Chapter 162 The interests of a minority are protected by me; even if the sky falls…
Under the thick clouds at midday, the sunlight was very weak.
The Thunder Medicine Workshop, which was affected by the fire last night, stands before Yu Nie.
Its overall structure is intact, with only a few areas licked by the flames showing a charred color.
The air was filled with the faint smell of burnt wood, and workers were busy making repairs.
Xie Cheng, who was standing beside her, glanced at the busy figures of the craftsmen and said, "Fortunately, it was just a normal fire, not something done intentionally."
"Last night, I was truly terrified. I thought it was set on fire on purpose, and I almost thought that spies from Nan Yin had infiltrated this place."
Yu Nie's pure and simple figure stood quietly in the light and shadow of the early morning.
She wore a plain, simple robe, adorned only with a very simple hairpin.
According to the etiquette of Beiye, princesses are not allowed to show their faces in public. She deliberately disguised herself as an ordinary lady. Apart from the people in the General's Mansion, outsiders did not know her true identity and only thought that she was a distinguished guest of the General's Mansion.
The workers were busy at work, some ordering wooden planks, others moving scaffolding.
Xie Cheng turned to Yu Nie: "The damage to the neighborhood isn't too bad right now, Madam Rong, what should we do next?"
Her identity changed outside, so naturally, the way she was addressed had to change as well.
Yu Nie: "Chop bamboo."
"Cut bamboo?" Xie Cheng asked, puzzled.
“That’s right. I will personally lead people to the mountains to select the best bamboo.” She gazed at the Leiyao workshop that was under repair: “Once the bamboo is ready, I can teach the craftsmen to make bamboo rockets and bamboo fire bombs.”
Gu Xiangzhi, who hadn't spoken for a while, turned his eyes and said, "I'll go with you."
His words surprised Yu Nie: "Aren't you supposed to be returning to Jian'an this afternoon?"
She remembered that Zhao Yunfu's order to him was that once he had safely delivered her to Jiangling, he should immediately return to report.
Gu Xiangzhi replied with ease, "It's alright to be delayed for two days. I can return to Jian'an once everything is on track here."
Yu Nie frowned, her expression worried: "Aren't you afraid that Zhao Yunfu will become suspicious and say that you disobeyed the imperial order?"
“Jian’an is far from Jiangling. It’s normal for someone to get a headache or fever on the way and be delayed for a few days.”
From his words, Yu Nie could tell that he had made up his mind to stay in Jiangling for the time being, and had even thought of an excuse to deal with Jian'an.
Just as she was about to advise him not to let her interfere with his important business, Gu Xiangzhi seemed to see through her thoughts and preemptively said, "I didn't stay here just for your sake. This is my first time in Jiangling, and I should at least take a look at the sights and scenery here. After all, I don't know when I'll be able to come back next time."
He didn't give her another chance to refuse, asking one question after another: "So, when are we going up the mountain?"
Seeing his resolute attitude, Yu Nie knew that it would be useless to continue, so she stopped insisting.
"We'll have to wait a while; we need to get the team going up the mountain organized first."
After saying that, she looked at Xie Cheng and carefully instructed him: "I would like to trouble Guard Xie to help us form a team to cut bamboo in the mountains."
Xie Cheng patted his chest: "No problem, leave it to me."
That's not enough. After a moment's thought, Yu Nie said, "Please ask Guard Xie to find another local who is familiar with Jiangling affairs, and to select about ten capable craftsmen, regardless of age or gender, as long as they can learn quickly and are efficient."
Xie Cheng readily agreed to her request: "Okay, I'll take care of it right away."
After saying that, he headed towards where the workers had gathered.
Soon, his loud shouts rang out.
While Xie Cheng was busy organizing people, Gu Xiangzhi asked, "Why must we choose the best bamboo?"
Yu Nie explained: "Only good bamboo has evenly long internodes and a tough texture that is not easily cracked. Bamboo rockets require the bamboo internodes to be completely opened up. The toughness of the bamboo is crucial to success or failure. Only with good bamboo can we polish it properly, fill it with gunpowder, and fix it well to the arrow."
"As for bamboo fire bombs, the key to success or failure lies in the selection of bamboo." She said, "Good bamboo, in addition to having a uniform shape, also has uniform wall thickness. Such bamboo has a dense texture, which allows it to exert its maximum power when it explodes."
At this point, she noticed the bamboo poles used for scaffolding by the wall and led him over.
As she spoke, she picked up a bamboo pole and explained to him: "Cut the best bamboo into bamboo tubes about half an inch thick, then tie ten of these tubes together with hemp rope that has been soaked in oil, and string them together with the same fuse. When lit in this way, it will make a spectacular sound and there will be no mistakes."
After gesturing, she leaned the bamboo pole back against the wall: "If inferior bamboo is used, either the bamboo walls will be uneven in thickness, resulting in weak explosives, or the bamboo nodes will be too short, resulting in insufficient explosives. Even worse, the bamboo may become infested with insects and crack before it is used. Therefore, choosing good bamboo is extremely important."
At this point, she added, "These bamboo firearms are not as powerful as those made of iron, but the materials are readily available and they can be made quickly, making them perfect for emergencies."
Gu Xiangzhi also understood that the current situation was urgent, and there was indeed no time to create more sophisticated firearms.
He nodded and said, "When I first met you, I never expected you to have such skills. Not to mention ordinary women, even men could not create such ingenious things."
Hearing this, she smiled slightly and said calmly, "Rather than saying it's a skill, it's more accurate to say that I'm luckier than many people. I've had the opportunity to read extensively and come across a lot of knowledge and skills that are difficult for ordinary people to access these days."
"It is often said that the times create heroes. Although I dare not call myself a hero, I am indeed one of those who have been favored by the times and have been able to stand on the shoulders of giants to see a more distant view."
Gu Xiangzhi stared at her: "Why does the princess say such a thing?"
"What I mean is, many people simply lack the opportunity to read."
Amidst the chaotic noise, they walked towards the gate.
She walked slowly, sharing her thoughts based on what she had seen and heard along the way.
"I often thought along the way, if a dynasty only allowed half of its people to study and understand principles, while leaving the talents of the other half untold and ignored, how many ingenious ideas would be buried?"
Gu Xiangzhi seemed to remember something and continued her words: "In Jian'an, your proposal of the imperial examination system should have been able to resolve this phenomenon."
"When the late emperor implemented the policy examination, many talented young men from humble backgrounds were able to enter officialdom. If the imperial examination you mentioned were put into practice, the effect would definitely be even better than the policy examination."
Yu Nie had a different opinion on this statement: "Although the imperial examination can give ordinary people a chance to change their fate, if people don't even have the opportunity to receive a basic education, how can they take the exam? Many people can't even write their own names, and they don't even have the opportunity to read books, so how can they pass the imperial examination?"
In Beiye, most ordinary farmers depended on powerful local families and did not even have independent household registration, so studying and pursuing higher education naturally became a pipe dream.
Those who could enter official schools were mostly sons of high-ranking families or wealthy merchants, while students from poor families could hardly even get into the schools of the prefectures and counties.
Gu Xiangzhi was also aware of this.
Yu Nie: "Currently, due to the land reform, although the shackles of household registration have been removed, the names of thousands of farmers can be registered in the Yellow Register, becoming 'people' with surnames and names."
"But we should both be clear that for thousands of years, poetry, books, rites and music have been controlled by aristocratic families. Knowledge is power, which has led to the near absence of avenues for enlightenment for the common people outside of official schools. Those who are literate are either rich or noble, and have long been controlled by powerful families, making it difficult to find teachers."
At that moment, Gu Xiangzhi realized that there were many things about her that he did not know.
"So... Qiqi wants to start a private school?" Huan Xun, who had finished his official duties, came from the general's mansion at some point, and then he walked around the gate and appeared behind them.
Lu Jinshi, who had been protecting Yu Nie, bowed to Huan Xun.
A look of surprise flashed in her eyes, then turned into a gentle smile as she walked towards him: "When did you arrive? Why didn't you say anything?"
Huan Xun would never admit that he had spotted them talking from afar, and that he had climbed over the wall and bypassed the gate to eavesdrop on their conversation, secretly following them all along.
For a general like him, secretly following people was no challenge at all.
Not telling the truth, he simply said, "I arrived when you mentioned picking bamboo."
After speaking, he glanced at Gu Xiangzhi, who was not surprised at all by his arrival.
Huan Xun turned his head and said, "I found your analysis quite interesting. Please continue. I'd like to hear more."
Upon hearing this, Yu Nie did not refuse and returned to the unfinished conversation.
She went along with what he had just said: "Zijing, you're right, I do want to build a private school."
Huan Xun: "Why?"
She shared her insights: "Throughout history, knowledge has often been locked away behind closed doors, becoming a tool for a few to wield power. It is precisely this monopoly that has turned the imperial court into a murky pool, causing widespread resentment among the people."
"In order to prevent the world from repeating the mistakes of the four great aristocratic families, I want every child, regardless of wealth or background, to have access to education. I want to make literacy no longer a privilege exclusive to the elite, a treasure that only the wealthy and privileged can touch. Everyone has the right to education, and it should not be determined by social status."
She paced slowly, speaking earnestly.
"Only in this way can the world truly be revitalized. Only then can the voices of the people be truly heard in the court, and the way of governing the country will conform to the will of the people."
Her eyes shone brightly as she turned to look at them: "Moreover, establishing private schools is far from enough. I also want all children over the age of six to be required to attend school for education for a period of ten years, with all expenses covered by the imperial court. Only in this way can everyone be allowed to study and take exams, so that it does not become just empty talk."
After speaking, she turned her gaze to the craftsmen who were building the Thunder Medicine Workshop not far away, and to several children playing nearby.
"Xiang Zhi said that I am more capable than men, but I think that if these children can learn the principles of things and understand the way the country operates from a young age, they will be able to earn praise for their true talents and abilities in the future, and thus have unlimited possibilities."
A moment later, Yu Nie sighed in a deep voice:
"As the winds and sands shift and dynasties rise and fall, how far a dynasty can go ultimately depends on how many people it is willing to take with it and whether its foundation is solid enough."
"And the people are the most unshakable foundation of this world."
Although her words were as fiery and bright as sparks, she knew in her heart that if this idea were to be truly implemented, it would face numerous obstacles.
Controversies in the imperial court, financial pressures, and obstruction from local powers—each was like a treacherous peak standing in her way. But she had already made up her mind; once the war was over and the country was at peace, she would begin to push forward with this matter.
Even if the road ahead is long, difficult, and arduous, she is willing to do it and will never regret it.
If she had any regrets, she only regretted that she had been too late in pursuing matters that would benefit the people and the world. It wasn't until she witnessed the evil of power that she understood the importance of returning power to the people and realized that everything in the imperial court was closely related to ordinary people like herself.
Change is never easy, but she knew that even if it was difficult, it had to start with someone and at some point.
And she was willing to be that beginning.
After listening to her words, Gu Xiangzhi remained silent for a long time, not optimistic about her plan.
He asked her, "Has the princess carefully considered how many people's interests this action will affect, and how it will not only be difficult to carry out, but also very dangerous?" His voice was filled with obvious worry.
“Of course I know,” Yu Nie replied. “But has Xiang Zhi ever considered that the interests of a minority have been shaken over the centuries for those children who have been deprived of the opportunity to study?”
Gu Xiangzhi frowned, about to speak, when he heard Huan Xun speak from the side.
"Whether it's building a private school or something else, no matter how many people's interests are affected, Qiqi should just go ahead and do it."
He crossed his arms, looking relaxed, but what he said was clearly not just casual talk.
Then, he glanced briefly at Gu Xiangzhi and said to the people beside him, "You can rest assured, with me backing you up, the sky won't fall down."
Gu Xiangzhi clearly didn't take his words seriously. He suppressed his anger, stood with his hands behind his back, and remained cold and ruthless.
"Lord Huan, you are pushing her into danger."
Huan Xun smiled, but a chilling glint appeared in his eyes.
She turned to face him, her voice firm: "With me here, she will be safe."
"Reform is easier said than done. Aren't you oversimplifying things?"
"Whether it's simple or not depends on who is implementing the reforms. She has the ability and the strategy, but what do I have? Do I need to explain it to you, Supervisor Gu, in detail?"
"Military power isn't everything. Do you think you can control everything just because you're strong and have a big fist? General, are you..."
"Whether it's left or right, we'll only know after we try..." Before Gu Xiangzhi could finish speaking, Huan Xun interrupted, "How will you know if it will work if you don't try?"
"You're gambling with her safety," Gu Xiangzhi retorted, barely containing his anger.
Huan Xun smiled and said, "Junior Supervisor Gu, I admire the effort you put into escorting her here." Then, his tone turned to a warning, "But Junior Supervisor Gu should understand the boundaries."
"Don't worry about things you shouldn't worry about. I know how to protect my people."
Seeing that the two were about to start arguing, Yu Nie quickly tugged at Huan Xun's sleeve and whispered to him, "Don't say that... your argument is also out of good intentions."
Hearing her call him "Xiangzhi" made Huan Xun even more unhappy with Gu Xiangzhi, and he felt resentful.
But he also knew that it was perfectly normal for her to call him that, it was just that he found it hard to accept.
However, after glancing at her hand that was gripping his, he ultimately said nothing more.
She just turned her face away sullenly: "As long as he can control himself, I won't do anything to him."
At this time, Huan Xun showed a rare childlike quality.
Seeing that he was not very happy, Yu Nie was about to say a few more words to comfort him.
Before she could speak, Xie Cheng, who had organized the group, excitedly stepped forward.
Xie Cheng, who wasn't very perceptive in this regard, was completely oblivious to the atmosphere between the three of them and said cheerfully, "General, Lady Rong, Supervisor Gu, everyone has been found, we can set off now."
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