No matter what, the Imperial Academy is the number one institution of learning in the Song Dynasty. Those who can teach in the Imperial Academy are definitely not ordinary people. Regardless of the size of their official positions, at least their knowledge can convince others.
Zhang Fei is just an ear writer, he really has nothing, but he went to give lectures at the Imperial Academy, which was unimaginable in the past.
Yan Jidao was also a student from the Imperial College, so of course he was curious and hoped to return to his alma mater to see it for himself.
Even Xu Zhiqian found it a little funny. After Yan Jidao left, she said hastily, "Dad, then I...I also want to go and see how Zhang San teaches."
Xu Zun immediately glared at her and said, "Nonsense."
Xu Zhiqian secretly stuck out her tongue.
Zhang Fei glanced at her awkwardly and couldn't help complaining, "This Sima scholar is really something. At first, I was asked to share my experience in litigation, but he...he just said I should go to give a lecture. This...isn't this causing trouble for me?"
Xu Zun laughed and said, "You asked for it!"
Zhang Fei was surprised and asked, "What do you mean, father-in-law?"
Xu Zun said: "Since your charity foundation has caused such a stir, people from all walks of life are paying close attention to this academic dispute. But in fact, what they are fighting for is not academic knowledge, but their own governing philosophy. Therefore, the competition is very fierce. Every day, they fight from Chuigong Hall to Zhengshi Hall, and then to the Regulations Department of the Two Governments, the Criminal Court, and the Dali Temple."
...
...
Originally, when the new policy was introduced, the reformists and conservatives were in direct confrontation with each other, and it seemed that a storm of party strife was about to begin. However, Zhang Fei interrupted the situation and it turned into a competition, and an educational competition at that, which was the favorite of the literati.
Both sides began to compete for this educational resource.
Of course, this is also related to Sima Guang's strategic layout. Since Zhao Xu showed firm support for Wang Anshi, and Wang Anshi was stationed in the capital, it was actually very difficult to launch a counterattack in the capital. With Fan Chunren and Su Shi leaving Beijing, the power struggle began to focus on the local level.
But the final decision-making body is in the capital after all, and it is also a place where scholars must compete. It would be better to hold an educational competition here.
Whoever's ideas are more popular will seize the future.
Zhang Fei laughed at himself and said, "So you invited me to give a lecture?"
Xu Zun said: "As far as I know, Sima Junshi is very optimistic about you. He has already told the Imperial College that he wants to invite you to be a teacher."
"Wait a minute!" Zhang Fei was shocked. "I didn't agree to be a teacher. I just took the time to communicate with you. That's all."
Xu Zun frowned and said, "I don't know about that either."
Zhang Fei thought thoughtfully, "Could it be that Master Sima wants to use me as a gimmick to attract everyone's attention?"
Xu Zun pondered for a moment, "Maybe it's true. After he said that, the Law School has indeed attracted a lot of people's attention. There will definitely be a lot of people going to see it then."
"Are you laughing at me?" Zhang Fei added.
Xu Zun laughed a few times, "You said it yourself, a young man should be arrogant and reckless. Since Sima Junshi strongly recommends you, what are you afraid of?"
Speak of Cao Cao, here comes Cao Cao.
Sima Guang suddenly staggered to Zhang's house.
"Zhang San meets Scholar Sima."
"No need to be polite!"
Sima Guang bowed to Xu Zun again and said, "Zhongtu is here too!"
Xu Zun smiled and nodded, then extended his hand and said, "Please sit down!"
This time, not to mention Gao Wenyin, even Xu Zhiqian had to stand aside obediently.
After Sima Guang sat down, he smiled at Zhang Fei and said, "Zhang San, you are really hard to find nowadays. I wandered around outside for a while before I knew you were home."
"I've been very busy lately." Zhang Fei smiled awkwardly, and added, "I may not be able to go to the Imperial College to share my experience."
Sima Guang glared, "That won't do. I have already arranged it. You will go to the Imperial Academy to teach on the first day of next month."
“......!”
Zhang Fei said depressedly: "Master Sima, what we discussed at the beginning was not to give lectures, but to share experiences. How can I be worthy of giving lectures in the Imperial Academy? Isn't this asking for trouble?"
Sima Guang said, "That was what we agreed upon at the beginning, but now the course of the Law School is all drawn up by you. If you don't help, then I don't know where to start. Therefore, I have decided to appoint you as my assistant teacher of the Mathematics School."
"Teaching assistant?"
Xu Zun and his daughter said in unison.
Zhang Fei asked: "Father-in-law, Zhiqian, what is an assistant teacher?"
Xu Zhiqian said: "Teaching assistants are also considered officials, from the ninth rank."
Zhang Fei then realized that Sima Guang wanted to use this opportunity to pull him to his side.
It was hard for him to refuse this, after all, this was his plan, so he said awkwardly: "Master Sima, I am kind enough to help you draft the course, and you are still refusing..."
Sima Guang snorted, "I recommended you to be an official, isn't this a reward?"
For common people to become officials, there must be a process and it must be done step by step. Sima Guang wanted to demonstrate Zhang Fei's ability in the Imperial College first and then transfer him to the local area.
Zhang Fei also understood and said awkwardly, "But I am not very knowledgeable and I am afraid I am not qualified for the position of teaching assistant."
Let me get a job as an idle official and get some gilded reputation.
Don’t you understand such a simple political tactic? It’s too difficult for a teacher in the Imperial College.
Sima Guang waved his hand and said, "You can speak freely in front of Han Xianggong and Fu Gong, so why are you afraid of those immature boys?"
Zhang Fei immediately said excitedly: "Master Sima, I am only in my twenties, and I haven't done it either!"
Xu Zhiqian and Gao Wenyin on the side lowered their heads silently, their shoulders slightly shaking.
"Okay, okay, don't be so modest. I didn't come here to talk to you about this." Sima Guang waved his hand.
When it comes to teaching, he is really confident in Zhang Fei. He has personally experienced this kid's eloquence, and Fan Chunren has also received guidance from him, so there will be no problem at all.
Am I being f*cking modest? I'm just afraid of trouble. This academic dispute will never have a result. If I perform well, I'm afraid someone will come to argue with me every day. If I don't perform well, I'll be laughed at. This old guy only knows how to keep a low profile and always lets others be high-profile. How hateful...
Zhang Fei was full of complaints and asked, "I wonder what advice Sima Xueshi wants to give me."
Sima Guang said seriously: "I came to you today to ask you how to build this law school."
After hearing this, Xu Zun was dumbfounded.
Each one is more outrageous than the last.
It was already difficult to understand why Yan Jidao came to Zhang Fei for advice with Yan Shu's poems. Now Sima Guang came to Zhang Fei for advice on building a school.
this....
Xu Zhiqian couldn't hold it in any longer, "Uncle Sima, Zhang San himself didn't even go to school, so how could he understand the construction of a school?"
It is reasonable to share some litigation skills, and Zhang Fei is also approached for school construction.
It's a bit too outrageous.
Sima Guang laughed and said, "Qian'er, you really underestimate your future husband. The course of this law school was drawn up by your husband, how could he not understand it?"
Then he looked at Zhang Fei again, "Zhang San, is that right?"
Zhang Fei laughed dryly. "Mr. Sima, I said at the time that this course was drawn up based on my experience in litigation, but I have no experience in building a school."
Sima Guang laughed and said, "No problem, no problem. Just tell me your ideas and I'll listen to them first and choose the best one."
It seems that this old man is relying on me. Zhang Fei looked at Sima Guang with some doubts.
With your ability as Sima Guang, you can build a school. Do you still need to ask others for advice?
Xu Zun suddenly stroked his beard and smiled.
Sima Guang glanced at him with an embarrassed look on his face.
Zhang Fei asked hurriedly: "Why is my father-in-law laughing?"
"nothing."
Xu Zun shook his head.
Sima Guang said awkwardly: "After all, I still couldn't hide it from Zhongtu!"
Then he turned to Zhang Fei and said, "To be honest, Wang Jiefu set up a three-house system for the Academy of Mathematics, but I don't want to be like him."
Wang Anshi had long been considering educational reform, so as soon as the Academy of Mathematics was approved, he immediately implemented his own three-house method and even bypassed the imperial examination system.
This forced Sima Guang to do so, but he did not have a specific plan. His educational reform still inherited Fan Zhongyan's ideas and focused on practical work.
But the problem is that Fan Zhongyan did not want to bypass the imperial examination system.
After much thought, if he wanted to bypass the imperial examination, the three-house method seemed to be very good, but he did not want to learn from Wang Anshi. Not only him, but many conservatives were unwilling to do so.
There is already a competitive relationship here, and your method is to directly use the opponent's methods. Aren't you losing?
Sima Guang suddenly thought that the tutorial proposed by Zhang Fei was very novel and consistent with his ideas, so why not ask for his opinion.
Zhang Fei finally realized what was happening. Thinking carefully, Wang Anshi's three-house system was already a real class system. To put it simply, it was a three-year university education, and it made the college a part of the official selection system. This was a concept that was very advanced. If he thought about it, he would use the same method, and at most he would turn three years into four years.
But Zhang Fei was really considering it carefully, because education was also of vital importance to him.
His purpose in setting up this charitable foundation is to infiltrate education, not to help others.
Sima Guang did not disturb him, but waited quietly by the side.
After a while, Zhang Fei suddenly said, "According to Wang Xueshi's three-house system, there are 2,000 people in the outer house, 300 people in the inner house, and 100 people in the upper house."
Sima Guang nodded, "That's right."
Zhang Fei asked: "Why is the number of people gradually decreasing?"
Without waiting for Sima Guang to speak, Xu Zhiqian said, "This is the only way to select talents to serve the country."
Sima Guang nodded: "Zhi Qian is right."
Zhang Fei asked: "According to the Three-She System, the number of people who will eventually be appointed as officials in the court will be at most 100. What will the remaining 1,900 people do?"
Sima Guang stroked his beard and said, "Of course, I still have to keep working hard. It's just like the imperial examination. If I fail once, I will go back and study hard, and then take the exam again."
Zhang Fei asked: "What if I fail the exam?"
"That...."
Sima Guang said awkwardly, "There is nothing we can do about it."
Zhang Fei immediately said: "However, the fact is that most people will not pass the exam and will be eliminated. It can be seen that although Wang Xueshi's Three-Shed Method has opened the door to the entrance, that is, opened the Imperial College to common people, it has not changed the exit and is still too narrow. If Sima Xueshi wants to surpass the Three-Shed Method, he must open the exit door."
Xu Zun frowned and said, "There is already a problem of redundant officials in the court. If we open the door to export, won't it further aggravate the problem of redundant officials?"
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Father-in-law, what you said is wrong. As the saying goes, if you are rich, you can help the world, and if you are poor, you can take care of yourself. But our education is often only responsible for helping the world if you are rich, and as for taking care of yourself if you are poor, it all depends on self-cultivation and struggle, and education does not provide any support."
Sima Guang was also confused when he heard this. "When you are poor, you should be able to improve yourself. This should rely on self-cultivation and hard work. Otherwise, what is the point of being able to improve yourself?"
Zhang Fei shook his head and said, "But education can provide support for self-improvement."
Sima Guang asked: "How can education support self-improvement?"
"Diploma."
"Diploma?"
Sima Guang opened his eyes and was confused.
"That's right."
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "Anyone who passes the course will be issued a graduation certificate. As for whether to enter the government or not, it is up to you. The Imperial College can set up another exam here. If you are willing to enter the government, you can take the exam. If you pass, you will become an official."
Xu Zhiqian asked curiously, "But who doesn't want to become an official?"
“Me!”
Zhang Fei said.
“......!”
Xu Zhiqian was speechless.
This is an ironclad fact.
Zhang Fei added: "Although there are very few people like me, the court can only accommodate so many people, and there are still a large number of people who cannot serve as officials in the court. But then again, if you don't serve as an official in the court, you can't realize your self-worth? That's not the case.
They can become big traitors and earn a fortune, or they can become legal aid workers and plead for the people, or even work in the police station. They can realize their self-worth in other areas. If everyone can take care of themselves, the country will be able to maintain long-term stability.
The role of a graduation certificate is to prove their academic qualifications and abilities, allowing them to be more independent and freer in choosing a career and gain recognition from everyone.
This will help to guide talents, make the best use of talents and resources, and alleviate the problem of redundant officials. "
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
