Chapter 512: Vying for Power

The Azure Mountain

Qi Zhaoning left.

Chen Ji earnestly pondered the words Princess Liyang had spoken: Qi Zhaoning was willful. He couldn't withdraw from this marriage engagement, but he could force Qi Zhaoning to withdraw.

Although Qi Zhaoning was willful, it wasn't a crime punishable by death. Once he himself flew far overseas, it would definitely make her the laughingstock of Capital City. If the other party could take the initiative to withdraw from the marriage engagement, it could preserve her face.

It would be nothing more than Chen Ji himself being made fun of by others for a while, but Chen Ji didn't care.

Thinking up to here, Chen Ji turned his head back to look at Manager Chen Dong. The latter's lips trembled slightly as he said dryly: "Patron."

Chen Ji gave a smile: "No need to be afraid. I am not killing you today."

Chen Dong hesitated for a moment: "Then when will you kill..."

Chen Ji corrected: "I have never indiscriminately killed the innocent. If you have no fault, then there is no need to kill you. I shall just ask you a few questions; you just need to answer honestly. How much silver is still left in Baoxiang Bookstore's accounts?"

Chen Dong remained silent.

The shop assistants in the backyard frantically rushed out and said: "Patron, how would the manager know how much silver is left in the accounts? He completely doesn't care about business matters. There are still two hundred and seventeen taels of silver in the accounts. This is even the silver from him having just sold off the printing blocks of 'Record of the White Boat'. If You had come a few days later, this batch of silver would have again been printed into those damned classical commentaries of the Sanyang Free Roaming Practitioner."

Chen Ji looked up and sized up the storefront-and-back-workshop layout of Baoxiang Bookstore. Seemingly not caring whether this bookstore could continue operating either: "What is your name?"

The shop assistant answered: "This lowly one is Chen Jia."

Chen Ji asked again: "What is the price of paper in the capital?"

The shop assistant enumerated them like his family's own treasures: "The most commonly seen is Bamboo Paper. This is used for books and official documents. Among them, Fuzhou jade-clasp Bamboo Paper is the best—flexible, smooth, with thick bamboo hemp flesh. One hundred and twenty wen of money can buy one hundred sheets. Shuzhou Jiajiang Bamboo Paper is slightly worse, but wins in large quantity and cheap price; one hundred wen of money can buy one hundred sheets."

"Xuan Paper is more expensive. For the large White Deer Xuan Paper used inside the forbidden palace, a single sheet costs one tael of silver. The kind used by ordinary official and noble families is one mace of silver per sheet."

Chen Ji nodded. For the things he wanted to do, using the cheapest yellowish Bamboo Paper would be enough: "What about ink?"

Chen Jia answered: "Inksticks are more expensive. If handmade by a famous master, a single inkstick must sell for fifty taels of silver money. What we normally use is liquid ink; one catty of liquid ink contained in a Bamboo Tube sells for thirty-five wen of money."

Chen Ji pondered for a moment: "Are there any stores in Liulichang that use movable-type printing?"

Chen Jia blanked out for a moment: "Patron, that plaything is not easy to use. Earlier on, there were also people who used movable-type printing, but the movable type carved from wood would break in less than a month, and the printed characters would also frequently be missing several..."

Chen Ji suddenly asked: "Has Liulichang been peaceful lately? Has anyone been causing trouble?"

Chen Jia shook his head: "No. Earlier on when the Harmony Guild was managing Liulichang, they only cared about collecting Peace Money every month, but didn't care when incidents occurred. The Stick Bearers under them also frequently extorted the store owners. Now that new people have been swapped in—don't know whose people they are—they actually truly do some real work. Even when neighborhood neighbors have disputes, they will step forward to manage it a bit. It is much more peaceful."

Chen Ji smiled: "Alright, you guys get busy."

He turned around and went out the door. The manager and shop assistant were Looking at One Another in dismay. That's it? He just left?

Chen Dong stroked his beard: "Didn't you say killing people was his second nature, and he wouldn't be happy if he didn't kill someone for a single day?"

Chen Jia also hesitated: "That's what's being said outside! Saying he must drink one catty of wine every day, and before drinking he also has to kill a person to add to the fun..."

Manager Chen Dong pondered for a moment: "From my view, the Patron actually doesn't look like that kind of person. Presumably it's just some false pretexts wantonly fabricated by the townspeople who loathe him for releasing Yuan Cheng back."

...

Chen Ji walked in Liulichang, finding a Plum Blossom Ferry Stick Bearer resting his feet beneath the Eaves. With both hands, he made the hand gesture of three and a half sticks of incense.

The Stick Bearer, dressed in a clean black cloth shirt, immediately perked up his spirits: "From whence does Your Excellency come?"

Chen Ji answered: "From Kunlun Mountain."

The Stick Bearer asked again: "Did you see white cranes flying past?"

Chen Ji stuck up a thumb to answer: "I only saw five-colored auspicious clouds."

The Stick Bearer instantly cupped his fists with both hands: "So it is the Patron! Please give your orders."

Chen Ji instructed: "Go to Plum Blossom Ferry to seek out Brother Pao and Er Dao. Then make a trip to the Zhang Estate to seek out Second Miss Zhang. Just say I am waiting for them in Ginkgo Garden of the Chen Family on Right Prefecture Street."

The Stick Bearer cupped his fists in greeting and ran off as fast as if flying. On the way, he made a hand gesture to another Stick Bearer, and immediately a new Stick Bearer filled in the position he originally guarded.

Chen Ji bought a steamer basket of steamed buns, wrapping them up well with Palm Leaf Wrappers.

When Chen Ji leisurely returned to Right Prefecture Street, Brother Pao, Er Dao, and Zhang Xia were actually already waiting early on at the side gate.

Zhang Xia had changed into a set of red archer's clothing today, embroidered with ocean wave patterns. Bound with a black leather belt, her hair was cleanly and neatly bound atop her head with a long red silk ribbon. Zhang Xia was seen leaning diagonally against the stone lion, arms wrapped before her body, eyes closed as she silently recited scriptures.

As for Brother Pao and Er Dao, they had changed into black cloth shirts and stepped in black hundred-patch cloth shoes. Brother Pao was currently holding a tobacco pipe in his hand, smoking silently.

Chen Ji said with a smile: "You guys came so quickly?"

Zhang Xia opened her eyes but didn't interrupt her Cloud Obscuring scripture. Brother Pao responded with a smile: "Calling us over especially—presumably there is a major matter to be done. Let's hear it. Lately, we've been so idle our heads are growing mold."

Chen Ji walked into the side gate: "Has the Salt Certificate business at Plum Blossom Ferry been smooth lately?"

Brother Pao said carelessly: "Smooth, even smoother than imagined. The eight great absolute-merchants have never seen these fresh playthings, so for the time being they also haven't placed us in their eyes. After that scholar named Huang Que failed the Imperial Examination, he no longer thought about it anymore. Down-to-earth, he became the second-manager of the Chen Family's salt business. He took the Salt Certificates back, mixed them well with illicit salt, and sold them to various places. It is said he has gathered quite a few men and horses under his command—all bandit types from the greenwoods. Selling illicit salt brings in money much faster than them occupying a mountain to be King."

Chen Ji said with a frown: "Can he control these people?"

Brother Pao sighed with emotion: "This lad's ability to do scholarship is just average, but managing people is actually his strong suit. The so-called Compassion Cannot Lead Armies, Righteousness Cannot Manage Wealth. Previously didn't realize it, but he is actually still a ruthless character whose heart is cruel and methods are spicy. Any greenwood bandit types who refused to obey the rules were all cleaned up by him. Now the eight great absolute-merchants' minds are all on him, so we were neglected instead. The trump card you prepared earlier also has no place to be used."

Chen Ji said with a smile: "For that kind of trump card, if it can be unused, then don't use it first. In the future, maybe we can exchange it for a life in Renshou Palace."

Brother Pao asked curiously: "What is to be done this time?"

Chen Ji pushed the gate and entered Ginkgo Garden. Xiaoman hurriedly went to the side room and scalded several hot towels for everyone to wipe their faces with.

He sat on the stone stool, his fingers tapping the tabletop: "Brother Pao might as well sit down and take a guess at what I am going to do."

Brother Pao sat down, knocking his Tobacco Pipe against the sole of his shoe: "You speak."

Chen Ji said deliberately: "I need to make brass movable type, mixed with eighty percent brass, ten percent tin, and ten percent lead."

Brother Pao remained silent, not answering rashly.

Xiaoman, on the other hand, asked curiously: "Is the Young Master truly preparing to operate Baoxiang Bookstore up? But I heard nobody uses movable-type printing anymore."

Chen Ji didn't answer her, but continued speaking: "We also need to make printing ink. This must be tested slowly. I only know that boiling linseed oil must be used as the base, adding rosin to increase viscosity, and then adding beeswax to improve rheology and glossiness. If there is little linseed oil, using walnut oil is fine too, but linseed oil is best."

Brother Pao still remained silent.

Zhang Xia silently sized up Chen Ji and Brother Pao. In past days, she was always the one with the most profound knowledge and the sharpest mind. But when it came to Chen Ji and Brother Pao of all people, she always felt like some of the words she heard were specious, the terms were all fresh and novel, and she also couldn't guess what exactly Chen Ji was going to do.

This kind of feeling actually still held some novelty.

Chen Ji continued: "I remember that cooked printing ink has two standards. First, dropping the hot printing ink into water without it dissipating, and after sinking to the bottom of the water it can be pinched up by two fingers—only then is the viscosity considered enough. Second, reaching a feather into the steam above the hot oil. Only when the feather no longer curls are the moisture contents considered evaporated dry and the oil thoroughly cooked... But I haven't done this matter myself; I need you guys to test it slowly."

Brother Pao took a deep breath: "Leave it to me. With Er Dao here, this kind of technical work won't go wrong."

Chen Ji nodded: "Nowadays, printing books all uses brushing methods, but we must use pressing. This is not hard to solve; nowadays grain and oil shops all use oil-pressing apparatuses. Altering them a bit will do... Has Brother Pao guessed what I want to do?"

Brother Pao looked up at him: "Your guts are too big."

Chen Ji gave a free and easy smile: "Since we're already here, we always have to make some different things, right? Rest assured, I have proper measure. Let's not do overly sensitive things right from the start. Let's first look for the most famous people in Capital City, look for the people the commoners are most interested in, report their gossip, and sell the newspapers out first before saying more."

Xiaoman was completely baffled hearing this: "What exactly is the Young Master going to do?"

Brother Pao said leisurely: "Newspapers."

Zhang Xia was the first to react: "Imperial Gazettes?"

Brother Pao gave a heh heh smile: "Imperial Gazettes are playthings meant for Officials to read. Newspapers are playthings meant for commoners to read. They are different—vastly different. Imperial Gazettes are all hand-copied. If you wish to find a copy of an Imperial Gazette, you still have to spend a large price to find a gazette room to transcribe it for you. It's extremely troublesome; this is not something just anyone can see."

Brother Pao continued: "Furthermore, what's on the Imperial Gazettes are all just court transfer changes, disaster situations in various regions, and Auspicious Omen anomalies. They completely don't write the true major matters. Who impeached who, who toppled who, who is at odds with who, and who fought out of jealousy with who... They don't write any of these interesting playthings. Reading them makes me want to sleep."

Zhang Xia listened with rapt attention, always feeling this item was particularly important.

Chen Ji corrected: "We also cannot only have gossip; we still need some proper matters."

He turned his head to look at Zhang Xia: "Lord Zhang is already the Minister of Personnel now. Obtaining some of the Provincial Education Commissioner's essays for printing shouldn't be a difficult matter, right."

Zhang Xia answered with a smile: "Leave it to me."

Chen Ji pondered for a moment, and then looked toward Brother Pao again: "You... do you know how to write poetry?"

Brother Pao's eyes brightened: "I understand a little."

Er Dao muttered by the side: "A while back, my older brother heard Shen Ye say that writing good poetry could make Floral Queens offer themselves as bedmates. Every night he holds in his energy trying to recall... writing poetry."

Xiaoman found it Bizarre. Sizing up Brother Pao, she stuttered: "You, you, you... you know how to write poetry?"

Brother Pao gave a heh heh smile: "Miss Xiaoman, one Cannot Judge a Person by Appearance. Although this humble one looks rough and rugged, I can still successfully write a dozen or so poems."

Chen Ji interrupted: "Poetry can also be printed on it. In this Ning Dynasty, a good poem can spread very far—even extending to the edges of the sky, spreading to Goryeo and the Wa Kingdom."

Brother Pao immediately hit it off: "As long as you're not afraid of incidents occurring, we'll start doing it. However, how much does one copy of a newspaper sell for?"

Chen Ji tapped the table with his finger: "Five wen of money."

Xiaoman widened her eyes. She didn't care what exactly a newspaper was; she only cared if it could earn money: "Only five wen of money? Isn't this business also too small? Even a single mutton steamed bun sells for five wen!"

Brother Pao smiled smugly: "Miss Xiaoman is unaware. This line of business is not for earning money."

Xiaoman was bewildered: "Then what is it for?"

Brother Pao said calmly: "Vying for power."

(End of this chapter)