Chapter 2740 Gui Zi Juan: Find out the essence and distinguish between friends and foes

"Jun Yu, why don't I know the turmoil here?" Feng Ziying said calmly: "Even Duke Ziqiang and Duke Youfu may be able to reluctantly accept the imperial examination system, but in their hearts they resist the reform of the imperial examination system. This is caused by deep-rooted old ideas. I also know that it is difficult to change their minds in a short time. I originally thought that Mr. Ziqiang had worked in the Ministry of Industry for so long, and Mr. Youfu was the headmaster of Tonghui Academy. , I should be more open-minded, but..."

"In this case, you should not be so aggressive in bringing the investigation of objects and financial planning into the scope of the competition. It may be legally acceptable. In addition, Meng Lang should not make such a hasty decision on the conquest of Mongolia..." Lian Guoshi stared at Feng Ziying with burning eyes.

He needs to figure out what Feng Ziying wants. Now Feng Ziying is really playing with danger and there will be big trouble if he is not careful.

“Jun Yu, there are only you and me here, and we have nothing to hide. Let’s talk openly. Do you think the Mongolian War should be fought?” Feng Ziying asked directly.

 Lian Guo Shi did not hesitate and answered straightforwardly: "We should fight, but we shouldn't fight at this time. First, there is no consensus between the government and the opposition, second, there is not enough preparation, and third, the time is not right,..."

"Well, it seems that it is just a matter of conditions, not the fundamental reason. A consensus between the government and the opposition can never be reached. There will always be different opinions. It is simple to be fully prepared. I believe in the ability of the Ministry of Accounts to raise funds, and there are also businessmen who support and banks. The village can raise money, that's not a problem. As for the timing, I think it's just right. You think it's not appropriate, it's just a matter of opinion. Let's not mention this issue for now, but should we promote the test?"

On this issue, Lian Guoshi pondered for a moment before slowly saying: "Although I have slightly different views on some small details, overall I agree with it. I also think that through the promotion of the examination method, It has greatly improved the daily work of our officials in the Zhou Dynasty and the rectification of officialdom, which I firmly support."

"Very good. The examination law has pushed us to agree. What about the reform of the imperial examination? Adding examinations, financial planning, and laws, and gradually increasing their proportions. Do you think it is necessary? Should it? You don't have to have any taboos. , As far as the two of us have a heart-to-heart talk, you can honestly say whether the changes brought by studying things, financial planning and laws to our current society are worth it or should be learned and promoted..."

This question put Lian Guoshi to the test, making it difficult for him to answer for a while.

The silence brewed for a long time, and Lian Guoshi finally spoke out one by one: "Laws are indeed necessary, but I think the proportion should not be too large. Many people now express their opposition to joining the two, including investigation of things and financial planning, let alone We also need to gradually increase the weight, but I have a different opinion..."

"As you said, the growth of industry and commerce increasingly played a huge role in promoting the development of the Zhou Dynasty, and Gewu played an irreplaceable role in the development of workers and farmers, especially the improvement of efficiency and the emergence of new products, so I From the bottom of my heart, I feel that it is necessary to join Gewu, but not everyone needs to be familiar with it. I think it needs to be considered, and the same is true for financial planning. In the development of industry and commerce, even agriculture, and some daily affairs in our eight departments They all also need to use financial planning, but there are specialties in the arts. It is worth exploring whether every scholar who takes the scientific examination needs to be familiar with it,..."

This should be the sincere words of Lian Guoshi. He admits that all three are valuable, but feels that the weight and universality in the entire imperial examination are worth exploring. I am afraid that this should be the most recognized among the colleagues around him, except Xu Guangqi, for the merits of studying things and financial planning. Officials of value and significance.

Even the Songjiang Gang scholars, such as Dong Qichang, Lu Yanzhang, and Zhang Nai, who had been persuaded by the businessmen to accept it, probably did not believe deep down in their hearts that studying objects and financial planning would be able to reach the level of elegance. However, their interests were too closely tied to those of the businessmen. Deep, so unable to turn, will support yourself.

"Jun Yu, my views are different from yours. Maybe you will think that I am deviant or even digging my own grave, but the importance of investigation and financial planning will become increasingly apparent, and it will accelerate." "They all go. I saw the situation of the Gyeonggi Coal, Iron and Military Industrial Complex, and also saw the Yuguangang Shipyard. In fact, I saw the new technology of steel and iron making, the new technology of shipbuilding, even the invention of cement, and how new crops can be improved to become high-yielding and highly adaptable. Sexual crops, these are closely related to the study of things and financial planning. The importance of studying things and financial planning cannot be revealed in one or two years, or even five or ten years. It takes twenty years, thirty years, fifty years, or even a hundred years. Talent becomes more and more important..."

"The Western Yi have now gone through a revolution in research and finance, so they are already ahead of us in many areas of industry and commerce, such as new firecrackers and shipbuilding. If we don't catch up, we will quickly become like Nanyang. Like those indigenous people, I have become the target of their aggression. I cannot accept this situation, so I would rather bear the infamy and bear the pressure to promote this reform..."

These words shocked even Lian Guoshi, and he subconsciously said: "Ziying, is it appropriate to choose this time? Why can't you wait for a few years? Is it related to the current situation of the army?"

 Finally, I heard about this problem. Feng Ziying also knew that many people on her side were also a little confused or worried about this.

Due to his own background, too many entanglements with the war and the army, and a series of adjustments to the army after he served as Minister of War in the later period, he was too deeply involved in the army and warriors, which made many people have to worry, even himself. People on one side. After thinking about it, Feng Ziying said calmly: "There are indeed some reasons for this. The cabinet and important ministers have a very high voice for disarmament. At present, the twelve towns plus the Beijing camp, even if Ganning is merged and Guyuan is abolished, there will still be ten The town, plus the Beijing camp, has a strength of no less than one million. If the three major naval divisions of Denglai, Fujian and Guangdong are included, the strength exceeds 1.05 million. What Zhisheng means is that the army will be reduced to 750,000 and the navy will be expanded. To 150,000, we should reduce the number of 150,000 people. Ziqiang, Zishu and other important ministers expressed the opinion that the Army should be reduced to 500,000 and the Navy should be expanded to 150,000. The total strength of the retained force would be 650,000, which is equivalent to the reduction of 400,000. ,…”

During the reign of Emperor Yonglong, there was a layoff, Guyuan was laid off, and two towns in Gansu and Ningxia were merged. However, the three towns were actually lacking a lot of troops at that time, so the impact was not too great. But now the troops in each town are real. Whether it is Ganning, or military towns such as Yulin, Dongjiang, Jiangbei, and Denglai, they are basically full. The imperial court will lay off 400,000 people at a word. Many of these are veterans who are accustomed to fighting. , If we really want them to return to their hometowns, once the livelihood problem is not solved, it will immediately become a big problem, or even turn into a bomb.

 At the end of the Ming Dynasty in the previous life, Li Zicheng was created because of the abolition of the postmen. However, when the army was abolished in the Zhou Dynasty, more Zhang Zicheng and Wang Zicheng emerged. That would have really shot oneself in the foot.

Feng Ziying does not believe that the introduction of potatoes, sweet potatoes and corn will completely solve the hunger problem in the North and some remote mountainous areas. The livelihood problem of landless farmers is still the biggest burning point. Without solving the land problem, once there is a flood or drought, When a disaster occurs, the refugee problem is inevitable, and the risk of turning into a storm like the great uprising in the late Ming Dynasty still exists.

Now if we suddenly drive 400,000 strong soldiers back to the countryside, it will be like igniting countless fires in a grassland full of withered grass.

"If we follow the opinions of Duke Ziqiang and Brother Zishu, this is too strong and there will be problems." Lian Guoshi said with certainty: "Brother Zhisheng's opinion is too weak..."

Feng Ziying shook her head and smiled bitterly, "Even if I go by Zhisheng's opinion, I'm worried that there will be problems. Everyone feels relieved after the Jianzhou Jurchens are solved. Disarmament at this time will be considered by the warriors as a waste of time. If it is used by some people with ulterior motives, the older generation such as my father has retired and their influence is not as good as before. The new generation is growing up in the prime of life and is naturally high-spirited. If they are coerced by the people below, Instigation, it’s hard to say that something like that will happen..."

 It makes me shudder to practice state affairs.

Even Feng Ziying, who is facing Lian Guoshi, has some reservations on this issue.

The army is his greatest confidence. He also knows that his colleagues have criticized him for having too close a relationship with the army. However, without the support of the army, his voice as the chief minister in the court will be greatly reduced.

To put it bluntly, my right to speak in the scholar system is far from enough. Whether it is Cui Jingrong, Wang Yongguang or Chai Ke, their attitude towards me is cooperation rather than complete recognition. This is my biggest problem. Shortcomings, this is why these people dare to fight against themselves on issues such as disarmament, imperial examinations, and officialdom.

Sometimes Feng Ziying asks herself, how many courtiers and supporters are there in the court who truly agree with her ideas?

 If you do the math, I’m afraid it’s not much.

 What are his real supporters? They are military personnel and businessmen, but they are not in the court. At most, they only influence the officials in the court.

It is precisely because of his special status and influence in the army, as well as the full support of the businessmen, that these people are either forced to obey him or they are forced to obey him. Maybe they are already in the army now. I began to regret that I might as well have chosen Gu Bingqianhe or Guan Yingzhen, but I would not give them such a choice now.

 (End of this chapter)