Datang: Rebirth of Li Chengqian, the beginning of the treason interrogation

Chapter 54: The Actions of the Aristocratic Family and Movable Type Printing

"Cheng Qian, didn't you say that we should know when to stop? Look at how this is done."

Li Shimin walked out from behind the screen, took a look at Cui Renshi who was still lying on the stairs, and his face twitched uncontrollably.

This minister, a member of the Cui family, whom even he dared not touch, was killed by Li Chengqian.

He didn't have to die, but was killed by the finishing blow.

"If the school cannot be implemented, everything else is just empty talk. Now my father still has absolute control over the Tang Dynasty. We should kill them if necessary."

"It's good to have remonstrants, as they can warn the superiors of their mistakes, but too much is as bad as too little. Instead, it has become a place for some people to gain fame and reputation, and it has also become a power for some people with ulterior motives to disrupt the government."

The original intention of establishing the remonstrance ministers was good, but since the death of Wei Zheng, things seem to have changed. There are no more people who give advice on behalf of the country, but many more who fight for their own interests.

"Did I indulge them too much before?" Li Shimin couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"But, Cheng Qian, I don't think they will give up. You forced Cui Renshi to death this time, and they will definitely criticize you. And the aristocratic families will not let it go."

Li Shimin showed a worried look. Reputation was very important for a crown prince, and he valued it very much.

"It's not a big deal. If the news gets out, they'll say I did it to establish my authority."

Li Chengqian didn't care. Killing a few nobles was not a problem considering Li Tang's current status.

But if you were to wipe out one or two prominent families, it would provoke a backlash from them.

"Cheng Qian, during this period of time, I will not be involved in foreign affairs. You will be in charge of the country."

Li Shimin decided not to interfere in state affairs anymore, so as to avoid being attacked by those ministers of remonstration again.

……

In the mansion of Duke Zhao, important officials of the court gathered in one room.

"Duke, the Crown Prince is now cruel. Yesterday, he forced the counselor Cui Renshi to death in Liangyi Hall. When he was in the East Palace, I saw that he was also very tyrannical. He had his servants beat Master Zhang several times."

Kong Yingda looked at Changsun Wuji and said.

Changsun Wuji is the chief minister of the Lingyan Pavilion and also a relative of the emperor. He has a certain say in the current Tang Dynasty.

He also has another identity, that is, the representative of the Guanlong Group.

"Yes, if such a cruel person comes to power, the mistakes of the Sui Dynasty will be repeated." Zhang Xuansu also said with great sorrow.

"That's too much!" Changsun Wuji waved his hand, signaling him not to continue.

"Duke Zhao, this may not be a big deal. Now Xu Jingzong, who has no talent, no virtue, no merit, and no ability, has taken the position of Zuo Pushe. This is already a sign."

Xiao Yu also said that Li Chengqian's dominance made them feel a sense of crisis.

"Didn't they say that Doctor Cui Renshi gave advice at the cost of his own life? How did it become that the Crown Prince was cruel?"

Changsun Wuji is no pushover. How could he not see that this group of people wanted to use him as a gun?

"Duke Zhao, don't you understand? Your Majesty is trying to support the common people to come to power now. In a few decades, will we still have a place to survive? The most important thing is that once the ignorant people become wise, chaos will occur."

Xiao Yu said again that when the lower-class people become wise, they will not be willing to be enslaved, and will gradually understand the nature of society. They will want to snatch resources from the hands of their nobles. This is what they are most worried about.

Li Chengqian wanted to open a school among the people, which fundamentally affected their interests.

"Yes, Duke. This will not only affect our noble family, but will also directly shake the rule of the imperial power."

Gao Shilian also said that although he stood on the side of the prince, he would also make suggestions on such a matter that endangered the foundation. "I will convey your words to His Majesty." Changsun Wuji said quietly, his brows slightly frowned, but no one knew what he was thinking.

……

"Your Highness, a new batch of red mud has arrived!"

With a loud shout, a carriage loaded with blood-red mud drove into the courtyard of Chongwenguan.

Inside the Chongwen Hall, a group of young students were busy digging in the mud. Their bodies and faces were covered with mud, and they looked very disheveled.

"Put it there!"

Li Chengqian's voice was heard. He was also covered in mud, his hands were stained with red soil, and he was standing in the garden directing everyone.

He pointed to a place at random and asked the people carrying the red mud to put it there. The originally exquisite and elegant garden has now become a mess, as if it has become a huge quagmire.

"Your Highness! Your Highness! It's done, it's done!"

Luo Binwang ran over happily, holding a small bag in his arms, which was filled with small and exquisite stones. His face was covered with black stains, but his eyes were shining with excitement that was difficult to conceal.

"Your Highness, please look!"

Luo Binwang couldn't wait to pick up a square stone the size of a thumb, and saw a small word clearly engraved on it.

A group of students from Chongwen Hall gathered around, their faces filled with excitement and joy. After several days of hard work, they finally achieved results, which made them feel very gratified.

This is the rubber movable type printing, a great technology invented by Bi Sheng in the Northern Song Dynasty. First, the characters are carefully carved out on the soft clay, and then they are baked over fire to harden them, just like firing bricks. The movable type produced in this way can be used repeatedly, greatly improving the efficiency of printing.

Now it has just been taken away by Li Chengqian.

During the Sui and Tang dynasties, printing technology also appeared, but it was woodblock printing, which could only print specific texts, such as the "Diamond Sutra".

The advantage of movable type printing is that single words can be moved and combined freely, and can be arranged into any article you want to write.

"Your Highness will be remembered for eternity!"

Pei Xingjian also widened his eyes and looked at the small stones placed in front of him. How could he not know that this would be a revolution in the history of literature.

During the Sui and Tang dynasties, books were still very rare because each word had to be written one by one by someone, which was inefficient and prone to errors.

"You will all go down in history because of this!"

Li Chengqian nodded. This was his attack on the aristocratic family's monopoly on knowledge. As long as books became popular, ordinary people would be able to access knowledge that they would never be able to access in their entire lives.

"Everyone worked hard for a while to carve all the words."

Now that the first step has been successful, he can put down the burden of guidance. There are so many Chinese characters that it is impossible for Chongwenguan to produce them all in a short period of time. Moreover, one set is definitely not enough. At least hundreds of sets are needed.

Because the clay mold cannot be printed, it needs to be carved one by one.

"Your Highness, we will definitely complete it!" Pei Xingjian was extremely excited, because with this movable type printing technology, all the students of Chongwenguan will go down in history.

"Xingjian, you don't need to waste time on this. Just leave it to Zhang Jianzhi and Luo Binwang. Just follow me to visit the Duke of Weiguo."

How could such a talented person who could expand the territory be confined to Chongwen Hall?
"Ah!" Pei Xingjian looked regretful.

"Xingjian, why are you feeling sorry? We did all this together. If the historian had kept a record, how could you, a great calligrapher, be missing? Look at how many words you have carved?" Li Chengqian joked.

"Pei Xingjian, just go and make some room for other students, otherwise your name will be the only one written on the list." Luo Binwang also said.

(End of this chapter)