Chapter 228: The Northern Di Envoys

"Government Academy?"

"Technology Academy?"

Liu Fu wore a look of surprise.

There was also Wang Ying; he had someone call him over.

As for Chang Wei, he had him return, because he had already let Chang Wei establish a Military Academy at the North Camp, so there was no need to open a separate one.

Zhao Xu nodded. "Each of you will be responsible for one academy. Liu Fu, you all can choose the courtyards around the prince's mansion yourselves; it is best if they are all near the mansion. As for the Technology Academy, it will be built at the Armory," Zhao Xu said.

He had previously bought up all the large mansions near the prince's mansion, originally thinking of converting them into Workshops.

Later, the Workshops were moved to the burnt-down civilian quarters, so these large mansions were left vacant.

These mansions were all previously the private property of Rich Clans.

Now they could be put to use.

Moreover, since these courtyards were each no less in scale than the prince's mansion, they were very suitable to serve as academies.

"Your Highness, what will this Government Academy teach?" Liu Fu was completely confused.

"Naturally, it will teach the way of being an official. I will provide you with the specific classics," Zhao Xu said.

The officials of the Great Song were none of them professional officials.

Especially those who were promoted through selection; they basically just knew how to read and had studied some classics and history.

Before taking office, they understood nothing.

While in office, they were only skilled at squeezing the people for their lifeblood, and regarding the specific affairs of their governance, they just muddled through, confused and ignorant.

But in his fief, such officials would not do.

He wanted to establish a more refined government system.

For example, the prince's mansion needed officials specifically responsible for water conservancy; these officials needed to master specific knowledge of water conservancy.

Officials in charge of construction needed to understand construction knowledge.

Officials in charge of agriculture needed to understand various types of agricultural knowledge.

In response to this situation, he would set up corresponding departments in the Government Academy.

Officials in corresponding positions would have to study in the corresponding departments.

He would copy the books for the specific subjects and give them to the College as textbooks.

At the same time, the Government Academy would also recruit scholars to enroll and study.

If these scholars could graduate from the academy, they would serve as a reserve of officials.

"Yes, Your Highness," Liu Fu replied, slightly excited.

Now, both Chang Wei and he believed that Yan Wang truly had an expert guiding him.

So he was very much looking forward to Yan Wang being able to bring out things that would make his eyes light up.

After all, during this period, the reforms had mostly occurred in the Armory and the military.

In the officialdom, it was still the same old Great Song routine, with not much change.

"Your Highness, how should the two words 'Technology' be interpreted?" Wang Ying scratched his head again at this moment.

He was not very clear on why an academy for learning skills was called a Technology Academy.

"Technology is simply an abbreviation for science and technique. There is no need to explain the word 'technique'; the meaning contained in the word 'science' is a practical method for understanding the heavens, the earth, and all things. To master science is to master this set of methods," Zhao Xu said.

"A practical method for understanding the heavens, the earth, and all things?" Wang Ying muttered.

Zhao Xu said, "This glass has now been created, but do you know why using the method I taught can create glass?"

Wang Ying shook his head.

"Then, how to understand and practice this method is science."

Wang Ying nodded slowly, "So that is to say, knowing the 'what' and knowing the 'why'—that is science."

"Correct," Zhao Xu laughed.

"Good, this term is good," Wang Ying smiled and nodded.

"Some of the students for this Technology Academy will be selected from the craftsmen, and some will be selected from the scholars," Zhao Xu said.

To him, the selection of students for the Technology Academy had to be the strictest among the three academies.

Any student who entered the Technology Academy would, like the craftsmen of the Armory, be unable to leave the designated area.

Therefore, it was most appropriate to select from the craftsmen who already had no freedom.

But craftsmen generally did not know how to read, which would create an obstacle to learning.

The most ideal candidate was, of course, someone like Wang Chong, but there were not many technical geeks like Wang Chong.

Having settled this matter, Zhao Xu let the two of them make preparations.

He himself went straight to the study to spend the next few days copying down the knowledge in his mind and compiling it into volumes.

The content was naturally the three subjects of military affairs, government affairs, and mathematics and science.

During this time, he also accompanied Mi Zhuang to walk around Yancheng and tour for a few days.

Five days later, Mi Zhuang formally took his leave of him.

"Your Highness, there is no need to see me off further."

At the Nanmen of Yancheng, Mi Zhuang arrived at the carriage and bowed to Zhao Xu.

Having stayed in Yancheng for over five days, he had decided to return to Jingshi.

"Father-in-law of the Emperor, take care on the journey," Zhao Xu raised his hand.

Also there to see him off were the scholars brought by Mi Zhuang.

Mi Zhuang was leaving, but they would remain in Yanzhou to participate in the selection of officials.

Mi Zhuang smiled and nodded.

The great chaos in Yanzhou has just been quelled, and with everything waiting to be rebuilt, the affairs are heavy.

These past few days, he sometimes saw that Zhao Xu's study was still lit in the middle of the night.

Regarding this, he felt both gratified and pained for him.

Therefore, he did not wish to continue disturbing Zhao Xu and decided to leave.

"Grandfather, walk slowly." Mi Wen bowed and saluted.

After Mi Zhuang left, he would have to remain in Yanzhou alone, and he felt somewhat reluctant to part.

"Remember my words." Mi Zhuang left only one sentence for Mi Wen before boarding the carriage.

Accompanied by the soft sound of a horsewhip, the carriage moved slowly forward along the official road.

After the carriage disappeared into the fine snowflakes, Mi Wen said, "Your Highness, I did not come to Yanzhou to eat and drink for free. I hope Your Highness will arrange a task for me; I will certainly do my best to complete it."

Since Mi Zhuang had entrusted Mi Wen to him, he naturally had to take responsibility.

Moreover, Mi Wen had been close to the Ninth Prince since childhood.

Perhaps it was because he had inherited the memories of the Ninth Prince.

Within his emotions, there was also a sense of familiarity toward Mi Wen.

"What would you like to do?" Zhao Xu asked.

Mi Wen scratched his head, "I haven't thought it through yet."

"Then stay by my side for now, and tell me once you have decided," Zhao Xu said.

Mi Wen responded with a "yes" and looked again at the carriage that was no longer visible.

Yanguan.

Mo Yu was staring blankly at a sword hanging on the wall.

This was his father's sword.

As time passed, the Battle of Yanguan gradually receded, but his longing for his father grew day by day.

Especially while being in Yanguan, he felt as if he could see his father's shadow everywhere.

How his father died remains a mystery to this day.

But from the mouths of the soldiers at Yanguan, he learned that on the night his father died, Xiao Yuanshan had a secret meeting with an official responsible for the investigation.

Deep down, he was convinced that this matter must be related to Xiao Yuanshan.

And one day, he would certainly uncover the truth.

"General, a troop of soldiers claiming to be envoys from Northern Di has arrived at the foot of Yanguan City." Jiang Han appeared suddenly, breaking his deep contemplation.

After the Yanzhou Seven Commanderies all returned to Yan Wang, he and the soldiers of the Imperial Guard were temporarily guarding Yanguan.

Once Yan Wang's troops arrived to relieve them, the Imperial Guard soldiers would withdraw.

And he would also be able to return to the Prince's Personal Army.

"Envoys from Northern Di?" Mo Yu frowned.

The great war had just ended, yet Northern Di had sent envoys, which left him puzzled.

"Are there no Northern Di troops behind them?" Mo Yu asked.

"No, our scouts have investigated all the way," Jiang Han said.

Mo Yu nodded; he could not make a decision on this matter and needed to report it back to Yan Wang.

So he said to Jiang Han, "Send someone to Yancheng."