Chapter 698

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“Fifty heavy blows!”

Fei Ji and Pang Yukun exclaimed in unison.

Pang Yukun rubbed his still aching nose and said, “Your Majesty, the Duke of Song is old. Wouldn’t fifty blows take his life?”

The Duke of Song immediately realized the seriousness of the situation. His body trembled uncontrollably, and his eyes filled with fear.

“Your Majesty, I just drank wine; I was confused then. Your Majesty, spare my life, spare my life!” The Duke of Song kowtowed repeatedly. Even a strong young man would be bedridden for three months after fifty blows.

If it were on him, it would be no different from taking his life.

Xiao Ming’s gaze was cold. Five years ago, he might have been merciful, but now he gradually understood a principle: a monarch’s soft-heartedness towards individuals is unkindness to the whole world.

And his unkindness was sometimes a great kindness to the world. For example, in this matter, if he spared the Duke of Song, these imperial relatives would become even more reckless. Punishing the Duke of Song would not only benefit the imperial court but also the common people. The rampant arrogance of these privileged classes in Qingzhou Province was a serious impediment to development.

Therefore, he did not even look at the Duke of Song, and said to the surrounding officials and onlookers, “Since ascending the throne, I have issued edicts to govern the nation according to law. From the common people to the Emperor, lawbreakers are treated equally. Today, the Duke of Song, being drunk, caused trouble and assaulted a high-ranking imperial official. His crime is unforgivable. Guards, drag him to the East Market for a beating!”

The imperial guards, receiving the order, immediately seized the Duke of Song and headed towards the East Market. Along the way, the Duke of Song’s pleas for mercy could be heard continuously.

Fei Ji and Pang Yukun exchanged glances. At this moment, Xiao Ming’s image in their hearts became even more distinct. In their view, compared to the late Emperor, this new monarch possessed more decisiveness and a fierce aura.

After dealing with the Duke of Song, Xiao Ming said to Fei Ji and Pang Yukun, “How can you two, as Grand Secretaries, forget what I said? From now on, if any imperial relatives rely on their status to cause trouble, they will all be dealt with according to the law.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Fei Ji and Pang Yukun bowed. Previously, they dared not speak their anger, but now Xiao Ming had essentially bestowed upon them a Shang Fang sword (an imperial sword granting authority to execute without prior approval).

After a pause, Xiao Ming said to the two, “My entrusting the nation’s affairs to you both is a sign of my trust. You only need to be responsible to me. If anyone else dares to obstruct you, deal with them according to the law.”

“Your Majesty cares for the world and benefits all living beings, treating everyone equally. With Your Majesty as such a wise ruler, the Great Yu Empire will surely prosper,” Fei Ji said, deeply moved, praising loudly.

Xiao Ming smiled and said, “Less flattery. You two must spare no effort in implementing this decree from the council hall. For this period, I may have to personally go to the academies to teach.”

“Your Majesty will go personally again?” Pang Yukun hesitated. Xiao Ming was formerly a feudal prince, but now he was the Emperor. Never before in history had an emperor personally gone to teach.

However, Xiao Ming used to frequently visit Bowen Academy, so he was not overly surprised.

Compared to Pang Yukun, Fei Ji could not remain calm. He advised, “Your Majesty’s state affairs are already busy enough. Adding these cumbersome matters, I fear it will tire Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty prioritizes your imperial health.”

Xiao Ming had already made up his mind; he would not compromise with the two on this matter. Now that the north had finally entered a peaceful development period, this was the time for him to fully utilize the technology crystal.

Although he believed that firearms were now on par with or even slightly superior to those of the West, the Great Yu Empire’s overall societal level was still too far behind the West.

So, this time, he planned to personally take charge. In these five years, through learning and practice, he had cultivated a group of talented individuals with solid foundations.

Now, this group needed his guidance to move in a more advanced direction.

“You two Grand Secretaries need not worry. I have my own plans. These matters are merely verbal and will not tire me. However, the implementation of these reforms requires you two to inspect the common people in a timely manner.”

“Your Majesty labors tirelessly; what is a little hardship for us?” Pang Yukun said sincerely.

Xiao Ming nodded. Indeed, “when the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam is crooked.” Under an incompetent ruler, there are corrupt officials. No matter how many times Xiao Ming spoke, it was not as effective as leading by example.

The officials saw it, and naturally kept it in mind.

After a few more words with the two, Xiao Ming and Qian Dafu walked towards Bowen Academy. The Ministry of Education had already been officially established last time, and its head official had also been selected.

This person was named Chao Zhengwen, a native of Qingzhou Province, thirty-six years old, and a former private tutor.

Five years ago, after Bowen Academy was established, he entered the academy to study, remaining largely unknown because he specialized not in governance or technology, but in culture and education.

Later, when the “Qingzhou Daily” was founded, Chao Zhengwen would occasionally submit his writings to the newspaper, which gradually attracted Xiao Ming’s attention.

What he submitted was none other than the current imperial examination problems of the Great Yu Empire.

After reading the books written by Xiao Ming, and understanding the current world situation, he asserted that the imperial examination needed reform and proposed many specific reform measures.

At this time, Xiao Ming also had the idea of establishing a Ministry of Education, so he immediately selected Chao Zhengwen and appointed him as the Academic Commissioner of the Ministry of Education.

The two arrived at Bowen Academy, where Chao Zhengwen, already notified, was waiting at the academy’s entrance.

At this moment, the plaque of Bowen Academy was being taken down, replaced by a plaque for Qingzhou University.

“Academic Commissioner Chao Zhengwen of the Ministry of Education greets Your Majesty.”

“Dispense with the formalities!” Xiao Ming said to Chao Zhengwen. He then continued, “Do you know why I renamed Bowen Academy to Qingzhou University?”

Chao Zhengwen said, “The term ‘university’ comes from Zeng Zi’s work, ‘The Great Learning.’ In this text, Zeng Zi put forth the Way of the Great Learning: ‘to manifest the clear character, to love the people, and to rest in the highest good,’ and also proposed the eight steps of ‘investigation of things, extension of knowledge, sincerity of the will, rectification of the mind, cultivation of the person, regulation of the family, governance of the state, and bringing peace to the world.’ If I am not mistaken, Your Majesty changing the academy to a university is to make the university’s students remember that what they learn is for the prosperity of the nation and the strengthening of the people.”

Xiao Ming nodded, “You are right, that is precisely what I mean. The way of the imperial examination is only for one day to enter the inner halls and reach the highest official position; its scope is too small. But Qingzhou University will be a place where a hundred flowers bloom, and the imperial examination must also adapt to the times.”

Chao Zhengwen said, “It is precisely because of this that I proposed the method of educational reform: abolishing the bad habit of the imperial examination only testing the Four Books and Five Classics. Instead, these Four Books and Five Classics will be listed as one subject, similar to physics, chemistry, mathematics, civil engineering, astronomy, etc., thoroughly eradicating the malpractice of Great Yu Empire officials only knowing the Four Books and Five Classics.”

Xiao Ming smiled. What Chao Zhengwen spoke of was precisely the malpractice in the selection of officials that had persisted for a thousand years. In the Great Yu Empire, a county magistrate often had limited abilities, yet bore responsibilities equivalent to a modern-day mayor, police chief, prosecutor, finance director, and construction director.

This educational reform would completely abolish this method of selecting officials.