“It’s not just that the Duke Yansheng’s position is too high, but the status of scholars is also too high.” Zhu Yunying laughed and then said, “During the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, Grandfather knew very well what the status of those scholars was. Our treatment of scholars is no less than that of the Song Dynasty, and even better.”
It is said that the Song Dynasty was a paradise for literati, but the Ming Dynasty was no less so.
Zhu Yuanzhang (the Hongwu Emperor) was well aware of this. He had no doubt about his own abilities and circumstances, and the nobles of his hometown, Huaixi, were also capable. However, in the process of seizing power, Zhu Yuanzhang did indeed receive considerable help from scholars. Deeply aware of the power of scholars, after gaining control of the empire, he considered how to control them.
The reason why scholars were willing to follow him was partly due to nationalistic sentiments, but more importantly, it was because there were virtually no upward mobility channels under the Yuan Dynasty's rule. To retain scholars, it was necessary to treat them well and provide them with certain upward mobility channels, making these people desperately try to squeeze into them.
At the same time, Zhu Yuanzhang also stipulated the subjects for the examinations and the scope of the textbooks. He raised the social status of scholars, confining all intellectuals in the world to the cage of the eight-legged essay, where they could recite classics and historical texts at will, and were constantly exposed to the virtues of benevolence, righteousness, filial piety, and brotherly love.
After becoming a scholar, one essentially entered the privileged class. When meeting officials, one only needed to bow, not kneel. Moreover, according to the rules initially set by Zhu Yuanzhang, scholars wore long gowns with round collars and square headscarves.
In addition, they were exempted from corvée labor and taxes, and could use slaves, etc. They could not be punished after committing a crime; even if the crime was serious, punishment could only be applied after their official rank was revoked.
This was only for those who passed the county-level imperial examinations (xiucai). Those who passed the provincial-level imperial examinations (juren) were basically eligible to become officials and enjoyed a tax exemption on 400 mu of land. This made some farmers and landlords eager to curry favor with those who passed the provincial-level imperial examinations, as the tax exemption was simply too tempting.
Zhu Yunying was naturally aware of these things. Land annexation wasn't limited to officials or members of the imperial family; the gentry of the Ming Dynasty actually annexed far more land. However, each of them also held power, either through writing or by protecting their own interests after the change of dynasty.
The blame is always placed on the Zhu family; it's said that the Zhu imperial family ruined the Ming Dynasty, and that their unworthy descendants were incompetent and tyrannical, etc. Basically, it's all about how the water was too cold—the Donglin Party, with their lofty ideals and lofty pronouncements, were the pillars of the nation, and it's just a pity the court didn't give them important positions, etc...
Zhu Yunying did indeed intend to slightly reduce the treatment of scholars, because, in essence, these scholars were receiving too much.
To be honest, having more scholars wouldn't be a bad thing. But Zhu Yunying needed pragmatists, not those scholars who indulged in empty talk and ruined the country. Especially those who frequented brothels, engaging in grandiloquent discussions, each thinking themselves a romantic genius or a pillar of the state, constantly holding poetry gatherings or criticizing current affairs.
Zhu Yunying would certainly suppress such a trend; he didn't want to leave future generations with intractable problems from the outset. By increasing the difficulty from the beginning, scholars would have to exert much more effort to succeed.
After all, the number of intellectuals is increasing overall, which means that these groups need to be restricted.
Old Zhu listened with a smile. Over the years, he had realized that some of his policies weren't quite right. They seemed fine now, but after his grandson's analysis, Old Zhu was also taken aback.
For example, the imperial clan members received too many fiefs and excessively generous treatment, and there were also issues with land annexation. Old Zhu still felt that his grandson had foresight. So even though his grandson sometimes did some outlandish things and sometimes seemed to waste money, Old Zhu tolerated it.
This will definitely be a good emperor, a wise emperor who can govern the country well, and a successor that Old Zhu can trust.
As for some shortcomings or deficiencies, they don't matter too much. Old Zhu knows that no one can be perfect. Besides, it's enough that his grandson isn't confused on important matters; that's the most important thing.
After a detailed discussion with Old Zhu, they basically finalized a series of plans for the future, which would likely revolve around framing the Duke Yansheng and the scholars.
Both of them felt there was nothing wrong with it; these things should be done this way because it was good for the Ming Dynasty, and that was their motivation to carry it out!
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