Yu Qian still had a question, so he asked: "Why are there so many children studying?"
He is a scholar himself, so he knows very well that in the Ming Dynasty, studying is actually a very luxurious thing.
In the early days of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang issued a large number of preferential treatment systems for scholars, such as no need to pay taxes. This was because the Ming Dynasty was in ruins and needed scholars to participate in running the country. It was also because there were too few scholars.
Because the cost of studying is very high.
There is a saying in Zhou Li: A village has a village, a state has order, a party has a school, and every village has a private school.
Among them, Xiang, Xu, Xiao, and Shu are the names of local schools at all levels in ancient times. Sometimes when you see "Yinze Xiangxu" on the plaque, it means Yinze School.
Generally speaking, schools in ancient times were divided into two major systems, one was official school and the other was private school.
Official schools refer to schools directly established and managed by the imperial court and local officials at all levels. The highest-level official schools are Taixue and Imperial College, while local official schools are also called rural schools or xuegong.
The funding for official schools mainly came from court appropriations, and some came from donations from businessmen and gentry.
During the Song Dynasty, due to the huge population, there were too many students in official schools, and appropriations and donations could no longer meet the expenditures of official schools. There was a "school field" system. In other words, the court allocated a piece of land to the school, and then let the school rent it to
The people nearby used the rent earned to maintain the expenses of the official school.
In government schools, students can study for free, are provided with free food and accommodation, and sometimes can receive some pocket money.
However, it was difficult to go to official school in ancient times. Because in the beginning, official school was founded for aristocratic disciples and belonged to the aristocratic class. In the Tang and Song Dynasties, official school gradually opened its doors to common people, but
Not everyone can make it, it requires extraordinary talent, an ability to remember what has been said, and the ability to write a poem in seven steps, or at least a local talent.
In addition, government schools will also accept some self-financing students, who need to pay tuition and take care of their own food and accommodation.
The other one is private school, which is a school run by an individual.
The founder of private education is Confucius, the sage teacher revered by scholars. He proposed the idea of "education without distinction" and provided learning opportunities for the general public.
There is no imperial subsidy for private education, so tuition is required. In the beginning, Confucius set the standard tuition fee for ten strips of bacon.
At that time, the price was actually quite expensive, because not every household had meat to eat.
However, this rule is not deadlock. If you can't afford the tuition and really want to go to school, you can work for the teacher and pay for it with work.
Among the people, most schools are private schools, because there are too few official schools. If ordinary people want to study, they can only go to private schools, or private schools.
And these are only the most basic factors that affect the number of readers.
Ordinary people have nothing to do but speak. They have problems with food and clothing. They have no extra money for their children to study. Not only are the tuition fees high, but also the cost of books is unattainable.
Although Cai Lun invented papermaking at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, for ancient society, papermaking was considered a high technology and ordinary people simply could not afford it.
During the Chunxi period of the Southern Song Dynasty, printing twenty volumes of "Cui Yan of the Dayi" in the Suzhou area consumed more than 1,300 sheets of paper. Including other material costs and the labor costs of the printing craftsmen, the total cost was about three to
Four guan, selling price is 8 guan.
Eight guan of money at that time was about the living expenses of an ordinary family for a year.
Such a high cost of education is simply beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Therefore, it is difficult for Yu Qian to understand why there are so many children in schools in Yu County, and most of them come from ordinary families.
Dang Xingyong smiled and replied: "Most of the parents of these children are craftsmen or do some small businesses. Even the people who work in agriculture have earned some money since the implementation of the New Deal in Yu County. The tuition fee is only five taels of silver."
, but I can still get it."
Yu Qian nodded slightly. The tuition fee of five taels was actually not low, but if the family's life improved, it would still be affordable.
"Of course, this is not the most important thing."
Dang Xingyong continued: "In the past, I and other scholars studied hard for more than ten years in poverty, just for fame. However, if we can't be named on the gold medal, we can neither carry it on our shoulders nor lift it with our hands. If our family is in poverty like this, our life will be difficult."
It’s even more difficult.”
Yu Qian kept nodding. Of course, he knew the things about scholars best.
"Nowadays, everyone here in Yu County, and even in some towns in neighboring counties, attaches great importance to education, because the people know the benefits of studying. It is said that if you are good at learning, you will become an official, but even if you are poor at studying, if you can study
Writing, in this Yu County, can always find a good future in the future, such as being a teacher, or working as a bookkeeper in a workshop. Even if a merchant hires a shopkeeper, he still needs someone who can read and write, and there are many others.
If a craftsman is illiterate, he will not be qualified at all. Although these jobs are far inferior to the gold list, they are comparable to ordinary coolies. Not only are the incomes more generous, but they are also more dignified. Therefore, in Yu County, the people are willing to give their children
Send them to study. Moreover, there are also schools specially opened for adults. In the past year, the number of schools in the county has been expanded repeatedly, and it has reached Xinzihao, but it is still insufficient. It is said that Renzihao and Guizihao are already being planned."<
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Yu Qian suddenly realized that there were more than 3,000 scholars in one county, and that was how they came to be.
At this moment, he finally realized the emperor's good intentions.
It turns out that the New Deal is not just about creating new things, nor is everyone seeking profit, but a brand new era that has never been recorded in history books, a real era of great governance!
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but smile and said: "This is the real education. There is no need for the government to worry about it. Everyone is willing to learn from it. It is said that reading will make one's will clear and reading will make one's reason clear. If all the states and counties in the world follow the example of Yu County, why worry about the lack of education in the world?
Xing?"
He was really convinced. The great rule of the world that he had been pursuing all this time turned out to be right in front of him.
As long as the people are wealthy and have enough food and clothing, they will naturally ask for something. There is no need to educate them, and everything will fall into place.
I originally thought that people who have not read books are naturally stupid.
But when I saw it today, the people were very smart. They knew very well how to benefit themselves. What the court wanted to do was just to enable them to support their families by relying on their own abilities. There was no need to be too involved in other matters.
, as long as we take advantage of the situation, all problems can be easily solved.
"Confucius said, a gentleman has nothing to eat and nothing to eat, nothing to live in peace, he is sensitive to things and careful in his words, he is Taoist and upright, he can be said to be eager to learn..."
As he listened to the sound of reading loudly, Yu Qian seemed to be reminded of the time when he was a student when he was young, and he actually became very happy.
"Who is the dean here?"
At this moment, a group of people suddenly rushed in. It seemed that they were not very friendly.
Dang Xingyong stepped forward and saluted, saying: "The dean went to the county government office early in the morning. What do you think you have to do?"
The leader, who was about forty years old, looked bossy and said, "I am Kong Zhiping from Duke Yan Sheng's Mansion."
As soon as these words came out, Dang Xingyong immediately stood in awe, Yan Shenggong Mansion, Kong family!
No wonder she is so arrogant. Who would let her be the queen of the most holy teacher!
Scholars all over the world respect Confucius as their teacher. Therefore, the status of Yanshenggong's lineage is very special, and sometimes even the court has to give in.
Even foreigners such as the Mongolians and the Jin Kingdom did not dare to touch the Kong family when they arrived in the Central Plains. They even tried their best to win over the scholars in the world.
"Disrespectful, disrespectful. I am Dang Xingyong. I am the chief teacher of a college named A. On weekdays, when the dean is away, I can do the work for you. I wonder what you are doing here?"
Yu Qian secretly thought that this person was the chief teacher, no wonder he knew so much about the academy.
Kong Zhiping snorted lightly and seemed not to take this person seriously.
"Are you in charge?"
"Although I can't make the decision, I can convey your request to the dean on your behalf."
"Forget it, let me tell you!"
Kong Zhiping took out a piece of paper and said: "I heard that the customs in Yu County are corrupt, and they are ignorant of education. It is really a shame for us to have dignified scholars hang out with businessmen. This is the personal letter of Yan Shenggong, requesting you
Wait for immediate rectification, don’t lose your integrity as a scholar!”
Dang Xingyong suddenly froze and stood there blankly.
Kong Zhiping was immediately dissatisfied. He raised the letter in his hand and said, "Did you hear it clearly?"
"Listen...listen clearly..."
"If you hear it clearly, straighten it out immediately!"
After finishing speaking, Kong Zhiping turned around and left because he had to inform the next school.
"Wait a minute!"
Suddenly, Dang Xingyong's expression changed, and the respect on his face gradually disappeared, turning into a trace of coldness.
"I would like to ask, why shouldn't the school be funded by merchants?"
Seeing this, Kong Zhiping's face became ugly and he said coldly: "What did you say?"
"I said, the schools in Yu County are funded by merchants, and a large number of children can enroll in school, so why not?"
Kong Zhiping's face was dark, and he pointed at Dang Xingyong's nose and said: "Everything is inferior, but reading is a good thing. You are still a scholar in vain. Don't you understand this? Now you are colluding with businessmen and associating with the stench of copper. How can you be so shameless?"
?"
"Why should I be ashamed when I teach and educate people here with the salary I deserve? Without the support of merchants, wouldn't the teachers in the school charge tuition? If that were true, wouldn't all the teachers in the world starve to death?
”
"You...are really unreasonable!"
Kong Zhiping was so angry that he trembled and said to the entourage behind him: "Come here, smash this school that is full of copper odor!"
"Let's see who dares!"
Dang Xingyong suddenly took a step forward, glared at these people, and said slowly: "Whoever dares to touch the school brick by brick must get past me first!"
Kong Zhiping burst out laughing and said, "Who are you? How dare you question Duke Yan? Come on, hit me!"
While the two were arguing, other teachers in the school also rushed out and surrounded these people.
Even though these scholars are usually weak in writing, they are not easy to mess with if they really work hard.
When they heard that someone was coming to destroy the school, they all rolled up their sleeves, picked up the brooms and brooms they could get around, and some were carrying bricks, and they were ready to start.
Yu Qian was not in a hurry to reveal his identity and stood aside, acting as a crowd-pleaser.
At this time, he was thinking about a question in his mind: why did the people from Yanshenggong Mansion come all the way to Yu County to cause trouble?
In his opinion, this new education model is very good. It benefits the people, the merchants, and the government. Everyone cooperates for a win-win situation. What's wrong with your Kong family?
Kong Zhiping was surrounded by people, but he did not panic, but looked angry.
"You are all scholars, do you still have Yan Shenggong in your eyes?"
Dang Xing never wanted to be outdone and retorted: "When the county school in Yu County was in ruins, Yan Shenggong's government did not provide any funding. Now that the school is up, you are here to make trouble. Even if Yan Shenggong comes, there will be no more money."
So, should Yu County still obey Duke Yansheng’s orders?”
Kong Zhiping snorted: "In all matters of education, Yan Shenggong is respected all over the world. Why is it so morally corrupt when you come to Yu County? You are all scholars, but you talk about money in silence, and the books are read into the stomach of dogs.
Gone?"
Dang Xingyong said angrily: "Please tell me clearly, where is the moral corruption of Yu County's education?"
Kong Zhiping still looked aloof, almost looking at people through his nostrils.
"The scholars read the books of the sages, the Four Books and the Five Classics, but here you teach people to learn arithmetic and all kinds of strange and obscene techniques. You are so disrespectful to the sages. What are your intentions?"
Suddenly, Yu Qian seemed to understand something in his heart.
One of the very important measures in the new policy implemented by the emperor is to reform the imperial examination.
Yu Qian was greatly puzzled by this and even gave advice.
After the emperor's explanation, he understood that perhaps, for scholars to only read the Four Books and Five Classics, it was a shackles.
Today I saw people from Yan Shenggong's Mansion coming to cause trouble, it must be related to this measure.
The New Deal has not been rolled out across the country. It will be gradually implemented in Nanjing and other places. Only the pilot project in Yu County has one year of actual experience.
Scholars all over the world respect Duke Yan Sheng. If the imperial examination is changed, Duke Yan's status will no longer be as stable as before. Therefore, they will be the first to jump out and oppose it.
Yu Qian gradually understood in his heart that in the final analysis, people will still give priority to their own interests, and the Kong family is certainly no exception.
Scholars are the foundation of Ming Dynasty. If these people jump out to oppose it, they will be against the whole world.
It seems that it is very difficult to promote the Emperor’s New Deal!
…………
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