When talking about Xu Zhenqing, Zheng De suddenly remembered another person. Looking at Zhang Sheng, he couldn't help but complain, "By the way, there is an old man in his sixties in his new Jinshi this time. What else can you do with his age?"

"Since the implementation of the imperial examination, there has never been a age limit. Although it is extremely rare to pass the imperial examination in more than 60 years, it is not uncommon. In the past, the top scholar of the Tang Dynasty, Yin Shu, passed the imperial examination in seventy years, which was passed into the ages. In addition, Jiang Ziya was regarded as the Grand Tutor by King Wen of Zhou and appointed him as the Grand Tutor and assisted King Wu to defeat Yin, which was not a late achievement." Zhang Sheng's words were a slap in the face, which made Zheng De feel hot on his face. He couldn't help but glared at him fiercely, "You still have any reason to say this?"

"I dare not, I just talk about the matter."

"Oh" Zheng De glanced at him with fun, "Since he is as talented as you said, why are he more than 60 years old and the Jinshi ranked first?"

"This..." Zhang Sheng didn't expect that he would get around himself. "As the saying goes, 'Ten years of sharpening a sword', people may not become a real talent until they are sixty." This reason was really forced. When he finished speaking, he looked at the emperor with guilt.

"Even if you are right, which one can contribute more to the Ming Dynasty by the 20s and 30s or 60s or 60s?" Zheng De didn't care about his subordinate's poor excuses and asked with a smile.

Without waiting for Zhang Sheng to answer, he said again, "Or can he be like Jiang Ziya, who has just passed the Jinshi and has become a great minister and has made great contributions to our country and country in the Ming Dynasty?"

Zhang Sheng was silent after hearing this, and what the emperor said was indeed reasonable. After all, now is not as good as the pre-Qin period. As long as the king appreciates it, a person can become a prime minister from a commoner overnight. If he slowly endures the qualifications, how many years can the Jinshi who passed the imperial examination in more than 60 years be able to survive?

"Do you think this is a system problem or a lack of education?" Zheng De asked him with a smile.

"Ah?" Zhang Sheng was stunned by this question. The question of the system? The lack of education? Where does this go? He really doesn't understand that this matter can also be related to these? However, the emperor's question cannot be answered, "Maybe it is the lack of education." He answered with some uncertainty. After all, the system can be involved with the ancestral system. Is it possible that something goes wrong?

Zheng De smiled with satisfaction. In fact, no matter how Zhang Sheng answered, he would be satisfied. What he wanted now was just an excuse, an excuse for suddenly wanting to do something.

"Since Zhang Aiqing says it is a lack of education, let's start with the Ming Dynasty's education system. What do you think?"

"Please make it clear." Zhang Sheng was almost crazy by Zheng De's questioning method. Are you an emperor or I an emperor? Why do you have to ask for my opinion in everything?

"My Ming school has two: national studies, prefectures, prefectures, and county schools. I decided to change the school in each prefecture and county schools into primary schools, with a six-year-old school system. All children over the age of six can be admitted, and another junior high school system can be established for three years. Primary school graduates can be admitted, and primary schools and junior high schools are responsible for basic education. Another high school is established for three years. Anyone with excellent high school entrance examination can be admitted. Change the North and South Imperial College to a university, responsible for the higher education stage, and four years of academic system. Anyone with excellent college entrance examination can be admitted. In addition, only those who have received higher education can be qualified for the imperial examination. What does Zhang Aiqing think?"

Zhang Sheng frowned slightly when he heard this and raised a question, "In the past, scholars had to pass the county examination, and they could only enter the prefecture, state, and county schools after becoming students in the prefecture, state, and county schools. Now all children with stern children can enter the school. Has Your Majesty put the threshold too low?"

"The threshold is too low?" Zheng De sneered at Zhang Sheng's words, "Is it true that in Zhang Aiqing's eyes, reading and literacy is something that requires a very high threshold to do?"

Zhang Sheng heard this and burst into tears, "I don't mean that."

"What do you mean?" Zheng De asked back with dissatisfaction, "Or is it just for the imperial examination in your eyes?"

"Isn't it?" Zhang Sheng almost blurted out when he heard this, but when he saw the coldness in Zheng De's eyes, he was so scared that he quickly changed his words, "Of course not."

"It would be great if my scholars from the Ming Dynasty had the enlightenment of you!" Zheng De sarcastically said, obviously even he himself clearly felt that Zhang Sheng was a little disloyal. "Nine and a half of the ten scholars from the Ming Dynasty are for the examination of fame, and the purpose of our Ming Dynasty School is to let scholars get fame, county, government, college, provincial, provincial, imperial examination, palace examination, step by step only for the golden list. How many official positions are there in the Ming Dynasty? How many scholars in the world can be named? How many of them can be named as the grandfather? And what are the situations of those failed in the exam? Have you ever thought about it?"

Zhang Sheng was silently questioned by Zheng De. As a successful imperial examination and Jinshi, he had never thought about these questions in the fifth year of the Ji Chou Crime in Chenghua. However, if he thought about it carefully, if he failed many tests, he might not be very good now. The best situation is probably just a poor teacher.

He sighed lightly, stood up respectfully and bowed respectfully, "What the emperor taught is that the poor minister is stupid."

"That's why I want to make changes to the school in the Ming Dynasty and become a place for real teaching and educating people, rather than just a place for cultivating officials like now." Zheng De glanced at Zhang Sheng, "I don't know if I'm willing to help me."

"But this was set up by Emperor Taizu after all, and it was the ancestral system after all..." Zhang Sheng was a little hesitant. Although what the emperor said made sense, it was related to the ancestral system after all, and the principle could not be shaken.

"In the past, Shang Yang made great efforts to strengthen the Qin ancestral system, and finally swept the six countries to unify the world. It can be seen that the ancestral system is not suitable at all times. Besides, Emperor Taizu set up a school, it seems that it is impossible to change it!" Zheng De advised earnestly.

"But the law of our ancestors is the foundation of the country and cannot be shaken." Zhang Sheng still shook his head and firmly disagreed.

Zheng De now saw that his saliva on the Minister of Rites was half wasted. According to the perspective of the reformists, this was a conservative and conservative diehard. It was impossible to do his job with his own three-inch tongue. After thinking about it, "I decided to limit the age for participating in the imperial examination to be under forty years old, which is not contrary to the ancestral system."

"It's true that he's still a child!" Listening to the emperor's seemingly angry words, Zhang Sheng shook his head helplessly, "Your Majesty just blamed me for taking official positions by his appearance, and now he has proposed to limit the age of the scholars who participated in the imperial examination. Is it unfair?"

"If a person who is 40 years old and cannot pass the imperial examination and wants to continue the imperial examination but does not understand it, I really can't think of what the use of such a person is for not only being keen on fame and fortune?" Zheng De said without hesitation.

Although Zhang Sheng felt that what the emperor said was reasonable, he still felt that it was biased. "There are words among the people that 'thirty old Ming Jing and fifty young Jinshi' are enough to show the difficulty of taking the imperial examination. If Your Majesty restricts the age of participating in the imperial examination, wouldn't it be a shame for the scholars all over the world? I dared to ask Your Majesty to take back his life."

Zheng De smiled and looked at him disrespectfully, "I heard that Zhang Qing was the top scholar and spoke out. I wonder how old Zhang Qing was at that time?"

Zhang Sheng didn't know how the emperor asked about this, but replied, "I was only twenty-eight years old at that time."

Zheng De nodded, "Gei Ge Lao also seems to be the top scholar. He only passed the 11th Jinshi in Chenghua. In addition, who will be the Jinshi who will be the Jinshi after the age of 40?"

After hearing the emperor's questioning, Zhang Sheng was speechless. After all, what the emperor said was the truth, but why did he still feel awkward?

"Even if you are full of knowledge, I can't speak when asked." Zheng De couldn't help but smile, and finally got angry at this old stubborn man. "I set an age limit for taking the scientific examination, which limits those who are keen on fame and fortune, and prevent some people from wasting their lives for fame and fortune. After all, the top scorer in 360 industries is the best, so why do you have to be keen on the officialdom?"

Zhang Sheng nodded subconsciously, obviously agreeing with Zheng De's words.

"Confucius once said: 'At thirty, you will not be confused at forty'. If a person reaches 40, he still cannot see where his life should be. He still does not know that his parents are old and needs you to support him, his wife and children are weak and young, and he needs you to support him. What can someone who does not even understand the responsibilities on his shoulders do for me, the people of the Ming Dynasty?"

Every word Zheng De said was deafening and even Confucius was brought out, leaving Zhang Sheng completely speechless now.

"Of course, this restriction is not implemented immediately." Zheng De paused slightly, and naturally knew that such things could not be rushed. He had to give those scholars who were over 40 a chance.

"The next scientific examination should be in Zhengde's third year!" Zheng De looked at Zhang Sheng, saw the latter nodding slightly before continuing, "The age limit of the scientific examination will be implemented after Zhengde's third year of scientific examination. What do Zhang Qing thinks?"

"This minister can't make a decision." Zhang Sheng sighed lightly. After all, the relationship is too great, so he still dared not make a decision...

"I know you can't make the decision." Zheng De couldn't help but laugh at him. He was too courageous in doing things. He always talked about "ancestral system". No wonder his ability rating is so low. I don't know how he took the position of the Minister of Rites. It is estimated that the 1st prize was also the blessing of his top prize. Finally, he laughed at him with a rather unbearable sentence, "I just want to ask your opinion."

Zhang Sheng opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but finally turned into a helpless sigh. Even the slowest person understood that today he had completely annoyed the emperor, and his career would probably be cut off. However, he thought that he had been loyal to the world for the sake of the Ming Dynasty and had a high position as the Minister of Rites, and he didn't feel very sorry.

"I am older and haven't returned to my hometown for many years. Should I consider retiring and returning home?"

He suddenly had the idea of ​​resigning, but when he thought of the six ministers and nine ministers in the court, he seemed to be the youngest, and he couldn't help but shake his head and chuckled, "Did you leave too early?"
Chapter completed!