Prime Minister

Chapter 604 The trick to reducing costs

Zhang Yue wrote articles for Zixia.

Although Zixia was a disciple of Confucius and one of the ten philosophers of Confucianism, his disciples Li Kui and Wu Qi were both legalists.

Shang Yang is still his grandson.

Xunzi, Li Si, and Han Fei are all disciples of the second and third generations.

The most important thing is that Zixia is still Wei Wenhou's teacher, the first Confucian person to have the title of emperor's teacher.

The more officials write articles for Zixia, it seems that they have intentions.

Zhang Yue thought for a while, and then wrote an article for Zixia.

The officials were overjoyed after talking with Zhou Dunyi, and immediately told Jiao Qianzhi to ask the emperor to give Zhou Dunyi the classics.

The official agreed to sit on the throne in the hall immediately, and personally gave Zhou Dunyi a copy of the Book of Changes.

After Zhou Dunyi knelt down to receive it, the emperor gave him a lecture on the scriptures sitting on the bench next to the southwest side of the throne.

Zhou Dunyi took off his shoes and got on the couch.

Zhang Yue and other officials wrote articles in the east and west verandahs, and all the other ministers sat in the hall. As for the imperial students, they worshiped outside the hall and listened to the lecture.

Zhou Dunyi's voice was not high, but it was clear and peaceful, and his expression was gentle and respectful. The wind blew past the big locust tree outside the hall, and the students' Confucian shirts fluttered slightly. Everyone's expressions were so focused and solemn.

Even farther away, there are tens of thousands of civilian soldiers in the capital who are watching the Taixue.

The scene of Tianzi Dunxue's canon is so harmonious in everyone's eyes.

After Zhou Dunyi talked about the changes, he retired, and the officials were overjoyed and gave him fifty bolts of silk.

Later, the officials pointed to Zhang Zai's scriptures directly.

The officials didn't have much impression of Zhang Zai at first, but Zhang Yue repeatedly recommended him in front of him, saying that he was familiar with military affairs and profound knowledge, so they had an impression.

Zhang Zaiben was the best at the Book of Changes. In the second year of Jiayou, Wen Yanbo invited him to set up a tiger leather chair in Daxiangguo Temple to teach the Book of Changes.

However, Zhang Zai admitted that his attainments in the Book of Changes were not as good as those of his two cousins, Er Cheng, who did not teach the Book of Changes when he was there.

In front of the officials, Zhang Zai held three chapters of "Shuo Ming".

Zhang Zaidao: ""Shangshu" mainly talks about the way of governing the world, and "Shuo Ming" is the most complete. King Wen won the Taigong, Gaozong got Fu Shuo, and they are all virtuous ministers. Learning from ancient precepts is rewarding. Do not learn from the past, but use it to conquer the eternal world , The gangsters are talking about it."

What Zhang Zai means is that the country does not learn from the ancients, and the dynasty can last for a long time, but I have never heard of it. This is obviously contrary to the spirit of reform advocated by officials and Wang Anshi.

The official frowned slightly when he heard this, and immediately nodded to express his opinion.

Lu Huiqing, who was standing beside Hou Li, showed a slight smile. Zhang Zai was recommended by Zhang Yue, so it was obvious that he had recommended the wrong person.

After Zhang Zai lectured on the scriptures, he was given fifty bolts of silk.

After that, Wang Anshi, Zhang Yue and other ministers finished writing the article and handed it over to the officials for reading.

The officials first looked at Wang Anshi and said Yan Hui said: "One basket of food, one ladle of drink, in the back alley, people are unbearable, and they will not change their joy when they return. You are as good as Yan Zi."

Officials praised Wang Anshi for his simple life and not for being extravagant.

It is true that Wang Anshi's frugality and integrity are beyond doubt, and even officials who hate Wang Anshi the most cannot deny this.

Even the censor who is picky about his bones cannot criticize Wang Anshi on personal integrity.

As for Sima Guang, it was Zigong.

In the Analects of Confucius, there is Zi Gong and Yan Hui, who is more virtuous, Zi Gong said that he is not as good as Yan Hui.

Therefore, in the eyes of outsiders, Yan Hui was more virtuous than Zigong, but among officials, Sima Guang was considered more virtuous than Wang Anshi.

Moreover, Zigong is good at doing business, and Wang Anshi's reform made the court pursue profits even more.So no matter how you look at it, Wang Anshi is more like Zi Gong, and Sima Guang is more like Yan Hui.

However, Sima Guang praised Zigong's saying in the article, "I don't want others to do it to me, and I also want nothing to do it to others".

The official nodded and said to Sima Guang, "A scholar retreats modestly like Zi Gong."

When Zhang Yue wrote Zixia's article, Zhang Yue talked about Zixia's enlightenment throughout the article.

The most important thing is to teach students according to their aptitude. Among Zixia's students are Confucianists, Legalists, Mohists, and military strategists...

All in all, students are able to give full play to their talents.

Even though there are many sects of students, the Confucian sect that is really promoted is Zixia.

The official said to Zhang Yue: "Zhang Qing's contribution to founding the Taixue is like Zixia's contribution to enlightenment."

All the officials were amazed when they heard this. What credit can be higher than the official awarding it in person?

Wang Anshi thought to himself, he let Lu Huiqing preside over the reforms such as the young crop method, the uniform transfer method, etc., which have not yet seen success, but the Taixue, which Zhang Yue is in charge of, has already succeeded.

Moreover, the officials couldn't wait to award this credit to Zhang Yue by means of imperial seal.

No one can take such credit away, and it has to be recorded by the accompanying historian.

The officials are too partial to Zhang Yue, and they are determined to help Zhang Yue to the top.

Wang Anshi couldn't help thinking of Lu Huiqing. Compared with it, it was a bit difficult for him to force Lu Huiqing to mount a horse and compete with Zhang Yue.

The process of explaining dishes, listening to the scriptures, and writing the articles of the sages has been completed, and the official studies have almost come to an end, but Zhang Yue, who is in charge of Gou Taixue, said: "Your Majesty, please move to inspect the Taixue! "

The officials are in a good mood today, and they are also in favor of Zhang Yue, so they agreed.

Zhang Yue brought the officials and other ministers to the book engraving workshop of Guozijian first.

But I saw hundreds of calligraphers and engravers here, and when I saw officials coming in person, they all knelt down outside the workshop.

Zhang Yue said to the official family: "Your Majesty, when I was writing Zixia's article, I thought of a sentence he said: "Hundred craftsmen live in their places to achieve success, and a gentleman learns his way." I would like to ask Your Majesty to come and have a look."

Wang Anshi, Sima Guang and other ministers looked at the engraving workshop and were puzzled. What did Zhang Yue mean by bringing officials here?

Zhang Yue and the officials introduced that the Guozijian now engraves books. In addition to the Nine Classics, there are also Zishu, and even the engraving workshop also engraves "Shuowen Jiezi", "Qunjing Yinbian" and other books, all of which are from Taizong Taizong. Ancestors, even the strands of stereotypes handed down from the previous dynasty.

At this time, Lu Huiqing suddenly said: "The chapter is to be made. In the past, the Emperor Taizong said that the Guozijian engraved books are only allowed to charge the price of paper and ink, and are not allowed to take profits, so as to reduce costs and facilitate people's purchase. How does Guozijian engraved workshop make profits?"

Lu Huiqing's question is very tricky.

Emperor Taizong did say this sentence, and he said it casually when he inspected Taixue.

But things have passed for a long time. Guozijian does not rely on the income from engraving books to support itself, but counts on the appropriation from the imperial court. It is like getting water from the well when you are thirsty and expecting rain all day long. You will definitely die of thirst sooner or later. .

It is well known that Zhang Yue filled the hole in Taixue's income with the income from the book engraving workshop.

Lu Huiqing suddenly caught Emperor Taizong's inspection sentence, and suddenly questioned it in front of the officials.

It can be seen that Lu Huiqing is in a hurry... At this moment, his jealousy has completely exploded...

The officials also listened to Lu Huiqing's words and said: "Yes, I remember Emperor Taizong did say that."

But Jian Zhang said calmly and authentically: "Your Majesty, in terms of the most printed Analects of the Guozijian, when Emperor Taizong was emperor, the Jianben printed two hundred articles, and it has been at this price since then. The Analects printed by the Guozijian engraving workshop Not only didn’t make a penny, but even lost a little.”

"But now the book engraving shop of Guozijian still sells at this price, but there is a slight surplus!"

The official wondered: "Oh, what's the trick?"

Zhang Yue said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the secret is to reduce costs."

(End of this chapter)