115 – Saemaul Undong in the Middle Ages (6)

Hearing my words, the dean pondered for a while, then laughed and said,

“Above me are the president, vice president, and numerous seniors. But how do I become president?”

He trembles and makes gestures of refusal, but…

His heart was full of desire for the position of president of the academy, and his expression was full of joy.

But, if you’re a guy who can put up with it this far, there’s sure to be a way to use it.

So, once again, I asked questions to get information to finalize my plan.

“I was the one who said that I would move all of you and build a new academy, and since the situation is so confusing, I guess I just need to convince the Count Scola family, who are inheriting the position of academy supervisor in charge of the academy.”

And coincidentally, the forces of the 2nd Prince, whom Count Scola is pushing, do not have enough money, so even if they increase the number of mercenaries, they are reducing them…

If you offer to pay 20,000 gold coins as back money and add a justification for the academy relocation, you will be able to convince them.

[It’s unfortunate that the academy, which has a tradition that has been passed down for hundreds of years, is in chaos due to the civil war in the imperial capital. So, as a noble from the periphery who serves the royal family of Elaine, I want to protect them until the emperor is decided.]

If you say this, even Count Scola, who can control the academy, will be given away for money.

Other nobles would be more than happy to take it from those who have to compete with them right away.

Then I reached out my right hand and placed my index finger on the center of the dean’s chest.

“Think about it, you who became the president in recognition of your achievement in relocating the academy from the chaotic capital city by making this negotiation a success. Yes, the sight of being recognized as president in your 40s, beating all the vice-presidents and senior deans at the top.”

“Haona… .”

“Aren’t you ecstatic? Oh, and after the civil war is over, the Emperor himself will ask you to return. At that time, I can raise the price again.”

At those words, the dean gulped and stared at me.

“By the time you return, you will be recognized for your achievements in protecting the academy, and you will receive a huge reward and the title of court baron, which can be hereditary. Because the academy, the repository of all studies, is a place worth it.”

And although he didn’t say it, if he was a court baron and a hero who protected the academy, he would definitely have the authority and power of a court count, although he would only be a baron after returning.

“This is an attractive enough condition for the dean, who is a professor at an academy with only honor left without a proper salary. Of course, in return I intend to get more than a little, but I trust you know that you are not in a position to choose between hot soup and cold soup. Will you take a chance?”

At my words, he finally revealed his true colors and said with a greedy laugh.

“How can I get such a good opportunity… No, would you miss your chance to save the academy as dean? Since the maintenance of the academy is also the will of the late Emperor, I, Isaac Bolton, will follow Your Excellency’s order and become the president for the sake of a safe recovery.”

It took a long time because they are academy guys who can’t catch them using the cheat key called Yeongji like other nobles.

However, since the author’s eyes are already filled with aspirations for success and wealth, he can now use this to make unreasonable demands on the president of the new academy I will create.

“Okay, then, as the employer who bought you, I give orders.”

At those words, the dean naturally knelt down on one knee and paid his respects, just like our vassals.

“I will set up mechanical engineering department, military department, and technology department in the academy that I will establish. The academy, no, even if I look around the academy of Europia, there is no one to teach me these skills… We will recruit technicians, knights, mercenaries, and swordsman guild guys with the best abilities. And they too will become professors.”

Hearing that, the dean in front of me put on a disgusted expression, but he replied with a slightly brighter expression, as if he had found a good excuse.

“Those who teach swordsmanship to lowly serfs or even slaves are recognized as nobles only at the time. So, if His Excellency pretends to learn from the technicians and mercenaries, even formally… With a bit of force, you could put them in the same class as our professors.”

Even in this era, sword masters who teach swordsmanship to nobles are treated as nobles regardless of their status.

Well, I know because I’m a noble, but these nobles don’t try to learn anything from commoners…

However, since there is no sword master in the true sense among the nobility, he would rather give the sword master a noble status only at the time to take care of his pride.

Also, you must learn swordsmanship from a sword master, right?

“Ah, even though our teacher was a very humble mercenary, he is now a nobleman! So, I didn’t learn anything from the lowly guy!”

“Thank you, Dean… No future chancellor.”

At those words, the guy in front of me jumped in delight and said.

“No, and how will you treat the graduates?”

“Students entering the military department are almost the same as those entering the academy anyway. Almost all of them are children of noble families or those currently serving as officers. Also, the graduates of the Faculty of Technology and Faculty of Mechanical Engineering are academy graduates, but they are not serving me, so I cannot give them noble status.”

“That is a valid idea. Then, at least those who graduated from the Military Faculty are treated as semi-nobles, and the rest are guaranteed professionalism as graduates of the academy.”

“However, if you complete a master’s degree or higher, even in the Faculty of Technology, we will be able to treat you as a semi-nobleman in our territory.”

And those with a master’s degree or higher should be turned into my subordinate researcher, suggesting the direction of research, and grinding them like grinding stones.

Only by grinding like that will you be able to gain an overwhelming technological advantage over nobles from other territories.

While I was thinking about it, another thought suddenly popped into my head.

“Come to think of it, a theology department will also be established.”

“Yes, it is. The Imperial Academy teaches theology and trains excellent priests.”

“Let them continue their education according to the current curriculum. Also, I want you to increase the number of professors recommended by the archbishop. At the same time, from now on, all students of the theology department, regardless of background, should live a pastoral life like priests in a church in a rural village during their senior year vacation.”

At that, the dean asked with a puzzled expression.

“But if you do that, there will be a backlash from the students from the aristocracy… ”

At that, I said with a snort.

“If only the second or third son rebels against me, I will take responsibility for expulsion.”

“I will follow your orders.”

In fact, the practice life is for the priests of the village to report on the apprentice priests participating in the practice, and to find a guy with an excellent sense of duty.

And a priest with an excellent sense of duty will be sent under Wycliffe’s thoroughly educated priests, and after receiving a master’s degree, he will be sent under Wycliffe’s command.

Also, if these educated sprouts go to the Holy See or each cathedral and live as priests… ?

Obviously, there will be guys who clash with old people who sell indulgence, and other lords will have a hard time dealing with it.

How efficient and reasonable this is.

After making him accept all the terms I said, I opened a document and said to him.

“And this is the academy I formed. I made a small castle and a village around the castle just for the academy around Nantes Castle.”

“A castle and village just for the academy, only 15 kilometers away from Nantes Castle… This is a treatment I never received even when I was in the ecliptic.”

“Well, since I am not His Majesty, I have to treat you more than that so that you will be loyal to me and work for me. Also, the village under the castle will be ruled by officials under my command, but I will give you all the taxes I collect there. Later, the population will increase to 10,000 people, so I can receive a huge amount in taxes.”

Seeing me, the dean, perhaps thrilled with the enormous benefit I provided, knelt down and bowed his head as if to God.

Since the dean, who is treated as an aristocrat, is the only human who would act like this, he meant that he would treat me like an emperor while I was here.

“Stand up, President.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“No, I am still the dean… . Yes, Dean… I will give you an honorable first order.”

At those words, the dean bowed his head with a solemn expression.

“All the buildings have been built, and now the only thing left is for you to become the president and run the academy yourself. However, according to the academy’s tradition, the position of president is inherited by the former president… I don’t want to break that tradition. What do you think?”

“Is it possible! No matter how much the academy is changed by your Excellency, this tradition must continue. So, I will also follow the tradition.”

Then, I showed the dean in front of me the letter sealed with my signet ring and said,

“But no matter how urgent the situation is, the current chancellor will not want to lose power. So, show him the blueprint of the academy and the plan first, with things like the amount of money written down. Then, my immediate aide, Major Frost, will deliver this letter.”

Upon hearing that, the dean looked at me with anxious eyes and asked.

“What was written in the letter… ”

“The obvious is written. It says to come to this academy because you will be treated very well. And when you come here and prepare for the inauguration ceremony, I will persuade him with nice words to hand over the presidency to you.”

When I checked for the last time, the dean bowed his head and stepped back.

“I will follow your orders, Your Excellency.”

**

And I talked to Lieutenant Short as I went back to my room from the office.

“Yes, Lieutenant Short. Have Major Frost and the dean gone well?”

At that, Lieutenant Short laughed and said.

“Aren’t you the president now?”

“That’s right, since you’re like a friend blinded by desire… you can’t imagine he’d accept my invitation so easily…”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’ll make you president, but if you try to threaten me by using the students to increase your power instead… I’ll kill you.”