Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

In Jiang Xinghuo's previous life, this type of cotton-iron composite armor only began to appear during the Wanli Anti-Japanese and Aid Dynasties. It became popular in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties and was equipped on a large scale by both the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Now invented in advance by Jiang Xinghuo, it is very suitable for future operations in the north.

Whether it is to flatten the Qin and Jin vassals, go out to attack the Mongols, or deal with the Jurchens, Koreans, and Japanese, it is very useful.

It is expected that this new type of armor will be manufactured on a large scale using a cotton-iron composite method and will be installed on the northern troops.

Of course, if generals or wealthy soldiers need it, they can also choose to pay out of their own pockets to purchase an enhanced version of cotton-steel composite armor made of low-phosphorus steel to increase their chances of survival on the battlefield.

The reason why it is not installed in the general school is because the production capacity of this thing is limited, and most of the production capacity of low-phosphorus steel has to be used to cast cannons.

After all, no matter how expensive the steel used is, it is not as expensive as copper!

Copper is currency and wealth in this era. How much copper will be consumed to cast a cannon with a cannon that is as heavy as copper? This is an out-and-out waste of money!

There was no way before. When used to cast cannons, the performance of wrought iron and semi-razor steel is far inferior to that of copper. Now that we have low-phosphorus steel with excellent strength and toughness, it is definitely impossible to use copper anymore. After all, restoring treasure money To improve the value of currency, we not only need to collect treasure coins, but also need to increase the intensity of producing copper coins every year. This is the same principle as when there is too much water, we need to add flour and then collect water. What does it mean to be simple? This is called simplicity.

The main force of the army must be deployed on a large scale, but whether it is cotton-iron composite armor or cotton-steel composite armor, it has basically no effect on the army in the south and the army going to sea to fight. It can even be said to have a negative effect.

Because the landing troops of the Ming Dynasty who went to sea to fight basically faced terrains such as tropical and subtropical jungles and mountains.

The troops in the north who are in winter have passed the New Year and turned to spring. If all goes well with the three major battalions of the army, they can wait until the main force in the south is reorganized into the three major battalions of the Beijing camp, and then they will head north and wait for the second battalion of the south. When the main force of more than 100,000 troops arrives, they will begin to defeat the domestic vassal kings and attack the Mongols and Jurchens abroad.

At this time, Zhu Gaoxu and others were still immersed in the joy of powerful new armor, but the winter in the south was also full of unknown variables.

——————

The results of the examination have been announced. Naturally, some are happy and some are sad. However, because the president of the Reform Affairs Office has already formulated the examination standards for each ministry and temple in advance, there are not many disputes.

As for the people who are promoted, you said that there must be individual connections and people who have weighed the pros and cons, there must be some, but even these people have average or above-average test scores, otherwise it would be really unjustifiable.

But even so, the examination method is still a major reform and great progress in the imperial promotion system.

There is something unfair about the examination method, but compared with before, it is much fairer.

In the past, when the ninth-rank official law was adopted, family status was not considered at all. In the Song and Ming Dynasties, under the mature imperial examination system, family status was no longer considered. However, for promotion, one also needed to find a master, the same year, and the same hometown. Support each other.

There is no doubt that the examination method is a major benefit for those officials who are busy doing practical work and not making connections.

But this was not the case in the subsequent Jingcha.

The main job of the Beijing Police is to remove people.

What is little known is that before the emergence of the Beijing inspection system, the system used to evaluate officials was called the "full test system." The so-called full test system refers to one test every three years and three tests for officials, that is, a total of nine years, and then Promotion, demotion, or even dismissal were first established in September of the sixth year of Hongwu. At that time, Lao Zhu ordered that Beijing officials be evaluated every three years. Each test could be promoted to one level, which formed the prototype of the "full examination system"; In February, considering that the previous system would lead to promotion too quickly, the test was changed to one test every year, and the test was completed after nine years, which slowed down the promotion speed of officials; by October of the fourteenth year of Hongwu, the entire "test after test" The "system" has been stabilized, and the assessment methods and assessment cycles for Beijing officials have been clearly stipulated. For Beijing officials below the fifth rank, the evaluation form will be filled in by the chief directly under the yamen where they are located. In fact, it is still a system decided by the superiors. , generally there are three types: competent, average, and incompetent, and those above fifth grade are directly decided by the emperor.

However, there is a small problem with this "full examination system", that is, the cycle is a bit long. Because it takes nine years, some incompetent officials cannot be adjusted in time, so there needs to be a system to provide those who have completed the examination. Make a patch.

The Jingcha system came into being.

The Beijing inspection is an assessment of the morality and ability of all Beijing officials. This is the so-called selection of talents and use of talents and dismissal of mediocrity.

Of course, as time went by, it gradually became a tool for different factions to unite and oppose differences.

"You, it's a good time."

Dong Lun, the former minister of the Ministry of Rites, has not been seen in public for more than half a year after presiding over the debate competition. He has been staying at home.

The fire in the room was so warm that Old Man Dong was leaning on his chair. On top of his head were the three characters "Yilaotang" written by Zhu Yuanzhang, like an iron certificate in an alchemy book.

"That's, that's."

Looking at the jade dove staff that the old benefactor raised from time to time, which is now honored as Xie Jin, the Minister of Honglu Temple, his face was full of smiles.

In fact, Xie Jin really wanted to say, "It's a good time, I paid for it with my life," but he couldn't say it.

This is how it is in the officialdom. Don't show off in front of retired old bosses, otherwise your reputation will be ruined. Just listen to what the old man says. After all, he only comes here to show off a few times a year during New Years and holidays. As long as If it's not extremely excessive, what can't be tolerated?

What's more, Dong Lun was really very kind to Xie Jin.

At that time, Jie Jin was young and energetic, and he had a grudge against Yuan Tai, the second-in-command of the Imperial Procuratorate. He was then released to his hometown by Lao Zhu, who ordered him to write at home for ten years before he could be promoted and used. However, the ten-year period has not yet expired. , Lao Zhu was dead, and Yuan Tai was also dead at this time. Xie Jin thought about running back to Nanjing to get another official position, but he was overthrown by the heir to Yuan Tai's temple inheritance, saying that he "went to Linfei Zhao" Because of the imperial edict, he was demoted to Hezhou, but it was Dong Lun who brought him back, and after some operations, Xie Jin became an imperial edict.

In the temple, for a person, it is like being reborn with the kindness of parents, and it is not too much for Xie Jin to provide for Old Man Dong until his death.

Old Man Dong turned on the fire and said casually.

"Fang Xiaoru and I went to the pavilion to pass on classics and history, and we often urged him (Emperor Jianwen) to make peace with his close friends and vassal kings. Unfortunately, they didn't listen. What can you do if you don't listen?"

Xie Jin agreed: "People have to listen to advice."

"Then will you listen to my advice?" Old Man Dong gave Jin a sideways glance.

Xie Jin said without changing his expression: "Fan Ren, I will definitely listen to your advice."

"Resign now and go home. Wait a few years for the dust to settle before you come back. You are still young. You are only in your early thirties this year, and you are already a fourth-rank official. When you come back in a few years, if you have the opportunity, you will be directly a minister, not even a minister. Can't wait for a moment."

Seeing that Dong Lun didn't look like he was joking, the smile on Jie Jin's face slowly stiffened.

"look at you."

Old Man Dong snorted and said: "For this city government, the dignified officials in scarlet robes, whether they are happy or not, their thoughts are all on their faces. What, you are Jiang Xinghuo? Do you have the ability and means like someone else?" "

Jie Jin rubbed his face and stopped laughing. Seeing him like this, Dong Lun laughed.

The little fox who has been practicing Taoism for ten years has not yet developed a human form. How can he pretend to be sophisticated in front of a thousand-year-old monster like him? It's just right to look down on him.

Dong Lun threw the stick that pulled the fire into the stove. The flames quickly clung to and licked the flames. Soon, they began to burn and turn black.

"Such a big stove fire, it's burning hot. You know you can't get out after you get in, but there are so many people jumping in desperately. Alas, I'm old. I have less than two years to live. I know how angry you are. No matter what, I’m not willing to take a step back, let alone anything else, but there’s something I have to tell you, and it’s something I learned from spending most of my life in the temple.”

Xie Jin only said: "Please give me some advice."

"Leave yourself a way out, and don't do everything to death."

He didn't know if the other party was referring to the present moment, but no matter what, Xie Jin became thoughtful after hearing the words.

Having said that, Dong Lun was true to his word and no longer gave any advice on Xie Jin, but chatted about some literary and cultural matters.

"I heard that Xunzi is going to be taken back again, and His Majesty attaches great importance to it."

"yes."

Xie Jin smiled and said: "As a Holy King, Your Majesty must regard himself as the Holy King."

Dong Lun nodded slightly and added: "The group of people who annotated the Six Classics are from the "Yongle Dadian" compilation team that you are responsible for. My nephew is not young now."

Xie Jin heard the string and knew the elegant meaning, and said quickly: "Don't worry, teacher, this is all easy to explain."

Dong Lun didn't need to talk nonsense, everything was said without saying anything.

The two chatted for a while, and Jie Jin finished his visit. He walked out of Dong Lun's house carrying two bags of gifts Dong Lun gave him in return.

Coincidentally, Jiang Xinghuo happened to be caught by Jiang Xinghuo who came to express condolences to Su Ru.

Jiang Xinghuo had just come out of Gao Xunzhi's place and took some time to personally supervise the progress of several people's tasks. By the way, he discussed biological knowledge with Kong Xilu.

"You respect your elders very much. Let's go and come in with me again."

Jiang Xinghuo dragged Xie Jin in again. After coming out, today's outing plan was completed.

In the carriage, Jiang Xinghuo put his hands, which were a little red from the cold, on the small stove to bake them and then rubbed them. As a pleasant pain came, his hands relaxed.

Xie Jin also huddled on the backrest of the carriage. The winter in Nanjing this year was very cold. Even if he wore a good-quality cotton robe, he would still feel the biting cold when he was outside for a long time.

"what is this?"

"pastry."

"oh."

Jiang Xinghuo unceremoniously opened the pastry box that Dong Lun gave to Xie Jin, took out a piece of pink pastry, stuffed it into his mouth and ate it. While chewing, he said vaguely: "Eat, you're welcome." .”

Jie Jin didn't feel embarrassed to eat at Dong Lun's house just now, and he wasn't hungry now, but seeing the shameless Jiang Xinghuo eating there, he swallowed and started eating too.

"What is this pastry called?"

"Ding, Ding Sheng Cake."

Jie Jin was a little choked. He held his neck up for a while before swallowing.

"Do you have any explanation?" Jiang Xinghuo directly used Xie Jin as Baidu.

"Made of japonica rice, glutinous rice, bean paste, etc., the folk say that at the turn of the Song Dynasty, Suzhou people specially made it to encourage the soldiers of Han Shizhong's Han family to go on an expedition. The cake had the word "dingsheng" on it, so it was later called Ding. Victory."

"oh"

Jiang Xinghuo stuffed the third piece, wiped the corners of his lips and said, "What a meaningful message. It seems to be popular among the people."

Jie Jin looked at Jiang Xinghuo warily, and when he saw that the other party had nothing to say, he put his heart back in his stomach.

"Didn't you ask for leave to go home during the New Year? You haven't been back for four or five years, right? I think except for Jin Youzi who is still busy at Shenfa Temple, Yang Shiqi and Hu Guangke have both taken leave and gone home."

Jin Youzi, Yang Shiqi, Hu Guang, and Xie Jin are all from the vicinity of Jishui, Jiangxi Province. They are out-and-out fellow townsmen, and they once served in the cabinet together. However, the positions of the four people now seem to be parting ways.

"Jin Youzi, wow."

Jie Jin sniffed, uttered a modal particle of unknown meaning, and then said: "I am waiting to be promoted to the minister of the temple, so I don't have to be busy. I have to be busy if I don't have any work."

This means that in front of Jiang Xinghuo, Xie Jin really doesn't have too many scruples when speaking.

As for Yang Shiqi and Hu Guang, they took leave to go home because there was really nothing going on in the cabinet at this time. Jiang Xinghuo is now temporarily managing the cabinet (three months). With a wave of his hand, he approved that everyone in the cabinet should be ruined. Doesn't affect him.

"Anyway, it's just for a while. After that, it will be really difficult to go home."

"I know."

Xie Jin nodded and asked tentatively: "Has the final list of the Jingcha team been decided?"

"No, how can it be so fast? First the Jin Yiwei, and then the entire imperial examination department will live in the yamen until they are released on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, just like taking the imperial examination."

According to this year's Beijing inspection system, the Ministry of Personnel is mainly responsible, then the cabinet supervises, the President's Yamen reviews the reform affairs, and finally it is handed over to the emperor for ruling.

There are currently two or three big cats and kittens in the cabinet. Zhu Gaochi is away, so there must be no supervisory role. So in fact, it becomes the job of the Ministry of Personnel to come up with a list, and the president's reform affairs office will review it. If there is no problem, it will be handed over to the emperor for a look. Final announcement.

The one with the heaviest workload, or the one who takes on the main work, is the Gong Gong Examination Department of the Ministry of Personnel, because the Gong Gong Examination Department is the department in the Ministry of Personnel responsible for the Beijing inspection and assessment. It is mainly responsible for this. In the old Hongwu system, it was headed by the Ke Dao Yan Guan. He has taken on part of the functions of the President's Reform Affairs Office, which is to be responsible for the collection of relics from the Beijing Procuratorate. In the past two years, the Procuratorate has become "Chen Ying and his henchmen". As soon as they started to provide risk reviews, they had nothing to do.

Well, as part of the "institutional constraints" designed by Lao Zhu, the merit examination department has no power to evaluate officials. What really affects a person's initial evaluation in Jingchali is the words of the Kedao Yanguan, which is the so-called "inspection department". "Preliminary suggestions", after collecting the evaluations of all the Beijing officials who participated in the Beijing inspection, the merit examination department can request to start the preliminary work of the Beijing inspection, that is, preparing the test statements and interview orders. This is also the reason why the senior officials will be responsible for the in-person review at that time. the most important basis.

The Minister of the Ministry of Personnel will ask the chief official of the Examination Department to come up with a so-called "List of Officials to Visit the Capital", and then entrust the official of the Department of Science and Technology to secretly consult and visit.

But this year is relatively simple, because Zhu Di directly asked Jin Yiwei to do it for him.

Yes, you see Zhu Di is more pragmatic than Lao Zhu. If you ask Ke Dao Yan Guan to investigate, then it is still an official protection. Just go to the secret service agency and it will be over. Anyway, Jin Yiwei only has the power to investigate, and he can also provide the Yan Guan. Initial evaluations corroborate each other.

Why does the entire court seem to be shut down now?

It's because we are in the middle of Jin Yiwei's investigation.

This time should take about half a month. All the matters from the previous year have been dealt with. Those who should be promoted after passing the examination have been promoted. Those who should be transferred to go through the "buffer period" have also been transferred. The Beijing inspection has not completed the procedures. , why don't you wait?

Anyway, we can only proceed to the next step after Jin Yiwei has completed the "List of Officials to Visit the Capital" and then gives it to the staff.

No, while the two were chatting, Jiang Xinghuo opened the curtains and saw a group of guards in uniforms running past as if they were flying. They were not afraid of slipping on the road in the cold weather and getting chewed up in the mud.

"National Division?"

The leading Jin Yiwei glanced at him, turned his horse's head and rode back.

"Xiao Cao, why are you going?"

Jiang Xinghuo has become more and more fond of this kind of strange shamelessness recently. After hearing this, Cao Song, who is no longer a young man, squeezed out a flower from half of his face and said: "Business is on business, let's check the person."

"Okay, let me tell you first, the Lord of Honglu Temple gave me a gift, and it will be recorded on his visit list when the time comes."

Seeing Jie Jin's face turn dark, several Jinyi guards suppressed their laughter.

Reaching out to take the box of pastries that slipped out of the carriage, Cao Song laughed and said, "The Imperial Master is joking."

"Who is kidding you? The witnesses and physical evidence are all there, remember them all."

Cao Song muttered a little, but seeing that Jiang Xinghuo was serious about what he said, he didn't dare to be vague. He pretended to take out a notebook, took out the charcoal pen on his waist, and started jotting down.

As for true and false memories, I don’t know.

"When I go back to Dianmao today, I'll give Commander Ji a message. Get the interview order and give it to the staff as soon as possible."

"yes!"

Several Jin Yiwei left and returned the empty pastry box to Jiang Xinghuo before leaving.

"Why bother?"

Xie Jin frowned slightly and expressed his protest: "It's just a joke. If word gets out about someone's arrogance, it will not be beautiful."

"It's okay if it's not beautiful."

Jiang Xinghuo looked at him: "You are already a fourth-rank official. It is normal to have two medium-sized mud spots on your Fei robe. How can any of them be spotless? Now that I am reviewing the memorials in the cabinet, there are fewer people scolding me in letters. ?”

Xie Jin didn't know what to say for a moment, so he changed the subject and said, "The secret visit from Jin Yiwei is over, what should we do next?"

This is like looking for something to say when you have nothing to say.

“What we did in previous years, we will do in this year.”

According to the past Beijing inspection system, after filling out the interview form, it was the turn of the chief officials of each ministry and temple to fill in the evaluation comments for their subordinates, which was exactly the same as the full-term exam system.

After filling out the examination comments, you must ask the emperor to confirm the specific time for the Beijing inspection. At the same time, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel needs to live directly in the ministry and handle all other matters except the Beijing inspection in advance, and do not allow other matters to be held. When things affect Beijing Cha, usually during the 15-20 days after Beijing Cha officially starts, that is, during the Chinese New Year period, all officials from the Ministry of Personnel and the Kao Gong Department must stay in the ministry to handle matters related to Beijing Cha. Matters, and the most stringent thing is that there are soldiers standing guard outside, no one is allowed to go out, let alone let the news leak out.

After the Minister of Personnel and the Examination Department discussed the results of the Beijing Inspection, they could hand them over to the emperor. The Emperor nodded, and it was the final formality, that is, several big shots sat in the hall, and then were passed by the officials of the Beijing Inspection in turn. The doctor from the examination department is responsible for calling the names, and the assistant doctor from the examination department is responsible for handing out the names. After the examination, the people from the examination department continue to live in the ministry and work overtime, and they can take compensatory leave after completing the final results.

"Anyway, there are only two major events in the imperial court now, the civilian inspection of the capital, and the military reform of the military camp in the capital."

Jiang Xinghuo played with the charcoal fire on the carriage with an iron pick, and suddenly asked: "Do you know how much a pound of coal sells for now?"

"have no idea."

Xie Jin's answer was very honest.

"Then you go back and ask. The Tangshan coal mine is doing well. This winter has been a bit cold, but not many people have frozen to death. This is the most beautiful place in the capital. In previous years, hundreds of unclaimed bodies have to be collected after the winter."

"Giving cotton-padded jackets is a virtuous policy." Xie Jin said sincerely.

"I just need to take care of Nanjing. I can take care of it now."

Jiang Xinghuo sighed and patted Xie Jin, indicating that it was time for him to get out.

"I have to go to the palace. I heard that King Zhou came from Fengguo. He came to me specifically to ask for something. I don't know what it is."

"Be safe and sound every year." Xie Jin did not forget to leave auspicious words before walking into the wind and snow.

Looking at each other, Jiang Xinghuo smiled.

"I also wish you safety and success, and that you won't freeze to death in the snow in the future."