The Ming Dynasty: Starting with the border troops, it was overthrown and the Qing Dynasty was destro

Chapter 278 Development Plan for the Ninth Year of Chongzhen (Part Two)

After handing over the work to the Ministry of Agriculture, Jiang Han escorted Li Xinghuai to the palace gate before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

He lay back in the chair, closing his eyes to rest while planning his next move.

Before he could rest for even a moment, a eunuch rushed in from outside the hall and whispered:
"Your Majesty, Wang Chengbi, the Minister of Education, is already waiting outside the palace. Would you like to rest for a while, or...?"

"Please!"

Jiang Han perked up and immediately got up from the recliner.

Educational reform is also a key area he plans to focus on next.

Upon meeting his father-in-law, Wang Chengbi, Jiang Han exchanged a few pleasantries before getting straight to the point:
"Director Wang, the most important thing for the Ministry of Education next year is to hold a talent selection ceremony that covers the entire Sichuan province."

"Sichuan is now in a state of initial stability, and there are many vacancies in various prefectures and counties that urgently need to be filled."

"As for the content of the imperial examination, we will follow the content of the last Baoning Prefecture examination."

"From now on, our imperial examinations should no longer be confined to the Four Books and Five Classics, or the Cheng-Zhu school of Neo-Confucianism."

“Your Wang family is a scholarly family, so you should understand the pros and cons better than I do.”

These words struck a nerve with Wang Chengbi, who couldn't help but nod repeatedly:
"What Your Majesty says is absolutely right."

"Ever since Emperor Taizu established the eight-legged essay system for selecting officials, the imperial examination system of the Ming Dynasty has gone further and further astray."

"Several hundred years have passed, and Zhu Xi's 'Collected Annotations on the Four Books' has been thoroughly read and dissected, and the words of the sage have been broken into pieces and are no longer coherent."

"Many scholars, in order to pass the imperial examinations, bury themselves in old books all day long, only knowing how to study classics until their hair turns white; let alone practical knowledge such as mathematics and agriculture, they don't even understand the basic hardships of people's lives, which is truly sad."

Jiang Han nodded and said in a deep voice:

"The scholars selected through this kind of examination are mostly good at empty talk but lacking in practical skills, like embroidered pillows."

"Under my rule, such pedantic scholars are not allowed to serve as officials; only practical talents capable of governing the country are permitted."

However, reform is by no means something that can be accomplished overnight.

Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish; the worst thing you can do is be impatient and take a one-size-fits-all approach.

Jiang Han is worried that most students in Sichuan have been studying the Four Books and Five Classics since childhood, and if the exam content is suddenly changed, they may be at a loss.

Wang Chengbi also deeply agreed with this, nodding in agreement:

"Your Majesty's concerns are very valid."

"Students have studied diligently for more than ten years, and all the knowledge they have acquired in the first half of their lives is contained in this. If it is suddenly changed, it may cause trouble."

"In my humble opinion, perhaps the imperial examinations could be postponed slightly, preferably until after the autumn harvest next year."

"At the same time, our department will announce the examination scope in advance, adding subjects such as mathematics and agriculture in addition to traditional classics, and providing a list of reference books."

"In this way, we can both demonstrate the king's intention to reform and give all the scholars in Sichuan a buffer and time to prepare for the exam, so that they know where to focus their efforts."

After listening, Jiang Han pondered for a moment:

"Hmm, not bad, this method is feasible."

But then he changed the subject and made a new request.

"But this is only a temporary measure; it's ultimately a band-aid solution."

"In my opinion, if we want to truly select talents who are beneficial to the development of Sichuan, we must make sweeping changes to the entire education selection system."

"My core idea is to acknowledge the fundamental status of Confucianism while significantly increasing the weight of practical disciplines such as mathematics, geography, agriculture, and law."

"In this way, we can select officials by subject, which is the only way to select the best and not be bound by any particular criteria."

He further explained,

"Confucianism has been passed down for thousands of years and is not useless. Its emphasis on benevolent governance, people-oriented governance, loyalty and righteousness, and order are the cornerstones for maintaining social stability."

"This is its advantage, and it should not be easily discarded."

"However, its emphasis on morality over practical application, and its excessive stress on patriarchal ethics while suppressing human nature, are dross that need to be gradually eliminated."

“Especially heretical doctrines like Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism must be classified as alternatives. We cannot blindly favor the past over the present and hinder innovation.”

Jiang Han's idea was simple: he chose Confucianism as the core because it had been deeply rooted in this land for thousands of years, and if it were to be overthrown all at once, it would surely cause great chaos.

The correct approach to reform is to elevate the status of applied disciplines so that they can gradually rival Confucianism.

Wang Chengbi listened carefully, feeling both shocked and admiring. He had never expected Jiang Han to think so far ahead and have such great ambition, actually wanting to fundamentally challenge Confucianism, which had been passed down for thousands of years.

He pondered for a moment and then raised a crucial question:
"From what Your Majesty is saying, you intend to establish a new imperial examination system?"

"However, the imperial examination system was ultimately just a selection system, and its foundation still lay in education."

“If the teachers in the county and state schools and private academies at the grassroots level are still teaching the old ways of the Four Books and Five Classics, then the students below will have no way to learn anything.”

"Without the support of education, the new imperial examination system would be like water without a source or a tree without roots, and would not last long."

Jiang Han nodded approvingly:
“Master Wang, you have a very accurate judgment.”

"Therefore, your department's next task is not just to organize an imperial examination, but to start promoting pilot reforms at the educational level."

He pulled a booklet from his pocket and meticulously listed the contents of the reform:

"First, to reform the existing official education system, we must compile new textbooks." "In my opinion, your Ministry of Education could establish a 'Tianfu Academy' in Chengdu as the highest institution of learning in Sichuan, setting a precedent."

"The academy should organize talents proficient in mathematics, agriculture and sericulture, and other disciplines to recompile the teaching materials."

"The content should be comprehensive, including subjects such as classics, mathematics, an outline of agriculture, and basic legal knowledge."

"After the teaching materials are compiled, they must be carefully reviewed and then distributed to official schools at all levels, and the appropriate students in each region must be clearly informed."

"These new contents will be added to the future examinations for children, as well as the provincial examinations, metropolitan examinations, palace examinations, and other levels of examinations, so that they can prepare in advance."

Jiang Han paused, then turned the page and continued with the arrangements:
"Secondly, establish government-run schools to serve as models."

"This school is located in Chengdu, funded by the government, and temporarily affiliated with my Prince of Han's Mansion."

"Didn't you take in a group of orphans when you recently paid respects at the Martyrs' Shrine?"

"Send all these orphans to this school. I will provide them with food and lodging, and let them study in peace."

“We recruited tutors in various places to first teach them basic literacy, and then taught them different subjects using new teaching materials.”

"The course is divided into three-year periods. After completing the course, students must pass the preliminary examination to enter a higher level of study."

"After that, there will be the provincial examination and the metropolitan examination, so the difficulty of teaching must be increased step by step."

“If any student fails the imperial examinations repeatedly within six years and is unable to advance to a higher level, he or she shall either join the army or return to their hometown to farm, live out their remaining years as an ordinary citizen.”

After explaining all this, Jiang Han suddenly remembered something and asked Wang Chengbi:

"By the way, there must be quite a few Western missionaries in Chengdu, right?"

"I have heard that among them are quite a few who are proficient in astronomy, mathematics, and surveying."

"You should investigate and verify. If they are truly talented, you might as well recruit them to compile teaching materials and serve as teachers in schools, teaching the subjects they are good at."

Finally, Jiang Han added:

"Furthermore, now that all kinds of craft registers have been abolished, we should open up upward mobility channels for skilled craftsmen."

"After you go back, have a good discussion with Zhuang Qirong from the Ministry of Works. The two departments should work together to recruit skilled craftsmen from the people."

"Anyone with a skill that can benefit the military industry and people's livelihood can be included in the Ministry of Industry system and granted an official position after passing the assessment, becoming a technical official."

"Pay attention, make sure to inform them clearly that they are legitimate officials, enjoying the corresponding rank and salary."

"Issue this notice to the entire Sichuan province: if these artisans make any technological improvements or innovative inventions, the local government must immediately report them to me."

"Once verified and adopted, I, the King, will reward you handsomely!"

Wang Chengbi silently memorized these instructions and then nodded in agreement.

Before leaving, Wang Chengbi suddenly remembered something and turned back to report:
“Your Majesty, speaking of those Western missionaries… a few days ago, two of them did come to me, asking if I could help deliver a message, hoping to have an audience with Your Majesty.”

"I noticed that although these two people were blond and blue-eyed, they had some unique insights in their conversation, so I did not immediately refuse."

"You...would you rather not see him?"

"Oh? You know them?"

Jiang Han was somewhat surprised and asked, half-jokingly,
"Could it be that Master Wang has already been baptized and converted to Christianity?"

Wang Chengbi was startled and immediately jumped up from the embroidered stool, vehemently denying it:
"No, no! Your subject has never joined the religion."

"I'm just... just a little curious about some Western knowledge."

"In addition, His Majesty seems to have a high opinion of the late Ming Dynasty Grand Secretary Xu Guangqi in his daily conversations, so I paid more attention to him."

"After a few days of getting to know them, I found that these two people have considerable insights into mathematics, astronomy, and calendar systems, which is why I dared to introduce them to you."

Seeing Wang Chengbi's nervous expression, Jiang Han quickly waved his hand, signaling him to sit down and reply.

"Don't be nervous, Manager Wang. I was just asking casually."

During this period, Jiang Han was busy planning domestic and military affairs and had no time to meet with these Western missionaries.

Unexpectedly, these people actually came after the Wang family.

He took a sip of tea and then pressed on with the question:
"What are the names of the two missionaries who came to see you?"

"But what about Leiluosi and Anvenis?"

In Jiang Han's memory, the two most famous missionaries active in Sichuan during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties seemed to be these two.

These two unlucky men were preaching in Sichuan, but they were arrested by Zhang Xianzhong. "The Story of the Introduction of Christianity into Sichuan" was written by them.

But Wang Chengbi shook his head, refuting Jiang Han's conjecture:

"Your Majesty, it is not these two people."

“The two who came to see me were named Fepinto and João.”

Jiang Han was taken aback when he heard this; he had never heard of either of those names before.

Seeing this, Wang Chengbi immediately suggested:
"The two of them have been staying at my residence for some time now."

"If Your Majesty wishes to summon them, I will immediately return to inform them."

(End of this chapter)