Yu Xin is in Nanping County, Yanping Prefecture?
No, Yu Xin had already entered Jianning Mansion ten days ago, but the interrogators were controlled by the Security Bureau and were not summoned.
Yu Xin did not go directly to Jian'an City, the capital of Jianning Mansion, but took Lin Xu and others to Jianyang.
Jianyang was the papermaking and printing center of the Ming Dynasty. The paper here was not only supplied directly to the palace, but also to the six ministries of the imperial court and other government agencies. It also occupied an important position among the people and was an important cultural center in Nanjing, Suzhou and Hangzhou.
The development of papermaking and printing in Jianyang is the result of many factors.
First, there are sufficient natural conditions. For example, Beiluoli and Chongzhengli in Jianyang produce bamboo suitable for making paper. The papermaking industry is highly developed, which also provides support for printing. In Chongtai, there are also a number of sophisticated ink-making workshops that can meet the various inks required for printing. In Jianyang, pear wood is also produced, which is also a high-quality board for engraving.
Secondly, there are historical reasons. Despite the changes in the situation and the chaos in the world, Jianyang did not experience several wars from the late Tang Dynasty to the Jianwen period of the Ming Dynasty. The peaceful land naturally attracted a large number of literati to move there, establish education, and promote meet printing and papermaking needs.
Of course, Jianyang was good during the Hongwu period, but it was not satisfactory. After all, the whole day was spent engraving and printing some "Da Gao", "Da Ming Law", Four Books and Five Classics, etc. There was really not much energy. I wanted to do something with a little color. The imperial court doesn't allow it, and if you catch it, you might lose your head.
Now, Zhu Yunwen has loosened the control, and some books that are a little bit explicit can be published. Coupled with several years of cultural education, the promotion of literacy, and the establishment of social studies, the demand for various books among the people has increased sharply. There is a prosperous scene in Jianyang.
Yu Xin was very satisfied with the situation in Jianyang. Although the place was hit by the plague, Lu Junsheng, the prefect of Jianyang, was a very capable man. He immediately sent people to block all the main roads entering Jianyang, and Arrangements for village chiefs and government officials to patrol day and night successfully kept the plague at bay and protected nearly 100,000 people in Jianyang.
Yu Xin did not reveal his identity, but asked the security bureau to open the way and entered Jianyang City.
There are bookstores on almost every street, such as Qinyoutang, Zunde Bookstore, Jingshan Bookstore, Jindezhai, Quirenzhai, etc. It seems that there is not much business, but they are all doing big business. , as long as businessmen from other places come and open a business, it will be enough to support the bookstore for several months.
Yu Xin stopped, looked at Shen Duzhai in front of him, and stepped in.
The shopkeeper, Xiong Zhenye, had nothing to do and was reading "The Legend of the Heroes of Hongwu" in the bookstore. He was reading it with great interest when he felt his eyes darken. He raised his head and looked at Yu Xin, closed the book and greeted with a smile: "It's rare for us to have guests."
Yu Xin lowered his head and looked down. He saw that it was "The Biography of the Heroes of Hongwu" and said, "This book is not bad. It records Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, Li Wenzhong and other founding heroes and the bloody battles of countless soldiers. As a descendant, People who have been blessed by it should keep it in mind.”
Seeing that Yu Xin had also read "The Legend of the Heroes of Hongwu", Xiong Zhenye smiled even more: "Yes, the martyrs went through untold hardships and sacrificed countless lives to lay the foundation of the Ming Dynasty. We can enjoy a peaceful life. That's right." We should be grateful to them, and we are sinners if we forget history.”
Yu Xin clapped his hands: "What a saying. If you forget history, you are a sinner! With this sentence, you deserve a courtesy from me."
Saying that, Yu Xin bowed.
Xiong Zhenye quickly returned the gift: "I don't dare to take it seriously, it's just a sentiment. This gentleman doesn't know something. The martyrs have only been gone for a few decades, and countless people have forgotten them in this world. He even thinks that they deserve the peaceful days now." , Hehe, they don’t even think about it, if the martyrs hadn’t fought tooth and nail to conquer this country, they would have continued to be enslaved by the aliens. Call them humans and live like no one. Call them animals, but they always speak human words!”
Yu Xin nodded solemnly and asked if he had any questions: "Some people have forgotten their ancestors and the shame of the past. They are not worthy of being human! The days of peace were created by killing and guarded by countless soldiers, not by gifts from Hulu! But I see that this Jianning Mansion seems to be slightly uneasy."
Xiong Zhenye's face was stern: "Could it be that Sir entered Jianyang City from outside?"
Yu Xin excused himself as a doctor from the capital and went to Jianyang Mansion to see the situation.
Only then did Xiong Zhenye feel relieved. Seeing that the people behind Yu Xin were still some distance away, he lowered his voice and said, "There is no plague in Jianyang City. Sir, it's better to escape as soon as possible."
"Why?"
Yu Xin is puzzled.
Xiong Zhenye lamented: "Sir, please don't ask more."
Yu Xin did not ask further questions, but inquired: "In that case, let's not ask. Is this bookshop okay? I see that there are many bookshops on the street, but not many people. Can the business still be done?"
Seeing that he was asking about the bookstore, Xiong Zhenye felt as if he had found someone to talk to, and kept talking: "Business is okay, but this year may not be as good as in previous years. Because of the ban, many foreign businessmen cannot come in, and our books cannot be exported. If we want It will take at least next year to take a breather. But business may not be easy next year. The imperial court has taken over Zhushan. If you want to make paper, you have to pay a sum of money to buy the right to cut bamboo, and the price of the right to cut bamboo increases every year. I’m afraid the bookstore will also raise prices.”
The imperial court took over Zhushan. This was not a lie. Not only Zhushan, but all mountains and mines were taken over by the imperial court. To open a mine, you need to buy mining rights first. This is an important way for the court to make profits from the mines. To cut bamboo, you naturally need the right to cut bamboo.
However, the mining profits were huge and the court collected a lot of money. Zhushan's profits were small, and it was related to papermaking and education. The court did not collect much money. A hundred acres of bamboo forest only levied a symbolic five taels of money. This was not good for the paper industry. , completely affordable, not to mention that the right to cut bamboo is purchased for a minimum of five years, five years and five taels, which is nothing at all.
Yu Xin looked at Xiong Zhenye and asked: "I heard that the imperial court's right to cut bamboo is not valuable. It costs 50 taels for one hundred acres, and during the purchase period, the money will not be changed, and the money will not be repeated or increased."
"What? Fifty-tael notes for one hundred acres, are you kidding me? Fifty-tael notes for one mu! The court said there won't be an increase, huh, that's just talk."
Xiong Zhenye looked at Yu Xin like a fool.
"An acre?!"
Yu Xin was dumbfounded. The imperial document clearly stated that it was one hundred acres, but why did it become one acres in Jianyang?
Xiong Zhenye is worried: "The year before last, an acre of bamboo forest only cost 20 taels. It was promised for five years, but the price started to increase last year, and it will increase again this year. Next year, it will cost 5 taels directly. Listen to the papermaking industry Complaints, some of them are already planning to quit.”
Yu Xin is worried. It doesn’t matter if some people in the papermaking industry quit and find another job. But if a trend develops and directly affects the entire papermaking industry in Jianyang, the problem may be serious. For now, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Ji'an and other places are developing the paper industry, but no place can replace Jianyang!
The collapse of Jianyang's papermaking industry would, on a small scale, lead to the bankruptcy of papermaking, printing, ink-making and other industries. On a larger scale, it may directly affect the progress of Ming Dynasty culture and education!
The important carrier of culture and education is teaching materials, and the printing of teaching materials is based on papermaking. Even Zhu Yunwen is using paper from Jianyang. This place has gone bankrupt. Do you want Zhu Yunwen to use straw paper to write documents and edicts?
"Wait, did you just say an acre?"
Yu Xin raised his hand to interrupt Xiong Zhenye who was complaining.
Xiong Zhenye nodded, a little impatiently: "It is indeed one acre, but think about it, if you buy one acre with 20 taels for five years, you can still afford the papermaking business. After all, moso bamboo grows fast and can be cut down for use every year. It won’t cost much even if it’s flattened out. But the government can’t help but raise prices every year and levy repeated taxes.”
Yu Xin looked gloomy, "Okay, one hundred acres has become one acre, and they violated the imperial ban, increased prices, and repeatedly levied taxes. This is evidence of the Chief Minister's crime!"
"Are these things credible?"
"Haha, don't tell me whether you can trust it or not. You can find out by asking around at any papermaking workshop. I'm not telling you. If the government continues like this, I'm afraid we will all have to close down."
Xiong Zhenye was very sad.
Jianyang's paper, books, calligraphy, etc. are famous in other cities of the Ming Dynasty due to their quality and lower prices. However, if the price advantage is wiped out, Jianyang's influence among the people will be greatly weakened. With the loss of businessmen from other places, Jianyang's status will not be guaranteed. If we continue to do this business, we may not be able to make ends meet.
Yu Xin turned around and glanced at Guo Gang behind him. Guo Gang understood and walked out of Shenduzhai to arrange for someone to investigate.
"On the way here, I heard some people say that Lu Junsheng, the prefect of Jianyang, is a greedy and tyrannical man who often bullies the people. The price of the bamboo-cutting rights has been rising continuously. I guess it was his doing. Why hasn't anyone reported it to the court for investigation? Check this out."
Yu Xin picked up a book and sat down.
Xiong Zhenye hissed twice and said quickly: "This gentleman does not dare to wrongly accuse a good person. Prefect Lu is a good person in Jianyang. The issue of bamboo cutting rights has always been under the direct jurisdiction of the Chief Envoy and has nothing to do with Prefect Lu."
"Oh, so you mean there is something wrong with the Chief Envoy?"
Yu Xin looked at Xiong Zhenye sharply.
Xiong Zhenye was frightened by the powerful force, took a step back, and trembled at the corners of his mouth: "You, who are you? Doctors don't care about these things!"
Yu Xin chuckled and said calmly: "Some doctors treat the symptoms, and some doctors treat the root cause. I came to Fujian to treat the root cause. If you don't mind, you can call me Mr. Yu."
"Yu..."
Xiong Zhenye's eyes suddenly widened. The imperial court attached great importance to the plague in the three prefectures of Fujian and sent Yu Xin to patrol Fujian. This news had long spread. Who is doing business without any information channels?
Yu Xin, he is Yu Xin, cabinet minister, governor of Fujian!
"Governor Yu, I, I didn't say anything, just pity me and don't ask anymore..."
Xiong Zhenye didn't want to deal with the government and quickly shied away.
Yu Xin wrote: "I pity you. Who will pity the countless people in Fujian? I see that you have some knowledge and insight. I guess you have some backbone. Why, "The Legend of Hongwu Heroes" didn't give you any courage to fight. courage?"
