Chapter 148 – The Treasure Pot

Zhu Di heard, looked at also lost ha said, “How?”

Yiluoha said, “Many people have heard that His Majesty has taken the hundred officials to the library, and also heard that Bachelor Xie Jin is going to stay there for some days, and many people have …… caught wind of it ……”

After a pause, Yilungha then said, “Not only in this Nanjing city, even the nearby counties, some people have heard the wind.”

“And …… also heard that there are a lot of strange books in it, even can cure the plague, but anyone who recognizes the words, all want to go to see.”

Although there are a lot of brain-dead nerds in the world.

But historically the vast majority of people in this land are still practical.

No matter how much people despised miscellaneous studies, they were never so much as to disregard this book on epidemic prevention that could save countless lives.

In fact, many readers have the habit of reading medical books, and there are quite a few people, but also like to catch their own medicine for themselves, of course …… themselves to cure themselves to death is also quite a lot.

Wouldn’t it be a great treasure to have such a marvelous book appear in the library now?

A few pennies to get in can be extremely inexpensive.

And I heard that the environment was still very good and literary, so many famous scholars wasted their time looking for books there.

Coupled with the fact that books are treasures in their own right for the people of this era, some people have even been very exaggerated to say that they have a collection of 100,000 books.

What is the concept of 100,000 books in a collection?

I’m afraid the royal collection is no match for it.

So, people with all kinds of minds swarmed over it.

What else is there to say at this point, but of course go along for the ride.

Yizhuoha knew His Majesty’s mind and held this library in the highest regard.

What’s more, His Majesty was there only yesterday, and today the commotion is so big that it’s just the right time to come and claim credit.

So he colorfully said, “There are people everywhere, the pier there is blocked, but …… the slave girl heard that …… Cheng En Bo’s newly expanded library second district, today also took this opportunity to open. I heard that there …… are also many novelties.”

The more Zhu Di listened to the light in his eyes, the brighter it became, and he couldn’t help but say, “These things, how come he didn’t talk to me before?”

Also Lostha said with a smile, “There was a time …… when the slave girl had also asked this question.”

Zhu Di with his hands behind his back, looked up to see also lost Ha said, “What did he say?”

Yizhuha, on the other hand, carefully looked at Zhu Di’s complexion before saying, “Chengenbodao, it is better for His Majesty not to know about the sale.”

That’s a bold statement. It’s good not to know, isn’t that deceiving the king?

Only to see Yiluoha then said, “Your Majesty, this Seonganbo is considering for your Majesty, what kind of person is your Majesty, how could you get involved with the business of buying and selling? This is all the work of the people under …… you.”

Zhu Di hmmm, apparently very satisfied, smiled and said, “This kid, but is thoughtful, but I’m not afraid to say, I a did not oppress the people, did not increase taxes, but make up for the lack of internal funds, who dares to talk nonsense?”

“Furthermore, I take out the silver from the internal money, relieve the treasury how much burden, if still dare to take this to attack the, in all likelihood, is the plotting miscreant, must be the remnants of the Northern Yuan.”

Yiluoha said, “Your Majesty is right.”

But at this time Zhu Di, heard that there are many more novelties, or interested, then said: “This kid I, dare to think, really a talent, you …… you personally give me to go to explore, then give me truthful report.”

Yiluoha did not dare to be slow, and immediately said, “The slave girl will go.”

Zhu Di saw also lost ha hurriedly retired, can not help but happy: “he mother …… new business …… readers silver really much ah, tsk …… ”

Empress Xu saw Zhu Di’s joyful appearance, then also could not help but smile and said, “Your Majesty, people outside say Zhang Anshi acted in a loose manner, but my concubine watched, but more and more feel that he is stable and thorough.”

“This is natural.” Zhu Di with a few points of proud smugness said: “Once upon a time he was notorious, that is because he did not meet me, and now he has met me, and I have taught him a thing or two, but it is not stable?”

Said, the waist also straightened: “As for his marriage, wait a little longer. Now is not the time to get married, this man into a marriage, and is Nacai and ask the name, and Naji, Najing, please period, pro welcome, this marriage after six rites, it is not easy to become a marriage, but also need to take the bride to return to the peace, not to mention the visit to the aunts and uncles, the temple to see these cumbersome things. How much effort will be delayed, you do not know how much money he earns in a day.”

Empress Xu nodded, and then said, “In short, the marriage is considered to be finalized, as long as it is finalized, my concubine is not in a hurry. Jingyi this child, temperament strong, you know.”

Zhu Di nodded, “Relax, I know in my heart.”

Said, he is frowned, at the same time squinted his eyes, looking around, mouth said: “I always feel …… since I came to the big inside, this big inside, there is always someone staring at me ……”

Empress Xu smiled sweetly, “Your Majesty is overly concerned.”

Zhu Di said, “It’s not easy to say, heck, how come it seems like this big interior is full of thieves.”

Although scolded, but Zhu Di did not continue to pursue, he still need to call Qiu Fu and others, ready to continue to discuss the military affairs of Annan, and Xu Huangwang said goodbye, turned around and busy to go.

…………

At this time in the already bustling Qixia, it would not be an exaggeration to say that it was empty alleys.

This Jiangnan has always been affluent, many readers.

After the news went viral, it got a lot of people moving.

It’s actually understandable that, on the one hand, people do know the value of libraries.

On the other hand, that Li Wensheng, after reading only one book, actually cured the plague.

He is only a district Xiu Cai, now …… reaching the sky, I think the court will have a reward in a few days.

Besides, His Majesty and all the officials have already visited the place and praised it.

So, not only the readers of Nanjing City, is the nearby Zhenjiang and other places, heard the wind, also want to come to see, swim.

After these months of restoration, several new main and secondary buildings of this library have also been raised and restored.

Not only that, the brick and stone road in front of the door is also paved all the way to the pier, even if it rains, there is no worry about getting muddy.

Along the road, many trees have been planted, and there are special flower beds, all of which are specially hired to take care of, and pruned every now and then.

Every other section of the road, there is a pavilion, or a false stone, which is equivalent to many large family mansions in the rockery pavilions, have been moved to both sides of the road.

None of the people who came here smacked their lips and had surprised faces.

Not only that, but there are some paved areas along the way.

These stores, not like the other places that are disorganized, as if deliberately planned, selling mostly supplies for readers.

There are even newsstands that specialize in peddling dailies.

Early in the morning, shortly after the first sun came out.

Then a special staff was organized and began to clean the roads, whether it was fallen leaves or other debris, all of which should never appear on the roads, spotless.

Today a light rain, fine rain, floating down on the earth, moistening the flowers and trees along the road, the air is also extraordinarily fresh up.

Many readers can’t help but step into it.

This definitely falls into the category of big spending, and God knows how much silver was spent.

Those who are rich in books, only feel here and their own home, but also visible not far away from the pond, the pond has lotus leaves, this time is not yet to the time of the lotus bloom, but vaguely, but it seems to be able to smell the fragrance of the lotus.

The pond has a trestle bridge, you can go through, straight to the center of the lake, a pavilion for people to rest, at this time has been seen there are groups of people in the pavilion on the view.

As for the family can only be regarded as solid readers to come here, but it is another scene, they are like into the Grand View Garden in the Liu Lou Lou, only to feel where all fresh, where all see enough.

Best of all …… No money here, it’s completely open.

You don’t have to pay a penny for such a large garden.

This is unthinkable for this day and age.

It is rumored that there are also several roads leading to Qixia, this Qixia Mountain, there are many other landscapes, also have opened the mountain road, built a trestle bridge, where the scenery is better.

“I heard it cost a hundred thousand taels of silver.”

“Gee ……”

Ming Dynasty gardens, in fact, has long been mature, only this is only very rich people in their own mansions.

But like here, so magnificent, shed the capital, really is unimaginable.

Also lost ha came to the Qixia, then, it hurried to the library, but see here really everywhere, everyone different accents, well mostly readers, but no one loud noise, people pouring into the library, one by one uplifted.

There is another special roadside sign directing people toward the new building, and a sign that reads, “Today’s event at Ming Lun Church, selection of ten poems.”

Sure enough, everyone looked at the sign and headed for that Minglen Hall building.

This Minglun Hall is newly built and covers a large area, but the place has long been crowded with people.

And at that moment, it was seen that someone started to read out the chosen poem.

After reading, then here began to hang the selected ten poems, many readers are shaking their heads to taste, someone said: “This poem is still neatly contrasted, but the rhyme is poor, this one is also ……”

“Yeah, that’s the selection?”

“This is made by Liu Lifu of Nanjing City, a man I’ve met before, and I didn’t expect his poem to be chosen.”

It was noticed that not only were the poems posted here, but also the authors of the poems.

It’s not an eye-opener.

What do readers want? Isn’t it just a reputation? Besides being an official, who doesn’t want to be a scholar?

What’s more, the quality of this selected poetry can only be described as medium to high.

“I heard that this is the poetry collected some days ago, when not many people pay attention to, want to come to submit not many people, so the selected poems, there are both masterpieces, there are also some mediocre. I also heard that ten poems are selected every month, and if they are selected, not only will they be given silver, but they will also be hung in the library. And every year, the library will compile a book of poems, to include the selected poems of the year.”

“Yes?” Someone’s heart began to race.

If one’s poetry manuscript could be selected, wouldn’t one become famous all over the world?

How many abortions in a month, and they’re all readers!

What’s more, in the future, when the book of poems comes out, the fame of this literature can spread even longer and farther.

Doing poetry, although only readers entertainment means, and is not considered to be the right way, but can not help it can be famous, and may even be famous in history, the attraction, can not be small.

A lot of people have bred great interest, so they began to search their stomachs.

“I heard that not only poetry, there are also eight stocks, every month, this library will come up with questions, and after that, let people submit, then selected ten masterpieces, also the same as poetry. Over there …… there are also arithmetic tournaments, once a month, if you can come out on top, there are quite a few rewards.”

Listening to the crowd talking and talking, Yilungha couldn’t help but think, “What is this Zhang Anshi up to again?

But see a lot of readers listen to other people’s conversation, actually all hands dance, happy.

Also lost ha such eunuchs how to know, a variety of competitions, the essence is to mobilize the mood of the reading people, no longer just the library alone open to readers, but into the interaction between each other.

In this way, people are more willing to come and participate, and those who do participate look forward to being selected on a daily basis, and those who are selected, in fact, become the library’s signage, a walking advertisement.

And once this interaction has developed, the library becomes more than just a library, it becomes a center of information for readers.

And also dominate the winds of public opinion of the readers, once you can not keep an eye on the movements of the library, it means that you have no way to integrate into the circle of readers, inevitably to be ostracized.

Also Lostha only felt …… that every thing here is spending money, and it is spending money like water.

Just to earn these readers a few pennies, this …… can be a real loss of blood.

His heart ached for His Majesty.

By the side of the road, another reader muttered, “There is a big lecture hall over there, if every day will hire a great scholar to teach, today is even a great scholar Li Xiyan personally teach.”

“Imperial Master?”

“Naturally.”

“Gee, that’s something to go listen to.”

“I heard that only five hundred people can go, and they need to enroll a day in advance, so we’re afraid we’ll miss it today.”

“Pity, it’s a real shame ……”

“Tomorrow there is more, it is rumored to be the State Scholarship Sacrificer, oh, the day after that is Xie Jin …… the current Wen Yuan Pavilion University Sergeant ……”

For a moment, the crowd boiled.

That’s something the vast majority of people never think about in their lives.

Every day, people are invited to give lectures, if we simply say that there is a bias, this is not right, although Li Xiyan has recently written a few books, so that many readers feel that it is a bit deviant.

But at least the library is fair, and people are invited to understand the red color!

In that case, you can’t nitpick much, and it’s within everyone’s reach to go to one of his classes anyway, no matter who’s here.

“Is this lecture going to be silver?”

“Haven’t heard.”

“My God …… is there such a good thing in the world?”

“Yeah, I find it mind-boggling too.”

Also lost Ha also the more he listened to the more unthinkable, he saw these readers, one by one crazy like, as if this place …… is really their mind on earth wonderland in general, the heart can not help but laugh bitterly.

Just so walk all the way, also lost Ha’s heart is more and more disappointed.

This place, it doesn’t make any silver.

It’s good not to lose money.

Looking at the crowd of people here, Yildirha thought that there might be no less than 30,000 people here.

And there’s quite a few that haven’t come in yet.

It’s not even a place to get off the ground.

He didn’t have the heart to stay on, and hurriedly hurried out before letting out a long breath.

However, it was found that the people who came here were actually not only readers, but also many merchants and businessmen wearing cloth.

Merchants can only wear cloth, not silk, but they have silver, heard that there is a group of people here, there are many to come to join in the fun.

Of course, even merchants are fashionable to dress up in a spandex Confucian shirt.

They are of low status, but precisely because of their low status, they inevitably want to attach themselves to the world.

As a result, many people come here, aiming not at the books here, but at a single reader.

Many readers are meritorious, the status is not low, and in the future may even be enrolled in the imperial examinations, if they have dealt with each other in advance, the benefits of the future will be quite a lot.

Yilostha exited the library out of breath, still a little unhappy.

You only see spending money, you don’t see earning money.

With a depressed mood, he walked forward while raising his eyes to look around, but he saw that not far away from the neighboring library, there were actually quite a lot of people gathered around as well.

There was even the sound of firecrackers.

Yiluoha froze, faster pace, hurried over, then saw here, many people stopped, he also surrounded the front.

It was hard to squeeze in, and then I saw a big signboard hanging, with the four words …… Qixia Academy Palace.

What’s the name of this …… again?

He was a little confused for a moment, this school palace, could it be a schoolhouse?

Libraries cost money and so do schoolhouses.

This Zhang Anshi isn’t right lately. Why is he only thinking of doing good deeds?

Heart stifled sigh saw the day is not early, he was anxious to go back to resume orders, so he hurried back to the palace.

Only those who stayed here, however, refused to disperse, still still talking about it.

“Such a small mansion? Just a small hall, a study, plus two bedrooms and a woodshed, and it costs a thousand taels of silver? It might as well be robbed!”

“The places in Nanking near the inner city are just this price, isn’t this a joke?”

“I think it’s crazy to think about silver.”

“It’s quite close to the library, and right out the door is this garden ……”

Many people were still talking, some shook their heads, some sighed, and some were interested.

Zhu Jin emerged, smilingly said: “Do not miss ah, we Qixia place is small, leaning against this library is only a few steps away, a thousand taels of silver, can not buy a loss, can not buy fooled, gentlemen, gentlemen, you know, this in Qixia’s inn to live for a month to how much silver? At least grain silver seven or eight taels, this year down, is close to a hundred taels of silver, why?”

He paused, and continued in a godly manner, “It is not that many people have to go to the library to read! The sea of learning is endless ah, live in Qixia, this library is equivalent to your home, dare to ask you …… home can have so many collections of books? A trip from Nanjing to here is not easy, not to mention, there are many from other states and counties to come, not to mention the long way, this round trip, encountered how to do?”

“But it’s different when you live here, where you can study in peace and where you can be neighbors with great scholars! Isn’t there a saying? No silk and bamboo mess ears, no paperwork of labor, talk and laugh with the great scholars, no white men. This mansion, you do not look expensive, in fact, has been sold at a loss.”

He yelled vigorously, and said, “To tell you the truth, Li Xiyan and Hu Yanyan two males, has already purchased …… within this.”

He shouted hysterically.

But while there were a lot of people watching, not a single one actually stepped forward.

This instantly, Jujin got a little fired up.

Finally, one man timidly stepped forward and said, “One thousand taels, I don’t have that much silver on me.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Jin instantly shook his spirit and said in a conciliatory manner, “Come, come, come, dare I ask your name.”

This man said, “My humble name is Zhang, first name Wenfu.”

Zhu Jin said: “Zhang Wenfu, good name, good name, in fact, do not have to immediately pay a thousand taels of silver. We can put down a few dozen taels of deposit here, and then go back to raise the silver to buy and sell. Not only that, if the silver is not enough, it does not matter, we are here with the cooperation of the bank, allowed to borrow. This loan interest is low, the interest is only three percent per year only, borrow 800 taels, slowly pay back the interest every month is only a mere twenty-four taels of silver. If it is twenty years, every year down, is only to pay back fifty silver up and down, as long as the mansion to do offset can be.”

This person called Zhang Wenfu’s family was actually very well-off, after all, he was a scholar.

He can be said to be soaked in the library these days, but always feel more inconvenience, on the one hand, there are too many people living in the inn here, the inn is too noisy, and the price of the inn is not expensive, after all, he is not alone, there are also two servants and a maidservant it.

But if you live in Nanjing City, from Nanjing City to the library, a day round trip, but need more than one hour, that will be delayed on a lot of work, his family is a large family in Hangzhou, thousands of silver is nothing, as long as the repair letter, the family can always find a way to send silver.

Just readers stay in the countryside to study, ultimately there is no access, only the capital of this place, whether it is a test, or reading are convenient.

Thinking about it, it’s just a thousand taels of silver, so it’s no big deal to give away a mansion at least.

Hearing this interest rate, it made Zhang Wenfu froze, and then said, “Only three percent?”

“Naturally.” Zhu Jin said with a smile.

This three percent interest, put in any money changer is not possible, in fact, nine out of thirteen return are considered honest, more ruthless and donkey roll.

People like Zhang Wenfu, whose family is a rich family, know the most about the doorway here.

So he hastened to say, “Is it really three percent? In one year, eight hundred taels is but twenty-four taels of silver interest, and it can still be repaid for twenty years?”

Zhu Jin patted his chest and said, “If I open my door to do business, can I still cheat you?”

Zhang Wenfu said, you do not understand the market ah, do not know, this outside borrowing is what it is like?

No one would have guessed that Zhang Wenfu didn’t even hesitate much before saying with great bravado, “Then I’ll buy ten buildings, my clan is large and has a dozen or so sons and daughters.”

For a moment, many of the readers around here were in an uproar.

At first, everyone was just watching the fun, but now they really see that there are wrongdoers who are fooled, and suddenly boiled up.

Tenth Floor ……

This guy can’t be stupid, can he?

Many were spared with suspicion.

There was even a cross-pollination.

“Maybe they’re in cahoots, it’s a lot of silver for nothing, what’s not good to buy with that silver?”

“Yes pole, yes pole.”

“We wait and see how they act, such merchants, really hateful, in order to silver …… really face are not.”

And when Zhang Wenfu’s end finished, he went straight to pay the deposit.

Of course …… he is such a rich son of a rich family, in fact, he has no concept of silver.

Anyway, it does not hurt, after all, is to spend the parents of the silver well.

On the spot, he directly asked his servant to take out the more than two hundred taels of silver that he had brought with him.

“Good, in a few days, you’ll pay the final payment, oh, and if you want to borrow, you’ll go to the money changer and do the paperwork.”

Jujin had a look of relief on his face.

Hearing this, Zhang Wenfu happily crossed the crowd and left.

He’s still happy.

Many people, however, laughed, only thinking that this Wenfu was really foolish.

It is a recognized Zhang Wenfu, but also beat his chest to catch up to persuade: “Zhang brother, Zhang brother, you are confused ah so small mansion, but not in the city of Nanjing, this price …… even in the inner city of Nanjing, but also to buy a mansion.”

“But it’s cheap.” Zhang Wenfu said without much thought, “One thousand taels of silver, you can borrow eight hundred taels, and the interest rate is low. Two hundred taels of silver can buy a mansion, and it only costs fifty taels a year.”

This friend of his was so angry that he wanted to stomp his feet, “Brother Zhang, brother Zhang, you …… you …… are really too confused, such a bad merchant, you dare to believe him! These people …… eat people without spitting bones, have you seen that merchant? This person surnamed Zhu …… I have inquired about this person, this person is the brother merchant bank, and you know this brother merchant bank and what people have relations?”

Zhang Wenfu said, “It can’t be a bastard bastard like Zhang Anshi who has blackened his heart and sold books to pit people.”

“Huh, you really did guess right.” This friend’s body shook.

Zhang Wenfu: “……”

“Look, you’re going to fall for Surname Zhang again, let me ask you, how much silver did it cost your family to buy that Surname Zhang’s book in the first place?”

Zhang Wenfu remembered those bad memories and painfully said, “It was quite cheap, only costing seven hundred taels.”

“Motherfucker.” The man gritted his teeth, “I spent eleven hundred taels on this heartless thing.”

Zhang Wenfu was also furious: “So it’s him, why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“Hey ……” This friend kindly reminded, “At that time, the eyes of the public, I am afraid to stand out, that surnamed Zhang’s minions will beat people, listen to my advice, it is better to quickly return that mansion.”

Zhang Wenfu, however, was silent for a while and said; “No refund, tomorrow I will bring silver and set ten more mansions.”

The friend was furious and glared at him, “Ah …… this …… you ……”

Zhang Wenfu said, “That surnamed Zhang’s selling books can be sold so expensive, this calculation, I buy him a book, can be against a mansion, he is so black hearted, lack of virtue to bubble people, I think …… I think …… this mansion is also is a thousand taels, now this time to buy, should not lose.”

“Aren’t you …… you …… aiding and abetting the enemy?”

Zhang Wenfu calmed down and said, “Horizontally, I’m going to be pitted by this kind of person, so I might as well just think about it. Furthermore, my family has a bit of money, I’ll fix a letter and my father will send silver.”

Zhang Wenfu said, grinning, happy!