Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 95 Social Darwinism in State Schools
The oxcart slowly drove through the wide streets of Luchuan County and arrived at the archway of Luzhou Prefectural School in no time.

From this point onward, carriages and horses can no longer proceed; entry is only possible on foot.

After getting off the bus, Lu Beigu carefully examined the area.

Before me lay a magnificent complex of buildings, with endless gray walls surrounding it. The tall archway facing them bore the four large characters "Luzhou Prefectural School," gleaming in the sunlight.

Stone lions stand majestically on both sides of the archway, guarding the solemnity of this academy.

"It's much more impressive than the county school," Zhu Zhen couldn't help but exclaim softly as he got off another oxcart.

“That’s true,” Lu Guangyu said. “Compared to the Luzhou Prefectural School, the Hejiang County School is nothing.

Zhu Nanxing didn't look at the state school; instead, he stared at the Han family's oxcart for a long time with some envy.

In fact, they had already discussed it in the car. After listening to Lu Guangyu recount his experiences, they were quite impressed by the Han siblings' respect for Lu Beigu. It's true that talented people are well-liked wherever they go.

Han Ziyu's face showed a proud expression: "This was originally an academy of the former Tang Dynasty, with a history of more than 300 years. Although it has been expanded a lot, many of the core buildings have not been touched much."

Lu Beigu nodded. He was about to spend an unforgettable period of his studies here.

Han Ziyu must have already informed the goalkeeper, as they were not stopped.

After parting ways with Han San Niang, he stepped into the gate of the state school and immediately felt a solemn atmosphere.

The bluestone slabs underfoot have been polished smooth as a mirror by the years, and stone tablets stand in rows in the corridors on both sides, covered with densely packed characters.

What's engraved on this?

“The names and deeds of those who passed the imperial examinations in Luzhou since the Tang Dynasty will be engraved.”

Gazing at the corridor of steles, several new students couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. If they were to pass the imperial examination and have their names engraved on it to inspire future generations, what an honor that would be!

"This way." Han Ziyu led the group through the front courtyard with familiarity. "The main hall is where students are enrolled. Behind it are the lecture hall and dormitories. To the west are the dining hall and bathhouse, and to the east are the library and the Confucius Temple."

A gentle breeze carried the scent of distant pines and the fragrance of ink. Lu Beigu turned his head and saw the outline of a tall library faintly visible in the distance, with the Confucius Temple nestled among the pines and cypresses beside it.

There's a reason for this. The east is associated with wood and represents literature and scholarship, so large academies are typically arranged with a temple on the left and a school on the right. The scale of the Confucius Temple is often no smaller than that of the teaching area.

But in front of the main hall stands a tall, ancient tree.

"This tree is said to be a ginkgo tree planted by the first headmaster when the academy was first established in the early Tang Dynasty. Now it is a towering ancient tree that takes three people to encircle. In a few months, when the golden leaves cover the ground in autumn, it will be a beautiful sight."

Inside the main hall, several gentlemen dressed in Confucian robes were organizing documents at their desks.

As the group entered, an elderly man with gray hair and beard looked up and asked, "Han Ziyu, are these the new students from the county who enrolled this year? Which county are they from?"

Han Ziyu stepped forward and bowed: "Sir, this is indeed Lu Beigu, the top student in Hejiang County. The others are also new students from Hejiang County this year."

The elderly man in charge of registration lingered on Lu Beigu for a moment, then nodded slightly: "I've read your county examination essay; it's good."

He pushed a list forward.

"First, register your name and place of origin, then receive your student ID and the 'School Rules'."

Lu Beigu respectfully picked up the pen and neatly wrote his information on the roster. He noticed that more than ten people had already registered on the roster, with different handwriting styles, some neat and meticulous, and others unrestrained and free.

"This is your school pass." The old man handed over a bamboo pass with his name and other words engraved on it. "You must carry it with you. It will be checked when you enter and leave the state school, as well as when you go to the dining hall, bathhouse, library and other places."

Lu Beigu accepted it with a strange expression.

So, this thing is the "one-card" system in state schools?
Then the old man handed him a booklet called "Rules of Learning," which Lu Beigu carefully put away.

"None of you have taken the dormitory assignment exam yet, so you'll have to be assigned to four-person dorm rooms in the next dormitory. Think about it, who will live with whom?" Chubby Zhu Nanxing scratched his head and said, "Let's have all four of them. I snore really loudly when I sleep, I'd be a little embarrassed."

The old man chuckled upon hearing this and asked, "So you have the nerve to bother others?"

However, since Zhu Nanxing had already requested it, the old man readily agreed and assigned him to the room next door.

After completing the formalities, Han Ziyu led everyone, carrying their luggage, through several doors to the dormitory area.

Although the buildings here are not as grand as those in the front courtyard, they are more elegant. Each schoolhouse has a bamboo curtain hanging in front of it, and wind chimes hang under the eaves, making a crisp sound when a breeze passes by.

Han Ziyu stopped in front of a dormitory with a sign that read "Lower Dormitory No. 7".

"This is where you will be staying."

Lu Beigu lifted the bamboo curtain and pushed open the door, a faint fragrance of pine wood wafting towards him.

The schoolhouse was spacious and bright, with four beds in the center, four desks side by side against the north wall, each with writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones neatly arranged on it, and a bookshelf next to the south door.

There are two wooden lattice windows on the east wall, and sunlight shines through the window frames, casting shadows on the ground, making the light very bright.

"It's much better than I expected." The tall and thin Zhu Zhen put down his luggage with difficulty and looked around in surprise. "There's even a separate desk!"

Han Ziyu smiled and said, "The school buildings in Luzhou are among the best in Sichuan. Look at this."

He pointed to the wooden cabinets next to each bed and said, “There is space here to put your own things, and there are also individual trunks in the porch outside.”

Lu Beigu walked to a bed and ran his hand over the smooth surface. A brand-new bamboo mat was laid on the bed, and a thin quilt was folded on top. Turning his head, he could see several wooden hooks nailed to the wall, which could be used to hang clothes and book bags.

After the four of them had settled into their beds and put away their luggage and clothes, Han Ziyu called Zhu Nanxing over and said...

"Then I need to tell you about the rules of the state school."

Seeing them looking over, Han Ziyu picked up the booklet titled "School Rules" and waved it in her hand.

"To put it simply, some of the things mentioned here are things you may have heard about. The state school is different from the county school. Here, the treatment in the upper, middle and lower dormitories is very different in every aspect."

"Let's talk about the daily living conditions first. As for accommodation, you've already seen the dormitories for the lower dormitories. The middle dormitories are for two people, and the upper dormitories are for one person. The dining hall is also separate. The state school is different from the county school. All three meals are free. But for example, lunch for the lower dormitories is two vegetarian dishes and one soup, for the middle dormitories it's two vegetarian dishes, one meat dish and one soup, and for the upper dormitories it's three vegetarian dishes, two meat dishes, one soup and a snack. The lower dormitories only have cold water in the bathhouse, the middle dormitories have hot water every other day, and the upper dormitories have hot water every day."

"As for the library, students in the lower dormitory can only read books on the first floor, students in the middle dormitory can read books on the first and second floors, and students in the upper dormitory can also read books on the third floor. As for the fourth floor, special conditions are required, and you cannot access it for the time being."

"In the state school, this treatment doesn't depend on background, but entirely on one's own ability. Whoever has the most profound knowledge and ranks higher in the exam can enjoy the best treatment! Because ultimately, the purpose of all these benefits provided by the state school is only one: to provide the most capable students with the best learning environment and resources, thereby increasing the chances of them becoming Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations)!"

Han Ziyu's words left the five of them stunned.

"Well, this state school is pure Social Darwinism!"

Lu Beigu also felt a pang of emotion, but given the limited overall resources, survival of the fittest was indeed the best mechanism.

"Oh, by the way, besides these rules, there's one thing that makes the state school quite different from the county school."

Han Ziyu smiled and said, "The state school allows students to form societies freely and discuss matters of state, in order to cultivate their abilities for future official positions. Therefore, based on various relationships and interests, many different societies have been established and passed down in the state school over the years. Would you be interested in joining my society?"

None of them were quite sure, so they hesitated and didn't know how to answer.

"No need to rush to give me an answer." Han Ziyu waved her hand. "You can all think about these things carefully before you decide. The main event is the welcoming gathering tomorrow."

Then, Han Ziyu handed the "Rules of Learning" to Lu Beigu and said, "I didn't finish what I was saying before I got off the car. I just remembered that among the three people in Meishan County, Su Zhe is the youngest, but he ranked first in the Meishan County examination this year. It is said that his writing has already captured some of the spirit of his brother Su Shi. You have to be careful. The impression Su Shi left on me three years ago was really too deep, even a bit scary."

Lu Beigu paused slightly as he took the booklet. He felt no fear; instead, he was filled with curiosity about what the historical figures of his generation were like.

(End of this chapter)