Tiger Owl

Chapter 326 Gu Yong's Choice
As a ruler, Cao Cao certainly knew what these rubbings of books meant: they meant the spread of culture, that a book that a copyist had to painstakingly copy for a month could be easily completed by the other party in an hour, and that the most precious books would henceforth enter ordinary households.

"Send someone to Chaisang immediately. We must find out how these books were printed. This is a matter of great importance!"

Cao Cao's voice trembled. The powerful impact of woodblock printing made him lose his composure. At this moment, his daughter's marriage was no longer important.

Meanwhile, hundreds of woodcarving craftsmen gathered from various places, carrying the interrogation documents given by the intelligence stations of Western Chu, and their families began to travel south to Lujiang County.

Woodcarvers were almost all folk artisans, not considered respectable. Like carpenters and bricklayers, they were craftsmen. They mostly carved beams and painted rafters for wealthy families. Those with more skill would enter the palace to carve the eaves of the palace. But no matter how skilled they were, they were not official craftsmen. Cao Cao was very pragmatic. He supported craftsmen who made weapons and other practical manufacturing, not these embellishment craftsmen.

These highly skilled woodcarvers could only find themselves in rural areas, earning a meager income by carving decorations on furniture and buildings to support their families.

However, the advent of woodblock printing suddenly made these woodcarving craftsmen precious, and they became the main focus of the Hundred Craftsmen Project. Xi Chu gathered a total of 1,300 craftsmen skilled in micro-carving, basically scouring up all the high-level woodcarvers from various places. The first batch of more than 500 people have already set off with their families, and the remaining craftsmen will also set off in succession within a month.

These artisans will be settled in Nanchang County, which will become the center of the entire woodblock printing industry.

Gan Ning knew long ago that Cao Cao would eventually see woodblock printing, so he sent Cao Cao a woodblock-printed copy of "Treatise on Febrile Diseases" as a gift. He was not worried about Cao Cao's competition, as he had already taken measures to eliminate the competition by poaching the best woodcarvers and papermakers.

He also continued to search for artisans who could make ink, as well as train skilled printing and bookbinding artisans. He took care of every aspect, from papermaking, plate making, carving, ink application, printing, and binding, forming a complete industrial chain.

Next, there's public education to make more people literate, and content creation to bring forth more cultural products.

Culture is the core of soft power. Only when culture stands at the commanding heights will people around the world listen attentively to every word Gan Ning speaks.

Hard power is a contest of military strength, while soft power is a competition of cultures. Gan Ning grasped both aspects and made sure both were strong.

News of the imperial examination system for selecting talent spread quickly, soon reaching the entire south, including Jiangdong.

In the old Lu family residence in Wu County, the patriarch Lu Yu is listening to his grandson Lu Xun's account.

Lu Xun had just returned the day before yesterday. He had gone home to attend his grandmother's funeral. His grandmother, Madam Gu, had passed away a month earlier. Upon receiving the news, Lu Xun rushed back immediately.

Looking at his mature and steady grandson, Lu Yu felt a sense of satisfaction. After serving as Gan Ning's clerk for several years, his grandson had now become a military advisor.

Military advisor and military officer are not the same as military advisor and official. Military advisor and official are just civil servants, while military advisor and military officer is a title, equivalent to assistant military advisor. It is the starting level of military advisor, with a salary of 600 shi (a unit of grain).

More importantly, his grandson is only in his early twenties. By the time he turns thirty, he will have risen to become a deputy military advisor, standing shoulder to shoulder with Xu Shu, Pang Tong, and Lü Fan.
"These past few days, I've heard a rumor that you're preparing to hold an imperial examination to select talent. Is that true?"

Lu Xun nodded, "It is indeed true, and it is a great opportunity. If you pass the exam, you will have the chance to enter officialdom, especially for scholars from Jiangdong, the chances are even greater."

Lu Yu suddenly realized something: "Is this imperial examination specifically targeting Jiangdong?"

"That's part of it, but not the whole purpose. We also target the recruitment of talent from the north and local talent. It's just that this is being held at this critical juncture, so it will have the greatest impact on Jiangdong."

"Do you need my help?" Lu Yu suddenly laughed.

Lu Xun didn't mince words and nodded, saying, "I hope Grandfather can tell more aristocratic families that this is an opportunity for the family, so that when the Western Chu army conquers Jiangdong in the future, they can stand on the front lines instead of being eliminated." "I understand. Gu Yong will come to visit me this afternoon. You should also talk to Gu Shao when you have time! After all, he was once your best friend."

Lu Xun nodded silently; he was going to see his good friend.

In the afternoon, Gu Yong arrived. After the fall of Eastern Wu, Gu Yong was appointed as the Assistant Prefect of Wu Commandery. Cao Zhi was the Governor of Yangzhou and concurrently the Prefect of Wu Commandery, but Cao Zhi basically did not concern himself with the affairs of Wu Commandery. In fact, the power of Wu Commandery's administration was in the hands of Gu Yong.

"Uncle, I heard Boyan has returned?" Gu Yong asked, trying to keep it as casual as possible.

Gu Yong's aunt was Lu Yu's recently deceased wife. The Lu and Gu families had been linked by marriage for generations and had a very close relationship.

Gu Yong's eldest son, Gu Shao, was married to a woman from the Lu family.

"He's planning to leave the day after tomorrow. Would Yuan Tan like to see him?"

Gu Yong nodded and said, "Actually, I want Shao'er to go to Western Chu, and I'd like to ask Boyan to act as a matchmaker for him!"

"It shouldn't be a big problem. Boyan was once the Duke of Chu's clerk and is now the military advisor. He can recommend him directly to Gan Ning. Alternatively, Shao'er can also participate in the imperial examination. With Shao'er's talent, he should be able to rank at the top. At that time, with Boyan's recommendation and his own talent, he will be more valued, not just because he is your eldest son."

“Uncle is right. He can take the imperial examination. I also plan to arrange for a few more outstanding members of the Gu family to participate. I know that the Zhu and Zhang families have also decided to send their best members to Chaisang to take the exam. I heard that they have already started registering.”

Lu Yu nodded, "The sooner you register, the sooner you'll know what the exam will be about and how to prepare."

The two fell silent. After a long while, Gu Yong asked in a low voice, "Does Uncle think the Western Chu army will take over Jiangdong?"

Lu Yu smiled and countered, "Otherwise what? What's the point of Cao Cao and Gan Ning signing a humiliating ceasefire agreement?"

Gu Yong didn't speak, but only sighed very softly.

Lu Yu couldn't help but say again, "Nephew, I am your uncle. As your elder, there are some things I have to say. In Jiangdong, you were a high-ranking official on par with Bu Zhi and Lü Fan. Now, Bu Zhi and Lü Fan have entered the decision-making level of Western Chu and become high-ranking officials, while you are just a minor prefect. Isn't that a big difference?"

Gu Yong fell even more silent. Did he regret it? He did regret it, but some things can't be reversed just by saying "I regret it." Think of Bu Zhi's choice, think of Lü Fan's choice, they were both so resolute.

But he had no choice, so how could he possibly reach their level?

Lu Yu seemed to see through Gu Yong's thoughts and slowly said, "The coup in Jiangdong is very complicated. Everyone will have the opportunity to choose. Your background is completely different from Bu Zhi and Lü Fan. Your time to choose has not yet come. When it comes, you will naturally know what to choose."

Gu Yong nodded gently, "Thank you, Uncle, I understand!"

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[Sorry, I need to take another break. It's almost the end of the year, and there are a lot of things to do. I'll update as usual this afternoon.]

(End of this chapter)