APSIL -Chapter 123 The Present Surpasses the Past

Outside Half-Mountain Hall, the Imperial College’s Director of Studies, Zhou Xun, stood side by side with Vice Director Luo. When several Imperial College scholars heard Zhang Shou praising the principles of the world around them, most of them couldn’t help showing displeasure.

Finally, the oldest among them could no longer hold back and shouted angrily: “During the age of the ancient sage kings, it was a time of enlightened rule and perfect governance! How can the present era possibly be compared with those glorious times? Your words are simply arrogant and absurd!”

The students inside the hall had never expected someone outside to suddenly challenge their new teacher at such a moment.

Even those who had just been distracted instantly became excited.

This was the Imperial College!

Normally, each hall managed its own affairs. Even the Imperial College scholars responsible for each hall only occasionally supervised things. Most daily matters were handled by the hall leaders.

But now, someone had actually stepped forward to openly oppose their new teacher?

This was going to be a show!

Zhang Shou had long expected this.

The moment he chose to praise the present age instead of advocating a return to ancient times, he knew people would criticize him.

Recognizing the person who had angrily rebuked him as Yang Yiming, the scholar responsible for the Discipline Hall of the Imperial College, Zhang Shou simply chuckled.

“Since Scholar Yang believes the era of the ancient sage kings was the best, then allow me to ask you something. Do you know how large the territory was during the age of those ancient kings? How many people lived under their rule? How many people could read?”

The old man immediately froze.

Seeing that he had caught him off guard, Zhang Shou continued rapidly: “During the era of the ancient sage kings, Jiangnan was still a vast region of swamps. Jing and Chu were filled with endless forests. Liaodong was a frozen wasteland. The only places with human settlements were a small portion of the Central Plains—roughly the size of a single modern provincial administrative region.”

“Tell me, Scholar Yang, is governing one provincial region more difficult, or governing the entire empire as it exists today?”

Before the old scholar could organize his thoughts, Zhang Shou continued calmly.

“The Book of Documents: Many Scholars states: ‘The ancestors of Yin possessed records and documents.’ Even written history only gradually appeared during the Shang Dynasty. In the so-called ancient era you admire, no matter how many teachings those sages supposedly left behind, how many could actually be recorded?”

“You should know that the Shang Dynasty still practiced blood sacrifices, and only during the Zhou Dynasty did ritual civilization truly flourish!”

“Today we grind wheat into flour and eat noodles. But during the Han Dynasty, flour was something only nobles could enjoy. Ordinary people could only eat coarse wheat dishes.”

“Qin had no paper. Han had no water-powered stone mills. Jin had no gunpowder. Tang had no movable type printing. Song had no firearms. Yuan’s weapons were far inferior to those of today…”

“And that is not even mentioning that today, countless common people have cultivated farmland across the empire. When the harvest comes, the whole world has enough food.”

“Oh, and I remember cotton only began being widely planted during our own dynasty. Scholar Yang, may I ask—what did people in ancient times use to keep warm?”

By now, Yang Yiming’s entire face was twitching.

Only then did Zhang Shou calmly add: “Yes, they had animal furs.”

“But since you admire an ancient world of benevolence and ritual, if the only way to obtain food and warmth was to kill wild animals for meat and skins, how could that possibly compare with today, when people can obtain everything they need from cultivated land and live in abundance?”

Seeing Yang Yiming completely defeated, the other Imperial College scholars exchanged glances.

At the same time, they felt extremely fortunate that they had not rashly stepped forward to join the argument.

Otherwise, they would now be the ones trapped in embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Zhou Xun and Luo Siye exchanged a glance, and their feelings became even more complicated.

Throughout history, every dynasty had admired returning to ancient traditions.

But this dynasty…

cough.

This dynasty’s founding emperor had been the one who hated such arguments the most.

Back then, when a great Confucian scholar had begun speaking about how wonderful the ancient sage kings were, the founding emperor had immediately erupted in anger.

The ancient people still ate raw meat and lived like beasts!

No matter how capable those sage kings were, how could people with nothing but their bare hands possibly create a world more prosperous than the present?

Just as everyone was temporarily stuck for words, a soft voice of praise suddenly came from behind.

“Well said!”

“Everyone always talks about how wonderful the ancient sage kings were. But our founding emperor once said: Forget the ancient times—even during the Qin Dynasty there were no stirrups, and during the Han Dynasty, grown men still wore open-crotch trousers!”

“From ancient times until today, life has always gradually improved!”

The furious Yang Yiming turned around.

The person who spoke was none other than Zhu Ying, who was disguised as a man.

Before he could remind himself that a gentleman should not argue with a woman, he recognized the person standing beside her.

His face instantly turned pale.

Because the person standing behind them, listening with great interest, was none other than the current emperor himself.

Normally, praising ancient sage kings behind closed doors was harmless.

Even saying that ancient times were superior was not necessarily a problem, because even the emperor himself would occasionally speak of ancient examples in certain situations.

But today?

In this situation?

He had just loudly declared that the present was inferior to the past.

And the emperor had heard everything.

He had practically dug his own grave.

The emperor merely glanced deeply at the old scholar who constantly praised ancient times.

Then he gestured to the others, stopping Zhou Xun and the other officials from coming forward to greet him.

He did not want his arrival to disturb the lesson inside.

Inside the hall, Zhang Shou happened to hear Zhu Ying’s voice as well.

He had no idea that the emperor himself had secretly come to listen.

He simply withdrew his gaze from Yang Yiming and smiled as he looked across the students of Half-Mountain Hall.

“Actually, many of the things I said can be proven through ancient texts.”

“Perhaps the ancient era truly had many mysterious things that have since been lost.”

“But today, we have also created a prosperous age that ancient people could never have imagined.”

“At the very least, people of ancient times would never have been able to sail across the world and observe all the seas as our dynasty has done.”

Then Zhang Shou changed his tone.

“I know that among everyone sitting here, aside from the two young princes who are still beginning their education, most of you probably only have ordinary academic talent.”

“Or perhaps, you simply dislike the method of endless memorization.”

“Therefore, the courses I have arranged are very simple.”

“Every day there will be four classes.”

“Two in the morning and two in the afternoon.”

“Each class lasts half an hour, with two quarters of an hour break between them.”

“First: History.”

“For half an hour, we will study the histories of different dynasties. We will also discuss stories from ancient and modern writers, both within China and abroad, while incorporating parts of the Four Books and Five Classics.”

“You may simply think of it as listening to stories.”

“Questions are encouraged during class.”

“Second: Nature.”

“I will explain some basic principles of the world.”

“At the very least, in the future nobody will be ignorant enough to shout ‘demonic arts’ whenever they encounter something they do not understand.”

Outside the hall, the emperor and Zhu Ying both reacted.

One smiled.

The other laughed.

Both immediately thought of Zhang Huaili, the former Minister of Revenue who had retired.

Unfortunately, that poor man had already suffered a stroke and was now unable to speak or write.

Even if he were standing there today and heard Zhang Shou mocking the idea of “demonic arts,” he would have no way to angrily argue back.

“Third: Arts and Etiquette.”

“Simply put, these are elective courses meant to cultivate character and refinement.”

“Music, chess, calligraphy, painting—everything belongs here.”

“Regardless of whether an instrument is considered elegant or common, all may be studied.”

“Fourth: Physical Training.”

“Horse riding, archery, martial arts, cuju, polo, and so on.”

“If you do not like intense competitive activities, then there are also options such as pitch-pot, cricket, table tennis…”

“Later, I will distribute course selection forms.”

“Life lies in movement.”

“I am not saying everyone must become a general who commands armies or a minister who governs the people.”

“But the descriptions of scholars as ‘unable even to catch a chicken’ and ‘useless except for reading books’ should never apply to students of the Imperial College!”

Hidden behind the emperor, Lu Sanlang almost shouted in approval.

But realizing that would be too exaggerated, he forcibly suppressed his excitement.

At that moment, a childish voice suddenly came from inside.

“That’s wonderful! I hate being forced to memorize books every day!”

Fourth Prince Zheng Ying’s excitement lasted only a moment before his older brother secretly tugged his sleeve.

Realizing he had lost composure several times today, the little prince immediately became embarrassed.

But he soon relaxed again.

Because Zhang Chen clapped loudly in agreement after him.

The former dandies from Cuiyun Pavilion also enthusiastically cheered, acting as supporters.

As for everyone else…

Although some still remained skeptical, this curriculum was far better than the terrifying image they had imagined—being forced to memorize classics under the threat of a ruler.

Thus, after the first scattered applause, more and more people joined in.

Among the hundred-plus students in the hall, only a few stubborn troublemakers remained silent.

Someone even took advantage of the fading applause to loudly ask: “Earlier, Doctor Zhang said there are four classes every day. Could it be that you yourself are proficient in everything you mentioned?”

“Of course…”

Zhang Shou paused.

Then he smiled calmly.

“…Impossible.”

“Nowadays, there probably does not exist a person who is perfect in history, skilled in martial arts, supreme in music, outstanding in etiquette, and also excellent at cuju and polo.”

“Of course, I am no exception.”

“However, in the capital where talents from across the empire gather, there are naturally many people who specialize in one particular field.”

“Furthermore, what does ‘elective’ mean?”

“It means allowing everyone to truly learn something they are interested in.”

“With your backgrounds and family circumstances, if you sincerely wish to study something deeply, you will naturally be able to invite the greatest experts in the world to teach you in the future.”

“The classes now are only meant to inspire you.”

“Therefore, I will personally teach the required courses of history and nature.”

“As for other teachers, everyone may suggest candidates and hire them externally.”

“For each elective course, the teacher will be decided by a vote among the students who choose that subject.”

“After selecting someone, you yourselves will find a way to invite them.”

“Of course, the Imperial College has rules regarding who may enter.”

“If anyone plans to invite some famous courtesan from a pleasure house to teach romantic arts, abandon that thought immediately.”

“If someone is skilled at cuju, pitch-pot, or similar activities, they may even recommend themselves as instructors.”

Hearing that they could choose their own teachers—and even recommend themselves—everyone became extremely excited.

Although Zhang Shou had blocked the possibility of inviting famous entertainers from brothels to teach music, the students were still thrilled.

Only after a sharp knock of the classroom board did they gradually quiet down.

Nobody noticed that although they could not be said to have completely accepted this teacher yet…

They had already unknowingly become willing to listen to him.

Zhang Shou understood something very clearly.

If the emperor wished, he could invite the greatest Confucian scholars in the world to teach the two princes.

He could even ask teachers with the highest teaching ability.

Even Ge Yong would likely not refuse if asked to occasionally lecture the princes.

Yet the emperor had thrown two princes together with a group of troublesome young nobles into his hands.

Therefore, Zhang Shou had decided his strategy for Half-Mountain Hall from the very beginning.

Tell stories, not preach knowledge.

Popularize ideas, not conduct research.

The twenty-four people who had once been in Cuiyun Pavilion…

He might not even be able to make every one of them turn their lives around.

Let alone the more than one hundred people sitting before him now.