Chapter 45: Great Tang Bookstore, Building a Library

As Li Er’s voice trailed off, Su Liang let out a disdainful chuckle.

He had already handled the matter of the Su Pi, and only then did Li Er learn the specific details; it had to be said that Xue Rengui still respected him, this elder brother, quite a bit.

"Heh... Your Majesty, how do you have the time to come to me today? Shouldn't you be busy with the affairs of the bookstore right now?"

Just two days ago, the Ministry of Works had successfully produced paper based on Su Liang’s moso bamboo papermaking method. It was indeed as Su Liang had said: the paper produced was not only fair and white, but also better suited for writing.

At the time, Su Liang was busy manufacturing small automobiles and had no time to think about these things.

However, Su Liang now had new ideas. When he previously gave Li Er the moso bamboo papermaking method, he did not have the existence of an encyclopedia search engine.

Now it was different; he could already improve the moso bamboo papermaking method. Although he could not yet achieve the speed of later generations, where paper could be produced in just five minutes,

shortening the original six-month papermaking time to about two months was still no problem.

"Haha... I have already handed the matter of opening the bookstore to Ma Zhou and Wang Gui, and the Ministry of Works is also busy papermaking in full swing." At this moment, Li Er’s face was full of pride.

"Sigh..."

Upon hearing this, Su Liang let out a soft sigh, then looked at Li Er with a look of contempt.

In Li Er’s eyes, one only needed to properly organize the existing Four Books and Five Classics and then print them in large quantities.

But Su Liang did not think so. The current Su Liang was no longer the same as in the past; he could bring out any kind of book, and even building a library would be a piece of cake. He really needed to properly improve the cultural level of the Great Tang citizens.

The current Su Liang was no longer satisfied with just having every Great Tang citizen be able to read; not only must they have books to read, they must read good books!

A few days ago, when the Taoyuan Academy opened.

Su Liang had only brought out some relatively basic books, such as elementary mathematics, and some simple knowledge of physics, chemistry, geography, and so on.

Su Liang did not dare to bring out too much, at least not yet.

Take chemical knowledge for example; if he taught it too comprehensively, wouldn't the manufacturing technology for gunpowder leak out? This was a major matter.

As for harmless principles like ice-making with saltpeter, Su Liang brought them out generously; after all, it would be summer before long, and the common people might as well enjoy some comfort.

Seeing Su Liang sigh slightly, Li Er could not help but ask: "Heh... why does my worthy son-in-law sigh? Rest assured, I will absolutely not urge you to have a grandson today."

"Uh... it’s nothing, I just slightly improved the papermaking technique during this period," Su Liang said indifferently.

Upon hearing this, Li Er became interested: "Could it be that my worthy son-in-law can further shorten the time for papermaking?"

As the words fell, Zhangsun Wuji also looked at Su Liang with anticipation.

"That is indeed the case," Su Liang admitted immediately.

"Then... how long does it take for the papermaking technique you improved to produce paper?" Although Li Er was happy that paper was produced via the moso bamboo method, he could not help but worry about the paper supply at this moment.

Currently, the paper produced by the Ministry of Works using the moso bamboo method was only enough for the Changancheng bookstore for one month. To promote it to the Jingji Circuit, and even the entire Great Tang, much more was needed.

Seeing the two looking at him with anticipation, Su Liang slowly held up two fingers.

"This... this..." Li Er and Zhangsun Wuji were both too shocked to speak.

"To be precise, it is less than two months," Su Liang said indifferently.

"Could my worthy son-in-law be more specific? My little heart cannot take it," Li Er said, immediately grabbing Su Liang’s arm.

"Hmm..."

"This... about 55 days."

Seeing the two so excited, Su Liang finally gave a relatively accurate number.

Afterwards, he slowly explained the improved papermaking technique to the two. It took nearly a full hour for Su Liang to finish explaining the 72 production processes, including bamboo soaking, bamboo fiber boiling, pulping, paper scooping, paper pressing, paper peeling, and paper drying.

At the same time, Li Er’s personal Eunuch, Wang De, carefully recorded all of Su Liang’s improved papermaking methods.

"Hahaha... having my worthy son-in-law in the Great Tang is truly the fortune of the Great Tang," Li Er could not help but exclaim.

Zhangsun Wuji, standing to the side, also nodded repeatedly.

"In this way, it can be considered that the matter of my worrying about paper has been resolved."

Just as Li Er’s voice fell, he could not help but sigh, paused, and continued: "Sigh... come to think of it, it was you, my worthy son-in-law, who caused the trouble. Ever since you drank wine and wrote a hundred poems in Pingkang Fang, the price of paper in Changancheng has remained high."

"At the end of last year, the price of paper finally came down, and you, my worthy son-in-law, came up with spring couplets again."

"Otherwise, I could have opened the Great Tang bookstore long ago just by relying on movable type printing."

Su Liang felt extremely depressed upon hearing this; he did not want to do that, but in the end, he had to take the blame for the system.

Now, as long as Su Liang left Furong Garden, a large crowd of little fanboys and fangirls would immediately swarm him.

Fortunately, he was quite a slacker and did not like to show his face.

"My worthy son-in-law, do you have any good suggestions for the bookstore I am opening?" Li Er could not help but set his sights on Su Liang.

"Heh..." Su Liang chuckled at this.

"Your Majesty is setting your sights on me again, aren't you? Are you eyeing the books at Taoyuan Academy?"

Su Liang was too lazy to talk nonsense and went straight to the point.

"Heh... my worthy son-in-law, you are mistaken there," Li Er said with a smile.

"Is that not so?" Su Liang asked in return.

"Uh... my worthy son-in-law, you were able to pass down the ice-making method; I do not believe you don't have other good things in your hands." Li Er stated the truth; it was better not to beat around the bush with Su Liang, otherwise he would get an eye-roll again.

"Is Your Majesty... wanting me to contribute more books?" Su Liang asked.

"Indeed, although the Hongwen Pavilion currently has over two hundred thousand volumes, they are not as practical as your books. If you contribute them, in time, our Great Tang will surely produce many talented people," Li Er said happily.

"I can, but I can only bring out some basic ones; after all, some knowledge is not suitable to be brought out now," Su Liang said, giving Li Er a meaningful look.

As the words fell, Li Er understood the meaning behind Su Liang’s words.

A few days ago, Li Er had already received news from the Bad Ren that Goguryeo and the Wa state had invented hot air balloons, though they could not fly for long.

There was also knowledge like gunpowder that had to be strictly controlled.

Just as Li Er was pondering to himself, Su Liang continued: "However... I can build a library in Wuben Fang, and I hope Your Majesty can clear a space for it."

"Wuben Fang... does my worthy son-in-law want the land around the Imperial Academy?"

Li Er asked immediately.

"Your Majesty, my worthy son-in-law does not just want to build a library next to the Imperial Academy," Zhangsun Wuji said, following the sound.

As the words fell, Li Er suddenly realized.

What kind of place was Wuben Fang? The Imperial Academy was in Wuben Fang, separated from the Imperial City by only a wall.

Not only that, the east side of Wuben Fang was Pingkang Fang.

Pingkang Fang was not only a gathering place for brothels that aristocratic students loved to visit, but also a gathering place for candidates, officials-to-be, officials stationed in the capital from other provinces, and people coming to the capital from all over.

"Hahaha... good, good, good, this is excellent!" Having figured it out, Li Er immediately laughed out loud. "I wonder how much space my worthy son-in-law specifically needs? So I can make arrangements."

"Four hundred mu of land will suffice," Su Liang said nonchalantly.

Su Liang gave a hard condition; four hundred mu was not too big, but not too small either.

At this time, one mu of land in the Tang Dynasty was about 530 square meters, so four hundred mu was about 200,000 square meters, slightly larger than the 70,000-plus square meters of the National Library of later generations.

Su Liang did not want to be troubled in the future, so he planned to do it all at once.

This... this...

As Su Liang’s voice fell, Li Er and Zhangsun Wuji were both speechless, unable to say anything for a long time.

The current area of Wuben Fang was only seven hundred mu, and Su Liang wanted such a large space all at once.

"My worthy son-in-law, can't you take less space? You are putting His Majesty in a difficult position," Zhangsun Wuji said, seeing Li Er’s distressed face.

Li Er was also frowning at this moment, not knowing what he was thinking.

"Oh? What is so difficult about this?" Su Liang asked, pretending to be confused.

"Sigh... half of the west side of Wuben Fang is the Imperial Academy’s land, and the east side is the Court of State Ceremonial and the residences of many officials. You surely know this, my worthy son-in-law," Zhangsun Wuji said with a long sigh.

Just then, Li Er seemed to have discovered something, and then stared at Su Liang with deep eyes and said: "My worthy son-in-law, if you have something to say, just say it directly. As long as it is beneficial to the Great Tang and good for the common people, I will absolutely cooperate with you without hesitation."

"Alright... I suggest that Your Majesty re-plan Wuben Fang, leaving only the Imperial Academy and the library."

"After the library is built, anyone can read the books inside. As for some books that cannot be made public yet, they can be kept in Your Majesty’s Hongwen Pavilion."

As the words fell, Li Er could not help but think of the Taoyuan Academy in Taoyuan City, which occupied four wards of Taoyuan City, with an area of nearly twenty thousand mu.

Compared to the three hundred and fifty mu of the Imperial Academy in Changancheng, the Imperial Academy clearly seemed too small.

The Taoyuan Academy was also designed by Su Liang according to the universities of later generations; after all, universities in later generations were often thousands of mu in size, not to mention that Taoyuan Academy had four major colleges.

Su Liang was that kind of person; either he didn't do it, or if he did, he would do it the best he could, within his capabilities, of course!

"Is my worthy son-in-law determined to make me drive those ministers out of Wuben Fang?" Li Er asked.

"That is indeed the case!" Su Liang admitted immediately.

"Then you don't need four hundred mu of land, do you? How many books are you going to store?" Li Er asked suspiciously. As long as Su Liang gave him a reasonable explanation, he would definitely cooperate with Su Liang.

"Does Your Majesty not think that the subjects in the Imperial Academy are too few?" Su Liang asked in return.

As the words fell, Li Er began to ponder. The current Imperial Academy oversaw the six schools: the Imperial School, the Taixue, the Four Gates School, the Law School, the Calligraphy School, and the Mathematics School.

Although barely enough, it did not have Su Liang’s knowledge.

While Li Er was pondering, Su Liang continued to ask: "Besides, I can bring out tens of millions of books here. How much space does Your Majesty think is needed?"

This... this... Li Er and Zhangsun Wuji were completely stunned upon hearing this.

Tens of millions... tens of millions...

They were muttering to themselves at this moment; it was truly unbelievable, but they could not help but believe it.

Whatever Su Liang said, he had never failed to deliver.

The quantity Su Liang mentioned was still relatively conservative; it would not be difficult for him to bring out hundreds of millions of books now.

As long as Su Liang was given some time!

Seeing the two silent for a long time, Su Liang pretended to sigh and said: "Sigh... or perhaps I should just build the library in Taoyuan Academy; I really do not wish to put Your Majesty in a difficult position."

Just as Su Liang’s voice fell, Li Er suddenly grabbed Su Liang’s arm and said: "Heh... my worthy son-in-law is joking. Leave this matter to me; I will hand over the full authority of Wuben Fang to you."

"Do whatever you want with it, my worthy son-in-law. I will give you one year to slowly renovate it."

"What about the students of the Imperial Academy?" Su Liang asked in return.

"They shall first go to study at Taoyuan Academy!" Li Er replied.

"And the residences of the many ministers?" Su Liang asked in return.

"Hehe... hasn't my good son-in-law already seen many high-end residences in the outskirts of Changan County and Wannian County..." Li Er was already plotting against Su Liang again at this moment.

"Sigh... very well." Su Liang sighed helplessly.

It was only a few houses; Su Liang was not that stingy, and besides, this way, it would be easier for Li Er to explain things to the court officials living within Wuben Ward.

It would not do to have his own father-in-law buy houses from him, especially when he was the dignified sovereign of a nation.

Seeing that Su Liang had agreed, Li Er immediately burst into hearty laughter: "Hahaha... good, good, good! I will move the location of the Memorial Reception Office elsewhere to give my good son-in-law ample room to display his talents."

The Memorial Reception Office was a resident office in the capital for local administrative agencies; generally, only provincial-level units were qualified to establish such offices in the capital.

When the Han Dynasty was first established, it was called a 'Di', and during the Tang and Song dynasties, it was called the Memorial Reception Office.

The Memorial Reception Office was the lodging for officials from various prefectures and garrisons when they came to the capital to have an audience with the Emperor or handle other affairs; it was also a contact point for officials from their respective regions who had come to the capital.

The Memorial Reception Office appointed Memorial Reception Officials to report the situation of their respective regions to the imperial court, submit memorials from their regions, report the situation of the imperial court and other regions to their own regions in a timely manner, convey imperial edicts and official documents, handle the delivery of taxes and tributes from their regions to the imperial court, and request instructions from the imperial court for any major matters that their regions could not decide on their own.

For this reason, the Memorial Reception Office also became a social venue for local officials, capital officials, and famous scholars in the capital during the Tang and Song dynasties.

In addition, the Emperor's activities, imperial edicts, the appointment and removal of officials, memorials from ministers, and other important military and political information were all processed here. It can be understood as a primitive medium for news dissemination; it is the earliest verifiable medium of communication within China and the earliest prototype of a newspaper to appear anywhere in the world.