Restart:Untalented Man

Chapter 26 Education System

?After the banquet, Riz fulfilled his part of the deal with Count Tetherswest to give him a blueprint of trebuchets. Riz asked him to send people to Bideford to teach them operating trebuchets.

He doesn't want to send his technical team to Tetherswest County as he needs them here.

Count Tetherswest formally handed over the right to rule over Durbotes and Torksey to Ryntum. As for the king's acknowledgment, he immediately agrees.

'The king thought that he can get his hand on trebuchets now through Tetherswest. That's why he agrees to transfer the ownership of two cities. The same goes to the nobles who make a fuss about the ownership of former Gyalcake's territory previously. They kept their mouth shut this time', Riz can see where their thought process is going.

They probably think that he is stupid for giving up his advantage. They didn't know that the trebuchets were a mere beginning.

Count Tetherswest also fulfilled his part of the deal by announcing the engagement between Riz and Theodora. According to Richard, Count Tetherswest has been regularly holding a banquet and tea party to spread the news.

All the uproar that happened because of it doesn't bother Riz in the slightest. There are many things that he needs to do.

Now, the construction of the government plaza has started. The town hall in every city and town was also being upgraded. All of this project costs a lot of money but it is necessary.

Riz feels it is time to start planning an education for people. It takes a long time to see the results of education in society. The sooner it is implemented the better.

His plan is to separate the educational level into four stages;

Elementary school (6 years)

Middle school (3 years)

High school (3 years)

University

Except for university, people don't need to pay for the other three stages.

He plans to charge an exorbitant fee for university level, prepare a scholarship and put an entry quota to enter the university. Only the best of the best can enter university.

The reason for this is that he wants to limit the number of university graduates. He didn't want a university to become a factory that was mass-producing graduates. It will only lower the graduates' value.

In his past life, the value of university graduates was so low that most of them were underpaid. Except for a few employers, the majority of them view the graduate as a cheap commodity they can be replace.

If one person quits, tens more will come to the interview on the next day.

Second, he is not kind enough to give a free higher level education to the people. He already plans to make it free for the first three stages. They need to work hard if they want to enter the university.

People will become ungrateful if they keep getting everything without having to put any effort.

He then decides on the syllabus for every stage. The focus of his education plan is to increase the knowledge in science, biology, chemistry, mathematics, engineering and also to instill the loyalty to Ryntum family since their childhood.

Education is the best way to brainwash the masses.

Riz spent around one and a half months doing nothing but writing the content of the syllabus from elementary level to high school level.

It's not an easy task to recall things that he learned a long time ago. He needs to write it down, arrange it and compile it.

As for university level, he only knows the content syllabus of civil engineering. For other fields, he is not in a rush to complete the university syllabus.

He is not going to build a university right off the bat. It's pretty stupid to build a university when more than eighty percent of your population is illiterate.

"Finally!!! I managed to finish writing the syllabus", he almost cried due to happiness. It has been a torture for the past one and a half months.

It was a few days before the new year but Riz has another problem that needs to be settled.

"Now, that I have finished writing the syllabus, it's time to design a printing press", Riz knows if he wants to promote education, a printing press is important.

Right now, knowledge is a property of a small number of people. Before the existence of the printing press, a person needs to painstakingly copy a book by hand which takes years to complete.

The combination of the printing press and paper will bring down the price of the book to the point where books are no longer considered a luxurious item.

The concept of movable type printing itself is not new. It was first invented as a movable clay type by Bi Sheng.

However, in the 15th century on Earth, Johannes Gutenberg introduced the metal movable-type printing press. He utilized the replica casting principle, which included creating letters in reverse and then reproducing them from these moulds by pouring molten lead. This technique allowed Gutenberg to produce the type in vast quantities and for various stages of printing.

Riz starts drawing the Gutenberg press. He starts with roughly sketching its basic structure before slowly refining it and making it as detailed as possible. For the part that he can't remember, he can discuss it with Arnold and Goban by explaining to them its working principle.

Riz doesn't have an outstanding memory. During his study, he needs to repeat the same thing over and over again to memorize something. He never felt that he was the smartest, instead he felt that he was the dumbest among his peers.

To achieve the same results as his peers, he needs to work several times harder. It is very tiring.

Riz shook his head and stopped reminiscing about the past.

He continues finishing his drawing.

On earth, the introduction of movable type printing changes society's structure forever. The elites' monopoly on education was broken by the sudden rise in literacy among the commoner.

The same thing can happen to Ryntum if he spreads the technology, which he doesn't plan to do. He will only use it for his advantage.

He doesn't want to put Ryntum's political dominance in danger.

At present, his people are a bunch of idiots who will believe in everything they hear. They can't differentiate between rumors and facts.

Give them a printing press and chaos will happen.

....

Currently, Richard is reading Riz's plan for education. The office was quiet, only the sound of paper flipping can be heard.

"You're not planning to build all types of school, aren't you?", Richard asks.

"No, of course not. We will start with elementary school first but I plan to build an elementary school in every city. Children from the age of seven can enter", Riz replied.

"Start with Bideford first, your farming tool has liberated many workforce here. Other cities still have not fully implemented your tool yet", suggested Richard.

"Anything else, father?"

"This printing press...."

"Don't worry father, I don't plan to spread it", Riz knows what his father is concerned about.

"Good, if we can't control this press, it will be disastrous", Richard relieved that Riz can see the effects of his invention to society.

As Riz reached the door, his father reminded him, "Ohh, one more thing. Don't forget your class will start next year."

Riz just nodded and left the office. He wants to take a rest as soon as possible.

His head hurt so much that he ended up wasting the last few days of Year 299 lazing around.

Sometimes a short break is needed after a long period of hard work.