Wu Zhao finished writing the last word, then put down the pen in his hand and handed the silk full of words to Yuan Xi.
She explained: "This is a list of books that I have collected these days and think they can be used for enlightenment."
"There are some classics of my father in Beixin City's mansion. Now that I am no longer around, I can only write down some from memory."
Yuan Xi looked at the fonts on the silk and sighed: "Thank you for your hard work. In the past few days, I have been looking for people to collect these books and make a few more copies."
Wu Zhao worriedly said: "Young Master's idea is good, but literacy and classics are in the hands of a few scholars. Enlightenment teaching and spreading it to the common people will definitely not be possible within a few years."
Yuan Xi nodded and said: "I know that unless there are breakthrough changes in the means and channels of communication."
Wu Zhao asked curiously: "What do you mean, Young Master?"
Yuan Xi held up the silk and said, "The first is the material for writing."
"Bamboo slips are bulky and silk is expensive, so we need to find cheaper alternatives, such as paper."
Wu Zhao nodded and said: "Caihou paper is light, but it is quite troublesome to make. It requires more than a dozen processes and is labor-intensive."
"Now that the world is in chaos, many people are starving to death because they cannot afford to eat. Many craftsmen have been forced to change their profession and make a living by farming, so there has been less paper on the market these years."
"Also, paper is easy to damage, so important texts are still written on bamboo and silk, so the nobles are also resistant to paper."
Yuan Xi nodded, knowing that what Wu Zhao said was indeed true. Paper also had many inconveniences. It was not until Ge Hong of the Jin Dynasty invented moth-proof and moisture-proof jute paper that paper was truly accepted by the nobles.
From invention to practical use of something, it is a process of accumulation of many related technologies. Each link is intertwined, and if the chain is missing in one place, the entire link will stop moving forward.
Just like papermaking, although it had already appeared in the Eastern Han Dynasty, after the wars at the end of the Han Dynasty and the fighting between the Three Kingdoms, it was not until the economy was restored in the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties that paper was produced on a large scale and began to be available to the common people.
Affected by this, calligraphy and painting began to flourish during the Wei and Jin Dynasties, and a large number of calligraphers and painters emerged.
If you want to ensure technological progress, you must ensure the progress of productivity in the territory. If you want to ensure productivity, you must ensure the stability of the situation in the territory.
The prerequisite for ensuring this is to have the power to protect oneself.
The more advanced various technologies, the stronger the power to protect oneself, forming a perfect closed loop.
Therefore, there are too many things that need to be coordinated to govern a place, and it is definitely not something Yuan Xi can accomplish alone.
Talent, still talent.
Yuan Xi deeply understood why talent is the productive force, and why governing the world is inseparable from nobles with knowledge.
He alone can solve the problems that have existed for thousands of years. He can only do his best.
He said: "Although paper is not easy to preserve, it is enough for enlightenment."
"Youzhou has no shortage of resources. It just depends on how many talents it can recruit in the future."
"I will find a way to recruit people from Qingzhou and Jizhou, use money and official positions to recruit craftsmen and recruit apprentices."
"As long as apprentices know a few hundred words, they can play a greater role in the expertise they have learned."
"Paper books recording technology are the key. The more books there are, the more people can learn at the same time."
"I will ask the Zhen family to purchase large amounts of papermaking materials to improve papermaking technology."
Wu Zhao worriedly said: "But finding someone to copy it is also very troublesome."
Yuan Xi smiled and said: "Don't worry, there is a way."
He briefly talked about block printing and movable type printing, and said with a smile: "It is enough to use block printing for enlightenment books. As long as there is paper, it is not a problem to print hundreds of sheets a day. In this way, books can be mass-produced."
Wu Zhao's eyes lit up after hearing this: "Young master, this idea is truly astonishing!"
"If this method of printing books becomes popular, it will not be an unreachable thing for everyone to have books to read!"
"Is this the young master's idea?"
Yuan Xi smiled and said: "This is the idea of a certain craftsman."
"You see, even though most books are in the hands of the gentry, there are still many lower-class craftsmen who have discovered better and more advanced things during their labor."
"But many craftsmen are illiterate, which limits the possibility of continuing to improve technology."
"God is unfair, but it is also fair. It gives everyone the opportunity to acquire knowledge and thereby change the world."
"All people should be qualified to study."
After hearing this, the light in Wu Zhao's eyes became brighter, and she nodded gently: "I really want to see this day come with the young master."
The two talked again, and Yuan Xi asked: "I went to Xuzhou and the talks with the Mi family are almost complete. I just need to wait for the Zhen family to send someone to contact them so that the trade route can be opened up."
"I just don't know how prepared the Zhen family is."
Wu Zhao smiled and said: "Master, why don't you go and ask the Zhen family girl yourself?"
Yuan Xi said helplessly: "Although it was intentional last time, the rumors were stronger than I expected. I was afraid that I would not be able to control the situation and let people start in advance, which would be difficult for me to deal with."
Wu Zhao laughed: "You're such a blockhead, don't you have a sister taking the lead?"
"Speaking of which, if you don't see her when you come back, I'm afraid she will blame you again."
Yuan Xi sweated profusely. He came back and was busy with a lot of things. He really forgot about Yuan Xing!
He quickly jumped off the bed: "You have reminded me, I will go see her first!"
He found Zhao Yun and said, "Brother Zilong, come with me to Yuan Mansion."
Zhao Yun didn't know why and got on the carriage.
When they arrived at Yuan Mansion, Yuan Xi asked the guard to call, and soon a maid came in and welcomed the two of them in.
The two of them followed to the back house and saw Yuan Xing coming out. When they saw Yuan Xi, they complained: "You still remember me!"
"How often did you come to see me after you moved out?"
Yuan Xi smiled and said: "It's not like I'm going to see my sister as soon as I come back."
Yuan Xing sighed: "Just come back. I heard you went to Dongwuyang and Xuzhou again. Is there anything so important that you have to go there in person?"
She turned to Zhao Yun, lowered her head slightly, and saluted, "Second brother, General, thank you for your trouble. I would like to thank you."
Zhao Yun quickly returned the gift: "Zilong is frightened because of his duties."
Yuan Xi saw this and said, "Have you seen it?"
Zilong's expression remained unchanged: "When the young master left Yecheng, the girl came to the young master's residence several times."
When Yuan Xi saw Zhao Yun talking to Yuan Xing like this, it was obvious that he had known him well before.
He was a little resentful, thinking that he would go to great lengths to create opportunities for you this time, but he didn't expect that he had already hooked up!
He took advantage of Zhao Yun's opportunity to guard outside the house, pulled Yuan Xing into the house, and whispered with a smile: "What do you think of Brother Zilong?"
"He was the one I told you about his talent back then. I didn't lie to you, did I?"
Yuan Xing glanced at him, "That's good, that's good, but you and I can't make the decision, so what's the use of just talking?"
"Although he is now a captain, he is still far away from the Yuan family's requirements. I don't care, but my father and mother will definitely not allow it."
Yuan Xi smiled and said: "Don't worry, he will be promoted after he has achieved success in defeating Gongsun Zan."
Yuan Xing shook her head: "You think too simply. Even if he becomes a lieutenant general, even if my father nods, my mother will not be happy."
"I heard what my mother has recently said, and she wants me to marry a rich family."
Yuan Xi pondered, "You said that if my father changes his wife..."
Yuan Xing was shocked, she quickly covered Yuan Xi's mouth and whispered: "Is this what you can say?"
Yuan Xi shook his head. Indeed, the risk of doing such a thing is still quite high.
It's not that there are no dead warriors. The dead warriors under him who were trained by Qu Yi, as long as he opens his mouth, those people will rush to die.
But in this case, the consequences are difficult to predict. The worst case scenario is that Yuan Xi loses everything and all his previous efforts are in vain.
There is no airtight wall in the world. If you want to eliminate future troubles, you have to kill them all. But if you are a family, can you kill them all?
The second is to have the power to make the other party not dare to retaliate even if they know about it.
Yuan Xi's current status was given by the Yuan family and could be taken back at any time. Only if he becomes a prince will others not dare to act rashly.
Thinking of this, he smiled at Yuan Xing and said, "Sister, don't worry, I just said it casually."
"I'm here, and I have one more thing to ask my sister. The Chinese New Year will be here in a few days. My sister has a good relationship with Zhen Rong, why don't you invite her to come over and talk about it? I will also come to accompany you then."
Yuan Xing understood immediately after thinking about it, shook her head and said with a smile: "My second brother is actually a lot more cunning and has learned so many twists and turns."
"I will go to invite Zhen Rong tomorrow. Please wait for my news."
Yuan Xi and Zhao Yun came out of the mansion and got on the carriage. Yuan Xi was in a good mood, but he saw a look of disappointment on Zhao Yun's face.
When he saw this, he asked curiously: "Brother Zilong, doesn't he look down on my sister?"
"If this is really the case, I will find another good match for my brother."
Zhao Yun shook his head and said: "Young Master misunderstood, Yun didn't mean that."
"The character and appearance of my sister's family are beyond anyone's reach, but what makes Yun disappointed is not the long-term love between children."
"Yun is a little disappointed in the young master, and even more disappointed in himself."
Yuan Xi was shocked when he heard this and hurriedly asked: "What did Xi do to disgrace my brother?"
Zhao Yun hesitated for a moment and then said: "Yecheng is very good, the food is good, the accommodation is good, and it is much more comfortable than Beixin City. I think the young master also enjoys it."
"But do you still remember the promise you made to the people in the city when you left?"
"At that time, Yun succeeded the young master in charge of Beixin City. Later, when he went to attack Tiankai in the battle of Qingzhou, he was temporarily under the supervision of Brother Qu."
"The city guards have been replaced, but no explanation has been given to the people of Beixin City. Now that the New Year is coming, I wonder if the people in Beixin City feel that the young master has lied to them?"
"I know that the young master has done many things and they are very important, but if the young master does not give them a good explanation, how can he win the trust of the world in the future?"
After hearing this, Yuan Xi was sweating profusely and bowed in the carriage: "Brother Zilong woke up the dreamer with his words. It was indeed my negligence."
"Tomorrow I will go to Beixin City with my brother."
Zhao Yun shook his head and said: "No, the young master has done enough, and Yecheng needs the young master to be in charge."
"Now that Ziyi is protecting the young master, Yun can rest assured. Please let the young master let Yun go back first."
"When I see the people of Beixin City, Yun will bring you the Master's words."
Yuan Xi sighed: "With Brother Zilong helping me, there is no need to worry about failure!"
"Please tell the people in the city that I will rush back as soon as possible after the Chinese New Year. By then, I will bring not only food to Beixin City, but also peace to the north!"
After hearing this, Zhao Yun showed admiration in his eyes: "Yun has remembered it. Now he will leave immediately to convey the message to the people on behalf of the young master!"
When the carriage arrived at the mansion, Zhao Yun went into the house to tidy up, took some dry food and clothes, and two fast horses, said goodbye to everyone, and left the city.
Yuan Xi arrived at the city gate and saw Zhao Yun disappearing into the distance. He thought that Zhao Yun may not be the best military commander, but he has the rare and precious quality of loyal words and outright advice.