Chapter 168: Reforming the Imperial Examinations

The imperial examinations were an obstacle that no scholar in this world could ever bypass—a gate that countless people longed to enter.

There was a saying: "to reach heaven in a single step."

To reach heaven in a single step, one could only participate in the imperial examinations. This was a chance to change one's fate, a chance to change one's class. Once one passed the examinations, one's entire life would become different.

Before his transmigration, Zhu Youxiao had read the essay about Fan Jin passing the imperial examination, and he knew deeply that beneath the seemingly absurd satire lay something very real, something very bloody.

For an ordinary commoner, it might take several generations of hard struggle before the family produced one scholar. For such a scholar to pass the examinations might again take several generations of effort—this was the reality of changing a family's class.

Perhaps one might sneer, perhaps one might satirize, but hidden within was a heart of struggle and striving, a heart unwilling to yield. Zhu Youxiao knew all of this, because in later ages everyone had dissected it thoroughly.

So Zhu Youxiao directly reached his hand toward the imperial examinations. Only this way could people understand more clearly that if you wanted to be an official, if you wanted to participate in the imperial examinations, you could only take the Academy's exams—this point was crucial.

"Furthermore, in next year's imperial examinations, I will make some changes." Zhu Youxiao spoke slowly once again.

The moment these words came out, the people present truly panicked this time.

If they could still accept the earlier words, then this statement truly was poking a hornet's nest!

His Majesty wanted to reform the imperial examinations—digging straight at the roots!

Yet no one stepped forward to remonstrate. Everyone knew that persuasion at this moment was utterly meaningless.

Even those who had been slow to react and hadn't yet come to their senses now realized—they had been trapped by Sun Shenxing.

Sun Shenxing appeared righteous and awe-inspiring, but in reality he had pushed matters to a terrifying level—making His Majesty and everyone else clash head-on.

Under such circumstances, unless they forced His Majesty to yield—but was the His Majesty before them so easily bent?

Matters having reached this point had become extremely thorny.

"Enough. That's it for today—court is dismissed." Zhu Youxiao said expressionlessly, then turned and walked toward the Qianqing Palace.

Today's matters ended here. Although Zhu Youxiao felt that he would eventually have his day of reckoning, he hadn't expected to make his move at this time in this manner.

Although Zhu Youxiao knew his reputation was ruined, and he didn't much care about his reputation, he had originally needed to play this card at a more critical moment.

But Zhu Youxiao couldn't wait for that day. Sun Shenxing's move had directly dragged him in, and there was no way out.

Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but feel angry, yet at the same time he was grateful—fortunately he had already laid his groundwork, otherwise he would truly be in trouble.

If he had been dragged in by Sun Shenxing before this point, then he could only have unleashed Wei Zhongxian to slaughter wholesale.

Turning to glance at Chen Hong, Zhu Youxiao gave his order: "Have Yu Maohuai submit a routine memorial."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong hurriedly acknowledged.

As for Yu Maohuai, he was someone Zhu Youxiao had prepared long ago. But because it was too important, he had never let Yu Maohuai move, and he himself had never intended for him to move. But this time, Yu Maohuai had to move—he must be set into action.

So Zhu Youxiao chose to have Yu Maohuai submit a routine memorial, pushing matters to another level.

Chen Hong was fairly familiar with this matter, so he had no questions and turned to run out.

Chen Hong wanted to see if he could intercept Yu Maohuai before he left the palace, and then tell him the matter.

Watching Chen Hong's retreating figure, Zhu Youxiao let out a sigh of relief.

Matters having arisen now, he could arrange things calmly. If this had happened right after his transmigration, he could only have drawn his blade.

Zhu Youxiao was now waiting—waiting for the uproar outside, waiting for everyone to come out and stir things up, but he didn't think too many people would step forward.

Sun Shenxing and Gao Panlong's stir had already created momentum; the rest would choose to stay silent.

Zhu Youxiao went back to wait, but the others could not.

The ministers didn't know what to feel in their hearts—it was extremely complicated.

But some people were very pleased, namely Cui Chengxiu and his ilk. They felt that their side had already gained an advantage and could press on with renewed effort.

Especially Sun Shenxing and Gao Panlong—these two had thoroughly enraged His Majesty and pushed matters to an irreconcilable point, so they must be brought down, and absolutely no chance for them to turn things around must be left.

But none of this affected the Grand Secretariat. For the Grand Secretariat, arguments were not their concern.

No matter how much noise and debate went on outside, the final resolution of matters lay with them and with His Majesty. So what they cared about was how to resolve the present matter, how to face the current situation—not how to avoid conflict.

This conflict could no longer be avoided. Everyone knew His Majesty was driving it, only some things had slipped out of control.

Returning to the Grand Secretariat's duty room, Han Kuang called everyone together and said: "Let's all discuss this—what should we do about this matter? We need to have a plan. Everyone, speak your minds."

In fact, Han Kuang calling everyone together to discuss this matter was precisely because he hoped the Grand Secretariat could reach a unified opinion.

Under the current circumstances, if the Grand Secretariat split into several factions again, matters would become very troublesome, and it would once again devolve into factional strife, much like the last time.

Han Kuang did not wish for this situation to arise, so he hoped to reach a consensus within the Grand Secretariat.

Several people all looked toward Xu Guangqi, wanting to hear him speak first.

Because just now in the court, everyone had seen Xu Guangqi want to step forward, but His Majesty had pressed him back down. Now everyone also wanted to hear Xu Guangqi's opinion, since among all of them, he was the most deeply implicated.

Xu Guangqi didn't hesitate and directly spoke: "Let me first address Sun Shenxing and Gao Panlong. They are pressuring the throne; they are seeking fame through feigned righteousness. This is not the way of a minister. I believe these two should be severely punished."

After saying this, Xu Guangqi sat there and spoke no more. In fact, this was expressing his attitude—that on the handling of Sun Shenxing and Gao Panlong, consensus needed to be reached.

That is, they must be severely punished without mercy. No one was allowed to plead for them, and no one was allowed to hold a different opinion. If you had a different attitude or a different opinion, then there was no need for us to continue talking.

After these words came out, the faces of several people turned unpleasant. Especially Han Kuang and Sun Chengzong—the two of them were relatively close to the Donglin Faction. Although the earlier unpleasantness had been considerable, it hadn't reached the point of forcing each other to the death.

But the current situation was that Xu Guangqi wanted to drive people to their deaths.

None of them spoke, and for a moment the room fell into silence.

But at this time Huang Kezuan spoke. He leaned forward slightly and said: "I think this matter is not something we ministers should intervene in. His Majesty will have his own decision; we just need to wait for the imperial edict. As for what people outside say, we just listen. As for whether to submit memorials pleading for them, that depends on each individual."

Huang Kezuan's words were clearly meant to paper over the cracks, while also telling Xu Guangqi that everyone was now on the same boat, and it wasn't appropriate to clash over these two people.

Everyone had their own position. If he wanted to plead for them, he could go do it himself. Because no one could influence the final outcome of this matter—how it was ultimately handled still depended on His Majesty.

The others also remained silent.

After a long while, Sun Chengzong spoke: "I think this approach is fine. If someone wants to submit a memorial pleading for them, then they can go ahead—there's no need to force it; if someone wants to submit a memorial impeaching them, then they can impeach—no need to force that either."

Everyone's gaze fell upon Xu Guangqi, wanting to see what he would say, since this matter had been raised by him.

Xu Guangqi's expression was somewhat unpleasant, but he also knew he couldn't force these people to bow their heads, so he said: "Then so be it!"

Hearing Xu Guangqi relent, everyone let out a sigh of relief. None of them wanted to provoke Xu Guangqi right now.

Because Xu Guangqi was now like an angry fighting cock. Not getting his chance in court had left a knot of frustration in his heart—he wanted to find someone to tear into fiercely, to make his stance clear.

Your Majesty has given Xu Guangqi too much; he needs to repay Your Majesty, and no one present wants to be harshly rebuked by him.

Next came the matter of selecting the Minister of Rites.

Han Kuang asked, "Does any of you have a suitable candidate? You may all put forward suggestions now."

Minister of Rites — this was a very high position. Among the six ministers, the Minister of Rites ranked quite high, even bearing the title of "first among the six ministers." Some also called the Ministry of Personnel the first, but in truth, the Ministry of Rites's standing was no less.

Such an office would naturally be fought over tooth and nail — of course, that was in the past.

Now the former Minister of Rites, Sun Shenxing, was still squatting in the Imperial Prison. The most critical point was that the Ministry of Rites's affairs were not yet finished; more things would happen later.

So no one knew how things would go for the Ministry of Rites in the future. If someone were put up there now, something might really go wrong.

Thus, for a moment, several of them said nothing. The others could stay silent, but Xu Guangqi could not.

Xu Guangqi said directly, "I recommend Shen Tingyun."

Then his gaze slowly swept over the other few, but he spoke no further.

Upon hearing this name, the others all furrowed their brows.

Of course they knew Shen Tingyun — this man was Xu Guangqi's close friend, and also a member of their faction. In matters of education, he was even more radical than Chen Kedao. Make this man the Minister of Rites?

The gazes of the several men flickered uncertainly, no one knowing what they were thinking.

After a long silence, Han Kuang nodded and said, "Fine, count him as one."

The reason Han Kuang said this was that they could not submit only one name; they needed to put forward several candidates and let Your Majesty make the final selection.

The several men exchanged glances, and no one stepped forward to object. Thus Shen Tingyun became the first name on the list.