Royal Road

Chapter 59 Ride the wind

The buds in the lotus pond had long since fallen, and Wang Wen looked sadly at the full pond Bihe. Luoyang has been besieged for nearly two months, and there is still no sign of the end of the war. Now the king of Chengdu is using the Plain Inner History Luji as the forward governor, commanding the army to approach Luoyang. After thinking that Lu Shiheng is a famous general in Soochow, there are few wizards, the article is the best. If the Luoyang defenders were defeated in World War I, what should be done?

With such worries, even the autumn scenery in the garden could not make Wang Wen’an intoxicated. Caressing the tail in his hand, he was dazed by himself, and a maidservant walked up carefully: “Lord, the messenger from Liang Langjun’s mansion asks to see you.”

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

Liang Zixi is different from others, no matter how worried, Wang Wen will not turn away the Liang Mansion messenger. After a short while, the messenger walked into the courtyard and knelt down and said: “Enlighten to Zhongzheng, my husband has produced two new books, which are specially collected from Zhongzheng for appreciation.”

What book do you want to appreciate? Wang Wen became curious and waved: “Take me to see.”

A wooden box was offered. Wang Wen opened the box and frowned. Why isn’t it a scroll?

There are several square paper books in the box, like a stack of small papers glued together. He picked up a volume casually, and saw that the white paper was covered with dark paper, with a faint fragrance. Above it was Liang Feng’s wonderful book, neatly carrying the words “Vajra Prajna Paramita Sutra”. Wrapped in a square circle, supplemented by ornamentation. It’s just a cover, and its ingenuity makes people praise it.

Turning over the cover, it is a painting, which is exactly the scene of Gion lectures described by Liang Feng that year. This painting does not have the original text, but the composition is ingenious and the brushwork is delicate, especially the Buddha in the middle of the golden light, and the Posuo Graceland behind him. Just by looking at the scene in the painting, you can think of the grand lecture that year. Putting the paintings on such a short book can still keep a single stroke intact, and his dedication is really amazing.

Turning to the next page is the text of the Diamond Sutra. The decoration on the page is similar to the cover, but the paper is folded in two, and the design is exquisite and elegant. Whether it is the uniform ink lines separating the text, or the arabesques on the side, they all reveal the readers’ thoughts. Folding the paper in this way and gluing it into a volume saves space compared to ordinary scrolls. If you want to study from time to time, just take this book with you.

“So ingenious, worthy of Zixi. I don’t know how long it took to make this book?” Wang Wen couldn’t help but praised, read it several times, and then put down the book in his hand and went 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, the one in the box is no different from the one he just read. Whether it is the inscription on the cover, the ornamentation of the text, and even the lines of the Buddha’s paintings, they are not bad, as if two books were made out of thin air. Wang Wen was just astonished for a moment, and suddenly realized that this was probably printed out, right?

The seal has its own in ancient times, and today there is also an elegant event among the nobles. Of course he knew exactly how the printed stamp would look like, but he never thought that even books could be printed like this. This is really another way of thinking, a touch of magic! With great interest, he turned over the three identical scriptures, and then Wang Wen smiled and took out the book below. This is not as sophisticated as the “Diamond Sutra”. It is not Tibetan scripture paper, but ordinary hemp paper. It seems that several sheets of paper are glued together, folded repeatedly, and formed into one book. The title of the book is “New Treatise on Febrile Diseases”.

After just turning a few pages, Wang Wen said: “Is this the posthumous work of Jiang Taiyi?”

He had also heard about the death of Grand Doctor Jiang, and Jiang Da was trapped in Luoyang, and Liang Feng also sent a letter to inquire. Wang Wen was somewhat regretful for this grandson. He did not expect Liang Feng to use this method to engrave the medical book written by Jiang Taiyi into a book. There were also many sentence break marks on it. Obviously, he did not want to miss the original text. .

After turning over it hastily, Wang Wen sighed and sighed, and said to the messenger: “Such a booklet, I am afraid it will be expensive to do? Your man is interested. Bai Lu, take him down, wait for me to write a letter. Send it back to Liang Mansion together.”

In addition to the letters, he also needs to bring some good medicines and treasures. Zixi should be grateful for such an exhausting effort.

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

In the meditation room, the old monk slowly flipped through the two volumes of Diamond Sutra, which were generally indistinguishable from each other, and remained silent for a long time. The reading of the standing side by side had already seen the clues of the book, and could not help but said: “Master, this scripture seems to be printed with a seal. Why does Liang Zixi bother so much time and effort?”

“Takes time and effort?” The old monk gently flicked his finger across the Buddha statue on the book, and asked, “How many alms can be collected in the temple nowadays when copying a book?”

“For a volume like “Diamond Sutra”, it needs Mi Wuhu and the price is 20,000 yuan, right?” Nian Fa replied. Copying scriptures is also a major benefit in the temple. Many devout women would ask the monks for blessings, and have asked for the inner strength of the blessings. Such scriptures are naturally not cheap.

“If the Buddha printed the exquisite Buddhist scriptures, would you go to the temple again to ask for the scriptures?” the old monk asked indifferently.

The chanting reaction was extremely fast, and he was shocked: “He wants to sell Buddhist scriptures?!”

“Such a scripture, if it only costs 20 to 30 shi and rice, there will be people rushing to it.”

Now the autumn harvest has been harvested, and one stone of grain is less than eight hundred wen, and twenty shi is no more than 20,000 yuan. Compared with the crude scriptures copied by monks, this kind of printed scriptures, which are exquisitely everywhere and from the hands of the Buddha, are probably more popular.

Nianfa blurted out: “How can this work!”

However, as soon as the words were spoken, he closed his mouth again. Of course this works! The “Diamond Sutra” was originally written by Liang Feng. If people sell it, I am afraid that no one can criticize it. This is merit and retribution, 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, will the temple suffer great losses? !

“We also need to get some craftsmen in the temple to engrave scriptures!” Nian Fa said immediately.

The only thing that can beat the speed of engraving is the engraving itself. As long as there is a craftsman in the temple and meticulously making a block copy, why can’t it be better than Liang Zixi’s mind? !

The old monk shook his head: “He can do it, you can’t.”

Nianfa is not a stupid person, and instantly understands the meaning of Master’s words. Liang Feng has the aura of a Buddha, no matter what is printed, it will not make people feel insincere. On the contrary, buying things from his mansion will only make those devout and honest people think that they are blessed by the Buddha. Don’t you see Jinyang Tibetan scripture paper, is it hard to get ten thousand gold?

The temple is different. What people want is the handwritten version of the monk, and only handwriting can contain the mana of aspiration. If it is to engrave… Is it possible to boast that you have opened the scriptures?

This is simply a congenital weakness, and it can’t be circumvented in any case.

“Let him take away all the benefits of copying scriptures like this?” After tangling for a while, Nian Fa still couldn’t help asking. This is about the monastery’s income, and it can’t be taken lightly.

The old monk was silent for a moment, and said: “You go to Liang Mansion. Take the “Forty-two Chapter Sutra” and “Buddha Talking Bon Sutra”, and ask Liang’s donor to print it on his behalf. The temple is willing to issue one hundred and fifty. Shi Miliang, 50 volumes for each of the two scriptures.”

These two sutras are the most popular transcript titles today, and the total number of words is not as large as the “Diamond Sutra”. However, one hundred and fifty shi rice grains are still slightly less.

Hesitate to read the method: “Will Liang Zixi be willing?”

The old monk smiled and said, “Liang donor has his own decision.”

※

Unexpectedly, sending two books would invite a monk. Liang Feng almost didn’t laugh when he heard that the other party said that he wanted to engrave the scriptures here, two books of fifty volumes of one hundred and fifty shi grains, and fifty shi in advance.

This is to talk about custom wholesale business!

With a proper smile, Liang Feng said: “How can Liang dare to excuse the presiding over the Dharma. However, after being rigid, it is not only possible to print 50 books, if there are more books?”

Nianfa smiled and replied: “This temple is willing to offer five stone grains and collect more scriptures.”

This is the price of the more printed parts will be appropriately increased after the fifty volumes? This price is much cheaper than the preset retail price, and in this way, Huai’en Temple can become a sales point for Liangfu’s scriptures, effectively avoiding his engraved copy from impacting the copy market. This group of monks are really business-minded.

However, this cooperation project is not without benefits to Liang Feng. Before the “Diamond Sutra” it took more than 20 days to complete the plate making, and it took more than ten shi and rice a month to raise the craftsmen of the bookshop. Together, the number of words in these two sutras is not as large as that of the Diamond Sutra, and the rigidity must be less. With the loss of paper and ink, one hundred and fifty shi is definitely a pure profit, not to mention the subsequent printing value-added. If the customized business can be sustained for a long time, this income alone will be enough to feed the craftsmen in the bookstore.

Moreover, the monks spend so much money on food, and they will not sell the scriptures cheaply. On the other hand, they can also keep his flagship product “Diamond Sutra” in value. At this time, food prices are the cheapest. How did Liang Feng miss this good time to make a name and sell products quickly?

“Masters are generous, but I am a bit stingy.” Liang Feng said with a smile, “Why don’t I give you another fifty copies of “New Treatise on Febrile Diseases” to your temple, and the masters will donate them on their own. Human merit.”

Unexpectedly, Liang Feng was so generous, and a little guilt flashed in his mind. It seemed that he was serving the belly of a gentleman like a villain, and he also smiled: “The donor Liang is a man with a heart, and the little monk is ashamed. .”

With a smile on their faces and each with their own minds, the two settled the deal. With a new partner, the news of the engraved version of “Diamond Sutra” spread quickly. With the enthusiastic endorsement of Wang Wen and the strong recommendation of Huai’en Temple, those gentry who could not queue up to buy Tibetan scriptures immediately became interested in this set of printing plates. The price of the final scripture was set at 20 shi rice grains per volume, and it also included a wooden box and a complimentary copy of “New Treatise on Febrile Diseases”.

Such a cheap price is beyond everyone’s imagination. Needless to say, Twenty Stone is not worth mentioning. For those local tycoons and small gentry, this bit of rice is nothing. Therefore, in just a few days, fifty or sixty copies of the “Diamond Sutra” have been sold. Even Guo Jiao bought more than ten scriptures at the “low” price of ten stones in Liang Feng’s “Friendly Concession”. I have followed Liang Mansion several times on the Jinyang Commercial Road, and the harvest has been quite fruitful. The county prince was naturally happy, and let his subordinates take the scriptures along the Taihang Path all the way eastward and sold them to the counties of Sizhou.

Sizhou has always been a group of high-ranking experts, even if war is chaotic, it is difficult to affect the lives of these elites. Moreover, the elegant scriptures are more popular among celebrities than the battle in front of them. Therefore, the name Liang Feng Liang Zixi was also spread along with the novel.

The author has something to say: Hehe, the “Forty-two Chapters” really exists. It was translated from the Eastern Han Dynasty. The scriptures are quite short, and the full text is probably only more than two thousand words. Everyone, don’t want to play. XDDD has also seen movable type printing mentioned by many readers, uh, maybe the previous words have misled everyone. Movable type printing is not suitable in this era, the cost is too high, the technical difficulty is too great, and it is not as cost-effective as engraving. In fact, ancient movable type printing has never really become popular. After all, Chinese characters are not twenty-six letters, and there is no such thing as 3,000 commonly used characters in traditional characters. The pressure of making fonts and typesetting is too much, and it is cheaper to use manpower. Young Master Liang is so poor, of course how cheap he can come. XD