I studied in modern times

Chapter 785 New Jiaozi (2)

Zhao Xu saw that Shen Kuo's face was a little red, so he stopped teasing him.

He put down the Jiaozi engraving in his hand, and then picked up the paper in the box.

After getting the paper, his first feeling was that it was delicate and comfortable.

"Is it still Chu leather paper?" Zhao Xu asked.

"Your Majesty, this is the new Jiaozi Chu leather paper made according to your order!" Shen Kuo replied.

Chupi paper is a type of paper made from the bark of the mulberry tree.

The Jiaozi of the Song Dynasty was always printed on brown paper.

Last year, when printing Song-Liao Jiaozi, Chupi paper was also selected.

This is because Chupi paper has one very easy to identify characteristic - the paper is relatively thick, and at the same time there is a layer of fine paper hair on the paper. In addition, the official Chupi paper is of very good quality and will not rot easily.

Even farmers can tell the difference between Chupi paper and other papers.

However, it is not impossible for ordinary people to imitate Chu skin paper. Last year, a counterfeit Jiaozi appeared. The paper used was almost the same as the official paper in quality and characteristics.

It’s also a pity that they cannot make breakthroughs in other areas of technology.

Otherwise, it is possible that he could make counterfeit banknotes that are exactly the same as the real Jiaozi.

Therefore, among the orders Zhao Xu issued to the Military Equipment Manufacturing Bureau, one of them was to develop a new type of paper with distinct characteristics.

Now, the finished product presented by Shen Kuo was still Chu parchment paper, which aroused Zhao Xu's interest.

He took it in his hand, looked at it carefully, and soon discovered the secret.

The paper used for Jiaozi looks relatively smooth, tight and delicate under the sunlight.

But at the same time, there is a faint yellowish-brown color in the gaps of the paper.

Zhao Xu narrowed his eyes and asked, "Did you use the powder filling technique?"

Shen Kuo bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise and wise. This is exactly the technique of filling powder."

"I used lime, gamboge, etc., added water and applied it on the paper in a fine layer, and then let it dry naturally, and then this paper was created!"

Zhao Xu listened and nodded slightly.

The powder filling method was used in papermaking as early as the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

Grind lime and other minerals into powder, add water and apply it to the paper.

When the paper is dried naturally, it will become smooth, flat and compact.

This is nothing unusual.

The cost is just a bit higher.

Therefore, only government offices and the palace were willing to use paper.

But Shen Kuo was able to think of combining the powder filling method and pigment to color the brown paper, giving it a light yellowish brown color. This is innovation!
Zhao Xu remembered that when he was in modern times, he had seen the imperial paper of the Qing Dynasty - five-color wax paper - in a museum.

This paper is a true luxury.

The manufacturing process is complicated, the materials used are luxurious, and it takes a long time.

It can be called the ceiling of handmade paper!

But, in fact, the principle of this kind of paper is very simple.

It is a combination of the powder filling method and the waxing method of the Tang Dynasty, and then it is made by piling up the processes and materials.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xu asked, "Have you ever thought about using the 'waxing method' on this paper?"

"In this way, Jiaozi can not only prevent insects, but also be more recognizable!"

Shen Kuo was quite surprised that Zhao Xu actually knew how to make paper. He immediately became nervous and quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I have thought of using the wax method..."

"But if we use this method, the cost of paper for the Jiaozi will skyrocket!"

"Oh!" Zhao Xu nodded.

The waxing method is an invention of paper used in the Tang Dynasty court. As the name suggests, it is a process of waxing the paper to make it have good ink absorption, insect-proof and moisture-proof properties.

To this day, when the Song Dynasty proclaimed the hemp, the hemp paper used was still made by the waxing method.

Before the advent of industrial wax production, wax could only be obtained by using various natural raw materials.

For example, the best candles today are made from wax insects that parasitize on ash trees in the primeval forests of Fujian, Jinghu South Road, Guangnan East Road and other places.

Each of these candles is worth a lot of money!
Even the palace can’t afford it!
It can only be used in Jingling Palace.

A relatively cheaper way to make wax is to use beeswax from beehives.

But where do so many beehives come from in nature?
Therefore, most candles on the market are made from Tung oil tree wax.

Although this kind of candle is cheaper, it is still not affordable for ordinary people.

The market price of a high-quality candle is four hundred wen, while the price of a lower-quality one is one hundred and fifty to two hundred wen.

Therefore, apart from the rich and powerful, even ordinary officials could only light oil lamps at night.

Using such expensive wax on paper, plus labor costs, will make the price of paper soar to the sky.

When Zhao Xu thought of this, he recalled the modern paraffin method of making wax.

But the paraffin used in the paraffin method is a by-product of petroleum production.

But in the Song Dynasty today, only Yanzhou in Shaanxi has oil resources available for exploitation - the person who recorded, discovered and named oil is Shen Kuo in front of Zhao Xu.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xu asked, "Mr. Shen, I heard that when you were the governor of Yanzhou in the past, you discovered an interesting thing in the local area. Did you name it 'petroleum'?"

Shen Kuo immediately straightened his chest and replied proudly: "Your Majesty, it is true!"

"Since I was reinstated by grace, I have written to Liu Changzuo, the governor of Yanzhou, and discussed with him the idea of ​​turning Yanzhou's 'petroleum' into ink sticks and selling them everywhere..."

"In Bianjing today, there is also this Yanzhou ink!"

This is his political achievement!
The emergence of Yanzhou ink has added a best-selling product to Yanzhou.

It also improved his reputation among scholars.

Zhao Xu asked: "Can you try to make wax from that 'petroleum'?"

If successful, it would be equivalent to mastering a new short-term monopoly resource.

The wax produced by the paraffin method should be different from the wax produced by other methods in color, gloss and other properties.

This can further enhance the anti-counterfeiting performance of Jiaozi.

At the same time, Zhao Xu also thought of another possible source of potential wax raw materials - large whales!
Unfortunately, there are relatively few large whales in the coastal waters of the Song Dynasty.

To hunt large whales in large numbers, you have to go to the Korean Peninsula, the Sea of ​​Japan, and the waters near the Arctic Circle!

However, the current navigation and ship technology of the Song Dynasty does not have the capability for ocean voyages - yes, the ships of the Song Dynasty can now go to Southeast Asia, and even sail across the Indian Ocean to India and the Arab world.

But, in fact, they all sail along the coastline.

This is not only true for the ships of the Song Dynasty, but for the ships of the whole world.

Want to achieve ocean voyages, especially deep into cold waters where storms are frequent.

The Song Dynasty's navigation and shipbuilding technology still needs to continue to climb the technology tree.

On the contrary, it was the Liao Kingdom in the north...

Considering that the Liao people now controlled the shipping route from Goryeo to Japan, and even landed in Japan.

Zhao Xu was suddenly shocked!
Because he found that the Liao people might be able to open the whaling technology tree more easily than the Song people.

This is a bit troublesome!
You know, whale oil was the most important raw material before and after the Industrial Revolution!
However, it seems that worrying is of no use.

If the Liao people really started whaling, the current Song Dynasty would not be able to stop it.

We can only take one step at a time and see what happens.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xu became somewhat absent-minded.

He asked Shen Kuo calmly, "My dear, how much does this paper cost now?" Shen Kuo replied, "Your Majesty, the old Jiaozi used Chupi paper, which cost about five coins per sheet. Now it is generally made with the powder filling method, and the price is two coins more per sheet than before!"

Zhao Xu nodded.

Paper that cost seven cents a piece was considered very expensive and high-end paper in the Song Dynasty.

For example, one hundred sheets of ordinary book paper would cost only about thirty cents.

The average price per ticket is less than 0.18 cents.

This is mainly because after the Tang Dynasty, papermaking technology began to advance by leaps and bounds, and large-scale handmade papermaking became popular.

This has led to a rapid drop in the cost of even high-end royal paper.

Not to mention now, even in the fifth generation, the cost of paper has dropped significantly.

Li Yu of the Southern Tang Dynasty once created an expensive kind of paper for the royal court - Chengxintang paper.

This paper is as smooth as spring ice and as dense as a cocoon. Because of its extremely high quality and resistance to insect infestation, it is highly sought after by scholars and literati.

Mei Yaochen once obtained two scrolls, and he treasured them like treasures and would not show them to others easily.

So, what is the market price of such expensive high-quality palace paper?
The officials of Southern Tang once issued an order that no one could be bought for a hundred gold coins.

The hundred gold here is not silver or gold, but copper coins.

Therefore, in Southern Tang, the market price of a piece of Chengxintang paper was more than one hundred coins!

The cost is definitely less than a hundred coins.

In other words, the cost of Chengxintang paper is at most a few dozen cents.

This is also consistent with Zhao Xu's understanding.

Because the Yuanshu paper used by the Song Dynasty court and the jute paper used for Xuanma worship only cost twenty wen each.

This is the cost in the past.

Since Shen Kuo took over the Bureau for the Exclusive Manufacture of Military Equipment, Zhao Xu merged the papermaking businesses in Beijing and the Forbidden City into the Bureau for the Exclusive Manufacture of Military Equipment.

By reducing costs and increasing efficiency, expanding production scale, improving production efficiency, and coordinating the large-scale publication of Bian Jing Xin Bao and Bian Jing Yi Bao, the cost of papermaking was spread out. Up to now, the cost of paper used in the palace has dropped to less than ten cents per sheet.

This is top quality paper!

Putting down the paper in his hand, Zhao Xu continued to ask: "Do you have any new ideas about ink and printing?"

Shen Kuo replied: "Your Majesty, I have been studying day and night with officials and craftsmen from the Ink and Printing Departments and other departments under your order, and now we have some clues..."

As he spoke, Shen Kuo began to introduce the new ink and printing technology to Zhao Xu.

This was also due to the publication of Bian Jing Xin Bao and Bian Jing Yi Bao.

This allows relevant technologies to be put into practice, verified and developed on a large scale.

Thus, printmaking technology began to emerge.

Combined with the color printing technology that already existed in the Song Dynasty, the printing technology of the Song Dynasty was able to enter a completely new field.

This was reflected in the Bian Jing Xin Bao and Bian Jing Yi Bao. Since this year, the handwriting in these tabloids has become clearer, pictures have begun to appear, and a variety of colors and fonts have begun to be used.

This is very close to the realm of Gutenberg printing in medieval Europe.

Once the metal movable type technology matures, the Song Dynasty version of the Gutenberg printing press will be available.

As for inks, there has been great progress.

After long-term experiments, repeated verification and practice, various inks have been continuously tested and iterated to find better printing inks.

Today, there are several inks that are far superior to those of the past. After observing for a while, we can select the best one and use it for Jiaozi printing.

According to Shen Kuo, as long as Zhao Xu approved, he would immediately prepare for trial printing.

After the trial printing was completed, he sent the samples to the palace for review.

As long as there are no problems, new Jiaozi can be printed, which can be used to issue a new batch of Jiaozi.

After listening to Shen Kuo's report, Zhao Xu encouraged him and issued an edict to reward the relevant people generously. He also made a promise that as long as the printing of Jiaozi was successful, he would also reward the meritorious officials and craftsmen.

Zhao Xu never hesitates to reward those who have made contributions to him in climbing the technology tree.

Not only were they given money and official titles, but they would also issue imperial decrees to confer titles on the wives and children of some key technical bureaucrats and craftsmen.

Since he ascended the throne, he has distributed dozens of titles of Yiren and Ruren, and granted more than a dozen places for officials of grace.

Including Han Gonglian, more than ten art officials completed the class transition from the system of chief and deputy envoys of the Dongban Department to the system of military officials and even civil officials!
Where had the artists and craftsmen of the Song Dynasty ever seen such a scene?

Now, they all wish they could work day and night like slaves for him in exchange for a chance to have a wife and children blessed with titles!

After seeing Shen Kuo off, Wen Xunniang brought the snacks sent from Baoci Palace and went to Zhao Xu.

These are all Zhao Xu’s favorites!
When Zhao Xu saw it, he couldn't help but feel hungry. He picked up a piece and started to taste it.

While they were eating snacks, Feng Jing came to report: "Everyone, I have seen Si Yan, and there is another imperial censor's impeachment..."

Zhao Xu put down his snack, drank a sip of water, and then asked, "Are you still going to impeach the prince consort?"

"Yes……"

"What are you impeaching again?"

Feng Jing replied: "I will report this to you all. I heard from Mr. Guo that the censors said in the memorial that the capital has been suffering from drought for a long time. I am afraid that it is because the son-in-law of the emperor is arrogant and lawless, which has angered the heaven and the people..."

"The censors also said that the crimes that the prince consort has now revealed are probably just the tip of the iceberg..."

"If we can't investigate it thoroughly, the censors are worried that the rain will not fall for a long time..."

Zhao Xu's expression suddenly froze.

These crows...

He won't stop until Zhang Dunli is killed!
How dare they put this hat on Zhang Dunli's head!
but……

I like it!
……

Qingshou Palace.

Empress Dowager Xiang sat next to the Grand Empress Dowager and persuaded her in a low voice.

"Your Majesty... the consort and the princess have already admitted their mistakes... Your Majesty, please stop being angry... If you get angry and get sick, Sixth Brother will be worried again..."

She had been persuading him for a long time.

Finally, after the Sixth Brother was moved out, the Empress Dowager's expression relaxed a little.

She said coldly to the outside of the curtain: "Since the Queen Mother is begging for mercy, I will spare you and your wife today!"

Princess Shoukang kowtowed repeatedly to express her gratitude: "Mother, your majesty, your grace is so great. Your son and I are deeply grateful..."

Zhang Dunli also hurriedly followed suit and thanked him: "Your Majesty's grace, I will never forget it... I will remember your teachings..."

After hearing these words, the frost on the Empress Dowager's face relaxed a little.

"Everyone get up!"

"promise!"

Princess Shoukang and her husband climbed up tremblingly, and slightly relaxed their numb legs and tense bodies from kneeling.

At this time, Liang Weijian, a close confidant of the Empress Dowager, walked into the curtain with a stack of impeachment memorials.

When Princess Shoukang saw this scene, her scalp went numb.

As expected, after receiving the impeachment letters and reading the contents, the Empress Dowager's originally livid face instantly became even colder!
"Empress Dowager, please take a look!" She handed the imperial edict in her hand to Empress Dowager Xiang who was beside her.

"What misfortune for the country!"

When Empress Dowager Xiang took it in her hand and took just a glance at the yellow sticker, she felt her scalp tingling.

The censors attributed the reason why there had been no rain in the capital for more than a month to the son-in-law Zhang Dunli!

This is a heart-breaking accusation!
(End of this chapter)