Volume 1: Birth! Seven time travelers Chapter 011: My Yuan Cong Team (Part 3)
Zhu Youdong's idea of transferring Li Chengliang back was extremely unrealistic. It was also impossible to openly let Li Chengliang be Zhu Youdong's teacher . However, Wanli was very supportive of his grandson's idea of being close to the military. Therefore, Wanli was able to let the Li family send two young men, one as the chief guard and the other as a companion.
As for asking the Duke of Yingguo and the Duke of Chengguo to send their children to study with him, this was a matter of course, and the civil officials had nothing to say.
Of course, Zhu Youdong wanted to transfer Li Chengliang back. Learning military knowledge was one aspect, but more importantly, his fundamental purpose was not to let Li Chengliang take care of Nurhaci in Liaodong.
Unfortunately, he was only four years old. Zhu Youdong could not do many things and could not say many things. Although he told Wanli that Li Chengliang was old, he wanted to be stable, lacked ambition, loved old times, and was too caring to former slaves like Nurhaci, etc. However, the Jianzhou Jurchens seemed very loyal to the Ming Dynasty at this time, and their strength was extremely weak, and they did not pose any threat at all.
Therefore, Wanli did not accept the suggestion to replace Li Chengliang, but only transferred Li Rubai, who was recuperating at home and had always been a hawk in his attitude towards the Jianzhou Jurchens, back to Liaodong.
The round trip from the capital to Liaodong and then from Liaodong to the capital took nearly a month. In fact, before Wanli met Li Chengliang, the arrangement of the eunuchs who would serve the crown prince had been made earlier.
"Master, regarding the selection of the Crown Prince's companion and tutor, I still need your advice."
"Haha, Wang An, you are now the head of Ciqing Palace. So, let's treat each other as equals from now on. As for the Crown Prince's enlightenment, he is only four years old after all, although he has entered the palace now. But the Thousand Year Old Master is the Crown Prince's father after all, so it is still up to you, Ciqing Palace, to send someone to handle this matter."
"I dare not. I always remember that if it weren't for Master Feng's support, I wouldn't have been able to enter the inner school to study. If it weren't for Master's recommendation, I wouldn't have had the chance to be Master Qiansui's companion. So, Master, please give me some advice on how to start my studies."
"Hey, you are good in every way, except that you are too nostalgic and too honest. Is this what Feng Bao can say now? Well, let's not talk about this. Although His Royal Highness is only four years old, our family can already feel His Royal Highness's majesty, so of course, the companions and tutors for this Royal Highness must be carefully selected."
"Master, what you said makes sense. Your Highness the Crown Prince has been in Ciqing Palace for four years, and I have watched you grow up. When it comes to studying, I was the one who taught you the Three Character Classic. To be honest, Your Highness does not have the ability to remember everything he sees. But in terms of understanding the content of the book, I can only be your disciple."
"That's it. So, we have to choose some smart and good children to serve His Royal Highness. Alas, I am old now. The young people I had in my hands are almost as old as you now. So, do you have any suitable candidates among your children?"
"Master, what do you think of Wang Tiqian?"
"Well, this child has a very solid personality. He has no problem serving ordinary princes and grandchildren, but facing a talent like the Crown Prince..."
"Then please let Liu Shimin come instead, Master?"
"Haha, don't even think about it. Liu Shimin is a rare person in my palace who knows about military affairs. We need to focus on training him and guide him to the direction of the Imperial Horse Administration. What do you have in your hands? Is there anyone smart and clever?"
"Speaking of the smartest children, I have a candidate. There is a child named Cao Huachun, from Wuqing County (Tianjin) in Northern Zhili. He is fifteen years old this year and has been in the palace for three years. In the past three years, this child has learned everything very quickly. He has a good command of regular script, and he also knows some music, chess, calligraphy and painting. Originally, I planned to let this child study in the inner school for a few more years, and then he could enter the Silijian. Since the master said so, I will bring this child out in advance."
"Well... our family has heard of this child, and he's fine. But he's still a little young. The Crown Prince needs someone older to be around, so he can occasionally help out with some heavy lifting."
"Uh... Speaking of this." Wang An said with a puzzled expression: "Master, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince directly asked the student for someone by name."
"Oh?" Chen Ju's interest suddenly piqued: "Who is it?"
"This man's surname is Li, and his name is Jinzhong. He is from Suning, Northern Zhili (Cangzhou, Hebei). He is already thirty-six years old this year."
"How many years has this person been in the palace? What is his character like?"
"It's really strange. After Your Highness mentioned this person, I went to do a serious investigation. I found out that he was a scoundrel in his early years and was addicted to gambling. He even lost his wife and daughter at the card table. In the end, he had no other choice but to commit suicide and then enter the palace... He is now doing cleaning work in the palace..."
"Hiss~~How could such a corrupt and ruthless person be favored by the Crown Prince? And how did the Crown Prince know about this person who is the Direct Palace Supervisor?"
"this……"
"Forget it. Although His Highness is only four years old, he is definitely not an ordinary person. Since the Crown Prince has made the request himself, then we should do as he says."
"Yes, in that case, we still need a companion."
"Do you have a child of seven or eight years old?"
"Students here are mainly responsible for serving the Qiansui family. How can a seven or eight-year-old child do that? So no."
"Well, then we'll give you someone. This kid's name is Wang Chengen..."
…
"Dong'er, these are the candidates for tutors selected by the cabinet for you. You can find a time to have them come over for a trial lecture. These are the people selected by the palace to serve you. Is there anyone you don't like? If you don't like them, your father will ask them to change. And this Li Shizhong is the commander of your guards. The remaining Li Chunzhong is the eighth grandson of Li Chengliang, who is six years old this year. Zhang Shize is the eldest grandson of the current Duke of Ying, Zhang Weixian, and is also six years old this year. These two, plus Wang Chengen selected by the palace, will be your tutors."
"Hmm..." After carefully reviewing , Zhu Youdong raised his head and said, "Father, the six gentlemen selected by the cabinet are all excellent. There is no need for trial lectures or selections. Let them be my child's teachers. As for the servants selected by the palace, there is no need to adjust them. As for the tutors, there is no need to change them. But I have another request."
"You tell me, you tell me, as long as it's not too difficult, your father will do it for you."
"Thank you, father. Father, in today's world, people already know that our Ming Dynasty is not the only advanced country in the world. Thousands of miles away from the West, there are also many powerful countries whose civilizations are not inferior to our Ming Dynasty. More than two years ago, the Western missionary Matteo Ricci came to Beijing and presented the two self-ringing clocks to Grandpa. To this day, the craftsmen of our Ming Dynasty have not been able to replicate them. This shows that civilizations outside the Ming Dynasty also have their own unique and advanced features. I will assist you in governing the Ming Dynasty in the future, so I think it is better to get in touch with and learn knowledge outside the Ming Dynasty as early as possible."
"My son, what you said makes sense. Then, I will invite the Western monk named Matteo Ricci to be your tutor."
"Not only that. Matteo Ricci is a Westerner after all. I heard that among the second-class Jinshi this year, there is a man named Xu Guangqi. He has had contacts with Western monks for a long time, so father might as well include him in the teaching staff."
"This... In this way, my son will have eight teachers. Can you handle it?"
"Haha, don't worry, father. Look at the eunuch Wang in our Ciqing Palace. He was also known for his extraordinary intelligence in the inner study hall in his early years, but he only taught children for a year..."
"Alright, alright. I know my son is extremely talented. Well, I will definitely arrange the for you, but from now on, my son must remember to respect teachers and education, and don't be arrogant."
"I understand, thank you, father."
