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

Chapter 505

After Zhou Chu left Zhangjia Village, Hu Zongxian and others stayed there for a while and wrote to Zhou Chu, wanting to go to Beijing to find a teacher. They knew that they could only learn something by following Zhou Chu. In Zhangjia Village, their self-study efficiency was far less than when they were with Zhou Chu.

After some thought, Zhou Chu decided to send Hai Rui and his ilk to the capital. Although the academy was in Yuyao, it was merely a formality; where they studied depended on where they were located.

When Hu Zongxian and his entourage arrived in the capital, it was the second day of the imperial examination.

This greatly excited Zhao Zhenji and the others.

"It's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early, so that we can see the results of this year's imperial examinations being announced."

Zhao Zhenji said.

"What's so interesting about that? They're just a bunch of pedantic intellectuals."

Hu Zongxian said with a disdainful look.

Although Hu Zongxian was a scholar before entering the academy, he never followed the rules and always looked down on those pedantic literati. It was only after entering the academy, studying under Zhou Chu for so long, and farming in Zhangjia Village for so long that they truly understood what life was like for ordinary people at the bottom of society.

It was only at this point that they gradually came to understand a line they couldn't comprehend before: "In youth, one knows not the taste of sorrow, but loves to climb to the upper floors, loves to climb to the upper floors."

Compared to the precarious existence of ordinary people, their lives from childhood to adulthood are far more comfortable, yet many of them enjoy reciting obscene and nonsensical verses.

Before entering Zhangjia Village, Hu Zongxian only admired Zhou Chu, thinking that Lord Zhou seemed to be omnipotent. However, after entering Zhangjia Village and formally becoming Zhou Chu's apprentice, Hu Zongxian discovered that his teacher was completely different from what he had imagined. His teacher seemed ruthless, but in reality, he was compassionate and merciful.

His perspective on the world and the Ming Dynasty was different from everyone else's.

Even Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, said that the people are the most important and the ruler is the least important, and that the people are the water and the ruler is the boat. However, in Emperor Taizong's eyes, the so-called people were never the vast majority of ordinary people, but rather the scholar-official class.

Throughout history, whether it was the Han Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty, or the Song Dynasty, they all deliberately tried to please the scholar-official class.

Originally, Hu Zongxian, Zhao Zhenji, and others did not have such a clear understanding of social class because they themselves belonged to the scholar-official class, and their original vision could not reach the lowest level of people.

It wasn't until they lived in Zhangjia Village that they realized what life was really like for the vast majority of ordinary people in the Ming Dynasty.

Only then did they truly realize that class was real, and so intuitively and clearly understood.

Looking back on history, Hu Zongxian realized that apart from Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, only his teacher truly focused on the lives of ordinary people. This gave Hu Zongxian a sense of awe and reverence for his teacher.

Do you know the fundamental reasons for the demise of dynasties throughout history?

Zhou Chu looked at the group of students below and asked.

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances, each seemingly having their own opinion.

"Zhao Zhenji, you speak."

Zhou Chu pointed at Zhao Zhenji and said.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhenji quickly stood up.

"When a tyrannical ruler is in power, the people suffer greatly."

Zhao Zhenji thought for a moment and then said.

Zhou Chu shook his head upon hearing this.

"What you said only addresses the surface cause; you haven't gotten to the root of the problem."

After saying this, Zhou Chu pointed at Hu Zongxian.

"Hu Zongxian, you speak."

Hu Zongxian stood up, but did not answer immediately. Instead, he pondered for a long time, and it seemed that he had a general answer in his mind, though it was vague.

"The students haven't fully figured it out yet, but they feel it should be related to class."

Hu Zongxian said.

Zhou Chu nodded upon hearing this.

“You’re absolutely right. In every dynasty, the beginning of a new era always involves the redistribution of resources. At that time, the common people acquire the most resources and land. But as time goes by, the land of the common people is gradually swallowed up by the gentry. You can see this by looking at my Great Ming Dynasty.”