The Female Assistant of Wei Yuyan Shuangfei

Xie Shuting also took a wait-and-see attitude towards Zeng Hao. From what she knew in her previous life, Zeng Hao was dismissed from office because of his involvement in the canal transport incident, and was eventually subdued by her.

Now, regardless of the other party's successful career, everything is still unknown. Xie Shuting made such a decision, which is indeed a big challenge for Lian Yue.

Lian Yue hesitated for a moment, and asked with some concern: "Master! If Zeng Hao is unwilling, do you have any alternative plan?"

Everyone's eyes subconsciously turned to Xie Shuting. After all, what Lian Yue was worried about was true.

After thinking for a moment, Xie Shuting couldn't help but shook her head and said, "No. Zeng Hao is engaged in water transport and knows the most about the canal. I can't think of anyone else."

"this......"

Lian Yue seemed to be at a loss for words for a moment, "If Zeng Hao doesn't want to, should this matter be shelved?"

"No!~"

Xie Shuting refused verbally, glanced at everyone, and said coldly: "I think you all already understand that something big will happen next year, so the canal transportation cannot be stopped. If..."

Xie Shuting paused for a moment and then looked at Xiang Lin and said, "If Zeng Hao doesn't want to, Chief Escort Xiang will take over the management of the canal transportation."

"Yes!~" Lian Yue leaned over hurriedly and responded.

Xiang Linye smiled innocently and cupped his hands, accepting Xie Shuting's request. After several people discussed it for a while, Xie Shuting pointed to the last "Wenyuan", and everyone was stunned for a moment.

Seeing everyone's emotions, Xie Shuting smiled and said, "Last year, I asked Lian Yue to inform you all to separate the family members from the clan and set up their own clans. How did you do?"

When everyone heard this, their emotions instantly became high.

Xiang Lin stroked his hand and said first: "I will follow the instructions of my family. Those who can set up a household in the escort agency will be re-established as households."

"So do we." Everyone echoed.

Setting up a new household is not as simple as going to the government to register a household registration. The household registration money involved is something that many families cannot afford.

Therefore, many people are unwilling to separate their families and set up their own households, unless their parents have passed away and the village head has moved in, then they are forced to separate and live on their own.

The most involved issues are household taxes, corvee labor, and conscription.

Originally, a household only needed to pay one corvée and one bandit tax. If the household was divided early, it would have to pay two taxes, and if there were many descendants, the amount would be considerable.

Fortunately, when Xie Shuting made this decision last year, she allocated a sum of money in advance to cover the cost of separation.

Looking at everyone's expectant eyes, Xie Shuting stroked the teacup with a smile and said, "Yue'er! Announce it!"

"Yes, master." Lian Yue leaned over and responded.

She took out a deed from her sleeve and said in a loud voice, "The head of the family has ordered that all the children of the Chamber of Commerce who are not registered as merchants and have good character and academic performance can enter the two academies, Wenyuan Zaidao and Fanhai Wuya, to study, and the expenses will be paid by Lianhua Tower."

"Master...are you really going to set up a college?" Zhao Ze asked in disbelief.

Although the Lian family business had a private school, it was just a small one, just to teach children a skill so that they could make a living.

If academies are opened nowadays, the result is self-evident. It will directly encourage some people to change their allegiance and bring honor to their family.

The most difficult way to stand out in the world and enter officialdom is to learn literature and martial arts, but these two things can only be accomplished with the efforts of the entire family.

The so-called "poor in literature but rich in martial arts" is nothing more than the lyrics of a drama, and is the last spiritual sustenance of failed scholars.

For shopkeepers like them who have risen to the top of the Lianjia Chamber of Commerce, they understand the relationships and sadness involved too well.

Seeing everyone's eager eyes, Lian Yue smiled bitterly and said, "My dear shopkeepers! When has the master ever failed you in his promises?"

Everyone looked at each other and saw a hint of affirmation in each other's eyes. Several people blushed and lowered their heads.

Xie Shuting understood the impact of this matter. Currently, there were at least a thousand people who were knowledgeable and willing to study who had been separated from the Lianjia Chamber of Commerce.

This expense would cost tens of thousands of taels of silver a month. If you were to say that academies are not a money-burning business, I'm afraid none of the shopkeepers would agree.

"Hey!~"

Xie Shuting sighed, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

She rolled up her sleeves calmly and said, "Money is earned to be spent. What's the point of saving so much money? I think you should understand that connections are money. The foundation of the Chamber of Commerce is connections, so this money does not need to be saved, and it cannot be saved."

Everyone nodded in agreement when they heard this. They made a lot of money in the Lian Family Chamber of Commerce, but they never expected that they always felt that something was missing.

They are businessmen, the lowest level of existence. Apart from instilling their hard work into the younger generations of the family, they really have nothing to do.

Everyone discussed the details for a while, and it was not until the end of the afternoon that Xie Shuting dismissed the meeting and left Lian Yue alone.

After watching the shopkeepers enter the secret compartment, Xie Shuting came to the desk, picked up a pen, wrote down a few names and handed them to Lian Yue.

Looking at the list in her hand, Lian Yue asked in confusion: "Miss! This is..."

"You must invite the people on this list. No matter if it means a large sum of money or paintings, calligraphy or antiques, don't be stingy if you can think of it. Anything that can be settled with money is not a problem."

"Yes!~" Lian Yue nodded in response.

When she saw a prominent name on the list, she was a little dazed and said, "Miss! I don't have any objections to the others, but Fan Xu'ao was expelled from the capital by the government office years ago. If he is used, will it be..."

Although Lian Yue did not say it explicitly, Xie Shuting naturally understood the deep meaning behind her words.

Why was Fan Xu'ao expelled from the capital? Because his remarks touched the bottom line of Emperor Zhen of Song and also denied the achievements of Emperor Taizu.

Since the Tang Dynasty, the Central Plains entered two hundred years of chaos.

Warlords abounded and wars continued. Taizu, along with his 3,000 personal guards, achieved unprecedented success in the chaotic times. It took him twelve years to pacify the country, inherit the throne, and continue the old Tang rule.

However, there were powerful enemies surrounding him, and Taizu was afraid that the country would be overthrown, so he decided to withdraw the troops and let the people rest.

However, the territory of the Song Dynasty was less than seven-tenths of that of the old Tang Dynasty, and half of the land was still in the hands of barbarians.

Fan Xu'ao then began his lobbying, using the people to put pressure on the imperial court in order to conquer the northern border as soon as possible.

In her previous life, Xie Shuting did not understand Fan Xu'ao's thoughts. But when she gradually took that position, she realized that what he said was right.

Once people enjoy comfort, they will forget their hatred. As generations pass away, a hundred years later they may feel that it doesn't matter whether they can take back the northern border or not.

After all, they are living a stable life now.

For them, if foreign races did not invade, they would not have any national hatred or family feuds. They might even forget that the northern border was once the territory of the old Tang Dynasty.

As for why Emperor Song Zhen drove Fan Xu'ao out of the capital, it was because he dared not forget the humiliation in the northern border and he needed this person to remind him of the national hatred and family feuds all the time.