Moving Type Print
After resting for a while, Qin Mo returned to his courtyard and searched for information about movable type printing on the Internet.
The printing press was invented by the working people of ancient China after a long period of practice and research. Since the invention of paper in the Han Dynasty, writing materials were lighter and more economical than the oracle bones, bamboo slips, gold stones, and silk used in the past. However, copying books was still very laborious and could not meet the needs of society.
At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the method of copying and rubbing stone tablets appeared. In the Sui Dynasty around 600 AD, people were inspired by the engraving of seals and invented the first engraving printing technique in human history.
Engraving printing could print hundreds or even thousands of books, which played a great role in the spread of culture. However, it was time-consuming and laborious. Large books often took several years, and it took up a lot of space to store the plates. Moreover, they were often damaged by distortion, insects, and corrosion.
Books with a small print run and no need for reprinting would become useless. In addition, it was very difficult to correct the wrong characters found in the engraving, and it was often necessary to re-engrave the entire plate.
The invention of movable type printing was a great technological revolution in the history of printing. It used movable metal or clay blocks to replace traditional copying or printing plates that could not be reused.
The method of movable type printing was to first make a single-word positive and negative character mold, then select the words according to the manuscript, arrange them in the word plate, apply ink to print, and then take out the mold after printing, leaving it for the next printing.
The movable type plate making just avoided the lack of engraving. As long as enough single movable type was prepared in advance, it could be assembled at any time, greatly speeding up the plate making time.
After the movable type was printed, it could be disassembled. The movable type could be reused, and it took up less space than the engraving, making it easier to store and keep. This showed the superiority of movable type. The idea of using movable type printing had existed for a long time. Bi Sheng invented movable type printing and improved the efficiency of printing.
Of course, Bi Sheng was from the Song Dynasty, so what Qin Mo found on the Internet was not the initial version of Bi Sheng, but the movable type printing that was improved by later generations.
Qin Mo only spent a few hours to settle the matter of movable type printing.
It was mainly copying. Fortunately, he had an ink pen. If he used a brush, he would have to write for at least an entire day.
Then, he went to prepare the engineering materials and the imperial examination questions.
At noon the next day.
Old Cunning Zhangsun, Old Foolish Yuchi, and Old Cheng came together.
Together with Old Qin and Qin Mo, the group of five was doing something big in Qin Mo's room.
After the maid served tea, Old Qin ordered the guards to surround the courtyard and not allow anyone to approach.
The cunning old man spoke first." Kid, you're quite good at making trouble. Today, the court session has just ended, and His Majesty ordered us to listen to your command to do that movable type printing technique. Is this movable type printing technique really as amazing as you say?”
He was Li Er's brother-in-law and also the representative of the Guanlong Group. If this movable type printing technique really broke the monopoly of the aristocratic families on education, then it was possible that they would suffer a terrifying counterattack.
Why did the aristocratic families monopolize the right to education? The reason was simple. Paper was expensive, and the cost of printing was high. Therefore, books were expensive, and the common people could not afford to read them. How could the children of the poor compare with those aristocratic families by copying a few books?
Qin Mo decided to improve the art of paper making and printing. However, there was a series of processes involved in making paper, and it could not be done in a short time. However, movable type printing could be implemented first.
If Qin Mo came out to do this movable type printing, Old Qin probably wouldn't be able to protect him. Thus, Li Er pushed out Old Yin and the others.
Qin Mo briefly explained the advantages of the movable type printing technique to the cunning old man and the others. Everyone's expression was solemn. Even the foolish old man Yuchi could see the monstrous waves hidden in it.
The old man's expression was gloomy as he said," This is simply the root of the aristocratic families. Why should I bear such a huge responsibility for you? No, I have to tell His Majesty that I can't do this job.”
Qin Mo smiled and said," May I ask Uncle Zhangsun how the annual income of the iron factory is?”
The sly old man raised his eyebrows." Why are you asking this?”
He glanced at Qin Mo from the corner of his eyes." There should be at least 100,000 a year.”
"The Iron Plants do indeed have a lot of money, but if the Imperial Court implements a monopoly on salt and iron, how can Uncle maintain the prosperity of the family?”Qin Mo asked with a smile.
The cunning old man frowned. How could he not know what Qin Mo had said? It was easier said than done to find a career that could last forever.
Although he had a prominent status, without money, how could he maintain his dignity as the Duke of Zhao? Just that bit of salary alone could not even support the expenses of the family.
Seeing that he was quite interested, Qin Mo said," Uncle, do you know how profitable the printing technique is? Do you know how profitable the paper making technique is?"
The sly old man didn't say anything. Instead, the foolish Yuchi asked," How many?”
Qin Mo said," Not much. I can still get a million strings of coins a year, and it's very quiet. I don't have to worry about the imperial court specializing in salt and iron like they did with salt and iron. I can also have a good reputation among the people. The only thing I have to worry about is the counterattack of the aristocratic families.”
After a pause, he continued," I only have one question. Are you willing to use the destruction of the aristocratic families in exchange for the continuation of generations of wealth?”
Humans were creatures of profit. If they could really make their families rich and prosperous for generations, they would even dare to rebel, let alone offend the aristocratic families.
The cunning old man asked," Is there really a million?”
Qin Mo nodded." It's the real deal."
He pulled out a box from under the bed. This was the lead that he had ordered the craftsman to forge yesterday.
There weren't many words, only eight: A million a year, wealth for generations.
Qin Mo stuck the lead on the iron plate with medicine and touched the ink. The paper was printed on it, and eight words suddenly appeared on the paper.
"A million a year, generations of wealth."
He took down the type and smiled." Uncles, these types can be used repeatedly. You only need to make a few sets of matrix and you can use them indefinitely. I believe you can imagine how low the cost is. Including the production of paper, a million strings a year is just a conservative estimate.”
Everyone's breathing quickened.
Foolish Yuchi slammed the table and stood up." Cheers."”
Old Cheng and Old Qin also nodded." How can such a grand event be without me?"”
"Good! This old man will do it." The old man's hands trembled as he held the tea. He was so excited that he dared to encourage Li Er Sha to kill his brother. For the sake of the family's wealth for generations, so what if he offended the aristocratic families?
Thus, everyone agreed to give each person 20% of the shares. Of course, they would not disclose Qin Mo's share to the public. Old Qin would take it and give it to Qin Mo.
Qin Mo didn't care about these 20 percent. What he wanted to do was to break the monopoly of the aristocratic families on education and give up some benefits. It was definitely worth it for him to quietly make a fortune while the old man and the others were at the front.
The power of the aristocratic families was terrifying, and Qin Mo was still unable to withstand it.
In the end, Qin Mo said," The profits are not enough for outsiders to know.”
The old man raised his eyebrows." Why? In the Great Tang, is there anyone who dares to rob me of my money?”
For this little bit of money, he had already offended the aristocratic families. If anyone dared to snatch his money, he would definitely not rest until he was dead.
Qin Mo said," Your Majesty."
" You're slandering the king," the old man scolded.”
Qin Mo said expressionlessly," His Majesty owes me 10,000 strings but he didn't give it to me.”
Li Er had reneged on his debt of 10,000 strings of strings.
The old man's breathing quickened." What you said makes sense. I'm speechless."”
Therefore, the old guys discussed not to let the emperor know, lest he was jealous. If someone asked how much money they earned in a year, everyone would say that they did not earn money and were purely serving the people.
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