Chapter 1062: Establishing a School

In addition to the Oirat and Tatar tribes, Korea, Japan, Ryukyu, and Jiaozhi were also invited.

The scale was no smaller than the Emperor's previous birthday celebration, and the Emperor cared far more about this than his own birthday—had the State Master not glared at him a few times, he would have nearly succumbed to extravagance for this banquet.

Fortunately, Pan Yun mentioned it twice, and the Emperor suppressed his urge to spend, sighing to the ministers: "The State Master is still too much deprived. She has given immensely to the state—I wish I could offer her all the treasures under heaven."

Yu Qian replied irritably: "Your Majesty, the best gift you can give the State Master is to be a good Emperor, to govern the realm well, and ensure the people live in peace and prosperity."

The ministers deeply agreed.

After Pan Yun successfully divined the will of heaven, not a single official dared oppose her.

Especially since the State Master was so virtuous.

Though the Oirat suffered a crushing defeat, the Great Ming reclaimed the former Yuan's Lingbei Province, established three tributary prefectures, successfully divined the will of heaven, and propelled the army further north—Pan Yun had rendered great service, yet she showed no pride, made no claim for reward, instead reminding the Emperor to listen to the ministers, and even insisted the birthday celebration be kept frugal.

Even Yu Qian, who was always strict with himself and others, couldn't help saying: "To achieve great success in youth without arrogance or impatience—few can manage that."

Cao Nai drifted past behind him, saying coolly: "She has truly attained the Dao—not falsely."

Everyone recalled the lightning last year that had nearly shattered the world, shuddered, and became even more convinced.

"Grand Secretary Yu, since we've mentioned the State Master, let's discuss establishing a Geology Academy," Hu Ying grabbed his arm and said: "Why does the Grand Secretariat oppose my Ministry of Rites opening a Geology Academy? The State Master said the three tributary prefectures contain vast mineral deposits—do you know how large those three prefectures are?"

Yu Qian answered honestly: "The borders have not yet been fully surveyed, but the three tributary prefectures nearly overlap with the former Yuan's Lingbei Province—from Beishan to the Yertishi River, roughly four thousand li…"

"You know it's four thousand li across, don't you?" Hu Ying snapped. "Where are all those minerals? Don't they need to be found? Who finds them? If you don't train geology talent, are you going to find them yourself?"

Spittle sprayed onto his face.

Yu Qian wiped his face and said: "I'm not forbidding it—I merely advise against establishing it in Jingcheng, and especially not within the Imperial Academy."

He said: "The Imperial Academy has already added several new courses—telegraphy, electrics, and cultivation studies. If we add geology now, what will the Imperial Academy become?"

Hu Ying: "Stubborn! You just want the Imperial Academy to remain unchanged—but in today's world, if the Imperial Academy doesn't change, how can it keep pace with the times? Go outside and look—what fucheng doesn't have an electric relay station? And the telegraph machines have only been circulating among the people for a year. In the future, demand for telegraphy talent will only grow— even the Five Military Commissions are training personnel in their armies. If the Imperial Academy doesn't hurry, what are my students supposed to live on—northwest wind?"

Hu Ying fumed: "The imperial examinations are held every three years, but beyond Metropolitan Graduate, Provincial Graduate can also be appointed, and there are hereditary appointments and official posts bought with silver—by the end, the Ministry of Personnel is left with only the poor or the upright. They've studied for over a decade, barely passed, yet remain idle due to lack of vacancies. If the Imperial Academy continues like this, it might as well dissolve outright."

Yu Qian sneered: "Minister Hu, don't try to goad me. How many who enter the Imperial Academy have ever been rejected when seeking office? The Metropolitan Graduate and Provincial Graduate without vacancies mostly come from the provinces."

He said: "Not all good things should be concentrated in Jingcheng—give the students from other regions some opportunity. My suggestion: one academy in the north, one in the south. Establish the Geology Academy and other new disciplines in Nanjing, transfer professors from the Imperial Academy to teach there, and upon graduation, assign them directly to posts—though without official rank, they still enter service. If they succeed, they can rise from electric relay stations to provincial governors."

Hu Ying's angry expression softened instantly, his face breaking into a beaming smile: "Grand Secretary Yu, why didn't you say so earlier? Establishing it in Nanjing isn't unacceptable."

Yu Qian: …