Chapter 151: Know That Heaven's Will Regards the Common People

The scene that Centurion had been imagining — the students kicking up a fuss and refusing to let anyone be taken, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy defying the imperial decree and blocking them from taking Yi Xingzhi and Wang Huaiwen away, all that sort of damned nonsense — never actually materialized.

For one thing, they had come on the Emperor's orders, after all; for another, the Emperor summoning two rather unremarkable Imperial Academy students in the middle of the night hardly seemed like a major affair.

As a result, this Embroidered Uniform Guard Centurion had a rather smooth time escorting Yi Xingzhi and Wang Huaiwen out of the Imperial Academy.

The remaining twenty-four students from the Qingfeng Lodge incident were left with hearts full of dread, terrified that something had gone wrong somewhere.

Bundled into the carriage and taken away, Yi Xingzhi was equally uneasy. After mulling it over, he said to Wang Huaiwen, "Brother Wang, this is most likely because someone reported my reckless words.

If anything happens, I will bear full responsibility and will absolutely not implicate you, Brother Wang."

Wang Huaiwen, who had already closed his eyes to rest and compose himself, intending to leave a good impression on the Emperor, opened his eyes upon hearing this and laughed. "Brother Yi, are you joking?"

Yi Xingzhi gave a bitter smile. "Why would Brother Wang say that? My heart is full of dread right now, terrified that calamity is upon us."

Wang Huaiwen sized Yi Xingzhi up for a moment, saw that his expression did not seem feigned, and then laughed. "What calamity? Could it be that you've studied yourself stupid in the lands of the Far West, Brother Yi?"

Yi Xingzhi asked curiously, "Is Brother Wang mocking me? This could actually be a good thing?"

Wang Huaiwen laughed. "Naturally, it's a good thing. Think about it — we only just returned from the Qingfeng Lodge. How long has it been? And the Embroidered Uniform Guard is already at our door. Do you know why?"

Yi Xingzhi answered honestly, "I hope Brother Wang will enlighten me."

Wang Huaiwen said, "There is only one possibility: the Qingfeng Lodge was originally an asset of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Today at the lodge, you spoke of abandoning the jinshi examinations, that the twenty-five of us should simply forsake the imperial examinations entirely.

Since the founding of our dynasty, such a thing is unprecedented. How would the agents in the Qingfeng Lodge dare conceal it?

I fear that no sooner had we left than this matter had already reached the ears of the Son of Heaven."

Because Wang Huaiwen had not lowered his voice when speaking, even the Embroidered Uniform Guard outside the carriage heard it clearly. The Centurion privately admired it — these scholars' brains really were sharp, figuring out the crux of the matter in the blink of an eye.

They really ought to be recruited into the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Leaving aside the Centurion's wild, fanciful thoughts outside the carriage, Yi Xingzhi inside let out a breath of relief and said to Wang Huaiwen, "So, in that case, this is a summons from the Son of Heaven, ordering us to go back and take the examinations?"

Wang Huaiwen, however, answered honestly, "Probably not. If it were to order us back to the examinations, a decree reprimanding us tomorrow would suffice. Why summon us into the palace in the middle of the night? Forget it, forget it. Let's not think about it. In any case, it won't be a bad thing."

While Yi Xingzhi was letting his imagination run wild and scaring himself, Wen Tiren and Shi Fenglai, who had been hauled out of their beds by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, were also turning thoughts over in their minds.

The reigning Son of Heaven's capacity for absurdity likely surpassed even that of the Zhengde Emperor, who had once enfeoffed a fellow named Zhu Shou as Grand General. Who knew what matter required summoning the two of them to the palace in the dead of night.

Once they entered the palace and heard Tian Ergeng's account, Wen Tiren also found himself unable to decide. Judging by the Emperor's demeanor, he was clearly not angry, so it probably wouldn't lead to any major disaster.

But these Imperial Academy students were just too damned unsettling. Couldn't you just deliberately fail the exam?

Even if you passed, couldn't you then request an imperial favor? Pulling this now was exactly what His Majesty called "not playing by the rules"!

Chongzhen watched Wen Tiren, whose usual composure was gone and whose expression kept shifting, and inwardly found it highly amusing. "Minister Wen, speak your mind. How should this matter be handled?"

Wen Tiren agonized for a long moment before finally speaking. "Your Majesty, this matter has far-reaching implications. This minister dares not make a decision."

Chongzhen gave an "Mm" and said, "Speak freely. Even if you say something wrong, it does not matter."

Only then did Wen Tiren carefully consider his words and speak.

"These twenty-six Imperial Academy students jointly withdrawing from the examinations — let alone in our dynasty, such a thing has never been heard of since the institution of the examinations in the former Sui dynasty.

Especially after Wang Zhu of the former Song composed his 'Poem of the Child Prodigy,' all under Heaven have taken pride in scholarship without exception. To study and then sit the examinations to become an official is the natural course.

What these twenty-six students have now done truly sets a precedent unseen in centuries.

Moreover, to take not a single cent and teach only the children of impoverished commoner households — this act inevitably invites suspicion of currying favor and buying the hearts of the people."

After hearing Wen Tiren's analysis, Chongzhen turned his gaze to Shi Fenglai. Once he heard that Shi Fenglai's answer was essentially identical to Wen Tiren's, Chongzhen spoke.

"Enough.

We have already ordered those two brought to the palace. When the time comes, you two ministers shall take a good look at just what sort of characters this Yi Xingzhi and Wang Huaiwen are, and then We shall decide."

Just as Chongzhen was discussing them with Wen and Shi, Yi Xingzhi and Wang Huaiwen arrived at the palace.

There was clearly no time to teach them the full protocol for an imperial audience, so the eunuch on duty could only hastily instruct them on a few essential points of etiquette before hurriedly leading them in to see the Emperor.

Wang Huaiwen had managed to remain fairly composed outside the palace, but the moment he laid eyes on the Chongzhen Emperor in person, he could no longer suppress the nervousness in his heart.

Together with Yi Xingzhi, he dropped to his knees with a "thud," prostrating himself and shouting "Long live the Emperor!"

Intending to test the two of them, Chongzhen did not bid them rise. Only when their prostrate bodies had begun to tremble slightly did he finally speak. "You may both rise."

Yi Xingzhi and Wang Huaiwen felt as if they had been granted a great pardon. After giving thanks for the imperial grace, they hurriedly scrambled up from the floor — only for Chongzhen's next words to frighten them right back down onto the ground.

"You two certainly have nerve.

What is this — do you hold the jinshi degree of our dynasty in such contempt that you would simply abandon the examinations?"

Wang Huaiwen, who had dared to stir up trouble at a large gathering of Imperial Academy students, was a man of resolute mind. Though terrified in his heart at this moment, he still steeled himself and said, "Your Majesty, the fault for today's matter lies with this student.

I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."

Seeing that Chongzhen was still looking at him, smiling wordlessly, Wang Huaiwen continued.

"This student does not hold the jinshi examinations in contempt.

It is simply that this student is dull-witted, and even if I sat the exams, my results would not be significant.

Moved by the plight of my fellow student Yi Xingzhi, in a moment of indignation, I thought of opening a few more private schools to teach the children of impoverished families who cannot afford schooling to read and write."

Chongzhen made a noncommittal sound, then ignored Wang Huaiwen and turned to ask Yi Xingzhi, "Where did you travel to study?"

Yi Xingzhi said, "Your Majesty, the place this student traveled to study is a small country called Portugal. Though the country is small, its navy and firearms have considerable merit. Furthermore, this country still unlawfully occupies Macao."

Holy shit! Hearing this, Wen Tiren and Shi Fenglai felt the blood vessels in their scalps throbbing violently.

This was just too damned outrageous. Weren't the officials in Macao the ones who helped you get your household registration documents and such?

And you turn around and sell them out just like that — is that appropriate?

Even if you're going to sell them out, you can't just do it right in front of the Emperor's face! What if the Emperor, on a whim, decided to take a hard line against the barbarians in Macao? The Ming national treasury would be doomed, you bastard!

Chongzhen, evidently aware of this point as well, merely made an "Mm" sound upon hearing this and said flatly, "We are already aware of this matter. It will be dealt with later."

Seeing that there was nothing else, Chongzhen dismissed the two of them, then continued speaking to Wen Tiren and Shi Fenglai. "What do you two ministers think?"

Wen Tiren said, "Your Majesty, this minister believes that of these two men, Yi Xingzhi possesses the heart of an innocent child. Although he has long resided in the lands of overseas barbarians, he has not altered his fundamental nature and is a rare talent.

As for Wang Huaiwen, though he too is full of fervent passion, it is difficult to guarantee that he will not develop other ambitions in the future. Therefore, he can be used, but not entrusted with great responsibility."

Shi Fenglai also said, "This minister concurs. The matter of broadly establishing community schools should not be led by this Wang Huaiwen. Otherwise, if all the common people under Heaven remember his benevolence, it could easily cause this man to develop other thoughts that he ought not to have."

Upon hearing this, Chongzhen suddenly asked Wen Tiren, "What is the state of the Great Ming's original community schools?"

Wen Tiren bowed and said, "Your Majesty, since the time of the false Yuan, every fifty households formed one community, and a community school was established. Those well-versed in the classics were selected as teachers to provide instruction and moral edification.

During the agricultural off-season, children were made to attend school and study the Classic of Filial Piety, the Elementary Learning, the Great Learning, the Analects, and the Mencius, and were also taught and encouraged in farming and sericulture.

Our Great Ming inherited the Yuan system.

Each prefecture, sub-prefecture, and county established community schools, teaching the Imperial Grand Pronouncements, the laws and statutes of our dynasty, rituals for capping, marriage, funerals, and sacrifices, as well as the classics, histories, calendrical calculations, and the like.

However, there are very many impoverished commoner households. In truth, by the time children reach the age of ten or so, most must follow the adults into the fields to farm.

Therefore, the institution of community schools is, in reality, largely nominal."

Chongzhen pondered in silence for a long while before speaking.

"If the community schools are nominal, then We shall make them substantive.

Any household with a child attending a community school shall be exempted from taxes — until that child leaves the community school. If a household has children but does not send them to a community school, its taxes shall be increased by ten percent."

Wen Tiren, however, gave a bitter smile. "Your Majesty's sacred grace — this minister, on behalf of the common people, is deeply grateful. Yet the plan to use tax exemptions and increases to compel the people to send their children to school still cannot be implemented."

Chongzhen asked curiously, "Why not?"

Wen Tiren said, "Your Majesty, it is because of brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and books. The three treasures of brush, ink, and inkstone are manageable, and even books are manageable.

Only paper is a troublesome matter. The paper produced by the bamboo-paper method is utterly unusable for writing.

As for bark paper, although it can be used for writing and is not much inferior to xuan paper, its manufacturing process is likewise not much simpler than that of xuan paper, so the price cannot be brought down."

"From the day a young child begins learning to write until he reaches fifteen and leaves the community school, the paper he uses will likely amount to no less than one hundred thousand sheets.

Using a sand tray to practice writing is possible, but the books must ultimately be copied down. Given this, how can ordinary commoner households possibly afford it?"

Son of a bitch! Chongzhen cursed inwardly, deeply loathing his own pig-brain.

Why hadn't he memorized things like mechanical manufacturing, hydroelectric power, and thermal power? If he could just produce electricity, produce machines, these problems would be nothing!

Then he'd have all the paper in the world for them to waste — they could even use it to wipe their asses.

But thinking about this now was utterly useless. Chongzhen hadn't been able to make any of that stuff from the very start of his transmigration, and he still couldn't make it now.

No matter — if there's a problem, find Xu Guangqi! Chongzhen said bluntly, "The matter of paper shall be set aside for now.

Let us first discuss these two scholars and the matter of the community schools."

"Today, We shall first set the fundamental principle: all children under the age of fifteen must attend community school. On this point, there is no room for negotiation!"

(End of Chapter)