The Great Han Dynasty: From Feng Lang Juxu to the Eternal Emperor

Chapter 409 Practical Application of Subjects

From March to June of the first year of Yuanding, Weining began to preside over the reform of the education system of the entire Han Dynasty.

When the news of the ban on private schools spread to the public, it caused a huge public uproar.

This period of time was just to build momentum for the reform. Although many people in the public criticized Weining for presiding over this matter, Weining ignored it.

By early June, the imperial court began to formally issue policies, and local government offices strictly investigated businessmen in private colleges.

Immediately, another policy was issued. The imperial court would build at least one academy in every town across the country to educate children.

Local governments began to recruit teachers in large numbers through examinations and immediately assigned teachers to designated schools.

The salary of these teachers was uniformly allocated by the imperial government to the local government, and the local government was responsible for disbursing the funds.

In each county, the court set up several officials specifically to serve education.

For the private sector, the imperial court announced that education was compulsory, with teachers teaching students free of charge, and students only needed to purchase textbooks to attend school.

This undoubtedly greatly reduces the education burden on the people.

The trend immediately changed, and the people who had still questioned and criticized the court's policies at that time began to praise the crown prince.

East Palace.

Dade was excitedly telling Weining how the people praised him.

Weining didn't care about this. He didn't care when the people questioned him before, but now he still doesn't care when the people start to change their attitude.

The reform of the education system was a plan he had made long ago, and now it is just a part of the implementation plan.

Now that he has arranged all the national policies, as for how far he can achieve them, it can only depend on the local government.

Of course, during this period, Weining would send censors to various places to inspect the implementation of education.

Next, Weining began to devote himself non-stop to the establishment of the Academy of Sciences.

He looked at Dade and said, "Dade, I plan to let you take charge of the admissions of the Academy of Sciences."

Everything is difficult at the beginning. Dade is suitable to be the principal. After traveling for so long, he has met many geniuses. This group of people can be recruited into the Academy of Sciences first.

The first group of people couldn't pass the exam to recruit students. No matter Weining or Dade, they couldn't produce the corresponding test papers for examination.

Dade nodded and said: "I have no shirking responsibility."

"But Your Highness, what kind of talents do you want to recruit and what kind of education do you want to provide?"

“What is the ultimate goal that the Academy of Sciences needs to achieve?”

Dade needed to ask these things clearly first, otherwise in the end he would not know what goals he, the dean of the Academy of Sciences, should set.

Weining thought for a moment and said: "I need all kinds of talents who are proficient in water conservancy, arithmetic, astronomy, Feng Shui, geography, weapons, etc."

"If you can make contributions in various disciplines, you will be given generous rewards."

Dade was a little confused and didn't know what contribution academics could make, so he asked Weining: "For example?"

Wei Ning said: "Do you know about Gunpowder?"

Dade naturally knew that gunpowder was a weapon developed by Weining and used in war. Now because of the existence of this powerful weapon, the big man could sweep across the surrounding areas.

Wei Ning continued: "Where's Qu Yuanli?"

Of course, Dade also knew that Quyuanli was invented by Weining.

"Where's the pedal loom?"

Dade: "..."

He naturally didn't think that the Crown Prince was boasting, and the Crown Prince didn't have the time to talk to him about his great achievements in the past.

Wei Ning said: "Look at these inventions, do they all have outstanding contributions to various fields?" "In fact, they are also derived from academia."

"After completing academic research, we must start to practice and come up with something that will benefit the development of our country."

"To put it simply, when building a house, why does it need a foundation? How much load can the foundation bear?"

“Do these need theoretical support from arithmetic?”

"Another example is gunpowder. Why do saltpeter, charcoal and sulfur explode together? What happens when other substances come together?"

"For example, the child you mentioned felt that the steam would lift the lid of the pot. If I pushed you, you would run forward. This is a kind of motivation, because I gave you motivation."

"If a carriage doesn't use horses, it will still move forward if people push it. It's the people who give the carriage power."

"Then can this power source be replaced by a machine?"

Wei Ning talked a lot with Dade for a while, and a theory that Weining casually proposed made Dade unable to react for a long time.

He couldn't help but take a breath and looked at Wei Ning in shock, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Every word Wei Ning said seemed to be more useful than Confucian knowledge.

If this knowledge is well studied, it can really promote the development of the country!

Weining looked at Dade and asked: "Why do you think we grow rice, wheat, barley, millet and other crops?"

Dade: "?"

what?
Of course it’s to fill our stomachs.

Dade looked at Weining with confusion and didn't know what Weining meant, so he said, "It's just for food."

Wei Ning said: "Then have you ever thought about how humans discovered these crops?"

Dade fell into deep thought.

Weining continued: "These crops are edible. Are there any other crops that can fill humans' stomachs?"

"These crops may not be within our territory. Could they be somewhere else?"

"Has anyone been looking for it?"

Dade was speechless when asked, and he found that his thinking could no longer keep up with Wei Ning.

Weining didn't say much, he just said casually: "There are no boundaries in disciplines. As long as there are talented people, no matter what aspect, they can be promoted."

"Just this time, for the next admissions to the Academy of Sciences, you will need to take an exam to enter."

"So this batch of talents entering the Academy of Sciences is very important. Master Dave, you have to take good care of me."

Dade's expression was solemn, and he clasped his fists and said: "Your Highness, don't worry, I will strictly control the candidates and recommend qualified candidates to enter the Academy of Sciences."

"it is good!"

After Dade left, Weining summoned Lu Chongguo, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, and asked the Ministry of Industry to seize the time to build the Han Academy of Sciences next to Taixue.

Lu Chongguo nodded. This time he did not ask businessmen to contract the construction. The Ministry of Industry personally went to build the Han Academy of Sciences.

After Wei Ning arranged the affairs of the Academy of Sciences, an eunuch came to the East Palace anxiously, clasped his fists and said to Wei Ning: "See Your Highness, Your Majesty wants you to enter the palace as soon as possible."

Wei Ning didn't know what happened, so he said: "Okay!"

When Wei Ning arrived at the Qilin Hall of Weiyang Palace, he found that the departments of the three provinces and six departments in the hall were all standing there with solemn expressions. To Wei Ning's great surprise, Wei Qing and Huo Qubing also came.

It's understandable that Huo Qubing came, but his uncle had already resigned and went home to take care of his old age, so why was his father summoning him here.

When Wei Ning arrived, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty just waved to him and asked him to stand aside, and then continued to discuss the matter with Wang Hui, the Minister of War.

(End of this chapter)