Three whips break the father-son relationship, please call me prince

Chapter 164 People are illiterate? We will make them listen

A light snow came quietly.

This was the first snow in the 16th year of Zhenguan, heralding the official arrival of winter.

Li Chengqian wore a cotton coat inside and a cloak outside.
Li Chengqian walked in front, with Changsun Chong and Li Zhi on his left and right. Duke Song Xiao Yu was a little closer and followed beside him.

Behind him are representatives nominated by the Jiangnan and Jiannan gentry.

Xiao Yu was the only representative with the highest status present.

He represents the Lanling Xiao family.

He was also the most prominent among the Jiangnan gentry.

Although the Lanling Xiao family was an immigrant family from across the Yangtze River, they were outsiders compared to the local gentry in the south of the Yangtze River.

But who can blame the Jiangnan gentry? The top Jiangnan gentry such as Zhu, Zhang, Gu, and Lu have no leaders in the court. They have no influence at all, and their voices may be heard by the locals.

In the court of Chang'an, they haven't even heard a fart from Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu is the Duke of the country, so who is their leader?
Nothing at all.

If the Crown Prince had not summoned them today, they would not even have had the chance to speak to the guards led by the East Palace Gatekeepers.

They stopped at a workshop and then slowed down.

Xiao Yu and the others didn't understand why the prince brought them here instead of discussing serious matters.

"Is everything ready?"

Li Chengqian asked.

The eldest grandson rushed away and came back, saying, "Your Highness is ready."

"That's fine."

"Show them."

Li Chengqian said.

Soon, the group came to a busy place.

They were very confused and couldn't figure out what was going on.

When the servant handed them a piece of paper, they were a little surprised.

"not bad."

After examining it for a while, Li Chengqian handed it to Xiao Yu and said, "Duke Song, take a look too."

Xiao Yu examined it for a moment, twisting his beard, and said puzzledly: "The words on this paper are very neat, but they lack a bit of charm. It's not copied..."

He passed it to other people to look at, and they also expressed similar opinions.

"This is not a transcript."

Li Chengqian said calmly: "It was printed."

"print?"

Xiao Yu and others were stunned. Li Chengqian didn't say much. He waved his hand and asked Chang Sun Chong to take them to see it and listen to the explanation.

"Brother Crown Prince, what's the purpose of showing them the printing technique?" Li Zhi asked.

He had only learned in recent days that the East Palace's workshop had invented a method that could reproduce text on paper without the need for manual copying.

Although he was young, he understood the usefulness of this replication technique.

If it can be reproduced, there is no need to copy it manually. If all the books can be reproduced, a lot of work can be saved.

The prices of books will also be greatly reduced.

It is a great thing for scholars all over the world.

It also played an immeasurable role in the imperial court.

"You'll know in a moment." Li Chengqian replied casually.

"Oh!"

soon.

Xiao Yu and his group returned with shocked expressions, as if they had seen a ghost.

How could they not know the power of printing?

“Your Highness…!”

Xiao Yu wanted to say something but hesitated, not knowing where to start.

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said with a smile: "I am very pleased that you can come."

"You brought something with you, which makes me very happy."

He walked out, followed by everyone.

This time, the Jiangnan gentry and the Jiannan clan sent their head family's daughter to visit. Not only did they send a beauty, they also brought a large number of gifts.

It’s not a dowry.

It is a show of filial piety to the Crown Prince.

"One of you is in Jiangnan, and the other is in Jiannan."

"They are all well-known families in the local area. They work diligently and conscientiously for our Tang Dynasty to govern the local area."

"I've taken it all to heart."

He said this to tell everyone that he knew your situation very clearly and was always thinking about it.

Now is the time to give you a chance and reward you.

"I have always said that we must not discourage those who have made great contributions."

Li Chengqian said: "From now on, you should also pay more attention to state affairs. If there are talented people in your family, I will take good care of them if I can take care of them."

"It just so happens that the Eastern Palace is planning to set up a staff group, and we can select three or five outstanding and talented people to join us."

As soon as these words came out.

Although they didn't know what the intentions of the staff were, the Eastern Palace had staff after all.

But this is the promise the prince made to them to employ them.

How could one not be excited?

Xiao Yu was very calm, this was the serious matter.

As for sending beauties as gifts, we can’t tell anyone about it, and everyone knows it.

His Highness has already set the tone for the audience.

Then we can only move in this direction.

"Your Highness is wise."

Xiao Yu smiled.

"Your Highness's love and grace are as great as a mountain. We are unworthy of it." Lu Dunxin said with a bow.

This Lu Dunxin is one of us.

His father Lu Deming was Li Chengqian's teacher.

After Lu Deming's death, Lu Dunxin, who entered the officialdom through family connections, was not given an important position and did not hold a prominent official position.

Apart from having a little influence in academic affairs, he was almost drowned out in the entire court and had little sense of presence.

After all, during the Zhenguan period, there were still so many founding heroes still alive, and they hadn't even made arrangements for their own children, so how could it be the turn of someone without a father's support to advance?

Besides, the children of Shandong gentry were still lining up to serve as officials in the court.

He is from Jiangdong and his surname is Lu. Why should he be one step ahead of others and lag behind a little?

Therefore, Li Chengqian gave the Jiangnan gentry a chance, and Lu Dunxin was immediately promoted as the representative of the Jiangnan local faction.

Who made him have a closer relationship with the prince?

The closer the relationship, the better things can be done.

"Don't underestimate yourself. Jiangnan and Jiannan are both under the rule of the Tang Dynasty. Both places have produced many talented people and have cultivated talents for the country, thanks to you."

"In my opinion, it is a meritorious service."

“You deserve it.”

Li Chengqian's few words made the representatives of the gentry in the two places extremely excited.

Unexpectedly, this is how they were viewed in the prince's mind.

"Your Highness, I have something to say but I don't know whether I should say it or not."

Xiao Yu said at the right time.

He had to ask, but he also had to not ask.

Do not ask.

Everyone felt uneasy.

"You can talk about it." Li Chengqian said with a smile: "We are all family here, there is nothing we can't talk about."

"I am worried about your highness!"

Xiao Yu said: "I have heard about some things in Chang'an."

"The Shandong nobles are running around trying to win back the prince's heart."

In fact, there is no need to hide anything, as almost everyone present knows the truth.

Whatever turmoil will arise from the prince's reception of them has already begun.

They can withstand some pressure.

But more pressure is on the prince.

What Xiao Yu was worried about was what kind of accusations and attacks the prince would face for doing this.

Since you want to get close to the prince and get his support.

Then they certainly don't want to see the prince's reputation and prestige suffer any damage.

Li Chengqian chuckled and said nonchalantly: "The printing technique I showed you just now is undoubtedly more efficient than copying."

"The court had official reports, which copied the court's decrees, official appointments and dismissals, military movements, etc. and passed them on to the ministers for their perusal."

"I think this printing technique can be used in official newspapers, and it can also be used among the people."

"I plan to set up a newspaper company and publish a medium called newspaper to the people of the Tang Dynasty."

Li Chengqian continued, "This newspaper can publish important court events, national policy opinions, etc."

"Let the people know everything from the imperial court to folk anecdotes."

Xiao Yu was shocked.

Something occurred to him almost instantly.

"You can send people to learn the printing technology and set up newspapers in Jiangnan, Jiannan and other places."

Li Chengqian said this lightly.

It almost made Xiao Yu, Lu Dunxin and others blush.

They immediately thought that this newspaper was the one that could compete with the Shandong gentry.

The prince wants to give them the use of

Is this a greeting gift?

Li Zhi also glared slightly.

It turned out that I was waiting here.

Chang Sun Chong asked curiously, "Your Highness, most people are illiterate. Can they understand the words published in the newspaper?"

"Besides, the price of this newspaper is not cheap, and ordinary people will not pay this much money."

Li Chengqian couldn't help but smile, "Duke Song, what do you think?"

Xiao Yu twisted his beard, smiled and said, "Don't worry, the people can't read, but we will let them hear it."

"You all agree, right?"

Lu Dunxin and others nodded with a smile.

What could be the problem?
How do you think the people know about the court’s decrees?
I walked out of the workshop unknowingly and was greeted by a gust of cold wind.

Li Chengqian tightened his cloak and said, "Expand your scope a little, don't limit yourself to just one place."

"Jiannan and Jiangnan are under the rule of the Tang Dynasty. Hedong, Hebei, and Henan are also under the rule of the Tang Dynasty."

Publishing a newspaper is not enough.

You must go to the territory of the Shandong gentry and defeat them head on.

When the newspapers of the Jiangnan gentry were circulated throughout Shandong.

It would be strange if the Shandong gentry didn't get angry.

This is exactly the effect Li Chengqian wants.

Everyone had a great time along the way and returned to the temple.

Li Chengqian suddenly asked: "I heard that you mostly eat seafood."

"The big fish and shrimp in the sea are all delicious."

Lu Dunxin said hurriedly: "Your Highness, this time it is fortunately winter, so it is convenient for storage. After I return, I will immediately send someone to deliver the letter to Chang'an."

Seafood.

It’s too far away for Chang’an.

There is a fear that the goods may rot on the way before they are delivered, and the cost is also extremely high.

Li Shimin did not like such extravagance and waste, and most of his ministers did not say a word about it.

However, Li Chengqian was ready to lead this trend.

You guys have buried all your money in the cellar. Instead of keeping it as burial objects, you might as well take it out and use it to boost the economy of the Tang Dynasty and create jobs.

Li Chengqian dared to guarantee that as long as he, the crown prince, liked it, his subordinates would follow suit.

This will inevitably lead to a wave of eating seafood in Chang'an City.

"Being close to the sea has many advantages. You can see the sea and see the magnificent scenery, which makes you more open-minded. You can also eat seafood."

"I am so lonely and envious."

Li Chengqian also sighed and everyone smiled slightly. Chang'an has the advantages of Chang'an, and Jiangnan has the advantages of Jiangnan.

The mountains are high and the emperor is far away.

"By the way, how is Jiangnan's shipbuilding technology?"

Li Chengqian suddenly asked.

Xiao Yu, Lu Dunxin and others looked at each other in bewilderment. This was not within the scope of the topic for discussion.

Why does the prince ask this?
"I don't quite understand this minister."

Lu Dunxin and others shook their heads, thinking that they had miscalculated and had not prepared anything in this regard.

(End of this chapter)