Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 43 Making the Academy Great Again

These words were spoken with great conviction. Professor Sheng nodded in satisfaction. "See, see," he said. "I knew Xu Hanwen was skilled in military strategy and bore a resemblance to Grand Secretary Yin."

The professors also felt that Professor Xu's method was excellent, but this kind of thing cannot be delayed at will, and how long should it be delayed?

Xu Xuan stood still and said confidently.

"Half a year."

"Six months? This..."

Everyone found it unbelievable; how could it have been delayed for so long?

"Because a literary gathering of three colleges is too petty."

Wow, Xu Xuan's words also mocked Zhu Erdan.

"Chongqi Academy is a cultural institution in Jiangnan, with a reputation that extends to several surrounding provinces. Naturally, it is willing to provide a platform for countless students."

"It would be a disrespectful assessment of the scholars of the world for the Jintian Academy to only invite the other two academies. Why not invite young talents from all over the country to test the mettle of the three academies?"

"For some scholars who have traveled a long distance, it is not unacceptable to allow them half a year to prepare in order to avoid regrets."

The professors felt as if an electric current had passed through their bodies, and their brains felt as if a flash of inspiration had pierced through them.

Brilliant! What a brilliant plan! What a bold move!

Jiangnan Literary Society!

It was a place where scholars who passed the imperial examinations could make a name for themselves.

Gathering elites from around the world, this literary gathering is sure to produce a rising star who will shake the literary world.

Chongqi Academy took the lead in proposing that this should be recorded in history books.

If Zhu Erdan could truly sweep away all the heroes, then it wouldn't just be Chongqi and Bailu who were incompetent.

It is a remarkable story that such extraordinary geniuses became famous on the stage initiated by the three major academies.

"Instructor Xu has thought things through thoroughly and has a plan for both victory and defeat. Very good."

"That is natural. War is a matter of vital importance to the state; it is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected."

“E'xu taught him military strategy well.”

I always feel like something is weird.

With the biggest issue of reputation resolved, the professors felt much more at ease.

Actually, Xu Xuan had two more ideas that he couldn't say.

That is, his senior brother should be able to return to the back mountain in six months, which would give him more confidence.

At least you won't be easily sneaked outside in the middle of the night and dragged into an illusion to scare people.

The second idea is to remain invincible as a cultivator.

[Zhu Erdan] If you want to seize the opportunity, then make the pie bigger.

If things don't go as planned and the other party gets what they want, others can share the loss of good fortune.

It can also lend a helping hand to the other party, and incidentally repay the karmic debt of transmitting the Dharma.

As the saying goes, "There are no fixed formations in warfare, just as water has no fixed shape." One who can adapt to the enemy's changes and achieve victory is called a master strategist.

Various thoughts collided and rubbed together, stirring up storms with the laws of humanity.

This is Xu Xuan's way of life.

Professor Gu was still somewhat unwilling. Chongqi Academy had put in so much effort, only to help Zhu Erdan gain fame, which made him very unhappy.

The other professors could only offer some minor compensation to the students.

This includes things like conducting internal special training and internal screening and assessment of participants in the literary association.

These are all reasonable, but they are not very effective.

The people are the same; in six months, they had almost no way to overcome the situation except for a sudden realization.

"Hanwen, do you have any other military strategies?"

Xu Xuan felt that things were a bit difficult; the old professor thought too highly of himself.

I'm just a trainee instructor who's been at the academy for a little over three months; there's a lot to do.
Lady Yin spoke up to defuse the situation.

"Hanwen has been at the academy for more than three months and has made many contributions to the academy."

"I think we should transfer him to a formal teaching position and report him to the education commissioner for registration."

The professors nodded in agreement; instructors who understand military strategy are indeed very useful.

"Now that they've been promoted to full-time instructors, their compensation should be increased to differentiate them."

"A monthly salary of fifty taels, free access to the library, and I will personally gift the Grand Secretary a scroll in his own handwriting."

The professors were somewhat surprised. A handwritten letter from a Grand Secretary? This is a treasure! The principles and wisdom contained within can be pondered to improve one's scholarship, and can even enlighten children and ward off evil spirits. It is a priceless heirloom.

Do they really think so highly of this young man?

许宣
Great! Two salary increases in March, plus a generous perks package after becoming a full-time employee.

What an amazing boss! From now on, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sichuan Medical University will be my home.

I, Xu Hanwen, will make the academy great again!

"Ahem, actually there is another way to improve the academy's level within six months."

These old professors, these kids.
Xu Xuan immediately feigned deep sorrow, his eyes filled with worry.

"While Zhu Erdan was indeed an extraordinary genius, Chongqi Academy was also a mainstay of the literary tradition for many years."

“Shun rose from the fields, Fu Yue was raised from among the builders, Jiao Ge was raised from among the fish and salt merchants, Guan Zhong was raised from among the scholars, Sun Shu'ao was raised from the sea, and Baili Xi was raised from the marketplace.”

"The reason for this defeat is that they did not know the dangers and died in comfort."

Everyone knew what the instructor was going to say, but the young man's demeanor was really well-handled.

After the initial tragedy, Xu Xuan's mood shifted to one of high spirits.

"After Shennong's death, the Yellow Emperor, Yao, and Shun arose. They understood the changes and made the people tireless; they transformed them with divine power and made them suitable. When things reach their limit, they change; when they change, they become accessible; when they become accessible, they endure. Therefore, they are blessed by Heaven, and there is nothing that is not auspicious. The Yellow Emperor, Yao, and Shun wore clothes and the world was well-governed, which was derived from the principles of Qian and Kun."

"Ladies and gentlemen, the transformation of the academy begins today!"

"Xu proposed that the best candidates be selected from those not from aristocratic families, in order to fully implement the sage's saying: 'Education should be provided to all without discrimination!'"

Goodness, that was a really energetic performance.

The veins on his neck were bulging.

The image of an ambitious young man who is worried about the academy is fully realized.

The sage's teachings are one after another, his conduct upright, dignified, and impeccable.

Madam Yin's eyes gleamed.

Yes, now is the perfect opportunity for reform!

After being swept aside by Zhu Erdan, a scholar from a commoner background, the aristocratic families could no longer say that commoners were like grass and aristocratic families were like gold and jade.

Even gold and jade have been trampled underfoot; it's time to recognize the prevailing trend.

But then I became somewhat worried.

The three academies are roughly equal in terms of their historical and cultural foundations, while the other two have always recruited students from humble backgrounds.

Chongqi previously only accepted students from aristocratic families, which created a significant gap among commoner students, making it difficult to attract truly outstanding students from non-aristocratic families.

Xu Xuan shook his head, saying that Madam Yin had failed to grasp the greatest advantage of Chongqi Academy.

"rich!"

"Tuition and room and board are covered for outstanding students. There are also subsidies for those who pass the imperial examination. If you join now, you will have the opportunity to represent Chongqi Academy in the Jiangnan Literary Gathering and become famous throughout the world."

"Such conditions will surely attract many outstanding students to join us."

Some professors felt this was inappropriate, thinking it was somewhat mercenary.

Professor Sheng snorted coldly.

"Ten years of hard study, all for this day to test my mettle."

Have you all forgotten the meaning of years of studying by the window?

Some people have asked, "Even if students are talented, they can't keep up with the literary gathering if we recruit students now. Why not wait until after the literary gathering to reform?"

Xu Xuan found such delaying tactics naive.

Professor Gu flicked his sleeve.

"Do we really need another Zhu Erdan to come up and ask for your guidance?"

Several professors sided with Xu Xuan, and the academy passed the reform within a short hour.

Professor Gu and Professor Kuang, the teacher of rites and music, were in charge of this matter, with Instructor Xu assisting.

From then on, that man stepped onto the first stage of the era.

Back on the mountain, Xu Xuan sat on a rock and felt that although he had stepped into the realm of cause and effect, his soul had become even stronger.

Even the image of the White Lotus Holy Father solidified slightly.

Turning crisis into opportunity and calamity into fuel is also part of the White Lotus Way.

　As the saying goes, a true gentleman cultivates himself with humility. Please feel free to comment; I will frequently observe and learn from the comments section.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)