Chapter 603: Liangzhou Academy

These past few days.

The Longyan Dynasty has been very lively, all because of the birthday of the old Emperor, Xie Tianyao.

Likewise.

Liangzhou has also been very lively.

This is because, after a period of meticulous preparation, the two academies in Liu Zheng's plan are officially about to open.

The first is the Liangzhou Academy,

And the second is the Liangzhou Military Academy.

With both academies beginning preparations simultaneously, and after Liu Zheng's lectures, almost all the scholars in the world have come here by reputation. This has undoubtedly brought a strong literary atmosphere to Liangzhou. If one were to describe the Liangzhou of before, its folk customs were fierce and simple, but deep down, it still gave people the feeling of a barbaric land, uneducated and crude. But later, as Liangzhou's economy took off rapidly, people began to have no worries about food and clothing, and started to pursue the enrichment and fulfillment of their spiritual world.

And so, this time.

The opening of the academies has truly stirred up the literary atmosphere of Liangzhou.

Now, when the common people go out, they are almost all dressed like scholars; no matter what they do for a living, they can casually spout a few lines of "zhi, hu, zhe, ye" and "Unity of Knowledge and Action"! If you go out without carrying a book, you feel a bit embarrassed to greet others.

"Hey, hey, have you heard? Today, the great Confucian Zhang Chao from Jingchu will also grace the academy's opening ceremony!"

"Really? He's coming too?"

"Haha, what's that? The literary giant Wang Chengzhi, who is already nearly sixty, insists on becoming a student of Young Master Liu, claiming he wants to study Heart Learning for the rest of his life and fight for Heart Learning for his entire life!"

The crowd chatted and laughed heartily.

The people of Liangzhou now are full of confidence from head to toe!

This kind of confidence comes from the marrow of their bones. It comes from the dual satisfaction of material and spiritual life. These days, more and more well-known literary giants have gathered in Liangzhou. Attracted by Liu Zheng's Heart Learning, the entire Liangzhou has set off a cultural wave.

At the same time.

The Military Academy.

This is also an aspect that Liu Zheng values highly.

In ancient times, there were almost no military academies. Even many generals who led troops were scholars who lacked the strength to truss a chicken. While these people were certainly proficient in the Art of War and well-versed in overt and covert strategies, Liu Zheng always felt that something was still missing.

For a good general, military quality and cultural quality are both indispensable.

Take Qin Zhangfeng, for example.

He is very good at fighting and has outstanding personal ability, but his cultural quality is far behind. Although he now makes up for various knowledge whenever he has free time, it is still a bit late due to his age.

Looking back at Jiang Xuan.

This guy is actually a good seedling who is both civil and martial, a typical example.

Because he learned by eavesdropping in a Private School from a young age, and was discovered by Liu Zheng at a very young age and trained in the army, his growth rate shows signs of catching up to Qin Zhangfeng.

Liangzhou has always lacked martial generals.

At present, apart from Qin Zhangfeng, Jiang Xuan, Ling Chen, Feng Zhen, Xiong Ao, and the naval commander Su Qi, there are almost no generals worth mentioning.

"What is a Military Academy?"

"What kind of fresh thing is this?"

"Is it a place specifically for learning how to lead troops and fight?"

At the beginning, the concept of a "Military Academy" was still very fresh to people. Some even felt they couldn't understand this move by Governor Liu.

Since ancient times, weren't all those who could lead troops and fight people who had read the Art of War thoroughly?

Why go to the trouble of setting up a school for it?

Is it necessary?

It's just that, with the Liangzhou Academy gaining such strong momentum, no one paid any attention to this Military Academy.

One civil, one martial.

Of the two academies, the Liangzhou Academy hasn't even opened yet, but the stream of visitors is like crucian carp crossing the river; the threshold of this academy is about to be trampled down. The reason is none other than this: the Liangzhou Academy will enroll three thousand students in its first year on the day of its opening!

Three thousand people.

Countless people are breaking their heads trying to squeeze in. After all, since ancient times, the Longyan Dynasty has still used the system of recommending the filial and incorrupt. Although Liangzhou and many other places have begun to pilot the Imperial Examination, people still believe that being able to enter the Liangzhou Academy counts as being one step closer to an official position. They naturally believe that Governor Liu created this Liangzhou Academy for the purpose of selecting the talent he needs—doesn't that mean after graduating, one becomes an official?

They are breaking their heads, almost coming to blows! These people are all thinking of various Methods just to get into the Liangzhou Academy.

Shen Xing has had a headache these past few days.

He is the one in charge of the enrollment work for the Liangzhou Academy.

In just a few short days, everyone in Liangzhou with any influence has found him through various means... just to secure a future for the young people in their families.

He is torn between laughter and tears.

Does entering the Liangzhou Academy mean one has a future?

That is not for discussion yet,

But as for these test questions the Young Master prepared this time, I'm afraid you all won't be able to pass them...

In just a few short days.

There were over seventy thousand applicants!

Good heavens.

Scholars from all over Liangzhou, and even from the territories of other Feudatory Kings, have all come running. Liangzhou City suddenly has over seventy thousand more people, instantly becoming overcrowded and bustling with activity. The inns and Post Houses in the city are not enough to accommodate them.

Looking at the Liangzhou Military Academy side...

A huge school.

Empty...

Empty!

"This damn Shen Xing, he is bullying people too much, this is bullying people too much!"

The person in charge of the Military Academy enrollment this time is Feng Zhen, who returned with Ling Chen to report on his duties and was kept in Liangzhou by a single word from Liu Zheng. This guy, from a criminal exiled to Ningguta, achieved great military exploits in the Western Regions, completing his transformation and rebirth, and returned to Longyan in glory as the Left General of Liangzhou. The hardships in this, naturally, only he himself knows.

"General, General, please do not get angry, please do not get angry..."

Several subordinates nearby were sweating profusely as they tried to persuade him.

Shen Xing was now the number one civil official in Liangzhou; if Feng Zhen were to anger him, offending him would be no good—although, it must be said, he had already offended him quite a few times over the past few days because of the student recruitment.

"Preposterous, simply preposterous!"

Feng Zhen was so angry he could spit blood: "Isn't it just asking him, Shen Xing, for five hundred students? He can't even spare that, he can't even spare that! With these two academies opening at the same time, wouldn't this make the world laugh at me, Feng Zhen? How, how am I supposed to answer to the Young Master!"

The few subordinates held back their laughter.

This matter... was indeed awkward.

It had been so many days!

No matter how they promoted it, simply no one was willing to come and sign up for the Military Academy!

This Feng Zhen had even started going from inn to inn, one by one, to conduct persuasion work.

"Young Master, that Academy has too many people; why not come try my Military Academy instead?"

"Sir, your noble son is a talent of heaven-sent aptitude with extraordinary bone structure, most suitable for coming to my Military Academy to study..."

"No... if you don't want to come, then don't come, why are you hitting people?"

And so.

Feng Zhen was in despair.

The most critical thing was...

Young Master, far away in Jinghua, do you know? There are only two days left until the opening of the academy, and there isn't a single person signed up, yet you still issued such bizarre entrance exam questions?

This is...

What is to be done?