After hearing this, Zhu Youxiao glanced at Wei Changsheng and said, "That's quite insightful. Anything else?"
"Your Majesty," Wei Changsheng said, "They do. Not only do these people do this, but they also give officials gardens, women, land, and houses. There's nothing they can't think of, only things you can't imagine. As long as there's even the slightest word of something happening, they'll send it to you."
"Besides that, they also mediate within the officialdom. For example, if an official gets into trouble, they will help him use their connections to get things done. After all, they have great power and can handle many things."
"In addition, when officials are promoted, they will also give money; if someone wants to be promoted, they will also help, and they also participate in things like asking for favors."
"In short, if a scholar could get close to them, he would have a good life while studying, with endless money, beautiful women to accompany him, and good grades in the imperial examinations. After becoming an official, his family would also be taken care of by them, with houses, fields, and shops all available."
"And since he's in the government, they'll help him out. Whenever there's an assessment or promotion, they'll handle it. So their influence is enormous."
Zhu Youxiao looked at Wei Changsheng and said with a smile: "There is still one thing missing from what you said. If I were to do this, I would also take control of the imperial examination."
"I will use all sorts of methods to achieve this goal, whether it's bribing the examiners or buying off the local yamen runners. In short, no matter how much it costs, I will do it."
"If it really can be done to that extent, then scholars who want to pass the imperial examination will have to obey; if they don't obey, they won't even think about passing."
"Only by obeying will they have a future. This way, I'm using both kindness and force. If you follow me, you'll gain something; if you don't, you'll gain nothing."
After hearing this, the people in the room all looked a little strange.
No one expected Zhu Youxiao to say such a thing. Obviously, this was beyond their expectations.
Emperor, is it really okay for you to say this?
But in fact, everyone was shocked after hearing this.
If these people can really do this as Zhu Youxiao said, then this matter is huge. In this way, they will have a lot of things in their hands.
In fact, in Zhu Youxiao's view, this is exactly what the Donglin Party did back then. The financial backers behind the Donglin Party paid for them to build academies, and then they aggressively collected and trained scholars, built momentum for them, gave them money, promoted their reputations, sent them women, and promoted them to official positions.
He didn't know whether cheating could be bribed during the exam, but Zhu Youxiao believed that cheating could not be stopped at all.
What's more, in the Ming Dynasty, they were so rich that there was nothing they couldn't do.
In later America, anyone with money could buy admission to a prestigious university, let alone in the Ming Dynasty?
The political environment in the United States is definitely better than that of the current Ming Dynasty, right?
But what’s the result? Isn’t it the same?
The imperial examinations help one’s own people advance, and the officialdom helps one’s own people get promoted. Officials in front promote officials behind them, and officials behind them support officials in front, thus forming a complete closed loop.
At the same time, within the academy, everyone can criticize current ills and develop comprehensive theories. Our policies and current political thinking are all the kind of things that "sound useful, but are impossible to implement."
Isn’t it easy to criticize and be a keyboard warrior anyway?
Just have a loud voice.
"Why aren't you talking?" Zhu Youxiao said, looking at everyone.
Who dares to talk about such a topic?
The emperor can talk nonsense, but these people can't?
Several people's eyes all fell on Wei Changsheng.
Wei Changsheng didn't dare to speak.
He knew everything he had said before, but he didn't know what Your Majesty was talking about, so he couldn't talk nonsense in front of Your Majesty.
Besides, he had the lowest status among the people present, so it was best for him to say nothing.
But all those people were looking at him.
Could you please stop looking at me? Take your eyes away!
No, the pressure is too great! I still have to say something.
Wei Changsheng took a step forward and said, "Your Majesty, I am not aware of this matter. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
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