Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

"However, the imperial examination will not begin for another three years."

Not now.

There, overwhelmed with surprise and disbelief, Liu Sanwu and the others were stunned for a moment by this sudden and wonderful news.

The joy in my heart was immediately diminished.

Clearly, no one expected the emperor to say such a thing at this moment.

They were eager to implement the great policy of restoring the imperial examination system as soon as possible, without any delay.

Who would have thought that after giving them hope, the emperor would simply postpone the matter for three years?

Who else would be so inhuman as to tease people like this?
What a beastly act!
However, after feeling upset and unwilling, I quickly adjusted my mindset.

Although the emperor always kept people in suspense, his various behaviors were extremely inhumane.

However, as things stand, it seems that this is not entirely unacceptable.

After all, Zhu Yuanzhang, who was not a human being, had previously suspended the imperial examinations, making them feel that this matter was far from being resolved.

Now that the emperor has taken the initiative to announce the holding of the imperial examinations and has even given a specific timeframe, it's not bad.

At least we saw a glimmer of hope.

Unlike before, when they were in despair and postponed their hopes for many years until Zhu Yuanzhang passed away, placing those hopes on Zhu Biao.

Sure enough, having been severely suppressed earlier, they wouldn't have so many demands now.

However, what Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to say was naturally not just these words.

Immediately, more words were spoken.

Keep surprising these people.

"This scientific expedition is different from the previous ones."

The exam content is mainly based on the current new edition of the textbooks of the Imperial Academy of the Ming Dynasty.

At the same time, a system of selecting officials based on their respective disciplines was implemented.

It's not like before, where only classical studies were tested.

Arithmetic, physics, and chemistry are all within the scope of the exam.

The same applies to moral character and ethics.

Everyone who takes the exam must pass all subjects.

Admission is based on total score first. Only after the total score reaches a certain threshold will the student be admitted based on their highest score in a particular subject.

Not only were there imperial examinations for classical studies, but all other fields were also included.

Nowadays, the Jinshi degree is even more sought after.

It seemed that only those who passed the imperial examination were truly outstanding.

The rest are all inferior.

Zhu Yuanzhang initially thought so too, but after careful investigation, he discovered that this was not the case.

It was deliberately distorted into this way by these people.

The purpose was to elevate the status of classical studies and highlight its corresponding difficulty, thereby fostering a social atmosphere where the study of classical studies was considered inferior.

Even in the past, Song Lian and others, referring to the civil service examinations established for them by the Yuan Dynasty, only took the Jinshi degree exam and did not take any other exams.

This is clearly completely wrong.

Now Zhu Yuanzhang wants to correct this mistake.

At the same time, it also involved using various means to crack down on numerous academic cliques.

For thousands of years, many people have used their monopoly on knowledge and their annotations of classics to achieve numerous privileges.

Using classical studies to seek personal gain has led to the formation of numerous university cliques.

These were also things that Zhu Yuanzhang did not want to see.

At this point, using the new textbooks he formulated at the Imperial Academy as the basis for the examinations was the most powerful blow to those people.

Those people were able to form academic cliques and profit from them.

This is because the knowledge they possessed was linked to the imperial examinations, which in turn were linked to becoming an official.

When taking the exam, we should follow their standards.

But now, the knowledge and standards they possessed were directly abolished by Zhu Yuanzhang.

The exam wasn't conducted according to the methods they knew.

Thus, the right to education and other rights returned to Zhu Yuanzhang's hands.

Furthermore, these exams can also help him advance the knowledge he desires and develop it as quickly as possible.

Upon hearing this, Liu Sanwu and the others, who had just convinced themselves, were stunned.

Endless astonishment arose in my mind.

Then he became flustered and angry.

What did we hear?
What is the emperor saying?
Are the things he said really things that humans come up with?

It's something that humans can actually do!

Is this how he restored the imperial examination system?

This beast!

Liu Sanwu was furious; his heart trembled.

His face looked extremely pale.

He's not stupid; having been immersed in this world for many years, he's exceptionally perceptive.

Upon hearing the emperor's words, they immediately realized the emperor's sinister intentions.

Isn't the emperor just giving them the right to interpret scriptures?

He wanted to abolish all the existing systems and implement the imperial examination system according to his standards.

This would be a huge blow to them.

It was so big that they simply couldn't accept it!

If things were done according to the emperor's wishes, that's how it would be done.

It can be said that everything has come to an end!
If the emperor only followed the Confucian classics textbooks he promoted at the Imperial Academy to conduct the imperial examinations, the key point is that the emperor was completely inhuman and had even more sinister intentions!
Even subjects like physics, chemistry, and arithmetic were subject to imperial examinations!
Isn't this just chaotic fate?!

This is a challenge to the status of Confucianism! It's digging up the roots of Confucianism.

Once these are allowed to enter scientific research in a legitimate way.

Then Confucianism will inevitably suffer a great blow in the future.

This is something they absolutely do not want to see!

"Does anyone have a different opinion?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked, looking at his ministers.

After the sound faded, there was silence; no one responded.

After a short wait, a voice rang out: "Your Majesty, isn't this...isn't this a bit unfair?"
Such teaching materials are only being taught at the Imperial Academy and a few other universities.

The vast number of scholars in other regions were completely unaware of this.

If these are used for exams, those who have already studied the relevant textbooks at institutions like the Imperial Academy will have a huge advantage.

The person who spoke was Liu Sanwu.

As soon as this person opened his mouth, many people secretly cheered him on.

As expected of Liu Sanwu, he truly has spirit and energy!

"That's why we decided to conduct the scientific expedition three years from now."

During these three years, the government will increase the printing of related books.

They were then transported to various parts of the Ming Dynasty through Xinhua Bookstore for people to purchase and study.

Of course, if you don't want to buy it, you can also read it for free at Xinhua Bookstore every day.

Three years is enough time for them to catch up.

As for absolute fairness, we can't achieve that.

We don't have that capability, and the country can't afford to wait either.

It's acceptable to say that as long as fairness is generally guaranteed.

If we pursue absolute fairness in everything, then nothing will be accomplished.

In response to Liu Sanwu's question, Zhu Yuanzhang gave the following answer.

Upon hearing this, Liu Sanwu did not dwell on the matter further.

He gritted his teeth, steeled his resolve, and spoke again: "Your Majesty, could subjects such as physics, chemistry, and arithmetic be exempted from the civil service examinations?"
These are practical skills, not the ways of being an official.

If these people were to become officials, I'm afraid... it wouldn't be a good thing.

"What's wrong with these people being officials?"
Who says these people can't be officials or don't know how to be officials?

A few years ago, when we held the imperial examinations, we selected officials entirely based on their knowledge of the classics.

They are all the true scholars you speak of.

But what kind of junk did they take?

What about ability?
If it weren't so terrible, how could it have shut down scientific research for so many years?
On this basis, I have been thinking about how to break the deadlock and how to truly acquire some talented people who can govern the country.

If they hadn't performed so poorly during those two imperial examinations, things wouldn't be like this today!
Are people selected solely based on their knowledge of classical texts truly capable of serving as officials?
You really don't know what kind of people they are?
Why are you bringing this up now? What are your intentions?

Zhu Yuanzhang's words were utterly blunt.

Liu Sanwu, well, he knew very well what kind of background this person was.

Those were the die-hards.

As things stand, he is even more stubborn than Song Lian.

Moreover, in my previous life, at the end of the Hongwu reign, Liu Sanwu was the one who orchestrated a cheating scandal in the imperial examinations.

All those admitted were scholars from the South; there wasn't a single one from the North.

Zhu Yuanzhang was not at all surprised that Liu Sanwu would stand up and say such things at this time.

Upon hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, Liu Sanwu's expression shifted, as if he wanted to say something more.

However, he ultimately did not speak again.

After Liu Sanwu spoke, he was met with such a forceful rebuke from the emperor. Even those who harbored deep opinions about the matter were deterred.

But he didn't say much.

It's not that I don't want to say it, it's that I'm afraid to say it.

Judging from the emperor's expression, he has made up his mind about this matter.

At other times, they might be able to argue their case.

But at this moment, I really didn't dare.

Zhu Yuanzhang wouldn't lecture you on so many principles.

They all realized that the emperor was just saying this, and didn't really want them to ask for their opinions.

Continuing with a hardline stance will not only fail to deter Zhu Yuanzhang from abandoning this rebellious idea, but will also prevent him from doing so.

On the contrary, things will get worse in many ways.

Thus, the matter was approved.

……

After everyone left the court, Zhu Yuanzhang reflected on the North-South Examination Case and the actions of Liu Sanwu and others, and couldn't help but smile.

This matter will certainly not be left to rest, Liu Sanwu and his group will not let it go.

But he didn't intend to do anything to Liu Sanwu at this time.

He wants to play the long game.

Not only during this time, but also during this period, they will not make a move against Liu Sanwu.

On the contrary, when the imperial examination was held three years later, he would give Liu Sanwu an important position as the chief examiner.

Let's see if Liu Sanwu will do something like cheating in the imperial examinations again, openly challenging me.

If that's the case, then that would be truly delightful.

This provided a perfect excuse to capture Liu Sanwu and some of his more deeply hidden associates in one fell swoop.

We gave them a big surprise.

……

"Are we really just going to watch the emperor run rampant here?"

They could only watch helplessly as Confucianism suffered such a calamity.

The Confucian sages of past generations have overcome numerous obstacles and devoted themselves wholeheartedly to achieve the status that Confucianism holds today.

We're really just going to have to watch helplessly as that tyrant goes against the tide.

Have they destroyed Confucianism to this extent?

Many people gathered together, and some asked questions one after another, with great distress.

After these words were spoken, many people present couldn't help but cover their faces and weep.

"Stop crying, all of you! What are you crying for? You're pathetic!"

Just then, a voice rang out.

This person was none other than Liu Sanwu.

After being reprimanded by Liu Sanwu, everyone quieted down.

They looked at Liu Sanwu, waiting for him to give them an explanation.

Liu Sanwu said, "Let's wait and see, it's not time to decide the winner yet."

Zhu Yuanzhang's perverse actions were bound to provoke discontent among many.

Moreover, it's not like we people have no way to get things done.

Behave yourself during this time and don't make any mistakes in this matter.

And by going along with Zhu Yuanzhang, we made him lower his guard and think that we had all submitted.

Therefore, the time to exert our efforts will be when the imperial examinations are held three years from now!
He wants to use this method to deal with us.

We certainly have some corresponding solutions on our side!

Try to become the chief examiner or the person who reviews and grades the papers.

"Even if some things come to that, we still have ways to handle them!"

Upon hearing what Liu Sanwu said, many people present were immediately intrigued.

I just felt that Liu Sanwu's words made a lot of sense.

That's really how it is!

So one by one they stopped crying and began to think about how to handle these matters in the future...

By then, Zhu Yuanzhang thought he had won.

In reality, his treacherous scheme was thwarted by his own people through some secret means.

He was also arrogant and knew nothing.

That's actually quite a happy thing...

……

"Your Majesty, the Duan family has refused to send troops and has instead joined forces to resist the false Ming dynasty."

More than a month later, Dade came before King Liang and said these words.

His expression was solemn as he said this.

But at the same time, I also felt a sense of relief.

After all, the matter was now completely settled.

As the king had said before, the matter has now been resolved.

Then they can retreat from here without having to fight against the Ming Dynasty.

Upon hearing this, Zarawalmi's expression changed.

They fell silent.

"Are they really unwilling to send troops?"

After a long while, he spoke up and asked?

"Your Majesty, we are indeed unwilling to send troops."

Even though I suggested that after we defeat the Ming Dynasty, this area could be divided equally, they still disagreed.

Upon hearing this, Bazalawami fell silent once again.

At this moment, he suddenly felt a pang of nostalgia for Duan Gong and regretted that he had impulsively executed Duan Gong.

If it weren't for that, things certainly wouldn't be like this now.

After a long while, he spoke.

"Let's launch another attack and set up defenses in places like Bailongjiang."

We are not without the ability to fight.

Upon hearing this, Dad was taken aback.

How could Your Majesty go back on your word?
"Your Majesty, this...this is almost certainly a losing proposition."

If the Duan family were willing to join forces, there would still be some chance of victory.

But now... there's basically no chance of winning.

It's also easy to lose all your initial investment.

If we lead our troops here, we can march south.

They could still recapture some territory and continue their rule.

"Where to go?"

Zarawalmi asked aloud.

"Annan".

Dad gave his answer… (End of Chapter)