Tiger Owl

Chapter 322 The Engraving is Complete
That morning, Gan Ning visited Pengze County and toured the government-run paper mill, which was the largest paper mill south of the Yangtze River. In fact, just a month ago, its scale was not even among the top ten in the south, but a month later, the number of craftsmen had increased tenfold, the scale had expanded tenfold, and the paper production was five times that of the Wanling Paper Mill, which was right behind it.

All of this stems from the government's largest investment this year, which recruited 6,000 artisans.

The head manager of the workshop was Zhao Cheng, an official in charge of government-run workshops in Jiangdong. He was originally Bu Zhi's subordinate, and Bu Zhi recommended him to Gan Ning to serve as the head manager of the paper mill.

"Currently, we are still producing Caihou paper, and the cost of papermaking has been reduced significantly compared to before."

"How much is 'a lot'?" Gan Ning stopped and asked.

Zhao Cheng was a little embarrassed. "The cost of a sheet of paper used to be fifteen coins, but now it's down to ten coins."

Gan Ning nodded. "Not bad, but it needs to be lowered further."

The key to the widespread adoption of woodblock printing lies in the quantity and cost of paper. The lower the cost, the lower the cost of printing a book will be compared to the fee for hiring someone to copy it. Only in this way will scholars truly accept printed books.

"I will find a way to further reduce costs."

"Do you have any ideas yet?" Gan Ning asked again.

"not yet!"

Gan Ning thought for a moment and said, "What about that master papermaker we invited back from Xuchang? I want to meet him."

The head steward, Zhao Cheng, immediately had a middle-aged man brought up. It was Zheng Chu, who had come from Xuchang. Perhaps due to his improved living conditions and cheerful mood, he looked much younger and more energetic than when he was in Xuchang.

Zheng Chu bowed respectfully, "Greetings, Marquis of Chu!"

"Have you reunited with your family?" Gan Ning asked with a smile.

Zheng Chu's nose tingled with emotion, and he quickly said, "I'm living with my daughter and son-in-law now. I will repay the great kindness and virtue of Lord Chu by serving you like a slave!"

After saying this, Zheng Chu knelt down and kowtowed to Gan Ning. Gan Ning quickly helped him up and said with a smile, "I don't need you to be my servant. Just pass on your decades of papermaking experience to everyone, and that will be enough to repay me."

"I will certainly pass on all my knowledge without holding anything back!"

Gan Ning nodded and asked again, "The cost of a sheet of paper is currently ten coins. I want to reduce it further. Is there any way to do that?"

Zheng Chu thought for a moment and said, "The most effective way now is to change the raw materials."

The Cai Hou paper currently produced in various regions is the paper improved by the eunuch Cai Lun. Cai Lun's greatest contribution was greatly reducing the cost of papermaking, enabling paper to be widely used and replacing traditional silk for writing. At least the government used paper.

Further reducing costs based on Cai Lun's work seems to have blocked a path.

Gan Ning knew that the cost of papermaking dropped significantly during the Sui and Tang dynasties, mainly because bamboo was used as the raw material. The resulting paper was tough and inexpensive, which in turn promoted the emergence of woodblock printing.

Gan Ning smiled faintly and said, "Master Craftsman Zheng can give it a try. He can make paper from bamboo, and later he can also make paper from straw and reeds."

Bamboo is abundant in the south, so the cost of making paper from bamboo would be greatly reduced.

Zheng Chu's eyes lit up, "I can give it a try!"

"It's not just a trial, it's making paper from bamboo!"

Gan Ning then turned to the head steward Zhao Cheng and said, "Give Zheng Chu ample time, resources, and manpower, and fully support him in making bamboo paper."

Zhao Cheng and Zheng Chu bowed together, saying, "We will certainly not disappoint the King of Chu!"

One of the most important reasons why Gan Ning wanted to produce paper on a large scale was that the woodblock printing technique was about to be successful, and the demand for paper would become urgent.

Gan Ning did not stay overnight in Pengze and returned to Chaisang that afternoon. Instead of rushing home, he went to the official residence. On the way, he received news that Ma Liang and Li Zhuan were preparing to report to him. He had given them a month, and they had completed their task three days ahead of schedule.

Gan Ning returned to his office and sat down. The newly appointed clerk, Pang Ming, led the two of them in.

Pang Ming is Pang Tong's nephew and a genius. He is nineteen years old this year and his calligraphy is particularly beautiful, which is highly regarded by Gan Ning.

Before long, Ma Liang and Li Zhuan entered and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Marquis of Chu!"

"Let's not waste any more time, let's see what you've accomplished!"

Ma Liang carefully presented a printed sheet of paper to Gan Ning, while Li Zhuan placed a woodblock print on the table.

Gan Ning first picked up the woodblock. There were still black ink stains on the woodblock. The wood was of very good quality, with high density and heavy weight. It turned out to be a piece of oak that had been soaked in oil.

The woodblock is carved with neat characters in relief, arranged in an orderly fashion. The characters are strong and vigorous, and the carving is delicate. Overall, it has a sense of the vicissitudes of time, which is exactly the kind of woodblock Gan Ning wanted.

“That’s right, it’s what I wanted. Where did you get the planks?” Gan Ning asked with a smile.

Li Zhuan quickly replied, "It's from the shipyard!"

So it was a shipyard. That makes sense. The best timber is repeatedly soaked in oil to prevent the planks from warping or cracking for decades.

Gan Ning picked up the printed document again; the writing on it was very clear and clean.

Zengzi said, “A scholar cannot but be resolute and persevering, for his burden is heavy and his journey is long. Is it not a heavy burden to take benevolence as one’s own responsibility? Is it not a long journey to continue until death?”

Confucius said, “If I hear the Way in the morning, I can die content in the evening.”

The printed text contains excerpts from the Analects, specifically the sections on Li Ren and Tai Bo.

Gan Ning praised, "Very good, very successful!"

Ma Liang and Li Zhuan exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with excitement. They had gained the approval of the Marquis of Chu, and their hard work over the past month had not been in vain.

Gan Ning then laughed and said, "Next, you will have to carve and print the entire Analects. Now I will teach you how to bind it into a book."

Thread-bound books only appeared after the Tang and Song dynasties, which was closely related to the advent of printing technology.

Gan Ning took out a simply bound thread-bound book from the drawer. It was bound by Xu Wei. It was basically the same as books in later generations: thread was added, glued, and the spine was covered.

"This is."

Both of them were stunned. Gan Ning patiently explained to them, "If we bind the printed pages together, we can make a book. This makes it easier to carry and more convenient. Following my example, we can bind the Analects into several volumes, not just one. Just make sure they are of moderate thickness."

Ma Liang silently accepted the thread-bound book. This was yet another revolutionary way of writing books, changing the scroll into a booklet.

Gan Ning earnestly said to him, "Your appointment as Director of the Compilation Bureau carries great responsibility. You have three duties. First, you must set standards. The size of each woodblock, the type of paper and ink to use, and how to bind the books must all be specified in detail."

Second, promotion. This involves disseminating information about woodblock-printed and thread-bound books; of course, the technology used must not be leaked.

Ma Liang nodded gently, "I understand!"

"The third and most important thing is to produce a large number of woodblocks, to carve all kinds of books from our past into woodblocks and print them out. This is a long process, twenty or thirty years, but it is definitely a great undertaking that benefits the present and future generations. You alone cannot complete it, but I hope you can lay a good foundation so that future generations can inherit it."

A fire ignited in Ma Liang's eyes—a fire of history, heritage, and responsibility. He nodded solemnly, "I will certainly live up to the expectations placed upon me by the Marquis of Chu!"

(End of this chapter)