Someone used to talk about Xunzi's failure to enter the Confucian Temple, which is not a strange thing, after all, getting Xunzi out of the Confucian Temple is also one of their merits, and now it is also the proper meaning to take it out.

Some people used this article to attack Huang Kezhang, saying that Xunzi didn't even enter the Confucian Temple, how could he test his things in the imperial examination?

Then Yu Maoheng went to such a question book, and it was clear that he was going toe-for-tat with them.

Zhu Youxiao summed up the recent question books, probably had some ideas, and also understood what kind of situation the DPRK and China are now.

Through his own planning during this time, the DPRK and China finally have some weather.

Originally, Zhu Youxiao thought that there might be relatively big resistance to this matter, but he didn't expect that this was not the case. Judging from the current situation, this matter may be passed quickly, and it should be relatively easy.

This will form two trends in the upward and non-governmental trends, one is the upward approval, feeling that this policy is very good is correct and needs to be supported; As for the other trend, there is opposition from the people, and the opposition will not be small.

Two things that seem very, very contradictory. After Zhu Youxiao came to this result, he was not only in a trance.

Empress Zhang came in a hurry, and when she saw that her majesty was in a daze, she called softly: "Your Majesty." ”

Zhu Youxiao came back to his senses from his contemplation and said with a smile: "Is the treasure bead empty today?" ”

"As long as you accompany Your Majesty, the concubine is free at any time." Empress Zhang said with a smile.

After speaking, she sat down with Zhu Youxiao and asked softly, "Your Majesty is in a bad mood?" ”

Zhu Youxiao shook his head, stretched out his hand to wrap his hand around Queen Zhang, and said softly: "I'm not in a bad mood, I'm just thinking about something." ”

"There are so many things in this world, all of which are disturbing and complicated. Your Majesty, you still have to relax and ensure that you are in a good mood, so that you can have the heart to do things. Otherwise, Your Majesty Dragon is not in good health, and he will not be able to do anything when he wants to. Empress Zhang said softly while holding Zhu Youxiao's hand with her backhand.

Zhu Youxiao was talking to Empress Zhang, but Sun Chengzong saw a person at home, and this person was Zhou Jiamo, the secretary of the ministry.

After the two of them sat down, neither of them spoke, but drank tea with different thoughts.

After a while, Sun Chengzong couldn't hold it back, put down the teacup in his hand, and said with a smile: "Lord Zhou, you came to Sun today, but what's the matter?" ”

Zhou Jiamo glanced at Sun Chengzong and said bluntly: "Actually, it's very simple, I came today to discuss with you about Huang Kezhang." ”

didn't expect Zhou Jiamo to be so direct, which made Sun Cheng a little uncomfortable.

It is not too strange for the courtiers to discuss something with each other, or who to discuss with each other, but everyone is more tactful.

Zhou Jiamo is so suffocated today, there are still some things that people can't accept.

But now is not the time to worry about this, Sun Chengzong raised his head and looked at Zhou Jiamo, and asked with a solemn face: "What does Lord Zhou think about this matter?" ”

Glancing at Sun Chengzong, Zhou Jiamo put down the teacup and said with a smile: "In my opinion, it is nothing more than Huang Kezhang preparing for the expansion of the Criminal Department. I have to say that his reaction is faster than ours, which is admirable. ”

"What do you mean by this?" Sun Chengzong looked at Zhou Jiayu fixedly, and asked with some doubts. He really didn't understand the doorway.

"I don't know, Sun Ge really doesn't understand or is pretending to be unclear? But it doesn't matter, whether you really don't understand or pretend not to understand, since I'm here today, I'm going to say what I'm going to say. Zhou Jiamo smiled indifferently.

"Since Your Majesty began to use Xu Guangqi to enlighten them, the court has not stopped. Although they have not stopped, they have done things in a traceable way. First of all, the Ministry of Rites, Shen Tingyun made the Ministry of Rites, what did he promote? ”

"He made a fuss about the lectures, and he made a fuss about the Royal Academy. As a result, the power of the Ministry of Rites has increased greatly, and it is not only responsible for the imperial examination, but also in charge of the Royal Academy. ”

"If the Royal Academy can really work, then the Ministry of Rites will open it all over the Ming Dynasty and use it to replace the government schools and county schools at all levels. In this case, what is the Ministry of Rites? How much power will the Ministry of Rites have? ”

"In the past, it was said that the Ministry of Rites was in charge of the world's scholars, but we all knew how much water there was. If you really wait until the academy opens all over the Ming Dynasty, then the Ministry of Rites will really do this, and control the scholars in the world. ”

"At that time, what kind of power will the Ministry of Rites have? Coupled with the syllabus of the imperial examination this time, it will also be a place of destiny in the future. Although there was a lot of commotion this time, Huang Kezhang rushed to the front, but what about the future? ”

"In this world, there is a first and a second. Since the Ministry of Rites has changed the syllabus of the imperial examination once, it can be changed a second time; When the time comes, this will be the power of the Ministry of Rites. Since Shen Tingyun arrived at the Ministry of Rites, he has been expanding the power of the Ministry of Rites. ”

After Sun Chengzong heard this, his brows frowned tightly.

"Next, let's talk about the household department, through the affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the household department will set up a special yamen to manage merchants. The news has come out, Xu Guangqi is almost ready, he wants to build this yamen to the entire Ming Dynasty, every state and county, and it is not subject to local jurisdiction. Do you know what that means? "This means that the Household Department is also reaching underneath, and the Household Department is also expanding its power. In addition, Xu Guangqi is trying to grow crops, and there is also a hundred industrial institutes, and the power of the household department is also expanding rapidly. ”

"Since the two of them came to power, they are all actively expanding their power!"

Sun Chengzong looked at Zhou Jiamo seriously, he really didn't expect things to be able to think from this angle.

He hesitated slightly, because Sun Chengzong felt that this should not be true.

But what Zhou Jiamo said is very reasonable, and people can't believe it if they don't believe it.

Sun Chengzong asked with some hesitation: "Then Huang Kezhang is ......?"

"I call this behavior of Xu Guangqi and Shen Tingyun the Great Sixth Division, they want a bigger household department, a bigger ritual department; And now what Huang Kezhang wants is a big criminal department. ”

"Unlike the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Households, the Criminal Department has always been inconspicuous. If you want to establish a major criminal department, the first question to be solved is how to reach out? ”

So Huang Kezhang thought of Xunzi. Etiquette and law at the same time, this is the starting point and original intention of Huang Kezhang. ”

After hearing these words, Sun Chengzong didn't speak for a long time.

He had already begun to believe what Zhou Jiamo said, but he still said with some hesitation: "But where is Your Majesty?" ”

"Haven't you seen it yet? His Majesty doesn't believe in the previous one anymore, and His Majesty wants to see who can come up with something new. ”

"Facts have proved that Xu Guangqi and they can still do it, at least after Xu Guangqi took over the household department, he is indeed doing practical things. Whether it is the Baigong Institute or the cultivation of new crops, Xu Guangqi is doing it. ”

"As for the Ministry of Rites, it has also been doing practical things. The Royal Academy and the lectures seem insignificant, but they are a matter of partisanship. Although we didn't admit it before, it was a party dispute! ”

With the precedent of these two people in the past, Your Majesty is afraid that this time you will also agree with Huang Kezhang's statement. His Majesty wants to see what these people with new ideas will do. ”

Saying that, Zhou Jiamo turned to Sun Chengzong, wrinkled his brows and said, "The direction is already obvious. As far as I know, some people from the Metropolitan Procuratorate have already begun to write in support of Huang Kezhang. ”

"What that means, I think you know very well. Although it was Cui Chengxiu who wrote the book, they looked like Wei Zhongxian's people, but Yu Maoheng of the Metropolitan Procuratorate did not press them down, which proved one thing, that is, His Majesty was happy to see it. ”

"If my guess is correct, the next person to support Huang Kezhang should be Xu Guangqi and them. They want to do something new now, but some people don't want them to do it; In such a situation, they need to unite people who want to do new things, so Huang Kezhang and Xu Guangqi will quickly approach. ”

Listening to Zhou Jiamo's words, Sun Chengzong was silent.

He found one thing, he didn't seem to be suitable for officialdom.

After being an official for so many years, he has never thought or calculated so much. Now it seems that they are far behind, these people are really more shrewd than the other.

"Lord Zhou came to me today?" Sun Chengzong looked at Zhou Jiamo and asked.

"If we don't move, then we're the ones who will have an accident." Zhou Jiamo tapped lightly on the table, and then said: "Your Majesty wants to see new things, if we don't have new things to come out, then we don't have to stay in the court." Don't you think that Da Ming really needs something new? ”

Sun Chengzong looked at Zhou Jiamo and said with some hesitation: "Lord Zhou is talking about innovation? ”

"Since Your Majesty wants to see it, let's try it. Your Majesty is young now, he wants to do it, why can't those of us who are courtiers accompany us? The reason why I pulled you in is because I don't want you to leave the court. ”

"Everyone in this world wants to do things, but no one knows what they can do in the end. Xu Guangqi They are bold and have ideas, but I don't know if they will mess up. ”

"I hope they can do it, but if they mess up and turn the law for the people into a law that harms the people, then we can take care of it. Therefore we are to stay in the court and keep an eye on them. ”

"Then I don't know what Lord Zhou is going to do?" Sun Chengzong asked suspiciously.

"What our officials do is very simple, it is nothing more than the selection and management of officials. In terms of selection, there is a imperial examination, and we don't need to do anything, and now that Your Majesty has made the Royal Academy, we can't interfere. ”

"Then it can only be management. As for how to manage, don't think about it, just learn from your predecessors. ”

Listening to Zhou Jiamo's words, three words flashed in Sun Chengzong's mind.

He raised his head and looked at Zhou Jiamo, and said in disbelief: "Lord Zhou, what are you talking about?" ”

As soon as these three words came out, Sun Chengzong felt that his breathing was tight. These three words are too big and too sensitive!

You must know that the test method was implemented by Zhang Juzheng back then, how many people opposed it at that time?

Zhang Juzheng's final fate is not unrelated to the test method.

Now that Zhou Jiamo actually wants to use the test method, this news will definitely cause an uproar as soon as it comes out, and even Zhou Jiamo will become the target of public criticism.

So Sun Chengzong looked at him with some hesitation.

Glancing at Sun Chengzong, Zhou Jiamo said with a smile: "I am a twenty-five-year born in Jiajing, a Jinshi in Longqing for five years, and seventy-six this year. ”

"Folks often say that the loess is buried in half, and I am now buried to my neck. I don't know how long I'll live, maybe I'll die tomorrow. What am I afraid of at this time? ”

"Whatever is coming at me! I want to tell you today that if Your Majesty agrees with Huang Kezhang and agrees with me, then you will have to make a difference. ”

"I don't know much about the affairs of the military department, but Your Majesty has already asked Qi Jin to train the new army, so you should also understand. Do it, I hope we can keep an eye on them together, but we have to blend in with them first. When he said this, Zhou Jiamo smiled like an old fox, and at the same time like a naughty boy.

Sun Chengzong was a little silent.

He felt that what Zhou Jiamo said made sense, but he didn't feel that he should be like Zhou Jiamo said. He felt that he should have done more than just watched.

Sun Chengzong glanced at Zhou Jiamo and said, "I will enter the palace and ask Your Majesty." ”

After Zhou Jiamo heard this, he laughed directly.

He clapped his hands and said, "This is what you Sun Chengzong dare to say." But you're Your Majesty's teacher, so it's okay to ask, at least to reassure yourself. ”

"In that case, then I'll take my leave." Zhou Jiamo said with a smile.

"Then I'll send it to Lord Zhou." Sun Chengzong said with a smile.

After sending Zhou Jiamo out of the house, Sun Chengzong did not go back, but asked people to prepare a carriage, and he wanted to enter the palace.

In the West Garden.

Empress Zhang looked at Fang Zhenghua kneeling in front of her, and didn't let him stand up, just watched him kneel so quietly.

She raised her hand slightly, took a sip of the tea in her hand, and did not speak.

On Empress Zhang's side, Wang An stood respectfully.

There was some tension in the room, and no one knew what the queen was going to do.

You must know that in Daming, although the days are not long, everyone knows His Majesty's favor for this queen mother.

The ministers may be a little worse, but these eunuchs in the palace, they know what the status of the queen is.

If they offend the queen, what will happen to them, they know very well.

After a long time, Empress Zhang smiled lightly, slowly put down the teacup in her hand, and said softly: "My father is not an official material. Although he boasted that he would be an official, it was all his own thoughts. ”

"This is such a big stall in the Internal Affairs Office, you are helping to keep an eye on it, and you have worked hard." As she spoke, Empress Zhang turned her head to the palace people next to her and said, "Give some rewards." ”

So the palace man next to him hurriedly carried a tray and walked in front of Fang Zhenghua.

"Slave and maid, thank the queen for her reward." Fang Zhenghua hurriedly took the tray, and then respectfully lay on the ground and saluted.

Empress Zhang nodded with a smile and said, "In the Internal Affairs Mansion, it depends on you people to do things. My dad should be more patient with him, so that he doesn't make any big mistakes. When you do things, you should also be careful, after all, this is the royal internal affairs office, and it is not good for Your Majesty if something happens. ”

Although the reward was given, the queen's words still made Fang Zhenghua's heart bitter.

The meaning of the queen mother is already obvious, you let the prince take the blame, I won't say anything about this matter; But there is one thing you have to remember, you can't let the prince carry too big a pot.

To put it bluntly, you can't pit my father too hard; If you're going too far, then don't blame me for being unkind.

The rest means that you still have to work hard, and don't push everything on the head of the ruler; If that's the case, what are you slaves doing?

"Don't worry, the queen knows how to do it." Fang Zhenghua hurriedly said.

"Alright, then you can go." Empress Zhang smiled and waved her hand and said.

After Fang Zhenghua walked out, Empress Zhang sighed softly and said to Wang An beside her: "It's all dependent on the prince, you should keep an eye on the internal affairs office, don't let the prince suffer a big loss." ”

"Yes, Queen Mother, the old slave understands." Wang An hurriedly bowed down and said.

"There are everyone and everything in this palace, and I, a woman who has just entered the palace, still rely on you for many things. So you should also understand how to do it, I won't say anything more. Empress Zhang said with a smile: "Your Majesty sent you to my side, of course I have to trust." ”

"The kindness of the queen's mother, the old slave is grateful." Wang An hurriedly bowed down and said.

This is not a lie, he is indeed very grateful to Empress Zhang. If it weren't for Empress Zhang, his life in the palace would not be so easy.

Now everyone knows that he is the confidant of the queen's mother. The queen mother's status is so high now, and his status is naturally rising.

Empress Zhang waved her hand, turned her head and asked, "That Hu Fei is a British duke?" ”

Wang An hurriedly nodded and said, "It is indeed a British duke." ”

"Let the British duchess enter the palace tomorrow!" Empress Zhang stood up and said lightly: "Your kung fu is not short, go back, the Internal Affairs Office still wants you to keep an eye on it." ”

"The old slave understands." Wang An agreed, bowed down and said, "The slave has retired." ”

Lakeside, among the gazebos.

Zhu Youxiao was lying on a rocking chair, blowing the breeze, enjoying his leisure time.

Hearing the sound of footsteps from far and near, Zhu Youxiao didn't raise his eyelids. At this time, only Chen Hong dared to come over.

"Emperor, the queen mother asked Fang Zhenghua to go back. However, the queen mother let the British duchess into the palace. After Chen Hong said this, he stepped aside directly, and he didn't dare to say more.

He knew that although he was very trusted by the emperor, he could not compare with the queen's mother. If there is any conflict between the empress and the emperor because of themselves, the ministers will have to tear themselves apart.

So Chen Hong stepped aside directly, quietly waiting for his emperor to speak.

Now everyone in the palace knows that His Majesty and the Empress have a good relationship. Now the queen has no children, and when the queen gives birth to a son, the status will be different immediately.

The queen mother and the prince are an invincible combination in this harem. Because everyone knows that the son of the queen mother will one day be the prince and the emperor.

You offended the queen at this time, what will happen to you in the future?

When the time comes, when the new emperor ascends the throne, you will have nothing, how do you want to clean up You are not a word from the Queen Mother?

Therefore, the people in the palace are very cautious, and no one dares to offend Queen Zhang. At this time, no one is as powerful as Wei Zhongxian.

Zhu Youxiao shook the rocking chair gently, still didn't open his eyes, but said with a bit of a joke: "My queen is sensible, those people are good to knock and knock, so as not to know the severity." ”

"I let him go, and it's right that the Internal Affairs Office is under his control, but he can't be held responsible for everything. I'm still thinking about letting him work for a few more years! According to what they do, I'm afraid I won't be able to stay long. Even if the queen doesn't beat them, I will beat them, and now the queen can be regarded as beating for me. ”

Zhu Youxiao arranged for those people to go to the Internal Affairs Office, this is to let them do things, and they have to take responsibility for doing things.

Zhang Guoji, the national abbot, went to carry the big black cauldron for himself, the emperor, not to let them deduct any black cauldron on Zhang Guoji's body.

They don't take the responsibility themselves, and let Zhang Guoji take responsibility, which is what Zhu Youxiao doesn't want to see.

If Zhang Guoji is taken down now, Zhu Youxiao will not be able to find a suitable successor.

"The queen is doing a good job, open the inner library and let the queen pick something, and tell the queen to pick up what she likes." Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and motioned for Chen Hong to step back.

Chen Hong didn't dare to say a word, and stepped back.

He found one thing, everyone still underestimated the emperor's favor for the queen's mother.

Even if the queen mother did such a thing, the emperor not only did not blame, but also gave a reward, this time the reward was particularly heavy, directly opened the inner library for the queen to pick, and specially instructed the queen, you can pick whatever you like.

This kind of grace is almost the best of the six houses.

Well, it seems that the emperor only has two other women.

Chen Hong didn't dare to slack off, so he hurriedly went to Queen Zhang to deliver the decree.

After Chen Hong came back, he received another news: a post from Sun Chengzong, a cabinet scholar, came in and wanted to see the emperor.

So Chen Hong hurriedly sent the news to the emperor.

"Sun Chengzong is here?" Zhu Youxiao hesitated.

In fact, Zhu Youxiao didn't know what Sun Chengzong was going to do.

Since Sun Chengzong took office, he doesn't seem to have done anything, but it doesn't seem that he hasn't done anything.

At least Sun Chengzong quickly pacified the military department and let the military department run smoothly.

Although he didn't do anything, he actually did everything in the dark, which is also a kind of ability. However, Zhu Youxiao always felt that Sun Chengzong was more than successful, but not enterprising enough.

However, above the court, there must be such a minister after all. If it's all Xu Guangqi and Shen Tingyun, it will be troublesome.

Having a stable person in charge can avoid many things, which is also the place where Zhu You's great-grandson Chengzong is located.

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said, "Let Sun Chengzong come in." ”

"Yes, Emperor." After Chen Hong agreed, he hurriedly turned around and summoned Sun Chengzong.

It didn't take long for Zhu Youxiao to hear the sound of someone coming.

I saw Sun Chengzong kneeling directly on the ground and said, "Minister Sun Chengzong, see Your Majesty." ”

This frightened Zhu Youxiao, you must know that Sun Chengzong is his teacher, and now he is a cabinet scholar, he sees that he doesn't have to make such a big gift for a long time.

Today he made such a big gift, this is something!

Zhu Youxiao hurriedly stood up from the chair, walked over and picked up Sun Chengzong, and said comfortingly: "Sir, what is this doing?" But what did I do wrong? Sir, though, said bluntly. ”

Hearing that Zhu Youxiao called himself sir, Sun Chengzong's face was a little dazed, but he still hurriedly said: "Back to Your Majesty, the minister has something to ask Your Majesty." ”

"Don't say that, sir, it's me who asks sir. Sir has something to say, but it doesn't hurt to say it. Zhu Youxiao said gently: "Come on, Mr. sit down and say." ”

After speaking, Zhu Youxiao pulled Sun Chengzong to sit down, and then asked Chen Hong to serve tea to Sun Chengzong.