Chapter 1076 Private Institutions of Higher Learning
Zhu Cunji could hardly believe that a prince would dare to raise an army to serve the emperor.
He himself, if he wanted to leave the city, had to find a body double to sit in his place and disguise himself as some wandering hero, Zhu Piaoling, just to sneak out for a quick stroll before rushing back, terrified his double would be exposed.
He never expected, truly never expected, Prince Zhu Yujian of Tang to be so bold.
That man was truly a role model for their generation.
Zhu Cunji burst into laughter, gazing at the sky. "If Prince Zhu Yujian of Tang dares to do such a thing, then I, this heir, will go too! To arms! To serve the emperor!"
"Sit down, what's all this nonsense?" Sun Chuanting, the newly appointed Governor of Shaanxi, who sat beside him, remarked. "You raise an army? What army? Will you lead the Heavenly Lord's militia to serve the emperor? There's no need for that. Bai Mao and Ma Shouying have already led the militia to serve the emperor."
Zhu Cunji froze. "Oh? Right!"
If Zhu Cunji were to aid the emperor, he would certainly need to bring the militia. But the militia had already gone.
How utterly awkward!
Sun Chuanting responded, "Matters of state are not child's play; they don't need to be 'fun.' If you want to have fun, disguise yourself and sneak out again. Just don't meddle in military affairs."
Zhu Cunji nodded. "Alright! I haven't been out much since returning from Nanjing, so it's a good time to visit Henan."
Sun Chuanting raised an eyebrow. "Henan is rife with rebels. What would you do there?"
Zhu Cunji replied, "I'm going to see my relative, Prince Zhu Yujian of Tang!"
Sun Chuanting sighed. "I'm afraid this 'play' won't end well. By the time Zhou Daya films the news, produces the segment, sends it back to Gao Family Village, and it's scheduled for broadcast... that whole process will take several days. By the time we see that news, the situation will likely have already changed..."
Hearing this, Zhu Cunji's brow furrowed. "Headmaster Sun, do you mean..."
Sun Chuanting confirmed, "Prince Zhu Yujian of Tang is headed for trouble."
Zhu Cunji gasped.
He pondered, left and right, then suddenly, as if making a firm decision, he sprang to his feet and dashed downstairs.
Sun Chuanting called out, "Hey, Your Highness the Heir, where are you off to?"
Zhu Cunji replied while running, "I'm certainly not telling you."
Sun Chuanting watched him leap onto the glittering Kulinan, disappearing like a streak of light. He couldn't help but frown, and after a long moment, he sighed, "Ah!"
On the screen, Gao Yiye continued her news broadcast: "Now, for a special news report brought to us by the Heavenly Lord, himself. This year, on September eighth, across the vast ocean, a school named Harvard University was founded, becoming America's earliest private institution of higher learning... Although we also have the Thirty-Two Middle School, a higher education institution that can rival it, relying on just one Thirty-Two Middle School is not enough. The Heavenly Lord hopes that discerning individuals will endeavor to establish private institutions of higher learning, enriching our educational resources and elevating our overall national educational standards..."
"Private institutions of higher learning? Does that mean advanced private academies?" A young scholar leaped out from the crowd, shouting in front of the screen, "Establishing advanced private academies is a good thing! But it's too difficult to make them comparable to the Thirty-Two Middle School. We don't have the Heavenly Books, after all. Without divine artifacts, how can we possibly run an advanced private academy?"
The onlookers grew furious. "Gu Yanwu, sit down! You always jump up and block the screen!"
Gu Yanwu protested, "But I must ask about this! I don't know where else to ask, so I can only shout at the screen."
Wang Tang, the chief representative for Gao Family Village stationed in Xi'an, stepped out from the crowd, taking over from Gu Yanwu. "You can take these requests to Gao Family Village and present them to the Saintess. As long as she agrees, the Heavenly Books and divine artifacts of the Thirty-Two Middle School should be available for loan."
Gu Yanwu was overjoyed. "The Heavenly Books are one thing, but divine artifacts can be loaned out too? Truly? Then I will open an academy! My family owns eight hundred mu of ancestral land; I'll sell it all to establish an advanced private academy."
Wang Tang smiled. "The Heavenly Lord will certainly be pleased to hear of your plans."
Early the next morning, Gu Yanwu boarded the train from Xi'an to Gao Family Village itself.
After a bout of roaring and chugging, Gu Yanwu alighted at the Gao Family Village train station, straightened his attire, and walked towards the main fortress of Gao Family Village.
Just as he reached the watchtower, he saw Gao Yiye's head peeking out from the third-floor balcony. She smiled at him. "Mr. Gu, please come upstairs. The Heavenly Lord has been waiting for you for a while."
"Ah?" Gu Yanwu was startled. "The Heavenly Lord, himself, is waiting?"
This was no small shock. He had originally walked with the steady, dignified gait of a scholar, but now, hearing the Heavenly Lord had been waiting for so long, his legs immediately scurried into action. He practically flew up the three flights of stairs in an instant.
In the blink of an eye, he reached the third-floor balcony of the watchtower.
He saw Li Daoxuan seated at a tea table, with Gao Yiye sitting beside him, her chair subtly angled back slightly to show her reverence for the Heavenly Lord.
Gu Yanwu hastily performed a deep bow, then carefully sat down opposite them.
Li Daoxuan asked, "You wish to establish a school?"
"I do!" Gu Yanwu nodded, his expression serious. "Years ago, I received guidance from the Heavenly Lord and have since toured Xi'an, Gao Family Village, Puzhou, and various places in Shanxi. After observing these regions year after year, I've finally reached a conclusion."
Li Daoxuan prompted, "Oh?"
Gu Yanwu explained, "To achieve popular governance, the people's intellect must first be awakened. If the public remains unenlightened, popular governance is merely a jest. For a group of ignorant fools governing a nation will only make things worse. But if everyone across the land is educated, then popular governance can naturally succeed."
"Bravo!" Li Daoxuan clapped, applauding. "Well said, Mr. Gu. You are truly a man of learning. Your perspective perfectly aligns with my own."
Gu Yanwu was elated. "To receive the Heavenly Lord's affirmation, I am deeply honored and humbled."
Li Daoxuan continued, "Since you are willing to sell even your ancestral property to establish a school, I will not be stingy on my end. I will have Headmaster Wang provide your private institution with his full support. You may go to the Thirty-Two Middle School's library and freely choose any textbooks you deem suitable for your school; take as many as you wish."
Gu Yanwu was ecstatic. "All those Heavenly Books... I can take them?"
Li Daoxuan nodded. "Regardless of how profound the Heavenly Books are, feel free to take them."
Gu Yanwu asked, "Is the Heavenly Lord not concerned that my school might be poorly managed, allowing enemy spies to infiltrate and steal our Heavenly Books?"
Li Daoxuan smiled. "What is there to worry about? It's not as if enemy spies haven't tried to steal them before."
Gu Yanwu blinked in surprise.
Li Daoxuan had no desire to make Bin Sheng's affairs widely known. He simply offered a faint smile and smoothly changed the topic. "Some knowledge isn't something you can produce just by getting your hands on it. Without supporting industries and the corresponding foundational infrastructure, acquiring profound texts is merely building a castle in the air. Even if enemy spies were to steal our Heavenly Books, without the assistance of fundamental industries, they wouldn't be able to create anything."
Gu Yanwu murmured, "I see."
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