System, help me be an empress

Chapter 153 Two in One
"Master Rong, why do you encourage public school teachers to teach privately?" Pei Yao asked strangely.

"Public schools are short of money."

Pei Yao was thoughtful: "Public school is compulsory education, and it is indeed a very huge expenditure, but I have never heard of any news that the imperial court has financial constraints."

"So, the lack of money might just be an excuse?" He Muqing thought about it carefully, "Li Si, do you have any inside information?"

Xu Youxi put down the teacup: "This is actually easy to explain. Think about who the public school teachers are helping with private lessons? They are all from the clan."

"Correct."

"In the past, the imperial court strictly guarded the vassal kings' clans and spent a lot of silver every year to support this group of people, but how did these clans perform? From last year's 'two kings demotion case' to the 'Shu king's collusion with foreign countries' case '. Instead of raising and abolishing these clans, it is better to let them receive more education on etiquette, righteousness and shame, so as not to cause harm to the people."

"In addition, you can see a deeper level. The new policy formulated by the imperial court is that the clan arranges the younger generation to study in Beijing University. The test scores of these younger generations in the university will be directly linked to the benefits that the clan can receive in the future."

"The future is no different from two situations. Either a certain clan family does not produce a well-studied one, causing them to lose the support of the court. This situation can reduce the pressure on the national treasury. Or there is a family with a good study. First, he can make contributions to the great cadres; second, this person's status in the clan will become higher, as long as he has good moral character, it will definitely lead to a better atmosphere in the entire clan."

"Then Li Si, do you think I should go to the clan tutor?" He Muqing asked doubtfully.

"It's not necessary." Xu Youxi said decisively, "The imperial examination is about to start, both of you should study and review quickly, don't lose too much because of small things. This year's imperial examination is the first year of reform, and several departments in the court and central government will recruit people separately. The content of the exam will also be changed from the previous stereotyped essay to be more in line with current affairs, so you should pay more attention to the content of the Ganbao, and focus on memorizing the recent reforms of the imperial court."

He Muqing joked, "Li Si, are you considering betting?"

"..."

Xu Youxi was silent, she wasn't betting on a question, it was a missed question.

It seems that it is not impossible!
"What is the most important reform of the imperial court in the near future?"

Xu Youxi has decided that she will not participate in the examination papers this year, she will only bet on the questions.

"bank?"

"A whip?"

"Yes, it's a whip method." Xu Youxi nodded, "This reform was first conceived by Du Zhiyi from the household department and Yu Tan from the official department. Bao Shoufu, Meng Shangshu and a series of ministers in the court were the pioneers. In the assessment by the Ministry of Officials, he will definitely focus on one whip method."

"If you take the examination of the Ministry of Rites, there are mostly questions about public school and Beijing University. You must know the situation of public school. The situation of Shangjing University will not be made public for the time being, and even the test will not be too detailed."

"By the way, which department do you want to go to?"

"Household!"

"Household!"

The two spoke in unison.

"what?"

Xu Youxi looked at Bao Youjin hesitantly, with a puzzled face on his face: "It's fine if Mu Qing wants to go to the Ministry of Household Affairs, or are you still thinking about it?"

Xu Youxi wasn't afraid that he wouldn't pass the exam, but that he really dared to accept Du Zhiyi!
Otherwise, Bao will be crazy for a long time!

"Why can't you go to the household department?"

"Your father and Hubu Shangshu don't seem to get along well."

Xu Youxi vaguely reminded him.

"It's not a coincidence, so that others won't gossip and feel that I rely on my father to become an official." Bao Youjin said confidently, "Besides, now everyone in the world knows that Mr. Du is a clean and good official, and he is an official in the world. model. I naturally have to follow him and learn more from him.”

Seeing Bao Youjin's complacent appearance, Xu Youxi had nowhere to speak.

"..."

Xu Youxi seemed to have seen the picture of Bao Changnian in the court hall, fainting from anger.

No.

No.

She has to save her chief assistant!

In case Bao is on sick leave for many years, who will help her handle government affairs in the future!

Xu Youxi's eyes fell on Pei Yao, and he said tactfully: "Pei Yao, I remember that Yao Shaofu doesn't seem to like Mrs. Du very much either. The two of them have political disagreements and often quarrel?"

"There seems to be no quarrel." Pei Yao recalled for a while, "But my adoptive father's biggest enemy now is Lord Du. He often scolds Lord Du behind his back, but he also thinks that Lord Du is powerless."

After hearing Pei Yao's words, Bao Youjin immediately sat upright: "Compared with Master Du, I actually admire Meng Shangshu's high righteousness even more."

"Military Department?"

Okay.

When Bao Youjin went to the Ministry of War, at least he didn't have to worry about his father being so 'excited' that he would retire and return home.

"You're not interested in mathematics, but how can you be interested in the art of war?" Pei Yao began to pour cold water on her, "Is the Ministry of War not suitable for you?"

Bao Youjin was not angry at all, and nodded seriously: "That's right, the art of war is indeed too difficult, so I can only take the examination of the Ministry of Officials."

"Okay, that's it!"

Xu Youxi breathed a sigh of relief.

Very good, her chief assistant was saved.

"By the way, Mu Qing, why do you want to go to the household department?" Xu Youxi looked at He Muqing again and asked.

"I can learn something from Mr. Du." He Muqing smiled wryly, "My father is far away from Shangjing, so it's not possible for him to become enemies with Mr. Du."

"That's true." Xu Youxi thought about it, "Liu Jiye, who wrote the article in "Canbao", is from the Ministry of Accounting. If you are admitted to the Ministry of Accounting, you may have the opportunity to run the Ganbao with him."

He Muqing was surprised: "The newspaper is so important, can I have the opportunity to participate?"

"Nowadays, only men write articles for Ganbao. If you can join in, you will have the opportunity to use your ability to speak out for women."

"Indeed, this can be the direction of my efforts."

"In the past two years, the chances of being an official will increase a lot. Recently, Dagan is still discussing the specific matters of business relations with several dependent countries. In order to ensure that my businessmen in Dagan can abide by the laws of each dependent country, and at the same time, personal safety can be guaranteed. For protection, Dagan will arrange two or three permanent ambassadors in each dependent country."

"At the same time, Dagan will also set up embassies in various dependent countries in different locations to be responsible for protecting the safety and interests of the people who come from their localities." Xu Youxi said about the new policy without haste.

Both He Muqing and Bao Youjin listened very carefully.

"Which department will this work in the future, the Ministry of Rites?"

"Responsible for foreign exchanges, a brand new department. After your imperial examinations this year, the foreign department will almost be established. This department may sound ordinary, but it is actually of great significance."

"It sounds like I want to try it." He Muqing was eager to try.

"If you're really interested, you can also consider trying the diplomatic service here. Your personality is also suitable."

Pei Yao also took a sip of tea: "You guys prepare for the exam well, and I will work hard to do my business well and make more money for the treasury."

"Pei Yao's business is really good! You gave me those soaps and spices, and other students in the Imperial College envied me, saying that they had traveled many times but couldn't buy them."

"You will be an official in the court in the future, and you will be able to do much more than me. At that time, I should be the one to admire you."

Xu Youxi also felt relaxed while listening to the chat.

But having said that, when these two enter the court as officials, will she lose her vest?
I'm afraid there will be no chance in the future to have such a peaceful chat.

Bao Youjin said: "Recently, the imperial court has made new moves. Your Majesty seems to want to merge several cities and counties near Shangjing into the jurisdiction of Shangjing. The officials in Shangjing will be transferred soon."

"What else?" Pei Yao looked at Li Si in surprise, as if asking her if she knew about it.

"Correct."

"Why do you suddenly want to increase the area of ​​Shangjing?"

"As the capital, wouldn't it be nice to have a bustling and lively capital?" Xu Youxi didn't answer directly.

joke.

Would it be a bit embarrassing to say that the location of Shangjing University is not located in Shangjing?

Xu Youxi chatted with a few people for a long time, about public schools, and gossip about court affairs.

Several people had a rare lunch together before they left.

"After the imperial examination is over, we are looking for opportunities to get together more."

Before leaving, Xu Youxi still walked with Pei Yao, and the two of them were still discussing the further development of the odd goods shop along the way.

"Perhaps we can set up a small handicraft factory in the coastal areas of Guangdong, such as hooks, spring hair ornaments, clips, etc. At that time, we can encourage the common people to make some inventions in their daily life, and the idea of ​​buying these inventions at high prices in odd goods shops, in general It’s better than relying entirely on the Shengong Bureau. At that time, a few similar shops will be opened in developed areas, and they will be called grocery stores.”

"...Pei Yao, you have to go to Guangdong again in a month?"

"Yes, the sea trade in Guangdong is indeed very developed. I don't know what's going on unless I go and have a look." Pei Yao was also quite helpless.

……

After Xu Youxi finished attending the small gathering of several people, there was nothing extra to do for the time being. After wandering around the street for a while, he planned to go back to the palace to rest.

As soon as she returned to the palace and sat down, Yu Xuejing happened to send her a secret report.

Inside the secret report were two letters, one from Xu Shengshi Baoping Ping An, and the other from General He Jiangyi.

Xu Shengshi's letter is mainly a description of some interesting things.

It wrote about his first time sailing on the sea in a boat; how he was forced to learn to swim by teammates he knew in the army; for the first time he learned how to use copper cannons and fire blunderbusses, Shenhuo Flying Crow; and the first time he participated in A thrilling battle at sea took place.

"Everything is fine now, don't worry about Wang Shangjing.

May father, mother and sister be safe and well. "

Xu Youxi stared at the letter for a while, and asked: "What is the meaning of the sea battle in the letter? Bronze cannons and firecrackers were also used?"

"The minister has not received the news yet."

Yu Xuejing is not too clear about this.

Xu Youxi immediately opened the second envelope, which was sent by He Jiangyi.It was in this letter that the incident was revealed.

A few merchant ships suddenly came near the sea area. Those people had strange looks and were quite different from Dagan people, with obvious differences in hair color and eye color.They claimed to be here to do business in Dagan territory, but they resolutely rejected General He's routine inspection.

As a result, small-scale battles broke out between the two sides.

The strength of the Daqian Navy is still very strong. It only took an incense stick of time to drive away this group of fleets, and there were zero casualties.

Although those "merchant ships" from overseas suffered a loss, they did not leave immediately, but lingered at sea for several days.

Later, the envoys they sent expressed the hope that both sides could take a step back.The purpose of their coming this time is mainly to use the large amount of silver on their ship to exchange silk, tea and porcelain with Dagan, and there is absolutely no malice.

They even took the initiative to send silver to He Jiangyi, but He Jiangyi confiscated it, and insisted on the principle that he must first inspect the cargo of the ship and report it to His Majesty before deciding whether to allow these merchant ships to enter the port.

He Jiangyi must first determine the number of people on board the other party and whether there are any dangerous items, so as to prevent these people from harming ordinary people after disembarking.

But the overseas merchant ship refused again, and the other party refused to agree to He Jiangyi's reasonable inspection request, so he insisted on the principle and asked the other party to get out of the Dagan sea area immediately, otherwise it would be a war.

At that time, in addition to He Jiangyi's five warships, all fifteen warships along the coast of Guangdong were also ordered to dispatch, and a fight almost broke out.

Several 'merchant ships' from overseas seemed to have no choice but to temporarily change their course and leave the Dagan sea area.Before leaving, they also said that they would come again in a while, and hoped that Dagan could accept them with the appropriate hospitality at that time.

He Jiangyi told Xu Youxi in the letter that he believed that the origin of these merchant ships was unknown, and the so-called merchants in the ships were obviously played by 'soldiers' with rich combat experience.

He is extremely suspicious of these fleets, the business is fake, and the war is real.I hope that His Majesty can issue a transfer order to put all the military ships in the coastal area into a state of readiness, and at the same time strictly control the exchange of merchant ships and customs.

Even if a war does break out, try not to affect ordinary people in the coastal areas.

After Xu Youxi finished reading the letter, she had to pay attention to this matter.The customs in the first few decades were extremely strict, and she didn't care how far the economic and military development in areas such as Europe and the Americas had progressed.

"Master Yu, you pick out some trustworthy Jinyiwei. Recently, Pei Yao is going to Guangdong to do business. Send these Jinyiwei to drive a steam car, and send a batch of the latest firearms and equipment to General He and the others in the name of sourcing goods for odd goods stores. Armor in the past."

"Also, didn't the Shengong Bureau invent throwable explosives? Some biological poisonous gas seems to have a preliminary product, and 100 people from the Shenji Battalion were sent to the sea to test new firearms."

"General He and his army have worked hard to defend the sea area these years. You ask the Guangdong Textile Factory to make at least two sets of clothes for each soldier and send them along. Talk to Pei Ruo and ask the warehouse of Qihuo Shop How many soaps, safety charms and other supplies are there, and you can also bring some meat and cakes from the shore by the way."

"It is said that he came to express condolences on behalf of the imperial court, and asked General He to distribute these things to every soldier."

　I actually caught up, alas.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)