The paper has been prepared for a long time. Now the scale of the paper factory is very large, and the paper produced will definitely not be used up. Mainly because there are only a handful of people in Datang who can use paper.
Moreover, the scale of papermaking is still expanding, and Yuelai Trading Co., Ltd. has begun to build paper mills in locations across the country that are suitable for papermaking.
Following Li Ke's order, major commercial banks immediately started propaganda. At the same time, the local snakes controlled by the veterans of the five battalions also began to help the propaganda intentionally or unintentionally.
Soon, the news spread throughout Chang'an City that a mall and some shops began to sell paper on a large scale. Many literati who got the news came over and bought a lot of paper.
It was so lively today. First, there was Datang Weekly in the morning. Although the article above made many literati secretly curse it as rubbish, everyone still liked to read it because... there was no such thing before.
The thirst for writing in this era is unimaginable by future generations. Ordinary families who have half a broken book would like to treat it as a treasure and turn it into a family heirloom. Some less wealthy noble families attach great importance to books because they are literate and know that they are valuable books. The basis for their turnaround.
When Datang Weekly came out, just 5 cents was enough to buy one, which meant they could see and learn more.
Although there is a gap between the above article and what they have learned, some of the things in it still make many people's eyes shine, especially the Tang Dynasty's use of troops against Tuyuhun. In the past, most people just thought that Tuyuhun invaded our borders with the Tang Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty had to fight. You have to say why it was fought and what were the benefits. Many people couldn't explain why.
But as soon as the article in the Datang Weekly came out, everyone suddenly realized that the capture of Tuyuhun had so many benefits for the Tang Dynasty, and it was also related to the daily lives of the people in the border areas and the Central Plains.
For many analyses, ordinary people do not have that vision, but Datang Weekly gave them accurate analysis.
And the analysis is in place that everyone can understand, so everyone loves to watch it! These literati, even those who have not reached a certain level of knowledge, cannot see it, and Datang Weekly has opened their eyes!
Many scholars were excited and wanted to write an article to express their feelings, and this paper appeared! There was paper before, but it was rice paper, and rice paper was extremely expensive and ordinary people were reluctant to buy it.
Many scholars read and wrote on the ground or on some washable slates. There were not so many papers in this period, and many important articles were written on silk.
Or to be precise, there are not that many papers suitable for writing. There was paper before the Tang Dynasty, but the cheap paper made, that is, straw paper, is a bit like the toilet paper of later generations. If you write on it with a brush, the ink will scatter directly. Open, can't write at all.
Only relatively expensive rice paper and other papers are suitable for painting and writing, but that is not something ordinary people can consume. Of course, rice paper in this era is not called rice paper, but that’s what it means.
But now His Highness the King of Shu has actually begun to sell large quantities of paper suitable for writing, and this price is what touches everyone. It is so cheap! This means that people with a little wealth can easily use it if they can read and write.
Even some small businessmen, if they wish, can buy some paper for their children to learn to read and write. Although I won't be able to get any honors in the future, it would be great to become a shopkeeper or something after reading and writing.
They don’t quite understand the benefits of paper, because with the sale of large amounts of paper, there will inevitably be more and more books. You must know that people in the past did not have suitable materials for copying.
When Fang Xuanling, who had returned to his residence, heard the news, he immediately ordered someone to buy back a large amount of paper. Due to supply problems, His Highness the King of Shu limited the amount of paper he could buy individually to avoid the sudden loss of paper. They were all bought out.
But feeling the paper in her hands, Fang Xuanling was filled with emotion, the prosperous age of the Tang Dynasty will surely come! His Highness the King of Shu, what a great talent!
He picked up the brush and wrote some words on the paper. The ink was still a little loose, but it was not a big problem. Whether it was writing a book or other articles, it was no longer a problem.
It's not as good as expensive rice paper, but writing is no longer a problem. The biggest advantage is that it's cheap!
It can be seen from Datang Weekly that His Highness the King of Shu can produce books in batches. Even for this reason, it is impossible for those powerful families to let go.
All the nobles and wealthy families in Chang'an City were attracted by the paper and the Tang Dynasty Weekly. No one noticed that in the various towns in Chang'an City, small-character posters were pasted on the walls of various houses, exuding a sense of belonging. their influence.
The next day, Wei Zheng got up and had breakfast. He was going to go out and take a look. Although the Datang Weekly said it would be published every seven days a week, the Datang Weekly published yesterday was bound to cause discussion today. Wei Zheng wanted to see what the public was saying. How to discuss this matter.
With two followers, Wei Zheng walked out of the palace city and went to Xuanyangfang near Dongshi.
Walking into Fangshi, before Wei Zheng heard everyone's discussion about yesterday's Datang Weekly, he heard a lot of great discussions.
"Hey, did you read Lan Ling Xiaoxiaosheng's article? He said that His Highness the King of Shu's move was too bold, and that the Tang Weekly would definitely be taken back by the imperial court and run by the imperial court."
"Isn't it possible? His Royal Highness the King of Shu is also a prince. Is it possible that His Majesty wants to compete with the people for profit?"
"You don't understand this. This is not about competing for profit with the people. Datang Weekly is only 5 cents a piece, so there is no profit at all. I heard Lanling Xiaoxiaosheng say that this should be used for propaganda by Datang Weekly. , the imperial court must be afraid of what His Royal Highness the King of Shu will say, and it will be in trouble if he misinterprets the court's meaning. After all, everyone knows the character of His Royal Highness the King of Shu."
"What you say makes sense. Indeed, given the character of His Highness the King of Shu, if Datang Weekly was published by His Highness the King of Shu, I wouldn't be surprised if His Highness the King of Shu curses Dalang, the eldest grandson, one day."
"Hahaha, that's the truth."
…
Everyone in Wei Zheng was dumbfounded. No, this is something that hasn’t been discussed in court yet. What’s going on? How come everyone knows this? Moreover, the passers-by who looked at the two discussions looked like they were two ordinary people dressed and dressed... The topic of discussion... was... even clearer than him, the censor of the dynasty.
What's going on? Did something happen that I don't know about?
At that moment, Wei Zheng no longer cared about the purpose of coming out. He took two quick steps and stopped the other party directly: "You two gentlemen are polite."
"I've met my father-in-law." The two of them saw that Wei Zheng was older than them. Although he was wearing more ordinary clothes, he was still very polite.
"What did the two of you just say about Lanling Xiaoxiaosheng? I was quite interested in watching you two discuss the matter between His Highness the King of Shu and Datang Weekly." Wei Zheng asked immediately.
"Oh? My father-in-law doesn't know about this? The paper that Lanling Xiaoxiaosheng posted on the wall of Nafang City was there yesterday, and a new one came out today. The article is very well written, and the story is also very good. It's just ahead. ." The two men pointed to the front.
