But the empress did not think so, so she came again and was led by Jiang Fan to visit the craftsman's workshop hosted by Gongshu. She was immediately shocked by the papermaking and movable type printing techniques.
Some ordinary scraps can be used to create such beautiful paper at an incredibly low cost. Moreover, with the faster movable type printing, knowledge will soon be accessible to the common people, and books will no longer be a luxury item that only princes, nobles, and wealthy plutocrats can afford.
There is no doubt that this is of epoch-making significance. With the empress's knowledge, how could she not understand how much change this would bring to scholars all over the world.
While marveling at Jiang Fan's uncanny craftsmanship, she clearly realized that something... was about to change.
Jiang Fan did not hesitate to donate papermaking and printing techniques to the empress. But he told the empress that the matter could not be made public rashly.
The empress is so smart, she only needs a brief thought to understand the stakes.
At Jiang Fan's suggestion, the empress, who understood the power of knowledge, immediately made the decision to establish the Royal Bookstore, which was affiliated with one of Jiang Fan's so-called royal industry groups. The bookstore was built with royal investment and managed by Jiang Fan. Prepare to collect classics from all over the world and select the best ones for printing and distribution.
The only thing that surprised Jiang Fan was that although Li Xiu didn't know about paper and movable type, he showed great opposition to the printing of books in large quantities.
In his words, all people in the world should not be too enlightened, as fools are easy to teach.
Of course, this was refuted mercilessly by Jiang Fan. Jiang Fan knew what he wanted to do, and he was extremely repulsive to hundreds of schools of thought. However, even though he was eloquent, he still failed in the face of thousands of years of knowledge.
As for how Li Xiu will continue to try to oppose this matter, Jiang Fan has no time to worry about it for the time being.
At this moment, he was calculating the profits with Zhao Gao. In just five days since it went on sale, Guangyangdu has sold 50,000 volumes, with a net profit of 200,000 taels of silver. However, this is just the beginning. Printing is still ongoing, and it is expected that at least 200,000 volumes will be sold throughout Yangdu. It is expected that orders from Yangdu will be fulfilled by the end of the year, and the revenue will be more than 800,000 taels. This is just Yangdu.
Zhao Gao's face lit up with joy, especially now that his bookstore was acquired by Jiang Fan and merged into the Royal Bookstore. Zhao Gao never dreamed that he would actually have shares in the royal family. Although it is only a small stock, it will make more money than my own bookstore. What he valued even more was the background of the Royal Bookstore.
It belongs to Jiang Fan in name, but actually belongs to the Empress. This is your own ladder!
"There is no future. If you succeed like this with a small amount of money, how can you do big business in the future!"
Zhao Gao didn't want to argue: "My prince, I only have this small amount, but you are not as big as you. Contentment, contentment..."
I believe you, you are a ghost. Just because you sharpen your head and climb up, it’s strange that you can be satisfied!
"My lord, you are really smart. The hardcover version and the simple version are a stroke of genius. We make the dignitaries look good and earn a lot of money from them. The simple version is cheap and the common people are grateful. It kills three birds with one stone!"
"These are just business methods. Those big guys hide their money and don't take it out. It lacks circulation and is not good for our country. But for the common people, it is enough for us to only earn some costs."
Zhao Gao obviously didn't understand, but it didn't matter. Just follow Jiang Fan's instructions.
But this also made Jiang Fan discover a huge shortcoming: he had no business helpers. Zhao Gao was just a eunuch, and the most important thing was to serve the empress. It was impossible and he didn't know much about merchant skills.
Ding Shaoan is very smart, but he is also not good at this aspect. Gu Beiyan...forget it.
Black Mountain Eight Bears...well...it's better to be a housekeeper.
The public losers and the craftsmen were all left, and Jiang Fan was not prepared to let them change their ways. Their role is too important right now, and Jiang Fan must rely on them if he wants to be freed.
It's true that people hate less when they are used.
Lin Nanyan held her cheeks and thought for a moment: "Sir, I can get a lot of information from Paradise City. There are many talented and knowledgeable people in the world. I wonder if you would consider it?"
Jiang Fan shook his head like a rattle: "Not yet, many things are confidential, and now we need our own confidants."
"But..." Lin Nanyan frowned: "Young Master traveled around and met some people, but most of them were outsiders. They were rarely knowledgeable about these worldly things. Of course, they probably couldn't see them either. Come on, what can we do?"
"That's why I am worried, I am anxious..."
Lin Nanyan blinked: "Arrived? Master... Xiao Qi thinks you seem a little strange."
"Strange?" Jiang Fan was stunned.
Lin Nanyan scratched her head, organized her vocabulary and said, "You seem... eager to get away?"
Jiang Fan was stunned for a moment, then chuckled: "Xiao Qi, you are really a roundworm in my stomach. But...it's not just about getting away quickly..."
Lin Nanyan often couldn't understand this young master, but he didn't know how to talk about many things.
"Does the young master still want to continue looking for a way...?"
Jiang Fan suddenly smiled slightly: "Xiao Qi, you are not a curious person."
Lin Nanyan chuckled and said: "Xiao Qi is only curious about the young master. To be honest, Xiao Qi feels that the young master is like a slippery fish. The world is your river. If you really want to escape from the empress, there is no way..."
Jiang Fan said leisurely: "You can understand that I want to open more dungeons... I just didn't expect the dungeon boss to be a bit big... Haha..."
"What is a copy? What is a hug to death?" Lin Nanyan was confused.
Jiang Fan smiled and said nothing. There can't be just one way, or...the way is not only outside the world...it may also be in the world...
——
"That's what he said?"
The empress looked thoughtful after listening to Zhao Gao's words.
"Indeed, what the prince means is that dignitaries and wealthy merchants usually hide their money and do not circulate it. As a result, the citizens have less and less usable wealth, so they can only make more copper coins. On the contrary, as more and more copper coins become available, the currency depreciates, so His first step is to let these people dig out the money and circulate it on the market, and through this, ordinary people can also have the opportunity to read. It is said... it is said to prepare talents for His Majesty..."
The empress' eyes flashed.
Zhao Gao said: "I can't understand these words, but fortunately I have written them down and reported them to His Majesty unchanged."
The empress waved her hand: "You have done a good job. Don't worry about other things in the future. You are only responsible for the contact between me and King Xiaoyao. Go on."
Zhao Gao hurriedly bowed and retreated. But his eyes showed an increasingly excited light.
Looking at the dancing lanterns, the empress looked thoughtful. Others did not understand Jiang Fan's words, but who was she? What's more, I have been with Jiang Fan for a long time and can understand many novel vocabulary and new expressions.
"Papermaking, movable type... reserve talents..." The empress thought for a long time, her eyes suddenly shrunk, and she couldn't help but stand up: "What a unique plan..."
——
What dragged Jiang Fan out of the study and laboratory was a strange thing.
Ding Shaoan quickly walked into the study, "Young Master... you really dug out some things..."
Jiang Fan paused and slowly put down his work: "Where is it?"
Ding Shaoan said: "At the bottom of Qinglian Pond..."
Jiang Fan immediately walked out quickly: "Take me to see it quickly!"
There is a Green Lotus Pond in the center of Qinglian Garden, which is how the place got its name. It's not so much a pond as it is an artificial lake covering an area of 100 acres. There is a small island in the center that can only be reached by boat.
But now the entire Qinglian Garden has been emptied, and only the Black Mountain Nine Bears are guarding it. Not even Gu Beiyan could enter.
But Gongshuyu is an exception. Seeing Jiang Fan come in, he immediately stepped forward.
"Sir, you took advantage of the renovation to allow us to build a large-scale construction project. Today, while we were doing the construction, I suddenly discovered that there was a mechanism in the Qinglian Pond. According to my speculation, there is another mystery under the water!"
Jiang Fan said: "Who else knows about this matter?"
Gongshu Yu said: "Except me and Ding Shaoan, no one else knows about it. I didn't make any move when I found the clues. I'm afraid others won't be able to find out yet."
Jiang Fan stared at the lake: "With Gong Loser's ability, it must not be difficult to crack it. How long will it take?"
Gongshu Yu said: "I have just measured and carefully considered it. If my guess is correct, there should be a secret room at the bottom of the central lake. According to the ventilation design of the mechanism, I suspect... that this is a hiding place. If it is cracked, it will take about three days. Day Kung Fu.”
Jiang Fan pondered for a long time, and his brows moved slightly: "Continue to decorate without making a sound. You and your close associates will do this secretly, and you can't pretend to be an outsider. But remember, no matter what you find, don't alert the people in the secret room. If you find anything, you must not alert anyone in the secret room. Report it to me."
Gongshu Yu clasped his fists: "Follow the order!"
His obedience made Ding Shaoan stunned. Isn't Gongshu Yu the head of the Gongshu family? Apart from the grandfather, Gongshu Ban, this person is the biggest talker of Gongshu Ban. Why did you tell Jiang Fan to obey the order?
Could it be that... the relationship between Jiang Fan and Gong Loser is not like what he has seen before?
But Ding Shaoan has long been accustomed to Jiang Fan's various mysteries, and is not too surprised.
Jiang Fan keenly caught his expression.
"Don't be surprised. There are some things I don't need to tell you yet, but since I can let you know what I'm looking for, I won't treat you as an outsider."
Ding Shaoan clasped his fists and said respectfully, "I don't dare."
Jiang Fan said: "Arrange Xiong Da and Xiong San to protect the Gongshu clan leader closely, so there can't be any accidents."
Ding Shaoan was shocked, knowing that this matter was not trivial, so he quickly responded.
"...Some things are really what I think?"
Jiang Fan's expression was a little strange, and some kind of speculation became more and more out of control.
"If that's true...did you...did it on purpose?"
