Jia Changchao is right. Whether simplified characters can be used or whether simplified characters can be promoted is not their decision.
Zhao Zhen, the number one person in the Song Dynasty, may not necessarily count on what he said.
This matter needs to be discussed with Zhao Zhen and the three ministers in the inner court, and it should be regarded as a political order and implemented.
"You continue to compile the book here and deduce the simplified characters. I will go to the officials and the three ministers in the inner court to discuss this matter."
Kou Ji is not the kind of person who likes to drag things out. Since he agreed to do this, he did it immediately.
Although he doesn't want to see Zhao Zhen now, he still has to go.
When Kou Ji was about to leave, the old scholar said with a smile: "If you implement simplified Chinese characters, you will have to bear the infamy. I can shoulder the blame."
Kou Ji smiled and said: "No, I can afford it. If I can't afford it anymore, I'll look after you again."
The old scholar wanted to stand up and salute Kou Ji.
Kou Ji smiled and left the place where Jia Changchao and others were discussing.
After leaving the place where Jia Changchao and others were discussing matters, Kou Ji did not rush to enter the palace, but went to the place where Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi, Wen Yanbo and others were studying food writing.
After entering the garden, Kou Ji turned around and wanted to leave.
Why?
Because when he entered the garden, he saw a guy holding a large volume of food literature and reading through it.
He has been studying Da Shi Wen for almost a year, but he still can't read through the Da Shi Wen books. People can read through them in half a year. Of course he doesn't want to see this guy.
Kou Ji was a smart man praised by everyone in the Song Dynasty.
But is he really smart?
Only he himself knows.
Compared with Han Qi, Ouyang Xiu, Wen Yanbo, Fan Zhongyan and many other outstanding people who have been selected from thousands of places, he is really not smart.
His wisdom is only based on prophets and vast knowledge, not because he is wiser than others.
If his wisdom were truly superior to that of other outstanding men, he would not be able to make a living through forgery in future generations.
It is precisely because of this that when it comes to learning things, he is not as fast as Han Qi and others.
The guy at the entrance of the garden is not the smartest among Han Qi and others, he can only be considered a middle-level person.
He can even read through the food articles.
Then the others probably have already reached a certain level in their study of food literature.
Kou Ji didn't want to go in and humiliate himself, so he wandered at the door and prepared to leave.
After only taking a few steps, he was bumped into by Fan Zhongyan who was about to go out to do some errands.
"gentlemen?!"
After Fan Zhongyan saw Kou Ji's figure, he immediately chased him out.
Kou Ji stopped and turned around to stare at Fan Zhongyan with a smile.
Fan Zhongyan saluted Kou Ji and said, "Sir, you haven't been here for a while."
Kou Ji smiled calmly and said, "I have been busy with some government affairs recently."
Fan Zhongyan said in a deep voice: "Sir, as a privy envoy, he naturally has many military and national affairs to deal with. Students can understand."
Before Kou Ji could continue to speak, Fan Zhongyan continued: "There is something I want to tell you, sir."
Kou Ji gave a look that was willing to hear the details.
Fan Zhongyan said in a deep voice: "The new scholars have been studying Da Shiwen for half a year, and now they are just barely reading through Da Shiwen. The students would like to ask the teacher for instructions to speed up the progress so that they can master Da Shiwen as soon as possible.
The few officials sent by Honglu Temple to teach food culture only listened to Mr.
Students raised this matter with them several times, but they refused.
I hope sir can give them instructions."
The corner of Kou Ji's mouth twitched, and he said seriously: "I have handed this matter over to you, just watch and do it. Later I will send a message to the officials of Honglu Temple and ask them to listen to your instructions."
"Sir, what's going on with the book translation?"
"Waiting for you to learn the great food literature..."
"This Enke is the most fair one since the founding of the Song Dynasty, so the new scholars recruited this time are all talents, and they learn very quickly.
Sir, you should prepare early."
"When I get back, I will order someone to deliver the book you want to translate here."
"..."
Kou Ji chatted with Fan Zhongyan for a while, and then decisively left the place.
And I secretly swore in my heart that I would never come here again if I could.
Kou Ji left Ruisheng Garden and returned to Fushang Villa. After changing into official uniform, he entered Bianjing City in a carriage.
When we arrived at the entrance of the palace, we showed our waist badge and entered the palace unimpeded.
When they arrived at the palace, they inquired and learned that Zhao Zhen and Lu Yijian were in Zishi Hall, so they rushed to Zishi Hall.
Kou Ji originally thought that the two of them would become very embarrassed when they saw Zhao Zhen again.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered the door of Zishitang, Zhao Zhen's voice rang out.
"Fourth brother, I am about to send someone to summon you."
When Zhao Zhen called his fourth brother, his tone was still the same as before, without any change.
Kou Ji listened and let out a sigh of relief.
Zhao Zhen did not have any estrangement from Liu Heng because of his affairs.
As soon as this thought arose in Kou Ji's mind, Kou Ji drove it out of his mind.
It's obvious that he has the biggest loss in this matter, okay?
Why should we take care of Zhao Zhen’s mood?
Kou Ji murmured a few words in his heart, saluted Zhao Zhen and said, "The officials want to summon me, but I don't know what happened?"
Zhao Zhen let out a long sigh and said, "Annan's army is in trouble!"
Kou Ji was slightly stunned.
Zhao Zhen said angrily: "They actually captured the three cities of Jiaozhi and Li Dynasty without my permission. They are simply audacious."
When Kou Ji heard this, his expression changed and he became indignant.
"You are indeed bold! I will send a document to Chen Yaozi now, asking him to lead the troops and ask the Annan Army to see if they are still my subjects of the Song Dynasty."
"Everything they gain must be confiscated. If they give in, we will continue to provide them with food and grass. If they continue to act recklessly, their food and grass will be cut off."
"..."
Zhao Zhen, Kou Ji, you and I scolded Annan's army.
Various ways to punish the Annan Army came out of their mouths, but not a word was said to order the Annan Army to withdraw from Jiaozhi.
Lu Yijian and the other three sat aside, watching Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji singing and singing, and the corners of their mouths all twitched.
Lu Yijian and the others originally thought that Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji would be estranged because of Liu Heng's incident.
Now that they saw the two people's faces, they understood.
Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji Junchen are still the same as before.
Thick face, dark heart, deep friendship.
Two people were singing and shouting together for a long time. What was their purpose?
The purpose was to use a reasonable excuse to transport back to Bianjing the gold, silver and jewelry that Annan's army had obtained by killing and looting in Cochin.
To be more precise, the two of them were looking for excuses to reasonably launder the stolen money stolen by Annan's army.
As soon as Zhao Zhen opened his mouth, Kou Ji understood what Zhao Zhen meant.
There was no need to rehearse, the two just sang and acted in harmony.
"When you are a sister, you have to build an archway... shameless..."
Lu Yijian and the three of them cursed in their hearts.
The three of them were aware of Annan's military expedition to Cochin.
None of the three people had any opinions on this.
Because Annan's troops marched out of Jiaozhi, whether they destroyed Jiaozhi or Jiaozhi destroyed them, it would be beneficial to the Song Dynasty.
If Annan's army destroyed Jiaozhi, the Song Dynasty would be able to gain a piece of territory for free.
If Jiaozhi destroyed the Annan Army, the imperial court could also take advantage of the situation and eliminate the last army of the Song Dynasty that did not obey the imperial order.
Now Annan's army has robbed three cities in Cochin and also looted countless gold, silver and jewelry.
It is only natural for the court to accept the seizures in their hands in accordance with the rules.
Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji concealed something that was a matter of course, and the three of them naturally looked at it with disdain.
But out of contempt, the three of them did not say anything.
Why?
Because Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji had their own intentions in doing this.
Its purpose was to appease other vassals and deal with the envoys sent by Jiaozhi to complain.
Lu Yijian and the others felt that with Kou Ji's temperament, he might do other things when comforting the Jiaozhi envoys.
For example, ask someone if they want weapons or armor...
Anyway, Kou Ji sold weapons and armor from the Song Dynasty not once or twice.
When the Song Dynasty reorganized its military system, he very generously sold some of the eliminated soldiers and armor to the Yuanshan Kingdom at a high price.
When the martial artists sold weapons in the past, they did it secretly, and those who were caught had to lose their heads.
Kou Ji was on the good side, selling in large quantities openly and openly.
Not only could Lu Yijian and others not be able to shout and kill Kou Ji because of this, they also had to hold their noses and praise the Kou family for their good sales.
Could it be bad?
Ten thousand sets of Dragon God Guard armor were sold to Yuan Shan Kingdom, and with the money obtained, after equipping ten thousand Imperial Forest Guards, there was actually a surplus of one hundred thousand guan.
Not only did the imperial court not pay a huge sum of money when the army replaced its armaments, but it actually made a hundred thousand guan from it.
You know, when the imperial court replaced armaments in the past, it was a waste of money.
Often when a set of armaments is replaced, the imperial court's ten years of savings will be completely spent.
The imperial court will also be injured.
But now the court not only did not spend money, but also made money.
Lu Yijian and others had no reason not to praise Kou Ji.
Anyway, those obsolete soldiers and armors will become moldy in the warehouse. If they are recast, a large amount of money will be spent.
Now it is easy to exchange them for money and new armaments.
Very cost effective.
As for whether other vassals would pose a threat to the Song Dynasty after taking over the Song Dynasty's armaments, Lu Yijian and the others were not worried at all.
With Kou Ji's black heart, it is absolutely impossible for him to do anything sacrificing himself for others.
It is estimated that Kou Ji wanted to sell all the soldiers and armors of the Song Dynasty and use the money in exchange to equip all the soldiers and horses of the Song Dynasty with muskets and artillery.
Just when Lu Yijian and the others were secretly thinking.
Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji had finished their play, and Zhao Zhen said to Lu Yijian very sincerely: "Lu Aiqing, what do you three think?"
Although Lu Yijian and the others did not pay attention to what Zhao Zhen and Kou Ji said, the three of them were already veterans and knew how to deal with the situation at hand.
Immediately, the three of them raised their hands and saluted and said: "The military affairs are now under the control of the Privy Council. The officials and Privy Council Kou will do whatever they think is appropriate. I have no objections."
Zhao Zhen nodded with satisfaction and said: "This is very good, then I will give an order to Chen Yaozi and let him handle this matter with full authority."
After saying this, Zhao Zhen ordered people to draw up the edict, stamped the seal, and sent people to send him out of the palace.
After finishing this matter.
Kou Ji slightly arched his hands and said, "I have an important matter to discuss with the officials and Mr. Lu when I enter the palace this time."
The eyes of Zhao Zhen and Lu Yijian all fell on Kou Ji.
They all know that Kou Ji usually doesn't speak, and speaking up is a big deal.
When Kou Ji saw the four of them staring at him, he did not show off and said bluntly: "When I was compiling the phonological book, I encountered some difficulties, so I have a suggestion and want to discuss it with the officials and Lu Gong."
Kou Jidang talked about the difficulties he encountered when compiling a phonological book, and at the same time also gave his own solutions.
After listening, Zhao Zhen, Lu Yijian, Wang Zeng and Zhang Zhibai had different expressions and different concerns.
Zhao Zhen was the first to speak: "Is it true that simplified characters are easier to learn than existing characters?"
Kou Ji was speechless and asked Gong E to get some pen and ink and use some existing simplified characters to write an article.
I picked up my pen again and wrote an article in traditional Chinese characters.
Kou Ji picked up two words, showed them to Zhao Zhen, and said with a smile: "You have been reading poetry and books since you were young, and you should understand the truth, that is, the more strokes in a word, the harder it is to write and remember.
Simplifying characters means reducing the number of strokes in a character without losing its shape, making it easier to write and remember.
It used to take the time to write one word, but after simplification, it can be written two words.
It used to take the time to memorize one word, but after simplification, it can be memorized two words.
The benefits of abbreviated characters are self-evident.
Many native masters in the countryside treat children as stupid and block the door because they cannot remember the characters when they are learning calligraphy.
People in the countryside are also discouraged from reading because they have too many strokes and cannot remember the characters.
If the characters could be simplified, both the former and the latter would be reduced.
There will also be an increase in the number of scholars.
What's more important is that we are about to implement elementary education, and phonology books are one of the most important books.
After it is simplified, it can save the court a lot of money.
As long as we save one more money, we can receive one more Mengtong.
Once the imperial court succeeded in promoting simplified characters, it spared no effort to promote education.
Maybe one day, everyone in the world will be literate."
When Zhao Zhen heard this, his breathing suddenly became rapid.
Promoting enlightenment, in any dynasty, is a merit that can be written down in great numbers.
However, even though the previous dynasties worked hard to promote enlightenment, they did not achieve much.
Previous dynasties did not achieve the feat of making everyone in the world literate.
If he could really make everyone in the world literate.
Then he can really straighten his back and compete with Emperor Qin and Han martial arts.
Zhao Zhen stared at Kou Ji and asked in a deep voice: "If I spare no effort to carry out enlightenment, how long will it take and how much price will it cost?"
Kou Ji thought for a moment and said: "Without vassalage in the four fields, the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and decades of hard work have been lost."
What is the most important thing about dragging education?
money!
As long as the money is available, there is no education that cannot be carried out.
The Song Dynasty is not a later generation.
There was no democracy and no freedom in the Song Dynasty.
As long as Zhao Zhen convinced the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, he could link reading to everything about the people, and use various means to involve all people in the study of writing.
Studying is free and there are subsidies.
If you don't study, you'll be taxed heavily, forced to do hard labor, and if it gets worse, you'll lose your head.
Do you want to learn or not?
No one dares not to learn.
No one will complain about this.
Why no complaints?
Because scholars had a unique status in the Song Dynasty, everyone could see it.
People don't study, not because they don't want to study, but because they can't afford to study.
As long as the imperial court solves the problem of not being able to afford school, the people will definitely send their children to elementary school without hesitation.
It is difficult for a very small number of people with ulterior motives to step out at this time.
The imperial court spared no expense to make you read and write, and to make you a master. Are you still not happy?
The imperial court beheaded you, and there was no one to cry out for you.
The imperial court would kill the troublemakers, or send them to do hard labor as vanguards, so naturally there would be no complaints.
So, the key to everything is money.
And it is impossible for the imperial court to spend all the tax revenue of the imperial court in order to promote education.
So Kou Ji's solution was to borrow a chicken to lay an egg.
Use the vassal money to support everyone in the Song Dynasty to study.
What the Song Dynasty had to pay was time and soldiers.
Using hundreds of thousands of people in exchange for the opportunity for everyone in the world to study, Zhao Zhen felt that this deal was a very good deal.
He almost gave up.
Lu Yijian coughed and said: "The officials, Privy Kou raised this matter, but it is feasible. Even if we cannot make everyone in the Song Dynasty literate, we can make half of the people in the Song Dynasty literate.
But this was not a day's work.
Officials still need to develop their talents gradually, and must not publicize it too early."
Wang Zeng nodded and said: "If it is publicized too early and fails to be implemented, then the officials will lose their trust in the world."
Zhang Zhibai echoed: "The officials just have to do this, there is no need to talk about it."
After Zhao Zhen listened to what Lu Yijian and the others said, he pondered for a moment and said, "I understand..."
After saying that, Zhao Zhen didn't speak again.
Promoting enlightenment is one of the goals he and Kou Ji set long ago.
Its purpose is to lay the foundation for radical changes in cultural production.
If people associate the promotion of education with cultural reform, it may increase resistance. It is indeed difficult to publicize this matter.
The reason why he lost his composure was that the blueprint drawn by Kou Ji was too attractive.
After Zhao Zhen fell silent, Lu Yijian stared at Kou Jida and said, "Continue talking about Jianzi..."
Kou Ji nodded slowly.
Lu Yijian asked: "How are you sure that using simplified characters will reduce the thickness of phonological books by two-thirds."
Don't wait for Kou Ji to speak.
Wang Zeng stroked his beard and said: "It should be about the size."
Kou Ji nodded with a smile and said: "Yes, the existing characters have many strokes and are printed too small, so they will inevitably blur into a ball. So if you want to show them clearly, you must use characters of a certain size.
But the abbreviations are different.
Few strokes.
Even if the printing and engraving are reduced in multiples, they can still be seen clearly."
As he said that, Kou Ji took the two texts he had written, stepped back some distance, and said to Lu Yijian and the others: "I'm standing here. You three can only see the outline and outline of some characters when they look at them.
Probably. But the simplified characters can still be read very clearly."
Kou Ji put down the two articles, took out two pieces of paper, wrote two articles with very small characters, and handed them to Lu Yijian and the others.
"The characters of the same size, the strokes of the same size, and simplified characters are still clearly visible after being reduced. But for the existing characters, some strokes have overlapped and become a mass."
When Lu Yijian and the three of them took a look, it was true.
After Zhang Zhibai read it, he frowned and said, "Small print can certainly reduce the thickness of the book, but long-term reading of small print can be harmful to your eyes."
Kou Ji nodded slowly when he heard Zhang Zhibai's words.
What Zhang Zhibai said is true.
Reading too much small print can indeed lead to myopia.
Kou Ji said to Zhang Zhibai: "This book is only for Meng children to learn, and it is a book to assist Meng children in their studies. It is not specially given to Meng children to practice. It is impossible for Meng children's writings to be based on this."
And it’s just this kind of book, other books can’t do this.”
Zhang Zhibai sighed: "It is easier to save money by printing books with small print. Some booksellers may not let go of this profit-making opportunity."
Kou Ji nodded and said: "That's why books written by Meng Xue Yi are published and controlled by the imperial court and will not be handed over to booksellers for profit."
Wang Zeng frowned and said: "I'm afraid that the scholars in the world won't agree. They are already accustomed to using existing characters and promoting simplified characters. They will definitely cause trouble."
Kou Ji said frankly: "Simplified characters evolved from existing characters and took the shape of existing characters. It is much easier to understand simplified characters than to understand existing characters. If a scholar wants to learn, it will be much faster."
Moreover, the promotion of simplified characters does not mean that readers should abandon the old characters.
As the old and the new change, we can do both in parallel.
This move will not affect the scholar's career.
Even if they make trouble, it won't cause any big trouble."
Lu Yijian curled his lips and said, "I'm just afraid that someone has bad intentions and takes the opportunity to incite trouble."
Kou Ji pondered for a moment and said: "This matter is inevitable. But the promotion of education is the good government of the court. We should not be afraid just because someone will make trouble.
Instead, we should face the difficulties head on.
Once the implementation of simplified characters is successful.
The great promotion of enlightenment is no longer an empty talk."
"If this happens, it will indeed bring blessings to the future. We have no reason not to agree."
Wang Zeng held his chin and said solemnly.
Zhang Zhibai nodded accordingly.
On the contrary, Lu Yijian did not express his position.
Kou Ji looked at Lu Yijian and said, "Does Mr. Lu think this is inappropriate?"
Lu Yijian glanced at Kou Ji and said calmly: "I'm afraid of being scolded."
When Kou Ji heard this, he laughed and said, "I'll bear all the abuse."
Lu Yijian pouted and said, "The old man has nothing to say."
After Lu Yijian's words fell to the ground, Zhao Zhen said: "Promoting enlightenment is for my country, the country of Song Dynasty. Even if there is infamy, I should be responsible for it."
"Officials shouldn't be blamed for this..."
"I second the proposal!"
"I second the proposal!"
Lu Yijian and the other three spoke together.
Zhao Zhen curled his lips and said quietly: "Don't you, the three dear friends, feel that the more infamy I was responsible for when promoting simplified characters, the more praise I will receive after the benefits of simplified characters are revealed?"
Lu Yijian and the other three stared at Zhao Zhen in astonishment.
Kou Ji shook his head dumbfounded and did not speak.