Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and said happily: "Let's go to the printing room together."
So, Zhu Yuanzhang and Hu Changan, surrounded by everyone, arrived at the printing room of the Ministry of Rites.
At this time, the printing room of the Ministry of Rites was crowded with people, and everyone was working enthusiastically.
Suddenly, someone shouted: "Your Majesty is here!"
Hearing this, everyone subconsciously turned their attention to the door.
Sure enough, a bright yellow figure was slowly entering the printing room of the Ministry of Rites.
Seeing this, everyone quickly bowed their heads and worshiped.
However, when Zhu Yuanzhang saw this, he just waved his hand indifferently: "You continue to do your work, I just came to see Hu Shilang's new printing method."
Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang speak, everyone quickly got up from the ground and continued to do their own things.
However, the five people working under Hu Changan's name were obviously nervous.
Unexpectedly, His Majesty would come to test their work this time!
Thanks to Minister Hu, they actually saw His Majesty up close this time!
Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang getting closer and closer, these five people were so nervous that they didn't know where to put their hands and feet.
Seeing this, Hu Changan quickly said to the five people: "Don't panic, just continue working step by step. Your Majesty is just here to inspect the work and will not punish you."
When everyone heard this, they gradually came to their senses.
Although they were still scared, their hands started to move.
In the past two months, they have been repeating this mechanical work.
This has become deeply engraved in their minds like eating and drinking, and has become their subconscious action.
After a while, the five people were immersed in their work again.
Four of them are responsible for typesetting, and one is responsible for mixing ink and printing.
The four people doing the layout are divided into groups of two.
One of them is responsible for reading the text on the book, and the other is responsible for taking the wooden movable type from the turntable to type.
After a while, the pages of the first edition of the book were arranged neatly.
Seeing this, the other person quickly took the board, skillfully pasted the paper on it and started printing.
Soon, the pages were printed out in an orderly manner.
On the side, the craftsmen who use traditional printing methods are still hard at carving the hanging panels.
Judging from this posture, I'm afraid it will take several days of work before he can slowly carve out a block of wood.
Hu Changan was on the side and explained to Zhu Yuanzhang in a timely manner: "Your Majesty, I have made some improvements based on the movable type printing method."
“It turns out that movable type printing used copper movable type.”
"This copper movable type is not only expensive, but the production cycle is also very long. Although it can be used for a long time, it is not easy to make."
"And now, I have replaced the copper movable type with wooden movable type."
"Although this wooden movable type has a shorter lifespan than copper movable type, its production is much simpler than copper movable type."
"It only takes more than a month to make a wooden movable type."
"In this way, the movable type printing method will be more practical, and the efficiency of the printing room will be greatly improved."
When Zhu Yuanzhang saw this, he couldn't help but marveled.
He never expected that once the movable type printing method was improved, it would be so practical!
Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but feel delighted: "Since this wooden movable type printing method is so easy to use, then the entire printing room of the Ministry of Rites should switch to this wooden movable type printing method from now on."
"With such a good printing method, the printing room of the Ministry of Rites will definitely be able to print more Four Books and Five Classics this year!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was really happy.
The greatly improved printing efficiency means that more books can be printed in a short period of time.
This book is not just a book, it is valuable knowledge!
With more books, more scholars in the world can afford to read books.
In this way, more educated people will become the new blood of the imperial court!
You must know that in the officialdom of the early Ming Dynasty, there was a shortage of officials.
After all, due to the turmoil in the late Yuan Dynasty, many scholars lost their families and could no longer afford to study.
In addition, some intellectuals chose to live in seclusion in the mountains and forests in order to escape the wars in the late Yuan Dynasty.
As a result, the number of people available to the court was greatly reduced.
In order to search for useful intellectuals, Zhu Yuanzhang took great pains.
But he didn't expect that there would be a ready-made way in front of him now.
With so many books, he will definitely be able to cultivate more educated people!
But just when Zhu Yuanzhang was happy, Hu Changan poured cold water on Zhu Yuanzhang at the right time: "Your Majesty, this movable type printing must be operated by printers who can read."
"But as far as I know, most of the craftsmen in the printing room of the Ministry of Rites are illiterate."
Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang was also silent.
It turned out that Zhu Yuanzhang had not realized the importance of literacy.
In his opinion, as long as the people can eat and drink enough, everything will be fine.
But now, Zhu Yuanzhang realized the importance of culture for the first time.
Ordinary people are human beings too, and they also need to be literate!
Only with basic cultural knowledge can people live better and work and live better.
At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang was extremely fortunate that the School of the Ministry of Industry had been built.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Hu Changan and said slowly: "In that case, the craftsmen in the printing room of the Ministry of Rites will only work half a day a day like the workers in the ironware room of the Ministry of Industry."
"I work in the first half of the day and go to the newly opened school of the Ministry of Industry in the second half to learn basic cultural knowledge."
"Shilang Hu, you must help the workers in these printing houses learn to read within three months."
As the saying goes, sharpening the knife will not waste time chopping wood.
As long as the work is suspended for three months, the efficiency of these workers can be greatly improved.
Zhu Yuanzhang can still settle this account.
Hu Changan also smiled slightly when he heard this.
Well done, now we have the first batch of students of the Ministry of Industry and Technology School.
However, Hu Changan will naturally not be satisfied with this small victory.
He told Zhu Yuanzhang this time, and there was a bigger plan behind it.
Looking at Zhu Yuanzhang, Hu Changan smiled slightly and said: "Your Majesty, do you want to take this opportunity to directly control the public opinion of the entire Yingtian City?"
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he couldn't help but be a little confused.
Control public opinion?
Can this public opinion be controlled?
What does this control of public opinion have to do with this new printing method?
Looking at Zhu Yuanzhang's confused eyes, Hu Changan also smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I can use this movable type printing method to create something."
"This thing is called newspaper."
"As long as there are newspapers, I dare to assure your Majesty that the public opinion of the entire Yingtian City will soon be firmly under your control."