Royal road

The buds in the lotus pond had already fallen, and Wang Wen felt sad when he saw the lotus in the pond.Luoyang has been besieged for nearly two months, and there is still no sign of the war ending.Now the King of Chengdu takes Lu Ji, the history of Pingyuan, as the forward governor, and leads the army to approach Luoyang.Thinking that after Lu Shiheng was a famous general of the Eastern Wu, there are few geniuses with world-famous articles.What if the Luoyang defenders were defeated in World War I?

With such worries, even the autumn scenery in the garden could not make Wang Wen feel at ease and intoxicated.Gently stroking the tail of the stag in his hand, he was in a daze, and a maid came forward cautiously: "Master, the messenger from Liang Langjun's mansion is asking to see you."

"Oh?" Wang Wen finally cheered up a little, and said, "Let him come in."

Liang Zixi was different from others, no matter how worried Wang Wen was, he would not turn away the messenger from the Liang family.Not long after, the messenger walked into the courtyard, knelt down and said, "Report to Zhongzheng, my master Lang made two new books, and I specially took them for Zhongzheng's appreciation."

What books do you want to appreciate?Wang Wen became curious and beckoned, "Bring it to me."

A wooden box was offered up, and Wang Wen frowned when he opened the box, why isn't it a scroll?

There are several square paper volumes in the box, like a stack of small notes glued together.He picked up a volume casually, and saw that the white paper was covered with dark paper, with a faint fragrance. On the top was Liang Feng's wonderful book, neatly mentioning the words "Vajra Prajna Paramita Sutra", surrounded by words Wrapped in a square frame, supplemented by ornamentation.It's just a cover, and the ingenuity of the intention is admirable.

When I opened the cover, I saw a painting, which was exactly the scene of Gion's sutra lecture that Liang Feng mentioned back then.There is no original version of this painting, but the composition is ingenious and the brushwork is delicate, especially the golden Buddha in the middle and the Posa Garden behind him.Just by looking at the scene in the painting, one can think of the great scripture lecture that year.It is really amazing to put the painting on such a short book without messing up.

Turning to the next page is the text of the Diamond Sutra.The interior decoration is similar to the cover, but the paper is folded in two, and the design is delicate and elegant.Whether it is the uniform ink lines separating the words or the arabesques decorated on the side, all of them reveal the writer's mind.Folding the paper in this way and gluing it into a volume saves space compared to ordinary scrolls.If you want to study it all the time, you only need to carry this book with you.

"Such ingenuity, as expected of Zixi. I don't know how long it took to write this book?" Wang Wen couldn't help praising, and read it several times before putting down the book in his hand and going to get the next one.

However, when he saw the next book clearly, he couldn't help but exclaimed, "Why is it another book?"

Indeed, what was placed in the box was the same as the one he had just read.Whether it's the inscription on the cover, the decoration of the text, or even the lines of the Buddhist paintings, it's as if two books have been conjured out of thin air.Wang Wen was only surprised for a moment, and suddenly realized that this was probably printed, right?

Inscriptions have existed since ancient times, and now among the gentry, there are also elegant things to carve their own stamps.Of course he knew what the printed stamp would look like, but he never imagined that even books could be printed like this.This can be described as an ingenuity elsewhere, a stroke of genius!Excitedly flipping through the three identical scriptures, Wang Wencai took out the book below with a smile.This one is not as exquisite as the "Diamond Sutra", and it is not the scripture paper, but ordinary hemp paper.It seems that several sheets of paper are glued together, folded repeatedly, and combined into a volume.The title of the book is "New Treatise on Febrile Diseases".

After only turning a few pages, Wang Wen asked, "Is this the posthumous work written by Doctor Jiang?"

He had also heard about the death of Dr. Jiang, and Liang Feng also sent a letter to inquire about Jiang Da being trapped in Luoyang.For this grandparent and grandson, Wang Wen felt a little bit sorry. He did not expect that Liang Feng would use this method to engrave the medical books written by Jiang Taiyi into a book. There were many sentence breaks marked on it. Obviously, he did not want to miss the original text. .

Flipping through it hastily, Wang Wen covered the scroll with a long sigh, and said to the messenger: "Such a book, I'm afraid it will cost a lot of money to make? Your husband has a heart. Bai Lu, take him down, and when I write the letter, Let’s send them back to the Liang Mansion together.”

In addition to the letters, he also had to bring some good medicines and treasures. Zixi should be thanked for putting in so much effort.

At the same time, there was another person who got the new book.

In the meditation room, the old monk slowly flipped through the two identical volumes of the Diamond Sutra in front of him, and remained silent for a long time.The reading method standing on the side had already seen the clues of this book, and couldn't help saying: "Master, this scripture seems to be printed using the method of seal. Why does Liang Zixi waste so much time and effort?"

"Time-consuming and laborious?" The old monk brushed the Buddha statue on the book lightly with his fingers, and asked, "Nowadays, how much alms can you receive for copying a scripture in the temple?"

"For a volume like "Diamond Sutra", you need five dendrobium rice and twenty thousand yuan?" Nianfa replied.Copying scriptures is also a major benefit of the temple.Many pious women will seek scriptures from monks, and they have already sought the power of their inner vows.Such scriptures are naturally not cheap.

"If the Buddha prints exquisite Buddhist scriptures, will you go to the temple to seek scriptures again?" the old monk asked lightly.

The chanting reaction was extremely quick, and he was startled: "He wants to sell Buddhist scriptures?!"

"If such a scripture book only needs twenty or thirty shi rice grains, there will be people flocking to it."

Now that it's autumn harvest, the grain is less than [-] cash per stone, and [-] stone is only [-] cash.Compared with the crude scriptures copied by monks, this kind of printed scriptures, which are exquisite in every way and come from the hands of Buddha, are probably more popular.

Nianfa blurted out: "How can this be done!"

But as soon as the words came out, he closed his mouth again.Of course it will work! The "Diamond Sutra" was originally written by Liang Feng, if it was sold, no one would be able to criticize it.This is a merit and a reward, which can only be enjoyed by Liang Feng alone.But what if he wants to engrave other Buddhist scriptures?If things go on like this, wouldn't the temple suffer a lot? !

"The temple also needs to get some craftsmen to engrave scriptures!" Nianfa said immediately.

The only thing that can beat the engraving speed is the engraving itself.As long as there are craftsmen in the monastery to carefully craft engraved editions, why worry about not being able to beat Liang Zixi's thoughts? !

The old monk shook his head: "He can do it, but you can't."

It is not a stupid person to read the method, and he instantly understood the meaning of Master's words.Liang Feng has the halo of a Buddha, no matter what is printed, it will not make people feel dishonest.On the contrary, buying things from his house will only make those devout people think they are blessed by the Buddha.Don't you see that the Jinyang Tibetan scripture paper is hard to find?

But the temple is different.What people want is the version handwritten by monks, and only handwriting can contain the power of vows and mana.If it is engraved...do you still have to boast that you have consecrated the scriptures?

This is simply a congenital weakness, which cannot be circumvented no matter what.

"Do you want him to take away all the benefits of copying the scriptures like this?" After struggling for a while, he still couldn't help asking.This is related to the income of the temple and cannot be ignored.

The old monk was silent for a moment, and said: "You go to Liang's mansion for a walk. Bring the "42 Chapters" and "Buddha's Ullambana Sutra" and ask Liang's benefactor to print them for you. The temple is willing to give 150 shi of rice in exchange for These two scriptures have fifty volumes each."

These two sutras are the most popular transcribed titles today, and the total number of words is not as many as the "Diamond Sutra".However, 150 shi of rice grain is still a little less.

He hesitated for a while: "Will Liang Zixi agree?"

The old monk smiled: "Benefactor Liang has his own decision."

■

Unexpectedly, sending two books would attract a monk.Liang Feng almost didn't laugh out loud when he heard the other party said that he would engrave scriptures here, print two copies of 150 books each with [-] shi grains, and pay [-] shi in advance.

This is to talk about custom wholesale business!

With a proper smile, Liang Feng said: "The host wants to promote Buddhism, how dare Liang shirk it. But after being rigid, it's not that only fifty copies can be printed. What if there are more catalogs?"

Read the method and answer with a smile: "This temple is willing to offer five stones of grain and fodder, and collect more scriptures."

This means that beyond the fifty volumes, the price of the reprint will be increased appropriately?This price is much cheaper than the pre-set retail price, and in this way, Huai'en Temple can become a consignment point for the scriptures of the Liang Mansion, effectively preventing his engraved copies from impacting the transcription market.These monks are quite business-minded.

However, this cooperation project is not without benefits for Liang Feng.Previously, it took more than 20 days to complete the plate-making of the "Diamond Sutra", and the craftsmen in Yangshufang consumed more than ten stones of rice per month.The sum of these two scriptures does not have as many words as the "Diamond Sutra", so it must be less rigid.Including the loss of paper and ink, 150 shi is definitely a net profit, not to mention the subsequent value-added printing.If the customization business can be sustained for a long time, the income from this piece alone will be enough to support the artisans in the bookstore.

Moreover, the monks spent so much money on food, and they would not sell the scriptures cheaply. On the other hand, it would also allow his flagship product "Diamond Sutra" to maintain its value.This is the time when food prices are the cheapest, how could Liang Feng miss this good opportunity to make a name for himself and sell products quickly.

"The mage is generous, but it seems that I am a bit stingy." Liang Feng smiled, "How about this, I will give you another fifty copies of "Treatise on Febrile Diseases", and all the mages will donate by themselves, which is also considered as the whole work of Huai'en Temple The work of man."

I didn't expect Liang Feng to be so generous, and Nianfa couldn't help feeling a little guilty. It seemed that he treated the gentleman's belly with the heart of a villain, and he also smiled: "Benefactor Liang is the one who has the common people in his heart, and the little monk is ashamed of himself." .”

With smiles on their faces and their own thoughts, the two finalized the deal.With a new partner, news of the engraved version of the "Diamond Sutra" spread quickly.With Wang Wen's enthusiastic endorsement and Huai'en Temple's strong recommendation, those nobles who couldn't line up to buy scripture paper immediately became interested in this set of printing plates.In the end, the price of the scriptures was set at [-] shi rice grains per volume, which also included a wooden box and a bonus copy of "New Treatise on Febrile Diseases".

Such a cheap price is simply beyond everyone's imagination.Needless to say Gaomen, twenty stone is not worth mentioning at all.And for those local tyrants and petty gentry, this rice grain is nothing.Therefore, in just a few days, fifty or sixty copies of the "Diamond Sutra" were sold.Even Guo Jiao bought more than ten scriptures at Liang Feng's "friendship offer" at a "low" price of ten stones.He has traveled the Jinyang commercial route several times with Liang's mansion, and has gained a lot. The county lord was naturally elated, and asked his subordinates to take the scriptures along the Taihang path eastward, and sold them to the counties of Sizhou.

Sizhou has always been crowded with aristocrats, and even wars can hardly affect the lives of these nobles.And compared to the battle situation that is right in front of you, the elegant scriptures are more praised by celebrities.Therefore, the name of Liang Feng Liang Zixi was also spread along with the novel scriptures.

The author has something to say: Keke, "42 Chapters" really exists. It was translated from the Eastern Han Dynasty, and the scriptures are quite short. The full text is only about 2000 words.Everyone, don’t want to make a show. XDDD I also saw movable type printing mentioned by many readers. Uh, what I said before may have misled everyone.Movable type printing is not suitable in this era. The cost is too high and the technology is too difficult. It is not as cost-effective as engraving.In fact, ancient movable type printing has never been really popular. After all, Chinese characters do not have 26 letters, and there is no saying that there are three thousand commonly used characters in traditional Chinese characters. The pressure of making type models and typesetting is too great.Liang Shao is so poor, of course he can do whatever is cheap. XD