An Jingzhi has always been a tyrant. Will he listen to these people?
Of course not.
"I have made up my mind. Don't try to persuade me anymore. I won't listen even if you do."
He looked at the students in front of him.
"You're all high-ranking scholars. How many of you have made it all the way from farming families? I'm sure many of you come from wealthy families or are from prominent official families? Do any of you know how rice is grown? When is the harvest? What tools are needed to harvest it? What are the steps that rice goes through before it becomes food on the table? Can anyone explain it clearly?"
The people below were speechless after being asked these questions. Even if they were from a farming family, those who could read were the treasures of their families and it was impossible for them to do any farm work, so no one could answer these questions.
"Look, you don't even know the simplest and most common things I'm asking you. How can I trust you to govern the place well and be good officials?"
"Don't tell me that you can govern the people well if you study the contents of books well. That is nothing but deceiving yourself."
"I have temporarily added the subject of arithmetic this year. Many people are better at interpreting the classics than all of you present here, but why didn't I choose them? Because their arithmetic skills are not as good as yours." Of course, most of those people have nothing to say and only say empty words. Otherwise, An Jingzhi might have been admitted as an exception.
"The fact that you can stand here proves that you are all outstanding people in the world and that you are talented. Do you want to be a mediocre and incompetent official?"
"No, you don't want to. I see in your eyes your concern for the world! I see your ambition! You are demanding of yourselves and kind to the people. You are the rising sun, with a blazing fire burning in your hearts!"
"I know you're taking the imperial examinations for your families and your future, but more importantly, you're speaking up for the people of the world and wanting to ensure they have enough food and clothing. I see it all."
These students who met the emperor for the first time were filled with excitement. They never thought that they were so great in the eyes of the emperor. Yes, they had high expectations for themselves. They were the best students in the world, and they could get to where they are today entirely by relying on their own hard work, step by step!
Moreover, they have great love in their hearts and want to ensure that the people have enough food and clothing and that Your Majesty has no worries!
Yes, that’s what they thought!
Regardless of whether this group of people originally thought so, they do think so now. These people have never been in officialdom, and their edges and corners have not been smoothed out. They are indeed ambitious. They look at the emperor who trusts them so much, and feel that they have found the wise leader and mentor in their hearts, and they can't wait to die for the emperor.
Amid the stunned gazes of the ministers, An Jingzhi continued his speech.
"Some people may think that sending you to various places to serve as trainee county magistrates is an insult to you, but I think everyone has heard the saying that when God gives you a heavy responsibility, it will be done with torment and exhaustion."
"If you want to serve the people, if you want to be a good official, then you must first understand what the people need. As I said before, if you don't even know where the food that the people rely on for survival comes from, how can you claim to serve the people? With your mouth? What's the difference between such a person and a mediocre and incompetent official?"
"So everyone should go to the grassroots and integrate with the people, think about what they think and worry about what they worry about. Only in this way can we win the love of the people and achieve peace in the world."
"If you want to achieve great things, you must go through hardships. Going to the grassroots to serve as trainee county magistrates is your training. It is the burden I place on you."
"I made this decision suddenly this year because you are all the first batch of Jinshi who appeared after the imperial examination reform. You are the students I trust and value the most. The fact that you have stood out from the crowd and come before me is enough to prove your ability, so..."
"Tell me, are you willing to go? Are you scared?! Are you willing to share my worries?!"
Everyone was talking at once, excitedly expressing their inner excitement and excitement.
"I am willing to lead the way for Your Majesty!"
"I am willing to die for your majesty!"
"A gentleman will die for his friend!"
"I am willing to share your Majesty's worries!"
This scene left the surrounding court officials dumbfounded. When did the emperor become so eloquent?
These people are so young. The emperor just said a few words and they were confused. He said the most trusted and the best. Aren’t they capable of that?
The ministers felt a little sad.
On the one hand, they felt that the emperor's words could really bring the dead back to life, and he was really good at coaxing people. These future colleagues were really stupid. But on the other hand, they felt that the emperor was really biased, doing whatever he wanted to them, forcing them to do things without any coaxing. Even if they had the slightest concern for these future colleagues, they wouldn't be so unbalanced.
With just a few words, An Jingzhi put this group of new ministers in opposition to the old ministers.
This is the effect he wants. Only by comparing the two parties and constantly engaging in internal competition can he be less worried.
An Jingzhi smiled happily, looking very touched. "Okay, I knew I was right about you! You are worthy of being the Jinshi selected by me personally."
"Don't worry, I'm letting you be trainee county magistrates, but I won't let you be trainee county magistrates for life. I will set a one-year probation period. Those who perform well can return to Beijing for promotion. It's not impossible for you to become a fifth-rank official. If you perform well in the future, I will continue to give you more responsibilities!" Of course, those who fail the assessment can only stay and continue their internship.
"My eyes will be on you. Don't worry about your achievements being taken away by your superiors, or about others not seeing your efforts. As long as you work hard and serve the people honestly, I will reward you for your achievements and punish you for your mistakes!"
"Don't you have confidence?"
"Yes!" everyone said in unison, with smiles on their faces.
Perhaps the atmosphere at the moment was too good, and they didn't think about what would happen if they didn't take the assessment.
Or maybe it was because An Jingzhi had brainwashed them too well before. They were the best students in the world, and no one who could get here was simple.
They didn't believe they would fail the internship-limited assessment. The emperor's trust in them only made them more confident.
The court officials nearby were really jealous. Although this group of people were tricked into becoming trainee county magistrates, they felt that these people were really lucky.
Not everyone can get fairness. Some people do good things, but the credit is taken away directly by their leaders. If you are lucky, you can get some, but if you are unlucky, not only will he not give you any, he will also find a way to kick you out.
To be honest, the ministers thought, if the emperor they met at the beginning had trusted them so much, they would not have become such old-fashioned people today, right?
Maybe they will be as high-spirited as this group of people?
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