GBP Chapter 326 Suffering 1: The students of the Imperial Academy suffered greatly, and the Emperor Zhu
Chapter 326 Suffering 1: The students of the Imperial Academy suffered greatly, and the Emperor Zhu
As the famous decadent writer Mr. Huang Ji once said: Smiles don't disappear, they just shift.
Yang Shaofeng felt relieved, but naturally, others felt uneasy.
For example, the Zhu Emperor.
Emperor Zhu held the so-called "family letter" written by Yang Shaofeng in his hand, his face changing color several times, from pale to green, which made Zhu Biao exclaim that it was an eye-opener.
Is this some new way to play?
Compared to Zhu Biao, who still had the leisure to complain, Li Shanchang and Liu Bowen, sitting on the stool, were somewhat uncomfortable.
Li Shanchang now deeply regrets his actions. Why did he have to choose this particular time to come to the palace to see Emperor Zhu?
Liu Bowen was even more eager to run away—last time he was almost killed by those fellow townsmen from Zhejiang, and he only escaped by chance when Yang the Madman suddenly went mad. This time, he ran into Yang the Madman again. Was he lucky or unlucky?
Also, what caused Yang Dianfeng to go crazy this time?
Was he trying to provoke the Zhu Emperor or was he trying to stir up trouble in the Ming Dynasty court again?
Just as Li Shanchang and Liu Bowen were pondering wildly, Emperor Zhu let out a long sigh of relief, and his complexion gradually returned to normal.
Emperor Zhu first placed Yang Shaofeng's "family letter" on the table, then cursed him without any politeness: "That bastard!"
Upon hearing Emperor Zhu's tirade, Li Shanchang and Liu Bowen were immediately relieved.
Are you calling Yang the madman?
That's alright now. It must be that Yang the Madman has once again poked something at Emperor Zhu. It probably has nothing to do with the Ming Dynasty court.
However, before Li Shanchang and Liu Bowen could completely relax, Emperor Zhu continued to curse, "How could we not know that something is wrong with this?"
Ok?
Li Shanchang's heart tightened, and Liu Bowen frowned even more, fearing that his fellow Zhejiang natives had pulled some kind of trick again. He couldn't help but bow to Emperor Zhu and ask, "Your Majesty, what is this?"
Emperor Zhu sighed and said, "Look at the letter that scoundrel wrote to us. He said that our Great Ming Dynasty will station troops in vassal states, and the military expenses will be paid by the vassal states."
He also said that the Imperial College should have a special academy for students from vassal states, and that the number of students to be sent abroad should be allocated according to the performance of each vassal state. Those who perform well should be given more places, while those who perform poorly should be given fewer places or none at all. Furthermore, the vassal states should bear the tuition fees for these students.
"If that were all, it would be fine. After all, he was thinking about the national treasury, so we can understand."
"But look at what he wrote below?"
"We only teach the Four Books and Five Classics, Chu Ci and Han Fu, Tang poetry and Song Ci, and we don't teach anything else like the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art."
"What kind of talk is that?"
"Making people pay for tuition but not teaching them real skills, isn't that blatantly ripping them off?"
"Where does he expect the emperor to save face?"
"..."
The Emperor Zhu's mouth opened and closed, constantly spitting out saliva, while Liu Bowen remained completely calm.
Tired, destroy it.
I was just thinking I'd come at the wrong time, but it seems that you, Emperor Zhu, were waiting for me to arrive before reading this letter, weren't you?
Using someone else to do your dirty work, using veiled insults, hiding a knife behind a smile, feigning madness—you two, father-in-law and son-in-law, have figured out the thirty-six tricks of the trade!
After mentally ranting for a while, Liu Bowen sighed inwardly and bowed to Emperor Zhu, saying, "Your Majesty, the reason I have come here is actually to discuss matters concerning the Imperial Academy."
Liu Bowen had no choice but to bite the bullet and jump into Emperor Zhu's trap: "I have always felt that students from overseas vassal states should not study together with students from our Great Ming Dynasty. Firstly, there is the problem of language barriers, and secondly, the difference in their basic knowledge is too great..."
"I would also like to discuss the matter of stationing troops in various vassal states. After all, there are many barbarians abroad who are uneducated and do not understand human language. If there are no troops stationed to protect them, how can the officials in the Ming Dynasty embassy and the people of the Ming Dynasty who go overseas be guaranteed to be safe?"
Li Shanchang glanced at Liu Bowen discreetly, feeling a little sorry for his old friend.
In the last case involving the plowshare, Liu Bowen was almost killed by his fellow villagers from eastern Zhejiang. It can be said that the names of his entire extended family were already flashing wildly in the Book of Life and Death.
In this situation, Liu Bowen would naturally choose to launch a fierce counterattack.
Liu Bowen, who hailed from eastern Zhejiang, was well aware of the weaknesses of the gentry there, and he employed ruthless methods, which resulted in his reputation beginning to tarnish.
Now things have really gotten worse. Liu Bowen's reputation hasn't been restored yet, and the Emperor Zhu and his good son-in-law have teamed up to dig such a huge pit for Liu Bowen, forcing him to jump in.
Tsk tsk, Brother Qingtian, thank you so much for asking the question before I, Li Shanchang, could do it. I am truly grateful!
But then again, the reason that Brother Qingtian came up with was quite good.
After all, you can't expect teachers to delay the studies of Ming Dynasty students in order to accommodate students from vassal states.
Moreover, the Ming Dynasty's stationing of troops overseas was not solely for the protection of officials in the Ming embassies; the merchants and civilians also needed protection.
As for demanding that vassal states provide military expenses?
Didn't you hear what Mr. Qingtian said? While protecting Ming officials and people, the Ming army also ensured the safety and stability of vassal states. If a vassal state insists, the Ming side can hardly refuse its hospitality.
Yes, as expected of the resourceful Mr. Qingtian.
Even doing something shameless like this is much more refined than what Yang the Madman does.
Just as Li Shanchang was lost in thought, Liu Bowen had finished saying what Emperor Zhu wanted to hear, and then Emperor Zhu turned his attention to Li Shanchang.
"Brother Shanchang, we have another memorial here. Why don't you take a look at it first?"
Emperor Zhu gestured to Chen Zhong to give Yang Shaofeng's memorial to Li Shanchang, and then said with a smile, "I think this is a very good matter. After all, it is about promoting the teachings of the sage, so we must not delay it."
To promote the teachings of sages?
We absolutely cannot delay!
Haven't they already started encouraging all prefectures, states, and counties across the country to build schools?
As Li Shanchang pondered this, he took the memorial. But after only glancing at it twice, he almost cursed out loud.
He, Liu Qingtian, just jumped into the same pit, and now you want me to jump in too, is that it?
Huh?
Wait a minute, this is a matter between the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Academy, what does it have to do with me?
You truly are my good nephew, this is an excellent idea!
Let the students of the Imperial Academy suffer, and let Emperor Zhu bear the blame. Not bad, not bad!
Li Shanchang bowed directly to Emperor Zhu and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that what the Imperial Son-in-Law said in his memorial is absolutely right. Indeed, the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Academy should be sent to various prefectures and counties throughout the country to send instructors."