Zhao Hanzhang, though disappointed, still went to Zhao Hu’s house to fetch those books.
Because she also needed them.
Books were hard to co by at this ti, even simple enlightennt books were difficult to obtain.
In the usual bookstores of the county town, they mostly sold various stationery like pens, ink, paper, and inkstones, while books were actually the least available.
At least when Ji Yuan went to buy them, he didn’t find many suitable books for teaching new students.
Zhao Hanzhang also had quite a collection of books, but she didn’t have extra volus; even though she prided herself on her generosity, she wasn’t willing to let these books be used by those just beginning their studies.
So they had to copy the books!
Such an important task was entrusted by Zhao Hanzhang to her newly pieced-together brothers.
Zhao Hanzhang handed out the paper she had just taken from Zhao Hu’s house, "Brothers, I know you all want to find the answers sooner, I do too, so why not start searching for them now?"
Receiving the paper and books from Zhao Hanzhang, the young n looked bewildered, "What is this?"
Zhao Hanzhang: "These are the books you have to copy."
The young n looked even more confused, glancing at the books in their hands, "The ’Quick Study,’ ’Instruction Compilation,’ ’Study Encouragent,’ aren’t these enlightennt books? Why do we need to copy them?"
Zhao Hanzhang said solemnly, "What, do you look down on these books just because they’re enlightennt books?"
She said, "You should know that these three articles have replaced the three ’Cangjie’ articles revised and compiled by Yang Xiong and Cai Yong."
The young n flinched, Zhao Kuan promptly said, "We don’t look down on these enlightennt books at all, we’re just puzzled, what’s the relation between these books and the answers we’re looking for?"
"Though these are rely enlightennt books, they are the foundation of hundreds of schools, they are all-encompassing, filled with anecdotes, truths, involving a hundred schools of thought, if you want to know if mathematics is indeed the mother of all schools, start researching here."
Zhao Kuan said, "We’ve morized them all."
Zhao Hanzhang: "But only by copying can you think more deeply about the anings within, and as previously agreed, once you get into the county governnt, you have to follow my command, now I want you to copy books!"
The young n: "...How many do we have to copy?"
Zhao Hanzhang: "Start by copying each book ten tis."
The young n’s vision darkened, Zhao Kuan, as a representative, asked, "...Each person?"
Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "Each one person!"
That ans one person has to copy thirty books...
Zhao Kuan was about to resist when Zhao Cheng walked out from the pavilion and directly ordered, "Hanzhang is right, though these three are enlightennt books, they contain many truths, you may have read many books over the years, and your travels are rich, but you may not rember the truths learned during enlightennt, let alone having achieved them."
"As the saying goes, ’Review the past to learn the new,’ you should really reread these enlightennt books closely," Zhao Cheng said, "Start copying from tonight, submit one article each day, I will check."
The young n couldn’t help but moan in anguish, regretful of their wager with Zhao Hanzhang.
There are many ways to find answers, why did they choose the least controllable one?
Seeing that there were people to copy books now, Zhao Hanzhang was relieved and, after enjoying the mutton feast, took Fu Tinghan back to the county town.
Zhao Erlang stayed at Wu Castle to continue cherishing family ti, returning tomorrow.
He had beco friends with the eight-year-old Zhao Zheng, and the two seed to have a good relationship, so Zhao Erlang had no objections to being left at ho.
Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan leisurely rode their horses back, discussing confidential matters along the way, while Qiu Wu and others followed from a distance.
"Are you planning to have Zhao Cheng enlighten all the children in Yushan Hall?"
Zhao Hanzhang imdiately shook her head, "That’s not realistic; for one, I’m not that wealthy right now, and secondly, Zhao Cheng might not agree to give large lectures, embracing all without distinction."
’Embracing all without distinction’ may sound simple, but in this era, there are few who can truly achieve it.
The children in Yushan Hall have different backgrounds; so ca from once decent families but lost everything when the city fell; others were from poor families, and there are orphans who were in Yushan Hall even before the city fell; and so were beggars who have been begging in the city since childhood.
Currently, even officials need to have their rank determined first, and the Nine-Rank rit System initially considers family background.
Therefore, she’s uncertain if Zhao Cheng would be willing to teach these children, embracing all without distinction.
Before she completely understands Zhao Cheng, she doesn’t intend to take action in potentially contentious areas, lest she loses good talents.
Fu Tinghan nodded, "Education is crucial, but it should also proceed step by step. My suggestion is to initially train the Governnt Officials, clerks, and centurions like squad leaders and centurions in the army."
"Great minds think alike," Zhao Hanzhang said excitedly, "When I saw Zhao Cheng and those brothers of mine, it felt like seeing a group of teachers."
"Apart from the Governnt Officials, clerks, and minor military officers in the army, you could also pick so clever, older kids from Yushan Hall to learn," she said, "My requirents are not much, as long as they can read these three enlightennt books, recognize thirty percent of the words, and know basic addition and subtraction, that’s enough."
Though it might only be elentary education level, it can still be utilized, so simple county affairs can be assigned to them.
Zhao Hanzhang is in great need of manpower right now.
Fu Tinghan asked, "Have you ever thought of compiling your own enlightennt textbooks?"
"Are you talking about ’Thousand Character Classic’ and ’Three Character Classic’?"
Fu Tinghan nodded, "Don’t you rember? I can still recall most of it, I thought with Teacher Zhao’s mory and understanding of literature and history, she should rember even better."
"I rember," it’s just that she hadn’t thought about it.
Zhao Hanzhang rubbed her chin and said, "It’s not that it’s impossible, I’ll start writing when I go back, and then use two sets of enlightennt books together to see the speed of literacy, finally determining the best set."
Though such is the idea, Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan both knew that ’Thousand Character Classic’ and ’Three Character Classic’ should be able to surpass the ’Instruction Compilation’ and the other three articles.
After all, they’ve been validated by over a thousand years of history.
"Unfortunately, even if I compose them, they can only be disseminated by handwriting, we don’t have a printing workshop."
Fu Tinghan calculated the resources Yushan Hall might consu in the future, shook his head, and said, "To expand education, books are essential, relying only on manuscript copying is too difficult, though setting up a printing workshop is hard, it is necessary."
Seeing Zhao Hanzhang moved by the idea, he asked, "Why not take a direct leap to studying movable type printing?"
Zhao Hanzhang thought for a mont, then shook her head, "Forget it, there aren’t many literate people in the entire county town, let alone literate craftsn, studying movable type printing might require the effort of the entire town."
"Currently, food is also very important, so we cannot take away labor from farming," Zhao Hanzhang said, "Better study block printing, if it’s just for printing enlightennt books, block printing is the cheapest and most convenient thod."
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