"Old Master, Xuan 'er has grown up and has his own ideas. As his elders, we should support him!"
Mrs. Li was the first to change her attitude. She was now on Li Zexuan's side. In the end, she still loved her son dearly!
"Since that's the case, Xuan 'er, have you calculated how much it would cost to build an academy?"
After much persuasion, Father Li finally accepted Li Zexuan's plan to build an academy. At this moment, Li Jingmo finally remembered that Li Zexuan was about to borrow money when he first entered the room, so he asked.
"Father, I estimate that it would cost about 200,000 strings of cash to build the entire academy. However, I won't be able to finish it in the early stages. I plan to invest 100,000 strings of cash to build a place for the students to study, live, read, and play in!"
On the way back from the palace, Li Zexuan had already roughly estimated the amount of money needed to build the ideal academy in his mind. Therefore, he said, "Let's go.
"Pfft!"
Fortunately, Li Jingmo was sitting down. Otherwise, he would have knelt down when he heard this number.
"How much? 200,000 strings of cash? Xuan 'er, are you building an academy or a palace? "
Li Jingmo jumped in fright, his voice rising an octave as he exclaimed.
In his opinion, the academies outside were just a courtyard and a few rooms. At most, it would cost a few hundred strings of cash to build one. How could it cost 200,000 strings of cash? In this era where prices were extremely low, even the Emperor wouldn't need 200,000 strings of cash to build a palace!
What he didn't know was that Li Zexuan planned to build an academy on the scale of a modern university. If that was the case, 200,000 strings of cash wouldn't be much. Perhaps some people would think that 200,000 strings of cash wouldn't be enough to build an academy on such a large scale. After all, the cost of a modern university was in the tens of billions. However, one had to consider the price of goods at the beginning of the Tang Dynasty. According to the price of goods, one string of cash at this time was equivalent to four to five thousand yuan in the modern era. 200,000 strings of cash was equivalent to more than eighty billion yuan.
"Father, I'm not going to build an academy on a small scale. I plan to build an academy on par with the Imperial College. In the future, this academy will nurture hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of outstanding talents for the Tang Dynasty."
Li Zexuan explained softly.
When Li Jingmo heard this grand plan, he was so shocked that he could not close his mouth. "This … this big academy?"
Li Zexuan chuckled and continued.
"Father, although I've already been conferred a title, our family is still nothing compared to those real rich and powerful families. I don't have much ambition, and I've never thought of bullying anyone I want. I just want to become stronger so that others won't dare to bully our family."
"And if this academy is completed, it will complement your child's new philosophy and the knowledge that Master has imparted to your child. In the future, this academy will become our clan's most solid backing and foundation. Our Li Clan will have a place in Chang 'an, perhaps even in the entire Great Tang!"
"All of Chang 'an, even the Great Tang, will have a place for our Li Clan!"
Li Zexuan's last sentence caused Li Jingmo's breathing to quicken as it echoed in his mind.
A moment later, Li Jingmo stood up and patted Li Zexuan's shoulder as he sighed with emotion. "Xuan 'er, you've really grown up! You don't need your father and mother to worry about you anymore! Father can now rest assured and leave the family to you. Father will retire at home in the future! "
Li Zexuan hurriedly said, "Father, you're still in the prime of your life. How can you say such things? Besides, didn't we agree that you'll hand over the family business to me in two years? "
Li Jingmo waved his hand, not buying it.
"Father has made up my mind. Xuan 'er, you don't need to persuade me anymore! In terms of foresight, courage, and management ability, father can't compare to you now! Only you can bring our family to a higher position! Father will just stay at home and help you settle the accounts! "
Then, he looked at Madam Li and said, "I'll have more time to accompany you in the future!"
"Father ~! …"
"Xuan 'er, don't try to persuade me anymore. Mother and your father both believe in you! We believe that you'll break out of this world in the future! "
Madam Li smiled lovingly.
"That's good! Your son has grown up. It's time for me to take on this responsibility! In the future, Father and Mother should rest more. Eat well, drink well, and play well. Your son doesn't ask for anything else. I just want you to be happy every day and live a long life. Our family will become the happiest in the Tang Dynasty in the future! "
Li Zexuan suddenly glanced at the few strands of white hair on his father's temples. His heart was touched. Perhaps he should have stood up long ago!
"Good, good, good! Mother and your father are still waiting to hold a grandson! You and Yuxi have to hurry! "
When Mrs. Li heard this, she said with a smile.
Li Zexuan was sweating profusely. "Mother, we haven't even gotten married yet ~"
"Hehe, soon, soon ~ ~"
Madam Li couldn't restrain the smile on her face when she thought of her son getting married in a few days.
"Ahem, Xuan 'er, our family spent a large sum of money to buy chicken seedlings for the farmers. Later on, Xuan' er, you set up the winery, the Strange Taste Pavilion, and the Strange Taste Culture. These are all very profitable. Now, the family can take out about one hundred and twenty thousand strings of cash. It's enough for you!"
Li Jingmo's face was flushed red, as if he had become a few years younger. He briefly explained the family's current financial situation to Li Zexuan.
"Mm, thank you, Father!"
Li Zexuan breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, there was enough money for the first phase. Otherwise, he would have to think of other ways to raise money.
"Mm, that's right. After talking for so long, I still don't know the name of the college you're going to build."
Madam Li interrupted.
"Mother, the name of the college will be Yanhuang College. His Majesty has already agreed to personally inscribe a plaque for me!"
"Really? His Majesty will personally inscribe a plaque? That's great! Xuan 'er, when the time comes, you have to send someone to guard the plaque. Don't let anyone steal it! "
Madam Li was pleasantly surprised.
Li Zexuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Mother, you're thinking too much! Who would dare to steal a plaque inscribed by His Majesty himself? "
"You still have to take care of it! Oh, that's right. Why is the college called Yanhuang College? What does' Yanhuang 'mean? "
Madam Li was puzzled.
"Descendants of Yanhuang" first came from the "Guoyu, Zhou Yu Xia": "The Emperor was blessed by the heavens. He was bestowed with the surname 'Si' and the name 'You Xia'. Zuo … His surname was lost, and he died without power. He had no descendants and was buried in the name of Li. How could a deceased husband not be favored? They were all descendants of Huang and Yan. "
However, terms such as "descendants of Yanhuang" and "descendants of the Yellow Emperor" were rarely used in ancient times. The reason probably had to do with the fact that the ancient China people had a weaker sense of nationality. They revered the two emperors of Yan and Huang more because of their culture than their bloodline. The term "descendants of Yanhuang" had a smaller scope of reference. Ancient China was a "dynastic country", not a "nation-state" in the modern sense.
At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the concept of "descendants of Yanhuang" spread more widely along with the construction of China's nationalism. The early revolutionaries who rebelled against the Manchus at the end of the Qing Dynasty used the slogan "descendants of Yanhuang, descendants of the Yellow Emperor" to gain the support of the Han people. The radical revolutionaries believed that "descendants of Yanhuang, only Han people". The moderate reformists believed that "all of China are descendants of the Yellow Emperor".
Therefore, it was understandable that Madam Li didn't know about the concept of "descendants of Yanhuang".
.....
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
