"Bilu Academy?"
Jin Jing looked at Shen Cha with a blank expression. He was not from Xijing City. He lived in the south of the Yangtze River when he was young. Later, something happened to his family. After being rescued by Master Huilan, he was brought to the border. From then on, he lived in the border until he grew up. As an adult, he has a place in the Shen family army.
Later, he was qualified to go to Beijing to report on his duties by virtue of his resourcefulness and military exploits. In Xijing City, he often dealt with various princes' palaces, generals' palaces, and noble mansions, mainly on behalf of Zhen Guogong's Mansion and Wuding Hou's Mansion. Walk around with these royal children, nobles, and generals, say New Year greetings, send gifts, and so on.
As for those civil servants, they were just nodding acquaintances at most, saying hello when they met, and some even walked past without even saying hello, pretending that they didn't see each other, so as not to end up fighting each other and causing trouble. .
Therefore, based on their relationship with these civil servants, it was impossible for them to chat, let alone discuss whether there was an academy or not.
"Don't you know about Bilu Academy?" Ning Cheng was very surprised when he saw Jin Jing's confused look and asked, "This academy is quite famous. Many children from official families and rich families will try their best to , who entered this academy to study."
"It's quite famous, but the requirements are quite high. Most people can't get in." Shen Cha nodded and agreed with Ning Cheng's statement, "However, it means being famous near Xijing City. If you leave Xijing City and surrounding counties, No one in the town knows about it, unless they are people connected to Xijing City, right?"
"Yes, the general is right. It is indeed famous near Xijing City."
"Then I don't know. I wasn't there when I was enlightened. Later, when I grew up, I no longer cared about the academy." Jin Jing looked at Shen Cha, "Is it really so good? It should be very good. Is it expensive?”
"Yes, it is one of the best academies near Xijing City. From the dean and mountain chief to the gentleman in charge of teaching, they are all very famous scholars, and they are not the kind to encourage scholars to look down on martial arts people. After all, it also offers martial arts courses. . However, in terms of academic arrangements, there are relatively few martial arts courses. After all, this is a place to study. If you want to practice martial arts, there are special martial arts academies. Such academies are indeed very expensive, and they are sent to study. The child’s family is either rich or noble.”
"It was specially set up for the families of officials. However, there is a saying that the people who opened the academy are still very fair. They don't just look down on warriors and promote literati, right?" Jin Jing looked at Ning Cheng, "Ning Changguo chose this In fact, the academy is also interested in the martial arts courses here, which can allow Ning Changnian to use his strong energy, right?"
"It's true. When Ning Changguo chose an academy for Ning Changnian, he wrote a special letter and asked the clan chiefs and elders for their opinions. Because there are several good academies in Xijing City, but Bilu Academy is The only one that offers martial arts courses, it is also the one with the best conditions and the highest fees. Ningchang Kingdom’s salary alone would never be able to afford the fees for this academy. Therefore, he wanted to ask the clan chiefs and elders to help choose which one. The academy is more suitable."
"You clan leaders and elders will definitely not choose Bilu Academy."
"Sir, you are wrong. Originally, Ningchang Kingdom did not plan to choose Bilu Academy. It wanted to go to another academy. I heard that the conditions at that academy were good, but the teacher who taught the class was not as good as this one. But in Ningchang Kingdom, I Within the range that can be tolerated.”
"But your clan leader and elders chose Bilu Academy?" Seeing Ning Cheng nod, Shen Cha raised an eyebrow, "Although it is expensive, the benefits they can get are far higher than the price they paid."
"Yes, because they are all the children of officials, so they can move around easily." Ning Cheng sighed, "And the clan leader also said that after all, we are in the capital, and Ning Changnian's studies can't overwhelm him even if he is so energetic. Go and learn martial arts to strengthen your body. Otherwise, this kid will run around and jump around, and he may cause big trouble one day, and then he may implicate the Ningchang Kingdom. That would not be good. .”
"What your clan leader said is very reasonable. Such extremely energetic children will become harder to control as they get older. When they were young, they might just go to the house to raise tiles. If they are not properly disciplined, they will go to the streets when they are older. Fighting, that's when he really becomes a playboy. If he is tempted by some bad friends again, at least it will cause some romantic affair, or at worst it will cause a life-and-death lawsuit, Ning Changguo's career will face a big crisis. Although the same We are officials in the court, and we are all in the civil servant camp, but those censors who want to seize the pigtails of their colleagues will not consider this."
"That's what it said." Ning Cheng agreed with Jin Jing's statement, "Later, Ning Changguo gritted his teeth and chose Bilu Academy. The annual expenses were borne by the clan. Of course, this expense later made a lot of money. Give back.”
"This is natural, the road is open." Jin Jing took the tea brought by Ying Wu, took a few sips, and turned to look at Shen Cha, "However, I am very curious. The general actually knows about Bilu Academy. You are I grew up in the border area.”
"What does where I grew up have to do with knowing this academy?" Shen Cha smiled, "You also know that we have a know-it-all around us. I'm afraid we can't hide any interesting places or boring places near Xijing City. Stay with him. Besides, even though he doesn’t like places like the academy, he still needs to pay attention to it, right?”
"Oh!" Jin Jing held the tea cup and nodded towards Shen Cha, "There's really nothing he doesn't know about eating, drinking and having fun."
"No." Shen Cha smiled, took the teacup handed over by Ying Qi, and handed it to Jin Miaomiao, "Besides, the real owner of Bilu Academy has a very close relationship with us. It's hard not to know. .The original intention of establishing this academy was not to recruit students from outside. Rather than saying it is an academy, it is a place of trusteeship. Because many of the children in the families who funded the establishment of the academy are still young and are not suitable for going to official schools. , but there must be a place to control them, so that they don’t go out in groups and cause trouble, or someone at home accidentally falls or gets hurt." Seeing the surprise on Jin Jing's face, she He smiled and said, "This is not nonsense, because such an accident has happened before, so the big bosses of the academy are worried."
"In other words, when this academy first started, it didn't want to cultivate top scholars or anything like that?"
"Of course, the families of these big bosses do not lack the number one scholar, and they do not need the number one scholar. These children will live very well in the future. But later, the families of civil servants and some wealthy businessmen gave more to their children. Those The families who established the academy almost stopped sending their children to the academy, and gradually, no one knew who the real owner of the academy was."
"The real owner of the academy?" After hearing what Shen Cha said, Jin Jing became even more curious, "Who is it?"
"Far away in the horizon, close in front of you, brother, be obedient and listen to the sound. Can't you appreciate the taste of the general's words?"
"Pinpin?" Jin Jing thought for a moment and shook her head towards Jin Miaomiao, "If you don't understand, just say so!"
"Brother, the first investors of this academy were the Xuanyuan family, the Shen family, the Xue family, and the Xia family. Later, several royal palaces in Xijing City and the palace also got involved." Jin Miaomiao put down his hands. With the teacup in his hand, he gently rubbed his wrist and said, "Do you understand?"
"Yeah, I understand!" Jin Jing nodded and looked at Shen Cha, "But I've never heard you mention it."
"The academy has been entrusted to the management of the imperial uncle and the acting king uncle these years. Besides, among us, the issue of whether to study in the academy or not, and what kind of academy to study in, has not been mentioned."
"Because something happened later..." Jin Miaomiao looked at Shen Cha, and seeing that her expression remained unchanged, he continued, "The daily affairs of this academy, just like what the general said just now, are entrusted to the representative. In the palace, slowly, as time goes by, no one knows who owns the academy. However, even so, the revenue from the academy is still sent to each mansion on a monthly basis, even if the Shen family and the Xue family have moved Even though we’re this far away, we send money here on a fixed day.”
"This is an unexpected surprise."
"Didn't you expect that?" Shen Cha raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, "The Bilu Academy was built by a few nobles and princes in order to find a place for their children to play, have a place to study and practice martial arts. It's great to have fun together, right? The provincial officials stared at them, saying they were playboys, saying they didn't do their jobs properly, saying that adults wouldn't take care of their children, and that they would deal with such trivial matters every day. Say it in court."
"This is indeed what they like to do." Jin Jing curled her lips in disgust, "This will block the mouths of these officials, so that they can't say anything, and everyone's ears will be clear. But, in the end, The old gentleman I was looking for to teach at the beginning had such high standards?"
"Higher than this." Shen Cha smiled, "You also know that the Xuanyuan family was also very famous back then. Whether they were civil servants or military generals, they all respected the Xuanyuan family." After she finished speaking, she felt like she was bragging. I mean, I touched my nose in embarrassment, "Anyway, that's probably what happened. The people the Xuanyuan family came to find, including the dean, mountain chief, and teachers, were all lecturers from the palace, as well as senior officials from the Hanlin Academy. Sir, I actually heard that these families want to be discharged from the hospital. They all recommended themselves, and their requirements are not that excessive. They only need food, food, housing, and books to read."
"I understand. It seems that you are here to see and enlighten the children, but in fact you are just interested in collecting books, right?"
"Brother Xiaojing is right, it is indeed the case. But later..." Shen Cha sighed softly, "Something happened, these families stopped sending their children to the academy, and the academy started to open up to the outside world. By recruiting students, only the children of officials and merchants will have the opportunity to study in Bilu Academy."
"Something happened?" Jin Jing looked at Shen Cha, then saw Jin Miaomiao winking at her, and nodded clearly, "I understand, I understand."
Ning Cheng looked at Jin Jing and Chen Cha with a wry smile.
"If those officials knew that Bilu Academy, which they wanted to send their children to, was actually taking the initiative to give money to the adults, they would be afraid that they would die. But the feelings should be attributed to Geying, and the awkwardness in their hearts is still awkward in their hearts. , they still have to send their children there. After all, all the academies near Xijing City put together are not as good as Bilu Academy. Although it is expensive, the students who come out of Bilu Academy are all awarded Jinshi without exception. It’s just a different ranking.”
"In the past few imperial examinations since His Majesty ascended the throne, students from Bilu Academy have participated in every imperial examination. Their level is indeed obviously higher than that of students from other places, and their rankings are also higher."
"General, do you know this?"
"Of course I know. This academy belongs to my family after all, so I should pay some attention to it." Shen Cha nodded, "Your Majesty is still very satisfied with this." She looked at Ning Cheng, "Although Ning Changguo was a member of the Ministry of Etiquette at the beginning Wai Lang, according to the rules set by the academy, he is not qualified to send Ning Changnian to study in the academy."
"What rules?"
"The rules of Bilu Academy are that if the officials in Xijing City want to send their children to Bilu Academy, they must stay in Xijing City for at least three years. These three years do not mean that you cannot be released outside, but your family records must be in You have to live in Xijing City for three years." Jin Miaomiao explained, "Actually, it's not discrimination against officials who have been released from overseas. It's just that if you don't stay long enough, you won't be familiar with the way of life and study in Xijing City, which will affect Bi. Some normal teaching at Lu Academy. Also, to enter Bilu Academy, you need to pass the exams of the teacher, mountain leader, and dean. If you fail in one round, you will not be able to enter the academy. Of course, if you fail this year, you can take the exam again next year. You can study at any time you pass the exam. Just those who pass the exam are not safe. They are divided into small classes according to their scores at the time of admission. From the best to the worst, they have to take the exam every fifteen days. Those who fail the exam will be When he is demoted to the lowest class, if it still doesn't work, you can only persuade him to go home and explain that he is not the material to study, so don't bother. Similarly, if the results of the entrance examination are not satisfactory, Later, after studying in the academy, my grades gradually improved, and I was able to enter the best classes."
"This..." Jin Jing turned to look at Ning Cheng, "Is it harder than studying outside?"
"It's true. Compared to the students at Bilu Academy, the students suddenly feel that they are much happier."
Ning Cheng was dumbfounded. He used to be envious of Ningchang's access to the country. He could send Ning Changnian, who had no connection to him, to the best academy in Daxia. He also imagined that if he had been born a few years earlier, he would have had the same situation. Chance. But now after listening to Shen Cha and Jin Miaomiao's description of Bilu Academy, I suddenly feel very happy that I did not enter this academy. With my own qualifications, even if I am qualified to enter, I will be persuaded to leave sooner or later.
"Listening to your description of Ning Changnian, he should have good grades and it would be perfectly fine for him to enter the academy. It's just that at that time, Ning Changguo didn't stay in Xijing City for three years, so he probably didn't meet the most important requirement. You Do you know if he has taken some steps, or if someone has opened a back door for him?"
