Movable type printing
After six months of implementing Taiping paper, the official correspondence in the Tang Dynasty was completely transformed.
But Wu Zetian frowned again as she watched the students in the Hongwen Academy still copying classic texts by hand.
(Inner monologue: The speed of knowledge dissemination is still too slow; movable type printing must be put on the agenda.)
That day, she summoned the chief craftsman of the Imperial Workshop and spread out the prepared blueprints: "Carve the characters in reverse using clay, and then bake them to harden. Next, make an iron plate and cover it with pine resin, wax, and paper ash."
The old craftsman stared at the pattern on the "typesetting wheel," his hands trembling slightly: "Your Majesty, this...this is truly a masterpiece!"
(Inner monologue: Thank you Bi Sheng, thank you Shen Kuo! Reading "Dream Pool Essays" was definitely worthwhile!)
Three months later, late at night, Wu Meiniang was urgently summoned to the Imperial Workshop.
In the brightly lit workshop, neatly arranged clay movable type gleamed with a bluish light.
With trembling hands, the craftsman applied ink to the arranged poem boards, covered them with paper, and gently pressed down—
The ink marks of "Spring Dawn" were clearly printed on Taiping paper, each character distinct, and even after twenty prints, they remained clear.
"Success!" Wu Meiniang stroked the paper, which still smelled of ink, her fingertips trembling.
(Inner monologue: The progress of Chinese civilization has accelerated by at least three hundred years!)
Upon hearing the news, Li Zhi rushed over and was speechless with shock when he saw the same poem printed repeatedly.
Wu Meiniang nestled into his arms: "Your Majesty, I was thinking of printing some copies of the 'Thousand Character Classic' and 'Emergency Remedies' first..."
"Seal it!" Li Zhi declared decisively. "Use funds from my imperial treasury to establish printing houses in Chang'an and Luoyang!"
Movable type printing was quietly implemented.
The Imperial Medical Academy was the first to benefit, as the price of "Prescriptions for Common Diseases" dropped to one-tenth of its original price.
Next came the Imperial College, where students from poor families could finally afford to buy the "Correct Meanings of the Five Classics".
That day, Wu Zetian inspected the newly established "Great Tang Bookstore" and saw people scrambling to buy the newly printed agricultural books. Suddenly, she said to Di Renjie beside her, "Di Qing, what do you think about printing and selling the 'Tang Code Commentary' as well..."
Di Renjie's pupils dilated in shock: "Your Majesty! How can the law..."
"Only when the people know the law can they abide by it." She casually picked up a newly printed copy of "The Essential Techniques for the Common People." "Knowledge should not be the privilege of a few."
(Inner monologue: Legal education should start in the Tang Dynasty!)
On a rainy autumn night, Wu Zetian proofread the first batch of movable type editions of the Tang Code by candlelight.
When Li Zhi draped a coat over her, he noticed that she was adding small annotations to the "Ten Abominations" section.
"What's wrong with Mei Niang?"
"Write some case studies in plain language." She rubbed her aching wrists. "For example, for the 'filial impiety' case, you need to specify that it only counts if you don't care for your parents when they are sick."
Li Zhi was silent for a moment, then suddenly snatched the pen from her hand: "I will write it. Your handwriting looks too much like imperial edicts; it will frighten the people."
(Inner monologue: My boss can actually tell corny jokes now?)
The following day at the grand court, when Wu Zetian proposed "printing laws to circulate throughout the land," she was met with fierce opposition from powerful families and high-ranking officials.
"The law is solemn and not to be trifled with!"
"When the people know the law, they will inevitably become unruly!"
Just as the dispute was at an impasse, an urgent report came in – Huainan Road was flooded. The newly printed “Flood Prevention Guide” was promptly distributed to villages along the river, and the people followed the guide to save themselves, resulting in a 70% reduction in casualties compared to previous years.
In the silence of the hall, Li Zhi slowly rose: "My mind is made up. Print the Tang Code and spread its teachings widely. Furthermore..."
He looked at Wu Meiniang and said, "Have the Empress supervise the revision of the 'Interpretation of Civil Laws,' explaining the laws and regulations in language that the common people can understand."
When the court session ended, the ministers from powerful families looked ashen-faced.
They finally realized that when knowledge was no longer a privilege, their era was slowly coming to an end.
Wu Meiniang walked along the long palace path, the autumn sun casting a straight shadow of her.
The scent of freshly printed ink wafts from the distant bookstores, as if one can hear the sounds of civilization sprouting.
——
[Mini Theater: The Copyright Dispute]
(From the perspective of Crown Prince Li Hong)
The Empress Dowager is very troubled lately.
The movable type printing was so successful that someone actually pirated "The Imperial Pastry Recipe".
"If this were modern times, we could sue them until they're bankrupt!" The Empress Dowager waved her fist at the air.
Your subject silently memorized the word "copyright" and summoned the magistrate of Chang'an County.
Three days later, the Tang Dynasty issued its first "Prohibition on Reprinting": anyone who illegally prints another's books shall be fined 100 catties of copper.
The Empress Dowager finally smiled and rewarded her son with a plate of new-style pastries.
As I ate the pastries, I thought: Mother is truly amazing; she always manages to teach me new things.
I just don't understand why she was laughing and muttering, "Intellectual property protection existed in the Tang Dynasty? Who would believe that..."
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