Chapter 28: Far East University
Within the borders of Yingzhou, there are a total of three national higher education institutions, with Far East University being the first.
A higher education institution organized with the full strength of a nation undoubtedly possesses unique qualities.
Yingzhou, as an island nation situated between the East and the West, exhibits an ideological and cultural inclination towards the stable governance of Confucianism in the East. However, with the advent of modernization, its economic development naturally tends towards embracing greater productive capacity. Consequently, to a certain extent, Yingzhou under the rule of a shogunate becomes more proactive in introducing foreign technologies, and is even more advanced than its neighboring country, the Ming Country, across the sea.
The Ming Country was not actually conservative in terms of introducing technological innovations. Various new conceptual machines were mostly originated from the hands of craftsmen in the Ming Country. The benefits of industrial revolution and technological advancement were not lost to the world; creations like ironclad cruisers have long been navigating the oceans.
However, due to numerous internal obstacles within the Ming Country, such as treacherous terrains, intricate power struggles, and supernatural forces impeding progress, such as landslides and torrential rains, it becomes exceedingly difficult to fully execute large-scale projects aimed at transforming the natural ecosystem. Consequently, heavy industries that prioritize development at the cost of environmental destruction are only able to operate in very limited areas.
Furthermore, the Ming Country doesn't possess abundant natural resources, with an abundance of mountains and lakes but limited arable land. In comparison to Europa, which is rich in mineral resources and naturally suitable for the development of heavy industries, the Ming Country harbors a sense of anxiety about falling behind and struggling to catch up. This state of mind can be seen as a form of helplessness in certain respects.
In light of all these factors, it is precisely these circumstances that have sparked a significant intensification of communication between the Ming Country and Yingzhou.
The Ming Country also intends to utilize Yingzhou as a means to observe the usefulness of various foreign-introduced technologies.
These seemingly vibrant young individuals, each and every one of them, are genuine and accomplished overseas students who have obtained official recommendation letters from the Six Ministries.
The actual powers of the Six Ministries in the Ming Dynasty have long been refined and decentralized, adopting a more efficient modernized system. Over time, the Six Ministries have gradually shifted from wielding substantial authority to becoming high-end institutions for talent selection and recruitment. Dispatching students to study abroad is one of the benefits of this talent selection process.
They are all outstanding individuals from various fields, qualifying them to be sent to Yingzhou's Far East University as exchange students. In the future, they will acquire the most cutting-edge technologies and upon graduation, they will be expected to participate in a five to ten-year development plan for the Ming Country.
Bai Wei merely asked casually, and they all readily acknowledged their understanding.
There is nothing to conceal, as it is an openly known identity, and it is also a capital worthy of boasting.
In the Ming Country, compulsory education doesn't extend to universities, making this group of university students relatively niche.
Apart from the inherent pride that some young people possess, there aren't many flaws, but rather, it's not bad at all. After all, what kind of young person isn't considered optimistic and confident?
Upon arriving at Far East University, a total of thirty international students had already gathered at the entrance.
"Up ahead lies our procession," the young man named Egi proclaimed, "Soon, our esteemed seniors will be here to receive us."
"Brother Bai, how about you join us as well? It would be convenient to get a temporary admission permit so that you won't have to go through the complicated registration process," the young man named Xia Tuo added from the side.
Bai Wei also had the same thought. This group of people shared a common exclamation mark above their heads, which was quite conspicuous.
As he was about to agree, a faint purple trail caught his peripheral vision. A young girl in a university uniform walked through the crowd, leaving a striking impression with her graceful figure and vibrant purple exclamation mark imprinted on his retina.
Ah, my my, quite a remarkable nice body… No, hold on, was that a purple exclamation mark?
Awakening or the ordinary?
However, it is evident that purple is rarer. Let's set aside the gradient colors for now; they have yet to make a splash.
"No, I have other matters to attend to. Until later, let us meet again on campus," Bai Wei bid farewell with a respectful bow.
Without waiting for a word from either of them, he took a step and disappeared into another crowd, leaving no trace behind.
Egi scratched his head and said, "I originally planned to introduce a few more individuals, as we are all drifting away from home and it would be beneficial to have familiar faces to take care of one another."
Xia Tuo chuckled and said, "There will be an opportunity later. Let's go ahead for now, as they're about to call the names."
The two individuals came to the front of the queue and, upon hearing their own names, voluntarily stepped forward.
Having just stepped forward, they only then noticed that many people were standing upright. Not to mention any noise, there wasn't even a trace of idle chatter; everyone was completely focused, as if…
"Egi, what do you think?" whispered Jiangmu, "It's as if they have discovered something, these beasts, why are they so quiet, just like a public lecture for parents."
Xia Tuo, with a solemn demeanor and a serious tone, warned, "Please refrain from speaking to me and uphold the utmost discipline."
"…?" Egi glanced at this fellow hometown friend with vacant eyes.
Then, following his gaze, the entire person also instantly became solemn.
What a beautiful young lady.
With skin as white as snow, silver-bright eyes, a cold and distant temperament, resembling an orchid in a secluded valley, a white plum blossoming on snow.
So that's how it is, no wonder this group is so quiet, it turns out they are here to appreciate the beauty of art.
"Wait, white hair and white pupils, I remember them being on the past two lists…" Egi suddenly remembered who it was.
"You guessed it right," Xia Tuo nodded confidently, "Zhongzhou Baiyujing, heavenly beings of the immortal realm."
The pure white hair color is the visible manifestation of the enchanting spiritual energy bestowed by the celestial realm.
The Ming Country, in the world, has long diminished the distance between the immortal and mortal realms, so-called celestial beings are actually not as mythical as they seem.
Within the seemingly well-organized ranks, there were also individuals quietly whispering and exchanging secret messages in a clandestine manner.
"I wonder which member of the Yun family it is?"
"Indeed, but it is always appropriate to address her as Senior Yun."
"Do you dare to get close and shout? Approaching without caution could lead to unfavorable consequences."
"Most celestial beings tend to be reclusive, gossipmongering, beware of meddling with your spiritual essence and bones (laughter)."
"The cliché of disrupting spiritual essence and bones has been around for so many years, it's long outdated."
In the welcoming procession for new students, an elderly female scholar whispered to the gray-haired woman, teasingly saying, "It seems like everyone is quite curious about you. As we gather tonight to celebrate and cleanse ourselves, have you thought about how you will introduce yourself?"
The white-haired woman shifted her gaze slowly, her attention not focused on the female scholar.
"What's the matter?"
"I am feeling unhappy."
"Uh…"
"I dislike crowded places; a mass of people is too bothersome, always longing to swiftly tidy up."
"Once a year, endure it, welcoming new students requires everyone to be present."
"Indeed, it happens to be a farewell to a group, which also serves as a feast."
"Please refrain from uttering such words in front of others."
…
"This is your temporary admission certificate. Please wear it properly. It is valid only until 5:30 PM this afternoon. Kindly remember to return it before leaving."
The reception is handled by students from within the school. There are many visitors, and the students will assume the roles of laborers and volunteers, displaying a commendable attitude.
The weight of a first-class university, oh, it carries tremendous significance.
Bai Wei, holding the admission certificate, stepped into the campus, his thoughts drifting back to the past.
During his days as an emperor, he had also visited the Imperial Military Academy and aristocratic schools to deliver speeches. However, it was essentially a matter of proclaiming the school motto, showcasing imperial power, and subsequently witnessing a tumultuous wave of kneeling down.
It made him seem like a warlord leader, quite uninspiring.
It is more enjoyable to teach children how to read and write in the slums.
He followed the purple exclamation mark into the campus, but lost sight of it quickly due to the queue and login process taking over ten minutes.
He could only continue wandering within the school premises for now. With his dynamic vision, as long as the exclamation mark appeared within his line of sight, it was highly unlikely that he would lose track of it.
Because it was a leisurely stroll, naturally, his gaze paid more attention to things beyond superficial appearances.
Former Bai Wei possessed golden eyes that were just as magnificent as the higher-level Heroic Spirit Principle. Any disguise, deceit, or falsehood holds no meaning in his gaze.
The absolute strength that he possessed served as the most crucial support for him to firmly remain on the throne, even if he were to become a tyrant.
Even now, even without the support of this power, he can use his past experiences to discern certain truths hidden beneath the surface.
For example…
The number of non-residents within Far East University is actually quite limited; many individuals who appear to be ordinary are in fact dispatched by shogunate and governmental establishments.
A regular office worker passed by, but from his posture, it was evident that he maintained a semi-tense stance at all times, with his left hand consistently positioned in a fixed location, adopting a posture ready to shoot at any moment.
On the other side, a woman passed by wearing a spacious kimono, appearing to be an aristocratic lady. However, this was not entirely the case. The abundant and pure spiritual aura emanating from her supported the activities of minor Shikigami within a half-kilometer radius. The pigeons fluttered and circled several times, indicating that they were not ordinary animals.
It is likely that such a large number of people would require mobilizing more than half of the unconventional security forces.
The sheer number of plainclothes officers has surpassed the realm of ordinary security measures.
"The outward appearance of being ordinary in terms of openness, in reality, is much more tense than one could imagine."
"What news did the shogunate or official authorities of Yingzhou receive?"
"Could this possibly become a troublesome situation?"
Bai Wei halted in front of the vending machine, pressed the button, and purchased a can of beverage.
If there were indeed any troubles, he trusts that this group of undercover agents would be capable of resolving them. However, it is better to be safe than sorry. If all these undercover agents cannot handle the situation, it implies that Far East University is not entirely secure either… In fact, if any clues were detectable, there would be no need for such an extensive deployment of numerous lookout posts.
Being too stable, on the contrary, appears rather hollow.
Do I need me to participate in it?
Bai Wei leisurely took a sip of bitter barley tea and chuckled, "Damn it, pretending again… When did I start having this illusion of 'I can handle it'? I am clearly a rookie… Let me first go check on Simozi. As long as she is fine, then I have nothing to worry about."
