APSIL -Chapter 125 The Emperor Inspires the Academy Officials

Using the books he had read at home in Rongshui Village, Zhang Shou had finished explaining a section of Tang history. Yet he merely smiled and turned around to continue talking about the Spring and Autumn period.

In an era when Records of the States of the Spring and Autumn Period had not yet appeared, he quoted two original passages from The Spring and Autumn Annals, then added a wealth of details from Feng Menglong’s Romance of the Spring and Autumn States, weaving together countless stories that were impossible to distinguish as true or false.

Even many of the Imperial Academy officials listening outside became completely absorbed.

However, even though the emperor was still present, Imperial Academy Doctor Yang Yiming still left.

After the full half-hour class ended, most people were able to maintain their composure.

But the Third Prince and Fourth Prince immediately stood up from their seats.

Without hesitation, the two children attacked from both sides, surrounding Zhang Shou.

The impatient Fourth Prince asked first: “Doctor Zhang, will all your classes be taught like this in the future?”

“Of course.”

Looking at the Fourth Prince’s round, innocent face, Zhang Shou suddenly felt an urge to pat his head.

But he restrained himself and simply smiled while nodding.

“Emperor Taizong once said: Using bronze as a mirror, one can correct one’s appearance; using history as a mirror, one can understand the rise and fall of nations; using people as a mirror, one can understand one’s gains and losses.”

“What we are doing now is using the past as a mirror, using history as a mirror.”

Outside the hall, Lu Sanlang had arrived early.

However, after discovering there were too many people in front, he could only sneak around behind everyone and observe secretly.

Unable to hold himself back any longer, he finally rushed back to the emperor’s side, his face full of flattering smiles.

“Your Majesty, Jiuzhang Hall has not started classes yet. Can I also attend Banshan Hall for a while?”

“The legs are attached to your own body. Do you think I can stop you?”

The emperor laughed helplessly.

He lightly tapped Lu Sanlang’s head with his folding fan.

“I actually think that once Jiuzhang Hall truly reopens, Zhang Shou might not even be able to handle everything even if he split himself in half.”

He paused slightly.

Then he looked at the many Academy officials who had waited until the end of class before approaching.

With a meaningful smile, he asked: “You should understand what I mean, shouldn’t you?”

Seeing Zhou Xun’s face turn pale and then flush, Luo Siye avoiding his gaze, and the other Academy doctors lowering their heads one by one, the emperor finally laughed.

“These days, from county schools and prefectural schools all the way to the Imperial Academy, most teachers merely mechanically recite the books.”

“Then they repeat the so-called commentaries of ancient sages.”

“They refuse to say even one additional word.”

“Because many people are simply good at studying themselves, but not good at teaching others.”

“And if they say one extra sentence, they risk leaving behind something others can use to criticize their mistakes.”

“Because public schools often treat teaching as merely fulfilling a duty, while many scholars only regard becoming a student member as an honor rather than truly taking education seriously.”

“That is why the system of public schools established by Emperor Taizu, which was meant to progress step by step, gradually became inferior to private academies.”

The emperor looked at them calmly.

“I am not specifically criticizing you.”

“Throughout the world, most teachers in public schools think about becoming officials, not educating people.”

“Furthermore, Academy officials in public schools have ranks that are too low. Compared with local governors and officials, their authority is far weaker.”

Seeing many people preparing to apologize, the emperor immediately raised his hand to stop them.

His voice became serious.

“I will not investigate how the Imperial Academy was run in the past.”

“All of you are jinshi graduates.”

“Therefore, I hope that while serving as Academy officials, you will properly fulfill your responsibility as teachers.”

“Of course, if any student dares to cause trouble, expel them directly.”

“I grant you this authority.”

“Within one year, if the atmosphere of learning at the Imperial Academy improves, I will raise all your ranks by one level.”

“Within three years, if among the students graduating from the Imperial Academy there are several outstanding talents who satisfy me, I promise this—”

“Those who wish to go to the Hanlin Academy may go there.”

“Those who wish to enter the Six Ministries may enter.”

“Those who wish to work in the Imperial Secretariat or Edict Office may choose freely.”

“All vacant sixth-rank positions shall be available for your selection!”

“As for Minister Zhou and Minister Luo, you will each rise another rank.”

“There is only one requirement.”

“The students of the Imperial Academy must treat this place as a place for learning, not a place for discussing politics.”

“People who understand nothing should not recklessly comment on state affairs!”

“And you Academy officials are the same.”

“Treat this place as an institution for teaching and educating people.”

“If you cannot even fulfill the role of a teacher properly, do not think about advancing your official careers!”

After these words were spoken, whether it was the elderly Zhou Xun and Luo Siye, or the other Imperial Academy doctors, all became overwhelmed with emotion.

They hurriedly bowed and accepted.

At that moment, no one considered whether the emperor was being too authoritarian or whether court officials would oppose him.

Because Emperor Taizu’s Imperial Academy had been repeatedly reformed by every emperor afterward.

And promises even more generous than these had existed before.

Since class had just ended, several students who heard the commotion poked their heads out to watch.

Seeing a large group of Academy officials bending their backs and lowering themselves as if they had become shorter, repeatedly agreeing to the emperor’s orders, many of them were stunned.

Then someone noticed Zhu Ying.

Most people who recognized her immediately withdrew their heads.

However, one sharp-eyed student noticed the person standing beside Zhu Ying.

The student instantly turned around and shouted toward Banshan Hall: “The Emperor is here!”

In an instant, the enormous Banshan Hall became completely silent.

The Third Prince and Fourth Prince, who had just been surrounding Zhang Shou, froze for a moment.

Then they hurriedly rushed outside.

However, when they reached the entrance, they only saw the emperor’s departing figure surrounded by guards.

The two children instinctively wanted to chase after him.

But Zhang Shou easily grabbed one with each hand and stopped them.

“Right now, you are students of Banshan Hall.”

“Do not run around casually.”

“If you want to see the emperor, you can see him after returning to the palace.”

Although Zhang Shou had initially worried about how to interact with the princes—

After all, he had met the First and Second Princes in Qingning Palace before, and he had not been impressed by their behavior—these two younger princes, despite their young age, had good manners.

He gradually found himself relaxing around them.

Especially when he saw the Academy officials leaving one after another, while Zhu Ying was dragging Lu Sanlang over with a smile.

“Lu Sanlang says he wants to attend your Banshan Hall classes for a while.”

Zhu Ying casually pushed the plump Lu Sanlang into the classroom.

She then looked inside.

More than a hundred noble youths reacted under her gaze.

Some lowered their heads.

Some turned away.

Some pretended to whisper.

Except for a few bold ones like Zhang Chen, most avoided meeting her eyes.

Zhu Ying calmly withdrew her gaze.

“Do you know what? The emperor just made a huge promise.”

Without hiding it from the many students secretly listening, Zhu Ying happily repeated everything the emperor had said.

Seeing all the students staring wide-eyed, she turned to Zhang Shou and teased: “Your lesson just now was indeed quite good.”

“But do you think those Imperial Academy doctors teach like you?”

“They simply walk around for a while every day.”

“Most of the time, the students are managed by the study supervisors.”

“Even the highest-ranked Shuai Xing Hall is mostly just students memorizing books endlessly, writing essays based on assigned topics, and occasionally having teachers comment on their work.”

“A teacher seriously giving lessons like you?”

“Ha.”

“That is something only private tutors hired by royal families or great nobles would do.”

“Or perhaps the best academies.”

She paused and shouted toward the classroom: “Zhang Chen, isn’t that right?”

Zhang Chen never expected Zhu Ying to call on him here.

Before he could answer, Lu Sanlang spoke first.

“How could it not be?”

“Otherwise, why do you think I and the others were unwilling to study at the Imperial Academy?”

“Because it’s just damn dead learning…”

He suddenly stopped.

“Uh… Teacher, sorry, I really couldn’t help swearing.”

In this situation, he replaced the casual title “Little Teacher” with the more respectful “Teacher.”

After apologizing, he continued unhappily: “Because you truly cannot learn anything there.”

“If I just want to memorize books, why would I need to come here?”

“I could memorize in my own study while being served by maids.”

“My family has hundreds of commentaries on the Four Books.”

“Why would I listen to Academy officials simply reading from books?”

After venting, he immediately changed expression.

His smile became as sincere as a street vendor trying to sell something.

“But Teacher, your lessons are truly fascinating.”

“So I specially petitioned His Majesty.”

“Before Jiuzhang Hall opens, I will attend here!”

Flatterer!

Zhang Chen almost cursed those words aloud.

Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu felt the same.

As for the other noble students, some admitted that the first class was slightly more interesting than expected.

Others thought it was merely a way to pass time.

But after the Third Prince and Fourth Prince spoke, even those with objections could only swallow them.

“Teacher’s lessons really are interesting!”

Perhaps influenced by Lu Sanlang, even the Fourth Prince naturally changed his way of addressing Zhang Shou.

“Father invited many people recently to give me and Third Brother trial lessons.”

“They talked about things that were impossible to understand and extremely boring!”

“Teacher, hurry and start the next lesson!”

“I still want to see those interesting experiments!”

The Third Prince noticed many older students looking stiff-faced.

He quickly pulled his younger brother’s sleeve.

“Fourth Brother, you don’t need to rest, but others do.”

“Teacher also needs to rest.”

“Uh…”

The Fourth Prince smiled awkwardly at Zhang Shou.

Zhang Shou’s lips curved slightly.

“The Fourth Prince will understand in the future.”

“Starting class on time and ending class on time is one of the greatest qualities of a teacher.”

If you knew that those interesting experiments would gradually evolve from simple demonstrations into increasingly complex physics…

If you knew that those stories came from ancient texts that were concise yet filled with profound meanings…

If you knew that the principles of the world also involved countless chemical elements, and that every transformation represented chemical equations, where balancing a single equation could drive beginners crazy…

Knowledge is only interesting to a small group of people.

To most people, it is cold and unfriendly.

I only want to popularize it.

As for the Four Books and Five Classics…

You still need to return to the palace and study them properly.