Chapter 216: Are you Zhu En worthy of the title of ‘National Scholar’?
Zhu En, the Minister of Rites, is a person who is not very sensitive to new things. He basically belongs to the category of people who only read the books of sages. Therefore, he basically has no understanding of the various important industrial and agricultural production data of the Ming Dynasty contained in the Huangming Newspaper. Haven't seen it either.
Therefore, now that Zhu Houzhao reprimanded him like this, Zhu En didn't know how to defend himself for a moment. He didn't expect that he would appear so useless in front of His Majesty the Emperor. Even his memorials became nonsense in the eyes of the Emperor, and even the court His Majesty is also very dissatisfied with his political affairs, and in His Majesty's eyes, I seem to be nothing but empty talk.
Zhu En could only remain silent. He suddenly realized that it was not easy to be the Minister of Rites. His majesty would make mistakes when he said something casually. The emperor in front of him seemed to be able to quickly discover his own shortcomings, forcing him to follow him. The rhythm is so fast that I don't know where your majesty has moved to the matter where I want the court not to restrain the gentry with etiquette and law.
Zhu Houzhao looked at the chief minister of the cabinet Wang Hua and other bachelors:
"How do you recommend officials from the imperial court? Why do you select ministerial officials regardless of their moral character, but only their talents? How can you be the ninth minister if you are so unworthy! The reason why the imperial minister recommends officials to the imperial court is for Fair and strict, the fundamental purpose is to select someone more suitable to be in charge of the country!
Nowadays, the ministers of the Ministry of Rites elected by the Cabinet and the Nine Ministers are either seeking power or usurping the throne or forming cliques for personal gain. The Minister of Rites elected now can only talk! Even empty talk is not good. We don’t know the output of food and cloth in the empire. Not only do we not know about it, we are not even ashamed of it. As the Minister of Rites, he does not work to maintain the etiquette system, improve etiquette and law, and promote virtue and good deeds. Instead, he intercedes for the gentry. , this is the Minister of Rites for the common people, or the Minister of Rites for the gentry all over the world! ”
Zhu Houzhao suddenly got angry, and Wang Hua and other cabinet ministers had to become serious at this time. Among them, Wang Hua had to explain in detail: "Your Majesty, forgive me. When it comes to court promotion, cabinet ministers and Jiu Qing generally refer to the person being recommended." The moral character and qualifications are second to talent. As the saying goes, those who govern a country value morality first and talent second!
Zhu En had the qualifications to be the left minister of the Ministry of Rites before, and he also had good reputation, and he had never done any bad things! Therefore, I believe that Zhu En's pedantry and incompetence are not the fault of the court, but the fault of the government! Zhu En of the Ministry of Rites first served in the Hanlin and then was promoted to Zhanshi, and was finally transferred to the Ministry of Rites as the right minister. In the third year of Zhengde, he was moved to the left minister. Naturally, he had no chance to familiarize himself with practical matters when he served in the Hanlin Zhanshi. After being transferred to the Ministry of Rites, he was directly appointed as a court official, so he naturally had no idea about the affairs of the Ministry of Rites. The details! The only thing he is good at is naturally the rules and regulations. It is not surprising that he does not know the actual practice! ”
"He is also good at Jun's prelude, right? Jun's book bag drop is about the same. Zhu En, do you think you are qualified for the position of Minister of Rites?"
The meaning of Zhu Houzhao's question was naturally very clear, which was to make Zhu En admit that he was incompetent and resign on his own initiative.
Zhu En did not expect that he was just planning to intercede for the gentry, but in the blink of an eye he would be forced to resign by His Majesty the Emperor.
From the bottom of his heart, Zhu En did not want to resign. After all, he had managed to become the Minister of Rites and was only one step away from the cabinet. However, civil servants are all people who want to save face and suffer, and he, Zhu En, is no exception. Now the emperor asks this question As a scholar, he naturally had to be humble and replied:
"I have disappointed your Majesty. I have little virtue and low talent, and I am not worthy of the post of Minister of Rites. After all, the Minister of Rites is an important minister of the country. How can I be worthy of my virtue? At that time, I was only fortunate to be recommended by Your Majesty and the great lords in the court. Therefore, it is difficult for me to assume the position of great master. Today, I am not satisfied with Your Majesty, so I will resign myself!”
"Zhu En, the meaning behind your words seems to be that I am forcing you to resign. Even to make you the Minister of Rites, I am forcing you myself. Let me ask you, do you have any dissatisfaction with yourself in your heart? Disappointed? ”
Zhu Houzhao wanted to say that people should be self-aware, but seeing that Zhu En was also over sixty years old, his tone was not too harsh.
But Zhu En only bent down and bowed in fear: "I don't dare!"
"Why don't you dare? Are you afraid to say that I am forcing you, or are you afraid to be disappointed in yourself?" Zhu Houzhao continued to ask.
"I dare not have the slightest dissatisfaction with Your Majesty. Your Majesty is the father of the emperor. To the ministers, thunder, rain and dew are all the favor of the emperor!" Zhu En hurriedly replied, but he felt very uncomfortable in his heart. He was afraid that Zhu Houzhao would He was not happy to have his head chopped off, but he was not willing to be manipulated by Emperor Zhu Houzhao.
He couldn't help but secretly think about resigning. It was difficult to be comfortable as an emperor's minister like Zhu Houzhao. Not only did he have to have both ability and political integrity, but he also had to be precise in his speech. He had to speak clearly and be knowledgeable. At the same time, he had to be able to tolerate being raped. The emperor's slap in the face was not as comfortable as being an official during the Hongzhi Dynasty. Usually, the ministers educated the emperor, and then the emperor accepted the advice humbly.
"Zhu En, there is no need for you to say such angry words to me. I know that you civil servants are all arrogant people who rely on your talents. You always compare yourself to Bigan and Zhuge. The emperor cannot become a saint without your education!
As long as I am a little stricter, I will be as aggrieved as my little daughter-in-law, saying that thunder, rain, and dew are all for your kindness. If you really have such servility, I will not be so tired, or even use the butcher knife repeatedly!
Of course, I now understand that you are deceiving me as the emperor of the Han people. No matter how ruthless I am, you all know that I will not use you as a slave, but only as a national scholar, so you are all shameless. Fearful; if you were in Qianyuan, would you dare to stand like this and talk to me? ! ”
"Forget it, I don't want you all to become slaves. I also hope that you will all be prosperous and safe. However, you should ask yourselves, are you Zhu En worthy of the word 'national scholar'?!
What benefits do you seek for the country? What are you doing for the people? If you really abide by your duty as the Minister of Rites, advocate frugality, and hope that the world will follow the etiquette system, you can be regarded as a national scholar who will benefit the country for a long time. But you come to advise me not to ban the gentry based on the etiquette system!
However, this is okay. I have long wanted to restore freedom to the people of the world. It is not enough to restrain the gentry with etiquette. We should not restrain the common people with etiquette. A son may not obey his father, a wife may leave her husband, and the people may abandon her. Officer, if you dare to make such a remonstrance, I will still appreciate you and appreciate your courage to abolish etiquette and law to release the shackles of all people in the world! ”
Zhu Houzhao started talking at this time, but when he said that if the gentry were not banned by etiquette, the common people should not be banned by etiquette. Zhu En had nothing to say, so he could only hold up his hands and said: "I know the crime! I resign. Officer!”
Zhu Houzhao didn't say anything else. He only watched Zhu En put the beam crown on his head on the ground, and then said: "After returning home, teach well and educate people to benefit the people. Don't just seize land and occupy land."
Zhu En couldn't help but stop, turned around and cupped his hands and said: "I will remember your Majesty's teachings. Please rest assured. Since I have failed you, I will never fail the people. After I return to my hometown, I will spread the land to the people, leaving only a few." Part of it is for personal use, and I will start farming and teaching from now on!”
"So good!"
Zhu Houzhao smiled slightly.
Thank you to the book friend Super Blood Scholar for the reward of 100 starting coins to the book friend Max for the reward of 100 book coins
(End of chapter)