The Great Han Dynasty: From Feng Lang Juxu to the Eternal Emperor

Chapter 408 Academic Diversity

The chiefs of three provinces and six ministries remained.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty ordered them to conduct self-examination, and at the same time asked the six ministers of the three provinces to set assessment tasks for the officials of their own government offices, and they must be assessed every month.

After the three high-ranking officials left, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty said to Wei Ning: "Let them investigate themselves internally, and either give them secret instructions or send other government agencies to investigate."

"They can't find anything by themselves."

Weining was stunned. He was angry just now, but now he came back to his senses. It seemed that what he did this time was really inappropriate.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty looked at Wei Ning and said seriously: "Don't let your emotions influence your judgment at any time."

"Learn to control your emotions."

He thought for a while and then said: "The three provinces and six departments can't find anything this time, let them figure it out on their own first."

"Officials from Yushitai are going to check various places."

"Now that the country's economic development is getting better and better, especially in the period when we focus on business development, there will definitely be many bullshit, ghosts, gods, and snakes jumping out."

"We can't control it at the local level. The review you set every three years needs to be changed. Send people to check every year."

Wei Ning nodded and said, "Okay!"

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty asked Weining again: "The sixteen countries in the Western Regions have sent a large amount of military expenditures. Now that the national treasury is abundant, do you have any plans?"

Wei Ning thought for a moment and said, "Build roads."

"The official road from the south of the Yangtze River to the north must be repaired. Only when the road is smooth can it promote the economic and trade cycle between the north and the south."

After a moment of silence, Wei Ning said again: "Father, can compulsory education be implemented?"

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty smiled and said: "Of course it is possible. Things that could not be achieved before can now be promoted."

"Go and recall Dade."

"You are responsible for handling this matter now."

"it is good!"

……

In early March of the first year of Yuanding, Dade, who had traveled a lot, finally returned and met with the Crown Prince Wei Ning in the East Palace.

Weining entertained Dade warmly.

Weining had high respect for this pure scholar.

The education of Han Dynasty, because of gratitude, has developed at least ten years ahead of schedule.

Nowadays, there are academies everywhere in the local area, and the children's enlightenment education has been fully improved.

Dade came back with a lot of insights this time. He believes that the current education in Han Dynasty should not be limited to Confucian education.

He was half a Confucian, so Wei Ning was very surprised to be able to say something like this.

Dade said to Weining: "When I traveled around the world this time, I found that many children with rich ideas had their talents wiped out due to blind Confucian education."

"For example, I went to Hejian Mansion and met a child who was only six years old and was proficient in various calculations. However, his Confucian scores were not good. The teachers at the college abandoned him and he was eventually dropped out of school. .”

"I went to Shandong. A young man always liked to ask some weird questions, such as why when the water boils, the steam can shake the lid. Why does the carriage have to be pulled by horses?"

"There was a child in Jiangnan who invented a water wheel and used wind power to irrigate water into farmland. However, the local government did not pay the child the attention he deserved."

"The list goes on and on."

"What these people have done has made outstanding contributions to the country, but the court only wants them to pass the scientific examination and become officials."

When Dade raised these questions, Weining's eyes widened in shock.

He didn't dare to think about the wisdom of this group of ancient people. It wasn't because we couldn't develop science and technology. It is because of our education model that many people have died in the first step.

Wei Ning glanced at Dade and asked, "Dade, what are your plans?"

Dade was silent for a moment and said, "I suggest opening a few more subjects."

"There is no need to blindly educate Confucian knowledge."

After a pause, he said gratefully: "But of course it's not feasible now because we don't have teacher resources for other subjects."

"This is a nuisance."

Wei Ning said: "It's no trouble. As long as the imperial court sets up another yamen, recruit all kinds of talents into this yamen, and then train them."

"Also, Gu plans to launch compulsory education nationwide."

Dade was stunned for a moment and said in confusion: "Your Highness, what is compulsory education?"

Weining said: "Let the tuition for teaching enlightenment education be free for children, as long as they purchase the teaching materials."

"The imperial court designated various places to send teachers there, and the teachers' salaries were distributed by the imperial court."

Dade took a deep breath and said: "Is Your Highness planning to...squeeze the private school?"

Wei Ning said: "Private schools must be completely banned."

Dade asked in confusion: "How to achieve it?"

Wei Ning had already thought of a countermeasure and said: "First spread the news and tell private schools everywhere that the imperial court will completely ban private schools."

"Wouldn't it mean that many teachers will lose their jobs?" said gratefully.

Nowadays, private schools in various places have been controlled by businessmen, and now businessmen in Han Dynasty are setting their sights on the education industry.

The Han Dynasty has never lacked smart people. When they knew that education could make money, a group of businessmen had already begun to turn education into a type of business.

They pay teachers a high price, and then the children come and receive education at a higher tuition fee.

Students from wealthy families can receive good teacher resources and good education.

Children from poor families have no choice but to study with inferior teachers.

Wei Ning said: "Then the imperial court will release news that the imperial court will fund the establishment of schools in various places, and teachers can pass the exam to enter local schools."

"But the premise is that you pass the exam."

"The Ministry of Rites keeps a list of them, and every year the state allocates funds to the local government, and the local government is responsible for paying their salaries."

"When private schools were banned, they had no choice but to find ways to enter the colleges funded by the imperial court."

"In this way, a large number of teachers can be absorbed from the hands of businessmen."

After listening to Weining's words, Dade couldn't help but feel for those businessmen. Scholars, farmers, industry and commerce, a single word from the court could completely shut down an industry.

Any policy of the country can affect a businessman.

So what if your big businessman has more money? In the eyes of the court, you are still nothing!

Of course, Dade supports Weining's approach.

He asked Weining again: "Your Highness just said that he would set up another yamen to recruit all kinds of talents. What yamen?"

Wei Ning was silent for a moment and said: "Let's call it the Han Academy of Sciences for the time being. I don't have any specific ideas yet."

"Anyway, it must be alongside the existence of the Imperial Academy and the Imperial Medical Office."

The Imperial Medical Office was the first high-end college for special talents set up by Weining. Taixue was a traditional academy and the highest institution of learning in the Han Dynasty.

Now Weining plans to set up another Academy of Sciences to train talents of all kinds to enter the Academy and contribute to the country's scientific development!
(End of this chapter)