In Jiang Xinghuo's previous life, this kind of cotton-iron composite armor only began to appear in the Wanli Anti-Japanese Aid Dynasty, and was popular in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, and was equipped on a large scale by the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Now it was invented by Jiang Xinghuo in advance, and it is very suitable for operations in the north in the future.

Whether it is to flatten the Qin and Jin feuds, or to attack the Mongols, or to deal with the Jurchens, Koreans, and Japanese, it is very useful.

It is expected that this new type of armor will be manufactured on a large scale by means of cotton and iron composite for the northern troops.

Of course, if a general or a wealthy soldier needs it, he or she can also choose to pay out of his own pocket and buy an enhanced version of the cotton-steel composite armor made of low-phosphorus steel to increase the chances of survival on the battlefield.

The reason why it is not equipped for the school is because the production capacity of this thing is limited, and most of the production capacity of low-phosphorus steel has to be used to cast cannons.

After all, no matter how expensive the steel is, it can't be more expensive than copper!

Copper is money and wealth in this era, and copper is used to cast cannons, and a cannon is so heavy, how much copper does it consume? This is an out-and-out burning of money!

There was no way before, used to cast guns, the performance of wrought iron and semi-pulled steel is far less than copper, and now there is a low phosphorus steel with good strength and toughness, it is definitely impossible to use copper again, after all, to restore the value of treasure money, not only to return the treasure money, but also to increase the intensity of production of copper money every year, and the need to add noodles and then fish water is a truth, what is the road to simplicity? This is called the simplicity of the road.

The main force of the army will definitely be installed on a large scale, but whether it is cotton-iron composite armor or cotton-steel composite armor, it will basically have no effect on the army in the south and the army that goes to sea to fight, and it can even be said to have a negative effect.

Because the landing force of the Ming Dynasty went to sea to fight, they basically faced tropical and subtropical jungle mountains and other terrain.

If everything goes well with the reform of the three major battalions, then the main force in the south will be reorganized into the three battalions of the Beijing battalion, and then it will be able to move north, and when the main force of more than 200,000 in the south arrives, it will begin to launch an attack on the domestic vassal kings and the Mongols and Jurchens abroad.

At this time, Zhu Gaoxu and the others were still immersed in the joy of powerful new armor, and the winter in the south was also full of unknown variables.

——————

The results of the examination have been announced, and naturally a few families are happy and a few are worried, but because the president's law change affairs yamen has already formulated the examination standards for various ministries and temples in advance, there are really not many controversial places.

People who are promoted, you say that you have to go through the relationship individually, and weigh the pros and cons, there must be people, but even these people have medium and upper grades, otherwise it is really impossible to say.

But Rao is like this, but the examination method is still a major reform and great progress in the promotion system of the imperial court.

There are unfairness in the test method, but compared to before, it is much fairer.

If you want to say that in the past, when the Nine Grades of Officials and Persons Law, how could they still look at the door, but when they reached the mature imperial examination system, the Song and Ming dynasties no longer looked at the door, but they also needed to visit the dock to find a teacher, the same year, and fellow villagers to support each other.

There is no doubt that the examination method is a major benefit for those officials who are bored and do practical things and do not have connections.

But this is not the case in the follow-up Jingcha.

Jingcha's main job is to brush people down.

What is little known is that before the emergence of the Jingcha system, it was used to assess officials, called the "examination system", the so-called examination system, refers to the examination every three years, three examinations for officials, that is, a total of nine years, and then promoted or demoted or even deposed, the earliest was established in September of the sixth year of Hongwu, when Lao Zhu ordered an assessment of Beijing officials every three years, and each examination can be promoted to one level, which formed the prototype of the "full examination system"; In December of the ninth year of Hongwu, considering that the previous system would lead to too fast promotion, it was changed to one test per year, and the nine years were completed, which slowed down the promotion of officials; By October of the 14th year of Hongwu, the entire "examination system" was stabilized, and the assessment methods and assessment cycles of Beijing officials were clearly stipulated, and the Beijing officials below the fifth grade were filled in the evaluation form by the direct subordinate governor of the yamen where they were located, and in fact it was still a system decided by the superiors, generally there were three kinds of competent, average, and incompetent, and the emperor directly decided above the fifth grade.

But there is a small problem with this "full test system", that is, the cycle is a bit long. Because it takes nine years, for some incompetent officials, if they cannot be adjusted in time, there needs to be a system to patch the full examination system.

The Jingcha system came into being.

And Jingcha is the assessment of the virtue and ability of all Beijing officials, the so-called selection of talents and ability, and the dismissal of mediocre talents, this is the truth.

Of course, over time, it slowly became a tool for partisanship between different factions.

"You, it's time for you."

Dong Lun, the former waiter of the Ministry of Rites, has not shown up for more than half a year after presiding over the debate ring, and has been nesting at home.

The people in the house were warm and smoky, and the old man Dong leaned on the chair, and on the top of his head were the three big characters of "Yi Laotang" in Zhu Yuanzhang's imperial book, which was like an iron coupon in Danshu.

"That's, that's."

Looking at the jade dove staff that was raised from time to time in the old benefactor's hand, Xie Jin, who was now a Honglu Siqing, was full of smiles on his face.

In fact, Xie Jin really wanted to say, "When bullshit is good, this is Lao Tzu's life in exchange", but he couldn't say it.

It's like this in the eunuch field, in front of the retired old boss, really don't put on a score, otherwise the reputation will be ruined, just listen to what the old man says, after all, there are a few times a year to come over and pretend to be a festival, as long as it is not extremely excessive, what is not tolerated?

What's more, Dong Lun really has a great kindness to Xie Jin,

At that time, Xie Jin was young and vigorous, and the second-in-command of the Imperial Court Yuan Tai had a feud, and then he was released back to his hometown by Lao Zhu, so that he could be promoted and used for ten years at home, and before the ten-year period arrived, Lao Zhu was in the sky, Yuan Tai was also dead at this time, Xie Jin pondered and ran back to Nanjing to get an official again, but was made by the inheritor of Yuan Tai's temple inheritance, and was degraded to Hezhou for the reason of "going to Linnon edict", or Dong Lun fished him back, and after some operation, Xie Jin became a Hanlin edict.

This is in the temple, for a person, it is really a regeneration of parents' kindness and recreation, and it is not too much to Xie Jin to give the old man Dong a pension.

Old man Dong pulled the fire and said casually.

"I entered the pavilion with Fang Xiaoru to pass on the history, and often persuaded that (Emperor Jianwen) to be friendly with his close friends and princes, but unfortunately, people didn't listen. What can be done if you don't listen? ”

Xie Jin echoed: "People have to listen to persuasion. ”

"Then do you listen to persuasion?" Old man Dong squinted at him.

Xie Jin's face did not change and said: "Divide people, I will definitely listen to your persuasion." ”

"Now resign and go home, wait for a few years when the dust settles and then go out of the mountain, you are still young, you are only in your early thirties this year, and you are already in the fourth grade, and when you come back in a few years, you will have the opportunity to be a waiter directly, and even Shangshu is not unable to look at it."

Seeing that Dong Lun didn't look like a joke, the smile on Xie Jin's face slowly stiffened.

"Look at you."

Old man Dong snorted, and Fang said: "That's it, the dignified scarlet robe, happy or not, all the worries are on your face, what's the matter, are you Jiang Xinghuo?" Do you have the ability and means to do it? ”

Xie Jin rubbed his face, but he didn't laugh anymore, seeing him like this, Dong Lun laughed instead.

The little fox who has been practicing for ten years has not cultivated his human form, what kind of profoundness is he pretending to be in front of this thousand-year-old demon, and it is right to pull down his face.

The stick that pulled the fire was thrown into the stove by Dong Lun, and the flames quickly climbed and licked up, and it didn't take long for it to start burning and blackening.

"Such a big stove fire, burning hot, knowing that you can't get in and out, there are so many people desperately jumping in, alas, I'm old, I don't have two years to live, and I know that you are so angry, no matter what, you will not take a half step back, let alone anything else, but there is a sentence I have to tell you, it is also the truth that I have learned in the temple for most of my life."

Xie Jin only said: "You teach." ”

"Leave yourself a way out, and don't do anything to the end."

I don't know if the other party is referring to the moment, but no matter what, Xie Jinyan still thinks about it.

After that, Dong Lun really believed in his words, and no longer pointed out anything, but chatted about some literary and academic things.

"I heard that Xunzi is going to be carried back again, and His Majesty attaches great importance to it."

"Yes."

Xie Jin smiled and said, "Holy King, Your Majesty must claim to be self-proclaimed." ”

Dong Lun bowed slightly, and said: "Note: The group of people in the Six Classics is from the compilation team of the "Yongle Canon" that you are in charge of, and my nephew is not young now. ”

Xie Jin heard the strings and knew the elegant meaning, and hurriedly said: "Don't worry, teacher, this is easy to say." ”

Dong Lun doesn't need to talk nonsense, everything is in silence.

The two chatted a few more words, and Xie Jin's visit was over, carrying two packs of gifts from Dong Lun back to him, and walked out of Dong Lun's house.

Coincidentally, he happened to be caught by Jiang Xinghuo, who came to comfort Su Ru.

Jiang Xinghuo had just come out of Gao Xunzhi, so he took the time to personally supervise the progress of several people's respective tasks, and discussed biological knowledge with Kong Xilu by the way.

"I respect the elderly, let's go, come in with me again."

Jiang Xinghuo dragged Xie Jin in again, and after coming out, today's plan to go out was completed.

In the carriage, Jiang Xinghuo put his frozen, slightly reddened hand, on the small stove, roasted it, rubbed it again, and with a refreshing pain, his hand eased up.

Xie Jin also shrunk on the back of the carriage, this year's winter in Nanjing is not right, even if you wear a good quality cotton robe, you will still feel the biting cold outside for a long time.

"What's this?"

"Pastry."

"Oh."

Jiang Xinghuo unceremoniously opened the pastry box that Dong Lun gave to Xie Jin, took out a piece of pink pastry, stuffed it into his mouth and ate it, and said vaguely while chewing: "Eat, you're welcome." ”

Xie Jin was embarrassed to eat at Dong Lun's house just now, and he wasn't hungry now, but seeing the brazen Jiang Xinghuo eating there, he swallowed his saliva instead, so he also ate with it.

"What is this pastry called?"

"Sure, sure."

Xie Jin was a little choked, and leaned his neck for a while before swallowing.

"What's the point?" Jiang Xinghuo directly used Xie Jin as Baidu.

"Japonica rice, glutinous rice, bean paste and other things, anyway, the folk say that when the two Song Dynasty were at the turn of the Song Dynasty, the people of Suzhou made special for Han Shizhong's Han Jiajun to go out to inspire the soldiers, and the cake has the word 'Dingsheng', and then it is called Dingsheng cake."

"Oh"

Jiang Xinghuo stuffed the third piece, and then wiped the corners of his lips and said, "It's a good meaning, it seems that it still has the hearts of the people." ”

Xie Jin looked at Jiang Xinghuo vigilantly, and when he saw that the other party was gone, he put his heart back in his stomach.

"Don't take leave to go home during the New Year? You haven't been back for four or five years, have you? I see that in addition to Jin Youzi, he is still busy in the Dharma Trial Temple, and Yang Shiqi and Hu Guangke have taken leave to go home. ”

Jin Youzi, Yang Shiqi, Hu Guang, and Xie Jin, all of whom are from the vicinity of Jishui, Jiangxi, are out-and-out fellow villagers, and once served in the cabinet together, but the current position of the four is a bit of a parting of ways.

"Jin Youzi,."

Xie Jin sniffed, issued a tone of unclear meaning, and then said: "People are waiting for the promotion of the temple, but they don't have to be busy, they have to be busy if they don't work." ”

This is in front of Jiang Xinghuo, Xie Jin really doesn't have too many scruples when he speaks.

As for Yang Shiqi and Hu Guang, it was because the cabinet really had nothing to do at this time, so they asked for leave to go home, Jiang Xinghuo is now temporarily (three months) managing the cabinet, and with a wave of his hand, all the cabinet members will not affect him.

"Anyway, it's just for a while, and it's really hard to go home after that."

"I know."

Xie Jin nodded and asked tentatively, "Is the final list of Jingcha decided?" ”

"No, how can it be so fast? First of all, the Jinyi Guard, and then the whole of the Examination Department lived in the Yamen, and lived until the fifteenth day of the first month, which was similar to the examination of the imperial examination. ”

According to this year's Jingcha system, the Ministry of Officials is mainly responsible, then the cabinet supervises, the president changes the law affairs and the Yamen reviews it, and finally submits it to the emperor for ruling.

There are two or three big cats and small cats in the cabinet at the moment, and Zhu Gaochi is not there, so it must have no supervisory role, so in fact, it has become a list of officials, and the president will review the affairs of the law, and if there is no problem, it will be handed over to the emperor to take a look, and finally announced.

The largest workload in this, or the main work, is the Ministry of Officials Examination Division, because the Examination Department is the department responsible for the assessment of the Beijing Inspection Department in the Ministry of Officials, and it is mainly responsible for this piece. In the past two years, the Metropolitan Procuratorate has become "Chen Ying and his dogs", except for providing wind comments at the beginning, there is nothing for them.

Well, as a part of the "institutional constraints" designed by Lao Zhu, the Examination Department has no power to evaluate officials, and what really affects a person's initial evaluation in Jingcha is the words of the Kedao Yanguan, which is the so-called "pre-inspection advice".

The official department will ask the chief officer of the examination department to make a so-called "list of officials to be visited in Beijing", and then entrust the official of the department to secretly consult and visit.

However, this year is relatively simple, because Zhu Di directly asked Jinyiwei to do it for him.

Yes, you see that Zhu Di is more pragmatic than Lao Zhu, if you let the official of Kedao Yan investigate, isn't it still the protection of officials and officials, just go directly to the secret agency and it's over, anyway, Jinyiwei only has the right to investigate, and it can also corroborate with the initial evaluation provided by the official.

Why does the whole court seem to be shut down now?

It's because it's in the middle of Jinyiwei's investigation.

This time has to be about half a month, the things of the previous year have been dealt with, the ones who should be promoted in the examination method have also been promoted, and those who should have been transferred to go through the "buffer period" have also been transferred, and Jingcha has not completed the procedure, why don't you wait?

Anyway, wait for Jin Yiwei to get the "List of Officials to Visit Beijing" ready, and then give it to the officials, so that the next step can be carried out.

No, the two were chatting, Jiang Xinghuo opened the curtains, and saw a team of brocade-clothed guards running over as if they were flying outside, and they were not afraid of slipping and falling on the cold road and gnawing on the mud.

"National teacher?"

The leading brocade guard glanced at him, turned his horse's head and rode back.

"Xiao Cao, why are you going?"

Jiang Xinghuo has become more and more fond of this strange brazenness recently, and Cao Song, who is no longer a young man, listened to it, but squeezed out a flower on half of his face, and only said: "Business trip, check people." ”

"Okay, let me tell you first, Honglu Siqing gave me a gift, and it will be recorded on his visit list when the time comes."

Seeing that Xie Jin's face was dark, several brocade guards forced a smile.

Reaching out to take a box of pastries that slipped out of the carriage, Cao Song said with a haha: "The national teacher is joking." ”

"Who's kidding you? The human and material evidence are all there, and they are all remembered. ”

Cao Song muttered a little, but seeing that Jiang Xinghuo was serious, he didn't dare to be ambiguous, so he pretended to take out a notebook, directly took out the charcoal pen on his waist, and remembered it.

As for the true and false memorization, then I don't know.

"When I go back today, I will hand over a message to Commander Ji, and get the interview list out quickly and give it to the officials."

"Yes!"

Several brocade guards left, and returned the empty box of pastries to Jiang Xinghuo before leaving.

"Why is that?"

Xie Jin frowned slightly and expressed his protest: "Jokes are jokes, if there is really a mouth that is indebted, it will not be beautiful." ”

"It's just not beautiful."

Jiang Xinghuo looked at him: "You are a fourth-grade official, it is normal to have two small mud spots on your scarlet robe, how can you be spotless?" Now that I am in the cabinet myself, are there fewer people who scold me? ”

Xie Jin didn't know what to say for a while, so he changed the topic and said, "Jin Yiwei's secret visit is over, and then how to get it?" ”

This is a kind of speechlessness.

"What was done in previous years, I will do it again this year."

According to the Jingcha system in the past, it must be the turn of the chief officials of each ministry and temple to fill in the evaluation language for their subordinates, which is the same as the full examination system.

At the same time, the official secretary needs to live directly in the ministry to work, and deal with everything other than Jingcha in advance, so as not to let other things affect Jingcha, under normal circumstances, in the 15-20 days when Jingcha officially begins, that is, during the New Year, all the officials of the Ministry of Shangshu and the Examination Department must stay in the ministry to deal with Jingcha and other related matters, and the most stringent thing is that there are soldiers standing guard outside, No one is allowed to go out, let alone leak the news.

The secretary and the examination department discussed the results of the Jingcha, and it could be handed over to the emperor, the emperor nodded, and it was the last formality, that is, several bigwigs sat in the hall, and then the officials of the Jingcha took turns.

"Anyway, there are two major events in the imperial court now, the civil official Jingcha, and the military attache Jingying military reform."

Jiang Xinghuo took a skewer to get the charcoal fire on the carriage, and suddenly asked, "Do you know how much a pound of coal sells for now?" ”

"I don't know."

Xie Jin's answer was honest.

"Then you go back and ask, Tangshan Coal Mining is good, it is a little colder this winter, but it really hasn't frozen to death a few people in the best place in the capital, in previous years, as soon as the winter passed, hundreds of unclaimed corpses had to be collected."

"Sending a padded jacket is a matter of virtue." Xie Jin said sincerely.

"I'll just take care of Nanjing, and I can take care of it now."

Jiang Xinghuo sighed, patted Xie Jin, and signaled that it was time for him to get out.

"I want to go to the palace again, I heard that King Zhou came from Fengguo, and he deliberately asked me for something, I don't know what it is."

"Years and years." Xie Jin walked into the wind and snow before leaving an auspicious word.

Looking at each other, Jiang Xinghuo smiled.

"I also wish you peace and well, and you will not freeze to death in the snow in the future."

(End of chapter)