The Ming Dynasty’s Prodigal Son - Chapter 1181

[1181. Chapter 1126 My luck]

It’s my good fortune. Yes, there is no better way to understand the situation than seeing is believing.

Emperor Hongzhi stood up, looked at Zhang Sheng and Ma Wensheng and said, “Let’s go, come with me, and take a walk.”

Emperor Hongzhi walked out of the county office, and the imperial guards on three levels inside and three outside surrounded him.

Not far from the county government office, sure enough, the sound of reading could be heard in the distance.

Emperor Hongzhi’s eyes lit up, he looked back and glanced at Liang Min.

Liang Min, however, followed Ouyang Zhi step by step.

And Ouyang Zhi is like Fang Jifan’s tail.

It had been such a long time since I had seen my mentor, and now we met today. Although the way of meeting was a bit strange, and there were so many people, it was difficult to express our feelings, but Ouyang Zhi’s eyes, which were as calm as ancient wells, were filled with excitement.

Fang Jifan followed the footsteps of Emperor Hongzhi.

He looked down at his feet, stepping on the shadow of Emperor Hongzhi. The shadow moved forward a step, and he followed suit. He couldn’t help but sigh in his heart, His Majesty is really walking like a dragon. He is indeed worthy of being the first emperor after Emperor Taizu Gao to even walk. They’re all so cool.

In front of you is a huge academy.

The reason why it is described as huge is because an academy actually covers an area of dozens of acres. Although it is not grand, it is very large in scale.

Outside the academy, there is a stone tablet with academic rules set on it.

After that, there is a plaque with the inscription “Rongcheng Mengxuetang”.

Liang Min introduced: “This was built by merchants in the county. It covers an area of 67 acres and costs an astonishing amount. It hired 132 teachers and accommodated as many as 3,000 scholars. This is It is the largest academy in the county. There is another, smaller academy in the south of the city. In addition, there are three more on the outskirts of the city…”

“Merchants are also interested in education?” Emperor Hongzhi looked surprised.

Zhang Sheng and Ma Wensheng looked at each other.

The layout inside is very compact, with bookstores standing in a row without much scenery. The bookstores are divided into grades, and children of different grades study in different places.

Some of the teachers wearing silk turbans and silk scarves are teaching children to read in the bookstore, and some… are still preparing lessons or taking a rest.

Upon hearing that the Holy Master had arrived, the dean of the academy hurriedly brought out a group of idle teachers, thirty or forty of them, and bowed down in fear.

Emperor Hongzhi raised his eyebrows and couldn’t help but look at Liang Min: “Liang Qing’s family hasn’t answered my question yet.”

“Your Majesty… merchants are naturally interested in education, because… children have to pay tuition when they enter school. “

Oh.” Emperor Hongzhi nodded.

Liang Min added: “The tuition fee collected by this school in one year is as high as 20,000 taels. In addition, the county will also provide some subsidies, which is about 20,000 taels a year. In this way, The annual income is 50,000 taels. After taking into account the expenses, the academy alone has a net profit of 20,000 taels of silver. “

Emperor Hongzhi looked surprised, studying… you still make money?

Fang Jifan couldn’t help but glance at Liang Min, this scumbag, can you talk? Who taught you?

Fang Jifan said with a smile: “Your Majesty, I think money is the second most important thing, and the most important thing is teaching and educating people.”

Emperor Hongzhi nodded: “Not bad.”

Zhang Sheng looked at it with interest: “Not necessarily.”

“What?” Emperor Hongzhi He and Fang Jifan, two people who had escaped from low-level taste, couldn’t help but look at Zhang Sheng.

Zhang Sheng said enthusiastically: “Your Majesty, the so-called prosperity in the world is all for profit. There is no reason to forget about studying. When I was young, because my family had quite a lot of money, my father established a clan school, which also needed to be spent. , because the people recruited are the children of the clan, so the expenses are all hidden.”

Zhang Sheng then said: “But think about it, your majesty, if the school cannot maintain the expenses, then what about the teaching gentlemen? Haha? Most of these people are unsatisfactory scholars. Although they have achieved fame, they can hardly achieve anything. They are not engaged in production, and their families are in poverty. Their lives are not easy. I remember that the old man who gave me enlightenment had a hard time. His life was very bad. Even if someone gave him two eggs, he would cherish them and be reluctant to eat them. “

“If such a large-scale academy can make a profit, I see that all these teachers are useless. , life is going well.” After Zhang Sheng said this, he stepped forward and asked a kneeling teacher, “How dare I ask for Gao’s surname?”

The teacher was startled and said hurriedly: “Mr.

Zhang .

“Zhang Sheng smiled: “You and I are still in the same family. I wonder how much salary you will receive here, sir?”

Teacher Zhang seemed a little hesitant: “The student has been teaching for half a year, and his salary is forty-five taels a year. , although it is not much, but the school includes food and accommodation, which makes life easier. “

Forty-five taels is a little less than some skilled craftsmen.

But it is rare to find food and accommodation included.

There is no burden and little pressure, which is enough to lead a decent life.

Zhang Sheng stroked his beard, felt happy, his eyes shone brightly, and said: “Your Majesty, this is really a great thing that is mutually beneficial. If it is really profitable, the merchants will be eager to build more academies and recruit more children to study. , scholars can also find a job. Since I took charge of the Ministry of Rites, there are more and more scholars with fame and fame, and there are also many whose families are in decline and living in poverty. It can not only accommodate scholars, but also teach widely, and even… It can still be profitable… No…”

He looked at Liang Min: “How come there are so many children studying?”

Liang Min said hurriedly: “If I go back to Zhang Butang, most of the parents of these children are craftsmen, and some are craftsmen. …There are even many small businesses and even many self-cultivated farmers. Since the New Deal in Rongcheng County, many of them have earned some money. After a year, many of them earn dozens of taels of silver…”

Zhang Sheng nodded. Sure enough, the tuition fee of five or six taels a year was a lot, but…if the family’s life improved, it was not much.

“Of course, this is not the most important thing.” Liang Min said: “Here in Baoding Prefecture, everyone attaches great importance to education. In the past, scholars were just for fame. The so-called most useless scholars are because if a scholar cannot be named on the gold medal list, he will You can’t carry it with your shoulders, and you can’t lift it with your hands. If the family is in trouble, life will be even more difficult.”

Emperor Hongzhi kept nodding, he knew a thing or two about these things.

“But now, the people know the benefits of studying. It is said that if you are good at learning, you will be an official. But even if you are a little poor in learning, if you can read and write, you can always find a good way out in Baoding Prefecture in the future. For example, do this Teachers, for example, are accountants in workshops. Even if a merchant hires a shopkeeper, they still need someone who can read and write. There are also many senior craftsmen who are simply incompetent if they cannot read Chinese characters. Of course, these jobs are far inferior to Being named on the gold list is comparable to ordinary coolies. Not only is the income more generous, but it is also more dignified. “

“Therefore, many parents in Rongcheng County are willing to send their children to study. The number of schools has been expanded again and again, but it is still not enough.”

Emperor Hongzhi .

A sudden realization.

This is how the seven or eight thousand scholars in one county came to be.

After hearing this, Emperor Hongzhi laughed: “This is enlightenment. Even if the government does not need to worry about it, everyone is willing to learn from it. It is said that reading will make one’s will clear and reading will make one’s reason clear. If all the states and counties in the world follow the example of Rongcheng, why worry about the lack of enlightenment? Are you happy?”

Zhang Sheng and Ma Wensheng, who were slightly unhappy at this time, showed smiles. Zhang Sheng nodded repeatedly: “Study to know etiquette, you can learn it, you must be able to use it, and you can use it to make more people. People learn… Lao Chen… I have nothing to say.”

Emperor Hongzhi couldn’t help but sigh.

He suddenly said: “In the past, I have been thinking about how to govern the world. I have encouraged farmers, governed the world with benevolence and filial piety, promoted enlightenment, and even… advocated frugality. I have always been thinking about the great sages of ancient times. In our peaceful and prosperous age, why can’t I move even one step even though I have exerted countless efforts? On the contrary, I am getting further and further away from that goal. “

“Today… I finally understand that the so-called great governance is what I seek .

When the people are well-fed, well-fed, and well-clothed, they will naturally ask for something. There is no need to educate them, everything will fall into place naturally.”

Fang Jifan was also touched in his heart and said, “Your Majesty, this is the reason why the people are very smart. , What the government has to do is to enable them to support their families by their own abilities, and other things will fall into place. “

Emperor Hongzhi heard that the children in the school were reading: “The Master said: “A gentleman has nothing to eat.” Seeking fullness, living without seeking peace, being sensitive to things but careful in speaking, one is righteous and right, and can be said to be eager to learn…”

Emperor Hongzhi seemed to think of the time when he was studying when he was young, and his eyes were full of joy: “Education is meritorious, education is meritorious. , Rongcheng County, has made great contributions to education and should be a model.

Liang Min looked ashamed and said, “Your Majesty, I cannot bear this shame. Among the eleven counties in Baoding Prefecture, Rongcheng County, which is under the jurisdiction of Weichen Prefecture, has the fourth lowest enrollment rate, ranking in the middle and lower grades. Not only is it far behind Dingxing County, it is even worse than other counties.

“

The county is not as good as it is. The minister…should not be able to teach and make meritorious service. Emperor

Hongzhi was stunned. He looked at Ouyang Zhi questioningly: “Baoding Prefecture…”

Ouyang Zhi was silent for a moment: “Your Majesty, as of last month, there were 90,000 scholars enrolled in Baoding Prefecture.

Emperor Hongzhi exhaled with a solemn look on his face: “This is a blessing for the country and a blessing for me.

“

“

His face turned red with excitement. After a few days of visiting, he suddenly discovered that there was a golden avenue in front of him.

In front of him, there were Fang Jifan, Ouyang Zhi, Liang Min, and even many others, young and capable, but Emperor Hongzhi said: “Fang Jifan has made great achievements, Ouyang Qing’s family has worked hard, and the other officials in Baoding Prefecture have also made outstanding achievements. I am very pleased

that

Xincheng can achieve such a small success!”

He took a deep breath: “Xiao Banban, where is he?

“

“

Xiao Jing came out sourly, bowed his head and whispered: “My slave is here. “

Emperor Hongzhi closed his eyes: “Give it a decree, Baoding Prefecture, be listed as a model, Ouyang Zhi, be promoted to governor…”

“Governor…” Zhang Sheng was stunned: “Your Majesty, this is the capital of the capital, how did you come to be the governor? ?

Emperor Hongzhi said loudly: “I said yes, yes!

“

”

(End of chapter)