Chapter 158: Research Institute

After sending off the Prince of Nanyang, the father and daughter both wore solemn expressions.

Yan Ze sighed, "I should have given a Peace Jade Talisman to Xiao Chengtian, but it is somewhat inappropriate for one man to give another a jade pendant."

Yan Ning understood his worry and said, "Father, it doesn't matter. Uncle Xiao is experienced; he shouldn't get hurt."

Yan Ning gritted her teeth: "It would be best to drive all those people to Europe, so they stop constantly coveting our land."

Yan Ze and Yan Ning rode their horses back together.

Yan Ze looked at her Golden Horse, "This horse really looks excellent, but it's a pity it won't let anyone touch it."

Yan Ze also wanted to ride the Golden Horse, but it currently wouldn't let anyone touch it except for Yan Ning.

The two of them rode their horses back at a leisurely pace.

The movements at the border did not affect the interior.

Around the time of the New Year, many people in the Capital knew that one could become an official through Mathematics, so they kept a close eye on the children in their families to study Mathematics.

When the examinations were held two days ago, a notice had already been posted: the Mathematics portion of the Child Examination would be slightly simpler; sixty points would allow one to enter the County School, sixty in the Provincial Examination would allow one to enter the Prefecture School, and at the Prefecture School, one would begin to study Physics; with an average score of eighty in Physics and Mathematics, one could enter the Imperial Academy.

This notice made people's hearts surge with excitement.

If one studied well, one could actually go to the Imperial Academy!

Many people were too lazy to force their children to study Mathematics; they wanted to take the exams themselves!

What was even more exciting was that the scores for this Child Examination had come out.

Many people were crowding around to look.

"Ah, ah, ah, I passed! I can go to the County School!"

"Oh my, my son has really brought me honor; he actually scored ninety points in Mathematics!"

"Hey, is ninety points not the top score? The top score was 99!"

"Who scored 99? That's almost a perfect score!"

Everyone looked around and saw a young man who looked dejected.

He muttered: "I failed the Imperial Examination again this time. It seems I am truly not cut out for this."

"Forget it, I had already decided to treat this Imperial Examination as my last. If I truly cannot pass, then it is just my bad fate."

At this moment, he heard someone calling his name.

"Lin Qiming! Lin Qiming! Come quickly and look, you got the top score in Mathematics! It's almost a perfect score!"

The previously dejected Lin Qiming's eyes instantly lit up.

"What, top in Mathematics?"

Lin Qiming's friend said: "You can go to the Science Class at the County School to study now. You kid actually has some talent."

When Lin Qiming wrote the Mathematics exam questions, he had just written them casually and wasn't even sure if they were right or wrong.

But none of that mattered.

What mattered was that his other exam papers were not written well.

The friend said: "Although you cannot become an official through the Imperial Examination, you should be able to become a Doctor at the Imperial Academy. That is still better than living aimlessly."

Lin Qiming nodded: "I will definitely study Science well."

Never mind an Eighth Rank Doctor, he would even be willing to be a Ninth Rank Sesame Official!

Moreover, he still had a chance to enter the Imperial Academy; the Imperial Academy provided meals and even gave students some subsidies every month.

Lin Qiming's eyes were bright and sparkling; he felt he could continue preparing for this year's Provincial Examination.

With half a year left, he would definitely be able to test into the Prefecture School.

On the other side, in the Imperial Study.

At this moment, there were only Yun Shu, Yan Ze, and Yan Ning in the room.

They were discussing the establishment of a Research Institute.

The Research Institute would also be considered part of the establishment, and Yan Ning prepared to give these people official ranks.

Yan Ning said: "The Dean is Second Rank, the Vice Dean is Third Rank, Researchers are Fourth Rank, Assistant Researchers are Seventh Rank, and Intern Researchers are Eighth Rank."

Yun Shu was somewhat surprised, "Would the official ranks for the Researchers and the Dean be too high?"

His father, the Minister of Personnel, was only a Second Rank Official, and he didn't know how many years his father had to toil to reach the Second Rank.

Yan Ning had just said she wanted him to be the Dean and also a Researcher.

Would that make him Second Rank already?

His father would probably have a breakdown when he went home.

Yan Ning said to him: "It is normal for the treatment of scientific research personnel to be a bit better. I originally wanted to make you the Dean, but those old men would start bickering again, so it is better to give you the position of Researcher first."

Yun Shu hesitated, "Fourth Rank, they will object to that, right?"

Yan Ning said with a smile: "No, I will handle it tomorrow."

Early the next day, Yan Ze announced the establishment of the Research Institute.

The official ranks for the Research Institute were also released.

The crowd was astonished, "This, would the Dean being Second Rank be too high? The Libationer of the Imperial Academy is only Fourth Rank."

Yan Ning said: "The Research Institute is higher than the Imperial Academy, so the Dean being Second Rank is justifiable. Besides, the Research Institute is for inventing and creating all kinds of useful objects, so it is worthy of this high Second Rank official position."

The Minister of Works was puzzled: "What useful objects have been researched?"

Yan Ning: "A few days ago, the soldiers at the border used the Telescope made by Yun Shu to see the enemy building a catapult, which allowed our side to gain the upper hand."

The ministers all stopped talking.

This Telescope was indeed a good invention.

At this time, Yan Ning proposed: "In that case, let Yun Shu be this Dean."

Yun Shu's eyelid twitched.

This is different from what was said yesterday!

Sure enough, the civil and military officials of the entire court began to remonstrate:

"Your Majesty, please think twice. How can a Second Rank Official be treated so like a child's play?"

"Your Majesty, Yun Shu is only sixteen; he cannot shoulder such a heavy responsibility!"

Yan Ning thought for a moment: "Then the Research Institute should be fine, right? He went to great lengths so that the students of Daxia could all learn Physics, and he has researched so many useful things; giving him the position of Researcher is also within reason."

The officials whispered among themselves.

But no one came out to object.

At this time, Yan Ze said: "Alright, let Yun Shu be a Researcher."

As for whether the people of the Research Institute needed to attend the morning court, Yan Ning had also thought it through: come if there is business, and if not, then forget it.

After all, he still has to teach and educate people.

When Yun Shu returned to the Imperial Academy to give his lecture, he mentioned: "Today, His Majesty issued a decree to establish a Research Institute. Once you enter the Research Institute, you are an Imperial Official. An Intern Researcher is an Eighth Rank official position, an Assistant Researcher is Seventh Rank, a Researcher is Fourth Rank, and above that are the Dean and Vice Dean, which are Second Rank and Third Rank respectively."

After he finished speaking, everyone was stunned for a moment, and then their eyes glowed with greed.

This meant that they could enter the Research Institute in the future and become officials!

At this time, someone asked Yun Shu: "Then what is your position?"

Yun Shu: "Researcher."

Seeing that they still wanted to ask, Yun Shu did not want to waste time, so he said: "Study well on your own, I am leaving first."

After Yun Shu left, a moment later, the classroom was in an uproar.

"My god, Master Yun is only sixteen years old, and he is already a Fourth Rank Official."

"I wonder how this Fourth Rank Official position differs from other official posts."

"It's already Fourth Rank, who cares if it's different or not?"

"Can we go too? Do you know what kind of grades are needed for Master Yun to take us to the Research Institute?"

At this time, someone said: "I know, I know. Master Yun looked for me and gave me a test paper to do, and he seemed very satisfied."

The person speaking was Jiang Jin.

The others hurriedly asked: "What did you get on your last Physics exam?"

Jiang Jin said: "96 points, first in the class."

Everyone else was eager to act; is there a chance with 96 points?