The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 68 I am running a school
The imperial examination is a big deal, because everyone knows that it is difficult to conquer an empire, and it is even harder to keep it.

Zhu Yuanzhang had no shortage of brave generals, but he was relatively weak in terms of civil servants.

Especially after the loss of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun and the hundred years of Mongol rule, it was even more difficult to unify the people's thoughts and culture.

Many people criticize the eight-legged essay in various ways, but this style of writing, which appeared in the Northern Song Dynasty, also had the advantage of unifying thoughts in the early Ming Dynasty.

It was only the constant changes in later generations that made the eight-legged essay increasingly restrictive in thought.

Wei Guan appeared, and when he saw Ma Xun, he smiled and bowed, "Your humble servant greets the king's uncle."

Wei Guan's official position was not low, but it was no problem for him to call himself "your humble official" in front of Ma Xun. In the current officialdom, except for a few people like Xu Da and Li Shanchang, no one would make a fuss if they called themselves "your humble official" in front of Ma Xun.

Ma Xun smiled and said politely, "No need to be so polite. Mr. Wei is very knowledgeable and has taught the crown prince. I really admire him."

Ma Xun just knew all this. Wei Guan once taught Zhu Biao and other princes in the Daben Hall.

Wei Guan said, "I saw the prince's uncle passing by the Imperial College a few days ago. I wanted to report the matter of the Imperial College to him, but unfortunately I didn't see him."

Ma Xun was embarrassed at this and could only say, "I was ordered by the emperor to go to the foot of Jiming Mountain to select a site a few days ago, so I was really busy. Next time you have something to do, Mr. Wei can come to my house."

Wei Guan said, "I have sent visiting cards several times before, but the uncle never replied."

It was extremely difficult to meet Ma Xun. This was not just Wei Guan's feeling, but other civil and military officials also had the same feeling.

In other words, only those who are close to Ma Xun can see him. Otherwise, even if they send a visiting card, it will basically end up being ignored without any response.

Ma Xun felt that Wei Guan was a little too straightforward and it would be inappropriate if some things were said out loud, as it was too disrespectful.

But the next moment Ma Xun said, "Maybe there were too many people visiting my house, and I couldn't tell them apart for a moment. I'll go back and tell them, so Mr. Wei won't have to worry next time."

Not only Wei Guan expressed doubts, Liu Bowen also didn't quite believe Ma Xun.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Ma Xun didn't like interacting with civil officials, and even many people from Huaixi were unwilling to have contact with him.

So some words are just for listening. If you take them seriously, you will seem stupid.

Wei Guan said, "Since the uncle is in charge of the Imperial College, shouldn't we go and take a look?"

Ma Xun answered directly, "Okay, I'll go over the day after tomorrow. Mr. Wei, is there anything else?"

Wei Guan continued, "Your Majesty established a rule in his early years that every prefecture, county, and city school in the country would send one student to study at the Imperial Academy every year."

Ma Xun nodded. Normally, the students of the Imperial College come from the following categories: Jujian, Gongjian, Yinjian and Lijian.

In other words, the juren and xiucai got the quota because their fathers were officials, or they got the quota by directly donating money.

Wei Guan continued, "My Lord, the country has just been stabilized, but there are still not many students in the Imperial College, and many of them are of mediocre talent. I wonder if we should recruit talented students from academies all over the country to join the Imperial College?"

Ma Xun also became serious, "Your Majesty, in your early years, you also sent people to search for talents all over the country, right?"

Wei Guan thought that he had visited various places to look for talents, and most of the people he recommended entered the officialdom. In the final analysis, the Ming Dynasty lacked scholars and local officials.

Ma Xun said directly, "These matters are too big. I think Mr. Wei should report them directly to His Majesty or His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. I dare not take the initiative."

The slippery Ma Xun would not take the lead. It would be impossible to expand the student population of the Imperial Academy directly through him.

Wei Guan didn't know what to say for a moment. He had mentioned some things to the emperor and the prince, but he didn't get a satisfactory response.

Originally, he wanted to win over this uncle of the emperor so that he could add some weight to persuade the emperor, but unfortunately it seems that the effect is not good.

Ma Xun continued, "Mr. Wei may also know that I lived in the countryside in my early years, so I lack talent and knowledge. It is because of Your Majesty's mercy that you allowed me to hold an official position. But I am too stupid to accomplish great things." He decisively kicked the ball away. If possible, Ma Xun would choose to be a selective illiterate. Anyway, no one would argue with him.

Wei Guan looked at Liu Bowen, but Liu Bowen had a smile on his face and obviously had no intention of helping.

Liu Bowen was able to ask Ma Xun out because he cared about his colleague. If he had just helped and persuaded him, that would have been inappropriate.

Wei Guan returned somewhat disappointed, but he had not given up completely. If he had a chance to continue persuading Ma Xun, he might be able to persuade him.

Moreover, this time he had gained something, at least he made Ma Xun willing to go to the Imperial College. Seeing that the Imperial College was full of talented and virtuous students, the uncle of the emperor might change his mind.

After Wei Guan left, Liu Bowen said, "The fighting in the Secretariat is fierce now, so don't get involved at this time."

Ma Xun said immediately, "I know, I will definitely not help either of them."

Liu Bowen was silent for a moment and then said, "Yang Xian and I have a good relationship. If he wants to win you over, you must be careful. I am just retiring, and I cannot harm you and Shu Ning."

Ma Xun asked carefully, "Is this Yang Xian powerful?"

"He is your Majesty's confidant. In his early years, he assisted the Left Deputy General in governing Zhejiang." Liu Bowen said, "He is arrogant because of his talent. He reported to the emperor that the Left Deputy General did not listen to his arrangements."

This Yang Xian was indeed a tough guy, he even reported Li Wenzhong's mischief to him.

Liu Bowen continued, "Although he is on good terms with me, I have always felt that he should not go to the Secretariat. He is a good at gathering information."

Ma Xun understood the situation better and said with a smile, "Then I will stay away from such people. Anyway, I don't like going to the Secretariat."

Liu Bowen asked cautiously, "You hold many official positions now. Have you made any progress in getting promoted to the Secretariat?"

It can be said that Ma Xun now holds official positions in various important government offices.

In the military, he is the Right Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Marshal's Office, in the Eastern Palace he has the Prince's Junior Tutor, and there is also a person in charge of the Imperial College. He may soon be promoted to a higher position in the Secretariat.

"Let the Queen block it for me first, but it will probably be soon." Ma Xun also said worriedly, "Anyway, it will definitely not be the Prime Minister, at most he will be the Minister of State Affairs."

"Don't go to the Secretariat at this time. The fight is fierce." Liu Bowen said, "If nothing unexpected happens, Wang Guangyang, Hu Weiyong and Yang Xian will eventually have a winner. The loser will probably die."

Ma Xun would definitely not get involved in some struggles in the Secretariat, as that was the real hotbed of trouble.

Seeing Ma Xun nod, Liu Bowen asked curiously, "You don't need to be too taboo about the Imperial College. You still have to do it when it's time to do it."

Ma Xun immediately said, "Isn't it true that I'm building a school at the foot of Jiming Mountain? I don't want to get involved with the people from the Imperial College. I just want to take a look at the Imperial College and build my own school."

Liu Bowen was stunned. "We already have the Imperial College. There is no need to build another one."

"It's different. The Imperial College teaches the Four Books and Five Classics." Ma Xun said with a smile, "I will try to teach other things and find some talented scholars who are different from those great scholars in the Imperial College."

After hearing what Ma Xun said, Liu Bowen stopped asking questions as it was useless.

Liu Bowen could rest assured that Ma Xun was prudent. The emperor and empress also trusted Ma Xun, which was obvious to everyone.

Now he wants to build another school outside the Imperial College, maybe it is the intention of the emperor and empress.

And even if it was not the emperor and empress's intention, if something really went wrong, the emperor and empress would cover it.

How big a mistake could one make right here in the capital, right under the noses of the emperor and empress?
What's more, Liu Bowen knew very well that both the emperor and the empress were somewhat dissatisfied with the scholars in the court, and the current civil service group was under considerable pressure.

This is not only because many civil servants are from Jiangnan and eastern Zhejiang, but also because some civil servants’ ideas and governance methods are inconsistent with the emperor’s opinions.

(End of this chapter)