How can you rule the world if I'm just a substitute for you?

On one side of the training ground, Zhang Wan turned to look at Lin Xuan and asked softly:

"Your Highness, what kind of business do you plan to start? I'd like to plan ahead for manpower and materials."

Lin Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, having already made his plans in mind.

Today, the most profitable industries in the Great Qian Dynasty—salt, iron, sugar, and tea—are all monopolized by powerful families and court nobles.

Touching it rashly will only backfire and result in more harm than good.

He slowly turned his head and looked at Zhang Wan:

"There are some monopolistic industries that we can't touch right now, so I'm planning to start two new businesses that no one else is involved in."

Zhang Wan's eyes narrowed: "Please enlighten me, Your Highness."

"The first thing is toothbrushes and toothpaste, and the second is selling books."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wan was stunned, her face full of doubt. She knew about selling books.

But this was the first time she had ever heard the names toothbrush and toothpaste.

Seeing her blank expression, Lin Xuan patiently explained:

"Nowadays, people either scrub their teeth with coarse salt or simply don't clean them at all."

The toothbrush I'm referring to is a tool specifically designed for brushing teeth.

Toothpaste, used in conjunction with a toothbrush, can clean plaque, remove stains, and freshen breath; long-term use can also whiten and clean teeth.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wan's business acumen instantly kicked in, and her eyes lit up.

This is a completely new, untapped market!

Regardless of gender, age, or social status, it is a necessity for everyone!

No competition, no monopoly, and an endless customer base!

She immediately exclaimed, "Your Highness's idea is absolutely brilliant! Once this product is created and released, it will surely become a sensation throughout the city, and may even be sold to other states and countries, generating immeasurable profits!"

After praising her, she frowned slightly, then said with concern:

"But Your Highness, you said the second business is selling books?"

I dare to speak frankly: there are not many literate veterans in the Marquis of Zhenbei’s mansion. Most of them only know how to train and fight, and do not understand literature.

Nowadays, all books in the world are handwritten, which is time-consuming, laborious, and extremely expensive, making them unaffordable for ordinary people.

"Our staff is not skilled in writing; if we rashly attempt to create a book, it will be extremely difficult to succeed."

Lin Xuan was well aware of her concerns and smiled faintly.

The Great Qian Dynasty currently lacks printing technology, and all classic books and scrolls rely entirely on scholars to copy them word by word by hand.

Extremely high costs, extremely low output, and exorbitant prices have long made it commonplace for students from impoverished families to be unable to attend school.

Lin Xuan's purpose in selling books has never been just to make money.

Instead, he won over the hearts of scholars from humble backgrounds across the land, completely overturning the old impression of him as a dissolute and extravagant playboy, paving the way for future court arrangements.

Lin Xuan spoke calmly:

"I understand your concerns. But what I'm going to do is not to copy books by hand."

I want to build a woodblock printing workshop. Once the templates are carved, all you need to do is cover them with paper and press them onto the paper. Anyone can do it.

It is not necessary for everyone to be proficient in writing; only a few people need to be literate and proofread, while most people only need to know how to press, dry, and bind.

Ordinary laborers and veterans from the Marquis's household can all do it.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wan fully understood and was deeply shocked.

Books printed from printing blocks instead of handwritten ones?

If this really happens, book prices will definitely plummet, which would be a tremendous benefit for students and soldiers from poor families all over the world!

She sincerely admired him: "Your Highness's thinking is far ahead of its time; I am truly convinced."

She then looked up and asked, "Has Your Highness already decided on the location for the workshop?"

"It was chosen long ago."

Lin Xuan raised his hand and pointed to the row of abandoned courtyards behind the training ground:

"This vacant lot and old courtyard was originally an idle warehouse of the government."

It's right next to the recruit training grounds and can also accommodate 3,000 new recruits for guard duty.

After finalizing the location and project, Lin Xuan continued to explain the materials needed to make toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Zhang Wan heard everything clearly and remembered it all. She nodded solemnly.

"Your Highness, rest assured, I will prepare all the materials and find the right people within three days, and we can start mass production at any time."

"it is good."

Lin Xuan turned to Shen Qingyi beside him and gave the order:

"My beloved concubine, return to the East Palace immediately and take all the 200,000 taels of silver that the third prince paid me as compensation. Give it to Madam Zhang as a huge sum of money to start up the workshop."

He paused, then added:

"Send a few more elite guards from the Eastern Palace to accompany and protect Madam Zhang throughout her journey, ensuring her safety on her way to and from the palace."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wan felt a warmth in her heart.

She never expected that the Crown Prince would not only fully trust her and delegate authority to her in charge of all business affairs,

They even took meticulous care of her personal safety.

Such meticulousness and sincerity towards others are far from the absurd playboy portrayed by outsiders.

Shen Qingyi nodded gently and smiled at Zhang Wan, saying:

"Sister Zhang, come with me back to the East Palace to get the money."

After saying this, the two turned and left, returning to the Eastern Palace.

Lin Xuan watched the two walk away, then turned to look at the bustling training scene on the training ground.

In his previous life, he fought many battles, but in this body he transmigrated into, he was somewhat weak.

I took advantage of this training session to train and improve my physique alongside the team.

He strode into the ranks, joining the three thousand young men to begin today's rigorous training.

The morning's training finally came to an end. The three thousand young men were all exhausted, sweating profusely and panting heavily. They all rushed to the mess hall to wait for their meal.

Today's lunch was stewed meat with steamed buns. The aroma wafted from afar, and as soon as everyone saw the glistening chunks of meat, they scrambled forward to grab them, creating a chaotic scene.

Su Ling Shuang stood beside the food stall and, seeing this, shouted sternly, "Everyone line up properly! Anyone who dares to push forward and grab food will have their lunch canceled!"

Upon hearing this, all the able-bodied men froze in place, no longer daring to rush forward.

During the morning training session, everyone had already witnessed Su Ling Shuang's ruthless nature. Many people had been stabbed by the tip of her longsword, so no one dared to provoke her again and obediently lined up to receive their meals.

At this moment, Shen Hu walked over quickly with a bowl of stewed meat and two plump steamed buns, and handed them to Lin Xuan: "Brother-in-law, have something to eat first."

Lin Xuan took the bowl and chopsticks, sat on the stone steps to the side, and looked at the three thousand soldiers lining up to eat, feeling quite moved.

The intense training atmosphere today actually brought back some of the familiar feeling of military drills from his previous life.

Just as he was about to pick up his chopsticks, Meng Yuanbao, dragging his fat body, limped over with a pained expression and said with a worried look, "Brother Lin, can I not train with you anymore? I really can't take it anymore."

Lin Xuan picked up a piece of meat and looked at him indifferently: "Although the training is tough, it can strengthen your body and reduce your fat. Enduring more hardship will give you more survival skills on the battlefield in the future."

Meng Yuanbao's face turned pale upon hearing this, and he hurriedly asked, "Brother Lin, are you really planning to send me to the battlefield to fight?"

"Of course I have that plan." Lin Xuan glanced at Lin Mo and Zhang Shitou, who were queuing for food not far away. "Look at Mo and Shitou, they never complain like you do."

Meng Yuanbao quickly waved his hand to explain, "Brother Lin, I'm completely different from them! Zhang Shitou's father is the commander of the Imperial Guards. He has practiced martial arts since childhood and has a solid foundation. Brother Mo has lived in the Prince's Mansion for a long time and has also practiced martial arts. But I'm different. My father is a civil official. I have never suffered the hardship of martial arts training since I was a child."

As he spoke, he simply lifted his shirt, revealing half of his buttocks, which were covered with a dense array of tiny wounds, all inflicted by Su Ling Shuang earlier. The wounds weren't deep, but they were densely packed together, making them particularly conspicuous.

Meng Yuanbao wailed with a bitter face: "That devil Shen is too ruthless! Look at all these injuries. If I train like this for another two days, I'm afraid I'll lose my life on the training ground."

Besides, I'm naturally prone to weight gain; I gain weight even from drinking water, and no matter how much I train, I can't lose weight. I'm simply not fit to go to war. Brother Lin, could you find me another job?