Hearing the worry in Xi Zhicai's words, Liu Hong frowned and said in a deep voice:
"Hmm, then let's try to reduce their opposition, or at least prevent them from opposing us all!"
Upon hearing Liu Hong's words, Xi Zhicai also fell into deep thought.
The establishment of schools would inevitably be opposed by powerful families, as it would infringe upon their most fundamental interests.
However, establishing schools was an imperative.
As Liu Hong's confidant and the one who had followed him the longest, Xi Zhicai naturally understood the emperor's thoughts.
A school that can win the approval of powerful families must provide them with some benefit.
"Your Majesty, I am incompetent and unable to share your burdens. I fear that we will have to compromise with them again regarding the establishment of schools!"
Thinking it over, Xi Zhicai gave Liu Hong a deep look, a hint of guilt flashing in his eyes.
"Then let's compromise. It's not the first or second time. As long as we can achieve our goal, what's one more time?"
Liu Hong smiled, seemingly unconcerned about sharing profits or making compromises with powerful families.
At the beginning of his reign, he established factions and restricted the selection of talented individuals. If he hadn't given most of the positions to powerful families, it would have been impossible to select talent through examinations.
The Imperial Guard was only able to be established smoothly because nearly 80% of the slots were allocated to powerful and influential families.
Later, the mutual markets, trade with the Western Regions, the three academies, and the royal trading company all benefited the powerful families and officials.
Therefore, although Liu Hong's actions have been smooth sailing and without major conflicts since he ascended the throne, it is ultimately because he has ceded most of his interests.
In other words, Liu Hong has always been compromising, planting pieces one by one in order to find a chance to win.
On the surface, Liu Hong appears to be getting along well with the scholar-official families, presenting himself as a wise ruler and virtuous minister.
In fact, Xi Zhicai understood that what the emperor had always been thinking about was to use the examination system to bypass the recommendation system, thereby weakening and breaking the monopoly of powerful families on the government and the selection of officials.
However, there are only so many scholars in the world, and even fewer who are talented enough to become officials. Moreover, nine out of ten of them are dependent on powerful families, and there are very few truly poor people.
Therefore, even if the assessment temporarily gathered some people from humble backgrounds, it still could not have any impact or threat on those powerful families!
This is why, despite the Empress Dowager's two major purges of the court, the Emperor still kept Tian Feng, Ju Shou, and others in the Secretariat, but did not give them important positions.
Once Tian Feng and his associates are given important positions, their roles in the Ministry of Personnel will immediately be filled by members of powerful and influential families.
The Ministry of Personnel, which Liu Hong had finally managed to control, would immediately return to the hands of scholar-official families.
Ultimately, the problem stems from insufficient talent reserves and a lack of successors; there aren't enough replacements.
This year's assessment results clearly show that although the company was supposed to recruit 5,000 people, nearly 3,000 of the positions have already been divided up by large and small powerful families.
The remaining two thousand spots will have to be filled by each person's own ability, but how can those from poor families possibly compete with those from wealthy families in terms of educational resources and education level?
Ultimately, the best outcome would be to have five hundred students from impoverished backgrounds.
This is why Liu Hong has repeatedly postponed this year's assessment date and has been reluctant to order the recruitment of Imperial Guards.
It's simply about giving students from poor families and ordinary households more time to prepare, giving them a better chance.
After thinking it over, Xi Zhicai looked at Liu Hong with a solemn expression.
"But... I wonder what Your Majesty plans to do next?"
Liu Hong smiled and said, "Let the Taiping Sect set up the Taoist academy first. This time, we should strike first and make them feel threatened. Then we can see what they do and respond accordingly!"
"Your Majesty is right, but... the Taiping Sect is only influential among the common people now. I am worried that they will not be able to withstand the first wave of attacks from those people!"
Xi Zhicai nodded, then looked at Liu Hong with a worried expression.
Liu Hong nodded, and said with a solemn expression:
"Hmm, Zhicai's concerns are not without merit. It seems I still need to find a backer for the Taiping Cult!"
"Find the back office...?"
Upon hearing Liu Hong's words, Xi Zhicai was taken aback.
Xi Zhicai was well aware of the Taiping Cult's background. Could it be that they had a stronger backer than the emperor?
Thinking it over, Xi Zhicai looked at Liu Hong with some doubt.
"Haha~, I'm so busy every day, I don't have time to argue with them about these things! There are plenty of people who are dissatisfied with those aristocratic families, why should I have to take action?"
Faced with Xi Zhicai's puzzled look, Liu Hong couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Upon hearing the emperor's words, Xi Zhicai's expression shifted slightly, and he then said:
"Your Majesty means... the imperial family and the four surnames...?"
(The four noble families, including the Fan, Yin, Guo, and Ma families, who were related to the emperor through marriage!)
Liu Hong nodded. "That's right. For many years, the imperial family and the four clans, along with other maternal relatives, have been subject to the guarding and suppression of scholars. Those people have long been dissatisfied with this, as have the powerful and wealthy merchants."
Moreover, if we combine them, they will become a considerable force. Let them fight against that group of scholars. Once the two sides reach a stalemate, they will seek help from a third party. At that time, it will be time for us to lift up the poor students!
In this way, the court will be in a three-way balance, making it easier for me to act in the future...!
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