"Are we just going to have to watch helplessly and let those mud-legged people climb on top of our heads?"
Hearing everyone's discussion, Cui Yonghui's triangular eyes became even more gloomy, and he asked with a cold light in his eyes.
At this time, the middle-aged man who had been concentrating with his eyes closed spoke.
This person's name is Zheng Kai, one of the representatives of the Zheng family in Xingyang in Chang'an City.
I saw him caressing the short beard under his chin and said leisurely: "Haha, if you want to prevent those mud-legged people from ever getting ahead, there is actually no way."
"Oh? Is there any way?"
Seeing everyone's shocked expressions, Zheng Kai achieved his goal of showing off, so he cleared his throat and explained:
"The contents of the Four Books and Five Classics are obscure and difficult to understand. Without the guidance of a famous teacher, those mud-legged people will not even know a few characters. Self-study will definitely not be able to understand the meaning of the scriptures."
"In addition, whether it is the ancient classics or the various pens, inks, papers and inkstones for learning, we are in our hands. As long as we block this aspect, even if the children from poor families have the opportunity to participate in the imperial examination, how good will their knowledge be?"
"Of course, the premise is that we must unite as one and strictly control the export of knowledge and culture."
Cui Yonghui was slightly stunned. He thought for a moment and felt that it was indeed feasible, so he expressed his position first.
"Brother Zheng is right. Since the emperor wants to suppress us, let him see the power of our family. The pens, inks, paper and inkstones that my Cui family is responsible for selling will start to increase in price from today..."
Lu Benwei is not far behind: "My Lu family's printed books account for about 50% of the entire Chang'an City. I will also strictly control the prices. If Brother Cui controls the pen, ink, paper and inkstone, they will have no paper or pen, and even I, Lu, will not be far behind." My family can’t even afford books, so let’s see how they can survive.”
Wang Lun also smiled and said: "This is a wonderful plan. It can not only control the rise of the poor children, but also increase our income. Why not do it?"
"In addition, each of our families can also think of other ways, such as bringing other aristocratic families together..."
"Well, there is also the Marquis of Zhongyi. That boy doesn't know how high the sky is. He dares to publish a book at such a young age. Do you really think he is just playing tricks? We can find some great scholars in the scholarly community to criticize him and discredit him..."
As a result, several people started to add up their words again.
As long as the children from poor families can't get ahead, then the children from their aristocratic families will be able to control whether it's in the court or at the local level.
What's more, there are more than just a few of them in the Tang Dynasty, they are just the largest families.
As long as they are willing to take the lead, they will definitely be able to unite with all other aristocratic families to form an airtight blockade network to curb the advancement of the poor children.
…
In the following days, the number of pens, inks, paper, inkstones, and various imperial examination books in Chang'an City increased steadily, more than five times.
Even some wealthy gentry people think this price is a bit expensive.
After all, pens, inks, paper, and inkstones are essential if you want to study, and they are continuous consumables.
In this way, several famous families made a lot of money.
But for the imperial court and the children of poor families, it was an unbearable burden, and there was even a feeling of resentment.
It's natural to think about it. The original price has already made it very difficult for ordinary people, not to mention that now the price has increased by more than five times, and there is still a feeling that supply exceeds demand.
After Li Shimin heard the report, he became furious.
The imperial examination reform policy had just been implemented, and the price of pens, ink, paper, inkstones, and books was about to increase.
If Li Shimin said that no one was causing trouble, he would not believe it.
Although he had foreseen many obstacles to the imperial examination reform, His Majesty Li Er was still very angry.
These aristocratic families who only know how to drink human blood are too abominable. They are simply plundering people's fat and anointing.
In anger, His Majesty Li Er immediately sent someone to summon the principals of the Cui family and the Lu family in Chang'an City.
Because in Chang'an City, the Cui family controls the largest shop selling pens, inks, paper and inkstones, while the Lu family has the largest book printing workshop.
Faced with His Majesty Li Er's question, the two families did not panic at all, but responded plausibly - now the people in the world are grateful for God's grace, and more and more people are studying.
However, their production capacity and inventory of pens, inks, paper, inkstones, and books are seriously insufficient, resulting in a significant increase in costs.
Therefore, the two companies had no choice but to raise prices.
Such an explanation was so perfunctory that it made His Majesty Li Er furious, but he was helpless.
The reform of the imperial examination is a good thing for children from poor families, and it is also a way for ordinary people to climb up.
After the reform of the imperial examination, children from poor families became more enthusiastic about studying, and it is certain that the number of people will increase sharply.
But such a situation must take a process, at least several months.
Nowadays, Kungfu pens, ink, paper, inkstones and books are sold out in just a few days. This is simply a fool.
Although everyone knew what was going on, their explanations were so reasonable.
Even though he is the emperor, His Majesty Li Er cannot do whatever he wants, not to mention the unprecedented unity of the family this time.
In this matter, Li Shimin has no way to deal with these aristocratic families, but he will not let it go.
Because these aristocratic families will most likely increase their prices again until most people cannot afford them.
By then, it will be almost impossible for children from poor families to get ahead through the imperial examination, and the reform of the imperial examination that they introduced can only be a joke.
Therefore, His Majesty Li Er immediately summoned several ministers of the DPRK and China to discuss countermeasures, but they could not think of a good countermeasure.
The power of the aristocratic families is too huge. Now that several major aristocratic families are united, it is really difficult to deal with them.
After the meeting ended, Li Shimin couldn't help but shook his head, feeling increasingly disappointed with the ministers of the DPRK.
No wonder Yang Fan had already prepared himself before issuing the edict. He had obviously anticipated today's scene.
At first, Yang Fan secretly asked him to increase the production of paper, but he was rejected by Duan Ran.
Because His Majesty Li Er proudly believes that as long as he has papermaking technology and movable type printing, he can deal with the aristocratic family. It seems that he still takes it for granted!
It was Yang Fan who knew how powerful the family was, so he was really foresighted!
No wonder that boy always makes excuses and is unwilling to confront the aristocratic family head-on.
Fortunately, he made good friends with that boy first. If Yang Fan and the aristocratic family were to unite, Datang would probably be in big trouble.
Thinking of this, Li Er couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief. It seemed that he had to go to Yang Fan to discuss it.
As expected of a resolute emperor, Li Er did whatever he thought of.
After going to court, His Majesty Li Er rushed to Yang Fan's mansion with Fang Xuanling and Cheng Yaojin.
Although he is the emperor, Li Er is still a little timid. A ban was issued a year ago that banned the boy. He was really afraid that Yang Fan would not buy his advice.
Although His Majesty Li Er has not been to the Zhongyi Marquis Mansion for more than a year, they are all regular guests, and naturally they do not need to be notified when entering the manor.
When His Majesty Li Er and others stepped into the yard, they found that Yang Fan was making a snowman with several beautiful women and cute children, and Princess Gao Yang was among them.
At this time, the snowman had obviously been piled up. Princess Gao Yang ran to Yang Fan lightly and said, "The snowman you made is so ugly! Who is this?"
Yang Fan glanced at Princess Gaoyang, then at the snowman, and said: "Of course it's you, I made it just like you!"
"But how can you blame me for being ugly? You are already ugly."
The women next to them even laughed like silver bells.
Princess Gaoyang was not angry when she heard everyone making fun of her. Instead, she said coquettishly: "You are ugly, you are so annoying!"
As he said that, he raised his little pink fist and hit Yang Fan's chest with a bang, and his little face turned red with embarrassment.
His Majesty Li Er, who was in the distance, saw it very clearly, and couldn't help feeling depressed. His little white rabbit was completely lost.
That weak pink fist, which had to be held back when it was thrown out, was not a real hammer at all. It was obviously coquettish to his man!
This made Li Shimin frown and feel jealous. If he hadn't come to Yang Fan for something, he would have really wanted to turn around and leave.
"Ahem!" Cheng Yaojin coughed twice, indicating that someone was coming. Li Er's face was so dark that he could almost compete with him!
Princess Gao Yang blushed immediately when she saw Li Er's gloomy face. After saluting, she and Wu Meiniang and others walked towards the backyard.
Seeing Li Er and others coming over, Yang Fan saluted Fang Xuanling and Cheng Yaojin: "Uncle Cheng, why are you here free?" But he deliberately turned a blind eye to Li Er.
"Invincibility starts with sacrificing the ancestor"
This couldn't help but make Li Er depressed, and at the same time he couldn't help but scolded: "I'm going to shut you down and think about your mistakes, but you kid is living a very comfortable life."
This bastard is obviously still angry with himself!
"Oh, it's Lao Li! I didn't see him just now. Don't be offended. It's really wonderful that you can come to my humble home in person." Yang Fan raised his eyelids and answered in a sly manner, not treating this man as an emperor at all.
Li Er said angrily: "Others' prime ministers can hold a boat in their stomachs, but you are too stingy to keep worrying about big things!"
Yang Fan clicked his tongue and said in vain, "Old Li, are you mistaken? Where is your prime minister?"
As he said that, he raised his hand and pointed at Fang Xuanling who was standing aside.
Watching a play can also be a disaster. Fang Xuanling could only come to the rescue and said: "Good nephew! We are here today to discuss business with you. Look..."
Of course, Yang Fan knew when enough was enough and led a few people to the study.
As soon as he sat down, Li Er asked impatiently: "Now the price of pens, ink, paper and inkstones, as well as the price of books, has increased more than five times. Do you know?"
"Should we sell the paper we hoarded some time ago to lower the price of Chang'an paper?"
Yang Fan was not in a hurry at all. Instead, he looked at Li Er like an idiot: "Didn't I tell you before? You need to know how to use strategies. Now that you are pushing it out in a hurry, it will cause doubts in those aristocratic families. What we have to do is It's going to seriously injure the vitality of those aristocratic families. If it's just a scratch without pain or itch, why prepare so much?"
Seeing Yang Fan and the two playing riddles, Fang Xuanling couldn't help but asked curiously: "Your Majesty, have you already guessed that the price of paper will skyrocket?"
"How much paper has the imperial court accumulated? If there is enough, it should be released earlier, otherwise all the money will be plundered by these aristocratic families!"
At this time, the plan had begun to be implemented, and there was no need to continue to hide it, so he spoke out the plan in his heart.
Fang Xuanling was shocked and asked in a voice: "Your Majesty, do you think the papermaking technology provided by Marquis Zhongyi can easily produce paper that is easy to write on?"
After seeing His Majesty Li Er's affirmative nod, Fang Xuanling cried bitterly and said: "This is an achievement that will benefit the future. Fang thanked Marquis Zhongyi for his righteousness on behalf of all the students in the world. This is a blessing to the imperial court and a blessing to the world." Yes! Please accept Fang Mou's worship."
Even Cheng Yaojin, a big boss, blushed with excitement. He slapped Yang Fan on the shoulder with his iron-like arms and praised: "My nephew is indeed a genius in the world. It is my honor to know you, Cheng Yaojin." .”
"Although I am a rough old man, what I admire most are scholars. My good nephew has done so much for the poor people, but I can't help. It's really shameful. I, Old Cheng, should also pay homage to him."
Seeing the serious salutes of the two people, Yang Fan was really not used to it, and said modestly in a panic: "You are all elders, how can this kid bear such a big gift? What a shameful kid!"
Li Er did not refute, but nodded happily and said: "You don't have to be modest, kid. This papermaking and movable type printing technology are indeed enough to make you famous throughout the ages. After all, Yang's Enlightenment and Yang's Arithmetic have made you a mentor to students all over the world. !”
The emperor has already taken this hat off, what else can Yang Fan say, he has to wear it even if he doesn’t want to!
What's more, after accumulating a good reputation, who would have too little?
Looking at Yang Fan's grinning mouth, knowing that this kid was letting himself go again, Li Er could only say helplessly: "There is a serious shortage of paper, pen, ink and inkstone this time. Although you have reminded me at the beginning, the preparations are still a little inadequate. You said now What do we do?”
"The paper is okay, at least there is some stock, but I can't get all the pens, inks and inkstones at the moment. Is there any way you can solve it?"
"If there is a way to produce enough pens, inks, paper, inkstones and books at this time, these aristocratic families will definitely be able to spit out all their food."
Yang Fan didn't pretend to be pretentious, he looked solemn and asked: "The quality of these things has really increased to more than five times?"
Fang Xuanling patted her chest and assured: "It's absolutely true. How could His Majesty lie to you about this kind of thing?"
After a moment of silence, Yang Fan seemed to have made some kind of decision, and couldn't help but said: "The aristocratic family has always been aloof and regards the common people as inferior."
"If they just want to make some money and are not so greedy, I don't want to be their enemy. I didn't expect them to be so shameless and ignore the interests of the empire. Then don't blame us for being rude."
Hearing Yang Fan's words, Li Shimin couldn't help but be overjoyed and couldn't help but ask: "Does this mean we can push out the paper?"
"Then at what price should we sell it? How about we just charge the cost price?"
Seeing the ugly faces of those aristocratic families, Li Er couldn't bear it anymore!
If Yang Fan didn't know the plan best, he would have put the paper out for sale long ago.
Rolling his eyes, Yang Fan was speechless. The emperor was too naive.
Do you really think that just launching low-priced paper and books can keep prices down?
As long as these aristocratic families are willing, they still can't buy affordable paper, pen, inkstone and other things.
Because the low-priced products launched by the imperial court will be purchased by these aristocratic families, only by making these aristocratic families feel pain can the prices be quickly lowered.
Thinking of this, Yang Fan smiled slightly, shook his head and said: "The family has made so much ill-gotten wealth, we must let them spit it out first."
"The reading supplies launched this time are temporarily sold at half the price of Saga!"
His Majesty Li Er's face suddenly became clouded, and he said displeasedly: "Why is this? Do you also want to make profits from the imperial examination reform?"
Before Yang Fan could explain, Fang Xuanling's eyes lit up:
"Your Majesty, if my guess is correct, Marquis Zhongyi wants to cut a piece of flesh out of the noble family's mouth."
"What's the explanation?" Li Er looked confused.
