On the tenth day of September in the thirteenth year of Hongzhi, Beijing City, in the Forbidden City.

At this time, it was late autumn, and a cold snap suddenly hit Beijing, and the temperature plummeted. The Xiaoice period has begun in this era, and winter is getting earlier and colder every year. Even dog days weren't as hot as usual.

In the Forbidden City, a cold snap accompanied by a strong wind blew and the yellow leaves fell one after another. The eunuchs of the shrine began to sweep every corner of the palace early in the morning with brooms.

Today is the day of the mid-day holiday, but it is rare that Emperor Hongzhi, who does not need to have an early dynasty, still gets up early, which has formed a habit for him, no matter when he sleeps, as long as it is time, he will automatically wake up.

The bumpy experience when he was young made Emperor Hongji's health always bad. The eunuchs also knew that he often felt the wind and cold, and as soon as the cold snap came, they burned the fire in the East Warm Pavilion and waited for the emperor to arrive.

Emperor Hongzhi is like a never-ending spinning top, whether it is a working day or not, he will come to the East Warm Pavilion on time every morning and afterward.

In the Dongnuan Pavilion, several cabinet scholars often wait here early, and there is already a rare tacit understanding between the monarch and the minister.

There is no need for too much courtesy between the familiar monarchs and ministers, and Emperor Hongzhi sat down, with a tired look on his face. But when he raised his eyes and saw the elderly Li Dongyang, he couldn't help but say with concern: "Master Li, you are old, and your body is important." ”

Li Dongyang smiled bitterly: "The old minister is already old, so he is bent on discovering capable ministers for the imperial court." Recently, Liang Wensheng, the governor of Juzhou, has made a lot of reports, and since Liang Wensheng took office, Juzhou has changed a lot, and his political achievements are quite prominent. ”

Hongzhi pondered for a while, and then asked Li Dongyang: "I have some impressions of Liang Wensheng, who was transferred from Henan to Shandong this year, right?" ”

"Exactly, at that time, the governor of Juzhou left office last year, and the post of governor was vacant for more than a year, and bandits were rampant in the state. Because Sheng Wensheng made outstanding achievements in suppressing bandits in Yanjin, Henan, he was transferred to Juzhou by the Ministry of Officials. Li Dongyang said.

At this time, Liu Jian, the first assistant of the cabinet, said: "At that time, there were 50,000 or 60,000 people in Juzhou, the local financial difficulties, and banditry were rampant. ”

Xie Qian asked Liu Jian at this time: "Elder Liu Ge, I remember that Liang Wensheng was not born in Jinshi." ”

Liu Jian was unhappy on his face, and said to Liu Jian: "Yu Qiao, the size of this ability has nothing to do with whether or not he is a Jinshi. Many local officials with parents are from high backgrounds, and they still do a good job. ”

Liu Jian is a native of Henan, and of course he is not happy that someone picks an official who goes out from Henan.

"Liu Ge Lao misunderstood me, I mean that my dynasty attaches too much importance to history, but I don't know that this talent for the people and the world is also the foundation of the country. If Wang Shang hadn't advocated promotion at the beginning, he would still be an ordinary official, and his talent might have been buried. This is also the loss of our talents. Xie Qian hurriedly explained.

Emperor Hongzhi, who was sitting on the main seat, said with feeling: "Yes, Yu Qiao has a point. I am a scholar with science. However, scholars have become officials, and if they want to govern the world for me, they can't do anything by relying on the articles in the scriptures, and they must understand both the scriptures and history and the miscellaneous sciences, and there are very few such talents. ”

Li Dongyang said: "Your Majesty Shengming, I came today for this matter. The day before yesterday, our cabinet received a letter from Liang Wensheng. In the recital, he said that there was a lifelong student in Juzhou who wanted to establish a college called a vocational and technical college, which was not founded for the imperial examination. Instead, it specializes in cultivating professional and technical talents, and now the college has set up four majors: metallurgy, machinery, civil engineering, and finance and economics. In his recital, he asked the imperial court to give the students who graduated from the academy the treatment of students. ”

Emperor Hongzhi said: "Giving the treatment of the living is against the ancestral system." Did he give a reason? ”

Li Dongyang replied: "Liang Wensheng said in this compromise, the students who graduated from this academy will be assigned to various workshops in the state to serve as management positions in the future, or to serve as officials in various yamen in the state, and they are all technical personnel with professional knowledge. It has a huge role in promoting the development of people's livelihood in the state, so it is required to give students treatment. ”

Emperor Hongzhi couldn't make up his mind for a while: "Elder Liu Ge, what is your opinion?" ”

All three members of the cabinet had seen the recital, but they couldn't make up their minds on how to approve it. Liu Jian was also hesitant, and now, His Majesty asked, and he also

Had to answer. After thinking for a moment, he said: "This matter has never happened in ancient times, and it has never happened in our dynasty for more than 120 years. How to approve it, the old minister was also difficult to decide for a while. However, just now His Majesty said that the people needed to govern the world must not only understand the scriptures, but also be proficient in miscellaneous studies, and there are very few such talents. Lao Chen believes that the four majors studied in this vocational and technical college can be classified as miscellaneous studies. If we can find people who are familiar with the scriptures and are proficient in miscellaneous studies, and let them play a role in the miscellaneous studies that they are good at, won't we be able to make the best use of them? ”

Emperor Hongzhi replied: "Liu Ge Lao is reasonable, so you agree to Liang Wensheng's invitation?" ”

"Exactly."

Emperor Hongzhi looked at Li Dongyang and Xie Qian: "What about the two of you?" ”

Li Dongyang said: "I also agree with Liu Gelao's opinion. ”

Xie Qian replied: "Your Majesty, I think you can give it a try, but it will only be used as a pilot in Juzhou to see the after-effects, and it will be safer to make plans in the future." ”

Emperor Hongzhi said: "It is exactly what I want, so let's approve it according to Xie Ge Lao's opinion." ”

So the fate of the two hundred children was determined. It was this decision of Emperor Hongzhi that the enrollment of Juzhou Vocational and Technical College was extremely hot. It was also from this decision that the treatment of craftsmen in the Ming Dynasty began to slowly improve.

Li Dongyang said at this time: "Your Majesty, since Liang Wensheng took office in Juzhou, he has played four times, and each time the content of the report mentions a student of He Zhiyuan. The old minister was curious, so he sent someone to the official department to check the file of this student, and found that he was not even fifteen years old this year, and he was less than fourteen years old when he was admitted to the examination. The old minister thinks that this son will become a great talent in the future. ”

Emperor Hongzhi was very happy: "I remember that Yang Tinghe, the waiter of the East Palace, was a twelve-year-old middle lift, and if this son can be lifted next year, he will have a comparison with Yang Tinghe." Master Li, tell me how he is mentioned in the compromise? ”

Li Dongyang took out the fold and said: "In the first letter, Liang Wensheng said that he led the craftsman to invent a building material called cement, the bonding effect is comparable to glutinous rice, but the price is very low, and it is currently being verified. If the material could be as strong as it was for a long time, he suggested to the imperial court that it be popularized on a large scale. In this compromise, it was also said that the He family's workshop resettled more than 20,000 victims, which greatly saved the imperial court's relief food. In the second compromise, Liang Wensheng adopted his suggestion to suppress bandits, won a complete victory, and the bandits in Juzhou were eliminated in one fell swoop. ”

Emperor Hongzhi praised: "So this student is not only able to write and martial arts, but also good at miscellaneous learning, such a talent is not easy to find." What else do the other two memorabilia say? ”

Li Dongyang then replied: "The third and fourth letters were handed to the cabinet almost together. The third letter said that the founder of the vocational and technical college was also this He Zhiyuan. The fourth letter said that He Zhiyuan's Hejia Village now has six or seven workshops with a population of more than 20,000 people. In order to ensure the safety of the people, Liang Wensheng asked to build a city in Hejia Village. He Zhiyuan and the Zhou family used the method of auctioning the land in the city to raise more than two or three million taels of silver, and the city wall could be built without a tael of silver from the imperial court. ”

"Oh? In this way, this student surnamed He also knows how to manage money and do business. That's a well-rounded talent. Emperor Hongzhi was surprised.

Liu Jian, who has not spoken, said: "This son has done many great things at a young age, and he will definitely become a pillar of the country in the future." Is he ready to participate in next year's autumn festival? ”

Li Dongyang said: "Now the Ministry of Officials has not yet begun to count the students who will participate in the Autumn Festival next year, and it is not yet known. ”

Hongzhi said: "If this member of life is indeed as he said, if he doesn't win next year, he can't be used by my Ming Dynasty, it's a pity." ”

Xie Qian said: "If Your Majesty appreciates this person, then Your Majesty can give him the same Jinshi background, and he can completely serve the imperial court." ”

"Well, pay close attention to the movements of this life, and if there is any news about Juzhou in the future, you can report it directly to me."

Since then, Emperor Hongzhi has noticed He Zhiyuan, who is thousands of miles away.

After discussing this matter, Liu Jian said again: "Your Majesty, regarding the issue of Liang Wensheng asking for rewards for meritorious personnel who suppressed bandits, there is a person whose reward cabinet and the Ministry of War have different opinions, and it has not been decided, and I ask Your Majesty to make a decision. ”

"Liu Ge Lao will talk about the details specifically, since the matter involves the Ministry of War, Shang Ma Wensheng of the Propaganda Department will meet you."

In this interval, Liu Jian continued: "Liang Wensheng, the governor of Juzhou, asked Ding Zhuang to reward Ding Zhuang who served as a pioneer in the suppression of bandits

Captain Xu Tangyi is the deputy inspector of the Juzhou Inspection Division, and according to the usual example, this kind of military attache from the ninth can be approved. Ma Shang's opinion is different, he thinks that a civilian captain Ding Zhuang is so brave in battle, and now it is the time to employ people in the army, and his opinion is to reward him heavily. But there are many brave people among the people, and there are also many meritorious people, all of whom are rewarded according to the routine. ”

After a while, Ma Wensheng came to the Dongnuan Pavilion under the leadership of the eunuch. At this time, Ma Wensheng was seventy-five, but his spirit was already strong, and he couldn't see his old age. Emperor Hongzhi saw Ma Wensheng coming, and instructed the eunuchs: "Ma Shang is old, quickly find a soft seat." ”

After Ma Wensheng thanked him and sat down, Hongzhi asked: "Ma Shang, I heard that Liu Ge Lao said that you have different opinions on the reward of Xu Tangyi, the captain of Juzhou Minzhuang, and such a trivial matter is generally rewarded according to the routine. Marchand must have a hidden reason for insisting so much? ”

When Ma Wensheng saw that the emperor asked, he straightened out his thoughts and said slowly: "Your Majesty, this matter is a long story. When the old minister first saw this letter, he felt that the name Xu Tangyi was familiar. Later, someone was sent to investigate carefully, and it was gradually figured out. ”

After that, Ma Wensheng talked about an old thing.

In the eleventh year of Chenghua, Ma Wensheng served as the trilateral commander-in-chief, and Xu Tangyi was in the army at that time, leading a general banner of troops to often go deep into the grassland to inquire about the enemy's news. In a battle with the Gaslan Army, Ma Wensheng was besieged by the enemy, and Xu Tangyi led more than 50 of his subordinates to rescue Ma Wensheng from danger with the large army. It was in this rescue that Ma Wensheng met Xu Tangyi, who was only seventeen or eighteen years old at the time, and was quite impressed by him, and praised his courage and skill.

However, Ma Wensheng was transferred back to the capital after only half a year as the general manager of the trilateral system, and he never met again after that, and gradually lost contact.

Until the twentieth year of Chenghua, Anton Wei reported that more than a dozen officers and soldiers were killed for fleeing, and Xu Tangyi was in the list at that time. At this time, Ma Wensheng was the governor of Liaodong and had no time to take care of this matter, but he also regretted Xu Tangyi's matter.

In the sixth year of Hongzhi, Anton Wei commanded the smuggling of Chen Hui with the knowledge of the incident, and ten generals in Anton Wei were involved, and later someone confessed that the officers and soldiers fled seven years ago, in fact, a low-level officer found out about Chen Hui's smuggling and smuggling, and found an excuse to kill him, but at that time, the two families of Qian Yue and Xu Tangyi got the news in advance, and they escaped without a trace.

Later, after Ma Wensheng learned about the report of the governor of Juzhou, he remembered this matter, so there was a disagreement with the cabinet. During this period, he sent someone to visit Xu Tangyi in Juzhou secretly, and painted a portrait for Ma Wensheng to observe carefully, and finally confirmed that this person was the one who did not accept Xu Tangyi 25 years ago.

Everyone was moved by Ma Wensheng's recounting of the matter. I can't imagine that a junior officer would suffer such a great injustice because of the persecution of his superiors. And for it, he almost took the life of a family.

Liu Jian no longer insisted on awarding rewards as usual at this time, so he asked Ma Wensheng: "Brother Negative Tu, I didn't expect you to have such a relationship with this person." That being the case, deserves to be rewarded. ”

Hongzhi said to Ma Wensheng: "Ma Shang, do you think how to reward the appropriate?" ”

Ma Wensheng stood up and bowed and saluted: "Your Majesty, the old minister thinks that thousands of households should be rewarded." ”

"A thousand households?" All three cabinet members were taken aback. From a private husband, suddenly rose to five thousand households, it can be said that it is unique since the founding of the Ming Dynasty.

Hongji also felt that this reward was too big, and was quite surprised.

Ma Wensheng continued: "The old minister checked his resume, in the eleventh year of Chenghua, he did not accept the general flag at night, and he was in seven official positions, and in the twenty years of Chenghua, he was the official position of one hundred households, and he was six. His escape was the result of persecution by the traitors, and he was not at fault. Now he is the leader in the suppression of bandits, as a strong man and a horse, and has made great contributions, and should be promoted to a thousand households. Your Majesty, the old minister also believes that the mountains of Ma Qi Mountain are continuous, and there are many bandits in the mountains. In order to protect the local people, a thousand households should be set up in Ma Qi Mountain, which is subordinate to Anton Wei, and it is appropriate for Xu Tangyi to serve as one thousand households. ”

Emperor Hongzhi asked the three ministers: "I don't know what the cabinet's opinion is?" ”

Liu Jian, as the first assistant of the cabinet, first said: "The old minister thinks it is appropriate. Nowadays, Hejia Town, Juzhou has become an important commercial town on the main road between Nanzhili and Shandong, and there should be a thousand households guarding the side. ”

Li Dongyang and Xie Qian saw that Lord Shoufu agreed, so naturally they would not object again. So the matter was settled.

(End of chapter)

The little people of the Ming Dynasty

The little people of the Ming Dynasty

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