Volume 2: Residence in the Capital Chapter 146: A good cook cannot cook without rice
Ah Liu was naturally vigorous and resolute in his work. When Zhang Shou returned home that night, he found that in addition to Qi Liang, Deng Xiaodai had also come. He originally thought that Ah Liu had invited people together, but who knew that Qi Liang smiled and said something he didn't expect before and after he came.
"Young sir, Wang Dayin asked me to tell you that he will personally try the three cases tomorrow. If you are a witness, you can go and listen in. Of course, if you don't have time, forget it. Wang Dayin said that the cells are almost full and we can't delay any longer. We should try to get there before the autumn execution!"
This was clearly a move to kill people and establish his authority. Compared to Wang Datou's temper, Zhang Shou was not surprised at all, and immediately said with a smile: "When Wang Dayin does things, there is no need for an outsider like me to make decisions. You can just watch the fun for me."
Deng Xiaodai agreed without surprise, then stepped back and nudged Qi Liang hard with his elbow.
Seeing that it was his turn, Qi Liang hesitated for a moment before saying awkwardly, "Young Master, I..."
"What do you mean by 'I'? Why didn't you go to Shuntian Prefecture to hand in your answer sheet? Are you afraid that people will accuse me of partiality, or are you afraid that people will accuse you of being close to the water and getting the moon first? Lu Sanlang handed in a paper just to be polite, and Xiaodai wanted to be his clerk, but you have no official title yet, and you have nowhere to go. It's better for you to stay in the Imperial College than to go around and attend some literary gatherings!"
Qi Liang was speechless after hearing Zhang Shou's words. After a long while, he finally said, "I heard that Zhao Ying, the second son of Minister Zhao of the Ministry of War, was very dissatisfied with the fact that Lu Sanlang was admitted to Jiuzhang Hall and rumored to be the head of the hall. He said a lot of bad things about him. After all, Lu Sanlang is still the son of the Shangshu, but I... I'm afraid that people will gossip about my teacher."
"Assassination, threatening with swords, kidnapping... I've experienced it all, so why should I be afraid of gossip?" Zhang Shou sneered, then said in a relaxed tone, "Now everyone knows that you and Xiaodai are my students. You don't think that by not going to the Imperial College, you can avoid some criticism for me. Xiaodai can't get away, and I've already lost an arm, and you still want to hide?"
"That's not what I meant." Qi Liang hurriedly shook his head like a rattle, but Zhang Shou's next words made his face suddenly change.
"Besides, if you want to make achievements in the college entrance examination next year, it is right to go to the Imperial College. Under the pressure of the order to rectify the style of study, you can find more down-to-earth people in the Imperial College with whom you can exchange what you have learned."
Moreover, the Imperial College is the only place where he can openly poach people and recruit soldiers. How can he do it without a few helpers!
Seeing Qi Liang finally agreed, Deng Xiaodai was full of envy. Zhang Shou then said, "Okay, I asked Ah Liu to bring back the papers from Banshan Hall early today. I also left the answers here. Have you finished grading them?"
If he, a teacher on his own, had no help, how could he possibly manage both Jiuzhang Hall and Banshan Hall in the future? The emperor only talked but did nothing, neither gave money nor people, so he couldn't rely on his own efforts for everything!
The next morning, in the Banshan Hall, Zhang Shou asked Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu to hand out the previous exam papers one by one, and at the same time, he casually praised several students with remarkable results, but he also highlighted the answers of the third and fourth princes, and even circulated their papers in the entire classroom. He instructed Qi Liang to fill in all the words that the fourth prince had left blank because he could not write.
Therefore, many students found with mixed feelings that the two princes, who were less than half their age, answered every question well - although they missed a few words - but they showed their efforts anyway. The third and fourth princes who were praised were one shy and the other full of energy.
After reviewing the first exam papers in Banshan Hall, Zhang Shou started to lecture again. This time, it was a serious Spring and Autumn Annals - the Spring and Autumn Annals was supplemented by the history. He had figured it out. For the noble students in Banshan Hall who were born in aristocratic families and were not good at studying, the Four Books and Five Classics were the most difficult things, so he simply focused on history.
After the morning class, Zhang Shou left the get out of class a little early and went directly to the Doctoral Hall. As a doctor of the Imperial College appointed by the emperor, this was his first time to come to this place, so as soon as he stepped through the threshold, he received a lot of stares. Although not all the academic officials were here at this time, such a concentrated baptism of eyes was still extraordinary.
However, Zhang Shou had long been accustomed to the collective gaze. After he stood still, he saw Luo Siye at a glance, and immediately bowed and asked with a smile: "Young Sicheng, is the Grand Sicheng here?"
Seeing the other school officials acting like hedgehogs who had encountered their natural enemies, Luo Siye felt sympathetic, and then he pretended to be calm and said, "The Grand Master is in the east room."
Because there are too many academic officials in the Imperial College, unlike those officials who work outside the office, the entire yamen depends on you. This small Doctoral Hall not only has to accommodate all the doctors and teaching assistants, but also high-ranking officials such as the Dean and the Chief Academician, if they do not hold the position concurrently but are in charge of the yamen, they will have to condescend to share this Doctoral Hall with other academic officials.
As for the Rope Penalty Hall, that is another area.
Zhang Shou had previously been almost always between the Haoshe and Banshan Hall, occasionally going home or to the Duke of Zhao's residence, and rarely setting foot in the Doctoral Hall. When he heard Luo Siye's explanation, he was a little surprised, and then he thanked him and went to the east room to report. After entering, he saw that Zhou Xun, the chief priest of the Imperial College, had put down his pen, and he had to come forward to greet him.
"Da Sicheng."
Zhou Xun had mixed feelings towards Zhang Shou . He was grateful to him for clearing his name of the plaque inscribed by Emperor Taizu, but he was also annoyed that such a boy who was not a Jinshi and could not even be called a proper scholar was like a thorn in the Imperial College. However, he had finally handed the burden of Banshan Hall to him, and he was doing well now, so he naturally would not be too arrogant.
He nodded with a smile: "Dr. Zhang, please sit down and talk."
"Thank you, Grand Master." Zhang Shou sat down calmly and said, "The Jiuzhang Hall is reopening this time. Thanks to the help of Wang Dayin of Shuntian Prefecture, I have roughly finished the selection. There are 23 in total. Please review the list, Grand Master."
Seeing Zhang Shou take out the list from his sleeve and stand up to present it with both hands, Zhou Xun was just slightly stunned, then he quickly shook his hand and said: "This matter was decided by the emperor. Since you have already chosen the person, just write to the emperor directly. Not to mention me, Luo Siye and other school officials, no one has any objection."
Jiuzhang Hall was different from Banshan Hall in that it had a subtle meaning, and he didn't want to be accused of having anything to do with the admission of these students. Therefore, when he saw Zhang Shou hesitate for a moment and then took the list back, he felt relieved.
"Then, Grand Master, I have another matter to ask. On the day when the Jiuzhang Hall officially reopens for classes, should we invite my teacher and other mathematics masters to come and give us instructions?"
"This..." Zhou Xun was immediately confused. You know, on the first day of the class at Banshan Hall, the emperor came incognito. Now the emperor personally ordered the reopening of Jiuzhang Hall, which should be more important than Banshan Hall in terms of specifications. However, he didn't want Jiuzhang Hall to cause too much trouble, but after thinking about it carefully, he decided to let it go.
"Dr. Zhang, Jiuzhangtang was given to you by the emperor. That's his trust in you. As long as you think it's good, just go for it!"
Zhou Dasicheng, are you also planning to use that famous saying of "Just do it and don't ask for money" to fool me?
Zhang Shou sneered in his heart, then said seriously: "If that's the case, then I understand."
He didn't even say what he understood, and changed the subject, "In addition, the Imperial College has always provided monthly stipends and quarterly cloth and clothing materials to the students who submitted tribute and annual tribute, and annual gifts during festivals. Do these students of Jiuzhang Hall have any now?"
When this was mentioned, Zhou Xun became like the school officials outside just now, suddenly becoming like a hedgehog, and his voice suddenly became a little shrill: "Who told you?"
As soon as he said this, he realized that he had lost his composure, and then he sighed deeply: "Dr. Zhang, what you said is all old news from the founding period of the country, Emperor Taizu. Alas, Emperor Taizu was really good to the students of the Imperial Academy. Not only did he provide generous supplies, he also often came to give lectures in person, and the Empress also used the grain from the inner treasury to support the wives of the students, but now it is not the same as before."
He simply stood up, walked directly in front of Zhang Shou, and looked the young doctor of the Imperial College in the eyes. "Now, the imperial examination is the most important thing. Even a talented person in the capital like Xie Wanquan, the head of the Ruxing Hall, wants to get his name on the Guibang first, then on the Xingbang, and then pass the imperial examination to become a Jinshi. The imperial stipends for students of the Imperial College... well, those are only for students who pass the Xiucai examination."
Seeing Zhang Shou frowned but didn't refute, Zhou Xun simply lamented to Zhang Shou about the deteriorating state of the Imperial College. But when he thought that the silent Zhang Shou should have accepted the reality, Zhang Shou asked another question.
"As for the teaching materials used in Jiuzhang Hall, I plan to use a series of mathematics books written by my teacher . However, most of the students recruited this time are from poor families, and I am afraid that they may not be able to afford these books. So, may I ask the Grand Master, can't the Imperial College provide these books for Jiuzhang Hall at official expense?"
When saying this, Zhang Shou never mentioned that the local tycoon Lu Sanlang owned four bookstores and could easily pay for all the book fees of just over twenty people with his eyes closed.
Sure enough, Zhou Xun smiled bitterly and said, "A good cook cannot cook without rice. What's more, the other six halls of the Imperial College have never provided books. Of course, most of the students have their own books at home. Alas, if you can get a special reward from the emperor, Dr. Zhang, then of course it is possible."
Zhang Shou suddenly sneered inwardly. If the emperor wants to give money, why would I ask you?
