Ji Yanran and Ba Chou had both heard Fang Zheng describe his "academy," but even so, the most they had imagined was something like the courtyard residence of a large family.
Yet what lay before them now... was an entire city!
"Most of the residents here fled here to escape the war, and they now live here. Young children attend school here and learn all sorts of knowledge. We have a class schedule, and from morning to night, they must study certain subjects. During the rest of their time, they can form clubs depending on the circumstances..."
As he walked with them, Fang Zheng explained. In truth, he had essentially transplanted an ancient version of Academy City. The curriculum largely followed that of modern schools. Beyond basic knowledge, students could also form clubs and pursue interests such as astronomy, geography, medicine, and music.
Naturally, those who taught had been recruited by Fang Zheng from all over. Aside from scholars like Ba Chou, some were women he had bought back from various official courtesan houses.
Although people generally looked down on women from official courtesan houses, objectively speaking, they could be considered among the most educated women in this world. First, most of them had been women from disgraced official families or great clans, and had received excellent educations from a young age. Second, the people received by official courtesan houses were not mere merchants or laborers, but high-ranking officials, powerful ministers, and even foreign envoys.
In modern terms, the women of official courtesan houses were essentially Ginza hostesses. While they were all in the service industry of drinking companionship and flattering smiles, the people they dealt with were corporate presidents and elite white-collar workers. They were on an entirely different level from KTV hostesses who could only keep company with