PDLP Chapter 77 Printing
Chapter 77 Printing
Two days later, a spy sneaked into the Tiangong Workshop under cover of darkness.
An hour later, he appeared in a secluded room on the top floor of the Wan Hua Lou.
"Your subordinate has successfully completed the mission and obtained the secret recipe for honeycomb briquettes."
The man in black was excited and handed a copy of the secret recipe he had personally copied to the leader of the fledgling phoenix, who was the same person who had met Liu Hongmei a few days ago.
“You did a good job. Remember, you don’t need to tell Liu Hongmei about this.”
The leader suppressed his overwhelming joy and said calmly.
"Yes, I understand."
The man in black nodded slightly and quietly left the room.
After he left, the leader looked excited and muttered to himself, "With this secret recipe, I can gain higher power and status with the Third Prince. Liu Hongmei, humph, she's nothing special."
He then quietly left the Wan Hua Lou and immediately dispatched a trusted confidant to send the secret recipe out via express courier.
"The fish has taken the bait."
What he didn't know was that less than a quarter of an hour after he sent the secret message, Liu Hongmei sent Zhao Luoying such a message.
“I created the entire Phoenix Cub. Do you really think you can order my people around at will? Just wait, Qin Zhen, I will make you pay back for all the suffering you’ve endured over the years, tenfold.”
Liu Hongmei sneered coldly, her eyes filled with vengeful fury.
Inside the Tiangong workshop, Kaohsiung and several engravers were excitedly awaiting the final test of movable type printing.
In the past few days, the workshop's engravers have been working day and night, and finally, they have engraved all the lead characters.
That's right, it's lead type.
In fact, the earliest movable type printing used clay or wood blocks, but the clarity of the characters after carving clay and wood blocks could not compare with lead type. Therefore, Qin Xuan directly developed lead type from the beginning.
Fortunately, Tiangong Workshop owned its own coal mine, and its metallurgical technology was far ahead of its time, which enabled it to produce lead blocks.
"Your Highness, please brush the ink."
"A craftsman said respectfully."
At this point, the lead type has been flattened by the iron plate. All that's needed is to apply special ink, cover it with paper, and then peel off the paper to complete the process.
But applying stickers and peeling off paper are both technical skills, and Qin Xuan didn't dare to mess around with them. The only thing he could handle was applying ink.
Qin Xuan held his breath and concentrated, trying his best to ensure that each type of letter was evenly coated with ink.
"Alright, let's get the stickers on!"
Qin Xuan took a deep breath, and then the two craftsmen next to him began to paste the paper. The process was not complicated. The main requirement was that the paper be flat and that it be applied in one go.
"Uncover the paper!"
A few breaths later, Qin Xuan gave the order.
Without the slightest hesitation, the two craftsmen deftly peeled off the Beining paper. They had actually done this experiment many times before, which was why they could be so calm and steady.
Let's all take a look!
Under the lights, each word was clearly visible, each stroke distinct.
"Success!"
Qin Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, while Qiu Xingzhi, Zhuge Xuan, Zhao Luoying, and others cheered with joy.
"Your Highness, why does this font seem so stunning yet so unfamiliar to me?"
Qiu Xingzhi suddenly noticed the style of the font, which was different from the current styles of calligraphy.
"Yes, I didn't notice it when it was just a single type, but after it was published, I realized that the calligraphic style was quite remarkable. Although it was printed, it gave people a feeling of elegance and grace without losing its spirit."
Zhuge Xuan couldn't help but comment.
"The students usually enjoy calligraphy the most, but there is no doubt that this type already has the style of a master."
Cui Yuping’s favorite pastime was practicing calligraphy, which is why he was far more knowledgeable about calligraphy than Qiu Xingzhi and Zhuge Xuan.
He continued excitedly, “These characters are structurally rigorous, lively in spirit, and the brushstrokes are as smooth as flowing clouds and as continuous as unstoppable. I have studied the works of famous calligraphers throughout history, but none of them can compare with them.”
"Your Highness, lead type requires a calligraphy model to be written before it can be engraved. May I ask which master calligrapher Your Highness commissioned to write these models? This student wishes to become your apprentice!"
Cui Yu was almost ecstatic; even the success of movable type printing could not have made him lose his composure like this.
After Qiu Xingzhi and Zhuge Xuan were enlightened by his revelation, they both realized their mistake and asked further:
"Your Highness, when did our Beining City invite such a master calligrapher?"
"Please bring him out quickly so that we can learn from him."
Several scholars were so excited that they were practically clinging to Qin Xuan's legs and shouting.
Zhao Luoying couldn't help but chuckle. Before she could speak, Cui Yu said, "Your Highness, please don't laugh. We scholars have always admired calligraphy. As the saying goes, 'One can see a person by their handwriting.' If a scholar can't even write well, then even if he has eloquent writings, it's useless."
“Excellent! The calligraphy before me is clearly unique and has already formed its own school, possessing the style of a master. It would be only right for me to pay homage to such a person.”
"Pah, I'd like to perform the apprenticeship ceremony myself. You go after me in line."
As a strategist, Zhuge Xuan possessed a certain bandit-like air about him, but Qiu Xingzhi, usually extremely amiable, was even more domineering than him at this moment:
"In terms of scholarship, Zhuge Xuan, you are inferior to me. In terms of seniority, I was once the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy. What makes you, Zhuge Xuan, rank ahead of me?"
"I..." Zhuge Xuan was speechless.
"Alright, everyone, stop arguing. I wasn't laughing at you just now. I just felt that there was a great calligrapher right in front of you, but none of you knew it."
Zhao Luoying smiled as she turned her gaze toward Qin Xuan.
Qin Xuan remained calm and composed, pursing his lips with an expression that seemed to be waiting for your praise.
"Impossible! I am most familiar with the prince's calligraphy. He clearly uses the official script of this dynasty. Princess, do not try to deceive me."
Zhuge Xuan was the first to disbelieve it, after all, as a strategist, he would have corresponded with Qin Xuan and would naturally recognize Qin Xuan's handwriting.
Qiu Xingzhi nodded repeatedly: "I have also seen the prince's calligraphy. Although it is excellent, it is far inferior to what we see here."
"You guys are really... believe it or not..."
Zhao Luoying was speechless after being rebuked, so she simply shut up and said no more.
But when Qiu Xingzhi and the others saw Zhao Luoying's angry expression, they began to believe her a little more.
Zhuge Xuan couldn't help but ask nervously, "Your Highness, could it be that what the Princess Consort said is true?"
He stared intently at Qin Xuan, his heart filled with anxiety and tension.
"See for yourselves!"
Qin Xuan smiled slightly, picked up the calligraphy brush on the table beside him, and copied a sentence from the newly printed text.
When this scene unfolded, Qiu Xingzhi, Zhuge Xuan, and Cui Yucai were struck dumb, completely losing their composure.
How can this be?
Even if the prince is exceptionally talented, with so many military affairs on his daily schedule, where would he find the time to practice calligraphy?
Even three years ago, Qin Xuan was leading troops into battle. How could he have developed such a unique style of calligraphy with such a magnificent presence?
"This style of calligraphy was taught to me by a wandering Taoist priest when I was young. It is called Yi style. However, I rarely use this style of calligraphy because I am busy with official business."
The Ge style was the official script of the Daqi court. It was easy to write and the characters were upright, but it lacked the graceful beauty of the style.
Qin Xuan's so-called "Yi style" actually comes from Wang Xizhi, the Sage of Calligraphy from another time and space.
Even when the calligraphy of the Sage of Calligraphy is engraved, it still commands the utmost respect and worship from countless scholars.
"A wandering Taoist priest?"
Zhuge Xuan and the other two were completely astonished, and their shock only intensified.
The group suddenly realized that their prince seemed to have been hiding all along, and each time he did something astonishing.
"Teacher, please accept my bow!"
Suddenly, Zhuge Xuan knelt down with a thud, kowtowed, and cried out.
"Zhuge Xuan, you are utterly shameless."
Qiu Xingzhi shouted angrily, and Cui Yu immediately joined in the indignation, saying, "Mr. Zhuge, you are a strategist, how can you become the disciple of a prince? Among those present, only I have the highest status..."
But before he could finish speaking, Qiu Xingzhi interrupted him:
“Your Highness, I should be considered the first in this apprenticeship ceremony; Zhuge Xuan should only be ranked after me.”
Cui Yu was stunned. Teacher, is it really appropriate for you to betray me like this?
No, I have to kneel down too. I can't let those two old bastards get away with this.