Vernacular characters are easy to learn and use, and are loved by some scholars. In order to save time, many scholars will use vernacular characters instead of complicated traditional characters when copying books or writing letters.
Saving half the writing time can often create a huge gap between two readers who are similar in all aspects.
Nowadays, Chinese scholars use traditional characters to write in formal occasions, but in private or unimportant occasions, vernacular characters often appear. Even the calligrapher Wang Xizhi often used vernacular characters in the process of calligraphy writing. There are many vernacular characters in the famous "Preface to the Lanting Poetry Anthology".
The Holy Temple's ceremonial hall once tried to crack down on vernacular characters in order to make the human race "write the same language", but the effect was minimal and the decision was eventually abandoned.
However, during the imperial examinations, if too many vulgar characters appeared in the test papers, some conservative examiners would lower the grade. Hundreds of years ago, there was a student in Qiguo who answered many questions correctly when he asked for divine advice, but was ranked C. Afterwards, he went to the capital to knock on the drum to report to the emperor, only to find out the problem. He had to retake the exam, and used traditional characters all the time. He ranked first in the county and finally became a university scholar, famous in Qiguo.
Fang Yun said: "So if the Minbao uses more colloquial characters and vernacular, will it be very popular?"
Zeng Yuan showed an embarrassment and said, "The reason why your novels such as The Legend of the White Snake are so popular is that the vernacular writing throughout the novels does play an important role. However, in my opinion, the effect of these novels on the human race is minimal. Your other poems and articles are the foundation."
"Oh? You seem to have an opinion about me? Say it now, I want to hear it." Fang Yun instinctively used the Grand Secretary's ability to investigate things, acquire knowledge and be sincere, and realized that he had to speak frankly with Zeng Yuan, otherwise, as time went on, contradictions and even conflicts would most likely arise, and eventually become uncontrollable.
Frank communication may not resolve the conflict, but it will at least ease it.
"I'm afraid you don't like my students' opinions," Zeng Yuan said modestly.
"Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. In terms of experience and understanding of all aspects of Shengyuan Continent, you are far superior to me. Confucius said that there must be a teacher among three people. How can you belittle yourself? Speak, I'm listening." Fang Yun said.
Zeng didn't want to say it at first, but Fang Yun's tone was full of unquestionable power, so he had to say: "Whether you open the Fang Family Library, start to open academies, or even found the Minbao, I support it. Because doing so will not only benefit the human race, but will also greatly help your literary reputation, strength, and influence. At most ten years, when your academy and Minbao are spread all over the Shengyuan Continent, even if you are only a virtual saint, the Fang family will have the same status as a semi-saint family. I have been implementing your plan and taking charge of the library, academy, and Minbao because, even an ordinary person like me can see your greatness and foresight."
Fang Yun smiled slightly and said nothing, because he wanted to hear what was to come next.
When Zeng Yuan saw Fang Yun's smile, he knew that the other party was not complacent, but knew that his words were about to change, so he changed the subject.
"However, there are two things I don't understand, and I have some complaints about you. Of course, this does not affect my implementation of your plan. To be honest, my future position in history books will depend on you and the results of doing these things for you. The first thing I don't understand is that in addition to building a normal academy, you also built a women's academy under the banner of a women's school."
The scale of private schools, academies and colleges increased successively.
A private school usually only has one teacher teaching, and as long as the student is a student, the school can be opened after reporting to the local government.
There are usually less than ten teachers in a school, and most of them are clan schools. They usually only recruit children of the same clan or relatives and friends. It is relatively closed and only needs to be recommended by the clan leader and the head of the village or the head of the pavilion, and then reported to the local government, before it can be opened.
Academies are different. They recruit students from all over the country, and the president must be at least a juren. There is an extremely cumbersome review process, and they must be approved by the state-level government before they can be opened.
The human race has had girls' schools for a long time, but the only girls' academy is the Jinguo Academy outside Kongcheng.
"Oh? What's wrong with building a larger girls' school?" Fang Yun asked.
Zeng Yuan said helplessly: "People in high positions are not blind. Now almost all the noble families know that you are building girls' schools. However, you strictly control the scale and number, and do not touch the bottom line of the Holy Academy and the noble families. Naturally, no one will stand up. Even so, you have established a large number of enemies because of these girls' schools. What's more, ordinary academies are basically making money. Even in the recession, they will not lose money. It's just a matter of making more or less. But the rules you set for girls' schools can't make money. They have been losing money. The expenses of more than 10,000 girls' schools are very huge. Even if some women from wealthy families are willing to donate, the annual cost is more than 20 million taels of silver. Moreover, you want to continue to add girls' schools."
Zeng Yuan glanced at Fang Yun and found that Fang Yun's expression did not change. He continued, "I think it's better for you to give up the girls' school. Of course, you can symbolically build a girls' school in the capital of each country to attract the daughters of the dignitaries of each country. The investment is small and the benefits are large. You recruit a group of poor girls every year who don't pay money and get rewards for good test scores. In my opinion, it doesn't make much sense. Not to mention those conservative children of aristocratic families, even those men from poor families think you are wasting money and have some complaints about you."
"I use my own money to build the school. What does it have to do with them?" Fang Yun said.
"That's what you said, but... after all, you are the Virtual Saint of the human race and a role model for the human race. You must lead the human race in the right direction, and establishing a girls' school seems to be a deviation." Zeng Yuan said helplessly.
"Whether it is right or wrong is not decided by them or me, but by the future," Fang Yun said.
"But for the Holy Academy and the most powerful group of scholars, your current behavior is wrong. Before all men have obtained a literary title, it is wrong for any woman to obtain a literary title. In other words, it is more valuable to use the Fang family's money on a men's academy rather than a women's school."
Fang Yun looked at Zeng Yuan and said slowly: "You are bound by worldly things and prejudices. I will not blame you, but I believe that one day, people will find that using this money for girls' schools will have greater significance and value for the human race."
"All the semi-saints in history have failed to allow women to participate in the imperial examinations. Why are you so confident?" Zeng Yuan asked.
"Before King Wen of Zhou slaughtered the demons with the Book of Changes, everyone believed that the Shang Dynasty was invincible; before Confucius forced the saints of the demon world to sign a thousand-year non-war treaty, everyone believed that the saints of the demon world were invincible; before the first battle between the two worlds, everyone believed that the human race could not withstand the attacks of the demon world. It is precisely because I am a virtual saint that I have to cut through the thorns and thorns and open up a way for the human race. I don't need understanding, sympathy, or even help. The only thing I need is for you to please not block my steps."
.(To be continued.)