Xiao Rui did not say the cost of counterfeiting this book, but analyzed: "The gentry class accounts for more than 90% of the world's officials. What is the reason? In addition to the nine-level Zhongzheng system that was continued back then, it is because all the scholars are from the gentry. Ordinary people The common people cannot afford to buy or read books. If they are not literate, they will naturally not be able to be officials."
ps: Explain the nine-level Zhongzheng system: During the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Pi adopted the suggestion of Shangshu Chen Qun and implemented the nine-level Zhongzheng system, which was fully developed during the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties. It was not until the beginning of the imperial examination system in the Sui Dynasty that the nine-level Zhongzheng system was replaced, which lasted for four hundred years.
The specific method of the Nine-Rank Zhongzheng System continues the inspection system of the Han Dynasty (such as promoting filial piety and integrity). It also recommends talents to become officials. The Nine-Rank Zhongzheng System determines grades from two perspectives: family background and personal conduct. Although it is expressly stipulated that family background is only for reference, during the Wei and Jin Dynasties, aristocratic families fully occupied the court, making family background the most important weight by default. There is no chance of success for a poor family.
It is precisely because of this that the imperial examination system, which was launched in the first year of the Sui Dynasty's Daye, was highly praised by the people and was even used for thousands of years. (For this alone, Yang Guang, Emperor Daye of the Sui Dynasty, made countless merits. Anyone who criticizes others as a scholar in later generations will be considered ungrateful.)
As for why Daye Emperor Yang Guang was so blackmailed, my personal guess is that it was because Yang Guang offended the gentry class at that time, and the history of the Sui Dynasty was written by the Tang Dynasty. Li and Tang Dynasty did not allow the beautification of Yang Guang. There were many officials who wrote history. Coming from the noble class, it seems that he will not give up this opportunity. It is not too easy to go along with the tide and smear the enemy.
Xiao Rui continued: "If everyone in the world can read and read, even if they have not read a few saints' words, even if they are selected from thousands of miles away, a group of talented people from poor families can be selected to enter the court every year. .Master Cui, in a few years, the officials in the court will be purged and replaced."
hiss……
What a big ambition! What an arrogant tone!
Cui Shouzhen was silent, and after a moment he still didn't believe it: "Master Hou, if we can do what you said and everyone can read, I will naturally not doubt it. But this step is too difficult and impossible to achieve. And even if it is a human Everyone is literate, don’t forget, most of the officials participating in the imperial examination selection are our people.”
Xiao Rui said confidently: "Last year's imperial examination farce, haven't we learned enough lessons?"
"The imperial examinations promoted by Emperor Daye opened a door to heaven for the poor families in the world, and all the kings in later generations had to do was to widen this door."
"Do you know the cost of these books?"
Cui Shouzhen looked through it again, shook his head, looked at Xiao Rui seriously, and waited for the next chapter.
Xiao Rui stretched out a finger.
"One denarius?"
Xiao Rui shook his head.
"One or two?"
"No! One penny." Xiao Rui stopped trying to make excuses.
What? ? ? A penny?
"Yes, three copies for one penny!"
puff……
"This is impossible, absolutely impossible!"
Cui Shouzhen's face flushed with excitement, he opened the book and pointed at it and said: "Not to mention anything else, just this fine paper, snow-white new bamboo paper, just buying this white book will cost ten cents. Not to mention the binding, this Letters and engravings... Lord Marquis, you can't scare me with lies even if you talk on paper!"
To scare you? Am I lying? Do I need to lie?
Xiao Rui took one and said: "If this gift is only for the Cui family for enlightenment, it seems to be dispensable. Whether there are more convenient enlightenment books will not affect the Cui family's children's reading and literacy. .”
"So the original intention of me giving this gift is to tell you that in the future, every household will have this thing, and everyone will have a copy."
Cui Shouzhen didn't believe it.
Xiao Rui patted the book and said: "Hsinchu paper was invented by me. After several improvements, the workmanship and quality have become more and more exquisite, and the cost has become cheaper and cheaper. For a thin book like this, a large piece of good paper can be used Publish five books.”
"Let's talk about printing, engraving and printing. Once a plate is made, it can be reused many times."
After a pause, Xiao Rui broke a piece of news that shocked Cui Shouzhen: "Not only did I make paper, I also improved the printing process. In traditional engraving printing, if one of the typefaces is damaged, it has to be re-engraved, which is very troublesome. After With my improvement, I no longer have this trouble. It doesn’t take a single stick of incense to change the stencils.”
Pfft...this is impossible!
Cui Shouzhen really wanted to call Xiao Rui a liar. I don’t know how many words I said today that are impossible.
Xiao Rui spread his hands: "It involves commercial secrets, so I can't demonstrate it to you in person. It's up to you to believe it or not. I, Xiao Rui, never lie to others."
Never lie? Yeah? Do you want face? I wonder if the little Turkic Khan Tuli will get up from the ground and spit in your face when he hears this.
"Well, why don't you and I do an experiment? There must be an original copy in your home library. Find one, and send someone with the book to my printing workshop to try to print it in a few days."
this……
Looking at Xiao Rui's sincere eyes, Cui Shouzhen decided to give it a try, not only for verification, but also for people to see Xiao Rui's workshop.
Thinking of this, Cui Shouzhen went to the library in person to get an orphaned copy, "This is an orphaned copy handed down from my Cui family's secret collection. It's the only one in the world. It should be considered as a return gift to the Marquis."
Return gift?
Xiao Rui was very curious. He took it and took a look. His eyes widened: "This, this is Hua Tuo's "Green Bag Sutra"? How is it possible? Doesn't it mean that Hua Tuo was killed by Cao Cao in prison and the "Green Bag Sutra" was burned? Has it been lost?"
Cui Shouzhen shook his head: "The Cui family doesn't know the specific plot. This book came into our hands during the Wuhu chaos. We don't know whether it's true or not. It's a heresy, and the Cui family doesn't pay much attention to it. The Marquis is a master of medicine, so I guess. It will be of great use in your hands.”
"It's genuine, it's definitely genuine. The medical theory in the book cannot fool anyone. Now that you say it's Hua Tuo's handwriting, I believe it." Xiao Rui briefly flipped through a few pages, and his hands began to tremble with excitement.
After reading it immersedly for a while, Xiao Rui said with emotion: "Such a great gift, I'm a little soft-hearted in accepting it. Sigh... How can we discuss the serious matter of getting married later?"
Phew...are you still thinking about getting married? Cui Shouzhen wanted to vomit blood. I cursed secretly in my heart, shameless. If you say this clearly, don't you just want to default on the debt?
"It doesn't matter, it's disrespectful to come and go. One code is one code. Let's talk about it one by one. If Mr. Hou is willing to let Cui marry his daughter, that's your ability. Sending you a solitary medical book is not a transaction, it is I admire the Marquis as a person. Although we are rivals, we just have different positions, which does not prevent us from respecting the facts."
"Thank you! Xiao Rui accepted it shamelessly. Please send a capable person to follow and have a look. This book can be printed in one day at most. At that time, the original copy will be returned to you for further collection."
"No, the Cui family does not practice medicine, just send back the printed copy. Originally, the Marquis kept it as a souvenir."
Xiao Rui thanked him again, and then arranged for Li Junxian to go out in person and rush to Xiaojiazhuang with a reliable person from the Cui family.
