Chapter 26: A Study of the Land

Since there was no ready-made solution, the only way forward was to focus on technical restoration and development.

Soon after, Guangxiao arrived with Boss Sun of the Donghe Bookstore. Upon seeing the requirements, Boss Sun was struck by a massive headache. Fifteen thousand characters—was this a book? Who could carve that in three days?

It wasn't entirely impossible, provided they hired thirty craftsmen to carve one page each. However, the carving fees would skyrocket; at two hundred wen per person per day, the labor costs alone would reach six strings of cash. Add to that the cost of high-quality jujube, pear, or boxwood, and another string of cash would be gone. Was it worth it for just one article?

"Boss Sun, I appreciate your help; our previous printing collaboration was very successful. I heard from Wei Min that many who received the articles were full of praise, saying our printing quality rivaled that of the Diamond Sutra carved at the Daxiangguo Temple. I've asked you here because I want us to collaborate on developing a new printing method."

If he wanted to publish magazines in the future, woodblock printing was simply too slow. A book of over a hundred thousand characters would take forever to carve; at this rate, he couldn't even finish one book a month, which was far from his ambitious plan.

"I know of a stencil duplicating method. First, we need to find a type of paper that is very tough yet extremely thin."

Boss Sun suggested using silkworm cocoon paper or Chengxin Tang paper. He added that the imperial household also possessed a type of silk paper used for window coverings that was both very thin and remarkably resilient.

"Second, we need to formulate a paraffin wax mixture to coat or soak the paper evenly."

Boss Sun noted that this technology was quite mature; there were hundreds of skilled masters in the printing and dyeing workshops of Bianjing who could handle this.

"Third, I need very smooth metal plates for the stencils."

Boss Sun replied that the Great Song was not lacking in this regard. There were plenty of mirror-polishing craftsmen who, for the right price, could polish metal to a mirror-like finish.

Li Changan was stunned. He had expected to spend some time on research, but it turned out to be nothing more than assembling existing technologies. The steel needles for the stencils were no problem; craftsmen who could carve walnuts would certainly have mastered metal tempering. That left only the screen, the roller, and the ink—all of which were straightforward, as he could adapt techniques from existing woodblock printing.

"Very well, let’s get started as soon as possible. We need to find a reasonable formula so that each wax stencil can produce at least three hundred copies."

He didn't dare aim higher; after all, it was still the eleventh century, nearly eight hundred years before such technology should exist.

A technical task force was quickly established to verify the feasibility of each component and coordinate the workflow. Although Uncle Ai hadn't contributed much, he hadn't left either. He had originally come looking for study materials, but he had discovered a greater treasure: the "Li Method of Work."

He realized that technological progress wasn't about one person brooding in isolation, hoping for a spark of inspiration. It was about using capital to drive talent, improving processes according to specific requirements, and then combining them with a clear logic to create something entirely innovative—a technology that transcended the era.

It hit him like a giant boulder crashing into a deep pool, awakening his very soul with divine inspiration. Li Changan must be an emissary sent by God, creating a way of working that would completely subvert this old world. Uncle Ai closed his eyes and prayed silently, hoping to board Li's fast-sailing ship, certain it would lead his life toward paradise.

Li Changan, meanwhile, felt only frustration. This did not fit his stereotypes of ancient times at all. They possessed every single component, yet no one had thought to combine them into something new. Even now, Boss Sun held no high expectations. It was strange—did the Song people, usually so enthusiastic about innovation, lack the curiosity to break with tradition? If so, his grand ambitions would be difficult to realize.

By the afternoon, the first prototype of the complete process was born, bearing the title Li Changan had written: "A Study on Land."

"It's done? It's really done?" Uncle Ai rubbed his bald head, unable to believe his eyes. Creating new technology usually took years, cost years of wages, and left a man destitute, exhausted, and neurotic. Yet here, a miracle had occurred: in a single day, Li Changan had invented an entirely new printing technology. This "Greek printing" he had mentioned was clearly nonsense—how could a bunch of stone-carvers possess such marvelous artistry?

"Mr. Changan, I formally apply to be your agent for this technology and earn you a handsome profit."

Li Changan glanced at him. Why was this uncle so excited? One would think he had invented a laser printer.

"Absolutely not!" Boss Sun stepped between Uncle Ai and the duplicating workbench, blocking him entirely. If no one fought over a thing, its value might be questionable. But if people were this desperate to snatch it up the moment it was born, it had to be a remarkable invention. He didn't fully grasp the technical value, but as a merchant, he had a keen sense for opportunity.

"Stop arguing. Follow the standard procedure to produce the components. Both of you work on this; whoever develops it better will get the final authorization. But do not delay my book printing, or I would rather hire fifty woodblock carvers."

The two men fell silent; the fruit wasn't fully ripe yet, and now was not the time to decide who would pick it.

Money was only one step away from being omnipotent in the commercial market. While Boss Sun was only willing to fund one team for the development, Uncle Ai went "all-in," refining the division of labor and employing over thirty people. Burning the midnight oil, a printing technology destined for the nineteenth century was being birthed in the eleventh.

...

One day later, Li Changan looked at the freshly minted stenciled articles with a wicked glint in his eyes. When it came to propaganda, the Great Song had no rivals left. In the name of the vocational school, he had Uncle Ai and Boss Sun establish a printing institution responsible for future textbooks and teachers' works. With the research goals, methods, personnel, and equipment all in place, who else could possibly be his competitor?

Let the printing begin. Let the natives of the Great Song tremble before his brilliance!

Although each stencil could only produce about a hundred copies, that was fine—he just needed to hire a few more calligraphers. Soon, four thousand hand-written stencil-printed articles were released into the academic and business circles of Bianjing.

" 'A Study on Land'?" Sima Guang stared at the crudely printed document, filled with confusion. The style was clearly Li Changan’s, so why was "Su Shi" listed as the author?

Su Shi was even more bewildered. He had studied the Dujiangyan irrigation project and wanted to promote such water-diversion schemes elsewhere, but he had never studied agricultural science. The mention of the five basic soil types, humus layers, permeability, and nitrogen fixation left this genius completely stunned.

He suspected this was a sister piece to the article by Qian Weiming, but why would they steal his name? It must be another one of Li Changan’s tricks. He had used his name for the "List of Influential Figures" years ago, and now he was using his reputation to spread his own theories. This kid was using him as a backer and had ambushed him twice. But when had this boy learned to farm, and why did he understand it more systematically than anyone else?

Even if Li Changan knew of Su Shi’s dissatisfaction, he wouldn't feel the slightest bit of guilt. A genius born every two thousand years—what was wrong with a little bit of legend-building? Look at Prime Minister Zhuge Liang; he could even build a perpetual motion machine. He was doing this for his friend, sacrificing his own original theory—see, that was true loyalty.

Zeng Gongliang, the Grand Academician of the Zhaowen Pavilion and Minister of Revenue, held the article with tears streaming down his face, unable to speak, only muttering "A genius!" under his breath. "Su Zizhan, oh Su Zizhan, I must make you the Minister of Agriculture!"