Volume 3: Dragon and Snake Movement Chapter 276 Swap
The few people who had just gone out to report the news were now tiptoeing back to their seats. They only had time to hear Zhang Shou talking about the third class. Before they even sat down on their chairs, they heard the last four words "military drill". When they were a little confused, they suddenly felt that all eyes around them turned to them in an instant.
At that moment, several people were dumbfounded. Although he was late for class, it was only a short time, how could he become the target of public criticism? Zhang Shou, the doctor of the Imperial College, was usually strict, but at least he was not as difficult to deal with as Xu Heizi in the Rope Penalty Hall... Could it be because the matter they just inquired about involved Zhao Guogong Zhu Jing?
Seeing that the latecomers were still confused, Zhang Shou said with a half-smile, "Acting Abbot, please stand up and tell them that Banshan Hall is about to be divided into classes."
Zhu Er felt very proud. He looked down at those people and then slowly repeated Zhang Shou's original words one by one. Of course, his memory was not so good and he could not repeat it word for word. He could only give a general idea. However, he exaggerated it according to his own understanding, fully praised the good scholars and talented people, and belittled the speculators.
Even so, except for one person who had always performed well, the others all looked pale. In the past, they really felt that coming to the Imperial College every day to check in was a waste of time, and they wished they could continue to fight cocks and walk dogs as rich idlers, but with the emperor often paying attention to this place, leaving Banshan Hall became a very bad thing.
Because even their fathers and elders will never forgive them! Moreover, what does Zhang Shou mean by military training?
Soon, Zhang Shou gave a very clear explanation: "Since you can't be good at literature, you can't be bad at martial arts. Military training is an opportunity given by the emperor to the remaining people. Of course, those who don't want to go don't have to go, and they don't have to stay in the Imperial College . It's okay to go home and live a rich and leisurely life. Whether it's studying or training, it's never forced."
Although Zhang Shou said so, everyone could imagine the fate of being driven back home. At this moment, I don't know how many people envied Zhang Chen who was "recuperating after falling off a horse", and Zhang Wu, Zhang Lu, Hu Kai and Zou Mingyu who were working outside. So, in the face of this urgent pressure, someone suddenly complained.
"There were also homework assignments for the previous monthly and annual exams. Who knows if there is anything fishy about the so-called results?"
This person was expecting someone to join him in questioning, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he found that no one agreed with him at all. Instead, everyone around him looked at him as if he was an idiot. In an instant, he realized that Zhang Shou had the emperor's support. Now that Zhao Guogong Zhu Jing was back, and Zhang Shou and Zhu Ying's marriage was also settled, this difficult-to-deal-with Imperial College Doctor was simply impossible to deal with!
He shuddered immediately, and hurriedly stood up to apologize, saying, "Teacher, I was just anxious and said it casually... But if Banshan Hall really wants to divide the classes, please give everyone another chance and take the exam again!"
If this request had been made in the past, it would have been unthinkable. But at this moment, more than half of the people hurriedly stood up to help, and requested to conduct an assessment when the classes were divided. As for whether or not they could get a good grade... Compared to being kicked out of the Imperial College, going to the army to be drilled to death, and even not being accepted by the army, this is a story for the future!
The few guys who were bribed to get information were once again attacked with glares. Although Zhang Shou kept saying that the emperor had made up his mind, everyone felt that if it weren't for these unscrupulous guys, the so-called class division might have been delayed for a while.
When the next class was over, Zhang Shou just walked out of the door, he felt that the huge area behind him suddenly exploded, noisy like a vegetable market. Knowing this, he did not look back, thinking that this was also a great test for Zhu Er.
If he, as the acting head monk, could not enter the first class, he believed that Zhao Guogong Zhu Jing would let Zhu Er get away with it!
In the past, Zhang Shou did not like to go to the Doctoral Hall during lunch breaks. He almost always went back to his own cell to rest and eat lunch there. Most of the time, Duke Zhao's mansion would send him a sumptuous lunch in insulated food boxes. A small part of the time, Ah Liu would go to nearby restaurants and pubs to buy the food himself. Zhang Chen, Lu Sanlang and others would often come over to eat without any shame, calling it fun for teachers and students.
But today, Zhang Shou informed Lu Sanlang in advance and went straight to the doctoral hall. As soon as he entered the door, he found that all kinds of eyes were focused on him. He pretended not to notice and went straight back to his own table.
As soon as he sat down, the curtain was lifted, and then the smiling Zhou Jijiu and the slightly gloomy Luo Siye came out one after another. The former always looked easy to talk to, but the latter looked at Zhang Shou with a much more complicated look.
"Dr. Zhang, I heard that you announced today at Banshan Hall that you would divide Banshan Hall into three parts?"
As the head of the Imperial College, the highest institution of learning in the Ming Dynasty, Zhou Jijiu was naturally not suitable to rush to the front in everything. However, Luo Siye came straight to the point and asked a question without waiting for Zhang Shou to answer. He said directly: "The Imperial College has such a small space in total, and Banshan Hall is the largest. If it is divided into three, the Imperial College will not have room for you."
This was just announced in class. He had clearly come to the Doctoral Hall the first thing to do after class. However, not only did Luo Siye ask him directly, but other people in the Doctoral Hall also had inquiring expressions on their faces. How could Zhang Shou not know that someone might have heard the news outside Banshan Hall before, so they had already notified all the academic officials here.
Faced with this situation, he said calmly: "The Imperial College has always had insufficient classrooms for lectures. I heard that recently there are too many diligent and studious students, and the lectures start too quickly. The Ruxing Hall is so cramped that there is almost no room for everyone."
Yang Yiming, the doctor of the Imperial College who was in charge of Ruexing Hall, had always disliked Zhang Shou the most among all the doctors. He snorted coldly.
"Ruixing Hall is the first of the six halls in the Imperial College. It has more than 200 students, but they can only stay in a classroom that is half the size of Banshan Hall. Not to mention that there are no desks, even benches can only be shared by three people! From the beginning of the country to now, the number of students in our dynasty has increased several times. Since your Banshan Hall is going to be divided into two halls, my Ruixing Hall should also be rebuilt. Otherwise, won’t this first hall of the Imperial College be in vain?"
"Why rebuild it? Isn't there a ready-made solution?"
Zhang Shou chuckled and said nonchalantly, "Then let's swap the positions of Banshan Hall and Suixing Hall, and also swap the two plaques. Wouldn't that make room for it?"
Yang Yiming was immediately shocked and angry, and he slammed the table and said, "This is ridiculous! Don't even think about taking over my Ruxing Hall!"
"Dr. Yang, you said it yourself. The Ruxing Hall is too cramped to accommodate more than 200 people. I'm just giving you a suggestion. Besides, what do you mean by don't think of using the Ruxing Hall? All these lecture halls in the Imperial College were built one after another during the reign of Emperor Taizu. Banshan Hall is even larger and more spacious. Swapping it with Ruxing Hall will also make the best use of it."
Without waiting for Yang Yiming to refute, he said calmly: "Since you don't want to, you must ask the court to allocate a huge amount of money to rebuild a new Ruxing Hall. If you are so fond of new things and dislike old things, then I have nothing to say."
This time, not to mention Yang Yiming, even the others couldn't help but feel the veins on their foreheads throbbing. I've long known that Zhang Shou is quite good at putting accusations on people, and now it seems that this is really true!
However, Zhang Shou's twisted logic still made sense, because when classes could be adjusted within the Imperial College, Yang Yiming insisted on not doing so and insisted on asking the court to allocate funds, which could easily be rejected by the Ministry of Revenue. Not to mention, the current Minister of Revenue is Zhang Shou's senior brother, Chen Shang, another proud disciple of Ge Yong!
Compared with the others, Yang Yiming was even more shocked and angry. He was so angry that he said something he didn't want to say: "Ruixing Hall is the first of the six halls in the Imperial College. How can it be compared with Banshan Hall? I don't want a place that has been occupied by a bunch of playboys!"
As soon as he said this, he realized that he had made a huge mistake. It was okay to say this kind of thing in private when complaining to others, but in this doctoral hall full of academic officials, it was an absolute taboo! In addition to Zhang Shou, there were other people here who were in competition with him, and there were others who had grudges against him. If these words were spread, the elders of the students in Banshan Hall would never sit idly by!
He hurriedly changed his words and said, "I mean, Banshan Hall has always been the place where I, a junior student, study..."
"Dr. Yang, you don't have to say anything!" Zhou Jijiu originally just hoped that the people below would understand Zhang Shou's intention, but he didn't expect that Luo Siye's question was hit back by Zhang Shou with a light question, and then Yang Yiming made a stupid mistake and was fooled again.
He wanted to settle the matter peacefully, so he said with a sullen face, "Doctor Yang, as a teacher, how can you be so biased? Don't say that Banshan Hall is now under the jurisdiction of Doctor Zhang and the academic atmosphere is very good. Even in the past, it was also part of the Imperial College! As for me, who didn't start my studies as a junior? Since Banshan Hall is much larger than Bixing Hall, what Doctor Zhang said is not a bad idea."
As he spoke, he looked at Zhang Shou and said, "Doctor Zhang, I cannot take charge of this matter. I will report it to the court first."
"What the Grand Master said is right. The Imperial College is an important place of learning. We should ask for permission before proceeding."
Zhang Shou had no intention of continuing to compete with Yang Yiming, nor did he intend to bargain with Zhou Jijiu, and he readily accepted the proposal. However, it was clear that some people did not want to see him achieve his goal so easily.
"I heard that Dr. Zhang wants to divide Banshan Hall into three halls. Even if Ruxing Hall and Banshan Hall are swapped, there will only be one classroom, right? We can't divide Ruxing Hall into three parts. Can those students from noble families bear it?"
"That's my business." Zhang Shou smiled at the doubter, but didn't make it clear. He stood up leisurely, bowed slightly to Zhou Jijiu and Luo Siye, and walked straight out the door.
As soon as he left, Yang Yiming was immediately furious and cursed: "How arrogant! A lucky person who has no achievements or family background and just got into the Imperial College through nepotism is actually putting on airs in front of us old-timers in the imperial examinations!"
Although there were many students who had similar feelings, no one agreed with him. In such an unspeakable silence, Zhou Jijiu glanced at him and turned back inside, while Luo Siye sighed. Yang Yiming's face gradually turned purple, and he realized that he had said something wrong again.
Zhang Shou will definitely become the son-in-law of the Duke of Zhao, this is true, but he was able to become a doctor of the Imperial College because the emperor rewarded him for catching thieves, and the second promotion was for deciphering secret letters, which really cannot be linked to nepotism. If you want to force the connection, of course it is not impossible, after all, the emperor and the Duke of Zhao are cousins.
But in doing so, he would become a rebellious lunatic who criticized the emperor behind his back!
Yang Yiming's face turned pale, and he was worried that he would lose his position as a doctor of the Imperial College after 30 years of hard study because of his wrong words. Zhang Shou naturally did not consider that. He did not even care about what others said about him behind his back. He was no longer at the age where he would get angry because of a few criticisms from others... Although he did not look that old now.
He cared more about practical benefits than this kind of verbal dispute. Therefore, when he returned to his own room and saw Lu Sanlang and Zhu Er at the door, making sarcastic remarks, he just coughed heavily. It was not until the two of them came to their senses and rushed forward that he smiled and said, "Spread the news. I want Ruxing Hall and Banshan Hall to switch places."
What does this mean?
Lu Sanlang and Zhu Er could not help but forget their previous confrontation and looked at each other in bewilderment. After Zhang Shou gave a brief explanation, Lu Sanlang was fine, but Zhu Er completely forgot that he was still hungry at this time and was waiting to go into the house to eat the lunch that his sister Zhu Ying sent to Zhang Shou, so he ran out in a flash. When he left, Lu Sanlang's face suddenly became long.
"Young Master, you are too biased, aren't you? Why should such a good thing be given to Banshan Hall? The students of Jiuzhang Hall are much better than those guys in Banshan Hall! Except for those who really don't want to live a life of idleness, most of the others in Banshan Hall are just a little restrained because of your favor. At heart, they are just idle people with nothing to lose!"
"I know, that's why I plan to eliminate them. I will select the right people and put them in the first class, the talented but unsuitable people in the second class, the hardworking and determined to change their fate but untalented people in the third class, and throw the rest out. If they can withstand the hardships and training in the army, then it will be a pleasant surprise. The rest will be left to fend for themselves."
Lu Sanlang was not surprised by Zhang Shou's words, which were obviously cold and inconsistent with his usual behavior. Because when Zhang Shou added the physics class in Jiuzhang Hall, he occasionally mentioned the saying of natural selection, and the fittest survive. He originally felt that there was no need to waste time on some mediocre and lazy people, so he naturally nodded repeatedly at this time.
When he followed Zhang Shou into the dormitory, he found that the food box that he used to see in the Duke of Zhao's mansion was nowhere to be seen. He was immediately very puzzled. Could it be that once Zhu Jing came back, the two families would have to avoid suspicion when they got engaged? Just as he was thinking this, he heard Zhang Shou say something he didn't expect: "Lu Zhu, are you interested in doing something that others would call unorthodox?"
