Although he had been tricked by the green sparrow, the problem of military expenses had been solved. Li Er was very happy. He lay on the bed and tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
Li Tai hid in his small room, lit a candle, and drew.
He was drawing the template of the banknote.
Paper money first appeared in the Song Dynasty and was called " Jiaozi ". Its real large-scale use should be at the end of the 19th century. Compared to copper coins, gold, and silver, paper money was most convenient to carry and store. It had low wastage and could also be used to make some articles. In short, there were many benefits.
As for the anti-counterfeit method of banknotes, in this era where engraving printing was still commonly used, it was impossible to make the exquisite watermarks and moiré patterns of banknotes in the future. They could only settle for the second best. In the late Qing Dynasty, they used the secret language method that was commonly used in Shanxi exchange banks to prevent counterfeit.
Mulberry bark paper was also used as a raw material for printing paper. It was resistant to wear and stains and did not fade.
He didn't expect a small note to have so much knowledge!
The green sparrow moved its sore arm when footsteps came from behind.
" Green Sparrow, it's so late and you're still not sleeping…" A pair of soft hands wrapped around his neck. Empress Zhangsun leaned against her precious son's little face and looked at the colorful pattern he had just drawn in surprise." What is this?"”
"These are the notes that Green Sparrow is preparing to issue!”Li Tai chuckled." Mother, look. This is a 500-string copper note template. This string of numbers is the serial number…"
"My son is so smart!" Empress Zhangsun had never expected that this palm-sized piece of paper would contain so much ingenuity. However, this drawing was too…
A crooked human head appeared in the middle of the banknote. According to Green Sparrow, this head belonged to Retired Emperor Li Yuan.
But…
Empress Zhangsun only smiled. She did not dare to say that her son had drawn her father-in-law into a long-haired dog…
"Sigh!" When Li Tai saw his mother covering her mouth and laughing secretly, he knew that his painting had failed. He let out a long sigh. Forget it, tomorrow he would go to find the young supervisor Yan Liben and ask him to help him draw!
As expected, Yan Liben's skills were extraordinary. In just one afternoon, he had used concise lines to vividly outline the image of Retired Emperor Li Yuan. In this way, the template of the first treasure note of the Great Tang was completely completed and handed over to the skilled coppersmiths to be printed.
"Your Highness, what is this thing used for?”
Yan Liben raised his head and looked at his masterpiece.
"Paper money is used to replace copper coins and gold.”The green sparrow blinked." Uncle Yan, can you make paper in prison?”
"Sure!" Yan Liben had a smug look on his face. As a place dedicated to the royal family, they produced Xuan paper, straw paper, hemp paper, and other paper every year to supply the court's official documents and painting paper needs.
"Then can you help me make a batch of mulberry paper?”This was the first time the green sparrow had asked for help in her life.
" Well..." Yan Liben revealed a cunning smile and rubbed his fingers." Your Highness should know that the financial situation of the General Supervisor is tight. The craftsmen 'monthly salary for next month has not been settled yet!"”
Li Tai glared at him angrily!
I didn't expect that such a handsome and unrestrained fellow like you would also be taught badly by Imperial Father and the others!
If you don't help me, I'll do it myself!
Li Tai immediately called Eunuch Wang De and headed straight for the distant gate.
There was a canal outside Kaiyuan Gate, and on both sides of the canal were paper workshops.
In this era, hemp paper, rice paper, and straw paper were commonly produced. Other than the fine quality used in the palace, the rest were all crude. They were yellow in appearance, hard and brittle, and could not be compared with the paper of later generations.
" Your Highness, which shop do you like? I'll go and bargain for you…" Wang De asked as he walked around the canal with Li Tai.
Our young master is very generous!
Buy the shop directly!
"Let's go to this one!" Green Sparrow stretched out her small hand and pointed at a workshop called the Jia Clan's Old Shop.
Wang De carried him on his back and walked towards the Jia family's old shop step by step.
There was water everywhere in the workshop. There were hundreds of large vats outside, in which jute, bamboo chips, straw, and other raw materials were soaked. When the wind blew, it gave off a pungent smell.
"You want to buy paper?" The owner of the Jia family's old shop, Jia Fu, saw that the middle-aged man in front of him had a pale face and no beard. He was dressed luxuriously and was obviously not an ordinary person. He greeted him respectfully.
"Our young master wants to see how you make paper!”Wang De took out a piece of gold the size of a thumb. Boss Jia was overjoyed when he saw it. He hurriedly bowed and led the way.
Li Tai was greatly intrigued.
So this was how paper was made!
First, the hemp was peeled, crushed, retting, and fished out. The hemp became crystal clear like snow. After that, it was cut into pieces, pounded, fluted, and made into paper. Only then could the real hemp paper be produced.
However, the finished hemp paper was still yellow, and its surface was uneven. It had a strong graininess, and it was far from being good enough to be used as banknote printing paper.
The green sparrow shook its head. This traditional paper-making method was no longer suitable for the needs of the current generation!
He whispered into Boss Jia's ear, and Boss Jia was skeptical." This, will this work?”
"My young master is talented and intelligent, and he has no miscalculations. Boss Jia, don't worry!”Wang De took out another piece of gold and handed it to Jia Fu." This gold is enough to buy your small workshop. Go ahead and do it boldly. If you destroy it, my little master will compensate you!"”
"Alright, I'm relieved to hear that!”
In fact, Green Sparrow's method was very simple. The iron roller was pressed into shape!
As well as the bleaching-process!
Jia Fu looked at the hemp pulp that was about to be used to make paper in the water trough. He gritted his teeth and ordered his subordinates to pour an entire bucket of plant ash water into it!
The plant ash water was an alkali-type water with strong whiteness.
Bubbles immediately appeared on the surface of the water, and the originally turbid sink gradually became clear. Jia Fu hurriedly called his men to start making paper.
After making the paper, it was directly dried. This was a method that had been passed down for thousands of years. However, today, this method had to be changed!
Green Sparrow sent someone to bring over two iron rollers that had been prepared long ago. They placed the unformed paper into the iron rollers and pressed it once. After being pressed by the iron roller, the paper had a bright and clean appearance, almost shining.
Jia Fu stared at the finished product with his mouth agape. It was as white as snow and glistening like a pancake that had just been baked.
He was so excited that tears fell!
The Jia family had been making paper for generations. Every generation had tried their best to purify the yellowed paper, but they had all failed.
He didn't expect that this child, who wasn't even as tall as three pieces of tofu, would solve the big problem that had troubled his family for several generations!
The boss, Jia Fu, was excited. With a plop, he knelt down before the green sparrow and kowtowed three times.
Ding!" Congratulations to the host for successfully applying and promoting the paper rinsing technology. The achievement index is three stars. The reward is the chemistry master skill..."
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