The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Zhang Cong glanced at the main hall subconsciously.

Seeing Yan Chengjin standing in the main hall, I felt much more at ease.

Even if the new emperor takes revenge, Master Yan will intercede on his behalf.

As for the question in front of me, I can only answer it freely. I don’t know who asked the question?

So difficult!

"Brother Bingyong, why does the new emperor want to take us two into the palace?"

Xia Yan's face was pale and he didn't know what happened.

Yan Chengjin glanced at the scholar next to Zhang Con, his brows furrowed and somewhat dissatisfied.

"Why did you kidnap one more person?"

Gu Da trembled with his body, these dog slaves couldn't handle even the smallest thing, and said quickly:

"Slave, throw him back now."

"Excuse me, sir. This man's name is Xia Yan. He is talented and learned. Please allow him to write the topic."

Zhang Xun's eyes were firm, and he was appreciated by the new emperor and Master Yan. Even a fool knew it was a chance.

Xia Yan provided him with food and accommodation, and it was time to repay him.

"Your name is Xia Yan?"

Yan Chengjin glanced at the young scholar in front of him and calculated with his fingers, it was time for Xia Yan to go to Beijing to take the exam.

Like Zhang Xuan, Xia Yan also has difficulty in taking exams and will fail every exam.

No wonder the two came together. They are both very lucky people. This is like luck attracting each other.

Xia Yan raised his head slightly and said:

"The student is Xia Yan. Your Excellency has arrested the wrong person. Can you let the student out of the palace?"

If it was Enxu, why would he be tied up with a sack? And looking at the policy question, it’s not a serious policy question:

Five things and seven strategies

This is what the sages say is the key to victory in the art of war. He knows a little bit about it, but he is not proficient in it, and he will never take this test in strategy questions.

"If you answer correctly, I will let you out. You two are talented and learned. If you answer incorrectly, you can be my companions in the palace."

"..." Zhang Con.

"..." Xia Yan.

The little eunuchs moved the short desks and distributed the papers. An hour later, they handed over the papers. Zhu Hou looked at them for a few times and made a big cross.

Zhang Wei and Xia Yan lowered their heads, feeling a little unhappy.

They thought they answered well, but it must be because Zhu Houzhao was not very knowledgeable and could not appreciate it.

“Where did the students go wrong?”

"You are right. It's my fault. I got the wrong question. This is my self-study question."

"..." Zhang Cong.

"..." Xia Yan.

The corner of Yan Chengjin's mouth moved slightly, Zhu Houzhao deliberately retaliated, this guy still remembered Zhang Xu scolding him, he was really a stingy guy.

After a while, Zhang Con and Xia Yan were put into clothes and went to Wenyuan Pavilion to listen to the great Confucian's lecture on scriptures.

The two of them were trembling with excitement, which was like turning on a small fire.

In the Wenhua Hall,

Yan Chengjin wanted to discuss business with Zhu Houzhao, but when he saw no one was around, he said to Zhu Houzhao:

"Does the new emperor know how many Hanlins there are in Hanyuan's backlog?"

"More than three hundred and fifty people?"

Hanlin officials were divided into revising books and drafting imperial edicts.

Serve the Hanlin and Editorial Officers, and only after passing the Hanlin bachelor's examination can you serve as a local official.

"I want to establish a law. Anyone who is over fifty-five years old must serve as an official and return to his hometown."

There was no retirement system in Ming Dynasty.

The selection of officials was done through the annual plans of the Ministry of Personnel, so that many young Hanlin officials could not wait for the opportunity to become officials.

"So you want to govern."

Zhu Houzhao blinked. If fifty-five years old is used as a standard, I don't know how many ministers will become officials.

"My father wishes he could be laid to rest, it's very difficult for me to do."

"If not, many young officials will not have the chance to be reused."

For example, when Ma Wensheng was re-employed, he was already in his forties.

…

Chengxian Street, by the river.

The iron chessboard and the flowing chess players.

The Supreme Emperor Hongzhi was famous for his chess skills, and many Confucian scholars from all over the world came to play a game.

There are very few who can defeat him.

He found playing chess interesting and could hear comments about the imperial court from Confucian scholars.

After many days, I gained a lot.

He believed that there were two true ways of being an emperor.

One is top-down, where the emperor issues decrees and the people of the world have to obey, which is called tyranny.

One is bottom-up. The emperor summarizes the "Tao" from the needs of the people, and then issues decrees to respond to and satisfy the needs of the people, which is called benevolent government.

"Such a truth can only be understood by a humble person, right?"

The Supreme Emperor Hongzhi was deep in thought while playing chess.

He couldn't help but want to tell Houzhao what he had learned about the emperor's way, and he would return to the palace after the game of chess was over.

"Master, something happened in the palace again."

Xiao Jing put his hands on the ear of the Supreme Emperor Hongzhi and whispered something.

In the past few days, the Supreme Emperor seems to be hiding from the princes and handing over power to the new emperor.

But the new emperor seems to be in trouble again...

"Are you saying that all officials over the age of fifty-five must retire from office?"

The Supreme Emperor Hongzhi turned his head, his eyes gradually becoming sharper.

You don't know how blessed you are when you are in the midst of blessings.

These people are all capable ministers left to him by the widow.

"The imperial court has such good governance? Where did Brother Zhu get the news?"

The old man sitting opposite playing chess had a look of eagerness on his cheeks.

“Good governance?”

"Yes, when officials of the imperial court are appointed to their old age, they block the career paths of young talents.

Talented people are not reused and now they are being laid off. Isn’t this good governance? "

These officials occupy the pit, and many young talents want to be promoted but have no way.

If I could become an official at the age of fifty-five, how many official positions would be available?

The imperial examination will also increase the number of scholars. If this is not good governance, what is it?

For a moment, all the Confucian scholars present looked at the Supreme Emperor Hongzhi.

"As soon as I saw you, I knew you were an official. Why don't you tell me, does the court really want officials to retire at the age of 55?"

This year is the year of the provincial examination, which is a big deal!

"Should...should be, I'll stop here today and come back tomorrow."

The retired emperor Hongzhi stood up and hurried back to the palace. He knew that Houzhao and Yan Chengjin had discussed this without asking. He got on the carriage and turned to look at Xiao Jing:

"How many officials are over 55 in the court?"

"There is Zhang Sheng in the cabinet, Han Wen in the six ministries, and there are probably more than 500 officials in the world."

Xiao Jing was also guessing. If all these officials were replaced, who would do the work?

There are only more than 300 Hanlin in the Hanyuan, which is not enough to fill the vacancies.

The new emperor will not stop until he has ruined the country. This is the king who lost the country.

…

Eastern Warm Pavilion,

"New Emperor, many elderly officials are the loyal ministers selected by the retired emperor, such as Lord Zhang and Lord Han, who can still serve the court for more than ten years. How can they retire?"

Jiang Mian came to question.

This guy does not care about feelings, nor does he worry about the consequences. He hangs out with Yan Chengjin all day long.

This is why he does not want Zhu Houzhao to be the emperor.

All officials nodded.

Didn't Liu Jian and Ma Wensheng work until they were over seventy years old?

I have never heard of forcing officials to retire based on age.

Zhu Houzhao looked at the people in the hall and blinked.

"They are my father's humerus, not my humerus. What use do I have for my father's humerus?"

"..."Jiang Mian.

Zhang Sheng's neck was red with anger.

Yan Chengjin took a step back, and Zhu Houzhao deliberately angered the officials and asked them to resign.

"I will take my leave first."