Emperor Zhengde

Chapter 120: First Day of School at Imperial University

Li Mengyang's death made the officials who were dissatisfied with the Kaocheng System aware of the emperor and the court's determination, and they no longer dared to express their dissatisfaction with the Kaocheng System openly.

At this time, the project of converting the Leopard House into the Imperial University of Peking had been completed.

Even professors of various subjects at the Imperial University of Peking were gathered together by Wang Yangming, who had many friends.

Among them, the professor of liberal arts was Tang Yin, who was a top scholar in the imperial examination.

The science student is Wang Wensu.

For engineering, Qiu Ju is still the best. After all, he was taught by Zhu Houzhao himself, so he is qualified to be a teacher.

The medical department is the imperial physician Li Yanwen.

Zhu Houzhao had to admit that the teaching staff of the first batch of professors at the Imperial University of Peking was quite good.

Needless to say, Tang Bohu is the most famous among the talented men of the Ming Dynasty, and he is not a corrupt scholar at all.

Wang Wensu, a famous mathematician in the Ming Dynasty, wrote a book called "Mathematical Treasure Mirror", which is widely circulated in the original history.

Although the imperial physician Li Yanwen is not well-known, his son Li Shizhen is known to many people.

In ancient times, medical inheritance was a family tradition. Judging from his son's status in the medical community, it was enough to show that his father was not a quack doctor.

As for Qiu Ju, he is the only scientific and technological elite in the Ming Dynasty who can produce two acids and two bases, and he is worthy of the position of engineering professor.

Zhu Houzhao also visited the Imperial University on the day it was completed, and asked Wang Yangming: "I heard you say that in addition to Qiu Ju, you also need a vice president of the Imperial University. Have you decided on the candidate?"

"It's confirmed. His name is Yan Song, and he is a Jinshi. He was previously a Hanlin scholar, and later stayed in the Hanlin as an editor. He resigned due to illness and returned home. Now he has applied for the position of Dean of the Imperial University. Originally, there were not many people who took the exam for the Dean of the Imperial University, only about fifty. He was the most special, so I asked him a few more questions. It turned out that he is indeed a person who should not be underestimated!"

Wang Yangming replied.

When Zhu Houzhao heard Wang Yangming mention Yan Song, he couldn't help but laugh: "Tell me why he should not be underestimated."

"I am worldly-wise but not worldly-wise. He is worldly-wise but very worldly-wise. He is good at being an official but has a long-term vision. His future prospects should be no less than mine!"

Wang Yangming replied.

Zhu Houzhao had to admit that Wang Yangming was right. In terms of politics alone, Yan Song's status in history was indeed higher than Wang Yangming's. Although Wang Yangming was more famous in the academic world and had even earned a title, he was not as glorious as Yan Yangming in the Ming Dynasty at that time!

Unfortunately, Yan Song was later defeated by Xu Jie and became a treacherous minister who was praised for his crimes throughout the ages.

If Hai Rui had not put obstacles in his way, Xu Jie would probably have always been praised as a good minister who started the Longwan New Deal.

In any case, Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but sigh at this time: "Where the Imperial University is established, there are many talented people. It's a good thing, a good thing!"

Zhu Houzhao asked again: "How many students have signed up to volunteer to enter the Imperial University of Peking?"

"At present, the Ministry of Rites said that there are only two. The registration will end tomorrow and school will officially start. I guess they won't add any more places!" Wang Yangming said a little disappointedly.

Zhu Houzhao also smiled awkwardly, thinking that as expected, most Jinshi did not pay much attention to the Imperial University. Or perhaps they were eager to become officials and did not want to work hard in the ocean of learning.

"Two is enough. They will regret it later. School starts tomorrow and I will come in person!"

Zhu Houzhao continued to stroll around, looking around and instructing Wang Yangming on what to add, even asking Wang Yangming to prepare the sports field and Cuju court in advance.

The entire Royal Industrial Experimental Base was also incorporated into the Imperial University system by Zhu Houzhao to facilitate future industry-university-research cooperation.

The next morning was the day for school to start.

Yan Song and his wife Ouyang arrived early to report.

At this time, Zhu Houzhao had just left the Forbidden City and headed towards the Imperial University of Peking.

"It really is a royal villa. This kind of place is a great place to study. Madam, please go back to the carriage and wait, lest anyone knows that your husband and I have brought women with us, which would only cause trouble."

Yan Song looked at the magnificent main gate of the Imperial University, and after saying this, he could not help but instruct his wife, Ouyang. Ouyang still reluctantly let go of Yan Song's arm and said, "My husband, are you really determined to stay in the Imperial University as the Dean? I am just a woman, and I know that this is just a place for studying. I am not as noble as the Hanlin Academy, and I am associated with the lower nine classes, and I am not as lucrative as the six ministries."

"Madam, you should know that this Imperial University was established at the request of His Majesty, which shows that His Majesty attaches great importance to it. Being an official here means that I can see His Majesty every day. What I, Yan Song, lack is not a noble family background, but an opportunity! An opportunity to show my face in front of His Majesty! It's ridiculous that there are so few wise people in this court, so I, Yan Song, got the advantage. It's more cost-effective to gain experience in the Imperial University than in the Imperial Academy."

Yan Song started laughing as he spoke.

"But don't you know that our current emperor is a murderer and extremely cruel? I'm really worried about you. One day, the emperor got angry and chopped off your head!"

Ouyang said worriedly.

"Even if the emperor is a demon who kills without blinking an eye, I am not afraid. In this day and age, how can a minister have the power to choose the king? Only the king has the power to choose his ministers!"

As Yan Song was speaking, he saw a young man approaching, so he hurriedly bowed and asked, "Young Master, may I ask if you are also from the Imperial University?"

"Yes!"

This person was Zhu Houzhao, who quickly responded when he saw this.

"Then may I ask what your name is, young master? You seem to be very young, so you must have achieved success at an early age, right?" Yan Song asked.

"My name is Zhu Shou, a newly-minted Jinshi, and I'm here to study. May I ask what your name is, brother?" Zhu Houzhao replied.

Many years later, Yan Song swore that he regretted saying this most in his life.

Yan Song straightened his chest and stroked his thick beard. "I am Yan Song, the Dean of the Imperial University. Logically, you should call me teacher! Aren't you afraid of being killed by the murderous emperor when you come here to study?"

Zhu Houzhao did not get angry but laughed: "What about you, teacher? Aren't you afraid?"

"Afraid? Why should I be afraid? I would rather die under the king's knife as a teacher than let all my life's learning be wasted in the countryside!" Yan Song said with his neck raised in style.

Zhu Houzhao did not answer. He just walked into the Imperial University and saw two scholars chatting there. He walked over and asked, "May I ask who you are?"

"I am Zhang Cong, a newly-appointed Jinshi!"

A middle-aged man who was a little older, with a broad face and a fat body replied.

"I am Xia Yan, a newly-minted Jinshi!"

A relatively young man replied.

Because Zhu Houzhao issued an edict to expand the number of Jinshi candidates for this special palace examination, Zhang Cong and Xia Yan, who had failed the exam several times in history, both became Jinshi candidates at this time, but they were both at the bottom of the third class and Zhang Cong was even the last.

However, because both of them were top three Jinshi candidates, they were unwilling to serve as officials in other places and wanted to stay in the capital, so they were willing to study at the Imperial University of Peking.

Seeing this, Zhu Houzhao could not help but sigh: "They are all outstanding people of their time!"

After Zhu Houzhao said this, Zhang Cong was very happy: "This young man has good vision. I am not arrogant. This time I have made it. I will definitely do something great in the future! If Ma Junzhou can be the Prime Minister, I, Zhang Cong, can do it too!"

Xia Yan shrugged his shoulders in disdain and said to Zhu Houzhao, "Don't listen to his nonsense. Fortunately, His Majesty has been lenient this time and has increased the number of Jinshi candidates by 100. Otherwise, he wouldn't even be able to pass the exam and would have failed! So, you have to change what you said. There is only one outstanding person in front of you. I, Xia Guixi, am the real young Jinshi candidate!"

As Xia Yan spoke, he opened his folding fan and started fanning himself.

Zhang Cong said with disdain: "You are not much better!"

At this time, Yan Song came over and said with a smile: "I am Yan Song, the Dean of the Imperial University, and I am your teacher!"

Yan Song then said to Zhu Houzhao, "You are such a rude student. You came in without paying respect to your teacher first!"

As Yan Song spoke, he straightened his chest and raised his head, waiting for Zhu Houzhao to bow to him and apologize, and also waiting for Zhang Cong and Xia Yan to bow to him.

Thanks to my book friend Liuxiang for the 100 book coins reward. Thank you to my book friend BUCK for the 100 Qidian coins reward.

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(End of this chapter)