843 Stance, Choice
There are certainly people at White Deer Academy who want to curry favor with them, and not everyone there is there solely to learn about governance; the headmaster is well aware of this.
After a moment's thought, he said softly, "Originally, I also hoped they could immediately take charge of things independently. But now it seems this matter cannot be rushed. Let them gain experience in the city for a while, test them, and if they meet your expectations, then it won't be too late to release them!"
Yuan Cangming nodded slightly, "In the counties and towns below Xuzhou, these days, following my senior brother's orders, we will clear out bandits, mountain demons, and open up roads."
They also arranged for itinerant merchants to patrol and conduct undercover investigations, including in villages and towns below, to collect various mountain products. This served three purposes: first, to understand if each county, town, and village had any local specialties; second, to promote the flow of industry; and third, through regular collection and trade, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the general situation in villages, counties, and towns.
Mr. Wang nodded, and after a moment said in a deep voice, "The day before yesterday, I also received a letter from the lady, saying that the lord intends to take over Nanhe Prefecture, probably around this time."
Originally, I wanted to wait until these junior disciples had gained some experience before sending them out, but now I'm afraid I need to reconsider.
Adult rules may not be acceptable to everyone, and some rules may even infringe on the interests of some people. However, some junior apprentices cannot understand or accept them.
It will take more time!
Mr. Wang got up, looked up at the window, and saw the bright moon. It seemed to never change. It was like this during the reign of the Holy Emperor, before, now, and who knows what the future holds, but it will probably be the same!
She said softly, "The supplies that my junior brother prepared these past few days still need to be prepared more. I hope your journey will be successful. I also want to see if the path you are taking is what I hope for."
Let's see what this path might bring, what it might change!
With a soft word, Yuan Cangming nodded slightly and solemnly said, "Don't worry, senior brother, I have made all the necessary preparations, enough for the needs of ten thousand people."
Moreover, taxes have been collected monthly during this period, and although not as frequently as in other cities, the amount is still considerable.
With a slight sigh, it seemed as if he saw the complexities of human nature.
He said softly, "Some people were greedy and took the opportunity to accept silver, while others took the opportunity to embezzle silver. It's really hard to say what people are thinking."
The beheading has already served as a deterrent; this kind of action will certainly not deter everyone.
I'm also thinking that it might be a good thing that Xiao Wu and the other three left. Otherwise, if this happened again next month, and Xiao Wu and the others argued with me and I had to teach them a lesson, enlighten them, and make them confess their sins, what would I do?
Now that our ideals clash, it's better for us to part ways. I hope they can all find their own paths, uphold their ideals, and see who is on the right track!
Yuan Cangming said softly, a hint of sadness in his eyes. These former classmates, after only a few days away, have such different ideas. Perhaps, as his senior brother said, they were never meant to be on the same path.
Perhaps, it's just that there are few disputes within the academy, and no specific incidents have occurred, so the conflict has been masked!
His thoughts drifted back to the academy, where those with decent or exceptional talent could learn its techniques, swordplay, and the art of righteousness and peace!
Moreover, the dean is generous and kind. In the academy, all the disciples are of good character and can learn without any restrictions!
It seems that no one pays particular attention to it; it varies from person to person.
Even so, cultivation levels vary from person to person. Those from wealthy families will always be one step ahead. While the scholar's ambition and profound thoughts are important, various elixirs, spiritual materials, precious swords, and treasured knives also provide more means.
As he pondered, he unconsciously shook his head slightly. Wasn't he also one of the favored ones? Otherwise, the dean wouldn't have let him come first, and bring such a precious item.
Moreover, the academy also deals with the mundane matters of tea, rice, oil, and salt. Although some families own their own fields and forests, they still accept tuition fees from students. Some families with better financial conditions will even give an extra sum of money for the academy!
Not to mention other elixirs, the academy teaches martial arts and cultivation, the Seven Gentlemen's Forms, and even the Sword Strategy Manual, which are not kept secret. However, other ordinary martial arts are not easy to cultivate, let alone the Sword Strategy Manual.
Just like himself, he was also proficient in the Sword Strategy Technique, but unfortunately he was unable to gather and store Qi, and in the end he failed to live up to the Dean's good intentions!
Moreover, there are spiritual rice and elixirs, but the academy can't provide too much. Opening the mountain gates to the path of cultivation is not easy either, so how can we ask for more?
Don't you see, in ordinary aristocratic families, once you enter, you're essentially sold into servitude. You have to stay for a full year before you can pass the examination, and then you have to take the exam again after three years. Then they'll let you cultivate separately, and it's not even the family's advanced cultivation method.
As he pondered this, he couldn't help but shake his head slightly. Among the academy, there were also people who went on to serve in government, either as family members and mostly in county-level positions, or in remote towns where they needed to protect themselves.
A scholar wields his sword at night!
The path is created by oneself, but even so, one has seen many deaths and disappearances, as if they happened yesterday.
It is possible that he could be appointed as a county magistrate, registrar, or inspector, but it would be difficult for him to take a leading position!
Especially after the Holy Emperor, who shared power with various regions, the number of positions became even smaller.
Aside from the area within the royal city, the land where the royal city is located, encompassing the two prefectures, is vast and is also the fiefdom of the royal city, a place that scholars from all over the world aspire to!
There's still a sliver of a chance at becoming a county magistrate or prefect, but the later the time goes on, the more the Wang family monopolizes these positions. Moreover, the capital city has many private schools and academies, making it a coveted place for scholars from all over the country!
In other places, there was also a unified imperial examination system: the top three in the town, the top three in the county, the top three in the prefecture, and then the top three in the state!
Even with layers of selection, without a powerful backer, it's still difficult to resist the entrenched interests of scions of wealthy and powerful families.
Even if they are elected, they will only be in assistant positions and will not be allowed to govern a region on their own!
After the Holy Emperor, it became increasingly difficult to obtain an official position, especially after ten years. After the period of recuperation and development, there were too many people and not enough positions, making it difficult to divide the spoils. Unless one was exceptionally talented, it was difficult to be given important responsibilities.
Of course, this is the helplessness of people from humble backgrounds, excluding those from families. For family members, internal selection is much easier, and it all depends on their connections, not their own ability to decide.
It's just that if a relative of the empress or a collateral branch performs well, they can secure a good position to assist the direct line and gain merit in supporting the emperor. They will also be rewarded handsomely!
For relatives of the maternal relatives or collateral branches, other paths involve more martial arts training or immortal cultivation. Unless one has exceptional talent or their family is bankrupt, or a gambler is taking a chance, their fate depends entirely on luck.
Among the side branches, those with above-average abilities are the most popular, while those with below-average or above-average abilities find it difficult to obtain many resources, and it is not impossible for them to be secretly suppressed!
For example, if an old farmer in the mountains has a child who becomes a minor official in the government, a subordinate of an inspector, or a river cleaner, he feels that his ancestors have protected him. How much more so for others.
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