The so-called eight strands are a style of writing.

Respect Confucius and Confucianism, take Zhu Xi's "Commentary on the Four Books" as the standard, and do not allow yourself to play at will, otherwise, it will be considered deviant.

The content of the questions in the imperial examination is also taken from the Four Books and the Five Classics, and there are strict requirements for the format.

Even the length of sentences, the complexity of words, and the pitch of voices are also limited and regulated.

Li Xiao knew in his heart that the reason why Zhu Yuanzhang did this was to strengthen his thought control and cultivate people who were loyal to him.

But this method could only consolidate the stability of imperial power.

For the development of the country, it is really harmful but not beneficial.

Since the era of Zhu Yuanzhang, the imperial examination system has gradually moved from its peak to ossification.

It has changed from an advanced system of selecting materials for the country to a backward system that binds the people's thinking.

In the Qing Dynasty, emperors such as Kangxi, Qianlong, and Yongzheng also found that this system that made scholars think rigid was not very good, and tried to change it.

However, due to the lack of a mature imperial examination model, the last opportunity for modern industrialization was finally missed.

Although Li Xiao likes Daming, he also recognizes Zhu Yuanzhang.

But after all, Zhu Yuanzhang is just an ancient, a farmer, and his vision is still limited.

He thought that as long as the world was safe and sound, everyone could live and work in peace and contentment.

If the world's science and technology will always stay in the era of cold weapons, although Zhu Yuanzhang's approach is not good, there is no big problem.

As everyone knows, in the future, the whole world will be a global village, just like the village fighting, backwardness will be beaten, and individual strength cannot defeat the power of science and technology

Therefore, Li Xiao feels that he is favored now, red and purple, and he mentions it, what if it is useful?

At this time, as Li Xiao's voice fell.

The whole hall was silent.

Only the sound of each other's breathing could be heard.

Zhu Di couldn't help but wipe a handful of sweat for Li Xiao in his heart.

This can't be said, when my father chose to use these eight shares to take scholars, many officials opposed it and were cut off their heads.

Li Xiao, Li Xiao, my father certainly likes you.

But you can't rely on this love to fool around.

At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang was obviously a little displeased, he sat down slowly, looked at Li Xiao and said, "Li Xiao, come and listen, how can these eight forces take the law against the country?" ”

Zhu Di hurriedly gave Li Xiao a look, and then said: "Li Xiao, if it is still the kind of rhetoric that has been cultivated is mediocre, don't say that those officials in the past are rotten over and over, and the grass on the grave is old."

Zhu Gaoxu also came over and whispered: "Brother-in-law, my brother agrees with your opinion very much, but let's not talk about it for now."

Listening to his father-in-law's hints, Li Xiao understood.

Nima, it turns out that someone has said before that it is better not to say it.

Li Xiao's thoughts turned sharply, and he arched his hand: "Actually, the minister thought about it again, and felt that there were quite a lot of benefits for taking the Eight Shares, one is to promote the inheritance of the saint so that it will not be forgotten." The second is to form a cultural identity. The third is to improve their own literacy. Fourth, it is conducive to national stability and political stability. The fifth is to give a glimmer of hope to the bottom, and the poor family can produce a noble son. The pros outweigh the cons, it's still good, hahaha."

Li Xiao cited five benefits in one breath, the situation is not right, let's not be the first bird

But Zhu Yuanzhang didn't buy it.

He looked at Li Xiao and said, "Li Xiao, don't you want to fool us, when did you learn to observe words and colors, and see the wind and steer?" When you scolded us in front of us, it wasn't like this. Others say we're wrong, it's someone else's business. We'd like to hear what you have to say. ”

At this time, their eyes were all on Li Xiao, not to mention it.

Li Xiao had no choice but to speak, "Your Majesty, I'm afraid of making you unhappy, this dragon body is important."

Zhu Yuanzhang squeezed out a smile, "You say, we will never be angry." ”

Looking at Zhu Yuanzhang's laughing expression, Li Xiao was a little helpless, forget it, let's just say it, after all, this old man likes to listen to himself now.

"Okay, that's what the minister said."

Li Xiao arched his hand and said: "Since Your Majesty has heard those hundred officials say that they should cultivate mediocrity, then the minister will not say this set, and the minister will say it from another angle." ”

"Oh."

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly became interested, "Come sit and say." ”

Zhu Yuanzhang is still a person who likes to listen to other people's opinions, but whether he adopts it or not depends on his own judgment.

Of course, he doesn't like to listen to the kind of advice that is repeated over and over again.

Zhu Gaoxu brought a chair. "Brother-in-law, sit."

Li Xiao nodded slightly and sat down.

Subsequently, after pondering for a while, since Zhu Yuanzhang likes to listen to his own counterwords, he will be ruthless, so he said: "Your Majesty, the battle for the imperial examination is a battle for national fortune!" If the national fortune is broken, the Ming Dynasty does not exist! ”

Good guys, as soon as this remark came out, the big guys were startled.

Zhu Yuanzhang also stood up directly, and Li Xiao also stood up when he saw this.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat down again, and Li Xiao also sat down.

At this time, Li Xiao immediately used his heart to aim at Zhu Yuanzhang.

After all, it's better to be careful.

Soon, Li Xiao heard Zhu Yuanzhang's heart.

[Hiss, this kid is really bold, he didn't know our identity before, but now he knows and dares to say so. You are relying on our Huang Ba to be your eldest brother, so you are reckless, right?

However, every time you kid says it makes sense, we can't accept it, last time I said that the vassal king could eat the Ming Dynasty, let's let people count it, and it can really eat the Ming Dynasty, and none of the vassal kings in the back came to King Qin, so that we can see the disadvantages of the vassal king system.

Today, we have to listen to the disadvantages of this imperial examination system.

Look at you kid in a cold sweat, hehe. You also know that you are afraid, don't worry, we won't kill you if we say anything, we still have to follow you to maintain your health]

Hear it.

Li Xiao breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

Mom, I'm scared the baby to death, it's okay, and you have to keep up with me, right?

It seems that this sworn service was not in vain, and Zhu Yuanzhang really trusts himself.

Hurry up and abdicate, we can drink on your shoulder!

At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Why do you say that the imperial examination is a battle for national fortunes? ”

Li Xiao explained: "Your Majesty, do you know that there are many countries overseas? ”

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "Xiao Guoer, don't be afraid." ”

Li Xiao said: "It's indeed a small country, but what about a farther place? ”

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered: "There may be a country, but across the sea, thousands of rivers and mountains, there is no relationship." ”

Li Xiao said again: "I mean, for example. For example, one day, far away on the other side of the ocean, those empires had a relationship with the Ming Dynasty, and they coveted the rich products and land of our China."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes glared: "They dare!" If they have this mind, we will let them have no return!! ”

Zhu Di on the side also clenched his fists and said: "If you dare to covet the land of China, you will be punished!" ”

Li Xiao smiled and said, "Yes, Your Majesty and Your Highness have already believed that this is possible."

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't speak, he felt that it was possible.

After all, what is the other side of the sea like, he doesn't know, what if there is an empire like the Ming Dynasty?

Li Xiao explained: "Your Majesty should know that the big ships of the Yuan Dynasty are very different from the big ships now, and the big ships of the present have been able to cross the ocean far away to the Wa Kingdom, and the gap is progress!" Over time, this progress will continue to move forward and will not stand still. If the Ming Dynasty stops, other great powers will continue to make progress in the future, so the future is a contest between great powers! ”

Hiss!

Zhu Yuanzhang took a breath of cool air.

He had never thought of a problem that way.

In his previous eyes, everything he had was on the land in front of him.

He always thought that thinking about problems on his own was very far away.

After listening to Li Xiao's words, Zhu Yuanzhang felt that his vision was not far enough, at least he had not seen farther.

The world is vast, that's how everyone describes it.

If it is really vast, then there will be countless possibilities, whether there is really an empire like the Ming Dynasty in the distance of the continent, he is really not sure

I can only say that there is, it is very possible, if it is possible, then we have to guard against it!!

Zhu Yuanzhang said in surprise: "Li Xiao, we just said that you can always think about problems from other angles, this time you really impressed us to see that we had never thought of this before, it was you who reminded us!" In the past, hundreds of officials opposed us, saying that we had cultivated a group of mediocre talents with fixed thinking, but your views are completely different from those officials, and you actually said this truth."

Li Xiao was happy in his heart, it seemed that Zhu Yuanzhang didn't listen to his opinions, but he didn't talk about his heart, and said: "That's right, the future is the battle of great powers and the world!" ”

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "But you said that it was a dispute over national fortunes, what does it have to do with the imperial examination?" ”

Li Xiao said: "Of course, it has a relationship with Your Majesty, and the minister dares to ask you, who will govern the country." ”

Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile: "Of course, the Son of Heaven, the Son of Heaven represents the herdsmen of the heavens, patrolling the Quartet. ”

Sure enough, it's old stubborn. Li Xiao thought about it and decided to change the angle, and said: "Then let's think from a different angle, compare the people to sheep, the Son of Heaven herds thousands of sheep, how to make the sheep obedient?" ”

Before Zhu Yuanzhang could speak, Zhu Gaoxu, who was familiar with the north, hurriedly replied: "The herdsmen over there in the Northern Yuan Dynasty use sheepdogs. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang gave Zhu Gaoxu a look, and Zhu Gaoxu immediately shrank his head.

Li Xiao nodded and said, "That's right, as Gao Xu said, the Son of Heaven can't control all the sheep, and can only use sheepdogs to help himself." ”

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled: "This statement is peculiar, it's the first time we've seen it." ”

When these words came to Zhu Yuanzhang's heart, he laughed and said:

"The civil and military officials are all our shepherd dogs, and since all of us here today are our own family members, we will talk openly.

We just regard those officials as our loyal dogs, and the reason why we use the eight shares to take the scholars is to use the words of the saints to restrain their behavior, to make their thoughts noble and unified, to listen to our words, to do things for us with peace of mind, so that all the sheep in the world have grass to eat and water to drink, isn't this good? ”

In the past, these words have been hidden in Zhu Yuanzhang's heart, and in his heart, he actually compares hundreds of officials to loyal dogs, loyal to himself, and achieves his goal.

Today, it's kind of a mouthful.

Li Xiao agreed: "Your Majesty is right, it's this reason, shepherd dogs help the Son of Heaven shepherd sheep, but have you ever thought that dogs are also divided into types."

For example, the Tibetan mastiff is used to drive away wolves and defend sheep, and that is a military general.

Some dogs are used to maintain order in the internal flock, and that is Wenchen.

But some dogs, dementia, standing in the flock, will only be at a loss, that is a stupid dog, stupid dogs are not good at shepherding sheep.

Those herders also pick smart dogs to shepherd their sheep.

Dogs have their own strengths, and like people, they also have their own strengths.

You can only do what you are good at, Your Majesty, you use the method of taking the eight strands to turn all the dogs in the world into a stupid dog that is loyal to you, and even change the Tibetan mastiff into a dog that maintains order, how can you shepherd sheep well? ”

After listening, Zhu Yuanzhang touched his beard and felt that this was the case.

He frowned and thought for a long time before he spoke: "You mean, the Eight Strands can only cultivate stupid dogs?" ”

Li Xiao nodded: "The format of the eight-strand text is too fixed. The first is to eliminate students with unique views, changeable ideas, and exquisite ideas. The second is to eliminate students who are good at the words of a hundred schools of thought and quote famous aphorisms. The third is to eliminate students who are talented and good at practice.

What's left at the end?

Only students with strong memory, who can follow the views in the Four Books and Five Classics word for word, rote memorization, and rigid thinking are left.

The harm of eight shares is equivalent to book burning!!

In this world, tens of millions of books are useless, and students only learn the four books and five classics, which imprisons the mind, stifles talents, and inhibits the progress of skills.

Talent is the foundation of the country, and only with talent can we fight for the national fortune! ”

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and said: "Your point of view finally returned to the reasons why those civil servants hindered us and cultivated mediocre talents. But. If you use this dog as a metaphor, we can understand a little bit."

Li Xiao smiled: "That's right, Your Majesty often hunts, right?" ”

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "You want to say, why do we choose fierce hunting dogs, that is, to make the best use of people, right?" ”

Li Xiao said: "Yes, Your Majesty Shengming!" In fact, hunting and controlling hundreds of officials is also a truth, if your subordinates are stupid dogs, even if they are loyal, they can't hunt prey. In the same way, if they are all mediocre, they will not be able to make the country progress. Then in the battle of national fortunes, half of them are lost! ”

"We seem to understand what you are talking about about this battle of national fortunes."

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Yes, yes, so many people can let us listen to a few more words, just now you said so many benefits, we want to hear the disadvantages." ”

The voice fell.

Zhu Di and the others on the side were all moved.

For so many years, Zhu Yuanzhang can listen so carefully, that is, Liu Bowen before the establishment of the Ming Dynasty can do it.

But after the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, even Liu Bowen, his father didn't listen to it much.

Li Xiao is really powerful, his words are sharp, he looks at the problem from other angles, explains the problem, and the reason he says is refreshing.

They couldn't help but listen very carefully, especially Zhu Gaoxu.

In the past, Zhu Gaoxu felt that he couldn't understand the reasoning of those gentlemen, but from his brother-in-law's mouth, he could understand it completely!

It makes sense, it's amazing, brother-in-law! You're awesome!

Li Xiao pondered his thoughts and said: "The pros and cons are mixed, the five advantages just mentioned, in turn, are the five disadvantages." ”

"A benefit, to promote the inheritance of the saints, on the other hand, is to make the mind forever stay in the predecessors, we often say that the Yangtze River back waves push the front waves, one generation is stronger than the next, if you stay in place forever, that is to be self-contained, do not want to forge ahead. Since Confucius, Zhu Xi and others were produced in the past, can't saints be produced in the future? ”

After speaking, Li Xiao looked at everyone and said: "The heart of the husband is valuable, and he asks for it in his heart rather than in his heart, although his words come from Confucius, he dare not think that it is, but he is not as good as Confucius?" ”

This sentence was written by Wang Mingyang, which means: negation is the driving force of innovation, the words of the sage may not be all right, and the ordinary words also have golden words.

The voice fell.

If there is a great truth contained in it, the aftermath lingers in the ears and echoes in the hall for a long time.

This sentence said again that Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Di's hearts were gone.

They were originally martial artists, although they read books later, but they looked down on the readers, and the readers were just loyal dogs used to control the world.

The hall suddenly became very quiet.

After a long time, Zhu Gaoxu sighed and said, "Brother-in-law, what do you mean by this, I don't understand, can you make it easier to understand?" ”

Li Xiao said with a smile: "It means that negation is the driving force of innovation, and the words of the sage may not be all right, and the ordinary words also have golden words." ”

Hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu was excited: "Yes! Brother-in-law is right! Reading the broken books of the saint every day, I have long had this idea, and the hero sees the same thing! ”

Li Xiao: "."

Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Di: "."

Zhu Yuanzhang scolded, "Shut up, adults talk, children don't guess and interject." ”

After speaking, he looked at Li Xiao and said, "It's not about you, you go on." ”

Li Xiao nodded, and continued: "Erli, form a cultural identity." On the other hand, it is to let the people of the world form the same understanding, that is, to listen to the words of the saints. Even the eight stocks of the imperial examination have to speak in the tone of a saint. But where did so many saints come from in the world, after all, they are imitations and cannot become saints. They can only worship the saints more and more, hang the saints in their mouths, and listen to the saints. Since Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, don't you think that the people of the world should listen to you? Is there something that puts the cart before the horse? ”

After listening, Zhu Yuanzhang was shocked again.

He hoped that everyone in the world would listen to him, but he couldn't.

Can only implant the saint in the hearts of the readers, and use the words of the saint to control their thoughts, is this a bit of a cart before the horse?

Instead he became a puppet of the saint?

Li Xiao's every sentence is actually secretly aimed at Zhu Yuanzhang's weakness.

At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang's heart was already faintly moved.

Li Xiao struck while the iron was hot and said: "The third benefit is to improve one's own quality. Reading the books of Confucius and sages can indeed improve self-cultivation, and the five constants of Confucianism are: benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, and faith. His Majesty hopes to use these to restrain the scholars to examine their bodies three times a day, to be loyal to the monarch, the prince of heaven and earth, and in addition to heaven and earth, that is, the king. That being said, how many people have done it?

Don't talk about it far away, let's talk about the near, this Zhu Yunwen put your fake body in disregard of Your Majesty, quickly ascended the throne, and cut down the domain against Your Majesty's wishes, and a few people came out to stop it??

Most of them are those who contribute to the troubles and think about their own interests.

This blue jade Zhu Yunxi seized the palace change, did the hundred officials immediately worship as the new emperor in order to save their lives? ”

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang was already gritting his teeth.

That's true, we want to use the words of Sage Kong to restrain the loyal words and deeds of these people, but none of them have done it.

It's really hateful, hateful, it hurts our hearts!!

Li Xiao laughed and said: "Every time you slaughter more dogs, most of them are scholars. ”

After speaking, he pointed at Zhu Gaochu and said, "Your Majesty, you see, this Zhu Gaochu doesn't like to read, and he doesn't learn the words of Sage Confucius, and regards it as dregs. But there are difficulties in the world, and the first one to stand up is this Zhu Gaoxu who does not learn the words of Confucius and Mencius! Doesn't that tell the story! ”

After speaking,

Zhu Gaoxu was stunned for a moment, then stood up, patted his chest and said:

"Brother-in-law is right, the world is so big, I can't find someone more righteous than me Zhu Gaoxu, a few days ago, I also killed a dog to eat meat, which is much more righteous than those who read."

Zhu Di: "."

Zhu Gaoxu cooperated with Li Xiao very much, singing and harmonizing.

Li Xiao also felt that it was good to have such a brother-in-law

Zhu Yuanzhang was slightly stunned, then looked at Zhu Gaoxu and stared at him for a long time before he spoke: "Yes, Zhu Gaoxu also stood up, which shows that Sage Kong's words cannot restrain their thoughts." ”

Li Xiao said: "That's right, otherwise why are there endless killings of corrupt officials in the world, if everyone can do what the sage said, they don't need too much money to live, why should they be greedy for ink?" For man's greed is constantly expanding, and the words of the saints cannot stop it. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded approvingly again.

Indeed, those who entered the court and became officials were scholars, and if they really did what the saints said, why should they be greedy for ink?

Li Xiao then spoke: "The four benefits are for national stability and political stability. On the other hand, even if these people have become loyal dogs, some of them have become useless loyal dogs, and the court is stable, but the world is not stable. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang became interested and said, "How do you say this?"

Li Xiao said: "The six departments of the imperial court are: officials, households, rites, soldiers, criminals, and workers. Responsibilities vary, and so do the talents required.

However, the students who entered the court through the imperial examination were all students who did not listen to the affairs outside the window and only read the books of the sages, and they all read the Four Books and the Five Classics.

The Ministry of Officials selects talents and is responsible for the appointment, dismissal, and promotion of civil officials. Can a student who only reads books and does not look at people do such a good thing?

The household department is responsible for the world's fish scale books, houses, collection, and distribution, and the students who are not diligent in finance, do not divide the grains, and don't even know how to do arithmetic, can they calculate clearly?

The Ministry of Industry is responsible for the construction of official roads, water conservancy, official factories and official kilns. Those who only read the books of the sages will not, and inviting foreign craftsmen to participate in it is not a layman to control the insider."

After saying this, Li Xiao continued: "If you want to do a good job, you must first sharpen your tools, and the officials of the imperial court are the sharp weapons of your Royal Highness to control the world."

Your Majesty, you want to be loyal dogs, but you should also choose some smart loyal dogs, loyal dogs that can shepherd sheep, not stupid dogs that are as stupid as pigs.

Wouldn't letting these stupid dogs help His Majesty's herdsmen make the world unstable? ”

The voice fell,

Several people in the temple were frozen in place.

Everyone seems to understand some of these truths.

is far from being as thorough and easy to understand as Li Xiao said.

Tie the fortune of the country to talents, and compare the herdsmen with the herdsmen of the world.

Incisive! It's so incisive!

Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep breath and said, "It seems that there is some truth. And what about the fifth? ”

Li Xiao said: "The fifth benefit, give the bottom a glimmer of hope, and the poor family can produce a noble son." But in the opinion of the ministers, it is difficult to produce a noble son from a poor family now.

Those who can produce noble sons are not from poor families.

Most of them are family valves, scholars, scholars, scholars, and scholars who have resources that ordinary people cannot match, not only huddle together, but also hug together with the local gentry and landlords, and have already turned away the real cold door.

They were the spokesmen for the interests of landlords and merchants, and could not understand the suffering of the common people. For a long time, the court has been occupied by these people, you can imagine how terrible the consequences will be, it is not alarmist, if it is a weak monarch who appears and threatens the imperial power, it is not impossible! ”

The voice fell,

The hall is silent!

[PS: Brothers, won the bid. I didn't feel well yesterday, and I got up in the morning with a fever, and at this time period, it is estimated that it is a sheep. I took ibuprofen and slept better all morning. In the afternoon, I started to code words with dizziness, and now I have just finished the code. Take a break, take a shower and wait for tomorrow, even if you are sick, I will be with you! 】

(End of chapter)