Chapter 156

Chapter 156

Su Yu granted Liu Wushi a three-day vacation.

Liu Wushi lay at home, utterly despondent, for three days until his two sisters, Liu Wuyan and Liu Wusu, came to visit.

Liu Wuyan and Liu Wusu each carried a bucket of water and, without a second thought, poured it over Liu Wushi.

Liu Wushi: "..."

The bed was now soaked, and he had no option but to rise.

Liu Wuyan pointed at his nose and scolded, "Are you still a man of the Liu family? Falling apart over such a trifle!"

Liu Wusu tugged at her sister's sleeve and spoke more gently, "Guo Laidong mentioned that you're troubled by love?"

Liu Wushi looked toward Guo Laidong standing outside the door and asked in a low voice, "What else did he say?"

Liu Wuyan snorted, "He only said you're troubled by love. Look at you! So what if you like a man?"

Although Liu Wuyan and Liu Wusu were fiery in temperament, they deeply cared for their younger brother. When they saw Liu Wushi bring Su Yu home that day, they sensed something was off. Today, upon returning to the Liu residence and hearing from Guo Laidong that Liu Wushi was troubled by love, they immediately thought of this.

While it shocked them that Liu Wushi liked men, he was still their dear brother. Even if he liked men, they could only accept it.

"Same-sex relationships have been around since ancient times; it's nothing to be ashamed of," Liu Wusu even comforted Liu Wushi. "Timidity isn't the Liu family's style. Go change your clothes, pull yourself together, and lay your heart on the line. If he rejects you, at least you'll have closure. If he accepts, my sister and I will convince Father to support you."

Liu Wushi remained silent for a moment before asking, "Did Guo Laidong tell you about his identity?"

Liu Wuyan and Liu Wusu exchanged glances. Liu Wuyan hesitantly asked, "Isn't the one you like that Su Da? The surname Su... Could he be related to the royal family?"

Liu Wusu immediately refuted, "That can't be. There are no royal relatives left. Isn't it said that the current emperor is the only remaining member of the royal family..."

They both shot to their feet and turned to glare at Liu Wushi, who wiped the water from his face and nodded solemnly, "It is indeed the current emperor."

Liu Wuyan and Liu Wusu: "..."

Liu Wusu said, "The Liu family has always believed in knowing when to cut your losses. Sometimes, you just have to let go."

Liu Wuyan nodded, then glanced at Liu Wushi and warned, "If you ever cause trouble in front of the emperor, be sure to claim that you're no longer related to the Liu family."

Liu Wushi: "..." Typical of his sisters!

He was tempted to lie back down, but seeing the soaked bed, he figured it was best to get up.

Liu Wushi changed into fresh robes and placed a one-million-tael silver note and a one-hundred-thousand-tael silver note into a brocade box. Although Su Yu had refused his assets, he had heard that Cui Xuan had donated one million taels. As a man, he couldn't afford to lose; he had to surpass Cui Xuan.

He took the brocade box to the palace to meet the emperor.

Su Yu quickly summoned him to the imperial study.

Liu Wushi first presented the brocade box to Su Yu, "Your Majesty, this is my donation."

This time, Su Yu did not refuse. She took the box without even glancing at the amount inside.

She waited for Liu Wushi to speak, but he remained silent, gazing at her until she shot him a mildly annoyed look. Only then did he lower his head and mutter, "Your Majesty, the banks in Runzhou, Suzhou, Huzhou, and Qiantang are now stable. As per Your Majesty's decree, the confiscated lands from the temples and the lands mortgaged and unredeemed past the deadline from the banks have been re-measured and re-registered."

All in all, Liu Wushi was still highly dependable in his duties.

Su Yu said to him, "Head back to Anzhou. This time, a lot of land has been confiscated from the governor of Anzhou. Go and re-survey it, then establish another branch of the bank."

Liu Wushi looked at her again. In fact, he had noticed to some extent that Su Yu was using the banks to gather as much land as possible back into the hands of the court.

Without banks, those profligate sons in need of quick cash could only sell their fertile land to local magnates. Over time, fertile land would increasingly concentrate in the hands of a few private individuals.

Su Yu wanted to stop this, but he felt that what Su Yu wanted to do might not stop there.

"Is it Your Majesty's intention for the banks to lease these lands?" Liu Wushi cautiously asked.

Su Yu nodded, not displeased at being guessed correctly, but instead admitted generously, "That is indeed the intention. These lands can be rented to farmers at a lower price, and if the land is rented from the bank, there will be future tax incentives. We want to encourage farmers to rent land from the bank."

In this way, farmers struggling after natural disasters will not only think of selling their land to landlords. The bank will become their first choice for selling land. They can pledge their land to the bank and then rent it back from the bank at a low price, which will at least greatly prevent continued land consolidation.

Currently, the bank does not have much land, and local magnates have not yet caught on. In the future, as the bank's land increases and more people rent land from the bank, local magnates will notice something is wrong.

However, Su Yu is not afraid of trouble. She has military power, and in the face of absolute force, if any magnates want to make a move, she can simply deal with them. People value wealth, but if it comes to life, wealth can be abandoned. For example, in this fundraising event, she made an example of the Anzhou governor as a warning to others, and the officials willingly donated money.

Su Yu stepped forward and patted Liu Wushi on the shoulder, "Do a good job. Don't worry, your role as Minister of the Revenue Bureau is merely transitional."

Liu Wushi's heart stirred, and he asked, "Is Your Majesty planning to make the bank independent from the Ministry of Revenue?"

Su Yu smiled and said, "I am planning to establish a new ministry to oversee the bank, but I still need to think of a name."

Liu Wushi thought that the emperor truly treated him differently. The role of Minister of the Revenue Bureau was created specifically for him, and now she was going to establish a tenth ministry outside the nine ministries just for him.

He lowered his head shyly, though his red ears gave him away.

"Liu Wushi's favorability level increased by 16 points, current favorability is 99." The system suddenly announced.

Su Yu: "..." Actually, no matter who opened this bank, she would establish a tenth ministry to oversee it and make the bank independent from the Ministry of Revenue.

She glanced at Liu Wushi again, well, let him keep his misconception.

Liu Wushi lingered there until Cui Xuan and Xie Yiguan arrived, then he smiled shyly at Su Yu, "I will return to prepare and set off for Anzhou immediately."

Cui Xuan, Xie Yiguan: "..." Is it an illusion? Today, Liu Wushi's gaze seems unusually bright?

But fortunately, Liu Wushi is going to Anzhou again, so at least for a while we won't have to see him.

Xie Yiguan was about to salute when he suddenly looked up because he noticed that Su Yu's gaze at him was somewhat strange.

He cautiously asked, "Why does Your Majesty regard me so?"

"Nothing." Su Yu casually withdrew her gaze. Although the countdown to Xie Yiguan's rebellion above his head had become very faint, his rebellion time had suddenly become very close, just five days later.

Su Yu touched her chin and asked Xie Yiguan, "Five days from now is a rest day, right?"

Xie Yiguan nodded, "Yes."

She looked at him a few more times, silently thinking, what resources for rebellion does Xie Yiguan currently possess, apart from his intelligence network, he only has a good reputation among scholars—

It's not that she looks down on Xie Yiguan, Xie Yiguan is quite capable, but he doesn't have military power, so she merely observed him a bit longer, not particularly concerned about his rebellion time, at most she would go see him then.

Xie Yiguan: "?" Why is the emperor's gaze becoming increasingly strange, with a trace of peculiar approval?

Cui Xuan: "..." Why does the emperor fix her gaze upon Xie Yiguan? Is there something special about him?

This year, the imperial examination system was changed, and only local provincial exams were held. On this point, Xie Yiguan, as the Minister of Rites, found his duties considerably lighter, but Su Yu entrusted Xie Yiguan with the task of establishing the tenth ministry.

Upon hearing Su Yu's idea, Xie Yiguan asked, "This seems like something Minister Liu should handle."

Su Yu blinked innocently, "Didn't I send Minister Liu to Anzhou? Capital affairs will have to be left to Zhi Wei."

Xie Yiguan glanced at Cui Xuan, remembering that summer tax collection was approaching, and the Surveillance Commissioner posts in the regional commands were still understaffed. Thinking it over, Cui Xuan actually seemed busier than him. Wait, once the Surveillance Commissioners were hired, he'd have to train them too.

Xie Yiguan chuckled a few times and agreed to the task.

"I called you here today for another important matter," Su Yu brought out her sandbox again, with yellow flags marking several major prefectural cities. "I want to set up schools in these marked areas."

Originally, Su Yu hadn't planned to involve Cui Xuan in the school establishment project. She had intended to assign Yao Feiming and Xie Yiguan to oversee it. However, it was summer, and Yao Feiming was completely absorbed in farming. He had privately approached Su Yu, asking not to be bothered unless it's something earth-shattering while he was tending to his crops.

Su Yu asked Yao Feiming, "What counts as earth-shattering to Premier Yao? My death?"

Yao Feiming immediately spat, "Your Majesty, children's words mean nothing."

Su Yu smiled, "I'm twenty-one."

Yao Feiming: "..." The Emperor really has no filter.

He cleared his throat and said, "If we retake the fifteen western provinces, that would be significant. I'm not shirking responsibility, but this year, my wheat fields are showing real promise. If successful, we could double the yield from three to six bushels per acre."

Rolling it out nationwide could solve Great Qi's hunger problem.

At this, Su Yu's eyes sparkled, and she immediately sent Yao Feiming back to his farming: "Taking back fifteen provinces isn't that important. If Premier Yao's too busy, he can skip morning court."

Yao Feiming: "..." Is the Emperor being too practical?

In any case, they'd made a gentleman's agreement: Su Yu wouldn't trouble Yao Feiming with minor issues. Thus, she decided to have Cui Xuan and Xie Yiguan jointly oversee the school establishment project, letting them keep each other in check.

Cui Xuan asked Su Yu, "What sort of schools does Your Majesty want to create?"

Su Yu had already envisioned it, "Any child between seven and fifteen, no matter their background or education, can enroll as long as they pass the entrance test. The school will provide for their food, clothing, and lodging during their studies. After five years, they will take the provincial examination. Those who pass can advance to the metropolitan examination class for another year of study, preparing for next year's metropolitan examination. Those who fail cannot continue. As for the test questions, I've already prepared them. They won't test literary talent; students who can't read at the time of enrollment are acceptable. Of course, the test won't solely assess intelligence but also physical fitness."

Given the current state of the nation, implementing a "nine-year compulsory education" system was unrealistic. She could only strive to get as many people as possible into schools and ensure that those with potential could continue their education. As for the rest, it would have to wait until Great Qi became more prosperous. The test questions she devised were all pattern recognition problems, along with running. After all, studying is also a physical endeavor.

However, her current vision was enough to astonish Cui Xuan and Xie Yiguan.

Xie Yiguan was the first to speak, "Even after five years of schooling, it's likely that only a handful of these children will pass the provincial examination."

In the past, even commoners who entered the Four Gates School were already literate and had decent literary skills. Starting from complete illiteracy, the talent produced after five years would hardly justify the court's investment.

Su Yu waved her hand dismissively, "Passing the provincial examination doesn't necessarily mean they're talented. Although students who fail the provincial examination can't continue their studies at the school, they will return to their villages with knowledge, which is a good thing for Great Qi."

Xie Yiguan chuckled lightly, "I have no objections. The more literate people there are under heaven, the better. I just wonder what Premier Cui thinks."

After all, prestigious families initially rose to prominence by monopolizing knowledge.

Cui Xuan simply said, "I fully support Your Majesty's proposal."

Xie Yiguan: "..." With Cui Xuan like this, how can he still claim to be a sycophant? Cui Xingjian is no less!

The school establishment project was tentatively decided, with Xie Yiguan primarily responsible. Cui Xuan was still tied up for the moment. Given the current situation in Luosuo, Su Yu still believed that they could take action against Luosuo this summer. After all, the donations had been collected, and with so much money on hand, it was only right to strike at Luosuo.

Xie Yiguan decided to establish the first school in the Jiangnan region. Historically, most successful candidates in the imperial examinations came from the north. Given the current development momentum in Jiangnan, he believed that establishing schools there would reduce costs and balance the number of students from the north and south.

He decided to set off for Jiangnan in ten days.

The moment he announced his decision, he suddenly turned and saw a faint smile on Cui Xuan's face. "What is Premier Cui smiling about?"

Cui Xuan said indifferently, "Minister Xie must be mistaken."