Changpingzaka Institute of Learning—Aoto couldn't help but raise his eyebrows when he heard this term.

To say where the Shoheizaka Institute of Learning is, it is in Edo... no, it is a top-notch academic institution with a high reputation throughout Japan.

Its predecessor was the private school called Hongbunkan opened by the famous Confucian Lin Razan in Kanei 9th year (1632) in Ueno Oshioka.

In the third year of Genroku (1690), the fifth shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi moved it to Shoheizaka in Yushima.

Originally a private educational institution of the Hayashi family, under the Kansei Reform (1787-1793) led by Matsudaira Sadanobu, it became the Shoheizaka Institute of Learning directly under the Edo Shogunate.

The shogunate stipulated that the Shoheizaka Institute of Learning only recruits shogunate ministers... that is, children of the Hatamoto and Imperial families; it trains staff and practical talents to assist politics; the teaching content includes the Four Books, the Five Classics, history, and poetry; the teaching materials are based on Zhu Xi's writings.

host.

Today, with the vigorous construction and publicity of the Edo Shogunate, Shoheizaka Institute of Learning has become the highest institution of Confucian education and a dream place for all those who are interested in Confucianism.

Although the Shoheizaka Academy only recruited the children of shogunate ministers, starting from the twelfth year of Kansei (1800), the shogunate began to allow and encourage children of common people to attend lectures at the Shoheizaka Academy.

However, the promulgation of this law did not have any significant effect, and only a few ordinary people attended the classes at Changpingzaka Academy.

After all, there was no imperial examination system in the Edo period, and there was no such thing as "study to become a high official" as Lao Shizi said. "Books have their own golden houses, and books have their own beauty like jade."

No matter how many books the common people read, no matter how deeply they study the Four Books and Five Classics, they cannot change their destiny and achieve a class jump.

Since reading is useless, then who would bother to spend the effort to cross the sea of ​​literature?

"That group of people are regular customers of our store."

Miss Teshiro lowered her voice and explained slowly.

"Whenever they have free time, they like to come to our store to drink tea, talk loudly, and criticize the current ills."

Tokugawa Iemo chuckled a few times with interest.

"Oh? To criticize the evils of the times?"

Miss Teshiro turned her head and glanced at the group of Confucian scholars. After confirming that they were not paying attention, she stuck out her tongue and put on a half-joking tone:

"I actually don't like them very much. They always chat loudly and disturb other guests."

"And... I don't think they are very decent people. They always hang out with a scumbag named Itakura Hirahiko. People who make friends with scumbags are definitely not good people."

When she said the name "Itakura Hirahiko", Teshiro-san stuck out her tongue in an exaggerated manner, as if something pungent, spicy, bitter and numb had been pierced into her mouth.

"Itakura Hirahiko?" Tenzouin tilted his head cutely, "Who is this person? Yakuza?"

Miss Teshiro shook her head:

"No, Itakura Hirahiko is a serious samurai, and he is a very high-ranking type - he is the second son of Itakura Katsutora, one of the most powerful warriors today."

Ruonian's second son - this level is indeed quite high.

If, in the bureaucracy of the Edo shogunate, the highest official position "Oro", which is only established in special times, is the regent, and the highest official position "Ochu" in ordinary times is the prime minister, then "Wakato" is the deputy prime minister.

.

Wakatonaki: The position of assisting the laozhong. Officials who are not laozhong, stay behind, and have jurisdiction over the three services (temple and shrine officials, designation officials, and town officials) are all under the jurisdiction of Wakaninaki. The maximum number is 3-5, which is the same as most of the official positions in the shogunate.

Similarly, a "monthly rotation system" is adopted in which positions are alternated according to the month.

"Itakura Katsutora's second son..." Tokugawa Iemoji murmured, recalling, "Well... it turns out he has a second son... This is the first time I know about it..."

After hearing this, Miss Teshiro burst into laughter:

"Sir, how come you are speaking as if you know Katsutora Itakura?"

Tokugawa Iemo smiled faintly and avoided talking about the teasing words of his opponent:

"Ms. Teshiro, you said Itakura Katsutora's second son is a scumbag - what's going on? Has he done anything that is unethical and unethical?"

"Well... well..."

Miss Teshiro calmly turned her head and glanced in the direction of the kitchen - she was probably worried that chatting too long with Qingto and others would affect her work, or even get scolded by her boss.

After a fierce ideological struggle... Miss Teshiro finally lost miserably to her own gossip.

"Hmm...!"

Teshiro-san pretended to clear her throat and assumed the posture of a storyteller.

"To say who this Hirahiko Itakura is, we have to start with his identity."

"He is the second son of today's Wakatoshi - although this status is very glamorous, guests, you should also know that according to the regulations of the shogunate, whether a samurai or a commoner, the family property must be fully inherited by the eldest son, and the rest must be inherited by the eldest son.

The son must either find another way out, or hide at home and become a bastard who relies solely on the family's financial support to survive."

"In this choice that all men who are not the eldest son will face, Itakura Hirahiko chose the former."

"He relied on his family's energy and started a cloth weaving business."

“The shogunate’s “The Laws of the Samurai Family” prohibits the children of the samurai family from engaging in business, but no one has abided by this law for a long time.”

"Back in the day, Shirakawa-Ong also forbade luxury and enjoyment. Did anyone follow it? People who go to Yoshiwara to enjoy the pleasures of fish and water are just like crucian carp crossing the river."

"Everyone who knows how to do business understands this. As long as you have connections and a backer, you can succeed no matter what kind of business you are engaged in."

"The career history of Hirahiko Itakura is a very typical example."

"Relying on his good father, he quickly made the textile business bigger and stronger."

"If Itakura Hirahiko is just doing business, that's fine. Anyway, from Matsumae to Satsuma, there are many businessmen, and Itakura Hirahiko is not missing."

"But the problem is, Itakura Hirahiko's style of conduct is very problematic."

"According to rumors, Hirahiko Itakura's character is extremely mean, ruthless and domineering."

"The wages he offers to his workers are already extremely low, and he often resorts to different ways to deduct them."

"If workers are sick or unable to work for any other reason, their wages will be deducted."

"Today's workload is not up to standard, and money will be deducted."

"All of these are not enough."

"If it's just stinginess, forget it. But apart from being stingy, the most despised thing about Hirahiko Itakura's daily style is that his temperament is extremely cold and devoid of any human touch."

Speaking of this, Miss Teshiro suddenly stopped imitating the storyteller, stopped making a tone, sighed softly, and a dark look passed over her face.

"People will grow old."

"No matter how strong a person is, he will inevitably become exhausted when he gets old."

"There once was an old woman who worked diligently for Itakura Hirahiko for nearly twenty years."

"It stands to reason that I have been working for you for such a long time, and it is hard work without any credit. No matter what, I have to show some kindness, right?"

"But Itakura Hirahiko fired the old woman without hesitation because her work efficiency had been greatly reduced due to her age."

"At the right time, the old woman knelt directly in front of Itakura Hirahiko's house and begged him not to fire her."

"Although I was not present at the scene in person, according to the introduction of those who came later, the old woman really tried her best to keep her job."

"It is understood by emotion and moved by reason."

"She repeatedly stated that she could still work and that she was willing to reduce her salary to 70% of the original amount."

"At the same time, she cried and complained that she had seniors and juniors, her husband died young due to an accident, and she was the only one in the family who was able to work."

"Her own parents, her husband's parents, and a pair of daughters who are less than 10 years old all depend on her for support."

"Even a heinous devil can't be completely indifferent after listening to the old woman's monologue, right?"

"As a result...guess what kind of reply the old woman got from Hirahiko Itakura when she prayed hoarsely?"

"Itakura Hirahiko said: I'm just a businessman. I opened a textile shop just to make money. What should I do if there's no money to be made in this business?"

"Your hands and feet are not as nimble as before, and your work efficiency is far less than before. The money used to hire you as a worker is no longer so valuable."

"To put it simply, your current labor ability is not worthy of the salary I offer you."

"I am a businessman, not a saint who cuts off meat to feed the eagles."

"Out of self-interest, I decided to fire you and hire someone younger and more capable than you. Is there any problem with this?"

"If you have any objections, go ahead and do what you tell me! Let the government comment and see whether it's you or me who is right!"

"As for what you said about having a big family that needs your support...that's none of my business."

"There are so many poor people in the world. There are only so many people who live a more miserable life than you."

"If every time someone kneels down in front of me and says some sensational words with tears, I have to give him a job, then I can't survive? I can't open my textile shop.

Already?"

"Let's do this! Let me give you a trick! This will save you from complaining about your old club's lack of blood and tears in the future."

"Didn't you say that you have to raise a family and it's very stressful? You can sell your daughters to Yoshiwara!"

"I think your daughters are quite good-looking. They will definitely be very popular with men. If they are well cultivated, they are expected to become the most popular courtesans in the future."

"If you want to sell your daughter, you can contact me."

"I happen to be very familiar with the owners of several girls' houses in Yoshiwara. I can help you connect and sell your daughter at a good price - how about that? Am I kind enough?"

Ms. Teshiro has finished speaking.

Silence fell around Qingdeng.

Qingdeng and others all had unspeakably heavy expressions on their faces at this moment.

"What happened to the old woman after that...I don't know."
To be continued...