Chu Xiujie said, "So does Shengwu University need to conduct such a review on admitted students?"
Chu Fan said, "Both the National Defense University of Wei and Shengwu University only need to ensure that the students' immediate family members, such as their parents, brothers, and grandfather, are free of criminals. There is no need to check whether other family members have committed crimes."
Chu Xiujie asked in confusion, "Why does the Imperial Academy require such a strict review, while the National Defense University of Wei and Shengwu University only require that the family members have no criminal record? Aren't they afraid that they might abuse their power for personal gain?"
Chu Fan replied with a smile, "Most of the students at the Wei State National Defense University and Shengwu Academy come from ordinary families, or are just offspring of branches that are looked down upon by aristocratic families. After graduation, they only become officials or generals at the grassroots level of the Wei State. They do not have much power and it is difficult for them to exert influence on some major decisions.
Furthermore, if the criminal is only a distant relative of their family, then they are unlikely to take risks for such a person. After all, they don't want to lose their official position because of someone they have little relationship with. I dare say that some students would choose to sacrifice their relatives for the sake of self-preservation even if their brothers committed crimes.
Another issue is that both the National Defense University of Wei and Shengwu Academy need to enroll over 100,000 students. Thoroughly investigating the family backgrounds of every student would be extremely time-consuming and labor-intensive, adding a significant administrative burden and making it difficult to ensure the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the investigation. It would be more efficient and practical to simply investigate the students' immediate family members.
Chu Xiujie nodded, expressing his understanding. "I see. Your Majesty has indeed made thorough considerations. I now understand what to do."
Chu Fan thought for a moment, and since he had already said everything he wanted to say, he asked, "Do you have any questions or suggestions? If not, then go do your own thing."
The eight people present all expressed no doubt and stood up to take their leave. As Chu Anping left, he thought, "Thank goodness His Majesty has ordered a monthly rotation of the head of the Royal Government Affairs Office. I've received quite a bit of work from His Majesty lately. Even the princes in the Royal Government Affairs Office have helped to share some of the burden, but a person's energy is limited. I'll just complete the tasks His Majesty has assigned me first, and then hand off any subsequent tasks to the next head."
At the beginning, Chu Anping really thought that His Majesty made the decision to rotate the chief every month because he was afraid that the princes in the Royal Government Affairs Office would really dominate the power. Now it seems that this is more of a protection for his own princes. You have to know that he has many important affairs in his hands now, and he is indeed too busy to handle them all by himself.
Chu Anping secretly rejoiced in his heart that this rotation system could indeed give him a break and allow him to better complete the work assigned to him by His Majesty.
A few days after the discussion in the Imperial Study, Chu Zhenglin and Minister of Rites Fu Youde came to the palace together.
Chu Zhenglin and Fu Youde saluted Chu Fan and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."
Chu Fan was speechless as he watched Chu Zhenglin perform the salute. He said, "Brother, what are you doing? Why do brothers have to perform such a formal ceremony when they meet? Hurry up and get up."
Chu Zhenglin stood up and said with a smile, "Etiquette cannot be abolished. Now I am here as a subject to pay my respects to Your Majesty, so naturally I must observe etiquette. Even an elder like the Sixth Master must bow when he sees Your Majesty, so as a junior, I naturally need to bow when I see Your Majesty."
Chu Fan shook his head helplessly, thinking that fortunately in the Wei system, when the emperor met with his subjects in private, the subjects were not required to kneel down and kowtow. Most of them expressed their respect by bowing, which made Chu Fan feel a little relieved.
Chu Fan gestured for the two to sit down before asking, "Do you have something important to report this time? Or is there something that requires my personal attention?"
Chu Zhenglin spoke first, "The memorial submitted by Minister of Works Tang Hongwen to the Imperial Government Affairs Office states that the railway between Kaifeng City, the three citadels, and the Imperial Royal Villa has been completed. The Ministry of Works inquires about the need for an acceptance and opening ceremony, as well as a subsequent operational management plan."
Seeing that it was Chu Zhenglin who came to report on the Royal Government Affairs Office, Chu Fan asked, "Is Big Brother now in charge of the Royal Government Affairs Office as the chief?"
Chu Zhenglin nodded and said, "Indeed, I have replaced Chu Anping as the Chief Minister this month. Therefore, this month I will be responsible for reporting government affairs to Your Majesty and assisting with related matters."
In fact, Chu Zhenglin didn't want to return to Kaifeng City to be the chief of the Royal Government Affairs Office. You know, he was the first prince to become a member of the Royal Government Affairs Office, and on the first day he appointed himself a general and led an army of 200,000 to train on the border.
He was originally training soldiers well on the border, but was suddenly recalled to Kaifeng City by a letter from Chu Anping to take over as chief. He was actually very reluctant, but this was his younger brother after all. Now the Emperor of Wei has established a rotation system, and he should obey the arrangement no matter what his position is.
Chu Fan didn't dwell on this matter any further. Instead, he returned to the first question about the railway acceptance and said, "Since Big Brother and Fu Aiqing came together, I believe they have already made a detailed plan."
Chu Zhenglin replied, "Your Majesty, I can't hide it. After the railway is completed, we hope to conduct the first test run of the train during your Majesty's next wedding. With your Majesty taking the lead, this will give the people more confidence in the safety of the railway, and it will also make your Majesty's wedding more grand and meaningful."
Chu Fan pondered for a moment before answering, "Tell me the detailed plan first. I need to know your general plan."
Chu Zhenglin then unfolded a detailed map and began to say, "Minister Fu and I have planned this: when Your Majesty holds his third wedding, Your Majesty will first leave the palace and ride a horse or sedan chair to the Changsun family, then head towards the South City Gate.
They would change trains at the South City Gate and travel along the newly built railway directly to the central square of Kaifeng City, where a grand wedding ceremony would be held. This would not only create a wedding that would attract the attention of the entire city, but also allow the people to witness the convenience and safety of the railway firsthand, thereby boosting their confidence in steam locomotives.
Of course, we have made careful arrangements for security. In addition to court ministers and some foreign envoys, we will also arrange for powerful warriors to provide full protection on the train to ensure the safety of Your Majesty.
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