Li Shimin had told Zhangsu Wuji what to do, and Zhangsun Wuji had told Zhangsun Ning what to do. Li Yin had no way of knowing, and his attention was now back to the paper mill.
Now that the slaves had learned the basic method of making paper, making newspaper became Li Yin's next goal.
During the Tang Dynasty, the main raw materials for paper were hemp, rattan, rags, bark, and the like. The main raw material for making newspaper was wood pulp, which was also the reason why Li Yin specially purchased a wood grinder.
After telling the slaves about the raw materials and basic methods of making newspaper, Li asked the paper mill to try to produce the first batch of newspaper.
"Your Highness, this is Zhao Erniu!"
On this day, Li Yin had just arrived at the paper mill when Su Mo 'er brought a young man around the age of 24 to him.
Li Yin looked at Su Mo 'er in confusion, not understanding why she had brought this person here.
Su Mo 'er continued," Please forgive me, Your Highness. When he was learning how to make paper, Zhao Erniu was very hardworking. The paper he made was also the best. Therefore, I boldly promoted him to the foreman of the paper mill.”
"Is that so?" Li looked at Zhao Erniu. His body was quite strong and he looked honest. At this time, he looked at Li with some fear." Are you confident in making newspaper?”
" Your Highness," Zhao Erniu replied respectfully." I have already created the first one. I just don't know if it is correct. That's why I reported it to Steward Su!"”
"Really?" Li Ni was overjoyed." Quickly bring me to take a look!”
Following Zhao Erniu, Li Yin went to the place where the paper was dried. Zhao Erniu opened a slightly yellowed piece of paper and handed it to Li Yin.
The newspaper paper was soft and had good elasticity. It absorbed water and ink. When he picked up the paper, Li Yin first tested the feel of the paper. It was already seven-tenths as soft as a newspaper. He shook it hard again, and the elasticity was not bad.
Li Yin nodded in satisfaction. He took some water and poured it on the paper. It was quickly absorbed. Various tests proved that this was a qualified piece of newspaper.
"Zhao Erniu, you are the hero of the paper mill!”Li Yin happily patted Zhao Erniu's shoulder, giving Zhao Erniu a fright. For a prince to act so intimately with a slave, Zhao Erniu's feelings could no longer be described as flattered.
Putting down the newspaper, Li Yin faced the 500 slaves and said,"Zhao Erniu has contributed greatly to the creation of the newspaper. From today onwards, Zhao Erniu's slave status will be revoked!”
"What?!"
"Impossible!"
“……”
As soon as Li Yin finished speaking, the slaves immediately exploded. They looked at Li Yin in disbelief, wondering if they had heard wrongly. Ever since they became slaves, they had lost their yearning for a better life. They lived a numb life day by day, struggling at death's door like walking corpses.
Li Yin's words struck Zhao Erniu's dead heart like a thunderbolt. Before he sold himself into slavery, he was an honest farmer. The locust plague in the second year of Zhenguan caused him to lose his land and crops. His family of ten had no food since then. His four young sisters and three young brothers cried all night because of hunger. As the eldest brother, he felt like his heart was twisted by a knife. In order to not let his younger brothers and sisters starve to death, he sold himself to a passing Hu merchant for ten buckets of rice without telling his family. Later, he was resold a few more times and finally came here.
"Your Highness, is this true?" Zhao Erniu said with a trembling voice.
Li Yin did not speak. At this moment, Su Mo 'er handed a slave certificate to Zhao Erniu. Sometimes, words were useless. Only actions had power.
"You can tear it now!" Li Yin looked at Zhao Erniu with a smile.
Zhao Erniu's hand trembled as he took the certificate. This was the contract that he had signed with his finger. How could he forget it? How could he forget it!
"Zila!" Zhao Erniu tore the certificate into pieces as if he had used all his strength. His bean-sized eyes kept rolling down." Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you, Your Highness!”Zhao Erniu kowtowed on the ground like a madman. He had fantasized about this day countless times, but reality destroyed his fantasies time and time again. Today, after he lost hope, this extravagant hope suddenly came.
Li Yin quickly helped him up. If he continued to harm himself and died, he would suffer a great loss.
"As you can see, there is still hope in life. As long as you work hard and contribute to the workshop like Zhao Erniu, you can all be freed from slavery. Not only that, but you can also marry and have children here. Look at the strong man opposite you and the woman opposite you. Don't you have any thoughts at night?”
Li Yin's straightforwardness made the slaves feel a little embarrassed. Humans had seven emotions and six desires. Now, which male slave didn't want a wife, and which female slave didn't want a man.
"Your Highness!" Su Mo 'er also blushed as she reminded Li Yin.
Li Yin was stunned for a moment before he understood. This wasn't the 21st century. He was too unreserved.
He coughed awkwardly and said,"I've said what I need to say. Whether you continue to live numbly or fight for tomorrow, it's up to you!”
Silence. After Li Yin finished speaking, the slaves all fell silent. However, from the light in their eyes, Li Yin understood that his words had an effect.
After letting the slaves go back to work, Li Yin left Zhao Erniu alone." Although you're no longer a slave, you're still a person without a household register. Continue to work hard. Five years later, I'll hand you a household register in Chang 'an. From today onwards, you can receive a monthly salary of 200 wen and a day off every six days. You can also go to a place outside the workshop. However, you won't blame me for not registering you now, right?”
"Your Highness 'kindness to this servant is as heavy as a mountain. This servant doesn't dare to ask for too much. In the past, Erniu's identity was like a beast. Today, he has truly become a human. From now on, whatever Your Highness says, I, Zhao Erniu, will not even frown even if I have to risk my life for Your Highness!”Zhao Erniu said firmly.
"Leave your life to yourself. Next up is the mass production of newspaper. If the production can't keep up, watch how I deal with you!”As he spoke, Li Yin's expression changed. He whispered to Zhao Erniu,"Do you have a girl you like? This king will be your matchmaker!”
" Hehe…" Zhao Erniu immediately laughed foolishly.
After brainwashing, Li Yin and Su Mo 'er discussed a set of rewards and punishments for the workshop. Under Li Yin's suggestion, they established a point system. For example, if they made a major contribution, they could increase their points every month. Once their points reached the standard, they could cancel their slavery status and become hired workers like Zhao Erniu. On the contrary, if they were lazy and caused trouble, the workshop would resell them.
"Your Highness's novel idea really makes Mo 'er sigh!”After the discussion, Su Mo 'er sighed." I admire Your Highness' kindness even more!”
"Alright! You little girl, you actually learned how to flatter!”Li Yin wanted to tease her." If you really admire me, why don't you kiss me!”Li Yin pointed at his own face.
"Your Highness is so bad!”
" Hehe..." Li Yin stopped. Su Mo 'er had the personality of a lady from a wealthy family and was not as bold and enthusiastic as Yun' er. Thinking of Yun 'er, Li Yin suddenly realized that he had not seen her for five or six days. He could not help but ask,"By the way, why haven't I seen Yun 'Er recently?”
Su Mo 'er thought to herself,' Sister Yun 'er was supposed to replace her sick cousin to come to the Imperial Residence. A few days ago, Mo' er's cousin came to the Imperial Residence and replaced Mo 'er.'”
"Oh!" Li Yin was suddenly a little disappointed." This girl left without even saying goodbye to me!”
Su Mo 'er and Yun' er had a good relationship. She explained,"Originally, Yun 'Er wanted to say goodbye to His Highness. However, His Highness was busy practicing horsemanship those few days and Yun' Er's cousin came suddenly that day, so she didn't see you!”
"I neglected it!" Speaking of which, Li Yin quite liked Yun 'er's character. She was not like the other maidservants who saw Li Yin like mice seeing cats. They could not talk at all. Other than serving tea and pouring water, they stood like wooden figures.
When she returned to the Prince's mansion, the maid who came to serve Li Yin had indeed changed. Her face was somewhat similar to Yun 'er's, so she was probably her cousin.
"Yun 'Er is your cousin?" Li Yin asked.
This girl was about sixteen or seventeen years old. She had served Li Yin before, so she still had an impression of him. Seeing Li Yin's unhappy expression, she was so scared that she knelt down and said,"Your Highness, please forgive me. This servant is sick, so I let Biao Younger Sister replace this servant for a period of time!”
"Where is Yun 'Er now?" Li Yin was not targeting her. It was just that he was a little uncomfortable without someone close to him.
"Your Highness, Yun 'er is not from Chang' an. She just came to my house to stay for a while. A few days ago, my aunt was preparing to go back, and my illness had recovered, so she was replaced.”
"No, she served me very well!" Li Yin sighed.
On the official road from Chang 'an to Qingzhou, a young girl and a middle-aged woman were walking side by side. The messengers often passed by on their horses, constantly raising clouds of dust, causing the old and young to cover their noses from time to time.
The girl was about fourteen or fifteen years old. She was wearing linen clothes with patches on her arms and knees. However, even if it was such clothes, the girl had washed them clean.
"The food in the Prince's mansion is to feed people. Our Yun 'er is only a few months old. Not only has she turned white, but she has also become beautiful. No wonder the girls in Chang' an are fighting to go to those noble masters!”After walking for a while, the woman found a place by the roadside to sit down and rest. Looking at her daughter's outstanding beauty, she said,"With our daughter's looks, it's a given that she'll find a rich family to be her concubine.”After saying that, the woman smiled happily. In her opinion, it was already a blessing to be able to become a concubine of a rich family and not have to worry about food and drink.
The girl smiled bitterly and did not answer her mother's question. She just looked in the direction of Chang 'an and was dazed for a moment.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]