Only nearly two hours have passed since the five people went to the lunch banquet together and started discussing government affairs.

The long verbal battle made Kitagawa feel a little tired even in his prime.

Dingxin, a young man like Beichuan will feel tired, let alone a middle-aged and elderly man like Beichuan who is already 50 years old.

The urgent and important government affairs that should be discussed have almost been discussed.

Since everything that should be discussed has been discussed, it is not too early, and everyone is already a little tired, Matsudaira Sadanobu announced that today's talks will end here.

With this order from Matsudaira Sadanobu, the other three Wakatani, except Kitagawa, were pardoned.

Only Beichuan still looked like he hadn't talked enough and wanted to continue talking about government affairs.

Kitagawa wanted to have a good chat with Matsudaira Sadanobu about "sending envoys to inspect the southern barbarian countries".

But considering that it was really late now, and I was a little tired, I had no choice but to give up and decided to postpone the matter until the right time came, and then discuss the matter with Matsudaira Sadanobu in detail.

.

The four Wakanagi headed by Kitagawa gradually walked out of this room specially used for discussions with senior officials of the shogunate.

Not long after he walked out of the room, Gibbon let out a long breath as if he had removed some huge weight from his body.

"When people get old, not only do they lose physical strength, but they also lose energy..."

Yoshimoto sighed while rubbing his thighs on both sides.

Sitting on his knees for more than two hours in a row was something that the elderly Yoshimoto could no longer do easily.

"Today's meeting indeed took a lot longer than before." Another one of the four Wakatoshi who spoke was Matsudaira Takaki.

"It's a pity that we couldn't agree on sending envoys to the southern barbarian countries to investigate." After saying this, Beichuan let out a long sigh.

"Kitagawa-kun, I don't think it is necessary to send envoys to the southern barbarian countries." Yoshimoto said softly, "I think it is enough to let this country continue to maintain its status quo."

"Our country lacks nothing, and the world is at peace. Since the attack on the Toyotomi family, there has been no large-scale war in our country for nearly two hundred years."

"Why bother to communicate with Nanman?"

"So Mr. Beichuan, forgive me for not agreeing with your idea of ​​sending envoys to communicate with the southern barbarian countries."

"Lord Yoshimoto..." Kitagawa sighed with helplessness, "Have you forgotten the envoys sent to the Sui Dynasty and the envoys to the Tang Dynasty thousands of years ago?"

"Thousands of years ago, the Sui and Tang Dynasties were powerful. Our country learned from the Sui and Tang Dynasties and became the country we are today."

"And now the Southern Barbarians have invented a device that seems to be quite powerful. Is there anything wrong with us following the example of thousands of years ago and learning from the Southern Barbarians?"

"If the 'steam engine' really has the power of hundreds of animals as George said in his post, then we cannot miss it no matter what."

Having said this, Beichuan let out a long sigh again.

"Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore."

"If I weren't a little tired now, otherwise I would have a good argument with you."

Seeing Kitagawa voluntarily giving up the debate with him, Yoshimoto let out a sigh of relief, looking as if he had just escaped a disaster.

"Beichuan." At this moment, a questioning voice suddenly sounded, "Why did you suddenly want to ask Mr. Lao Zhong whether that rumor is true?"

The person who asked this question was another Wakamatsu Ping Junshan.

Kitagawa Toshiki, Yoshimoto Kaemon, Matsudaira Takaki, and Matsudaira Junzan are the four current Wakatoshi of the shogunate.

As soon as Junshan's question ended, Beichuan immediately replied:

"No special reason."

"I just heard this rumor from other friends, so I came to verify it with Mr. Lao Zhong."

"After all, you can't just dismiss such rumors as a joke."

Having said this, Beichuan showed a hint of contempt.

"How can we revive something like the imperial examination system, which has long since died out, in our country?"

"Our country has a large number of outstanding samurai. These outstanding samurai in our country are enough to fill all the vacancies in the shogunate and major vassals."

"It's ridiculous to let a bunch of peasant boys who were carrying hoes not long ago serve as officials in the shogunate or feudal government."

"I also think that reviving the imperial examination system is undesirable," Junshan said, "but I think the assessment format of the 'imperial examination' is quite worthy of being continued."

"Thanks to Mr. Lao Zhong's 'imperial trial', which provided me with inspiration. Now I have an idea that is definitely beneficial to the country and the people. I wonder if you are interested in listening to it."

Beichuan, Yoshimoto, and Longxi who were walking in front of Junshan all turned their heads to look at Junshan who was walking at the back.

"I'm all ears." Beichuan said.

"In the future, I plan to advise the shogun to have the Shohei Ban Academy recruit the children of the shogunate on a large scale and teach the shogunate's children the Four Books, the Five Classics, the Three Rites, History, and Poetry."

"Cultivate the children of the shogunate who enter the Shohei Ban Institute of Learning into talents capable of assisting the shogunate."

Jun Shan talked with beaming eyebrows.

Shoheizaka Institute of Studies, also known as "Shanghei School", is a higher education institution directly under the jurisdiction of the Edo shogunate.

The highest institution of Confucian education in the Edo period.

It was formerly known as Kobun-in established by Hayashi Razan. In 1691 AD, the Tokugawa shogunate authorized the Hayashi family to guide the worship of Confucius, and placed Kobun-in under the direct jurisdiction of the shogunate. At the same time, the name "Kōbun-in" was changed to "Changpingzaka Institute of Learning"

”.

"While recruiting the children of the shogunate on a large scale to study at the Shoheizaka Institute of Learning, we conduct regular assessments to see how well the children of the shogunate who have enrolled are doing."

"Give generous rewards to the ministers' disciples who get good rankings in this assessment."

As soon as Junshan finished speaking, Beichuan nodded.

"I see... Is this the inspiration that the 'imperial trial match' you just mentioned brought you..."

"It's a good idea to let the ministers' disciples enter the Shoheizaka Institute of Learning and conduct regular assessments." Yoshimoto also agreed.

"I have already thought of a name for this regular assessment of ministers' children." Junshan smiled with a hint of pride, "It's called 'Xuewen Yinwei'."

“The ‘learning’ of learning.”

“The ‘ask’ of the question.”

"The 'yin' of chanting."

“The ‘taste’ of miso.”

After pronouncing the words "Xuewen Yinwei", Junshan cast his expectant eyes on the three Beichuan people walking in front.

"'Xuewen Yinwei'... is a good idea." Beichuan was the first to give a positive evaluation.

The other two people also echoed and praised the name Junshan came up with.

"Then I would like to make a small suggestion." Kitagawa crossed his arms on his chest, "Don't let the 'study chant' be limited to just a corner of Changpingzaka Academy."

“The ‘Learning Ginmi’ is held regularly in Edo, so that all the ministers’ descendants can participate.”

"Whether you are enrolled in the Shoheizaka Institute of Learning or not, you can participate in this 'Learning Song'."

Upon hearing Beichuan's suggestion, Junshan's eyes lit up and he muttered:

"This is a good idea... There is indeed no need to limit the 'sense of learning' to the Changpingzaka Institute of Learning..."

After getting a good suggestion from Beichuan, Junshan quickly thanked Beichuan.

"Junshan, I think your idea is really good." Yoshimoto smiled and said, "The General will definitely agree with your idea."

Because two of the four Wakatos were named Matsudaira, in order to distinguish them in terms of title, Kitagawa and the others called Matsudaira Takaki and Matsudaira Junzan by their first names with the permission of the two parties involved.

"Now that I have just received a good suggestion from Kitagawa Jun, I am also very motivated." Junshan said in a half-joking tone, "If I didn't care about etiquette, I would like to rush home and start writing a confession letter immediately.

ah."

"I just don't know if Mr. Lao Zhong will agree with your idea..." After saying that, Beichuan smiled bitterly.

…

…

The four Wakanagi led by Kitagawa had already left, while Matsudaira Sadanobu still stayed in the room where he had just discussed with Kitagawa and others.

In the room where he was the only one left, Dingxin no longer knelt down respectfully like he had just discussed with Kitagawa and others.

Instead, he sat cross-legged very casually.

His waist was not as straight as when he was discussing matters with Beichuan and others just now.

Dingxin's originally straight body was now bent, as if there wasn't a bone in his back.

The flesh of his upper body seemed ready to slip off his cervical vertebrae at any moment.

His appearance made his whole body look like he was mentally exhausted.

The look that appeared on Dingxin's face at this time was in line with his current exhausted appearance, with his head lowered and his eyes tightly closed, and a strong look of fatigue appeared on his face.

The appearance of Dingxin at this time was completely different from the way he had just been having a heated discussion about government affairs with Beichuan and others.

"...I'm so tired."

Even though he was the only one in the room, Matsudaira Sadanobu still murmured in a low voice at a volume that only he could hear clearly.
To be continued...