General Qin

Li Si's voice was passionate and full of energy.

But as soon as his words came out, the usually calm Emperor Shi Huang couldn't help showing a look of astonishment.

The emperor didn't hold back.

Zhao Gao in the palace, as well as the other eunuchs standing there, also changed their expressions slightly, and looked at Ting Wei with strange expressions.

Fortunately, after a short period of shock, Emperor Shihuang quickly showed a smile on his face, nodded in praise and said, "Ting Wei's suggestion is very good, and I have always had this idea of ​​unifying the world's writing."

Li Si keenly sensed that something was wrong with the atmosphere in the hall.

However, the emperor directly agreed to his suggestion, which made Li Si quite happy.

The unified text he proposed really spoke to what the emperor thought.

Li Si and the emperor have a good understanding!

But immediately afterwards, the emperor didn't ask about the specific matters of unifying the world's characters. Instead, he changed the subject and asked an irrelevant question: "When Ting Wei entered the palace, did he see Zhao Shaofu leave?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, I did meet Zhao Shaofu at the gate of the palace when I entered the palace."

Li Si replied, feeling a little puzzled.

When he got off the car outside the palace gate just now, he happened to meet Zhao Tuo who was leaving the palace. The two even saluted each other, exchanged pleasantries, and said some polite words.

He still remembered that Zhao Tuo was normal except for a slight flush on his face, and he didn't know why the emperor mentioned Zhao Tuo at this time.

When the first emperor saw Li Si's expression, he knew that Li Si had not got along with Zhao Tuo.

The two should have coincidentally contributed the same advice on the same day.

It seems that Li Si is also my confidant.

The First Emperor nodded secretly, started to talk about the business, and said: "Tingwei came just in time. Zhao Shaofu came to see me just now to present a newly made paper. This thing can replace bamboo slips and silk books for writing. It is very good. Tingwei Wei can take a look, I decided to use paper to implement the book and writing."

"Paper?"

Li Si's face was calm, but surprise flashed in his eyes.

What is this thing that can be used to implement a unified text?

Because it was something he had never heard of before, Li Si didn't dare to pretend to understand it, so he could only ask, "May I ask Your Majesty, what is paper?"

The First Emperor smiled and motioned Zhao Gao to take a piece of paper and pass it to Li Si.

"Tingwei, this is the paper made by Shaofu."

Zhao Gao held a piece of paper with both hands, and handed it to Li Si respectfully.

Li Si nodded, focusing all his attention on the yellow silk-like thing in front of him.

After a while.

When Li Si figured out the function of the thin thing in his hand, he was completely surprised.

"The price of this thing is cheaper than bamboo slips, and its lightness is better than silk. When writing with this thing, one piece of paper can replace several bamboo slips."

Li Si looked at the piece of hemp paper on the emperor's case, with a big "朕" written on it, and his eyes sparkled.

He once worked as a small official in Chu State.

Worked as a doorman under Lu Buwei's family.

After joining Qin Wangzheng, he served as Ke Qing, Chang Shi, and until now he has become one of the Nine Ministers.

Li Si can be said to have climbed up to a high position step by step from a young official. Naturally, he knows how much benefit such a frivolous writing carrier can bring to the entire country.

From the bottom to the top, all will benefit a lot.

"Young Master Zhao's mansion is really capable. With this thing, His Majesty's unification of the world's writing will go smoothly. And after the paper is popularized, it will be very convenient for our Qin officials to handle government affairs in the future. This is a gift from God. A gift from Daqin!"

Li Si was full of praise for the paper.

He was happy to see Li Si see the paper.

Emperor Shihuang nodded.

Regarding the matter of the same text in the book, the two ministers have already suggested, and he has already had such an idea in his heart.

There is no need for the prime minister to discuss this matter, and the decision can be made directly.

If you say do it, then do it!

The first emperor's expression became solemn, and he said in a deep voice, "Zhao Gao, raise the imperial edict."

"only."

Zhao Gao immediately obeyed the order, moistened the ink and started to write, with his ears straightened, listening to the emperor's words, ready to write at any time.

The First Emperor spoke loudly.

"The world has been in chaos for a long time, and the princes have messed up the government, causing the characters to be deformed, and it is difficult to communicate within the four seas. Such chaos makes it impossible for the Qin law to be implemented in Shandong, and it is difficult for government orders to be issued among the four seas. It is not beautiful."

"Today there are Ting Wei Li Si and Zhao Tuo, the Shaofu, who offer advice and suggestions, and want to stop those who do not agree with Qin Wen from the six kingdoms, and write the same text in the world."

"Of course, the great Qin unified the world, not only to unify the territory, but also to make everything in the world unique!"

In the palace of Qin Dynasty, Emperor Shi Huang officially issued an imperial edict in the same language.

But Li Si, who made the suggestion, froze in place.

He looked confused.

Didn't I propose it?

"Why is there Zhao Tuo's name in this edict?"

...

A black carriage was parked outside Li's residence.

Li Si got off the carriage, still holding tightly the paper given to him by the emperor.

A total of six, very precious.

"This time, the edict with the same language has Zhao Tuo's name on it, probably because he made paper."

"The imperial edict says to offer advice and advice. I, Li Si, offer advice, and the paper he made by Zhao Tuo is convenient for writing and writing, so naturally I offer advice."

Li Si secretly guessed in his heart and resolved his doubts by himself.

Thinking of all the wonderful uses of paper, he felt a little itchy. After all, Li Si was a great calligrapher. When he saw this novel writing medium, he naturally wanted to write a big stroke on it.

Just when he walked into his mansion, he saw Li Yu's servants hurrying out of the house.

"I have seen the lord."

Seeing Li Si entering the mansion, the servant immediately saluted respectfully.

Li Si nodded, noticed that the servant was holding a sealed letter in his hand, and asked casually, "Where is this sent?"

The servant hurriedly said: "It was sent to Shu, and sent to the great gentleman."

"Well, let's go."

Li Si smiled slightly, thinking that the brothers are in harmony, which really makes his old father happy.

Thinking of this, after Li Si entered the mansion, he did not go straight back to the house, but went to where Li Yu was.

Li Yuzheng was sitting in front of the desk, holding a roll of bamboo slips, shaking his head.

Hearing footsteps outside the house, he looked back and saw Li Si come in, his eyelids twitched slightly, but he smiled and said, "Father is back."

Li Si nodded and said, "Next time you write a letter to your brother, you don't need the bamboo slips."

Li Yu's face changed slightly, and he hurriedly said, "What does father mean by that?"

"what for?"

Li Si smiled, raised the six pieces of yellow paper in his hand and shook them: "Look at what this is!"

"silk?"

"Paper!"

Li Si stepped forward, put the paper in his hand on the desk, carefully pulled out a sheet and spread it out, then asked Li Yu to fetch pen and ink, and under his son's surprised eyes, wrote a word on the paper.

Orange!

Li Yu also reached out to pick up a piece of paper, pulled it, and said, "This thing can actually write. But when you touch it, it feels far inferior to silk."

"What do you know?"

Li Si sneered and said, "Although this thing is not as good as silk, it's cheaper. Do you know how this thing is made?"

Li Yu asked, "What was made?"

Li Si smiled and said: "Hemp, rags, and even discarded shoes can be used to make paper. According to Zhao Shaofu, in the future, bark, wood, bamboo, and even grass can also be used to make paper. The price is much cheaper than silk Already!"

"Grass can also make paper?"

Li Yu showed surprise on his face, and thought of the name of the person Li Si had mentioned just now, and asked, "This was created by Zhao Shaofu? He can still have this kind of ability."

Li Si sighed: "Yes, his young mansion really lives up to its name. This paper can be written on, it's cheaper than bamboo slips, and it's lighter than silk. It has the advantages of both, and it's tough..."

hiss……

With the sound of tearing.

I saw that the hemp paper in Li Yu's hand had been torn in half.

silence.

"Shuzi, you did a good job!"

Li Si cursed.

He felt a little distressed.

The emperor only gave him six cards!

Li Yu said embarrassingly: "Father said this thing is tough, so I couldn't help but try it."

Li Si snorted, reached out and picked up the remaining five sheets of paper.

"Today, we plan to let the Shaofu make a lot of paper to help our country, Qin, unify the world's writing. In the future, this paper will be popularized, and the world's legal officials will use this material to write and copy. Bamboo slips may be eliminated. .”

As Li Si said, he couldn't help shaking his head and sighing.

With his knowledge, he can naturally see what the emergence of this cheap and portable writing carrier means.

It will change the world!

However, as a disciple of the Legalist School who "makes the country easy and does not need to follow the ancients", he has always been very accepting of this new thing that is convenient for governing the country.

"Unify the text of the world."

Li Yu chewed this sentence, and then stared at the five pieces of paper in Li Si's hand, especially the yellow paper with "orange" written on it.

He frowned and said, "Father, in addition to facilitating government affairs and the implementation of laws, this thing can also make it easier for people to read. With this thing, the doctrine of the philosophers will be easier to spread."

Convenient for reading?

Li Si's old eyes narrowed instantly.

Yes, Li Yu's words reminded him.

He kept thinking that paper could help administer and spread the law.

It is ignored, this thing will also reduce the cost of reading.

In this era, bamboo slips were generally used for writing.

On a bamboo slip, some can write more than 20 characters, while others can write more than 30 or 40 characters.

As far as he knows, if bamboo slips are used to write the Confucian "Analects of Confucius", as many as five or six hundred bamboo slips are needed, and the weight reaches more than one hundred catties (Qin Jin).

With such an expensive cost, if it is not for the nobles and rich children who are quite wealthy, they simply cannot afford to read books.

But if you switch to writing on paper.

With the same number of words, the price of paper will be much cheaper, and it is also light, and its popularity will far exceed that of bamboo slips.

The promotion and circulation of paper will surely spread the theories of various schools of thought more widely, and allow more people to get the opportunity to read and learn.

Among the hundreds of scholars, Confucianism is naturally the highest in terms of popularity.

Although the group of Confucian doctors suffered heavy losses in the last Princess Shang incident and were deprived of the power to participate, Emperor Shi Huang did not abolish the Zhou rituals.

Confucianism still has great influence in Shandong.

If those Confucian disciples used paper to transcribe the classics and spread them, the consequences would be disastrous.

"You are right. I should suggest to His Majesty that this object can only be used for government affairs and law enforcement."

A cold light flashed in Li Si's eyes.

"Paper cannot be used by Confucianists and disciples."