around my mother are good at taking care of the inner house, and the people around my father are good at doing things, but they don't take care of the house."

One is in charge of internal affairs and the other is in charge of external affairs. The division of labor between Ma Xiuying and Zhu Yuanzhang has always been clear, and the training models of some people around them are also different.

Zhu Biao also brought the topic back, "Everyone knows the situation at the Imperial College. Now many people want to enter the government before they finish their studies."

This is also a characteristic of the early days of a dynasty. To put it more nicely, it recruits talents without any restrictions.

If it is the middle period of a dynasty, entering the officialdom basically requires passing the imperial examination.

In the middle and late Ming Dynasty, Juren could also become an official, but they had to register with the Ministry of Personnel first and wait in line for an official position to become an official. But now it is different in the Ming Dynasty. Some students who study hard in the Imperial Academy may become an official the next day because of their good performance.

This situation is very common in the Ming Dynasty today, and it may continue for another decade.

The impact of this was that the "teaching quality" of the Imperial College was affected, and people became officials before they had received a complete education.

Ma Xun thought about it carefully and said to Zhu Biao, "Biao'er, the court is short of talents now. I also know that many local officials now are from the former Yuan Dynasty, or from Chen Youliang and Zhang Shicheng."

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "It's like this in the court, not to mention the local areas."

There is not enough talent, that is the reality.

The Twenty-Four Generals of Huaixi were basically Zhu Yuanzhang's men, and Li Shanchang on the civil service side was Zhu's own man.

But it is hard to say about the others. They have served as officials in the Yuan Dynasty, under Zhang Shicheng or Chen Youliang, and now they are officials in the Ming Dynasty. There is nothing strange about this.

So now let’s not say that a loyal minister will not serve two masters. He will change his employer and continue to work. This is also a phenomenon in the officialdom today.

Zhu Yuanzhang naturally wanted to train his own officials, but the gap in officials was too large, so he had to accept many officials from other forces.

We have to admit that there are still many capable people here.

The current Minister of Personnel, Zhan Tong, was once a juren and a xuezheng in the Yuan Dynasty, and later a Hanlin scholar under Chen Youliang.

Tao Kai, the Minister of Rites, first passed the provincial examination during the Yuan Dynasty and then became a teacher.

The Minister of War Teng Demou was first an official of Zhejiang Province in the Yuan Dynasty, and then followed Fang Guozhen.

The Minister of Justice Shang Hao was originally the Pingzhang Governor of the Yuan Dynasty, and only surrendered to the Ming Dynasty last year.

It is no exaggeration to say that most of the civil servants in the Ming Dynasty serve at least two masters. This is understandable as a wise bird chooses the right tree to roost in.

Many people nowadays are not valued by their former masters, so it is enough for them to do their best for the Ming Dynasty.

Ma Xun and Zhu Biao were chatting and talking about some things. Cultivating talents is indeed extremely important.

"Go next door and ask my sister-in-law to bring Wan'er over." Seeing that Zhu Biao wanted to stay for dinner, Ma Xun took the initiative to speak, "Tell those guys outside the door to go back and report to my place tomorrow."

Xu E immediately went to the next room happily. Many people knew what Zhu Biao was thinking.

Chang Yuchun, who had a loud voice, started shouting from a distance, "Little brother, please invite your sister-in-law and niece to dinner. Can't you invite me as well?"

"You eat a lot and want to drink, I can't afford it!" Ma Xun laughed and joked, "I don't have anyone here to drink with you, and you won't feel comfortable."

Seeing Zhu Biao, Chang Yuchun quickly bowed, "Your Highness, please help me judge. How much I drink now is up to my uncle!"

Zhu Biao said quickly, "I think it's best to listen to my uncle. The general needs to rest now."

Chang Yuchun could only sigh and say, "If I had known this earlier, I would have died last year. What I eat and how much I drink are controlled by others. It's ok for my wife and daughter to control me, but my step-brother has to control me too!"

Chang Wan quickly said, "Dad, it's not that you are not allowed to drink, but you can't drink too much."

Seeing Chang Yuchun's depressed look, everyone else was laughing.

Chang Shiwan, a veteran warrior on the battlefield, is controlled by his wife and daughter at home. All he can do is speak loudly, which is useless!
Looking at the three Changmao brothers, Zhu Biao said with a smile, "You will have a hard time tomorrow. Go to the army first. I think your uncle will definitely let you serve as soldiers."

"Brother Crown Prince, please help me plead for mercy!" Chang Mao quickly said in a flattering manner, "At the very least, ask for a vanguard position for me. It would be a waste of my talent to be a soldier!"

Chang Sheng also said quickly, "That's right, I must be the commander. The third brother is young, so no one will say anything if he becomes a soldier!"

Chang Yuchun didn't even bother to care about his three sons. When he first defected to Zhu Yuanzhang, he was just a small soldier, but he rose to prominence when the Battle of Crossing the Yangtze River began.

The habit of eating at separate tables was not only absent in Ma Xun's house, but also in Zhu Yuanzhang's house.

Unless there are many guests, men will have one table, women will have one table, and children will have one table.

After three cups of wine, Chang Yuchun, who was unhappy, added to the trouble of the 'culprit' Ma Xun, "It must be difficult for you to teach these boys. They are all undisciplined. They are either from wealthy or noble families, and they have bad tempers!"

"My mother has people making sticks, and my uncle is the best at using sticks." Zhu Biao said with a smile, "When the younger brothers are disobedient, let my uncle beat them according to my order, and see who dares to disobey."

Ma Xun was immediately pleased with himself, thinking that maybe it was the 'whip for beating the king' bestowed by the emperor, which could be used to beat the princes, let alone the sons of nobles!

(End of this chapter)