Red Mansion: I am Jia Lian

Chapter 639 The Agile Scholar
Technological progress is also influenced by the barrel theory; the casting of artillery cannot be achieved by a single technological advancement.

From Jia Lian's perspective, the most suitable propellant has been found, but the stabilizer problem remains unsolved, so it cannot be used. For now, the ultimate version of black powder, maroon powder, will have to be used as a temporary solution.

The manufacturing process for breech-loading artillery can now be solved, but the steel is the problem. Perhaps even if a suitable steel is developed, the existing processing technology will be insufficient.

In short, even the slightest imperfection is unacceptable; there's nothing we can do but wait patiently. As long as we're willing to put in the effort, the problem will eventually be solved.

As for basic science, with the intelligence of the Chinese people, as long as practical learning is promoted comprehensively, three generations can basically catch up in sixty years.

The key lies in the policy changes of the imperial court. This era is the Han dynasty, and although it is bound by Neo-Confucianism, its openness in thought is much stronger than that of the Qing dynasty.

Upon returning to the inn, Jia Lian received a newly arrived report from a European military inspection team. The report informed him that after the defeat of the anti-French coalition, the French army advanced into Africa and achieved a series of victories, capturing Alexandria. The French then continued their advance into Syria, but failed to achieve their objectives and retreated to Egypt. The Ottoman Empire, with the assistance of the British navy, conducted a landing operation, which was met with a French counterattack and resulted in a crushing defeat. The newly arrived training corps analyzed and summarized the current state of the Ottoman army, and offered a series of suggestions for army building to the Ottoman Pasha, which were accepted.

Europe is too far away. Judging from the report's date, it must have been November of last year. Jia Lian, unfamiliar with Napoleon's military history, has no way of knowing the exact date of the report. Shortly after, Napoleon risked returning home, launched the Coup of 18 Brumaire, dissolved the Directory, and established the Consulate. In that year, Napoleon achieved de facto military dictatorship, initiating a magnificent and turbulent chapter in European military history.

The report also included a letter from Ibrahim to Jalian, which began with flattery and expressions of friendship, before revealing his true colors. While Ibrahim had helped the Pasha secure a deep and friendly cooperation agreement between the two countries, he had also aroused the jealousy of many nobles within the Ottoman Empire. After a new round of power struggles, Ibrahim, under pressure from the nobles, did not gain much benefit. Now, fearing being discarded after his usefulness was over, he hoped to gain Jalian's support. Finally, he offered empty promises, stating that if Jalian became vizier, he would repay him in any way he desired.

All countries in the world are pretty much the same; the higher you go, the fiercer the struggles become. It's just that Chinese history is relatively detailed, offering more lessons for later generations.

Judging from the reports that came back one after another, Ottoman's new Pasha also initiated a reform, but at the beginning his reform encountered various obstacles and was forced to make some concessions. He then focused his energy on military reform, hoping that after the success of the military reform, he would carry out other internal reforms.

Historically, reform is the most difficult task, and the chances of success are very low, especially in feudal systems like those of the Ottoman Empire. For example, modern Egypt, nominally part of the Ottoman Empire, was actually ruled by the Mamluks, who were essentially subservient to the Ottomans.

Only after suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of the French army did they think of seeking help from Ottoman Pasha. Their previous refusal to ask for help was similar to that of local warlords during the Republic of China era, who only sought assistance when absolutely necessary.

This was originally a golden opportunity for the Ottoman Empire; a successful defeat of the French army would have allowed them to regain control of Egypt. However, the Ottoman army was no match for the French.

In Jia Lian's view, this defeat was a good thing. Without this defeat, Ottoman Pasha's determination to reform the military might not have been so firm.

The report took a year to arrive at sea, which shows how urgent it was to solve the communication problem.

After reviewing the report, Jia Lian determined a key direction for their work over the next few years: the technical issues of wired telegraphs had to be resolved as soon as possible. Radio telegraphs were out of the question; wired telegraphs had to be addressed first.

To develop a wired telegraph, one unavoidable problem is cable. The most suitable material is copper, and fortunately, trade channels with South America remain intact; therefore, efforts to import copper ingots must be intensified.

After noting the matter down in his notebook, Jia Lian, with the help of the on-duty maids Xi Ren and Qing Wen, washed up and went to bed. He had to get up early tomorrow; his next stop was Jinan, where an engineering college was about to open.

In Jia Lian's mind, the engineering college below is a vocational school, while the engineering college in Beijing is a junior college, and the advanced class is a bachelor's degree.

Jia Lian is gradually eroding the existing imperial examination system through engineering colleges. This is what he is doing.

This is a difficult task, but it must be done. On the surface, it appears to be two separate paths, but Jia Lian's true objective is to replace them.

Jia Lian genuinely thought Li Yuangan's answer to the imperial examination question was excellent; the subsequent examinations for junior scholars would surely be very exciting.

On the day Jia Lian left Tianjin, Li Yuan convened another meeting of the Imperial Cabinet.

"Today's topic is that the results of the special imperial examination were too disastrous. Therefore, the examination for probationary officials is suspended. The candidates who passed the special imperial examination will study for a period of time and then take the examination for probationary officials together with the candidates who will take the metropolitan examination next year. I believe you all understand that in the palace examination after the metropolitan examination next year, as well as the examination for probationary officials, the core of the questions will be policy essays and practical knowledge."

The cabinet members were well prepared for the issues raised by Li Yuan. After the special imperial examination, officials and gentry throughout the land knew Li Yuan's intentions.

Everyone analyzed the situation and came to the same conclusion: the new emperor, Li Yuan, was extremely dissatisfied with Neo-Confucianism as the official doctrine.

Li Qing, who was focused on becoming the Grand Secretary, had no intention of expressing his opinion at this moment. Even when the emperor's gaze fell on his face, he chose to lower his head.

Li Qing, who always championed the School of Mind and considered himself its standard-bearer, opposed Neo-Confucianism because of its great influence and in order to gain more supporters.

No matter how incompatible the philosophy of mind and the mechanics of physics may be, the origins of these two schools of thought are the same: they both inherit the mantle of the Cheng brothers.

What is practical learning? The practical learning proposed by Jia Lian is [a monster disguised as Confucianism, a mixture of various other doctrines].

The above conclusion was not proposed by Li Qing, but by an anonymous author in the Shilin Daily, and it has been widely accepted.

Looking across the country, the influence of practical learning was greatest in the coastal provinces. The mainstream "learned scholars" in the inland provinces deeply resented practical learning and wished they could put it to death.

Of course, this is just wishful thinking. With the indulgence and tacit approval of two consecutive emperors, their strength, if not fully developed, at least has many supporters.

The fact that Li Yuan directly tested practical learning in the special imperial examination was already a major shock. Now, the examination for junior scholars in the special imperial examination is to be suspended and held together with the provincial examination next year.

Li Qing wished he could bury his head in the ground to avoid being singled out by the emperor for a statement.

The others remained silent, all agreeing that practical learning was not Confucianism, so they dared not risk being criticized by scholars across the land to stand up and support Li Yuan's proposition.

Li Yuan was prepared for this. He knew that Jia Lian's practical learning was just a facade for Confucianism, and that it was just a facade for the four characters "investigating things to acquire knowledge".

But how should I put it? As long as the emperors of all dynasties weren't completely brain-dead, which one wasn't a pragmatist, which one wasn't a Confucian in name only and a Legalist in spirit?
Given the facts before us, practical learning has brought enormous benefits to the country and has consolidated imperial power economically. If no practical learning is found to pose a threat to imperial power, what would you, as the emperor, choose?
Sensing the emperor's impatience and seeing his colleagues' silence, Lin Ruhai, as the chief minister, had no choice but to step forward.

"Your Majesty," Lin Ruhai said, forcing himself to rise and offer his advice, "I believe the advancement of practical learning should be gradual, not hasty." Li Yuan smiled slightly and said, "Minister Lin is mistaken. I think it's not that we're rushing, but rather that we're going too slowly. My father was unwell, which delayed things for a few years. I have inherited his will, and since ascending the throne, my first priorities have been twofold: first, to strictly enforce official discipline and punish corruption; and second, to vigorously promote practical learning. You may fear the infamy, but I am not."

No one expected Li Yuan's attitude to be so resolute. At this point, no matter how unwilling he was, Lin Ruhai had to stand in front.

“According to convention, this matter should be initiated by the Cabinet and reviewed by His Majesty.” Lin Ruhai stepped forward to speak. The so-called convention was naturally left by Emperor Chenghui.

How could the emperor bear the blame? Although Li Yuan said he didn't care, Lin Ruhai dared not agree.

Some people agree that the emperor should not bear the blame, while others are unwilling to do so.

Unexpectedly, Fang Song stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I beg to retire."

As Emperor Chenghui's loyal hound, Fang Song, who was responsible for biting people, certainly had a bad reputation among officials.

Fang Song preferred to retire with a reputation as a cruel official rather than continue serving as a cabinet minister with a reputation for supporting practical learning. At a deeper level, Fang Song saw no hope of becoming Grand Secretary; it was better to cultivate a good reputation.

What does this show? It shows that Fang Song is a traditional scholar, and he perfectly embodies the weakness of scholars.

I thought Fang Song wouldn't be the first to stand up and object, but something unexpected happened.

While Li Yuan was slightly taken aback, the second person to step forward was Pan Jixun: "Your Majesty, I am old and wish to retire."

Li Qing and Yue Qi, who were left, looked at each other. Li Qing stepped forward first: "Your Majesty, I think what Prime Minister Lin said is very true. Since there is a precedent, then we should follow it."

Yue Qi also stepped forward: "That's what I think too."

Anyone can request to retire, but Yue Qi is an exception, because he represents the military group as the sole cabinet minister. He must remain a cabinet minister no matter what; otherwise, if he resigns by requesting retirement, it's uncertain whether a military officer can still enter the cabinet.

As for Li Qing, it's simple: he's obsessed with becoming the Grand Secretary. For this obsession, he's willing to endure any infamy. Besides, those with real learning have already passed the provincial examinations; there's little point in persisting any longer.

Pan Jixun is really too old to work anymore.

"Minister Fang and Minister Pan, you request to resign, but I will not grant it." Of course, Li Yuan could not accept their resignations immediately; he would have to wait until their terms expired next year.

Under Li Yuan's strong push, the cabinet issued an official document confirming the suspension of this year's special examination for probationary scholars, and that after next year's metropolitan examination, the two cohorts of scholars would take the examination together.

After this matter was settled, the meeting adjourned. However, Yue Qi did not leave immediately, but instead submitted another memorial, still concerning military reform.

In this report, Yue Qi fully considered the issue of funding and proposed to organize towns of different sizes into three levels, A, B, and C, based on the economic conditions of each province.

Li Yuan did not immediately express his opinion, but said he would say he would read it first.

Li Yuan judged that Yue Qi's persistent insistence on military reform stemmed from his concern about the instability of his position in the cabinet.

The main reason was that after the plan for the Royal Navy to be directly under the Emperor was introduced, the Ministry of War lost a significant portion of its power, and Yue Qi's prestige was severely damaged.

The navy has always been the biggest spender in the military, with more funding and more opportunities for personal gain. After the Ministry of War lost this lucrative asset, everyone from top to bottom was very dissatisfied.

The Naval Office was transformed into the Navy Office, which became the domain of both the old and new noble families. In particular, the South Sea Fleet, with its powerful strength within the navy, essentially suppressed the influence of the old noble families.

The recent struggle among the old and new noble families over the selection of the Minister of the Navy has been fierce. Unfortunately, the navy outside of Southeast Asia is simply not up to par.

Li Yuan hesitated to express his opinion because he was unsure whether he had secured his position on the throne.

Now, after a series of events, Li Yuan realized that his throne was secure, and his attitude in the court gradually became more assertive.

Realizing this problem, Yue Qi had to take some action and strengthen his leadership position in the military.

Once this military reform plan is approved, funds will definitely be allocated. Regardless of how the reforms are implemented, a large sum of money will benefit everyone, from top to bottom.

Li Yuan returned to the palace and carefully read Yue Qi's military reform plan. After reading it, he did not approve it, but instead had a copy made and quickly sent to Jia Lian to ask for his opinion.

In Li Yuan's view, military reform was necessary. The combat effectiveness of the old-style army had been proven to be basically rotten; otherwise, there would have been no rebellions in Yunyang and Jining, let alone the rebellions on the grasslands.

The old model of soldiers being solely under the command of their generals was absolutely unacceptable to Li Yuan. His father hadn't rushed to change it; he was leaving it for him to implement and use it to establish his authority.

However, Yue Qi's proposal last time left a bad impression on Li Yuan. Fortunately, it was not approved, otherwise it would have been a huge financial disaster.

When Jia Lian received the new military reform plan, he had already arrived in Jinan and inspected the Jinan Institute of Engineering. The institute, which had already started classes and recruited its first cohort of students, was not doing well in terms of enrollment, managing to recruit just over a hundred people with great difficulty. Recently, a new development arose: Shandong students, through connections with the provincial education commissioner, had requested the establishment of a practical training program for those who had passed the imperial examinations.

Before the school could make a decision, Jia Lian arrived in Jinan.

Clearly, the incident stemmed from the imperial examination. Jinan was nearby, so the news traveled quickly. When the candidates learned that the palace examination consisted entirely of practical knowledge, they were naturally indignant and collectively went to the provincial education commissioner to make a scene. After realizing that they could not change the situation, they immediately made a flexible adjustment, which led to the request for a practical knowledge training class.

(End of this chapter)