Zhongxian and the others can no longer serve Zhao Hao because they have to build a tomb for the First Emperor.
What a sin! !
Although the First Emperor spared their lives, their bold actions really angered the First Emperor.
Fortunately, Zhao Hao greeted Fusu in advance and asked him to find a way to take care of Zhongxian and the others. Otherwise, Zhao Hao really didn't know if he would see them again in the future. After all, the Qin State's slave labor was not something ordinary people could bear.
"I see you without seeing you, and I feel sad at dusk. I miss the five tigers of Chunan Pavilion. Now three of them are gone. I am so sad!"
"this....."
Zhao Hao stood at the door and sighed. Laifu and Chang Wei looked at each other and immediately stepped forward to comfort him.
"Sir, although I don't understand what you are talking about, you still have us!"
"Yes, sir, you and we..."
"Why!"
Zhao Hao sighed and said quietly: "Those who abandon me will not be able to keep yesterday's day; those who mess up my heart will be troubled today."
After saying that, he turned around and returned to the pavilion.
He can only let the past go. The most important thing now is to help the First Emperor to collect national debt.
If the produced treasury bonds cannot satisfy the First Emperor, then it will be impossible to intercede on behalf of Zhongxian and others.
However, Zhao Hao was still very confident in satisfying the First Emperor.
Did the First Emperor ever see the paper money of later generations? Has the First Emperor ever seen paper money that survives being soaked in water? The First Emperor had never seen even the watermark.
As long as these technologies are applied to national debt rolls, it will surely open the eyes of the First Emperor and others. Maybe the unified currency will be replaced by paper money.
Moreover, the purchasing power of half a tael is limited. If it comes to bulk commodities, it can cost tens of thousands and a half taels, making it impossible to buy them easily.
Even if converted into gold, it is still a heavy pile.
If you want to change the consumption outlook of the people of the Qin Dynasty, you have to start with paper money.
Of course, this kind of thing is easier said than done.
For example, in the current Qin Dynasty, the hard currency is not half a tael of money at all, but food.
In other words, if you carry food on the street to buy vegetables, people will sell them to you.
It can be seen that the level of productivity determines the living standards of the people in the Qin Dynasty, and the level of living standards determines the consumption outlook of the people in the Qin Dynasty.
Thinking of this, Zhao Hao raised his head and said to Chang Wei and Laifu who walked in the door: "After Zhongxian and the others leave, you two must leave one person above. No matter who it is, he cannot enter the pavilion. Do you hear me clearly?"
"Listen clearly."
Laifu and Chang Wei both bowed.
Zhao Hao continued: "Starting from tomorrow, I will go to the Young Mansion to help. Everything in the cabinet will be temporarily under the control of Laifu, do you understand?"
"knew."
"Okay, let's start dinner now that you know."
"Then I dare to ask you, young master, should you eat hot pot or noodles?" Laifu asked.
Zhao Hao thought for a while and sighed: "Zhongxian and the others are gone. I don't have much appetite, so I'll just eat something simple!"
"What about braised pork, steamed fish, grilled lamb chops, and clay pot rice?" Chang Wei asked.
Zhao Hao said: "It's okay, let's add two fried eggs!"
"Master, wait a moment, I will make arrangements right away."
"I am coming too!"
Soon, the three of them had a simple dinner.
.......
The next morning, the sun was just right. ….
Zhao Hao sat in a carriage and headed north to the Shaofu Yamen.
As an institution for the royal family to manage private property and daily affairs, the Shaofu is very large and has many subordinate officials.
After the First Emperor unified the six countries, he made some reforms to the Shaofu. Its service personnel were in need of those who were in charge of national financial affairs in distant dynasties.
This fully reflects the characteristics of the emperor being supreme and above the country.
However, Zhao Hao understood this very well.
After fighting for so many years, can't you enjoy it?
beginning
The emperor is also a human being. He cannot really work day and night. He still needs to relax occasionally.
"I, Zhang Cang, have met Young Master Hao."
As soon as Zhao Hao's carriage stopped outside the gate of the Young Mansion, a middle-aged man wearing official robes and a red face immediately came to greet him.
"Master Zhang, there is no need to be polite."
Zhao Hao opened the carriage curtain, jumped out of the carriage with a smile, and said with cupped hands: "Hao is here to assist Mr. Zhang on the emperor's order. Please give me your advice in the future."
"Don't dare!"
Zhang Cang said quickly: "The whole court knows the talent of the young master. I dare not entrust you to others, so I would like to ask the young master for your advice."
"hehe."
Zhao Hao smiled noncommittally and changed the subject: "Did my father tell you about the national debt?"
"Back to the young master, your majesty has already made an explanation. However, your majesty asked the ministers to obey the young master."
"Okay, let's go in first and talk."
"please!"
Zhang Cang made an invitation gesture to Zhao Hao, and then led Zhao Hao into the young man's mansion.
Along the way, the two had several in-depth exchanges and soon became familiar with each other.
This Zhang Cang has the same interests and hobbies as Zhao Hao, and is keen on making any weird things. Moreover, he can actually understand some of the theories that Zhao Hao said.
During the communication with him, Zhao Hao learned that Shaofu was the largest manufacturing department.
Not only can we serve the royal family and create the utensils needed by the royal family, but we can also undertake the production of wartime weapons.
This is simply a 'universal organization', no wonder it needs so many people.
"Sir, I just heard what you said. I still don't understand something. Can you make it clearer?" Zhang Cang asked Zhao Hao.
Zhao Hao explained while gesturing: "The so-called paper is actually similar to silk, and it is the best writing tool."
"I see."
Zhang Cang nodded as if he understood, and then said with interest: "In other words, in order to make national bond rolls, you have to make paper first?"
"good!"
Zhao Hao nodded and suddenly changed the subject: "However, if you want to make paper suitable for making national bond rolls, you need to start learning from 'wet paper.'"
"Wet paper?"
Zhang Cang was stunned, a little confused.
Zhao Hao explained patiently: "To put it simply, fiber raw materials such as bamboo are first used, soaked and steamed for a long time to soften the raw materials, and then beaten, squeezed, and diluted with water and lime to obtain paper pulp."
“After you get the pulp, you then sift it, that is, filter it, and filter it repeatedly with a sieve. What you get is wet paper.”
"Finally, just stack the wet papers together, squeeze them with a boulder or heavy object, remove the water inside, dry them, and cut them, and you'll get real paper."
Speaking of which, the papermaking process is not complicated, but the processes involved are not that simple. ….
Zhao Hao also inferred the process of papermaking in the documentary of his previous life. Whether it can be done or not, he still has to find a place to test it.
After all, testing is the only criterion for testing truth.
"After listening to what the young master said, I feel that it is necessary to build a workshop and test it. Otherwise, it will still be in the fog and I don't know what to do."
"Can."
Zhao Hao smiled and nodded: "If you still don't understand anything, just ask me."
"I heard that the young master said it was complicated. I wonder what the cost is?" Zhang Cang asked after pondering.
Zhao Hao spread his hands: "The paper used to make national bond rolls may be a little more expensive. Ordinary paper only requires some swollen rotten bamboo. What really costs money is labor!"
"Does labor cost money?"
Zhang Cang was slightly startled and couldn't help looking at Zhao Hao strangely.
"Uh..." Zhao Hao grinned.
He almost forgot that Qin Dynasty's labor costs were close to zero.
Even when building the Great Wall and fighting wars, they always brought their own dry food.
Only when the dry food you bring is used up, the court will distribute emergency food
Food.
For things like money and clothes, you have to ask your family for them.
"If paper is as easy to carry as silk and is cheap to make, then paper is indeed more practical than bamboo slips."
Zhang Cang said, and then asked thoughtfully: "I just don't know, how is the writing effect compared to bamboo slips?"
"Let me tell you this, the paper is white, as white as the wall behind us, and it is also written with pen and ink. Do you want to write clearly on the wall or on the bamboo?"
"This..." Zhang Cang raised his head and glanced at the white wall behind him, then saluted Zhao Hao with some shame: "I am stupid."
"Not really."
Zhao Hao waved his hand as if understanding, and said solemnly: "Actually, my idea is very simple. No matter whether it works or not, let's test it first! If it fails, we will summarize and improve it!"
"So good!"
Zhang Cang responded readily, and then immediately ordered people to prepare for the test.
I have to say that things get easier when there are more people.
An hour or two later, someone came to Zhang Cang to report: "Master Zhang, we found some bamboo soaked in water in the Wei River. Now it has been brought back. Several officials are still looking for it on the Jing River. They should be able to find more." many."
Zhang Cang nodded, then looked at Zhao Hao; "What do you think, Master?"
"Actually, according to normal procedures, fresh bamboo needs to be soaked in water for at least several months before pulping. Now that it is in the experimental stage, there is no need to be so particular." Zhao Hao pondered.
"In your opinion, where is the most appropriate place to conduct the test?"
"An old workshop with a pond will do!"
"good!"
Zhang Cang nodded, and then said to a government official: "Immediately send someone to the west of the city to clean up a workshop that can make a fire for cooking!"
"As commanded."
After watching the order leave, Zhao Hao stood up and said to Zhang Cang, "Let's go and have a look. Just sitting here is meaningless!"
"Then I will arrange some guards to protect the young master?"
"In the whole world, is it the land of the king? This is Xianyang City, who dares to be so presumptuous?"
Zhang Cang's words made Zhao Hao a little confused.
But Zhang Cang saluted him solemnly, "Earlier, assassins sneaked into Xianyang City. Your Majesty was furious and blamed the Xianyang Order for lax security. Although Xianyang is now heavily guarded, this papermaking technology is of great importance, and I am worried that the craftsmanship will be leaked... ..”
"It's just a remodeling workshop now. Are you worried that the craftsmanship will be leaked?"
Zhao Hao looked at Zhang Cang speechlessly.
Zhang Cang said seriously: "It's better to be cautious. Even if you are renovating a workshop, you should be very particular!"
Zhao Hao was helpless. In fact, there was not much emphasis on renovating the workshop, but he couldn't say that Zhang Cang was not rigorous. He could only nod in agreement and said: "Then you have full authority to make arrangements!"
"Yes." Zhang Cang responded and retreated.
Not long after, the two of them led a group of people to the workshop in the west of the city.
lq.
Wang Shushu
