Chapter 90 Is it feasible for the Tang Dynasty to produce another Marquis Cai?

Chapter 90 Is it feasible for the Tang Dynasty to produce another Marquis Cai?

Chapter 90 Is it feasible for the Tang Dynasty to produce another Marquis Cai?
"Your Highness, this Duke of Ju is actually a bit pitiful."

Chang Sun Chong said with emotion.

He didn't know much about the affairs of the court before, but since he became the Prince's Household Manager, he often talked with Li Chengqian.

Only then did I realize that affairs in the court were far from as simple as they seemed.

A duke nearly died, and all his clan members died in the battle, but he could only curse.

"He is a duke, and you are just a prince's steward. Do you pity him?"

"What is your identity?"

Li Chengqian said unhappily.

Political struggle is inherently cruel.

Li Er favors Li Jing, so he has to ignore Tang Jian.

It can only be said that in Li Er's mind, Tang Jian's status cannot compare to that of Li Jing, the god of war of the Tang Dynasty.

This matter was just a coincidence. Cheng Zhijie volunteered as a Duke, and Li Er wanted to find someone who could balance the situation, so he let Tang Jian seize the opportunity.

otherwise.

As long as Li Jing is alive, it will be difficult for Tang Jian to make a comeback.

By the time Li Jing was about to die, Li Er was almost there too.

Although Tang Jian was a Duke, there are only a few historical records about him, which explains many problems.

Chang Sun Chong was a little unconvinced, because his father was also a duke.

Li Chengqian didn't want to pay attention to Changsun Chong. This guy was still a little immature and needed to grow up.

The wooden box he gave to Tang Jian contained the military thought guidance he had written.

What will be Li Er’s reaction after Tang Jian presents the things to him?

It doesn’t matter what Li Er thinks, he has already laid the groundwork.

He was also not prepared to admit that he had written the military ideological guide.

Even if Li Er asked him further, he would not admit it.

All they can say is that Tang Jian wrote it according to Li Er's instructions.

His purpose was to ensure the smooth implementation of this matter, not to seek the title of writing an ideological guidance manual.

It was worthless to him and unimportant.

Instead, what he wants to see is the success of the new army's pilot project.

Because no matter what happens in the outside world, Tang Jian must appreciate his kindness.

He pushed Tang Jian up, how could you, Tang Jian, not be grateful for this favor?

It can only be said that Tang Jian deserved to be ignored by Li Er for what happened in the past.

Li Er knew very well that it was the prince who did it. As long as he didn't expose it and everyone kept tacit understanding, it would be the best.

If you don't have a hard time, I don't care.

"Go and call the official in charge of papermaking to the East Palace."

Li Chengqian ordered: "I want to see them tomorrow."

"Yes!"

Chang Sun Chong didn't understand why, but he did as he was told.

The next day.

The papermaking and printing officials who received the prince's order were all waiting in the East Palace.

They were allowed to enter only after Li Chengqian summoned them.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince..."

"Guan An."

Li Chengqian sat at the top, looking at this group of minor officials with a relaxed look. He smiled and asked, "What did you say your name was?"

"Your Highness, my name is Cai Zixing."

The young official replied respectfully.

"My last name is Cai."

Li Chengqian understood and asked, "Does your ancestor have any connection with Marquis Cai?"

"Your Highness, I am your ancestor."

Cai Lun was a eunuch who was awarded a title of nobility for improving the papermaking technique. However, he did a lot of things that eunuchs did, and had a very bad reputation.

There is no record of whether or not there were any descendants.

But Cai Zixing said yes, and Li Chengqian asked carefully and found out that his ancestor was Cai Lun's adopted son.

"I see."

Li Chengqian sighed: "Since Lord Cai improved the papermaking technique, the world has benefited endlessly. It is a great blessing and his merits are immeasurable."

"As a descendant of Marquis Cai, you should follow the example of your ancestors and live up to their name."

Cai Lun didn't care about the eunuch's reputation. What mattered to him was papermaking.

Cai Zixing felt extremely guilty: "I am humble and stupid, and I have failed the reputation of my ancestors."

"Eh."

Li Chengqian waved his hand, "Don't underestimate yourself. I was born with talents that will be useful."

"Isn't it sad that you despise yourself like this?"

I was born to be useful?
Chang Sun Chong couldn't help but murmur, "Okay."

Prince, you are so talented and eloquent.

Such witty remarks came out of his mouth spontaneously.

If this gets out, I don’t know how many people it will inspire.

Cai Zixing was even more excited and prostrated himself on the ground. His Highness used these words to encourage him.

"Your Highness, minister..."

Li Chengqian smiled and said to him, "Cai Zi is fine."

"Since you are considered the descendant of Marquis Cai, do you have any experience in papermaking?"

Cai Zixing's face flushed, "Your Majesty..."

Without waiting for him to speak, Li Chengqian knew from his expression that there was nothing to say.

"Come on, follow me to see where paper is made."

There was no papermaking facility in the Eastern Palace, but Li Chengqian had ordered people to build a papermaking workshop some time ago.

The craftsmanship is still the same as before, and there is not much change.

There were quite a few craftsmen who were busy, and when they saw Li Chengqian coming, they hurried to welcome him.

"I am the East Palace, preparing this paper-making workshop."

"I want you to take charge."

When Li Chengqian said this, Cai Zixing was dumbfounded.

what?
Such a good thing has happened to me.

The prince specially prepared a paper-making workshop and waited for him to come.

He just felt dizzy and filled with a strong sense of happiness.

"But my papermaking workshop is not mainly engaged in papermaking."

"I wanted to test whether there was a better, faster and cheaper way to make paper."

Li Chengqian stirred the paper pulp with his hands, and a trace of white appeared on his fingers. Chang Sun Chong took out his handkerchief and was about to wipe it off for him, but Li Chengqian wanted to playfully waved it towards Chang Sun Chong's face.

Chang Sun Chong was so scared that he quickly covered his face.

"Your Highness, don't be so scary." Chang Sun Chong said resentfully.

"If you still don't know how to make progress, I will throw you into this pulp, dye you white, and then I will draw you at will."

Li Chengqian snorted and said to Cai Zixing, "From now on, you will work in the East Palace." "Be responsible for papermaking experiments."

For Li Chengqian, transferring an insignificant minor official to the Eastern Palace was a piece of cake.

Chang Sun Chong, the prince's household steward, can do it.

"But I am afraid I will disappoint your Highness."

Cai Zixing knew very well his own strengths and weaknesses.

He doesn't have the ability to improve the papermaking technique.

"I don't care about that. You can do the experiment yourself or ask someone for help."

"Right."

Li Chengqian suddenly remembered and said, "You should know a lot of papermakers, right?"

"Is there anyone who is more experienced, quick-witted, and has more ideas?"

Cai Zixing thought for a moment and said, "There are quite a few. If you talk about people who are quick-witted and have many ideas, there are one or two."

"It's my cousin, Cai Zixing."

"Call them all together."

"Yes!"

Cai Zixing had no room for objection, whatever the prince said was the final word.

Li Chengqian walked around the workshop, looked here and there, and didn't say much.

Chang Sun Chong accompanied him all the way, and he was puzzled.

Why is the prince suddenly interested in papermaking?

It was not until he left the papermaking workshop that he asked curiously, "Your Highness, there is no shortage of paper in the palace, and we don't need to make paper, we can just buy it."

"Why do you want to experiment with papermaking?"

Li Chengqian sat on the sedan chair, closed his eyes and said calmly: "There is no shortage in the palace, but there is a shortage in the world."

"Chongdi."

"Eh."

"Do you think there will be another Marquis of Cai in the Tang Dynasty?"

"what?"

Chang Sun Chong was a little dumbfounded, "Another Marquis of Cai? Your Highness, this is unlikely."

"After all, the reason why Marquis Cai was granted the title of Marquis was because of his contribution to improving the papermaking technique."

"Now that papermaking technology has matured, who can improve it to become a marquis?"

As he was talking, he suddenly realized something, his eyes widened, and he said, "No way, Your Highness, do you want Cai Zixing to be made a marquis?"

"How can he be worthy of such a reward..."

Chang Sun Chong really couldn't believe this guess.

But the prince often does things unexpectedly.

It is not impossible.

Li Chengqian lay there with his eyes closed and a smile on his lips.

How can I do that?

If I want, he can be made a marquis.

Improvements in papermaking technology are imperative.

Otherwise, many of the things he wants to promote will be difficult to put into action.

If Li Er wanted all students in the world to call themselves disciples of the emperor, he must first reduce the cost of paper and at the same time improve efficiency.

The court will be more willing to reduce the cost of education spending.

Also.

There is one more important thing.

Li Chengqian hasn't decided yet who to find.

"After the improvement of papermaking technology, woodblock printing and movable type printing came into being."

"I guess a lot of people are going to jump up and down."

He investigated and found that in the 15th year of Zhenguan, no woodblock printing was found either in the imperial court or among the people.

This means that woodblock printing is still in its infancy.

Li Chengqian naturally had to prepare to bring this important event forward.

First the blocks were carved and then movable type was used, thus revolutionizing printing technology all at once.

However, Li Chengqian was not in a hurry and thought things should be done step by step.

If we stimulate the nerves of certain power groups too much, I'm afraid they won't be able to digest it.

……

The papermaking experiment was put aside.

Li Chengqian began to pay attention to the selection of new military talents, which was in charge of Tang Jian.

He also understood that the military thought guidance Tang Jian presented to Li Er was recognized.

After several rounds of assessment.

Twenty scholars stood out and were received by Li Er.

Among them are Pei Xingjian, Li Jingxuan and others.

In the Tang Dynasty’s military system, there was no team of a hundred men.

There is only team level, which consists of 150 people.

Three thousand new troops, twenty people are just the right size.

but.

Many scholars who failed the selection were very unwilling to accept this. When Cheng Zhijie recruited three thousand young men from good families, many scholars actually ran to sign up for the recruitment.

Not a lot.

There are hundreds of people.

This shocked many people.

No, you scholars, aren't you crazy enough?

And you came to the army to make trouble?
Facing these recruited scholars, Cheng Zhijie did not dare to act on his own, for he was afraid that these people would be dissatisfied behind his back, and he was also afraid that the scholars would cause trouble.

When he got to Li Er, he also hesitated again and again. It was Tang Jian who said that since they were recruiting boys from good families, could there be better ones than these scholars?

Only then did Li Er agree to recruit this group of scholars.

The scholars cheered as if they had done something great.

Cheng Zhijie's face turned dark. Just based on the tempers of these scholars, he knew that there must be a lot of tough guys in the army.

"Ha ha!"

Li Chengqian couldn't help laughing. The scholars in the early Tang Dynasty were really fickle. If they couldn't be selected, they would just change their track.

"These are all scholars. After they joined the new army, they will not be low-level soldiers. They are probably starting from the ranks of the team leaders."

Chang Sun Chong said: "If we wait until the training is over and our family comes forward, maybe we can get even higher."

"They are all talents."

Li Chengqian sighed and said that he agreed wholeheartedly. The more scholars there were, the better the prospects of the new army would be.

I guess Tang Jian must be laughing so hard that he is numb.

Twenty men are too few, and there are so many more scholars mixing in the new army.

This means that there are more than a hundred scholars, and the voice of his new army will definitely not be small.

　I searched for a long time but couldn't find out which official papermaking office was.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)