After returning, Guo An reported it to Zhu Di, and Zhu Di agreed directly.
Immediately, Guo An began to summon officials from the Gongzheng Office and started planning directly.
How much land will be demarcated? How many front doors should you open? How to perfectly preserve springs and reeds?
Where to build the academy's lecture hall? Zhaishe District? Where to build a library?
Where to build a garden? Where is the Academy of Enlightenment...the Academy of Arithmetic...the Academy of Confucianism...the Six Arts of the Gentleman...
Later, Guo An also specifically asked Zhu Fu, Dao Yan, and even Zhu Di for advice.
Anyway, he used the memories of his previous life, combined with the opinions of Zhu Di, Dao Yan, Zhu Fu and others, to determine the planning and layout of the academy.
As a result, the area of the academy accidentally increased by more than ten acres.
However, these are trivial matters to Prince Yan's Mansion.
Next, it was time to recruit craftsmen and laborers.
There are also land requisitions or land purchases directly.
Anyway, there are only twenty households, and even if one acre of land costs twenty taels of silver, including the people's houses, it will only cost three to four thousand taels of silver.
Moreover, if someone does not want to farm, Guo An also promised to build a cement house for those people outside the academy after the academy is completed in the future.
Then, find them a job as a cleaner or a laborer in the academy.
The people in Wanping County still trust Guo An's words.
In less than two days, the houses and fields of more than 20 households were expropriated.
At the same time, the notice from Prince Yan's Mansion was issued to the entire Wanping County and Daxing County.
All the people in Beiping Prefecture knew that His Highness King Yan was going to build an academy.
Suddenly, many gentry and businessmen's eyes lit up. They finally got their chance.
…
In the palace of Prince Yan.
Guo An, who was concentrating on calculating how to build the academy, saw a scribe walking in from outside in a hurry.
"Guo Changshi, a group of gentry and merchants from Beiping Prefecture came outside the palace gate."
Guo An asked nonchalantly: "What are they doing outside Prince Yan's palace?"
The scribe hurriedly reported: "Reporting to Guo Changshi, those merchants and gentry may have heard that His Highness was going to build an academy, and they couldn't wait to donate some money to the academy."
"Oh, so that's what happened."
Guo An nodded slightly, and then, under the anxious gaze of the clerk, he said calmly: "Go and tell them that Prince Yan's Mansion is not short of money and does not need their donation."
"this……"
The clerk was startled and was about to persuade him, but after seeing Guo An's indifferent expression, he subconsciously shuddered and quickly bowed respectfully.
"Yes, I will tell them to go now."
After saying that, he hurriedly retreated.
A faint smile appeared on Guo An's lips, and then he lowered his head and continued to calculate.
After an unknown amount of time, Guo An suddenly heard a noise outside.
Immediately, he saw Ma He walking in, followed by Zhu Fu.
Guo An couldn't help but sigh slightly and looked at Ma He, "But His Highness sent you here?"
"Exactly."
Ma He responded quickly.
On the side, Zhu Fu explained: "Guo Changshi, His Royal Highness King Yan still needs to rely on the gentry to guard Beiping Mansion.
Last year, His Highness had already made the entire gentry in Beiping Mansion feel that they were in danger.
This time, it was the time for the Yan Palace to appease these gentry. Therefore, even if our Prince Yan’s Mansion is not short of money, since those gentry are eager to come here, it doesn’t matter if we ask them to donate some..."
Guo An still refused firmly, "Donating money will definitely not work."
"Guo Changshi..."
Ma He and Zhu Fu both looked anxious.
Guo An said: "Academy is a place for educating people and educating sages. How can it be polluted by the smell of copper?"
After hearing this, both Ma He and Zhu Fu fell silent.
Immediately, Guo An changed the topic, "However, since the gentry and merchants want to donate to the academy, and the academy also needs to build a six-story library, let them donate books and classics."
"Donate the collection of books and classics?"
Zhu Fu's face lit up, "Guo Changshi's words are very kind."
Guo An continued: "In addition, anyone who donates books and classics, whether a gentry or a merchant, can leave a good name in the library according to the number of donated books.
However, Zhu Changshi was also asked to explain clearly to those merchants and gentry.
There is also a library in Prince Yan's Mansion. Although there are not many books, there are still thousands of them.
Duplicate books will not be counted. "
Zhu Fu nodded subconsciously, "This is reasonable."
Guo An added: "In addition, we can also ask the merchants to spread the news. If someone does not want to donate the classics, Prince Yan's Mansion can also buy them. As long as they are not available in Prince Yan's Mansion, even the printed version can be purchased at market price."
"good."
Zhu Fu nodded again and walked out.
In a large hall not far from Guo An's house, Zhu Fu and Ma He told all the gentry and merchants what Guo An meant.
These gentry and merchants were naturally overjoyed.
If they donated money, they might still feel a little distressed. But books, and they don’t need originals, just print one or copy one, and they have so many of them that they don’t feel any distress at all.
Many merchants and gentry even ran some bookstores.
Especially, after hearing that their merchant names could be engraved on the stone tablet in the library pavilion, the merchants looked even more delighted.
They have never experienced this kind of treatment before.
Therefore, each merchant shouted with excitement: "Please rest assured, Zhu Changshi, the common people are willing to donate 500 volumes of various classics to the academy."
"Ordinary people can donate four hundred copies."
"People can donate a thousand copies..."
Hearing this, the gentry who were already a little dissatisfied couldn't help but taunt him.
"How can a mere businessman come to pollute the academy?"
"Please rest assured that Zhu Changshi and His Highness King Yan will send you a thousand classics tomorrow."
"I can send you a thousand copies tomorrow..."
"I can send you two thousand copies..."
"Haha, no matter how high or low the books are, everyone can donate them. Please remember that if they overlap with the books in the library in Prince Yan's Mansion, they will not be counted.
In addition, you can donate any books.
Whether it is Confucian classics, agriculture, or engineering..."
Zhu Fu said with a smile.
No one dared to refute Zhu Fu's words.
…
then.
Two days later.
Carriages filled with books began to park outside Prince Yan's palace.
The scribes from the Changshi Division, along with a group of guards from Prince Yan's Palace, checked each book one by one, then registered and received it.
Guo An, Zhu Di, Zhu Fu and others stood on a gate tower. Looking at the lively scene like a market at the entrance of the palace, Zhu Di couldn't help but look satisfied.
"So many gentry and merchants are willing to donate books to our academy. Once the construction of the academy is completed, the six-story library of our academy will be filled with books."
Guo Andao: "His Highness has a reputation as a virtuous person. This is something that the gentry and merchants would not dare to neglect."
Zhu Di glanced at Guo An speechlessly.
Guo An was in high spirits at this moment and continued to ask: "Your Highness, yesterday I sent the reading glasses and some exquisite tea sets and utensils made of transparent glass that Your Highness requested. I wonder if Your Highness can give them away?"
Zhu Di said: "Don't worry, Guo Qing. Not only us, but also Master Daoyan's reading glasses and glassware have been given away."
Guo An quickly said: "His Highness is indeed vigorous and resolute, which makes me admire him."
"Um?"
Zhu Di was slightly startled, then looked at Guo An, "Guo Qing didn't send it out?"
Guo An laughed sarcastically and said quickly: "Your Highness is wise, it was already late yesterday, and the minister sent us many reading glasses and glassware. We can only load the carriage today and send it to Shunde Mansion early tomorrow morning."
"More?"
Zhu Di was a little curious.
Guo An quickly explained, "Actually, it's not much. Wei Chen only gave six copies to each of my father and father-in-law."
"Um!"
Zhu Di nodded slightly, only six copies... only twelve copies, huh?... He and Master Daoyan combined, only eight copies!
On the side, Zhu Fu looked at Guo An strangely.
Guo An continued: "Your Highness, I still have a copy of the minister, and I am going to send it to the chief envoy when I have free time tomorrow."
"Nie Zishi?"
Zhu Di was stunned for a moment, then nodded directly, "Nie Zizhen has recommended you, so you should give him a gift."
"Your Highness is wise."
Guo An quickly flattered again.
Afterwards, Zhu Di and Guo An stood on the city wall and looked at it for a while, then they got tired of looking at it.
Inside the palace.
Guo An began to formally report to Zhu Di the progress of the academy.
"Your Highness, the relocation of the 20 households that the academy occupies has been completed. If there are people who want acres of land, we will allocate them fields elsewhere and compensate them for their houses.
If they don't want the land, Weichen will not only compensate them for the land, but also prepare to build them a cement house next to the academy, so that they can enter the academy to serve in the future. "
"If anyone wants to go to Zhangjiawan Pier, Weichen gives them a chance...
During this relocation process, each household received more than one hundred taels, or more than two hundred taels... A total of 3,210 taels of silver were distributed, and these coins were personally distributed by Wei Chen For those common people, no official dares to be greedy. "
"Very good."
"In addition, the ministers have also begun to send people to inquire. If there are any talented people in the Beiping Mansion, they will be invited first."
"good."
"The academy then began to recruit more than 1,100 craftsmen and laborers, and began to level the land, build roads, and dig foundations...
Your Highness, the steel, cement, river sand, gravel and other materials in our house this year cannot be sold outside and can only be used within our house. "
"Also, Weichen is going to start selling glass tea sets, glass mirrors, glass bowls... and other items..."
"good."
"Your Highness, we ministers are ready..."
…
After sending away the two carriages loaded with reading glasses and a pair of glass tea sets, Guo An took his reading glasses and a pair of glass tea sets and went straight to the Chief Envoy Si Yamen.
When Nie Zizhi heard that Guo An was looking for him, he was startled and then hurriedly received him.
"Guo Changshi, why does His Highness the King of Yan have anything to do with me?"
Guo An smiled lightly, placed the wooden box in front of Nie Zishi, and opened it at the same time.
"Uncle Nie, I just give you a pair of reading glasses and a glass tea set this time."
"Reading glasses?"
Nie Zizhi was stunned. This was the first time he heard of such an object.
However, after seeing the reading glasses in the wooden box, my eyes lit up.
"What is this used for?"
Guo Andao said: "Uncle Nie, I borrowed this mirror and modified it. If my uncle also has an eye disease that makes him unable to read fine writing, he can give it a try."
"Oh? I would like to give it a try."
Hearing this, Nie Zizhi was very interested and quickly put it on his head according to Guo An's introduction.
(End of chapter)
