Chapter 7 2. Hong Chengchou's Discussion on the Harm of Stereotyped Essay

Hong Chengchou left, but Oboi still sat on the table. Aobai sat alone, looking at the messy tabletop, and began to think.What Hong Chengchou said just now, although it was a joke, gave him great inspiration.If you want to cut off the Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang's hearing and hearing, and prevent her from reaching out to the government, the Thirteen Yamen must be abolished! However, it is not enough to just abolish the thirteen yamen, which will attract people's attention. Other bad habits, such as stereotyped essays, must be abolished.So, for what reason? After thinking about it, Aobai felt that the only way to gain the support of the Manchu aristocrats and other auxiliary ministers was to use the pretext of maintaining the old traditions and systems of the Manchus.

Having an idea in his mind, Aobai became happy and hummed a little tune involuntarily. In the early morning of the second day, Oboi came out more and more, and talked eloquently: "The first emperor died, and the young master came to the throne. Oboi and the other three adults are the assistant ministers. The ministers thought that if they don't work together to help the master get rid of the old habits and establish a new government, It is really a shame to the late emperor!" Emperor Kangxi looked at Oboi stupidly. In his opinion, although Oboi's mouth was opening and closing, he didn't spit out a single word.The Empress Dowager sitting next to Emperor Kangxi asked, "What does Obai mean by abolishing old habits and establishing a new policy?"

Aobai said: "I believe that the chaos in the Han government in the past dynasties all stems from the eunuchs' chaos in government! The first thing to do is to abolish the Thirteen Yamen, and only set up the House of Internal Affairs to reduce the harm of eunuchs interfering in government!" Soni took it tremblingly and said: "I think Oboi's words are inappropriate! The Thirteenth Yamen was established according to the old system, which is related to the daily life of the palace, how can it be changed casually! Besides, there are many people in the Thirteenth Yamen, and the relationship is complicated. If it is abolished without authorization, chaos may arise!"

Obai said: "Master Soni's words are wrong! You said that the Thirteenth Yamen was established according to the old system. May I ask whether it followed the old system of the Han people or the old system of the Manchus? Since it is the old system of the Han people, why can't it be abolished? What do you think of the Thirteenth Yamen? There are so many people and complicated relationships that cannot be abolished. May I ask, if it is as you say, how will the old system be eliminated? How will the new policy be established? I believe that it is precisely because of the large number of people and complicated relationships that we must abolish it!"

Sony was speechless for a while.Suksaha said: "Oboi's words are reasonable, I just want to ask if there is a specific plan?" Aobai was startled, and secretly screamed!What Suksaha did was unexpected.After thinking for a while, Oboi came up with an idea and said, "The late emperor ordered you and me to be assistant ministers, how can Oboi do it in private?" Hong Chengchou was amused.I thought to myself, I never thought that Oboi is such a talented person! Seeing that three of the four ministers had already spoken, the Empress Dowager asked, "Ye Bilong, what do you have to say?"

Ye Bilong looked at Sukesaha, then at Oboi and said: "Oboi's words are reasonable. However, the matter of Sukesaha's proposal must be started now!" The empress dowager was happy.What is this called?She was about to wave her hand away, but she saw Oboi talking again! Obai said: "I think there is still an old system that needs to be abolished!" The Empress Dowager asked, "What old system?" Obai said: "Steight-legged essay!" The empress dowager asked: "Why do you want to abolish stereotyped essays?" rule the country.Now, why does Oboi propose to abolish stereotyped essays?With the abolition of stereotyped essays, how can the imperial court judge the quality of talents?

Ao Bai said: "The stereotyped essay has the disadvantages of rigid thinking, outdated language, and empty content. It is really a misfortune for the Han Chinese imperial examinations to select talents with the stereotyped essay!" The Empress Dowager asked: "In your opinion, why should talents be selected?" Obai said: "The imperial court will hold the palace examination as usual, but the eight-legged essay is not required." The empress dowager asked, "What kind of text should I write?" Aobai said, "Only use policy theory." The empress dowager couldn't figure out the pros and cons of it, so she asked the other auxiliary ministers if they had any objections?Since Sony, Ebilong, Suksaha and others did not expect that someone would raise such a proposal at this time, they did not hit the nail on the head, so they dare not express their views lightly, but you look at me and I look at you!

Hong Chengchou has been looking for opportunities to help Obai.He thought that now is the best time, so he said more and more people: "I have something to say!" The Empress Dowager said, "Say it!" Hong Chengchou said: "I believe that stereotyped essays have three harms, and policy theory has three benefits!" The Empress Dowager said: "What are the three evils of stereotyped writing?" Hong Chengchou said: "One is to judge talents based on stereotyped essays, and the selected talents are not lacking in mediocrity! Because when writing stereotyped essays, one must abandon one's own views and blindly seek to conform to the style and rules of stereotyped essays. Therefore, the true face of talents cannot be seen. .This is one of its evils!"

The Empress Dowager nodded. Hong Chengchou also said: "Today's officials mostly use stereotyped essays to report their political achievements. It can be said that stereotyped essays are prevalent. However, stereotyped essays are mostly old-fashioned, but the language is oily, and many of them are active in thinking but empty in content, which deceives the court. Stereotyped writers can get high officials because of this. In this way, there is no way for those who seek truth from facts, but there is a way for those who make false reports and boast. This is the second harm!" Aobai was secretly happy, thinking: Yesterday's wine was not wasted!

Hong Chengchou also said: "People in the Qing Dynasty, if they write stereotyped essays for a long time, their language will be boring, their thinking will be dull, their style will become old, and they will even lose themselves! Those who watch the court and have dull eyes are mostly clerical people! The third harm!" The Empress Dowager asked: "What are the three advantages of using policy theory?" Hong Chengchou said: "The benefits of using policy theory are: first, it is beneficial to the country; because it can open up a wide range of opinions, so that it is easy to accept advice. Second, it is beneficial to the people; because it can exercise the people's ability. Third, it is beneficial to individuals. Anyone who likes to use policy theory must be active in thinking. "

The Empress Dowager asked: "Why is the theory of the three benefits of a university scholar not as profound as the theory of the three evils?" Hong Chengchou said with a smile: "Because it has not been implemented yet, and its effect has not been seen, so I dare not speak out!" Suddenly, Emperor Kangxi shouted: "Mother, I want to pee!" The Empress Dowager hurriedly signaled to keep quiet, but Emperor Kangxi couldn't help but speak out.The ministers in the palace quickly hooked their heads and smiled.The empress dowager saw that everyone was like this, so she said: "The four major ministers discuss it, and the rest of the officials will disperse!" Thus, all civil and military officials filed out, and there were only four people in the hall, Soni, Ebilong, Sukesaha, and Aobai.Sonny is sick and seems not to take this matter very seriously; Ye Bilong has no idea and is at a loss for what to do about it; although Suksaha feels that he is controlled by Oboi, he feels powerless; only Oboi is full of ambition look. Aobai asked, "What do you think, my lords?" Sonny coughed twice, and then said, "Let's decide according to you!" Aobai smiled secretly, and asked Sukesaha proudly, "What do you think, sir?" Sukesaha felt that this would give Ao Bai the upper hand, so he said: "I think that Mongolia and the Manchus have always had good relations, and the authority of the Li Fan Yuan should be improved so that it can stand side by side with the six ministries." The results of the discussion of the four ministers are: the abolition of the thirteen yamen, the establishment of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the enhancement of the authority of the Lifan Academy, the lowering of the status of the imperial historian, the abolition of the cabinet system and the Hanlin Academy inherited from the Ming Dynasty, and the restoration of the Secretarial Academy and National History in the old Manchu system. Academy, Hongwen Academy.Abolish stereotyped essays and use only policy theory.