lovenovelstory Chapter 52 The Invention of Movable Type Printing
Chapter 52 The Invention of Movable Type Printing
"Go back to Mr. Kang Cheng."
Sun Fu replied respectfully.
"My family's prime minister calls this kind of paper 'Qingzhou paper.' It is made from bamboo and tree bark, and it is inexpensive to produce, so it can be mass-produced."
"This book was printed using a technique called 'movable type printing'."
"Simply arrange the pre-carved typefaces, brush them with ink, and they can be printed on paper."
"Print as many copies as you want."
"My prime minister said that he plans to build a large library in Qingzhou."
"We should use this kind of paper and this technology to print all the classics, histories, philosophical works, and literary collections in the world."
"To ensure that every scholar in the world has access to books and can afford to read them!"
"boom!"
Sun Fu's words were like a thunderclap, exploding in Zheng Xuan's mind.
Let all scholars in the world have access to books!
What a grand vision this is!
What a magnificent ambition!
Zheng Xuan devoted his life to annotating the classics, wasn't it precisely so that the teachings of the sages could be passed down?
However, this was limited by the high cost and scarcity of writing materials.
Books could only circulate among aristocratic families and a small number of scholars.
For the vast majority of students from impoverished families, getting access to a book is an incredibly difficult task.
But now, the two things Li Zhao brought have completely changed everything!
This means that knowledge will no longer be the privilege of a few!
This means that the teachings of sages can truly be spread throughout the world!
Zheng Xuan was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes.
He held that book as if it were a priceless treasure.
"This is... the beginning of an era of lasting peace!"
Zheng Xuan looked up to the sky and sighed deeply, tears streaming down his face.
He suddenly turned around and strode into the thatched cottage.
A moment later, he came out carrying a small bundle on his back.
He approached Sun Fu and bowed deeply.
"Please lead the way, envoy."
"This old man... wishes to go to Qingzhou!"
"I wish to see Magistrate Li!"
Xinpi, standing to the side, was completely dumbfounded.
He never imagined that the rich gifts and rare books he brought would be no match for a few pieces of tattered paper and a strange book!
Has this old man Zheng Xuan gone mad?
"Lord Kangcheng! You...you won't reconsider?"
Sinpi stammered.
"Our Great General..."
Zheng Xuan didn't even glance at him.
Now, all he has in his heart is Qingzhou and that big library.
He couldn't wait to meet Li Zhao, the inventor of these two divine items.
He wanted to see for himself what kind of magnanimity and spirit that young man, whom the aristocratic family had dismissed as a "nouveau riche," truly possessed!
……
A few days later.
The news of Zheng Xuan's arrival in Linzi caused a sensation throughout the scholar community of Qingzhou.
Li Zhao led all the officials of Qingzhou, both high and low, to personally go out of the city and travel ten miles to welcome them.
Zheng Xuan was given the highest honors.
In the main hall of the Prime Minister's residence.
Li Zhao publicly announced that he had appointed Zheng Xuan as the curator of the Qingzhou Grand Library and concurrently as the librarian of the Qingzhou Imperial Academy.
He was in charge of cultural and educational undertakings in Qingzhou.
Zheng Xuan gladly accepted the order.
He immediately declared that he would take out all the scriptures he had annotated throughout his life and print them using movable type printing so that scholars all over the world could study them.
This move once again shocked the world.
Countless scholars who admired Zheng Xuan's scholarship packed their bags and rushed to Qingzhou upon hearing that he was lecturing there.
Linzi City quickly became a sacred place in the hearts of scholars all over the world.
Those aristocratic scholars who had previously looked down on Li Zhao were now dumbfounded.
Their proud family tradition of learning and their vast collection of books became utterly worthless in the face of Qingzhou paper and movable type printing.
They felt a pang of sadness seeing those students from impoverished families each holding a beautiful copy of "The Analects" and "Mencius."
Some scions of prominent families, in order to obtain a book printed with movable type, even lowered themselves to seek instruction from poor students they had once looked down upon.
Even more extreme, some heads of powerful families came to the Prime Minister's residence with generous gifts, kneeling and begging Li Zhaoneng to grant them a few sheets of "Qingzhou paper" drafts.
Even if they've written something that's already been scrapped, they still treat it like a treasure.
……
Spring of the sixth year of the Chuping era.
Qingzhou's development has entered a period of stability.
The population has exceeded one million.
The daily increase in grain production reached a terrifying figure of 10,000 shi (a unit of dry measure).
Li Zhao stared at the long string of numbers on the system panel, feeling a kind of "Versailles"-like distress.
[Li Zhao, the Prefect of Pingyuan]
[Registered population within the jurisdiction: 1,025,000]
Daily rice production: 1,025,000 liters (approximately 10250 koku)
Current grain reserves: 5,800,000 shi (a unit of dry measure).
Five million eight hundred thousand shi!
What does this mean?
If calculated based on a daily food ration of one liter per person.
This amount of grain is enough to feed one million people in Qingzhou for nearly two months!
Moreover, this is without taking into account the daily increase in food production.
If we include the newly added grain, then Qingzhou's grain supply is basically inexhaustible.
The dozens of large granaries inside and outside Linzi city were already full.
Li Zhao had no choice but to order the construction of dozens more, even larger, granaries outside the city.
Even so, there was still too much grain to store.
In some places, grain was even piled up in the open air, covered with straw mats.
"My lord, isn't this grain... a bit too much?"
Sun Fu looked at the mountains of grain and said with some worry.
"If this continues, we'll have to use food to pave the roads."
Li Zhao gave a bitter smile.
He never imagined that one day he would be worried about having too much food.
It's truly a case of some suffering from drought while others are drowning in floods.
Other feudal lords fought tooth and nail over a few thousand bushels of grain.
He had so much grain that it was about to mold.
"We can't keep saving like this."
Li Zhao realized a problem.
If grain is left to sit in a warehouse, it becomes inactive.
Although the food produced by the system will not spoil, it cannot generate greater value.
Moreover, if Qingzhou continues to have such a plentiful supply of grain, then grain prices will remain very low.
This is not a good thing for those people who rely on farming for a living.
Low grain prices hurt farmers!
We must make use of this grain.
Let them flow and become something more valuable.
For example, strategic materials.
For example, population.
For example, influence.
"Pass down the order."
A glint of light flashed in Li Zhao's eyes.
"I want to build the 'Number One Grain Trading Center of the Han Dynasty' in Linzi!"
"I will use the food I have to fight a war without gunfire!"
"A 'Financial War in Grain Trade'!"
……
A few days later.
A major piece of news spread from Qingzhou throughout the land.
Li Zhao, the chancellor of Pingyuan, established the first official grain trading center of the Han Dynasty in Linzi.
It also promulgated a series of astonishing trading rules.
Rule 1: The Qingzhou Grain Trade Center is open to the whole world. Anyone can come here to buy and sell grain.
Rule Two: Transactions at the Qingzhou Grain Trade Center must be settled using "grain coupons" issued by the Qingzhou government. Grain coupons are linked to grain, and one coupon can be exchanged for one shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain.
Rule Three: This is also the most important one. Anyone coming to Qingzhou to sell strategic materials...
In addition to receiving corresponding money.
They can also receive an additional grain compensation equivalent to twice the value of their goods!
In other words, if you bring in a cartload of pig iron worth one hundred strings of cash.
Li Zhao will not only give you 100 strings of cash.
I'll even give you grain worth 100 strings of cash for free!