Novel Full Chapter 768 Chapter 314: Appointing Prime Minister Once More! Zhao Feng Displays Authority! Military Recruitment Reform! Academic Palace System!
Chapter 768 Chapter 314: Appointing Prime Minister Once More! Zhao Feng Displays Authority! Military Recruitment Reform! Academic Palace System!
The eight ministers all bent at the waist and bowed to Ying Zheng and Zhao Feng.
“We will certainly not disappoint Your Majesty and the Crown Prince.”
“We will surely shoulder the responsibility of State Governors and pacify the states and prefectures.”
The eight ministers spoke in unison.
“The State Governors of the Jiuzhou, each will command a whole state, their position lofty and their power great.”
“Their rank is equivalent to that of a Senior Minister.”
“As for the candidates for Prefectural Governors of the Nine Provinces and Thirty-Six Counties, apart from those I have already drafted, the remaining vacant posts shall be filled after you nine beloved ministers arrive in your respective states and prefectures and then draw up name lists to submit. I will consider whether to confer the seals.” Ying Zheng said to the eight.
“We ministers respectfully obey the Holy Decree.” the eight ministers replied at once.
“The State Governors of the Jiuzhou have already been invested. In every state of the Jiuzhou there are Prefecture Soldiers close to ten thousand, even tens of thousands, who need generals to command them.”
“As for these generals, Crown Prince, have you already drawn up candidates?” Ying Zheng looked at Zhao Feng with a smile.
“Royal Father.”
“The candidates for the commanders of troops in the Jiuzhou have already been decided.”
“They are meritorious Wanjiang from Qin’s Five Camps.”
“As for the specific deployments, your son has already given the orders.” Zhao Feng said.
“Good.” Ying Zheng nodded, asking no further.
“You eight ministers.”
“Once you return to your respective states and take over government affairs, the very first task is to build Academic Palaces in the counties, counties, and states.” Zhao Feng said.
“May I ask, Your Highness.”
“After the Academic Palaces are built, how will students be recruited from among the people? Where will the teachers come from? And how much tuition will each level of Academic Palace charge? Also, how long will instruction last at each level?” Yan Bing asked respectfully.
“You ask well.”
Zhao Feng smiled, then said, “After the Academic Palaces of the Daqin Nine Provinces are constructed, all those aged above eight and under twenty-five may enter the county Academic Palace to study. County Academic Palaces will charge no tuition, and will provide basic lodging, but students must bring their own food.”
“A term at a county Academic Palace will be two years.”
“After two years, the Academic Palace will hold examinations. Those with outstanding results may enter the County School Palace. The County School Palace’s tuition will be 500 cents, food self-provided, and the term will be one year! After that year, there will likewise be examinations, and based on talent students may be promoted to the State Academy, where tuition is eight hundred cents, food self-provided, and likewise the term is one year! After that year, they may sit for examinations to enter the Capital City Academy and undergo assessment there; those who pass may become officials!”
Hearing what Zhao Feng said,
the civil and military officials in full Court all nodded repeatedly, their eyes filled with amazement at the implementation of this Academic Palace system.
Moreover, the regulations had already been drawn up by their Crown Prince.
A two-year term at the county Academic Palace would primarily be for teaching literacy and basic writing.
At the Prefectural City Academic Palace they would begin teaching the Hundred Schools of Thought, and even the arts of governance.
The State Mansion Academy would be even more profound.
The existence of the Capital City Academy was to examine the students who came from the Jiuzhou, and those who passed could become officials.
“In this way,”
“over a span of four years, once the Academic Palaces are built, Qin will be able to cultivate countless outstanding talents, and once they enter the Capital, those with insight can serve as officials and render their abilities.” Ying Zheng said with a hearty laugh.
He seemed already to see, after the success of the Academic Palace policy, the scene of innumerable prodigies emerging in Qin.
“As for the teachers of the Academic Palaces.”
“As for the teachers needed by the Academic Palaces.”
“I have already sent people to Qi Land to invite many talented figures.”
“Xunzi, the Great Sage of the Jixia Academy, is also willing to serve as the head of the Capital City Academy, and even of the Daqin Academy of the world, to be a model teacher for the students under Heaven.”
“Under Xunzi’s summons, many gifted figures from across the world are also willing to enter the Academic Palaces and teach students under Heaven.” Zhao Feng spoke slowly again, a smile on his face.
Hearing this,
the group of ministers were all aghast.
“Xunzi is a Great Sage of our age; the Chancellor Han and the Tingwei both came from Xunzi’s gate.”
“Xunzi is of lofty virtue and great prestige. He has always taught students at the Jixia Academy. I never imagined the Crown Prince could invite such a Great Sage out.”
“The Crown Prince is worthy indeed of being the Crown Prince, even a Great Sage can be moved by him.”
“With Xunzi taking the lead, how could the talented men of the world fail to understand?”
“However,”
“Qin’s establishment of a Daqin Academy for the world, to enlighten all under Heaven and open the people’s wisdom—how could Xunzi refuse such a deed of great virtue?”
“This is an undertaking that will see his name recorded in the annals of history.”
“Indeed.”
“With Xunzi as head of the Academic Palaces, Qin’s Academic Palaces are sure to flourish, and in the future Qin will have countless outstanding talents.”
“The Academic Palaces created by the Crown Prince are certain to achieve Great Success.”
…
After hearing the name Xunzi, many Ministers in Court were filled with amazement.
Even Han Fei and Li Si were quite astonished at this moment.
“The Crown Prince truly is formidable. Our teacher has always resided in the Jixia Academy and not gone out, and moreover he is already advanced in years, having reached the time of enjoying his old age in peace, yet he has actually been invited out by the Crown Prince.”
“With our teacher personally instructing, the Academic Palaces are sure to greatly prosper.”
“Looking across the world, our teacher is the benchmark for all men of letters.”
Han Fei and Li Si exchanged a glance, both wearing expressions of amazement.
In the world as it is today,
if one were to speak of a Great Sage whose reputation truly resounds across the world, perhaps there is but one, Xunzi.
He has instructed countless students; in days past there were many who served as important ministers in the Various Countries—Han Fei and Li Si, for example, now of the highest ministerial rank.
In this era, he is the benchmark for men of letters.
It can be said that
with Xunzi’s joining, the Academic Palaces Qin is establishing are certain to gain recognition from the world. This is precisely the benefit of securing the utmost participation of the literati.
“May I ask, Crown Prince.”
“Once the Academic Palaces are established, will they teach Confucianism, or will they teach the Legalists? Or perhaps the other Hundred Schools?”
Chunyu Yue stepped out at this moment, asking with a nervous expression.
Ever since Fusu left Xianyang, Chunyu Yue had been behaving himself, and the Confucian scholars in Court had also been behaving themselves.
With the earlier lessons of Wang Wan and Huai Zhuang before him, how would Chunyu Yue dare act like a demon again?
After all, he was merely a Confucian scholar; he had entered Qin in order to carry Confucianism forward and let it flourish.
Now that the Academic Palaces were being established, Chunyu Yue naturally felt incomparably uneasy. If the Academic Palaces focused on the teaching of Law, then the students of the Academic Palaces would all be disciples of the Legalists, and his Confucianism would be utterly wiped out.