Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Selecting International Students
Lin Xun finally chose Lin Si's afternoon tea time and said cautiously.
"Your Majesty, I...I still want to take the college entrance examination and study at Anjing University."
During the five years since Lin Si ascended the throne, tremendous changes have taken place, especially in people's thinking.
Everyone in the palace has his or her own things to do.
Needless to say, the eunuchs and palace maids who stayed behind were responsible for raising Lin Ying.
The wives and concubines left behind by Lin You have now begun to do their old job and study music at the instruction of His Majesty.
It’s just that in the past they played musical instruments to please others, but now they play them simply to produce better-sounding music and pass it on to future generations.
Even Lin Ying had to leave the palace every day to attend kindergarten.
She was the only one in the entire palace who had nothing to do.
This kind of idleness made Lin Xun feel uneasy and frightened, even though she had now taught herself elementary and middle school courses.
Lin Si naturally wouldn't refuse. "This is a good thing. If you're taking the college entrance exam this year, there won't be many months left. You need to prepare well."
Lin Xun said anxiously, "I'm worried that my identity might make it inconvenient."
"Don't worry about that. Just change your name and someone will help you with your household registration. Since you rarely leave the palace anyway, not many people know you. Just keep Aying's last name and change it to Zhao Xun."
Lin Xun was overjoyed. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Lin Si asked someone to bring another bowl of sweet water and told Lin Xun not to leave yet.
Lin Si suddenly realized that her younger sister was taking the college entrance examination. As an older sister, shouldn't she first ask her younger sister what major she likes and which direction she wants to study, and then give her some advice and analysis?
The sweet water was quickly served, and Lin Si, realizing that he was the elder, pushed the roasted grass jelly in front of Lin Xun.
"This is the sweet water that Doctor Wang has just developed. Try it."
Lin Xun looked down at a wide-mouthed white porcelain bowl. A wooden spoon sat within it, and atop it sat something that swayed slightly like a piece of black jade. A few soft, cooked red beans were sprinkled on top, and the bowl was garnished with seasonal fruit.
Lin Xun scooped a spoonful into his mouth, and then ate the second spoonful.
So delicious!
Lin Si finally spoke up at this time: "Since you want to apply to the University, what major do you want to study?"
Lin Xun's cheeks flushed slightly as he stirred the grass jelly with a spoon. "My sister is quite interested in agronomy."
Lin Si didn't expect Lin Xun to like agronomy, so he asked, "Of these subjects, why did you choose agronomy?"
Lin Xun finished a bowl of roasted grass jelly, her tone a little embarrassed. "I am a member of the royal family, and I hope to share your majesty's worries. I hope to increase grain production and ensure that the people have enough to eat."
"But agriculture isn't something you can learn by just reading a few books. You grew up in the palace and don't know the hardships of farming. Can you endure it?"
Lin Xun's gaze now grew firm. "I can certainly handle this, Your Majesty, please rest assured."
Seeing that Lin Xun was so determined in her choice, Lin Si didn't say anything. He just told her to make good use of the time to review well in the next few months and let her go.
It was a coincidence that Lin Xun came to talk to her about the college entrance examination during her afternoon tea time. Later, Liang Nian came to see Lin Si with letters from Xiping and Nanzhao.
The priority of the letter was very high, so Liang Nian did not dare to open it and check it rashly, so he had to come to see Lin Si immediately.
Lin Si first looked at the one from Nanzhao and then the one from Xiping.
The contents of these two letters really made her laugh.
The content is surprisingly similar, and the purpose is the same.
They wanted to send people to study abroad in Da'an, and the tuition fees would be set by Da'an.
Lin Si briefly told Liang Nian the contents of the letter.
As for why the two letters arrived so close in time, it was simply because both sides had spies. No one knew who had the idea first, but the other side quickly got wind of it and acted accordingly.
The first country to come up with the idea of studying abroad should be Nanzhao, and it was most likely Meng Nuo who proposed it.
In this case, it means that the spies in Xiping have received the news.
Lin Si thought of Xiping’s very poor reconnaissance and intelligence methods and the very unprofessional spies.
Can’t we even defend against Nanzhao?
Lin Si couldn't help but think of two words to describe the years of struggle between the two countries.
There was a fight at the village entrance, with low-level fighters exchanging blows.
Liang Nian pondered, "What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Lin Si propped his cheek on his hand and drummed his fingers on the table. "Of course I'd be happy to rip them off and use the money for education. I'm even thinking of opening a girls' school somewhere."
Liang Nian nodded. "I think so too."
Lin Si continued, "However, Xiping has two fewer quotas than Nanzhao. Nanzhao sent us a letter before, so we have to show some appreciation."
Liang Nian added, "The price has to be higher than Nanzhao's."
Xiping had previously pushed the matter of the spies onto the merchants of Xiping, saying that the merchants of Xiping had no choice but to resort to this measure because they wanted to learn textile technology.
Lin Si naturally ignored Xiping's nonsense.
Now is the golden age of Da'an's development. Recovering Xiping and Nanzhao is not currently in her plan. War is costly and laborious. The people of Da'an now need to live and work in peace and contentment. It will take a few more years.
However, if these international students follow the most standard study method, three years in elementary school, one and a half years in middle school, and three years in university, it will take them seven and a half years to complete their studies.
At that time, Nanzhao and Xiping should have been smoothly incorporated into the territory of Da'an. In this way, these international students could take up jobs as soon as they graduated, which was very suitable.
After Lin Si thought it over, he began to explain the content of Liang Nian's reply.
"You can write whatever you want about the rest. Nanzhao has two more quotas than Xiping, and there are also requirements for the gender ratio of the international students sent. Girls must account for at least half."
Liang Nian nodded. "Your Majesty, I will take my leave."
*
The reason why Meng Nuo came up with the idea of sending people to study abroad was because doctors such as Shen Youer came to Nanzhao to carry out a one-on-one assistance program.
They are all doctors, but the doctors in Da'an are too professional. In comparison, the witch doctors in Nanzhao are just playing house.
This even made Monno wonder that those people cured by the witch doctor in the past were really just lucky luck.
With a very skeptical attitude, Meng Nuo asked Shen Youer very politely.
Seeing Shen Youer's hesitation, Meng Nuo said, "I want to hear Madam Shen tell the truth."
Seeing this, Shen Youer simply spoke directly. "Your Highness, there is something called immunity in the human body. Some diseases can be cured by one's own immunity."
Meng Nuo understood instantly. "Thank you, Miss Shen, for answering my questions."
Then Meng Nuo began to think not only about Nanzhao's medical skills, but also about Nanzhao's current education and talent problems.
If we want Nanzhao to become better and better, or even stronger than Xiping, we cannot maintain the status quo.
We must send someone to Da'an to study.
However, Meng Nuo did not expect that her thoughts would be discovered by Xiping. She had no idea who was the spy, but this did not prevent her from investigating the matter thoroughly.
Although Xiping knew about this and the other party made the same request, which made Mengnuo very disgusted, fortunately, Daan's approach gave Mengnuo some comfort.
The price in Xiping will be much higher than that in Nanzhao, and there are two fewer places than in Nanzhao.
Meng Nuo finally felt a little more balanced and began to select people to study abroad.
Da'an gave Nanzhao seven places.
Da'an also stipulated that the number of girls must account for at least half of the total number, and seven was simply not enough to achieve half, so the only distribution was four girls and three boys.
Meng Nuo pondered for a long time at the Princess's residence. She decided that those who went abroad shouldn't just be children of officials; commoners could also be chosen. Commoners' children, who returned from overseas studies without complicated in-law relationships, would be more useful to her.
Officials who have dealings with her cousin must not send their children to run for election. Otherwise, if these people go to Da'an to learn knowledge and then come back to stand on her cousin's side, she will lose more than she gains.
So Monno began to select children of the right age, especially girls.
She first asked the maids in her house to select the more intelligent and clever girls, both officials and commoners. The four girls finally selected were all personally examined by Meng Nuo.
As for the selection of boys, it is even simpler.
Such problems also occurred in Xiping.
Daan gave them five places.
And how can we make sure that there are half girls and half boys? There can only be three girls and two boys.
Most of the Xiping officials were dissatisfied and could not understand why Da'an made such a request.
An official from Xiping then said, "This Da'an has so many requirements. They separate boys and girls, and they even have age requirements. And the fees are so high. I think we don't need to join in this fun."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Xiping has powerful cavalry. We are not worried about an attack from Da'an or Nanzhao."
"What you said is true. Nanzhao has already done this. If we don't follow suit, won't we fall behind Nanzhao?"
When Nanzhao was mentioned, the other officials fell into deep thought.
If Nanzhao really learned something from Da'an, it would be very disadvantageous to them.
After all, in Xiping's view, even if he won the whole world, as long as he lost to Nanzhao, he would be completely defeated.
The officials argued endlessly, and some even asked, if they really wanted to send people to Da'an to study, then where would these three girls come from?
Xiping follows the traditional system of men farming and women weaving. Not only are there little girls who can read, but even many officials' daughters are illiterate.
The daughters of officials have at least seen some of the world, but the daughters of ordinary people know nothing.
One official even spoke out directly. "I'm telling you, you're all talking without thinking. The students will inevitably be chosen from among the children of officials. I'm afraid you wouldn't want your own daughters to be chosen."
"You, you, you, how dare you slander us like this? If my daughter was chosen, for Xiping and for His Majesty, how could I not be willing?"
"Come on, your daughter is only fifteen years old. She won't be chosen at all. She's already over the age limit."
The officials kept talking at the same time, and finally the Emperor of Xiping got fed up with it.
The young emperor ascended the throne at the age of thirteen and has been on the throne for seven years now.
He pondered for a long time before finally speaking slowly. "My dear ministers, there is no need to discuss this further. I have already made the decision. The Ministry of Rites will quickly compile a list of suitable officials' children for selection."
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