"The minister is stupid, I don't know what His Majesty means?" Zhu Fangyuan's heart trembled and asked.

"What I mean is that North Korea follows the example of the Ming Dynasty and sets up meritorious examinations such as showmanship and promotion, and sets up examinations such as county examinations, government examinations, hospital examinations, township examinations, general examinations and palace examinations, and selects talents from the common people to serve you."

"Your Majesty, my North Korean country is a small country, with a population of only one million, how can I implement such a multi-level imperial examination?"

"That's right. I remember that the territory of Korea was divided into two levels, the province was the first level, and its subordinate prefectures, pastoralists, counties, and counties were juxtaposed. What to do with setting up so many juxtaposed yamen, it is better to simplify it to two levels of counties and counties, and the local government offices in the country are divided into three levels. Yoon-hee made an impromptu decision to point fingers at the local government in North Korea.

After saying this, Yun Xi went on to say about the imperial examination: "In the future, the DPRK can implement two-level examinations in the county examination and the prefectural examination at the local level. Academicians in North Korea are like Jinshi of the Ming Dynasty, and they are appointed to serve the government. ”

"I also know that there is no precedent for North Korea to implement such a complete imperial examination system, so I can send officials from the Ministry of Rites to help North Korea reform the new imperial examination system."

Listening to Yun Xi's words, Zhu Fangyuan fell into deep thought.

Wang Xi was surprised in his heart: "Although the official family said it casually and casually, Zhu Fangyuan, the king of Joseon, was far from a dull person, and he must be able to hear that the official family had the intention of interfering in North Korea, why did he ponder?" ’

Wang Xi was puzzled. With his experience, it can be seen that Zhu Fangyuan is very wary of Daming's interference in North Korea, but why didn't he immediately refuse after hearing this?

The reason why he was so puzzled was that he did not know the situation in North Korea. Although North Korea is known as Little China, advocating Confucianism in China, there are also two schools of Buddhism and Taoism, and the imperial examination system has also been established, but the essence of the regime is completely different from that of the Ming Dynasty.

The great families in Korea are very powerful, and the royal power cannot completely suppress the big families, so both Goryeo and Lee Joseon can only compromise with the scholars for the sake of political stability, and the imperial examination system has matured and implemented the same system as the nine-rank Zhongzheng system in the Wei and Jin dynasties. In this respect, Annam is better than Korea, and the system of Korea is approximately equal to that of the Wei and Jin dynasties, and Annam's is approximately equal to that of the Sui and Tang dynasties.

Naturally, both the kings of Goryeo and the Yi dynasty were not satisfied with this, and they have been trying to find various ways to limit the power of the scholars, but they have not been able to achieve it.

But now that the Ming Dynasty wants to meddle in the imperial examination system, the situation has changed. Zhu Fangyuan can completely use the strength of the Ming Dynasty to deal with the domestic scholars in this matter, if the domestic scholars accuse him of breaking the rules, he can blame the officials sent by the Ming Dynasty, even if the people of the scholar clan know that he is shirking responsibility, they are helpless.

Theoretically, there was a Ming Dynasty that used this to collude with the scholars in North Korea to suppress Zhu Fangyuan, but after thinking about it, he felt that it was impossible. Colluding with the scholars can only be a scientific expedition fraud, and it is not easy to cheat under his nose, and if it is exposed, it will be ruined, and it will also damage the reputation of the Ming Dynasty.

Of course, Daming will also increase his influence in North Korea as a result, which is both good and bad for him. So Zhu Fangyuan fell into deep thought.

Zhu Fangyuan was thinking about whether the disadvantages outweighed the advantages or the advantages outweighed the disadvantages, Huang Lu walked in with a bowl in his hand, and said softly to Yunxi: "Your Majesty, the medicine boiled for His Royal Highness has been cured." ”

Yun Xi took the bowl and said to Zhu Fangyuan: "Brother Fangyuan, the boiled medicine is already good, Brother Fangyuan drink it while it's hot." As he spoke, he stood up and walked to Zhu Fangyuan's side.

Zhu Fangyuan hurriedly took the bowl from Yun Xi's hand, thanked Yun Xi, and drank the medicine with his head up. Yun Xi handed over another bag of medicinal herbs: "This is the medicine prescribed for you by Imperial Doctor Zhang of Shicaitai Hospital, a total of three pairs, two pairs of today and tomorrow. After you go back, let your subordinates boil it, and the next morning, I will ask Imperial Doctor Zhang to go to the Qin Palace, and then check your pulse. ”

"Your Majesty is gracious, and the ministers are inscribed." Zhu Fangyuan said. He was a little moved.

Maybe it was this touch that played a role, or maybe Zhu Fangyuan thought that the advantages outweighed the disadvantages, and he finally agreed to the matter, saying: "Compared with the Ming Dynasty, the system of the imperial examination in my North Korea is still simple, and His Majesty is willing to send a minister to help me make it complete, and the minister is naturally willing." ”

"Okay." Yun Xi had a smile on his face: "I will definitely send the minister who is the best at this." ”

decided on this matter, Zhu Fangyuan seemed to be a lot more relaxed, Yun Xi also looked relaxed, didn't say anything serious, and invited him to have lunch together, Zhu Fangyuan happily agreed.

During the meal, they talked about some strange things and discussed the handling of some political affairs, and they were very happy.

As they spoke, they talked about the education of their children. Yun Xi said: "Brother Fang Yuan, in order to teach the children of the royal family, I have worked hard. Even if I discipline me so strictly, there are not many people who are evil, but there are only two or three out of ten diligent people, and the rest are lying on the hereditary title. ”

"I'm just the same in North Korea." Zhu Fangyuan also said: "Since my father came to be the king, the younger brothers and nephews of these ministers who were born in the future are much slack compared to us, and no matter how the ministers are rectified, they will not dare to be evil, and there are very few people who may become pillars." ”

The patriarchs of the two respective families talked about this for a while, and finally came to an agreement: "They must be demanded harshly, and a statute must be made, and if they are violated, they will be punished severely, and those who are diligent will be rewarded." ”

Speaking of the education of his children, Yun Xi asked, "Brother Fang Yuan, your eldest son, I remember that he is already twelve years old this year. ”

"Your Majesty, the eldest son of the minister, Zhu Zhen, was born in the twenty-seventh year of Hongwu and is twelve years old this year."

"It's good that you, since the eldest son is a concubine, you don't have to worry about anything. What books has Zhu Zhen read now? ”

"However, I have already read the four books and am about to study the Pentateuch. The minister also ordered someone to teach him martial arts and military strategy, and wished him to become a person who is both civil and military. Hearing Yunxi mention his son, Zhu Fangyuan couldn't help but say.

"I heard that there are also great Confucians in North Korea, but let the great Confucians of North Korea teach Zhu Zhen to read?"

"Nature." Zhu Fangyuan replied: "Although my country is small and weak, there are also a few great Confucians, and the minister invited all of them to the palace to teach the minister's son. ”

"I have an idea, Brother Fang Yuan listens to it. I want to invite the great Confucians of the Ming Dynasty, Korea, Fusang and other countries to the capital to exchange knowledge, what do you think? The so-called learning, not only to learn but also to ask, all the great Confucians together to exchange knowledge, perhaps in the exchange of obscure places by everyone to be analyzed, so that Confucianism closer to the original intention of Confucius. What does Brother Fang Yuan think? Yun Xi said suddenly.

"It's a good thing. I wonder when His Majesty will gather the great Confucians of the world to exchange knowledge together? The minister will definitely let the great Confucians in the country come to the capital. Zhu Fangyuan was actually not very interested in this, and instinctively felt that Yun Xi had another purpose, but he had no reason to refuse, so he could only agree.

Yun Xi smiled and said, "This matter has not been told to the envoys of other countries, and I will decide the time after I have talked to them." ”

"If the date is set, you must send someone to North Korea to inform the minister."

"Definitely."

Speaking of which, the meal had already been eaten, and Zhu Fangyuan got up to leave. Yun Xi sent him to Qianqingmen, and arranged the warmest carriage to send him back. When Zhu Fangyuan's carriage disappeared, Yun Xi withdrew his gaze and returned to the Qianqing Palace.

Huang Lu couldn't help but persuade: "Official, even if Zhu Fangyuan is the prince, His Majesty's etiquette to him is too much. ”

Yun Xi didn't answer, just stood at the Qianqing Gate and seemed to be looking at the carriage in the distance, but he was actually thinking about something. Huang Lu saw that Yunxi didn't speak, and didn't even react at all, thinking that he didn't hear it, and was about to say more, Wang Xi hurriedly stopped him.

Wang Xi actually felt that Yun Xi's treatment of the Korean king Zhu Fangyuan was a bit high, but he knew Yun Xi's purpose, so he stopped Huang Lu. Seeing this, Huang Lu understood that the emperor should have his own plans, so he didn't dare to speak again.

After Yunxi returned to the Qianqing Palace, he instructed Wang Xi: "You call Qin Song immediately." ”

Wang Xi took the order. After a while, Qin Song walked into the side hall and bowed, "The minister has seen Your Majesty." ”

"Sit." Yoon-hee gestured to the spot beside him.

Qin Song hesitated, bowed again, and sat next to Yun Xi.

"Qin Aiqing, for the Chinese New Year, I didn't want to announce your entry into the palace. But this matter is very important, and after the New Year, I will be busy with the expedition to the northwest, and I am afraid that I will forget, so I will now call you into the palace to explain. ”

"The minister is a Beijing official, and he also has a rest day on weekdays to accompany his parents, wife and children at home, and the New Year's Day is not much different from the past in the minister's opinion, and His Majesty can tell the minister if he has something." Qin Song said.

Yun Xi knows him very well, and he doesn't talk nonsense: "Is there anyone who is proficient in Confucianism in Jinyiwei now?" ”

"Your Majesty, there is a lifter in the hands of the minister, and he is good at Confucianism."

"That's good. You asked him to read the Confucian classics more diligently this year. Next year or the year after that, I will convene the great Confucians of the world to discuss Confucianism in the capital, and I will use him when the time comes. ”

The main purpose of Yun Xi's proposal to convene the 'Confucianism Conference of the World' was to unify the Confucianism of various countries that advocated Confucianism, to infiltrate them ideologically, and to make the elites of each country similar to the elite ideas of the Ming Dynasty, so as to bring them closer to the Ming Dynasty and even prepare for the reduction of resistance in the event of annexation in the future.

There is also a small purpose for targeting North Korea. Li Fangyuan is now very wary of the Ming Dynasty, and it is not easy to infiltrate North Korea; But Zhu Fangyuan is going to die after all, in order to speed up the infiltration of North Korea after his death, it is necessary to make the future monarch of North Korea admire Daming now, and not be as vigilant as his father.

Yun Xi originally wanted Zhu Fangyuan to let Zhu Zhen come to the capital of the Ming Dynasty to study, or send the Great Confucian to Seoul to teach him, but after thinking about it, he felt that Zhu Fangyuan would never agree, so he decided to use a roundabout way to achieve his goal.