Great Song

"Officials want to study calculations to obtain scholars?" Wang Anshi also did not expect that the emperor invited him here to discuss this matter.Didn't we discuss it before? It's enough to only have a mathematics department in Taixue and Wuxue, and there is no need to set up a separate department.

Zhao Xu's face was very serious: "When we talked about arithmetic, I thought it was enough to select materials from Taixue and Wuxue. However, today is different from the past. Liao people have started to make gunpowder. If they make up their minds to win over talents, what will the court do?" How to deal with it? There should be people in the world who are good at counting but not good at scriptures. These people should also find a way to recruit as many as possible into the court and serve the court!"

Wang Anshi immediately understood the emperor's intention.This is also the usual method of the court.Because a strong enemy is on the side, these scholars who have tried and failed are very likely to switch to Liao and Xixia in a fit of anger, and even lead troops to riot like Huang Chao, causing chaos.Therefore, since the time of the Taizu, the national policy has been set. As long as scholars who fail to pass the exam five or six times in a row, they will have a chance to be selected into the "Enke" and open their own "special performance name".This is a means of grace, and it is also one of the reasons for redundant officials.It seems that in the three-year list of Xianping in the Zhenzong Dynasty, only more than 400 Jinshi were admitted, but there were as many as [-] special titles, which is also a spectacle.

It's just that it doesn't matter if you start a department, and it's troublesome to appoint these scholars.After pondering for a moment, Wang Anshi still pointed out the question: "Nowadays redundant officials have become a hazard, if you increase the number of subjects to obtain scholars, how do you arrange them?"

"In the Tang Dynasty, the official rank was low when calculating subjects, and now it can be followed. The household department, the third department, and even the state and county counties can all be calculated by calculation scholars. There are also general supervisors and military supervisors, which should also be increased as appropriate. Calculators. Now that industry and commerce are booming, there is a shortage of talents." Zhao Xu answered simply.

Upon hearing this, Wang Anshi knew something was wrong.The Son of Heaven had thought of this before, but he was never so straightforward.But now, he has made up his mind and wants to abandon "computation" and change to "business".This is contrary to Wang Anshi's own ruling philosophy.In his view, the most important thing to rely on for "the people don't add taxes, but the country uses the country" is to start with the merger family, to control the market, to increase the service money, and even the young crop law to obtain money.

However, these were basically not implemented. On the contrary, the emperor became more and more interested in commercial taxation and Baigong.It is also because there are too many ingenious things in recent years, and the extra luxury tax is rising every year, making a lot of profits.And the rise of those water conservancy workshops has also made Baigong more prosperous, and it is also a profitable business.Although this is somewhat similar to his water conservancy, the purpose is completely opposite.In this way, wouldn't it allow the businessman to get more benefits and make the merger family more stable?

But now, even Wang Anshi can't stand up against it.Because the benefits of business and industry are immediate, how can the temper of the emperor give up so easily?

After another moment of silence, Wang Anshi finally said: "Redundant officials are a problem after all. If it is a case of obtaining a scholar, it may not be obvious for a year or two, and after a long time, it will compete with the Jinshi."

This is not a lie, Jinshi's calculations may not be bad, especially after the current expansion of Taixue's enrollment.These high school students who come out of Sanshe will all have to learn mathematics in the future, but they don't need to take the classics and meanings in the mathematics department. Compared with this, wouldn't the arithmetic scholars occupy some official positions as Jinshi?

Zhao Xu immediately said: "I've thought about this too. The officials who are specially named are too old and can't be reused. If they are placed in the village, they will probably use their official status to make money. It's better to let these people go to teach, after all, they have passed the test Yes, it should be possible to teach a Mongolian child, right? The calculations can also be arranged in the same way. In the future, more county schools and township schools will be established to teach arithmetic in addition to classics. The classics of mathematics must be revised one by one and published in each state as soon as possible. county."

He had really thought about it seriously.It is not easy to deal with redundant officials, and it is not easy to ignore those scholars who have tried and failed. In this case, it is better to go to teach.At that time, he had considered the matter of elementary education, but the imperial court had no money to carry it out.Now that the treasury has a surplus and there are so many redundant officials, it is better to set up more official schools.In this way, not only can the problem of redundant officials be solved, but also more talents can be cultivated, and the disadvantages brought about by the subsidy and recommendation system can be reduced.

Wang Anshi's eyes shrank when he heard the words, why is the emperor's attitude completely different from before?It costs a lot of money to run a school, so he is willing to do it?But is it a bad idea?Wang Anshi could not object against his conscience.Isn't it a good strategy to solve redundant officials, promote education, and gather imperial power?

Faced with such a good idea, Wang Anshi could only say: "If the officials have this idea, they can try it out in Gyeonggi and Hedong first."

What Zhao Xu wanted was this sentence: "Since this is the case, let's print some of the revised "Nine Chapters of Arithmetic" and send them to schools in the capital. The opening of the math department must be discussed as soon as possible, how to issue examination papers, how to arrange official positions, There must be a charter. If culture and education are booming, why worry about injustice in Liaoxia?"

The pen may not be able to defeat the barbarians, but the cannon can!He needs more talents to build machinery, build artillery, make money for him, quell chaos, and stabilize the world!

With such pride, he doesn't even have much fear of the Liao Kingdom.Wang Anshi's mood is really complicated. Of course it is a good thing that the emperor is not afraid of powerful enemies and has strengthened his heart for reform.However, his position in the heart of the emperor is gradually receding.The Department of Regulations of the Third Division has been abolished. He has entered the Political Affairs Hall, but he is not the Prime Minister. There are older Tang Jie, Chen Shengzhi and others in front of him.Now Taixue does not intend to promote his "Three Classics of Justice", but to promote some classics of mathematics, and his right to speak is further damaged, and he can no longer establish his own orthodoxy.

However, did this step-by-step retreat really make the court worse?Wang Anshi couldn't say the same.Just like Sima Guang's good friend, Fan Zhen, the Minister of Rites, when the new law was promulgated, he repeatedly accused him of being arbitrary and domineering, disrupting the law and harming the people.As a result, when it comes to reforming the official system, he changed his attitude and began to praise it vigorously.

Is this man really stubborn and ignorant?If you are not a direct minister, how can you say such words as "the minister fears that the worries of the future are not in the barbarians, but in the redundant soldiers and the poor people"?Then his opposition to the new law is really intolerable, and should he be expelled from the court as a dissident?Is it really a good thing for the country to blindly suppress and exclude these people and appoint those young officials who know how to look at colors and are obedient?

Standing outside the main hall, Wang Anshi couldn't help but lose his mind.Maybe he is indeed narrow-minded and intolerant.But if he is arbitrary in the military and state affairs, and refuses to listen to a word of persuasion, what is the difference between him and a powerful minister who harmed the country?How to realize the ambition in the chest?

Taking a deep breath, Wang Anshi clenched his fists.Now the emperor is tempted by the benefits of industry and commerce, but it is not without harm.Just like the wasteland in Qinzhou, although it can be reclaimed, it will increase the voices supporting the expansion of Hehuang.But the ones who get the land and the racecourse are still those wealthy businessmen and dignitaries.As long as these people grow up, they will greedily suck the blood of the common people.Just like those water conservancy workshops standing on the Bian River, the more output, the more small households with men farming and women weaving will be affected by it.

These harms are only when someone is staring at them.Even if the emperor doesn't trust him so much, he still has the heart to get rid of the evils and rejuvenate the country!

After shaking his sleeves, Wang Anshi straightened his back again and strode towards the Zhengshitang.

■

Although the subject that Han Xia passed the examination was the first one after the emperor ascended the throne, he did not follow the old calendar to show favor, and the appointment of Jinshi did not appear to be favorable.So he, who was promoted from Taixue, showed a difference.He didn't take part in the scientific examination, but the five people who passed the Taixue examination were all the same as Jinshi, and they were directly given to junior officials.And because he took the first place in the math test, he was left in the middle of the capital and served as the secretary of the provincial school.

How can Han Xia not cherish the fact that he can get a position in the capital from the eighth rank at a young age.He is capable, diligent, good-natured, and gets along well with his colleagues.In addition, Xide Lin'er is even more cheerful, and she smiles a little when she sees everyone.

It's just that this smile can't hold back sometimes.

"Shuyuan, I heard that the math problems sold in Taixue are from your family?" As soon as I came to the government office today, some colleagues came to ask.

Han Xia's smile froze, and he coughed: "Actually, Baoying Guanyin learned it, and my younger brother also learned from it to get good grades in the exam."

Because of this exercise book, he couldn't hold his head up in front of his classmates at Taixue.I don't know how many people watched and scolded all day long, saying that the person who made the question was not a son of man.Although the question was not made by him, it has something to do with him. How could Han Ya not feel guilty?But why did colleagues also ask about this?

The colleague was overjoyed when he heard the words: "That's great! I wonder if there are exercises for children?"

"Ah? Isn't your son just enlightened?" Han Xia was a little dazed. The youngest son of this colleague's family has just started school, so why does he need an exercise book?

"Don't you know, Shuyuan? Today, all the lords in the court have begun to discuss the establishment of arithmetic subjects, and in the future they will also take arithmetic. The revised "Nine Chapters of Arithmetic" will also be published, and new subjects will be opened in Jingzhong School. I don’t know if I can get fame by studying the scriptures, and I can’t fail the math. It’s just that his teacher who taught math and math in elementary school can’t do it. I thought it’s better to buy some exercise books for him and make up for it by myself.” The colleague said He was quite sincere, as if he wanted to find another way out for his son.

Han Xia: "..."

Why is it not enough for the students to be tortured, and now even the children who go to elementary school have to suffer?

However, it is not easy to be perfunctory when colleagues inquire in detail.Han Xia said with a dry smile, "Well, I'll go back and ask if Baoying Guan has any plans to publish a book."

No one in the secretary's province didn't know the relationship between the Han family and Baoyingguan, and when they got the letter, the colleague immediately thanked him with a smile.Originally thought that this colleague was just looking forward to his success, who would have expected that more than one person would ask him one day, even his superior asked a question vaguely.Now Han Xia couldn't sit still anymore, and immediately looked for Zhen Qiong after returning home.

"Brother, the imperial court is going to open a mathematics department recently, and the Jingzhong School has also replaced the newly revised "Nine Chapters of Arithmetic". This calculation formula is too novel, and many teachers in the school can't keep up. My colleagues asked me to ask Ask, does Baoying Temple have any plans to give out exercises for children?"

Zhen Qiong didn't expect that Han Xia came here to ask this question, and her eyes lit up: "The officials really need to pay attention to counting, which is a good thing! Mengtong's exercises are not easy. I will ask Mingyue and others to make up some. If you sell it on behalf of others, I will give you a discounted price!"

Han Xia's face turned dark: "Brother, you are joking. We are all colleagues. How can I go to sell books? I am just asking people."

Zhen Qiong thought for a while, yes, they were all from the same family, and they sold them on behalf of others. It was a bit too outsider, so she waved her hand: "Erlang, don't worry, in the future when my nephew grows up, we can also prepare a full set of them." Exercises, don't be afraid that children will not learn well!"

Han Xia: "..."

No, he's not in a hurry...

■

Zhen Qiong would never delay such a big money-making event.After returning to Baoying Temple, I found Qingfeng and Mingyue, and talked about the exercises in Mongolian books.

"All colleges are going to teach arithmetic? That might sell a lot of books!" Mingyue became excited when she heard it.The books published by Baoyingguan are all paid for their contributions.The previous Taixue question book was jointly written by the doctor of mathematics who taught him and Shen Kuo, and the manuscript fee was also quite a lot.Now expanding to the entire capital, I think I can earn more.Moreover, he can also compile such an exercise book by himself, as long as he asks someone to review it.

Zhen Qiong nodded again and again: "That's right! The government pays more attention to counting now, and this business has a great potential. You need to ask others to help you with the exercises of Taixue, and you will definitely not need this. You edit well, and you will also have your share of the manuscript fee in the future!"

The two were discussing with great interest, when Qingfeng suddenly said: "Teacher, besides the exercises, can you publish a supplementary textbook for enlightenment? In Jingzhong School, there are not many math subjects, and even fewer lecturers. If If there are simpler books to enlighten you, there will be more people who can learn to count. After learning to count, it will be easier for poor people to make a living.”

This is what he said from the bottom of his heart.In the early years, Qingfeng still couldn't figure out why there was a math subject in Yixue.But three years later, when the orphans in the sales home went out to earn a living, the benefits became apparent.Those who don't like to study and come out of the lower house, although they all have a craft, they are enough to live and work.But compared to the situation of students in Shangshe, it is far worse.A small half of those who were given up went to Taoist temples and became fire-burning boys, or stayed in Yixue to help run workshops.The remaining half, without exception, were hired by big merchants.

Who doesn't know that all the Shangshe students of the Han Family Yi School can write and count, they have real skills, and they have gone through the workshop experience early on, and they are all orphans, with no family concerns.Isn't such a person a good seed to be a confidant?Therefore, the shrewd ones have already joined hands with the shopkeeper, and the dull ones can also arrange an errand for bookkeeping.This is not just to settle down, maybe in the future they can also become shopkeepers, cashiers, and become decent people that they never dared to imagine in the past.

And this kind of kindness is enough to make everyone feel grateful.It is precisely because of this that every time Qingfeng returns to the Taoist temple, many people will chase him and nag him, saying that they want to convey their gratitude for them, and thank the officials Han and Ling Xiaozi for their kindness in rebuilding.However, the free school only accepts orphans after all, and there are countless children from poor families who will never be able to get in touch with these in their entire lives.Even if you can read two characters, you may not be able to learn math. If "Nine Chapters of Arithmetic" is not taught by a good teacher, it is still too difficult for most people.

Zhen Qiong was startled, but she didn't expect Qingfeng to say such a thing.However, looking at his apprentice's earnest eyes, he nodded after thinking for a while and said, "Since you have the heart, let's take your junior and junior together to compile a book. Teach some mathematical symbols, formulas, formulas, and four operations, and then talk a little bit about it." Just talk about fractions, Pythagorean stocks, equations, and weights and measures. These are all practical things. In the future, we will print more and sell them cheaper, and more people will be able to afford them.”

In the Dayi Dynasty, the Mongolian books did indeed have calculations, which were much simpler and more organized than "Nine Chapters of Mathematical Sciences".If such a book can be written in Song Dynasty, there must be many beneficiaries.It was he who advised the emperor to pay attention to counting, so how could he not do something?

Unexpectedly, the mentor agreed so simply, and pointed at the key point, wanting to sell it at a low price.Qingfeng felt that his eyes were hot, and bent down deeply: "On behalf of thousands of poor families, I thank my teacher!"

With such a book, will those heads of Guizhou who have no relationship with Shusuan go on another road?