thefictionvixens Chapter 176
Chapter 176
Su Chen smiled faintly and said, "Ma Zhou will get nine points from your Majesty in the future."
Li Shimin and others looked at each other, and then looked at Ma Zhou who was walking in front and communicating with Li Tai.
"Boy, this is not a joke. Why are you so sure?" Li Shimin asked seriously.
Su Chen's words meant that he told Li Shimin and others that Ma Zhou would become the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty in the future.
It also means that Ma Zhou's talent is not much different from Fang Xuanling.
What is Fang Xuanling's position in Li Shimin's heart?
Not to mention the late Sui Dynasty, he followed Li Shimin in the wars and made suggestions.
In the Xuanwu Gate incident, Fang Xuanling and others planned a coup to help Li Shimin seize the throne, and Fang Xuanling should be the first to make contributions.
After Li Shimin ascended the throne, Fang Xuanling took the lead in formulating Tang laws and rituals.
It is for this reason that when Li Shimin answered Su Chen just now, he said that Fang Xuanling could get more than nine points.
As for Ma Zhou, what virtue and ability does he have?
"Boy, do you know that Xuanling is the Shangshu Zuo Pushe, the head of the prime minister."
Li Shimin continued to emphasize that he was worried that Su Chen had little culture and was not clear about what position Fang Xuanling held in the official system of the court.
Fang Xuanling and others looked at Su Chen with a smile, and were considering finding a time to popularize some of the official system of the Tang Dynasty to Su Chen.
"Hehe, Your Majesty, I know Uncle Fang is powerful!" He glanced at Fang Xuanling and continued, "Two people below, ten thousand above!"
"You are wrong, boy, Xuanling's status is not below the prince, but he just follows the etiquette of the monarch and his subjects!"
Li Shimin thought that the other person Su Chen was talking about was the prince.
"Your Majesty, I am not talking about the prince." Su Chen shook his head and smiled.
"Oh?" Li Shimin thought.
Fang Xuanling, Changsun Wuji and others also thought about who was the other person above Fang Xuanling.
"Your Majesty, haven't you heard of this saying?" Su Chen asked with a sly smile.
Li Shimin and others became curious instantly. They really couldn't think of anyone who had a higher status in the court than Fang Xuanling.
"Worship the emperor during the day and kneel to the wife at night!"
Li Shimin, Changsun Wuji and others were stunned at first, and then they reacted and laughed in unison.
Fang Xuanling was very embarrassed, but he couldn't refute it.
Because he was really afraid of his wife.
"Boy, stop talking nonsense and tell me why you are so sure that Ma Zhou will become the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty in the future."
After laughing, Li Shimin continued to ask Su Chen about Ma Zhou.
"Well, Your Majesty, I can't explain this for the time being. Everyone will know it later. If he has the ability, Your Majesty will give him a chance to show his ability. Otherwise, he should do what he should do, and it won't affect anything."
Su Chen couldn't explain anything either. He couldn't say that he saw it in history books! He was not sure whether Ma Zhou could follow the original historical trajectory and eventually become the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty and a famous official.
"Well, what you said makes sense. I will wait and see what Ma Zhou will do in the future!" Li Shimin said after thinking.
"Your Majesty is wise. Let's go quickly. The paper mill is ahead."
Su Chen flattered casually and ran forward to catch up with Li Tai and Ma Zhou.
Every time Li Shimin heard Su Chen praise him, he felt insulted, just like the last time he praised his calligraphy.
...
The paper mill and the printing workshop, excluding the raw material soaking pool, only cover an area of three acres. The surrounding area is simply surrounded by wooden stakes and bamboo strips.
Su Chen had previously told Li Tai that the paper mill and printing workshop might be demolished soon. An area should be cleared and replanned.
Li Tai and the other three came to the door of the paper mill and waited for Li Shimin and others behind.
At this time, there were more than a dozen workers in the workshop, processing paper raw materials. There were also several workers drying paper.
They sawed off the bamboo and split it into several long strips for easy soaking in the soaking pool.
"Father, this area is the paper mill." Li Tai introduced Li Shimin and others to the paper mill area.
"Well, I heard before that you use bamboo and wheat straw as raw materials to make paper.
Tell me in detail how these bamboo and wheat straw can be turned into white paper." Li Shimin nodded and said.
"Okay, father, first put these papermaking raw materials into the soaking pool.
Add lime and wood ash and soak for about ten days.
Then..."
Li Tai explained the steps of papermaking in detail to Li Shimin and others.
After listening, everyone was not too shocked, they had even seen printed books.
Just a little surprised, because as far as they knew, the raw material for the family's papermaking seemed to be a kind of rattan skin that was not very common.
It was not like bamboo and wheat straw wood, which could be seen everywhere.
Li Shimin and others nodded after listening, and they understood why the paper made by Li Tai was so cheap..
Because the raw materials for papermaking are easy to find.
"Your Highness, the one built on the hillside is the soaking pool?"
Fang Xuanling looked at the dozens of pools on the hillside not far away and asked.
"Yes, Uncle Fang, the soaking pool is built on the hillside, which is convenient for taking advantage of the terrain when taking materials and temporarily draining most of the water in the pool. This place is a bit far from the water source, so the pool water needs to be recycled."
Li Tai told everyone his original idea.
"This approach saves a lot of manpower!" Fang Xuanling nodded.
Not long after, everyone came to the place where paper was copied.
Paper was not copied outdoors, but a house was built with three large pools.
Currently, only one pool is in use, and more than a dozen workers are copying paper.
Li Shimin and others watched quietly for a while.
"Qingque, is the paper paddle you mentioned in this pool?" Li Shimin asked in a low voice.
"Yes, father, pour the prepared paper pulp into the pool and stir it evenly. Workers pick it up with papermaking yarn plates, drain the water and dry it in the sun, and it becomes paper that can be used for writing."
In order not to disturb the busy workers, they spoke in low voices.
"Former owner, several nobles, you are here!"
Several workers found Li Shimin and greeted them enthusiastically. Since the prisoners left, only the villagers of the manor were left working in the paper mill.
They always called Li Shimin the former owner of the manor, and others called him nobles.
"Hahaha, we just came here to take a look, you continue to be busy." Li Shimin raised his hand, laughed, and responded to the villagers.
Li Shimin enjoyed the villagers' smiling faces and calling him the former owner of the manor as a way of greeting.
Therefore, Li Shimin never wanted the villagers to know his identity as an emperor.
Su Chen followed Li Shimin and never spoke. It was Li Tai who answered their questions.
Ma Zhou listened very seriously.
"Qingque, how many finished papers are there now?" Li Shimin asked.
"Father, a papermaking pool can produce about 20,000 sheets of paper every day, and there are about 50,000 finished papers at present."
Li Shimin nodded, "Qingque, don't forget to pay attention to the address when there are villagers in the manor."
"Yes, father!" Li Tai replied.
"I am very curious about the printing house printing books, let's go and take a look!"