The disgraced official I took care of was actually Zhu Houcong's childhood friend.

Chapter 210

Yunniang, who was standing nearby, picked up little Xu Wei and took him away.

Tang Bohu arranged for everyone to take their seats. At Tang Bohu's table sat Wang Yangming, Zhou Chu, Zhang Cong, Yan Song, Wen Zhengming, and Zhu Zhishan.

These people were all extraordinary individuals, either high-ranking officials or influential figures in the literary world.

"Brother Zhengming, are you going to participate in this year's provincial examination?"

Zhu Zhishan looked at Wen Zhengming and smiled.

"As Brother Xizhe knows, this is a worry of mine, and I have to give it a try."

Wen Zhengming said with some helplessness.

"Brother Zhengming is very talented. I think he will pass the provincial examination smoothly this time."

Wang Yangming smiled.

Wang Yangming had some things he didn't say. Wen Zhengming also had another identity: Zhou Hengqi's teacher.

With Zhou Hengqi's connection, any examiner with a modicum of sense would have selected Wen Zhengming as a successful candidate in the imperial examinations. Even if they didn't, someone would have spoken to them on their behalf.

These are some unwritten rules in officialdom. Even if Zhou Chu does nothing, those who want to secretly flatter him will do it for him without telling him.

When Zhou Chu discovers this matter someday in the future, he will be richly rewarded for what he has done.

However, Wang Yangming did not intend to say this. Wen Zhengming was indeed talented, but the fact that he wasted so many years on the imperial examinations was a problem with the imperial examinations themselves.

Although talent does not equate to governing a country, the current imperial examination system does not produce those with the talent to govern a country.

Compared to those people, Wen Zhengming was much stronger.

"I would like to lend you your kind words, Mr. Wang."

Wen Zhengming replied.

"I'm afraid I won't be able to hold the position of Governor of Southern Zhili for much longer."

Wang Yangming looked at Zhou Chu and said.

"Why?"

Zhou Chu asked in confusion.

“My father’s health is deteriorating day by day. He is old and there is no cure. We did ask Master Feixiazi to take a look at him before.”

Wang Yangming sighed.

“If it weren’t for the implementation of this performance evaluation system, I would have resigned a few days ago. I was afraid that if I left, the performance evaluation system would not be able to continue.”

Wang Yangming said with some concern.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chu suddenly realized that it seemed Yangming's father's time to die was approaching this year, but he should be able to hold on for a few more months.

"Mr. Yangming need not worry. Filial piety is of utmost importance. As for the performance evaluation system, others will continue to implement it. Just do your best and leave the rest to fate."

Zhou Chu took a sip of wine and said.

Zhou Chu's words were not empty talk. If Wang Yangming were to return home to observe mourning for his parents, Zhang Cong would be the most suitable person to succeed him.

Zhang Cong was a capable minister with ability and a good get-to-do attitude. Zhou Chu never doubted Zhang Cong's stance.

As for Wang Yangming, Zhou Chu had no intention of keeping him idle.

"It would be best if there were a suitable candidate."

When Wang Yangming saw Zhou Chu's expression, he knew that Zhou Chu already had a suitable candidate in mind, and he was relieved.

“Mr. Yangming, I plan to establish an academy. I would like to ask for your support.”

Zhou Chu revealed a plan he had been devising for a long time.

Even if Zhou Chu hadn't proposed setting up an academy, Wang Yangming would have set up one in Shaoxing two years later, mainly to teach Wang Yangming's philosophy.

Wang Yangming's philosophy is a branch of Neo-Confucianism in the Song and Ming dynasties. It is a school of mind based on the theory of extending innate knowledge and is also known as Yangming's philosophy of mind.

Unfortunately, many people later learned it wrong, only learning the philosophy of mind but forgetting the most basic principle of extending one's innate knowledge. Without the constraints of this philosophy, it is no longer the philosophy of mind.

"Start an academy? What do you want to teach?"

Wang Yangming asked with some curiosity.

"They teach everything. The entire academy is divided into different categories, such as physics, mathematics, and geography."

Zhou Chu explained.

He established this academy to make an attempt to cultivate talents who could truly govern the country and be useful to the Ming Dynasty.

To completely change the situation in the Ming Dynasty, Zhou Chu alone is not enough. No matter how much Zhou Chu does, it is likely that the political situation will end after his death.

However, if we cultivate talents in all fields and change the standards for selecting officials in the Ming Dynasty, then things will be completely different.

What Zhou Chu wanted to do was to uproot the very foundation of the Ming Dynasty's literati.