Zhang He remained expressionless: "The emperor has already appointed me as the General of the Western Expedition. As a loyal subject, what more reward could I possibly ask for?"
Guo Huai became anxious: "Zhang Lord did not take it for himself, but why don't you take advantage of this opportunity to secure a better future for your four sons?"
"The emperor will leave soon, and there won't be another chance to speak up and when can we have a feat as great as that of Hanzhong?"
Zhang He remained silent.
Guo Huai sighed: "If it were someone else, I wouldn't bother talking. But since Zhang Lord has shown me so much favor, your sons are like my own nephews in our family."
"The four sons, one serves as a Lang in the three bureaus, while the other three are idle in Yecheng without any prospects," Guo Huai urged. "It's time for Lord Zhang to think about them."
Zhang He remained silent for a long time, speaking softly: "What Bai Ji said is true! I am already past the age of sixty, no longer a young man."
Guo Huai saw that Zhang He was softening to his words, and his expression brightened: "Zhang Wenyuan and Yu Lewenqian's sons are now leading troops in Huainan. Xu Gongming's son is a camp commander in the middle ranks, and he has earned some merits in this battle."
"Lord Zhang should also plan for his descendants."
Zhang He turned to Guo Huai and said: "What favors should I ask for? To be honest, I want Your Highness to arrange for them to become disciples of great scholars, and then learn the five classics first in Luoyang."
"Once they master the Five Classics, they can take up posts at the Secretariat or in various locations."
Guo Huai asked, "Not to let them join the military?"
"They will not join the army," Zhang He sighed. "It is not easy for them to serve in the military. My four sons were all born and raised in the prosperous Yecheng, how can they possibly match my own experiences of fighting and dying on the battlefield?"
"That's a good idea." Guo Huai nodded: "Lord Zhang speaks the truth."
"My younger brother Zhongnan serves as the governor of Ciyang Prefecture, while my brother Jiannan is the task supervisor at the History Bureau. My sister-in-law's brother Wang Yanyun holds the position of prefectural governor in Qing State, so there should be no lack of prospects for my four nephews."
"The emperor is benevolent, and Lord Zhang's request is sure to be granted," Guo Huai advised. "There is no time to delay. Go see the emperor tomorrow to discuss this."
Zhang He nodded in agreement.
...
The next day, in the city of Mianyang.
Cao Ru actually intended to discuss the merits of Qixian, Chiting, and Hanzhong before leaving.
When returning to the palace, the exact increase in territory would be determined, similar to the year of Taiping and in Nanyang.
Zhang He came to seek prospects for his sons, which indeed surprised Emperor Cao Ru slightly.
After hearing Zhang He's request, Emperor Cao Ru remained silent and shook his head.
"Lord Zhang, is this arrangement your own idea, or did someone suggest it to you?"
Zhang He felt slightly disappointed but remained entirely unsecretive: "Your Majesty, it was Guo Huai who suggested it to me."
"As long-time colleagues, I have a strong understanding of tactics and strategies in battle, but as a commoner, I am not as knowledgeable about these matters within our clan. That is why I sought Guo Huai's advice."
Cao Ru said: "It's not that I don't want to, but Guo Huai's method is wrong!"
"Send someone to summon Guo Huai immediately on a fast horse!"
Zhang He was quite perplexed.
Cao Ru said: "When Guo Huai arrives, the emperor will discuss this matter with both of you together."
Zhang He agreed.
As Cao Ru and Zhang He discussed military affairs, Guo Huai was hurriedly summoned from the outskirts of the city by the tiger guards.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects," Guo Huai panted, bowing with a gesture of salute.
"Sit." Cao Ru didn't waste time: "Why did General Guo recommend that Lord Zhang's sons become disciples of great scholars?"
This is a trivial question. How can they advance in their studies without becoming disciples of great scholars?
"This is because my son, Guo Tong, and several of my nephews at home have all been enrolled in studies with renowned teachers through the efforts of our clan."
Guo Huai puzzled: "Hasn't it always been like this? First study the classics, then serve as a county clerk, then become a filial exemplar and enter Luoyang as a Lang."
Cao Ru rolled his eyes in his mind: "Why not want to enter the Imperial University?"
Guo Huai and Zhang He exchanged a glance, but both were awkward and failed to articulate their thoughts.
"Speak up when you're asked to," Cao Ru said, eyeing Zhang He sidelong, "What is there to conceal?"
Zhang He bowed with his hands clasped together: "My lord and I discussed the matter yesterday. We saw that the salary of a scholar in the Imperial University is only three hundred stones, and their prospects are limited to being a supervisor in local rice fields."
"And it is quite difficult to graduate. The few sons at my house are indeed dull..."
Cao Ru understood, this was another major issue caused by information asymmetry.
The Imperial University was established for less than two years.
The first graduating class consisted of a hundred students, accounting for one-fifth of the student body, which is considered a difficult graduation rate.
Even if they graduated, they were all brought to the Tongguo area to work as supervisors of rice fields, far away from Luoyang and Henan.
In this era, information exchange was quite obstructed.
Zhang He is skilled in warfare, but being good at fighting does not necessarily mean being adept at managing the family affairs.
Zhang He, a native of the north of the Yellow River, was not even a leading family, let alone a noble one. Furthermore, he had been living in remote areas like Tongguo and Liangzhou for a long time. His family was not well managed due to lack of supervision. He took every word from the mouth of Guo Huai, who hailed from the ancient Yin Capital.
Although Guo Huai comes from a family of civil officials and holds a position worth two thousand stones, he has also been in Chang'an and Tongguo for too long. He may have heard some about the Imperial University, but he did not realize its importance.
"You are playing the same old game in this version!"
Cao Ru pointed at Zhang He and Guo Huai, speaking out loud: "Today you have come to the right place. I will discuss other matters with you two. Just listen and don't spread rumors outside."
Zhang He hurriedly bowed: "Please, Your Majesty, instruct us, and we will keep our mouths shut as tightly as a sealed jar."
Guo Huai also spoke in the same way, but was puzzled by what Your Majesty meant by the version.
Cao Ru spoke openly without any hesitation: "General Zhang is a distinguished general of Wei, and General Guo is a top pick as well. You two are both people that the emperor values."
"Do you know why the two pillars of the Great Wei are?"
Zhang He did not respond.
Guo Huai tried to ask: "Is it the gentry and military men?"
"That is correct," Cao Ru nodded, "General Zhang, you are a vital general of the state. I want your family to be the backbone of the Great Wei for generations."
"General Guo, if you make Zhang's son study the classics, how can they possibly surpass your own son? How can they possibly compete with the sons of those aristocrats from Wanluo, Yujiang, and Henyan?"
"Say it," Cao Ru pointed at Zhang He and asked.
Zhang He sighed with a bitter expression, "I know my sons are not suited for studying classics. But in the Great Wei of today, if one does not study classics, no one will look up to them!"
"As a member of the family, I naturally want for our family to last longer and continue to thrive."
"I also want your family to last longer and for your children to be looked up to without studying the classics," Cao Ru said firmly: "I want to share wealth with you!"
"But if you make all your sons study classics, once you are gone, for five or ten years perhaps, the officials in the court might still remember your contributions as Zhang Junyi. But after a long time?"
"If they can't learn, they will eventually become just another person!"
Zhang He, with a serious expression, rose to pay his respects and pray: "Please show my sons a clear path!"
Cao Ru said, "You all know about the Imperial University, right?"
Zhang He and Guo Huai nodded in agreement.
Cao Ru said, "Although the Imperial University is for studying the Five Classics, it also teaches many practical matters now."
"The first batch of one hundred students at the Imperial University included many descendants from the renowned families of Wanluo, Yujiang, and Henyan. The emperor has placed them all in the Tongguo area to supervise rice fields."
"Without accumulating small steps, one cannot reach a thousand miles. First, go and supervise rice fields in Tongguo for two years, get rid of the haughtiness of the gentry, and then return to Luoyang and various counties to serve as officials."
"Under the same conditions, graduates of the Imperial University will be promoted first!" Cao Ru looked at Zhang He and Guo Huai: "Do you still want your descendants to enter the Imperial University? I've been so clear with you all!"
Zhang He bowed with his hands clasped together: "Your Majesty, I understand Your Majesty's good intentions. Please, Your Majesty, grant me a favor and allow my son to study at the Imperial University."
Cao Ru smiled: "I can approve. But the Imperial University has a policy of easy entry and strict exit. If your son fails to graduate, I would be embarrassed to make an exception for him."
Zhang He felt a bit embarrassed and couldn't think of anything to say for a moment.
Cao Ru continued: "After I return to Luoyang, I will establish a school of martial arts in analogy with the Imperial University."
"School of martial arts?" Guo Huai asked with a slightly surprised tone.
"That's right, a school of martial arts." Cao Ru nodded, "I plan to select a group of young men from various military units, including the central army and the outer army, who are still of age and have served in the military, to come to Luoyang for further studies. We will teach them unified military matters."
"If the descendants of your two families want to enter the School of Martial Arts, I will certainly agree."
In this regard, Guo Huai naturally had a better sense of keenness than Zhang He. He asked: "May I ask Your Majesty, what will be taught in the School of Martial Arts?"
Cao Ru replied, "I've given it some thought, and I'd like to divide it into three aspects."
"The first is military law. Uniform enforcement and command, this is a basic requirement for strengthening the army."
Zhang He nodded: "The 'Military Order' and 'Land Battle Order' and 'Naval Battle Order' issued by Emperor Wu are just about this."
"If a man in a company does not make progress, the captain of the company will kill him. If the captain does not make progress, the centurion will kill him. If the centurion does not make progress, the tribune will kill him."
"When the flag is raised before, advance; when it is raised behind, retreat; when it is raised on the left, turn left; and when it is raised on the right, turn right."
Cao Ru nodded: "In addition to these military laws and orders, loyalty to the monarch and patriotism are also to be studied."
"The second is the manual of arms. How to train, how to fight, how to form formations, how to move camps, and how to march."
"How do you train your soldiers in the army?"
Zhang He explained: "This is the responsibility of each military commander. The military commander passes it down to the military squad leader, and then to the military regiment commander, layer by layer."
"In daily training, it is also the military commanders of each camp who give the commands."
Cao Ru looked at Zhang He: "How do the military commanders train?"
Zhang He replied: "Of course, it's the elders who teach the newcomers."
Cao Ru nodded: "With such a teaching method, there will be many differences in responses and coordination between different armies and camps."
"This is the role of the School of Martial Arts."
"Third, command." Cao Ru looked at Zhang and Guo, "In my opinion, how to command should also be learned."
"How to attack from an elevated position, and how to attack from a lower one. How to deal with cavalry from infantry, and how to deal with infantry from cavalry. How to attack at night, and how to march rapidly."
"Tell me, should the three aspects of military law, command, and manual of arms be taught?"
Zhang He nodded vigorously: "They should be taught!"
Cao Ru smiled, "That's the right answer. Just like the Imperial University, officers who graduate from the School of Martial Arts should be given priority for promotion within the armies."
"I just have this initial idea, but the specific system and process haven't been decided yet. This year, we will establish the School of Martial Arts."
"Zhang," Cao Ru smiled, "I have pointed out two paths for you. One is the Imperial University and the other is the School of Martial Arts. Your son can go to either one."
"Which one do you choose?"
"I choose..." Zhang He hesitated again.
Cao Ru smiled, "Take some time to think about it, then come to find me when you've made up your mind!"
"Thank Your Majesty for the great favor! I will withdraw!" After bowing, Zhang He stepped out of the hall slowly. (Chapter ends)
