Bringing the Railway to Daming

"Education and propaganda are essential to enlightening the people." Zhu Yuanzhang stroked his gray beard and said, "Now that the Ming Dynasty has implemented three years of compulsory education in twenty-two provinces outside of Japan, isn't that enough?"

Liu Kuandao said, “Of course it’s not enough. First of all, the Ming Dynasty has implemented three years of compulsory education in many provinces, and even in Zhili, which has the longest history, it has only been more than ten years.”

"The children who went to school back then have only just graduated now. And most of the people who actually participate in labor and production in society grew up before the Ming Dynasty implemented compulsory education."

"As for those provinces that have only implemented compulsory education for one or two years, there is even more illiteracy."

"Therefore, it will take at least another ten years for the results of three years of compulsory education to truly become apparent."

"Besides, how much knowledge can one learn in three years of primary school? That night, Liu Haochun, the local thug leader, claimed to have finished primary school."

"Therefore, the results of compulsory education will not only take time to materialize, but also need to be further deepened. For example, starting with the Zhili region, a six-year compulsory education system can be piloted."

"In addition, many families still habitually send only boys to school and not girls, which has prevented the education level of women in the Ming Dynasty from improving. It is time to change this."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and said, "You have quite a few opinions about education in the Ming Dynasty. Why don't you speak to the emperor about them in court? Should I give you another title, Minister of Rites?"

Liu Kuan said, "I was just expressing my feelings on a whim, and I don't really have any objections to the education of the Ming Dynasty. What I just said actually needs to be done step by step."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and then said, "Educational reforms do need to be deepened, but the slow pace of educational results is something that cannot be changed—as for enlightening the people, is there no quick and effective way?"

“Of course there are,” Liu Kuan said. “That is to use propaganda tools, such as newspapers, operas, storytelling, and so on.”

"Your Majesty knows that the court has done some work in this regard, but it is not enough. Moreover, it has always focused on promoting the court's righteousness and policies, and has not done much in guiding the people to open their eyes to the world."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and said, "In the end, it all comes down to you inspecting the Wu family's silk factory today and feeling that the workers are earning too little, so why don't you go overseas to make your fortune?"

"Actually, we've discussed this matter with Biao'er—it's true that ordinary people can earn more wealth more quickly by venturing overseas, and even bring more wealth to the Ming Dynasty."

"However, the inland provinces of the Ming Dynasty are currently in a state of manpower shortage, and foreign countries also frequently come back to recruit talents. If the people continue to go to sea, I'm afraid that in less than twenty or thirty years, the Ming Dynasty will become hollow inside, or rather, strong in the branches and weak in the trunk."

'So that's what Lao Zhu and Zhu Biao were thinking.'

Liu Kuan muttered to himself, then said, "Father-in-law, you are overthinking it. The people of the Ming Dynasty are attached to their homeland and it is ingrained in their bones. So even if the court promotes this idea, only a small portion of them will ultimately choose to go to sea to make their way in the world."

"Furthermore, what I just mentioned is not just about the court encouraging people to go to sea—the court can also encourage ordinary people to improve themselves through learning and start their own businesses. In short, it is about striving to improve one's social status and increase the wealth of one's family and even society through various methods."

To Liu Kuan's surprise, Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head after he finished speaking.

"The same rice feeds a hundred different kinds of people. Some people are suited to honestly farming in the fields, while others are suited to diligently working for others. The country needs both types of people, and it can even be said that most people in the world are like this. How can we expect most people to become very resourceful?"

This time, it was Liu Kuan's turn to remain silent.

Because he had to admit that Zhu Yuanzhang had some truth to what he said.

And that was the end of the conversation.

The next day, Liu Kuan began to take Zhu Huilan and Su Caiwei to visit other counties or towns in Suzhou Prefecture. Although the towns and cities of Suzhou at this time were not as elegant and refined as they were in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, they incorporated some elements of the new Ming Dynasty, making them a unique place to visit.

During his travels, Liu Kuan also witnessed more of the lives of ordinary people.

Because Suzhou Prefecture had a more open atmosphere, its people were more active than those in other places. Many people ran small businesses, and many women were educated, so the people generally lived well.

During his travels, Liu Kuan encountered an ordinary family of five from a small town enjoying the spring and flying kites; he also met several children around ten years old reading together in a bookstore. Although they were mostly reading novels and essays, they still looked eager to learn.

Liu Kuan also saw embroidery shops run by women who sold embroidery and taught it to apprentices; he also saw invention enthusiasts on the street seeking patrons with their strange inventions. This gave Liu Kuan a vague feeling that if things continued to develop this way, perhaps in a few decades, capitalism would first sprout in the Ming Dynasty.

However, the Ming Dynasty's imperial autocracy is currently very strong, and it's really hard to say what kind of sparks will fly when the two collide...

···
Suzhou Prefecture, Wu County Prison.

Liu Haochun, the former local thug who once dominated the morning and night markets at Suzhou Railway Station, now looked dejected—he had been arrested and detained for several days.

When he was first arrested, Liu Haochun was still fearless, saying that he had not broken the law and that his brother-in-law was a patrol captain.

As a result, nobody paid any attention to him.

In the days following his arrest, people were constantly being thrown into jail, some of whom he recognized. They were all local thugs and hooligans like him, who used their connections to collect "head fees" or engage in extortion throughout Suzhou.

If it was done by the county governments of Wu County and Changzhou or the Suzhou prefectural government, he would usually be notified in advance by his brother-in-law and would find a place to hide and wait out the storm.

He was arrested without receiving any information, which means his brother-in-law obviously didn't receive any information either.

This means that it was initiated at least at the provincial level!

Upon realizing this, Liu Haochun became dejected—his brother-in-law was merely the captain of the Suzhou prefecture's patrol police, not a high-ranking official in the provincial government, so he couldn't help him this time.

Subsequent events proved that the situation was more serious than Liu Haochun had imagined.

He was taken in for questioning, and he didn't know who was interrogating him. They directly asked him about his brother-in-law and whether there was any bribery relationship between them. He couldn't withstand their interrogation and eventually confessed everything about his brother-in-law.

As for what happened to his brother-in-law, he didn't know.

"Liu Haochun!"

A jailer's shout came from outside the county prison cell. Liu Haochun subconsciously responded with "Yes, sir," and got up.

"Today I will announce your sentence. Come with me."

And so, filled with trepidation, Liu Haochun was escorted out of the county prison by two jailers and brought to the county government hall.

The people who sentenced him were not the county magistrate, but three officials in blue robes whom he did not recognize.

"After interrogation and investigation, it was found that Liu Haochun, relying on the power of his brother-in-law Wei Chengzhi, the captain of the Suzhou Prefectural Police Second Squad, had been engaged in extortion and other criminal activities around the Suzhou Railway Station for a long time, and had even beaten vendors Sun Xiaoliu and Dou Gen, among others..."

"Based on the aforementioned crimes, in accordance with the Great Ming Code, Liu Haochun is sentenced to exile to Luohuang Commandery, with pardon conferred only upon meritorious service..."

Luohuang Commandery!

That place is so cold it could freeze you to death!

Upon hearing the location of his exile, Liu Haochun collapsed to the ground.

As for the "pardon only for meritorious service" clause in the judgment, Liu Haochun had some knowledge of this matter since his brother-in-law was a patrol captain: the so-called meritorious service was at least the kind that could promote an ordinary soldier or minor official three ranks in a row, which was something that could not be sought after.

Therefore, nominally he still has a chance to be pardoned and return to Suzhou, but in reality, he will probably spend the rest of his life in Luohuang Commandery. (End of Chapter)