Outside the Meridian Gate.
Look around.
Hundreds of people knelt on the ground in unison, facing the imperial city with serious expressions.
Although there were no common people around, there were many officials watching, and one could see expressions of gloating on their faces.
Chongzhen made up his mind in the blink of an eye. This was an opportunity.
In the future, after the administration of officials is rectified, it will be the time to recruit people. These students will sooner or later enter the Ming officialdom and serve the country.
In that case, why doesn't he take the opportunity to mingle with the students?
"Who is the leader?" Wang Chengen glanced around coldly and shouted loudly.
After Wang Chengen shouted, an official who was kneeling in front stood up, walked to a distance in front of Chongzhen and knelt again: "Zhou Fengxiang, Zuo Yude of the Zhanshi Mansion and Attendant Reader of the Hanlin Academy, kowtows to Your Majesty."
Chongzhen looked at the man carefully. He was about forty years old, wearing the robe of a fourth-rank civil servant. He had a thin build and regular features.
At first glance, he is an honest scholar.
"Please stand up, why are you gathering here?"
Zhou Fengxiang's answer was as honest as his appearance: "We heard that Your Majesty is going to reduce taxes for craftsmen, and we are indignant, so we have gathered here."
"Aren't you afraid of my punishment?"
"I am afraid, but I am a scholar, and I will speak out when I see injustice!"
"Well said!" Chongzhen clapped his hands softly, "It is because of your words that I feel the status of craftsmen needs to be improved!"
"I don't understand. Your Majesty, please enlighten me."
"If there were no scholars, what do you think would happen to the country?" Chongzhen asked in return.
Zhou Fengxiang thought for a moment and said, "With no one to govern, the place is in chaos."
"The Ming Dynasty is full of scholars from top to bottom, so why is it in such chaos? Aren't scholars the source of the chaos?" Chongzhen asked again.
Zhou Fengxiang frowned and thought about Chongzhen's problem.
Chongzhen did not give him a chance to respond and asked again: "Status cannot be begged for, and the same is true on the battlefield. Victory cannot be begged for, it needs blood and courage to fight for it."
"I am very dissatisfied with the scholars who have brought such harm to the Ming Dynasty!"
"But the craftsmen are different. The gunpowder they made, the firearms they cast, and the armor and weapons they crafted helped the Ming Dynasty defend its territory. I am now raising their status, and it is entirely because of their own efforts."
"Besides, the pen in the hands of scholars, the ink on the pen, the inkstone under the ink, and the paper under the inkstone are all made by craftsmen! Without them, how can you write history?"
"You, and you all." Chongzhen pointed at Zhou Fengxiang and the people behind him and asked, "Do you think I'm wrong?"
Zhou Fengxiang stood there, silent for a long time.
He felt that what the emperor said made a lot of sense, but he also felt unwilling.
When did studying, such a sacred profession, fall to the same level as craftsmen? He turned around and looked at the others, and saw the same answer in their eyes.
"Your Majesty, although I am a scholar, some disasters are not caused by me and the scholars behind me. Your Majesty is generalizing from a few examples, I am afraid it will be difficult to convince the public."
"That's right!" Chongzhen raised his voice, "But scholars are a group. Just like soldiers on the battlefield, if one prospers, all prosper, and if one suffers, all suffer! Only when more soldiers charge forward can we turn the tide of the battle and win."
"The same applies to you. Only when there are more good officials can we change the opinions of scholars that mislead the country and the people."
"Is what I said reasonable?"
Zhou Fengxiang nodded uncertainly, and there was a hint of admiration in his eyes when he looked at Chongzhen.
The students behind him also nodded in approval.
"Since you are here, I will not let you come in vain. I will grant a privilege to everyone present today. Regardless of whether you are an official in the court or not, I will choose one day every month to discuss matters with you. I will help you solve any difficulties, provide financial assistance to those who are short of money, and redress any accusations you have made."
"how?"
Before Zhou Fengxiang could respond, he heard a roar like a tsunami behind him.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. We are willing!"
"We have been waiting for this, thank you for your help, Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Zhou Fengxiang came to his senses belatedly and knelt respectfully: "Your Majesty is open to all opinions, I admire you very much."
Chongzhen waved his hand and said, "If you have nothing else to do, go back. I am very busy."
A group of officials and students bowed and left happily.
Looking at their backs, Chongzhen showed a barely perceptible smile.
Although we can no longer see the factional struggles in the court, it does not mean that they do not exist. Conflicts will only shift and will not disappear. After the crisis is resolved, the factional struggles will come again.
In that case, he did the opposite.
There is only one way to deal with factionalism: fight magic with magic.
What about the Donglin Party, the Eunuch Party, the Qi, Chu and Zhejiang Party... they are all not up to standard.
The Royal Party is the mainstream!
Under his favor, these students became his followers, and together they formed the imperial party, fighting with other parties in the court and in the local areas!
After returning to the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Chongzhen immersed himself in dealing with the memorials.
Over the next ten days, Chongzhen and the cabinet gradually finalized the trial plan for civil service reform and the preliminary plan for tax collection.
......
Liaodong, Shenyang (called Shengjing in the Qing Dynasty).
After Li Zicheng was defeated, the Jiannu's spies in Beijing delivered the news to Shenyang as quickly as possible.
Inside the Ten Kings Pavilion, Dorgon looked at the letter in his hand with an uncertain expression.
After a long while, Dorgon passed the letter to others to read.
All those present were lords of the Eight Banners.
In addition to Dorgon, the leader of the Plain White Banner, there were also Prince Yu Duoduo of the Bordered White Banner, Prince Li Daishan of the Plain Red Banner, Doroberel Luoluohun of the Bordered Red Banner, Prince Su Haoge of the Plain Blue Banner, and Prince Zheng Jirgalang of the Bordered Blue Banner.
The leader of the Plain Yellow Banner and the Bordered Yellow Banner was Fulin, who had already succeeded to the throne. Due to his young age, he did not participate in political affairs.
After everyone had read it, Dorgon asked, "What do you think?"
After the other five flag owners looked at each other, Hauge said: "No matter how much trouble the Ming court makes, it will be useless. A little Li Zicheng can besiege Beijing. It's a shame!"
Speaking of Li Zicheng, Hauge curled his lips again: "Li Zicheng's men are a bunch of rabble, and their defeat is to be expected."
Jirgalang thought for a moment and shook his head vigorously: "Don't be careless, Prince Su! If they were really a mob, the Ming court would have wiped them out long ago, and they wouldn't have been suppressed until now."
Hauge snorted nonchalantly and looked away.
Jirgalang continued, "From what I heard from Prince Yu, he wants to take advantage of the fact that the Ming court has not yet recovered from this and enter the pass again?"
Dorgon nodded in surprise, not expecting that Jirgalang had guessed his intention.
As soon as he thought of this, his eyes were suddenly filled with hostility when he looked towards Jirgalang.
If Jirgalang had supported him to succeed the throne after Huang Taiji's death, he would be the emperor now.
However, the reality is that after Huang Taiji's death, he and Jirgalang assisted Fulin. He became the second regent, and Jirgalang became the first regent.
The gap between inside and outside can be imagined.
Duoduo added: "According to the messenger, after Li Zicheng was defeated, he did not hold on to Juyongguan Pass, but instead led his main force to retreat towards Xuanfu. I don't know why!"
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