Chapter 102: The drought is more beautiful than fire, and bamboo paper is more pleasant (2)

The dull thunder rolled in from the horizon and then fell over the palace. A heavy rain came, but unfortunately, as usual, it squeezed a few drops and quickly stopped the rain.

The scenery after the rain is quite charming. The bamboo leaves and the leaves are covered with raindrops. When the sun shows its face, colorful light appears.

Sitting in the palace, Di Renjie said disappointedly: "It's raining, it's not falling."

In fact, if it falls, at least the ground is wet, and there are some water splashes in the depression, but it is not big. It is better than not falling. The same is true for the scene in Guanzhong. There is always some water that people drink, but it is water for crop growth, which is very problematic.

Wei Yuanzhong also said: "The Henan prefectures are still open, and it is Guanzhong."

"When I left Dongdu, I had an idea," Li Wei told me about his thrilling businessmen with several titles.

Di Renjie said: "Your Majesty must not agree."

"yes."

"Your Highness, you will not say anything like this in the future. Although you have rewarded a few insignificant barons, you may have saved countless people in Guanzhong. But have you ever heard of the story of the King of Chu who is so thin-waisted?"

"I've heard it."

"As the emperor moves, the world follows the example. Today I have rewarded several merchant titles, but people in the world think that Your Majesty will justify the merchant's reputation. The drought is only temporary. Even if this year is difficult, it will not be like this next year. After it is over, it will pass. But once this wind opens, it will shake the moral foundation of the country. This is the foundation for eternity."

Will it be so serious? Li Wei is unconfident.

It does not value commerce, so the state taxation has to be exploited by farmers. Farmers are already pitiful, and the country has changed from generation to generation, but it is still the farmers. Of course, it attaches importance to commerce. With the current scale of industry and commerce, the country will not allow the state to not collect taxes from farmers. However, it has somewhat shared the pressure from some farmers.

But seeing Di Renjie is like this, let alone others.

Originally, Li Wei wanted to say something to help Di Renjie. That is Dashi. Dashi believes that merchants and workers are good and encouraged industries. Therefore, business is developed, with money, there is a foundation for fighting in the north and the north. Craftsmen have developed skills and can create better weapons and more ships, so there are weapons and transportation tools to allow them to expand.

But just talking about Dashi, in the eyes of the Tang people, it is just a backward country that has transformed into other countries and cannot prove anything at all.

Di Renjie looked out the window again and said, "But if this drought continues, Your Majesty and the Queen must be anxious, for fear that they will surrender to Your Highness's idea in the end..."

It’s good to surrender. It may not be able to rescue millions of victims in Guanzhong. It may save many people and suppress the price of grain. Otherwise, if you ask for help in such a lukewarm call, you will hear that Chang'an rice prices have risen by more than 60 cigars per bucket. If it continues, even ordinary citizens may not be able to afford rice.

Actually, it is really difficult to think about it. The two old parents, who made him walk on thin ice, just wanted to do something and were subject to these backward ideas.

Di Renjie said again: "Your Highness, is it time for the bamboo paper to come out?"

"It's probably the same," Li Wei replied indifferently.

There are many people who are burnt bamboo paper, but he, the initiator, didn't even pay attention to the time.

"Your Highness, will it succeed?"

"Di Qing, Gu has said it many times, I believe Gu."

"Just succeed." Di Renjie sighed. But there were some words that he did not say. As time for bamboo paper came, the atmosphere became more and more wrong. There were countless rumors in the east, and this was no longer the power of the people. In fact, after careful consideration, I finally understood the queen's idea.

Success is good, of course, drought is still a drought. With this great saying, it will be somewhat improved. Moreover, the queen's methods are more than just these. If it succeeds, use some skills to expand its effect. So everyone is at peace.

Di Renjie also welcomes it. Anyway, the prince will not be able to ascend to the prime minister for a while and cannot change.

But if it fails, under this exaggeration, many people will also focus on bamboo paper. Some people will say that the prince is ridiculous. She can also pull some body out of the drought. It is not good for the queen, and the prince is not good. Could it be that the queen and the prince are changed all at once?

Not to mention the prime ministers, even the emperor himself would not be able to do this.

Queen, Queen, a good method. But if this method is used, there will definitely not be many people who can detect it. The queen is cautious and is seriously ill and seeking medical treatment. In fact, this move can be used to advance or retreat.

Thinking of this, he said again: "Your Highness, I'm afraid that after this bamboo paper storm, Your Majesty and Empress will feel guilty to you and may summon you back to Dongdu."

"It's great here, I don't want to go back."

It’s just that you can’t hunt, but the scenery is very good and the mountains are lush, which is a good place to escape the summer heat and cool off. There is no supervision and restraint from anyone.

"You have to go back when summoned, otherwise you will have anger and resentment. You are a little dissatisfied, but you cannot have anger and resentment. Not only that, it is not great for me to stay here for a long time. I also have to go back and think about the way to deal with Master Xu. I have to go back to Dali Temple."

"Sir Xu, Di Qing, if you can deal with it, it doesn't matter if you can't deal with it. Don't force it."

That was Xu Jingzong, countless ministers and prime ministers who fell in his hands, even though he had the meaning of a mother or father.

"I am not Shangguan Yi!" He pointed to Shangguan Wan'er who was playing with Li Lingyue outside and said.

Several low-level officials have taken out pens and recorded them on paper.

This is Li Wei's instructions to Liu Qun, and Liu Qun told Dai Zhide again. There is a debugging process. For example, different tender bamboos, specific rotten time, lime ratio, and the subsequent drying temperature and heat. Although the scale of this test is very large, it takes several times to find the best ratio, at least multiple trials are required to find it.

After being promoted nationwide, it is necessary to experiment with different bamboos, different limes and water quality that have an impact on paper.

But after the big plan is decided, that is the second priority.

The craftsman slowly lifted the bamboo curtain up, and there was indeed a thin layer of things on it, very thin and even, because it was still pulp and crystal clear, so that it could see what was behind and clearly. The onlookers were in agitation and couldn't help but squeeze forward so that they could see more clearly. Fortunately, there were many guards, otherwise the order might be chaotic.

Really successful?

Dai Zhide, Jiang Ke and others looked at each other.

These big guys have a bad expression, and the people cannot see it, but they have the right to see it, and they all approach and look at this thin layer.

It is indeed very thin, but it may not be that thin. The rice paper of the real future generations is thin, and its toughness is better than bamboo paper. Of course, the cost is also good.

But now paper can be used as clothes to wear, and you can imagine the thickness of paper. Compared with bamboo paper, at least in terms of thickness, one is the sky and the other is the earth. In fact, the emergence of bamboo paper can be said to be the second revolution of paper. This craft was also found in the Tang Dynasty. It was very rough and it matured in the Song Dynasty, but it still had many defects. It was not until the Ming Dynasty that it was fully mature. Even in the later era of the Industrial Revolution, bamboo paper did not withdraw from the stage. However, the craftsmanship was more complicated and the quality was far better than that of this kind of bamboo paper that was made of natural objects.

This is not a success, there are some craftsmanship.

The craftsman placed the thin layer on the planed thin wooden board in advance. Press a piece of wooden board on it and then swiped the material. After swiping out many sheets, he lifted the huge square stone and placed it on the wooden board. This was to squeeze out most of the moisture of the thin material by using the weight.

None of the officials left, and the yamen runners came to send "box lunches".

Anyway, there are no people in this area, and the place is spacious. Let’s squat down together and put the food on the ground to eat. Waiting.

Not every steamer bamboo material is successful. Some steamer bamboo materials may not be able to be swept with the incoming materials for various reasons. But it doesn’t matter. Several steamer bamboo materials have been swept with them. Now there must be bamboo paper, and the thinness is the quality problem.

The fire cultivation is a lane made of earth bricks. The craftsman lit the firewood. When he saw that the thin material could not drip water, he lifted the square stone and uncovered the wooden board. He picked up the bamboo material and there was still moisture. Therefore, the color was still mainly transparent, but it was thinner and a slightly beautiful white color appeared.

The crowd started to stir again.

Dai Zhide walked over, stroked his hands, and whispered: "New Paper."

Very soft and smooth to the touch.

He calculated in his mind that the cost was still needed. As for the cost of lime and bamboo, he had ignored it. This kind of thing can be said to be available in most areas of the Tang Dynasty. It was just the money for labor and firewood. After all, he said: "It's really cheap."

Alas, you don’t require the quality of Yizhou jute, as long as you can write, it will be done!

When the craftsmen saw the prime minister want to see it, they left one, let them watch it slowly, put the rest into the alley, and began to cultivate it.

In fact, the sun is very poisonous. After the hands of Dai Zhide and others, they also did some. Of course, large-scale production must be cultivated. Where can I find such a large area when I am exposed to the sun?

The sun gradually sets.

Instead of leaving, the onlookers gathered more and more. Some literati and poets were already thinking about some words in their minds and preparing to describe this grand occasion.

The alley was opened and the craftsman took out the paper.

"So white!" The crowd couldn't help but squeeze forward, pushing the guards around...

"Your Majesty, from the Eastern Capital to Fenzhou, Jinzhou, Puzhou, and Ruzhou, there has not been much rain since the beginning of summer." Wu Zetian Dao.

"Well," Li Zhi rubbed his head. These prefectures and counties are all prefectures and counties in Henan and Hedong. Although there are a slight sign of drought, they are connected to each other, so the supply is convenient. So he asked, "Where is Guanzhong?"

Wu Zetian's face changed and he said, "It's even more so in Guanzhong!"

After saying that, he looked at Li Zhi's expression. Without any surprise, Li Zhi's face immediately became gloomy.

"Report, report!" Li Shoucheng ran in excitedly with a few rolls of white paper in his hand. He ran a little anxiously, and suddenly tripped on the door and fell to the ground. He didn't care whether he would make his nose and face swollen, and held the paper in his hand tightly.

Li Zhi was sulking and shouted angrily: "What kind of morality is it."

Li Shoucheng felt a little aggrieved. I fell down and didn't expect you to comfort me, nor did I have to scold me. I stood up and fell heavily. I rubbed my painful face and said, "I have bamboo paper, this is bamboo paper, which is delivered in a hurry with a fast horse."

"Oh," Li Zhi also stood up. If the bamboo paper is really successful, it will be good for his son, and for himself and his wife. He walked over, took a few rolls of paper, opened a roll, and said, "Queen, look, it's really thin."

"Yes." Wu Zetian replied, but his body collapsed softly. After so many days of worry, he never expected that the bamboo paper that succeeded finally succeeded. His son definitely did not have the ability. Could this be a chance for God to give his family?

"Get a pen," Li Zhi instructed again.

It is indeed very white and thin, but it is not good to see, but it depends on whether it can be used. If the ink is scattered, no matter how good it is, it will not be very useful. Not only is such a thin paper a bit doubtful, but some papers are not good, even if they are very thick, a large piece of ink will be scattered out when writing it up.

The eunuch hurriedly grind the ink, and Li Zhi lifted the pen and wrote on it. The bamboo paper was not tough, but it was very good to put in the ink. After writing, the ink color was bright and the tip of the pen could feel bright. The bamboo paper of the Song Dynasty had some problems, but at that time, the bamboo paper was loved by everyone such as Su Dongpo, Wang Anshi and others.

In terms of ink alone, these bamboo papers are no less than famous products such as Yizhou jute.

Looking at the words he wrote and the ink color, Li Zhi said, "Good paper."

Li Shoucheng said: "Yes, it's good paper, but it's a pity. This requires the tender bamboo before and after the grass. Although it is done now, it cannot be promoted immediately. The bamboo in different places is different and needs to be adjusted. In this way, it will take the next year to become popular all over the country. However, a large amount of bamboo paper will be available in Zhongnan Mountain next year."

"I can wait for the next year."

In fact, Li Zhi doesn’t care about the time of promotion now. As long as he has bamboo paper, he succeeds, and is better than everyone expected, he will have great justice and it will be done!

"Come on, bring the wine from the Western Regions. I want to drink a cup or two." Just as the eunuch was about to go down, Li Zhi called him again: "Wait, you can pass on my order immediately and let the prince return to the Eastern Capital."
Chapter completed!