Chapter 883: Testing for

The Imperial Court has official schools.

In terms of culture, typically like the Imperial Academy or the National University, and further down there are schools, but they are mostly for aristocratic disciples and not open to the public.

In terms of martial arts, commoners have martial arts halls, while aristocrats have training systems like the Imperial Guards. Good seedlings are directly digested internally; after all, it's easy to see if someone has talent, unlike reading, where one might look smart but fail the exams for years.

Honestly, creating a complete system from elementary school to middle school to university is not realistic.

There are many reasons.

First, martial arts halls are mostly run by local forces; interfering would be moving their cake, which is thankless work.

Second, the management cost of running schools is ridiculously high. Ordinary county magistrates are like local emperors; adding a system is equivalent to adding a set of staff. For stable operation, this system needs separate oversight, salaries, and teachers are absolutely indispensable.

Third, the direct profit from running schools is not large. Not every martial academy can be like Huaiyin Martial Academy, attracting crowds, siphoning off wealthy disciples, and relying on local tuition fees is difficult...

With a casual thought, Liang Qu could think of several reasons.

These reasons complement each other; individually they don't seem important, but together they are fatal.

Is the resistance great? Yes. But the Great Shun is in its prime, and its control is high. The resistance is definitely not insurmountable, but without profit, this resistance is no small matter.

So starting at the county level is unrealistic. It must start from the prefecture level—open prefecture academies!

Moonlight was like water.

The three senior brothers brushed off the dust and sat on the steps.

Hu Qi asked: "If we start from the prefecture, it won't be enlightenment. What is the rigid demand for others to enter the prefecture academy? Without demand, how to profit? To profit, we must charge tuition. If tuition is high, commoners can't get in, and the rich don't need it. If tuition is low, income won't cover expenses."

"The demand is learning martial arts."

Hu Qi frowned, feeling that with his junior brother's brain, it wouldn't be that simple.

"Explain in detail."

"Learning martial arts is teaching martial arts techniques."

Liang Qu has the Mirage Insect and can train in dreams, but normal people don't.

Combat skills are absolutely not something one can learn by reading a book. Having someone to spar with and hands-on guidance is a rigid demand.

"It is a rigid demand, but most people just hold a secret manual and ponder it themselves. They save where they can and won't spend much money. Once martial arts techniques are given out, most people will resell them to recoup costs, making the price cheaper."

"That is the problem. Spending money to learn better, but there is no sufficient profit. Therefore, there must be a matching graduation certificate!"

"Graduation certificate?"

"Yes, just like household registration, successful graduation means registration into local household records!"

"Local household records?"

A long silence.

Liang Qu explained his thoughts to his two senior brothers.

Just then, the apprentices who had finished eating came out one after another.

"It's very sloppy," Xiang Zhangsong said after deliberation. "What if the martial academy sells certificates privately at a low price?"

"I was just brainstorming, not delving too deep. Letting you senior brothers sort it out is the same logic. In short, it's binding an extra certificate—Galloping Horse Excellence Certificate, Wolf Smoke Excellence Certificate, Level 1 Sword Technique, Level 2 Sword Technique, etc., recorded into household registration information."

"Wouldn't that be putting the cart before the horse, entering school for the sake of the certificate? And how high are the expenses for the teachers who teach and assess?"

"In the early stages, it is indeed so, and there are not enough hands. But if done well, it will be different in the long run."

"This certificate endorsed by the Imperial Court will be widely recognized, making it easier to take up posts in government offices, etc., which itself has considerable value. This move can conversely attract people to enroll."

"And the martial academy is a force-wielding institution, enough to keep excellent disciples in the academy generation after generation, gradually perfecting it. In this way, the Imperial Court's control over the locality will become stronger and stronger with the martial academy as an anchor."

"As for the salary issue, I personally think there should be many titles but little substance, and not prohibiting them from taking outside work, half-hanging positions."

"Control..."

Hu and Xiang were thoughtful.

Liang Qu didn't have the confidence to make the whole system earn much money, but increasing the Imperial Court's control over the locality is definitely a benefit.

"The certificate thing Liang Shidi mentioned is indeed interesting," Xiang Zhangsong scratched his temple.

"I personally think that since our Huaiyin Martial Academy is in its prime, we can take the lead in implementing a pilot, setting an example, and turning from private to official! In the future, the rating of Huaiyin Martial Academy might be higher."

"Rating?"

"Martial academies can also be divided into three, six, nine grades... whether they can issue certificates comprehensively..."

Hu Qi and Xiang Zhangsong tried hard to think, listening in a daze.

It seems... there's a chance?

"Cao Shixiong Liang~"

A timid female voice sounded.

Liang Qu turned his head and met a pair of big, blinking eyes.

Xiang Zhangsong and Hu Qi smiled at each other and pressed their knees: "Liang Shidi, ask Master about this martial academy business later. We don't understand these things too well. I heard the Tianbo Tower is holding a banquet tomorrow; it's a good time for everyone to chat. Let's guide the students today."

"That works."

Moonlight was hazy.

Wild grass grew lush, stalks growing obliquely.

At a time when they should have been resting, one hundred apprentices lined up on the training ground, swallowing saliva, nervous and demonstrating.

Liang Qu leaned back in the grand chair, hanging his hand to touch the head of the black dog lying beside him.

Wulong's father, Black Tooth, had many offspring, and now many of them were 'free-range' in the Martial Academy, patrolling as 'dormitory managers' on weekdays.

Outside the Martial Academy, more eyes were shining, whispering while holding lanterns.

"Jiechang, why are there so many people outside?" Xiang Zhangsong was puzzled.

Chen Jiechang, who had just returned from a shift at the River-Lake Office, happened to know: "Water Brother had an epiphany today, and the news about him leading apprentices to have an epiphany spread. Outside are all the parents of the apprentices, running over to watch the fun."

"Spread out?"

"Yeah, when I came out of Yixing Town, people were talking about it everywhere. Many carts were pulling people over, rumbling."

Xiang Zhangsong's teeth ached.

Not coming early, not coming late.

On the training ground, the apprentice doing 'White Crane Spreads Wings' had trembling calves, stumbling, stiffening until he almost fell to the ground.

Clearly, they were all full of fighting spirit earlier, demanding Liang Qu's guidance. But when it came to one-on-one, their muscles were as stiff as stones. All their usually smooth movements were deformed. Let alone smooth, they could forget the second half halfway through, stuck in place.

Thump!

An apprentice lost his footing, kneeling on both knees, his face red like a monkey's butt.

Xiang Zhangsong slapped his forehead.

This was losing his face!

Liang Qu looked at the moonlight, stomped his foot, and vibrated the person up from two meters away: "I see it's getting late, and everyone is nervous seeing me for the first time. Rest early and continue tomorrow."

"Exactly, exactly, continue tomorrow!"

Xiang Zhangsong responded immediately.

"Those staying, rest early. Those going home with parents, go home. It's dark, don't linger outside. The Martial Academy is not like the old martial arts hall; it's in a remote location, and you might run into spirit monsters in the wild!" Hu Qi reminded.

"Hoo~"

The apprentices who were under great pressure all breathed a sigh of relief, their sounds overlapping into one, and communication began to rise on the quiet training ground.

Mixed in the crowd, they only felt Liang Qu was dashing and handsome, making people envious. They never thought that when lining up to come forward, the pressure would be so great!

Baron Xingyi.

A twenty-two-year-old Perfected Form.

A world-famous name, slamming onto their shoulders, was simply not something a ten-year-old boy or girl could carry. Now, cold sweat was still trickling down their spines, palms sweating, like they had just swum out of a lake.

Packing up and heading out.

"Baron Xingyi, how is my kid?"

"Baron Xingyi, the fifteenth one in line just now was my daughter!"

The parents of the apprentices who had been waiting for a long time gathered around, chattering.

Liang Qu dealt with them briefly. A man in brocade clothes stepped forward quickly, holding out a wooden box.

"Baron Xingyi! A thousand thanks to Baron Xingyi for helping my dog son have an epiphany!"

"You are... Du Hanwen's father?"

"Exactly!" The middle-aged man was quite excited, opening the wooden box. "I heard Lord Liang likes the Mermaid Tear, one of the Eight Beauties of Jianghuai, so I specially thank you!"

In the wooden box, a teardrop-shaped Mermaid Tear lay quietly.

"It was just breaking through a physical barrier, not worth such a great gift. There were seven or eight hundred people there today; it was Du Hanwen's own effort. Take it back."

Liang Qu reached out to close the wooden box, gently wiping the palm of his hand in the middle.

The Ze Ding had no reaction.

Crack!

No Water Ze Essence!

With his seasoned eyes from handling hundreds of Each Jiaorenlei, he recognized at a glance that this Mermaid Tear was genuine.

After a little thought, damn, the Each Jiaorenlei he had touched before were now flowing into the market!

Round and round...

"Baron Xingyi is humble. Your kindness is not just for breaking through the physical barrier."

Having an epiphany in public was undoubtedly an alternative proof of Du Hanwen's talent. Of course, taking this rare opportunity to say a few words to the famous Liang Qu and build a shallow relationship was also what Du Gaocen wanted.

However, Liang Qu was more concerned about the other information revealed in the other party's words.

"What are the Eight Beauties of Jianghuai?"

Du Gaocen was surprised.

"You don't know?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 884 =====