"What do you mean?"
When Ma Zhou heard the first half of Li Zexuan's words, his eyes lit up. However, when he heard that Li Zexuan did not continue, he felt as if a hundred claws were scratching his heart. He was annoyed that Li Zexuan was deliberately keeping him in suspense.
Li Zexuan smiled and did not answer. Instead, he changed the topic and asked,
"What do you think of the movable type printing technology in this workshop?"
When Ma Zhou heard about printing technology, he immediately became excited and said excitedly,
"Of course it's good! That's great! With the movable type printing technology, the cost of books will be greatly reduced. In the future, all the poor scholars in the world will be able to afford to read books. Lord Jue, you are doing a great deed! "
Li Zexuan was puzzled and asked, "What? Do you mean that books are very expensive now? Scholars can't afford them? "
He had transmigrated for a long time and had never bought books from a bookstore. He did not understand the situation of the book market. When he saw that Ma Zhou was overly excited, he was curious and asked this question.
When Ma Zhou heard Li Zexuan's question, he seemed to have thought of something. His eyes suddenly became red. He angrily hammered the pillar next to him and said angrily,
"It's not just expensive, it's simply robbery. My Tang Dynasty has millions of books. I'm afraid that 700,000 to 800,000 of them are in the hands of the aristocratic families. The price of a book in the bookstore is enough for an ordinary family of three to live for a year. How can those poor scholars afford it? If it wasn't for my father's collection of books, I would still be an illiterate person. It's good enough that I didn't starve to death. How can I still hope to read books? "
The way Ma Zhou was spouting nonsense was like an ancient version of an angry youth.
In fact, Ma Zhou was right. The book trade in the Tang Dynasty was very active. Bookstores were all over the country. Because engraving printing was not popular, books were still handwritten. Therefore, the price was relatively expensive. Generally, each volume cost more than 1,000 copper coins.
Ye Meng of the Southern Song Dynasty summed up the price of books before the Tang Dynasty in one word: expensive. He said, "Before the Tang Dynasty, all books were written and there was no way to print them. People valued books."
It could be seen that at that time, people regarded books as a very valuable commodity and scrambled to collect them. Just like modern real estate, it was more valuable than gold, which led to people buying houses crazily.
Li Tai couldn't help but interject, "Doesn't the imperial court encourage people to copy books? Mr. Ma, you can copy books and send them to the government office to exchange for money before buying other books! "
After Li Er became the Emperor, in order to encourage the people to contribute their books, he once issued an edict: "Books from the Three Ministries will be given a thousand coins."
It meant that each copy of a book would cost a thousand copper coins. It could be said that this was the first time an official price had been set. Therefore, the books in bookstores were usually priced slightly higher than this.
Ma Zhou said angrily, "Bullsh * t, if you want to copy books, you have to be able to borrow the books first. Those rich families with book collections will know that you borrow books to copy, so they will first charge you six to seven hundred copper coins as rent! Uh, oh, may I ask how I should address you, little brother? "
Ma Zhou scolded for a while, then remembered that he didn't know who this little fatty was.
"Master Liu, you go ahead with your work. I will talk to Mr. Ma for a while!"
Li Zexuan said.
Liu Yidao cupped his hands and said yes, then left and closed the door.
"Mr. Ma, this is His Highness, Prince of Wei!"
Li Zexuan formally introduced him to Ma Zhou.
Ma Zhou's legs trembled and he almost knelt down. He had just scolded Li Tai!
"Greetings to … His … Highness, Prince of … Wei!"
Ma Zhou said in a trembling voice.
Although he hated the rich, the supremacy of imperial power had been deeply ingrained in his heart.
Moreover, Ma Zhou was well-versed in classics, history, classics, and books. What he wrote was a policy of stabilizing the country, so naturally, he wanted to sell goods to the imperial family. For many years, he had not found the right "sales channel" and only wandered around the states and counties. How could he sell at a good price?
Now that he met Li Tai, the most beloved son of His Majesty, his mind was a little active. However, when he remembered that he had just scolded Li Tai, he couldn't help but feel a little guilty.
Li Tai waved his hand and said, "You don't have to be so polite!"
In fact, he was not very interested in Ma Zhou. After all, it was the first time they met, and he didn't know how talented Ma Zhou was. Moreover, Ma Zhou's sloppy appearance really made people dislike him.
On the other hand, he had a literature center and many scholars under him. He didn't lack literati.
Ma Zhou had experienced the fickleness of human nature for many years. Naturally, he could see that Li Tai was not interested in him. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart. It was better to do his job well and not bite off more than he could chew.
Li Zexuan smiled and said to Ma Zhou, "Mr. Ma, when I first set up this printing department in the workshop, I thought that it would be more convenient to print books in the future. That's why I invented movable type printing."
Ma Zhou and Li Tai were speechless. This was a very strong reason. To set up a printing workshop for the convenience of printing books, how rich must your family be!
"However, after meeting Mr. Ma today and hearing Mr. Ma's words, I decided to make this printing department bigger and stronger. In the future, the printing department will be renamed the Ministry of Culture. Not only will we print classics, but we will also publish our own books to open the minds of the people.
Moreover, I have a way to reduce the cost of paper. The ultimate dream of our Ministry of Culture is to let everyone in the world be able to read and read! Brother Ma, I wonder if you are willing to help me sincerely? "
Li Zexuan looked at Ma Zhou and said sincerely.
These words weren't completely a bluff. Previously, he set up the printing department only for his own convenience. However, now that Ma Zhou was in charge of the printing department, if he still wanted to use the printing department to print books for himself, it would be a waste of Ma Zhou's talent in governing the country. In the future, the printing department must be transformed into a cultural export department.
Ma Zhou's eyes widened and his breathing quickened. He was really shocked by Li Zexuan's shocking words. "Let everyone in the world be able to read and read!" What a great dream this was!
Angry youth, angry youth. In addition to being fond of scolding others, he also had a characteristic of being impulsive. Ma Zhou lived up to his name as an angry youth.
"I'll do it! As long as I can let everyone in the world be able to read and read, Lord Jue, even if you don't give me a single salary, I, Ma Zhou, will do it! "
At this moment, Ma Zhou had completely forgotten about the ethics of being a scholar and not engaging in a lowly profession. He just wanted to roll up his sleeves and go all out.
"Good! Brother Ma, you are so bold. Don't worry, with me here, this dream is definitely not just a dream. One day, it will be realized by us! Brother Ma, not only will you be famous for thousands of years, you will also be rich! "
Li Zexuan's heroic spirit rose as he laughed heartily.
Li Tai looked envious and interrupted, "Sir, why don't you count me in? Tai has many scholars under him. Perhaps they can help you! "
As a member of the royal family, Li Tai also had his own position. Li Tai was now wantonly suppressing the aristocratic families and promoting poor officials. Therefore, Li Tai himself did not like people from aristocratic families. Li Zexuan's Ministry of Culture was a very good weapon to deal with aristocratic families.
Li Zexuan did not think about these twists and turns. He thought for a moment and nodded, "Okay, then I will give Qingque 30% of the Ministry of Culture's shares. Qingque, remember to bring 3,000 strings of cash to buy shares in the future!"
Selling books at a low price would affect the interests of many people. Li Zexuan wanted to pull a prince into the car as a shield.
Li Tai vomited blood and said, "3,000 strings of cash? You … why don't you go rob someone? I can send a few scholars to help you. Can you ask for less money? "
Li Zexuan waved his hand and said, "There's no need. Brother Ma's talent alone is enough. Qingque, if you think it's too expensive, then forget it. Master will go find Gao Ming. I think Gao Ming will be willing!"
Nonsense, if Ma Zhou could be a thinker, how could he not be talented? He did not care about the scholars under Li Tai! Maybe they would all be arrogant and not do anything when they came!
"I am willing! Brother Zexuan, I am willing to pay 3,000 strings of cash for 30% of the shares! "
Li Chengqian's shout came from outside the door.
Li Zexuan was speechless. Speak of the devil, Li Chengqian must have been eavesdropping outside for a while!
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Chengqian pushed the door open and entered. He then looked at Li Zexuan excitedly.
…
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