Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne-Chapter 213: Books and Dreams of Cheap Paper

"Fourth Brother, are all the books in our Great Zhou hand-copied?"

"Yes, all hand-copied," the Fourth Prince replied. "Copying books like this definitely takes time, but there’s no other way."

No other way?

If they had the printing technology from Zhao Yao’s dream, they could print many books. Once there are more books, they would become cheaper, allowing many people to afford them.

"Why are you asking this?" the Fourth Prince asked, puzzled.

Zhao Yao smiled slightly, "I just feel you’re working too hard copying books every day without making a single mistake." freeweɓnøvel~com

He continued, "Isn’t there a faster way?"

"No, since ancient times, books have been passed down from one generation to the next through copying," the Fourth Prince picked up a hand-copied book beside him and said to Zhao Yao, "Now with paper, copying has gotten much easier. In the past, people had to copy on bamboo slips, which was even more laborious."

"Indeed." Compared to copying on paper, carving books on bamboo slips was more difficult.

Speaking of paper, Zhao Yao remembered something else. The paper they use now couldn’t compare with the paper from Zhao Yao’s dream. The paper in the dream was very white, unlike the yellow paper they use now. Moreover, the paper in the dream was cheap and very useful. The paper they use now seems not cheap.

The Fourth Prince, seeing Zhao Yao deep in thought, asked, "What’s on your mind?"

"Fourth Brother, I just think the paper we use now isn’t cheap."

"Not cheap?" the Fourth Prince asked, puzzled. "Why do you say that?"

"Fourth Brother, look, if the paper we use was cheap, then books would be cheaper too, and more people could afford to buy and read books," Zhao Yao said, holding his face with his hands. "Nowadays, many people can’t afford books because they’re too expensive. The reason books are expensive is, firstly, because paper isn’t cheap, and secondly, because all the books are hand-copied."

"You’re right," the Fourth Prince acknowledged, "so what do we do about it?"

"If paper could be made cheaper, and if books could be made without hand-copying, wouldn’t books become cheaper?"

The Fourth Prince laughed at Zhao Yao’s words, "Tenth Brother, your idea is good, but paper won’t become cheap. Also, without someone copying, there won’t be books. So, what you’re saying can’t be realized."

"That’s not necessarily true." Zhao Yao’s dream showed it was possible. He needed to think carefully about how, in the dream, they made paper cheap and printed books.

The Fourth Prince patted Zhao Yao’s head, chuckling, "If you have nothing to do, just read some books here."

"Fourth Brother, what is our current paper made of?"

The Fourth Prince replied without even thinking, "It’s made from bark, hemp heads, rags, and old fishing nets."

"So that’s what it’s made of."

"If you’re interested in papermaking, I’ll take you to see it when you have time," the Fourth Prince said.

"Sure." He needed to see how they made their paper now and then figure out how to make the paper from Zhao Yao’s dream.

Oh, he also needed to prepare books in advance, so when he comes of age and gets a title, he can take the books directly to his fiefdom.

"Fourth Brother, do you have a lot of books?" Zhao Yao asked, "Fourth Brother, do you have many books you don’t need?"

The Fourth Prince found Zhao Yao’s question a bit strange, "I have a lot of books, but none that I don’t need. All the books I have are necessary."

"I mean, since you have so many books, aren’t there many duplicates, like several copies of the same book?"

"There are. Why?"

"Fourth Brother, could you give them to me?" Starting today, he would collect books everywhere, so when he grows up, he’ll have a large collection. Of course, it would be best to collect books without spending money.

"Why do you want books?"

"To read, of course."

The Fourth Prince looked at Zhao Yao skeptically, "You want to read books?"

Feeling a bit guilty under the Fourth Prince’s suspicion, Zhao Yao said, "Fourth Brother, though I don’t like studying in Wende Hall, it doesn’t mean I don’t like reading at all. I actually read books frequently, and my mother can vouch for that."

"Since you want to read, I’ll give them to you," the Fourth Prince said, not quite believing that Zhao Yao would actively read, but since Zhao Yao asked, he would give them to him.

"Thank you, Fourth Brother!" He would start by asking his Fourth Brother for books gradually.

Lanyuan Pavilion had many books, surely with duplicates. He needed to find a way to get them.

Mr. Xiao must also have many books; he would ask him after the spring hunt.

Seeing Zhao Yao suddenly smile slyly like a fox, the Fourth Prince knew he was up to something.

"Tenth Brother, I’m giving you books for reading, not for doing anything bad."

Zhao Yao feigned a hurt expression, looking at the Fourth Prince in disbelief, "Fourth Brother, how could you think that of me? How could I possibly do anything bad with books?"

"As long as it’s not for doing anything bad," the Fourth Prince warned Zhao Yao on purpose, "if I find out you’re using them for anything bad, I won’t let you off."

Zhao Yao quickly raised his hands, "Fourth Brother, I’m really not using them for anything bad. I just want to read."

The Fourth Prince, half-believing, said, "That’s good."

"Fourth Brother, I won’t bother you anymore. I’ll head back now," Zhao Yao said and dashed off.

On the way back to Kunde Hall, Tong Xi saw Zhao Yao frowning deeply and asked with concern, "Your Highness, what’s wrong? You seem troubled." Tomorrow was the spring hunt, and knowing His Highness’s temperament, he should be very excited at this moment.

"I’m thinking about how to make paper cheaper and more useful."

"Huh?" Tong Xi was taken aback by Zhao Yao’s words, "Cheaper and more useful paper? Your Highness, why are you thinking about this?"

"It’s obviously useful." He recalled that in Zhao Yao’s dream world, the paper they used contained bamboo.

This chapter is updat𝓮d by fre(e)webnov(l).com