I served as an admonisher in the Song Dynasty

Chapter 285 Ouyang Xiu and Su Liang co-wrote the preface, creating the best-selling book in Bianjing

Ma Xing Street, He Le Building.

Inside the guest house.

Ouyang Xiu, Su Liang and Su Xunchang chatted about the reform.

The content discussed involves many aspects such as official administration, military affairs, commerce and agriculture, etc.

Su Xun has a wide range of interests.

In his words, he borrowed ancient words from the present and introduced metaphors, which attracted Su Liang and Ouyang Xiu to express their praise.

He advocates that articles should be written with a purpose in mind and write down what is in his heart.

This is very consistent with the concepts of Su Liang and Ouyang Xiu's articles.

Little Su Shi and little Su Che stood aside obediently, listening carefully, not even daring to sit down.

This shows that the Su family's family education is strict.

After the three of them chatted for about half an hour.

Su Liang said with a smile: "Brother Mingyun, after we chatted today, I suddenly felt that we had met so late. I don't know how long you plan to stay in Bianjing City. If you have more free time, we can talk more."

"Yes, I have benefited a lot from our chat today!" Ouyang Xiu also agreed.

Su Xun said humbly: "You two officials, you're welcome, you're welcome! On the one hand, I am visiting the capital to pay homage to Bachelor Ouyang with my articles, and on the other hand, I want to give my two sons a lot of experience. .”

"My plan is to stay in Bianjing for two months. There are many good books here. I plan to borrow more books so that my two sons can learn more. I will return home in the twelfth lunar month without delaying the New Year."

Su Liang looked at a pile of books not far away and understood immediately.

Many scholars are willing to study in Bianjing.

Because there are many books in Bianjing, and many books have annotated editions.

These annotations are very rare.

It represents the most mainstream ideas at the moment and can best improve knowledge.

It is of great benefit to candidates who intend to take the imperial examination.

Many bookstores in Bianjing City provide book lending services.

This is unmatched by other state capitals.

From this point, Su Liang can also see that Su Xun hopes that his son will become a dragon, as if he hopes that both sons can pursue official careers.

And he also has plans to take the imperial examination again.

At this time, Ouyang Xiu waved his hand and said: "Mingyun, how many good books can there be in the street bookstore? Why don't you go and take a look at the collection of books in the library. Let's do this. Just list the books you need and I will help you borrow them. "

The place with the largest and most comprehensive collection of books in Bianjing City is naturally the pavilion.

Books in the pavilion can be borrowed by scholar-bureaucrats and officials.

After many officials borrowed it.

They would ask their nephews or family members who wanted to pursue an official career to copy and read it.

This has become the norm.

It can also be regarded as a special benefit for scholar-bureaucrats.

Upon hearing this, Su Xun stood up excitedly.

"Sister Ouyang, this... this... is really... thank you so much!"

For people who love books, this kind of kindness is especially valuable.

Ouyang Xiu is very friendly to people who share the same vision and will help whenever he can. He is not jealous of others' talents at all.

Su Liang looked at little Su Shi and little Su Che beside him.

"Brother Mingyun, I think these two children are very pleasing to the eye. It is boring to let them copy books and study in the house. My good friend Sima Jun is actually collating books in the library. Why don't I recommend that they go to the library to work as a teacher? What do you think of the boy who has been copying and writing for two months?"

"I can't ask for it! I can't ask for it! It is truly a blessing for me, father and son, to be supported by two officials!"

Su Xun heavily handed over his hand.

I was so excited that I almost shed tears.

For Su Liang and Ouyang Xiu, this may be just a matter of words.

But for ordinary people like them.

This kind of opportunity is very likely to change your life's destiny.

When Su Shi and Su Che heard this, their eyes lit up and they were very excited.

Pavilion.

It was the imperial library's collection of books, where the best books from all over the world were gathered, and it was not accessible to ordinary people.

"Shi'er, Zhe'er, haven't you thanked Su Guanren yet?"

Little Su Shi and little Su Che quickly imitated their father's example and handed over their hands, and then shouted in unison: Thank you, Mr. Su! "

Su Liang said quickly: "No need to be polite, no need to be polite!"

Then, after the three of them chatted for a while, Su Liang and Ouyang Xiu went home.

……

The next day, early in the morning.

Su Liang appeared in front of Jixianyuan with little Su Shi and little Su Che.

Guan Pavilion is the collective name for the three pavilions (Zhaowen Pavilion, Shi Pavilion, and Jixian Pavilion) and Mi Pavilion.

Among them, Jixianyuan has the most public classics.

Sima Guang liked history books the most and was also responsible for collating them.

Except for going to the Reform Department, he stayed in Jixianyuan almost all day.

He and Wang Anshi are both pure.

One wants to make history and leave a name, and the other looks forward to reforming and becoming a saint.

And they are all taking action.

Su Liang led the two of them into Jixianyuan, and was about to find an official to ask where Sima Guang was.

Never thought about it.

The officials who saw Su Liang were all frightened. When they saw Su Liang, they turned their faces and ran away.

Su Liang led Su Shi and Su Che towards the inside.

He saw two officials running toward the back room with stacks of documents, and he also saw an official suddenly lock the house.

At this moment, Su Liang heard a conversation between two officials outside a low wall.

"Yushi Su is here! Yushi Su is coming to inspect. Hurry up and hide all these documents. If he sees the problem, it will be a big problem!"

"Although our Jixian Courtyard is Qingshui Yamen, but... Su Jingming is so picky. If he deliberately finds mistakes and actually finds them, he should hide all these accounts quickly."

... Su Liang was a little dumbfounded.

These Jixianyuan officials must have thought that he was going to suddenly inspect various documents in Jixianyuan like he did in the Privy Council!

He looked like he was facing a formidable enemy.

At this moment, Sima Guang walked out.

"Brother Jingming, you...you...are you going to check the documents and accounts of Jixian Academy today? I know where these documents are placed!" Sima Guang said with a smile.

Su Liang shook his head.

If he really wants to find fault with the Privy Council, then it is estimated that nine and a half of the ten yamen in Bianjing City have problems.

Su Liang doesn't have that much free time.

Some mistakes are harmless but too serious, but will affect the normal operation of various yamen.

"I'm looking for you today for a personal matter. I'm going to arrange two bookboys for you and let them be responsible for some copying and writing matters. By the way, I can study here. I don't need monthly money and just take care of the food. Do you think these two are okay? They are both good at studying!"

"Su Shi, Su Che, see Sima Guanren!" Su Shi and Su Che said at the same time, cupping their hands.

The fourteen-year-old Su Shi is already like an adult and is very knowledgeable about etiquette. The twelve-year-old Su Zhe is still a little naive, full of curiosity about everything and likes to look around.

Sima Guang nodded.

"No problem, just let them follow me!" Sima Guang said with a smile. He would naturally accept the book boy recommended by Su Liang without hesitation.

After Su Liang arranged for Su Shi and Su Zhe, he left Jixianyuan.

When the officials of Jixianyuan knew that it was a false alarm, they couldn't help but let out a long breath.

At the moment, Su Liangnai is the nightmare of many government officials.

Any official who has bad behavior or is timid will tremble violently when he sees Su Liang, for fear that Su Liang will suddenly conduct a random inspection.

……

September 19th.

Su Xun gathered all the articles together and gave them to Liu Chang'er of Liu Ji Bookstore.

Because he called himself Laoquan.

So he named this book: "Collected Works of Laoquan".

At the same time, Su Liang and Ouyang Xiu also handed the written preface to Liu Chang'er.

Liu Chang'er was so happy.

If Ouyang Yongshu and Su Jingming can co-write the preface, this book will definitely not be a slow seller.

Immediately, he ordered the bookshop below to start engraving book plates.

He uses the best publishers, the best paper and ink, and the most popular binding methods at the moment.

Make it completely as a piece of art.

At present, the quality of printed books in Bianjing that is most comparable to that of official printed books is Liu Ji's Bookstore.

September 22nd.

The engraving of the book is completed and the printing stage officially begins.

Generally speaking, the first printing of such books is two thousand copies, and two thousand copies are enough to sell for half a year.

But this time, Liu Chang'er set the first printing quantity at 5,000 copies.

He believes that this book will definitely sell out.

Although Liu Chang'er was from the Imperial City Department.

But he is also a real bookseller and is very good at marketing.

……

September 23rd.

He printed part of the preface to the book written by Ouyang Xiu and Su Liang in tabloids and began selling them on the streets.

This is a warm-up for "Laoquan Collected Works".

Su Liang said in the preface: "Laoquan's collected works go against the flamboyant and eccentric writings of the times, advocating for action and writing, and his words must address the faults of the times. Scholars all over the world should learn from this..."

Ouyang Xiu said in the preface: Laoquan's collected works are eloquent and magnificent, vertical and horizontal, in and out, must be created in the profound and subtle and then stop...

Being able to attract both Ouyang Xiu and Su Liang's praise, the scholars and scholars among the people naturally yearned for it and were full of curiosity.

The tabloid sold out that day.

The name of "Laoquan's Collected Works" also spread rapidly in various taverns and tea shops in Bianjing City.

……

On September 28th, Liu Ji's Bookstore officially launched "The Collected Works of Laoquan".

It's still dark.

A large group of scholars gathered in front of the bookstore.

Naturally, these people all came here for the reputation of Su Liang and Ouyang Xiu.

What Liu Chang'er didn't expect was that all five thousand copies of "Laoquan's Collected Works" were sold out in less than half an hour.

At this moment, Liu Chang'er's mood suddenly became tense.

He suddenly realized that Ouyang Xiu and Su Liang were too famous, and their publicity was too wide.

If the content of this book is not worthy of the momentum created for it.

I'm afraid, not only will Liu Ji's bookstore experience a wave of book withdrawals, but Ouyang Xiu and Su Liang will also be scolded by the crowd.

The literati in Bianjing City are quite picky when it comes to reading, and ordinary articles are really difficult for them to discern.

In the afternoon, the stone in Liu Chang'er's heart suddenly fell to the ground.

Because this book has received numerous praises.

Everyone who has read this book praised it, and even started a craze for copying the book on the streets of Bianjing.

Copywriters in countless bookstores began to copy "The Collected Works of Laoquan" frantically.

What was copied was not the book, but the money.

Some people are even willing to buy original books at ten times the market price.

For a time, the entire circle of literati and scholars in Bianjing City was discussing "The Collected Works of Laoquan".

Su Xun's name quickly spread among literati.

In Liu Ji's bookstore, Liu Chang'er had a smile on his face.

He waved his hand and said loudly: "Guys, let's work harder and print another 10,000 copies. This month and next month, the monthly money will be doubled!"

(End of this chapter)