I Became The Legendary Emperor Throughout the Ages After I Started Giving Away My Territory - Chapter 207.2

“I heard that Great Luo also implemented our education system. How did it go?” Lin Beifan asked.

“It’s not going well at all, it has ended in failure so far!”

Song Yufei shook her head and said with a wry smile, “I don’t know why the same policy works so smoothly in Great Xia but not in Great Luo!”

Lin Beifan laughed loudly: “I knew it! Those who imitate me will fail, and even those who somewhat resemble my approach will also fail!”

“Actually, the reason I came here is to clear up some doubts in my heart!”

Song Yufei glanced at Lin Beifan. “If Your Majesty finds it difficult to discuss, you don’t have to say anything. I would understand!”

“There is nothing that cannot be discussed with you. Even if you didn’t ask, you would soon understand!”

Lin Beifan smiled and said, “I have told you before that if a country is to survive, it must maintain the interests of all parties! The same goes for implementing policies; they must benefit everyone involved so that the policies can be successfully carried out. Otherwise, they will fail.”

Song Yufei nodded. “Your Majesty has indeed said this before, and I completely agree!”

“That’s exactly what I have done! Starting with the common people, I have waived tuition fees and reduced the cost of textbooks, naturally attracting more citizens to pursue education!”

“As for the scholars, I have not only provided them with appropriate treatment but also given them honors and status they could not have obtained before, naturally attracting them to serve the community and cultivate talents for the country!”

“And through the implementation of this system, I am able to gather a large number of talents!”

Lin Beifan spread his hands. “You see, it’s a win-win situation for everyone, and thus the policy is smoothly carried out! However, implementing policies requires costs, and only if the gains outweigh the expenses can the policy be sustained!”

Song Yufei nodded in agreement. “I understand this. Your Majesty has reduced the cost of education by improving papermaking techniques and has earned a large amount of gold and silver to support the entire education system!”

“That’s right, exactly!”

Lin Beifan snapped his fingers. “It’s precisely because I spared no expense in reducing the cost of education that I was able to successfully implement this policy!”

“However, this policy would be difficult to implement in Great Luo! The situation there is much more complicated. Compared to my Great Xia, they not only have children from noble families but also you all!”

“Firstly, this policy would undermine the foundation of the noble families, and they would definitely oppose it! The fact that it could be carried out must have involved your Taoist Sect’s help in secret, right?”

Song Yufei nodded. “Indeed, our Taoist Sect did step in!”

“Even if you’ve dealt with the noble families’ issue, the cost of education is an unavoidable problem! The cost must be reduced to a level acceptable to the common people for the policy to unfold!”

“It’s like building houses out of cement; the houses must be cheap enough for people to be willing to pay!”

“And from what I’ve learned from Great Luo, they’ve also implemented a system of graded teachers and free education, but the cost of education hasn’t been reduced by much. So why bother with education?”

“The common people will vote with their feet! If they have a choice, why would they choose to stay in Great Luo instead of coming to Great Xia?”

Song Yufei gave a wry smile. “Indeed, I have learned a lot. But, Your Majesty, you are too ingenious. You actually use the hot springs from volcanic craters to reduce costs… others simply can’t replicate that!”

“That’s right!”

Lin Beifan smiled, “My motto is: Walk your own path, and leave others with no path to follow!”

Song Yufei was left speechless.

Thinking about Lin Beifan’s past actions, they were indeed just like that!

For example, when building cement houses, he directly drove the price down to rock bottom, making it impossible for others to follow suit!

When gathering workers for production, he offered the highest wages, making it difficult for others to imitate!

And in order to strengthen his rule, he drove out all the sects and children of noble families within his territory, not hesitating to offend them all!

Every action he took was decisive, leaving no room for others to catch up!

Yet, it is precisely these approaches that have brought Great Xia to new heights in just two years!

Compared to that… the Emperor of Great Luo paled in comparison.

Even if he tried to copy, he still failed.

At this moment, the Minister of Rites Li Linfu arrived.

He first glanced at Song Yufei, then bowed to Lin Beifan and said, “Your Majesty, it’s almost time!”

Lin Beifan turned his head and smiled. “Miss Yufei, today is the opening day of the Great Xia Academy. I will be giving the first lecture. Would you be interested in attending?”

“Your Majesty invites me; I dare not refuse!” Song Yufei gladly accompanied him.

Soon after, Lin Beifan arrived at a school near the imperial palace.

By this time, both the students and teachers had been waiting for a while.

Upon seeing Lin Beifan, they spoke in unison.

“Students pay respects to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!”

“Everyone, students and teachers, no need for formalities!”

Lin Beifan stepped onto the podium, facing the attentive students and teachers, and said with a smile, “Great Xia’s school term has begun! Today is the first lesson of the new term, and I will be the one to teach you! Before we start, I have a question for you all: Why do you study?”

The students exchanged glances, unsure of how to answer.

Lin Beifan called on someone, pointing to a child of about eight years old in the front row, “You, speak first!”

“Me?” The child stood up tremblingly, looking around nervously, not knowing how to respond.

“Speak up, I’ll pardon you from any wrongdoing!”

For some unknown reason, the child’s heart miraculously calmed down after hearing Lin Beifan’s voice.

Lifting his little head, he said loudly, “To become an official!”

“Why?” Lin Beifan asked with a smile.

The child continued loudly, “Because my parents said that being an official means having good prospects!”

“And you?” Lin Beifan called on another.

“I want to live a good life, I want my parents to have enough to eat!”

“And you, cute little friend?” Lin Beifan asked another.

“I want to get rich! I know it’s not right, but I just want to…”

Children spoke their minds, and the answers were varied.

Regardless of whether their reasons were logical or not, Lin Beifan didn’t mind and said with a smile, “Actually, you’re all correct! But have you noticed that all your dreams point towards one ultimate goal?”

“What goal?” Everyone was puzzled.

“Great Xia!”

Lin Beifan exclaimed loudly, “Only when Great Xia rises can it protect everything you have! Only when Great Xia rises can your parents have enough to eat and escape poverty, and your families live a good life! Only when Great Xia rises can you achieve your dreams! Otherwise, your dream will always be like a castle in the air, visible but unreachable!”

His voice was loud and clear!

But when everyone thought about it carefully, wasn’t that the case?

Didn’t Great Xia maintain their hard-won happiness?

Without Great Xia, they might still be digging in the mud!

They wouldn’t have the chance to enter a school to study!

All dreams would be in vain!

Lin Beifan asked loudly, “Now, I ask you again, why do you study?”

The students shouted in unison, “We study for the rise of Great Xia!”

Looking at the spirited students and the vibrant Great Xia, Song Yufei felt doubt for the third time in her heart.

“Is the choice of the Taoist Sect correct…?”

***

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