"I just mentioned that you improved papermaking technology..."
"Yes, yes, papermaking, Xue Rengui, go and take out the paper I made!"
"yes!"
Xue Rengui then went to the back to get the paper.
Ji Ruxue asked curiously: "Mr. Zili collected a lot of bark, hemp heads, rags and old fishing nets before. Is it for making paper?"
She suddenly remembered that Li Min had been acting a little strange some time ago, collecting some strange things for no apparent reason. Now when it came to paper, she suddenly remembered.
Li Min smiled.
After these days of struggle, his improved papermaking technology finally began to produce paper. And it is ready for mass production.
"That's right, that's it."
“If we don’t have other industries, why would we make paper with such low profits?”
Ji Ruxue didn't understand why Li Min would tinker with such a thing. The profit of paper strips is not high, it also wastes a lot of time, and the output is very small.
Li Min said:
"The positioning of papermaking is not a tool for making money, but an important carrier for spreading knowledge. We must look further and not ignore the most important things for the sake of temporary gain. Only inheritance is what we want . Moreover, this papermaking can also advance the process of our research to another extent, thereby reducing our costs."
Sun Simiao's medical school alone consumes tens of thousands of pieces of paper a day. The price of paper at this time is not low. A piece of paper costs about 50 taels of silver. A thousand taels of silver are consumed a day, and 30,000 taels of paper a month. Two, three hundred thousand taels of silver a year. The longer the time, the more consumption, and it is not limited to this aspect of consumption.
There is nothing wrong with him, Li Min, being able to make money, but he must also know how to save money.
Moreover, he also had to think about the future. His scientific and technological research was about to begin, and more paper would be needed by then.
Currently, paper is the best carrier.
"Ruxue is short-sighted!"
Ji Ruxue said this after listening.
At this moment, an old voice came.
"Is Mr. Zili here?"
Then, Li Min took a look and saw that it was Kong Yingda.
What is he here for?
"You're a bachelor from Confucius University. Why are you here?"
Li Min asked curiously. Kong Yingda rarely came to his place during this period.
Why are you here today?
"I have something to tell you!"
Kong Yingda said.
"Oh? What's the matter?"
"I am no longer the crown prince and grand master now, and I am completely liberated. Therefore, I want to come over and ask Mr. Zili for some literature advice. Is it okay?"
When Li Min heard this, he asked, "What's going on?"
"Master Confucius, have you made any mistakes? Why did you become a good prince and grand master?"
"No, no, no, because the position of crown prince has been removed by your majesty, my position as crown prince and grand master is naturally useless. And this position is useless! I have to be criticized every day and have no time to make a fuss!"
So here he is.
"Oh? He is finally willing to establish himself as a crown prince! Interesting!"
Li Min still calls Li Shimin him.
"Legend has it that it's because of Changsun Wuji's incident. This prince is really worrying. I have nothing to teach you. But it's okay. If he doesn't become the prince, I'll be relaxed."
Therefore, Kong Yingda came to find him.
At this moment, Xue Rengui came in with a stack of paper in his hand.
Kong Yingda happened to be watching.
He walked directly forward.
He looked at the paper curiously and touched it again.
"This paper is as white as flawless and as smooth as jade. It is of the highest quality. How much does this paper cost and where does it come from? I want to buy some too!"
Scholars crave paper and pen just as people crave money.
When I encounter good paper and good pen, I will naturally not let it go.
That’s why he wanted to buy some!
Li Min did not reply directly, but asked:
"How much do you think this paper will cost, Master Confucius?"
"I think this paper is of high quality. I'm afraid it won't be available for less than forty or fifty cents a piece. After many years, I finally saw better paper than back then!"
There was good paper in ancient times, but the price was extremely high. In the market in Chang'an, ordinary paper cost 20 cents a piece. Kong Yingda believes that the quality of this paper is far better than the paper on the market, so it is normal for the price to double.
This is why Li Min wants to transform.
You know, in the prosperous times, the price of rice was only three to five cents a pound. A piece of paper can buy ten kilograms of rice. Note, it’s a picture!
The price of paper is so expensive, and the price of books is even more expensive. With printing, etc., a book with hundreds or even thousands of words cannot be printed! It is impossible for a scholar to read only one book. It is normal to read dozens of books. So if you do the math, you will have to spend dozens or even hundreds of taels of silver! The key is to get out of production, which will be even more expensive.
This is why people cannot afford to study. It is also one of the reasons why aristocratic families can monopolize the imperial examination.
Because they are very rich, such a little money is nothing.
"Fifty cents a piece? No, no, no, that's too much!"
"What! More? Thirty coins?"
Li Min shook his head again.
"Twenty cents?"
"Shibun!? It can't be Shibun!"
"Ten cents is a high price. You can get such a piece of paper for just one cent!"
Kong Yingda was completely shocked by Li Min's words.
His hands shook.
A penny, a piece of paper is only a penny.
If this is the case, then there will be hope for poor people to study in the future.
If this is the case, he must go to the palace and have a good talk with Li Shimin.
"Where did this paper come from? I want to buy some too!"
Kong Yingda's reaction was like this, he also wanted to accept some.
"This was made by Zi Li. He improved the papermaking technology, with better quality and lower cost!"
Ji Ruxue interjected.
"What! It's been created. Mr. Zili is really a god!"
He became very excited.
Even for a penny a piece, the profit is very considerable. It is conceivable that after Li Min's white paper comes out, the paper merchants in the market will be unable to resist. The profits from monopoly are staggering.
The largest paper merchant in the Tang Dynasty was also the Wang family.
If the paper comes out, the entire Wang family will lose a huge amount of money in a year.
This blow will be no less damaging than the previous salt damage.
"Can it be mass produced?"
"Of course you can. I can produce as much as you want!"
Kong Yingda became excited. The number of people in Datang who could afford to read would greatly increase.
"Mr. Zili, I still have something to do, so go ahead!"
Kong Yingda was very excited and left the group. At this time, he went to Tai Chi Palace. This good news must be known to Li Shimin.
Ji Ruxue said at this time: "Mr. Zili, I'm afraid he will mention this paper to Your Majesty when he goes here!"
"Isn't that better? Every time he assists our industry, I am everything I want to see!"
Only then did Ji Ruxue realize that Li Min did it on purpose.
He started plotting against Li Shimin again.
