Chapter 174: The Scholarly Houses
Once Newhaven had fully stabilized, Caelum gave an order.
"Bring the people of Newhaven into the city. Most of them should already know a fair number of words. Arrange for them to take part in the city’s affairs as soon as possible."
At the end of the day, the people from Newhaven were still the ones Caelum trusted most.
Of course, there was no chance they could take over every major and minor affair in Newhaven City within a short period.
They did not yet have that ability.
Caelum’s next plan was to invest heavily in education.
With the accelerated learning effect of the technology tree, he could quickly train a group of capable people and prepare for the transition into the industrial age.
Stacks of paper lay before him.
Caelum activated the technology tree.
[Education and Basic Mathematics Accelerated Production]
[Education and Basic Physics Accelerated Production]
[Education and Basic Biology Accelerated Production]
[Education and Basic Chemistry Accelerated Production]
Detailed text and illustrations appeared across the sheets of paper.
They were then assembled and bound into books, which arranged themselves neatly before Caelum.
Just like the literacy manuals, these books created through the technology tree allowed readers to understand and master the knowledge within them at an accelerated rate.
The illustrations and explanations were clear, making the material easy to learn.
The next branches of education unlocked immediately afterward.
[Education and Basic Engineering Unlocked]
[Education and Basic Medicine Unlocked]
[Education and Basic Politics Unlocked]
[Education and Basic Military Studies Unlocked]
[Education and Basic Economics Unlocked]
...
There were more than a dozen fields in total, perhaps close to twenty.
Just looking at them was enough to make anyone’s scalp tighten.
This was exactly why Caelum had to remove himself from direct production work.
The further each field developed, the more specialized it became, creating even more branches and production duties.
There was no way Caelum could manage all of it alone.
Progress on this scale required the combined efforts of millions, or even tens of millions, of people.
He turned all of that knowledge into books.
Then he personally produced a vast quantity of bricks and cement before ordering major construction throughout Newhaven City.
One large academy after another began rising across the city.
Not long afterward, the people of Newhaven moved inside the walls.
Caelum then issued a new decree.
"From this day onward, everyone in the city under the age of fifty must receive literacy education. Those who perform well will receive one dou of millet, and may also earn the chance to hold public office."
The people of Newhaven were already used to such policies.
Most of them could read at least a little, and some had shown remarkable talent.
The decree continued.
"From now on, the city will establish academies of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, medicine, agriculture, military studies, politics, commerce, and many other disciplines."
"Anyone who completes literacy education may choose an academy to attend. Every student will receive three meals a day. Those who perform exceptionally well will also receive a monthly stipend. However, anyone who fails the monthly examinations for two consecutive months will be expelled."
"..."
The series of decrees left the people of Newhaven City staring in disbelief.
Many found the idea almost impossible to understand.
Discussion spread through the city at once.
"The new city lord intends to educate the entire population."
"Hiss. He is being so generous it is almost frightening. Forget the stipend. Just the promise of three meals a day will have people fighting to get inside."
"Even if Newhaven City is wealthy, I doubt it can support this kind of expense for more than a few months. The city lord may mean well, but he is moving far too quickly."
Some were amazed.
Others were pessimistic.
The common people, however, were overjoyed.
Many of them had been farmers, peddlers, and laborers for generations.
They had never believed education mattered much.
But for the sake of three meals a day, countless people threw themselves into study.
Besides, there was no tuition.
They had nothing to lose.
Their excitement stood in sharp contrast to the reaction of the old scholars and great learned families of Newhaven City.
Those men slammed their hands on tables in fury.
"Absurd. This is utterly absurd!"
In a feudal age, most commoners were uneducated and few could read.
Even fewer possessed any deeper learning.
Their understanding of morality, social order, and proper conduct came entirely from the mouths of these scholars.
The great scholarly houses controlled the interpretation of written knowledge.
Through that control, they shaped the thoughts of the common people and secured their own authority.
Whatever they said morality meant, whatever meaning they assigned to written words, the illiterate masses accepted without question.
The scholarly houses were treated as unquestionable authorities.
Once the people learned to read for themselves, that power of interpretation would be taken away.
Their authority would be taken away.
Their status would be taken away with it.
The scholarly houses could never tolerate that.
"This is an act of open rebellion against proper order!"
"Physics, chemistry, engineering, and such things are nothing but vulgar tricks!"
"The city lord has lost all sense!"
The members of the scholarly houses raged and cursed Caelum’s decree as a violation of tradition.
In the end, they gathered outside the palace and declared they would die rather than stop remonstrating.
"City Lord, you must reconsider!"
"These crude tricks have no place among true learning!"
The other subjects were bad enough.
But among the academies Caelum established was one devoted to philosophy.
That was the final blow to the scholarly houses.
Philosophy might appear useless.
In truth, it held enormous power.
Its methods of questioning and examining ideas struck directly at the doctrines of the scholarly houses.
That was why their reaction was so intense.
Over the years, their teachings had become increasingly absurd.
They had drifted further and further from reality, becoming hollow, mystical, and devoid of practical meaning.
They stood in direct opposition to critical reasoning.
Besides, if they could force Caelum to withdraw the decree, these famous scholars would also earn tremendous reputations for themselves.
Inside the palace, Edrick asked, "My lord, the scholarly houses have gathered outside the palace and are threatening death if their remonstrance is ignored. How should we deal with them?"
"Then grant them what they want."
Caelum showed no mercy.
"They are nothing more than rotten scholars clinging to authority. The decree establishing the academies will not be withdrawn. Anyone who stands in my way will be killed."
"Understood, my lord."
Edrick signaled for the Household Guard to handle the matter.
Outside the palace gates, the scholars continued shouting their remonstrations without fear of death.
They declared that Caelum had violated the teachings of the ancient sages and condemned his actions in every way they could.
Most rulers in a feudal age valued reputation and legitimacy above all else.
Faced with accusations like these, few could remain seated in peace.
Caelum did not care in the slightest.
Before long, the palace gates opened.
The surrounding crowd immediately grew alert.
"Could the city lord really be withdrawing the decree?"
The members of the scholarly houses lit up with joy.
They thought Caelum had finally lost his nerve.
Instead, a group of Wardens carrying drawn blades rushed out through the gates.
They reached the scholars and struck without hesitation.
Blades fell.
Every member of the scholarly houses was cut down.
"My lord!"
The scholars screamed in terror as the weapons descended.
The Wardens stood over them with cold killing intent.
"His Lordship has given the order. Anyone who obstructs the establishment of the academies will be killed without mercy."
