Three Kingdoms: Daily settlement helps Liu Bei revive the Shu Han dynasty.

Chapter 95 Papermaking and Printing Techniques: The Monopoly of Knowledge Collapses

Liu Bei stared blankly at the paper on the table, remaining silent for a long time.

Lu Yong's words, "education should be provided to all without discrimination," struck him like a heavy blow to the heart.

These four simple people represent the ideal that Confucius could not realize throughout his life, and a realm that countless scholars throughout the ages could only look up to but dared not aspire to.

Now, Lu Yong tells him that this dream can be realized!

Liu Bei took a deep breath, looked up at Lu Yong, and gestured for him to continue.

"The textbooks for the schools run by our government are all free."

"In order to reduce the cost of books, I plan to use printing methods."

"Printing?" Liu Bei's brow twitched slightly.

"One method is woodblock printing, and the other is movable type printing!"

Lu Yong drew a simple diagram on the previous piece of paper. "Please take a look, my lord."

Woodblock printing is the process of engraving the text of a page of a book onto a wooden block in reverse.

Ink is brushed onto a wooden board, paper is placed on top, and with a press and a peel, a page of a book is created.

A single set of printing plates can be used to print a book hundreds or even thousands of times.

Liu Bei picked up the diagram and looked at it for a moment, then asked, "How is movable type printing any different?"

"Modular type printing involves carving each commonly used character into an independent typeface."

When printing a book, the typefaces are arranged in a frame according to the manuscript, then ink is applied and paper is placed on top.

After printing, the type can be disassembled and reused repeatedly.

If even one character is engraved incorrectly on a woodblock, the entire block is ruined.

But if one character is misplaced in movable type printing, you can simply replace the typeface.

After comparing them for a moment, Liu Bei couldn't help but reach out and pat Lu Yong's head.

"?" Lu Yong was a little confused.

Liu Bei then said, "I'd like to see how your brain works, how come you always have so many ingenious ideas?"

, "

Lu Yong pushed away Lao Liu's mischievous hand and said, "If you think it's feasible, I'll have the craftsmen start trial production tomorrow."

First, they made woodblock prints and printed the first batch of textbooks.

As for the movable type, there's no rush now; we can do it slowly later if needed.

Liu Bei laughed and said, "You can make the arrangements yourself; there's no need to inform me."

Lu Yong nodded and continued, "There's one more thing. I plan to divide the paper into three grades."

"The first grade is the most common bamboo paper."

One piece per sheet, mainly sold to ordinary people.

This won't make money, and might even result in a small loss, but it will ensure that the people under our jurisdiction can afford it.

Liu Bei did not interrupt and listened quietly.

"Second grade, refined bamboo paper."

This kind of paper could be sold for twenty to thirty coins per sheet, exclusively for aristocratic families, wealthy merchants, and scholars.

This portion of the profit can be used to offset the losses from ordinary paper production.

The third grade is the tribute grade.

Based on refined paper, even more exquisite processes are used to create the finest bamboo paper, which is then decorated with flowers, plants, and cloud patterns.

This paper was not sold to outsiders; it was only given as a gift to the imperial court or to various feudal lords.

At that time, from the imperial palace to the common people, whenever "bamboo paper" is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is us.

Liu Bei's gaze deepened; he understood the unspoken meaning behind Lu Yong's words.

From then on, all scholars in the world used paper made by them and read books printed by them.

Their reputation will experience an epic leap forward!

Their status in the hearts of scholars will become incomparably lofty!

Just thinking about it is exciting!

It took Liu Bei a full two minutes to suppress his excitement.

After a moment's thought, Liu Bei asked again, "What do you plan to do about the aristocratic families? They won't willingly hand over their treasured books."

"Without books, even if we wanted to print them, we couldn't."

"Rest assured, my lord, there are always some families that are not only concerned with interests and inheritance."

Lu Yong said confidently, "As long as we open a breach with them, other aristocratic families will see the huge benefits it brings and naturally won't sit still."

"Then they will be the ones begging you, my lord, to use them."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei couldn't help but smile slightly, but he quickly suppressed it.

Lu Yong continued, "Once the powerful families under our jurisdiction gradually submit, our foundation will be secure."

In a few years, when the students in our school have grown up, the imperial examination system can be introduced naturally.

"Imperial examinations—" Liu Bei repeated the phrase that Lu Yong and Lu Su had repeatedly mentioned.

He was well aware that once the imperial examination system was actually implemented, he would be standing against the vast majority of aristocratic families in the world.

When that time really comes, can Liu Bei withstand it?

Lu Yong noticed Liu Bei's distress and comforted him with a smile, "My lord, do not worry."

When that time comes, you will have millions of ordinary people and countless poor families standing behind you.

Even if all the powerful families in the world are your enemies, what is there to fear?

Moreover, by then we will have well-trained troops, ample supplies, and complete armor.

No matter how illustrious a family may be, can it withstand swords and spears?

Look at the end of the Tang Dynasty, how many aristocratic families that had lasted for centuries were wiped out by Huang Chao with a single stroke.

No matter how strong one's social standing is, it can never truly withstand the power of a predator!

Of course, Lu Yong didn't say the last sentence aloud.

Just then, a familiar notification sound suddenly rang in his mind.

[It's midnight; let's begin today's settlement.]

[Host's achievements today:]

1. He persuaded Yang Hong, Yuan Shu's chief clerk, to establish business cooperation and intelligence channels; 2. He successfully manufactured bamboo paper.

Overall rating: S+.

[Rewards: 1 Gold Affix, 5 Government Attribute Points]

[Congratulations, host, you have obtained the entry: The Flourishing of Culture and Education (Gold).]

Effects: Within the host's territory, the literacy speed of students in official schools increases by 30%, the cost of printing textbooks decreases by 40%, and the resentment of the gentry decreases by 20%.

The area affected by this effect expands as the host's official rank increases.

Lu Yong felt a slight surge of joy.

This entry came at just the right time.

The 40% reduction in textbook printing costs means that already inexpensive books can be sold even cheaper.

The decline in the antagonism of the gentry also made it easier to establish official schools.

"My lord, it's getting late. Please rest. Tomorrow morning, I'll go to Zizhong to arrange things at the paper mill," Lu Yong said, bowing.

"Don't overwork yourself." Liu Bei nodded and escorted Lu Yong all the way to the gate.

The next morning, Shen Yi arrived at Lu Yong's residence early.

"Strategist, the house arrangements have been completed, and I moved in yesterday. I would like to invite you to my home for a visit," Shen Yi said, bowing to Lu Yong.

Lu Yong suddenly remembered that he had said he was going to visit Shen Yi's son, but he had forgotten about it because of the war.

I took this opportunity to go and check on Shen Yi since he was moving.

So Lu Yong nodded and said, "It's perfect that Kongming is here too, let's go together."

Zhuge Liang was still organizing teaching materials in his study.

He was summoned directly by Lu Yong, and the three of them went out of the mansion and walked together towards the east of the city.

Shen Yi's new residence is located in a quiet alley in the east of the city, not far from Lu Yong's residence, only a quarter of an hour away.

The house was not large, with three main rooms and two side rooms. There was a well in the courtyard, and a clump of green bamboo was planted beside the well.

The courtyard wall was newly painted white, and the whitewash was still a bit damp.

Shen Yi's wife stood at the entrance of the main house, holding their son, to greet them.

The woman was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, wearing a faded blue cloth dress.

Her hair was tied up with a wooden hairpin, and her face was delicate, but her cheekbones were slightly high, which clearly indicated that she had suffered hardships.

Upon seeing Lu Yong, she quickly bowed and greeted him, saying, "This humble woman greets the military advisor."

Lu Yong waved his hand: "No need for formalities."

Shen Yi took his son from his wife and presented him to Lu Yong: "Strategist, this is my son, Shen Ying."

The baby, who was a little over eight months old, was wrapped in a swaddle made of scraps of cloth, his slightly yellowish little face peeking out as he slept soundly.

Lu Yong leaned closer for a look and smiled, "Not bad, he's clearly an exceptionally intelligent child."