In March, when everything was recovering, the city of Nanjing also became very lively, and most of the people on the streets had smiles on their faces, and many people also called friends and went out of the city to play, and the traces of war seemed to have completely disappeared from Nanjing.

A young man in a long robe, with a handful of books in his arms, stumbled towards the post station outside the city.

On the books he was holding in his arms, there were still a few newspapers pressed, which seemed to be the ones newly issued in Nanjing, but they couldn't be seen clearly, of course, the Qingliu newspaper was always pressed on the top - there was a line of black letters written on it, 'The subjects of the three-year imperial examination were officially re-demarcated, and the second assistant went to inspect in person. ’

"Brother Qin, don't come to ...... harm"

A short and stocky gentleman with a folding fan in his hand walked up to the young man and saluted, his eyes swept from the young man's body to the newspaper, and there was a slight smile on his face.

"Brother Xue."

The young man's surname is Qin Mingli, a native of Hunan, and he was born in a poor family, so he doesn't even have a scholar around him, and he even has to memorize these books by himself. And the short and fat scholar is his classmate, surnamed Xue Mingyan, the family has hundreds of acres of land in the place, and he is a small landlord, and the two came to Nanjing together to receive new teaching materials.

Of course, Xue Yan had already arranged for the scholar to take away the textbooks he received, after all, such a tiring work did not require him, the eldest young master, to do it himself.

Seeing Qin Li's somewhat struggling appearance, Xue Yan's eyes rolled, and he smiled, "Brother Qin, you have also participated in this year's imperial examination, it is better to wait at home honestly, if you don't win again, you will completely lose your mind." If you really change subjects next year, you have never studied them, and there is no famous teacher to teach you, so what is the use of relying on these textbooks alone? ”

Although Xue Yan's words are ugly, they are also the current reality.

After the decision to carry out education reform last year, the relevant actions have already begun, and the core of the imperial examination system, after an intensive restructuring, has been issued a notice to Shilin in the newspaper.

The circular stipulates that the traditional imperial examination model is limited to the two-year imperial examination of the innovation, and the traditional subjects are still examined, but from the third year of the innovation, the subjects will be re-demarcated, and everyone can only start the examination from the Xiucai subject. As for the relevant personnel department and jinshi department, it is no longer used as a regular examination mechanism, but after the expiration of the term of office, the organization department will issue the inspection results, and then concentrate on the examination under the ministry of education.

At that time, after the news spread, countless scholars who have not yet taken the examination have signed up to participate in this imperial examination, although after passing, there is only the merit of Xiucai, and there is no person who can be examined, but after being admitted, it can be arranged by the Organization Department to confer officials. The most important thing is that this time it is still a traditional subject, which can be called the last chance.

Although Qin Li and Xue Yan had already participated in this scientific examination and were still waiting for the results to come out, they did not dare to guarantee that they would be able to be admitted, so they also went to receive new textbooks and prepared to prepare for next year's imperial examination after failing the list.

Hearing Xue Yan's ridicule, Qin Li's face was not much embarrassed, in his opinion, among these books, such as "Chemistry", "Physics", "Geometry", etc., seem to be esoteric and difficult to understand, but everyone is also the same class, and the exam is essentially a screening ranking, so as long as he is ahead of others, it is enough-such as the straw bag in front of him.

Seeing Qin Li's taciturn appearance, Xue Yan also felt a little bored, and said softly: "Brother Qin, I heard that Changsha will soon build a Hunan University, and it will be able to enter next year, and there will be some Westerners to be teachers and teach these courses, if you don't get admitted next year, just sign up with me, so that the chances of applying for the exam again are greater." ”

Qin Li thought for a moment and asked, "What is the tuition fee?" What is the length of study? ”

"Hehe, the two-year school system, but the tuition fee is a bit expensive, and it costs a total of twenty taels of silver." Although Xue Yan's background is not bad, after hearing that it is twenty taels of silver, he can't help but have a toothache.

"Twenty taels?! So much! ”

Hearing the number of twenty taels, Qin Li was taken aback, how could he have seen so much silver, not to mention seeing it, just thinking about it made him feel scared to death.

"This ...... How could this court be so wealthy....... Don't your majesty care? ”

Everyone says that His Majesty is a Ming Jun today, but why is he so harsh on scholars? This is something that Qin Li can't understand.

Xue Yan sneered, "What's the point of these twenty taels?" You must know that this itself is half of the cost borne by the imperial court, otherwise according to the normal cost, it will be at least forty taels per person! ”

"However, Hugh said forty taels, even twenty taels, where can I take it out......." Qin Li's expression was gloomy and he let out a long sigh.

As the saying goes, the poor are rich and the rich are martial. But in fact, even reading is a very high threshold way, because the reader is not engaged in production, can only rely on the family to support, if there is no fame, I am afraid that I will be poor for the rest of my life.

Therefore, the illiteracy rate in this era is very high, even for people who can write their own names, only one percent.

The two of them walked forward on their own, but they had just arrived at the post station, but they were stopped by someone.

"Brother Qin, Brother Xue, have you bought the newspaper?" The person who spoke was Zhu Yuyan, who had traveled in Nanjing, and since he was separated from Matsudaira Tsunayoshi and others on the dock, he had lived alone in the post station.

After hearing this strange accent, the two of them also looked at Zhu Yuyan in front of them with smiles on their faces.

"Brother Zhu, I have brought you several mainstream newspapers, such as "Qingliu Daily", "Industrial and Commercial Daily", and "Dachu Daily", and the content in them is still very interesting, a total of two coins of silver."

Qin Li's face was a little cramped, a gentleman shouldn't have said anything, but these newspapers were too expensive, and these two coins of silver were enough for him to use for a long time...... Therefore, it can only be brazenly begging.

Xue Yan's eyes flashed with a trace of disdain, in his opinion, these two coins of silver were just ordinary meal money, and it was too embarrassing to ask for it for this.

Zhu Yuyan took the newspaper with both hands seriously, and then bowed very respectfully, although he has learned Chinese and Chinese etiquette since he was a child, but after all, he grew up in Japan, so his style of acting is impregnated with a lot of Japanese habits.

"Thank you, Brother Qin, I'll give you the silver in a while."

For a person like Zhu Yuyan who was born in a famous family, he naturally has no shortage of silver, not to mention two taels of silver, even two taels of silver is nothing, but he is more concerned about the country where he is now.

"The ....... of the Imperial Examination Restructuring"

"The system of apportioning the land into the mu and the integrated payment of grain by the gentry has been fully rolled out, and the results have been remarkable......

"Jiangwutang will be reorganized into the Central Army Military University on the same day, and you can participate in the examination ...... on the same day"

Important news appeared in the newspaper, Zhu Yuyan's expression was also slightly excited, if these news were placed in Japan, I am afraid it would be difficult to get in touch, but in Nanjing, I was able to learn through the newspaper at the first time, the newspaper is really a good thing.......

Seeing Zhu Yuyan's excited expression, Qin Li's face had a somewhat clear look on his face, and he said with a smile: "Brother Zhu will inevitably feel surprised when he returns to his homeland from Japan, in fact, when I first saw "Qingliu Daily", he behaved like this. ”

Zhu Yuyan lowered his head, his fingers touched the thickness of the newspaper, but he sighed softly, "My land of China is indeed the heart of the world, but it is a remote and barren place like Japan that is far from comparable, Brother Qin, Brother Xue, do you plan to continue to apply for next year's imperial examination?" ”

Qin Li and Xue Yi both nodded, and then Qin Li smiled bitterly and pointed to the books in his arms, "These books are the basic textbooks that I just received, I have to hurry up and learn them, if this imperial examination is unfavorable, I am afraid that I can only fight for next year's imperial examination." Two, I'll go first. ”

After Qin Li left, Xue Yi's eyes turned again, looked at Zhu Yuyan, and said with a smile: "Brother Zhu, what are your plans, do you want to apply for college with me?" I originally wanted to study at Changsha University, but if Brother Zhu and you are also with me, we can apply for Nanjing University. ”

Zhu Yuyan was a little moved in his heart, but after he looked at the part of the content the size of a tofu block in the newspaper, he was a little hesitant, and said softly: "Brother Xue is kind, Yuyan understands, but Yuyan has some other thoughts in his heart, please understand." ”

The content of the newspaper was not complicated, it was the enrollment brochure issued by the newly reorganized Central Army Military Academy.

"In order to cultivate loyal and patriotic officers and realize the desire to unify the whole country, the school specially recruits students and provides military preparation education......"

"The formal study period of enlisted students is six months, and those who pass the screening after the expiration of the period will be promoted to the university as students, study military academics, and graduate in one year and six months, with full exemption of academic qualifications."

"Candidates must be over 18 years old, under 25 years old, have good nutritional status, be strong and hardworking, have no eye diseases, hemorrhoids, lung diseases, willow diseases and other diseases, need to be literate, need to join the army with a patriotic heart, are not afraid of death, are not afraid of tiredness, and can obey the orders of the commander......"

The enrollment brochure is not complicated, almost all of them are the simplest vernacular, and almost as long as a literate person can understand it, for Zhu Yuyan, it is naturally not a problem.

For Zhu Yuyan, this is a very attractive opportunity, as long as he can pass the examination, he will be able to join the highest level of military academy in Ningchu, and become an official officer of the Fu Han Army in the future, which means that he will personally participate in the battle of the Northern Expedition and realize the ideal of his grandfather Zhu Shunshui - to expel the Tartars, restore China, and restore the Han people!

As soon as he thought of this, Zhu Yuyan didn't hesitate anymore and walked towards the registration point written on it.......

.........

Zhu Yuyan's whereabouts have always been in the eyes of the shadow, so Ning Yu soon knew about Zhu Yuyan's movements, and only took a wait-and-see attitude towards his desire to apply for the Central Army Military Academy, and did not send someone to stop or open the back door for this reason.

For Zhu Yuyan, Ning Yu is more of a free-range attitude, whether he can be admitted or not, it is his own business, although Zhu Yuyan's identity is very special, but to put it bluntly, he is only a talent that may be used in the future, or a chess piece against Japan. As for the rest, it's too early to tell.

After all, in this era, ordinary families spend a maximum of ten taels of silver a year, and the tuition fee of twenty taels is enough for a family to live for two years, and it is difficult for many people to come up with twenty taels of silver at once.

But the problem is that even if it is twenty taels, it is a sum of silver that Ning Chu squeezed out of the financial revenue, not counting part of the money taken out by the local finance, which barely bears the general expenses, and the remaining half still needs to be borne by the students themselves.

The compulsory education in later generations was something that Ning Chu could not afford in this era, so he never had such extravagant hopes. Only after the industrialization process has begun, and the national strength has been greatly improved, can the basic compulsory education be reluctantly started.

However, fortunately, traditional education has not completely withdrawn from the stage, and a large number of private schools and ethnic studies are still playing a role in enlightenment, and in the conceivable future, new schools will gradually appear in private schools, after all, this is linked to being an official, so it can also play a part of the role.

However, for Ning Yu at the moment, what is really exciting is another good news, that is, with the addition of talents from the West, the research and development progress of steam engines and Jenny textile machines has been greatly reduced. According to the relevant report of the first base, they can already come up with relatively mature experimental products!

When Ning Yu came to the base of Guimao in Nanjing's Purple Mountain again, this place had been taken over by the military, and there were patrolling soldiers everywhere, and its martial law was much higher than at the beginning.

Among them, the reason for the successful development of the steam engine and the Jenny textile machine is also because the Qing court sent someone to send a letter to the Cao Gang, although the incident was intercepted in time, but it also led to a place like the Guimao First Base The degree of vigilance has been greatly improved, so it has become the most stringent place at present.

Lei Huozi personally came out to greet Ning Yu's arrival, and there were a lot more people traveling with him than last time, in addition to the original part of the people, there were also many Westerners, and their faces were a little nervous after seeing the emperor.

"Greetings to Your Majesty!"

"Well, your progress is much faster than I thought, I thought it was going to be the second half of the year, but I didn't expect that this is only March, and there will be results, and I will award you medals and knighthoods."

Lei Huozi stood up a little squirmished, with a little embarrassment on his face, "Your Majesty, now the steam engine can be trial-produced, but thanks to the help of this foreign brother, without him, our plan would not have gone so smoothly." As he spoke, he pushed a gray-haired Westerner out.

"Your Majesty the Great Emperor, it's an honor to meet you."

The gringo spoke English, and soon a special interpreter was next to him to speak Chinese.

Ning Yu looked at the foreigner in front of him, but in his mind he recalled the information given by Ernst at the beginning, which is not a lot of old people........ Soon, Ning Yu remembered that a person was hooked up with him, and he was also one of the most important people in China this time - Thomas Newcomen.

"Are you Mr. Thomas?"