Chapter 403: Academy Negotiations

Hearing Zhu Youxiao's question, Chen Hong hurriedly bowed and said, "Things are going very smoothly. Both sides have already begun negotiations, and I believe there will be results soon."

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "That would be for the best."

The reform of the Imperial Academy had always been something Zhu Youxiao valued greatly. Although implementing it might prove very difficult, Zhu Youxiao believed results would come soon.

Once all the academies had completed their reforms, they would be brought into the state's control system. At that point, what the scholars studied would be decided by the Emperor himself.

However, there was one matter that seemed due to be put on the agenda — the Ming's military academy.

What a dedicated military academy would mean for the Great Ming, Zhu Youxiao knew very well in his heart.

Although the Imperial Academy also recruited martial arts students, military officer students, and students from noble families, that was not enough. Zhu Youxiao needed to separate them out into their own institution.

Beyond that, the Imperial Clan Academy also needed to be put on the agenda. The various regional princes and the imperial clan members would also need to hand over their sons to be incorporated into the imperial training system.

These things all needed to proceed gradually, but the groundwork could begin now.

While Zhu Youxiao was asking about this matter, the reform of the capital's Shoushan Academy had already reached its most critical point — both sides were in their final round of negotiations.

Although it was called a negotiation between both sides, there were actually only three people participating.

Representing the court was Cui Chengxiu, the one presiding over this reform; representing Shoushan Academy were naturally Ruan Dacheng and Zhong Yuzheng.

The three men sat together, and the atmosphere of the negotiations was not very good.

Zhong Yuzheng looked at Cui Chengxiu and said, "Your Excellency Cui, don't you think these conditions are a bit too harsh?"

Cui Chengxiu sat there calmly and unconcerned, looking at Zhong Yuzheng and speaking in a nonchalant tone: "You need to recognize one thing — I am not negotiating with you. Things have reached the point they have today, and you don't have many options left. Either you reform, or you close your doors. There is no third path."

Zhong Yuzheng's expression turned very ugly. He turned his head to look at Ruan Dacheng.

His meaning was obvious: Aren't you going to say something?

Ruan Dacheng's expression was also somewhat ugly. He hadn't expected that after taking care of Wei Dazhong, Zhong Yuzheng would instead become stubborn.

After pondering for a moment, Ruan Dacheng raised his head and looked at Cui Chengxiu, saying, "Your Excellency Cui, regarding the matter of the academy's assets, I think we can agree."

On the matter of the academy's assets, Zhu Youxiao had actually given a great deal of leeway. That was — after the academy reform was completed, the Imperial Academy's assets would not be nationalized, but would continue to belong to the academy. Their use would naturally be for the academy's operations, such as expenditures on teaching materials, subsidies for teachers, and so on and so forth.

On this point, Zhong Yuzheng and Ruan Dacheng had no objection, since it was, after all, good news for them.

However, what Zhong Yuzheng had been insisting on was the matter of teaching materials. Plainly put — what would be taught.

For Zhong Yuzheng, if he were forced to teach Xunzi, he might as well close the academy down completely. On this point, he would not yield.

This matter, Cui Chengxiu was actually indifferent about. For Cui Chengxiu, completing the academy reform and earning merit was what he wanted most.

As for what the academy would teach in the future, Cui Chengxiu did not care at all, because it was simply not his place to manage.

Ruan Dacheng looked at Cui Chengxiu and said, "Your Excellency Cui, we have already agreed to the reform, agreed to the policies you have formulated, agreed to the dispatch of new teachers, and agreed to incorporate all teachers into the official system. But on the matter of teaching materials, I think we should still make a recommendation to His Majesty."

Cui Chengxiu looked at Ruan Dacheng, his brow furrowing.

In Cui Chengxiu's view, Ruan Dacheng was simply causing delays.

What the Imperial Academy would teach in the future was not something he, Cui Chengxiu, could manage. If he went to His Majesty with this matter, it might well make His Majesty think he couldn't get things done. So Cui Chengxiu had been gritting his teeth and refusing.

But looking at the way Ruan Dacheng and the other man were now, if this matter wasn't clarified, it probably wouldn't do.

After pondering for a moment, Cui Chengxiu said, "I will report this matter to His Majesty, but what the final result will be, I do not know either. However, there is one thing you can rest assured of — His Majesty will not cast aside the learning of the Sage Confucius."

As for Cui Chengxiu's assurance, Zhong Yuzheng simply did not believe it.

The current Emperor had not been at all courteous to the Kong family. Since ascending the throne, he had been promoting Xunzi's thought, and had even promoted Li Zhi's doctrines before. There was simply no way for Zhong Yuzheng and the others to feel at ease, especially after what had happened with the Kong family in Shandong.

If they could not obtain a satisfactory result on this matter, Zhong Yuzheng probably would not agree.

Cui Chengxiu's assurances were useless. What Zhong Yuzheng and the others wanted was the Emperor's assurance.

Zhong Yuzheng said, "Let us discuss this matter after Your Excellency Cui has reported it to His Majesty."

Hearing Zhong Yuzheng's words, Cui Chengxiu furrowed his brow.

This was plainly showing distrust in him.

But Cui Chengxiu could do nothing about this old stubborn man either. He couldn't very well get rid of the old stubborn man too, could he?

If Zhong Yuzheng were removed, then Shoushan Academy would have no one in charge. The impact would be far too damaging — it would not set a good example for future reforms, and would instead increase the difficulty.

Cui Chengxiu nodded and said, "Very well then."

Having said this, Cui Chengxiu stood up and said, "I will go to the palace immediately."

Leaving Shoushan Academy, Cui Chengxiu did not linger or delay, heading straight for the imperial palace.

The matter of the Imperial Academy reform having reached its current state, it truly did require His Majesty to make the decision.

Inside the imperial palace.

Zhu Youxiao was keeping Empress Zhang company.

As time passed, Empress Zhang's belly grew larger and larger, and the day of delivery was not far off.

Zhu Youxiao would come over whenever he had free time — first, to check on Empress Zhang's health, and second, to soothe her.

At a time like this, Empress Zhang probably felt insecure in her heart, with many worries. After all, the palace was not like the outside world. Although he had been building up Empress Zhang's authority, there were many times and many things he could not guarantee.

"Your Majesty, there is nothing wrong on my end — everything is very stable. There are many matters outside, so Your Majesty need not keep your mind focused on me." Empress Zhang looked at Zhu Youxiao, speaking with a smile on her face.

Zhu Youxiao looked at Empress Zhang's slightly plump little face and said with a smile, "I want to stay with Baozhu to welcome our first child together."

Hearing Zhu Youxiao's gentle words and looking at his warm face, Empress Zhang softly nodded and leaned her body into Zhu Youxiao's embrace, saying, "For me to have encountered Your Majesty — this is fortune earned over several lifetimes."

Zhu Youxiao said nothing, gently patting Empress Zhang's back. The atmosphere between the two was tranquil and peaceful.

Just at that moment, Chen Hong walked in from outside.

After Zhu Youxiao glanced at him, Chen Hong lowered his head and said nothing.

What Chen Hong was doing, in fact, was telling Zhu Youxiao: there are matters outside. Does Your Highness want to deal with them or not? If you don't want to, I'll go send them away; if Your Highness does want to deal with them, then Your Highness needs to ask.

Although Empress Zhang was leaning against Zhu Youxiao's chest, she still sensed Zhu Youxiao turn his body to look in another direction.

So Empress Zhang sat up straight, turned her head to look, and saw Chen Hong.

She said with a smile, "It seems there are matters to attend to. Your Majesty, please go. If I were to delay important affairs of state, then my guilt would be great indeed."

"Don't say such things. What matter could be more important than you, Baozhu?" Zhu Youxiao said with a smile. "This concerns the future of the Great Ming."

Empress Zhang chuckled softly, gently pushed Zhu Youxiao, then lightly touched her belly and said: "The future of the Great Ming will have to wait a while longer; Your Majesty should first attend to the Great Ming's present."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao smiled as well. He said: "Then I'll be off; I'll come back later in the evening."

"Very well, Your Majesty." Empress Zhang nodded and said: "I'll have them prepare the evening meal."

Zhu Youxiao nodded, turned, and walked over to Chen Hong.

Reaching Chen Hong's side, Zhu Youxiao asked: "Is there something?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, Cui Chengxiu requests an audience." Chen Hong said hurriedly.

Hearing that Cui Chengxiu had come, Zhu Youxiao roughly understood it was about the Imperial Academy reforms.

So he nodded and said: "Then let's go out and take a look."

Having said this, Zhu Youxiao walked out first.

When he arrived at the front, Cui Chengxiu was already waiting there.

Upon seeing Zhu Youxiao, Cui Chengxiu dared not be negligent. He quickly knelt on the ground and said respectfully: "Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty."

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said: "Rise."

After Cui Chengxiu stood up, Zhu Youxiao continued to ask: "What has happened? Could it be that the Imperial Academy reforms are not going smoothly?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, there are indeed some matters." Cui Chengxiu said quickly: "The Shoushan Academy has basically agreed to the academy reforms, but those people also have some concerns — concerns about what the academy will teach the students in the future."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao furrowed his brow.

What would the academy teach students in the future?

Zhu Youxiao had considered this question as well.

On this matter, Zhu Youxiao did not want anyone to obstruct him, nor did he want anyone teaching all sorts of nonsense. Currently, academies across the Great Ming were basically founded by private individuals; what they taught was whatever they themselves wanted to teach — it was by no means what the state wanted taught.

If the state could not exert influence over, or even control, the education system, it would be very easy for problems of going off-track to arise. Such things were also very common in later generations; brainwashing by public intellectuals had always been a major problem.

Moreover, these people were not merely public intellectuals — they were prestigious great scholars with considerable influence even in officialdom.

This problem was very serious.

When these people raised demands on this matter, Zhu Youxiao felt repulsed from the very first moment.