Chapter 614 - 613: Farm Woman 42
At the same time, Tan You and her people had finally succeeded in developing both movable type and woodblock printing. Although movable type was convenient, the layout had to be carefully proofread every time it was set.
It was better suited for printing rare books.
As for woodblock printing, once a block was carved, it could print much faster than movable type. Of course, it had its drawbacks: the standards for the blocks were incredibly high, and the slightest mistake could ruin the carving.
Both methods had their pros and cons, but with these two forms of printing, the productivity of the workshops skyrocketed. Soon, news that books from Youzhou State were high in quality and low in price spread far and wide with the merchant caravans.
This news naturally reached countless people, especially the imperial court and the great aristocratic families. Although the court’s power had waned over the past two years, its position in the heartland meant it was always monitoring news from the periphery.
Take the lands north of Yunzhou State, for instance. After the defeat of the Beirong army, the court had proposed offering amnesty to Tan You. Everyone had seen the power of gunpowder; with it, crushing the surrounding rebels would be a simple matter.
But wherever people gather, conflicts of interest arise, and the proposal was naturally rejected. Now, however, offering her amnesty was no longer an option. Tan You had reclaimed the lands north of the steppes. The combined area of Yunzhou, Youzhou, Dingzhou, and Lin State, not to mention the steppes themselves, was now a territory vast enough to make everyone in the court green with envy.
Of course, the court did try sending envoys to offer amnesty, but what was the result? The envoys were kicked out of Youzhou State and even robbed for their troubles. As for who was responsible... did anyone really have to ask?
However, Tan You never declared herself a monarch. After reclaiming the steppes, she became quiet. Her eldest daughter continued to manage all administrative affairs, while Tan You herself retreated to her workshops.
Naturally, this information couldn’t be kept secret. A territory that large was bound to have spies from every faction. And with so many merchant caravans traveling to Youzhou State, such news inevitably spread along with them.
The Prime Minister’s voice was grave. "The price of books has plummeted. The number of scholars in the world is about to increase, and Youzhou State will become a mecca for students from humble backgrounds."
The Minister of Rites added, "Especially that ’Four-Part Aphorism’ of hers. It all but points the way forward for every scholar in the land."
The officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel frowned. "From now on, learning will no longer be the exclusive privilege of the aristocracy’s children," one said. "This is far too effective at winning the people’s loyalty."
This move was a direct threat to the interests of the great aristocratic clans, but what could they do about it? Go and try to reason with Tan You? The moment they made a move, they would face the combined condemnation of every commoner scholar in the realm.
The emperor on the throne was a puppet through and through. He simply sat there, watching his ministers fret. ’Is there a more pathetic emperor in this world than me? Of course not. Practically every minister here can walk all over me.’
The emperor yawned, bored to tears. ’I may be a puppet, but I’m not a fool.’ He actually found himself hoping Tan You would declare her own sovereignty and clean up this whole filthy mess sooner rather than later.
’As for me... I don’t really want to live anymore anyway. The only reason I’m still playing this part is to see how it all ends.’
Meanwhile, discussions about the affordable books were taking place in countless other locations across the land. The most excited, of course, were the scholars of common birth. For any commoner who wished to advance in life, money was the first great hurdle.
Even with ample funds, there was no way for them to escape their commoner status. This era had no imperial examination system; officials were chosen through a system of recommendation. Since selections were made exclusively from the great aristocratic families, the path for commoners to advance was completely cut off.
A vast chasm lay between the common people and the aristocracy—a divide drawn unilaterally by the latter.
So how could these students not be thrilled to hear that Youzhou State now had affordable books, including many rare and exclusive classics? Besides, while Tan You hadn’t officially declared herself a monarch, the territory under her control was already the largest of all the warlords.
At the same time, the Yunzhou Army was the most elite and disciplined military force. Its combat record was illustrious; they had once defeated the Beirong with fewer than ten thousand soldiers. Even with the aid of gunpowder, it was a classic victory of the few against the many, a story people still spoke of with admiration.
A powerful army, a vast territory, and now, a clear signal that she was desperate for talented people...
And so, countless scholars surged toward Youzhou State. Beyond seeking the knowledge contained within books, they also hoped to find a path there to change their station in life.
What could Chen Xi do? Open the city gates and welcome them with open arms, of course. With the arrival of these scholars, she had many more capable people at her disposal. Her mother had told her, ’It’s not a problem if people have their own agendas. As long as you understand their weaknesses, you just need to entice them with what they want.’
And that was exactly what Chen Xi did. The scholars wanted cheap books and access to more knowledge, so she arranged for the eminent scholars of Luming Academy to give public lectures.
These public lectures weren’t free, however; attendance had to be earned with points. And how were these points acquired? By performing tasks for the government offices, submitting proposals, and other such contributions.
The simplest method was to travel to the villages and teach the peasants to read and write.
In short, if the scholars wanted to make a life for themselves in Youzhou State, they had to earn it with their own skills. It might seem demanding, but for these scholars, it was an incredible opportunity.
After all, people rarely cherish what is given freely. The system in Youzhou State was far more forgiving than anywhere else; at least here, anyone with real ability could ultimately make a living.
For instance, some had already secured clerical positions in the government offices through their own merits. While not official, court-sanctioned posts, these jobs were still a significant step up.
Tan You held off on declaring herself a monarch, but with all these maneuvers in Youzhou State, everyone could see her intentions. By not claiming a royal title, she gave no one a pretext to attack her. Yet, taking Yunzhou and Youzhou would be no easy feat, for the Yunzhou Army was incredibly difficult to face.
「Another two years passed in a flash.」
The region north of Yunzhou State had become a virtual paradise. In the lands beyond, however, life was unbearable for the common folk. Countless people migrated toward Yunzhou, hoping to settle down and build a new home.
The Vassal Kings were lost in a blood-soaked frenzy; how could they spare a thought for the commoners under their rule? To say the land was devastated and the people were destitute would be no exaggeration.
Chen Xi was more compassionate. "Mother, those people are in such a pitiful state. It’s so difficult to survive in these chaotic times."
Tan You felt the same pain, but no matter how she felt, she maintained her stance. "If we had rushed into the conflict earlier, we would have become everyone’s primary target. We’ve worked so hard to govern Yunzhou and Youzhou and finally give our people a stable life. If the fires of war were to ignite here again, it would bring them endless disaster."