Chapter 54: Teaching Students in Accordance with Their Aptitude

Liu Li casually drew a few copper coins with a pencil in her notebook. She had thought about designing the copper coins according to modern coins, but she was afraid that changing the appearance too much would make the current people unable to accept it.

So she still adopted the design of a round exterior and a square interior. On the front of the copper coin, she marked the denomination of "Five Zhu." On the back of the copper coin, she wanted to add a unique element; on the left, she drew a small chair, and on the right, she drew a table, and at the bottom of the copper coin, she marked the year: the fourth year of Yuanguang.

The reason for drawing tables and chairs on the copper coins was that in this year, tables and chairs had become popular in the upper-class society of Chang'an. Although ordinary commoners could not afford tables and chairs yet, Liu Li believed that in the near future, tables and chairs would definitely become popular throughout the entire Great Han.

So this could also be considered something worth commemorating, recorded on the copper coins in the fourth year of Yuanguang.

Liu Li showed the first draft of the copper coins she designed to Sang Hongyang. After reading it, Sang Hongyang was full of praise: "I knew the Princess would not disappoint me. Not to mention that illegal casters cannot make such a copper coin template, I am afraid even our government cannot make it."

Liu Li: "..."

"Master Sang, is your ability to belittle people innate?"

No wonder Sang Qian was so good at glib talk at such a young age; it turned out he learned it all from Sang Hongyang. Truly, like father, like son.

Sang Hongyang laughed: "Princess, don't blame me, just a small joke with you. Although this copper coin template is complex, it is still very easy for our mint."

"Then the appearance of the new currency is decided like this?" Liu Li heard Sang Hongyang's tone; I am afraid he had already decided to use the one she drew.

A bit hasty, but she liked it.

Sang Hongyang nodded: "Of course, Princess, you designed it so well, I think His Majesty will also be very satisfied."

Liu Li raised her eyebrows, feeling a bit emotional for a moment. They were truly one who dared to design and one who dared to use; she had never seen a Party A as easy to talk to as Sang Hongyang, who actually didn't let her modify it even once.

Liu Li tore off her design draft and handed it to Sang Hongyang, and incidentally asked: "Master Sang, can I ask one more question, how is the copper coin template made?"

Facing Liu Li's curious gaze, Sang Hongyang teased: "Is there actually something the Princess doesn't know?"

Liu Li puffed out her lips and said unhappily: "I am not a god, I can't know everything."

"Hahaha." Sang Hongyang said: "I will hand the drawing designed by the Princess to the Equalization Office under the Water Balance Commandant of the Mint to be responsible for coin-making. At that time, there will be craftsmen who will draw it on pottery clay according to the appearance drawn by the Princess, and finally, put the pottery clay into the kiln to fire it, and the template can be obtained."

Coin-making required three types of officials in total, namely the Bell Official responsible for melting and casting, the Copper Identification Official responsible for preparing copper materials, and the Equalization Official responsible for molds.

So the molds used at this time were made of pottery. Liu Li nodded: "I see, then when will the new currency be ready?"

Sang Hongyang thought for a while and said: "At the earliest, it will be the end of the year. After all, when firing the pottery clay template, it is impossible to succeed at once. It will take repeated modifications before the most precise template can be obtained."

After a pause, Sang Hongyang seemed to have some feelings: "I previously told His Majesty about the currency, and His Majesty didn't seem to pay much attention on the surface, but in fact, he still took this matter to heart."

Liu Li blinked her eyes, signaling Sang Hongyang to continue.

Sang Hongyang said: "His Majesty ordered people to build a very large mint in the Shanglin Park, which is enough to see His Majesty's importance to this matter."

Liu Li pursed her lips; she knew this must have been ordered by A Jiao. It turned out that the suggestions she made were always taken to heart by A Jiao.

She smiled, and seeing that everything had been explained, she turned and prepared to leave the Weiyang Government Office and return to the Jiaofang Hall.

Behind her, Sang Hongyang called out to Liu Li: "Princess, I still have one thing I don't understand."

Liu Li tilted her head to look at him: "What don't you understand?"

"His Majesty once cast three-zhu coins, but the effect was minimal. Why do you think the five-zhu coin can change the current currency environment of the Great Han?"

Because in

history, after Emperor Wu of Han reformed the five-zhu coin, there had been no problems. Even in the Ming Dynasty, the five-zhu coins from the Emperor Wu of Han period could still be spent.

Liu Li certainly couldn't tell Sang Hongyang this reason clearly. She thought for a while and said: "Previously, the casting of coins was opened, and the weight of the currency was not unified, leading to the *jia* coins circulating in the market becoming smaller and smaller, and lighter and lighter. There is a saying called inflation, do you know it?"

Liu Li didn't wait for Sang Hongyang to answer and directly gave an example: "It means that for one *shi* of grain, it takes tens of thousands of coins to buy."

Sang Hongyang hurriedly nodded: "I know this, this is a spectacle that happened during the Empress Lu period. So this is inflation?"

Liu Li nodded: "So later, Empress Lu also recovered the coin-casting power and unified the currency of the Great Han, changing the twelve-zhu coin of the Qin Dynasty into the four-zhu coin we use today."

In fact, Empress Lu's approach was correct at the time, but by the time of Han Wendi, the Great Han opened the coin-casting power again. However, Han Wendi did not like to spend money recklessly and saved all the money he collected, being very diligent and thrifty.

This move also led to less money circulating in the market, while social productivity gradually recovered, and the value of the four-zhu coin at that time gradually stabilized.

Emperor Jing of Han continued this policy of Han Wendi, which was the later Rule of Wen and Jing.

So when Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, ascended the throne, he had the confidence to arrange for envoys like Zhang Qian and Tang Meng to go on missions, and the confidence to fight the Xiongnu for more than twenty years, entirely because of the huge inheritance left to him by his grandfather and father.

If it weren't for the fact that the money was spent on fighting, Liu Che probably wouldn't have realized the currency problem of the Great Han.

Liu Li explained: "The previous three-zhu coins were still similar to *jia* coins, and the production cost was very low, so the profit margin was large. In this way, the situation of private casting among the people would not decrease."

In modern society, there are still people making counterfeit money, let alone the Western Han where coin-casting was opened?

"But the five-zhu coin is different. If someone wants to privately cast five-zhu coins, not to mention the high production cost, there is no profit, and they might even have to pay out of their own pockets. Since there is no profit in the money they make themselves, why would they privately make money?"

A few words seemed to enlighten Sang Hongyang. He suddenly realized, and his words were full of sincere admiration for Liu Li: "So that's it. The Princess is intelligent, I truly admire you."

【Sang Hongyang favorability: 90.】

After leaving the Weiyang Government Office, Liu Li saw the carriage passing by the Shaofu Office, and she thought for a while and asked the driver to go in.

She wanted to see how Sun Qiu's improved paper-making technique was doing.

The carriage stopped at Sun Qiu's paper mill. The driver put down the small stool, and Liu Li stepped on the stool and jumped off the carriage, walking into the paper mill.

Just as she walked in, she smelled a pungent stench. Liu Li hurriedly covered her nose, feeling like she was going to be fainted by the smell.

The smell of stinky tofu was even more fragrant than this!

The attendants walking back and forth all wore masks on their faces. Seeing Princess Jianling coming, everyone stopped and signaled to Liu Li: "Princess Jianling."

Zhuqing also covered her nose: "So stinky."

Liu Li walked to the back of the paper mill and finally saw the source of the stench. In front of her was a huge dyeing vat, and Sun Qiu was directing two tall and strong guards holding bamboo sticks to stir in the large dyeing vat.

Sun Qiu saw Liu Li and hurriedly ran over to greet her: "Princess Jianling, why are you here?"

"I came to see how the progress of paper-making is." Liu Li covered her nose and stood in front of the large dyeing vat, because she was short, she couldn't see inside at all.

Zhuqing stepped forward and picked Liu Li up from the ground so she could see the situation in the dyeing vat.

Looking closer, the stench was even more obvious. However, looking at the liquid stirring in the dyeing vat, Liu Li turned to ask Sun Qiu: "What did you add inside?"

"It's just what the Princess said before, some old clothes, tree bark, etc. Maybe some clothes weren't washed and rotted inside, which made it stinky."

Liu Li: "..."

She signaled Zhuqing to put her down, moved away from the dyeing vat, and asked: "It's been so long, are there any results?"

Sun Qiu shook his head: "I tried a few times before, but every time the paper pulp was not smooth, not as white and smooth as the paper the Princess showed before."

Liu Li nodded and pointed to the vat of paper pulp: "Then discard this vat, prepare the raw materials again, and remember to use clean clothes without any stench."

"Discard?" Sun Qiu immediately felt heartache; this was the pulp they had stirred for a long time to become so thick.

"Otherwise, do you plan to give a very stinky piece of paper to the Son of Heaven first?" Liu Li said unhappily: "If you are not afraid of being beheaded, then continue to use this."

Sun Qiu: "..."

After inspecting the paper mill, Liu Li turned and left. Sitting on the carriage, she felt that this weekend... well, let's call these two days the weekend, she had a very fulfilling time.

First, she helped Sang Hongyang solve the currency problem, and now she had slightly improved the paper-making technique. She truly had broken her heart for the Great Han.

After resting for two days, when Liu Li went to the Imperial Academy again, she found that the number of people in the Imperial Academy seemed to have increased.

After Liu Che examined Liu Li's learning situation before, he felt that the Imperial Academy taught well, so he simply let the concubine-born sons and daughters of the Chang'an marquises all go to the Imperial Academy for classes.

Originally, thirty-some students were divided into three classes, which was about right. Now, twenty-some students had been added all at once, which led to a shortage of teachers.

And among these twenty-some new students, except for a few, their ages were relatively young, and the youngest was actually only four years old. Liu Li was very surprised to see Huo Qubing among the new students.

With Huo Qubing's status, he should actually have appeared in the first batch of students, but she didn't know why he appeared in the second batch of students.

Facing such uneven students, Dong Zhongshu also had a headache; after all, these were all descendants of marquises. So Liu Li was called to the "Principal's Office" again.

"Princess, in your opinion, now that the students are of different genders and ages, how should the Imperial Academy arrange it to ensure that every student receives the best education?"

Liu Li pursed her lips and said: "Confucius said: In education, there should be no distinction of classes; teach students in accordance with their aptitude."

Dong Zhongshu was puzzled: "Did Master Confucius say such words?"

Liu Li: "..." She coughed lightly in embarrassment and said seriously: "His original words were of course not like this, but the meaning is roughly this."

"In education, there should be no distinction of classes; teach students in accordance with their aptitude" was summarized by later generations according to the stories in the *Analects*, but it was Confucius's ideology anyway.

Dong Zhongshu stroked his beard again: "In education, there should be no distinction of classes; teach students in accordance with their aptitude... These words are well said! Princess Jianling is truly a great Confucian scholar of my school!"

Liu Li thought, if she were praised a few more times by these famous historical figures and doctors, she could create a school of thought and become a pioneer of the era.

Why not call it the Li School of Thought, and if her famous quotes are passed down to later generations, will others also respectfully call her Master Liu?

It's just that this name sounds so ugly; why not call it Master Li.

Walking out of the study where Dong Zhongshu worked, Liu Li happened to run into Huo Qubing, who was alone. She greeted him in a good mood: "Hi, Huo Xiaolang."

Huo Qubing stopped and bowed slightly to Liu Li: "Princess Jianling."

Liu Li was curious: "Why did you come to the Imperial Academy for class too?"

"His Majesty decreed that all those in the families of marquises and officials who meet the age requirement must come to the Imperial Academy, otherwise their titles will be removed." Huo Qubing answered Liu Li's question.

She knew it would be like this! However, it was a good thing that Liu Che valued ideological education so much. Liu Li saw that Huo Qubing had a look of displeasure on his face and raised her eyebrows: "It's a good thing to let you read and write, why are you still unhappy?"

"I just want to stay with my uncle." Huo Qubing said: "I want to train in the Feathered Forest Guard."

Liu Li noticed that Huo Qubing seemed to like and admire his uncle very much. Just like last year, he would pretend to bow to her for the sake of the slingshot his uncle gave him.

Huo Qubing followed his mother, Wei Shao'er, as an illegitimate child. He had never seen his father and was raised by his two uncles. His eldest uncle, Wei Changjun, passed away from illness in the second year of Yuanguang, and since then, his younger uncle, Wei Qing, had been taking care of him and teaching him.

In Huo Qubing's heart, the status of his uncle Wei Qing was even higher than that of his mother, Wei Shao'er.

"I know you want to be like your uncle, to be a leader and a general." Liu Li said: "But learning knowledge is also very important. For example, the masters in the Imperial Academy will tell everyone about the contents of the *Strategies of the Warring States*, which should be very helpful for your future military campaigns."

Huo Qubing looked at Liu Li quite strangely: "How do you know I will be on military campaigns in the future?"

Liu Li: "Uh..."

"The Great Han and the Xiongnu will have a battle sooner or later, and you want to be a general so much, so you will definitely be on the battlefield." Liu Li pursed her lips and said mysteriously: "I observe your physiognomy; you are a talent who is brave and good at fighting, and in the future, you will definitely be able to beat the Xiongnu to a pulp."

Huo Qubing raised his eyebrows: "When did Princess Jianling learn divination?"

Liu Li: "I just ask you, do you believe it or not?"

He was silent for a moment, slowly raised his lips, and returned a firm word: "Believe."

"Isn't that it?" Liu Li curled her eyes: "Huo Xiaolang, take advantage of the fact that you are not yet eighteen, learn more knowledge in the Imperial Academy, and when you are eighteen..."

As she spoke, Liu Li's voice paused, no longer giving Huo Qubing spoilers about his future life.

"What happens after eighteen?" Huo Qubing was curious.

"Nothing." Liu Li said directly: "I'm going back to the classroom for class." After saying that, she turned slightly and ran past Huo Qubing.

Huo Qubing only smelled a faint fragrance, and when he looked back at her, she was already gone.

Eighteen? He whispered in his heart.

After Liu Li's reminder to Dong Zhongshu, Dong Zhongshu decided to teach students in the Imperial Academy in accordance with their aptitude. Students from four to six years old were assigned to one class, then students from seven to nine years old were in one class, and finally, students from ten to fifteen years old were in one class. (The concept of classes was told to Dong Zhongshu by Liu Li~)

As for the particularly intelligent Princess Jianling, Dong Zhongshu really wanted to arrange her in the big class, but he was afraid that students in other classes would feel it was unfair, so he reluctantly arranged Liu Li in the middle class.

Liu Li felt powerless to complain about her skipping from the small class to the middle class. But according to Dong Zhongshu's distribution, the number of people in the three classes of different ages was barely balanced.

The contents of the Four Books and Five Classics learned in each class were basically the same, but when the doctors explained to the students in the big class, they would explain more profoundly, while when lecturing to the students in the small class, they focused on enlightenment education.

It truly achieved teaching students in accordance with their aptitude.

Wei Yan'er and Han Wan were both assigned to the big class. Although it was a pity that these two new friends were not in the same class as her, there was one more person beside Liu Li, which was Chen Ran from the Tangyi Marquis Mansion.

Compared to the previous Chen Yu, Chen Ran was obviously much more obedient and low-key. When she saw Liu Li, she didn't consider herself a cousin, but respectfully called her Princess.

She knew too well how Chen Yu was driven back to Tangyi by her grandmother, so facing the daughter of her own aunt, Chen Ran was curious in her heart, but she didn't dare to be disrespectful.

Out of curiosity, Liu Li asked about Chen Yu, and Chen Ran didn't hide anything and told her everything.

After listening, Liu Li didn't say anything, just kindly took Chen Ran's hand and said: "Cousin, since you are my uncle's daughter and have come all the way from Tangyi to Chang'an to accompany me to school, as long as I am here, I won't let others bully you."

Chen Ran nodded: "Thank you, Princess."

"We are all sisters of the same family, you can just call me younger sister, or A Li." Liu Li showed kindness to Chen Ran.

Chen Ran hesitated for a moment and softly called out: "Cousin A Li."

The class assignment did not have any impact on Liu Li. Anyway, for the things the master taught, if it was interesting, she would listen to it, and if it was boring, she would close her eyes and study the system.

The only thing that surprised Liu Li was that Sang Qian was also in the middle class.

"You are actually not yet ten years old?" Liu Che looked at Sang Qian in surprise. She had looked at his height before and thought he was at least eleven or twelve years old.

"I will only be ten next year." Sang Qian said slowly: "When I was young, my family was afraid that I wouldn't grow tall, so they gave me everything good to eat, so I look a bit tall now."

Liu Li looked at Sang Qian's height and predicted

that after he became an adult, he could grow to at least 1.85 meters. Thinking of this, Liu Li quietly compared his height with her own.

Ah, she is really short. Is it too late for her to drink a glass of milk every day with A Jiao to grow taller?

After attending school at the Imperial Academy, Liu Li felt that time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, spring passed and summer came, and the time came to the scorching July.

It was really too hot in the Imperial Academy. Even if the windows were opened for ventilation, it felt hot and unbearable. Liu Li hurriedly suggested to Dong Zhongshu to give the students a summer vacation.

Regarding the concept of summer vacation, Liu Li couldn't help but show off her theory in front of Dong Zhongshu again, and finally successfully obtained Dong Zhongshu's approval, so the students of the Imperial Academy could have a summer vacation and come back to class after the scorching heat ended in September.

"Cousin A Li, school is out early today, do you want to go back to the Tangyi Marquis Mansion with me?" Chen Ran invited Liu Li: "Grandmother often misses you."

Hearing Chen Ran say this, Liu Li thought that she hadn't seen Liu Piao for a long time, so she nodded: "Okay."

Liu Li packed her things, put on her bag, and prepared to leave with Chen Ran. The young ladies and sons who were leaving saw Liu Li and greeted her one after another: "Princess Jianling."

In the few months at the Imperial Academy, Liu Li's popularity in the school was very high, not only because of her status as a princess, but also because she had a good temper, no airs, and often sought benefits for everyone.

For example, this 60-day summer vacation, Princess Jianling was simply their god!

Liu Li took the initiative to let the carriage of Weiyang Palace go back to report to the Son of Heaven and the Empress first. She really wanted to go with the carriage of the Tangyi Marquis Mansion this time. After the guards received the order, they drove away alone.

The coachman of the Tangyi Marquis Mansion naturally didn't dare to neglect Liu Li. After welcoming the Princess into the carriage, he drove the carriage back to the Marquis Mansion.

The carriage moved, and the wind poured into the carriage through the windows, bringing a hint of coolness. Liu Li lay at the window, looking at the scenery along the way.

The towering Weiyang Palace could be seen from afar, but Liu Li's gaze gradually became distant, and there were some messy thoughts in her mind.

Finally, the carriage stopped in front of the Tangyi Marquis Mansion, and the coachman welcomed Liu Li off the carriage.

"If Grandmother knows you are coming to see her, she will definitely be very happy." Chen Ran held Liu Li's hand, and the two sisters walked into the Marquis Mansion together.

This was Liu Li's first time coming to the Tangyi Marquis Mansion. At the door, she felt that this Marquis Mansion looked very large and luxurious, and when she walked in, she felt that this was like a small palace.

Chen Ran said: "Let's give Grandmother a surprise."

Liu Li nodded and was about to speak, but was attracted by a neighing of a horse outside the door. She saw a young and handsome boy riding a horse with bright black hair stop in front of the door.

The boy jumped off the horse with graceful movements, threw the reins to the gatekeeper, and walked directly into the Marquis Mansion.

Soon the boy walked to their side, and Chen Ran bowed slightly and said: "Hello, Little Uncle."

Hearing Chen Ran's address to the boy, Liu Li was a bit puzzled. Does the Chen family have such a young little uncle?

The boy knew Chen Ran but didn't know Liu Li, so he said: "A Ran, who is this little girl? Is she your friend?"

Liu Li also looked at Chen Ran, and Chen Ran hurriedly said: "Little Uncle, this is Princess Jianling."

Hearing Liu Li's name, the boy hurriedly raised his hand to bow to Liu Li: "Yan has met Princess Jianling."

Liu Li blinked and blinked again. The sound of cicadas in her ears seemed a bit harsh. She asked slowly: "What is your name?"

The boy raised his handsome face slightly and replied: "My name is Dong Yan."

Liu Li gasped and exclaimed in her heart, "Good fellow, it's actually Dong Yan, the *mian shou* (male favorite) of Dou Taizhu Liu Piao in history!"

It was said that the tradition of princesses keeping male favorites started with Dou Taizhu. Unexpectedly, the first time she came to the Tangyi Marquis Mansion today, she saw Dong Yan! ===== CHAPTER 55 =====

Liu Li gasped, inwardly exclaiming, "Good heavens, it's actually Dong Yan, the favorite of the Eldest Princess Liu Piao in history!"

It is said that the tradition of princesses keeping favorites began with the Eldest Princess. She never expected that on her first visit to the Tangyi Marquis Mansion, she would see Dong Yan!