Chapter 75 Expanding Enrollment
After all the students sent by the Capital Military Academy were sent back to the capital, they learned at the Capital Military Academy that they were about to "graduate", and this practice in various parts of the Great Zhou was their "graduation exam".
Looking back at when they first arrived here, everyone was a little dazed. Compared to that time, their ideas in all aspects have changed a lot.
"I believe all of you students have learned a lot here," Han Shidong said. "You all know the original purpose of the Beijing Military Academy, so we won't force you to stay or do anything."
The students thought of thousands of possibilities, but never dared to imagine that the attitude of the Beijing Military Academy towards them would be to let them stay or leave as they pleased.
"Of course, those who want to stay must also meet the requirements." Han Shidong said, "Students who graduate from here will be sent to the border of Da Zhou. You will use what you learned in the military academy to help local officials with management and construction."
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire school fell silent.
During this period of time, they had witnessed many hardships in the cities near the capital, not to mention how difficult the conditions were at the border of the Great Zhou, thousands of miles away from the capital.
The students looked at each other in confusion.
"Master, why... do you let us go?" Finally someone asked the question.
Everyone knew that the decision-maker behind the Capital Military Academy was the current emperor. The man turned the words around in his mouth and finally asked.
Han Shidong sighed and spoke slowly, "Regardless of whether you are valued by your family or not, most of you come from prominent families in the capital."
"Among you, there must be some who want to restore the glory of their family; some who want to be recognized by their parents; and some who want to do something for the Great Zhou."
After Han Shidong finished speaking, the originally quiet students gradually began to communicate in low voices.
"This is the best opportunity. It's true that the borders of the Great Zhou are in trouble, but if I go there, what achievements can I make?"
"Besides, we are all sinners. Even if we leave here, our future won't be easy."
"Looking at it this way, following the military academy's arrangements is the best approach."
"We've learned so much here, but it's all just theory. Don't you want to put them into practice?"
After the final discussion, almost all students agreed to follow the military academy's arrangements.
This is what Yan Xuanyu does, using both kindness and force.
No matter how they consider it, they will choose to stay in the end.
"Based on the ranking of this practical exam, the military academy will select some students to be sent to the border of the Great Zhou. Remember, from now on you will no longer be a prince of the capital, but an official going from the capital to the border of the Great Zhou. What happens in the future will depend on your luck." Han Shidong said seriously.
...
After sending off this group of students, the enrollment scope of the Capital Military Academy began to expand to include all eligible young people in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Whether commoners or nobles, anyone can get a place in the school as long as they pass the interview.
When these words were spoken, the whole world was shocked.
In Yan Xuanyu's opinion, the current Beijing Military Academy, in the eyes of the people of the Great Zhou, was somewhat like the Imperial College of a later dynasty? Only the sons of high-ranking officials and nobles could attend. Furthermore, ever since the first batch of students officially appeared across the Great Zhou, the Beijing Military Academy had become increasingly well-known.
What shocked the people of Da Zhou the most was that the sons of ordinary people could actually go to school!
After a series of events, the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty became much more accepting. This time, no one expressed disbelief, but instead worried about whether their children could get a place. Although the Beijing Military Academy had long stated that students could not take the imperial examinations after entering, countless people still wanted to send their children there.
Ordinary people think that the military academy in the capital used to only accept children of aristocrats. It is said that the teaching, food and accommodation there are the best, while children from ordinary families cannot easily enjoy any educational resources.
What makes it even more difficult for them to resist is that not only is the tuition free, but the top students in each exam also have the opportunity to receive rewards from the military academy.
The ideas of the rich and powerful were more complicated. Some wanted to please the emperor, some wanted their family children to go in and make connections, and some had other intentions.
The reason why Yan Xuanyu wanted to expand the military academy in the capital was actually to change the customs of the Great Zhou that emphasized culture over military. From then on, this military academy would focus on military, so the academy also spread the word early on that it would recruit strong and healthy young men.
The Beijing Military Academy doubled its size from its original size, and some buildings were renovated into a new look. After everything was ready, it began its external enrollment plan.
Yan Xuanyu also witnessed the grand occasion on the day when the Beijing Military Academy officially opened for enrollment.
From upstairs, he watched from afar as countless young people, led by their families, came to the registration office set up at the Beijing Military Academy. After the interview, some of those who came out were confused, some were proud, and some were lost.
Among those waiting for interviews with number slips in their hands were ordinary people in plain clothes, wealthy people wearing expensive clothes, and officials from the capital serving in the court.
There is no special treatment in the military academy in the capital, so no matter whether you are a wealthy family or an official in the capital, you must wait in the waiting area with a number paper.
Because there are so many people coming and going today, two teams of Jinyiwei from the capital have temporarily arrived to maintain order. No one dares to cause trouble at this time. Everyone is waiting obediently, with the first one to come out and the last one to go in.
This action made the ordinary people who brought their children here feel a little relieved. Since the nobles have to wait like them, do their children really have the opportunity to go in and study?
...
While recruiting students at the Beijing Military Academy, Yan Xuanyu also told Li Zhiwei something.
"You want to open a girls' school in Beijing?" Li Zhiwei widened her eyes in surprise.
Yan Xuanyu was stunned. "Girls' school? You could say that."
He wanted to open a girls' school.
One must eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time. Given the current situation of the Great Zhou, it is impossible for him to promote gender equality and allow women to serve as officials in the court. It is true that the Great Zhou is now under the control of Yan Xuanyu, but it is not easy to change the ideas that people have accepted for thousands of years. At least, Yan Xuanyu will have to wait until the world is truly settled before he can free up his hands to do these things.
However, the fact is that the Turks are now like jackals lurking in the dark, and one day they may tear apart the Great Zhou under the leadership of the Wolf King.
Yan Xuanyu quickly came back to his senses after thinking about this. He came here today to talk to Li Zhiwei about the girls' school.
"Your Majesty, what do you want to teach girls in the girls' school?" Li Zhiwei asked.
She didn't show it on her face, but she thought to herself that her family was quite wealthy before, so they invited teachers to teach them, the girls, behind thick curtains. The teachers taught them only female virtues, female precepts, and education, how to support their husbands and raise children, how to be law-abiding, and just a basic literacy.
It was not until Li Zhiwei grew up and read more books that she realized how much the female precepts and virtues restricted women.
She didn't dare to have any expectations, but she couldn't help but have expectations, so there was a bit of anxiety in her eyes. Would what the emperor said be the answer she expected?
Yan Xuanyu didn't miss her idea, so he smiled and said, "Since we are both schools, it's naturally not inferior to the Beijing Military Academy, but it's just smaller in scale."
After all, only a few girls can go to school now, so the scale will not be large at the beginning.
But Yan Xuanyu doesn't mind letting the first batch of students be the "first to try" and let them see the tangible benefits.
Since it is mainly for girls and there is a military academy in front, what the girls' school should do is to develop the strengths of girls.
"I plan to start with medicine, martial arts, and literature..." Yan Xuanyu spoke incessantly about his ideas for women's education. When he finished speaking, he looked at Li Zhiwei, only to find that her eyes were red and she was about to shed tears.
This startled Yan Xuanyu, "Did I say something wrong?"
Yan Xuanyu thought about what he had just said. He tried his best to keep the girls' school and the military school on the same line, and wanted the world to see his attitude. There was no difference between the two schools except that they recruited boys and girls respectively, and he valued them equally.
"Not really." Li Zhiwei smiled.
From the day Yan Xuanyu met her, Li Zhiwei always seemed to have a faint smile, but today her smile changed a lot because it came from the heart.
Li Zhiwei calmed down, stood up, and suddenly bowed to Yan Xuanyu: "Your Majesty, I thank you on behalf of all women in the world!"
"There's no need for that." Yan Xuanyu quickly pulled her up.
The people here are good in every way, except that they always want to be polite! Yan Xuanyu complained inwardly.
Li Zhiwei saw the new call from Yan Xuanyu. The girls' school to be opened in the capital was just a prototype. Just like the military academy in the capital before, it would gradually expand in scale and eventually... it would definitely be open to all the women in the Great Zhou!
"You are well-read and knowledgeable about worldly affairs. I am ashamed of myself for not being able to match you in this respect. Therefore, I would like to entrust the women's school to you," Yan Xuanyu said. "Just like the old military academy model, Wang Qinyao in the palace will be the official manager."
"Unlike the military academy, the first batch of people in the girls' school will join the ordinary people." Yan Xuanyu said after thinking for a while.
This decision was made with due consideration. Here, girls from high-ranking families were different from boys. As noble ladies in the capital, they had to maintain a good reputation to ensure a good marriage. Therefore, sending them to a girls' school would be considered "nonsense" by these people. Yan Xuanyu would of course do his utmost to promote girls' education, but this matter depended on their own wishes. If others disagreed, Yan Xuanyu would certainly ask them not to interfere; if they themselves did not want to, Yan Xuanyu naturally could not force them.
Therefore, the first batch of girls to join will be girls from ordinary families. Compared with the daughters of noble families, except for those who really love their daughters, another part of ordinary families care more about whether the girls in their family can bring income to the family, or want to marry their daughters in exchange for dowries for the men in the family to marry.
Therefore, if the girls' school offers tangible benefits, such as how much food can be earned every month for sending a girl to school, then there will definitely be countless people willing to send their girls there.
Li Zhiwei also agreed with Yan Xuanyu's idea.
"From now on, I'll have to rely on you more for the girls' school." Yan Xuanyu said, "Although the Great Zhou appears peaceful and tranquil now, we can't ignore the undercurrents surging beneath it. The Turks have undergone major changes and will pose a greater threat to the Great Zhou in the future. I'm afraid I won't be able to do anything about the girls' school or the military academy in the future."
Of course, Yan Xuanyu couldn't say that he knew the plot, so he knew that the Turks would definitely make big moves under the leadership of the new king.
Li Zhiwei was stunned. After listening to Yan Xuanyu's heartfelt words, she said, "Your Majesty, rest assured. I will do a good job in running the girls' school."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
