Optimus One Pillar of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 43 The Imperial Academy does not welcome you

After pushing Gaoyi half-pushed into the car, Wang Daoqiu and Yin Zhengmao also climbed into the carriage.

After getting on the carriage, Wang Daoqiu said to the carriage driver: "I'm sorry, brother coach driver, for delaying you for so long. I will pay you five cents for the fare later."

"It's okay, young master, please sit still. Inner Palace Supervisor Hutong, let's go, drive."

Wang Daoqiu said that he would pay for the carriage. The coachman was polite, but he was very happy in his heart. He raised his whip and the carriage started to move forward again.

After apologizing to the coachman, Wang Daoqiu got into the carriage.When Yin Zhengmao saw Wang Daoqiu coming in, he pointed at the red treasure box and asked Wang Daoqiu: "Brother Liangzhen, what do you have in this box?"

"Oh, this, this is temporarily stored with me by a fellow countryman. It contains some of the more expensive things he bought in the capital. He will take it back before the canal freezes and bring it back to Zhejiang."

Wang Daoqiu didn't want Yin Zhengmao to know that he and Jin Yiwei had interests in each other.So he lied to Yin Zhengmao about the red treasure box, and emphasized that it contained valuables to prevent Yin Zhengmao from wanting to see it.

Sure enough, when he heard that the box contained valuables that his fellow villagers had deposited with Wang Daoqiu, Yin Zhengmao stopped asking about it.He turned to joke with Gao Yi and said: "Brother Zixiang, you were a concubine selected in the 20th year of Jiajing and entered the Hanlin Academy. There are still two months and a few days left, but it will be the 26th year of Jiajing. You You have been a high-ranking official in the capital for more than five years, why can't you afford a house? Tell me, is it because your younger siblings are not around, so you gave your money to those Yingying Yanyan? Hahahahaha."

"Hahahaha"

Yin Zhengmao teased Gao Yi, saying that he could not afford a house after five years as a Beijing official because he spent all his money on that.As he talked, Yin Zhengmao made himself amused.Wang Daoqiu, who was sitting next to him, couldn't help but laugh after hearing Yin Zhengmao's "slander" against Gao Yi and looking at Gao Yi's embarrassed face.

Seeing that his old brother Yin Zhengmao and his new friend Wang Daoqiu were both laughing at him, Gao Yi said with an aggrieved look: "Brother Shi Ting, are you making fun of me again? It's not like you don't know the situation at home. My parents are old and need support. I have three children who need to be taken care of. When I first entered the Hanlin Academy, I was only an editor of the seventh rank, with an annual salary of only about 50 taels. After three years in the Hanlin Academy, I passed the examination and was promoted to the sixth rank. The annual salary is only three to five taels more than that, and since I was promoted to the sixth rank this month, my annual salary is only a few more taels of silver."

"With such a salary of five and sixty taels a year, I still have to send 60 taels home a year to support my parents, wife and children. In this capital city, I have to spend money on food, clothing, clothing, and renting a house. The relationships between my colleagues are so sophisticated. , I can’t save this money at all. To be honest with my brother, in order to save some rent, I have rented a house in another city these years. Every day when the rooster crows, I get up quickly, and then rush to the Hanlin Academy to order. It's worth it."

"As for the sedan chair, according to my rank, it has to be carried four times, but how can I afford four bearers? To be honest, brother, if I couldn't bear to look like this, I would have thought about it when I reviewed it every three years at the Hanlin Academy. I deliberately failed the exam. This way I could be released as an official. Once released, Hanlin officials like us would usually be granted the title of fourth-rank prefect, followed by fifth-rank magistrates, fifth-rank recommended officials, etc. Then the annual salary and subsidies can be much greater."

Gao Yi is telling the truth. This is also one of the strange systems of the Ming Dynasty. Official positions with high status and power in key positions are assigned smaller levels.

For example, in the Hanlin Academy, the person with the highest official position is a fifth-rank bachelor. However, those who fail to pass the three-year internship period in the Hanlin Academy and are eliminated will usually be promoted to fourth-rank prefects, or The next level is the fifth-rank local magistrate, Tuiguan, and the fifth-rank Yuanwailang of the sixth department.

For those who are eliminated because they are unqualified, most of their grades will be higher than, or at least the same level as, the bachelors of the Hanlin Academy.However, only the ones who passed the test were ranked six or seven. Isn't this strange and cute?But this is the Ming Dynasty's system. His rank and actual status and power are often inversely proportional.

Speaking of sadness, Gao Yi thought of the hard life of the past five years or so. Every day, no matter whether it was ice and snow outside or pouring rain, he would have to run several kilometers to go to the Hanlin Academy to eat. He also lowered his head in frustration.

Beidiao for more than five years, reaching the sixth or seventh grade.I don’t go whoring or gambling, I don’t go to bars, I don’t go to disco clubs, I don’t keep a little sister, and yet I still can’t afford a house or a car!After more than 400 years of this matter, if Gao Yi dared to complain like this, the masses would definitely spit on his face, and then scold him: You are so pretentious, not to mention the sixth or seventh grade, just the eighth or ninth grade. He has been working for five years. Many, are there still people who can’t afford a house or a car?
More than 400 years after the Gaoyi incident was put aside, if he dared to complain like this on the Internet, netizens across the country would attack him together.But in the Ming Dynasty in the [-]th century, this was indeed a fact.

Not only the Ming Dynasty, but you said that officials were treated better in the Tang and Song Dynasties. Bai Juyi became the boss of Hangzhou and built a white embankment on the West Lake. An old and shabby set.Su Shi, a well-known person in the country, bought a house in Bianliang, the capital at that time, after he was transferred back to work in Bianliang, which was also borrowed from relatives and friends.

People with such official rank and popularity as Bai Juzheng and Su Shi say that they cannot afford to buy a house. How can future generations believe it?But this is the fact, so how happy and corrupt the officials of the feudal dynasty were, that was used by some people to serve ulterior purposes. In fact, it was not the same thing at all.After all, the feudal dynasty was all about family and the world, and the country belonged to the emperor, just like our private companies.

Everyone knows that when working in a private enterprise, except for a few managers with extremely high emotional intelligence and good interpersonal skills, most managers can only say that they are much better than front-line employees. As for buying a house or a car?They are also under a lot of pressure!Seeing Gao Yi lowering his head with a sad look on his face, Yin Zhengmao also felt a little apologetic for the joke he just made.So Yin Zhengmao comforted Gao Yi: "Zi Xiang! You can't do stupid things just for the extra monthly salary. Yes, if you fail the examination in the Hanlin Academy, you will be released as an official, and your rank will be lowered." If you are promoted to the fourth or fifth grade, your monthly salary will be much higher and your extra income will be much greater, but what about the future?"

"Zixiang, you will study in the Hanlin Academy for a few years and be appointed as an official in the normal way. As long as you don't make any serious mistakes in your life, even if you can't join the cabinet and become the prime minister in the future, you will usually be a high-ranking six-level minister and a local official. A second-grade governor or chief minister; at last he was a third-grade minister! But once you are kicked out of the Hanlin Academy because you failed the examination, then if you don’t have great opportunities in your life, you will probably just be anywhere. You will serve as magistrate for two terms, and then you will be transferred to another place for one or two terms as magistrate. Finally, when you get older, the court will arrange a casual position for you to provide for you in old age, or directly let you become an official. Dear brother Zixiang, are you willing to do this? "

Yin Zhengmao's words can be said to have touched the hearts of all Hanlin officials like Gaoyi.Really, now that they have entered the Hanlin Academy, the place of "prefecture", who would be willing to just be a prefect in this life?
So after Yin Zhengmao explained it, Gao Yi felt much better. In his heart, he comforted himself that only by enduring hardship can he become a master.

After understanding that the hardships he endured now were all worth it, Gaoyi didn't want to talk about this topic anymore.He changed the subject and said to Wang Daoqiu: "Brother Liangzhen, you can pass the exam of Jieyuan of Zhejiang Province at a young age. With your talent and learning, there will definitely be no problem in taking the national exam."

"That's it, that's it. Brother Liangzhen is a genius. How can he be troubled by a small person who can take the test? Brother Zixiang, Brother Yu, I dare to bet you that after the test next year, Brother Liangzhen will definitely be able to do the same. I am a concubine, and I will be on duty with you every day when I enter the Hanlin Academy."

As soon as Gao Yi talked about Wang Daoqiu's academic performance, Yin Zhengmao rushed to show off for Wang Daoqiu.

When Gao Yi heard Yin Zhengmao say that Wang Daoqiu would enter the Hanlin Academy after the examination next year, he looked a little embarrassed.The change in Gao Yi's face was caught by the eyes of Wang Daoqiu on the side. At this time, Wang Daoqiu also remembered what Lu Bing once said to him.

So Wang Daoqiu rushed to Gao Yi and asked, "Does your Imperial Academy not welcome me, brother? I guess you Hanlins in the Imperial Academy have discussed this matter before?"

"Cough cough cough", Gao Yi was very embarrassed by Wang Daoqiu's question, he didn't know how to answer, so he could only pretend to clear his throat "cough cough".

The so-called no answer is the best answer, which is the legendary default.So when they saw Gaoyi's current state, Wang Daoqiu and Yin Zhengmao immediately understood that Wang Daoqiu was indeed not welcome in the Hanlin Academy.

Knowing this, Wang Daoqiu just thought "it really is so", but when Yin Zhengmao found out about this, his jaw dropped in shock.Nima, I haven't taken the exam yet, and my good brother, he has no grudges with the Imperial Academy, so why is the Imperial Academy ostracizing him?
Unable to understand, Yin Zhengmao asked Gao Yi: "Brother Zixiang, what is wrong with your Hanlin Academy? My brother Liangzhen has no grudges against you, so why do you target him like this?"

"Brother Shi Ting, please don't embarrass Brother Zi Xiang. Those are his colleagues. There are some things that are inconvenient for him to say. It's better for me to help you clear up your doubts."

Seeing Yin Zhengmao questioning Gao Yi about this matter, Wang Daoqiu knew that it was not convenient for Gao Yi to talk about it. After all, Gao Yi was also a member of the Hanlin Academy. He could not turn his elbows outward, which was a taboo in the workplace.So as soon as Wang Daoqiu finished speaking to Yin Zhengmao, he rushed to help Gao Yi out of the siege.

What Yin Zhengmao meant when he heard Wang Daoqiu's words was that he knew why he was not welcomed by the Imperial Academy.So Yin Zhengmao asked with a question mark on his face: "Brother Liangzhen, do you know why the Hanlin Academy doesn't want to see you? Have you offended them in any way?"

"Hahahahaha, Brother Shi Ting, you are already in your 30s this year. Why can't you understand what's going on here? Now let alone the Hanlin Academy, even the entire Ming Dynasty, which yamen expects me to know how to do it? After the test, were you assigned to them as a duty officer?"

"What, all the yamen in Ming Dynasty don't welcome you? Brother Liangzhen, aren't you teasing me by saying this?"

"Hahahaha, brother, why am I teasing you? Forget it, brother, let me open the skylight and talk to you! Brother, the day before yesterday, I kidnapped Xia Shoufu's housekeeper and took him to Xiyuan to file a lawsuit. For this reason, Xia Shoufu He was demoted from the first assistant to the second assistant, and now he is still at home thinking about his past! Brother, what do you think, then who is the first assistant Xia? He was once the God of War of the Ming Dynasty! Except the emperor, who dares to mess with him? But I messed with him, little brother, And he succeeded in bringing him down.”

"Brother, think about it, little brother, I am not even afraid of the God of War Xia Yan, who else should I be afraid of? And of all the yamen in our current court, which yamen is absolutely clean? For example, this is the Hanlin Academy, the place where the Prime Minister is stored. The officials there should be the most virtuous officials in the Ming Dynasty, right? But among them, can there be half as many people as clean and self-sufficient as Brother Zixiang? Now all the yamen in the Ming Dynasty are unclean, so I go, they What will be the consequences? After all, I have pulled down Xia Yan, the chief assistant of the God of War, and you think they are afraid, do they dare to let me into their yamen?"

Damn it, that's it. With Wang Daoqiu's explanation, Yin Zhengmao finally understood. Considering Wang Daoqiu's current reputation in the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty, no yamen dared to ask for him.

(End of this chapter)