Chapter 274: Classmates
Xian Han 2106. This year, Xuan Chong spent half a year on patrol cruises and half a year back in port; balancing work and study.
Among the four subjects, mechanics and alchemy, that is, physics and chemistry; Xuan Chong was extremely “talented” and quickly got the hang of them.
After all, no matter how much these two disciplines change, they cannot alter Newton’s second law, nor change the number of electron shells in gold, silver, copper, iron, oxygen, or chlorine.
But on the more liberal arts-oriented exam questions, Xuan Chong looked at those Jiangnan faction questions and was dumbfounded.
Unlike the previous life’s liberal arts exams with direct lengthy verbal arguments— this was all “Neo-Confucianism applied logic” throughout.
For example, a certain application question: list dozens of personnel units, requiring a charter for a cross-prefecture engineering project, assigning “department responsibilities.”
The regulations and ordinances of every personnel unit must be memorized in advance. How to reduce contradiction points, during organization, when regulations from different departments clash, provide explanations in advance? This is called “administrative mediation.”
This question presupposes hundreds of possible contradiction points; missing even one administrative mediation means disqualification.
And during the combination process, try to let each department automatically couple, reducing extra administrative mediation. — The logic here is a “personnel” programming question.
The major “Neo-Confucianism” questions are not dogmatic debates wrapped in eight-legged essays. They are application questions on how to allocate responsibilities when serving as officials, making efficiency visible.
It covers edicts from hundreds of departments like water conservancy, farming, law, transportation; familiar with the priority of each department’s edicts. These edicts have different priorities at different times.
For example, during flood season, water conservancy edicts have the highest priority; during busy farming seasons, farming priority is the strongest.
Exam questions won’t tell you which priority is higher, only marking a date, casually inserting a condition.
For example, in a certain exam question, organizing a “temple fair”; the question mentions this temple fair was very successful, so examinees must be vigilant about the top priority issue of “excessive traffic.” Prevent stampedes and fires.
Xuan Chong finally understood why Dongtu, this small place, couldn’t produce any scholars; because the freezing serf culture made economic activities very simple, and management very crude. There simply weren’t this many administrative projects to manage, so they didn’t know how to coordinate the work content of various departments.
Xuan Chong: Setting a traffic administrator on Dongtu’s dirt roads would only make Dongtu people think it’s an official “road robbery” setup.
It can even be said that the entire North rarely has anyone who can pass the Jiangnan region’s exams; because the highly developed industrial Jianghuai region is unique even in Xian Han, examinees living here learn it through osmosis, knowing the significance of certain departments during “regional work” execution.
Being an official is a highly technical job.
Once upon a time, Xuan Chong valued science over liberal arts, puzzled why Xian Han, already in the industrial age, still emphasized liberal arts over science? Now he suddenly understood: Xian Han’s liberal arts aim to sustain social operations, producing a technocrat assessment system. Cold and ruthless, no emotional little essays, all operating on “the common people are like straw dogs.”
In contrast, the previous life’s humanities side seemed unprofessional.
Xuan Chong’s original idea of using superpowers to engrave micron-level answer cheat sheets on pencil erasers went bankrupt; this course requires logical deduction.
…Biting the pen tip…
Shifting perspective to Xu Xi, upon learning Xuan Chong was taking the imperial examination, he couldn’t help but admire; but actually, he secretly laughed that Xuan Chong had jumped into this deep pit.
Don’t think Xian Han is just the first industrial revolution, but some of its legal structures are extremely advanced.
Because Xian Han’s change situation is like the protagonists in transmigration stories from his era, transmigrating to ancient times and changing the world.
Each era has a different understanding of “change.”
Just like early 21st-century transmigration novels had the unique flavor of 50-cent army folks bringing petty bourgeois ideas to transform the world; twenty years later, “reddening” became mainstream.
Here’s an introduction: the 25th century is the oceanic era. Ninety percent of the population lives in ocean cities; due to deep-sea environment characteristics, the overall culture leans toward a stable culture of “everyone stays within limits without going overboard.”
Underwater cities are composed of “modular buildings”; each modular building, though having “open communication” moments weekly, is mostly segmented by gates. Each building has dedicated organization departments in long-term charge, with internal rules stricter than on land, similar to ship culture.
In the great age of navigation, everyone on every ship should obediently listen to the leader. Some boundaries are absolutely uncrossable; once crossed, anyone can enforce, throwing them into the sea to feed sharks.
Because, in the space of an undersea building, without such rules constraining certain people, there are always idiots, petty people claiming “depression,” inching toward the sea valve, holding everyone hostage to satisfy their whims.
The 25th century guards against refined egoists. Underwater cities have only ten percent of space areas freely open; the rest have access divided into eight permission levels.
And people from this era, after transmigrating to ancient times, super-advancedly transformed it into a “strict ritual law” society.
This society has two key points, “control room” and “sea valve,” one a technical post, one a security post.
The technical post for local governance is handed to professionals selected by exams; in the professional assessment process, though only a few are ultimately picked, almost everyone participates; and those who fail are convinced, brushed off by the exam. This is like “election oversight,” ensuring the control panel management group has solid professional skills.
As for the “sea valve,” it symbolizes the moral baseline security post.
This post is assigned to families residing here for several generations. Because! People with families long settled here consider more than just themselves. In Xu Xi’s ocean development era, after countless bloody lessons, the experience summary was: if “sea valve” is given to transient officials, they don’t care about an extra crack on the sea valve, since they’re leaving anyway, no need to consider long-term bad effects.
So from Xu Xi’s perspective, Xian Han’s “characteristic dynasty” system is undoubtedly more advanced than Eastern Shu’s “industry and commerce parliament” system.
Xu Xi is also a Liu Clan member in this plane; his positioning for the vassal king’s close branch, the role he should play, is to guard the “sea valve” security post. No need for technical skills, but must have correct moral views; can’t create a selfish egoist concept of “if you help, you must take responsibility.”
Xu Xi feels “extremely shocked” at Xuan Chong’s momentum charging toward the “technical post,” but is very pleased to see it.
The last time Xu Xi came to this plane, he met a student from the “ancient great core conflict era,” Xie Ming. Now Xie Ming went to the Atlantic side; by academic credits, he should call Xie Ming senior.
Senior Xie Ming has only transmigrated five times; due to unfamiliarity with 24th-century situations, he voluntarily gave up the “safety valve” post and ran to Dragon State to open up the new continent.
…Xu Xi: You’re really reckless (Xie Ming)…
It can only be said that people from different eras have different understandings of the “value” of global geography; Xie Ming excitedly went to pioneer the new continent, thinking it high-value.
But in Xu Xi’s eyes, that lump of the American continent is just a “crosswind” zone, a low-value area. (Xu Xi: Childless and extinct region)
With extreme climate arriving, America’s central land freezes into an ice plain every winter with cold waves.
In the warm period after the second and third industrial revolutions, its vast plains were great agricultural zones; but in the oceanic era, the scale of organic matter production in the vast Pacific region was incomparable to any land plains; by then, nearly extinct whale species were nurtured into the largest-scale ocean groups.
So under the oceanic surging agricultural productivity, North America is no excellent agricultural producer!
Moreover, problems that didn’t emerge in the “federal union” period on the new continent! Were especially prominent in Xu Xi’s era!
Great plains, and central great plains at that; on scales of hundreds or thousands of years, they are the most brutally civil war-torn areas. In the East, this point is where Luoyang and Kaifeng are located.
History fought brutally there.
There is a poem: White bones exposed in the wild, a thousand li without cock crow. Of the people born, one in a hundred survives; thinking of it breaks one’s heart.
In Chinese history, the central Heluo land suffered war chaos for at most thirty years each time.
Because the Heluo region’s area relative to the Guanzhong Plain still lacks absolute advantage.
That is, forces exiting east from Hangu Pass, in chaotic times, have enough manpower to control Heluo, stabilize operations for one to two years, then sweep under heaven.
While that Mississippi Plain (part of America’s central great plain), 1.2 million square kilometers; relative to surrounding areas, it’s so large that peripheral local forces feel despair.
Xu Xi personally witnessed, after America descended into chaos, any peripheral force trying to enter the center couldn’t muster enough manpower to control the region. Instead, it’s easy to attack but hard to defend, subject to joint strikes by other forces.
So it becomes a huge plain beast arena! Historically, North American natives were in this state.
Whites landed on the West Coast, in the early industrial revolution relying on absolute tech advantage, unified North America in an extremely short time; this was a historically brief moment. Once unification time ends, it can’t cohere again by its own power.
That is, the region splits for subsequent centuries, achieving generational blood feuds! To the point of wanting to exterminate the other side. (Native American end period was also this state)
So Xu Xi doesn’t look favorably on settling in North America during the first industrial revolution period. — Yet Xie Ming still went, so Xu Xi judges him a student from before the “great core conflict period.”
Xu Xi: Only people from that era would praise “migrating to America” in a complimentary tone.
Because three sexagenary cycles later, this scalp-taking land in Xu Xi’s era’s context is synonymous with Lion Camel Ridge. Corpses floating on the Mississippi exceed those on the Ganges River.
As for why Xu Xi’s last mission didn’t warn Xie Ming? Two reasons.
First: Can’t whisper in class; if Xu Xi reveals too much and gets called out by the teacher, mission difficulty increases.
Second: Xu Xi doesn’t want to help the senior either; students from earlier timespace have stronger system systems; watching seniors with systems crash into historical sinkholes has a special flavor.
…Who doesn’t like watching cow dung explode?…
Xu Xi’s mission line now is to build a Nanyang cultural economic circle.
In the study room, Xuan Chong, with a face full of the vibe from just grinding through questions, met Qin Tianyi.
Qin Tianyi was dressed very plainly, but had high head-turning rate; of course, Xuan Chong was especially guarded. Speaking of which, if not for her saying “classroom communication,” he wouldn’t have come.
After seeing Xuan Chong, Qin Tianyi slowly said: “Xu Xi’s mission is in the Nanyang region; he controls these points.”
Qin Tianyi pointed out fifteen major cities in Nanyang on the map. Then gave data on a series of plantations, mining, and even low-end labor scales that could nearly be called “slavery” in these cities.
Xuan Chong pondered for a moment: “You, telling me this, um, what do you need?” (Xuan Chong’s tone sincere, indicating this info is useful to him)
Qin Tianyi feigned surprise: “Aren’t we classmates? Classmates should help each other.”
Facing Xuan Chong’s still confused and puzzled gaze, Qin Tianyi showed an encouraging smile, which made Xuan Chong slightly dazed, his heart seemingly touched.
Qin Tianyi seemingly ignored Xuan Chong’s daze, continuing on her own: “In the spacetime classroom, as long as grouping isn’t confirmed; everyone should unite quickly. First let me apologize; I found you investigating sea merchants, so I also investigated your ship personnel;
Xuan Chong responded: “Oh, they kept inviting me to banquets, I went every day, felt a bit uncertain.”
Next, Qin Tianyi took out a bill, listing the black industries that Xuan Chong tacitly allowed Mantis Shrimp members to touch.
Qin Tianyi prompted: “Though you handled it very well, there are still hidden risks; with your high status as heir of the vassal king, being too close to these black ditches easily gets you tangled by trash.”
Qin Tianyi told Xuan Chong not to indulge the old ship members touching “money laundering”; she contacted several shipping companies that would transfer money openly and legitimately.
This straightforwardness left Xuan Chong stunned, feeling like he was being kept, wanting to deny it.
Qin Tianyi said very righteously: “Based on your assigned profession, you should be on the commander route. Next, this world should have a war. If military members worry about non-specialty matters, in the world-ending disaster, this weak woman, no matter how well the ballads sing, will become the enemy’s amusement.”
Xuan Chong took a deep breath, adjusted his emotions: “Thank you.” — Speaking of which, Xuan Chong rarely (had never seen) such a big-picture woman.
Qin Tianyi: “This is your choice, and I think you’re quite responsible. War requires mobilizing all mobilizable manpower and resources; now the industrial system is supported by the imperial examination system, it’s the legitimate profession. On this path, I can’t help you, but you can focus on it without worrying about other miscellaneous matters.”
This scene was like a tale of a wealthy lady sponsoring a scholar’s studies.
Here, Xuan Chong glanced at the shipping company accounts she transferred money from for him, finding them all related to great sea merchant capital. Qin Tianyi: “I’ll tell you in detail about the sea merchants’ situation. But now—”
Qin Tianyi looked around: “Not suitable here, let’s change places to talk.”
After putting on a veil to cover her stunning beauty, she took Xuan Chong’s hand and left directly under many gazes.
…She’s very different…
Qin Tianyi: “Speaking of Nanyang sea merchants, we must mention sea merchant economy; Xian Han imperial court, in overseas expansion governance, is far more cautious than Great Ming.”
During Great Ming Shizong period, sea merchant Wang Zhi ultimately triggered the Japanese pirate chaos; at bottom, it was “maritime trade emerging faction” flipping the table on the old faction.
Wang Zhi, as a Huishang merchant, opened the Japan air route, gaining huge profits.
However, Jiangnan sea merchants played dirty, unable to compete in business, directly used court connections for sea ban, sealing all Wang Zhi’s legitimate sea outlets. Finally, when Wang Zhi negotiated with Hu Zongxian, also Huipai faction, he was lured and killed by the Jiangnan faction!
Xuan Chong realized: This is “the tower is tilted but doesn’t think itself tilted.” By normal national governance model, more sea forces the better, especially inland merchants going to sea, which needs policy support! Because home inland makes them easier for the empire to control.
As a result, in this coastal “merchant group destruction struggle,” Great Ming’s tower tilted toward the Jiangnan faction; Southeast maritime got “tower tilt protection” dividends, letting southeast coastal sea merchants thoroughly play official-protected monopoly trade, losing exploratory rule-making drive.
While the Huishang, originally an enterprising new player, thoroughly went conservative farming-and-studying strategy. Dragging all riverside groups to take official routes.
Qin Tianyi started introducing from Great Ming to Xuan Chong, then expounded Xian Han’s consistent maritime policy over three hundred years. “Encourage going to sea, but control all coastal strongmen at the root.”
Over two hundred years, Giant Whale Gang this organization was dealt with ten times! Including “three porcelain cases” “six silk cases,” involving too many people. The core of these cases was, after Jiangnan powerful merchants monopolized key “porcelain” “silk” industries, they didn’t seek progress. Not seeking progress was one thing, they also suppressed other sea forces in maritime trade.
And in this century’s industrial revolution, Xian Han took the industrial revolution path. Mass-produced mirrors, soap, tinplate, printing and dyeing chemicals etc. from Jianghuai region factories, handed to savvy sea merchants for foreign promotion.
What Qin Tianyi described seemed digressive; but actually, Xuan Chong understood, this is Xian Han’s overall strategy.
His upcoming plans must not hinder the general trend, but leverage these trends!
Qin Tianyi named key contacts among sea merchants, telling Xuan Chong which can be contacted, which cannot;
Xuan Chong understood, Qin Tianyi revealed she’s a rich woman, if short on money for things, she can invest and help anytime.
…Classroom assistance…
In Qin Tianyi’s introduction, north to Goryeo, Japan; south to Giaochi, Champa, Luzon, Cotton South Lao Island; all invested in developing auxiliary industries, synchronously entering modernization. Their civilization level significantly higher than contemporary Europe by a large margin.
Xuan Chong: 19th-century Europe plundered surroundings destructively; now Europe lacks plunder targets, naturally lags behind.
Now Europe’s Brazilian-style medical system still inherits bloodletting therapy, um, just draw blood, mix with potion, inject back in.
