Fish swimming around the world

But the empress did not think so, so she came again and was led by Jiang Fan to visit the workshop of Gongshujia. She was immediately shocked by the papermaking and movable type printing.

Some ordinary scraps can make such exquisite paper, and the cost is incredibly low. Moreover, with the faster movable type printing, knowledge will soon be close to ordinary people, and books will no longer be a luxury that only the princes, nobles, and wealthy families can afford.

There is no doubt that this is of epoch-making significance. With the knowledge of the empress, how can she not understand how much change this will bring to the world's scholars.

While marveling at Jiang Fan's ingenious skills, she clearly realized that some things... were going to change.

Jiang Fan presented the papermaking and printing techniques to the empress without hesitation. But he told the empress that this matter could not be made public rashly.

The empress was so smart that she only thought about it for a while and understood the interests involved.

At Jiang Fan's suggestion, the empress, who understood the power of knowledge, immediately decided to establish the Royal Bookstore, which was affiliated to one of the so-called Royal Industrial Groups of Jiang Fan. The bookstore was built with royal funds and managed by Jiang Fan. It was prepared to collect classics from all over the world and select the best ones for printing and distribution.

The only thing that surprised Jiang Fan was that although Li Xiu didn't know about paper and movable type, he showed great opposition to the printing of a large number of books.

In his words, the people of the world should not be too enlightened, and fools are easy to teach.

This statement was of course refuted by Jiang Fan mercilessly. Jiang Fan knew what he wanted to do. This guy was extremely repulsive to the theories of the Hundred Schools. However, even though he was eloquent, he was still defeated in front of thousands of years of knowledge.

As for how Li Xiu would continue to try to oppose this matter in the future, Jiang Fan had no time to care for it for the time being.

At this moment, he and Zhao Gao were calculating the profits. In just five days since the sale started, Guangyang City sold 50,000 volumes, with a net profit of 200,000 taels of silver. However, this is just the beginning. At present, it is still being printed. It is expected that at least 200,000 volumes will be sold in the whole Yangdu. It is expected that the orders of Yangdu will be met by the end of the year, and the revenue will be more than 800,000 taels. This is just Yangdu.

Zhao Gao's face was full of joy, especially now that his bookstore was acquired by Jiang Fan and merged into the Royal Bookstore. Zhao Gao never dreamed that he would have royal shares. Although it is only a small share, it will make more money than his own bookstore. What he values ​​more is the background of the Royal Bookstore.

It belongs to Jiang Fan in name, but it belongs to the empress in reality. This is his ladder to heaven!

"You are useless. You are so happy with a little money. How can you do big business in the future!"

Zhao Gao didn't want to argue: "My prince, I only have this much, unlike you who have a broad mind. Be content, be content..."

I don't believe you. With your style of sharpening your head to climb up, it would be strange if you can be content!

"Your Majesty, you are really smart. This one is a master version and the other is a stroke of genius. We give the dignitaries face and earn enough money from them. The simple version is cheap, which makes the common people grateful. It kills three birds with one stone!"

"These are just business tactics. Those big guys hide their money and don't take it out. The lack of circulation is not good for the country. As for the common people, we only need to make some money from the cost."

Zhao Gao obviously didn't understand, but it didn't matter. He just followed Jiang Fan's instructions.

But this also made Jiang Fan realize a huge shortcoming. He didn't have a business helper. Zhao Gao was just a eunuch. The most important thing was to serve the empress. It was impossible that he didn't know much about business.

Ding Shaoan was smart, but he was not good at this either. Gu Beiyan... forget about his temper.

Black Mountain Eight Bears... uh... it's better to guard the house.

The remaining Gongshu family and the master craftsman, Jiang Fan was not prepared to let them change their ways. At present, their role is too important. Jiang Fan must rely on them to get out of trouble.

It is true that one regrets not having enough people when he needs them.

Lin Nanyan held her cheek and thought for a while: "Sir, I can get a lot of information from Paradise City. There are many talented people in the world who can be used. I wonder if you will consider it?"

Jiang Fan shook his head like a rattle: "Not for the time being, many things are confidential, and I need my own confidants at present."

"But..." Lin Nanyan frowned: "Sir, although you have traveled around, you have met some people, but most of them are masters from the world, and they are rarely good at these worldly things. Of course, they may not look down on them. What can I do?"

"So, this young master is worried, I am anxious..."

Lin Nanyan blinked: "Anxious? Sir... Xiaoqi thinks that you seem a little strange."

"Strange?" Jiang Fan was stunned.

Lin Nanyan scratched her head and organized her words: "You seem... anxious to get out?"

Jiang Fan was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "Xiao Qi, you are really a worm in my stomach. But... it's not just a simple quick escape..."

Lin Nanyan often couldn't understand this young master, but he wouldn't say many things.

"Does the young master want to continue looking for a way...?"

Jiang Fan suddenly smiled: "Xiao Qi, you are not a curious person."

Lin Nanyan chuckled: "Xiao Qi is only curious about the young master. To be honest, Xiao Qi thinks that the young master is like a slippery fish. The world is your river. If you really want to escape from the empress, it's not completely impossible..."

Jiang Fan said leisurely: "You can understand that I want to open another copy... I just didn't expect the copy BOSS to be a bit big... Haha..."

"What is a copy? What is a dead hug?" Lin Nanyan was puzzled.

Jiang Fan smiled but said nothing. There can't be only one way, or... the way is not only in the secular world... it may also be in the mortal world...

——

"Is that what he said?"

After listening to Zhao Gao's words, the empress looked thoughtful.

"Indeed, what the prince meant was that high officials and wealthy merchants usually hide silver and money and don't circulate it, which leads to less and less wealth available to the people. They can only make copper coins, but the currency depreciates due to the increasing number of copper coins. So his first step is to let these people dig out the silver and circulate it on the market, and through this, ordinary people can have the opportunity to read books. It is said that... it is said that it is to prepare talents for your majesty..."

The empress's eyes flashed.

Zhao Gao said: "I don't understand these words, but fortunately I have written them down and reported them to your majesty intact."

The empress waved her hand: "You have done a good job. Don't worry about other things in the future. Just be responsible for the connection between me and King Xiaoyao. Go down."

Zhao Gao bowed and retreated. But his eyes showed an increasingly excited light.

Looking at the dancing lights, the empress's eyes were thoughtful. Others didn't understand Jiang Fan's words, but who was she? Moreover, she had been with Jiang Fan for a long time, so she could understand many new words and fresh expressions.

"Papermaking, movable type... reserve talents..." The empress pondered for a long time, her eyes suddenly shrank, and the whole person couldn't help but stand up with the table: "What a great plan..."

--

It was a strange thing to pull Jiang Fan out of the study and laboratory.

Ding Shaoan rushed into the study, "Young Master... really dug out some things..."

Jiang Fan paused and slowly put down his work: "Where."

Ding Shaoan said: "The bottom of the Qinglian Pond..."

Jiang Fan immediately walked out quickly: "Take me to see it!"

There is a Qinglian Pond in the center of Qinglian Garden, which is also the origin of the name of this place. Rather than saying it is a pond, it is better to say that it is an artificial lake covering an area of ​​100 acres. There is a small island in the center, and you can only go there by boat.

And now the entire Qinglian Garden has been cleared, and only the Black Mountain Nine Bears are guarding it. Even Gu Beiyan was not allowed to enter.

But Gongshu Yu was an exception. Seeing Jiang Fan coming in, he immediately stepped forward.

"Sir, you let us build a large-scale construction project under the pretext of renovation. Today, when we were working, I suddenly found a mechanism in the Qinglian Pond. According to my guess, there is another mystery under the water!"

Jiang Fan said: "Who else knows about this?"

Gongshu Yu said: "Except Ding Shaoan and I, no one else knows. I didn't show any sign when I found the clues, and I'm afraid others won't find it yet."

Jiang Fan stared at the lake: "With Gongshu's ability, it must be easy to crack. How long will it take?"

Gongshu Yu said: "I have measured and carefully considered it just now. , if my guess is correct, there should be a secret room at the bottom of the central lake. According to the ventilation design in the mechanism, I suspect... this is where people hide. If it is cracked, it will take about three days. "

Jiang Fan pondered for a long time, and his eyebrows moved slightly: "Continue the renovation, keep quiet. You should take your confidants to do this secretly, and you cannot let outsiders do it, but remember, no matter what you find, don't alarm the people in the secret room, and report any findings to me as soon as possible. "

Gongshu Yu clasped his fists: "I obey the order!"

His "I obey the order" made Ding Shaoan stunned. Isn't Gongshu Yu the head of the Gongshu family? In addition to the ancestor Gongshu Ban, this is the biggest person in charge of the Gongshu family. Why did he say "I obey the order" to Jiang Fan?

Could it be that... the relationship between Jiang Fan and the Gongshu family is not what he saw before?

But Ding Shaoan has long been accustomed to Jiang Fan's mysteries and was not too surprised.

Jiang Fan keenly captured his expression.

"Don't be surprised. There are some things that I don't need to tell you now, but since I can let you know what I'm looking for, I don't treat you as an outsider."

Ding Shaoan clasped his fists and said respectfully: "I dare not."

Jiang Fan said: "Arrange Xiong Da and Xiong San to protect the chieftain Gongshu closely. No accidents can happen."

Ding Shaoan was shocked and knew that this matter was not trivial, so he quickly agreed.

"...Some things, are they really as I thought?"

Jiang Fan's expression was a little strange, and some speculations became more and more uncontrollable.

"If that's the case...are you...doing it on purpose?"