My life skills in Daming Liver

With the support of his academy tutor, Yi Sun-shin set out from Inchon, North Korea, and finally arrived at the Shanghai dock on a merchant ship.

But just in time for the fleet to go on an expedition, Shanghai's docks were blocked, and merchant ships could dock at the nearby Songjiang dock.

After arriving at the dock, Yi Sun-shin made a request to officials of the local Shipping Department to leave the fleet and enter the southeastern region.

But he didn't expect that he would need to be quarantined for thirty days before leaving the port area.

Yi Sun-shin had no choice but to quarantine in the Guest House at his own expense, which almost used up all the money he brought.

Fortunately, Yi Sun-shin spoke good Chinese. When he first arrived in Hong Kong, he made some money by working as a translator for North Korean businessmen, which allowed him to survive until the end of the quarantine.

After the thirty-day quarantine was over, he was taken to a courtroom in the Municipal Port Department. An official sat behind a desk to review his entry application.

Li Sunchen sat down in front of the desk. The official responsible for checking the entry of foreigners was named Yue Minglun. He was transferred from the Fuzhou Shipping Department. He looked at Li Sunchen and asked:

"North Koreans? Why do you come to my southeast?"

Yi Sun-shin immediately said: "Study tour!"

Yue Lun wrote the word "study tour" on the entry registration, then raised his head and asked:

"What about your academic qualifications in North Korea?"

"Academic qualifications?" Yi Sunchen asked doubtfully.

"It's just fame."

Yi Sun-shin immediately said: "Oh, I haven't passed the merit examination."

Yue Lun asked again: "Have you ever attended a private school? Can you read and write Chinese characters?"

Yi Sun-shin immediately said: "You can read and write!"

The official wrote the word "literacy" in the education column of the registration form, and then said:

"Identity background, is there anyone in your family who is an official in the Korean court?"

Yi Sunchen answered honestly that his family was in ruins. Yue Lun wrote "Low-class civil servant" on the watch, and then said:

"Congratulations, you can enter the country."

Is this the end?

Yi Sun-shin originally thought that officials in the southeast were just like those in North Korea, requiring complicated paperwork and extorting bribes.

Unexpectedly, he just asked a few questions and was allowed to enter the country.

The official handed another printed leaflet to Yi Sun-shin and said:

"As long as you foreigners don't break the law, we in the southeast will not treat you specially."

"This is your temporary residence certificate. After you enroll in school, you will submit it to the local government for household registration."

Yi Sunchen nodded quickly.

"This brochure lists several schools in the Southern Zhili area, and the admission requirements are also written on it."

Yi Sun-shin saw the dazzling school names above and asked in a humble tone:

"Can you please help me give me some advice as to which school is better for me to attend?"

Seeing how polite Li Sunchen was, Yue Lun also felt good about him.

The appearance of Koreans is not much different from that of Han people, yet Yi Sun-shin speaks Chinese so fluently.

During these days, he almost vomited when he was trying to interrogate the entry of those miscellaneous barbarians!

And compared to those Western missionaries with evil intentions, Yi Sun-shin came to the southeast to study, which naturally made people more fond of him.

Yue Lun said: "Foreigners like you with ordinary family backgrounds, it is best to learn a skill. Tiangong Academy in Nanjing is the best choice."

"But the tuition at Tiangong Academy is relatively expensive, and the cost of living in Nanjing is also very high. You'd better find a job and do a work-study program."

"And for foreigners, Tiangong Academy only offers basic courses such as basic arithmetic and natural history. The more important courses require a sponsor to study. Foreigners like you are not qualified to study."

Li Sunchen nodded immediately. He had heard about Tiangong Academy when he was isolated at the dock. This was the academy set up by Governor Su in Nanjing. Su Song's new textile machine was promoted by Governor Su at Tiangong Academy.

This time Tiangong Academy resumed enrollment, and many workshop owners and craftsmen’s children lined up to sign up.

Naturally, such an important academy cannot be opened to foreigners at will.

Being able to open basic courses to foreigners already shows the magnanimity of the Grand Governor.

Yi Sunchen shook his head. He came to Ming Dynasty to learn how to save the country. Learning technology cannot save Korea.

Seeing Li Sunchen shaking his head, Yue Lun continued:

"The Southeast New Army Academy now has two campuses, namely the Army Academy in Nanjing and the Naval Academy in Fuzhou. The generals of the Southeast New Army are all from this academy."

Li Sunchen's eyes lit up, but Yue Lun's next words made him discouraged.

"The New Army Academy never recruits students from outside. Only soldiers who join the Southeast New Army and have made meritorious service can be recommended to enter the academy for further study. As long as they successfully graduate, they can be promoted to officers."

Yi Sun-shin wanted to learn how to save the country, so military school was naturally the best place to go. However, he did not expect that it would be so difficult to attend a military school in the southeast.

He asked unwillingly: "May I ask, sir, can a foreigner like me join the army?"

Yue Lun was stunned for a moment and said: "There is no limit to this. You can go to the Nanjing recruitment point and try. If you pass the test, you should be able to do it, but it is not easy to serve in the military."

Yi Sun-shin nodded. Joining the army was considered a way out. He had long heard that the Southeast New Army's treatment was very good. If joining the army would solve the problem of livelihood, he wouldn't have to work hard to make money.

Yue Lun added: "Li Shizhen Medical College in Suzhou Prefecture is the largest medical college in the southeast, but it takes a long time to study. It takes one year to graduate from the general medical department, and even the fastest military medical department takes half a year."

Yi Sun-shin shook his head again. Studying medicine would not save North Korea. He did not come here to be a doctor.

He asked again: "Excuse me, sir, are there any other well-known schools in the southeast?"

Yue Lun said: "In addition to these two, each province also has training schools for officials. These have to take the official exam, the household science and military science, the grain and water conservancy science and other subjects, and there are additional practical tests. I don't think you can pass the exam. "

“These are all public schools, but there are also some private schools to choose from.”

"Private?"

Yue Lun nodded and said: "Xu's Accountant School in Songjiang Prefecture is now the best school for training accountants in the Susong area. Nowadays, a good accountant can earn a month's income in Susong's workshops and firms. Twenty taels of silver!"

"And after learning accounting skills, you can also take the household clerk examination. If you excel in the accounting practice test, you can be admitted on a merit-based basis."

Twenty taels of silver!

Yi Sun-shin's breathing quickened. This amount of money was a huge sum of money in North Korea!

A bookkeeper in the southeast can earn twenty taels of silver a month!

It is indeed a heavenly kingdom!

"Xu's Accounting School is privately run by Mr. Xu Ergong of Songjiang Huating. There is no restriction on enrollment, but the tuition is very high. One course takes at least four months. The tuition alone costs twenty taels of silver, not including room and board. "

Li Sunchen didn't have twenty taels of silver in his body. Yue Lun gave up Yi Sunchen's idea of ​​getting rich with just one sentence.

"In addition, there are some textile and embroidery training courses. You can see the enrollment brochures in any newspaper. These schools are all privately run, but they are a mixed bag. There are many who can't learn real skills even after spending money. Keep your eyes open."

Yi Sun-shin nodded repeatedly and asked, "Sir, is there any place where I can learn something new?"

Yue Lun raised his head and looked at Yi Sunchen, but he didn't expect that this foreigner came to the southeast to learn something new?

During this period, the people he approved for entry were either Western barbarians with ulterior motives. These people either wanted to secretly learn the technology of the Southeast, or they wanted to enter the Southeast region to preach.

These Westerners are also interested in various schools, but they are basically interested in technical ones, and few people ask about new studies.

Not to mention foreigners, even officials like Yue Lun were not interested in the new learning. In his mind, he just had to read the popular science articles about the new learning in the newspapers. What new learning could he really study? That's all for scholars.

But Yi Sun-shin, a foreigner, actually wanted to learn new things?

Although Yue Lun didn't think Yi Sunchen could learn it, he still said:

"The best school for new learning is naturally the Nanjing Imperial College. When the Grand Governor was in Nanjing, he would personally explain the "New Commentary on the Three Classics" every three days at the Nanjing Imperial College."

Li Sunchen showed a longing expression, but Yue Lun's next words disappointed him again.

"The entrance threshold for Nanjing Imperial College is extremely high. After passing the civil service examination, only civil servants above level four are eligible to study."

"In addition, those who have the title of Imperial Examiner or higher in the Ming Dynasty must pass the unified entrance examination that the Grand Governor personally sets before they can enter the prison."

"I heard that this is a shortcut. We will also hold the imperial examination in the southeast next spring. Only those who have passed the imperial examination can enter the Imperial College."

"But those who study in the Imperial College and pass the graduation examination can be appointed officials. This is much better than us officials."

Yi Sunchen nodded. North Korea's system was similar to that of the Ming Dynasty, and officials also had different paths.

Yue Lun said: "Now in the southeast of our country, civil servants can also be promoted to officials, but only those above the fourth level have the opportunity. When I am promoted to the fourth level next year, I don't know if I will have the opportunity to take the exam. Imperial College.”

Yi Sun-shin immediately said: "I can only wish you good luck in the examination."

Yue Lun grinned. He was also very satisfied with his current life. The salary of a third-level official was not low, enough to support a family.

Yue Lun couldn't understand the profound new academic theories of the Grand Governor. Now that his son had begun to read and write, Yue Lun hoped that his son would be able to study and be admitted to the Imperial Academy Guangzong Yaozu in the future.

"Aside from the Nanjing Imperial College, there are private academies in the southeast."

"These academies were originally private schools for scholars to participate in the imperial examination. Since the publication of the Governor's New Commentary on the Three Classics, many academies have opened new courses just to participate in next year's imperial examination."

“The most famous academies among them are Taizhou Academy run by Mr. Ruyan from Taizhou Prefecture, Jiangnan Academy run by Mr. Gui from Suzhou Prefecture, Anding Academy funded by Mr. Hu from Hangzhou Prefecture in Zhejiang Province, Quzhou Academy in Zhejiang Province, Yanping Academy in Fujian Province and Fuzhou New School.”

Yi Sunchen quickly wrote down the names of these academies.

Yue Lun said: "These academies also need to be assessed. Some academies have high tuition fees. How many scholars study new subjects just to win the first place in next year's new subject examination."

Yi Sun-shin's ardent heart just died out again. With so many local scholars from the southeast taking the exam, can he, a foreigner, pass the exam?

"Okay, you can enter the customs. Remember not to cause trouble. If you trigger the laws of the Southeast, you will not only be punished, but you foreigners will be deported after being punished. Do you understand?"

Yi Sunchen immediately nodded and said: "I understand! Don't worry, sir, I will definitely not cause trouble!"

"Next!"

After Yi Sun-shin left, a Japanese man with messy hair walked in.

Yue Lun frowned. He was from Fuzhou and naturally hated Japanese pirates the most in his life.

However, thinking of his responsibilities, Yue Lun could only endure the discomfort and asked:

"Name?"

"Kinoshita Tokichiro."

"What's the purpose of coming to the southeast?"

"According to the order of the family leader, I want to do business with Southeast to purchase blunderbuss and artillery."

"Since we are doing business, we can just do it at the port. Why do we need to enter the country?"

The pointed-mouthed and monkey-cheeked Kinoshita Tokichiro immediately said: "The head of my family is Lord Oda, the great name of the Owari Kingdom. He is the overlord who aspires to unify the whole country. I am here to discuss big business! Naturally, I want to meet Governor Su!"

To say that Kinoshita Tokichiro was also unlucky. His ship encountered a storm and deviated from its route. He was regarded as a Japanese pirate by the fishermen along the coast. He was finally captured by the patrolling navy and transported to Matsue Port.

Kinoshita Tokichiro finally proved his identity and was quarantined for another month.

But Oda Nobunaga is now just a famous figure in the Japanese country. He proposed to meet Su Ze to discuss a "big business", but he was naturally scorned by the officials of the Municipal Shipping Department.

Even if you are the envoy of the Japanese king, the governor may not meet you. What is your status as an envoy of the Japanese king?

In desperation, Kinoshita Tokichiro could only apply for entry and go to Nanjing to find connections to meet Su Ze.

"Education?"

"?"

"Can you write and read Chinese characters?"

Kinoshita Tokichiro said: "I can speak Chinese, but I can't read and write."

"That's illiteracy."

After writing "illiteracy", Yue Lun said again:

"Position in Japan?"

"A retainer under Lord Oda, the lord of Owari Province."

"Is there any food fiefdom?"

"Not yet."

"That's the Japanese Ronin."

"The purpose of coming to my southeast is to do business, right?"

Kinoshita Tokichiro's Chinese is not fluent, so he can only nod his head in confusion.

Yue Lun was too lazy to talk nonsense with him. After completing the procedures, he said:

"As long as you and other Japanese rogues abide by our laws in the southeast, you will not suffer unfair treatment. But if you violate the criminal laws, no one can save you!"

"Your Japanese sword is a controlled knife and must be confiscated before entering the country."

An ordinary Japanese warrior would have been furious at this time, but Kinoshita Tokichiro was the thickest and most tolerant among Oda Nobunaga's subordinates. He immediately said: "Thank you for your guidance, sir."

Kinoshita Tokichiro took the customs clearance documents and finally walked out of the Shibosi Yamen.

Both Yi Sunchen and Kinoshita Tokichiro were frightened and completely shocked by the prosperity of Suzhou.

Feeling that there was such a prosperous city in the world, Kinoshita Tokichiro boarded the rented carriage and headed towards Nanjing.

Yi Sun-shin, on the other hand, had a grimace on his face. As a hard-working self-financed overseas student, he had to survive in the Southeast first.