Chapter 233: Using Business to Improve the National Economy and Education to Enhance National Quality!
Li Mo said unhurriedly, “First is the matter of establishing schools.”
“Free admission, as the name implies, is to let students read books and receive education for free.”
Han Fei frowned and asked with a troubled expression, “If this is implemented nationwide, it would be a considerable expense.”
“I have checked Qin’s current tax revenue, and indeed it is relatively prosperous.”
“But you also know the current situation, fighting a war is very costly.”
“If we spend money to build schools, even mountains of gold and silver might not be enough.”
“And it’s not just that you don’t have to spend money after building schools.”
“Follow-up costs are substantial.”
“For instance, textbooks, teachers’ salaries, and educational materials.”
“These all cost money.”
Li Mo slightly smiled, “Who said the state has to pay? I ask you, in Qin, and in all the countries, who are the wealthiest?”
Han Fei answered without hesitation, “People like you, businessmen.”
“Hm?”
Li Mo was momentarily stunned.
“Businessmen are businessmen, why add like me?”
Han Fei laughed, “I heard from Hongliang that you took over Lu Buwei’s business and are doing even better than he did.”
“Sister Zi and Nong Yu cannot manage everything.”
“The income of just last month was equivalent to half a year’s tax revenue in Han before.”
“Isn’t that businessmen like you?”
Li Mo’s face turned peculiar hearing this.
So I am so rich?
To be honest, he didn’t know this.
Business was managed by Sister Zi, and hence income was also controlled by her.
After coming to Qin, Li Mo hadn’t worried about these matters.
Had Han Fei not mentioned it, he wouldn’t know his current income was so terrifying.
But then again.
Although we earn a lot, we spend a lot too.
Not long ago, Jing Ni had told him.
If it wasn’t for Sister Zi being such a treasure trove, even taking over Lu Buwei’s net wouldn’t be enough to sustain.
Luo Net and Liu Sha have raised so many people, with so many mouths to feed, it’s a huge expense.
Li Mo stroked his chin and said, “Since merchants have so much money, why not have them fund the construction of schools?”
Han Fei smiled bitterly upon hearing this, “Everyone knows that those businessmen are like pixiu, swallowing money but never parting with it. It’s harder to get them to part with their money than their lives.”
Seeing Li Mo’s face change, he quickly added, “I’m not talking about you, nor Sister Zi.”
Li Mo waved his hand nonchalantly.
“Although merchants earn a lot, they have always been low in status.”
Since the Zhou Dynasty, merchants have been regarded as low-status.
There are many factors involved.
But the development of a country cannot do without merchants.
The taxes contributed by merchants in each country every year amount to astronomical figures.
Moreover, they can drive trade between countries.
For a country to have a prosperous economy, it cannot do without these merchants.
The most practical example is today’s State of Qi.
Qi is a rich land with abundant resources, thus producing many merchants.
And it is on this basis that Qi has become the wealthiest among the Seven States.
Although Qi does not currently advocate for military expansion, its national power is not weak.
The biggest reason is that they have sufficient funds as support.
Where does this money come from?
Most of it is from merchants’ taxes!
This era enjoys the convenience and conditions provided by merchants while despising these industrious bees.
In the Song Dynasty, an article recorded: “Scholars, farmers, craftsmen, and merchants, these four are called professions. Scholars study, farmers till, craftsmen create, merchants trade, this is called business.”
This means that although scholars, farmers, craftsmen, and merchants have different occupations, they are all primary professions.
Thus, the four classes form the basic populace of society, which is said to be the cornerstone of the nation.
The status of merchants in the State of Qin was originally not low.
But ever since Shang Yang’s reform promoting agriculture and suppressing commerce, the status of merchants plummeted.
Qin’s soldiers, officials, and civilians enjoyed personal, property, marriage, and household rights.
But the rights of merchants, live-in sons-in-law, and stepfathers were restricted.
Qin enforced “promoting agriculture and suppressing commerce.”
They believed farming was a primary occupation, while business was secondary.
Thus, the merchant class was discriminated against, and it was even said that merchants were not allowed to wear silk.
But Li Mo thought that appropriately raising the status of merchants wasn’t a bad thing.
Merchants indeed make money, but they do so based on skill.
Especially during this war-torn Warring States period.
Those doing business between countries truly risk their lives.
Each state both drains their blood while condemning them.
Merchants suffer in silence, but they don’t speak out.
At this point, Li Mo finally got to the point: “You can have them contribute funds for schools in the name of donation, and whoever donates could receive certain preferential policies.”
“In this way, not only would the status of merchants be improved, but commerce would develop even further.”
“Commerce is the best path to abundant wealth.”
“With commercial development, the country will be rich, and the military can naturally prosper.”
Han Fei thought deeply and said, “The issue of schools would also be resolved, killing multiple birds with one stone. But… there’s another problem in this.”
He looked at Li Mo with an awkward expression and said, “The king… doesn’t seem to like merchants much.”
Li Mo nodded slightly, “I know.”
Ying Zheng’s dislike for merchants is mostly because of Lu Buwei.
“That’s why you need to persuade him, isn’t it?”
Han Fei pointed to himself in surprise, “Me? Persuade him?”
Shouldn’t it be you?
You’re much more influential than I am.
Li Mo earnestly said, “Is it you who wants reform or me? Is it you who wants Confucian enlightenment or me?”
“If you can’t even solve the issue of schools, what enlightenment can you talk about?”
“I’ve given you the method; whether you do it or not is up to you.”
Han Fei gritted his teeth and decided to persuade.
Anyway, if I anger the Emperor of Qin, you’ll be the one to protect me.
“If the schools are established, how will we encourage ordinary people to send their children to study? How will this change their fate?”
Li Mo spoke eloquently: “This involves another policy, the imperial examination system.”
Han Fei asked in confusion: “What is the imperial examination system?”
Li Mo explained: “Any student who enters a school, regardless of their social status, receives an education and takes regular exams. Those who pass the exams are selected as officials, giving ordinary people the chance to enter officialdom.”
Currently, officials are either inherited positions or selected through the recommendation system.
It is almost impossible for ordinary people to enter officialdom.
But the imperial examination system allows any participant to have a chance to become an official.
The benefit of this is twofold: more talents can be developed to serve the country, and the monopoly of the gentry over officialdom can be weakened.
For ordinary people, it is a chance to leap through the dragon gate!
Once someone enters officialdom, it can be described as one person attaining the Dao, and even the chickens and dogs of his household ascend to heaven.
Faced with such a significant change in the social class, it is unlikely anyone would remain indifferent.
However, it’s important to control the number of times a candidate can take the exam.
Those who are eliminated cannot participate in future exams.
Li Mo organized his thoughts: “Schools can be set up at different levels and advance step by step.”
“Anyone can enter elementary schools, but intermediate and advanced schools require passing exams to enter.”
“Then gather all the advanced students from across the country into a university set up in the capital.”
“Whether they can enter officialdom depends on their future exam results.”
Everything needs a threshold.
Otherwise, everyone would hope to change their fate through this method, taking exams from 18 until 80, and labor force would gradually diminish.
That would be putting the cart before the horse!
In fact, this is borrowing the modern classification method of elementary, middle, and high schools.
The content taught in schools of different levels is also different.
Whether one can ascend to a higher level school and change their fate depends entirely on their own efforts and talent.
Han Fei was stunned, his mind filled with the unfamiliar terms Li Mo had just mentioned.
Although some terms he had never heard before, judging from the context, it wasn’t difficult to guess their meaning.
After a long pause, Han Fei reacted, looking at Li Mo as if he were a monster.
“Sir, how did you come up with these methods?”
This not only solves the problem of Confucian teaching but also improves the cultural level and quality of people nationwide.
The most crucial part is it can cultivate talent for the country and break the gentry’s monopoly over officialdom.
Li Mo honestly said: “Just borrowed ideas.”
He had combined the later society’s exam-oriented education and the imperial examination system.
If asked where he borrowed from, Han Fei probably wouldn’t believe it.
“Borrowed? Sir, you must be joking.”
I, Han Fei, am also well-read, having read extensively, but have never seen such a system in any book.
You borrowed it?
Where did you borrow it from?
After thinking for a moment, Han Fei suddenly developed a profound respect for Li Mo: “Sir, you are truly humble.”
Sir must not want to cause too much of a sensation, so he said it was borrowed.
Yes, it must be this way!
He has ability and strength and is also approachable.
He has poise and demeanor.
With such qualities, no wonder even my unruly sister has become infatuated!
Li Mo sipped his tea calmly.
Damn, accidentally acted cool again!
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