Chapter 92: It seems that Your Majesty really despises Japan.

In the Ming Dynasty, students of the Imperial Academy can be divided into two categories: civilian students and official students.

Civilian students are those from ordinary families.

Official students refer to those born in official families, including five types: the sons of titled officials, examinee students (举监) , noble students for education, sons of local officials, and foreign exchange students.

Sons of titled officials are also called ‘Yin Jian.’ The sons of officials from the first to the seventh rank can directly enter the Imperial Academy as students due to their father’s rank.

Examinee students are Juren^[1]Juren (Chinese: 舉人; lit. ‘recommended man’) was a rank achieved by people who passed the xiangshi (Chinese: 鄉試) exam in the imperial … Continue reading

For instance, if Zhang San is already a Juren, but didn’t pass this year’s examination, he might think, ‘If I return home, it will take three months to get back and forth. I might as well study at the Imperial Academy for three years.’

Noble students for education are easier to understand. Even the sons of prince consort, marquises, dukes, need to attend school, right?

Sons of local officials, here referring to chieftains, are often officials in border minority regions, such as the Wusa Prefecture in Yunnan, the Mangbu prefecture, the Bozhou Prefecture in Sichuan, and the Xuanwei Prefecture in Guizhou, where there are also many local chieftains.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang nominally ruled over these areas, they could be considered semi-autonomous states. The central government’s control and management over these areas were not strong. When dealing with matters, negotiations with the local chieftains were often necessary.

There were foreign exchange students at the Ming Dynasty’s Imperial Academy, mainly from Goryeo, Japan, Ryukyu, and Siam.

In the fourth year of the Hongwu Emperor’s reign, Goryeo’s Jin Tao, Pu Shi, and Liu Boru participated in the imperial examination, and Jin Tao passed the exam become Jinshi.

In the twenty-second year of the Hongwu Emperor’s reign, Japan’s Tengyou and others entered the Imperial Academy.

In the twenty-fifth year of the Hongwu Emperor’s reign, the Ryukyu Kingdom’s King Zhongshan dispatched exchange students to the Ming Dynasty.

In his daily life, Zhu Yunwen mainly focused on state affairs, such as taxes, land, and military organization, and didn’t pay much attention to the Imperial Academy. If not for Xu Miaojin’s mention, he would have thought that all the students at the Imperial Academy were Chinese.

There were even Japanese students right under his nose?

“Uh? Your Majesty, is there anything wrong with this?”

Chen Di looked at the furious Zhu Yunwen, his tone uneasy.

The vast Ming Dynasty, the vast expanse of China, accepting a few foreign students to showcase the grandeur of the Ming Dynasty, was there anything wrong with that?

Zhu Yunwen slammed the table and stared fiercely!

Chen Di and the others trembled in fear, quickly kneeling down.

Everyone was confused. What’s wrong with the Japanese exchange students?

When those Japanese pirates killed some soldiers and civilians along the coast last time, you sent a large fleet over. Do you know that because of your orders, the Ming Dynasty Navy, with over thirty thousand people, is currently patrolling the East China Sea, killing people?

Zheng He has already killed more than twenty pirate leaders and over a thousand pirates, it’s said that not a single one was left alive. They were all beheaded.

Who knew if there were still pirates at sea?

In the end, the Japanese pirates were dead men walking.

But Your Majesty, these Japanese official students are sent by the Japanese authorities, you should show them some face.

Moreover, Japanese students were usually diligent, polite, and well-mannered, and hadn’t committed any wrongdoing. So why be so angry with them?

Looking at Chen Di and the others kneeling on the ground, Zhu Yunwen also felt helpless.

What should he say?

The current Japanese pirates are only small bands, not yet large and daring enough to launch a massive attack on the Ming Dynasty, and they aren’t large enough to devour Korea. Moreover, he couldn’t tell them about events a thousand years in the future.

Telling them that the Japanese people are inherently bloodthirsty, savage, warmongering, and evil creatures—these people wouldn’t believe it.

“Starting today, send the Japanese official students back to Japan. Great Ming will no longer accept Japanese students! Also, inform the coastal guard stations that Japanese is not allowed to set foot on Chinese territory! If Japanese envoys come, send them back without letting them disembark! Reform the Imperial Academy, and all of you, come up with a plan as soon as possible!”

After saying this, Zhu Yunwen turned and left.

Chen Di and the others exchanged puzzled looks, unable to understand Zhu Yunwen’s odd orders.

“Your Majesty seems to strongly despise Japan.”

Xie Jin murmured, deep in thought.

Chen Di and the others nodded in agreement.

Anything related to Japan made Zhu Yunwen seem like he wanted to tear them apart, as if the Japanese had wronged him.

But how could the Japanese people possibly harm the Ming Emperor?

They hadn’t even had a chance to see Zhu Yunwen!

Yao Guangxiao continued to twirl his prayer beads, saying, “Although the problem with Japanese pirates is small, if not dealt with sternly, it may lead to great calamity. Your Majesty’s concerns are for the long term and beyond our speculation.”

Chen Di and the others sighed. After all, there were only a few Japanese students. Just drive them away.

As for the reasons, that was easy. Let’s use ‘insufficient fluency in Chinese, please return to your home country.’

As soon as Zhu Yunwen returned to the Kunning Palace, Xu Miaojin eagerly approached and asked, “Brother Emperor, has the Grand Secretariat and Ministry of Rites agreed to reform the Imperial Academy?”

“You know, His Majesty seems a bit tired,” Ma Enhui reproached Xu Miaojin, handing a cup of tea to Zhu Yunwen and saying with concern, “Your Majesty, do you need to rest?”

“What about Wenkui?”

Zhu Yunwen looked around but didn’t see Zhu Wenkui’s figure.

“Consort Ning took him away.”

Ma Enhui smiled and explained.

Zhu Yunwen nodded slightly and turned to Xu Miaojin, saying, “You want to establish a women’s academy, but you might need to delay it a bit. Let’s wait a few more months.”

“Why?”

Xu Miaojin asked, puzzled.

Zhu Yunwen sighed and explained, “The current single whip method and curbing land consolidation are in progress. There’s too much government affairs. If we establish a women’s academy at this time, it’s likely to stir up controversy. There are many officials, and they all have their opinions. I only have one mouth.”

In this moment, Xu Miaojin suddenly felt that Zhu Yunwen was somewhat helpless, somewhat vulnerable. He seemed like himself, unsure of what to do, enduring hardship.

Although he was the Emperor, he was still a human being.

Xu Miaojin knew that His Majesty wouldn’t be bothered by the controversies of the officials.

However, when the women’s academy was established, the officials’ criticism might not be directed at His Majesty, but at herself.

Zhu Yunwen hoped to free up more energy, introduce the women’s academy at the right time, and then protect herself.

Xu Miaojin lowered his head, pondered for a moment, then lifted his head and said, “Your Majesty, if the women’s academy is postponed, I have no objections. However, I hope it won’t be delayed for too long. After all, women can’t wait.”

In ancient times, women married early, usually between the ages of thirteen and nineteen. Anyone over twenty was considered a late marriage.

If a women’s academy was established, only those who were already married or close to marriage could participate, such as the daughters of noble families and officials in the capital.

For unmarried women, it was still manageable, they had some freedom.

But for those who were already married, everything would be subject to their husbands’ decisions. How many husbands would allow their wives to attend a school and study subjects beyond household management?

Xu Miaojin knew that throughout the long history, there were only a few brief mentions of women.

Lacking talent, all she wanted was to make a small contribution with her life.

Zhu Yunwen was well aware of this, after a moment of contemplation, he promised, “I promise you, no later than the second half of the year, we will definitely have the women’s academy established this year.”

Xu Miaojin sincerely saluted Zhu Yunwen.

Looking at the earnest pair, Ma Enhui shook her head slightly and said, “Now that things are settled, it’s good. Shuangxi, bring in the meal. Miaojin, you don’t need to leave the palace today. Stay here and accompany me properly.”

Zhu Yunwen looked at Ma Enhui, silently asking: If she stays here, where do I go?

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