Chapter 75: New Teachings
Zhu Hao was supposed to lecture on Mencius in the morning, but Yuan Zonggao said a new teacher was coming, so it became a self-study class.
Yuan Zonggao left early, and Lu Bing arrived late.
Near noon, a scholar in a blue shirt finally appeared in the school. He was not brought by Yuan Zonggao, but was just an ordinary guard who came to see someone off.
Zhu Hao originally thought that the teacher was at least an old scholar in his forties or fifties who had no hope of passing the imperial examination. However, when he saw the person in person, he found that he was actually a young man who might not even be twenty years old.
This man is thin, handsome, with delicate features, but his skin is an unhealthy pale color. His family conditions are probably not very good, and his nutrition is not enough. Looking at the blue shirt on his body, there are patches on the cuffs and shoulders, which probably explains why a 20-year-old scholar would leave his preparations for the provincial examination and come to be a teacher.
"You guys..."
After the man came in, he looked at the children present and became completely unnatural.
Zhu San took the lead and stood up to salute: "Meet Mr. Gongsun."
The visitor became even more uneasy when he heard this, as if he had never taught a class before. He walked to the podium awkwardly with unsteady steps. He first glanced at the blackboard, wondering what it was, and then he stopped and looked at the children standing below.
"I... my name is Gongsun Yi, a local from Anlu. I am here to teach you today... I wonder which one of you is the Crown Prince of Xing?"
This person was very direct and asked who the prince was right away.
Zhu San stepped out and said, "It's me, what can I do for you?"
"No...no, I have admired Prince Xing and the Crown Prince for a long time. I am glad to be here today..."
This opening remark did not have the aura of a gentleman at all, it was just like a teacher who had just graduated and walked onto the podium.
Zhu Hao took a look and felt that it was very familiar, because he had taught many such students in the past, and most of them looked like this when they first stepped onto the podium... Those students later taught in universities or primary and secondary schools across the country, and gradually became the educational backbone of their respective schools. It can be said that their students are all over the world.
The reason why Zhu Hao showed outstanding talent in teaching was probably because he was not an ordinary teacher in his previous life, but a teacher's teacher.
Seeing such a young and green man, Zhu Hao felt a sense of familiarity.
When Gongsun Yi was describing her excitement at entering Prince Xing's mansion, Zhu San once again showed her cunning side: "Mr. Gongsun, your name Gongsun Yi, does it mean Yi as in clothes? Why are you called this? It's so strange."
"ah?"
Gongsun Yi was indeed not used to this way of conversation.
How dare a student comment that the teacher's name is strange?
Who gave you the courage?
Aren’t you afraid of being punished?
But the person in front of you is the prince of Xingwang. He is not afraid of punishment. You are just a temporary instructor who was pulled here to fill in the numbers. Do you really think you are a dish?
Gongsun Yi tried to force a smile and said, "My name was given by my mother. The thread in the hands of a loving mother is the clothes on the body of a wandering son. It means filial piety... Now let's start the lecture. According to what Teacher Yuan said, today I will talk about the Gongsun Chou chapter in Mencius..."
"Gongsun Chou asked, 'Master, you are in power in Qi. Can you still recognize the achievements of Guan Zhong and Yan Zi?' Mencius said, 'You are indeed a man of Qi...'"
At this point, Gongsun Yi finally realized that he was no match for the prince in terms of talking, and that teaching was more practical. Since the palace asked him to be a temporary teacher, he just did his job well.
Being a teacher best fits the "another day without any major incidents" lifestyle, and it doesn't seem to matter where you teach.
…
…
The classroom atmosphere suddenly became lively.
When the new teacher arrived, everyone wanted to know what he was capable of, but Zhu San was still thinking about playing a prank on the teacher, so much so that when Gongsun Yi was giving a lecture, Zhu San interrupted him from time to time.
"Sir, I think what you said is wrong. This is not what Zhu Hao taught us before."
Zhu San not only teases Gongsun Yi, but also wants to bring Zhu Hao into the war to cause some rift between Gongsun Yi and Zhu Hao so that she can watch the fun from the other side of the river.
Gongsun Yi asked, "Who is Zhu Hao? Is he your former teacher?"
"hey-hey……"
The children below were all laughing.
Gongsun Yi was very curious. I asked if he was your former husband. You just need to answer yes or no. Why are you laughing?
Zhu Hao raised his hand and said, "Mr. Gongsun, the Zhu Hao she was talking about is me."
"ah?"
The surprise on Gongsun Yi's face was not fake. He couldn't believe it. Prince Xing said that Zhu Hao taught him something, but he was just an inconspicuous tutor in the palace?
What are you doing?
Zhu Hao explained: " Recently , whenever Teacher Sui is not here, I will teach them because I have studied the Four Books and Five Classics before."
"I see."
Gongsun Yi did not continue to dwell on this issue and continued his lecture.
Zhu San looked back at Zhu Hao with a smile. Just as he was about to continue to stir up trouble, the guard who had sent Gongsun Yi over earlier came over to greet him, "Mr. Gongsun, it's time for lunch... You and the guards should go to the West Courtyard cafeteria to eat, and meals will be arranged there."
When Gongsun Yi heard that it was time for dinner, for some reason, he couldn't help swallowing his saliva, licking his lips, and his eyes sparkled, as if he had entered the palace just to get a free meal.
Seeing this scene, Zhu Hao blinked, curious about why Gongsun Yi had such a reaction.
"Oh, it's time to eat. Xiao Si, Xiao Bing, let's go!"
When Zhu San heard that the get out of class was over, he pulled Zhu Si and Lu Bing to the inner courtyard.
Gongsun Yi looked at Zhu Hao and Jing Hong, as if curious as to why the two did not go with them. Zhu Hao stood up and said, "Mr. Gongsun, if you don't know the way, just come with us to the West Courtyard Canteen."
Gongsun Yi then realized that the people in this small classroom were treated very differently.
…
…
Zhu Hao, Jing Hong and Gongsun Yi went to the dining hall in the west courtyard of the palace together.
Since there was a new instructor entering the palace that day, some improvements were made to the food in the west courtyard of the palace, and special meals were reserved for Gongsun Yi. This at least shows that the upper echelons of the palace had given notice.
We can't let Gongsun Yi come here, because he won't be able to have a meal after mealtime, which would go against the fine tradition of respecting teachers in the palace.
"Mr. Gongsun, how old are you?"
Zhu Hao couldn't help but ask Gongsun Yi as he watched her trying to act polite and chew slowly while eating, but couldn't help but stuffing food into her mouth.
Gongsun Yi said, "I am already twenty years old."
"Is your father still alive?" Zhu Hao asked.
"The head of the family died young."
Gongsun Yi was a little impatient.
It means there is only an old mother at home.
"Are you married?" Zhu Hao continued to ask.
Gongsun Yi looked at Zhu Hao in surprise, perhaps thinking, why do you have so many questions? What does it have to do with you, a disciple, whether the master is married or not?
But according to his impression, the tutors in the palace were either rich or noble. After he left the palace, he might have to rely on the help of these rich and noble children. After thinking about it, he said frankly: "They got married last year."
In this era, men generally get married later than women, but getting married at the age of 19 is definitely not early, and should be considered an "older young man."
This is enough to show that his family background is not good.
Come to think of it, the father passed away early, and the old mother raised her son alone and even trained him to be a scholar. It was already the limit. If her son had not passed the examination and became a scholar, he probably would not even be qualified to get married!
"Then Mr. Gongsun...you don't have any children yet, right?" Zhu Hao continued to ask.
Gongsun Yi's face was slightly displeased, but he still said "hmm" as an answer.
Jing Hong looked at Zhu Hao curiously, wondering why his friend asked the gentleman so many questions.
In this era, the concepts of Heaven, Earth, Emperor, Parents and Teachers are deeply rooted in people's minds. There is an unbridgeable gap between teachers and students. Even if they sit together for a meal, it is impossible to communicate with an equal attitude, not to mention that they are talking about the teacher's family affairs.
Zhu Hao said, "This year is the year of annual examinations. The local annual examinations in Anlu have already ended in August... I wonder how you did in the exam?"
Gongsun Yi looked up and stared at Zhu Hao, wondering how a little kid could know so much.
There was no official position of educational commissioner in the Ming Dynasty. Local examinations were conducted by a deputy of the provincial governor or the provincial judicial commissioner, who was called "education envoy."
The "school envoy" would conduct annual examinations in the first year of his term, which is also the year of the imperial examination. He would travel around the country to assess students, and evaluate the grades of the students based on the prefectures, as well as make rewards and punishments.
Before the end of the year, the "school envoy" had to complete the Tongsheng Academy examination, which was also called the academy examination, and select new scholars. Sometimes the academy examination could not be completed in the same year and would be delayed until March or April of the following year.
The imperial examination was held the following year, which was equivalent to the provincial examination.
Only those who performed well in the imperial examinations, called "luke", were eligible to take part in the provincial examinations.
The third year is the year of the provincial examination. In July, there will be a record of missed examinations. Those who did not pass the examination or were unable to participate due to personal reasons or due to mourning can take a make-up examination and obtain the qualification to participate in the provincial examination that year.
The provincial examination in August.
After that, the term of office of the "academic envoy" ends and the cycle repeats.
For ordinary students, this cycle will continue as long as they fail to pass the imperial examination.
Therefore, the scholars who came out to work as teachers were basically those who had no hope of passing the provincial examinations.
For example, in "Fan Jin Passes the Imperial Examination", after Fan Jin passed the examination for students, his father-in-law heard that he was going to take the examination for juren and scolded him, "With your pointed face and monkey cheeks, you should piss yourself in the mirror. You are a good-for-nothing and yet you want to eat swan fart. You'd better give up this idea as soon as possible. Next year, I'll find you a job in our bank, and earn a few taels of silver every year to support your old mother and your wife."
Gongsun Yi came out to be a teacher at such a young age, so he must have had difficulties at home.
Gongsun Yi didn't want to answer at first, but after thinking about it, it didn't seem to be a shame, so he looked up and said with a little pride: "I got first place in the annual exam, so I got the additional bonus."
A new student, taking the annual examination for the first time, cannot be directly admitted as a student on government stipend even if he or she performs well. If one is not a student on government stipend, he or she is not eligible to enjoy the imperial rice salary. And there are still two years before the next provincial examination. Even if you want to continue your studies and pass the provincial examination, you have to bow down for the money first.
Zhu Hao wanted to ask Gongsun Yi how much his monthly tuition was, but after thinking about it, he realized that Gongsun Yi would most likely not stay in the palace for long, and if he talked about money with a scholar, the latter would probably get angry.
Then I won’t ask.
In the afternoon, Gongsun Yi taught a class. During the break, Zhu San jumped out and asked, "Mr. Gongsun, how much money does my father give you every month? I heard that the previous Sui teacher received three taels of silver per month, and a lot of rice and flour."
If someone else had asked this question, Gongsun Yi would definitely avoid answering it, and might even get angry.
But now it was the "Prince of Xingwang" who asked, which was equivalent to half of his employer. He was also young and hot-tempered, and his personality was more straightforward, so he answered directly: "I am just a husband, not as good as the juren master, who earns eight cents a month."
Zhu Hao's doubts were immediately cleared up.
Eight cents of silver is almost ten taels in a year. If you can stay in the palace for a long time, it will really improve your life and your future will be full of money.
