Chapter 195: Rapping Eunuchs' Knuckles and the Entrance Examination

Zhu Youxiao truly could not agree to Xu Guangqi's request regarding the Wanggong Factory matter.

It wasn't that he didn't want to agree with Xu Guangqi—in fact, Zhu Youxiao desperately wanted to accomplish this, even more urgently than Xu Guangqi himself.

But many things are not simply a matter of wanting to do them, and Zhu Youxiao knew this very well in his heart, so he could only fend Xu Guangqi off for the time being, then go handle the matter himself afterward.

If it didn't get done, there would be no great shame in it, because he had never promised Xu Guangqi from the start; if it did get done, then naturally everyone would be delighted, and there would be nothing more to say.

Hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, Xu Guangqi hurriedly replied with respect: "Yes, Your Majesty."

After pondering briefly, Xu Guangqi said with a resolute expression: "Your Majesty, why not let your servant submit a routine memorial?"

Raising his head to glance at Xu Guangqi, Zhu Youxiao smiled slightly.

Zhu Youxiao naturally knew what Xu Guangqi meant by saying this, but how could he let Xu Guangqi take the blame for this matter?

He could not possibly do such a thing. So the allocation of the Wanggong Factory could not be proposed by Xu Guangqi—he would have to find a way himself.

"The Grand Secretariat has many matters to handle; you may return first, my dear minister." Zhu Youxiao waved his hand.

After hearing these words, although Xu Guangqi still felt deeply unwilling in his heart, a helpless expression appeared on his face.

He knew that since His Majesty had spoken thus, he had made up his mind not to let Old Xu participate.

So Xu Guangqi stood up and bowed, saying: "In that case, your servant takes his leave."

Although he felt some guilt in his heart, Xu Guangqi also knew that this matter was imperative and could no longer be stopped.

The entire Bureau of Crafts was waiting for this matter, and it had already been constraining the Bureau's development—that was why Xu Guangqi had come to Qianqing Palace to raise it.

His Majesty agreeing so readily actually made Xu Guangqi feel somewhat embarrassed.

For Xu Guangqi, he knew how difficult this matter was, and he knew that because of it His Majesty might suffer some harm, but there was no other way.

Yet Xu Guangqi resolved in his heart that once he returned, he would urge the craftsmen of the Bureau of Crafts to speed up their progress and produce results, to bring honor to His Majesty.

Even if there were temporary criticism now, it would not matter; once real results were achieved, it would surely bring glory to His Majesty.

Watching Xu Guangqi's departing figure, Zhu Youxiao helplessly let out a sigh.

How had it come to seem as though he were the lazy one, while these ministers had become so diligent?

But Zhu Youxiao could also understand—Xu Guangqi, Shen Tingyun, and the others were all people who wanted to rise.

On one hand, they acted for the Great Ming, out of patriotic devotion; on the other hand, they acted for themselves—they wanted to hold office.

Holding office and gaining power was one aspect; the other was the realization of self-worth.

They had studied the books of the sages since childhood, single-mindedly wanting to accomplish great deeds, so they had been holding their breath all these years, suppressed quite severely—and now that it suddenly burst forth, its force was truly extraordinary.

Leaning sideways on the daybed, Zhu Youxiao pondered what to do.

He had to get the Wanggong Factory matter done, but how?

Should he go directly and say it himself?

That wouldn't be appropriate—he was the Emperor; he couldn't do that.

Just then, Chen Hong returned from outside.

Looking at Chen Hong, whose forehead was slightly beaded with sweat, Zhu Youxiao's heart stirred. He beckoned to him and said with an expressionless face: "Go fetch Wei Zhongxian for me."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong's legs were a bit weak, and he was exhausted without having had a single sip of water, but he dared not be negligent. He quickly acknowledged the order and hurried off again to find Wei Zhongxian.

Wei Zhongxian's days had not been easy lately, because Zhu Youxiao had employed Wang An, and Wei Zhongxian's standing had been inexplicably demoted by one rank.

But Zhu Youxiao planned to give Wei Zhongxian something else to do—considering it the lowest possible test. If Wei Zhongxian continued to handle matters earnestly, then he could still be used; otherwise, he could not.

In an Emperor's eyes, thunder and rain, favor and punishment, are all imperial grace. Everything you have is given by me; what I give you, you may take; what I do not give you, you must not even think of taking.

If Wei Zhongxian showed discontent because of this, then he could be removed.

"Eunuch Wei, His Majesty summons you." When Chen Hong arrived at the Eastern Depot, Wei Zhongxian was in the black prison berating Sun Yunhe.

Seeing Chen Hong arrive, Wei Zhongxian was startled for a moment, then suddenly realized—His Majesty was summoning him!

The Eastern Depot had nothing pressing to do at the moment; the previous cases had been mostly handled, and the remaining trivial details did not require Wei Zhongxian's attention, so he was relatively idle, and at the same time looking forward to having something to do.

Now hearing that His Majesty summoned him, Wei Zhongxian was overjoyed and dared not show the slightest delay. He quickly ran into the palace, not making His Majesty wait too long.

"This servant pays respects to Your Majesty." The moment Wei Zhongxian entered the great hall, before he had even seen His Majesty, he hurriedly prostrated himself on the ground and kowtowed.

Looking at Wei Zhongxian kneeling far away, Zhu Youxiao beckoned: "Come closer."

Wei Zhongxian hurriedly moved forward a stretch, then fell to his knees with a thud.

Glancing at Wei Zhongxian, Zhu Youxiao did not tell him to rise, but said with an expressionless face: "I have a matter for you to handle. There seem to be some problems over at the Wanggong Factory. Have Cui Chengxiu go investigate; if there really are problems, submit a routine memorial. Tell Cui Chengxiu to be meticulous—if any mistake occurs, I will hold you accountable."

Wei Zhongxian was startled and hurriedly replied with respect: "Then this servant will go deliver the message?"

"Deliver the message? 'Give instructions' would be more fitting, wouldn't it?" Zhu Youxiao said with a smile: "Isn't he your man? You're quite capable—even a minister of the court can be received into your fold. Is it that one day you'll take all my court officials under your wing, and then you'll hold power over the whole realm? Or are you planning to do something else?"

These words from Zhu Youxiao truly frightened Wei Zhongxian.

His Majesty was accusing him of plotting treason—that was even more serious than forming a faction for private gain. If it were truly established, he would be finished; death by a thousand cuts would not be excessive.

Wei Zhongxian hurriedly prostrated himself on the ground, knocking his head again and again, and said in terror: "Your Majesty, this servant has never had such a thought!"

Only after seeing Wei Zhongxian's forehead knocked red did Zhu Youxiao wave his hand and say: "Enough, keep that act of yours. Do your job well. Tell Cui Chengxiu—if the job is botched, I'll deal with the both of you together."

"Yes, Your Majesty. This servant will surely handle the matter splendidly." Wei Zhongxian said hurriedly.

Seeing Zhu Youxiao wave his hand, Wei Zhongxian quickly stood up and scrambled out, crawling and stumbling.

Once outside the great hall, Wei Zhongxian clutched his chest—it was pounding thump-thump; he had nearly been scared to death just now.

Inside the great hall, Zhu Youxiao sat on the dragon throne, looking down from on high upon the empty hall.

Everything he had just done to Wei Zhongxian was, plainly speaking, a rap on the knuckles—at the same time a warning, telling him not to go too far. It was fine to win over people like Cui Chengxiu, but he must not intervene too deeply in the court, or there would be no good outcome for him.

Judging from Wei Zhongxian's reaction, he had understood the message.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Chen Hong and Fang Zhenghua at his side and said coldly: "Let this be a warning to you as well. Don't wait until I truly come looking for you—by then it will be too late."

"Rest assured, Your Majesty. This servant understands." Chen Hong and Fang Zhenghua hurriedly bowed.

Whether what they said was true or false, Zhu Youxiao stood up, stretched his limbs, and turned to walk outside.

Stepping out of the great hall's doorway, he gripped the railing, gazed out over the square before him, and let out a long breath.

Take it slow, take it slow—sooner or later, everything will get done.

Everything was quietly in motion, but outside the palace, an uproar had begun.

Because the Ministry of Rites had put up a notice today, concerning the recruitment of students for the Imperial Academy.

The Academy's name was quite straightforward—it was simply called the Imperial Academy, established by the Ministry of Rites.

This matter was hardly surprising, for it had long since spread far and wide, and everyone already knew about it.

The key issue was that the Imperial Academy had an admissions brochure attached to it, and this left many people baffled.

In the admissions brochure, the students' qualifications were spelled out in detail—one must be a xiucai, and there were no other requirements beyond that. Anyone who registered only needed to pass the entrance examination.

As for the entrance examination, the brochure also provided a detailed introduction.

The first step was registration—one had to go to the registration location designated by the Ministry of Rites. After completing registration, one could begin preparing for the examination.

If it were only this point, people wouldn't have been so astonished. Rather, it was the examination subjects—there were actually only three major categories: the Four Books and Five Classics, mathematics, and martial arts.

There was nothing strange about these three subjects themselves; the strangest thing was the weighting of the three subjects' scores.

According to the notice issued by the Ministry of Rites, the three subjects were weighted equally—that is, each subject was worth 100 points.

Under such circumstances, even those who were not skilled in the Four Books and Five Classics could still sit for the examination, and could even pass it.

Because within the examination eligibility requirements, there were also detailed supplementary clauses—for instance, Directorate students, students of the Directorate of Education, and sons of officials who had received imperial grace could all participate.

In short, many people could take the Imperial Academy examination. This clause left many people bewildered and taken aback.

Because under this clause, it was tantamount to the court opening a gate for the sons of hereditary nobles and imperial relatives to walk the path of civil officialdom.

Although the sons of hereditary nobles and imperial relatives were not well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics, they were skilled in martial arts, and their mathematics was not necessarily poor either. As such, this clause greatly diminished the advantage of the scholars, harming their interests.

After the shock and astonishment came, naturally, anger.

Thus, many scholars began to cry out urgently, declaring that this was an insult to refinement and a defilement of the sages' Way.

Now officials in the court had also begun submitting routine memorials. And so the entire capital once again took on the appearance of a storm about to break—the wind filling the tower before the rain arrives.

In an inn in the capital, three people sat at a table drinking wine.

Song Yingxing raised his head and looked at Zhang Yu, asking expressionlessly: "Now do you still hold to your own view? Go look at that notice—it's written very clearly on it. The Imperial Academy embraces all and assimilates all, so naturally it can accommodate us as well."

Glancing at Song Yingxing, Zhang Yu said with a smile: "That will depend on what their examination questions turn out to be."

Then Zhang Yu added: "But we should be able to pass, after all, when it comes to mathematics, we can be considered fairly proficient."

These words were Zhang Yu being modest—among the three of them, the one most skilled at mathematics was Zhang Yu himself.

Song Yingxing was also well-versed in this art; the only one who was perhaps slightly lacking was his elder brother, Song Yingsheng.