freenovelworld Chapter 314 The Success of Movable Type Printing
Chapter 314 The Success of Movable Type Printing
Several days later, the sun shone brightly, and a gentle breeze brought a refreshing coolness. Ying Wuyou arrived slowly at the manor in her carriage. The wheels rolled, raising a cloud of dust, but it couldn't conceal the anticipation and concern in her eyes. As soon as she stepped off the carriage, she saw Zhao Ran leading Zheng Yuanshan briskly towards her.
With a smile and a respectful expression, Zhao Ran walked up to Ying Wuyou, bowed slightly, and said, "Miss, after everyone's concerted efforts and tireless work over the past few days, the classics and historical texts have been basically printed. Would you like to take a look?"
Ying Wuyou nodded gently and replied, "Okay." Her voice was soft, yet it carried an undeniable firmness. Zhao Ran carefully took out a newly printed scripture from his robes and presented it to Ying Wuyou with both hands. The gesture was as if he were holding a rare treasure, full of reverence and cherishment.
Ying Wuyou took the book gently, as if afraid of disturbing the words within. She softly turned the pages, her gaze slowly settling on the rows of clear, neat characters. Her eyes were focused and attentive as she examined each word and sentence, not missing a single detail. After a moment, satisfaction appeared in her eyes, and a slight smile played on her lips as she praised, "Hmm, the handwriting is very clear, and the layout is quite neat. Not bad!"
After a brief pause, she continued, "In that case, let's take advantage of this momentum and quickly increase manpower to continue printing in large quantities. In addition, we might as well open our own bookstore to sell these books that we print ourselves. This way, it will not only make it convenient for readers to purchase and satisfy their thirst for knowledge, but also increase revenue and provide more financial support for the preparation of the imperial examinations."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Ran nodded quickly, indicating that he would definitely do as she asked. His eyes shone with determination and resolve, as if promising Ying Wuyou that he would fulfill her request. Then, as if remembering something important, Ying Wuyou asked, "By the way, how is the movable type printing progressing?"
Zhao Ran hurriedly replied, "Miss, the movable type printing templates have successfully engraved most of the common characters, but there are still many rare characters that have not yet been engraved."
Ying Wuyou nodded thoughtfully, then said slowly, "It's alright. If it's a rare character that isn't frequently used, we don't need to rush to copy it. The most important thing right now is to focus on copying the books related to the imperial examination that I gave you before. After all, the imperial examination is the most important thing right now, and we can't be careless."
After Zhao Ran respectfully agreed, she left with Zheng Yuanshan. Ying Wuyou had someone take the newly printed scriptures and movable type templates that Zhao Ran had given her, and then got into a carriage and headed towards Zhangtai Palace.
The carriage moved slowly forward, the scenery outside the window flashing by like a scroll painting, but Ying Wuyou had no heart to appreciate it. Her mind had already drifted to the Zhangtai Palace, thinking about how to demonstrate the achievements of movable type printing to the King of Qin. Before long, Ying Wuyou arrived inside the Zhangtai Palace.
When the King of Qin saw what Ying Wuyou was holding, a hint of curiosity and interest flashed in his eyes. He asked with great interest, "Is this a template used in movable type printing?"
Ying Wuyou quickly stepped forward, her movements light and graceful, and presented the item in her hand to the King of Qin. She then respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, this is indeed the item. The commonly used characters have now been largely inscribed."
The King of Qin nodded slightly, his gaze then falling upon the movable type molds. Each mold was exquisitely crafted and small, arranged neatly like soldiers awaiting inspection, exuding a unique sense of order and beauty. The King of Qin couldn't help but admire them inwardly, and reached out to pick one up, examining it closely. When his fingers touched the mold, the unique texture pleased him greatly, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
Next, Ying Wuyou patiently explained to the King of Qin how to use movable type printing to print documents. Her voice was clear and melodious, and her explanations were logical and clear, detailing each step and every aspect in a simple and easy-to-understand way. The King of Qin listened with great interest, nodding occasionally to indicate that he understood.
Unable to suppress his intense curiosity, the King of Qin strode forward and personally began to operate the wondrous movable type printing. At first, his movements were somewhat clumsy, as he was not yet familiar with this new technique. However, thanks to his exceptional intelligence and comprehension, he soon grasped the essentials.
Time passed quickly, and under the King of Qin's skillful operation, a short but exquisite article was soon successfully printed. The King of Qin happily picked up the newly printed paper, carefully examining the clear and neat handwriting, and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"This technique is truly ingenious! Jiayang, you have made a great contribution by inventing such a wonderful movable type printing technique!" King Qin praised Ying Wuyou while admiring the printed article in his hand with a smile.
Ying Wuyou quickly curtsied and humbly replied, "Father, you flatter me. Everything I have done is for the prosperity of Qin. I only hope that this invention can play a certain role in promoting the spread of Qin culture."
The King of Qin smiled and nodded in agreement. He then said enthusiastically, "Haha, now that we have paper and printing technology, our Great Qin will surely usher in a golden opportunity for cultural development, and our national strength will become even greater!"
After a moment's thought, the King of Qin suddenly changed the subject, his face showing concern as he asked, "However, Jiayang, while this matter is indeed excellent, we must also carefully consider its potential negative impacts. What if this movable type printing technology falls into the hands of those with ulterior motives, and they wantonly spread inappropriate rumors, disturbing the people's peace? What then?"
Faced with the King of Qin's sudden concern, Ying Wuyou remained calm and composed. She replied unhurriedly, "Father, please rest assured. I have already considered this issue. I suggest that a group of learned and upright officials be specially appointed to review the contents of the books to be printed. This will effectively prevent harmful information from spreading widely through movable type printing."
Upon hearing Ying Wuyou's words, the worry on King Qin's face vanished instantly. He nodded repeatedly in satisfaction, praising, "Hmm, not bad, not bad! Jiayang's words are very reasonable. In this way, I can rest easy."