Xie Xiangrong read this New Year’s message back and forth twice, her eyes flashing with unusual brilliance. After thinking for a moment, she put away the newspaper, pulled out paper and began writing a transfer request. She no longer wanted to stay at the Imperial Academy—she wanted to go to a local post.
She had heard that schools everywhere were desperately short of teachers, especially outside of Sizhou and Yuzhou.
After the matchmaking meeting ended, Father Xie and Mother Xie ultimately didn’t take Xie Xiangrong away. She remained in the capital, teaching poetry and prose at the Imperial Academy while also doing some document organization and companion reading work for Zhao Hanzhang.
Many people thought she would become the next Zhao Yunxin, and therefore treated her very courteously.
Xie Xiangrong quickly adapted as well, but her heart always felt suspended in mid-air, with a sense of unreality.
It wasn’t until just now that she finally understood—it was because she was too far from the ground. Her Majesty’s message was addressed to students throughout the realm, especially children just entering school.
Among students throughout the realm, children of common people were the most numerous, with those aged seven to fourteen being the primary group. Yet here she was teaching at the Imperial Academy, so distant from them.
She decided to go to a local post.
The court had already sealed for the holiday, and most officials were on leave, with only rotating duty officers on watch.
But Chen Siniang was a workaholic—even when it wasn’t her turn on duty, she was still at the Imperial Academy.
When Xie Xiangrong came to deliver her letter, Chen Siniang was still there. “Yangxia isn’t far from the capital. Teacher Xie, won’t you go home for New Year?”
Xie Xiangrong replied, “If the Imperial Academy approves this subordinate’s transfer order, before taking up the post, this subordinate will return home for a visit.”
Chen Siniang scanned through her application at ten lines per glance, then pressed down the letter. “Do you know how difficult it is to be a teacher in local areas? These past years more and more schools have opened, and school locations will become increasingly remote. Some villages are several days’ journey from the county seat. To allow children there to attend school, teachers must be stationed in large villages to teach. There the food is poor, travel is difficult, and there’s even personal danger. Even so, do you still dare to go?”
“I dare!” Xie Xiangrong said. “Though this subordinate appears delicate, I have also studied the Six Arts with my grandfather. During wartime I was able to lead my family to escape from rampaging soldiers—I am not someone without the strength to truss a chicken.”
“Rural areas are harsh, and with so few literate people in the realm now, teachers are scarce. Her Majesty wishes for a prosperous Great Hua in twenty years, and this subordinate also wishes to contribute even a small amount of strength to this cause.”
Chen Siniang’s eyes flashed with unusual brilliance. She lightly tapped the table in approval. “Excellent! No wonder Her Majesty values you so highly. Teacher Xie truly lives up to expectations.”
Chen Siniang approved Xie Xiangrong’s transfer request and asked, “Where do you wish to go?”
Xie Xiangrong bowed. “This subordinate is willing to accept assignment.”
Chen Siniang pondered. “This past September we just allocated a batch of graduating students to teach in various regions. Qingzhou received a few less than expected, and Governor Zhao has been voicing complaints. How about you go to Qingzhou?”
Xie Xiangrong accepted.
Chen Siniang then assigned her to Xiami County under Jinan Commandery in Qingzhou. “I will submit a memorial to Her Majesty on this matter.”
Zhao Hanzhang naturally wouldn’t obstruct officials from finding their own paths. Knowing that Xie Xiangrong had actively requested the transfer, she approved it. “Write a letter to Zhao Kuan asking him to look after her somewhat. She’s young and has never been alone to such a harsh place.”
Chen Siniang acknowledged. “This minister didn’t expect that despite her delicate appearance, she had actually learned all Six Arts. Before entering the palace, this minister examined her archery and chariot riding—both were quite outstanding. She also knows some swordsmanship, though her bare-handed combat skills are somewhat lacking.”
“This minister wishes to have teachers at local schools periodically study martial arts, regardless of gender. This way not only will travel be much safer, but even if they encounter bandits in poor remote areas, they’ll have the ability to protect themselves.”
Zhao Hanzhang praised highly, “This idea is excellent! How long should they study each year?”
“Looking at this year’s autumn harvest situation, the ten-day autumn harvest break is still too short. Now regardless of boys or girls, those of appropriate age must enter school. But starting from the seventh month, the north must harvest spring wheat, soybeans, and rice, continuing until mid-eighth month before finishing. The south must harvest soybeans and rice and plant winter wheat, with work continuing into the ninth month—the busiest period also lasting until mid-eighth month. Ten days of holiday is clearly insufficient.”
“One or two years might be acceptable, but over time, this will inevitably affect agriculture, and at that point the popular movement to send children to school will likely also be impacted,” Chen Siniang said. “This minister wishes to extend the autumn harvest break for schools—targeting schools only.”
Zhao Hanzhang raised her eyebrows.
This era had no winter or summer vacations. The longest break students took was the field leave—spring plowing break and autumn harvest break, each lasting ten days, specifically released for them to return home to work the fields.
With Chen Siniang’s extension, wouldn’t summer vacation emerge?
Zhao Hanzhang asked, “You want teachers to study martial arts during summer vacation?”
Chen Siniang nodded. “They needn’t study for a full month. Teachers also need to return home for farm work—they can have ten days to half a month of field leave. The remaining half month would require concentrated martial arts study. This is just learning and consolidation. Martial arts emphasizes persistence, so daily training is also necessary. It’s just that for the moment I don’t know where to hire so many martial arts teachers.”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “What difficulty is there in this? Every region has stationed troops. Just gather the teachers together and send them to the military.”
Chen Siniang’s eyes brightened. “That’s a good solution.”
“Study one set of martial arts each year. My teachers will be accomplished in both civil and military arts, and the students they teach will also possess both civil and military abilities. Excellent!” The more Zhao Hanzhang spoke, the more excited she became. “Once the court unseals, we’ll discuss this matter.”
By the time Xie Xiangrong arrived at a poor village in Xiami County, Qingzhou, the new directive issued to the schools had become: “The realm is not yet pacified. Protecting the nation requires military skills, governing the nation requires civil learning, and teachers—the accomplished come first. If teachers are not proficient, how can they instruct students?”
The directive required teachers at all schools to study civil and military arts, while also teaching students both civil and military skills well. Cultural courses went without saying—for martial courses, archery and swordsmanship should be primary.
Archery could make people calm and maintain restraint. As for swordsmanship, what schools taught was the gentleman’s sword—without losing martial spirit, yet upright and proper.
Those who could learn these two martial arts well rarely possessed fierce and aggressive natures. To a certain degree, this curbed the violent fighting that arose from martial prowess.
Xie Xiangrong received such a directive, then turned to look outside at two students hugging each other in a fight over a desk, their faces solemn. She stepped forward and sternly shouted, “Stop this instant!”
Seeing the teacher intervene, the students who had been watching and jeering scattered in all directions, running back to the classroom to sit properly. The two fighting students also separated, lowering their heads in admission of fault.
In this era, teachers were like parents. Whether students or parents, they absolutely respected teachers. Only very rare individuals dared to offend a teacher.
Clearly, this small school had no such people.
Xie Xiangrong lectured the two students thoroughly, teaching them that they should be loving and mutually supportive rather than quarrelsome and brawling. Thus she had the two hold hands and stand at the back of the classroom listening to a lesson.
She decided martial classes would begin with standing meditation. Once they could stand for the duration of one class period, she would teach them archery.
While the teacher had such patience, the students did not. After martial class study began, quite a few students would run all the way home each day after school, shouting with excitement.
Zhang Taohua achieved first place in cultural studies again. After calculating her accumulated points, she ran wildly all the way home. “Mother! If I place first two more times, I can exchange points at school for a bow!”