mtlumby2d Chapter 73 Beining Paper
Chapter 73 Beining Paper
Beining City, Yaoyue Tower.
Ever since the two masterpieces were displayed, countless scholars have been gathering together every day.
Yaoyue Tower was originally a place where students in Beining City composed poems and exchanged verses, but due to the constant wars in Beining City, Yaoyue Tower, although a place for literary gatherings, was often deserted.
However, the three-story Inviting Moon Pavilion is already packed with people.
These scholars drank and discussed things.
When inspiration strikes, someone might exclaim and stand up, only to shake their head in disappointment the next second, crying out, "This timeless masterpiece is just too difficult!"
"Our prince truly lives up to his reputation as an outstanding individual. Not only is he a formidable commander, but his talent is also astonishing."
"It's widely rumored that our Beining City is a city of utter evil. Hmph, this time the Prince has finally given us a chance to vent our anger."
"I bet no one in this world can match these two couplets."
"..."
Whether young students or elderly scholars, although no one could come up with a matching couplet, they were still proud to be scholars of Beining City.
It seemed that as long as other scholars in the world couldn't answer the question, they were the ones who set the question, and they were incredibly proud.
Inside the Chu King's mansion, Qiu Xingzhi and Zhuge Xuan, each with two black circles on their heads, were looking at Qin Xuan with mournful expressions.
Qin Xuan said, both amused and exasperated, "Why are you two doing this? Matching couplets is all about..."
"Your Highness, please stop."
Zhuge Xuan felt a pang in his heart. He knew that his lord was going to say that composing couplets was a pastime, but did he not think that this pastime was driving all the scholars in the world crazy?
Throughout history, it seems that such an absolute masterpiece has never appeared before.
"Your Highness, we will work on the couplet ourselves. Right now, the most important thing is to change Lord Kong Ru's impression of you."
Qiu Xingzhi's eyes were bloodshot, clearly indicating that he hadn't slept all night.
Qin Xuan nodded slightly: "I have already investigated this matter. It was Daqi that deliberately spread rumors and slander, so I casually produced these two timeless masterpieces. However, as long as scholars from all over the world come to Beining City one after another, I will naturally have a way to change the Confucian sage's opinion."
"Your Highness's plan to compose a couplet is indeed ingenious. According to reports from below, the number of scholars entering the city these past two days has increased several times over compared to previous days."
"Many people even stopped at the city gate, gazing at that timeless masterpiece, deep in thought."
Qiu Xingzhi smiled and stroked his beard, speaking with considerable pride.
Zhuge Xuan, standing to the side, shared in the honor, their sentiments mirroring those of the scholars from Beining City. He said:
"However, Your Highness, it is said that Lord Kong Ru has officially set off for Shanhaiguan today and will arrive at Kong Sheng Mountain at the end of the month."
“Other forces and countries have all sent their troops, and even Gulna set off this morning. Shouldn’t our Beining City go over there?”
The greatest sincerity to invite the Confucian sage is naturally to go there in person.
Qin Xuan had the same plan, but due to a series of events that had occurred recently, he remained silent.
"Going early may not be enough to persuade the Confucian sage. Our most important task right now is to stabilize Beining City."
A hint of anticipation flashed in Qin Xuan's eyes; he longed to meet this contemporary sage.
"Mr. Qiu, the papermaking technology has been successfully developed. Please continue to work hard during this period to increase production as much as possible."
A few days ago, when the Red Poison outbreak occurred, Qin Xuan, Qiu Xingzhi, and Zhao Luoying were already developing new paper.
Later, Qin Xuan rushed to the Northern Wilderness, but Tiangong Workshop did not delay. After several rounds of new experiments, the first batch of white paper most suitable for writing and printing was produced.
“Your Highness, given the current number of artisans and the technology, as long as movable type printing is successful, paper will not be a problem.”
Qiu Xingzhi said with slight excitement.
He couldn't help but recall the time when Qin Xuan proposed to compete with Tianxia Bookstore for the printing rights of "Confucianism," which he simply couldn't believe.
However, with the advent of the new paper, Qiu Xingzhi's established perceptions were completely shattered.
In particular, he visited the movable type workshop yesterday, where the craftsmen have already been able to create lead blocks that are as smooth as mirrors; all that's left is to test their hardness.
"Your Highness, please name the new paper."
Qiu Xingzhi suddenly said.
Qin Xuan was taken aback, but without refusing, he blurted out, "Let's call it Beining Paper!"
"Great, this name is excellent."
Zhuge Xuan couldn't help but exclaim, "In this way, with the widespread use of Beining paper, who in the world will not know of my Beining City?"
Qiu Xingzhi nodded and smiled, and couldn't help but sigh, "Your Highness, shall we begin selling Beining paper next?"
"It's time to begin, but this time we need to do it differently."
Qin Xuan had a plan in mind and said confidently, "This time we will make Beining City famous throughout the entire Great Qi Dynasty, and even among foreign countries, in an instant."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Xingzhi and Zhuge Xuan were immediately invigorated and couldn't help but look forward to it.
Three days later, at the same time that Qin Xuan successfully developed penicillin, an interesting incident occurred in Qinghu Langyuan, far away in the capital of Daqi.
The arrival of Xu Qingyun, a renowned scholar in the city, at Qinghu Langyuan suddenly attracted the attention of many scholars.
Qinghu Langyuan was a well-known poetry gathering place in the capital of Daqi, and even in the whole of Daqi. Although it had hosted many great scholars, Xu Qingyun was undoubtedly the most special one.
He had already achieved the highest honors in the imperial examinations twenty years ago, but later resigned from his official post and returned to his hometown because he disliked the power struggles in the imperial court. He became a local schoolteacher.
However, his reputation has grown steadily over the past twenty years.
In particular, his several Confucian works, written by himself, are regarded as the gold standard by many scholars.
As for poetry, Xu Daru's poem "Qingyun Zhi" has inspired countless scholars and is still frequently recited and widely disseminated today.
"Master Xu, what brings you to Qinghu Langyuan today? Is it also because of those two timeless masterpieces by the King of Chu?"
A familiar Confucian scholar couldn't help but ask.
Xu Qingyun smiled faintly: "I'm afraid I don't have the ability to come up with a matching couplet for those two perfect couplets."
A collective sigh arose from the crowd. Many felt disappointed, but others thought it was only natural, since not long ago, students from the Imperial Academy had gone to ask the new Chancellor Pan Ruoan for help, and they too had failed to come up with a matching couplet.
"I have only one purpose in coming to Qinghu Langyuan this time: to present paper as a gift."
Xu Qingyun smiled and then instructed his servants to bring up a large wooden tray.
Many people looked on with confusion and couldn't help but ask, "Master Xu, what is this?"
"I know that you students have been racking your brains lately because of those two timeless couplets in Beining City. Many of you have had inspiration, but you are very distressed because you can't write them down in time."
"All of this is ultimately because paper is too expensive, and scholars are unwilling to use it to study and record."
"I just happened to get a batch of new paper, so I might as well give it to you all, so that you can all come up with the second line of the couplet and give the scholars of Daqi a chance to shine."
Upon hearing this, the group of scholars cheered.
In this era, let alone foreign countries, even within the Great Qi Empire, paper has always been an expensive commodity.
Apart from those from wealthy families, most scholars would dry the Xuan paper after writing on it before repeatedly writing on it.
"Master Xu is truly a role model for scholars in our Great Qi Dynasty. With such a good deed, we scholars will certainly live up to Master Xu's high expectations."
"Yes, Master Xu has always liked to mentor younger generations, and we must not let him down."
"..."