From cute to empress

Chapter 298 Open Source Chapter Flow

The Minister's words were like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, and the court erupted in discussion. I set down the memorial in my hand, glanced around, and motioned for everyone to quiet down. "Minister, please speak."

"Your Majesty," the Minister of Revenue bowed, "Last night I worked through the education budgets for each prefecture for next year and discovered..." He paused, a troubled expression on his face, "I discovered that this year's education expenditures have already exceeded any previous year. If we continue to increase investment in education as Your Majesty directs, I'm afraid..."

I understand his concerns. Since I ascended the throne, I've been drastically reforming the education system, from cracking down on corruption to standardizing textbooks and improving teacher salaries. Each of these measures requires a significant investment. "So, Shangshu, are you saying the treasury is tight?" I asked.

"That's not the case," the Minister of Revenue explained hurriedly, "it's just..." He secretly looked up at me, seeming to want to say something but stopped.

"Just what? Shangshu, please feel free to tell me." I spoke in a gentle tone, indicating that he didn't need to be nervous.

The Minister of Revenue took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind, and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that although the national treasury is now full, we must also consider other expenditures, such as military construction, water conservancy projects, etc. These are all important aspects related to the national economy and people's livelihood and cannot be ignored!"

As soon as he finished speaking, an official stood up and echoed him: "Yes, Your Majesty, education is important, but we can't neglect one for the other!"

"I also believe that education spending should be properly controlled so that limited funds can be used where they are more needed."

I listened quietly to their discussions, feeling nothing in my heart. I anticipated these words from the outset of implementing educational reform. I knew that changing a country's deeply ingrained mindset was no easy task. While increasing revenue and reducing expenditure were important, neglecting fundamentals and pursuing trivial matters would only cost the country its future.

"My dear ministers," I began slowly, my voice low but clear to every corner. "I know you are all concerned about the state's expenditures, but I want to ask, who among you hasn't studied hard? Who hasn't received guidance from teachers? Education is a long-term plan. Only by cultivating more talents can we make our country more prosperous and strong!"

My gaze swept across the dissenting voices, finally landing on Official C, who had remained silent. "Master Zhang, you are an important official in the court, and you have always been quite insightful about national affairs. I wonder what you think about this matter?"

Official C was stunned for a moment, obviously not expecting me to suddenly call his name. He hesitated for a moment, then slowly stood up, "Your Majesty, your humble servant..." Official C was stunned for a moment, obviously not expecting me to suddenly call his name. He hesitated for a moment, then slowly stood up, "Your Majesty, your humble servant..." He paused, as if to organize his words, "Your humble servant believes that what the Minister of Revenue and the others have said is absolutely right. The money in the national treasury should be used effectively. It's just that..." He looked up at me and continued, "It's just that Your Majesty attaches great importance to education, and I admire it very much."

I nodded slightly, signaling him to continue. Official C, encouraged by me, spoke louder, "I believe that rather than cutting education funding, we should optimize resource allocation."

"Optimize resource allocation?" I pressed. "What are your thoughts?"

Official C pulled a memorial from his sleeve and said, "Your Majesty, this is some data I have compiled after visiting academies across the country these days."

I took the memorial and carefully read it. It detailed the distribution of educational resources in each prefecture. One set of data was particularly striking: educational resources in wealthy areas far exceeded those in poor areas. Some places didn't even have a decent academy.

"My dear ministers, please take a look," I handed the memorial to the palace maid beside me, motioning her to pass it around. "This is the current state of education in our country! On one side, there's an oversupply of resources, while on the other, there's a shortage. If this continues, it will only exacerbate the disparity between regions, and ultimately harm the interests of the entire country!"

My tone was stern and the officials present all lowered their heads.

"Your Majesty is absolutely right," the director of Yuelu Academy, who had remained silent until then, stood up. "As the director of the academy, I turned a blind eye to this unfair phenomenon. I am truly ashamed!"

The headmaster of the White Deer Grotto Academy also stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I, an old minister, am willing to do my best to contribute to the education cause in impoverished areas!"

"You two elders are so righteous!" I nodded in appreciation. "I believe that as long as we work together, we can definitely change this unfair situation and ensure that all children can enjoy high-quality educational resources!"

I looked around, my eyes determined. "I have made up my mind. Starting next year, the court will increase its investment in education in impoverished areas. At the same time..." My eyes fell on the presidents of Yuelu Academy and Bailudong Academy. "I hope that imperial academies like Yuelu Academy and Bailudong Academy can play a leading role..."

The two old gentlemen exchanged a glance and knelt down together, "Your Majesty, rest assured. We will do our best!"

I nodded in satisfaction and was about to speak when a guard hurried in from outside the hall and leaned over to whisper something in my ear. My eyes froze slightly...

The guard's words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the flame of hope that had just ignited in my heart. I took a deep breath, suppressed the anger in my heart, and said to the people in the hall, "We will discuss today's matter later."

The dean of Yuelu Academy and the president of Bailudong Academy seemed to notice my abnormality and looked at each other, but still retreated respectfully.

After everyone dispersed, I immediately summoned the guard and asked anxiously, "What's going on? The war on the border is so intense, why is the Ministry of Revenue withholding military pay?"

The guard knelt on one knee and presented a secret letter, "Your Majesty, this is sent by General Zhen."

I took the secret letter, unfolded it, and my face immediately turned pale. The letter said that the Ministry of Revenue had withheld the military pay of frontier soldiers for three consecutive months, citing an "empty treasury" as an excuse. This had caused military morale to destabilize and even led to desertions.

"How ridiculous!" I slammed the table and stood up, seething with anger. "The national treasury is empty? I think it's just that some people's pockets are too full!"

I suppressed my rage and quickly made arrangements. I ordered the guards to immediately pass on the order for the Minister of Revenue to enter the palace that very night without delay. At the same time, I wrote an imperial edict, affixed it with the imperial seal, and handed it to the guard, instructing, "You are to personally go to Yuelu Academy and deliver this imperial edict to its president."

The guards took their orders and left. I paced back and forth in the hall alone, feeling restless. Zhen Youcai is my right-hand man. The safety of the border is closely related to the fate of the country. I cannot sit idly by!

Fortunately, my efforts were not in vain. At the call of the presidents of Yuelu Academy and Bailudong Academy, students responded one after another and formed volunteer teams. They carried books and stationery and went to resource-scarce areas to bring knowledge and hope to the children there.

Among them, a student named Zhang Heng and a teacher named Cai Yong were particularly eye-catching. They organized a large team of volunteers, went deep into the most remote areas, overcame difficulties that ordinary people could hardly imagine, and sowed the seeds of knowledge in every corner.

Thanks to the concerted efforts of all parties, the uneven distribution of educational resources has been significantly improved, and the educational level in impoverished areas has been rapidly improved. Children who were once deprived of the right to an education finally have the opportunity to attend school and swim in the ocean of knowledge.

I looked at the mountain of memorials on my desk and a gratified smile spread across my face. While the allocation of educational resources has improved, ensuring their rational use and continued investment remains a challenge I must face...

"Your Majesty, the Minister of Revenue requests an audience."