Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

Of course, what Zhang Shikang said was not nonsense.

At that time, Europe had already built several famous universities. How could the great Ming Dynasty fall behind?

The prosperity of universities marks the beginning of standardization and scale-up of various scientific fields.

These three universities offer all branches of the military, from the navy to the army, and the science and engineering university has even more categories.

The former mass-produced low- and middle-level generals in the navy and army, while the latter mass-produced talents in various fields, which were of great significance to the future Ming Dynasty.

In view of the current stage of development of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Shikang did not plan to build universities in every province. After all, the people had not yet recovered, and the court could not afford to build so many universities or reduce tuition fees for so many students.

However, even if the three universities in the capital were expanded to 3,000 students, there would still be a great shortage of talent for the Ming Dynasty court with its vast territory and large population.

You can only take your time.

Zhang Shikang had intended to mention a few more plans, but after seeing an elderly official from the Ministry of Works faint, he thought about it and decided to stop.

Civil engineers, civil engineers’ souls, civil engineers are the best!

After reviewing the three major academies, Zhang Shikang led a large group of people to an institution of higher learning in the left rear, which was also the place where the celebration was held - the Ming Royal Academy of Sciences.

The four universities were not far from each other. Zhang Shikang walked forward, followed by a large group of people including his boss.

There is a large-scale personal guard, officials from the Ministry of Works, and some students who have passed the assessment.

Of course, there are also teachers from the four major universities.

However, in order to protect Zhang Shikang's safety, the 1,000-man personal guards did not allow anyone else to get close to him.

Unless they were officials of the Ming Dynasty, all outsiders had to stay at least thirty steps away from Zhang Shikang.

But Zhang Shikang still found an old acquaintance in the crowd. He waved to the man and said with a smile:

"Marquis Ningyuan, how are you?"

After being named by Zhang Shikang, the guards around him made way for Zu Dashou.

Zu Dashou was not angry either. He was wearing plain clothes and walked towards Zhang Shikang with a smile.

Before reaching Zhang Shikang, Zu Dashou bowed and saluted. When he got close to him, he bowed again, his expression full of respect for Zhang Shikang.

"Your humble servant Zu Dashou greets His Highness."

"Alas, we are old acquaintances, why be so polite?

It's been a while since we last met, and the old general actually looks younger." Zhang Shikang raised his hand and stretched Zu Dashou's elbow.

When Zhang Shikang's powerful dragon pressed down to Shanhaiguan, it was like giving up the military power to the Zu family with a cup of wine.

Zu Dashou smiled and replied:

"The capital is a prosperous place that can support people, and I don't have to worry as much as I do outside the Great Wall. I think this is the reason.

I have to thank His Highness."

What Zu Dashou said was indeed from his heart. When he was outside the Great Wall, Zu Dashou was really worried.

Given the situation at the time, Zu Dashou had every reason to believe that both Huang Taiji and His Majesty, although they were trying to win him over, also wanted to get rid of him.

He had to consider his family. On the one hand, he had to deal with the imperial court, and on the other hand, he had to endure the constant invasions of the Jiannu. It was really twisted, infuriating and aggrieved.

In fact, even when he brought the entire Zu family to surrender to the then Guanjun Hou, Zu Dashou still had an element of gambling.

After all, just based on the one-sided words of Marquis Guanjun and a few imperial edicts of commendation, he was going to hand over all his military power and move his family to the capital.

As a general, once you lose your military power, you are almost like a fish on the chopping board.

Zu Dashou was even mentally prepared to be detained and beheaded by the Embroidered Uniform Guards as soon as he entered the capital.

For this reason, Zu Dashou was under tremendous psychological pressure on the way to the capital.

But Zu Dashou made the right bet.

With the arrangement of the Marquis of Guanjun at that time, the officials of the Ministry of Revenue in the capital had already prepared a mansion for him. Not only him, but also several of his brothers had one.

At the same time, their main house was not heavily guarded and they were not placed under house arrest.

Only half a month later, Song Yingxing and Bi Maokang from the General Administration of Manufacturing came to them and invited them to join the Ming Dynasty Army University as senior instructors.

Zu Dashou was even promoted to vice president of the Army University.

This series of things were all promised to him by the Champion Hou, and they were all fulfilled one by one.

Since then, Zu Dashou seemed to feel relaxed all over.

He no longer worried about the Jiannu army that might attack at any time, nor did he worry about the imperial court's criticism.

He ate well and slept soundly every day. Apart from that, he reread his collection of military books in preparation for future teaching.

With the treatment he receives today, he believes that all his previous efforts were worth it.

Therefore, when he met Zhang Shikang again, even though he was already the Marquis of Ningyuan and did not need to perform such a grand ceremony, Zu Dashou still called himself a humble person.

"It should be me who should be thanking you. At your age, the old general should have retired.

However, the court is currently lacking a large number of talents. Although Governor Lu and his men are capable of teaching, they also have to defend the border, so the old general will have to work hard. "

Zhang Shikang said very politely.

Although Zu Dashou did not have any famous military achievements, he was able to defend Guanningjin for so many years and prevent the Jiannu from entering Jinzhou. His military ability must be qualified. At least there is no problem in training mid- and low-level generals for the Ming Dynasty.

"As long as Your Highness does not abandon me, I am willing to devote myself to the Army School until my death." Zu Dashou said very firmly.

He spoke the last four words with a strong emphasis.

This was naturally to repay Zhang Shikang's kindness, but Zu Dashou also had deeper thoughts.

In the past six months or so, he has been worrying about the preparations for the Lu Shi School. The first thing he saw was Zhang Shikang's plan for the Lu Shi School.

You don’t know until you see it, and you’ll be shocked when you see it.

If he really acted according to that plan, Zu Dashou could almost assert that as the vice-president of the Army University, he would be remembered in history.

Civil officials regard leaving their names in history as their life, and so do military generals.

Therefore, Zu Dashou and his brother Zu Dabi have been working very hard these days, and often supervise the work together with the officials of the Ministry of Revenue, fearing that the people in the Ministry of Revenue will not work well.

The rest of the Zu family, except Zu Kuan who joined the Yongning Army and served as the commander of Shandong, had only three other outstanding nephews who served as captains and generals in other provinces.

As for the rest, Zu Dashou, as the head of the family, did not accept more positions in Yongning Army and Lushi Academy.

After experiencing the suspicion of the imperial court for so many years, Zu Dashou was particularly sensitive to this.

The imperial court has been working hard to eliminate warlordism. Whether he arranges more Zu family members in the Army Academy or in the Yongning Army, it will be extremely dangerous.

Since he has chosen to retire, Zu Dashou must do his best to keep his family safe.

Fortunately, even if he did not hold an official position, his family would have no problem with food and clothing. What the court gave him had exceeded his expectations.

Think about Yuan Dudu, what could he not be satisfied with on his grandfather’s birthday?

"It doesn't have to be as serious as it sounds, and you won't have to go to the battlefield again.

However, the burden of the Military Academy is indeed not light, so you can't count on me as the principal.

The future grassroots generals of the Ming Dynasty's three armies will fall on your shoulders.

Take your time, there's no rush.

Mr. Song and the others are here. Let's go to the Royal Academy of Sciences together."