Chapter 275: Chapter 275

In the Treasure Pavilion of Xiping County, five new types of paper were displayed, stacked on the shelves, allowing visitors to choose. After deciding how much to purchase, the staff would bring it out for them.

Most came to buy paper for their own use, purchasing it ream by ream, while some intended to sell the paper elsewhere.

The paper in the Treasure Pavilion was slightly cheaper than that on the market, and buying in bulk could make it even cheaper, so many booksellers flocked to the scene upon hearing the news.

Thus, they were not only attracted by the affordable paper but also by the various glassware and soap in the pavilion, which prompted them to stay a bit longer and eventually hear about the textbooks being used in the Xiping County school.

The "Three Character Classic," because of its catchy phrases, was recited by students even after school, starting to spread throughout the city and becoming a nursery rhyme.

Consequently, even four or five-year-old children in the alleys, who had never attended school, could shout a couple of lines like "At the start of man, nature is good..." along with the older kids in their families.

Booksellers were shocked and wanted entire editions of the books.

She sighed deeply. She wanted them too, but there was only Hu Jin in the publishing house. Oh, there were some apprentices now, but they were still in the learning phase, so just not causing trouble was considered good enough.

Books were very valuable, and seeing a road to riches right before her eyes, yet unable to step onto it, was heart-wrenching.

So, she could only urge Ji Yuan to hurry and find enough craftsmen for her. However, Ji Yuan was busy with the construction in Shangcai County, especially as it was the crucial time for spring sowing, so he irritably replied, "I’ve already sent people to Luoyang to look for them, but haven’t found any yet."

She then ran off to find Zhao Ming.

Now, Zhao Ming would get a headache as soon as he saw her. He immediately rolled up his sleeves, turned around, and went down to the fields to plant rice seedlings, "You, as a County Lord, should be encouraging agriculture, not thinking about commerce all day long!"

Zhao Hanzhang: "...Now the county’s common people are working as if on a stimulant, do I still need to encourage agriculture?"

She had to go to the school to teach the "Three Character Classic" and math classes at fixed times every day. Although being a teacher was her main job, she had to write the teachings on the blackboard before each class, which was quite a headache.

"But for now, I just can’t find any craftsmen."

Fortunately, Hu Jin was quite capable. Although there were many difficulties, not long after planting rice seedlings, he finally finished engraving a version of the "Three Character Classic." After processing it, he began printing with his young apprentices.

Brushing ink, placing paper... organizing and binding, everything proceeded systematically, and then a complete "Three Character Classic" with missing lines was successfully printed.

Of course, the missing lines were not Hu Jin’s fault, but rather Zhao Hanzhang had omitted some passages. Recently, Zhao Cheng had been obsessed with figuring out how to fill these gaps.

Because of this, Hu Jin left out those sections, so that once someone filled in the gaps, he could engrave on the original instead of starting from scratch.

He first taught the young apprentices to print, and after ensuring they could complete the task cooperatively, he handed over the printing work to them, while he immersed himself in engraving the "Thousand Character Classic" in raised script.

He only needed to occasionally check on them.

Zhao Hanzhang received the first batch of printed "Three Character Classic" books with great joy. She first distributed a book to every child in the school, then cleared a space in the Treasure Pavilion to store the "Three Character Classic."

At last, the publishing house received its first order since opening, starting to make money.

It had been almost half a year since it only expended resources without bringing anything in.

Besides Xiping, Zhao Hanzhang also opened a school in Shangcai. She didn’t allow County Magistrate Chai to interfere, letting Ji Yuan take full charge. Zhao Kuan, who had made a round trip and settled in Shangcai, was specially hired back to teach at the school.

Oh, along with his brothers.

Now, they not only had to manage basic administrative affairs in Shangcai but also teach at the school, leaving them with a perpetually dazed look from exhaustion.

Amid a group of busy people, County Magistrate Chai seemed somewhat leisurely, as many tasks did not require him. So, his main job now was to mediate disputes among the county’s families.

Actually, it was the disputes between families and the Zhao Manor.

Then, using his connections, he would buy grain, cloth, and various things Zhao Hanzhang needed.

He still enjoyed his days unless a gentry couldn’t help but question, "In Shangcai County, is it the County Lord or her advisor Ji Yuan who calls the shots?"

Only then did County Magistrate Chai realize, unbeknownst to him, he had completely obeyed Ji Yuan, or rather, he should say, completely obeyed Zhao Hanzhang.

Though Ji Yuan had initially coaxed him into joining, he couldn’t deny that every decision he made now wasn’t truly his own but what Zhao Hanzhang hoped for him to do.

County Magistrate Chai was momentarily stunned. Before Ji Yuan, who had heard the news, could come to appease him, he had already figured it out, thinking, "Forget it, the entire county relies on Zhao Hanzhang now. Can I really push her away and work independently?"

He was willing, but the people in the county had to be willing too.

Forget it, who cares who’s orders we follow?

He was just a small County Magistrate. If not following Zhao Hanzhang, he’d have to follow the Governor and the Inspector, and above them, the court.

But they only made demands, without listening to his grievances or granting his requests, yet Zhao Hanzhang at least understood his difficulties.

So when Ji Yuan came to see him, County Magistrate Chai was fine, even saying to Ji Yuan, "I won’t believe such inciting words."

He showed trust in him and Zhao Hanzhang.

Ji Yuan smiled and agreed, "The County Lord is right. How can our bond be undermined by such people?"

Even Chang Ning in Xiping heard about this matter and said to Zhao Hanzhang, "The phrase ’content with one’s situation’ best fits County Magistrate Chai. Once he gets used to the County Lord, unless someone puts a knife to his neck, he’ll follow you continuously."

Until someone stronger than Zhao Hanzhang appears.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and said, "I know. He won’t cause me any trouble, and naturally, I won’t trouble him either."

Although Xiping and Shangcai are still two counties, their policies are similar, the connection between the two is unprecedentedly close, and they are closely tied in economic and cultural exchanges. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they’re like one county.

And apart from Lin County having some insight into these matters, He Ci Shi in distant Chen County knew nothing about them, and he struggled to monitor the developments in the two counties below him.

Because he was troubled by the matter of the court moving the capital, and he had fallen ill.

The proposed new capital of Cangyuan City by Gou Xi was near Chen County, meaning its Yu State headquarters might become part of the Capital City’s jurisdiction.

This implied that Yu State Governor could potentially become the Capital City Governor, so he supported moving the capital.

His mind was focused on the court’s relocation, leaving him indifferent to the conditions of the counties below. At this time, his old injury from last year suddenly flared up, causing him great distress.

Moreover, heaven seemed to conspire against him. At this time, Prince East Sea, who had long argued with Gou Xi, seemingly lost patience, directly accusing Gou Xi of rebellion, issuing a manifesto in the name of the court to muster forces nationwide against him.