Spring is coming, especially in the south of the Yangtze River.
There is a high platform, facing north and south. The platform is full of edicts, instructors, Confucian scholars and teachers.
Zhu Yunwen is sitting on the high platform, with cabinet Xie Jin, Chen Di, and Minister of Rites Huang Guan on his left, and Yang Shiqi, Chen Xingshan, and Dong Lun, ministers of Rites, on his right.
When everyone sat down, Zhu Yunwen stood up and walked to the front, looked around at everyone, and said calmly: "I promised the people all over the world that their children would have access to books. However, the big education strategy has been promoted for a year, and the progress is really slow. Various places have repeatedly submitted letters. , talking about many issues, here today, you might as well speak freely and state the issues directly. Don't let the flattery happen here. "
As soon as these words came out, everyone was a little depressed.
I spent two days searching my guts, and the beautiful article I wrote is probably no longer usable.
If I had known this, I would not have prepared the manuscript.
"Tell me, who comes first."
Zhu Yunwen turned around and sat down, looking towards the audience.
No one stood up, and there was silence for a while.
Seeing this, Yang Shiqi saluted Zhu Yunwen, stood up and walked out: "Since no one has said it first, let's go by the province. Mr. Shaanxi, please make a statement."
Xu Houshi, the eunuch of Fengyang Prefecture in Shaanxi, who was nearly fifty years old and still in good health, was the first to stand up, salute to the high platform, and then shouted: "Your Majesty, gentlemen, since I want to talk about the ills of education, I will boldly talk about it. Sentence, please forgive me if I misunderstood."
Zhu Yunwen smiled and said: "Today I will just tell you. Even if you uncover anecdotes about the Chief Envoy's Yamen, no one will blame me."
The audience burst into laughter, and everyone couldn't help but feel relaxed.
Xu Houshi bowed his head and then shouted: "Wei Chen came from the government school. As far as the government school is concerned, the imperial court implemented the educational reform system and introduced miscellaneous students to the Imperial College. These things have been concluded for a long time and will not be discussed in detail. It is just the government school. It is not as good as the Imperial College, where there are hundreds of teachers of all kinds. The total number of teachers and instructors in the imperial school can only be eight at most, and the minimum is only five."
"With eight or five people teaching many subjects, it is somewhat overwhelming. In addition, some of the instructors are not proficient in miscellaneous studies, but are only proficient in Confucianism. They talk about the Four Books and Five Classics, and they are clear and logical, but other than that, they are hemming and hawing, and it seems that they have something to hide. Minister. I think that if the imperial court emphasizes the emphasis on miscellaneous studies in the imperial examination, it should spare a few years to improve the students' ability in miscellaneous studies before implementing it."
After Zhu Yunwen heard this, he nodded repeatedly.
This is an issue of educational fairness. In the past, students could go to county schools, pass the examination, and then directly participate in the national examination. Although the imperial court now introduces miscellaneous students to the Imperial College, government schools, county schools, and social studies, in the final analysis, there are not enough teaching talents.
In this case, the only way for a juren to get a better academic reputation is to obtain the status of a juren, enter the Imperial College and study for a few more years. This changes from juren to jinshi, to juren to the Imperial College and then to jinshi, adding one more For this link, it will take three more years to respond. Unless the government school itself has a good general education, you can directly obtain the academic title after being elected as a candidate, bypassing the Imperial College.
"This is a very good question. I know that there is a lack of teachings other than Confucianism in government schools and county schools. However, there are so many government schools and county schools in the world that I can't find so many good ones at the same time. The Imperial College has made great sacrifices in this regard. Some of the graduates who originally had a bright official career were sent to the local government before they even finished their studies. There are many Imperial College graduates sitting here, and they know it."
Zhu Yunwen answered Xu Houshi's question seriously and continued: "In order to alleviate this problem, I have discussed with the cabinet, the Ministry of Rites, and the Imperial College officials. The only feasible way at the moment is to make the Imperial College the highest university. , enter the Imperial College, and use the Imperial College to guide students to study higher learning. In other words, social studies, county studies, government studies, and Imperial College, this is a four-level system."
"Students from the government schools who have obtained the imperial examination qualifications can choose not to enter the Imperial College and directly participate in the imperial examination. If they have profound literary and historical skills and first-class intelligence, the imperial court will still admit them as Jinshi. But I think it will take three more years to learn other things. , it is helpful to broaden one's horizons, shape talents, and select and employ people for the court. Mr. Xu, do you think this is appropriate?"
Xu Houshi and others understood after hearing this that the imperial court had set up a four-level education system, which allowed people to jump over the dragon's gate based on level three, and jump into the dragon's gate based on level four.
"I understand."
Xu Houshi sat down.
Sun Changwei, the tutor of Xi'an Prefecture in Shaanxi Province, stood up and bowed, and said: "I am Sun Changwei, the tutor of Lantian Prefecture in Xi'an Prefecture. Lantian School was built in the early Yuan Dynasty. It has been dilapidated for a hundred years. The county school has repeatedly turned to the magistrate's office for help, but only a drop in the bucket. I once visited In many places, schools in Shaanxi counties are mostly old buildings with broken tiles and cool breeze. Looking at the bright moon at night, I would like to ask the court to find a way to repair the schools."
Zhu Yunwen motioned for Sun Changwei to sit down, and then looked around: "I didn't expect that there would be people asking for money today. I should also call the Minister of Revenue Xia Yuanji to join in the fun."
"Your Majesty, I am here."
A head popped up from behind the crowd and Xia Yuanji stood up.
Zhu Yunwen's eyes lit up and he said: "It's just the right time. Students can't even have a good place to study. Can the Ministry of Household Affairs allocate some funds for the repair and construction of dedicated schools?"
Xia Yuanji was a little embarrassed. The Ming Dynasty was not yet rich enough to renovate all the government schools, county schools, and social schools, especially in some underdeveloped places. Not to mention the county schools, even the magistrate's yamen were in tatters. Putting a basin underneath to collect water on rainy days is nothing new.
“Since it is related to education, I should act within my ability and give priority to allocating more money to this aspect during fiscal discussions this year.”
Xia Yuanji had no choice but to do Tai Chi.
Zhu Yunwen waved his hand and said bluntly: "Don't use the words of the court in the Imperial College. Let's just talk directly. How many schools can the Ministry of Revenue support to repair and build new schools this year?"
Xia Yuanji's forehead was sweating a little. If he had known there was a trap, he wouldn't have come...
There is no other way, the emperor asked to express his position, so he had to dig out the meat. Xia Yuanji said: "I can't judge at the moment, but I can give you a thorough explanation. Within one year, it will be no problem to repair 300 schools and build 50 schools. of."
Zhu Yunwen shook his head: "As far as I know, the number of problem schools is no less than 800, mainly county schools and social studies. Let's do this. This year, the Ministry of Household Renovation will repair 600 schools at least, build 100 new schools, and complete all problem schools within two years. Repair it. Don’t work hard, you don’t need a household department to do the work, you just need to provide money.”
Xia Yuanji was helpless, the money was fixed, and the repairs cost a lot of money.
When everyone saw this, they were moved and stood up to salute.
Zhu Yunwen asked everyone to be quiet and said: "Renovating the school is what the court should do. It does not count as a credit. There is no need for this. Let's continue talking."
From Shaanxi, to Shanxi, and then to Beizhili.
Questions were raised one by one, and Zhu Yunwen dealt with them one by one.
Sun Wenli stood up and said to Zhu Yunwen: "Your Majesty, I have three things to do."
Zhu Yunwen raised his eyebrows: "Don't say three things. As long as you can tell me, I will listen to thirty things."
Sun Wenju thanked Zhu Yunwen for attaching so much importance to education, and solemnly said: "I am in Beizhili to teach social studies. As far as social studies are concerned. In order to promote immigration, the imperial court once publicly announced that children of immigrants were allowed to enter for free. Social schools, county schools and even government schools have been established. Social schools have been established one after another. However, there is a sharp question. Children of immigrants are free. Do children of local people need to pay to enter social schools? If there is a fee, will it be beneficial to the local people? The people are wrong.”
Zhu Yunwen frowned slightly, Sun Wenju's words were quite realistic. In order to encourage immigrants, the imperial court has issued many policies, one of which is free tuition. But as for the local people, immigrants do not occupy the majority in some places. If they are treated differently, what will the local people think?
But they are immigrants, traveling thousands of miles away, abandoning the land of their relatives and ancestors, coming to take root in another place, serving the court's strategy, and the sacrifices they make always require some extra treatment.
"What do you think?"
Zhu Yunwen was a little unsure.
Xie Jin, Chen Di and others also began to think deeply, and Yang Shiqi was also caught off guard by this question.
Li Zhigang said calmly: "Immigrants and local people are both citizens of the Ming Dynasty. Logically speaking, they should enjoy free education together. Moreover, at present, social studies, county schools, and government schools all receive royal salaries, so there is no need for The common people's homes must pay for repairs. If it is directly allowed to the local people for free, it would be unfair to the immigrants. If it is not allowed to be free for the local people, it would be unfair to them. I think this matter can be left to the immigrants to decide."
"Oh, tell me carefully."
Zhu Yunwen was a little curious.
Li Zhigang said with a smile: "Local sociology can unite immigrants and local people, allowing immigrants to publicly express their opinions or vote for them. Immigrants are simple-minded, and if the local people treat them kindly, they will definitely agree. This can make them better Integrating into the local area can also make the local people accept them better. If the local people treat them poorly, it only means that the local education is not enough, and the yamen and the local gentry need to be responsible for this."
Zhu Yunwen clapped his hands and praised: "This method is feasible, what do you think, Mr. Sun?"
Sun Juwen did not expect that Li Zhigang would hand over the decision-making power to the immigrants, but if he thought about it carefully, this matter was a unique treatment for the immigrants after all, and they had the right to decide whether to share it with the local people.
"But Your Majesty, if there is no place for immigrants, what should social studies do..."
Sun Juwen continued to be in trouble.
Zhu Yunwen did not continue to dwell on this issue: "Then let's restrain ourselves a little. No matter what the people send is bacon or eggs, whether it is a bundle of firewood or a piece of wood, they have the right to treat it as paying tuition. No one can stop it. Don’t dislike it.”
Sun Juwen touched his forehead. It seemed that this was all he could do, so he had to turn to the second thing: "In common people's homes, there are many school-age children who do not go to school. They would rather use them as laborers than send them to schools. I am so sincere. It was of no use, so I was at a loss and begged the emperor for help."
