I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 229 Even the Great Han Can Get a Bachelor's Degree and a Junior College Degree

After learning about the "Hongdu Gate Academy" mentioned by Liu Biao, Liu Miao often asked the scholars who had visited Luoyang and witnessed its operation how it was specifically run.

However, many scholars looked strange when Liu Miao asked them this question, as if they had some unspeakable secret and were unwilling to tell Liu Miao in detail.

Liu Miao could only seek out Yi Ji, Liu Biao's former confidant, to inquire about the matter.

Yi Ji also shook his head: "When Liu Biaoqi went to ask them, he asked the wrong people."

"Hongdu Gate School was a school established by Emperor Xiaoling at Hongdu Gate in Luoyang."

"The gate was painted with portraits of Confucius and his seventy-two disciples. The students were all people recommended and summoned by the prefectures and counties and the Three Dukes who were skilled in writing letters and poems and were proficient in calligraphy and seal script. Some were sent out to serve as governors or prefects, and others were sent in to serve as ministers or attendants. They were then granted titles and ranks. Scholars and gentlemen were ashamed to be among them. That is why they were unwilling to mention this matter to Liu Biaoji."

Liu Miao finally realized what was happening.

Those sons of wealthy and powerful families who were recommended as candidates for the civil service examination or the "Outstanding Talent" examination were like elites who entered top universities through targeted training programs.

The students of Hongdu School, on the other hand, were poor students who had entered vocational colleges to learn a trade.

As a result, when they graduated, these poor students got better jobs than those who were privileged! How do you expect those privileged people to feel about that?
No wonder the scholars all looked worried and didn't want to talk to Liu Miao when he mentioned Hongdu Gate Academy. It turns out that Liu Miao had touched a nerve with them.

"Tsk tsk, Emperor Xiaoling played this move brilliantly. No wonder the aristocratic families hate him so much that they even gave him the derogatory posthumous title 'Ling'."

After Liu Miao understood what the Hongdu School was all about, he decided to make a startling statement: "I want to re-establish the Hongdu School in Jingzhou. Do you think it's feasible, Ji Bo?"

Yi Ji was startled by Liu Miao's words: "Why would General Liu go to such lengths?"

Emperor Ling of Han established the Hongdu Gate Academy out of desperation, driven to desperation by powerful clans.

However, Liu Miao has just established his power base and his control over the army and politics far surpasses that of Emperor Ling of Han. Perhaps there is no need for him to take risky military actions like Emperor Ling of Han?

"Of course, it couldn't be 'going out as governor or prefect, and then returning to the capital as minister or attendant.'"

Liu Miao explained to Yi Ji—

"Does Ji Bo know that I previously asked Cao Cao for a batch of craftsmen?"

"I know, there was quite a bit of controversy at the time, with people thinking that General Liu was only interested in pleasure."

Liu Miao nodded: "That's not wrong, but in essence, it's all about making money."

“Zhang Xiu had asked me about this matter before.”

Liu Miao then relayed to Yi Ji what he had said to Zhang Xiu.

"Now, we've summoned these craftsmen so they can conjure up a Ferghana horse and two thousand coins' worth of cloth."

Yi Ji became serious: "Please explain further, General Liu."

The so-called "blood-sweating horse" is a rare and precious item.

"For example, an object that only the emperor could enjoy would certainly be considered precious."

"The so-called 'cloth worth two thousand coins' is a commodity that is cheaper than what is currently on the market."

"The former can gather top craftsmen to conduct research and complete the work with their heart and soul."

"The latter is my original intention in establishing the 'Hongdu School'."

Liu Miao pointed to the low table in front of him and Yi Ji: "Ji Bo, how long do you think it would take a craftsman to make a table like this?"

Yi Ji was no mere talker, and quickly provided Liu Miao's answer—

"Sawing and planing will take a month."

"The carving will take a month."

"The mortise and tenon joints and assembly will take a month."

"Sanding and painting will take a month."

"In that case, it would probably take a craftsman four months to complete such a wooden table."

Liu Miao nodded.

"Uncle Ji, how long do you think it would take to make this wooden table if the process were broken down?"

Yi Ji was puzzled at first, then his eyes lit up!
The process is divided into three parts: one person saws and planes the wood, one person carves it, one person mortises and assembles it, and one person sands and paints it.

In this way, the time to produce a wooden table was reduced from four months to one month!

However, Yi Ji soon hesitated.

While this shortened the construction period, it did not save manpower.

Although the construction period was shortened, labor costs were not saved.

However, considering Liu Miao's statement about "establishing the Hongdu Gate Academy," Yi Ji quickly realized the key point.

It's much easier to train a craftsman who is proficient in only one step than to train a craftsman who is proficient in all four steps and can make a complete wooden table!

To fully master the skills of making a wooden table, it could take two, three, or even more years!

However, if one only learns sawing and planing, only learns carving, and only learns tenoning, then one can undoubtedly save a great deal of learning time.

Perhaps in a month or two, four qualified craftsmen can be trained to start making wooden tables and earning a profit.

These artisans who are proficient in a skill can then pass on their skills to their apprentices, resulting in more apprentices who are proficient in that skill, and thus expanding the ranks of artisans!

At this point, Yi Ji was already feeling a chill run down his spine!

If Liu Miao's idea were followed, the output of the workshops in Jingzhou would not just double, but would explode!

The dramatic increase in production led to the emergence of items like "cloth worth two thousand coins," or even "cloth worth one thousand coins" or "cloth worth several hundred coins."

Afterwards, the merchants of Jingzhou would transport these things to Hebei, to Shu, and to Hanzhong, in exchange for grain, horses, or other more valuable things... Then these things would be able to support Jingzhou, allowing Jingzhou to continue to grow and then generate output... Yi Ji looked at Liu Miao in shock.

He had known for a long time that Liu Miao was no ordinary person.

But he never imagined that Liu Miao could be so monstrous!
Simply by changing the approach, Jingzhou's output increased dramatically!

Yi Ji suddenly felt afraid...

"General Liu, have you considered this? If it really comes to that, I'm afraid there will be no one left to cultivate crops in Jingzhou?"

If Jingzhou's output truly explodes to a terrifying degree, then without a doubt, the people of Jingzhou will no longer care about the meager income they earn from farming, and will instead flock to the handicraft workshops.

What if the land becomes barren and the foundation is damaged?
Liu Miao shook his head and said, "Uncle Ji, don't think too far ahead."

"Many of the people of Jingzhou have only just acquired land and a place to live. How could they possibly give up farming to become craftsmen?"

"Don't worry, Uncle Ji, I know what I'm doing and I won't let that happen for the time being."

Yi Ji shook his head and said, "Even if Liu Biaoji is a god, how can he suppress the greed in people's hearts?"

"The world is bustling, all for profit; the world is bustling, all for gain. How could Liu Biaoqi possibly stop people from flocking to something as profitable as this?"

Liu Miao laughed and said, "Isn't it good? Does Ji Bo not want to see the people prosper?"

"What are you saying, General Liu? A prosperous people and a wealthy nation are the lifelong ideals of scholars... But if we shake the foundation of food, then a good thing will turn into a bad thing."

"That's why I need to buy grain from Sichuan and Hanzhong."

"This is merely treating the symptoms, not the root cause! The grain reserves in Shu and Hanzhong are insufficient to feed so many people!"

"Then let's go look outside again!"

Liu Miao patted the sword at his waist: "Now that I have a sword in hand and a boat on my back, why would I be afraid of starving to death?"

"and……"

Liu Miao saw Yi Ji staring angrily at him and suddenly chuckled.

"If Uncle Ji is really worried, I have another solution."

What does General Liu mean?

"When Shi Xie, the governor of Jiaozhi, came before, he mentioned that there was a small country called Champa south of Jiaozhi!"

"Among them is rice, which does not need water in drought or drainage in flood. It requires neither manure nor weeding, leaving it entirely to nature, and yet it can still yield a bountiful harvest."

"Moreover, this Champa rice is an early-season rice, which can be intercropped with the late-season rice from Jiangdong. In this way, the grain yield will probably be four or five times higher than it is now!"

"If Uncle Ji can find this rice, then the problem of food shortage will naturally be out of the question."

Yi Ji couldn't believe it: "Is there really such a rice variety? Could it be that Shi Xie is deceiving Liu Biaoqi?"

"Whether it's true or false, why don't we just take a look and find out?"

Yi Ji stared at Liu Miao: "General Liu wants me to go?"

"I never said that."

Liu Miao did not force Yi Ji to go find Champa rice.

But the thought of a crop in the south that could increase grain production four or five times made Yi Ji tremble all over!
If someone can truly accomplish this, then that person is the agricultural sage of our time!
Such a temptation was far too great for a scholar-official with traditional moral values!
Yi Ji couldn't help but feel a little resentful.

Although Liu Miao did not force him to go, what difference was there between that and forcing him?
"I want to go and see the south."

"If we can truly find such rice, it will surely bring peace to the people and prosperity to the Han Dynasty!"

"This is Liu Jingzhou's wish, and it is also my wish!"

Seeing that Yi Ji was really going to the south to "find the immortal herb," ​​Liu Miao couldn't help but ask, "Then who can I rely on for the Hongdu School?"

"Han Ji from Nanyang can relieve Liu Biaoqi's worries."

Liu Miao sought out Han Ji and discovered that although Han Ji came from a noble family, he was very familiar with the skills of craftsmen, so he immediately decided to employ him.

"The matter of establishing the school is now entrusted to you!"

Han Ji divided the craftsmen into different specialties according to their different professions, such as iron smelting, woodworking, textiles, ceramics, and musicians.

According to Liu Miao's idea, skilled craftsmen were selected to serve as mentors and teach others a specific step in the craft.

At the same time, Liu Miao also officially began recruiting scholars from Jingzhou and Yangzhou.

"Anyone recommended by the three elders may enroll and learn a skill!"

What scriptures, what great principles?

Instead of learning those things, wouldn't it be better to learn a trade to support your family?

Following Emperor Ling of Han in establishing the Hongdu Gate Academy, the first specialized arts and literature school in history, Liu Miao finally took up the baton and founded the first specialized artisan school in history!
It's just a pity.

Liu Miao originally wanted to name it "Lanxiang", but it was met with disdain from everyone.

"Wenchang School of Learning".

Because this school was located near the Wenchang Gate in Xiangyang City, it inherited the tradition of Emperor Ling and was uniformly called "Wenchang Gate School".

Aside from the name being a bit too high-class and sounding somewhat "unprofessional," Liu Miao was otherwise quite satisfied.

"In this way, the scholars of the Han Dynasty will finally be able to upgrade their undergraduate degrees to associate degrees!"

(End of this chapter)