I was the emperor in the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 412 Compulsory Education
An early court was almost spent in Xia Yuanji's showing off.

It made the chief officials of the other six departments hate him so much, but they couldn't do anything about him.

Except for Huang Zhun, who also shined this year, who can deal with this old man Xia, the others have no temper at all.

Who made people generate income for the imperial court with real gold and platinum? Even if they have ideas, they can't stand it now that they are rich and confident.

The Ministry of Industry is relatively good. With the opening of the Tiangong Institute and the Tiangong Bureau, and the start of the cement workshop, a large amount of money will be recorded immediately.

However, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Officials, and the Ministry of Punishment not only did not have any income, but they were also the masters who asked for money. Apart from staring blankly at this time, they could only be jealous from the sidelines.

The early court ended under the weird situation where one person was alone and everyone was silent.

After the early court, Xia Yuanji and others were called by Li Tian to the cabinet for discussion.

When he arrived at the cabinet, Xia Yuanji seemed to have not gotten out of his excitement, so he said to Li Tian,
"Your Majesty, the tax reform in the capital city has been a great success. The old minister thinks that we should strike while the iron is hot and start the tax reform in the two capitals and thirteen provinces at the same time!"

Yang Shiqi and others couldn't help shaking their heads and laughing wryly when they heard his bold words.

Li Tian smiled and said nothing, Yang Shiqi said to him,
"Xia Lao Tang, you really think that the business tax is so easy to collect, do you know how much time and effort His Majesty has wasted to collect the business tax in the capital.

Not to mention the soaring food price chaos caused by the previous publicity in the Beijing News, just to suppress the troubles of those merchants, the Royal Bank spent 2000 million taels on the purchase of bulk goods. "

"Now it's only at the feet of the emperor, and it's so difficult to collect a business tax in the capital. No one can predict what kind of turmoil will be caused if the national tax reform is rashly implemented!"

Xia Yuanji was stunned for a moment, and after hearing what Yang Shiqi said was so serious, he realized that today's situation was the result of Li Tian's great preparation behind the scenes.

Thinking of the possible consequences without these preparations, Xia Yuanji broke out in a cold sweat.

"Your Majesty, forgive me, the old minister is impatient!"

Li Tian shook his head lightly and said, still smiling,

"Weiji doesn't have to be like this. Anyway, the effect has been achieved. Although the capital city is only one of the two capitals and thirteen provinces, it is also the place where the world's wealth gathers. Since he has succeeded, that means this method is feasible.

It is not impossible to follow the same pattern in other places in the future. "

Xia Yuanji seemed to suddenly understand something, bowed his hands and said very respectfully,

"Your Majesty has a gully in his chest, only the ministers can spy on it, the old minister has been taught!"

Li Tian waved his hand indifferently, and said with a somewhat excited tone,
"Although the cost is huge this time, the benefits are also not small. With the extra millions of silver, the court can do a lot more!"

Hearing that it would cost money, Yang Shiqi and others immediately became interested.

"Your Majesty, the recent development of the Judicial Office is also very good. Since its establishment, it has helped the people solve many troubles. I suggest that this model be gradually promoted throughout the country!"

Yang Rong also cupped his hands and said,

"The cement workshop of the Tiangongyuan has almost been built and can be put into production, but I have calculated it.

In order to meet the needs of the imperial court to build roads, this scale is far from enough, let alone build more than ten times the number of workshops to be barely enough! "

Huang Zhun's household reform bureau was still a big money maker at this time, and his own expenses were enough, so he didn't open his mouth.

At this time, Ren Jin didn't have any important errands, so he opened his mouth a few times, but finally held back.

Li Tian heard that one of the two was expanding the judicial office and the other was expanding the cement workshop.

Opening your mouth is the whole country, expanding ten times.

He was so frightened that he trembled and almost spit out the tea in one gulp.

He hastily put down his tea and rice, made a stop gesture and said,
"Stop, stop, you guys really dare to think, and you really dare to speak!

Shiqi, it is indeed a good idea for the judicial office to implement nationwide, but it must be extended to all states and counties.

The manpower alone will cost about 2 to 1 people. Even if I agree, the money will be enough, so let me find [-] people for you.

Zirong, I also know that the cement workshop is related to the construction of straight roads and border defenses, which are also very important, but food is important to eat bite by bite, or the same problem, the workshop can be built, where can I get skilled workers? "

Seeing that Li Tian came up and rejected his proposal, Yang Shiqi and Yang Rong hurried forward again, wanting to explain their thoughts.

But Li Tian didn't give them this chance, and said directly,

"I already have a plan for this money, so let's postpone your thoughts for now!"

The two were still a little unconvinced and asked directly.

"Dare to ask His Majesty how he intends to use the money!"

Originally, Li Tian didn't intend to explain anything to them. It can be seen that they had the momentum of never giving up without giving a valid reason. Li Tian finally confided his thoughts to them.

"I plan to use this money to carry out compulsory education in the capital and surrounding areas?"

As soon as these words came out, not only Xia Yuanji was dumbfounded, but even Yang Shiqi and others were puzzled.

"Your Majesty, the Minister of Education understands, but what is compulsory education?"

Li Tian who asked this question felt a bit of a headache, and after a helpless sigh, he continued,
"The so-called compulsory education means that the court regards educating the people as a duty.

If you explain it in detail, it means that the imperial court has stipulated in the form of law that all school-age children must receive three to six years of free education. "

The words "free education" lingered in several people's minds, but they still failed to understand.

In fact, in this era, it is not that there is no such thing as free education.

Whether it is a private school established between clans or a public school, it is actually a kind of free education.

It's just that in this era, the method of teaching based on merit is adopted.

In other words, only those who are talented and talented in reading will be willing to be cultivated.

This kind of education is not so much free education as it is the initial investment of the clan in order to cultivate its own power.

This kind of education can only teach people who are test-taking tools, officials on the assembly line, and they can't meet Li Tian's requirements at all.

The compulsory education mentioned by Li Tian is a completely different model.

The method of compulsory schooling, so that all school-age children can have the opportunity to receive education, and forcefully improve the level of literacy of the whole people, is very different from the educational method that Yang Shiqi and others have in mind.

Yang Shiqi couldn't help but wondered,
"Your Majesty, teaching and educating people is the duty of the imperial court and the aristocratic family. It seems that there is no need to spend a lot of trouble!"

Li Tian shook his head and said,
"Shiqi, you still haven't understood what I said earlier. The key to the compulsory education I mentioned is not education, but the word "compulsory."

(End of this chapter)