Click......

The horses' hooves galloped out on the sturdy road, and this was the tenth wave of the day. Before the chaos in Beijing was over, Zhang Ke issued an order in the name of "protecting the country", requiring all localities to guard the territory, not to make mistakes, and everything to go according to plan. In addition, Zhang Ke promulgated two decrees, the first of which is called the "Xingxue Order".

All states and counties must set up state schools and county schools, with a quota of not less than 3,000 students in each state school and 2,000 county schools, divided into elementary classes and advanced classes, and the primary classes are open to all students, as long as they pass the basic test, they can be enrolled. The advanced class is aimed at old children and talents who have a certain foundation. Allowances are provided for both beginner and advanced classes.

The Ming Dynasty has long had a county school system, but the number of people is limited, at most more than 100 people, Zhang Ke has expanded dozens of times at once, for the average small county town, as long as you read a little book, you can go to school.

China has always paid attention to learning and excellence, and studying to become an official is the best shortcut to the end of the glory of the ancestors, and if you read well, you can change your fate. At the same time, Europe did not dare to imagine that they were still feudal lords, and as for the Americas, there were Indians running after bison everywhere, let alone studying.

As the saying goes, as long as you can learn and have a way to improve, people's hearts will be stable.

And Zhang Ke's second order was even more ecstatic.

From next year, that is, from the Yellow Emperor 4336, for three consecutive years, Enke will be added to recruit talents. The number of students admitted to each subject is tentatively set at 1,000, and if the grades are excellent, it can be appropriately relaxed.

This order goes down. All the readers are boiling, and the Ming Dynasty will take the exam once every three years, and there are only three or four hundred people in each subject. How many people have boiled their hair white. exhausted his hard work, from a young man, to the gray temples, and he couldn't even pass the exam. In later generations, Fan Jin, who was like a clown, was placed in the Ming Dynasty, and he was the lucky one favored by God, which shows the difficulty of the imperial examination. It's hard to get to the sky.

Zhang Ke held three Enke sessions in a row, and the number of admitted students increased by three times, and the difficulty of Zhongjinshi dropped by more than ten times at once. When he heard the news, the student knelt on the ground and wept bitterly, like a cuckoo crying blood.

In the last second, he was still scolding the rebel for being shameless. The students who wanted to raise troops to denounce them praised the new monarch for his wisdom and benevolence. As soon as he turned his head, he ran to the house, holding the book and working frantically. God-given opportunity, if you don't seize it, it's simply intolerable!

Who still has the heart to care about the Ming Dynasty, if Emperor Zhu has Emperor Zhang's generosity, where will he lose the country.

The two orders went down, and all the people who were about to move fell silent. Don't look at it, it is often said that Xiucai rebelled for three years. But the truly successful rebellion is inseparable from the scholars. For example, Liu Bang has Zhang Liang and Xiao He, and Zhu Yuanzhang is also assisted by Li Shanchang and Liu Ji. As for poor Li Zicheng, he could only get Song Xiance and Niu Jinxing, who pretended to be ghosts, but he couldn't sit still after defeating the capital.

Without the incitement of scholars, the local gentry would not be able to make trouble, and the local heroes would not make any efforts, even if those loyal ministers and filial sons who had the heart to be diligent and wanted to avenge Chongzhen, at most they just shouted at two voices, put on filial piety clothes, carried a mourning stick, and ran on the street to play performance art.

threw out two orders, and Zhang Ke's mental head was placed on restoring order in the capital. After more than two days of chaos, the soldiers who participated in the rebellion were basically killed, and the remnants were captured. The leader of the main troops, Xu Hongji, the Duke of Wei, had a broken arm and was dying when he was captured.

As for Yuan Chonghuan, he was very fierce, slashed two soldiers, was tripped and fell, and became a prisoner under the stairs. Yuan Chonghuan is a gambler, and after being arrested, he simply went crazy when he knew that he had completely lost the gamble.

first yelled and screamed for three days, and then sat in the prison without saying a word, when the jailer thought he was dead, he took a closer look, and the pungent stench almost made him vomit.

At this time, the losses in the capital were roughly calculated, with more than 23,000 rebels killed, more than 30,000 people killed, more than 5,000 houses burned, and a large number of people displaced.

Since the brawl radiated from the Forbidden City, the people living in the outer city were not affected much, and Zhang Ke's hope for the basic preservation of the capital was still achieved.

But he couldn't turn a blind eye to the homeless people, and Zhang Ke ordered that the military camps in the capital and the remnants of the rebellious aristocratic mansions were all confiscated and distributed to the people.

And Zhang Ke also made an unprecedented decision, he opened the three major halls of the Forbidden City, set up tents in the open space, and resettled the people.

The mysterious Forbidden City was opened to the common people, a move that simply frightened everyone.

Not to mention ordinary people, even the generals under Zhang Ke can't stand it.

Under Shen Yue's prodding, Zhang Feng and Qiao Fu came to the door with dozens of people. Just kidding, the imperial city has been inhabited by the emperor since ancient times, how can the common people live in it, and whether there are rules or not, whether it is decent or not.

They had just rushed in, but they were stunned to see a few old men accompanying Zhang Ke. The leader is Hong Fuyi, and the rest are Li Zhizao, Yang Tingyun, and even Zhang Zongheng and Zhou Tingru, the first assistant who has just surrendered.

"Confucianism does not pay attention to the people, the community is secondary, and the monarch is light. What's more, I'm not the emperor yet, so there's nothing wrong with letting the Forbidden City out. ”

Zhang Zongheng hurriedly said: "What Your Majesty said is extremely true, but the three major halls are the places where the court meeting is held, if there is a group of people eating, drinking and Lazar on the side, it is really indecent!" ”

"It's not just indecent, it's just insulting to the majesty of the saint, the old minister thinks that His Majesty has the heart to love the people, and he doesn't have to be so demanding of himself, he has wronged His Majesty, and he has also wronged his ministers." Li Zhizao said with a calm face.

Zhang Ke smiled: "What everyone said makes sense, but I never thought of living in the Forbidden City." ”

"Shenma?"

Zhang Feng, who had just walked in, rushed in front of Zhang Ke in a few steps, as if he couldn't believe his ears.

"Yongzhen, if you are the emperor, why don't you live in the Forbidden City?"

"Is the Forbidden City good?" Zhang Ke asked rhetorically: "In Zhu Ming's three hundred years of rivers and mountains, how many grievances have been buried in a Forbidden City. Under the rows of eaves, there were dead people everywhere, and resentment everywhere. For almost a hundred years. The heirs of the Ming royal family are difficult, and it has been proven that the Forbidden City is not suitable for living. I have already made up my mind, even if I am officially proclaimed emperor, I will never live in the Forbidden City? ”

"So, where are you going to stay?"

"Xiyuan!" Zhang Ke gently spit out two words.

The so-called West Garden is the Taiye Pond, the royal garden. It is a place for the emperors of the Ming Dynasty to rest and play, and there is a more resounding name in later generations, called Zhongnanhai!

than layered. In the Forbidden City, which is full of oppression, the West Garden is more relaxed and more casual, which is very much in line with Zhang Ke's taste.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Since then, I have been working in Xiyuan. Then set aside a special area for the cabinet, and no matter how many rules there are, they must be changed. It was too hard for everyone to climb the Five Classics in the middle of the night, and the regular meeting of the Imperial Assembly was scheduled for the afternoon, and I asked people to arrange a conference room, and everyone sat down and discussed, just like when they were in Liaodong. I don't arrange eunuchs in Xiyuan, and I leave the chores to the female officials. Over fifteen years of age and over twenty-five years of age. You can get out of the palace. Don't delay them getting married and having children, what do you think? ”

Zhang Ke didn't say much, but the amount of information was amazing!

Not to mention a few experienced old men, even the younger brothers are dumbfounded.

Don't live in the palace, sit and talk, don't set up eunuchs, and change the court meeting to the afternoon, all of which subvert everyone's perception of the emperor, Qiao Fu held back a sentence for a long time: "Brother Ke, do you still want to be the emperor?" ”

Zhang Ke stood up from his seat, walked to the middle of everyone, and patted everyone's shoulders with a smile.

"I know everyone's thoughts, but I just ended a dynasty with my own hands, should I repeat the mistakes of the past?" Zhang Ke smiled meaningfully: "Lao Tzu's country was defeated, relying on the support of the people, relying on you to charge into battle, not bullshit destiny, I have a father and a mother, let alone the son of God, Zhang Ke can't do this kind of thing." In the past, emperors said that they were ordered by heaven, purely to put gold on their faces. I am commanded by the people, to rule the world for all the people, and to make profits for all the people. The eunuch's castration of the body is just to satisfy the selfish desires of the emperor alone, how cruel it is, I disdain it and can't bear to do it. ”

"Your Majesty is merciful!"

As soon as the words fell, Yang Tingyun took the lead in kneeling on the ground, the old man's beard was gray, and his cheeks were covered with spots, but at this time, tears were surging, and he was smiling, like a happy child, and kept calling in his mouth: "The Holy Monarch has come to the world, the Holy Monarch has come to the world!" ”

It is not surprising that Lao Yang reacted like this, he was a scholar of the mind, and the idea of the reality of the hypocrite had already appeared in the ideological circles of the late Ming Dynasty. Wishing to limit imperial power.

Under the etiquette of the Three Principles and Five Constants, the only exception is the emperor, who is not restricted in any way. The emperor is not restricted, the eunuchs who represent the emperor are not restricted, those vassal kings who are all over the country are not restricted, and those ministers who are favored by the emperor can do whatever they want.

The embankment of thousands of miles was destroyed in the anthill, and the whole line collapsed after breaking a little.

Everything is in the emperor's thoughts, and the probability of a good emperor is really not high, in order to deal with the emperor, the ministers form a party for personal gain, dump each other, and the party fights against each other. The result of the endless struggle is that the policy of benefiting the country and the people cannot be implemented, and the national situation that is declining cannot be reversed.

Zhang Ke has promoted new ideas in the name of Xinxue over the years, but when he really became the emperor, everyone was not sure whether he could be as he preached, after all, power was too tempting.

Until today, everyone is completely relieved that Zhang Ke has not only fulfilled his promise, but also greatly exceeded it. As the emperor's master, Hong Fuyi took Zhang Ke's hand and was reluctant to let go for a long time.

"Yongzhen, I'm so happy for my teacher, I'm so happy!"

This night was destined to be sleepless, Zhang Ke gathered all his cronies, including Zhou Tingru, Qian Qianyi, and Ruan Dacheng to surrender to the officials, after all, they had been in the center for a long time and were familiar with the operation of the bureaucratic system.

Zhang Ke and the others kept arguing, and finally decided on the political structure.

The "protector of the country" has all the powers, and a cabinet is set up under it, and the head and auxiliary are changed to the prime minister, and the cabinet members are five to seven, assisting the protector of the country, and the general consul is a hundred officials.

At the same level as the Cabinet, the Privy Council was set up, which was in charge of army recruitment, training, general selection, promotion, and foreign warfare. Promote the Metropolitan Procuratorate to the Imperial Historical Observatory, overseeing and supervising hundreds of officials, and reviewing government decrees.

Under the Cabinet, the original six ministries were reorganized, and new ministries were set up, including civil affairs, finance, agriculture and forestry, trade, public security, armaments, construction, legal affairs, education, public health, and organization.

All major matters are convened by the Cabinet and attended by various ministries to jointly discuss and formulate, and if the matter is of great importance, it is necessary to convene the Imperial Observatory and the Privy Council, and convene a pre-imperial meeting to determine.

At the local level, the governor and governor were permanent officials, the governor was in charge of the military, and the governor was in charge of civil affairs.

As soon as Zhang Ke's idea was proposed, everyone present was in an uproar, especially Hong Fu, whose head shook like a rattle.

"Yongzhen, this is not good, the old man will never agree! According to your practice, the number of officials in the world will increase at least tenfold, and the number of departments in the capital alone will be multiplied. So many officials do not produce and rely on the people to provide for them, so there is no need to talk about lightly paying for them. The redundant officials of the Song Dynasty wasted money and grain, and the kings of the Ming Dynasty were everywhere, and Yin Jian was not far away! ”

Hong Fu had just finished speaking, but Shen Yue didn't think so.

"Lord Hong, what you said is good, but I can't help but ask, the Ming Dynasty lightly punished the poor, did the people live and work in peace and contentment? To set up hundreds of officials is not only to enjoy the support of the people, but also to do things for the people. Your Majesty's new official system is simple and clear, each ministry is responsible for a share, summarizing the cabinet, and above the cabinet is the imperial council, which is responsible at all levels, and the power is clear. How about spending some taxes on the responsibilities of the officials? ”

"Humph!" Hong Fu snorted, still disagreeing,

Zhang Ke said with a smile: "Teacher, in addition to designing the official system, I also have to determine a principle, that is, the minority obeys the majority. All decrees shall be voted on by the Cabinet after full discussion. Today, the two factions might as well argue for a while, and then everyone votes by a show of hands. ”

After Zhang Ke finished speaking, Zhu Qingbin spoke first, and he also strongly supported Zhang Ke's new official system.

"Mr. Hong, today's world is different from before, business is prosperous, taxes are complicated, the army is expanding, there are many things to deal with internally and externally, and the original six departments alone are not enough, and we can't give up the mission for the sake of a reputation of light and meager endowment. Cover your eyes and don't look, the problem is still there, we can't fool ourselves! ”

His words immediately detonated the discussion, and all parties joined in, even Qiao Fu and they talked about their opinions based on their own experiences, and they made trouble until dawn, everyone was blushing and thick-necked, and their mouths were dry, and finally Zhang Ke offered a proposal for a vote.

The supporters raised their hands one after another, and after counting, a total of twenty-two votes in favor and twelve votes against, Qian Qianyi and Ruan Dacheng gave up.

Thus was born the first bill voted on. When everyone walked out of the conference room, the eastern sky was red, the sun jumped out from below the horizon, the earth was bathed in the morning sun, and everyone was plated with a layer of gold.

"It's different, it's really different! The scholars and kings ruled the world together, and the ideal of the sages was finally realized! ”

Hong Shiki was not discouraged by the failure of the vote in the slightest, on the contrary, the old man was in high spirits and geared up, wanting to do a big job. After several days of discussions, the official system was decided, and the candidates for the first cabinet were also finalized.

The prime minister fell on Wang Huazhen, Li Zhizao and Hong Fuyi entered the cabinet at the same time, in addition to Cui Chengxiu, Xiong Hui, Wang Duowen and Zhang Zongheng, seven auxiliary political university scholars. The Imperial Observatory fell into the hands of Yang Tingyun, and the Privy Council was headed by Lu Xiangsheng.

The rest of the books are all merit-based, and for a time the new dynasty is full of talents and a new atmosphere.

As for the temporary vacancies of many subordinate officials, it is necessary to wait until Enke to recruit new people to fill them.

Reform was underway, and some people had to deal with it, and the newly established Imperial Historical Observatory and the Ministry of Justice jointly investigated and handled the case of the riots in the capital, and soon gave an official conclusion.

Emperor Chongzhen responded to the people and took the initiative to hand over the throne, which should be rewarded. Helplessly, some down-and-out nobles, frustrated bureaucrats, and gentry who were dissatisfied with the new dynasty colluded to imprison Emperor Chongzhen, causing him to die in the deep palace. Impersonation, assassination of the protector of the country, brutalization of the minister's people, burning countless houses in the capital, tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians lost their lives, the crime is monstrous, and it is difficult to write about it......

After the decision of the imperial meeting, the first offenders Xu Hongji and Yuan Chonghuan were all Ling Chi, and the remaining more than 20 officials and eunuchs were beheaded, and hundreds of people were beheaded.

In fact, Xu Hongji had died of illness before the execution, and Yuan Chonghuan was the only one who enjoyed a thousand cuts, and he also became the last person recorded in historical records! It can be regarded as fulfilling his desire to be famous in history. (To be continued......)