My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 313 A Bad Intention Turned Good

Lin Bingzheng never expected that these educational officials would do such a thing.

He didn't understand what these educational officials were thinking either.

The county-level examinations were also highly competitive. Sending these bright but poor students to the Imperial Academy's preparatory course was a way to curry favor with the local gentry, making it easier for their children to pass the county-level examinations and become scholars.

These poor students, without family support, were already struggling to even get an education, and they couldn't disobey the orders of the local education officials. They had no choice but to obediently go to the capital to study.

Lin Bingzheng felt sorry for Su Ze, but he couldn't do without his subordinates while carrying out his work in Shanxi. After thinking about it, he could only send a letter to Su Ze to explain the reason.

In any case, he had already tested the knowledge of these children and they met the admission standards for the Imperial Academy's preparatory course, so he had not failed Su Hanlin's trust.

The same thing happened in Shandong.

Compared to Lin Bingzheng, Tu Zemin, the governor of Dengzhou and Laizhou, had a closer relationship with Su Ze.

He quickly received the news from his subordinates, then detained the children and sent a message to Su Ze via carrier pigeon.

However, Su Ze's reaction was also strange. He thanked Tu Zemin for his sense of responsibility and asked him to safely deliver these children to the capital.

As Su Ze had predicted, the same thing happened in Shuntian Prefecture.

Su Ze sneered inwardly. Any reform involving the imperial examination system would naturally be rejected by the old intellectual class.

Just as when students were selected to study abroad in the late Qing Dynasty, powerful local families did their best to prevent their children from going abroad to study or attending modern schools.

However, it wasn't until the late Qing Dynasty implemented the New Policies and granted official positions to these students who had studied abroad and graduates of modern schools that these old-fashioned intellectuals realized what was happening.

By then, a new intellectual class will have already formed, and their opposition to reform will be futile.

Historical changes are also times when the cards are reshuffled.
-
Just as Su Ze was busy preparing for the Imperial College's preparatory course,

Zhang Jingxiu also spent the New Year at home. Amid the reluctant gazes of his younger siblings, he bid farewell to his father, Zhang Juzheng, and returned to Laizhou Port with naval officers, including Admiral Li Chao.

Zhang Jingxiu was originally going to return to the Zhigu ship, but after he returned to Laizhou, he was summoned by the naval admiral Li Chao.

"I heard you're a scholar who passed the imperial examination?"

Zhang Jingxiu was a little nervous. Could it be that Li Chao had heard the news in the capital and knew that he was the son of the Grand Secretary of the current dynasty?

However, Zhang Jingxiu did not dare to deceive his superiors.

Li Chao said:

"Greetings, scholar! Our navy needs people who can read!"

"I summoned you here today because of the Naval Academy."

Naval Academy?

Before the new year, the Maritime Training Institute was upgraded to the Naval Academy, and the emperor specially allocated 10,000 silver dollars from the imperial treasury to expand the school buildings and recruit teachers and students.

Li Chao said:

"Two new ships were launched before the New Year. Now our navy is short of officers and sailors, so I would like to ask you to teach at the naval academy."

"Should I go teach?"

Li Chao said:

"There's nothing we can do about it; you know how short-staffed the navy is."

Zhang Jingxiu sighed as well, agreeing that it was indeed true.

It can only be said that the Ming Dynasty's production capacity was too exaggerated.

Since the resumption of maritime trade, the number of ships along the coast has increased rapidly.

This growth can be described as exponential.

Before the opening of the sea, most of the ocean-going vessels along the coast were foreign ships.

However, in Laizhou Port now, seven out of ten ships belong to the Ming Dynasty.

As the number of ships increases, the demand for seafarers is also surging.

The Maritime Training Institute was originally established by the Dengzhou-Laizhou Maritime Trade Office to train maritime personnel for both military and civilian use.

At that time, the Ming Dynasty's navy was just being established, so officers were recruited from the Maritime Training Institute.

The Emperor has now allocated funds to upgrade the Maritime Training Institute into a Naval Academy.

Talent is of paramount importance, so as soon as Li Chao returned to Laizhou Port, he began to build a naval academy.

First, the address of the school.

The original location of the maritime training center was in the dock area of ​​Laizhou City. At that time, it was to facilitate enrollment and to make it easier for students to familiarize themselves with shipping operations at the dock.

However, building a military academy in the dock area is not very convenient and is difficult to manage.

Since they were going to start over anyway, Admiral Li Chao and Pacification Commissioner Chen Hao simply moved the naval academy to an island outside Laizhou.

Li Chao wasn't very educated, so he simply named it Penglai Island and had the Ming Dynasty navy transport craftsmen and building materials to the island to begin building a school.

The original maritime training school was returned to the Dengzhou-Laizhou Maritime Trade Office by Li Chao and converted into a training school for merchant ship crew members.

However, as a result, many teachers and students of the Maritime Training Institute stayed at the Maritime Trade Office's school. The reason was simple: not everyone wanted to join the navy.

Li Chao was furious about this and filed a lawsuit against the superior of the Maritime Training Institute, the Dengzhou-Laizhou Maritime Trade Office.

However, the Maritime Trade Office of Dengzhou and Laizhou was not to be trifled with, and after a series of lawsuits, the navy did not gain any advantage.

In fact, Li Chao himself knew he was in the wrong. The navy had originally borrowed resources from the Maritime Trade Office, and now they wanted to seize their teachers. After losing, he didn't argue anymore.

However, this meant that the naval academy would face a shortage of talent, which meant it would have to start all over again.

The students are fine; the Ming Dynasty Navy offers good benefits, and last year they just patrolled the Ryukyu Islands, Penghu, and Luzon to establish their authority. With the added publicity in the newspapers, the naval academy should be able to recruit students as long as it recruits.

But the teacher's problem is more difficult to solve.

After much deliberation, Li Chao realized that Zhang Jingxiu was the only scholar among the naval personnel who had passed the imperial examinations. So he summoned Zhang Jingxiu and asked him to teach at the newly established naval academy.

Zhang Jingxiu never expected that after going around in circles, he would be assigned to teach at the Naval Academy again.

But Li Chao did more than that.

He added:

"You are an invaluable talent in our navy. It would be a waste to only have you teach."

"This Governor and the Imperial Envoy have also discussed this. Our Naval Academy should follow the precedent set by the Military Affairs Bureau and request His Majesty to serve as the Director of the Naval Academy."

"The Governor will serve as the Deputy Supervisor, and the Imperial Envoy will serve as the Dean of Education."

"In addition, following the old system of the current school, we will appoint a teaching director, and you will be the one to take on this role."

Zhang Jingxiu never expected that after his trip to the capital, he would become the head of the naval academy.

Zhang Jingxiu, the head of the teaching department, also knew that many schools were now imitating the martial arts academy.

The principal of a school is usually a prominent figure in society, who holds the position but does not take on any specific duties.

The deputy supervisor is the actual administrator of school affairs.

The dean of academic affairs is the third person in charge of school rules and daily discipline.

However, for the sake of daily teaching, a teaching director will be appointed to oversee teaching affairs. Li Chao stepped down from his seat, patted Zhang Jingxiu on the shoulder, and said:

"Since the navy is newly established, some things can be done first. If you encounter any difficulties, you can come to me and Envoy Chen."

Just as Zhang Jingxiu was about to speak, Li Chao added, "But don't bring up the matter of the instructors. Neither the governor nor the envoy can do anything about it."

After Li Chao finished speaking, Zhang Jingxiu also shut up.

So, he's just a figurehead as the head of the teaching department!
Li Chao probably realized that what he had done was somewhat unfair, and scratched his head, saying:
"As you know, there's a shortage of talent at sea right now, but the imperial court is also facing a shortage. Perhaps our Ming Dynasty navy shouldn't cause any more trouble for the court."

When Zhang Jingxiu returned home, he thought about it for a while and finally opened the paper.

Even a skilled cook can't cook without rice. What can you do in this situation?
The only option left was to ask his father, a high-ranking official, for help.
-
The capital city, the military supervisory office.

"Class monitor, when will the neighbors stop? They're making such a racket all day long, can't a person read a book in peace?!"

Xia Zhongxiao, a member of the second cavalry squad of the military supervisor, complained to Li Rusong beside him.

Shortly after the last military parade, the Ministry of War came to the Military Supervisory Commission to conduct the final assessment. Li Rusong, who excelled in both the military and academic tests, received a commendation from the Ministry of War.

Xia Zhongxiao passed the martial arts test at the end of the year, but failed the military strategy exam.

So I didn't get a break during the entire Spring Festival holiday, and stayed in the dormitory every day to study and prepare for the make-up exam.

After the two tests, the nobles all went home for the New Year, and the students of the Imperial Academy who lived near the capital also returned home. Li Rusong originally wanted to go back, but his father wrote to him, telling him not to waste time on the road and to stay in the capital to study hard.

Li Rusong dared not disobey his father's orders and had no choice but to stay in the military training dormitory for the New Year.

Fortunately, everyone was young, so it was lively when we got together.

On New Year's Eve, Duke Dingguo Xu Wenbi also visited the students left behind by the military academy on behalf of the emperor, and brought wine and dishes bestowed by the emperor.

During the Spring Festival, the Imperial Military Academy also allowed its students to go out. Li Rusong experienced the hustle and bustle of the Spring Festival in the capital, and his longing for his hometown lessened considerably.

However, the good days for the martial arts students ended a few days ago.

In preparation for the enrollment of students for the preparatory course at the Imperial College, the Imperial College began a major construction project a few days ago to rebuild the school buildings.

Now Wu Jiansheng also understood what karma and retribution meant, and that the consequences were inevitable.

Last year, they practiced day and night for martial arts demonstrations, which caused the students from the neighboring Imperial College to protest. At that time, Xia Zhongxiao was the most arrogant student from the Imperial College who stood up to mock them.

But right after the New Year, the Imperial College began a major construction project.

Li Rusong wanted to laugh, but seeing Xia Zhongxiao's pained expression, he could only offer words of comfort:

"I heard that the Imperial Academy's preparatory course was established at the request of the Dean of Studies, which is a major event for the court. You'll have to bear with it."

Upon hearing the words "Dean of Academic Affairs," Xia Zhongxiao dared not complain anymore.

Among the military academy's staff, besides the director and deputy director, Su Ze, the dean of studies, holds the highest position.

Wu Jiansheng both respected and feared him, and dared not disobey the school rules set by Su Ze.

Xia Zhongxiao read the book again, but he just couldn't continue. He could only slump over the table and say, "Why should we, who lead troops into battle, read these worthless books?"

Xia Zhongxiao put down his book, pulled Li Rusong aside, and said, "Class Commander, where do you think we'll be assigned?"

After the New Year, military students will be assigned to temporary posts in the Beijing garrison for three months. This was announced by officials from the Ministry of War when they came to assess them before the New Year.

Xia Zhongxiao had been thinking about this matter since before the Lunar New Year.

Li Rusong said coldly:

"The instructor said that if you fail the make-up exam, you can't go to your post."

Xia Zhongxiao felt as if he had been doused with cold water, and picked up the book again.

Li Rusong smiled, picked up his book and left the schoolhouse, but was stopped by someone just as he stepped out.

"Brother Zimao."

Upon hearing this title, Li Rusong knew who it was.

Throughout the entire military academy, everyone in the second squad called him Squad Leader, while others addressed him by his full name.

The only person who addressed him formally by his courtesy name was Zhu Shikun, the squad leader of the cavalry department.

It really was Zhu Shikun.

Li Rusong stepped forward and greeted him.

The two classes were competing, but Zhu Shikun was the younger brother of the Duke of Cheng, and someone his father had instructed him not to offend.

"Brother Zimao, what do you think about the temporary posting?"

Li Rusong said calmly, "Zhu Banzheng, I will naturally follow the Ministry of War's arrangements."

Zhu Shikun looked at Li Rusong, then said in a low voice, "Brother Zimao, you also come from a military family, so you should be familiar with the situation of the Beijing Garrison, right?"

Li Rusong remained cautiously silent. He didn't know Zhu Shikun's purpose in coming to see him, so naturally he wouldn't reveal his attitude in advance.

This is also a "military strategy" that Li Rusong has learned and summarized during this period: only by acting after the enemy has acted can one gain the upper hand.

Seeing that Li Rusong remained silent, Zhu Shikun had no choice but to express his own position first.

“Brother Zimao, the Beijing Garrison is riddled with problems. The Ministry of War sent us to the Beijing Garrison on temporary assignments so that they could see the true situation of the Beijing Garrison through our eyes and find ways to solve its problems.”

"I have discussed this matter with my elder brother. We must report any misconduct we discover during this temporary posting to the court truthfully!"

Li Rusong knew that Zhu Shikun's elder brother, Duke Chengguo Zhu Shitai, also served as the commander of the Rear Army Commandery, which was one of the nominal commanders of the Beijing Garrison.

Among the military supervisors, many of the family members of meritorious officials also held positions in the Beijing garrison.

It seems that these nobles have reached a tacit agreement to no longer protect the corrupt practices within the Beijing garrison.

What exactly did Zhu Shikun mean by telling him this?
Is it a gesture of goodwill towards me?

Is the intention to force even the sons of soldiers to expose the malpractices of the Beijing Garrison without holding back?
Li Rusong did not express his opinion. He had been in the capital for more than a year and his personality had become much more stable.

The matter of Wu Jiansheng's temporary posting involved many parties and was quite complex.

The instructor had told Li Rusong that this matter was initiated by Dean Su.

Li Rusong still did not respond, so Zhu Shikun said, "Brother Zimao, we martial arts students share the same fate. I am here to sincerely remind you that you must not be confused when you are on temporary assignment and lest you jeopardize the important affairs of the court!"

Although Zhu Shikun did not know the extent of corruption at the grassroots level of the Beijing garrison, he feared that these sons of soldiers would not be able to resist temptation and would ruin the great cause.

Now Li Rusong understood Zhu Shikun's attitude, and he also said:

"Zhu Banzheng, I understand what you mean!"

"We are all students of the Martial Arts Academy, how could we possibly betray His Majesty's trust? The temporary posting was initiated by the Dean of Academic Affairs, and we will not allow the Dean of Academic Affairs to be disgraced. I will remind everyone of this matter."

Zhu Shikun cupped his hands and said, "Brother Zimao, if you encounter any trouble, you can ask someone to come to me. We are all children of the Martial Arts Academy, and now is the time to unite against external threats!"

Even Li Rusong was somewhat moved. The two cavalry squads were competitors, but they ate, lived, and trained together every day, so their relationship was actually quite good.

After Li Rusong returned, he immediately instructed Xia Zhongxiao to gather the students of the cavalry platoon 2 and reiterated military discipline to them, emphasizing that they must not embarrass the military supervisory commissioner when they took up their posts.

Before we knew it, it was the end of the month, and all the students from the martial arts academy returned to school on schedule.

The Ministry of War and high-ranking officials of the Beijing Garrison all arrived at the Military Supervisory Office. It was time to decide where everyone would be assigned to their posts.

(End of this chapter)