The First Young Master of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 43 Free Labor
Li Tai said with a smile: "Shijing, after returning from your house yesterday, I thought about it when I had nothing to do. The few words my elder brother said to me in the back garden of your house yesterday afternoon, as the saying goes, read ten thousand Reading books is not as good as traveling thousands of miles. I spend all day studying hard in Wude Hall. Although I have learned a lot from books, it is still empty talk. I want to practice more. Moreover, brother Shijing also inspired me. I."

"Oh? I would like to hear more about it." I have to say that Li Tai's ideological awareness is really high.

"Yesterday, Shijing said when he talked about improving paper. It is indeed right for us to keep the things of our ancestors unchanged. Although the things created by our ancestors are good, there will always be a day when we can sit back and eat. Regarding paper, Shijing thinks I want to improve and create, so I also want to participate in it personally, combining with real things to imprint what I have learned in the certificate." Li Tai said.

Xuan Shijing admires Li Tai very much now, he is thoughtful and enlightened, and he is also a top student.

"His Royal Highness Wei Wang is right, after all, true knowledge comes from practice." Xuan Shijing said, suddenly there was a flash of trouble, Li Tai, a literary youth, seems to have compiled a book in history, "Kuo Di Zhi" is not him Did you preside over the compilation? You can be considered a geographer, big or small.

Xuan Shijing, who was based on the principle of making the best use of talents, had an idea at the moment. Looking at Li Tai in front of him, he would be 13 years old after the new year, and he hesitated in his heart. This is considered child labor.

Xuan Shijing still felt a little embarrassed in his heart, but after thinking about it, he is the king of Wei Qiansui, and there are probably more than a dozen people under him...

"His Royal Highness Wei Wang, I have one more matter here. I don't know if His Highness is interested." Xuan Shijing narrowed his eyes and looked at Li Tai with a smile.

Li Tai was stunned, what kind of expression was this, why did he feel so nervous, but he still said, "What's the matter with Shijing?"

"It's not a big deal. Your Highness wants to travel thousands of miles. It just so happens that Shijing's fief Zhuangzi has something to do. Maybe His Highness can participate." Xuan Shijing said.

"Oh? Besides making paper, what else do you do?" Li Tai asked.

"I wonder how your Highness knows about geography and water conservancy?"

Li Tai stroked his chin and pondered for a while, then said, "I know a little more than paper making, but it can only be said to be passable."

It's easy to understand, Li Tai and the experienced farmers in the village, the river, the artificial lake, etc. will be in order, and then we will invite an expert to go over, and the matter will be finalized. Besides, Li Tai's servants and masters in the Wude Palace are not ordinary people. Now, with so much free labor, it can save a lot of expenses.

"That's right, Your Highness, after the spring plowing this year, Shijing Zhuangzi plans to dig a canal to divert water, and build a reservoir upstream, so that it will be convenient for the farmers to irrigate the farmland, and it will be much more convenient for the paper mill to be close to the water source. "Xuan Shijing said to Li Tai.

"Shijing means that I will participate in digging rivers and building reservoirs?" Li Tai's eyes lit up, and he looked at Xuan Shijing.

Xuan Shijing nodded lightly: "Exactly, although His Highness is still young, he is more knowledgeable and knowledgeable. It should not be difficult to cooperate with experienced masters during the introduction. Isn't this exactly what His Highness wants? Can Juan Shu travel thousands of miles?"

Li Tai didn't know what to do at first. If it's a paper-making workshop, it's fine. After all, paper-making is a test of one person's learning time, and with the craftsmen on the sidelines, it's not difficult for him. If it's digging a river, it's not just As long as he has read the book, Li Tai naturally has no idea about the direction of the terrain, the hardness and softness of the soil, but he really doesn't want to waste such an opportunity. Or just wandering around in the imperial garden, Empress Changsun is also very strict with Li Tai, if it is said to help Xuan Shijing Zhuangzi dig a river, maybe Empress Changsun can agree with Li Tai to run out from time to time, and listen to Xuan Shi With Jing's words, Li Tai felt that it was not as difficult as he imagined to take over the matter, so he nodded immediately and agreed.

"Since Shijing Zhuangzi is in need, it doesn't matter if I help Shijing."

"Then I will thank you, Your Highness." Xuan Shijing bowed to Li Tai.

"Shijing, you don't need to be polite. To put it bluntly, I still want to thank you." Li Tai said with a smile: "By the way, the money promised to you yesterday is in the front yard. Butler Zhong ordered someone to move it to your house." Although it is not much, it is also a wish of my elder brother and me. It happens that Shijing’s younger brother Zhuangzi is going to dig a river and open a papermaking workshop. If there is a need in the future, just send someone to tell me Alright, my food and clothing expenses at Wude Hall are a little more expensive than at Eldest Brother's, so it's okay to save some money."

Hearing what Li Tai said, Xuan Shijing's heart was also quite touched. Although Li Tai's attitude towards him was not good before, it was also a grievance from the previous generation. As for him, it's good to be unreserved. As for why he thinks so, Xuan Shijing feels that the current self is not worth buying or using.

"Thank you, Your Highness. There is no need to worry about money. As long as the papermaking workshop is opened, once the new papermaking technology is developed, it will definitely replace the hard yellow paper used now. Your Highness is also a scholar, so naturally he understands the importance of this paper to scholars. "Xuan Shijing said.

"Naturally, but Shijing, the price of this paper..." Li Tai looked at Xuan Shijing.

"Don't worry, Your Highness, it will definitely not be too expensive. After all, this is something that will benefit all people. If the price is too expensive, let Your Majesty know that Shijing's ass will suffer." Xuan Shijing said with a smile: " But before this new paper comes out, everything is just empty talk, but there is still one thing Shi Jing wants to explain to His Highness."

"Please tell me." After talking for so long, Li Tai was also a little thirsty, so he picked up the cup on the table and took a sip of clear water.

"The money Shijing sent by His Royal Highness King Wei and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince can't be taken for nothing. It should be regarded as two people's shares. After making profits in the future, the two highnesses will be distributed dividends according to a certain ratio." Xuan Shijing said .

"That's not necessary. My elder brother and I helped Shijing, and we didn't expect anything in return." Li Tai put down his glass and said.

"Your Highness, don't be in a hurry to refuse. There is a reason for Shijing to say this. After His Highness becomes an adult, he will open a mansion by himself. At that time, the expenses will not be ordinary. It is better to save more private money now and get a refund." In terms of Wanbu, if it is really profitable in the future, the two Highnesses can also improve the expenses in the palace. Your Highness also knows that Your Majesty and the Empress have always been frugal. In the past few years, my Tang treasury has been empty. At that time, they only wore brocade clothes, if the two Highnesses can be self-sufficient and help the Ministry of Internal Affairs to enrich the treasury by the way, it would be a filial piety."

(End of this chapter)