Tao Kan pondered for several days, but still to no avail. So, he rode a horse, dressed in civilian clothes, disguised himself as a merchant, and took two retinues to the Gutian area to look for saplings. As he walked, Tao Kan couldn't help but recall some bits and pieces when he first arrived in Wugang.

After the Eastern Han Dynasty, due to the frequent discrimination and suppression by the Han rulers, coupled with heavy taxes and forced labor, the Miao Yao ethnic minorities in this area have been constantly resisting.

Wugang County in the Western Jin Dynasty (including today's Chengbu County, Wugang County, and part of Xinning) was a large minority county, but it did not have the preferential policy of "ethnic autonomy" or the geographical convenience of appeasing the barbarians.

Once the Miao Yao people got into trouble, the county order had to rush through the lofty mountains and deep ravines of the Nanling Mountains and the Xuefeng Mountains, and they were as anxious as ants in a hot pot, and it often took two or three days to reach their destination. Moreover, often this wave has not subsided, and another wave has risen, making the county commander stab in the back, and helpless.

Tao Kan's predecessor shook his head when he mentioned this place, he just took off the black veil and slipped away quietly in a helpless situation.

During the Yongkang period of the Western Jin Dynasty, although Wugang had sparsely established some private schools, the official had not yet established a county school, and the education was so backward that he could not help but take the establishment of a county school as a top priority.

The establishment of the county school required about 80,000 baht (5 baht copper coins) (1,000 copper coins are consistent), but the county treasury has been short of money for many years, and it cannot make ends meet, and it must not be "levied from the people". Tao Kan believes that as long as he adheres to the Confucian "herdsman's technique", he can bring peace and well-being to this landscape.

So, Tao Kan wrote a letter to Lu Yue, the Taishou of Jingzhou County, asking for financial support from his superiors, which was roughly as follows: "...... The foundation of weathering lies in the righteousness of human ethics, and the human ethics is in the establishment of the order. Wugang barbarians are far away, so far they have not heard of the way of the ancestors and sages, so the etiquette and righteousness are not clear, the people are not right, and they are not causing chaos. The son said that killing without teaching is abuse, and not abstaining from seeing it as violence.

In ancient times, Yu danced and turned into three seedlings, and Lu Xi served Huaiyi as a pan palace. If you declare enlightenment, Shen Zhi's filial piety, Taoism with morality, Qi with courtesy, shame and character, the people's luck. Respect the order, educate talents, and benefit the best. Therefore, the fool will put the county school, and the baht money is needed, and he dares to hope that he will be exempted from losing classes as a ......"

After reading Tao Kan's letter, Lu Yue smiled and said "Xi Dog", and then replied: "Xuan Xuan is instructed, morality and etiquette are known, and the system of saints is also." However, things are big and small, and they are prioritized. Wugang is brutal and noisy, and it has been fierce for a long time, and its sex is tough and stubborn. Move to the right, and take the law and precept of the people as the key, deter distant descendants, and consolidate the holy pilgrimage. However, if you don't ask about politics and ask about learning, wouldn't you give up your roots and chase the end! ”

For Tao Kan to be appointed as the commander of Wugang County, Lu Yue has always been jealous. He once recommended his friends to the imperial court, but the newly appointed official Ling Shi Huangqing tried his best to speak well, so that he lost an opportunity to "get me to the poor I know".

Lu Yue looked down on Tao Kan too much, because he was very clear about Tao Kan's background. Tao Kan is a Xi tribe, his appearance is different from that of the Han people, and he is often insulted by people and scolded as a "river dog". Originally from Poyang, he later moved to Xunyang County, Lujiang County. After the Western Jin Dynasty destroyed Wu, the Jiangnan people were called "the rest of the country" by the Central Plains, and the Jiangdong scholars were heavily suppressed by the Central Plains scholars.

"If you don't want money, you want to be in the limelight and figure it out yourself!" Lu Yue asked people to give a message to Tao Kan.

Therefore, Lu Yue not only did not have a penny of financial support, but instead attracted sharp accusations, and Tao Kan couldn't help but feel embarrassed. He thought that it would be difficult for him to convince the other party of such a-for-tat political difference. If he wrote again to elaborate on the reasons, it would inevitably lead to a meaningless verbal dispute, so he chose to remain silent.

Therefore, Tao Kan invited some of the most noble landlords in the county, and confessed to them his desire to start a school and the difficulties he faced, hoping to get their baht donations. However, some of these broad old men are silent like frost, and some pretend to be stupid, taking care of him; Some cry bitterly and sing poorly, a handful of snot and a handful of tears; Some scratch their ears and cheeks, and bargain......

In this society where money is respected and money is regarded as a god, Tao Kan really felt the difficulty of donating money to start a school, and after several efforts, he donated 40,000 baht.

Tao Kan established the county school with funds equivalent to half of the original plan, and the scale of the project had to be folded in half. The project consists of seven processes, such as site selection and land purchase, material construction, garden preparation, purchase of school fields, selection and appointment of professors, absorption of Maocai, and opening of the school in the sacrifice hole.

Therefore, Tao Kan must bow down to everything, and "care" everywhere. The school site was selected on the north bank of the canal. Tao Kan said to his entourage with great interest: There is clear water in front of this place, and the sage's code is like the source of self-cultivation and governance. The water from the diversion canal passes through the entrance palace, which is called panshui. Pan water a bridge across, called Pan Bridge, symbolizing "learning and excellence" can be out of office, out of the Pan Bridge can reach the four seas, serve the king to govern the world.

The county school founded by Tao Kan is formally the Xue Gong (also known as Pan Palace), that is, the structure of the integration of the Confucian Temple and the school. He made careful arrangements for the scale and setting of the Confucian Temple, with a double-storey pavilion style, a bucket-arched roof, and a large overhang of the eaves. The decoration effect is better, the board door and the mullioned window are painted more, and the eaves of the tile mouth are ornamented.

The main hall is hung with the portrait of Confucius and the "Four Matches" (Yan Hui, Zeng Shen, Zisi, Meng Ke), and there are flowers and fruits to worship. Below is the pitch-black upturned foot curling case, which is where the professor preached. In addition, the pavilions and pavilions, the construction of the corridor with steps, the diversion of water and the bridge, the painting of vermilion and ornamentation, the cultivation of flowers and grass, etc., have also been arranged, and a simple and solemn groundbreaking ceremony was held.

He demanded that the quality and quantity must be guaranteed - the completion and delivery at the end of July, and the opening ceremony of the Confucius Festival in early August (the successive dynasties stipulated that the Ding day of mid-spring February and the beginning of August of mid-autumn was the day of the worship of Confucius).

While the construction of the project was in full swing, Tao Kan also began to purchase school fields for the school palace. At that time, the school palace did not have any income from the rent of the shop, and only relied on the tax of the school field to maintain the expenses. He picked and chosen, and finally took a fancy to 50 acres of high-quality fertile land in the west of the city. Regarding the selection of professors and the promotion of Maocai, Tao Kan emphasized that both ability and political integrity should be emphasized, and what he learned should be put into practice......

No matter how difficult the road was, in order to find two ginkgo trees, Tao Kan walked for a day and a night before arriving at the Wushui River. Because there was no bridge over the river and mountain, I had to roll up my pants, go down the river, and cross the river very carefully along the stepping stones.

After crossing the river, a Miao man on the other side of the river stopped Tao Kan with a load of ginkgo (ginkgo biloba): "This uncle, do you want to buy ginkgo seeds?" ”

Looking at a piece of fruit from Baihuahua, Tao Kan's eyes couldn't help but light up: "What kind of fruit is this?" ”

"Uncle, this is a specialty of our cattle barricade.

Ginkgo fruit is the fruit of the ginkgo tree, which has the effects of astringent lung qi, nourishing qi and nourishing the heart, warming the lungs and invigorating qi. Ginkgo seeds have a variety of nutrients that have a protective effect on blood vessels, can lower blood pressure, prevent heart disease,......" Miao Min replied.

"Oh." Tao Kan nodded, grabbed one casually, put it to his mouth and took a bite, "Can I taste it?" ”

"Uncle, you can't eat it raw." Miao Min immediately stopped Tao Kan, "Its edible method is boiled with water, remember to cook it thoroughly, otherwise poisoning may occur." ”

"I see." Tao Kan asked his subordinates to take out the usual five baht money and put it on Miao Min's load.

"Uncle, are you going to buy all my ginkgo nuts?" Miao Min was shocked.

"Yes, we want them all." Tao Kan smiled.

"I don't want so much money." Miao Min hurriedly took his hand.

"Fellow, you take this money first. The official ...... "Tao Kan accidentally said that he leaked his mouth.

"You're from the government?" Miao Min was stunned.

"This is our new county commander Tao in Wugang." A casual whispered.

"Impossible." Miao Min shook his head.

"Why?" Tao Kan was very strange.

So Miao Min truthfully told Tao Kan that in the past, the county government bought ginkgo nuts and did not give them copper, so they were regarded as paying taxes, which made Miao Min dare to be angry and dare not speak.

"Fellow, how long do you have to pick this load of ginkgo nuts?" Tao Kan asked.

"I didn't count it. It's going to take about ten days. ”

As soon as he heard that it would take ten days, Tao Kan opened his mouth wide, and it took a long time for a sentence to come out: "Fellow, can you take me to find the ginkgo sapling?" ”

"I don't dare ......," Miao Min replied weakly.

"With this official here, who dares to stop it?" Tao Kan drew his sword.

"Your Excellency, you have misunderstood. Ginkgo saplings are in the deep mountains and old forests, and there are more snakes and bees at this time......"

"Out of the way."

"Okay."

So, Miao Min agreed, and took Tao Kan to the post road of Dwarf Lingzi......

A few days later, there were two ginkgo trees in the Wugang Academy. Today, more than 1,700 years later, these two trees have grown into towering trees and still stand there.

Although his superior, Lu Yue, did not like him, Tao Kan still attached great importance to state affairs, he was diligent in government and loved the people, and advocated new fashions. I don't like to drink, let alone gamble, advocate drinking moderation and strictly prohibit gambling, encourage diligent cultivation and weaving, and discourage idleness.

He often said to people: "A saint like Dayu still cherishes every inch of time, and as for ordinary people, they should cherish every minute of time." How can you just seek to be intoxicated, to make no contribution to society when you are alive, and to be unknown after death, this is self-abandonment! ”

Tao Kan found that some of the staff members had been drunk and had abandoned their official duties because they were drunk, talking, laughing, and playing, so he ordered them to be confiscated and all of their gambling utensils thrown into the river. For a time, there was a new atmosphere of political clarity and honesty in Wugang County.

One day, Tao Kan went out on a tour and saw a man holding a handful of unripe ears of rice in his hand, so he asked him: What are you doing with such ears of rice? ”

The man said, "I saw it on the road, and I took it out to play." ”

Tao Kan was furious and said, "Ridiculous! You don't farm, but you steal other people's ears of rice to play! And they took him and whipped him. Since then, there have been fewer idle people in Wugang, and the atmosphere of hard-working people has been established.

Tao Kan's relationship with Jingzhou Taishou Lu Yue was very tense, and after two years in Wugang, he felt that his future was bleak, so he angrily abandoned his official position and left his post.

A good official is always loved by the people. On the day Tao Kan left office, the people of Wugang lined up in two rows from the county government to the wharf, offering birds and fruits, crying and sending each other off, and some fishermen even drove dozens of miles by boat.