Ch.262Knowledge (3)

I looked quite surprised at my request.

“Are you asking me to establish new departments for medicine and administration?”

“That’s right.”

“Medicine seems possible. But…administration…”

It’s not that administrative studies didn’t exist in the medieval period.

However, most medieval universities taught subjects like grammar, arithmetic, music, geometry, astronomy, rhetoric, and logic.

The reason for teaching these disciplines was that universities at this time were considered extensions of understanding God.

This concept was established by the University of Bologna, which laid the foundation for Western university curricula—bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees—and created modern university culture.

That’s why they only taught canon law and civil law, and even these were added in the 10th century under Arabic influence, expanding the curriculum.

Regardless of this background, administration wasn’t defined as a distinct academic discipline during this period.

To become an administrator, one had to study rhetoric, logic, and law.

“Did you graduate from a university?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Where are you from?”

“I’m from Italy.”

“Then you must know about the University of Bologna.”

“It’s not where I graduated from, but I know it fairly well.”

The dean was Italian.

That’s why he knew about the University of Bologna.

“Do you know how noble families or monarchs recruit talented administrators from universities?”

“They typically recruit those skilled in rhetoric, logic, and law.”

“Are such talents common?”

“Not at all.”

“What do you think is the reason for that?”

“I believe it’s because these three disciplines are not only profound but also difficult to master.”

“Then do you think someone who has mastered them has sufficient qualities as an administrator?”

“They have sufficient qualities. However, whether administration requires such talent… Ah!”

The dean’s eyes widened as if he finally understood what I meant.

“That’s exactly what I want. Adequate talent. People who can become my hands and feet, spreading the central government’s influence throughout the empire.”

Having many talented people is good.

However, as with all things in the world, exceptional talent is always limited.

And such capable individuals knew they were exceptional.

Therefore, employing many of them could actually be detrimental to administration.

So what I wanted was, to put it nicely, well-rounded individuals, or to put it bluntly, ordinary talent.

In mechanical terms, small auxiliary wheels that support the large cogwheels.

“For administrative studies, I want students to learn only up to a certain level of rhetoric, logic, law, arithmetic, and other disciplines necessary for administration.”

I wanted neither more nor less, just the right level.

Too large a cogwheel creates disharmony, and too small a cogwheel serves no purpose.

I intended to create talent of the appropriate level that could fulfill their roles.

“That’s an excellent idea.”

As the dean agreed, Munglig, who had been quietly listening from behind, stepped forward.

“Additionally, they should learn muscle philosophy, brother.”

“Why are you bringing up muscle philosophy?”

“Brother, think about it. Who will teach these students when they enter the department?”

“Who else but the many scholars at the House of Wisdom… Ah!”

“Exactly. They are already steeped in muscle philosophy. Therefore, doesn’t it make sense that students need to build muscles to learn from them?”

This was sophistry.

Building muscles to enter university?

If this had happened in modern times, there would have been immediate protests from parents.

But this was the medieval period.

And all the professors who would teach the students were muscular.

In other words, students had to do it whether they wanted to or not.

To survive their professors.

“Besides, those who major in administration will become civil servants serving the future Ulus. It’s unacceptable for an Ulus civil servant to be unable to perform duties due to lack of physical strength.”

Taking a break during official duties due to physical exhaustion.

This was unthinkable in the current muscle-obsessed Ulus.

“Ulus civil servants must be physically strong.”

“Uh…”

I wanted to object.

I understood it intellectually, but emotionally I knew this wasn’t right.

Just as I was about to open my mouth to stop Munglig’s unreasonable demands,

Munglig beat me to it.

“Then you won’t have to suffer through paperwork, brother.”

No more suffering through paperwork.

With these words, I decided to actively embrace Munglig’s opinion.

“You’re right, Munglig. We should establish a rule that all students must build muscles as a basic requirement.”

Munglig nodded with a satisfied expression.

“As expected of you, brother.”

Because of this decision, all students in the Ulus had to learn muscle philosophy.

Unfortunately.

* * *

Santiago was a talented student.

Born in Iberia, he had been called a prodigy since childhood.

At the age of 12, he realized there was nothing more for him to learn in Iberia.

So he asked his wealthy parents to move to Constantinople, where the greatest scholars of the time were said to gather.

Moving was difficult in medieval times, but having connections with nobility made Santiago’s relocation relatively easy.

After settling in Constantinople, Santiago majored in law at Constantinople University, considered the first university.

He was only 13 years old at the time.

After graduating in law in just one year, he wanted to gain more knowledge.

So despite being a Christian, he corresponded with Arab scholars to accumulate knowledge.

During this time, he received a letter from a scholar in Baghdad with whom he had been corresponding.

The letter stated that due to the Mongol invasion, the House of Wisdom was being relocated to the Mongol capital.

Santiago was greatly surprised by this. It was hard to believe that a suddenly appearing foreign tribe would dismantle the House of Wisdom and move it to their capital, Dadu.

To verify if this was true, he contacted other scholars in the Mashriq.

While exchanging letters, Santiago unexpectedly received visitors from these foreign tribes.

Warriors on horseback.

The cavalry carrying flags with crosses called themselves the Eastern Crusaders, protectors of Christianity who received orders from Prester John.

Santiago realized these were warriors from Mongolia.

These Mongol warriors, before overthrowing the tyrant Andronikos I, sent soldiers to recruit scholars.

Intrigued, Santiago accepted their offer and headed to Dadu.

“That’s why I’m here.”

Abdul nodded at Santiago’s explanation.

“You’ve come a long way.”

“And what brought you here?”

“Similar reasons. I received an offer from the Mongols and moved to Dadu.”

“Were you forcibly relocated?”

“Forcibly? I love Dadu.”

Abdul said this while pointing to the university.

“Do you think it’s possible for the mysterious knowledge of the East, the logical knowledge of the Arabs, and the challenging knowledge of Europe to gather in one place during such chaotic times?”

“Of course not.”

Santiago couldn’t help but agree on this point.

Born as a scholar, the desire to experience knowledge one hasn’t encountered before was the aspiration of all researchers.

“That’s why I’m determined to enter that university.”

“You mean you want to enter Yesugei University?”

“Yes. I’ve heard that outstanding scholars from the East, Middle East, and West teach students there as professors. After graduating, one can either become an administrator for the empire or continue research at the House of Wisdom. Therefore, if I could enter this repository of wisdom established by the great ruler of the Ulus, I would have no regrets.”

“Administrator…”

Not all researchers only wanted to conduct research.

Some scholars, specifically those who delved deeply into academics, wanted to apply what they learned to real life.

Santiago was one of them.

So the prospect of becoming an administrator leading a vast empire was naturally appealing.

“You have a desire to apply what you’ve learned?”

“Yes.”

“That’s good then.”

Abdul said this with a smile.

And gestured for Santiago to follow him.

“Where are we going? Shouldn’t we go to the university to enroll?”

“There are conditions to enter the university.”

“Don’t tell me you need to be a noble or have a noble’s recommendation?”

“Haha, no. Mongolia is a country where anyone can succeed if they have ability.”

“Then why are we going somewhere other than the university?”

“You’ll see when we get there.”

As Abdul led the way, Santiago had no choice but to follow.

After walking a bit, they came upon the splendid streets of Dadu.

A metropolis with countless people coming and going.

The main avenue cutting through the center of this metropolis was magnificence itself.

“The main avenue is always crowded.”

“I’ve heard it’s the busiest city in the world, with merchants from various provinces of the empire mingling.”

“You know well. Then do you know what’s at the end of the main avenue?”

“The end of the main avenue? Isn’t that where Lord Munglig’s house is, who’s well-known as a close associate of Gurkhan?”

“Correct. But it’s not a house.”

“Then what is it?”

“It’s a specialized academy for university entrance preparation.”

“Academy…? What do you mean by…”

“We’re here!”

Abdul stopped talking and opened the door to what looked like a massive temple.

Inside, there was a strong smell of sweat and numerous men exercising.

“8 times 8 is 64!”

“The volume of a cylinder circumscribing a sphere is 1.5 times the volume of that sphere!”

“Judicial interpretation is the epitome of authoritative interpretation!”

“To effectively convey the meaning of a text, one must keep the flow of writing engaging!”

“…”

It sounded like studying just from listening.

But the people here weren’t just studying.

They were exercising and studying simultaneously.