Chapter 57 057 I am satisfied.
Although she knew the chances of His Majesty collapsing to the ground were extremely slim, she couldn't just stand there like a stone pillar, so Xie Lanzhao went to support "Thunderous Might" with a helpless expression.
This gift—
Complaints are necessary, but when you put yourself in the picture, there's no obstacle at all.
Xie Lanzhao had no choice but to hold the "big Buddha" in her arms.
Zhao Jialing was delighted, his smile beaming with pride.
Knowing when to stop, she steadied herself and traced the face so close to hers with her gaze, her eyes burning.
A direct gaze can easily disturb one's peace of mind. Xie Lanzhao could not be as open and unrestrained as Zhao Jialing. She took a step back without making a sound, looked away, and changed the subject, saying, "If Your Majesty is satisfied, then I am satisfied."
Zhao Jialing always had unconventional ideas. She asked, "If I am dissatisfied, will you prepare a new gift for me?"
"No." Xie Lanzhao said calmly, deflecting the emperor's attempt to push his luck. "I will heed your advice and will not see you off again."
Zhao Jialing gritted her teeth, and Xie Lanzhao began to bully her.
So even if it's just a copy of the "Qingjing Jing" (Classic of Purity and Tranquility), she still has to say it?
Sigh, what else can she do? She can't keep forcing Xie Lanzhao to send her gifts every day.
"It will be placed on my bed, and I will examine it day and night, not wasting your sincere heart." Zhao Jialing stopped her antics, and smiled with her eyes crinkling, her eyes sparkling.
A smile appeared on Xie Lanzhao's face, until Zhao Jialing said another sentence—
"When you rest your head on that jade pillow, shouldn't you be thinking of me too?"
Xie Lanzhao: "..."
How can there be such a relationship between a ruler and his subject?
·
After the Thousand Autumns Festival.
The progress of the "Mingde Academy" and "Library" projects, which were posted on the bulletin board, has finally reached 100%. Zhao Jialing personally went there and inscribed the words "Mingde Academy" and "Mingde Library" in large characters.
The academy's opening date is still undecided. The prefecture and county have sent some talented individuals, but the subject teachers have not yet been selected. For some new subjects, suitable teachers cannot be found in a short time. The students will have to learn through books until they grow up. However, the preschool classes cannot be rushed. Zhao Jialing still needs to find suitable candidates. She wants to see if there are any suitable people among the newly appointed scholars.
After the Mingde Library was completed, Zhao Jialing sent some books to the library. Xie Lanzhao and Princess Jinxian also donated some books from their family collections. When the court officials saw that they had done so, they also donated some books in varying amounts. In addition, with the newly printed and revised editions of books, it deserved the name "library".
The library's regulations were drafted by the ministers at the behest of Emperor Jialing. Each person had a name tag recording their background and address, and those borrowing books needed to use this tag to enter and exit. Books were not allowed to be taken out of the library at will; if someone insisted on borrowing them, they had to leave collateral. This was unavoidable; if scholars borrowed books and did not return them, or took them home without much care, it would be a loss in the long run.
The library was managed by female officials selected from the palace. There were thousands of palace maids during the reign of the previous emperor, and although many were returned after his ascension to the throne, a considerable number remained. Zhao Jialing decided to put them to use and select suitable people to manage the library.
Zhao Jialing had planned to issue an imperial edict announcing the opening of the "Mingde Library," but the system disagreed and showed her a video of a "ribbon-cutting" ceremony.
Zhao Jialing: "!"
Red banners and dazzling lights were all prepared; she wanted to hold a grand celebration to let the world know how much she valued knowledge!
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at the end of February.
The branches are adorned with a few budding signs of spring, but the wind blowing in our faces is still chilly.
This time, it wasn't a private trip; there was still a grand procession, with officials of all ranks accompanying the emperor's carriage. The common people of Chang'an, having received the news, watched the spectacle from a distance. Even if they couldn't see the emperor's face, experiencing some of his magnificent power was still good; it would provide fodder for conversation among relatives later.
The scholars inside eagerly awaited their arrival. While catching a glimpse of the emperor's face was important, the "library" itself was truly impressive! It was said that even the imperial archives had been brought out. Scholars usually only study a limited number of books; given the opportunity to read more, who wouldn't want to broaden their horizons? Throughout history, countless emperors have valued literature, but how many have gone to such lengths as to establish a library for the people?
I heard that after the ribbon-cutting ceremony, there will be a poetry recitation session. Whoever's poem comes out on top will receive a precious token bearing the Emperor's calligraphy! That's the Emperor's own handwriting, and the Emperor is a master calligrapher. If you receive this, you'll be able to walk with impunity from now on, okay?
The ritual book doesn't mention a "ribbon-cutting" ceremony; the Ministry of Rites followed the Emperor's decree exactly. Fortunately, it wasn't a grand ceremony, and the Emperor had no intention of making things complicated, so it was relatively simple. Earlier at court, the officials had argued about it. It wasn't about whether or not to hold it, but rather about arguing over "the position for the ribbon-cutting."
Needless to say, the Grand Secretary is His Majesty's confidante. Even if only one person had to be chosen for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, His Majesty would choose her.
The Secretariat produced books and contributed its efforts, so the Secretary-General was given a position.
The Prefect of the Capital had nothing to do with this matter, but he was shameless enough to use his position as the Prefect of the Capital to secure the post.
There is also a position called Minister of Rites.
The Mingde Library belongs to the Mingde Academy, and Du Wenyu, the academy's dean and a censor, naturally also has a place there.
There is one spot left.
How could the Imperial Academy not be tempted? It was in charge of the nation's education and decrees, which were closely related to scholarship; how could it be abandoned?
Zheng Shiyan, the Grand Master of the Imperial Academy, shamelessly sought a position for himself.
Zhao Jialing glanced at Zheng Shiyan lightly and said indifferently, "What business is it of yours with Mingde Academy? I fear that in the future there will be a tragic situation where 'of the fifty-four Jinshi, not a single one is a Jiansheng' (student of the Imperial Academy)."
Zheng Shiyan's face instantly turned a deep shade of liver, wishing he could disappear into the ground. The Imperial Academy had become a laughingstock. If he had known this would happen, he would have been better off agreeing to His Majesty's decision to change the curriculum there. Now, the Imperial Academy was gradually becoming marginalized. If only the scholars had been a little more ambitious, things wouldn't have come to this!
Zhao Jialing didn't care about the fate of the Imperial Academy. It was the Imperial Academy that refused to follow her, so who could she blame?
He's quite the chatterbox, saying those good-for-nothing playboys can't even copy books properly. But what about the "promising students" the Imperial Academy was looking for? Why didn't any of them pass the exams? Did they spend all their time currying favor with high-ranking officials?
The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place during the day, so the fireworks display was naturally not as dazzling as the nighttime display, but the lively and bustling atmosphere was still effectively created. After the ceremony, it was time for the court officials to compose poems, and the scholars below could also present their poems if they had talent. However, the task of judging the poems fell to the exceptionally talented Xie Lanzhao.
[Congratulations, host, on completing the "Library Construction" task. Achievements "Knowledge Has No Bounds" and "Providing Shelter to the Poor Scholars of the World" have been completed. Rewards include "Library Book Management Law" and "Cotton Seeds, Planting, and New Textile Methods."] Amidst a sea of exhilarating sounds, the system's voice rang in Zhao Jialing's ears.
Zhao Jialing's eyes lit up when she heard about the reward. She knew that the reward was related to the achievement name, perhaps in a deeper way, or perhaps it was derived from the literal meaning, rather than being limited to the task itself.
【cotton? 】
The system explained: "[Also called white cotton, it can be used for spinning. While our Great Yong still primarily uses hemp and silk, cotton cloth is already being used in Gaochang, Zhenla, and other places. Cotton cloth is very comfortable and warmer. There are many varieties of cotton, and traces of it have already been seen in Longxi and Jiannan. However, the system's rewards are always the best—an annual crop, complete with spinning methods, including ginning and carding techniques! Host, please have someone plant it as soon as possible.]"
Cotton can be grown in the Yellow River and Huai River basins and along the Yangtze River, but the most suitable area is still Longyou Road. However, it is bordered by the Turks to the north and the Tibetans to the south.
The system abruptly stopped there. Zhao Jialing knew that although they had agreed not to interfere with each other, it was common for the Hu people to raid the borders. Once the other side found an opportunity, they would definitely allow their soldiers to invade Longyou.
Zhao Jialing believed that telescopes, horseshoes, and gunpowder could bring about a major change, causing the border troops to abandon their previous defensive habits. However, since cotton was so useful, there was no need to risk it. Planting it in areas that Dayong could control was more secure, but whether to plant it in the Yellow River and Huai River basins or along the Yangtze River still needed to be considered.
The sound of fireworks masked the thoughts of the system and Zhao Jialing, and the officials, immersed in the "ribbon-cutting ceremony," could not hear them clearly.
Xie Lanzhao glanced at Zhao Jialing, her gaze deep and thoughtful.
The Minister of Agriculture, observing the ceremony below, wasn't particularly interested in poetry and literature, but at that moment he clearly heard His Majesty's innermost thoughts. He trembled, a glint of longing in his eyes. The gods had bestowed upon His Majesty a superior seed—it sounded like a precious gift! Could this be the Minister of Agriculture's opportunity?!
The Ministry of Agriculture (Sinongsi) was in charge of the nation's granaries and produce, and had historically been aligned with the Ministry of Revenue. However, compared to the highly sought-after officials in the capital and provincial governments, the Ministry of Agriculture was considered a "cold stove." The Ministers of the Six Ministries had no immediate plans to move, and the Prefect of the Capital was concurrently the Censor-in-Chief. He had no notable achievements, so there was no way for him to be promoted. Of course, he didn't expect a promotion; he was content to remain as Minister of Agriculture until his death. He feared that His Majesty would make room for new talent and send him to be a prefect. After all, what could a prefecture's officials compare to those in the capital?
This cotton is his chance!
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Minister of Agriculture returned home with a heavy heart, waiting for the emperor to summon him and give the cotton seeds to the Ministry of Agriculture for research.
But no matter how long they waited, they never received a summons from the palace.
The prime minister, however, was attending to the emperor.
"Does Xie Zhongshu even know how to farm?!" The Minister of Agriculture couldn't help but complain to the Minister of Revenue.
The Minister of Revenue calmly replied, "It's enough that she understands His Majesty."
Minister of Agriculture: "..."
In the palace.
Zhao Jialing was indeed discussing cotton planting with Xie Lanzhao.
Zhao Jialing had already figured out where the cotton seeds came from: they were discovered at Xianling.
The late emperor was truly great; even in death, he did not forget to protect the Great Yong.
“According to the ‘Book of Agriculture,’ the Yellow River and the Yangtze River are both suitable for breeding, but I believe that the experimental fields should be set up in Yangzhou,” Xie Lanzhao said in a deep voice.
Yangzhou's environment and prosperity are beyond question. The governor of Yangzhou, Changsun Jingchu, is a former official of the previous emperor. After passing the imperial examination, she served in various localities; it's time for her to return to the capital based on her merits. The influence of customs is not a matter of a day or two, and old customs naturally differ in their order of development. Yangzhou is a wealthy region in Jiangnan, at the forefront of this development. The seeds sown in the past by establishing women's education are now ready to bear fruit.
“If it’s in Jiangnan, it’s best to plant it in February or March,” Zhao Jialing said after a moment of thought. “We need to select someone to send it to Yangzhou.”
"It would be best if the Ministry of Agriculture sent someone who is skilled in farming and also proficient in literature. As for the 'inspector of the prefectures and counties,' what does Your Majesty think of Meng Xuan and Imperial Censor Meng?"
Zhao Jialing vividly remembered Meng Xuanhe. There was no one in the court she dared not criticize, but compared to some stubborn individuals, she was quite adaptable, at least able to please Zhao Jialing, since it wasn't the emperor who was being reprimanded. Successfully handling the cotton matter would bring merit. The usual promotion path for censors in the Censorate was: Palace Attendant Censor, then Palace Attendant Censor, and finally transferred to one of the Six Ministries as a Director. Once merit was achieved, the usual promotion path was no longer necessary.
Having reviewed the various personnel changes reported by the prime minister, Zhao Jialing had a clear understanding of the situation. She gazed at Xie Lanzhao, her eyes bright, and asked, "Has it begun?"
Xie Lanzhao nodded.
A few days later, Zhao Jialing sent Meng Xuanhe, the Supervising Censor, as an envoy to Yangzhou with a group from the Ministry of Agriculture to deliver cotton seeds and planting and maintenance manuals. Two days later, Zheng Shiyan, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, retired due to old age, and the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review resigned due to illness. Zhao Jialing issued an edict appointing Zheng Qiongyu, the Prefect of Puzhou, as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, leaving the position of Chancellor of the Imperial Academy vacant.
He further issued an edict: "Respect for literature and learning is the foundation of royal governance and the great teachings of the former kings. How dare I disregard them? To transform people and establish customs, we must focus on learning. When those who have achieved something and whose talents are renowned in the royal court, is that not a joy?"
The court officials dared not utter a sound.
Could this be a compliment to the Imperial Academy?
Not a single person passed the imperial examination at the Imperial Academy.
How embarrassing!
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