Chapter 699

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With a “bang,” the plaque of Bowen Academy fell to the ground, and the plaque of Qingzhou University was officially hung above the entrance.

The gleaming four characters symbolized Xiao Ming’s vision: the future of education in the Great Yu Empire would be bright.

Because for him, his advantage was education, and education was the foundation of national prosperity. With the technology crystal in hand, the Great Yu Empire’s technological explosion would be more ferocious than that of the West.

In front of Qingzhou University, the two discussed the imperial examination reforms for a while. Ultimately, the name “imperial examination” would be retained, but the content of the examination would be completely changed.

From now on, titles such as “Xiucai,” “Juren,” and “Jinshi” would gradually become a thing of the past. Overall, the Great Yu Empire’s education would move towards modernization.

“Your Majesty, now military, political and legal, and medical studies have been separated from Bowen Academy. Only subjects such as architecture, civil engineering, machinery, physics, chemistry, and commerce remain.”

This splitting of Bowen Academy was an order given by Xiao Ming. His purpose was to standardize education. Qingzhou University, to him, would be the Great Yu Empire’s first comprehensive university.

Military, medical, and political-legal studies were independent schools, more specialized, and produced more unique talents.

“Indeed, the university is one aspect, but you must also keep an eye on the schools in various prefectures and counties, especially the moral character of the teachers. As the saying goes, ‘a teacher’s virtue is exemplary.’ If a teacher is a beast, how can I cultivate a group of upright talents?” Xiao Ming said as he walked into Qingzhou University.

“Your Majesty is absolutely right. I will strictly manage these teachers and prevent them from misleading their students,” Chao Zhengwen said. “However, Your Majesty, I once proposed establishing a Ministry of Education Academy to train teachers, and I hope Your Majesty can approve it. Otherwise, there simply aren’t enough teachers.”

Chao Zhengwen’s ideas were already modernized. The Ministry of Education Academy he spoke of was similar to a modern normal college, specifically for training teachers.

Xiao Ming naturally had no objection to this. Chao Zhengwen also knew this; his true purpose was merely to ask Xiao Ming for money.

Educational reform also required money.

“I will discuss this matter with Senior Grand Secretary Pang and try to squeeze out some silver for you to use,” Xiao Ming could only say this.

Currently, there were many places that needed money, and it had to be centrally allocated. He couldn’t just make empty promises.

After discussing this matter, the two continued to walk into the academy. Overall, he was very satisfied with Chao Zhengwen’s reforms.

Now that the subjects were divided more meticulously, it also meant that in terms of talent cultivation, the Great Yu Empire had truly begun to catch up with the West.

However, for this, he would have to personally participate in teaching and research.

Thinking about having to write book after book again, Xiao Ming found it daunting, and the slow writing tool that was the brush was no longer suitable for him.

As he inspected Qingzhou University, he also thought about manufacturing fountain pens. With Qingzhou’s current level of craftsmanship, fountain pens could certainly be produced.

The only regret was the inability to produce ink-absorbing fountain pens. Currently, he could only produce fountain pens similar to quill pens, which needed to be dipped in ink to write a few characters, as Qingzhou did not have rubber yet.

However, thinking of rubber, Xiao Ming’s mind stirred. Rubber in this era was a strategic material. In contemporary times, until the Republic of China period, rubber was a strategic resource for Western countries. Now, he could not let go of this scarce resource.

After inspecting Qingzhou University for a while and giving instructions for the upcoming educational reforms, Xiao Ming and Pang Yukun returned to the imperial residence.

At this time, the Duke of Song had also been dragged to the East Market. Under public scrutiny, the yamen runners vigorously gave the Duke of Song fifty heavy blows in front of the common people.

After these fifty blows, the Duke of Song’s buttocks were lacerated, and with the last blow, he directly fainted.

The people from the Duke’s mansion who rushed over upon hearing the news wailed and cried, but under the supervision of Fei Ji and Pang Yukun, the blows became heavier and heavier.

After the fifty blows were administered, Pang Yukun said, “The Emperor has ordered that lawbreakers, whether common people or imperial relatives and nobles, are treated equally before the law.”

The common people, hearing this, nodded frequently.

Life in Qingzhou Province had been very peaceful, but it changed after a large number of these imperial relatives and officials poured in.

Some of them, relying on their power, began to oppress the common people. The common people dared not express their anger, so they were delighted to see the Duke of Song beaten.

After punishing the Duke of Song, Pang Yukun and Fei Ji turned and left. For them, the Duke of Song had brought this upon himself. Xiao Ming was just looking for an opportunity to deal with these imperial relatives, and the Duke of Song had walked right into it.

At the same time, the news of the Duke of Song being beaten quickly spread among the imperial relatives in Qingzhou Province.

The Duke of Song had always been their leader, and now that he was beaten, they were naturally terrified.

To outsiders, Xiao Ming beating the Duke of Song was to punish him for assaulting Pang Yukun, but to them, Xiao Ming was “killing the chicken to scare the monkey,” clearly telling them that anyone who dared to cause trouble in the future would suffer the same fate as the Duke of Song.

Many people had objections to the recent abolition of the imperial family’s stipend. They were just preparing to discuss this matter with the Duke of Song, and now this incident suddenly occurred, causing them all to tremble with fear.

For them, this Xiao Ming was different from any other imperial prince. Having been banished to Qingzhou Province since childhood, strictly speaking, he had no connection with the imperial relatives in Chang’an.

Moreover, he was a laughingstock in their eyes.

When Xiao Ming defeated the barbarians and the three princes, they did not help at all. In fact, they were merely refugees. One could say that Xiao Ming had no reason to pay them any mind.

Although this empire was inherited by Xiao Ming, its foundation was essentially built through conquest.

At this time, Xiao Ming and Qian Dafu had already returned to the temporary palace. In the study, Xiao Ming faced the map on the wall and looked towards Goryeo.

The most urgent matter after the reform was to find overseas markets, because after this industrial popularization, the goods from the six prefecture would experience explosive growth.

These goods, after satisfying domestic demand, would have to be exported, otherwise, unsold goods would be like poison, killing the industrial system he had established.

The essence of the problem was simple: if merchants could not profit from manufacturing goods, he could not maintain the existence of workshops. Even the imperial court’s official workshops would incur losses if goods were unsold, eventually becoming a burden.

It could be said that if there were no overseas colonies to provide product markets for Britain, capital would simply not have driven the British Industrial Revolution.

Similarly, if Xiao Ming could not find an outlet for his goods, his industrial revolution would die in its infancy.

It was precisely because of this that he turned his gaze to Goryeo, the first place he intended to colonize. This was also a two-pronged strategy.

Once Goryeo was subdued, he would directly threaten the barbarians from the direction of Goryeo.