Cai Yong went home to study the Thousand-Character Essay, while Tian Feng stayed with Dong Zhuo to discuss with him how the publishing and printing industry should be operated and popularized.
In fact, Tian Feng, as a member of a high-ranking gentry clan, was both happy and conflicted about the fact that Liu Jian and Liu Yugu had made paper books.
Because the wise Tian Feng understood that the birth of paper books was conducive to the spread of Han culture and knowledge... But as a member of a high-ranking gentry, he also understood in his heart that the faster and wider the knowledge and culture spread, the more knowledgeable people would
It will continue to grow, and the number of so-called scholars will also double. Then the status of these nobles who are now at the top of all people will not be as valuable as before.
As the saying goes, rare things are valuable, and the reason why nobles are valuable in this era is ultimately because the overall number of educated nobles is still too small when viewed in proportion to the total population.
But with the advent of paper books and printing plants, people's wisdom has opened up, and the number of educated and educated population has increased. The originally valuable noble group... although it will still be valuable, the competition between them will be seriously intensified.
.
According to later generations, it means involution.
There is no doubt that this is very detrimental to the existing gentry group.
But Tian Feng also understood in his heart that since paper books have come out, it means that this trend and drive will be unstoppable. Simply blocking the way is a drop in the bucket and will not help.
The wheel of the times is constantly moving forward, and it is beyond human power to stop it.
And after getting along with Liu Jian, Tian Feng had already figured out Liu Jian's character.
Once the lord, who is only twenty-five years old, becomes stubborn, even nine cows cannot stop him.
As for Tian Feng, who was a member of the Jizhou gentry, after careful consideration, he decided to tie himself and his family to the same boat as Liu Jian.
Interest is one aspect.
On the other hand, the person who can break the distribution pattern of the nobles in the Han Dynasty is designated as an immortal hero.
As a wise man, how lucky you are to meet such a hero in this life.
If he is not tied to such a hero, then who else will Tian Feng tie to him?
…
After Cai Yong left, Dong Zhuo asked everyone on the left and right to retreat. Only Tian Feng and Li Ru were left in the Nuan Pavilion.
Dong Zhuo asked Tian Feng: "I promise that I will support Liu Xuande as the shepherd of Qingzhou. It will only take a month at most. The angel will arrive in Qingzhou and make the appointment. You can rest assured about this!"
Tian Feng said with a smile: "The prime minister pays equal attention to kindness and power, and clearly distinguishes rewards and punishments. He is really a role model for the world! I think the title of role model in the world should be given to the prime minister, not to those despicable villains who are upright on the surface but are actually evil-minded."
Dong Zhuo has now become a very popular minister, and his mentality has also changed to a certain extent. He likes to listen to people's praise.
Although Tian Feng's words may sound like flattery, they were still very useful to Dong Zhuo.
It doesn’t matter whether he is flattering or flattering, as long as it sounds good.
He looked at Tian Feng with satisfaction and said: "As for the matter of publishing the bookstore, your lord has succeeded, what should I do next? He probably has a plan, right? You might as well give it a try."
Regarding how to create paper books, Tian Feng had already received instructions from Liu Jian before coming to Luoyang, so he naturally knew how to do it.
"As reported to the Prime Minister, the paper industry, the art of engraving, and the development of processes consume a lot of mulberry wood, and the production process also has high requirements for the quality of water. Therefore, it is difficult for the paper industry alone to
To move out of Qingzhou, we have to make paper and print in Qingzhou itself."
When Dong Zhuo heard this, he couldn't help but narrowed his eyes, looking very unhappy.
"Books can only be printed in volumes in Qingzhou for the time being. It must be an extremely profitable and expensive business. Ordinary people in Guizhou cannot afford to buy it. But the poor people of the common people in various states and counties are asking for scriptures but can't get them.
I am willing to let them spend thousands of gold!"
What Tian Feng said is very pertinent.
Today, it is indeed very difficult for ordinary people in Guizhou to buy books and study.
But in addition to the nobles, many poor landowners who relied on annexing land but had no family education and inheritance also stared at the high-ranking nobles who controlled the promotion channels every day, hoping to find an opportunity to climb up the ladder.
.
Once the books are sold in volumes, they will definitely be snatched up by these poor families.
Liu Jian had already thought about the early dumping customer groups.
Tian Feng continued: "Qingzhou is responsible for publishing books and selling them in Luoyang and Sili. In the official name, the imperial court established an official office specifically to manage publishing bookshops to control the paper book industry and give full power to publish paper books.
It was collected by the court, and paper books were not allowed to be printed privately among the people, and another law was made to restrict it. In this way, in a short period of time, the huge profits made from paper books would all belong to the Prime Minister and Liu Jizhou."
Dong Zhuo understood what Tian Feng meant.
To put it bluntly, Liu Jian did not want to spread the publishing and printing industry everywhere in the early days...Qingzhou was responsible for publishing and printing, and Luoyang was responsible for managing the industry, setting rules and monopolizing sales.
Although the land control is single, it is indeed a monopoly.
In terms of interests, it can definitely ensure that Dong Zhuo and Liu Jian make a lot of money... But the problem is that Dong Zhuo is not a businessman.
He is the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty!
Besides money, what he needs more is power!
Dong Zhuo said: "This paper book can indeed bring me huge profits, but you need to know that I want more than this, and Liu Deran knows even better!"
Tian Feng naturally knew this, but as Liu Jian's envoy, he needed to control the pace of negotiations.
After all, he was facing the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty, and it was impossible for him to talk to him heart-to-heart.
What Dong Zhuo wanted was nothing more than to publish a large number of paper books, especially those classics on Confucian classics, and spread them around the world to break the academic monopoly of aristocratic families.
Liu Jian thought too.
But Liu Jian was not in a hurry.
You have to eat the food one bite at a time. If you eat it too fast... you may choke to death.
The Four Books and Five Classics do not mean that if you print them out, you will be able to immediately push the advantage of the gate of review. The key lies in the right to interpret the classics, which is still in the hands of the review.
Therefore, what books to print and what books to distribute can gradually dilute their right to interpret and dilute their prestige in this monograph. This is what Liu Jian needs to dig deeper and consider step by step.
Crazy printing of books will only be counterproductive.
Tian Feng said to Dong Zhuo: "My envoy naturally knows what the Prime Minister wants to do, but there are many things that cannot be done too hastily. According to the envoy's wishes, the paper books that need to be printed and distributed this year only require a thousand-character inscription and Xiping stone."
The positive verses in the scriptures are enough."
"First, we tested the waters with the corrected scriptures in the Xiping Stone Classic, and widely promoted the Mongolian "Thousand Character Classic". During this period, we also asked the Prime Minister to promulgate laws to impose mandatory restrictions on publishing houses and limit the qualifications for the establishment of bookshops. , after the law is formed and promulgated to the world, we will then figure out which books to print in the future.”
Dong Zhuo was very unhappy when he heard that this year only the scriptures that had been corrected in the Xiping Stone Scripture were printed.
The Xiping scriptures are placed in the Imperial College. Even a copyist can run over and copy them. What are they doing with printing them?
Dong Zhuo stood up and wanted to express his objection.
But at this moment, Li Ru suddenly stood up and gave Dong Zhuo a long salute.
"Xiang Guo, Liu Jizhou is very sincere. From the perspective of the officials, this matter is indeed debatable!"
While talking, Li Ru winked at Dong Zhuo.
Dong Zhuo slowly put down his raised hand and said to Tian Feng: "I know this matter. Let me think about it carefully. Wenyou, and send someone to lead Mr. Tian to the post house. Wait until I think about it." After this happens, I will invite you to come again."
Tian Feng understood that Li Ru had clearly understood Liu Jian's intentions, but it was difficult to persuade Dong Zhuo in front of outsiders, so he could only send himself away first.
At that moment, Tian Feng bowed to Dong Zhuo and said: "Feng came to Luoyang. In addition to meeting the Prime Minister, he also has an important task. Please accept the Prime Minister's permission."
Dong Zhuo blinked, as if he thought of something.
He whispered: "I am going to visit the Yuan Mansion on the order of your family envoy, right?"
"Liu Jizhou was entrusted by a friend, and I also ask the Prime Minister to agree to the matter of his loyalty to his friend."
Dong Zhuo waved his hand and said: "Go! Yuan Shiji has been ill recently and hasn't been to court for a while. I haven't seen him for a while. If you go this time, you can also say hello to him on my behalf." "
"Thank you, Prime Minister."
After Tian Feng left, Dong Zhuo looked at Li Ru and said: "Why did Wen You stop me just now? Then Liu Jian spent so much effort to produce this paper book. It was just when he was printing and selling it to shake up the foundation of the society, but he That's good... but you just printed the Xiping Stone Scripture, isn't it a joke?"
Li Ru advised Dong Zhuo earnestly: "Prime Minister, don't be anxious. According to the officials, the matter of printing books on paper is not a trivial matter. It has many benefits, but it should not be done too hastily. At this time, paper books have just been born. If the imperial court suddenly In the name of printing modern and ancient scriptures, it disrupts the original academic situation in the world, but is detrimental to the book industry."
"The Xiping Stone Sutra is a sutra written by the late emperor down to Zhengding. Although it can be copied by scholars all over the world, how many people can really travel thousands of miles to Luoyang? After all, it is just prepared for a group of imperial students! "
"The text of the Xiping Stone Classic was first printed, starting from Luoyang and Sili, and sold to the common people of poor families in the world. Both Liu Jian and the Prime Minister could gain both fame and fortune, and whether they were ministers in the court or the current generation Even the great scholars can't tell you the shortcomings of the Prime Minister's country."
"No one can find a reason to refute the Zhengding scriptures in the Yinxi Pingshi Jing, and at the same time, paper books can be widely distributed among the people, and the audience can make paper books sought after by the world. When a certain time comes, Everyone in the world is accustomed to paper books. Even if you want to stop printing paper books, I’m afraid it won’t work. That would go against public opinion.”
"At that time, the contents printed on paper books can all be decided by the Prime Minister and Liu Jian, because the technology of papermaking and printing is in Liu Jian's hands, and the formulation of laws governing paper books will all Determined by the imperial court, this can be equivalent to limiting the spread of this thing and controlling this magic within seconds... I dare to conclude that within ten years, paper books will become the mouthpiece of the world!"
"What people in the world want to see, want to see, need to see, and read are all decided by the Prime Minister and controlled by Liu Jian. No one can compete with him!"
When Dong Zhuo heard this, he suddenly realized.
He slapped his forehead and sighed: "I see, I understand! Alas, I have endured it for decades. How could I be as patient as Liu Deran? You are right, you are absolutely right!"
Li Ru smiled and said: "Prime Minister, I have another idea, which is the Thousand Character Essay that Cai Zhonglang valued just now. I noticed that Cai Zhonglang had a different expression after reading it. I thought this article must be extraordinary. This book is both
It hasn't been published yet, so why doesn't the Prime Minister let Liu Jian give this book to the Prime Minister?"
Dong Zhuo was surprised and said: "With me? Will Liu Jian agree?"
Li Rudao: "Why not? Liu Jian is a smart man. He knows very well everything that is beneficial to him and the Prime Minister. The publication of this article will just shock those who look down on the Prime Minister and think that Liangzhou is lacking in academics. Take a look.
, let them know that the Xiangguo’s cultural and administrative abilities are not inferior to those of the Guandong scholars!”
In Dong Zhuo's mind, he couldn't help but recall that when he was an old official under Yuan Wei's family, Yuan Wei specially ordered someone to send the unbroken "Mencius Yi" to him to humiliate and remind Dong Zhuo,
Be careful about your identity.
What a humiliating scene it was!
Thinking of this, a cheerful smile appeared on Dong Zhuo's lips.
If you look down on me, I will scare you this time!
Good, very good!
This time, I also want to taste what it’s like to be a celebrity.