A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 121: Not Spending a Penny (Part )

Fan Zhongyan also understood that some reforms should not be rushed.

However, when he came to the academy to study hard, he was not a Confucian scholar who was completely immersed in the Four Books and Five Classics. Therefore, he did not want the students who came to study to only study for fame and fortune without the idea of ​​doing things for the people of the world.

"Prefect Yan is right. It was I who acted too hastily."

Fan Zhongyan was not a pedantic person. Once he put forward an idea, he had to implement it.

Especially since he had just arrived at the academy and had not yet demonstrated his abilities, these people held a conservative attitude, and Fan Zhongyan understood that.

"The most important thing is to raise more funds to make the college better."

Although Yan Shu was the chief official of a prefecture, he could not use all the money, especially the local supervision system of the Song Dynasty.

Needless to say, no matter whether it is the Tongpan or the local county magistrate, even the officials of the same level of prefecture, state and military supervisor can supervise him as the prefect.

The checks and balances were mutual. The official system of the Northern Song Dynasty was stacked layer upon layer to avoid rebellion.

This also led to a large number of redundant officials. Not only did the power of the prime minister have to be divided and checked and balanced in the central government, but the same was true at the local level.

"good."

As the second generation of the academy, Yang Zimo naturally knew the hardships his father had gone through in establishing the academy.

Nothing can be done without money.

The academy can only provide students with a collective accommodation, and they have to take care of their own food, drink and clothing, which all costs a lot of money.

Add to that the expenses such as pens, ink, paper, inkstone, books, etc., and the expenses will not be small.

Many students suffer from frostbite on their hands in winter, and not all of them can afford to cover themselves with quilts.

There are also many students from good families who come here to study. Many of them come from ordinary families. They all hope that they can endure it so as not to put too much pressure on their families.

After all, if a strong laborer does not participate in production and has to do such expensive work, it usually takes the efforts of the whole family to provide for him. Their family members also live frugally and cover themselves with straw to spend the winter.

"A penny can make a hero fall." Song Shou sighed while stroking his beard.

It costs money for students to study, and it costs even more to run academies.

Just as they finished speaking, Song Xuan appeared outside the door.

When a few people saw the real boss coming, they just laughed.

After Song Xuan came in, he bowed and greeted everyone.

Then he saw that except for Song Shou who had a sullen face, everyone else had a smile on their face.

He thought that Song Shou was probably born with a cold face.

As for what kind of expression Song Shou had when he met Zhang Fangping, the student he favored, Song Xuan had never seen it.

Because Song Shou usually only gave Zhang Fangping special treatment.

This time, Zhang Fangping ranked first in the entrance examination, which made Song Shou very proud.

But when he thought of Song Xuan, this restless guy, who abducted the usually well-behaved Zhang Fangping and put him in jail, Song Shou felt that Song Xuan was no longer a nose or eyes.

It is true that those who keep company with vermilion will be red, and those who keep company with ink will be black!

Song Shou had no way to forcefully tell Zhang Fangping not to associate with Song Xuan.

Because this is not in line with his moral principles.

Song Xuan did not do anything harmful to the world, but instead "eliminated harm for the people", but this is too dangerous!
Song Shou thought that Zhang Fangping was too insecure and prone to getting into trouble because he always hung out with Song Xuan.

It was Yan Shu who first spoke with a smile: "Twelfth brother, you have caused a big disaster."

"Oh?" Song Xuan was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Isn't this matter already resolved?"

"Heh." Yan Shu pointed at Song Xuan:
"I'd say he's well-informed. He might even know some news from Tokyo before we do."

Fan Zhongyan had also witnessed Song Xuan's methods and did not doubt Yan Shu's words.

Only Zhang Shide and Yang Zimo, two old men in the academy, did not quite understand the meaning of Yan Shu's words.

"What Prefect Yan said is quite profound. I don't understand it at the moment. I hope Prefect Yan can give me some guidance."

Song Xuan still pretended to be confused.

Yan Shu ignored Song Xuan's words and said to Fan Zhongyan beside him:

"Xiwen, your biggest shortcoming is that you can't play dumb. This is very bad behavior in the court. Look at Song Twelve, he is a master at playing dumb."

Fan Zhongyan smiled helplessly. If he was stupid, he would not have run away from home and come to Yingtian Academy to study for five years without going home.

Song Xuan chuckled twice: "Prefect Yan, what Master Fan can't change is innate."

"Listen, all of you."

Yan Shu had a good impression of Song Xuan. After all, they were all in the circle of child prodigies, and some things did not need to be said so clearly.

"This is a master at playing dumb. Twelve Brother will definitely thrive in officialdom in the future!"

Song Shou immediately poured a basin of cold water on him:
"Uncle Tong's words are a bit too certain. In my opinion, Song Twelve is indeed capable, but he is even more capable of causing trouble!"

"Master Fan, it would be best if you could temper his temper. Otherwise, he might act recklessly and offend the Empress Dowager and the Emperor in the future. I'm afraid he'll end up eating insects in Lingnan, and even his great abilities won't be fully utilized."

Fan Zhongyan himself couldn't do what Song Shou said.

Maybe he would confront the Empress Dowager and the Emperor before Song Xuan!

It might be possible to count on Fan Zhongyan to stop Song Xuan, but Fan Zhongyan must go up and mock and attack him first. You guys stand behind me and attack as much as you want.

Fan Zhongyan shook his head helplessly: "President Song, please don't always look at others with strange eyes. This is not good."

Although Zhang Shide and Yang Zijin didn't know what misunderstanding had occurred between them, they could hear from their words that they had different attitudes towards Song Xuan.

In fact, Zhang Shide still admired Song Xuan quite a lot, and he was very sure that his son could go to jail with Song Xuan.

Although his son may not have inherited his strengths in academics, he inherited his strengths in character, which he values ​​more than the former.

Especially since his own son told him everything that happened in prison, no matter how big or small.

Zhang Shide felt that Song Xuan was no ordinary boy, but a thoughtful person, and only people like him could achieve great things in the future.

Zhang Shide was born when his father was old and his sperm quality was poor, so he was weak and sickly.

Although he passed the imperial examination and became the top scorer like his father, he continued the Zhang family's reputation in Yingtian Prefecture.

However, Zhang Shide did not make much progress in his official career, mainly because of his poor health. The emperor's attempt to reuse him was actually harming him.

Therefore, Zhang Shide hoped that the students he taught would be able to demonstrate great strength in their official careers and help him accomplish the regrettable things that he had not accomplished in his life.

Now Song Xuan came into his sight.

Yang Zijin only wanted to fulfill his father's last wish, to pass on the Yingtian Academy well and cultivate more scholars.

If these people do not seek high positions after becoming officials, but can make achievements in governing a region and make the people grateful, then the academy will not have trained them in vain.

Song Shou shook his head and said nothing. Things are done, not just spoken without evidence.

Song Xuan shouldn't have such a trouble-making personality. It's not good for a young man to show off too much.

This time he has Yan Shu and others supporting him, but what if he gets into trouble again next time?
How many times can you lift him up?
This time he dared to confront the Hanlin scholar, would he dare to confront the prime minister next time? Those who can become prime ministers are not as brainless as Dou Chou.

There is no need for people to show up in person, as there are many people running around to work for him.

Especially when it is easy for others to suppress you as a student.

"okay."

Seeing that another argument was about to break out, Yan Shu took the initiative to end the topic:

"I won't go into details about Dou Chou's matter. I'm sure you've been paying close attention to it."

"Besides telling you this, I asked you to come here for two more things."

"Please tell me, Prefect Yan. If I can do it, I will do my best." Song Xuan was not a person who didn't know what was good for him.

Everyone present had helped him defeat Dou Chou. Even though in the end someone in the court wanted the position under him, this was no reason for Song Xuan to be ungrateful.

Yan Shu gave Fan Zhongyan a look, and Fan Zhongyan introduced that there would be a ceremony for the opening of the school, and then asked him, the outstanding student representative, to speak, which would play a role in motivating his classmates.

"The top three are all like this. Don't try to pass the buck to Zhang Fangping."

Without waiting for Song Xuan to react, Yan Shu immediately interrupted him.

"Prefect Yan is underestimating me." Song Xuan patted his chest and said:

"I'm just trying to practice this kind of speech!"

The teachers present remembered that Song Xuan had instigated a large number of students to follow him to seek revenge on Dou Chou, and they stood there in a daze for a moment.

Is it really okay to let him do this?
Why do I feel like I'm shooting myself in the foot?

Yan Shu glanced at Song Xuan secretly. There was a cunning look in the boy's eyes, and he suddenly realized something.

It turns out I wanted to retreat in order to advance, and I almost fell for your trick!
"Okay, I'll leave this opportunity to you in the future."

Hearing Yan Shu's impolite words, Song Xuan's eyes flashed with disappointment, and then he said seriously:

"Thank you, Governor Yan, for your consideration."

really!

Yan Shu stroked his beard and felt a little smug in his heart. This is what the boy thought.

"There's one more thing." Yan Shu coughed a few times.

"I know you have a bit of a business mind. The academy is facing financial difficulties right now. Do you have any good ideas to make some money?"

Song Xuan's two cold soup shops in Lema Town have proven his success in business.

In addition, he was able to buy such a big house when he first arrived in Songcheng.

Even Yan Shu did not have such heroic spirit.

After he took office, he rented a house with his family.

"what?"

Not only was Song Xuan himself stunned, but the others were also a little surprised.

Everyone present knew that the academy was in urgent need of funds, but no one expected Yan Shu to ask Song Xuan for a solution.

What can he, a student, do?
Song Shou thought it was unlikely, as Song Xuan was just good at selling cold soup.

The little money he earned was a drop in the bucket to supplement the college's funds.

Instead of asking him if Song Xuan had any business suggestions, it would be better to find a way to get some donations from the wealthy businessmen in Yingtian Prefecture.

Fan Zhongyan knew that Song Xuan had some business acumen, but when Yan Shu asked this question, it was obvious that he was just trying to figure out what to do.

As the headmaster, it was perfectly normal for him to raise funds for the academy, but Fan Zhongyan had no intention of doing so for the time being.

"I wonder how much funding Prefect Yan wants?"

Hearing Song Xuan's question, Yan Shu did not refuse and shook his head:
"Although the more the better, it's not realistic. In addition to expanding, the academy also wants to provide students with meals to reduce their living pressure and allow them to focus more on their studies."

“This is not a small amount of money!”

Song Xuan naturally thought of his gambling business. If he could get a stable supply channel from the academy, it would not be impossible.

Yan Shu was immediately surprised when he saw Song Xuan's eyes subconsciously glance at the ground.

He has experienced Song Xuan's quick wit!
The words that I had spent several days thinking about were answered by him in an instant.

And the Dou Chou incident happened in an instant, allowing him to control public opinion and reverse the situation in an instant.

All these things made Yan Shu realize that Song Xuan must have come up with a good idea.

It's just that he is still hesitating, or wants to gain more benefits for himself.

Straight bastard.

He really has a way!
Yan Shu picked up the teacup to calm himself down, waiting for Song Xuan to say something so that he could respond.

Song Xuan pretended to think for a moment, then asked:
"Master Yang, does the academy often purchase Chengdu mulberry paper?"

"We are purchasing some for students' mock exams."

Yang Zijin has spent his entire life in academies and knows a lot about them. “But the prices are a bit high, and most of the time they’re made of hemp paper.”

"Is there any way to buy large quantities of Chengdu mulberry paper?"

Without waiting for Yang Zijin's answer, Yan Shu narrowed his eyes:

"Song Twelve, you're not trying to forge Jiaozi to raise a large amount of funds for the academy, are you?"

As soon as these words came out, the whole hall was shocked.

After all, Yan Shu's words were too crude!
How could students be asked to forge Jiaozi to supplement the funding gap of the academy?
"Prefect Yan thinks too highly of me." Song Xuan said with a somewhat helpless look on his face.
"Just to copy one would cost a huge amount of money. It's a losing business. Who would do that?"

"You've really thought about this!"

Faced with Yan Shu's relentless questioning, Song Xuan could only explain that he wanted to open a bookstore on the first floor of his house, so he had to investigate the market carefully.

The raw materials of Jiaozi are a topic of discussion among everyone, and it is impossible not to know about them.

Upon hearing this, Yan Shu was immediately disappointed.

If a college opens a bookstore, whose money will it make?

Are you going to earn money from these poor students in the academy?
It would be better to let them buy the food directly, and cut out the middleman who makes the difference.

Fan Zhongyan felt that Yan Shu had too high expectations of Song Xuan, so he was disappointed when he heard that he wanted to open a bookstore.

"Prefect Yan, the bookstore I opened is not just a simple bookstore."

Song Xuan smiled and continued to ask Yang Zijin:
"I wonder if Master Yang can use his connections to find a channel to purchase large quantities of Chengdu mulberry paper, if such a channel exists."

"I have a good idea that will allow the academy to have a steady stream of dividends without spending a penny, and use it to build the academy!"

(End of this chapter)