Royal road

"Master Lang, this is the newly bound book." Kneeling in front of the desk, Zhao Yu handed over the brand new book with both hands, eyes full of joy.

The Liang Mansion officially set up a bookstore half a month ago and began trial production of new books.Different from the common scriptures in the world, the books printed in the bookstore are not scrolls, but a square volume, which is made of wood-cut characters, brushed with ink and covered with paper.Seeing the engraving for the first time, Zhao Yu was really surprised.Who would have thought that words could be engraved on wood and transferred into a book?

This method is simply brilliant!Zhao Yu grew up in a poor family, and immediately became interested in printing techniques.It just so happened that because she was literate, the master entrusted her with the task of verifying the new book and binding it into a volume.

It is not easy to bind a new type of paper book that has never been seen before.Zhao Yu put in a lot of thought, but in the end she was enlightened by her master, and she had the immediate results.Although it is a new style, Zhao Yu is confident that this is the best binding method, and even the owner may not be able to pick it wrong.

Liang Feng opened the book in front of him. The engraving of the "Diamond Sutra" has not been finished yet, and this book is just a sample publication made of rough drafts.Different from the previous ones, this time it is hinged binding, that is, the printed pages are folded in half, with the blank side sandwiched in the middle, the printed side facing outward, the back is sewed thinly with thread, and then wrapped in paper. Strict, as an outer seal.Even though it was a sample, Zhao Yu didn't ignore it, the workmanship was extremely fine, and it looked very high-end.However, Liang Feng has long been accustomed to the double-sided printed books of the later generations. This kind of hinge, no matter how you look at it, looks like a pirated book that has not been cut, making people feel the urge to cut the middle page.

But even Liang Feng has to admit that there is probably no better choice now.In fact, engraving takes a lot of effort, and the paper and ink are not ideal. If you print on both sides, the wrong version is still a small problem, and the ink penetration is a headache.This kind of hinge binding takes into account the needs of both aesthetics and practicality, and can make a thin Diamond Sutra look a little thicker, which shows that Zhaoyu has put in so much effort.

Putting down the book, Liang Feng nodded and said, "That's good. How long will it take to bind a book?"

"It only takes two days." Zhao Yu happily replied.

The most troublesome thing about woodblock printing is the time to carve the wood.It is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and you must be careful not to make typos, otherwise every board will be destroyed and remade.But once the engraving is made, printing and binding is simple.Just dry the ink, carefully fold and seam, and glue the outer seal, and you can make a beautiful and elegant booklet.Thinking of how many illiterate servants he could bring to make such an exquisite new book, Zhao Yu felt extremely excited.The Lord Lang is really a gift from heaven, and he can come up with such a wonderful idea!

This production cycle is not bad, if the five female workers adopt assembly line binding, I am afraid that the efficiency will be higher.After thinking about it, Liang Feng took a blank sheet of paper, folded it in half like a stack of lyrics, and handed it to Zhao Yu: "The Diamond Sutra can be bound carefully, but there is no need for "Treatise on Febrile Diseases". This glues the pages together and folds them."

"Diamond Sutra" is the main product, no matter how fine it is, it cannot be overstated. "Treatise on Febrile Diseases" is a free supplement, so the cost must be controlled.It is refreshing and simple to use ordinary hemp paper plus folded pages, and it is a good way.

"By the way, "Treatise on Febrile Diseases" must be revised carefully. You can't write a single word wrong, and you can't miss a single character. This is the basis for saving lives, and it can't be ignored." Liang Feng ordered again sternly.

Because it is a medical book, Liang Feng spent a lot of effort on "A New Treatise on Febrile Diseases".For the first time, "sentence break" was introduced in stereotype.There is no punctuation in ancient books. Only by the guidance of teachers can we distinguish the meaning of the text and read the scriptures.In private comments, the two combinations of "." and "," will be used, which is the ancient name of sentence break.This is of course a means by which the ruling class controls the dissemination of knowledge and ennobles it.But in medical books, it is likely to become a trap to mislead others.Even if he would be criticized by others, Liang Feng couldn't look at a good medical book as if it was passed on by mistake. Anyway, it doesn't cost money to send it, just do it according to his heart.

Although this is not in compliance with the rules, Zhao Yu is also aware of the impact of sentence breaks on reading. After nodding his head, he backed out.

The bookstore is now in the main house, just like the weaving room.Zhaoyu quickly walked around the corridor, covered his nose with his hands, and stepped into the courtyard.The yard is still full of sawdust, which is very choking.Several craftsmen are carving the wooden board in their hands. They each have a division of labor, some flatten the wood, and some carve decorations. Only the four with the best craftsmanship carefully carve the words on the board.

This is a job that requires concentration. Zhao Yu didn't dare to disturb her, so she moved to the corner of the courtyard.I saw Wei Funu sitting alone in front of the wooden table, carefully carving a pattern.

This is the picture of Gion's lecture on the scriptures drawn by the master specially invited by the painter.In the painting, the Buddha is sitting in lotus lotus under the bodhi tree, holding a flower with one hand, with a smile on his lips.Even the whirling shadows of the trees could not cover the shining golden wheel behind him.Below, the disciples either sat or knelt, or gazed up, or nodded and lowered their eyes, listening intently to what the Buddha said.The houses in the distance are faintly visible, not like Middle Earth.

This painting is mediocre, but its advantage lies in the many characters and clear structure.What attracts more attention is the Buddha in the middle.With just a few strokes of sketching, the face of the Buddha is elegant and handsome.Between the drooping eyebrows and eyes, there was compassion and pity, and there was a faint shadow of the head of the Liang family.

Does the Buddha in the previous painting look like this?Zhao Yu glanced at Wei Funu who was concentrating on carving, but didn't speak.No one knows the true appearance of the Buddha, but among the servants of the Liang Mansion, the Lord Lang is their god and Buddha.Such a portrait is worthy of this exquisite engraved book!

After looking at it for a long while, Zhao Yu pulled away and walked towards the engraving made on the side.

■

Returning from Wuxiang, Yiyan spent more than ten days on the road.Even if the landlord had prepared enough dry food and money for him, the journey was exhausting.

With so much gossip, it's too easy to provoke right and wrong.Thanks to the five extraordinary horses and the token Liang Feng had prepared in advance, this group of people escaped the soldiers' investigation.They traveled day and night along the way, fearful, and when they came outside Liang's mansion, many people cried out when they saw the fields that had been harvested and the refugees walking through the shantytowns.They have lived on farming for generations, how can they not know that this is a paradise where people can live.

Knowing that it was Yiyan who came back, Liang Feng specially greeted him.Seeing Zhang's still pale and handsome face, Yiyan's eyes became hot and he knelt down on the ground.

"My lord, I have brought my people back. Too many people have gone out to flee the famine, and only the old and the weak are left. Please punish me, my lord..."

Among these people, less than one-third of them are laborers in the prime of life, and more are women, children and the elderly.Seeing the black mass of kneeling heads, Liang Feng walked up to Yi Yan and stretched out his hand: "What's the crime? It's all human life, so we should save it."

This is not the same as what he thought, but the elderly and children can also do some chores that are not so physically demanding. Every life is precious in troubled times.What's more, with these relatives, those men who are away from home will always return one day.

No one knows better than Yiyan the amount of money and food that the Liang family spends every day, and the wasted cost of raising these people.He didn't get up, but just knelt straight in front of Liang Feng: "My lord wants to save more people, whether they are Jie people or refugees."

It was the first time that Yiyan left Liang Feng's side voluntarily during these days when he returned to his hometown.There is no daily practice, no vicious enemies, and no man who can catch his attention all the time.Yiyan began to open his eyes, looking to the side.

He saw countless miserable people.Those peasant households who, like his clansmen, were struggling on the barren land with insufficient food and clothing; , but killed the refugees by the roadside.

This world, just like when he left his hometown, has never improved, but has become more and more frightening.The Liang Mansion was like a barrier, covering his eyes and making him indulge in tiny happiness.However, my lord, I have never been fooled by this illusion.The words he had spoken echoed in his ears like thunder.

"A big ship fell into the water and is about to sink. Everyone is crying, should we save it?"

"It doesn't matter tomorrow? Who knows what will happen tomorrow?"

A word, every seemingly weird move, all point in one direction.He wanted to save people, and tried his best to find ways to save more lives.

Before, Yiyan didn't understand why the people in Jinyang City were so crazy.However, these days and nights, the prayers echoing in his ears made Yiyan understand.How much those in hell need such a Savior.Maybe the lord was originally the incarnation of gods and Buddhas, so he is so compassionate and pity them.

So this time, Yiyan knelt down, on both knees.

Looking at that young face, Liang Feng nodded slightly: "Yes, I will do my best."

His voice was flat, without much ups and downs.However, Yiyan bowed his head in front of him as if he had been whipped.

"Wish to be a pawn before the lord's stallion."

All the Jie people kneeling behind him also lowered their heads.Just like devout believers who want to pay homage to the Buddha.

Liang Feng stretched out his hand, and gently stroked the drooping hair: "I am very happy to have your words."

He no longer said "serve death", and no longer only considered his own safety.This trip put a little extra weight on Yiyan's shoulders.It's like an extremely sharp sword that finally has a scabbard and has an unparalleled sharpness.This little guy has grown up.

Then, Liang Feng raised his head and said to the Jie people who were kneeling on the ground: "From now on, this is your homeland. I will distribute livestock and farm tools to you, and you will have to build houses, clear wasteland and build canals." , Build fortifications. If you want to survive, you have to work hard to earn your own rations."

He didn't even say slaves or tenants, just that this was the new home.Those Jie people who could understand Chinese all whimpered.And those who don't understand can also hear the kindness in his tone.

Kneeling on the ground, the old man with cloudy eyes raised his head with great effort.I saw a handsome and flawless gentleman standing in front of everyone in the sunshine.The man's demeanor is so outstanding, but his smile is gentle and amiable, just like a Buddha holding flowers and lowering his eyes.

As if his eyes were burned by the light, he lowered his head hastily, and recited the scriptures again.Infected by his voice, the Buddha's voice sounded continuously, including Chinese and Jie language, blending in one place.

Liang Feng smiled, didn't take it seriously, and said to Yiyan: "Okay, let's go back to the house. It will take a lot of work to arrange them."

Yi Yan stood up from the ground, but did not take a step, but led his own Karasuma steed: "My lord, ride it back."

Liang Feng raised his eyebrows, this kid actually dared to let him ride a big horse?But this is better.As luck would have it, Liang Feng stepped on the stirrup and was about to get on the horse when unexpectedly a hand rested on his calf and gave him a light push.Without much effort, he sat firmly on the horse's back.

Yiyan withdrew his hand, took the horse's rein, and walked towards the village.

The author has something to say: The Diamond Sutra is packaged on the back, which probably appeared in the Song Dynasty.Medical books are bound by scriptures, which existed in the Tang Dynasty.If you don’t create a lyrics book, you can figure it out just by thinking about the memorial.These symbols were used privately when punctuating sentences, but until the Song Dynasty, only a small number of books were engraved with punctuation.In ancient times, they tried every means to prevent people from learning to read.