Lin Zhao's eyes lit up because he saw a box of small seals, made of mud...... Isn't this the legendary clay type? Legendary movable type printing?

When I was just by the West Lake, I thought, where is Bi Sheng? Unexpectedly, after a while, I actually saw the real thing in Shen Kuo's study!

Before the advent of electronic media, it is self-evident how important print matter was and how great its significance to cultural communication was.

In ancient times, it was originally a manuscript, and later there was engraving printing, but both the cost and convenience were destined to be difficult to use on a large scale.

It was not until the middle of the Northern Song Dynasty that Bi Sheng invented clay type, which made printing convenient and much cheaper, which was of great significance.

To be among the four great inventions of ancient times is of extraordinary significance.

"Mr. Shen, what is this?" Lin Zhao suppressed the excitement in his heart and asked in a low voice, cautiously confirmed.

Shen Kuo said: "This is Shen Yi's eldest brother who got it by accident, saying that it was created by the owner of a printing workshop, which can be typeset and reused, so he collected it and brought it to me a few days ago." ”

"Printer owner? Who are they? I wonder if I can see it? ”

"I'm afraid I don't have a chance!" Shen Kuo shook his head and said: "The owner is a native of Hangzhou, named Bi Sheng, who went to Jinghu North Road to visit relatives more than ten years ago and passed away due to illness......"

Bi Sheng, sure enough, it's Bi Sheng! But how did he die?

Shen Kuo continued: "Bi Sheng was familiar with his little nephew before his death, and this thing was given by him before his death. When he came home a few days ago, he learned that I liked strange things, so he took them and watched them with me. How? Dongyang seems interested? ”

The record of clay movable type and Bi Sheng comes from Shen Kuo's "Dream Creek Pen Talk": in the Qing calendar, there is cloth cloth Bi Sheng and a letterpress ...... Bi Sheng died relatively early, and the clay type was preserved by Shen Kuo's nephew.

As for the intimacy between Bi Sheng and the Shen family? It doesn't matter anymore, it's the technology...... Listening to Shen Kuo's meaning, Bi Sheng has been dead for more than ten years, and this clay movable type has also been treasured for more than ten years, it is really a tyrannical thing!

Lin Zhao said in a deep voice: "Doesn't Mr. Shen think this thing is of great significance? ”

It's been a few days since things were delivered, but Shen Kuo didn't really care. I didn't have time to look closely, so I didn't think about the effect.

After hearing Lin Zhao's reminder at this moment, Shen Kuo took a closer look, pondered the doorway, and after a while, said leisurely: "Good thing, if this thing is popular in the world, it will be of great benefit to culture and education!" ”

"That's right!" Lin Zhao sighed: "This Mr. Bi Sheng is really ingenious, this material benefit is in the present generation, and the merit is in the future!" ”

Shen Kuo said again: "It's just that although this clay movable type is easy to make, it is easy to damage, and the handwriting below does not seem to be very clear, and I am afraid that it will be ...... to print important books."

The Song Dynasty was an era of abundant things and people, exquisite and elegant, and the graceful and delicate elegance of Song Ci is a good proof. The same is true for the preference for printed matter, the first requirement is to be clear and beautiful.

In fact, in the Song Dynasty, there were not many applications of movable type printing, and the mainstream at that time was still engraving, and the reason may also be related to this. Therefore, if movable type printing wants to be popularized on a large scale, improvement is a very important link.

"Is it possible to make movable type out of wood?" Lin Zhao vaguely remembered that later it seemed that someone used wooden movable type, and the material was better than clay.

Shen Kuo shook his head and said: "The wood is much more refined, but if you want to engrave, the requirements for wood must be very high, and printing will inevitably come into contact with ink. ”

"Ceramic? Tin? If you look at it from the perspective of hard material, non-perishable, clear and beautiful, copper movable type is undoubtedly the best! Lin Zhao pondered all possible materials, ceramics were fragile, tin was too soft, and copper was undoubtedly the best.

Unexpectedly, Shen Kuo said in a deep voice: "Copper is naturally good, but the output of copper in my Great Song Dynasty is not high, and the copper used for coinage is very tight every year." If it is used to make and promote movable type, I am afraid that the imperial court will not support it very much......"

Alas! Copper in the Song Dynasty seems to be scarce, and there are also references to the use of iron money in Shu in the history books. There is also the earliest paper money "Jiaozi" also produced in the Northern Song Dynasty, in that era, the use of paper money is not necessarily a manifestation of progress, but also a last resort due to the serious shortage of copper coins.

Lin Zhao sighed: "I ignored this problem, it would be nice if I could develop a few more copper mines......

I vaguely remember that in later generations, Yunnan copper seems to be famous in later generations, but now it belongs to Dali. What's more, the southwest Wanzhong Mountain is inconvenient for transportation, and even if there is a copper mine, it is difficult to transport.

"Looking for copper mines also takes chance, where can I ......" Shen Kuo responded, and suddenly had a flash of inspiration, and said: "When I was a teenager, I lived with my father in Quanzhou, southern Fujian, and saw that there were local mountain springs that were blue-green, bitter and astringent, like bile. The locals take the water and boil it in an iron pot, and when the water dries, yellow copper will appear on the iron pot. ”

Bile water smelting copper? Lin Zhao reacted, remembering the knowledge of chemistry in middle school, and he knew a little bit about it. The blue-green bitter spring water should be a copper sulfite solution, which can be heated to produce bile alum, and then encountered iron to produce a chemical reaction to precipitate copper. What a good copper smelting method, to a certain extent, it can make up for the lack of copper in the Song Dynasty.

In fact, the Song Dynasty had a prosperous economy and a large demand for copper coins, but copper production was seriously insufficient. After the discovery of the bile water copper smelting method, great attention was paid to it, and during the Northern Song Dynasty, bile copper accounted for about 15% of all copper production. The Southern Song Dynasty could only lose the copper mines in the north, and as a last resort, 85 percent of the copper depended on the bile copper in the south of the Yangtze River.

Whether it is copper smelting or movable type printing, it is of great benefit to the development of the Great Song Dynasty and even the entire social history. Shen Kuo is really, he didn't even take out such a treasure when he hid it...... Lin Zhao said in a low voice: "Mr. Shen, if these two methods are improved and dedicated to the imperial court, it will benefit the country and the people!" Especially if the official family wants to make a big move, Bachelor Wang is also ready to show his strength, which can be regarded as a good support for them. ”

Shen Kuo was purely curious before, and only regarded it as a scientific interest, and did not think carefully about the issue of heroic promotion. At this time, Lin Zhao reminded him like this, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

These two things are treasures, and it must be a great achievement to dedicate them to the imperial court, why didn't you think of them before?

Ancient salt, iron, copper, and even tea were all government-run, so there were some secret methods in hand, and private individuals could not easily touch them. As for movable type printing, although the Song Dynasty said that it was not more important to prevent the people than to prevent Sichuan, the people would also be strictly controlled if they wanted to print and publicize anything.

Therefore, these two technologies are difficult to develop and operate by themselves, and after thinking about it, Lin Zhao thinks that it is better to dedicate them to the imperial court. Copper mines can prosper a country's economy and benefit the entire era. As for movable type printing, Wang Anshi's change is imminent, and publicity is indispensable, so he must be interested in this thing.

For a period of time after that, Lin Zhao often went back and forth to the Shen family's mansion, discussed and studied with Shen Kuo, and carried out movable type printing and the improvement of the bile water copper smelting method.

For more than half a month, I finally came up with a good plan and made a small number of copper movable type models. Immediately, the horse was sent to Bianjing and presented to Emperor Zhao.

Lin Zhao has been eating, drinking, and engaging in scientific research recently, and he has been very happy, but many people are a little uncalm in their eyes.

In the palace of Yuhang County, Zhao Zhongshan was very strange, and wondered: "Big brother, will we think about it more, Lin Zhao ran to the Shen family all the time, and did nothing at all!" ”

"And what do you think he should do?"

Belch...... Zhao Zhongye really stopped Zhao Zhongshan in one sentence.

Zhao Zhongye, the prince of Dongyang County, continued: "He first came to Hangzhou, and he is not familiar with the place, how dare he be rash? Stand firm, find out the news, and wait for the right time...... The Shen family is a big family in Hangzhou, and they must know a lot about the local area, Shen Kuo and Wang Anshi have always been close, is it wrong for Lin Zhao to go to him? ”

"You mean...... Did Lin Zhao go to the Shen family to inquire about the news? Is it just enough to use it so often? Going every day! ”

Zhao Zhongye couldn't help but wonder: "Yes, this is really a bit strange......

"By the way, when will my father come back?"

"Soon, it's estimated that it's just a few days......"

"Father is really, he went to Tiantai Mountain to listen to the monk's lectures......"

While he was talking, someone came to report: "Little Marquis, Bianjing Mansion has reported to ......"

When night falls, ships sailing on the Jiangnan River dock one after another.

In the midst of the starlight and fire, an emaciated or petite shadow appeared by the river, and a few ups and downs jumped onto the boats by the river without knowing it.

"Miss, I'm back!" Walking into the elegant and delicate cabin, under the light, the petite shadow revealed the prototype, which was Mu Sihong's maid Yutong. It can be seen at all that this tomboy is actually a martial artist and a master.

Mu Sihong stood up from the couch and said softly, "Thank you for your hard work, how is the situation?" ”

"Calm, Hangzhou is calm!"

This answer made Mu Sihong a little surprised, and wondered: "What is Lin Zhao doing?" Did the Chen family react in any way? Or someone else ......"

Yutong replied: "Since Lin Zhao arrived in Hangzhou, he has visited places of interest and historic sites everywhere, and recently he has been very close to Shen Kuo, the editor of Zhaowen Pavilion, who is idle at home, and he has almost run to Shen's house for more than half a month!" ”

"Oh? Am I guessing wrong? Lin Zhao's purpose ...... "Mu Sihong was slightly disappointed, shook his head after a moment of silence and said: "No, this is normal, it would be strange if Hangzhou was not calm at the moment......"

Yu Tong was puzzled and said, "Miss, what are you talking about?" ”

"Nothing?" Mu Sihong smiled and ordered: "Okay, according to the plan, we will go to the West Lake with great fanfare......

"Yes!"

Recently, Lin Zhao was busy with scientific research projects that have been around for centuries. But it is not completely intoxicated, what happened in Hangzhou, the emperor's secret edict has not forgotten.

Lin Zhao himself seems to be doing nothing, but since he arrived in Hangzhou, Su An has disappeared......

(To be continued)