Chapter 28: Imperial University of Peking (Part 2)

Ye Xianggao inquired, "Your Majesty, should it be restricted solely to licentiates, or may provincial graduates also be permitted?"

Zhu Youxiao replied, "We shall include a portion of provincial graduates, but they may enter a different institution, which I term a normal school. Such academies shall be established across all regions in the future, and these individuals shall serve as their professors."

Xu Guangqi asked, "Your Majesty, what of those who are not licentiates yet possess a genuine devotion to learning?"

Zhu Youxiao answered, "They are permitted, but they must first undergo an examination to prove they have attained the standard of a licentiate. Alternatively, those who display a keen interest in other fields—such as mathematics—may be admitted without meeting the licentiate standard, provided their proficiency in mathematics is satisfactory. This applies not only to mathematics; anyone truly skilled in agriculture, for instance, may likewise be enrolled."

Sun Chengzhong inquired, "Your Majesty, what is the student capacity of the Imperial Academy in the capital?"

Zhu Youxiao stated, "It can accommodate approximately three thousand students. Presently, two issues demand attention: first, the matter of instructors, who must be drawn from various ministries and departments to secure talent versed in agriculture, mathematics, machinery, and the like; second, the newly constructed villas near the Wanggong Factory, which are available for purchase by people across the realm."

Han Kuang remarked, "Your Majesty, existing regulations forbid any official from purchasing landed property or dwellings within their jurisdiction of office."

This was a statute of the Ming Dynasty; Han Kuang's point was that officials were barred from buying houses. Zhu Youxiao had long since formulated a countermeasure: "My view on this matter is as follows: the dwellings at the Wanggong Factory may be leased by officials through formal deeds, with a lease term extending up to thirty years, renewable for another thirty upon expiration. Furthermore, once an official leaves office, the leasehold may be converted into a freehold purchase."

Originally, Zhu Youxiao had intended to abolish the regulation entirely, but Fang Congzhe and Xu Guangqi strongly opposed it, fearing that subordinates would run amok and the acquisition of property within an official's governing district would further fuel official corruption. After consultation, they adopted this moderate approach, which preserved the letter of the law while achieving the practical effect of purchase. Moreover, since this policy applied exclusively to the Wanggong Factory, subordinates would not dare to emulate it elsewhere.

The remaining task was for the assembly to refine various details. For instance, Sun Chengzhong proposed that students undergo an examination after three months of study, following which they should be graded and granted differing financial allowances accordingly. Fang Congzhe suggested that instructors be recruited nationwide; anyone possessing specialized expertise could be hired as a schoolteacher after passing an examination. Ye Xianggao recommended tightening student administration, ideally by appointing dedicated disciplinary masters.

Once consensus was reached, an imperial edict was drafted reflecting everyone's views. Entitled the "Edict for the Recruitment of Worthies," it called for the nationwide enrolment of both instructors and students. The students would study various branches of practical learning geared toward statecraft and societal benefit, and upon successfully completing their studies, they would be dispatched to various regions to serve as junior officials. The baseline requirement for students was the rank of licentiate, yet those who lacked this status but possessed genuine talent and learning were likewise permitted to apply. All applicants were required to pass an entrance examination covering foundational literacy, mathematics, mechanics, agriculture, medicine, astronomy, and geography. Aside from foundational literacy, which was mandatory for all, the remaining six subjects were optional.

Following its completion, Wang Cheng'en led a team to copy the edict and have it published in the weekly gazette, accompanied by an explanatory editorial note. It was stipulated that any skill beneficial to the state and advantageous to the people, even if omitted from the aforementioned categories, could be entered into the examination. All successful candidates would have their expenses covered entirely by the imperial court, while those who failed would be provided with travel allowances scaled according to the distance of their journey. Consequently, even individuals who merely desired a sightseeing trip to the capital might come and try their luck, raising the possibility that among them would lie a genius skilled in some particular discipline.

Upon its issuance, this imperial edict sent shockwaves throughout the empire. Because Zhu Youxiao had ordered the examination guidelines to be printed and posted in every village, this marked the first time an imperial decree had penetrated deeply into the rural grassroots. Certain pedantic scholars were stricken with grief, lamenting that the examination tested only rudimentary literacy—something easily passed by anyone with a mere two years of modest schooling—while treating subjects utterly unrelated to the Way of the sages. Conversely, other scholars were ecstatic. Feeling little affinity for classical studies and knowing that passing the provincial examination, let alone the metropolitan examination, was as difficult as ascending to heaven, they harbored a deep passion for various heterodox arts. Upon learning that such subjects could be tested and that travel expenses were covered, they packed their bags with boundless joy, bade farewell to their aging parents, wives, and children, and set forth for the capital.

Construction of the university town was largely completed by July. Upon receiving a report from Wei Chao, Zhu Youxiao issued an edict instructing Xu Guangqi to accompany him on an inspection tour for final acceptance.

The Wanggong Factory had undergone a miraculous transformation. Row upon row of three-story buildings stood in breathtaking splendor, their architectural style blending Chinese and Western elements: traditional flying eaves crowned the roofs, while Western-style glass windows and fireplaces adorned the interiors. The nameplates by the doors of each building remained blank, but Arabic numerals were painted on their flanks. Wei Chao reported in a low voice from the side, "Your Majesty, there are thirty teaching buildings in total, five dining halls, twenty dormitories, and one large indoor assembly hall."

Zhu Youxiao nodded and asked, "Have the dormitories and dining halls been graded according to rank?"

Wei Chao replied, "As Your Majesty instructed, they have been categorized. One of the five dining halls is reserved exclusively for instructors, and the dormitories likewise vary in grade."

Zhu Youxiao said, "Master Xu, these buildings have yet to be named. I wish to invite you and the Senior Grand Secretary to wield your brushes and bestow their titles."

Xu Guangqi repeatedly waved his hands in refusal, saying, "Should Your Majesty not write the inscriptions in your own hand? As for the rest of us, we decline. With Dong Shibai present, how could the likes of us presume to take up the brush?"

Zhu Youxiao asked, "Is the Master referring to Dong Qichang, the Junior Deputy Minister of the Court of Ceremonial Rites? I was unaware of that. Very well, let him write the characters for 'Imperial Capital Academy,' while the rest of you divide the remaining nameplates among yourselves. As for my own handwriting, the Master knows what it is like, so we had best leave it aside."

The group entered a teaching building. Looking at the expansive glass windows, the neat and smooth flooring, the blackboards hanging upon the walls, and the distinctly Western-flavored fireplaces, Xu Guangqi could not help but shake his head as he recalled the appearance of the private school where he had studied in his youth.

Noticing this, Zhu Youxiao asked, "Is there anything the Master finds unsatisfactory? I shall have them alter it at once."

Xu Guangqi hastily shook his head and replied, "Your Majesty, this official was merely thinking of the place where I once studied. Compared to this place, it was pitifully small and wretchedly dark, which simply moved me to sudden emotion."

Zhu Youxiao laughed heartily. He had modeled this after the schools of later generations, and naturally, it far surpassed the contemporary Imperial Academy. In particular, the glass windows used translucent glass—inexpensive, windproof, and admitting ample light while preventing outsiders from peering in—making them vastly superior to traditional paper windowpanes. As for the blackboards and chalk, he had merely offered a brief description, and his subordinates had immediately grasped the concept and manufactured them swiftly. For any classroom, blackboards and chalk were indispensable and immensely useful.

Next, they inspected the flush toilets, dining halls, and dormitories. Xu Guangqi praised them every step of the way, remarking that the conditions far surpassed those of his own home. Thereupon, Zhu Youxiao observed, "The villas surrounding the university town have been constructed with even greater comfort than the town itself. I have reserved several, one of which is intended for the Master. I hope you will favor it."

Xu Guangqi hurriedly demurred, "Your Majesty, this official possesses modest means and can well afford to lease a dwelling; I dare not trouble Your Majesty with such a bestowal."

Zhu Youxiao said, "The Master's instruction and guidance toward the students have ever filled me with gratitude. Please do not decline the gift of a single house. Furthermore, I too have reserved a villa directly adjacent to the Master's, which will afford me the convenience of frequently seeking your wise counsel."

Left with no alternative, Xu Guangqi replied, "In that case, Sun Zhisheng, Senior Grand Secretary Fang, and Junior Grand Secretary Ye should likewise be granted dwellings; otherwise, this official dare not accept."

Zhu Youxiao smiled. "That goes without saying. Rest assured, Master."

Upon completing the inspection, Zhu Youxiao was well pleased. He instructed Wei Chao, "Once the accounts here are settled, submit one copy to the Eastern Depot and another to the bank. Lead your men to Qian'an, complete the settlement of the Liaodong refugees there, and then prepare to construct the Qian'an Ironworks."