The most poisonous person in the Three Kingdoms, Boss Cao advised me to calm down!

Chapter 421: The Great Cause of Educating the People

After Xun Yu finished speaking, the room fell silent again.

The night was getting darker at this time, and the conversation between the two people in the study was like the night wind outside the window.

It seems to foreshadow that the Xun family will be part of the Cao Wei forces in the future.

There are still unpredictable changes.

Just at this moment, a notification sounded outside the door.

"Master, Sima Shaoqing is visiting late at night!"

Sima Renda? This was the announcement.

Xun Yu and Xun You looked at each other in surprise.

They had never expected that Sima De would come to them at this time.

"Please invite him in quickly!"

Xun You also took the lead in giving orders at this time.

Sima De then entered Xun's house and was led out of the study by the steward.

When he saw the uncle and nephew of the Xun family, he also smiled and said:
"Gentlemen, I am here uninvited."

"I'm sorry for disturbing you so late at night."

As Sima De stepped into the room, he had just finished speaking.

In an instant, a hint of realization flashed across Xun Yu and the other man's eyes.

It seems that this boy had already expected that the uncle and nephew would have a candlelight chat tonight.

So I chose to come here at this time.

"Renda, you worry too much. We haven't even rested yet, why bother you?"

Xun Yu also said with a smile at this time.

After some polite greetings, the three of them sat down at separate tables.

The second Xun watched Sima De sipping tea leisurely, and spoke before he spoke.

However, Xun You couldn't hold back after all, and was the first to sigh:
"Renda came to visit so late at night, what's the matter?"

"My uncle and I are all ears."

Xun You asked first at this time, causing Sima De to take a break from sipping tea.

He glanced at the two of them, pondered for a moment, and said contentedly:
"Of course it's a good thing, a great thing."

"This matter concerns the fate of scholars all over the world."

"It is a great achievement that benefits the people and all living things."

"When the Prime Minister enters the palace tomorrow, I will report this matter to the Emperor."

The uncle and nephew of the Xun family were also surprised when they heard this.

The two of them seemed to have thought of something in their minds.

However, Xun You still asked first:
"Please enlighten me, Renda, why is it so great and virtuous?"

Sima De smiled confidently upon hearing this and continued:
"Use literature and teachings to educate the people and cultivate scholars who are well-read."

"Is this considered a great cultural and educational event for our generation?"

Er Xun's eyes lit up when he heard this.

However, it was Xun Yu who first asked, "What do you mean?"

"Prime Minister, do you intend to rebuild the Imperial College to promote literature?"

It is not uncommon for the imperial court to build academies before.

Since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty established the Five Classics Doctorate, the Imperial Academy has been abolished several times.

In the past, during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, Hongdumen School was built.

The criteria for selecting materials were letters, poems, and bird-and-insect scripts, and talented people were recruited as officials.

Unfortunately, Emperor Lingdi’s purpose in building Hongdumen School was lost.

It was to strengthen the eunuchs in order to consolidate their own imperial power.

Fight against the aristocratic and powerful families throughout the court and the country.

Therefore, at the beginning, it was strongly resisted by orthodox scholars.

Although Hongdu School rose rapidly with the support of the emperor.

But soon, it was forgotten because of the chaos in the world.

At this time, Xun Yu heard that he would have to go back to the old ways this time.

Sima De also waved his hand and said:
"Rebuilding the Imperial College is secondary this time."

"The Prime Minister intends to build more study rooms in each county to spread the teachings and promote education and enlighten the people."

"The study rooms to be built in the future will be divided into four levels according to the level of scholars: enlightenment, minor accomplishment, major accomplishment, and extensive learning."

"Students who enroll at that time will only need to pay a small symbolic tuition fee."

"The pens, ink, paper and inkstone are provided by the imperial court."

"We also have teachers with both moral integrity and talent, who are hired with funds from the national treasury."

After saying this, Sima De looked directly at Xun Yu with a burning gaze and said:
"Since last year, sir, the empty lunch box incident."

"Now in the court, I am afraid it is difficult for me to be valued by the prime minister as before."

"In this case, sir, why don't you take advantage of this opportunity."

"Escape from the complicated government affairs and enjoy your high reputation among scholars."

"Devote yourself to the great cause of educating the people and revising the classics to pass down your memory for generations?"

At this time, Xun You and Xun Yu, through Sima De's words, understood Cao Cao's great ambitions.

However, the two were shocked, but also worried and embarrassed. The intention of setting up study rooms in all counties in the country to educate the people is commendable.

However, the road to practice is full of thorns.

Not to mention other things, the need for paper alone is beyond the reach of ordinary financial resources.

What's more, the imperial court wanted to supply students with paper in full.

This expenditure alone is enough to shake the foundation of the national treasury.

What's more, the Cai Hou paper and Zuo Bo paper in the world today are both very expensive.

It is not something that ordinary families can easily afford.

Even for his Xun family nephews and nephews, it was difficult to ensure that they had enough paper for education.

Not to mention the huge amount of money spent on building a study and hiring teachers.

So although this idea is good, it is a fantasy.

Xun Yu was a strategist who had been in charge of Cao Cao's rear affairs for many years.

I couldn't help but sigh in my heart that ideals are beautiful but difficult to put into practice.

Especially considering that building a study is a long-term investment.

This will undoubtedly make the financial burden of the court even worse.

Faced with such difficult problems, Xun You had to speak out.

The many difficulties faced in establishing Tianxia Shuzhai.

He revealed them one by one in front of Sima De.

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Sima De actually laughed out loud with his head raised.

He said confidently:

"Haha, you two gentlemen are worrying too much!"

"The current high price of paper is indeed a big problem, but what if..."

Sima De pointed at himself and chuckled:
"If I could create one that is extremely cheap."

"It is better for writing and reading than the new paper of Marquis Cai and Zuo Bo, so what?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Sima De pulled out a stack of papers from his arms and placed them in front of the two of them.

"Please take a look at this. This is the new paper I made."

Xun You and Xun Yu guessed that Sima De had already made plans.

But I didn't expect him to take out such an object.

At this moment, the two of them couldn't help but look at the paper carefully and stroke it gently.

In an instant, shock and surprise intertwined on their faces.

The two were leaders of the aristocratic class and literary elites.

Of course, there is no need to try the pen, you can make a judgment just by the touch feedback from your fingertips.

This paper is far superior to any other paper in the world.

"This...this is..."

Xun You's shock was beyond words at this moment, the paper in his hand was like a miracle.

It was exactly the same expression Cao Cao had when he first witnessed it.

Xun You remembered the low cost that Sima De had just mentioned, and couldn't wait to ask:

"Excuse me, Renda, how much does this paper cost?"

Sima De smiled calmly upon hearing this:

"For example, the cost of the hundred or so sheets of paper in front of you is only 25 baht."

"In the future, as the process improves, the cost will continue to drop."

Sima De's words were like the light of dawn.

Illuminating a whole new possibility.

At the end of the Han Dynasty, flames of war spread across the sky, and Wuzhu coins bought power.

In those years when the heyday has passed, it seems a little weak.

However, it also managed to maintain a delicate balance with the value of 50 cents in later generations.

And this mere penny is put to good use.

A hundred pieces of thin paper cost only ten copper coins.

Both are Sima De's conservative estimates.

After all, among the various expenses required for papermaking, workers' wages are just a drop in the bucket.

All the hard workshop labor came from prisoners and prisoners of war.

These people need no mercy, just extracting surplus value.

And at the end of the Han Dynasty, when the feudal shackles were deeply locked.

The local princes were the largest landlords and capitalists under the imperial power.

His father-in-law Cao Cao was not only the ruler of the Central Plains, but also the reaper of the times.

He holds a large number of troops and has tremendous power, outlining the contours of power with iron and blood.

Just imagine that by then Sima De would use the strength of Cao Wei to achieve his ambitions.

As papermaking workshops spring up everywhere, technology will gradually be updated.

By then, the cost of paper will be a drop in the bucket.

(End of this chapter)