Because Zhu Youxiao knew that the Ming Dynasty was an era that valued appearance more than anything else. If you were ugly, you could forget about becoming an official. To put it more reliably, ugly people serving as officials would affect the image of the court.
During troubled times, scholars would also adhere to this principle when selecting a ruler. If you are ugly, or have a rather ungainly appearance, you don't look like someone fit to rule.
This one sentence cost me my life. It can be said that the Ming Dynasty was much more concerned with appearance than later generations.
Judging from his appearance, Mei Zhihuan was a qualified official of the Ming Dynasty, and a relatively outstanding one at that.
Retracting his gaze, Zhu Youxiao reached out and picked up the notebook on the table, saying, "This is the notebook you took. Do you remember what's written in it?"
"Your Majesty, I remember." Mei Zhihuan said with a bow.
Zhu Youxiao nodded and asked, "Why do you want to submit such a petition?"
"You should also know that this petition is of no use. Even if I don't punish you, the outside world won't have a good opinion of you. Whether I do it or not, I'm afraid you won't have a good result."
After saying this, Zhu Youxiao raised his head and looked at Mei Zhihuan with a smile on his face, waiting for him to answer.
Mei Zhihuan naturally understood what Zhu Youxiao said.
The meaning of this sentence is actually very simple, which means that what you come up with is actually a thankless task.
If Your Majesty disagrees, what will people outside say about me?
After thinking about this for a while, Mei Zhihuan knew that there would be no good results at all.
But if His Majesty agrees, I'm afraid I'll face more criticism, and I'll have to do things myself, so I might have to get involved, and I'm afraid there won't be a good ending.
This is what Your Majesty is asking himself.
Mei Zhihuan remained silent for a long moment, but his expression remained serious. Finally, he spoke slowly, "Confucius said to achieve benevolence, Mencius said to pursue righteousness. Only when righteousness is fulfilled can benevolence be achieved. What is the purpose of reading the books of sages? From now on, I hope I will have no regrets."
This sentence has been said by countless people, and Zhu Youxiao has heard it many times.
But this time, after hearing Mei Zhihuan's words, Zhu Youxiao felt particularly powerful, so he slowly asked, "Don't you regret it?"
"Your Majesty, I will have no regrets even if I die a hundred times!" Mei Zhihuan said in a resounding voice.
Zhu Youxiao nodded, put down the memorial in his hand, turned to Chen Hong and said, "Send this memorial to the cabinet and ask them to draft an imperial edict to exonerate Zhang Juzheng."
Taking the question book with both hands, Chen Hong bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Then he took the memorial and arranged for someone to go to the cabinet.
Mei Zhihuan didn't expect that His Majesty would be so decisive. He got the job done after just a few words, and his attitude was extremely firm, not allowing anyone to refuse.
Why would such a powerful emperor feel so happy?
Zhu Youxiao said slowly, "Since you said you want to redress Zhang Juzheng, then tell me, what is the most important thing in Zhang Juzheng's new policies?"
"Your Majesty, I think it should be based on the performance evaluation method." Mei Zhihuan said with certainty.
"I thought you would come up with a method!" Zhu Youxiao said with a smile, "Then tell me why it is the performance evaluation method?"
"Your Majesty, no matter what policies the court implements, it is ultimately the ministers who do the work. The people of the world look up to Your Majesty, but they only interact with officials. Officials represent the court and Your Majesty."
"Corruption is rampant in the officialdom today, with officials passing the buck. Countless officials are invited to serve in the government, but in reality, they have no real work to do. They only recite poems and songs, and play lavish music. Merchants and dignitaries have no desire to serve the country, and spend their nights drunken and dreaming. Officials and businessmen collude, oppressing the people, levying heavy taxes and extortion, and making life miserable for the people!"
Zhu Youxiao's expression did not change at all, he just listened quietly.
Chen Hong, who had just turned around, heard such words and his face immediately changed drastically. When he looked at Mei Zhihuan again, the expression on Chen Hong's face was horrified.
Is this guy surnamed Mei crazy?
Or is it a brain cramp?
Saying such things in front of His Majesty is courting death!
The emperor valued him so much just now, but he wasted such an opportunity!
Originally, Chen Hong thought that Mei Zhihuan would be a newly rising big shot in the court, but looking at it now, it was the emperor's mercy that this man was not sent to prison.
According to this person, the Ming Dynasty is about to fall! How can you say that so casually?
Mei Zhihuan did not stop. This time he was ready to say out everything he was thinking. Because he didn't know if he would have such an opportunity again in the future, he just said more.
If this can serve as a wake-up call and make Your Majesty wary and change, then it will be worth it; if I am thrown into prison for this, then my death will be a worthy one.
"I believe the Ming Dynasty has reached a critical juncture. If reforms are not carried out, the day of its demise is not far away! If we want to reform, we must first change the administration of officials. Clarifying the administration of officials and appointing talented people to positions of power is the beginning of reform."
"The officials in the court are mediocre and cannot bear the heavy responsibility. Therefore, I want to promote Zhang Juzheng's performance evaluation system. I think Zhang Juzheng's reformed performance evaluation system should be recommended first." After saying this, Mei Zhihuan did not speak again, but stood aside respectfully, waiting for His Majesty to speak.
Zhu Youxiao glanced at Mei Zhihuan, his face showing no joy or anger.
Reaching out to pick up the teacup beside him and taking a sip, Zhu Youxiao slowly said, "Has the Ming Dynasty become so deplorable? Is it about to be destroyed?"
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