Chapter 25: A Tuition Fee of Five Hundred

With the meeting concluded, everyone had a clear understanding of their objectives and began planning the specific curricula for the students according to Li Tai’s guidelines.

Yan Qinli and Li Chunfeng met to discuss how to structure the preschool curriculum to resolve the students' literacy and mathematical deficiencies as quickly as possible. Du Chuke approached Ma Zhou, inquiring about the number of craftsmen in the school and how many would be available to teach.

As they discussed this, Li Chunfeng joined the conversation and introduced his new system of weights and measures. Du Chuke immediately realized that this system could potentially replace the current one, primarily due to its precision—it was far more accurate than the existing units of length. However, he also understood that promoting it would be immensely difficult. The main reason was that local officials preferred to use large containers when collecting taxes and small ones when delivering them to their superiors, pocketing the difference. To some extent, promoting such high-precision measurements would inevitably clash with the interests of local officials. Unless it were during wartime, such a transition would require significant time. Compared to the weights and measures, Du Chuke found the abacus much easier to adopt, as it was highly convenient for calculations.

With the experience gained from Li Chunfeng’s research, Du Chuke realized what he needed to teach. For example, mechanical texts like the ancient *Mo Jing* could be used to instruct the craftsmen. The distinction would be that students graduating from this institution would not only know how to build machines but also understand the underlying principles. Additionally, Li Tai asked Du Chuke to study the curved-shaft plow and the chain pump that had appeared in the mid-to-late Tang period. Li Tai was certain that while these inventions might not yet be fully mature, their prototypes existed. He wanted to use the Mohist school to actively push these advancements forward, thereby establishing a firm foundation for the school among the grassroots.

Meanwhile, Lu Cai ignored everyone else, quietly composing music on the side. As he organized the teaching syllabus, he looked at the others with a hint of envy, impressed by their diligent efforts. Since Lu Cai planned to take the imperial examination in the first month, he was organizing the syllabus so that his successors could seamlessly take over the music curriculum after he successfully became a scholar.

The most energetic of them all was Liu Shenwei. After the meeting, he rushed to Sun Simiao’s residence and relayed all of Li Tai’s ideas for the medical department. Sun Simiao stroked his long, snow-white beard, looking thoughtfully at the breathless Liu Shenwei, and asked, "Does the Prince of Yue wish for me to simplify the training process for medical practitioners so that we can cultivate a large number of grassroots doctors?"

"Yes, exactly!" Liu Shenwei nodded repeatedly. "Only you, Master, can accomplish this!"

"I see..." Sun Simiao replied. "If that is the case, I must meet with the Prince of Yue. He must have his own thoughts on creating a new system for simplifying medical training. Rather than us sitting here racking our brains, it would be better to meet with him and discuss how to forge this new model together."

Hearing this, Liu Shenwei nodded eagerly. "The Prince is still at the Agricultural Academy today. Shall we go there immediately?"

"Very well, let us go." Sun Simiao chuckled at Liu Shenwei’s impatience.

As Sun Simiao headed toward the Agricultural Academy, Li Tai was busy discussing matters with Ma Zhou. "This year, our students are all children of refugees from the locust plague, but next year, we should begin formal recruitment."

"What will our standards be, and what about tuition?" Ma Zhou asked.

"Eight to fifteen years old, boarding with three meals provided, and a tuition of five hundred *wen* per year," Li Tai replied after a moment of thought.

"Five hundred *wen*?" Ma Zhou frowned at the price.

"Is it too expensive?" Li Tai thought he understood the prices of the era well and didn't consider his asking price high. His target audience was not the landless tenant farmers or refugees, but families of respectable standing who owned a small amount of land. If these families lived frugally, they could save two strings of cash a year. If their children attended school, they would not only gain knowledge but also receive three meals a day, making it a worthwhile investment. Even if the students didn't become agricultural officials, the education would surely help them manage their family plots. By graduation, they would be fifteen and could contribute as productive laborers. Li Tai felt the common people would accept this.

"It is not that it is expensive; I feel it is too cheap. Five hundred *wen* might not even cover the annual food costs," Ma Zhou countered, shaking his head. "Even if we replace pen, ink, paper, and inkstone with sand trays and quill pens, and try our best to lower costs, if we only charge five hundred *wen* per student, other industries will have to subsidize the Agricultural Academy every year!"

"That is exactly why we must develop various industries," Li Tai said. "If education is run for profit, it will inevitably exclude those who truly need it. Furthermore, we shall establish an orphanage that accepts both boys and girls."

"An orphanage?" Ma Zhou frowned at the mention.

Li Tai explained, "Most of these students are locals, and upon graduation, the majority will likely wish to remain here. But we need more than just prosperity in the Guandong region; we need to spread our agricultural knowledge across the entire Tang Dynasty. Thus, we need some students to venture out. The locals may not be willing to leave, and even if they were, what of their parents? But if we raise orphans ourselves, I believe it will be much easier to send them across the country!"

Ma Zhou nodded in understanding. After all, these people were students, not officials. When they graduated, some would return home to spread knowledge, while others would use it to build wealth. But it would be meaningless to only operate within the Chang'an region; Li Tai was already planning for the future. Ma Zhou knew that the orphans would not grow up for at least a decade, but if the Agricultural Academy could survive that long, he believed its students would be present throughout the Guanshi region. By then, it would be time to expand and spread agricultural knowledge to the rest of the Tang Dynasty.

Ma Zhou took a sip from a wine flask he pulled from his robes, feeling his head clear slightly. He frowned and asked, "You mentioned accepting girls as well—we have no talent for training them!"

"Men plowing and women weaving is the natural order of the ages," Li Tai said calmly. "Once the Agricultural Academy achieves results, the next step will naturally be to develop textiles. We will allow girls to join the preschool; afterward, they can specialize in one of the six disciplines, though they need not necessarily take agriculture as a mandatory subject like the boys."

"How will you maintain modesty between the boys and girls?" Ma Zhou questioned.

Li Tai looked at Ma Zhou with a look of pure confusion, as if asking why there was any need for such precautions. Ma Zhou covered his face, helpless. He had been communicating with the Prince of Yue as an equal, but he had to remind himself that Li Tai was only eight—or nine after the New Year. Why did he expect Li Tai to share the same concerns about gender segregation?

"I will take care of this matter myself, Your Highness. Please rest assured," Ma Zhou said sternly. Li Tai felt Ma Zhou had misunderstood something, but he saw no need to explain. He wasn't a lecher, so why dwell on it? In the Tang Dynasty, social mores were becoming increasingly open.

Just then, Sun Simiao and Liu Shenwei arrived. Seeing that Sun Simiao needed to discuss medical matters with Li Tai, Ma Zhou took his leave to handle the recruitment notices and the orphanage.

Sun Simiao approached Li Tai and bowed formally. "Your Highness, I have come because Shenwei mentioned your hope for me to simplify the medical system so that we may quickly cultivate doctors. Since you have proposed this, I trust you have a detailed vision. I wish to consult with you so that I may have a clear direction."

"The old immortal truly has a discerning eye and a transparent mind," Li Tai said. "I do indeed have some immature thoughts. Since you ask, I shall speak them. The first step in my 'crash course' for medical practitioners is for them to learn to treat sharp-force injuries, set broken bones, and fill prescriptions. Once this step is completed, those who aspire to the medical path shall learn the arts of observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking. They will learn to recognize common herbs and treat minor ailments like colds and fevers. If they progress further, they will understand the nature of medicinal herbs and be able to treat complex illnesses, much like Department Head Liu. And if, in the end, a few become 'Medicine Kings' like you, old immortal, I shall wake up laughing in my dreams."

Liu Shenwei recorded these requirements, his writing becoming increasingly neat as he feared misrecording a single word.

"I understand your requirements, Your Highness, but may I ask a few questions?" Sun Simiao asked.

"Please, old immortal," Li Tai replied.

"Why is the first level focused on sharp-force and bone injuries?" Sun Simiao asked. "Even though the arts of diagnosis require time to accumulate, common illnesses among the people are mostly related to cold and heat, are they not?"

Li Tai was silent for a moment, then replied, "Because those who emerge from the Agricultural Academy must first be Tang citizens, and only then, doctors. In the future, should war arise, I will have these doctors follow the army. After every minor battle, they will treat the wounded at the camp. The battlefield is full of sharp-force and bone injuries. They need not possess exquisite skills; they only need to know how to follow prescriptions and treat those battlefield wounds."

Sun Simiao hesitated. He knew the dangers of the battlefield. If these medical novices were sent there, their lives would be at great risk. To him, this felt like he was putting them in harm's way.

Li Tai, sensing his hesitation, persuaded him, "Old immortal, in this era, the arts of the shaman, the physician, and the craftsman are looked down upon by the literati. If the various schools of thought wish to regain their status in society and stand as equals to the Confucians, they must pave their way with merit and blood. The medical school is no exception. I need you to forge the first cornerstone of this new medical school, granting doctors the key to entering the ranks of the elite and saving the world!"

Though the phrase "If one cannot be a great prime minister, one should be a great doctor" did not yet exist, Sun Simiao felt a profound sense of mission. Most importantly, he knew that even if he did not do this, Li Tai would likely attempt it anyway, and the future Li Tai described would likely come to fruition. He sighed, finally resolving his heart. "I understand your meaning, Your Highness. I will find a way to construct a new medical system for the students. I only hope that this decision will not be a mistake."

"Thank you, old immortal!" Li Tai breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that Sun Simiao was willing to help.