Chapter 356

"Is that so?"

Xiao He's eyes flickered. After knowing that the cost of this thing was not expensive, he immediately realized the extraordinary nature of this thing.

"This thing might be able to achieve the merit of education!"

After paper was manufactured, and after a conversation with Su Xuan in the Zhangtai Palace, realizing the added value of this thing, Ying Zheng specially established a chamber of commerce. Well, it couldn't be said to be established; in fact, under the Shaofu, there were many businesses.

After paper was made, he ordered many craftsmen to make it day and night, and then sold paper in an official capacity.

The price of paper was not expensive, but no one could imitate it.

Although the manufacturing method of this thing was not difficult, it was not something that ordinary people could figure out.

Soon, Xiao He, who was in Pei County, also bought paper.

After paper was sold to the land of the former State of Chu, this thing was gradually sold to the State of Qi.

When this thing was introduced to the State of Qi, it was immediately sought after by the Confucian scholars of Qi, just because compared to bamboo slips and wooden slips, this thing was too convenient.

However, when the Confucian scholars of Qi learned that this thing came from the hands of Qin, their mood immediately became extremely complicated.

Sanghai is a small, obscure coastal town.

The town is not large, yet it is exceptionally prosperous.

The reason lies in the fact that on the highest mountain within this town sits a place famous throughout the world—the Little Sage Manor!

This is the headquarters of the Confucian school and the holy land in the hearts of thousands of Confucian scholars across the world.

Originally, while it held a lofty status, it had not reached such heights until many years ago, when the contemporary sage of the Confucian school, Xun Zi, resigned from his post as the Magistrate of Lanling in the State of Chu, accepted an invitation from the contemporary head of the Confucian school, and finally came to the Little Sage Manor to lecture.

During his time lecturing, he taught many disciples.

And the two most famous disciples of the current age are Li Si and Han Fei.

Both of them serve as officials in the State of Qin and are deeply trusted by Ying Zheng.

When paper was brought to the State of Qi by merchants from Qin, the sensation it caused was immense. Although limited by production capacity, the amount of paper currently available for sale is not large, but that does not stop Ying Zheng from intending to imbue paper with political significance. The reason this item appeared in the State of Qi was for the sake of the Confucian scholars.

Inside the Little Sage Manor.

The contemporary head of the Confucian school, Fu Nian, holding a stack of paper, hurried into a bamboo forest.

Deep within the bamboo forest, there was a bamboo hut.

The bamboo hut looked quite simple, but even so, it did not affect its status in the hearts of the Confucian followers, simply because this is where Xun Zi resides.

"Uncle Master Xun!"

After arriving, Fu Nian knocked gently on the door.

"Come in!"

An aged but not weak voice came from inside the room.

Fu Nian pushed open the door and stepped inside, seeing an elderly man with a tall stature and a high cap sitting at a desk, writing an essay on bamboo slips.

After his two prized disciples, Li Si and Han Fei, had finished their studies, Xun Zi entered a semi-retired state. Apart from occasionally giving a lecture to the students at the Little Sage Manor, he spent most of his time here studying.

"Fu Nian, is there something you need?"

Xun Zi asked Fu Nian while continuing to write on the bamboo slips.

"Uncle Master Xun, please take a look at this..."

Fu Nian handed the object in his hand to Xun Zi.

Xun Zi held his brush in one hand and took the object with the other.

"It looks like silk, yet it is not silk!"

Xun Zi immediately discovered the unusual nature of the object in his hand.

Fu Nian explained: "This item is called paper. It was sold to the State of Qi by merchants from Qin and is a product manufactured by the State of Qin. Its purpose is for writing. It looks similar to silk, but the price is extremely low."

"Oh?"

Xun Zi immediately developed great interest.

Without another word, he placed the paper in his hand onto the desk and began to write.

In a short moment, the sheet of paper was filled with characters.

He picked up the paper, the ink not yet dry, and began to evaluate it.

"Although it is not as durable as silk, it is much lighter and more convenient than bamboo slips. What is written on this one sheet of paper is enough to fill a scroll of bamboo slips..." As he spoke, he looked at the pile of bamboo slips nearby.

A large pile of bamboo slips looks spectacular, but in reality, the content within is not much.

Xun Zi experienced the paper for himself and guessed that the stack of paper in his hand could probably record everything on those bamboo slips.

Afterward, he asked Fu Nian a few questions.

Knowing the specific price of this item, he had a rough idea in his mind.

Although it is slightly more expensive than bamboo or wood slips, compared to silk, it is simply a cheap commodity.

Thus, Xun Zi gave his evaluation: "The emergence of this item, while it cannot immediately replace bamboo and wood slips, and while it is fragile and easily destroyed, is much lighter and more convenient. With this thing, for the scholars of the world, it counts as a new medium for writing..."

"This item can achieve the merit of education!"

Xun Zi had a unique vision and immediately saw the value of this item.

Bamboo slips are heavy, and a single scroll can only carry a limited number of characters. Books written on bamboo slips are not only troublesome to transport but also difficult to read. While the silk used by high-ranking officials and nobles is light, it is expensive, and only a small number of people use it; ordinary people cannot afford it.

But the appearance of paper perfectly solves this problem.

Compared to bamboo slips, it can hold more characters and is lighter, and it is cheaper than silk.

As long as this item spreads throughout the world and gradually replaces bamboo slips, by that time, books will no longer be heavy objects. Perhaps many people will be able to afford books and subsequently learn to read. Although one cannot say it will completely educate the world, the appearance of this thing can indeed promote the process of education.

"Uncle Master Xun, your evaluation of this item is actually this high?"

Fu Nian was somewhat surprised.

Immediately, he brought up another matter: "But this item comes from the State of Qin..."

The image of the State of Qin in the hearts of the Confucian school is not very good.

It has waged war repeatedly and destroyed five states in succession.

Now, only the State of Qi remains among the six states of the Shandong region, and the State of Qi has always been a place where Confucianism flourishes. There are many Confucian scholars here. Now that only the State of Qi remains, the Confucian scholars here are both fearful and hostile toward the State of Qin.

"So what if it is the State of Qin? The State of Qin wields blades and weapons to conquer the world; that certainly has its problems. But they created this item. If it can achieve the merit of education, then that is also the merit of the State of Qin!"

Xun Zi was very straightforward.

In his view, right is right, and wrong is wrong.

Initiating war is certainly a wrong action, but if it can help the people of the world, even if the object is the State of Qin, he will not hesitate to praise it.

After saying this, Xun Zi sighed again: "Of the six states of Shandong, five are already gone. Although the Confucian school is hidden in the State of Qi and is safe for the moment, sooner or later, it will have to face a time of choosing!"

Upon hearing this, Fu Nian's gaze also tightened.

It is said that scholars do not concern themselves with the affairs of the world, only reading the books of the sages.

But as the head of the Confucian school, how could Fu Nian not hear of the affairs of the world?

"Han Fei, you are a disciple of Xun Zi and can be considered a student of the Confucian school. I have decided to send you on a mission to the Little Sage Manor of the Confucian school!"

Inside the Zhangtai Palace, Ying Zheng looked at Han Fei, who had arrived, and said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Han Fei's gaze became focused.

Recently, the biggest event in the world has been the appearance of paper. This item has caused a great stir in the world, and Han Fei can naturally see the significance of this item. Ying Zheng is sending him to the Little Sage Manor at this time.

He immediately guessed the intention behind it.

The target of the King of Qin is—the Confucian school!

"Han Fei accepts the order!"

After his gaze flickered, Han Fei readily accepted the order.

Walking out of the Zhangtai Palace, when he reached the entrance, another figure quietly appeared.

"Han Fei, we will be traveling together this time..."