Chapter 218

Fan Kuai and others, according to their respective specialties, (killing dogs, blowing funerals, driving carriages)

They were stuffed into different departments as minor officials, or entered the army to start from the bottom.

Having a bowl of public rice to eat, being watched firmly, as long as they couldn't make waves, it was fine.

Liu Bang was stunned for a long time when he received the appointment.

Finally, he gave a bitter smile, bowed to the direction of Xianyang Palace, and honestly went to report for work.

Being able to live, having an official position, what else to ask for?

The little fire of restlessness in his heart, after seeing the magnificence of Xianyang City and the strength of the army with his own eyes,

Especially after hearing about Xiang Yu's miserable situation, had long since been extinguished.

Xianyang Palace, side hall.

Crown Prince Fu Su stood in front of Ying Zheng and Gu Shanhe, his brows locked.

He had just gone to inspect the first batch of gold and silver transported back from the Fusang gold mines, and went to Tiangong Workshop to see the manufacturing process of the muskets.

Finally, he went to the "Hundred Schools Academy" (proposed by Gu Shanhe, a place for scholars of various schools to communicate, research, and teach) to listen to a debate.

The amount of information was too large, and the impact was too strong.

"Father Emperor, Guoshi."

Fu Su's voice was a bit difficult,

"In the past, I only knew how to recite poetry and books, empty talk about benevolent government, thinking that reducing punishments and lightening corvee labor could bring peace to the world. Now it seems... how ridiculous."

He pointed out the window, as if he could see the smoke and fire of Tiangong Workshop, could see the grain piled up in the warehouse and the newly minted money,

Could see the soldiers on the training ground holding muskets, with a completely different spirit.

Without the new grain seeds brought by the Guoshi, without those ingenious machines to improve farming efficiency, without the gold and silver of Fusang supporting the national treasury, where would the surplus grain come from to reduce taxes?

Where would the money come from to repair water conservancy and comfort the orphans and widows?

Without the deafening forging hammers of Tiangong Workshop, without the muskets that can pierce iron armor, without the tiger-wolf army trained by General Meng, how to pacify rebels like Xiang Yu?

How to deter the barbarians from all sides and protect the country and the people?

Empty talk about benevolence and righteousness, the enemy will not talk about benevolence and righteousness with you, they will only speak with swords and blades!

Fu Su became more excited as he thought about it, his face flushed,

"I was wrong before! Completely wrong!"

"To strengthen the country and enrich the people, we cannot rely only on those moral articles of Confucianism, but more on real national strength!"

"It is the new grain that can produce ten stones per mu, it is the workshop that can produce a hundred muskets a day, it is the tower ship that can cross the sea for an expedition, it is the artillery that can make the enemy fear before fighting!"

"These are the foundation of 'benevolent government'! Without these, the so-called benevolent government is just a castle in the air, which will fall with a push!"

Ying Zheng looked at this son who had always sung against himself and was full of benevolence and forgiveness, and now said such words, a flash of gratification in his eyes, more of a complex emotion.

He looked at Gu Shanhe, knowing that all these changes stemmed from the person beside him.

"You can understand these, it is not in vain that I let you learn from the Guoshi."

Ying Zheng said slowly, "From today on, you will be the supervisor of the country, in charge of internal affairs. Ask the Guoshi for advice more, go to various places to see and listen more."

"The future of this Great Qin will eventually be handed over to you."

Fu Su bowed and promised solemnly: "I will definitely not fail the expectations of Father Emperor and Guoshi!"

A few months later, Xianyang morning court.

Ying Zheng issued a series of new orders.

Abolished the single governing strategy of "using law as teaching, using officials as teachers."

Adopted Gu Shanhe's "Hundred Schools Division of Labor, Each Doing Its Best" system.

Agricultural School: Established "Sinosi," promoted new curved-shaft plows and seed drills nationwide, and piloted rotation systems and breeding of good seeds.

The "Qimin Yaoshu" (improved version) exchanged by Gu Shanhe from the system became a textbook.

Grain production began to grow visibly.

Mohist School: Officially established "Great Qin Gewu Academy" (public name), with Qin Huali as the dean and Gongshu Chou as the deputy dean.

Under it, "Machinery Institute," "Gunpowder Institute," "Military Industry Institute," "Construction Institute," etc., enjoyed government funding and special treatment, specifically researching all knowledge of "investigating things to gain knowledge."

The improvement of steam engines, the upgrading of muskets, and even preliminary chemical research were all budding here.

Legalist School: Li Si took the lead in revising the "Great Qin New Law."

Significantly reduced corporal punishment, increased economic regulations, clarified the spirit of contract, and protected industry and commerce (although still very preliminary).

Legal provisions were clearer, sentencing was more standardized, and "law does not favor the noble" was emphasized.

Confucian School: Not banned, but encouraged.

But not to engage in that set of restoring the Zhou Dynasty, but to be responsible for "enlightenment."

Generally established "Mongolian Schools" in villages to teach children literacy, arithmetic, and basic loyalty, patriotism, and ethics.

The textbooks were the "Three-Character Classic" (Qin version), "Hundred Family Surnames," and "Elementary Arithmetic" "suggested" by Gu Shanhe.

People who could read and write began to increase slowly.

Medical School: Established "Taiyi Office" and "Mountain Forest Supervisor."

Taiyi Office researched medicine, organized prescriptions, and trained medical practitioners.

Mountain Forest Supervisor was responsible for managing mountains, rivers, forests, and marshes, advocating "timely logging, sustainable use," which was a simple environmental protection concept.

Yin-Yang School: Not allowed to engage in mysticism, but cooperated with the Agricultural School and Taiyi Office to study astronomy and calendar, and weather changes, used to guide farming and prevent epidemics.

In the court, it was no longer the Legalist School alone, but officials of various schools, according to their expertise, were in charge of different fields.

Although there were arguments, they were all within the framework of "strengthening the country and enriching the people."

Ying Zheng once chatted with Gu Shanhe and sighed:

"I used to think that people in the world were either black or white, either subjects or enemies."

"Using strict laws to manage them, making them afraid, making them not dare to violate the ban, would bring peace to the world."

"Now it seems, it was stupid."

"Putting people in the right place, letting them do what they are good at, this world turns itself, and turns fast and steadily."

"Guoshi, this hundred schools governing the world of yours is the true way of the emperor."

Gu Shanhe drank tea and smiled slightly: "Your Majesty is over-praising."

"Letting everyone use their talents, using things to their fullest, is the Heavenly Dao. Just follow the trend."

Outside Xianyang City, the chimneys of Tiangong Workshop never stopped day and night.

The training sounds and musket firing sounds of the Divine Machine Camp came from time to time.

The reading sounds of children came from the Mongolian schools everywhere.

On the canal, new-style sailboats carried goods south and north.

In the mines, steam pumps roared to pump out groundwater...

A new era,

Cast in iron and fire, steam and gunpowder smoke, gold and silver.

Driven by a traveler and a First Emperor through the ages, it was developing at an unprecedented speed.