fifth form

Chapter 2139 Mutual Development
"They are well versed in the scriptures, have good conduct, and can spread the laws of enlightenment!"

"I promoted the academy, which seemed to have exempted many people from corvée labor, but these students' academic success also brought about the smooth implementation of government orders!"

In the county governor's mansion, when Wen Weng personally held a "festival" for Zhenyuan Shenjun, he also tried his best to recommend the results of his education in Shu County.

He also responded to some of Zhang Xuezhou's questions from time to time.

"I still need to thank you for this!"

"Thank me?"

"Do you remember Taiping Weir?"

"Remember!"

"Then, in addition to the snakes at the Taiping Weir Fish Mouth, the river water has flowed into Puyang, turning the originally dry land into fertile fields. We have added nearly 200,000 acres of fertile land for cultivation in Shu County. With fertile land for planting, the many contradictions you mentioned have been easily resolved!"

"I see!"

"This can completely make up for the loss caused by exemption from corvee labor!"

Economic development provides the foundation for talent cultivation, and at the same time, talent cultivation will effectively promote economic development.

In just a few years, the city of Shu County went from being a place where it was difficult to promote the establishment of an academy to a place where many people were eager to learn literacy.

This is also what Zhang Xuezhou and Zhenyuan Shenjun were puzzled about. The return on investment from studying is too long. If one is not well fed and clothed, it is almost impossible to have the conditions for studying. However, Wen Weng broke the shackles while constantly seeking to promote literacy, thus creating the corresponding foundation, which led to a huge change in the customs of the people in Shu County in less than ten years.

The Red Alliance was also like this in the past. Decades ago, the illiteracy rate was alarmingly high, but after the genetic explosion, the constant abundance of food and clothing brought about continuous cultural development, even to an extreme degree.

To put it bluntly, if time could go back thirty years, or even just twenty years, many university graduates would be qualified enough to become high-end talents.

The current situation in Shu County City is similar to a certain stage of the Red Alliance.

This is a development feature that achieves higher social productivity under limited conditions, and even Zhang Xuezhou can only praise it.

The times may confine many people, but there are also some people who continue to forge ahead, and gain successful experiences while constantly failing.

Zhang Xuezhou praised repeatedly and continued to trace the source of the changes in Shujun City.

County Magistrate Wen Weng introduced and recommended it from time to time.

After a while, County Magistrate Wen Weng's face turned pale, and he looked at Zhang Xuezhou with a different look.

Thanks to the large amount of fertile land brought about by the digging and diversion of the Taiping Weir, County Magistrate Wen Weng was able to embark on the path of education. However, other counties did not have the same conditions as Shu County, and it would obviously be extremely difficult to repeat the literary style of Shu County, just as he had been embarrassed a few years ago.

Before Zhang Xuezhou even opened his mouth to refuse, Wen Weng was already well aware of the difficulties in promoting the academy.

However, Shu County was not the richest region in the Han Dynasty. There were a large number of areas that were not suitable for the promotion of the academy, but there must have been some wealthy areas that were qualified for such promotion.

The imperial court's decrees were rarely targeted at a single county or prefecture. Instead, in order to maintain fairness, they were extended to all counties and prefectures under its control, making it difficult to differentiate between them.

Even if Zhang Xuezhou approved such measures to build academic style, and the emperor of the time agreed, the promotion of the academy would inevitably end in a mess.

"It's really hard to do something," Wen Weng said with a heavy heart.

"The opportunity will come, it's just a matter of early or late." Zhang Xuezhou comforted him, "You don't have to worry. As long as His Majesty can see the results you have brought to Shujun City, His Majesty will try his best to solve the difficulties!"

"You said... this is?"

"I will recommend you to Your Majesty, but it is difficult to guarantee when the recommendation will be made, nor can I guarantee when it will be accomplished, but I will try my best to promote it." Zhang Xuezhou did not guarantee or directly agree to the matter, but he made a promise.

The affairs of the court cannot be pushed forward on a whim, but require the right time, place and people to make a policy achieve the best effect.

The situation in each era is different, so the strategies used will be different.

The 'Academy' is good and can produce a large number of talents, but this can only be promoted normally under a certain economic situation.

Zhang Xuezhou is not a young and naive person. Many of the things he has experienced are extremely complicated, far beyond what a normal person of his age should bear. Zhang Xuezhou also knows how to do things.

"Your Majesty is in short supply of young talents," Zhang Xuezhou reminded, "Prefect Wen can send a few groups of people to Chang'an City if he has the chance. If some of them can be selected to enter the court, it will also allow the court to see the talented people of Shu County!"

"Sending several groups of people... it will cost a lot to send them to Chang'an City!"

Zhang Xuezhou's reply satisfied County Magistrate Wen Weng, but he also knew that Zhang Xuezhou could only do this much.

When Zhang Xuezhou made a suggestion, County Magistrate Wen Weng thought about it.

Shu County was the Shu County of the Han Dynasty. It was a good thing that the talents of Shu County went to Chang'an City. He would not cherish them or be reluctant to give up talents. However, the consumption in Chang'an City made Wen Weng, the county magistrate, have no idea.

It would be ineffective if one or two people from Shu County went to Chang'an City, and it would not be grand enough if ten or eight people went there. Without a scale of dozens or hundreds of people, it would not attract any attention at all.

However, the travel expenses for dozens or hundreds of people to travel to Chang'an City were not small, and the money these people spent in Chang'an City every day was extremely high. County Magistrate Wen Weng only did a quick calculation and felt a headache coming on.

"I have to think of a way!"

Zhang Xuezhou could not guarantee when the recommendation would be made, nor could he guarantee whether the matter would be successful, which obviously required help.

And Zhang Xuezhou's suggestion is a help.

Only by cooperating with each other can things come to fruition, instead of one party pushing forward while the other waits.

County Magistrate Wen Weng had been an official for many years, so how could he not understand this truth? He was also very clear that Zhang Xuezhou had given the most effective suggestion. As for whether it could be promoted, it depended on County Magistrate Wen Weng's own execution ability.

He walked back and forth, feeling that Shu County's demonstration must come first, so as to avoid empty talk and prevent things from being pushed forward indefinitely.

It took Dong Zhongshu three months to come to Shujun City for investigation, and it took him nearly half a year to return to Chang'an City.

Of course, Dong Zhongshu hadn't accomplished anything when he came to Shu County before.

Things passed by as time went by, and there was no follow-up.

If Zhang Xuezhou was recommended by the court, the court would send people to investigate, then the county magistrate Wen Weng would confirm it, and then the verifying officials would go back to the court to report again, and then wait for the court policy to come out. This back and forth process would take a very long time.

Even if everything goes smoothly, it will take at least several years for things to be completed if they are delayed. If some obstacles arise in the meantime, it will take who knows how long it will take.

Compared to waiting there, taking the initiative is indeed a good idea.

Of course, this requires solving the problem of financial expenditure, and this will be a large expense.

Zhang Xuezhou provided County Magistrate Wen Weng with a very important piece of news, which was that the new emperor lacked talents and would prefer capable young people.

This news is very important. When County Magistrate Wen Weng recommends people to the court, he will no longer recommend elderly people, but will prefer middle-aged and young people.

But this news also brought a great sense of urgency. It is impossible for a king to always lack talents. Only by pushing quickly can the young people of Shu County catch up with this express train.