Late Tang Dynasty Floating Life

Chapter 1617 Printing and Inks

At the end of November, the group from Luoyang had not yet arrived in Chang'an.

Shao Shude has already checked the first batch of printed books in the Xijing Shaofu Workshop.

Don't get me wrong, this is not the content of "Tong Guang Quan Shu", but the first translated Persian work.

More precisely, it is a thin travel journal, probably a diary written by a sea merchant when he was bored. There are many descriptions of foreign scenery such as Chenla, and there are also many contents about using astrology to identify locations when sailing. There is also a description of a large number of port hydrological information, which is very valuable.

The diary was not long, and the translation was completed on the way. Shao Shude planned to print a batch and distribute it to officers of the Ping Navy and Qing Navy for reading.

Without any qualms, block printing was adopted instead of movable type.

When printing standard teaching materials on a large scale, the advantages of woodblock printing are extremely huge.

If it is large-scale commercial printing, woodblock printing can defeat movable type printing simply by cost, which has been proved in history, because until the Ming and Qing Dynasties, bookstores still used woodblock printing instead of movable type printing when publishing books— —In fact, until the end of the Qing Dynasty, block printing was the absolute mainstream. In the Qing Dynasty, there were 7748 kinds of books in the past dynasties, and only 220 kinds were printed with movable type.

A skilled engraver can carve very quickly.

The engraving of a book is often made by one person, with uniform and beautiful writing styles, and regular line spacing and intervals.After printing, if you want to reprint, just take out the engraving block and continue printing. In ancient times, there were even engraving blocks that have been used for hundreds of years.

However, most of the movable type is not made by one person. The new and old are uneven, and the size and style of the characters are different.After the first edition was printed, the characters were removed, making it very inconvenient to reprint.

Block printing is also advantageous when reviewing manuscripts before printing.

Reviewers can compare the original text with the engraving, which is very convenient.

Movable type printing does not work.

First of all, it is very troublesome to retrieve the corresponding Chinese characters from tens of thousands of characters when finalizing, and the layout is also ugly.

At the end of the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, because newspapers had new content every day, it was not cost-effective to use engraving, so movable type printing was changed, but there were many problems with font size and layout, and the reading experience was very poor.

Moreover, when the typefaces were assembled for the last review before printing, the fonts were reversed, and the review took a long time and was extremely error-prone.

The most important thing is that the process of movable type printing requires a large number of literate workers, and the cost is extremely high.

In addition, there is another point that determines the status of woodblock printing.

The inks in ancient China were mainly water-based inks, and there were few varieties of oil-based inks.

The ink is printed with engraving, which is very clear and perfect.

But in movable type printing, clay movable type is fine, metal movable type (copper, lead) has a poor affinity with ink, and the printing is not clear enough, but woodblock printing does not have this trouble.

So, don't think ancient people are fools.There is a reason why I have a whole set of movable type printing, but I don't use it, and I still print it with engraving.

Movable type printing is really suitable for the West.

The letters are small, easy to make, easy to find, and they have ink...

"I have a method, which may improve printing efficiency." Shao Shude said suddenly after looking at it for a while.

As for movable type printing, he once mentioned that the craftsmen also spent a huge amount of money to produce a batch of clay type and a batch of pewter type—the latter took several years and cost more than [-] yuan, which is outrageous, even he Everyone thinks it is expensive, let alone the folks.

To put it bluntly, movable type printing and engraving printing have their own advantages and disadvantages. In fact, movable type printing is rarely used at present, and the money is probably wasted. It can be regarded as a lesson.

"Please inform me, Your Majesty," said Chen Xingyun, Minister of the Shang Department of the Shaofu.

"Is it possible to make a kind of wax paper, write characters on it with a stylus, and then push and print with ink-soaked sliders." Shao Shude asked.

In fact, this is also a kind of woodblock printing.It's just that writing is faster than engraving, and the printing efficiency is higher when the oil slider pushes it.

When Shao Shude was in elementary school, he had a teacher who used a pen to write papers on wax paper, and then pushed the printing by himself, and distributed it to the students for exams after printing.

Even in the first grade of junior high school, it was still like this, until the school bought a laser printing machine.

"Your Majesty, wait a moment." Chen Xingyun is a Jinshi. It is good to understand the existing printing process. Technological innovation is very difficult, so he has to find a craftsman for this matter, so he called Xi Chao, Xi Tinggui and his son.

They are from Yizhou, ink-making craftsmen, well-known in the local area, were recommended to the imperial court, hired by the Shaofu, responsible for part of the printing and ink-making affairs, they can be regarded as foremen.

"Your Majesty." The father and son saluted together.

Shao Shude repeated what he said just now.

After Xi Chao thought about it, he said, "Maybe you can give it a try."

Shao Shude was overjoyed, and asked again: "Is there a way to make a kind of ink?"

"Your Majesty, what is ink?" Xi Chao wondered, "The ink offered by the Shaofu has pine oil."

After thinking for a while, Shao Shude said in another way: "But most of this kind of ink is still water, right? Both ink and oil are dissolved in water."

After writing calligraphy for so many years, he also has some research on ink.

The ink presented by Shaofu includes pine oil, tung oil, sesame oil, etc., but it mainly exists as a linking agent.Oil fume dissolves in water, fundamentally speaking, it is actually "water-based ink"-ancient Chinese paintings, generally known as ink paintings, can be seen.

What he wanted now was an "oil-based ink," the colored portion of the writing (the ink), that was soluble in oil, not water.

He couldn't say why he wanted this, because when he was a child, the teacher used ink to print the test papers, and ink and ink were mostly not good.

Moreover, when the ink is printed, the color is uniform, the contrast is strong, and there is luster, which is not a star and a half better than ink.The most important thing is that it is not afraid of water, combines well with metal movable type, and has high printing efficiency.

Of course, relying on this, it is impossible for movable type printing to defeat woodblock printing. Leaving aside the issues of font shape, typesetting, retrieval, and finalization, the cost alone is astonishing. In the Qing Dynasty, a businessman made metal movable type and spent more than 20 taels of silver. , lose all their money, is this cost that small and medium-sized businessmen can afford?

But ink is still very useful, which can improve printing efficiency and reduce costs-whether it is engraving or movable type printing-printed books are clearer and more uniform in color, especially those with patterns.

Patterns are another insurmountable difficulty for movable type printing.

After the ink came out, he planned to promote stencil printing on a large scale, which was cheaper and more efficient than engraving.Especially when publishing mathematics books, it is simply a dimensionality reduction blow.

Even art books could be printed on a large scale - no doubt this could give rise to a new genre of painting.

However, he also knows that this printing technique is low in cost and can penetrate into every corner of society, because theoretically all you need is wax paper, stylus, and ink, but the exquisiteness of printing is not enough.

But low cost is justice!

In the future, the books printed by the imperial court can continue to produce exquisite engravings.But for the folks to play and popularize knowledge, they can be printed on stencils, although he doesn't know if stencils and inks can be produced.

"You can try what your majesty said," Xi Chao said.

In fact, he didn't quite understand. Does anyone like this kind of ink?

"You can try to make it as much as you want. If it succeeds, I will not hesitate to confer the title." Shao Shude encouraged.

Chen Xingyun and others were shocked.

Doing this can be knighted?Immediately, he thought that a whale hunter could be an honorary officer, and he felt a little jealous.

In this day and age, it is not difficult for generals to be knighted, as long as they have military exploits.However, it is difficult for civil officials to confer titles. Generally, they are the big bosses of the court, and it is only possible after hard work for most of their lives.

That's all, how come these lowly craftsmen are so easy to get rich!
"Your Majesty's statement...is...really true?" Xi Chao stammered and asked.

Chen Xingyun glared at him, as if he was blaming him for being unseemly.

Shao Shude laughed loudly, stepped forward and took Xi Chao's hand, and said, "What you say is what you say."

******
After leaving Shaofu, Shao Shude went back to the palace and read a book that Liu Lang sent him from Yunnan: "Geography of Yunnan"

The title of the book is not small, but the content is not complete enough. It only covers a few main routes, such as the post road from Kunzhou to Annan, the Nanzhao Liangjing post road, Rongzhou Shimen Road, Yizhou Road and so on.

Such a level cannot be included in the geography category of "Tongguang Quanshu".No way, I have to send it back and let Liu Lang find someone to further improve it.

Shao Shude casually turned to the last part: the post road from Jianchuan Dudufu's Mansion to Tubo.

After thinking about it, he called Han Zhi.

This person is a nephew of Han Quanhui, who has been in Chang'an University for many years, and behaves respectfully and winkingly.

During the Western Expedition, Han Quanhui made great contributions and hard work. In addition, as he was getting older, he promoted his nephew as the leader of the new generation of the eunuch Han family in Xijing.

However, this is also the last generation of the Han family.

"Your Majesty." Han Zhi bent down to salute, every movement and expression of his body seemed to be shown after rigorous training and calculation, showing a professionalism.

"Call the Tubo prince Yansun to see him." Shao Shude ordered.

"Abiding by the order." Han Zhi replied, but his movements were very slow, as if he was waiting for something.

"Shulu Jieyu missed Cai Bangshi a little bit, and asked her to come into the palace to talk." Shao Shude hesitated for a moment, then said again.

"Abiding by the order." Han Zhi left lightly.

Yansun lived in the hotel provided by Honglu Temple. When he heard the call, his heart jumped. Strong and calm, he immediately took his wife's hand and couldn't wait to go out.

Cai Bangshi shook off his hand and gave him a cold look.

Yansun didn't take it seriously, and left with a smile.

The two took a carriage and quickly entered Miyagi.

Jieyu Yueliduo welcomed Cai Bangshi in with a smile at the gate of Penglai Hall.

Yansun wanted to follow in, but was stopped by Han Zhi.

He was not annoyed, and waited patiently outside.

After a long time, before the sage was summoned, he saw an imperial physician rushing into the Penglai Hall.

Yansun Ruo realized: his wife is pregnant.

While my heart was sour, an abnormal flush appeared on my face, and at the same time I was a little excited: Whoever it is, as long as I can be Zanpu.

Life has been rushing for decades, why care about so many!Furthermore, let's talk about the current level first, and then think of a way for the future.

After a while, the imperial physician came out of the palace again.When passing by Yansun, he cupped his hands and said with a smile: "Congratulations to the prince, the princess is pregnant."

Yansun touched his bosom subconsciously, fortunately, there was a small half of the money, which was issued by Honglu Temple, so he quietly handed it to the imperial physician, with a happy face, he smiled and said: "I have a future! Congratulations, congratulations." happiness!"

After getting the money, the imperial doctor smiled openly and left after talking and joking for a long time.

In the Penglai Hall, Shao Shude looked at Cai Bangshi, hesitantly said: "This is..."

"Of course it's yours!" Cai Bangshi glared at him angrily, and said, "I won't rely on you. I'll take the child back to Tibet and raise it myself."

"You have a bad temper!" Shao Shude said with a smile, "How can you not keep your wife in the capital as a hostage when Yan Sun returns to Tubo? What are you thinking?"

"Huh?" Cai Bangshi was a little surprised.

"However, I will send you two back home in the future." Shao Shude said with a sudden sigh.

Cai Bangshi is Yansun's official concubine, and the child she gave birth to is naturally Yansun's child.

Cai Bangshi breathed a sigh of relief, and said, "Chang'an is good, but I don't feel at ease without Tubo."

Shao Shude looked at her with a complicated expression.

Cai Bangshi suddenly thought of something, leaned into Shao Shude's ear, and said, "I will teach the child well, let him know who his real father is."

Shao Shude grabbed Cai Bangshi's hand.For a moment, he wanted to keep this wild woman by his side.Anyway, so many women have been robbed, so what if I rob one more?

Cai Bangshi gently released Shao Shude's hand and asked, "Where are you taking me back?"

"It's not you, and it's not now." Shao Shude said: "I will send Yansun back first, and send a group of officials and soldiers to accompany him to see if he can gain a firm foothold."

Cai Bangshi's focus was not on this at all. After hearing that he was only sending Yansun back for the time being, he blurted out: "You still want to sleep with me."

Shao Shude couldn't help but change the subject and said, "Brother Tie wants to go to the Yalong Valley, but I won't let him go. Let Yansun go to that place."

The Yalong Valley is the generation of Shannan and Nyingchi. The altitude is not very high, so it is considered a relatively good place in Tibet.

Since the Tang Dynasty, there have been post roads and commercial roads leading to it.

In the first year of Emperor Gaozong Yonglong of Tang Dynasty (680), Tubo established the Shenchuan Governor's Mansion to collect taxes from the local Baiman and Heiman, and apportioned military service and military service.

Later, the Tubo people took this as a springboard, and their forces went deep into the Erhai Lake area.

The general route is: Lhasa - Nyingchi - Zayu - Deqin - Lijiang - Dali.To the west of Lhasa, it also leads directly to Calcutta, India, and sells the goods produced in Sichuan. It is a very famous tea-horse trade route, and it is also the main military route for Tubo to invade Nanzhao.

Now the Shenchuan Dudu Mansion (Jianchuan Town) is in the hands of Daxia, and after Yupen City (Deqin) is the border of Tubo.

This route was also mentioned in the "Geography of Yunnan" sent by Liulang.

He dispatched [-] soldiers from the left wing of the Shengjie Army transferred to Yunnan Road to guard the city, and he even ran there himself. He said that he had difficulty breathing and felt uncomfortable all over. Just adapt to the environment.

Based on this, Shao Shude tried to solve it through political means.

"The Yalong Valley is a good place. Every spring, the mountains are covered with peach blossoms..." Cai Bangshi narrowed his eyes happily when he heard this, and said, "My family also has some acquaintances over there. Should be able to stand up."

"Don't think too much, let's talk about it after giving birth to the child." Shao Shude touched Cai Bangshi's lower abdomen, but he couldn't find anything, and said, "Yansun will not leave so early. I will send someone to fight with Tubo. Let’s get in touch and see their attitude first.”

(End of this chapter)