"What happened? Why is the door closed, why is it closed!!”
"That's right. It's only been a few hours. Why is it closed now?"
"Why aren't you selling books anymore? Why aren't you selling anymore?"
"Open the door!”
“··········”
Countless commoners pounded on the door of the bookstore.
Bang bang bang.
They were noisy.
They were anxious.
Now that the imperial examination had just been announced, it was already the sprint stage. But now, there were actually no more books.
What was this?
The fire had started to burn, but the firewood below had been taken away.
All of a sudden, it could be said that the fire that had just been burning was extinguished.
The commoners gathered in front of the bookshop, none of them willing to leave.
After all, they had been waiting for this opportunity all these years!!!
The imperial examinations were held in the previous dynasty. It was also from that time that many commoners began to study, and the term 'poor children' appeared in the world.
Then, the previous dynasty was destroyed, and the newly risen Humble Class disciples fell into an ice hole again.
From the founding of the Great Tang until now, the selection of officials was still based on filial piety and honesty.
However, in the past ten or twenty years, although the number of Humble Class children among the common people had decreased, they had not disappeared. The seeds of Humble Class scholars had always existed.
After all, there was a precedent. This door had been opened before, and countless people were waiting bitterly for it to open again!
Just like that saying, if I had never seen light, I could endure the darkness forever. However, the light had once shone on the people. Naturally, countless people would miss the light!
And this time, it finally happened!
How could the commoners not be excited!
However, no one expected such a thing to happen!!!
The bookstore was closed!
They were all closed!
"Jingan's bookstore is also closed.”
"Aiya, is this place closed too? I just rushed over from Yongxing Market, but the shop there is closed!!!”
"Damn it, they're all closed. All the bookstores in the city are closed. What's going on?!!”
“·········”
Many commoners rushed in from outside, panting heavily. They had all run past other bookstores, but who would have thought that these bookstores would all close down as if they had discussed it beforehand?
"Shopkeeper, Shopkeeper, open the door, open the door!!!”
"Hurry up and open the door."
The crowd pounded on the door of the bookstore crazily.
"The books inside have been sold out."
"Come back another day."
At this moment, a helpless voice came from inside the door.
"What do you mean sold out? There's still a lot left!!!”
"That's right, that's right. We haven't even sold out the ones on the bookshelves, let alone the ones in your warehouse!”
"Hurry up and open the door."
“···········”
The people were unwilling.
After waiting for so many years, who could be willing?
"Humph!"
"If I say it's sold out, it's sold out!!!”
"You guys go find somewhere else!"
"I'm not opening the door!"
"Just go and find it! She could buy them wherever she liked. Don't come looking for me."
The innkeeper shouted and heard a "dong" sound from inside. The innkeeper had used a big stick to block the door.
The commoners outside were helpless.
Even if they didn't open the door, there was nothing they could do.
"Let's go!"
"Let's go find the capital prefecture."
"I believe that the Imperial Court will resolve this matter.”
"They're hoarding goods!"
"A bunch of profiteers. They must be using the imperial examinations to raise the price. This has already violated the laws of the imperial court.”
"Right, right, right. Let's go, let's go. Let's go find the capital prefecture!”
"Brothers, let's go together!"
“···········”
Seeing that there was nothing they could do, the group of commoners could only head towards the capital prefecture.
The imperial examinations had begun. Without books, who wouldn't be anxious?
··································
The Imperial City.
Dew Palace.
Li Shimin, Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui were all present.
The three of them listened to Chai Shao whine.
Chai Shao also felt bitter in his heart.
Damn it, three years of time couldn't compare to this period of time.
Since there were not enough oxen, Chang 'an County Magistrate and Wannian County Magistrate kept looking for him.
Now, there were not enough books, so all the people in Chang 'an were blocking the entrance of the capital government office.
He still came out from the back door. He really couldn't get out from the front door.
"The people have gone crazy."
"Your Majesty, we have to think of a way quickly. All the bookstores in the city are closed now. They're all closed."
"It's true that the imperial examination was held, but…but the people don't have books. The imperial examination is a joke!!!”
"When the time comes, the Imperial Court will become a laughing stock!!!!”
"Your Majesty!"
Chai Shao said excitedly.
Li Shi Min's expression was ugly.
Just now, he had been gloating with Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui.
With the imperial examinations being held, the people of the city went crazy and their enthusiasm for participation soared. When spring came, they would definitely bring endless talent to the Great Tang!!!
But he had not been happy for a few minutes when Chai Shao came knocking on his door.
Hearing Chai Shao's words, Li Shi Min couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Damn it!"
"This…How is this possible!!!”
"Are those bookstores crazy or something? Why aren't they open for such good business?”
"Don't they know that I just announced the imperial examinations? Could it be…Could it be that they are deliberately going against me?”
Li Shi Min cursed.
He was really going to die of anger.
The imperial examination was announced, and the people were boiling.
However, this time, the flames of the imperial examination that had just been ignited were extinguished.
"Li Junxian, go, go investigate what's going on!”
Li Shi Min shouted and ordered.
Li Junxian left.
But soon, he returned. This time, the news he brought back made Li Shimin's heart turn cold.
A noble clan!
A noble clan!
A noble clan!
All the bookstores in the city were opened by noble clans, and all the books in the world were written by noble clans!!!
Li Shi Min instantly understood.
Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui also understood.
"Your Majesty, this must be the noble family trying to stop Your Majesty from holding the imperial examination!!!”Fang Xuanling said in a low voice.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Du Ruhui was filled with helplessness." The imperial examinations held by the previous dynasty dealt a huge blow to the aristocratic families. Right now, a very small portion of the officials in our court who were born in the Humble Class are from the previous dynasty.”
"In the previous dynasty, the aristocratic families had put in a lot of effort to push for the destruction. At that time, they would definitely be prepared!!! He would definitely be prepared! We were careless!"
"Once bitten, twice shy. How could the noble family not understand this principle?”
How could Du Ruhui not react at this moment?
The clan already had a plan to deal with everything he had done.
It was estimated that in the past ten years, the noble family had been guarding against this move.
Now, it was exactly what they wanted.
After all, the profits of books were not great. No one would pay attention to them, and they would not cause any waves.
Therefore, in the past ten years, the aristocratic families had directly undergone a major reshuffle. They had completely controlled everything by themselves and quietly made preparations.
However, they were too impulsive. They announced the imperial examination without much investigation!
Li Shi Min listened to their conversation and his face darkened.
He clenched his fists tightly.
Chai Shao pursed his dry lips and looked at Li Shimin, who had been silent for a long time. He stood up and said,"Your Majesty, I will take my leave first."
"I still have to appease the people of Chang 'an.”
"Otherwise…who would have thought that the consequences would be unbearable!”
"Go…Go!”Li Shi Min said without raising his head.
Chai Shao hurriedly retreated.
He knew that at this point, it was no longer something he could resolve, nor could it be resolved in a short period of time.
Print books!
This was a long and slow time!!!
First, he started with the engraving. One was not enough. He needed hundreds or thousands of sets before he could print them in batches.
This step was very difficult and required time to accumulate.
This move of the aristocratic family was truly ruthless!
It directly hit the imperial court!
The Great Tang had only been established for a little over ten years, so where could they find an engraving?!!
"Your Majesty."
"Why don't we cancel the imperial examination first?"
Fang Xuanling gritted his teeth.
Now, he could not think of any other way. Books were things that he did not have.
There's no need to think about it. They definitely won't give it to you.
Since that was the case, the imperial court really had no other choice.
This situation was not difficult to analyze!!
This was a matter of black and white. There was absolutely no compromise.
Du Ruhui's eyes were red.
Was the imperial examination going to be canceled?
It had just been issued, not even a day had passed, and it had already…died prematurely?
"Your Majesty, Xuanling, if we cancel it, we really don't know when we will have to wait until the next time we raise it.”Du Ruhui said in a low voice.
"But, what else can we do?" Fang Xuanling's tone was filled with helplessness."Now that the noble family has come up with this move, we…we have no way to deal with it!!!”
"If we continue to drag this out and not solve it, then we will be forced to cancel the imperial examinations.”
"Let's just put up the notice now. If no one talks about this, maybe it will be over.”
"After all, it's only been a day. The longer it drags on, the worse it will be!”
Fang Xuanling was a little excited, as if there was a mouthful of phlegm in his throat that he could not spit out.
His voice was hoarse.
There was also a very heavy trembling.
Du Ruhui was silent.
He knew that Fang Xuanling was right. If this path didn't work out, the sooner it ended, the better!
But…
He was still unwilling.
However, what could he do?
Nothing in this world would change because of unwillingness.
If he succeeded because he was unwilling, then there would be no failure in this world.
No one would be willing to accept defeat!!!
But the truth was the truth!
Fang Xuanling also fell silent.
He felt his heart ache.
Imperial examinations, this was an imperial examination. No matter how one thought about it, it would not do any harm to the world. However, because of this reason, it ended in a panic and miserably.
It was laughable.
If he canceled the imperial examination, he did not know how those people from the aristocratic families would laugh at him behind his back.
They would definitely look down on the Imperial Court.
The two of them looked at Li Shi Min blankly.
Li Shi Min took a deep breath.
His gaze was filled with hatred.
Yes, he resented the aristocratic family. In his heart, he wished he could dig out the graves of their ancestors!!!
He wanted to ask the aristocratic families why they couldn't think about the world!!!
Why was that?
Why was that?
Why was that?
Li Shi Min roared in his heart.
However, he also knew that the aristocratic families had no feelings. The existence of this group of people was to prevent the world from threatening him.
" Let's go…Let's go…"
" You two, accompany me, accompany me to…go out for a walk…"
Li Shi Min said.
He opened his mouth a few times to control himself from crying out.
"Yes."
"Your Majesty, slow down."
Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui quickly helped Li Shimin up.
This time, they changed into casual clothes.
Li Shi Min's footsteps were heavy.
What should he do?
What should he do?
His mind was filled with this question.
He really couldn't think of a way to solve this problem.
The imperial court did not have books.
There was a manufacturing office in the previous dynasty, but it was said that it was burned down in Luoyang. All the engravings inside were burned down.
Thus, the Great Tang did not have one.
After all, this was a thankless task.
Moreover, the Great Tang's Martial Virtue Era was not stable, and all of its power was focused on suppressing internal and external disturbances.
How could he afford to spend a lot of money to rebuild the office?
Li Shiming had only been on the throne for three years, and he had been through all kinds of natural and man-made disasters. Naturally, he did not have the mood to mess with this thing.
But now!
He was strangled by this thing.
He couldn't breathe.
Unable to move.
There was no room for resistance at all.
The three of them did not make a sound.
It was as if he was dead.
After leaving the Imperial City through the side door, he actually didn't know where to go.
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