The disgraced official I took care of was actually Zhu Houcong's childhood friend.

Chapter 354

Now, at only eight years old, Hai Rui embarked on his journey alone from Hainan to this place. This alone is something that only someone with a strong will could accomplish.

Hai Rui was a man of exceptionally strong character.

Zhou Chu was somewhat surprised to find Hai Rui here as well, given how far Hainan was from here. Zhou Chu knew very well that, given Hai Rui's family background, it was unlikely that anyone would be traveling with him. For an eight or nine-year-old child to travel nearly four thousand miles, mostly by water, was still a feat that not everyone could accomplish.

Historically, Hai Rui was a truly loyal and virtuous minister, a representative of incorruptible officials, and a paragon of virtues. He was capable and could accomplish most of what he set out to do, regardless of the obstacles he faced.

Hai Rui's career can be described as smooth sailing. Originally just a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations), Hai Rui was appreciated by his superiors in the local area and promoted all the way up, eventually becoming a high-ranking official in charge of a region.

People like Hai Rui carved out a bloody path through sheer personal ability.

The common people need officials like Hai Rui more than anyone else, and the Ming Dynasty also needs officials like Hai Rui.

But officials like Hai Rui are destined to be few and far between. Hai Rui is like a divine sword; once the emperor wields it, he will be invincible.

Even someone like Xu Jie, who controlled the entire Songjiang Prefecture, was ultimately eliminated by Hai Rui single-handedly. Given the circumstances at the time, it's unlikely that anyone else could have accomplished this; only Hai Rui could have.

"Student Wang Mengchun also wants to study the study of things."

As Hai Rui stepped forward, one by one, students who were full of interest in the study of natural philosophy stepped forward.

Finally, a total of fifty or sixty people stepped forward, expressing their desire to learn the study of natural philosophy, which pleased Zhou Chu greatly.

However, Zhou Chu also knew that these people might not all be suitable for studying physics. Physics and mathematics depend entirely on talent, and there is a world of difference between those with talent and those without.

Mathematics is a tool for physics. The difference in talent in mathematics is enormous; those with talent and those without will learn it in completely different ways.

Zhou Chu knew very well that some of these fifty or sixty people would eventually give up on the study of natural philosophy and switch to other subjects; it would be good if half of them remained.

Zhou Chu looked at the fifty or sixty people in front of him and nodded.

"Come with me."

After Zhou Chu finished speaking, he turned and walked towards the Academy of Sciences, and Hai Rui and the others hurriedly followed.

As for Zhao Zhenji and Hu Zongxian, they were not among these people. Both of them had a clear goal: to pass the imperial examination and enter officialdom. Naturally, they would not be easily swayed.

As for Yan Shifan, Zhou Chu directly sent him to the Water Conservancy College to study geography and water conservancy.

Whether Yan Shifan liked it or not was unimportant. Yan Shifan was quite intelligent, but he had never used his intelligence for good.

Zhou Chu didn't expect Yan Shifan to learn any great skills; he just wanted him to temper his character at the academy so that he wouldn't go astray in the future.

Why doesn't Brother Zhao study the science of investigating things?

Hu Zongxian looked at Zhao Zhenji and asked.

Zhao Zhenji smiled when he heard this.

"The study of things is good, but it is not what I pursue. I see that you are interested in the study of things, so why don't you study it?"

Zhao Zhenji countered with a question.

"Brother Zhao is right. Although the study of things is good, it is not my pursuit. My long-cherished wish is to expand the territory of my Great Ming Dynasty."

Hu Zongxian was, after all, a young man. Although he was a bit cunning, he was still full of vigor when talking about this topic.

Zhou Chu led Hai Rui and a group of students to the classroom of the Gewu Academy.

"You all find your seats first, and I'll rearrange the seating later."

Zhou Chu said casually.

Upon hearing this, everyone found their preferred seats and sat down.

"My father is the Minister of Personnel, what right do you have to sit here?"

The speaker was none other than Han Jiuxu, the son of Han Jie, the Minister of Personnel, and the younger brother of Han Yuan'er. He was one of Han Jie's many sons.