My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 232 Moral Education Theory and Intellectual Education Theory

On February 13th, Su Ze had no choice but to bid farewell to his wife and end his vacation to go to the military training camp.

His wife's family had come to keep him company, and there were wet nurses and maids to serve him at home. Instead, his wife urged Su Ze to go to the yamen.

Sigh, before transmigrating, I was treated like a beast of burden; after transmigrating, I didn't even get paternity leave anymore, so I feel even more like a beast of burden.

Su Ze arrived at the Martial Arts Academy.

In the emperor's decree, some of the vacant school buildings of the Imperial Academy were allocated to the Military Academy as a campus.

Thanks to the generous donations from disgraced nobles such as the Earl of Chengyi, the emperor has raised enough funds, and the Ministry of Works is constructing new school buildings and facilities.

The Military Academy is now a large construction site, so it has taken over a courtyard inside the Imperial College as a temporary office.

Duke Dingguo, Xu Wenbi, has been working here these days.

Upon seeing Su Ze, Xu Wenbi showed a relieved expression and quickly said:
"Su Hanlin, you've finally arrived! The responsibility of overseeing the military affairs can finally be handed over to you!"

Xu Wenbi was initially quite excited, as the emperor himself had appointed him as the director of the military affairs bureau, and he, as the deputy director, was in charge of the bureau's daily affairs.

Judging from the importance attached to him by the emperor and his ministers, Xu Wenbi was well aware that the Military Supervisory Commission would occupy an important position in the future of the Ming Dynasty, and that he, as the first deputy director of the Commissiony Commission, would surely be remembered for eternity.

But once Xu Wenbi actually started to take charge of the affairs of the Military Supervisory Bureau, he realized how hot this job was.

The once dignified Duke of Dingguo now looked haggard, with deep dark circles under his eyes, and he said while holding his forehead:

"A while ago, following the recommendation of Hanlin Su, the Duke of this country ordered people to compile an outline for military training based on the military books presented by the Earl of Dingyuan."

The Earl of Dingyuan was Qi Jiguang. When the news of the establishment of the Military Supervisory Bureau reached Shanxi, Qi Jiguang donated silver and also presented the original manuscript of his military treatise, "Jixiao Xinshu," to the court.

Upon hearing about this, Su Ze sent someone to contact Xu Wenbi, asking him to use this military treatise as a base to compile a teaching syllabus for military academy students.

Xu Wenbi himself had no opinions of his own, so he naturally accepted Su Ze's suggestions in their entirety.

However, when Xu Wenbi's suggestion was submitted to the Ministry of War for deliberation, it was criticized by the Ministry.

Xu Wenbi looked at Su Ze with a wronged expression and said, "Su Hanlin, the Ministry of War said right away that the students of the Military Academy should be taught moral education first. They should first be taught loyalty to the emperor and love for the country before they can be taught military strategy."

The Ministry of War also said, "The essence of teaching is to elucidate the principles of benevolence, righteousness, loyalty, and filial piety, and to perfect the fundamentals of being a person. Without moral education, one's character will be damaged, and customs will be corrupted. Even if one has talent, one will not understand the great principles of loyalty between ruler and subject, father and son. The future will be truly worrying."

Su Ze looked at Xu Wenbi, who recited the objections from the Ministry of War's joint discussion so fluently, which showed how deep his resentment towards the Ministry of War was.

Good heavens, it seems that after failing on the financial issue, the Ministry of War has started focusing on the education issue again.

Faced with this problem, Su Ze also started to have a headache.

The civil officials in the Ministry of War are quite capable.

In fact, this issue is the debate between "moral education" and "intellectual education" in modern education.

In other words, in education, should we prioritize moral education (cultivating moral character) or intellectual education (developing professional skills)?

Of course, no education system should completely reject the other side, but every education system will have its own emphasis.

For example, ancient Chinese education always prioritized moral education, which meant emphasizing the education of moral character. "Benevolence, righteousness, loyalty, and filial piety" were also qualities that were commended by society. In the Han Dynasty, one could even become an official based on their moral character, which was known as "recommending filial and incorrupt officials".

However, the modern education system is basically "intellectual education first".

This is naturally because since modern times, pedagogy has become a systematic science. To popularize basic knowledge among students and cultivate specialists in a certain field, a long period of "intellectual education" is required.

Since people have a limited time to absorb new knowledge, it would be a waste of educational resources to prioritize moral education.

The military academy's curriculum is only two years long. If moral education is also heavily emphasized, it would go against Su Ze's original intention in advocating for the establishment of the military academy.

Like Xu Wenbi, Su Ze also didn't have a good way to deal with the Ministry of War's proposal.

Prioritizing moral education is a deeply ingrained consensus in this land.

Su Ze thought for a moment and said to Xu Wenbi:
"Duke Dingguo, I need to think about this matter some more."

Hearing that Su Ze needed to think, Xu Wenbi knew the matter was tricky, so he quickly said:

"Then this matter will be left to Su Hanlin. You will be in charge of drafting the next draft!"

After saying this, Duke Dingguo Xu Wenbi stood up and said:
"You should keep an eye on the Ministry of Works. His Majesty wants the Military Supervisory Bureau to be completed as soon as possible, so you need to keep a close eye on it."

After saying this, the Duke of Dingguo hurriedly left the official residence.

Su Ze shook his head. This Duke of Dingguo had always been very accurate in his self-positioning. In the original timeline, he rose to the position of Grand Tutor through sacrificial rites. However, he did not dare to show his teeth in the face of the shrewd prime ministers of the Longwan Dynasty and lived a peaceful life as a mascot.

In this world, although he was forced into the position of deputy director of the Martial Arts Bureau, he still retained his cautious and timid nature.

But that’s fine too.

Su Ze thought for a moment and realized that the Ministry of War's firepower was too strong; it was time to bring in more people to share the burden.

Su Ze, carrying the memorial from the Ministry of War, walked towards the palace.

Along the way, people kept congratulating Su Ze.

This was also Luo Wanhua's fault. He insisted on publishing the good news of Su Ze's son's birth in the Yuefu Xinbao, and everyone who knew Su Ze congratulated him.

Fortunately, before leaving home this morning, Zhao Lingxian had someone prepare a lot of brass coins tied with red threads. Su Ze distributed these lucky money coins all the way to the palace, and by the time he arrived at the cabinet, the lucky money coins on him had already glowed.

"Su Zilin requests an audience?"

A sense of foreboding rose from Gao Gong.

Everyone says that Su Ze is ambitious and enterprising, a young official with a strong drive, but Gao Gong knows very well that Su Ze's personality is actually quite similar to that of the chief minister Li!
Every time he submits a memorial, someone from a government office is doomed. Last year, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of War were all tormented by him. But Su Ze himself was either slacking off at the Court of Imperial Sacrifices or at the newspaper office. Even the "New Yuefu Gazette" is now being managed by Luo Wanhua!

A guy who would rather lie down than sit up, and whose wife has just given birth, is bound to have a bad time seeing him.

Gao Gong frowned, but still had Guo Zhun, a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat, inform Su Ze to wait for him in a side hall of the cabinet.

"Su Hanlin, Grand Secretary Gao still has a few more memorials that require your approval. Please wait a moment."

Looking at the busy Guo Zhun, Su Ze suddenly thought of his son.

It seems that the emperor bestowed upon himself the position of Zhongshu Sheren, right?

If one's son lacks the talent for the imperial examinations, then he will end up like Guo Zhun, serving as a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat.
That makes sense. Wasn't Guo Zhun the son of the former Grand Secretary?
Thinking about it this way, the rewards Emperor Longqing bestowed upon himself were indeed quite generous.

Unlike the Song Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty had a very strict system for granting hereditary titles. Not only were there regulations on the number of titles granted, but there were also standards for the officials who were granted hereditary titles. The Six Ministries could also reject those who did not meet the requirements.

Therefore, when emperors normally rewarded their confidants, they would usually give them a hereditary position as a commander or centurion in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Emperor Longqing, however, gave his father-in-law, Marquis of Wuqing Li Wei's, sons the hereditary position of commander.

In the Ming Dynasty, being granted a hereditary official position was, by unspoken rules, equivalent to a high-ranking official at the level of a Grand Secretary. Su Ze's "illustrious reputation" over the years also prevented the Six Ministries from rejecting his application, which allowed Su Ze to achieve the status of a "fifth-rank hereditary official."

After a while, Gao Gong finally arrived at the side hall.

Su Ze hurriedly bowed to Gao Gong, but Gao Gong extended his hand.

Su Ze was stunned for a moment, and after much effort, he finally found a lucky coin in his money pouch. Gao Gong then said with satisfaction:
"Zilin came because of the Military Academy, right?"

Su Ze nodded repeatedly, and Gao Gong said:
"The Ministry of War's proposal has some merit. Prioritizing moral education before teaching military strategy is a sound approach to governing the country."

Upon hearing Gao Gong's words, Su Ze immediately replied:

"Prime Minister, other Grand Secretaries may say such things, but when you say it like this, where does that leave in terms of practical learning?"

"What does this have to do with practical learning?"

Su Ze immediately said:

"I am not against moral education, but the military academy only has a two-year curriculum. If moral education is emphasized throughout, how can we cultivate officers and generals? I fear that those who are trained in this way, who are only good at talking about morality, will delay military operations when they enter the army."

Gao Gong frowned. He certainly thought Su Ze's words made sense, but as a Confucian scholar-official, he still valued moral education.

Seeing that Gao Gong was wavering, Su Ze said:
“Master, military strategy and military affairs are also practical knowledge.”

"To anticipate the enemy's moves from a thousand miles away and to calculate the hearts of men in a temple—is this not true learning?"

"The Prime Minister once wrote an article in the Yuefu Xinbao, saying that to promote practical learning, we should abandon debate and political arguments and focus our minds on 'doing practical work.' If the Military Supervisory Commission follows the Ministry of War's consensus and emphasizes moral education over practical education, how can we promote practical learning?"

After hearing Su Ze's words, Gao Gong also became wary.

Su Ze is right. Military strategy and military affairs can indeed be classified as practical knowledge, and warfare is the most pragmatic discipline.

If it works, it works; if it doesn't, it doesn't. The battlefield will give the final judgment.

Gao Gong was determined to promote practical education. If the Ministry of War used "moral education theory" to suppress the military students' study of military strategy and affairs, then tomorrow Confucian scholars could also use the same reason to suppress practical learning.

However, Gao Gong was a scholar-official, and he always received an education that prioritized moral education.

Su Ze continued:

“Master, I am not against moral education, but the world today is undergoing a great transformation that is unprecedented in history. It is only natural that people’s hearts are in turmoil.”

"Minister, please consider the changes in the capital since His Majesty ascended the throne."

Gao Gong was momentarily dazed. He recalled the scene before the Longqing Emperor ascended the throne. At that time, the pirate raids in the southeast had just been quelled, but the political struggles in the court continued, and the capital still had to guard against the threat from the north.

At that time, there were no open ports, and the capital would experience food shortages and price increases in winter, making the capital a quiet and deserted place during the Lunar New Year.

However, during the Lantern Festival this year, Gao Gong also stood on the city wall and saw the jubilant people. The entire capital was ablaze with lights, and the emperor, his officials, and the common people celebrated all night long.

All sorts of goods appeared on the shelves in the capital: wool from the northern grasslands, sugar cane from overseas, spices from Southeast Asia—many of which were originally expensive, ordinary people could now buy some to take home for the New Year.

However, as the Grand Secretary, Gao Gong also realized the change in public sentiment.

At Su Ze's suggestion, a separate Civil Affairs Division was established within the Zhenfu Division to handle economic cases among the people.

Last year, the number of civil disputes in the capital city was more than the total number of criminal and civil cases in previous years combined.

Local lawsuits related to the economy are also increasing, as are lawsuits between brothers and relatives over money. Meanwhile, more and more scholars in the capital are engaging in other businesses, and with the support of newspapers, scholars from all walks of life are making their voices heard.

With the flourishing of culture, decadent music became even more popular. In the capital, restaurants that spent lavishly opened one after another. The Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) prospered even more after abolishing the registration of musicians. Some respectable women even took the initiative to engage in "lowly professions" in order to make a living.

Su Ze's phrase "a great change unprecedented in history" truly resonated with Gao Gong.

Perhaps I am indeed standing at the juncture of a new era, then how will future generations evaluate this history?

The Longqing Reign?

Gao Gong vaguely felt that perhaps even evaluations were insufficient to encompass this era.

As the driver of the Ming Dynasty, Gao Gong himself had no idea where the Ming Dynasty was headed.

She looked up at Su Ze. Did Su Ze know?

Gao Gong shook his head inwardly. If he himself couldn't see the future clearly, how could this young disciple see it clearly?
Su Ze continued:
“Master, one cannot spend one’s entire life in the school.”

After saying this, Gao Gong was also stunned for a moment.

Su Ze continued:

"To rectify people's hearts and minds, we must change customs and habits, starting with rectifying the four classes of morality and establishing new morality that is suitable for the present era."

"Moreover, most of those who come to study at the military academy are already mentally mature, so intellectual education should be the priority, followed by practical skills and practical knowledge."

Gao Gong remained silent.

Su Ze's theory, along with his theory of morality based on the four classes of people and his advocacy of practical learning, forms a complete theoretical loop, which is indeed a feasible solution to the problem.

Could it be that Su Ze had planned all of this long ago?

If that's the case, then my disciple's vision is a bit too far-sighted.

Seeing that Gao Gong hadn't spoken yet, Su Ze assumed that Gao Gong hadn't been persuaded, so he continued:
“Master, I believe that if students of the Martial Academy are under the age of fourteen, they should not enroll in the Martial Academy first. Instead, a preparatory course for the Martial Academy can be set up at the Imperial Academy, where they can receive moral education first.”

"After you turn fourteen, you will enter the martial arts academy to study."

"In this way, there will be no problem of a lack of moral education."

Gao Gong then nodded and said:

"Write down what you said today in a memorial and I will have it discussed in the cabinet."

Then Gao Gong said to Su Ze:

“You can talk to Grand Secretary Zhao. He also has some dissatisfaction with the Ministry of War. Your theory is also related to the ‘Daily Life Way’ of the Taizhou School. He might be interested in it.”

Su Ze understood Gao Gong's implication: he was being asked to persuade Zhao Zhenji. With the support of Zhao Zhenji, a cabinet minister with considerable influence in military affairs, his theory of intellectual education would be more likely to be approved.

Just as Su Ze was preparing to return to draft his memorial, Gao Gong suddenly asked:

"Your theory of intellectual education is quite interesting. So, could we establish more practical academies to cultivate specialists?"

(End of this chapter)