A few days later.

In Jinling City, a burst of news suddenly came out that excited and shocked all the scholars.

Whether it was officials, soldiers, or wealthy businessmen and common people, they were all talking about it.

"Hey, hey, have you heard that the descendants of Confucius and Saints in Quzhou discovered ancient relics!"

"That's right... Lord Kong Yuanlang personally escorted these Confucius' relics to Jinling and presented them to the commander-in-chief!"

"Haiyan and the river are clear, and the saint is virtuous! This is auspiciousness from heaven, which shows that the Red Turban Army has won the hearts of the people and won the destiny!"

"Destiny? What does that have to do with us little people?"

"Hey, you didn't know this, right? My neighbor's second uncle's nephew said that soon the Jiangnan Provincial Government will hold the imperial examination in Jinling. I heard that all the posthumous works of Confucius will be used, called "Confucian Science"!

"

"Science? I've only heard of science, not science!"

"Anyway, it's just different. We don't need the reputation of being a scholar or a state scholar. We should be a true meritocracy!"

Next, as Zhu Han arranged for people to spread it intentionally.

The "new learning" of the Confucius family in Quzhou instantly attracted the attention of a large number of people in Jiangnan.

It has to be said that Kong Yuanlang's writing skills are indeed high enough. Many books that have been polished by him not only have the original meaning unchanged, but also have a bit of ancient style, which is very bluffing.

"Mr. Kong is indeed a great talent. This new science will be used for the imperial examination in Jinling in two months!" Zhu Han said with a smile.

According to the plan of Zhu Han and his elder brother Zhu Yuanzhang, Jinling's imperial examinations set up several different subjects to serve as an alternation between old and new Confucianism. Originally, moral articles could win over those traditional literati, while the new study allowed more ordinary people to

Opportunities to obtain imperial examinations.

"This set of new learning books not only has a lot of text, but also has a lot of color pictures and illustrations. I am afraid that it is not something that ordinary students can afford." Kong Yuanlang said with some worry.

The ones he was responsible for compiling were all related to mathematics, physics and chemistry, and naturally various graphics and pictures were indispensable.

"Haha, this is a good question sir!" Zhu Han said with a smile.

"The Duke has the ambition to allow everyone in the world to participate in the imperial examination, which is similar to the teachings of the saints. Kong is also eager to do so!" Kong Yuanlang said.

Unlike the bunch of post-officials in the North who were obsessed with being outsiders, the descendants of the Confucius in the South still concentrated on teaching and educating people.

"Actually, I have already thought about this problem. Everyone who takes part in the imperial examination, no matter who they are, will be given a set of new learning books. You can choose from three major categories, and they only cost thirty cents!" Zhu Han

said.

"Thirty cents?" Kong Yuanlang was suddenly surprised.

Thirty cents is not enough to buy even the thinnest scripture, let alone a set of new learning books with exquisite illustrations.

This is not selling books at all, it is simply giving books away.

"That's right, it's thirty cents. I don't want to make money by selling books, I just want to win the hearts of scholars!"

Zhu Han smiled slightly.

After some operations by Zhu Han.

Coupled with the help of Kong Yuanlang and others, the new Confucianism immediately set off a trend in the Jiangnan literary world.

Many scholars were originally unwilling to follow the trend of new learning, but according to the notice of Jiangnan Yamen, the number of people admitted to the traditional imperial examination was actually limited, which was far from enough to take the new subject examination.

Moreover, the traditional imperial examination and the new subject examination can be carried out in parallel, giving everyone two opportunities to take the imperial examination.

If you don’t learn, you won’t learn!

Learning the new Confucianism is equivalent to having one more chance to be admitted to the imperial examination.

Zhu Han's strategy stunned Kong Yuanlang, who was originally worried that the new learning would be difficult to promote.

"What kind of sage theory seems to be just a stepping stone for scholars all over the world to gain fame!" Kong Yuanlang couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

Zhu Han has the confidence to deliver books to readers at cost price, not because he has a lot of money, but because he already has this extremely low-cost book technology.

Nowadays, Chuzhou's printing and papermaking has completely adopted new technologies, which can not only make it faster, but also greatly reduce the cost and price.

All of this is due to Zhu Han's systematic sign-in and acquisition of new movable lead type and new ink printing.

Inside the Jiangnan Provincial Government Office in Jinling.

Liu Bowen, Shi Naian, and Hu Weiyong were reporting their respective administrative progress to Zhu Han.

"Sir, the registration for the imperial examinations in the various states in Jiangnan has basically ended. Almost 200,000 scholars participated in this imperial examination, which is an unprecedented number!" Liu Bowen said with a smile.

Although the writing style in various places in Jiangnan is strong.

But no dynasty has ever been able to gather so many literati to participate in the imperial examination.

In the past, to participate in the imperial examination, you not only needed to be a scholar, a scholar, etc.

And it is also a huge cost burden for most families.

Traveling to Beijing from all over the country to take the exam requires a lot of manpower and material resources, and ordinary families simply cannot afford to send a strong worker away.

Nowadays, most of the participants in the imperial examination are for new students. Basically, there is no need to worry about them traveling long distances, because the state capitals in various places can draw up their own merits.

Like the original imperial examination, the honors were awarded to scholars, candidates, Tongjinshi and Jinshi respectively.

Low-level talents admitted by the state school can be awarded the title of scholar, and those who are slightly better can be awarded the title of scholar.

As for the higher Tongjinshi and Jinshi, it is necessary for the candidates from various prefectures to come to Jinling to take the exam, and the particularly outstanding ones will be selected to be awarded the Tongjinshi and Jinshi.

The new imperial examination instituted by Zhu Han was far more influential than the previous ‘old imperial examination’.

First of all, the number of participants in the new imperial examination has greatly increased, and the number of people admitted has also increased greatly. The original old imperial examination only admitted a few hundred people each time, but this time the number of people admitted can reach tens of thousands. As long as they are not illiterate, then

With a little bit of new learning, you can basically get a scholar.

Scholars from Jiangnan Province can already serve as officials in an upright manner!

For scholars or ordinary people, it doesn't matter how big or small the fame is, as long as they can be an official.

"Sir, the Chuzhou Publishing and Printing Bureau reported that there are too many orders and that working day and night is not enough. They want to transfer 500 craftsmen from Jinling to Chuzhou!" Hu Weiyong said.

"Too many orders? Aren't all the new books already distributed? How could there be so many orders?" Zhu Han asked in confusion.

Ever since the new printing technology came out, the books printed by the Chuzhou Red Scarf Army have immediately become a new force. Not only are the books paper white and crisp, but the printed handwriting is clearer, and they even use the unique three-color printing of this era!

Especially after the large-scale distribution of various new learning books.

Booksellers from all over the country saw the strength of the Chuzhou Publishing and Printing Bureau, and came to visit with money and begged to print books for them.

"This order has just been increased recently. It costs a lot to print new learning books. People in the Publication and Printing Bureau also want more revenue, so they have received many orders from various places. The biggest one is sent by Liu Futong, the Prime Minister of Bianliang

I came here to ask for the Almanac of the Emperor and Song Dynasty, and then the order from the Jiangnan bookseller." Hu Weiyong said hesitantly.

Zhu Han naturally knew that the Imperial and Song Dynasty almanacs could be used by both the imperial government and ordinary people. The twenty-four solar terms and other calendars were on them. They were essential items for every household, especially the Chuzhou Publishing and Printing Bureau.

It cost a lot to produce, so Liu Futong immediately asked Liu Futong to spend 50,000 taels of silver to publish the "Almanac of the Emperor and Song Dynasty" in order to give every household under his rule a copy.

Zhu Han had already read the revised version of the "Almanac of the Imperial Song Dynasty". In addition to the calendar, there were also many jingle verses promoting the White Lotus Sect of the Red Scarf Army, which was considered a propaganda tool that Liu Futong wanted.

However, Zhu Han did not expect such a large amount of orders from Jiangnan booksellers that Hu Weiyong mentioned.

"Jiangnan booksellers? What books do they publish on a large scale?" Zhu Han asked with concern.

Since ancient times, the imperial courts of all dynasties have had strict requirements for the publication of books. Although Zhu Han's publishing and printing bureau is a money-making tool, it cannot be taken lightly in this aspect. If others publish some books that slander oneself, then

But the gains outweigh the losses.

Hu Weiyong was good at guessing, so he could naturally discern Zhu Han's thoughts.

"Sir, those Jiangnan booksellers are not strangers at all. They are all acquaintances from Suzhou and Jinling. The books they publish are basically word-book pamphlets with color pages and illustrations." Hu Weiyong said.

"Oh? A booklet with color pages and illustrations?" Zhu Han was suddenly curious.

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Printed books with color illustrations, but the exclusive secret book of Chuzhou Publishing and Printing Bureau, basically costs 30% more than ordinary books. Jiangnan booksellers, who have always been budget-conscious, actually printed so many colors.

The illustrated book immediately made Zhu Han curious.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Han had just finished speaking.

He saw Liu Bowen, Shi Nai'an and Hu Weiyong all blushing, and they looked a little embarrassed.

"What's wrong with you?" Zhu Han asked.

The three of them hemmed and hawed, but couldn't utter a complete sentence.

"Hu Weiyong, are there any samples of these printed books you mentioned in the house?" Zhu Han immediately said displeased.

According to the rules set by Zhu Han, all books in the Chuzhou Publication and Printing Bureau must first be published in sample volumes, and submitted and sealed in the local archives in Dingyuan County where Zhu Yuanzhang is located, Jinling where Zhu Han is located, and Chuzhou for easy reference at any time.

Review.

Of course, there were so many books produced by Chuzhou Publication and Printing Bureau that Zhu Han and others basically had no time to check them.

"Yes, yes! I'll go and get it right now!" Hu Weiyong said hurriedly.

After a while, Hu Weiyong trotted back with a few books in his hands.

Zhu Han took these books and found that they were all made of Chuzhou's latest fine white paper, which is a high-end paper product bleached by a new technology.

"These Jiangnan booksellers seem to have made a lot of money!" Zhu Han couldn't help but said when he saw this piece of paper.
To be continued...