The emperor is biased and wants to kill me, but you chickened out when the army is at the city gates

Beining Bookstore?

Qiu Xingzhi was completely bewildered.

Now that he is the prefect of Beining City, what is there that he doesn't know?

When did Beining Bookstore appear in Beining City?

"Your Highness, you wouldn't be planning to imitate Tianzao Pavilion and set up a Beining Bookstore on the spot, would you?"

Qiu Xingzhi looked at Qin Xuan with a wary expression.

For the last soap promotion, Qin Xuan simply bought a shop in Beining City, didn't even change the interior decoration, and just put up a sign to start selling.

"You understand me best, sir."

Qin Xuan laughed heartily, saying that the name of the bookstore didn't matter, as long as it had a name and a storefront.

Qiu Xingzhi was unaware that Qin Xuan possessed movable type printing and papermaking techniques. Thinking that Qin Xuan was planning to use this as a front for something else, he quickly stopped him, saying, "Your Highness, we are printing books, not selling soap. Even if you can really persuade Lord Kong Ru to come, you will still have to spend one tael of silver per book to actually print them! That would be a huge loss."

In the current dynasty, apart from the bookstores controlled by powerful families and clans, even the four major merchant guilds of the past could not afford to print a book for one or two taels of silver.

After all, "Confucianism" is the culmination of Confucius's life's work, and once it is published, it will inevitably be in high demand.

Which scholar wouldn't buy a copy?

If losses lead to financial difficulties, we can't just stop issuing bonds, can we?

Wouldn't this make one a laughingstock, and also anger the Confucian sage and all the scholars in the world?

"I have already made arrangements for this matter, so you can rest assured and just ask your master to pass on a message for me."

Qin Xuan did not intend to reveal the techniques of movable type printing and papermaking. Firstly, these techniques were true secrets, far more valuable than the production processes of soap and similar products.

Secondly, even if Qin Xuan said it now, Qiu Xingzhi would not believe it.

This is not a matter of trust, but rather a limitation of understanding.

“Alright, since Your Highness is so persistent, then I, Xingzhi, will swallow my pride and have my master deliver the message.”

Qiu Xingzhi was forced into a corner and had no choice but to agree.

While Beining City was focusing on the matter of the Confucian sage, Emperor Qin Tian of Daqi had already summoned many civil officials to discuss the matter within the Daqi Imperial Palace.

“The Confucian sage is a native of our Great Qi. If the place where he teaches and lectures is ultimately located in the land of foreign barbarians, wouldn’t that be a joke for our Great Qi?”

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel reported with great concern: "Your Majesty, I think we can ask the newly appointed Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, Pan Ruoan, to go to Lu City and persuade the Confucian sage to come to our capital, Qi, to give lectures."

"This plan is not advisable."

Some people immediately objected, but it was the Minister of Rites who stood up: "Although Pan Ruoan is quite talented and highly respected among scholars, don't forget that his teacher once had a debate with the Confucian sage. Although he lost, the Confucian sage called his teachings false. If Pan Ruoan really goes there, he probably won't even be able to get in the door."

"Indeed, what the Minister says is absolutely right. Vice Minister of Personnel, what are your intentions in making this suggestion now? Are you eager to offend the Confucian sage immediately, so that my Great Enlightenment will be ashamed?"

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Deng Qun, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, sneered. This huge accusation was slapped on the man, and the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel was so frightened that he trembled all over and rolled on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly in denial.

The Emperor of Daqi frowned slightly, and Qiu Xingzhi suddenly came to mind.

If he were here, he could ask Qingshan Academy to contact the Confucian sage.

But that damned Qiu Xingzhi chose to support Qin Xuan; he was utterly wicked.

"Confucius is a sage of our time and would not favor any side because of personal relationships. Since he has already put forward his conditions, let Qingyun Bookstore take on the task of publishing this book, 'Confucianism'."

The Emperor of Daqi issued the order with a headache.

Qingyun Bookstore is the royal bookstore of Daqi, and one of the largest bookstores in Daqi.

"Your Majesty is wise; this move will surely invite the Confucian sage to the capital."

Minister of Personnel Wen Liangshan bowed and said, "However, Qingyun Bookstore is, after all, affiliated with the royal family. If it were to intervene directly, it might invite criticism that the royal family is competing with the people for profit. Therefore, I implore Your Majesty to choose one of the three major bookstores of Daqi as the best course of action."

"That old scoundrel, he doesn't want my royal family to gain more glory!"

Qin Tian sneered inwardly.

Everyone knows now that as long as a book on Confucianism can be published, no matter what the bookstore was like before, it will surely be remembered by generations of scholars.

The benefits this brings are more than enough to last several lifetimes.

"Lord Wen, you are mistaken!"

Minister of Revenue Tang Huaxi immediately retorted: "It is precisely because Qingyun Bookstore represents the royal family and His Majesty that Qingyun Bookstore should step forward to demonstrate His Majesty's great affection for scholars throughout the land!"

"Moreover, the Confucian sage has said that each book should not exceed one tael, which is clearly a business that will lose money. So how can it be said that he is competing with the people for profit?"

"But Qingyun Bookstore has always been funded by the national treasury. Since it is losing money, it is naturally the national treasury that is losing money, which is the wealth of all the people in the world."

"I am afraid that some people will say that Your Majesty is using the people's money to benefit them, and that you will only be accused of seeking fame and fortune."

Wen Liangshan didn't back down at all, and his two sentences went straight to the point, leaving Tang Huaxi, the Minister of Revenue, speechless.

"Alright, alright, we'll discuss this later."

Qin Tian impatiently snapped, "Any new news from Beining City lately?"

"Your Majesty, since 200,000 refugees entered the city, Beining City is once again facing a critical shortage of food and supplies."

The Minister of War quickly replied, "Moreover, according to reports from our scouts, the local people of Beining City are quite hostile towards those refugees, fearing they might contract the disease. I imagine Beining City is already in complete chaos."

Hearing this, Qin Tian's brows finally relaxed.

This was the happiest news he had heard about Beining City in a long time.

"Well, what about those things the Supervision Bureau researched before? Has there been any progress?" Qin Tian then asked.

"The Ministry of Works has already seen initial results. The so-called coal furnaces are now ready for mass production. As for coal briquettes and refined salt, they are still under research."

The Minister of Works answered nervously.

In fact, that coal stove did not have any complicated manufacturing process, so it could be easily imitated.

However, even if you know the ingredients of coal briquettes and refined salt, especially refined salt, it still takes a period of time to adjust the proportions and conduct experiments to make them.

However, Qin Tian did not understand these things. Upon hearing that one of the three items could be replicated, he laughed heartily and said, "Good, the Ministry of Works has performed well this time. I hope to see the finished products of the other two items as soon as possible."

"Your Majesty, I will certainly live up to your expectations."

The Minister of Works hurriedly kowtowed in thanks, but was secretly worried.

On the other side, Emperor Fuchahar of the Jurchen Kingdom dispatched his Grand Preceptor Gulna and a royal caravan to Shanhaiguan.

"Grand Preceptor, on this trip, we must spare no expense to invite the Sage of Confucianism here."

When Fuchahar was still the crown prince of the Jurchen Kingdom, he attended a three-day lecture in the palace and still feels that the lecture was not enough. He has an immense admiration for the Confucian sage.

The Grand Preceptor nodded solemnly: "Your Majesty, please rest assured, Gulna will surely complete Your Majesty's mission this time."

"Very good." The Jurchen Emperor nodded. "However, you must also be careful about the other mission. Qin Xuan is definitely not just good at leading troops into battle."

During this period, coal stoves, coal briquettes, refined salt, and soap have become popular in the Jurchen Kingdom.

However, compared to the Emperor of Daqi's pursuit and interception, the Jurchen Kingdom was so desperately short of these supplies that it could not refuse them.

The Jurchen emperor saw immense business opportunities in this, which is why he sent Gulna on a side trip to Beining City when he went to Shanhaiguan.

"I understand," Gulna sighed inwardly.

Just a few months ago, Qin Xuan was merely a vassal king or a general, but now, His Majesty is treating him as the ruler of a country.

"Qin Xuan, I look forward to seeing you again!"

Gurna muttered to himself.