After being divorced, my identity as a poet was exposed

Fireworks show?

Except Huang Xiumu, no one knew the meaning of these three words.

But the emperor was so interested and said this was another good business...

Of course, these merchants were willing to go with the emperor.

Wen Zhuyu and others were also very curious.

Su Xiaoxiao is of course no exception.

But what she was looking forward to more was...whether he would compose another Lantern Festival poem in the Jinshui Pavilion?
The Lantern Festival at Yihonglou is extremely lively at this moment.

Except for Su Xiaoxiao, all the girls in the building were at the lantern festival.

But this time they did not sing and dance like they did on New Year's Eve. Instead, they stood on a stage to verify the riddles answered by the literati and scholars.

Or you can collect the Lantern Festival poems written by talented writers on stage.

The people just watched the fun.

From such a bustle, they can feel the literary style of Ningguo——

Although literary style is a bit far away from them, they would be proud if their sons could enter school and become famous in such lantern festivals or poetry gatherings one day.

Although the emperor has set the tone that everyone should make money in the future, in the hearts of these people, they still believe that studying is far more sacred than making money.

"Silver satisfies everyone's material pursuits."

Sitting in the pavilion near the water, Li Chenan looked at the fanatical people and said:

“Why are they so enthusiastic about literary and lantern festivals?”

"While pursuing money, the people also need spiritual pleasure."

"Why do scholars have such a high status in the hearts of the people? This is because studying was once something that most people yearned for, but were unable to do."

“Studying is expensive!”

"In the entire Ningguo, there are very few schools that have been extended to the villages."

"Unlike aristocratic families like yours, which have their own private schools, the children of aristocratic families can receive a good education from birth..."

After a pause, Li Chenan sighed slightly:
"This doesn't mean that the children of your noble families are smarter than the children of ordinary people, nor does it mean that the children of ordinary people don't have the desire to learn."

"In the final analysis, it is because the people cannot afford to send their children to school!"

“When reading becomes a luxury, it becomes something that ordinary people look up to.”

"After thousands of years of accumulation, the idea that everything is inferior except for reading has been formed."

“So, the class emerged and gradually solidified.”

"Families that can afford to read are all wealthy families. Their children will enter the government, and their families will become more and more powerful."

"For families who cannot afford education...there is almost no way to cross the social class barrier except to join the army and make outstanding military achievements during the turbulent times."

"This is unfair to me!"

"So in the coming time, my main focus will be on improving the literacy of the entire population through compulsory education!"

"It's just... this is difficult, it requires too much silver!"

Everyone looked at Li Chenan at this moment.

There was surprise in their eyes.

Because... although the emperor's move is a good one, if it really allows the children of ordinary people to go to school and become scholars, then problems will arise.

Who will farm?

Who will work in the workshop?

Who will do all the hard labor?
Li Chenan glanced at it and smiled slightly:
"I know what you are worried about."

"In fact, there is no need to worry at all. All people need to receive the most basic compulsory education."

“Not everyone is suited to reading!” “Not everyone can read all the way to the top.”

"But through this kind of compulsory education, all children in Ningguo can learn to read, do arithmetic, and understand reason. In particular, they can only understand the laws that will be gradually promoted and improved in the future if they read books!"

"The people of Ningguo need to understand their rights and know the fair and just laws that protect them!"

"This is the most important weapon for all the people of Ningguo to protect their own interests!"

"Only with this weapon can the power of officials be restricted and they will no longer be oppressed, exploited and bullied by power!"

"Speaking of the law, I could talk about it for days and nights, so I won't go into detail today."

"I want to tell you that the development of science and the progress of society both require talents."

"Even if you are doing business, you still need talents."

"I once told Prime Minister Wen that it takes ten years to grow a tree and a hundred years to cultivate a person."

“The education of all people is a long, boring, but meaningful task.”

"It's just... I have the will but I am powerless. You all know that the treasury of Ningguo is not rich!"

After Li Chenan finished speaking, the pavilion near the water fell silent, with only the occasional noise from afar carried in the night wind.

Wen Zhuyu and others were aware of the compulsory education that Li Chenan was about to implement.

But it was the first time that businessmen like Chen Dingmao had heard of it.

This undoubtedly shocked them greatly.

what does this mean?
This means that the originally solidified class structure will be broken!

If the laws that the emperor mentioned are gradually implemented and improved, if those laws really become weapons in the hands of all the people...

It is not just the power of officials that is restricted. Perhaps even the craftsmen employed by these merchants will assert their rights under the protection of those laws.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing for businessmen like them?
Chen Dingmao stroked his long beard, thinking that if the law was fair, it would protect the merchants while protecting the people.

It should not favor one side or the other, but should be based on the facts of a contradiction or an event.

In order for such laws to be formed and implemented, it is indeed necessary for the entire population to be literate.

This takes a long time.

But now that we know the emperor's plan, the imperial power cannot be violated and the tide of history cannot be stopped.

So the family must start preparing for future changes now!
However, the emperor just sold the snowflake salt for 2.8 billion taels of silver today, and he actually complained that he had no silver...

The old fox Chen Dingmao took the lead in expressing his views:
"Your Majesty, I am deeply moved after hearing this!"

He bowed his hands and said righteously: "Your Majesty cares about the people and hopes that everyone in the world can read. This is a blessing for the people of Ningguo!"

"I, the common people, would like to help the emperor by setting up ten rural schools in Youdu County!"

"Is it possible for the Chen family of Yingzhou to undertake the construction of the school, hiring teachers, preparing textbooks, etc.?"

Li Chenan clapped his hands: "Master Chen is so kind!"

When Guo Shanyi and others saw that Chen Dingmao had expressed his position, they dared not pretend to be ignorant.

They immediately agreed and expressed their desire to build a school to Li Chenan.

Li Wenhou was originally very worried that the imperial court would have to bear a large amount of compulsory education expenses. As he listened, he suddenly became a little dazed.

The enthusiasm of these businessmen is so high!

So much so that they called on all merchants in Ningguo to open free schools!
Su Mingtang also stood up and said:

"Anyone who wants to join our business alliance... will not only be assessed on their strength, but also on their taxes, the establishment of free schools, etc. as a measure of their morality!"

"The Ningguo Business Alliance needs businessmen who are honest, trustworthy, and have a sense of patriotism. They must not be those who only seek personal gain!"

"What do you think?" (End of this chapter)