Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1301: Chapter 1255: Not Cheap

Chen Xi knocked on the table, pondering Zhao Yun’s words. If he remembered correctly, he didn’t forcibly require the previous generation of people to learn to read and write; it was mainly through household registration and other inducements that inspired this group to study.

As for having soldiers learn to read and write, on the one hand, it was indeed because of habits inherited from later generations, while on the other hand, it was also because Chen Xi began to prepare for constructing a new social class at the time.

In Chen Xi’s preparations, the military class should not only have camaraderie between comrades, but also a certain foundational knowledge to ensure that soldiers could handle various aspects of life after retiring.

This is a class with military protection that won’t be easily manipulated. It signifies the state’s sword and shield; such crucial elements cannot be mindlessly controlled. It’s essential for this group to understand why they fight, and literacy is the basis for understanding that principle!

”It seems I did rush things a bit,” Chen Xi said helplessly. ”Then let’s go with what you suggested. Therefore, the quality of middle-level officers needs improvement.”

As Chen Xi said this, it suddenly struck him: Isn’t this just like the training institutions of later times? Well, if you think about it, civil officials at the middle level should also join the educational system.

”Later, I’ll discuss with Lord Xuande about establishing a dedicated academy for these middle-ranked officers, primarily to cultivate them, while elevating the county magistrate level before they advance,” Chen Xi mused, stroking his chin.

This is indeed a good opportunity to slip in some personal touches—soldiers primarily focus on literacy, while civil officials should be focused more on their ideological dynamics.

”Hmm, it seems I need to confer with Wen He and Wen Ru; what a pity Ziyang, Xiaoo Zhi, and Fengxiao aren’t in Ye City, otherwise we could have brainstormed together, maybe compile a psychology book for teachers at the training institute to study, giving them a means to better assess the students.”

Chen Xi’s thoughts typically tend to be rather intriguing and highly jumpy; even Zhao Yun’s initial mention led Chen Xi to consider many additional ideas.

”Thank you, strategist.” Seeing Chen Xi lost in thought, Zhao Yun refrained from disturbing him further. ”Yun also has other matters to attend to.”

After leaving Chen Xi’s house, Zhao Yun simultaneously ordered someone to notify Hua Xiong and send people to Liu Bei’s side for filing since the exams were considered administration, whereas recruiting military generals was military business.

Once those tasks were complete, Zhao Yun went straight to the Political Office. Xun Yue and Mann Chong were absent; only Lub Su, accompanied by Yi Ji, Chen Zhen, Chen Hua, Liang Xi, and Xuu Qin, were dealing with spring farming across several states.

”Zijing, I’ve come to post our recruiting notice.” Without waiting for Lub Su to inquire about his purpose, Zhao Yun preemptively answered Lub Su’s question.

”You all want to conduct exams?” Lub Su asked with a frown.

”As the chief examiner of martial arts, once passing the martial skills test, one is granted the official position of Bai Fu. Afterward, higher positions require military strategy simulations,” Zhao Yun nodded affirmatively.

”As long as Zilong has a plan,” Lub Su also nodded, picking up a sheet of official paper from the side and handing it to Zhao Yun, who swiftly wrote down his ideas, which Lub Su briefly reviewed before stamping with the official seal.

”Just keep an archived copy,” Lub Su instructed Chen Zhen to copy it, seal it with a secondary stamp, note the date, and leave it for the archives. This is something different here compared to other places under Liu Bei’s governance, where significant administrative actions are always left with original documentation.

However, this method requires a lot of Chief Secretaries to assist civil officials like Lub Su, who principally handle administration, ensuring the copying and archiving processes.

”Thank you. Later, I’ll report back to Lord Xuande,” Zhao Yun courteously saluted and took the paper, instructing someone to post it on the announcement board at the Political Office, naturally informing every citizen who passed by.

Reading out the notice board’s contents is indeed a physical task, but Chen Xi, based on not wasting resources, mostly selects outstanding students from the academy with good literacy skills for this task. Over time, this has become a recognition for excellent students; it transformed physical labor into acknowledgment.

If one isn’t excellent enough, they won’t be sought out for reading aloud...

Furthermore, upon learning about the students’ thought processes, Chen Xi ensured that the authorities reward these students—not to mention, that ten-day period included food and housing, ending with some money and half a day to select a book from the Library Pavilion for transcription, with paper and pen provided by the government.

You call this a reward for outstanding students? Books are valuable in this era; this was already considered a significant reward.

Although the entrance requirements for the Library Pavilion were stringent, you could go anytime during the day, and there would be people reading inside. Although Chen Xi was more than willing to spread knowledge, he never considered making knowledge inexpensive.

Things that come too easily are neither profound nor cherished; success is more likely through the door opened with interest and effort.

Thus, over time, Chen Xi’s universal education also displayed a tilted focus, with moral cultivation at its core, spreading common characters and elementary mathematics. Finishing the common characters basically enabled reading, forming the foundational ability to continue learning; the rest depended on their own efforts.

Chen Xi wouldn’t make knowledge excessively inexpensive, nor would he force everyone to study. At most, he required everyone to learn common characters and elementary mathematics. As for higher education, those willing to learn would do so themselves; those unwilling could move on with their lives.

The legendary calculus, linear algebra, general physics—those who want to pursue it may do so themselves. It’s perfectly fine for regular people not to know these; everyone has their own lifestyle.

Excessive management by the state leads to harsh governance. In Chen Xi’s view, as long as people don’t shake the foundations of the state, the state’s responsibility is to ensure moral education and moral views, and to bestow the knowledge and power needed for ordinary living.

As for higher levels, let ordinary folks pursue them themselves; some things cannot be enforced just because the state wants them recorded. People possess reverse psychology—the more dictated, the more mistakes occur. It’s better to let people pave their own way.

Everyone has the right to pursue their own lifestyle. What one loves may not be what another seeks. Chen Xi always empowered ordinary people to pursue the life they yearned for, then left them to it, whether they failed or succeeded; that’s part of growth.

Knowledge cannot be cheap; this is Chen Xi’s premise. What he can provide is merely the seed; growing into a towering tree requires nourishment, which individuals must secure themselves.

Only knowledge obtained this way will provoke deep pondering, true respect for teachers will emerge, and compassion towards both oneself and the apprentice will prompt appropriate teaching; teacher and apprentice, morality and virtue—the legacy is critical.