maidservant

Chapter 145 School Expansion
The imperial court's tax revenue had been good for just two years, but due to bad luck, there hadn't been many opportunities for the people to recover and thrive in the past ten years.

"Lower taxes?!" An elderly voice came from the inner palace: "Since His Majesty ascended the throne, taxes have already been lowered twice. How can the national treasury be replenished if taxes are lowered again!"

“But if ordinary people don’t dare to spend money, the market won’t thrive!” another voice said.

Then there was a long silence, until His Majesty spoke.

“My ministers, look at this time, do you think the people truly have no money, or are they simply unwilling to contribute?”

Even late into the night, the smoke from the bronze crane incense burner swirled with frost-like vapors inside the Chongzheng Hall.

Zongzheng Yangzhao slammed his vermilion-stained imperial brush heavily onto the dragon desk, causing the "Refugee Map" scroll to slip and fall. "Expanding the number of students in the academies is a feasible plan! We must ensure that the sound of reading can be heard under every roof in the capital!"

"Your Majesty!" The Minister of Revenue kowtowed, the tassels on his official hat brushing against the cool gold bricks. "But just repairing the school and purchasing writing materials would require ten thousand taels of silver."

"Ten thousand taels it is." The emperor turned around and glared at the Minister of Revenue. "You are in charge of the national treasury for Dali. Do you think ten thousand taels of silver can shake things up? If so, you're not doing a very good job!"

"Your Majesty, I misspoke! Your Majesty, I misspoke. Ten thousand taels of silver is nothing to my new policies in Dali!"

As soon as the words were spoken, a young voice rang out.

"However, the number of bright children served by official schools is too small, and the children of wealthy families already attend school. Therefore, I suggest that the focus of expanding enrollment and construction be placed on private schools!"

"allow."

"And what about the tutor?"

"Those who fail the imperial examinations but are willing to participate in this new policy will receive a monthly salary of five taels of silver; those who have taught for five consecutive years will be given priority for filling vacancies as registrars in county offices!"

A biting wind howled outside the palace. The elderly minister stroked his gray beard and said in a trembling voice, "If all children from poor families were literate, I fear..."

"What might happen?" Zongzheng Yangzhao abruptly stood up, his black dragon robe sweeping across the sand table. "What might happen—a rebellion? Or the threat to the noble families' libraries?"

His gaze swept over the silent assembled officials. "The deep-seated problems of hereditary succession and the practice of recommending officials—I have long wanted to break them! Tomorrow at 9:00 AM, I want to see the first batch of private school sites selected."

Three days later, before the morning mist had even dissipated from Zhuque Street, the officers and soldiers had already hung the gilded plaque of "Xinzheng Wenshu Academy" on the eaves.

The people were discussing the name. An elderly man, who was weaving a bamboo basket, scoffed, "Another new policy? What hot topic is it this time?" He shook his head and said, "There have been new policies since before I came of age. Later, during the reign of the late emperor, new policies were introduced again. This time, Your Majesty has been on the throne for several years and you're still implementing new policies."

After saying that, he continued weaving the bamboo basket, saying, "Of all the scholars in the world, the most useless are the scholars."

"Brother, you say you can read, so why are you content to weave these straw sandals?" asked a man selling eggs nearby. "Knowing a few words is better than us illiterate commoners! You're not useless at all; you're more sensible than us. Although you didn't pass the imperial examinations, you've always been the one explaining things to us, from news from all directions to official announcements. I've truly envied you for years!"

Upon hearing this, he stopped weaving the bamboo basket, and his expression relaxed as he looked down.

The people on the street were skeptical of the new policy. "It's just another way to test some high-ranking official's ideas on us. If it fails, we ordinary people will suffer. If it succeeds, it will be the officials' achievement, and we probably won't benefit from it."

“Brother, this time, it seems different.” The man turned around and saw that it was Su Yu who spoke.

"Does Young Master Su think the imperial court is on the side of us common people this time?"

"Mutual benefit, our Emperor, a benevolent and wise sage." On a well-located notice board, written in red ink, it read: "The newly built school on Zhongjie Avenue has a limited number of fifty places, all students of good character are welcome."

The yamen runners nearby banged their gongs loudly: "All those who register today will receive an imperial ink stick!"

But still no one signed up.

"Is this a trap set by the imperial court?" Several men whispered among themselves around a charcoal brazier in a tavern on the street corner.

Before the words were finished, a small sedan chair made of green cloth stopped in front of the private school. The steward lifted the curtain, and a young man in brocade robes stepped out, holding the Analects of Confucius. He was the son of a high-ranking official of the third rank.

"Even officials are sending their children here?" The woman selling steamed buns held her son's hand tightly, her rough palms sweating.

She gazed at the young scholar who was writing calligraphy in the private school; the official seal pattern peeking out from his sleeve gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

"Mother, I want to study!" The child suddenly broke free from his mother's hand, but she pulled him back.

The woman touched the cloth bag in her arms, where her husband had hidden the loose change he had saved from hard labor. "Wait a little longer, wait..."

"Madam!" a constable suddenly shouted in front of the private school, "Only three spots left! If you miss it today, you'll have to wait until next spring!"

A stir rose in the crowd. The old vegetable vendor pushed his way to the front, his teeth agape, and asked, "If the children attend these schools, will they really have a chance to enter the Imperial Academy in the future?"

"I heard it from the Minister of Rites myself!" The yamen runner patted his chest, the fish-shaped tally at his waist jingling. "After completing their studies, those who excel can be recommended without regard to precedence. The court has recently increased the number of sons of officials to be recommended, increasing the chances for commoners by 20%!"

A few days later, several private schools had already opened in Kyoto. Young scholars were teaching children to read, and the scent of ink mingled with the warmth of the charcoal fire.

When Yunshan went shopping on the main street, she saw a ragged boy leaning on the windowsill outside the school, his frozen red fingers carefully tracing characters on the snow.

"Come in," the scholar's voice suddenly rang out.

The boy was so startled that he took a half step back. "Please forgive me, sir! I will never eavesdrop again!"

But then the other person handed him a calligraphy brush, saying, "Come tomorrow at dawn, and I'll teach you how to write the character '人' (person)."

"I have no money! I take my leave!" The young man pulled his hand away and hurriedly ran back, but bumped into Yun Shan's arms.

The items Yun Shan was carrying were knocked to the ground. The young man bowed and apologized, then hurriedly helped Yun Shan pick up her things.

Just then, the scholar came over and helped pick up the things. Yun Shan looked up to thank him and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was Su Yu.

"Young Master Su? Oh no, Mr. Su!" Yun Shan nodded in greeting.

"What a coincidence, Manager Song."

The young man saw that the two knew each other and tried to run away, but Su Yu called him back.

"You've been listening for three days straight, and you're just going to run away like this?"