The academy curriculum has been changed, and the content of the talent selection examination must also be changed.
Zhu Xiang suggested focusing on objective questions first, supplemented by fill-in-the-blank questions and situational analysis, and then conducting topic selection and policy essays when the King of Qin presided over the palace examination, and finally adding an interview.
This kind of examination can minimize the influence of examiners on candidates and put the promotion of talents in the hands of the King of Qin.
To do this, the King of Qin needed to have high personal qualities, be able to select good and bad talents, and have enough energy to review the candidates.
There is definitely no problem with Zichu and Ying Xiaozheng, but it is not clear about the subsequent Qin kings. Zhu Xiang can only say that if the future Qin emperors cannot hold on, then they can change it themselves.
Zhu Xiang enthusiastically handed his plan to Zichu.
Zichu frowned and said, "How about we go back to Xianyang right now and let Cai Ze and Lin Li do the work?"
Zhu Xiang said: "I don't care. You look very tired, can you hold on?"
Zichu glanced at Zhu Xiang and said, "You have to hold on even if you can't."
He yawned, concentrated on reading Zhu Xiang's plan, and said, "It's feasible. Let the doctors discuss it after returning to Xianyang."
In Zhu Xiang's original history, the position of "Doctor" was a title specially set up by Qin Shihuang to appease Eastern scholars. It was a low-ranking position but with great power, similar to a censor, who could directly advise Qin Shihuang. In the end, it became a position that specifically opposed Qin Shihuang.
When King Zhaoxiang of Qin established the Xianyang Academy and absorbed scholars from the six kingdoms, Ying Xiaozheng blurted out the word "doctor", which was praised by King Zhaoxiang of Qin.
After that, King Zhaoxiang of Qin set up a special institution to be in charge of book editing, book management and education, and the official incumbent was called a doctor. At Zhu Xiang's suggestion, this institution was similar to the Ministry of Rites in later generations.
"Did Zheng'er tell you about his proposal for the Xianyang Academy?" Zichu suddenly remembered this.
Zhu Xiang said: "Zheng'er has too many wonderful ideas every day, I don't know which one it is."
Zichu said: "It is the physics and chemistry that you want to promote."
Zhu Xiang's eyelids twitched and he had some guesses in his mind.
What Zichu said about Ying Xiaozheng's proposal was indeed what Zhu Xiang had guessed.
Ying Xiaozheng was too perceptive. After the battle in Guangling City and some of Li Mu's words to the navy after returning from the sea patrol, he discovered a very important thing - the development of science and technology can not only be used in people's livelihood, but also have a more direct contribution in war.
Although Zhu Xiang did not hide this, he did not deliberately say it out loud.
He is in a very conflicted state of mind.
As a cowardly ordinary person, sometimes even though I know it is the general trend and the truth, I still don’t want it to be said from my mouth or done by my hands.
Even though he had secretly told Li Mu while drunk, and it had already been applied in the army.
When Zhu Xiang heard Zichu mention this, he felt complicated.
In his heart, he felt relieved that he had expected this to happen, but also felt sarcastic about his own self-deception, and was at a loss as to where the future would lead.
Zhu Xiang knew that although the Qin Dynasty fell in the second generation and the people suffered, this was just a small wave in history. He came from more than 2,000 years later and knew what the future would look like.
It would be fine if it were just farming, but if war technology develops, where will the future go
Nobody knows.
Zhu Xiang unconsciously grabbed his collar with his right hand, and suddenly thought of the discussion among his colleagues.
It was not easy to recall the words of this small talk. But for some reason, they suddenly came to his mind clearly, dispelling his doubts.
“It is impossible for Chinese civilization to follow the Western path; this is determined by the form of civilization.
Chinese civilization has continued for thousands of years, and has developed a complete system of self-cultivating farmers and small handicraftsmen, combined with a top-down vertical official system.
Economically, even when the West was just undergoing the Industrial Revolution, we had a large population, perfect skills and handicrafts that were highly competitive. Our own self-sufficient system was also very stable, so we were able to maintain a trade surplus even at the end of the feudal empire.
The Qing Dynasty said that it had a vast territory and abundant resources and did not need foreign countries. This was not self-praise, but a fact. This fact made it difficult for China to move towards reforms like the West. Because once industrialization reforms were carried out, a large number of small handicraftsmen and self-cultivating farmers would lose their jobs.
Foreign countries have small populations, and tens of millions of bankrupt farmers in the UK could be absorbed by sweatshops. But when China accumulated enough money to carry out the Industrial Revolution, this vast land had at least hundreds of millions of people and a tradition of peasant uprisings.
If the Chinese rulers did this, they would be revolutionizing themselves. Therefore, even if the feudal rulers saw the general trend, they would ruthlessly suppress it.
During the century of humiliation, if China did not change, it would perish. The ancient sages explored many paths. Different sages walked almost all the possible paths, and finally found that there was only one path to take.
That path originated from the ritual and music culture of the Zhou Dynasty, grew up during the Hundred Schools of Thought in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, was gradually perfected in the Han Dynasty's inheritance of the Qin system, and has become part of the Chinese people's bones, blood and soul since the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties.
This is Datong.
That is the only path that Chinese civilization has taken from the beginning to the end, the path it has always taken.”
"Zhu Xiang, why are you in a daze?" Zichu asked.
Zhu Xiang said: "I was wondering, if we improve war technology now, what impact will it have on future generations?"
Zichu was puzzled: "What?"
Zhu Xiang said: "Nothing."
The emperor will disappear anyway, so it doesn’t matter.
The Chinese people are very pragmatic. They would even tear down the temple if the gods were useless. When there is no need for an emperor, how could they let someone sit there and eat for free
The capitalists who hang the electric poles still have to work!
Zhu Xiang's resistance was only due to cowardice. Many people would die because of the development of war technology. Even though he knew that even if war technology was not developed, many people would still die in cold weapons. But it was not because of him, so Zhu Xiang did not need to feel guilty.
Furthermore, Zhu Xiang was also worried that if war technology developed but ideas were not matched, would it cause the collapse of Chinese civilization
But Zheng'er had already discovered this, and Zhu Xiang had no way out.
Moreover, he had discovered over the years that he was not as powerful as he had imagined. His knowledge was not enough to help him improve the military technology tree of Qin. At most, he could only establish the foundation of basic natural sciences such as mathematics, physics, and chemistry.
Zhu Xiang felt ashamed when he thought of this.
If you think about it carefully, he is not engaged in military industry, nor even basic science, his only skill is farming. If he can suddenly transform into a multidisciplinary scientist, he will not be a young professor, but a young academician.
Zhu Xiang: So I am a waste, that's fine. Qin people are free to do whatever they want!
"Zheng'er is right," Zhu Xiang said. "When science and technology explode, wars always break out. Physics is used to make offensive and defensive machinery, chemistry is used to develop better explosives, biology is derived from medical research on the battlefield, and the greatest use of mathematics is to calculate the range of artillery shells and crossbows."
Zhu Xiang paused and said, "It's like we are using iron knives and the enemy is using wooden swords."
Zichu was so shocked after listening to Zhu Xiang's long speech that he was speechless for a long time.
He was stunned for a long time before he stammered, "Zheng'er, Zheng'er didn't say so much, you don't have to..."
Zhu Xiang interrupted, "Since you have already discovered me, I won't hide it anymore."
He smiled carefreely and said, "Establishing an academy of science to study war technology and assist in the study of livelihood technology can not only lay a scientific foundation, but also end the war as soon as possible. It's great."
Zichu held Zhu Xiang's shoulders and said, "Wait a minute, I am increasingly confused by what you are saying."
Zhu Xiang said: "It doesn't matter if you don't understand, just know that I agree with Zheng'er."
Zichu shook his head vigorously: "No. You are always like this, holding back everything. Even if I disagree with you, you can tell me. Isn't that what friends do?"
Zhu Xiang looked at Zichu for a while, sighed, and lay down on the table.
He and Zichu sat opposite each other on either side of the desk. When he leaned over, Zichu could only see his bun.
Zichu nudged Zhu Xiang's head and asked, "What are you worried about?"
Zhu Xiang said in a muffled voice: "I was worried before, afraid that the war technology would rise too fast, and my thinking would not keep up, like a child wielding a sword, and would hurt himself."
Now he is not troubled, because he finds that he can't do it.
He didn't even know the formula for yellow gunpowder! He knew nitrocellulose, but he didn't know how to make pure nitre.
These basic chemicals are purchased in bulk directly by the school, and he gets them with a permit.
Zichu thought hard to keep up with Zhu Xiang's thoughts.
"That makes sense. That's why Confucianism says that we should not only use laws to restrain the people, but also use morality to restrain the people. This is very necessary." Zichu said, "Science and technology must also be firmly controlled by the government."
Zhu Xiang said: "Even if ordinary people learn the basics, it is difficult to make more powerful weapons. Have you seen any powerful weapons I have made?"
Zichu laughed: "I feel relieved when you say that."
Zhu Xiang got up from the table and said, "It is very important to improve basic science education. If we can give equal importance to ideological and literary education, perhaps our future will be even better."
Zichu said helplessly: "Why do you always think about things that are too far away? Can you start from the time when Qin unified the world?"
Zhu Xiang was also helpless: "Do you still need to think about this? Do you want you to be the first emperor of Qin, or Zheng'er to be the first emperor of Qin? You two can fight for it between yourselves, do you still want me to take sides?"
Zichu said seriously: "Maybe you really need to come forward. What if Zheng'er wants to become Qin Shi Huang and force the emperor to abdicate and usurp the throne?"
Zhu Xiang rolled his eyes fiercely: "If Zheng'er is really so rampant as to force the emperor to abdicate for the sake of the title of Qin Shi Huang, he will not be able to be Qin Shi Huang."
Only a fool would tarnish his perfect status as an heir for no apparent reason.
People who are truly capable are very cautious. They plan before they act and weigh all the gains and losses.
Zichu laughed heartily. He was happy as long as Zhu Xiang laughed at Zheng'er with him.
Although Zhu Xiang did not laugh at Ying Xiaozheng.
Since Zhu Xiang was willing to take charge of this matter, Zichu did not need to ask anyone else and could directly open the Academy of Sciences in the Xianyang Academy as an institution affiliated with the Xianyang Academy.
Zhu Xiang believed that the Xianyang Academy could be divided into "branches" in the future, and disciplines such as physics, chemistry, medicine, classics, and geography would have to be separated sooner or later.
After listening to this, Zichu thought it would be better to add another institution above the Xianyang Academy. This institution could be incorporated into the "doctor" system and belong to the officials of the Qin State. They only need to immerse themselves in research.
But Zhu Xiang objected. If they were only paid a fixed amount of money to do the work, it would probably make them idle away their time and lose their ambition.
The two chatted until the sun set, the moon rose, and the candles were lit, but they still couldn't reach a consensus.
Such an important matter cannot be discussed in a day or two.
Zichu set off with great enthusiasm and took Zhu Xiang back to Xianyang to discuss the matter with his ministers and scholars from the Xianyang Academy.
Now there are many scholars studying various subjects in Xianyang Academy, and it is time to divide them into subjects.
Dividing subjects according to doctrines makes it easy for students to "take sides" and form a substantive affiliation due to ideological affiliation; dividing subjects according to different academic disciplines means that students only learn knowledge and follow teachers of different ideological factions, so they are not easily swayed by the teachers' ideas.
As the King of Qin, Zichu, like all the previous Kings of Qin, hated the Hundred Schools of Thought, an academic group that was nominally a teacher-student relationship but was in fact too independent and out of government control.
The organizational structure of the Mohist and Agricultural schools had disintegrated, which was the price they paid for continuing to spread their knowledge in the Qin State.
Prince Chu of Qin and successive Qin kings all supported Xunzi, because Xunzi's reform of Confucianism was the dregs of Confucianism in later generations, "learning the arts of literature and martial arts, and selling them to the imperial family."
If this reform continues, the idea of loyalty to the emperor will be integrated into the bones and blood of Confucianism, and the emperor will not have to worry about the backlash from Confucianism.
However, the King of Qin would not place all his hopes on Confucianism.
The great Qin State embraced all thoughts. Just as there will be people from the six kingdoms among the Qin people in the future, the unified thought of the Qin State also encompasses the unified thought of all the philosophers.
When the King of Qin had Zhu Xiang as his card, social conflicts eased a lot and they began to have greater ambitions.
When Prince Chu of Qin returned to Xianyang, Cai Ze and Lin Zhi went out to greet him.
Zhu Xiang stood behind Prince Chu of Qin and accepted the greetings from Cai Ze and Lin Zhi.
Cai Ze and Lin Zhi looked up at Zhu Xiang.
Zhu Xiang gave them an innocent look.
Cai Ze and Lin Zhi looked at each other.
Cai Ze: He did it on purpose.
Lin Zhi: This guy deserves a beating.
Lin Zhi said to Prince Chu of Qin: "Your Majesty, can you tolerate my impoliteness for a moment?"
Lin Zhi did not say what he was going to do, but Prince Chu of Qin had already very tacitly turned his body to reveal Zhu Xiang behind him.
"I allow you to be rude." Qin Wang Zichu said to the other ministers, "You all may go away first. Prime Minister Lin wants to reminisce with Lord Changping."
The ministers originally wanted to leave, but after hearing what the King of Qin said, they no longer wanted to leave.
There's something exciting to watch!
The laws of Qin were strict and lifeless, and there was little fun to be had, so the ministers could not move.
Xunzi slammed his cane on the ground and cursed, "Don't embarrass yourself here!"
Lin Zhi, who had rolled up his sleeves, immediately put them down and said respectfully, "Yes, Xunzi."
Then Xunzi raised his cane and hit Zhu Xiang on the back: "The Prime Minister and the Chancellor are saluting the King of Qin, why don't you get out of the way?"
Zhu Xiang answered as he ran away: "I did it on purpose! I just wanted to see them get mad."
Xunzi’s eyes widened.
Lian Po crossed his arms and said, "I haven't seen you for a few years, but Zhu Xiang is no different from before. He still likes to deliberately irritate you. Can you still run? If not, I will bring Zhu Xiang here to teach you a lesson."
Xunzi gnashed his teeth and said, "Go back and teach them a lesson, but don't embarrass yourself in front of the city gate."
Lian Po shook his head and sighed: "He himself doesn't feel ashamed, why should you defend his reputation?"
Xunzi glared at Lian Po.
Lian Po continued to sigh: "Okay, I won't say anything. Alas, I haven't been back to the manor for a long time. I wonder if the courtyard where I live has been cleaned."
Xunzi said: "Although Zhu Xiang is not in Xianyang, the King of Qin, Cai Ze and Lin Zhi often come to the manor for a small gathering. The manor is always cleaned. The place where you live is still the same as it was originally."
Lian Po smiled and said, "That's good. We don't need to find a new place to stay."
Although the King of Qin rewarded him with a large house in Xianyang City, he returned to Xianyang just to rest, so it would be better for him to continue living with Zhu Xiang.
After Zhu Xiang went to the Xianyang Palace to pay homage to Queen Dowager Huayang and Queen Dowager Xia, he returned to Zhuangzi with Zichu and others.
Lian Po's courtyard was indeed the same as before. He took his son Lian Fu, who had no sense of existence at all, around Zhu Xiang's manor and introduced the situation of the manor to Lian Fu.
"This is the courtyard where King Zhaoxiang of Qin lived. Do you see that table? The small chair on the table is where Zheng'er sat. When King Zhaoxiang of Qin was handling government affairs, Zheng'er sat on the table and listened to his instructions on government affairs."
"This small courtyard with an osmanthus tree was originally where the previous king lived. The laurel tree was transplanted from the palace by the previous king because Zheng'er likes to eat osmanthus cakes."
"King Zhaoxiang of Qin and the previous king both doted on Zheng'er."
Lian Po looked at his son's frightened face and shook his head in disgust.
He took his son and went to see the courtyard where Fan Ju and Bai Qi lived.
Bamboo slips and wooden scrolls were still piled up like mountains in Fan Ju's courtyard, as if he would look through them at any time; in Bai Qi's courtyard there were all kinds of weapons of different sizes, the smallest of which was used by Ying Xiaozheng when he was studying.
"Wu'an Jun Bai Qi has also passed away?" Lian Fu sighed, "I didn't expect that after entering Qin, I didn't even see the legendary Wu'an Jun."
Lian Po kicked his son and scolded him, "Your father is Lord Xinping, why are you worshipping Lord Wu'an? Old Bai Qi is not dead yet. He has been sick for so many years. Every year I thought I would go to pay homage to him, but he is still alive. Tsk."
Lian Fu: “…”
Is the relationship between Wu Anjun and his father good or bad? If not, why is Wu Anjun's courtyard next to his father's? If good, why does his father look so sorry that Wu Anjun hasn't died yet
After Lian Po finished his introduction, he left the task of cleaning the house to Lian Fu and went to the kitchen to see what delicious food Zhu Xiang was preparing.
When Zhu Xiang returns home, the first thing he does is cook a big meal.
When Zhu Xiang saw Lian Po coming in, he said, "We didn't prepare anything in advance today, so we're just going to have hot pot. It just so happens that there's a soup made from sheep and beef bones in the palace, so I brought that back to use as the soup base."
Lian Po laughed and scolded: "You went to the Qin Palace just to steal sheep, but now you are also stealing the pot?"
Zhu Xiang said, "The King of Qin always eats at my place, so what's wrong with me serving him his food? He still eats it, right, Xia Tong?"
"Ah? Okay, as long as you don't take away all my pots." Zi Chu, who was making a fire, looked up and said.
Zhu Xiang came back, and the team was naturally busy and chatting in the kitchen, just like before.
Lian Fu packed up his things and went to the kitchen to find Lian Po.
When he saw the King of Qin, Prime Minister Cai, Prime Minister Lin and Lord Changping cooking, his own father was leaning against the door, looking down on Lin Zhi's knife skills, and was so scared that his face turned pale.
Who dares to eat the meal cooked by the King of Qin
He hurriedly wanted to go to the kitchen to help replace the King of Qin, but was dragged out of the door by Lian Po by the collar.
"Look at who's in the kitchen? You still want to help? Don't you think you're worthy?" Lian Po scolded, "If you want to join them, show your ability and at least become someone like me."
Lian Fu was horrified: "Do I need to be qualified to light a fire in the kitchen?"
Lian Po glanced at them and said, "What else? If you have good cooking skills, you can help them like a cook. Oh, this time they even drove the cook out, so even if you have learned good cooking skills now, you can't go."
Lian Fu didn't understand at all. Was this some new way of socializing in Qin? Only those who were approved by the King of Qin could cook in the kitchen with him
Why cook with fire
"Then...how many people can go to the kitchen?" Lian Fu asked curiously.
Lian Po said: "Li Mu is one... Hmm? Where is Li Mu?"
He scratched his head.
Li Mu and Zhu Xiang went to the Hot Spring Palace together, so why didn't they return to Xianyang City together
Lian Po only now realized that he had lost a great man named Li Mu.
Li Mu rode to Bai Qi's fiefdom to meet Bai Qi who was recuperating from illness.
Bai Qi's illness has been going up and down, neither getting better nor worse, so he can only be treated like this.
When he first fell ill, Bai Qi regretted that he could not be as strong and healthy as Lian Po and continue to fight on the battlefield.
Once he got used to the peaceful life at home and found pleasure in teaching his children and grandchildren, he became somewhat content with the current peace.
Seeing Li Mu coming, Bai Qi quickly drove his children and grandchildren away and complained to Li Mu: "It is so uncomfortable to teach mediocre people. I want to go back to Xianyang Academy. The students in Xianyang Academy are much smarter than them. It is the same to recuperate in Xianyang. Can you help me persuade the emperor?"
He knew that Prince Chu of Qin would not be afraid of him.
Bai Qi, the Marquis of Wu'an, only belonged to the era of King Zhaoxiang of Qin.
King Qin had Li Mu and Wang Jian, and even Lian Po's brilliance was overshadowed by these two young men. Therefore, King Qin, who had his own trusted generals, would not be afraid of the old Wu'an Jun.
Prince Chu of Qin asked Bai Qi to return to his fiefdom because he was worried about Bai Qi's health and hoped that Bai Qi's family would take good care of him.
Since Zhu Xiang is not in Xianyang, Bai Qi's descendants can take better care of Bai Qi.
But it was obvious that Bai Qi was not very adaptable to getting along with his descendants.
Li Mu smiled and held a jar of wine and said, "I heard that Wu Anjun's health has improved. Can he withstand the fatigue of the journey? If so, do you want to go to the south to recuperate?"
Bai Qi raised his eyebrows: "Why, is there anything an old man like me can do for the King of Qin?"
Li Mu said: "It's not about doing anything, it's just that Zheng'er misses Wu'an Jun."
When talking about Zheng'er, Bai Qi's eyes showed kindness: "How is Zheng'er?"
Li Mu said, "How can he not be good? Now he is so arrogant that he quarreled with the King of Qin and was scolded by Xunzi."
Bai Qi laughed and said, "Zheng'er is probably the only prince of Qin who can argue with the King of Qin."
Li Mu also smiled and said, "Maybe. Actually, I was busy with military affairs, and I had too little time to teach Zheng'er military books. Zheng'er kept complaining."
Bai Qi said: "If the King of Qin agrees, I will be happy to teach the prince. But do you worry about my health?"
Li Mu said, "I am worried. Zhu Xiang wanted Bai Gong to go to Southern Qin to recuperate because he was worried about his health."
Bai Qi jokingly asked, "Why, does he think my family can't serve me well?"
Li Mu said quickly, "Mr. Bai's son is very filial, how could Zhu Xiang doubt it? It's just that the winters in the north have become colder in recent years, and Mr. Bai often coughs. Maybe he will feel better if he goes to Wujun. Besides, Bian Que is in Wujun, and he may be more capable than ordinary doctors."
Bai Qi sighed, "It's something Zhu Xiang would think about. But has he ever thought that it would be unlucky if I died of illness in his home?"
Li Mu said: "Zhu Xiang has seen off many elders and taken care of them until their death. How can it be considered unlucky? He just wanted to take good care of Mr. Bai. Besides, Zheng'er really misses Mr. Bai."
Bai Qi stood up and said, "Zhu Xiang has said so, why should I refuse?"
He immediately asked people to pack their luggage with great enthusiasm, looking very impatient.
Bai Qi's family was helpless. They were really being disliked.
(End of this chapter)