Gu Yu paused while calculating the formula and frowned slightly.
Although books like "Nine Chapters of Arithmetic" had already been published in this era, arithmetic was still not popular, and only businessmen would bother to learn the basics.
She had no choice but to explain simply: "This is my habit. I replace some numbers with symbols to facilitate calculations."
Zhang Shangshu was confused when he heard this, and then he pointed at her new account book and asked, "What is this?"
Gu Yu picked up the account book and showed it to him from front to back: "This is a table drawn by the boy. It is divided into five parts according to clothing, food, housing, transportation and conversation. He also used some horizontal and vertical lines to make a table.
, arrange the various detailed categories, and leave enough space on each page to prevent subsequent increases or decreases in the number..."
Zhang Shangshu looked at it in a hurry, because Gu Yu hadn't finished filling in many numbers yet. He looked at the intertwined lines and was a little confused: "It's interesting to look at."
Gu Yu said: "Uncle Shi, it should be done today. Then you can take a closer look."
Zhang Shangshu was surprised: "You can handle so many accounts today?"
Gu Yu smiled: "Although there are many accounts, if you organize them into items, you will get twice the result with half the effort."
Zhang Shangshu was dissatisfied. It took Li Shilang and several of his officials three or four days to compile this account book.
When Gu Yu said this, she thought she was frivolous and planned to ask her to donate money again in the evening when she couldn't finish it.
Zhang Shangshu said "My hard-working nephew" and left with his hands behind his back.
Before dusk fell, Gu Yu handed the sorted parts to Zhang Shangshu and admired Zhang Shangshu's expression from questioning, to seriousness, to surprise.
"Okay, great, this is really great. This is the first time in my life that I have seen such organized accounts."
Zhang Shangshu walked back and forth excitedly with the account book, and also called other officials from the Ministry of Personnel to observe. More than a dozen people gathered around and marveled.
Gu Yu stood behind them and let out a sigh of relief. This confusing account was finally settled.
Li Shilang asked: "But why is the budget so low?"
Gu Yu stepped forward. Because she had sorted it out herself, she was very comfortable turning it over:
"As more and more students come to Beijing, we cannot blindly increase the budget. We have to increase revenue and reduce expenditure."
"For example, the 'food' part. The original plan was to prepare vegetables and meat at the food shop. I asked the boy to go directly to the market to ask about the price and buy it directly from the farmers. Although the transportation is a little further, the price is half the price, and there is no need to
After passing through the hands of merchants, the dishes will be fresher."
"The same goes for 'clothes'. I originally wanted to distribute sweatshirts to students based on their academic status before the symposium, but I couldn't buy so many unified finished sweaters at the same time. If I go directly to the cloth marching cloth, and then give it to
Even if a large embroidery workshop rushes work, it can be done in time and at an affordable price..."
"As for 'living', I see that the seniors have agreed to let the students live in inns. It's still the same word: expensive, and the specifications of each inn are different. If a student happens to live in an inn with a worse environment, it will inevitably lead to resentment when compared to others.
The Yangkangfang near Yudu Mountain is a newly built one in Kyoto, and there are not many families who have moved in yet. You can give the owner some money and rent it for a few days. The students can live there together, and it will be easier to manage."
"These alone can save more than half of the budget. Nephew Gu Shi's quick thinking really impresses us." Zhang Shangshu said.
"Then what about 'OK'? Is there any way to reduce the cost of students traveling to and from Kyoto?" Li Shilang, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, asked.
Before Gu Yu could answer, Zhang Shangshu said: "'Okay,' the various post stations are asking us for money. We are beyond our control to arrange the specific expenses. The most we can do is check the accounts reported by them, so as not to let the people below
Taking advantage of the loophole."
Li Shilang looked at Gu Yu, and suddenly said to Zhang Shangshu excitedly: "Sir Shangshu, I have seen that Prince Gu handles the accounts in an orderly manner. Why don't you leave the reconciliation of the accounts to her, and I will assist you."
Thinking of the messy accounts, Gu Yu probably understood why Li Shilang was so excited. It was not difficult for her. She had broken into the high-level circles of the Ministry of Officials.
She then took the initiative and said: "If Uncle Shi is at ease, you can leave it to me to check the accounts."
Zhang Shangshu nodded and said: "My nephew is willing to take this job, it's natural."
Li Shilang said: "I have a heartfelt request. I would like to learn from Gu Shizi how to organize accounts. Account processing is very complicated. If Gu Shizi is too busy later, I can also help."
Gu Yu cupped his hands and said, "The minister said something serious. This is my own way to be lazy. I have nothing to hide. If the minister wants to learn from it, I will tell you everything."
The officials nearby also expressed their desire to learn, and Gu Yu agreed one by one.
Zhang Shangshu sighed and said: "But even though we have saved a lot of money now, I am afraid that we will still be unable to keep up with the money in the later stages of the symposium. Although the Holy Father said that he can allocate money to us from his private treasury, it has not been made clear how much he can allocate.
."
"What I mentioned above is all about reducing expenditures. In fact, there is also a way to increase revenue, but..." Gu Yu hesitated deliberately.
"My nephew, if you have any other ideas, just tell me. I can still say a few words in court, so don't worry too much."
It can be said that Zhang Shangshu regarded Gu Yu as a timely gift, which really solved his urgent need.
Gu Yu gave up and said: "If there is anyone who can spend a large sum of money to support the symposium, it is not the seniors here, nor me, nor the Holy One."
Li Shilang asked: "Who is that?"
"Merchant." Gu Yu thought for a while and said, "If there is a merchant's support, you won't have to worry about running out of money."
The faces of everyone present changed slightly. The Yu Dynasty emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce. Although the merchants were wealthy, their social status was very low. They somewhat looked down upon the merchants.
But as Gu Yu said, the only people who can fund the symposium with large amounts of money at this time are merchants.
Li Shilang said: "Having said that, we are holding a symposium and we are not selling goods. How can we get merchants to voluntarily support us?"
"Investment advertisement." Gu Yu said, "Posting notices to tell merchants that holding a talk meeting is supported by the Holy One is something that will last forever.
If a merchant is willing to contribute 100,000 taels, the name of the merchant owner or store can be embroidered on the student's shirt.
If you are willing to sponsor 200,000 taels, you can have the Confucian scholar tell you the specific information about the shop when the symposium is held.
If you are willing to sponsor 500,000 taels, the official will erect a monument on Yudu Mountain to make him famous, and he will be admired by students all over the world within a hundred years."
After Gu Yu finished speaking, everyone was dumbfounded and couldn't help but cough slightly.
She completely copied the modern investment advertising ideas, but the idea was too advanced in this era, and they probably couldn't digest it for a while.
Li Shilang spread his hands and said in surprise: "God, one hundred thousand taels, two hundred thousand taels, five hundred thousand taels, are those merchants willing to pay so much?"