Prince of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 134 Wanting to Build an Academy
During the Tang Dynasty, the influence of aristocratic families was very huge, and the five surnames and Qiwang were the leaders among them.

The influence of the aristocratic family is too great, which is not what the rulers want to see. Historically, from Tang Taizong to Tang Gaozong, they have been suppressed, but the effect is not ideal, which makes the arrogance of the aristocratic family even more arrogant.

In the late Tang Dynasty, Tang Wenzong proposed marriage to Zheng Qin, the prime minister at that time, hoping that Zheng Tan would marry his granddaughter to the crown prince, but Zheng Tanning refused his request, and instead married his granddaughter to a child of the Cui family who was only a ninth-rank official. It can be seen that the concept of the aristocratic family at that time was very important.

In fact, looking back at history, in the heyday of the Tang Dynasty, the aristocratic families did not actually take advantage of the contest with the royal family. There are many reasons for this, but mainly because of three points.

First, the "Guanlong Military Group" at that time was very powerful.

At the beginning of the founding of the country, the influence of the founding heroes in the court was very great, so great that even the aristocratic families had to avoid their edge.

For these founding heroes, the aristocratic families did not dare to offend them, so they could only befriend them through marriage. For example, Cheng Yaojin married the Cui family of Qinghe, and Fang Xuanling married the Lu family of Fan Yang.

Second, after the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, the imperial examination system of the Sui Dynasty was followed.

After passing the imperial examinations, a large number of children from poor families entered the imperial court, which also divided the power of the aristocratic families to a certain extent.

The third is the deliberate suppression by the rulers.

But it is a pity that the emperors of the Tang Dynasty did not do very well in this regard, because they also had a view of family status deep in their hearts, so they did not have much confidence in suppressing them, and the effect was minimal. It can be said that the aristocratic family who had taken the right to take the imperial examination rose again, which can be said to have fallen short.

Gao Ming knew this very well, so on the one hand, he persuaded Li Shimin and strengthened his confidence in suppressing the aristocratic family. At the same time, he bailed out Zhou Zheng and used him as the vanguard to suppress the aristocratic family!
"Father-in-law, the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty is naturally inseparable from talents, but now these talents are basically controlled by the aristocratic family. They do not serve the Tang Dynasty, but serve the aristocratic family, so we only Being able to cultivate talents by yourself is the so-called 'Education-based education', which is the truth!"

After hearing Gao Ming's words, Zhou Zheng immediately took it seriously and nodded immediately.

"'Education is the foundation of a century-old plan'? Your Highness is right! Your Highness asked me to go back to Jinzhou to open an academy. Could it be to cultivate talents?"

As soon as Zhou Zheng finished speaking, Gao Ming immediately laughed.

"Yes, that's it!"

Gao Ming smiled and pointed to the Chang'an City Gate not far away.

"Father-in-law, look, if one day, the people we cultivate can enter the court in an endless stream like the people at the gate of the city. At that time, what will the powerful family count?"

Hearing Gao Ming's words, Zhou Zheng immediately took a look at the crowds of people entering the city at the gate of the city, and his face suddenly showed excitement.

"That's right, if it comes to that time, it will be the time for me to show my strength, His Royal Highness, as long as you have a word, the old man will be driven!"

After finishing speaking, Zhou Zheng bowed to Gao Ming and saluted Gao Ming. It could be seen that he was very serious at the moment.

Seeing this scene, Gao Ming suddenly smiled and reached out to help him up.

"Father-in-law is polite, now we are all on our own, so don't be so alien, just like what I said just now, you go back to Jinju to take care of your health, and I may go to Jinju in person after a while, Let’s talk about the academy at that time, there is no rush.”

Hearing what Gao Ming said, Zhou Zheng had no choice but to nod, and then bowed his hands towards him.

"The old man is waiting for the good news from His Highness the Crown Prince in Jinzhou. Farewell!"

Gao Ming also smiled and bowed to him.

"Farewell, father-in-law, take care all the way!"

Zhou Zheng nodded, got into the carriage and left, watching the carriage drift away, Gao Ming suddenly showed a sneer.

"Aristocratic family? Hmph, let's make you proud for a few years first!"

After finishing speaking, Gao Ming also turned around and went back to the palace.

After returning to the palace, Gao Ming immediately discussed with Su Wan'er.

"Wan'er, how much would it cost if I wanted to build an academy that could accommodate 4000 or [-] people?"

According to Gao Ming's thinking, an academy is a school, and a decent school would definitely not be able to do without 4000 to [-] students, but what he didn't expect was that as soon as he finished speaking, Su Wan'er laughed.

"Lang-jun is making fun of my concubine again. It is not possible for an ordinary academy to recruit 40 people. Where can I find 4000 people? Hehehehe..."

Hearing Su Wan'er's words, Gao Ming unceremoniously "slapped" her buttocks twice.

"If you dare to laugh at the gentleman, the family law will serve you!"

"Ugh..."

Seeing that Su Wan'er blushed and stopped talking, Gao Ming nodded in satisfaction this time.

"Well, maybe I didn't make it clear just now. What I mean is that the academy I want to build does not charge tuition fees. Not only do I not charge tuition fees, but I also provide food, housing, and imperial examinations for them. How much do you think it will cost to train the poor to become officials?"

Hearing Gao Ming's words, Su Wan'er was shocked, her eyes widened and she was speechless for a long time.

Seeing her expression of "seeing a ghost", Gao Ming suddenly sighed helplessly.

"Don't worry, I'm not bewitched by evil spirits, and I'm very clear-headed. Naturally, I have my own reasons for doing this. You'd better answer my question quickly!"

Su Wan'er came back to her senses when she heard Gao Ming's words, but at this moment her brows were furrowed.

"If a child studies at the age of five, if he wants to become a talent, he must study hard for more than ten years before he can pass the imperial examination. Not to mention the money from the master, the annual food, lodging, pen, ink and paper costs will cost at least three or four per person. Guan money, Mr. Lang said that to provide three to four thousand people to study and become successful, it is impossible to lose 4000 Guan."

Hearing this number, Gao Ming was startled.

"One hundred thousand?"

Seeing Gao Ming's appearance, Su Wan'er nodded immediately.

"Now the world is peaceful, one hundred thousand guan is almost enough. If there is a disaster, I am afraid that the money will not be enough!"

"..."

Now Gao Ming was convinced, and he found that what he said to Zhou Zheng before with such arrogance was simply ignorant and fearless!
During the Zhenguan period, 25 guan was not a small amount. Now that the Tang Dynasty has just been established for [-] years, and has experienced too many wars before, Li Shimin can only lightly pay and pay lightly so that the people can recuperate.

According to what Gao Ming learned, in the whole of last year, the tax collected by Datang from the various states and counties below was less than 100 million guan.

Although the price level of Datang is very low, for a huge country, 100 million guan is too little.

Not to mention anything else, let's take soldiers as an example. In later generations, our country's standing army is about 270 million, but Datang did not have so many standing troops, not because Li Shimin didn't want it, but because he couldn't afford it.

Li Shimin is poor, and this is clearer than anyone else. Sometimes he suspects that the reason why Li Shimin tried every means to attack the nobles is probably to take back their land, and then distribute the land to the people so that he can reap it. Tax.

Under such circumstances, Gao Ming felt that if he asked Li Shimin for money, he probably had little hope of getting it, and even if Li Shimin agreed to give it to him, the Ministry of Household Affairs would not let him go. I can figure it out by myself.

"Isn't it [-] guan? Anyway, I don't want to take out all of them at once. If I take a little every year, there will always be a way!"

Thinking of this, Gao Ming turned his attention to Su Wan'er again.

"Wan'er, I must build this academy. It's related to my huge future plans. Don't worry about anything else. Just talk about it. Now I want to build this academy, how much money do I need?" ?”

Seeing Gao Ming's serious expression, Su Wan'er also became serious. She calculated again, and then nodded towards Gao Ming.

"If you want to build an academy that can accommodate three to four thousand people, and provide food and shelter for them, you need at least a thousand rooms, and according to what you mean, you want them to take part in the imperial examination and become officials in the court, so how can you master?" Two or 4000 people have to be invited, and..."

Before she finished speaking, Gao Ming immediately interrupted her with his hand.

"Hey, wait...why do you need to invite two or three hundred masters? Isn't it just to read the Four Books and Five Classics? When the time comes, invite a few masters so that they can't memorize it?"

Hearing Gao Ming's words, Su Wan'er immediately supported her forehead with a wry smile.

"Lang Jun, it seems that you really don't know anything about it. The Four Books and Five Classics you mentioned are for scholars, but in addition to scholars in our imperial examinations in the Tang Dynasty, there are also Mingjing, Jinshi, Junshi, Mingfa, Mingfa, etc. There are more than 50 kinds of Mingzi, Mingshu, etc., do you think a few masters are enough?"

"Uh……"

At this moment, Gao Ming had nothing to say, he could only touch his nose helplessly, and then shook his head helplessly.

"It seems that it is not enough... well, you can continue, what else?"

Hearing Gao Ming's words, Su Wan'er imitated his example and shrugged her shoulders, then spread her hands.

"There is nothing else, the main thing is to build the academy, invite teachers, and the pens, inks, papers and inkstones of the students. These are relatively expensive. Your husband, you can spend [-] to [-] guan, which is almost enough."

As soon as Su Wan'er finished speaking, Gao Ming's eyes widened again.

"Didn't you just say that you only need [-] guan in total? Why do I need [-] to [-] guan now just to build the academy?"

Seeing Gao Ming's astonished expression, Su Wan'er suddenly showed a look of grievance.

"Just now I said that at least [-] guan is needed, and I didn't include the money for building the academy just now, sir, why don't we build this academy?"

When Gao Ming heard Su Wan'er said that the academy would not be built, he immediately stood up.

"How does this work?"

As he said that, Gao Ming frowned and paced back and forth in the room. After about a cup of tea, he stopped and let out a long breath.

"The academy must be built. As for the money, I will find a way!"

After finishing speaking, Gao Ming walked out of the house and headed towards the Forbidden Garden.

(End of this chapter)