Chapter 254: The Two Great Prideful Ones

Chapter 254: The Two Great Prideful Ones

Genuine bookstore.

It was already the second watch of the night, but the lights in the genuine bookstore were still on.

Hou Donglai came into the room, wiped his sweat, and said to Zhang Fei who was sitting inside: "Don't worry, Sanlang, it won't be a problem to print another hundred copies of Sima Xueshi's article."

"That's good!"

Zhang Fei nodded, "Have they sent the money?"

Hou Donglai said: "They have all been delivered. Baifanlou and Panlou even sent an extra 100 guan."

Zhang Fei was slightly stunned, "Why send more?"

Hou Donglai said, "They are afraid that it will not be enough. It will be troublesome to send money over temporarily. So they just leave a hundred strings of cash with us. If they need it, they can just send someone over to get the tabloid."

...

...

Nowadays, hundreds of strings of cash have to be transported by ox cart. Baifanlou and Panlou don't care about the money, what they want is efficiency.

We can no longer allow the situation of “not reporting to other stores” to occur in their store.

"As expected of Baifan Building, it is really rich and powerful!" Zhang Fei nodded with a smile, and suddenly looked at Hou Donglai who was full of energy, "Old Hou! You must have stayed awake all night yesterday, right?"

"It seems...it seems so. I just took a nap this morning."

Then Hou Donglai asked again, "Why are you asking this, Sanlang?"

Zhang Fei said awkwardly: "I just saw that you don't seem sleepy at all."

Hou Donglai chuckled and said, "I... I have never made such a profitable business in my life. I am so excited that I probably won't be able to sleep today."

When he said the last part, his eyes were filled with laughter.

It's not just him. All the craftsmen like Baiban and Hongzhong are like this. They get more and more excited as they work.

It's so interesting to have such a good business that people are rushing to give you money!

There were tabloids on the market in the past, but they were nothing compared to these tabloids!

One of the important reasons is that those tabloids are all handwritten and the quantity is extremely limited, while they use movable type printing. The larger the quantity, the more money they make.

Coincidentally, the demand is quite high. If we continue to sell like this, we will be really rich!

Why are you still sleeping?

Zhang Fei said: "You still have to rest during these two days. I have another task for you."

Hou Donglai asked hurriedly: "What mission?"

Zhang Fei said: "I plan to split this genuine bookstore into two parts, into a movable type workshop and a printing workshop. One workshop will specialize in the production of movable type, and the other will be responsible for printing."

Hou Donglai felt puzzled and asked, "Why is this happening?"

Zhang Fei said: "Firstly, we have limited houses here, and the surrounding housing prices are very expensive, so there is no need to make movable type here."

Hou Donglai nodded: "That's right, not to mention it's expensive, it's impossible to rent it at all."

Zhang Fei continued: "Next, movable type can also make money. We can sell movable type to other workshops."

After hearing this, Hou Donglai sighed, "Sanlang, this is absolutely not possible."

Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Are you worried that others will steal our business?"

"Isn't it?" said Hou Donglai.

Zhang Fei said: "Then you know that if a tree stands out in the forest, the wind will destroy it. If we are the only printing workshop left in Tokyo, then we will be finished."

Hou Donglai nodded, not quite understanding.

Zhang Fei added: "But for now, we still won't sell the movable type. After all, we don't make much money."

Hou Donglai nodded repeatedly to show his approval.

Zhang Fei said: "The task I give you is to find a workshop."

Hou Donglai said, "I understand. I will ask Fang Ya tomorrow."

Zhang Fei said: "Then go to bed early today."

"Why!"

......

By the time Zhang Fei returned home, it was already three o'clock in the morning.

But no matter when he came back, it was always Gao Wenyin who opened the door for him.

"Remember I've said many times that if I come back late, Madam doesn't have to wait for me."

Zhang Fei said with a hint of apology.

Gao Wenyin just smiled shyly as always, and then said, "The water is always hot, and the food is also hot. Sanlang, do you want to take a shower first, or eat something first?"

Although he was sorry, Gao Wenyin's thoughtfulness was irresistible. Zhang Fei thought for a moment and said, "I'll go take a shower first."

Gao Wenyin said: "I'll go get ready now."

"oh."

Zhang Fei suddenly seemed to remember something, "Is Lao Qi back?"

Gao Wenyin said: "I came back in the evening."

Zhang Fei nodded, and said to the exhausted Li Si: "Li Si, go ask Lao Qi to wait for me in the living room, and then go find Xiao Tao."

"Why!"

After answering, Li Si suddenly asked, "Third brother, what do I want to do with Xiao Tao?"

Gao Wenyin also looked at Zhang Fei curiously.

Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Of course, ask her to make something for you to eat. Otherwise, why would she do that?"

Gao Wenyin said hurriedly: "Everything is prepared."

In her eyes, there is no distinction between master and servant, so she usually prepares meals for Zhang Fei, Li Si, Long Wu and others.

......

After taking a bath and washing away the sweat, I felt much better.

When we arrived at the living room, hot food was already on the table and Feng Nancy was also standing in the hall.

"Seventh brother! Sit down!"

Zhang Fei pointed to the opposite side and then sat down.

Feng Nanxi didn't bother to be polite with Zhang Fei and sat opposite him.

"You did a good job on that."

Zhang Fei nodded approvingly.

Feng Nanxi hurriedly said: "It's all Li Bao and the others...!"

"Don't be polite in front of me. I'm not being polite either." Zhang Fei interrupted him and asked, "Do you know who you are working for now?"

Feng Nanxi hesitated and said, "I don't dare to guess the details, but it must be someone very important."

"Officials!"

Zhang Fei said directly.

Feng Nancy was stunned.

Zhang Fei said: "To be more specific, it is the taxation department that the court has just established. I think your cautious work style is very suitable for this job. Are you interested in joining the taxation department?"

Feng Nancy was stunned. "Can I...can I do this?"

Zhang Fei nodded. "It depends on whether you are willing or not."

Feng Nancy smiled sheepishly, "Of course I am willing to do that."

Compared with being the Zhang family's housekeeper, being the tax commissioner is certainly much more interesting.

Zhang Fei added: "At the same time, I also want Shi Erlang to go in."

Feng Nanxi asked in surprise: "Why?"

Zhang Fei said: "Because the tax bureau needs to build up a very wide network of contacts, I hope to use Erlang's connections and his personality of making friends to expand the tax bureau. One of you will be responsible for internal affairs, and the other for external affairs."

Feng Nanxi frowned, "But Erlang is very loyal, I'm afraid he won't be willing to take advantage of his own brothers."

Zhang Fei smiled and said, "I just value his loyalty. I won't let him betray anyone. As for using him, that's out of the question. We just want information. Brothers should help each other. If his brothers are in trouble, we will also provide assistance."

When Feng Nanxi heard this, she thought it was feasible, and asked, "Should we ask my sister-in-law first?"

Zhang Fei said, "No, so as not to make her worry. It is not appropriate to let too many people know about this matter. I didn't even tell Zhiqian."

Feng Nancy nodded, "I understand."

He knew that Wang Anshi's new law would be released soon, which would surely create a huge political storm. He had to make arrangements as quickly as possible and grab as many cards as possible in his hand so that he would not be helpless when facing this storm.

......

The next morning.

Wang Anshi went out early and went to the tavern closest to the imperial city.

"Mr. Wang, what would you like to eat today?" asked the shop owner.

"Two steamed buns and a bowl of porridge."

After Wang Anshi finished speaking, he glanced around and saw that everyone was holding a newspaper. He couldn't help but ask in a low voice: "What are they reading?"

The shop owner said hurriedly, "Tabloid. There's a new one today."

"Tabloid?" Wang Anshi asked, "Isn't it a court newspaper?"

The shop owner shook his head and said, "We haven't received any official notices today."

"How do those people do things?" Wang Anshi muttered to himself, and then said, "Give me a copy of the tabloid."

"Why!"

Soon, a tabloid was delivered to Wang Anshi.

As soon as Wang Anshi opened it, he knew it was written by Xu Zhiqian. After just a quick glance, he knew roughly what it was about.

It is nothing more than dissecting the previous lawsuit and using it to discuss the court's legislative amendments.

Use justice to explain politics.

These views had no appeal at all to Wang Anshi.

But others really enjoyed watching it.

I also heard people at the next table talking: "What the tabloid said is quite true. Today, the landlords can use the tenants to create public resentment in order to prevent the court from legally collecting taxes. Then, can they use public resentment to kill people and burn people tomorrow?"

"Yes! I agree with this statement very much. The court amended this law to respect the principle that the law is nothing more than human feelings. Previously, those big landlords used tenants to win the sympathy of the court, which made the court in a dilemma. If this continues, the court will no longer sympathize with those tenants."

"And the saying that the law does not punish the masses is also very true. Nowadays, the number of tenants is increasing day by day. We cannot let the landlords control the tenants. Then no matter what they do, they can use the law not punishing the masses to get away with it. Only the judiciary can protect the rights and interests of tenants."

"That's really incredible of Mr. Sima. It took so long to revise just one law. Why hasn't it been promulgated yet?"

......

Wang Anshi secretly looked down on those officials and said, "It seems that you only understand these principles now. I really don't know how you became officials."

......

"Jun Shi!"

Wen Yanbo had just arrived at the gate of the imperial city when he happened to meet Sima Guang, so he hurriedly called out to him.

Sima Guang stopped and bowed, "Good morning, Duke Wen."

Wen Yanbo walked over and asked, "Junshi, have you finished revising the laws?"

Sima Guang said: "Almost done."

Wen Yanbo said, "I think you can use this as a title and publish the revised law in the tabloid first."

Sima Guang said depressedly: "Duke Wen, it's been a whole day. Can you please stop talking about this? I really beg you for help."

Wen Yanbo said hurriedly, "I am speaking seriously to you, not teasing you. Do you know that another tabloid came out today, and it also attracted a lot of attention."

Sima Guang said weakly: "What does this have to do with me?"

Wen Yanbo said: "This issue of the tabloid uses the original lawsuit to explain why the law is revised from the perspective of the judiciary. When I was having breakfast just now, I found that many people who read this tabloid were complaining about why you have not yet revised the law.

This shows that the reason why yesterday's heated discussion was not entirely due to your article, but the tabloid also contributed. The article by the young lady from the Xu family was just average, to be honest, but it attracted everyone's attention, which shows that the tabloid is not ordinary! "

Sima Guang frowned, "What does Duke Wen mean?"

Wen Yanbo said: "After you revise this law, write an article with this title to explain the court's ideas for revising the law, and print it in tabloids. Print more and spread it to other places. This way you can get twice the result with half the effort."

Sima Guang seemed a little hesitant and said, "How about Wen Gong write it?"

Wen Yanbo said, "I didn't edit this, so how can I write it?"

Sima Guang waved his hands and said, "But I really don't want to be in the limelight anymore. Forget it, forget it."

In his opinion, that was enough, as long as the landlords did not dare to use their tenants to threaten the court.

Wen Yanbo was angry at his lack of resistance and said, "You!"

As the two chatted, they entered the imperial city and suddenly saw many officials standing in front of a palace wall.

Wen Yanbo said, "It seems that a court bulletin has been published."

This wall is specially used to post court bulletins, which usually publish disaster reports from various places, and officials must read them.

When they walked over to take a look, they found that it was not a disaster that had occurred somewhere, but an article written by Wang Anshi, which mainly discussed the corvée law and also slightly touched on the equalization of transport law.

Wang Anshi knew that the corvée law was what the people were most concerned about, while the equalization law of transport was more related to wealthy businessmen who mostly had indirect relations with the people, so he had to use the corvée law to win the hearts of the people.

However, the article did not directly reveal the provisions of his exemption law, but instead explained the background and theory of his reform.

After reading it, Wen Yanbo saw many officials around him taking notes and praising it repeatedly. He couldn't help but stroke his beard and sighed, "I have to say, Wang Jiefu's article is indeed better than yours and mine."

Sima Guang snorted, "It's just a lie to confuse the people. It's not worth mentioning."

He left after saying that, and he certainly couldn't accept it.

Wen Yanbo suddenly had an idea and chased after him, saying with a chuckle, "It turns out that Junshi doesn't dare to write any more articles because he's afraid of being outdone by Wang Jiefu!"

Sima Guang asked, "Would I be afraid of him?"

Wen Yanbo said, "Your article was published only yesterday, and today Wang Jiefu published his own article in the official newspaper. He obviously wanted to compete with you. Unfortunately, he did not expect that you would not dare to accept the challenge."

Sima Guang asked, "Who said I don't dare?"

Wen Yanbo said: "Then write another one and see whose article gets more attention."

"I...."

Sima Guang felt extremely guilty, but he was not blind. Wang Anshi's article was indeed better written than his.

Talent is something that can be very hurtful.

Wen Yanbo stroked his beard and smiled, "Alright, alright, I know your difficulties. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone else. Just pretend I never mentioned this."

Sima Guang was an old fox and he could keep his composure in everything, except Wang Anshi.

No one can lose but Wang Anshi. The key point is that Wang Anshi published an article today, which was clearly aimed at him.

Sima Guang's forehead was hot, "What's the difficulty? I just don't want to be in the spotlight. I'll write it if I want. I'm not afraid of him."

Wen Yanbo hurriedly said, "Junshi, calm down. Don't force it."

Sima Guang snorted, "Don't get excited, Duke Wen. It's just writing an article. How can it be forced? Besides, it's my job to let the people know more about the new law."

Diligence can make up for lack of talent, and it is not necessarily inferior to talent.

......

Almost at the same time, Wang Anshi also entered the imperial city. He went straight to the Jinzouyuan, which was responsible for the official reports.

"Master Xing, didn't you say that the official report could be sent out this morning?"

He asked an official named Xing Zhi.

Xing nodded straightly and said, "Yesterday, our Jinzouyuan copied fifty copies of Wang Xueshi's article overnight and have sent them all out."

Wang Anshi was speechless and asked excitedly: "Other tabloids are printed, but the imperial court's memorial office still uses copying?"

Xing Zhi said embarrassedly, "We have always copied the court bulletins of the Imperial Court. After all, we don't need too many copies. If we use printing, we have to carve the plates first, which is more troublesome. It will take several days to complete. Copying is much faster and can be sent out today."

After hearing this, Wang Anshi didn't know what to say. If he wanted to publish it today, it would definitely be too late to print the version. So he could only leave the Jinzouyuan in frustration.

Halfway through the journey, I happened to meet Lu Huiqing.

"Teacher."

When Lu Huiqing saw Wang Anshi, he walked quickly to him and said excitedly: "My dear teacher, that article is really well written."

Wang Anshi said depressedly: "Really?"

Lu Huiqing said seriously: "I swear to heaven, even if that article was written by Sima Xueshi, I would still applaud it."

Wang Anshi muttered quietly, "But I haven't heard anyone talking about it."

Lu Huiqing sighed: "Nowadays, everyone is busy copying the articles of our mentor, so who cares about discussing it? Wait a day or two, and it will definitely spark heated discussions."

After hearing this, Wang Anshi's eyes lit up and he thought to himself, "Yes! If you don't print more of Sima Junshi's articles and send them to others, who will read them? Even if there are only 50 copies of my articles, 500 copies can be copied. Why print them?"

That's what's happening.

He smiled.