Inheriting the legacy and forging ahead into the future
From a young age, Shen Chengze took his ancestors as role models, kept in mind the family motto of "loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness," and worked diligently, increasing his knowledge day by day. He was not only proficient in classics, history, philosophy, and literature, but also had a wide range of practical knowledge such as military strategy, agriculture, and water conservancy. He was determined to be a virtuous minister who served the people and shared the country's burdens, just like his grandfather Shen Jiye and his father Shen Nian'an.
At the age of seventeen, Shen Chengze participated in the provincial examination and achieved the top score, becoming the top scholar. At the age of twenty, he went to the capital to participate in the metropolitan examination and successfully became a successful candidate. During the palace examination, he answered the emperor's questions calmly and fluently. In particular, when discussing the governance of people's livelihood, he combined examples such as water conservancy construction in Jiangnan and disaster relief in the north to propose the governance concept of "adapting to local conditions and addressing both the symptoms and root causes." He won the emperor's appreciation and ultimately became the second-ranked scholar in the first class, and was appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy.
After entering the Hanlin Academy, Shen Chengze did not become arrogant or complacent, but instead worked even harder. He studied classical texts and compiled national history every day, humbly seeking advice from his seniors. At the same time, he used his spare time to go among the people and understand their real needs. He discovered that many farmers in the suburbs of Beijing suffered from poor irrigation due to outdated water conservancy facilities, resulting in extremely low grain yields. He took the initiative to write to the emperor, requesting funds to repair the water conservancy system and promote advanced irrigation techniques.
The emperor adopted his suggestion and appointed him to oversee the water conservancy repair project in the suburbs of Beijing. Shen Chengze personally surveyed the terrain, drew up plans, and organized the people to carry out the construction. He ate, lived, and worked alongside the people, personally supervising the quality of the project and adjusting the plans promptly when problems arose. After a year of hard work, the water conservancy facilities in the suburbs of Beijing were completely renewed, grain production increased significantly, and the lives of the people gradually became more prosperous.
The people were very grateful to Shen Chengze and wrote to the court one after another, praising him as a promising, pragmatic and hardworking official. The emperor also trusted him more and more, and soon promoted him to censor, responsible for supervising officials and impeaching corrupt officials.
After taking office, Shen Chengze consistently upheld principles and remained impartial. He conducted thorough investigations, gathered evidence, and impeached several corrupt officials, including some high-ranking officials. This action significantly improved the atmosphere in the court, making officials more cautious in their words and deeds and deterring them from further reckless behavior.
Shen Nian'an and his wife, Lin, were filled with pride upon learning of their son's performance. Shen Nian'an wrote him a letter, instructing him: "Chengze, you have done very well, but the responsibility of overseeing all officials is immense. You must be careful and cautious, and not act impulsively. You must uphold principles, but also know how to protect yourself, so that you can serve the country and its people for a long time."
Shen Chengze was deeply grateful after receiving his father's letter. He replied that he would keep his father's teachings in mind and live up to the trust of the court and the expectations of his family.
By this time, Shen Chengze was no longer the naive child who followed his grandfather around, but had grown into a responsible and capable court official. He inherited the patriotism passed down through generations of the Shen family, and put into practice the belief of "loving one person for life and protecting one country with one heart," steadily advancing on his official career and carrying on the legacy for the future.
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