Sky Curtain: The opening scene explains the four major cases of the Ming Dynasty plus the early Ming

Golden light shimmered above the sky.

A huge chart, like a divine decree, was clearly displayed before everyone in all realms and timelines.

On it, in the simplest and coldest words, are listed a series of seemingly brilliant national policies that, centuries later, were proven to be extremely poisonous.

[The Preferential Treatment Policy for Civil Officials in the Song Dynasty - by Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin]

Zhu Dijun's voice, like that of a detached historian, began to interpret each point.

"First, the imperial examination system was implemented to select officials, greatly expanding the ranks of civil servants."

"In the first year of Jianlong, which was the first year of Zhao Kuangyin's reign, nineteen people were admitted to the imperial examinations at once, a significant increase compared to previous years."

"He established the 'palace examination' system, with the emperor himself serving as the chief examiner. From then on, all successful candidates were 'disciples of the emperor,' and their status and position rose dramatically in one step."

"More importantly, the rule that 'one who passes the exam will be appointed to an official position' greatly stimulated the desire of scholars across the country to enter officialdom."

The Great Tang Dynasty, Taiji Hall.

Li Shimin frowned as he looked at this line.

He established the imperial examination system to break the monopoly of aristocratic families on official positions and to open a path for people from humble backgrounds to rise in society.

However, Zhao Kuangyin's actions, in terms of scale and the generous treatment he received, were already somewhat excessive.

This is not talent selection; it's clearly cultivating a huge class of scholars who are loyal only to the emperor!

"Secondly, it greatly enhanced the social and political status of civil servants."

Zhu Dijun's voice continued.

"The separation of official rank, position, and assignment made the promotion system for civil servants extremely clear, and it only allowed for promotion, not demotion."

"Provide them with extremely generous salaries, land, and various subsidies to ensure that they are 'well-fed and clothed and know honor and shame'."

"Here comes the most crucial point!"

Zhu Dijun's voice suddenly became louder!

"Zhao Kuangyin established ancestral family rules, which were engraved on a stone tablet and kept in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, requiring future generations to strictly abide by them."

"One of these rules is—not to kill scholar-officials or those who submit memorials to the emperor!"

boom!

This was like a bolt of lightning from the heavens, striking the hearts of all emperors!

Not killing the scholar-officials?!

The Qin Dynasty, Xianyang Palace.

Ying Zheng laughed, a laugh filled with disdain and contempt.

"Not kill?"

"In my realm, there are only those who deserve to die and those who don't; there's no distinction based on status."

"Scholars who break the law are punished the same as commoners! Those who dare to spread rumors, mislead the public, or criticize the government shall be executed!"

The Great Han Dynasty, Weiyang Palace.

Liu Che's eyes also turned incredibly cold.

He recalled the Confucian scholars who opposed the "Decree of Grace" and tried to protect the interests of the feudal lords, and the "pure stream" who hindered his northern campaign against the Xiongnu.

Not kill?

Only by killing them can the world be at peace!

The Ming Dynasty, Hongwu Hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang was so angry that he slammed his fist on the dragon throne and roared!

"That's utter nonsense!"

"What we hate most are these pedantic scholars who, just because they've had a few days of schooling, dare to criticize national policies and form cliques for personal gain!"

"The Empty Seal Case, the Hu Weiyong Case, the Guo Heng Case—we slaughtered countless people to show them who truly calls the shots in this Ming Dynasty!"

"Has Zhao Da lost his mind? Giving these people get away with it? He's raising a tiger to cause future trouble! No wonder the descendants of the fourth brother say that he's the root of all this, it makes perfect sense."

Zhu Yuanzhang's anger represented the sentiments of all iron-fisted emperors.

Power comes from the emperor's absolute power of life and death!

When you voluntarily give up the most extreme means of punishment for a certain social class, that class will inevitably ride roughshod over you!

They will constantly test your limits and erode your power until, in the end, they completely sideline you!

The Tumu Crisis, which Zhu Dijun mentioned earlier, is a typical example.

The first year of the Kaibao era of the Great Song Dynasty.

Zhao Kuangyin stared at the sky, completely stunned.

Looking at the reactions of later emperors under the sky, especially the murderous Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang, a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

"Was I...was I wrong?"

He muttered to himself, his eyes filled with confusion.

He brought an end to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.

In that era, military generals were arrogant and domineering, killing their lords one day and declaring themselves emperors the next; human life was as cheap as grass.

He himself rose to power through a coup, so he knew all too well the destructive power of military commanders.

Therefore, he used the "banquet to release military power" to use civil officials to control military generals, and used generous treatment and the promise of "not killing" to exchange for the absolute support of the civil official group for the imperial power.

He wanted to establish an ideal country where peace and stability were long-lasting and where scholars governed the nation.

Is there anything wrong with that?

"Third, we must comprehensively weaken the power of military officers and establish the fundamental national policy of civil officials controlling military officials."

On the sky, Zhu Dijun's voice continued.

"After the 'releasing military power over a cup of wine,' civil officials were appointed as the highest local officials to control the local garrison."

"Establish a 'Tongpan' (assistant prefect), a civil official directly appointed by the central government to supervise local military and political power."

"The Privy Council has the power to mobilize troops, but the Three Military Commands control the troops. The two check and balance each other, but ultimately, they must both be subject to the control of the civil service system."

"Fourth, grant the civil service group cultural and judicial privileges."

"Allowing them to establish academies and teach privately laid the groundwork for their later formation into a large public opinion group and academic clique."

"The establishment of the principle of 'no punishment for high-ranking officials' further grants them a transcendent position in the judicial system!"

The charts have been displayed.

Judy Jun's voice, tinged with a sigh, resounded throughout the universe.

"Family members, to be fair, Zhao Da's policies did indeed play a positive role at the time."

"It ended more than half a century of military rule, restored stability to the Central Plains, and led to cultural prosperity."

"but!"

Zhu Dijun's tone suddenly shifted, becoming incredibly sharp!

"He planned everything meticulously, but he overlooked one thing!"

Zhao Kuangyin, from the Song Dynasty era, suddenly raised his head and stared intently at the sky!

He wanted to know!

What exactly did he overlook?!

"Descendants, tell me quickly! What did I overlook? I'll correct it! I'll correct it right now!"

He looked up at the sky and let out an anxious roar.

He didn't want his Great Song Dynasty to truly perish at his own hands, as later generations said!

On the sky, Zhu Dijun provided the answer.

"First, he underestimated human nature!"

"When a group has a stable promotion channel, generous economic benefits, supreme social status, and even the privilege of 'immunity from death,' their desires will not stop."

"They will not be content with merely 'assisting' the monarch."

"They will begin to seek to 'replace' the monarch!"

"The insatiable appetite of the Ming Dynasty's civil service group, characterized by 'wanting more, wanting more, and wanting even more,' was fostered precisely by Zhao Da!"

"second……"

Zhu Dijun's voice suddenly turned cold and mysterious.

"He overlooked his seemingly obedient younger brother!"

"Emperor Taizong of Song, Zhao Guangyi!"

"A usurper who ascended the throne by relying on the 'Shadow of the Candle and the Sound of the Axe,' murdering his brother and nephew, colluding with his mother and ministers, and forging the 'Golden Chest Alliance'!"

"A bizarre emperor who was jokingly referred to by later generations as: the shame of Emperor Taizong, the Song Dynasty's Cart Emperor, the God of War of the Donkey Cart, the leader of the Axe Gang, the Breaking Bad master, and the patriarch of the sex scandal... "

Boom—!

In Zhao Kuangyin's mind, it was as if a million thunderbolts were exploding at the same time!

He felt dizzy and everything went black before his eyes!

Killing his brother...murdering his nephew...

Colluding with...the Empress Dowager...Zhao Pu...

In that instant, all the warmth and trust collapsed!

He recalled the boundless trust and power he had placed in his younger brother after ascending the throne.

He thought of his mother, Empress Dowager Du, who often whispered in his ear that Guangyi was steady and capable of shouldering great responsibilities.

He thought of his most trusted prime minister, Zhao Pu, and repeatedly praised the Prince of Jin for his virtue!

original……

It turns out that all of this was a setup!

A web of death woven for him by his closest brother, his most respected mother, and his most trusted ministers!

"brute!!"

Zhao Kuangyin let out a roar that sounded inhuman, and his eyes instantly turned blood red!

"Someone come here!!"

He roared at the top of his lungs.

"Summon Prince Zhao Guangyi of Jin to the palace immediately!!"

"Dispatch more imperial guards to completely surround the Cining Palace! No one is permitted to visit the Empress Dowager without my decree!"

"Send more men to keep a close watch on Prime Minister Zhao Pu's residence!!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The entire hall was shrouded in Zhao Kuangyu's overwhelming killing intent and the excruciating pain of betrayal!

He wants to ask him himself!

Ask his good younger brother!

Ask him about his wonderful mother!

Ask him about his good minister!

Why treat him like this!