Zhao Kuangyin felt that his advice to his younger brother could hardly be called insincere.
From Zhao Guangyi's perspective, it might have sounded somewhat like a threat.
But loyal words are often unpleasant to hear and beneficial to act upon. Zhao Kuangyin believed that his brother would eventually understand his good intentions.
From Zhao Pu's angle, however, all he could see was Prince Jin's face turning pale in an instant.
Not only that, his body was trembling slightly, shaking like chaff in the wind.
Still, the younger generation bringing up old matters again made Zhao Kuangyin feel a bit uncertain himself.
"Could a donkey cart really be faster than a horse carriage?"
"That can only be known by trying."
The light curtain continued.
[Lightscreen]
[By this point, today's main topic had basically been covered.
But in the end, the narrator still wanted to add a few extra words about Emperor Huizong of Song.
This was a famously infamous ruler who lost the dynasty, but he was also the one who launched the Chongning Educational Reform, pushing Northern Song's civil governance to a new historical peak.
Since ancient times, the word "culture" had carried the meaning of civil governance and moral instruction. The importance of education was self evident.
At the founding of Song, Zhao Kuangyin himself had once said, "To be a prime minister, one must be a man of learning."
Zhao Guangyi, on the other hand, greatly expanded the imperial examination system. Whether in terms of number of successful candidates, honors, initial appointments, or promotion speed, all far surpassed the era of Zhao Kuangyin.
At the same time, Zhao Guangyi ordered the renovation of academies and personally established the Chongwen Institute to collect books from across the realm, making it easier to compile collections.
These methods of directly benefiting scholars were simple, even crude, but extremely effective.
By the time of Emperor Zhenzong, from central ministers to local administrators, and even many military officers, most positions were held by men of learning.
However, as time passed, perceptive people quickly realized that the imperial examinations only selected talent. They did not truly cultivate it.
In the spring of the fourth year of Qingli, Fan Zhongyan, at the request of his friend Teng Zijing, wrote an essay for the rebuilt Yueyang Tower.
Thus the famous Essay on Yueyang Tower was born.
In that prose, Fan Zhongyan expressed his devotion to the state and his political ideals. With Emperor Renzong's support, he then resolved to reform education, beginning what became known as the Qingli Educational Reform.
Beyond establishing local government schools and reforming examinations, Fan Zhongyan's most far reaching contribution was introducing the Su and Hu teaching method into the Imperial Academy.
This system, pioneered by Hu Yuan, divided students into two halls.
One was the Classics Hall, focused on Confucian learning.
The other was the Practical Affairs Hall, where students chose one major and one secondary field from subjects such as military affairs, civil administration, water conservancy, and mathematics.
At first glance, this resembled a split between liberal arts and sciences. In fact, it was the world's earliest known form of specialized majors and minors, remarkably advanced for its time.
On Fan Zhongyan's advice, Emperor Renzong also introduced a minimum attendance requirement, mandating that scholars study for at least three hundred days before being eligible to take the examinations.
By the time of Emperor Shenzong, Wang Anshi felt that usable talent was far too scarce. With imperial support, he launched the Xining Educational Reform.
This could be seen as a supplement and refinement of Fan Zhongyan's reforms.
One especially commendable feature of the Qingli reforms was the relaxed admission standards. As long as a person was not a criminal, they could enroll, and poor students received financial support.
This truly allowed even those of humble background to study, enter officialdom, and change their fate.
Wang Anshi believed that relying solely on central funding was unsustainable. He granted land to local schools and established official positions to provide material support for both schools and students.
Given the shortage of specialized talent, he also established separate institutions for military studies, law, and medicine.
Most importantly, he reformed the Imperial Academy with the Three Hall System.
Students were divided into Outer Hall, Inner Hall, and Upper Hall.
Upper Hall students could be directly appointed to office.
Inner Hall students could skip the Ministry of Rites examination.
Outer Hall students could skip the local prefectural exams.
Students could advance between halls through examinations.
This created a clear, tiered structure that had a significant impact on educational development.
For Song, local schools also had another critical function. They stabilized local governance.
To enter officialdom, one had to pass the examinations. To take the examinations, one had to enroll in school.
Through educational institutions, the central government could ensure that its policies reached local regions.
At the same time, poor but ambitious youths, who might otherwise become destabilizing elements, could use schools as a path into the ruling class.
According to statistics by Chen Yiyan, among 1,953 officials in Song history with known family backgrounds, 55.2 percent came from commoner families.
This was an astonishing number. Across all dynasties, only the Ming, with 49.5 percent, came close.
In Northern Song, studying truly could change one's fate.]
Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Pu listened carefully, not wanting to miss a single word.
Though they did not fully understand education, they understood phrases like civil governance and historical peak.
Zhao Pu whispered to the emperor, "If this is so, then the achievements of Song's civil governance over one hundred sixty seven years have all been shown to us. Much of it can be adopted."
Zhao Kuangyin fell silent, half understanding and half not.
Soon, however, a neatly written essay appeared on the light curtain, giving him a more intuitive sense of what this civil achievement meant.
With only a few strokes, Fan Zhongyan depicted the grandeur of Dongting Lake and the distant mountains and river.
As the tone shifted between brightness and gloom, Zhao Kuangyin felt he could sense the author's conflicted sorrow and concern.
At first, he thought it was another sentimental piece. But at the end, it suddenly surged with uplifting spirit.
It was not as grand as the later poem they had seen, but its transcendence was deeply moving.
Zhao Pu, already excited, read aloud, "Not pleased by external gain, not saddened by personal loss. To worry before the people worry, to rejoice after the people rejoice."
"If Song's ministers were all like this, how could the dynasty have lasted only one hundred sixty seven years?"
Though the logic made sense, Zhao Kuangyin stopped him.
"Zeping, I already know the number. Do not repeat it."
Zhao Guangyi leaned over shamelessly. "Brother, with such worthy ministers, this is surely something to celebrate for Song's civil governance."
Zhao Kuangyin immediately saw through his attempt to take credit and smiled faintly.
"If I had not founded Song, how could there be such worthy ministers and fine works? Of course it should be celebrated."
Zhao Guangyi was instantly left speechless.
Ignoring his brother, Zhao Kuangyin looked up at the scrolling comments.
[Server Chat Log]
[Zhuge Liang: "Seeing Song's worthy ministers and good methods today, their education and instruction are truly commendable."
Li Shimin: "What the Marquis of Wu says is excellent indeed."
Zhang Fei: "With foreign enemies at the gate, everyone sits and studies. How can academies produce famous generals?"
Yuchi Gong: "A true general must face danger in person. How can one gain courage sitting safely in a hall?"]
In Chang'an of Han, Liu Bei stroked his beard and glanced between Kongming and the light curtain.
Why was Li Erfeng so enthusiastic toward Kongming?
Every time he echoed him, always using the respectful title Marquis of Wu.
Could Kongming be some distant relative of Li Erfeng?
After thinking it over, Liu Bei dismissed the idea. The Li clan claimed descent from Li Guang of Longxi and Tianshui, far from the Zhuge clan of Langya and Yangdu.
There was simply no connection.
Setting it aside, Liu Bei sighed for Fan Zhongyan.
"Fan Zhongyan's sincerity rivals Kongming's. It is a pity he was born a thousand years too late, or I would gladly have made him my strategist to govern the people."
Pang Tong laughed loudly and gestured at Kongming, Lu Su, and Fa Zheng.
"My lord already has us to assist, and Xu Yuanzhi in Jingzhou as well. And still you feel it is not enough?"
Liu Bei smiled. "The Marquis of Huaiyin said the more soldiers, the better. For those who bring peace to the people, like minded men are also the more, the better."
Pang Tong nodded in agreement.
Kongming, after copying down the two educational reforms, reviewed them and handed them to Lu Su. Then he said with excitement to Liu Bei, "Though we do not have Northern Song's wealth, we can still adapt these ideas to reform our academy. Even adopting one or two would be benevolent governance."
Liu Bei grew more serious. After a moment's thought, he nodded.
"The situation in Guanzhong is exactly as Fan Zhongyan described. Everything is in ruins and needs rebuilding."
"Song's educational policies align with our own ideas. We should establish craft schools to teach artisanship and add mathematics, so the people can gain practical skills to support their families."
Given recent trade, Liu Bei knew that after Bu Zhi returned to Jiangdong, shipping routes had reopened.
Sugar, brocade, and embroidery from Yi Province flowed through Jiangling to Jiangdong, then north, earning enormous profits.
Snow sugar in particular was extremely popular in the north.
Rumors even said a Cao clan noble spent huge sums buying it, likely the Sugarcane Sword Saint, Emperor Wen of Wei.
In such conditions, Liu Bei felt that for the people of Guanzhong, the simplest way to make a living was to first learn a craft.
In the GanluHall, Li Shimin's handling was far more direct.
"Have this copied and sent to the Director of the Imperial Academy. Order him to study its effects and report honestly."
Du Ruhui accepted the order.
Li Shimin then turned to Li Jing.
"Military education must not be neglected. General, this matter rests with you."
Li Jing solemnly agreed.
Seeing the court officials discussing Song's education, Li Shimin felt a trace of pride. When no one asked him, he turned to the empress.
"Does the empress know Song education's flaw?"
"I do not. Has Your Majesty already seen it?" Empress Zhangsun asked with feigned surprise.
Li Shimin nearly raised his eyebrows to his hairline, then coughed lightly.
"As said before, Song's deep flaw is suppressing the military in favor of civil officials. People take pride in examinations and feel shame in defending the borders."
Empress Zhangsun nodded. "That is true. But what does this have to do with education?"
"It has everything to do with it," Li Shimin said, his mood darkening slightly.
"No matter how education is reformed, students must still compete through examinations."
"Honoring the classics and despising practical arts, esteeming civil and belittling martial. This is the root of Song's weakness."
"Empress, why did Wang Anshi establish the Three Hall System?"
After a moment's thought, she replied, "It likely allowed practical students to rise to higher halls and enter office without examinations. That can be considered a good policy."
"It is a good policy," Li Shimin nodded, then pointed to Du Ruhui.
"Since Keming understands, speak."
Du Ruhui said quietly, "If they needed the Three Hall System, it means the examination system was already deeply flawed."
"Fan Zhongyan's reforms were made for the sake of examinations."
"Thus Song's education and examinations are one body. If the flaws in examinations are not removed, schooling cannot truly be good."
At the end, even Du Ruhui felt confused. They were still refining examinations, yet Song had already ruined theirs.
Fang Xuanling shook his head. "Song officials all came from examinations. How could they reform them?"
Zhangsun Wuji, who had been silent, said something shocking.
"If they cannot be reformed, then abolish them."
The entire hall turned to look at him.
The light curtain continued.
[Lightscreen]
[Song's final educational reform came under Emperor Huizong.
In the second year of his reign, renamed Chongning, Cai Jing proposed educational reform. Huizong approved, launching the Chongning Educational Reform.
All counties and prefectures were ordered to establish official schools, with strict performance standards.
Large counties needed at least fifty students, medium counties forty, small counties thirty. The Three Hall System was applied starting at county schools.
County students advanced to prefectural schools, prefectural students to the Imperial Academy, forming a network covering the entire realm.
The Imperial Academy itself was expanded with an outer academy called Biyong, with 1,872 dormitory buildings.
Students advanced step by step until entering the main academy.
The scale surpassed even the height of the Tang.
Huizong went further, ordering local governments to fund students directly, calling it "scholar support."
It even resembled early compulsory education.
Yet scholars still focused on examinations rather than school.
The contradiction between education and examinations grew sharper.
Thus in the third year of Chongning, Huizong issued a decree.
The imperial examinations were abolished. All official appointments would come through school advancement.]