The shopkeeper of Yida personally went out to train the students of Yixue, which naturally attracted the attention of all the teachers and students of Yixue, and the matter of the Governor allowing Yuanqi to form a business group also spread quickly, and Vice President Luo - Luo Shengzhang actively cooperated, and quickly posted a notice - in Yixue openly recruited members of the Yuanqi Guardian Business Group, joining the business group is to join Yuanqi and enjoy the treatment of Yuanqi's apprenticeship - a silver dollar in January, and the number of years of service began to be counted from the date of joining the group.

As soon as the notice was posted, it caused a heated discussion in Yixue, Yuanqi's treatment is high, there is a public opinion in the entire city of Guangzhou, and only Yuanqi Bank is the only one who gives apprentices to start work, a piece of ocean in January, this is the average wage of monthly workers, this is not the most attractive, the most attractive is the length of service, Yuanqi's seniority is more valuable than silver, once every three years, through the assessment can be on top of the body, this is the foundation of Yuanqi's life.

In one afternoon, the number of the Protector Merchant Group increased dramatically to three hundred and sixty-eight, and almost all the students who met the enrollment conditions joined the Protector Merchant Group, which led to the dissatisfaction of the Yixue gentlemen, most of the students went to military training, and there were few students left in the classroom.

Hearing Luo Shengzhang's complaints, Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "Principal Luo, don't worry, I have my own measure, in the future, physical training in the morning, normal classes in the morning, military training in the afternoon, in addition, Yixue is expanding enrollment, in two months, new students will continue to enter Yixue, don't worry."

In addition, the treatment of Mr. Yixue teaching, I intend to further improve, to give gentlemen Yuan Qi's body, both Yuan Qi Yixue, Mr. Yixue is also Yuan Qi people, in addition. You blow the wind on the gentlemen. The thing of meta-Qiyi. Don't talk about it outside. ”

"That's good news." Luo Shengzhang said happily, and hesitated a little before he tentatively said: "Those foreign gentlemen also give shares?" ”

Yi Zhicontent said without hesitation: "China and foreign countries are one, and they are treated equally." ”

After having dinner with the students of military training in the Yixue cafeteria, Yi Zhizhi left Yixue by boat, he did not return to Xiguan, and went straight to Wujia Garden, although he took a fast boat. But the speed of the ship was still slow like a snail in his eyes, and he pondered that once the shipyard was built, he would have to invest money to build a steamship-powered ship, even if it was a small horsepower, it was more than twice as fast as this fast ship, and it was really heart-wrenching to waste time on the road.

It was dark, and the boat sailed into the Wu family's wharf, and there was no one who didn't know Yi Zhi's contentment up and down the Wu family's housekeepers and servants, and they saw him. hurriedly stepped forward to salute, and heard that he wanted to see the old lady. While sending people to report it, he carried a lantern in front of him to light the way and lead him to Yanhui Tower.

Hearing that Yi Zhizhi was coming, Wu Changqing also hurried over, and he could catch up outside the gate of Yanhui Building, and he said with concern: "Brother Contentment came here at this hour, but what is the urgency?" ”

"Why are there so many urgent matters?" Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "I just learned from righteousness, I remembered something, and I came to ask the old man's opinion." After a pause, he smiled and said, "In the past few months, I have to train in Yixue every afternoon, and you have to get used to me coming at this time." ”

Hearing this, Wu Changqing put his mind at ease and said, "Yixue started military training today?" ”

"Don't dare to delay." Yi Zhishu nodded and said, "I will spend most of my time studying in Yixue in the past few months, and Changqing has to help me share a little." ”

Wu Changqing said: "I'm not idle, I've been busy selecting a site for the shipyard these days. ”

Hearing him mention the shipyard, Yi Zhizhi said: "The address is set as soon as possible, I am still anxious to build a steam clipper, most of the day is wasted on the ship, not to mention how depressed it is, if there is a steam clipper, learn from righteousness, two quarters of an hour is enough." ”

"Can it be that fast?" Wu Changqing didn't believe it.

"At least twice as fast." The two of them had entered the hall of Yanhui Building while talking, and Wu Bingjian, who saw him, came out, and the two hurriedly stepped forward to salute, Wu Bingjian waved his hand and said, "No formality, sit." ”

After sitting down, Wu Bingjian said: "Is there a hurry to be content? ”

"It's not urgent." Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "I remembered something on the boat, and I happened to stop by and came over." After a pause, he continued: "The Merchant Protector Regiment was formed in the name of Yuan Qi, and the officers and soldiers of the Merchant Protector Regiment are naturally also a part of Yuan Qi, enjoying Yuan Qi's full treatment, including the top body. The scale of 500 people in the merchant group is just the beginning, and next year, once the imperial court strictly prohibits smoking, the scale of the merchant group will be expanded more or less, and with the officers and soldiers on the four warships, I am afraid that it will exceed 3,000. ”

Since the Governor's Mansion allowed Yuan Qi to form a merchant protection group, the situation has changed, one thousand bright and one dark, this is not a difficult thing, although Wu Bingjian said that he did not want war to break out, but in the case of war that could not be avoided, it was his greatest wish to protect himself or try to avoid Guangzhou becoming a battlefield.

For Yi Zhizhi to spare no effort to help Humen expand the fort and replace the artillery, he strongly agreed, and he naturally would not oppose the expansion of the merchant group, but when it came to the top body, his brows furrowed, and he groaned slightly, before he spoke: "Contentment is the plan to let all the officers and soldiers top the body?" ”

"That's not necessary." Yi Zhizhi said: "However, the number is too small, it can't have the effect of incentives, and it can't stabilize the morale of the army. ”

This is Yuanqi's private army, it is really necessary to let two or three percent of officers and soldiers top their bodies, but even if it is only calculated at two percent, it is six hundred, which is not a small number, Wu Bingjian nodded, and said: "Contentment is worried that there are too many stocks and dilution of dividends?" However, the merchant group does not implement the system of top shares, and it is difficult to stabilize the morale of the military. ”

Yi Zhishu said calmly: "Pinghu Gongmingjian." ”

"Can the shares be given only to the officials of the Guardian Corps?" Wu Changqing said: "In this way, the number of people has been greatly reduced. ”

"Nope." Yi Zhishu said without hesitation: "Officers and soldiers must be treated equally, otherwise the merchant group will have no combat effectiveness and cohesion, not to mention one ocean a month, even two oceans, it will not attract people, what really attracts people is Yuan Qi's body." ”

Wu Bingjian glanced at him and said, "Contentment shouldn't be here to give the old man a problem, don't hide it, tell me what you think." ”

Smiling slightly, Yi Zhizhi said: "Yuanqi Yixue and the Guardian Business Group are both money-losing transactions in the short term, and Donghuang Silk Company and Changle Machinery Manufacturing Factory are not the same, but these two are indispensable, Yixue is to cultivate and deliver talents for Yuanqi, how far Yuanqi can go in the future, how large it can be, depends on the quality of Yixue."

The merchant group is not only to escort Yuanqi, but also to protect Yuanqi's outward expansion, whether Yuanqi is expanding domestically or abroad, the necessary armed forces are indispensable, once Yuanqi sits large, the imperial court will not only not protect, but will also try its best to suppress. (To be continued.) )