Chapter 182: The Scarcity of Talent

"Whether they like it or not, they must attend this school, and they must take exams. Don't think that just because they hold their current positions, they are secure; if they don't test well, they will still be removed."

Looking at the generals in the Drill Ground who were stealing glances this way, Zhao Xu said to Chang Wei.

What he was considering now was not just bullying the weak within the Great Song.

If it were only to deal with enemies like Yuan Li or the Northern Di, artillery would indeed not need to be very precise; just firing into the enemy ranks would suffice.

But in the future, when facing enemies who also have artillery, one must consider accuracy.

Because the enemy's artillerymen would certainly be able to cause casualties to his own side as well.

At that time, it would be required that once the war begins, his own artillerymen must destroy the enemy's artillery at the first opportunity.

Without a doubt, whoever shoots accurately will possess a greater advantage.

"As for being illiterate, that is also simple; recruit some scholars to come in, serve in the school, and be responsible specifically for teaching literacy and educating the soldiers," Zhao Xu said.

In the Great Song military, there are actually civil positions.

After all, generals are skilled at fighting, not at managing household affairs.

Therefore, in the Great Song military, there is the position of Military Scribe.

They are specifically responsible for managing military documents.

"Yes, Your Highness. These generals should indeed learn something, otherwise, they only know how to drink and cause trouble all day," Chang Wei said, feeling a tightness in his heart as he saw Zhao Xu's serious expression and signs of irritation.

In the days he had spent with Yan Wang, although Yan Wang always came up with things that seemed very unconventional to them,

facts proved that Yan Wang was always correct.

Therefore, he believed that this matter was also surely correct; it was just that his own vision was short-sighted and he could not see it for the time being.

"Hmm, that is good. In these few days, you will implement this matter. First, generals at the rank of Camp Colonel and above will select a room in the General's Mansion to serve as a school, for which you will be responsible. In every camp, select one barrack to serve as a camp school, for which the Camp Colonel of each camp will be responsible. At the same time, down to every squad, after training every day, they must also discuss their training insights in the evening," Zhao Xu instructed one by one.

Chang Wei nodded, silently committing it to memory.

After giving these instructions, Zhao Xu said to Chang Wei: "Once the school is built, I will personally teach you all things as well."

"Really?" Chang Wei's eyes immediately lit up.

Regarding this, he was very expectant, because he knew that Yan Wang would surely teach them things that were different from the rest.

And these things could not be learned in other armies of the Great Song.

Giving Chang Wei an affirmative look, Zhao Xu nodded again.

After inspecting the main camp, he and Xu Lie returned to the Prince's Mansion.

On the way, he lightly furrowed his brows.

Although he wanted to recruit some scholars for the army to serve in civil positions and strengthen the Prince's Mansion's control over the army,

Liu Fu's Government Office also needed scholars to serve as officials.

Adding these two together would require quite a few people.

But in the Great Song, among the humble families, people who could read like Liu Fu were few and far between.

Even searching through Shanggu Commandery and Yan Commandery again might not yield a sufficient number.

Thinking of this, he could not help but scratch his head a little.

"It is necessary to establish an Official School," Zhao Xu mused.

In the Great Song, the Imperial Academy, which represents the Official School, is prepared for the children of powerful clans.

But the Official School he spoke of and the Imperial Academy were two completely different things.

The Official School in his fief refers to a place established with silver from the Prince's Mansion, completely free of charge, recruiting the children of commoners to study.

After all, promoting universal education in his fief was impractical.

For one, he did not have such abundant capital; secondly, the commoners were not very proactive about reading; and thirdly, there were not that many scholars to teach.

Therefore, he wanted a development that went from points to areas.

First, concentrate his strength to cultivate a batch of people.

Then let these people go to various places in the fief, either to teach or to enter the Armament Bureau to assist in research and manufacturing.

#Send 888 cash red packet# Follow the WeChat official account 【Book Friends Base Camp】, watch popular masterpieces, and draw 888 cash red packets!

However, this would take time.

For now, he still had to solve the practical problem and bring in a batch of scholars.

"The Mi Family." A person suddenly flashed through Zhao Xu's mind.

This person was Imperial Concubine Mi's father, his maternal grandfather, Mi Zhuang.

Although his mother came from a humble family,

the family was full of scholars.

After his mother was promoted to Noble Lady, Zhao Heng even specially conferred a small official title upon him.

However, last year, due to being framed by others, this maternal grandfather and his uncle's family were all thrown into prison.

Last time, Imperial Concubine Mi mentioned in a letter that after she was promoted to the rank of Imperial Concubine, Zhao Heng released Mi Zhuang and his uncle's family from prison.

They should be free now.

"Before Imperial Concubine Mi entered the palace, Mi Zhuang had always taught children of humble families to read, and many people took him as their teacher." Zhao Xu found this information.

To him, this was a good resource at the moment.

And relatively speaking, Mi Zhuang and his students were more reliable.

After all, if one recruited scholars from other provinces, it would be hard to guarantee that spies would not be mixed in.

Thinking of this.

Upon returning to the Prince's Mansion, he wrote a letter to Imperial Concubine Mi.

"Your Highness has found the right person this time. Imperial Father-in-law Mi has students everywhere, it's just a pity..." Luan'er sighed while grinding ink for Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu knew what Luan'er wanted to say; even with students everywhere, these humble scholars could at most serve as clerks without official rank.

"You and Feng'er stayed at the Mi Family for several years; what did you think of it?" Zhao Xu asked.

Luan'er and Feng'er were taken in by Mi Zhuang before they entered the palace.

Later, they were sent into the palace to accompany Imperial Concubine Mi, and were then sent by Imperial Concubine Mi to take care of Zhao Xu.

"This servant only remembers that Imperial Father-in-law Mi was stern and rarely smiled, but he was always upright; whenever Imperial Uncle made a mistake, he would be caned, and the scholars who frequented the Mi Family would often plead for him." Speaking of this, Luan'er could not help but laugh.

Zhao Xu was stunned for a moment; he had met this uncle and still had some impression of him.

Every time Imperial Concubine Mi visited her family, this uncle would always cry his eyes out.

Shaking his head, Zhao Xu finished writing the letter in one go and had someone send it to Jingshi.

If he could recruit some useful people this time, it would not be a waste of his efforts.

"Your Highness, there is a young lady outside the manor asking to see you." Just as he put down his brush, Feng'er suddenly appeared at the door of the study.

"A young lady?"

Zhao Xu glanced at Feng'er and saw a strange smile on the girl's face.

"It is that Miss Xu we met when we were eating hot pot," Feng'er said leisurely.

Zhao Xu was speechless; he did not expect Xu Rao to actually come to the Prince's Manor, as this was the first time.

However, the rumors in Yancheng about him and Xu Rao had long since been distorted.

Everyone assumed that Xu Rao was his woman, which made him very helpless; their relationship was truly a pure one between a man and a woman.

"Let her in," Zhao Xu said; he and Tianxiang Lou still had a cooperative relationship.

He could not ignore her when she had come to his door.

Feng'er acknowledged the order and turned to head to the front courtyard.

At this moment, at the gate of the Prince's Manor, Xu Rao stepped off her carriage and stood at the entrance, curiously looking into the manor.

Seeing Feng'er's figure appear, she immediately withdrew her gaze and straightened her posture.

She had already experienced how formidable this Feng'er was and did not want to lose in terms of presence.

"Please, Miss Xu." Feng'er looked Xu Rao over and deliberately puffed out her chest, with a hint of rivalry in her demeanor.

To her, any woman that Yan Wang liked could not be inferior to her and Luan'er.

Xu Rao nodded slightly, expressed her thanks, and entered the Prince's Manor with Huan'er.