Mutual Support and Development

"They are well-versed in the scriptures, of upright character, and capable of propagating the laws of education!"

"My efforts to establish the academies may seem to have exempted many people from corvée labor, but the success of these students in their studies has also brought about the smooth implementation of government policies!"

In the prefectural governor's mansion, when Wen Weng personally held a 'festival' for Divine Lord Zhenyuan, he also made great efforts to promote the results of his education in Shu Commandery.

He also occasionally responded to some of Zhang Xuezhou's questions.

"I should thank you for this!"

"Thank me?"

Do you remember Great Peace Weir?

"Remember!"

"Besides the snake infestation at Great Peace Weir's Fish Mouth, the river water has flooded Puyang, turning these previously arid areas into fertile farmland. Our Shu Commandery has gained nearly 200,000 mu of newly cultivated fertile land. With fertile farmland available for planting, the many problems you mentioned have been easily resolved!"

"I see!"

"This can completely compensate for the losses caused by exemption from corvée labor!"

Economic development provides the foundation for talent cultivation, and talent cultivation, in turn, strongly promotes economic development.

In just a few years, the city of Shu Commandery went from struggling to establish academies to having many people yearn to learn to read and write.

Zhang Xuezhou and Divine Lord Zhenyuan were puzzled by this: the returns from reading were too long-term, and it was almost impossible to have the conditions for reading if one was not well-fed or clothed. However, Wen Weng broke the shackles while constantly seeking to promote literacy, thus providing the necessary foundation, which led to a huge change in the customs of Shu Commandery in less than ten years.

The Scarlet Alliance State. Decades ago, its illiteracy rate was alarmingly high, but after the genetic explosion, the continuous abundance of food and clothing led to continuous cultural development, even to an extreme degree.

To put it bluntly, if we could turn back time thirty years, or even just twenty, many university graduates would be qualified to become high-end talents.

The current situation in Shu Commandery County is similar to that of the Scarlet Alliance State at a certain stage.

This is a development characteristic that achieves higher social productivity under limited conditions, and even Zhang Xuezhou could only praise it.

The times may confine many people, but some people keep forging ahead, gaining valuable experience from repeated failures.

Zhang Xuezhou repeatedly expressed his admiration, and then continued to trace the origins of the changes in Shu Commandery.

Prefect Wen Weng would introduce and recommend him from time to time.

After a long while, Prefect Wen Weng's face paled, and his gaze toward Zhang Xuezhou changed.

Thanks to the large amount of fertile land brought about by the diversion of water from the Great Peace Weir, Prefect Wen Weng successfully established a path of education. However, other counties and prefectures rarely have the same conditions as Shu Commandery, and it would be extremely difficult to replicate the literary style of Shu Commandery, just as he had been in an awkward situation several years ago.

Before Zhang Xuezhou could even refuse, Wen Weng was already well aware of the difficulties in promoting the academy.

However, Shu Commandery was not the wealthiest region within the Han Dynasty's territory, and many areas were unsuitable for promoting academies. But there must have been some wealthy areas that were qualified to do so.

The imperial decrees rarely targeted a single county or prefecture. Instead, in order to maintain fairness, they were extended to all the counties and prefectures under its control, making it difficult to differentiate between them.

Even if Zhang Xuezhou passed such measures to improve academic atmosphere, and the Emperor agreed, the promotion of the academy would inevitably end in chaos.

"It's really hard to do things," Wen Weng said with a heavy heart.

"The opportunity will come eventually, it's just a matter of time," Zhang Xuezhou comforted him. "You don't need to worry. As long as His Majesty can see the results you've brought to Shu Commandery County, he will do his best to solve any difficulties you encounter!"

"You mean... what is this?"

"I will recommend him to His Majesty, but I cannot guarantee when I will do so, nor can I guarantee when it will be successful. However, I will do my best to promote this effort."

Zhang Xuezhou neither guaranteed nor directly agreed to the matter, but he did make a promise.

Matters of the imperial court cannot be carried out on a whim; rather, they require a combination of favorable timing, location, and popular support to ensure that a decree achieves its best effect.

The circumstances differ from era to era, and the strategies employed will vary accordingly.

'Academies' are good; they can produce a large number of talented people. However, this can only be effectively promoted under certain economic conditions.

Zhang Xuezhou is not a naive young man. He has experienced many complex things that far exceed what a normal age should be able to handle, and Zhang Xuezhou knows how to do things.

"His Majesty is rather lacking in young talent," Zhang Xuezhou reminded him. "Governor Wen could send several batches of people to Chang'an City if the opportunity arises. If some of them can accept the imperial examination and enter the court, this would also show the court the outstanding people and resources of Shu Commandery!"

"Sending several groups of people... it must have cost quite a bit to send them to Chang'an City!"

Prefect Wen Weng was satisfied with Zhang Xuezhou's reply, and he was well aware that Zhang Xuezhou could only do so much.

When Zhang Xuezhou made a suggestion, it made Prefect Wen Weng think it over.

Shu Commandery was the Shu Commandery of the Great Han Dynasty. It was a good thing that talented people from Shu Commandery went to Chang'an City. He would not be stingy with his talents, nor would he be reluctant to part with them because of this. However, the cost of living in Chang'an City made Governor Wen Weng not even consider it.

Sending one or two people from Shu Commandery to Chang'an City has no effect, sending ten or eight is not impressive enough, and a group of dozens or hundreds of people is not enough to attract attention.

However, the travel expenses for dozens or even hundreds of people to travel to Chang'an City were considerable, and the daily expenses of these people in Chang'an City were extremely high. Prefect Wen Weng only did a little calculation and felt his head was starting to ache.

I need to think of something!

Zhang Xuezhou couldn't guarantee when he would make the recommendation, nor could he guarantee whether the matter would succeed; clearly, he needed assistance.

Zhang Xuezhou's suggestion was helpful.

Only through mutual cooperation can things be accomplished naturally, rather than one party exerting effort while the other waits idly by.

Having served as an official for many years, Prefect Wen Weng was well aware of this principle. Moreover, he was also well aware that Zhang Xuezhou had given the most effective suggestion. Whether it could be implemented depended on Wen Weng Wenweng's own ability to execute it.

He paced back and forth, feeling that the example set by Shu Commandery must be taken first, so as not to just talk the talk but walk the walk, or to make things drag on indefinitely.

It took Dong Zhongshu three months to come to Shu Commandery to investigate, and nearly half a year to return to Chang'an City.

Of course, Dong Zhongshu hadn't accomplished anything significant during his previous visit to Shu Commandery.

The matter passed by in the back and forth of time, and then nothing more was heard of it.

If Zhang Xuezhou were recommended by the court, the court would send people to investigate, then the prefect of Wen Weng would provide proof, and then the officials who conducted the investigation would return to the court to explain, and then wait for the court's policy to be released. This back-and-forth process would take a very long time.

Even if everything goes smoothly, things will drag on for at least several years. If some obstacles arise in the meantime, who knows how long it will take to get through.

Taking the initiative is definitely a better idea than waiting in place.

Of course, this requires addressing the financial aspects, and it will be a significant expense.

Zhang Xuezhou provided Prefect Wen Weng with extremely important information: the new emperor was short of talent and preferred capable young people.

This news is very important. When the Prefect of Wen Weng recommends candidates to the court, he will no longer recommend the elderly, but will instead favor the middle-aged and younger generations.

But this news also brought a great sense of urgency. A monarch cannot be without talent forever. He can only make sure that the young people of Shu Commandery catch up with this wave of development by making rapid progress.