Chapter 355: Minister of Rites (Thirteen)
It was Qingqing’s first time to visit Hangzhou City. After entering the city, she felt that everything was new and everything was... tidy.
Compared to Hangzhou, everything in the city seemed particularly neat. The streets and buildings were neat and clean. Including the Chinese soldiers in the city, each of them had clean clothes and clean bodies. When they walked, they walked in rows of two or three people, and the neatness was indescribable.
Qingqing and the others followed the teacher for a while, and then they heard the teacher sigh: "Other places are similar to here."
Knowing that the teacher was going back to the academy, Qingqing quickly asked, "Sir, why don't you take a look at how their vegetables are grown?"
After hearing this request, everyone quickly agreed. They were led forward by the teacher, and after walking for a while, they saw many greenhouses that were larger than the glass greenhouse of the academy, one next to the other.
The gentleman took the pass, and the guards did not stop them, but let everyone in. As soon as I entered the greenhouse, I felt a warm feeling, as if I had instantly gone from winter to summer. Then I saw the crisp vegetables inside, which not only grew better than those in the academy, but also had more varieties than those in the academy.
The people working in the greenhouse were not farmers, but soldiers. Qingqing felt very uncomfortable. Just as she was about to turn around and tell her companions about this, she couldn't help but raise her hand to cover her mouth and yawned. Seeing Qingqing yawn, the companions around her yawned as if it was contagious. For a moment, you yawned, and I yawned, as if the greenhouse was infected with sleepiness.
Qingqing remembered that there was a question in the question bank, which asked what human action was most likely to trigger the same action. There were several options. The standard answer was "yawning". Qingqing didn't quite understand it at first, but when she saw everyone like this, she felt that it was indeed the case.
Seeing everyone like this, the gentleman quickly led everyone out. The air outside the greenhouse was icy cold, and Qingqing couldn't help but shiver several times. Although she was still yawning, her speed was getting slower and slower, and the amplitude was getting smaller and smaller. The people around her were the same. Soon, the people standing in the cold wind in the middle of winter were all awakened by the cold. It turned out that the temperature in the greenhouse was too high and too warm, which caused such a situation.
Everyone didn't dare to go in, and they all stopped outside to watch. They saw that the roof of the greenhouse was made entirely of glass. On the center line of the roof were two rows of thick straw mats rolled up. The overall structure was the same as... no, the greenhouse of the academy was completely modeled after the greenhouses in the city.
After that, everyone continued to visit. The more they looked, the more they felt that there was nothing wrong with the military camp, but it was a little weird because of the neatness. When the visit was about to end, an officer came and asked everyone to go to the next room.
This time the house was not a greenhouse. I did feel a warmth after entering, but it was not the humid and hot feeling of a greenhouse. It was just a simple feeling of warmth.
The officer asked if they had any questions. After everyone looked around for a while, someone immediately asked, "Excuse me, comrade... why was the Chinese army able to defeat the government army?"
"We were able to defeat the Qing army because they were incompetent. But this incompetence is relative. Just like the Qing army defending Hangzhou, they immediately withdrew when they saw the situation was not good. We can only say that they left, but we cannot say that we defeated the Qing army."
When Qingqing heard the officer's answer, she praised him in her heart and raised her hand. However, the boys in front of her also raised their hands. They were closer to the front and taller, so they blocked Qingqing's way.
Then the officer called another person, and this person's question was, "When will Your Majesty be crowned emperor?"
The officer replied calmly: "This is your Majesty's business. It would be inappropriate for us to discuss this matter."
Amid the laughter, Qingqing quickly raised her hand again, and was again blocked in front of her by a group of boys. Then the officer said, "Girl in the back, do you have any questions?"
Qingqing was overjoyed when she heard her name was called. She quickly stood up and asked loudly, "Excuse me, do soldiers farm?"
The officer replied: "The army doesn't farm, they just grow vegetables and raise some livestock."
This answer surprised Qingqing a little, and she quickly asked, "Excuse me, why is this? Did the army hire people to grow vegetables?"
"No, there is an order in the army. This is a rule established by His Majesty not long after the army was established. All armies are not allowed to grow food. Each army must open a small vegetable garden in the camp, and those with conditions can open a breeding farm. You should have seen the greenhouses where our army can basically supply its own vegetables. As for why, His Majesty said that in the Chinese court, military service is not everything in life. For volunteer soldiers, this is a chosen career. For conscripted soldiers, this is a three-year military experience in their lives. In the final analysis, we are all ordinary people who know how to farm."
The Chinese army's military discipline is impeccable, and they are so brave and good at fighting. Qingqing originally thought that this would be the "Yue Family Army" mentioned by the storyteller. Unexpectedly, the officer actually used the masses to describe the Chinese army. Qingqing never expected to hear such an answer, and she was actually moved in her surprise.
However, she had already asked her question, and others immediately raised their hands. Listening to the officer answering other questions, Qingqing sat back in her seat with a feeling of being touched.
There were many questions, and the officer answered them one by one. Qingqing listened with some emotion, and felt that the officer's story was really good. Especially with the position of "the Chinese army is also the masses of the people", it felt even more simple and concise. It was not until the academy teacher saw that the time was almost up and took the initiative to tell everyone that the time was up and it was time to go back that everyone stopped.
When the officer was about to leave, Qingqing suddenly couldn't help but stand up, ran to the officer, and asked loudly: "Comrade, have you read a lot of books?"
The officer was stunned and stared at Qingqing with a puzzled look on his face.
Qingqing quickly asked, "I heard that your conversation is very elegant. It's definitely not just because you read books. You have read a lot of books and understand a lot of truths. So I really want to know how many books you have read!"
"Oh. Now I understand a little bit now. I am not very well educated, but I am a member of the newly established Ministry of Rites of the court. Everything I have learned and know was learned through studying organized by the Ministry of Rites. I still have work to do. Goodbye." After saying goodbye politely, the officer nodded to Qingqing, turned around and left.
Qingqing watched the officer walk away at a leisurely pace, and she felt admiration in her heart. Although soldiers are supposed to be brave warriors and the pillars of the country, the soldiers of the Chinese Army were not as ferocious as wolves and tigers, but more calm and self-controlled. Just looking at them made Qingqing feel at ease.
At this time, the other students were already amazed, "This person is actually from the Ministry of Rites, he is different, he is indeed different."
On the way back, everyone was talking about it. The court had already communicated the matter of building the Ministry of Rites in the form of official documents. Of course, everyone who wanted to take the civil service examination had studied the court's decree.
The Qing dynasty used Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, so naturally they talked about the Three Bonds and the Five Constant Virtues. The Three Bonds refer to the ruler as the bond between the ministers, the father as the bond between the sons, and the husband as the bond between the wife; the Five Constant Virtues refer to benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness. They are the moral norms between people advocated by feudal ethics.
Because the Chinese court advocated "liberation" and promulgated the "Marriage Law", the Three Bonds suffered a serious impact, and everyone was tactful not to mention it.
The Six Classics refer to "Book of Songs", "Book of History", "Book of Rites", "Book of Changes", "Book of Music" and "Spring and Autumn Annals".
The "li" refers to "Da Li" and "Xiao Li", one of which was lost later and renamed "Li Ji". So although the six ministries have a long history, the one that really has ancient style is actually the Ministry of Rites.
Huo Chong split up five of the six ministries, leaving only the Ministry of Rites. This shows the importance of etiquette. Since this officer is from the Ministry of Rites, he can talk fluently with a group of literati, and his conversation is calm and even elegant. He really has the feeling of the Ministry of Rites.
Qingqing agreed with everyone's opinion. However, when she heard that everyone thought they had the ability to join the Ministry of Rites, she felt that these guys were a little too arrogant.
The current civil service examination has begun to be divided into some subdivisions. Originally, the examination was divided into a written test and an interview. If you passed the test once, you could become a civil servant. Due to the separation of various departments, the regulations have changed. There is indeed a first round of examinations, but after that, a new round of subdivisions will be carried out based on the specific tasks.
For example, the Ministry of Education was separated from the Ministry of Rites, and Qingqing wanted to work there. But there were new requirements for the Ministry of Education, and training and examinations were required to obtain teaching qualifications.
Of course, the Ministry of Finance is also good. Qingqing also wants to go there. The Ministry of Finance requires a certain level of mathematical knowledge and calculation ability. After passing the civil service exam, you still need to study and take the exam to obtain the qualification.
The initial examination was a bit like the imperial examination, with all the papers being a set. Under the new regulations, the imperial examination was just a stepping stone to get everyone in. As for which courtyard within the gate one would eventually belong to, one still had to rely on one's own efforts.
Listening to the various opinions of her classmates, Qingqing's mind could not help but fall on the officer who was a member of the Ministry of Rites. If she were to marry someone, it would be good to marry someone like this. Looking at the group of guys around her who were inevitably a little frivolous, they were really unreliable.
The students who took the civil service exam returned to the academy to continue their daily studies. When Qingqing was in class, she saw that the teacher was suddenly called away. Without a teacher, everyone could only study on their own.
After two periods of self-study, the teacher suddenly invited someone to come forward and introduced him to everyone: "Classmates, this is Director Chen Mingtai of the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Salt Administration."
Qingqing was really surprised to hear the name Chen Mingtai. Chen Mingtai had some reputation originally, but it was not until his disciple Gao Pang passed the imperial examination and became the top scholar, and then "fell into the river and drowned" that Chen Mingtai became famous.
When the news spread that Gao Pang was not dead but hid his whereabouts, defected to Huo Chong, and later became the governor of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, Chen Mingtai's reputation became even more prominent.
Looking at this famous scholar at this time, he was wearing an ordinary official uniform and a common hat on his head. Compared with the rumors, he looked very ordinary.
Perhaps because they had the same idea, some people could not help but ask Chen Mingtai for advice, obviously wanting to see if Chen Mingtai had the magical powers as the legend said.
Although Qingqing herself did not want to test Chen Mingtai, she was also happy to see it. Unexpectedly, this seemingly ordinary man could not be stumped by those seemingly tricky imperial examination questions. After Chen Mingtai answered the questions, he occasionally asked a few questions in return, which immediately made these scholars who had not passed the imperial examination unable to answer.
Those students who were stumped asked Chen Mingtai to announce the answer in a rage. Chen Mingtai answered calmly, showing the level of a top scholar's teacher. All the students no longer looked down on Chen Mingtai.
It was only then that the academy teacher told all the students that Chen Mingtai was invited by the academy to give classes to everyone.
After saying this, the teacher of the academy even added a hint of mystery, "Mr. Chen will especially talk about the Ministry of Rites of the imperial court. If you are interested in joining the Ministry of Rites, you must listen carefully."
After two days of the course, Qingqing felt that studying at the academy was a very correct choice. Chen Mingtai really had the ability to teach a top scholar. The same course was taught by Chen Mingtai with ease and in a simple and easy-to-understand way. If I hadn't come to the academy, I really wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet such a teacher.
Qingqing was a little disappointed to hear that Chen Mingtai would only come to teach for one week. The classmates were the same. Wang Siyu sighed during the break: "I heard that those people in the Ministry of Rites are all taught by His Majesty. Governor Gao, the top scholar, has a teacher like Mr. Chen to teach him. It's really enviable."
Everyone agreed, but such things depended on fate. Qingqing was also envious, but she could only envy him.
Chen Mingtai and the teachers at the academy had no idea what the students were thinking; they were discussing quite secular matters.
The academy teacher asked in a low voice: "Mr. Chen, our friends in Jiangsu and Zhejiang said that they still want the court officials to marry the daughters of our Jiangsu and Zhejiang scholars. Is it really possible?"
Chen Mingtai did not think there was anything wrong with this, and replied in a low voice: "If it was in the past, it would probably not be possible, but it is different now. Your Majesty has promulgated the Marriage Law and advocated a new life. Marriage is a personal matter, and it cannot be arranged by parents or matchmakers. I asked Gao Pang, and he said that the court should especially manage the marriages of officials. Officials should be allowed to marry women who have passed the civil service examination as much as possible. Your Majesty is indeed a wise ruler. All academies should allow the brothers who are studying to send their daughters to study and take the examination."
Hearing Chen Mingtai calling the Governor of Jiangsu and Zhejiang Gao Pang by name, the teachers of the Hangzhou Local Academy were really envious. Chen Mingtai really made it big. Not only did he become the salt administrator, his son-in-law was also the Governor of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and his daughter was a civil servant. As long as the Chinese court conquered the world, this would be a loyal minister. And since they were all from literati backgrounds, they would definitely become a noble family in the future.
Although they were envious, the purpose of Chen Mingtai's trip was to respond to the requests of many scholars in Jiangnan who were willing to join Huo Chong and give him guidance. The teachers in the academy also quickly memorized the key points pointed out by Chen Mingtai.
It is indeed shocking that a woman can be an official. But an official is an official after all, and if a woman passes the exam and becomes an official, she is still an official. Not to mention that the literati in Jiangnan knew that they could not compete with the officers in Shandong for the position of military families. So, isn't it the right choice for literati to marry military families?
