Chapter 157: Wait for My Good News

For some time now, Yun Shu has been quite the center of attention at Court.

First it was the Steam Train, then the Automatic Loom, followed by the Steamship and the recently crafted Telescope.

The Emperor rewarded him with several thousand taels of silver!

The silver is not what matters; what matters is that although his official rank is low, both the Emperor and the Crown Princess hold him in high regard.

It is said that new official positions are to be established, and there is even talk of setting up a school above the Imperial Academy, with something called a Research Institute and Researchers.

In short, Yun Shu's future is boundless.

Last time at Court, they asked Yun Shu how he was able to make such excellent things, and Yun Shu replied directly that it was because he had learned Physics.

When asked what Physics was, Yun Shu said that Physics came from foreign lands, and he had accidentally obtained a few Physics Books from abroad.

What does this mean?

It means "Physics" is a good thing, and perhaps one could let their children try to get into the Science Class.

Now, His Majesty is already establishing the Research Institute and is still discussing how to determine the ranks.

Every family has a few good-for-nothing nephews or younger relatives; the Science Class might become another path for them.

And so, the assessment classroom for the Imperial Academy's Science Class is packed with people.

At this moment, Doctor Jiang knocked on the door of Yun Shu's office.

Yun Shu put away the Tablet Computer and stood up to open the door.

Doctor Jiang glanced around Yun Shu's office; inside there was only a desk, and on the floor to the side were wood shavings and various wooden gadgets, which were hard to make out.

Doctor Jiang said, "These are the test papers for the Science Class. We have finished grading them for you. Out of 219 people who took the exam, 187 reached an average score of sixty."

"How many students do you intend to take?"

Yun Shu thought for a moment; teaching one class was already a bit tiring.

Yun Shu said, "Let's take the top 81; that makes for a round number, totaling one hundred people."

Doctor Jiang immediately went to contact people to make the arrangements.

The Science Class only used two classrooms; the two classes were not divided into A, B, or C grades, but directly into Science Class 1 and Science Class 2.

That afternoon, Doctor Jiang prepared the enrollment for the Science Class students, assigned their dormitories, and distributed the textbooks for the Science Class.

One copy each of "Basic Mathematics", "Basic Physics", as well as "Physics 1" and "Mathematics 1".

These were all test papers written by Yun Shu.

The next day, Yun Shu taught in Science Class 1 and saw several new faces; most were wearing plain clothes, and some were even wearing patched garments.

Very good.

It seems they are not those spoiled rich kids.

Yun Shu's expression was serious as he said to everyone, "In our Science Class, there is an exam every month. If the average score is failing for three consecutive times, you will be expelled."

Everyone immediately sat up straight.

Having worked so hard to get into the Science Class, they could not afford to be expelled because of poor grades.

Yun Shu said, "Since there are new students, I will explain 'Basic Physics' again."

Just as usual, Yun Shu read from the textbook while writing and drawing on the blackboard.

However, the speed was clearly much slower.

After finishing, Yun Shu said, "You all digest this first. These are the accompanying practice problems. Do them first, and if there is anything you don't understand, ask me when I come to teach this afternoon."

Having said that, Yun Shu left again.

The original 19 people in the Science Class were a bit annoyed.

They clearly felt that Yun Shu taught the others more diligently, while he was just going through the motions with them.

Fortunately, there were 50 test papers, not 31.

Otherwise, they would really have suspected that Yun Shu was targeting the nineteen of them.

This time, the classroom was quiet, and no one spoke. They did not waste time; with only an hour and a half left until noon, they had to finish their notes, complete the test papers, and ask Yun Shu about anything they didn't understand.

These people did not look down on Yun Shu because of his young age; instead, they felt it was impressive that he could be a Doctor at the Imperial Academy at such a young age.

After Yun Shu left, he went to Science Class 2. After spending half an hour explaining, he returned to his office to copy test papers and Chemistry textbooks.

While writing, he pondered: how long would it take to teach students capable of taking over the basic courses for him?

Should he appoint a few students with good scores as tutors and let them help with the teaching?

Thinking about it, he decided against it.

It would be hard to find such students within at least a year.

Yun Shu prepared to write more test papers; if he had nothing to do, he would make people take tests, so he could lecture less.

It wasn't that he feared hard work or that others would steal his knowledge, but that there were too many things he wanted to research, and he felt that lecturing was a waste of time.

But these classes couldn't be skipped, or how else would he cultivate people to work for him?

Yan Ning and Yan Ze were reading memorials together in the Imperial Study.

At this time, an 800-li urgent dispatch arrived from the frontier.

It stated that the Xiongnu were building Catapults. The Catapults were very large, with an estimated range of over two hundred meters. Not only that, but people had seen many giant boulders there; if the Catapults were used, there would likely be many casualties.

Yan Ning frowned as she looked at the letter.

Yan Ze said, "It is fortunate that Yun Shu prepared the improved Telescope, otherwise they would have caught us off guard."

The next day at Court, Yan Ze brought up the matter.

Yan Ze asked the Minister of War, "Have the soldiers' armors all been made?"

The Minister of War nodded, "Everything has been arranged properly."

Yan Ze's expression was serious, "We must destroy those Catapults. Furthermore, first have the people of the border city evacuate. I will personally lead men to go and blow up the Northern Rong."

The officials hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, you must remain in the capital to hold the fort. The Northern Rong are cunning, and we..."

Yan Ze said indifferently, "If I go, the Crown Princess can oversee the state."

Yan Ning nodded, "Right, I can oversee the state. My father agrees with everything I say; it's the same whether he or I oversee the state."

The officials and commoners in the court shivered, and almost everyone knelt down, "Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

Yan Ning absolutely must not be allowed to oversee the state, otherwise, by the time His Majesty returns, there won't be a single grain of rice left in the national treasury.

At this moment, Xiao Chengtian stepped forward, his gaze firm, "Your Majesty, let me go. I will go with my son, and I am confident I can repel the Beirong."

Yan Ze thought for a moment and felt that Xiao Chengtian was a suitable candidate.

He then dismissed the idea of going to the Beirong himself.

Yan Ze said, "Wait a few days for me; we will set off after making the Explosive Packages."

He pondered for a moment and then said, "Appoint Xiao Huaijin as Dingyuan General, and you shall go together."

Xiao Chengtian performed a salute, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Thus, for the next two days, Yan Ning and Yan Ze frantically made Explosive Packages to ensure they could blow those cunning Beirong people to death.

It would be best to bring that Catapult back; if it cannot be brought back, then just blow it up.

When Xiao Chengtian led his troops to the front lines, Yan Ze and Yan Ning went together to see them off.

They saw Xiao Chengtian and Xiao Huaijin both wearing armor, their gazes resolute.

Xiao Huaijin was very good-looking, and after putting on armor, he carried an air of coldness.

Yan Ning hesitated again and again, then rummaged through her dozens of Peace Jade Talismans to pick out one.

This was exchanged from a cultivation plane, and it could withstand three fatal attacks.

Xiao Huaijin accepted the Jade Pendant and said to Yan Ning, "Ningning, on this expedition, I will definitely cut off the Beirong King's head."

"Wait for my good news."