When he first saw this book, Cao Cao felt that it was unbelievable because this book was actually made of paper!
Cao Cao naturally recognized the paper. It was something that Marquis Cai of the Eastern Han had improved. Although it was widely circulated in the hands of high-ranking officials and nobles, it was easily damaged and could not be preserved for a long time. Even if it was tightly sealed, it was easy to be eaten by insects.
Because of this, in the Han Dynasty, the most important documents and contracts were cast into bells and tripods, followed by bamboo and silk. That is to say,"the work is engraved on the tripod bell, and the name is hung on bamboo and silk."”Only this could be preserved for a long time.
On the other hand, although paper was becoming more and more famous for its convenience, whether it was the emperor's memorials, imperial edicts, or the policy discussions between the princes and officials, all of them were conveyed by bamboo slips or silk.
Now that Cao Zhi had actually used paper to make a book to record political affairs, Cao Cao was naturally shocked. However, he did not criticize Cao Zhi because he could clearly sense that the paper used in this book was different from the Cai Hou paper they usually used.
Although the Cai Hou paper passed down among the high officials was white, delicate, soft, and dense, the color was not bright enough, and it was not as thick and unbreakable as this paper.
Could paper really be used as a book?
Was there such paper in the world?
Before Cao Cao could even open the book, he was already shocked by the materials used. For a moment, he only rubbed and observed the book, but he did not open it.
Cao Zhi saw Cao Cao's reaction and was overjoyed.
This was what Cao Zhi had found through his Goldfinger notebook. White paper was more advanced than the later generation of jute paper. Not only was it resistant to insects, but it also did not turn yellow. This kind of paper was more similar to Xuan paper, and it was basically very close to Cao Zhi's level before he transmigrated.
It could be said that the book that Cao Cao loved so much was made from paper that surpassed the three kingdoms 'nearly a thousand years of paper making!
It would be strange if Cao Cao wasn't shocked.
Cao Zhi watched Cao Cao caress the packaging of the book. Although he did not say a word, the expression in his eyes was unusually bright. Although he was happy, he did not forget to remind Cao Cao, saying,
"Reporting to Father, this book is for your son to improve the art of making paper. The paper made with a new method of making paper has the function of preventing insects from damaging it and is not easy to damage. It can basically replace heavy bamboo slips and silk.”
"This son has also produced a lot of this kind of paper and has already made them into reading materials for the students of the Great Wei Academy. This book contains what this son has done in Luoyang for the past six months.”
"Alright." When Cao Cao heard Cao Zhi's words, he raised his head and looked at Cao Zhi meaningfully. Then, he lowered his head again and flipped through the cover of the booklet to check the interior.
Cao Cao couldn't help but gasp after looking at it for a while.
The book that Cao Zhi had presented contained detailed information about all the prefectures and counties in Luoyang, as well as various matters that had happened in the past six months. Moreover, everything had been sorted out and summarized into a table.
This year, the number of households increased, and at the same time, the number of wasteland reclaimed under Cao Zhi's leadership increased.
Flipping open the page, there was also information about the students recruited by the Great Wei Academy, the number of academies, the number of students, the progress of education, the content of education, and the results of education. All the final results were recorded.
The other thing was about the paper-making matters that Ding Xiong was responsible for. Although the records were relatively brief, it clearly indicated that it was on the agenda. Moreover, the new paper created by Cao Zhi had already been sold and could already bring in a certain amount of income.
All the data had been compiled into a table by Cao Zhi using a new method of coordination. Not only was the data complete and specific, but it was also clear at a glance. It was much easier and clearer than the memorials he usually read.
Cao Cao had only briefly glanced through this document and had already understood the development of Luoyang during this period of time. He was deeply shocked and speechless.
According to this booklet, in the year Cao Zhi managed Luoyang, the population of Luoyang had increased by at least three times, the wasteland reclaimed was also six times the original, and the grain production was also eight times the original!
This kind of miraculous and unbelievable data made Cao Cao unable to believe it.
Seeing that Cao Cao had stopped talking after reading the book, the officials were all puzzled. Cao Pi was even more delighted, thinking that Cao Zhi must have not achieved much, so he must have presented a record of his own failure. That was why Cao Cao was so angry.
He had already taken Cao Cao's silence and shock as speechlessness towards Cao Zhi's incompetence.
Just as everyone was puzzled, Cao Cao, who had been silent for a long time, raised his head and asked Cao Zhi earnestly,"Zhi 'er, is what you wrote in this book true? You didn't fake it?"
When Cao Zhi heard this, he immediately knelt down and said,""The records in this book are all true data. There is no exaggeration at all.”
"Hiss!" Hearing Cao Zhi's affirmation, Cao Cao couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air, the shock on his face still unable to dissipate.
When Xun Yu saw Cao Cao's appearance, he was puzzled.
When Cao Zhi proposed the " reform of the garrison system," he was the first to stand up and oppose it. This was not because he had a grudge with Cao Zhi, but because he truly believed from the bottom of his heart that Cao Zhi's move was bound to achieve nothing.
The system of opening up wasteland had existed for thousands of years, how could a young man like Cao Zhi easily change it?
Not only that, but more importantly, Cao Zhi's way of collecting more taxes with less taxes was bound to incur the dissatisfaction of the aristocratic families, and the results would not be great. Moreover, reducing taxes would definitely cause a huge loss in half a year, one year, or even three to five years. It was impossible to achieve economic growth.
In Xun Yu's heart, he had already made a conclusion for Cao Zhi's trip.
As Cao Cao's number one strategist, Xun Yu had long believed in his own conclusion. At the very least, in terms of administrative ability, Xun Yu had never seen anyone stronger than him.
But now that he saw Cao Cao's shock, Xun Yu was also suspicious. Could it be that Cao Zhi had really done something big?
Xun Yu immediately bowed and asked,""May I ask why you are so shocked, Prime Minister?”
Cao Cao turned to look at Xun Yu and threw the book in his hand to Xun Yu, saying,""Wen Ruo, you can read it yourself."
"Yes."
Xun Yu took the book and immediately checked it.
With one look, it was incredible.
The more Xun Yu read, the more shocked his face became. In the end, he did not say a word. He just stared at the form in the booklet with wide eyes, and his face revealed deep disbelief.
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