Estuary Pier.

Fei Yuanlu personally opened the hatch and said earnestly: "Inspector Cai, please go ashore!" ”

Cai Maode was very modest and said with a smile: "Don't dare to be, the young and the old are orderly, and the seniors will be invited first." ”

Tixue Dao, also known as: school inspector, school administration.

If it is filled by the deputy envoy of the inspection, it is called "deputy envoy of education". If it is filled by the inspector, it is called "learning and learning".

These various titles actually refer to the same official position - the director of the provincial education department.

Cai Maode, as a Jiangxi scholar, has been hated by people in recent years. Because he is not greedy for money, and the imperial examination does not allow cheating, many rich children are not allowed to buy fame and fame with money.

Moreover, this person is haunted, and with only one long-term entourage, he dares to run around Jiangxi and secretly investigate the study style of various states and counties.

A few days ago, I came to Lead Mountain, visited the county school for a long time, and finally recognized him by Xiucai. Zheng Lun, the new magistrate of the county, hurriedly ran to serve, but as a result, he pounced, and Cai Maode gave up his illness with his condolences.

"Outstanding people, Hanzhu Mountain is really good." Cai Maode looks at the mountain road from afar.

Fei Yuanlu hurriedly said: "There is still a lack of Confucianism to teach, if the superintendent can teach in the mountains, the scholars will definitely make great progress." ”

Cai Maode smiled: "Hanzhu Mountain is full of culture, I am just an axe." ”

The two walked in pairs, followed by several others.

One of them, with a sturdy physique, hung a long sword at his waist and carried a bookcase, seemed to be Cai Maode's personal companion.

On the way up the mountain, Cai Maode suddenly asked: "How did the students of Hanzhu Academy react to the cancellation of the preferential exemption by the imperial court?" ”

Fei Yuanlu replied: "The dynasty has treated scholars favorably for more than 200 years, and now Taicang is short of money and food, and the scholars should share their worries for the country. ”

The answer was not asked, and Cai Maode was too lazy to ask again.

When I came to the entrance of the academy, there was a piece of paper pasted on the courtyard wall next to the door.

Cai Maode walked over to check, and suddenly had a strange expression, and asked: "People in the world are born equal, which Confucian masterpiece of the academy is this?" ”

Fei Yuanlu replied: "The actions of an arrogant child have already aroused public outrage. The court is not guilty of words, and the academy should be the same. The old man plans to hold a debate tomorrow so that the boy can debate with the teachers and students of the college. If he fails, he is to be ordered to make amends, and there must be no more strange remarks. If he can refute the teachers and students of the school, he is a prodigy and the like, and he can let it develop. ”

"This method is very good, I should take a look." Cai Maode was intrigued.

Fei Yuanlu was waiting for this sentence, and immediately hit the snake with a stick: "Although this matter is absurd, it is really rare, can the inspector write an essay to remember it?" ”

Cai Maode turned around abruptly and stared at Fei Yuanlu with a smile.

Fei Yuanlu was more than twenty years older than him, with white hair and wrinkles, and his face was flattering at the moment, with pleading in his eyes.

Cai Maode's heart softened, and he sighed: "That's it, I'll write one." “

Fei Yuanlu tidied up his clothes and straightened them.

This article is very important, it is written by the deputy envoy of the school, and the debate topic is controversial, which will definitely make Hanzhu College famous.

At the same time, there is also another deep meaning, involving the grievances of predecessors.

Wang Yangming's father is called Wang Hua, and Fei Hong is Wang Hua's protégé. Fei Hong's cousin Fei Yu is Lou Liang's grandson-in-law, and Wang Yangming is Lou Liang's student.

In the rebellion of King Ning, Wang Yangming took Fei Hong and overturned King Ning together.

In terms of personality, Fei Hong admires Wang Yangming. Academically, Fei Hong is very resistant to Wang Yangming. Politically, Fei Hong resolutely suppressed Wang Yangming.

The contradiction between the two sides stems from the disposition of King Ning, that is, who should give the captives to.

Later, Fei Hong prevented Wang Yangming from coming back, and pressed not to promote Wang Yangming. Eight months before Wang Yangming's death, Fei Hong took the initiative to show goodwill, and the two sides ostensibly reached a settlement.

Because of these, Wang Yangming's disciples and grandchildren have never been waiting to see the Fei family of Lead Mountain.

If Cai Maode can write articles for Hanzhu Academy, it means that his faction accepts the Fei family.

After receiving an affirmative answer, Fei Yuanlu said happily: "Inspector, please come in." ”

"Please." Cai Maode no longer refused.

Time has passed, and the grievances of the predecessors have long been weakened, and the two crossed the gate of the academy hand in hand.

The man with the sword in the back did not immediately follow, but carefully read the article on the wall. Sometimes smiling, sometimes frowning, and finally thoughtful.

This person, named Zhu Zhiyu, is a talent from Yuyao.

However, he said that Fei and Cai entered the academy and bumped into a group of students head-on.

"I've seen the mountain chief!" The students saluted.

Another student recognized Cai Maode: "Meet the master (master)!" ”

Fei Yuanlu returned the salute and asked, "You are in a hurry, where do you want to go?" ”

A student said: "The imperial court has canceled the preferential exemption for students, and we will go to the governor together, intending to join forces and ask Your Majesty to take back the order!" ”

Another student said, "Since the inspector is here, I don't want to go far, so please ask the inspector to help me deliver the recital!" ”

"Nonsense!"

Fei Yuanlu immediately scolded: "The abolition of the preferential exemption of students was an imperial order two years ago, and Jiangxi has only delayed it until now." A few of you show off your talents, can you make Your Majesty retract his will? ”

A student said excitedly: "Mountain Chief, the student comes from a humble background, thanks to Fei's funding. But students also have to support their families, and the whole family can't rely on Fei's to live. Two stones of food is not much, but for the students, it is life-saving food for the family. Now that the imperial court has canceled the preferential exemption, there are hundreds of thousands of students in the world, and who is not a poor scholar like a student? The politics of this troubled country also! ”

Fei Yuanlu was speechless.

Cai Maode sighed: "Give me your recital." ”

"Thank you, sir!" The students were overjoyed.

Cai Maode said again: "I will only help you forward the Secretary of General Affairs, whether Your Majesty can see it, I can't guarantee this." ”

The students were instantly gloomy, and then became more and more resentful, thinking that Chongzhen was a faint king.

It's a matter of self-interest, and it's no wonder if you don't hold a grudge!

But Emperor Chongzhen can't help it, he has to make money to maintain the situation.

Take the third year of Chongzhen as an example, the first time the household department asked for an additional endowment, the emperor directly refused. Half a year later, there was really no money in the treasury, and the emperor could only agree to it.

I didn't add much, 0.003 taels of silver per mu.

However, it was added once a few years ago, where can the people hold on?

The south is slightly better, after all, the yield per mu is higher.

The barren land in the north, and the drought that has been struck year after year, has simply forced the peasants to death.

The policy was implemented, and the whole country blossomed.

Shanxi was directly bombed, and the peasant uprising swarmed.

In Beizhi, Henan, and Shandong, there are more and more White Lotus disciples.

At this time, in order to control the army, Chongzhen sent henchmen and eunuchs to all parts of the country.

When the eunuchs took office, their first priority was to make money and exploit the soldiers together with the civil and military generals. Within a year, mutinies broke out in five provinces, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan, Huguang, and Sichuan—many of whom were instigated by military attachés to give the new eunuchs a dismount.

Compared with these chaos, what are Xiucai's two stone rice?

The students hung their heads, and one of them said: "That crazy student preaches the equality of good and low, but we are not as good as domestic slaves." Look at those rich slaves, which one is not well-dressed and well-fed, and I can only eat bran vegetables when I wait for the show. Now that I don't even have the privileges, I want to be equal to the house slaves. ”

"Why bother talking about anger? We can also test people, and house slaves are house slaves all their lives. Another student persuaded.

The previous student said, "Can you take one of the exams for me?" The Jiangxi Township test was already difficult, and the officials and gentry colluded to commit fraud, so that some straw bags were lifted! How much hope can I have for poor scholars? ”

By the end of the Ming Dynasty, the phenomenon of fraud in township trials occurred almost every year.

Qian Qianyi, who is now dismissed from office at home, is involved in the township trial fraud case, and it is difficult to prove his innocence!

The crowd was silent.

Suddenly, a student said, "I won't take the exam, I'll go to Nanchang tomorrow to join relatives." If you can find a tutor for the best errand, but if you can't do it, you will copy and write letters to someone, and you must not sit back and wait for your family to starve to death. ”

"I'll go to Shangrao, and my uncle will work there to see if I can find something to do." Another student said.

These are all ordinary talents, only the students can receive the rice on a monthly basis, and only the students can earn the money of the government. And they can't stand anything, at most they try to guarantee people in the county, and now the imperial court has canceled the preferential exemption, and at the same time increased the field endowment, and the poor Xiucai really can't bear it.

Even if he could bear it, he was disheartened and thought that he was abandoned by the imperial court.

"This court, it's better to do the opposite!"

"Silence you, are you crazy?"

"I'm not crazy! Studying hard in the cold window, the imperial examination is hopeless, and the imperial court dislikes, what else can we do? ”

"Brother Changqing is crazy, pull him back!"

“……”

For a time, chickens flew and dogs jumped.

Zhao Han's "Debate with Pearls" came in this context.