My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 292 Getting Things Done and Building a Business Starts Now

Su Ze did not help Zhang Chun choose an official position in the end, but returned home and began to draft a memorial to the throne.

This time he was very careful with his pen.

The imperial examination system was the most fundamental system of the Ming Dynasty. Any slight reform would cause a violent upheaval in the political arena and affect the future of all scholars.

Therefore, reforms to the imperial examination system must not be taken too drastically.

The abolition of the imperial examination system in the late Qing Dynasty of the original timeline completely alienated scholars and ultimately accelerated the collapse of the Qing Dynasty.

The reforms at the end of the Qing Dynasty were a necessary response to internal and external troubles, and sometimes only drastic measures could be taken. However, in this era, the Age of Exploration was just beginning, the Industrial Revolution had not yet shown its dawn, and the Ming Dynasty was still the most powerful and advanced country in the world.

Therefore, Su Ze can steer this giant ship and carry out gradual reforms.

Su Ze chose to break through by targeting the Juren (successful candidates in the imperial examinations).

The title of Juren (举人) is the most important part of the imperial examination system.

Below the Juren (举人) is the Xiucai (秀才), a title that was already quite common during the Longqing era. These Xiucai held almost no special privileges. Although they were proud and arrogant, if they failed to pass the Juren exam for a long time, they would generally accept their fate and pursue other careers.

One who passed the provincial examination could advance to the level of a Jinshi, and a Jinshi could be granted an official position.

Even during the Longqing reign, the system of granting official positions to successful candidates in the imperial examinations was not as stagnant as it was in the late Ming dynasty.

The Juren (successful candidates in the imperial examinations) held a special position.

Locally, those who passed the imperial examinations wielded considerable influence.

There are poor scholars, but no poor graduates.

A Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial civil service examination) is already a quasi-official, considered a Juren lord. If he is willing to be a local gentry, he can become a small landlord just by relying on the land he has contributed.

There are only a few successful candidates in a county. If a successful candidate stays in the county town, he is already considered a Brahmin in the county town.

However, in officialdom, a scholar who passed the imperial examination was nothing.

With so many candidates waiting for vacancies in the Ministry of Personnel, people say that if you could knock down five people in front of the Ministry of Personnel with a carrying pole, four of them would be candidates for the imperial examination, and the remaining one would become a candidate for the highest degree.

Therefore, if the issue of successful candidates in the imperial examinations is not handled properly, it can easily cause trouble in local areas, and even in the capital, it can cause huge public opinion problems.

The solution Su Ze came up with was the "Three Supports and One Assistance" program from his previous life.

The scholar wanted to become an official, but he aspired even more to be an official in a developed region.

There were actually many job vacancies in the border regions, Yunnan and Guizhou, and even Penghu and Hainan today, but the scholars were unwilling to go there.

Since that's the case, then we should reward those who passed the imperial examinations so that they would be willing to go to these places to serve as officials.

Su Ze wrote:

"Those who voluntarily request to go to Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, the Nine Border Regions, or Penghu will be transferred to a more advantageous position in the interior after serving for three years, thus avoiding the hardship of waiting."

However, this is just the same as Wang Chonggu's policy. Since Wang Chonggu's policy was ineffective, it means that further measures need to be taken.

One reason why scholars were unwilling to go to these areas was that they feared they might never return.

Therefore, Su Ze believed that a "three-year period" must be agreed upon.

"Those who have completed three years of service and whose performance during their term of office is above average will be given priority for transfer back to other provinces for selection and appointment."

Of course, this alone wouldn't attract many successful candidates.

The term "priority transfer" is rather vague. It simply means that the candidate has priority over other successful candidates, but good positions in wealthy provinces are always scarce.

So Su Ze added another sentence:
"Those who are appointed to this position should be granted permission to take the imperial examination in full before participating in the special examination."

After becoming an official, a candidate who passed the provincial examination in the Ming Dynasty automatically gave up the qualification to participate in the imperial examination.

Without altering the imperial examination system, allowing these successful candidates who served in remote areas to participate in the examination again would essentially give them another chance to advance their academic qualifications.

"Those who have already passed the imperial examination and entered officialdom can also request to be transferred to other posts, and the same preferential treatment applies to them."

Those who had already been selected as officials in good places could also use this method to obtain the qualification for the imperial examination.

Actually, this isn't a huge benefit. Since the imperial examinations still require an exam, it's like being assigned to these remote and impoverished areas while retaining the eligibility to participate in the imperial examinations.

Of course, the above methods are all temporary solutions.

By the late Ming Dynasty, the positions in the nine border regions were filled with scholars who had passed the imperial examinations, and many of them didn't even have the opportunity to serve as advisors to the generals on the border.

If the number of official positions in the Ming Dynasty remains the same, the increase in the number of successful candidates in the imperial examinations will soon fill the vacant positions.

Therefore, it is still necessary to increase the number of officials; this is the medium-term solution.

Su Ze also wrote:
"He ordered scholars to lead the reclamation of Penghu, the development of Liaodong, and the relocation of local chieftains to Yunnan and Guizhou."

“When new counties were established in the colonized areas, those who had passed the imperial examinations were appointed as county magistrates and other official positions.”

“A new overseas education commissioner will be appointed, with a substantive official position and a rank equivalent to that of an inland instructor. Candidates who have passed the imperial examinations can apply for the position.”

"The mission of colonizing new territories and overseas is limited to a period of six years, and no transfer is permitted without outstanding achievements."

This was Su Ze's second step: to offer official positions in these regions, and if any successful candidates were willing to go, they could be granted official positions without regard to precedent.

However, in order to prevent some people from taking advantage of this policy to obtain official positions, it must be clearly stated that they must serve two terms in these places, which is six years, before they can be transferred back to the Ming Dynasty.

Finally, there was the long-term solution, so Su Ze stopped writing.

In the long run, it means promoting the civil service examination, continuing to advance the idea of ​​equality among the four classes of people, and gradually abolishing the feudal privileges of those who passed the provincial examination and even the entire scholar class.

These things naturally cannot be written in the memorial to the emperor.

By then, the Ming Dynasty will have more respectable and high-ranking positions, which will allow these scholars to be diverted away instead of all crowding into officialdom.

On the other hand, the overseas diversion will also form an external interest group, binding the fate of some officials overseas.

In this way, the imperial court would not easily give up its overseas interests.

Su Ze finally wrote the title of his memorial: "Memorial on Unblocking the Stagnation in the Selection of Juren (successful candidates in the imperial examinations)".

However, this time, Su Ze did not directly put it into the [Portable Ming Dynasty] simulation.

Instead, he planned to let Zhang Siwei consider it first, then discuss it with Gao Gong, and then spread the word in the court and newspapers to test the opinions of the literati.

Such a reform is bound to be of great importance, and it requires a massive amount of prestige points.

Therefore, Su Ze must make preparations in advance for this memorial to the throne.
-
October 19th, Imperial College.

Zhu Juntang looked at Zhang Chun, who was packing his things, and asked anxiously, "Brother Mingzhi (Zhang Chun's courtesy name), are you really going to give up the imperial examination?"

“Brother Si Zhao (Zhu Juntang’s courtesy name), Master Su has pointed me in the right direction. I’m going to try my luck in Penghu.”

Su Ze ultimately did not help Zhang Chun secure a position in a prosperous region, but instead gave Zhang Chun a suggestion: the education commissioner of Penghu.

This position was recently created and is in charge of education administration in Penghu.

Su Ze analyzed the position for Zhang Chun separately.

Although Penghu is currently under the jurisdiction of Fujian, it has a large geographical area and is close to the coastal areas, making it a favorable location.

In the past, the colonization of Penghu was slow, partly due to the Ming Dynasty's ban on sea travel, which made it difficult to go to sea, and partly due to the fear of miasma.

But now both of these problems have disappeared.

Maritime trade in the Ming Dynasty grew rapidly, with both official and civilian ships increasing quickly. The Emperor's brother-in-law, Li Wenquan, made rapid progress in colonizing and developing Penghu.

Li Wenquan planted cinchona trees in Tainan, which effectively controlled malaria.

Su Ze also asserted that with the continued development of Southeast Asian maritime trade, Penghu's important geographical location would inevitably lead to a population boom.

Therefore, Penghu, which is not even a county now, may become a prefecture in the future, or even a province. In fact, the pace of colonization and expansion in Penghu was indeed very fast.

In the original timeline, the colonization of Penghu began at the end of the Wanli era, and by the time the Ming Dynasty fell, Penghu had a population of 160,000 Han Chinese.

In its early years, the Qing government implemented a policy of relocating people to their homeland and prohibiting maritime trade, and later it adopted a policy of closing the country to the outside world.

However, after Penghu was opened as a port, its population quickly swelled to two million.

There's no way around it, Taiwan's natural conditions are just too good.

Natural deep-water harbors, a long coastline, and high-yield crops in a tropical climate are all factors that contribute to population growth.

Meanwhile, Fujian, which is separated from Penghu, faces land pressure.

Once this immigration begins, it will gradually accelerate.

So Su Ze's statement that Penghu might become a prefecture is not just empty talk for Zhang Chun.

He is now serving as the Provincial Education Commissioner in Penghu County, and may become the Provincial Education Supervisor in Penghu Prefecture in the future.

Moreover, the influx of a large number of immigrants will inevitably bring about education and rehabilitation work.

In conclusion, Penghu is a place where results can be achieved.

A solid track record of achievements is an important guarantee for future promotion.

Persuaded by Su Ze, Zhang Chun took the initiative to apply for the position at the Ministry of Personnel's Selection Department.

At this time, the candidates waiting for vacancies in the Ministry of Personnel's Selection Department all believed that Penghu was a deserted island, so Zhang Chun had no competitors.

According to Su Ze, Zhang Chun will receive his official appointment after His Majesty's imperial approval at the end of this month.

Zhu Juntang and Zhang Chun were roommates and close friends, but he still couldn't understand Zhang Chun's choice.

He had finally passed the provincial examination with great difficulty and was about to take the imperial examination the following year. Why did he suddenly give up?
Zhang Chun sighed and said, "Brother Si Zhao, I don't have your talent for the imperial examinations. I can't keep up with what Master Shen is teaching. Even if I take the exams a few more times, I will never pass the Jinshi exam."

Zhu Juntang said:
“Brother Mingzhi hasn’t even taken the imperial examination yet, so why are you saying such discouraging things?”

But after saying that, Zhu Juntang lost much of his confidence.

Those who take the imperial examinations know their own limitations.

Since the imperial examination system was established, the preparation and testing for the exams have become quite comprehensive, and students can roughly estimate the level of academic achievement.

Shen Li was a high-ranking scholar in the imperial examinations and had spent many years at the Imperial Academy. Under his guidance, Zhu Juntang could not bring himself to say that Zhang Chun would definitely pass the exams.

Zhang Chun continued:

"The imperial examination is in two years. If I fail, I will waste another four years. I am already over thirty years old and have accomplished nothing in my studies."

Hearing this, Zhu Juntang also lowered his head.

Studying classics until old age is no joke; the imperial examination system was that cruel. Even a talented person like Xu Wei only passed the provincial examination along with them.

From a successful candidate in the provincial examination to a high-ranking scholar in the imperial examination, countless people's youth is wasted.

Zhang Chun continued:

“Master Su is right. This is a time of great competition, and we can’t afford to waste any more time. So I’m going to try my luck in Penghu.”

After listening to Zhang Chun's heartfelt words, Zhu Juntang stopped trying to persuade her and instead said:

"Brother Mingzhi, what are your thoughts upon arriving in Penghu?"

Zhang Chun said:

“As Master Su said, nurturing talent is like ‘it takes ten years to grow a tree, but a hundred years to cultivate a person.’ Education is also a slow and steady process.”

“When I arrive in Penghu, I plan to follow the model of the nursing home and establish a public school there to attract young children to study.”

Zhu Juntang asked:
"Why not start with young people, with those who can read and write? Wouldn't that be more effective?"

The key performance indicator for school officials was the results of the local imperial examinations.

The more successful candidates a county has in the imperial examinations, the better the education officials can perform their duties.

If a county has not produced any successful candidates in the imperial examinations for several years, it indicates a failure in local education and will receive a poor evaluation.

Zhang Chun said, "Master Su also mentioned this matter. When taking office in areas like Penghu, the evaluation should not be conducted in the same way as in areas where culture and education flourished during the Ming Dynasty."

"Should Penghu's evaluation still prioritize its cultural and educational achievements?"

Zhu Juntang asked, "What is the merit of education and culture?"

Zhang Chun said:

“I also consulted Master Su, who said that the ancient sages educated people by teaching according to their aptitude, in order to help them become successful.”

"Understand the principles of things, cultivate righteousness, and investigate things to acquire knowledge."

"The imperial examination system should have been a way for us scholars to realize our personal ambitions, not a goal to strive for."

"The immigrants who went to Penghu were just looking for a place to eat and have food to eat. Otherwise, no one would leave their hometown. They also didn't have the opportunity to study."

"I plan to establish a primary school in Penghu so that young children can begin their education. Even if they cannot take the imperial examinations, as long as they can read and write, it will still have an educational effect and live up to Teacher Su's expectations."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Juntang also felt genuine admiration.

He also understood Zhang Chun's anxiety.

His kinsman Zhang Mingyuan was recently rewarded by the emperor with a decree for his contributions to the glass kiln, and was granted the title of commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

This incident caused a sensation among the officials of Shuntian Prefecture.

Although Zhang Mingyuan's position as a centurion in the Embroidered Uniform Guard was not hereditary, meaning his son could not inherit the position after his death.

But a centurion in the Embroidered Uniform Guard was a seventh-rank official, and Zhang Mingyuan actually managed to cross the insurmountable barrier between officials.

This incident deeply motivated the officials of Shuntian Prefecture, who actively sought out distinctive industries within their counties and hoped to recreate Zhang Mingyuan's "miracle."

It's natural to feel anxious and frustrated when everyone else is making progress while you're stuck in the same place.

Zhang Chun then said:
"Master Su is also working on reforming the Ministry of Personnel's method of selecting officials. Brother Si Zhao, I will enter the officialdom first and wait for you."

Zhu Juntang's gloom vanished, and after high-fiving Zhang Chun, he began to help him pack his things.

At this moment, a newly appointed scholar, holding a newspaper, rushed into the school and shouted:

"Brother Si Zhao! Brother Ming Zhi! The Ministry of Personnel is going to reform the major policy of selecting candidates for the imperial examinations!"

The newly appointed scholar rushed in only to find Zhang Chun packing his things. He exclaimed in surprise:

"Brother Mingzhi, what's going on?"

Zhang Chun no longer needed to keep it a secret, and frankly said:

"I have given up the imperial examination and am participating in the selection of officials by the Ministry of Personnel."

Zhu Juntang then picked up the newspaper and began reading the news.

The newspapers naturally did not publish detailed reform plans; instead, Su Ze wrote an article himself explaining the hardships faced by candidates in the imperial examinations when selecting officials.

Su Ze then cited examples of people who had passed the imperial examinations in the early Ming Dynasty and eventually achieved success, encouraging them to pursue official careers.

"Start your business and build your career now!"

Even Zhu Juntang felt his blood boil after reading it, and couldn't wait to run for office and make a name for himself!

(End of this chapter)