Chapter 184: Summer goes and winter comes, bees and scorpions rise in the heart

The seventh year of Wanli, autumn.

Yucheng County, Guide Prefecture, Henan Provincial Administration Commission.

……

The autumn sky is high and the air is crisp, with ten thousand miles of cloudless sky.

Inside the county town, a carriage rushed over, surrounded by a fifth-rank honor guard, showing that the person coming had one of the top two statuses in the prefecture.

The main officials of Yucheng County followed behind the carriage, respectful and following every step.

It seemed that because of the sudden arrival, the local magistrate had no time to clear the pedestrians on the road or move the merchants on the side of the road for the superior.

At this time, passersby hid under the eaves of the houses on the street or avoided into the shops, tacitly gathering to watch the excitement.

The carriage stopped outside a mansion.

It was a mansion that precipitated the scholarly family, not imposing or majestic, only having the restraint and precipitation of a century-old family.

On the high-hanging plaque, the four characters "House of Accumulated Goodness" were hung, only covered by a bit of white cloth.

The sky-reaching paper standing on the left and right sides of the gate once again emphasized that an elder in this mansion had passed away.

The curtain of the carriage parked outside the mansion was slowly lifted, and a middle-aged man in his forties, wearing an official uniform, walked down.

He stopped the accompanying officials, walked quickly to the gate, personally pressed the door knocker, and knocked several times.

The posture could be described as very low.

There were many busybodies in the wine shop on the side of the road who had not been driven away, and naturally, there was no lack of people who knew the visitor.

"Seems to be the Prefectural Vice-Prefect?" Because of the distance, the tone was uncertain before speaking.

The so-called Prefect is the one who governs a prefecture.

The Vice-Prefect is naturally the one who governs together, which can be called the Deputy Prefect.

"Don't seem, in our Guide Prefecture, the only one who can use a fifth-rank honor guard is Vice-Prefect Sima." Someone made a positive judgment from the honor guard and official uniform.

Many people looking out from the wine shop nodded in agreement while shaking their folding fans.

"Vice-Prefect Sima is here to pay condolences to the Shen mansion? It's been three months since the funeral, even if it's a new official taking office, there's no need to be so clingy, right?"

A county student shook his head with disdain for this kind of behavior of high officials bending down to cling.

Suddenly someone refuted: "Cling? Brother, you are too slow. Sima Zhi, in the Jinshi examination of the second year of Wanli, has always been famous for his ruthless means."

"After he went to take office as the magistrate of Zhenyang, he was quite regular at first, not offending the local native officials, but for some reason, he suddenly became violent in the following years, correcting subordinates, destroying families and killing people, using every possible means."

"This kind of cruel official, coming to the Shen mansion today, is probably not an easy matter."

The people around really didn't know this resume of the new official, so they couldn't help but look at Sima Zhi, who was knocking on the door, a few more times.

Seeing his full etiquette, not looking like he was here to find trouble, some people couldn't help but doubt: "The Shen family helps the poor and distressed in the county, is kind to others, not to mention harming the people, they haven't even done anything against the system. How could Sima Zhi burn fire at will just because of a new official taking office?"

"Besides, Mr. Longjiang, Shen Li, although he has been on sick leave at home since the second year of Wanli, his official position has never been dismissed, and he was even promoted by one level of salary last year because the 'Veritable Records of Emperor Shizong' was compiled."

"The sixth-rank Left Zhongyun is more than one level higher than the fifth-rank Prefectural Vice-Prefect."

"How dare Vice-Prefect Sima be presumptuous?"

As soon as this was said, everyone felt it made sense and nodded one after another.

The person who spoke earlier shook his head alone, meaningfully: "The Shen family is naturally dutiful."

"But as a century-old noble family, the head of the eight great families in Guide Prefecture, it is impossible that the family wealth was accumulated by salary."

Saying this, he shook his head and didn't speak, with an expression of "this involves a lot, those who understand naturally understand, those who don't understand don't need to say more."

The crowd in the wine shop scratched their ears and cheeks.

At this time, a person dressed as a merchant took over the topic: "I just came back from the capital this month, and I heard it spreading all the way..."

"After the autumn grain is collected this year, the central government may measure the fields and check the population."

As soon as the words fell, everyone turned their heads and looked at the merchant.

"Really?"

"Why didn't you say such a big thing earlier!?"

"Measuring fields is fine, but checking the population will probably cause a big mess..."

A student realized later and suddenly reacted: "Autumn grain, wasn't it collected last month?"

He cast a questioning look at the crowd.

Someone touched his chin and nodded slowly: "So... Sima Zhi found the head of the eight great families in Guide Prefecture, the Shen family."

Everyone realized something, and their faces were suspicious as they looked at Sima Zhi, the Prefectural Vice-Prefect of Guide Prefecture.

Only to see him being welcomed into the gate by the Shen family.

Disappeared from everyone's sight.

……

"In reply to Vice-Prefect Sima, the junior's name is Shen Jian, courtesy name Jiecheng."

Shen Jian walked in front and reached out to invite from time to time, welcoming Sima Zhi into the mansion, speaking neither humble nor arrogant.

Sima Zhi, however, was not at all as fierce as the rumors outside.

He smiled kindly: "Then does the courtesy name given to Jiecheng by his father have the character 'Die' (butterfly)?"

Shen Jian froze.

Only feeling that this Vice-Prefect was not here for good, he even found out his status as a stepson so clearly.

Couldn't help but become more vigilant: "Yes, the junior's courtesy name is Dieyun."

Sima Zhi saw that this junior didn't realize why he asked this, shook his head with lack of interest, and simply stopped exchanging pleasantries.

He was here to find Shen Li—the daily lecturer who had been on sick leave since the second year of Wanli.

He had no interest in anyone else in the mansion.

He followed Shen Jian through the courtyard, stepped into the hall, and looked around.

"Vice-Prefect, please wait a moment, Father will come after changing clothes."

Shen Jian respectfully invited Sima Zhi to sit down, explained, and then saw the ceremony and turned to leave.

Sima Zhi naturally wouldn't force him to stay: "Jiecheng, go ahead."

He sat down leisurely.

After tidying up his robes, he closed his eyes and rested.

Since the second year of Wanli, when Sima Zhi was selected as a Shujishi and sent outside, more than four years had passed.

Sitting in the position of magistrate for four years, he had fought with superiors and gentry in the prefecture, and local native officials and powerful families in the county for four years.

The Ministry of Personnel said he was dutiful and capable, and promoted him to Vice-Prefect of Guide Prefecture this year.

From the seventh rank to the fifth rank, it was already a promotion of four levels, even if it was a demotion from a hall official to a deputy, it could be considered a not-small promotion.

But, it was still too slow.

According to the regulations of the past, Jinshi sent outside to serve as magistrate often promoted to the Provincial Administration Commission in three to five years, and even promoted to the Provincial Administration Commission in the second year was not impossible.

Walking along the path of correcting mistakes in the central government now.

He, Sima Zhi, might not reach the day of wearing a scarlet robe until he retired.

It won't work if he doesn't take risks!

Just thinking of this, footsteps came from outside the house.

Sima Zhi interrupted his thoughts and looked outside.

Only to see a middle-aged man with a slender figure, wearing mourning clothes, walking slowly outside the hall.

Sima Zhi saw his handsome appearance and secretly sighed at his good looks; no wonder he heard that the Emperor looked at him with favor.

He hurriedly stood up to welcome him: "Mr. Longjiang."

Sima Zhi was forty-two this year, and Shen Li was forty-nine; neither was old, and the gap between age and official rank was not too big, so he didn't call him Duke.

Shen Li returned the salute step by step, without the slightest arrogance: "If Vice-Prefect Sima is on official business, call me by my official rank; if it is a private matter, call me by my courtesy name."

Sima Zhi smiled and said ambiguously: "Both public and private, we are both scholarly families, let's call each other by courtesy names."

Shen Li's courtesy name is Zhonghua, and his pseudonym is Longjiang, the meaning of a carp turning into a dragon, all in it.

The stepson just now was also, Shen Jian, courtesy name Jiecheng, pseudonym Dieyun, obviously with mediocre talent, entrusted with the wish of breaking the cocoon and turning into a butterfly.

This is the trace that can be seen everywhere in a scholarly family, not comparable to a nouveau riche.

Shen Li bowed again before sitting in the main seat: "I wonder why Jingfu came to the door?"

Sima Zhi heard this, suddenly straightened his waist, and sat upright.

In an instant, this person had the appearance of a hall official who governed a place and was majestic without anger.

The atmosphere also became a bit heavy.

Sima Zhi stared straight at Shen Li, word by word, seriously: "Coming here today, there are some warnings I want to say to Zhonghua..."

He paused, his gaze a bit severe: "The general trend of the world is like a river pouring backward and Mount Tai pressing down. The Shen family had better not block the car with a mantis arm, lest they be crushed into powder."

The pressure and hostility in his tone were obvious.

Shen Li naturally felt this tense atmosphere.

But he didn't show any angry expression.

Instead, he was stunned for a long while.

He frowned in confusion: "What is Jingfu referring to?"

Sima Zhi saw Shen Li's reaction, which was completely different from what he expected.

Couldn't help but secretly think this person was so difficult to deal with.

He deliberately used an arrogant posture, wanting to provoke him to reveal his true nature, but he didn't move a bit.

He didn't know what to say for a while.

Shen Li saw Sima Zhi's reaction and seemed to have recovered a bit.

He pondered for a moment and explained: "In the second year of Wanli, the doctor said that I was thinking too much, my spirit was withered and my intention was exhausted, my heart and brain were both declining, and I was in danger of life."

"So, after the Emperor allowed me to return to my hometown on sick leave, I thought carefully and thought less, whether it was the situation of the world or the size of the clan, I never paid attention to it."

"Either practice the Daoist canon to calm the heart, or recite Buddhist scriptures to pray for the deceased father."

"So, the general trend of the world in Jingfu's mouth, and how the Shen family is, I don't know at all, please Jingfu speak directly."

Sima Zhi heard these words and suddenly couldn't find the way of this Shen Longjiang.

He had already prepared to conflict with this Shen Zhongyun before he came.

Either agree to his conditions, and both sides shake hands and make peace.

Or, he would use this Shen Zhongyun as a stepping stone to sit firmly on the name of this cruel official.

But Shen Li directly pushed that he didn't know, which made him hesitant.

The Shen family's butt is not clean. He didn't believe at all that Shen Li, the talker, didn't know.

Even if Shen Li had a good reputation in the officialdom and the scholars of Guide Prefecture, he was ultimately the head of the Shen family.

Especially, the reputation of the scholar-official is just like that.

It's nothing more than being an official can only manage one generation, and reputation can be passed on for ten generations—especially since he is the sixteenth-generation grandson of Sima Guang, and he can still get light until now, which is a glimpse.

So in Sima Zhi's eyes, Shen Li had no halo.

He looked at Shen Li's calm appearance and observed for a long while.

After a moment.

Sima Zhi secretly shook his head and decided to change his strategy.

He pondered for a moment, went straight to the point, and stared at Shen Li's eyes: "Zhonghua, in the two capitals and thirteen provinces, after the winter, we are going to measure the fields and check the population!"

Measure fields and check population!?

Shen Li looked at Sima Zhi in surprise.

And then suddenly realized!

No wonder!

No wonder these days, the clansmen deliberately avoided him.

As a close minister of the Emperor and a lecturer of the Eastern Palace, he naturally knew what was in the new policies planned by the Emperor and the Cabinet at the turn of Longqing and Wanli.

Whether it was rectifying the Beijing Camp or the Examination Law, it was just preparing for the shaking of the world's foundation later.

Measuring fields, tax law, reforms...

These are the hard bones that are difficult to chew.

So, it was just that the wind and rain were coming, and a drop happened to fall in front of him.

As for Sima Zhi...

Shen Li didn't take his probing to heart.

He also understood why Sima Zhi had such a fierce appearance.

The Shen family is the head of the eight great families in Guide Prefecture.

He didn't know how much land his clansmen had annexed under his banner.

Nor did he count how many petty officials he had stuffed into the prefectural and county offices.

He paid even less attention to the frequent marriages within the clan and the ambiguity with several major families around.

He only knew that as long as they wanted to measure fields and check the population, the Shen family of Guide Prefecture was a threshold that couldn't be bypassed.

Sima Zhi is acting as a small Xu Jie for himself.

Shen Li couldn't help but smile.

Unfortunately, he is not.

After a smile, he immediately restrained his expression, met Sima Zhi's gaze, and said seriously: "My father passed away suddenly four years ago, and my mother mourned until this year, and also passed away. In the four years, I have been on sick leave and mourning, and I have not yet asked about the clan property and fields of the Shen family."

"Since the imperial court wants to measure fields and check the population."

"Vice-Prefect Sima might as well start with my Shen family."

He paused: "Just handle official business officially, and I will restrain the family."

It was as if he had changed his name to an official position.

Sima Zhi looked at Shen Li in surprise.

And then turned into suspicion, he really couldn't help but ask a nonsense question: "Zhonghua really?"

Since he entered the door, Shen Li's reaction was beyond his expectation every time.

At this moment, he didn't know whether to believe it or not.

The Shen family is the first famous family in Guide Prefecture after all, and this reaction now is too easy.

If the personal integrity of this Mr. Longjiang is really so clear and pure, and he is willing to be a traitor to the clan and cooperate with the imperial court, then... after he dies, I am afraid that no clansmen will be willing to bury his coffin.

Shen Li saw Sima Zhi's expression of disbelief. He didn't answer, just called out to the outside of the house.

His stepson Shen Jian heard the sound outside and walked in quickly.

After Shen Jian finished the ceremony, Shen Li ordered directly: "Go and take the books of the clan's fields and tenant farmers."

Shen Jian looked up suddenly when he heard this.

Shen Li nodded frankly and waved his hand to drive him away.

Shen Jian had no choice but to respond.

Before long, books were piled up in the middle of the room.

Seeing this scene, Sima Zhi finally believed that Shen Li was coming for real.

He was overjoyed: "Zhonghua is truly a true gentleman who cares about the country!"

All kinds of praises like "famous virtue and high style, righteous sound and strong spirit" came out without money.

Saying this, he wanted to learn the Emperor's tricks in the rumors and go up to grab Shen Li's hand.

Shen Li had no reaction to this kind of praise.

He inadvertently broke free from Sima Zhi's hand and asked: "Vice-Prefect Sima is now like facing a great enemy, what kind of fierce backlash did you encounter?"

Sima Zhi fell into silence when he heard Shen Li's question.

At this time, he already believed that this Shen Zhongyun was really not listening to things outside the window.

After a moment.

Sima Zhi sighed and finally revealed his true feelings: "The imperial court's document arrived in Guide Prefecture at the beginning of the month, ordering us to measure fields after autumn."

"On that day, Prefect Xiao Yinggong hung his seal and returned."

Xiao Yinggong was also a Jinshi in the second year of Wanli.

But his composition was better than Sima Zhi's, top ten in the second rank, selected as a Shujishi, magistrate for two years, assistant prefect for two years, and directly promoted to Prefect.

Whether it was talent or means, it was the top choice.

But it was such a character who, after seeing the document of measuring fields, didn't even want the retirement treatment and hung his seal and returned.

This matter can be said to have shocked the officialdom of Henan for a while.

Shen Li could only remain silent—hanging the seal and resigning is a good reputation in the scholar-official circle, explaining that he is not greedy for power, but refusing the government order that benefits the country and the people and fleeing is not a good thing. Shen Li didn't know how to evaluate this behavior for a while.

Only hearing Sima Zhi continue: "That's all, I can still support the framework of the prefectural office alone, and acting as Prefect is a good thing for me to polish my resume."

"But, the petty officials in the prefectural office are mostly involved with the powerful families in each county."

"The news can't be hidden at all."

Shen Li naturally understood this.

When his grandfather Shen Han was Prefect of Fujian, he easily arranged for his son to be a registrar in Shuntian Prefecture.

This is the hidden rule of officialdom. You hire my son, I hire your son. Over time, the powerful families monopolized the local native officials.

"After the major powerful families learned about the measuring of fields, how could they wait for death."

"In the middle of the month..."

Sima Zhi looked up at Shen Li and smiled: "Threatened me at the Prefectural Office in your name."

Shen Li was indifferent.

Just shook his head expressionlessly and explained slightly.

He was accustomed to this kind of thing himself.

If it weren't for the fact that people below were using his banner, like locusts crossing the border, why would the Shen family have grown rapidly in these ten years?

Sima Zhi continued: "I naturally couldn't retreat easily, otherwise wouldn't I fall the reputation of my Sima family?"

"After that, I stared at you... them, for fear that they would make things difficult for me in secret."

"Sure enough."

"The night before last, from Zhaopi Village in Lanyang County to Lingjia Village in Yucheng County, the dam was ignited by gunpowder, and the fire soared into the sky!"

Sima Zhi said it lightly.

Shen Li was shocked and stood up, horrified: "Bombing the dam!?"

Even with his cultivation, he couldn't help but be shocked at this moment.

Sima Zhi nodded, his face full of lingering fear, and comforted: "It wasn't destroyed, it just cracked a mouth, and it has been blocked."

"Thanks to the fact that the former Deputy Commissioner of Dike Zhang Shiluan didn't have a bad conscience, and didn't cut corners too much when building the dike, otherwise if such a thing happened in my governance, even if I wouldn't be sent to the capital, I would have to leave office and wait for investigation."

Shen Li still had lingering fears and paced back and forth in front of Sima Zhi.

His face was full of thought—it was the first time he had started to think deeply since he was on sick leave in the second year of Wanli.

Perhaps because he hadn't thought for too long, it took him a while to figure it out.

Shen Li breathed a sigh of relief, sat down again, and said his opinion: "They shouldn't be crazy to this extent. This section of the dike is more than 229 li long, and it took 507,741 workers. Once it is bombed, it will not be repaired in a while."

"The Yellow River burst, the whole prefecture will suffer, no matter if it is a powerful family or a commoner, good fields or barren fields, they will all be flooded! When the imperial court investigates, it will be another killing robbery."

"They won't do such stupid things, and they don't have the guts."

"This is forcing you, forcing you to sit down and talk, forcing you to make concessions!"

Sima Zhi had already figured out this truth, so he didn't need Shen Li to remind him.

He spread his hands helplessly and smiled: "So I came to the Shen family today."

He thought that these people were really the big Buddha Shen Li behind them.

For this, he made countless preparations.

Who would have thought it was a false alarm.

But... this result is better than expected.

Shen Li heard this and nodded indifferently: "My family has also annexed a lot in these hundred years. This is using my clan property to provoke me and the imperial court."

Saying this, he couldn't help but snort coldly.

What kind of person did they take him for, that they wanted him to come forward for these fly-like things?

Clan property, he had to admit that he valued it very much before.

As for now...

His wife's menstruation was irregular. In these thirty years, she was pregnant eleven times, and except for two daughters, all died in the womb.

Nine is the extreme number, annihilating his last hope.

He had already accepted his fate to continue the bloodline.

Correspondingly, he was much more indifferent to the clan and clan property.

Compared to the clan, he was more obsessed with the continuation of the spirit—this is why, even if his clansmen asked him to leave his wife and take a concubine to get pregnant every day, he remained unmoved.

Clan property?

Even if it is as much as Xu Jie, what is the meaning?

It is better to pass on a spiritual brand of his own and leave something useful to the world.

Sima Zhi glanced at Shen Li.

He couldn't help but look up to him in his heart.

At this moment, he had abandoned his original thoughts and had a new idea.

Sima Zhi coughed lightly and stood up slowly.

He walked in front of Shen Li and bowed deeply: "Zhi is presumptuous, please Mr. Longjiang to help me with the measuring of fields."

After speaking, he bowed to the end.

He is a flowing official, and he has only been in Henan for four years.

The Shen family has been a Jinshi since Shen Han, and has been rooted in Guide Prefecture for a hundred years. It is a local powerful family.

If he can get Shen Li's help, he will inevitably get twice the result with half the effort!

Shen Li heard this and was silent for a long while.

Finally, he said slowly: "My mother passed away three months ago, and I am still in the mourning period, so it is not convenient to show my face."

"I will go to the prefectural office with you first and instruct the petty officials of my clan to fully assist Vice-Prefect Sima."

Two-tenths of the petty officials in Guide Prefecture are Shen family members.

If he says hello, he can at least let Sima Zhi no longer be unable to move, with no one to use.

Sima Zhi heard this and didn't dwell on whether it was the Shen family's petty officials or the Great Ming's petty officials.

Just clapped his hands and was overjoyed: "Great good!"

He stepped forward again, grabbed Shen Li's hand, and wanted to pull him out.

……

On the official road from Yucheng County to Guide Prefecture City, the honor guard followed far behind the carriage.

Shen Li and Sima Zhi were squeezed into a carriage, sitting opposite each other.

"Since I left the capital, what is the situation in the world?" Shen Li asked seriously.

The official road in Henan is naturally different from that around the capital, bumpy, making the two very uncomfortable in the carriage.

Sima Zhi pondered for a moment and replied: "After arriving at the prefectural office, I will show Mr. Longjiang the residence report and the new report, and after reading it, everything will be clear."

Shen Li was surprised: "The new report is sold to Henan?"

He remembered that in the second year of Wanli, it was only sold around Northern Zhili.

Sima Zhi nodded: "Now, except for Yunnan, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Sichuan, every Provincial Administration Commission office has a news edition office, directly under the Tongzheng Office, with newspaper printing plants under its jurisdiction."

"Together with the residence report, it is urgently copied to each province, and then printed by the printing plant and passed to each prefecture."

"It is about a month slower than the capital."

Shen Li nodded thoughtfully.

In this way, the authority of the Tongzheng Office is likely to increase once again.

I fear it will truly attain a status commensurate with the title of the Nine Ministers.

Shen Li shook his head, cast aside his thoughts, and continued, "Then, Jingfu, pick some major events to talk about."

In this, Sima Zhi did not shirk.

As the carriage jolted incessantly, Sima Zhi recounted in detail: "After Master Longjiang retired, the Xuan-Da region took military action against the Uriankhai Tumen of the Tatar right wing. In this campaign, Regional Commander Qi Jiguang killed Dong Huli, and Hu Shouren captured Chang Ang and brought him to the capital to offer tribute."

"In the eleventh month, the Emperor selected his consorts and invested the Empress. The grand wedding took place in the third month of the following year, and he began to rule personally."

Hearing this, Shen Li was somewhat surprised: "So early? Then, is there an imperial heir now?"

Sima Zhi sighed: "It is precisely because of this matter that there is such an uproar."

"His Majesty has no heir to this day, and the court has been arguing for over a year about whether to fill the inner palace once more."

"Besides this, there are also those accusing the Cabinet of being too hasty, thereby harming His Majesty's foundation."

Shen Li frowned: "Who says His Majesty has necessarily harmed his foundation?"

These words were, to say the least, too malicious.

Just because there is no heir does not necessarily mean the foundation is harmed; could it not be that he is still young and the efforts have not been sufficient?

To take a step back, even if the foundation were truly harmed, it should not be proclaimed so openly and brazenly.

Otherwise, shouldn't the court officials be considering the question of who will succeed to the throne?

Sima Zhi sighed: "Who said it is no longer important; now, from south to north, it is being spread this way."

"Even if the two palaces come forward to explain that it is because the Emperor is busy with ten thousand tasks and rarely shares a bed, neither the court officials nor the common people believe it, and privately, it is becoming increasingly rampant."

Shen Li sneered with an inscrutable meaning: "Besides those with ulterior motives deliberately doing so, what else could it be? I fear the means go beyond just this."

Sima Zhi looked at Shen Li in surprise.

He felt that along the way, this Master Longjiang had become increasingly sharp.

Sima Zhi nodded frankly and said without avoidance: "Now that Prince Lu is twelve years old, he has already reached adulthood. The Chief Grand Secretary has repeatedly submitted memorials hoping he would leave the palace and take up his fief."

"But Empress Dowager Li and some court officials absolutely disagree."

"They have argued several times at court deliberations, and I hear it has been quite intense."

"His Majesty is caught in the middle by his mother, his younger brother, the Cabinet, and the court officials, feeling quite troubled and finding it difficult to choose. Even so, there are still those who say His Majesty disregards fraternal affection and treats his royal kin harshly."

Shen Li looked at Sima Zhi in astonishment.

He spoke in disbelief: "It has reached this point?"

Arguing over whether his own younger brother, Prince Lu, should take up his fief is, in essence, plotting the question of the Emperor's succession!

How is this any different from cursing the Emperor for having no heir and interfering with the succession!?

How could it come to this?

Sima Zhi lifted the carriage curtain and confirmed once more that there were no outsiders outside the carriage.

Only then did he sit back in his original position and say: "It is just the state of the times; His Majesty's suppression has been too harsh, so the backlash is naturally endless."

"In the seventh month of the third year of Wanli, His Majesty opened examinations for the recruitment of clerks for the various offices under the News and Publication Office."

"The content was roughly some common knowledge from the Four Books and Five Classics, arithmetic, and added some messy logic."

"In the fourth year of Wanli, His Majesty gradually phased out the hereditary officials of the Astronomical Bureau, and using the clerk recruitment of the News and Publication Office as a precedent, opened examinations for the two subjects of astronomy and mathematics."

"Among them, the fifth-rank Fifth-Rank Astronomical Observer and Fifth-Rank Astronomical Recorder, and the ninth-rank Fifth-Rank Morning Recorder and Clepsydra Doctor, were also included."

"At the annual meeting in the twelfth month of the fifth year of Wanli, a new system for the selection of clerks in Shuntian Prefecture was established, no longer recommended by superiors, but through unified selection examinations."

"Last year was the first session, testing the Four Books and Five Classics, mathematics, logic, and essays."

Shen Li's mouth opened: "Advancing like a pawn, could it be that he still intends to promote it widely?"

This is becoming a fixed system; it is clearly not a whim.

Sima Zhi did not respond; how would he know whether it would be promoted widely?

Shen Li muttered to himself: "No wonder the backlash is endless."

For the Emperor to do things this way, let alone the court officials, even he felt it was absurd upon hearing it.

With such various actions, the people offended are not just mere clerks.

How do clerks come about? They are designated by officials!

Just like his uncle, who wasn't even a licentiate, being recommended by his grandfather as the Registrar of Shuntian Prefecture.

Just like why the clerks in Guide Prefecture now are mostly Shen family members? Because it was nothing more than a nod from him, Shen Li, a mere lift of a finger.

If things were done according to the Emperor and the Cabinet's methods, how would court officials place their relatives?

How would local prominent families continue to take root in the yamen and grow stronger day by day?

If this continues... the number of people dissatisfied with the Emperor will naturally grow.

Shen Li thought more deeply and couldn't help but rub his brow.

Seeing that Shen Li had no intention of responding, Sima Zhi continued from his previous words: "Besides this matter, there was also around the sixth month of the second year of Wanli, when Wang Shouren was enshrined in the Confucius Temple."

"The orthodoxy of Confucianism was also determined accordingly: preceded by Confucius and Mencius, followed by Cheng and Zhu, and succeeded by the Seven Sages."

Shen Li nodded.

He did know about this matter; after all, when he left the capital, the Emperor had already manifested his holiness in public, and his purpose was self-evident.

He only heard Sima Zhi continue: "In the eighth month of the third year of Wanli, Li Zhi, having absorbed the Emperor's theories and based on the two words 'practice', pushed forth the word 'progress'—calling it 'technique'."

"The existence of the imperial court has the obligation to promote techniques, ingenious mechanisms, slash-and-burn farming, firearms, ships... and so on."

"In the third month of the fourth year of Wanli, Li Zhi again, based on the two words 'practice', pushed forth the word 'fairness'—calling it 'distribution'."

Sima Zhi stopped briefly at this point and did not discuss it too much.

"The existence of the imperial court has the obligation to regulate resource distribution."

"The balance of these two depends on the evolution of the era, having trade-offs, just like the Dao of yin and yang."

After hearing Sima Zhi finish, Shen Li could no longer tell how many times he had shown an expression of astonishment.

He looked at Sima Zhi, speechless.

Sima Zhi met his gaze and nodded meaningfully: "This time, the land survey and the verification of household registration are based on the latter as the theoretical foundation."

(End of chapter)