Reborn Tang Emperor Li Chengqian

Chapter 30 Promoting New Technologies (2)

Regarding the newspaper, Li Chengqian planned to apply to His Majesty Li Er for publication after the clay type was made.

The next day, after several efforts in the morning, the craftsmen finally completed the task assigned by Li Chengqian, and handed over the fruits of their labor to the crown prince.

After Li Chengqian rewarded these hardworking craftsmen, he took the newspaper and clay type that he had written to see His Majesty Li Er.

When Li Chengqian came outside the Hall of Liangyi, he saw Yan Lide, Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, and a group of officials of the Ministry of Industry coming out of it.

Li Chengqian was very curious, what did His Majesty Li Er keep these people in Liangyi Hall after he came down to court?He hadn't heard of any major projects being done.

Li Chengqian hurried forward, stopped Yan Lide and said, "Yan Shangshu, what are you discussing with your Majesty?"

"Your Highness! Your Majesty and I discussed the construction of the residence of the imperial emissary in Chang'an. I have to go to see the site to select the right place to start the construction. I will resign." Yan Lide said.

"Oh! Yan Shangshu, please!" Li Chengqian said.

Hearing what Yan Lide said, Li Chengqian remembered that the governors or superiors of each state would bring tribute to Beijing at the beginning of each year, and these people were called court envoys or test envoys.

The city of Chang'an did not provide these people with places to eat and live, so these people had to rent places to live.

All the expenses were paid by the imperial court, which caused the budget to be seriously exceeded, and the imperial finances would not be able to bear it after a long time.

After thinking about it, His Majesty Li Er finally ordered the construction of the residence of the Chaoji envoy in September of the 17th year of Zhenguan to unify the planning.

These have nothing to do with Li Chengqian. For him, the most important thing right now is to publish newspapers.

Li Chengqian turned around and walked into the Hall of Liangyi, limping in and out.

The news of Li Chengqian's arrival has already been reported to His Majesty Li Er.

"See Father!" Li Chengqian saluted His Majesty Li Er who was sitting on the throne.

His Majesty Li Er looked at Li Chengqian and Wang Quan, who was holding a box behind him, and said, "Chengqian, why are you here? What's the matter? There are no outsiders here, so don't be too polite."

"Don't hide it from my father! I came to see you today, and I really need to ask you for an order, and I ask my father to agree." Li Chengqian said.

That's what Li Er originally said, but he didn't expect that his crown prince would actually come to him for something, and he needed an order.

The meaning has changed!

"What are you talking about? Do you need an imperial edict?" Li Er asked.

"I'm going to issue newspapers!" Li Chengqian said.

Li Er was taken aback!
newspaper?What is that?Li Er couldn't help looking at Wang Yuan who was at the side. Wang Yuan felt His Majesty Li Er's gaze and shook his head helplessly. To be honest, he didn't know what a newspaper was.

"Chengqian, what is a newspaper? Why have I never heard of it?" Li Er asked suspiciously.

"Newspaper is an important carrier with the function of reflecting and guiding public opinion. Simply put, it is somewhat similar to Dichao, but it is more comprehensive than Dichao."

"Use the newspaper to let the information flow quickly. With it, it will be able to guide the public's speech in the Tang Dynasty." Li Chengqian said.

Li Er was taken aback! Of course he knew what Dichao was.

The so-called Dichao, also known as Dibao, is the prototype of a newspaper and the earliest newspaper in the world. It was not until the Song Dynasty that Dichao was called Dibao.

Representatives sent by various prefectures to communicate between Chang'an and the imperial court have offices in Chang'an, which are called mansions.

These representatives would regularly write the emperor's edicts, imperial edicts, ministers' memorials and other relevant political information on bamboo slips or silk, and then pass them back through the post station.

"Chengqian, tell me carefully, what's different about this newspaper?" Li Er asked, Li Er caught a little bit of what Li Chengqian said just now.

Li Er is well aware of the importance of public opinion, otherwise, he would not have said that water can carry a boat and capsize it.

This is why Li Chengqian is confident that Li Er will happily agree to start a newspaper.

If the imperial court can guide public opinion, it will be a major event across the ages for Li Er, and it will be more conducive to his suppression and weakening of the influence of the aristocratic family.

Only the imperial court can occupy the commanding heights of politics, otherwise, relying on the influence of these aristocratic families, it would be difficult for the imperial court to convey some decrees.

The "Clan Records" compiled by Li Er in the sixth year of Zhenguan is the best proof. Li Er used "Clan Records" to lower the status of the Shandong gentry and raise the political status of the Li Tang royal family.

Li Chengqian roughly explained the role of the newspaper to Li Er, and showed Li Er the newspaper he had already prepared.

Li Er listened and watched, his eyes were shining brightly, he seemed to see the birth of another sharp weapon to suppress the aristocratic family.

"Okay! That's great!" Li Er clapped his hands and laughed after hearing Li Chengqian's explanation.

Li Er went on to say: "There is no problem with publishing the newspaper. I will issue an edict to ask Yousi to assist you. How many people do you need to copy the newspaper, and how many copies can you produce in a day?"

"Copying by hand is too troublesome, and woodblock printing is inconvenient. In order to publish newspapers as soon as possible, I have ordered people to develop a new printing technology based on woodblock printing."

"I call it movable type printing. It is not only flexible and changeable, but also solves all the deficiencies left by engraving and printing." have.

Li Er was overjoyed when he heard that!
This movable type printing can be said to be a major revolution in the history of the development of human printing, and it has an extremely profound impact on the development of world culture.

This is a feat that spans the ages.

"Chengqian, what you mean by movable type printing is what's in the box behind you?" Li Er asked.

"Yes! I brought it here for my father to watch." After Li Chengqian said that, he turned around and took the box from Wang Quan, came to Li Er, put the box on the table, and opened it.

Inside is the typesetting clay type with the iron plate as the base. Li Chengqian took it out and shook it lightly, and the type fell off the iron plate.

In front of Li Er, Li Chengqian performed on the spot how movable type is typesetting, and explained to Li Er how to use the movable type printing technique correctly.

Li Er was overjoyed after seeing it!With this movable type printing technology, many books that need to be compiled in Datang no longer need to be written word by word, and can be printed directly with this technology.

"Chengqian, you really surprised my brother! It's been a long time since I've been so happy like today. You will be fully responsible for opening a newspaper and publishing newspapers." Li Er laughed. His son brought him too many surprises today. .

"Father! I want three masters, Zhang Xuansu, Kong Yingda, and Yu Zhining, to assist me in taking care of the newspaper." Li Chengqian said.

These three old guys have nothing to do recently, and they are always staring at him, which makes him have a lot of things to do.

Now was a good time to find something for them to do without staring at him.

"Okay! They are all great Confucian scholars in the world! With them assisting you, I can rest assured! If you need anything else, you will write a memorial and submit it after you go back." Li Erdao.

"Promise!" Li Chengqian bowed.

(End of this chapter)