- In Chen's study, Shen Kuo talks about his research results:

After the experiment of Xia Guan and Wang Dashan, it was found that the wooden movable type is indeed stronger and more durable than the clay movable type, and the material is more convenient, the cost is not high, the manufacturing is simple and fast, and the movable type printing can be carried forward. However, the disadvantage is that the texture of the wood is dense and uneven, it is difficult to carve, it is easy to deform after being wet, and it is not easy to separate when it sticks together with the agent. ”

In the past few months, Xiaguan has experimented with more than 100 kinds of wood, and finally chose to use tangli wood to carve movable wood type. Because the grain of this wood is fine enough, tough and hard, it is easy to carve, and it does not come out of the water, so it can be preserved for a long time. It's an ideal material. ”

As he spoke, he took out a few wooden strips from the blanket he was carrying, and distributed them to Chen Ke and Zhou Dingkun: "This is Tang pear wood, after being naturally dried in the sun and rain, it is not easy to deform when exposed to water. It can be used to make a word mold. First, it is sawn into strips, and then it is made into small character molds, and then you can write and engrave on it. ”

Chen Ke played with it in his hand, and couldn't see any clues, so he smiled: "Do you think, how much faster can this kind of wooden movable type printing be than engraving?" ”

"With all due respect, I'm afraid it's not much faster." Shen Kuo shook his head and said: "Although movable type is several times more convenient than engraving, but only typesetting with movable type, I am afraid that it will not be too useful." The vast volume of the book, one side typesetting, one side printing, the time for a long time, movable type will not be enough, its inconvenience. After the printing is completed, it is sold out and reprinted, and it needs to be rearranged, which is inconvenient. Engraving does not have these two drawbacks, is movable type may not be better than engraving. I think that Bi Sheng's clay type has not been carried forward, or it may be due to these two drawbacks. ”

"That's right." Chen Ke nodded, he was too superstitious about the so-called 'four great inventions' before. He looked at Shen Kuo with a smile and said, "But Brother Cun must have a way." ”

"There is no good plan for the lower officials," Shen Kuo said, "It's nothing more than a compromise." ”

"Compromise?" Chen Ke smiled: "How do you say it? ”

"It's a combination of movable type and engraving." Shen Kuo said: "The inconvenience of engraving is mainly due to the time-consuming and laborious engraving, and the rest can be overcome." After a pause, he said, "So Xia Guan imagined whether it could be changed to the exact same movable type plate as the direct printing, and then copied into an engraving plate." Such. Although there are more processes. However, it can overcome the biggest inconvenience of movable type and engraving. ”

"Good idea." Chen Ke nodded and said: "Brother Cunzhong's idea is very good, but I don't know, what is the actual effect?" ”

"Xia Guan experimented with rubbing it with cement, and then cast it into a lead plate, and the effect was satisfactory." With the rigor of a scientist, Shen Kuo was nitpicky: "But in this way, the clay plate will be broken and can only be used once." Unable to save. Once the lead plate is damaged, it can no longer be cast. If you want to reprint, you need to reformat it again, and it still can't be perfect. Xia Guan wanted to find a way to repeatedly cast the lead plate without breaking, but he didn't have a clue yet. ”

"That's good." Chen Ke was already satisfied: "The clay plate is fragile, so let's expand a few more after the typesetting." It doesn't take much time. ”

"That takes up more space than engraving." Shen Kuo smiled bitterly.

"How can it be as good as it should be." Chen Ke waved his hand and said, "You continue to study." Zhou Yuanwai first used this method to print. When we have a new method, let's update the technology. ”

"It's fine." Shen Kuo felt Chen Ke's urgency, so he said: "Xia Guan also figured out a typesetting frame. Based on the 30 books that we see every day, the text is divided into 15 categories according to the frequency of use. These fifteen types of characters are then summarized and divided into three categories: commonly used words, spare words and rare words, and placed on the tripod. The tripod is divided into three parts: left, center, and right. Its front is set up in the center of 24 plates, these 24 plates are divided into upper, middle and lower three layers of eight plates each, the middle eight plates are commonly used words, the upper eight plates and the lower eight plates are equipped with words; There are sixty-four plates on both sides. Pretend to be a rare word. The movable types are arranged in the 'radical checking' section of the adult dictionary. When typesetting, the word picker stands in the middle and takes the word on the shelf, which is quite convenient and can greatly improve the speed of movable type typesetting. ”

"He is worthy of being a middle brother." Chen Ke clapped his hands approvingly and said, "Your method has greatly exceeded my expectations." ”

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Shen Kuo promised to wait for the printing workshop to get on the right track before leaving Beijing, and Chen Ke arranged for him to stay at home. Shen Kuo hesitated for a moment. Still stumbling and saying: "Xiaguan still lives in the post house, my lord is newly married Yan'er, I can't bother." ”

Although Chen Ke said, 'It's not in the way', Shen Kuo still insisted on staying at the inn. Chen Ke had no choice but to let him go.

"This person doesn't seem to want to get too close to adults." After Shen Kuo left, Zhou Dingkun said a little unpleasantly.

"Normal, at this time, the more sensible guys will keep their distance from me," Chen Ke smiled disapprovingly: "It's just that I am the only one in this world who can appreciate him and give him a platform to display his talents, so he can't draw a line with me yet." Saying that, he looked at Zhou Dingkun and said, "What do you think of his invention and innovation?" ”

"This Lord Shen is really a rare genius." Zhou Dingkun said: "The ingenuity of its invention is amazing," and after a pause, he said: "But even if we rely on this technology to dominate the publishing industry in Bianjing, what is it?" Zhou Dingkun is only interested in large amounts of overseas trade and financial business, and the small profits in the publishing industry really can't get into his eyes.

"You can't just settle a small account." Chen Ke shook his head and said: "This matter is related to generations to come, and it must be done well regardless of the cost." ”

"Okay then." After all, Zhou Dingkun is just an account room, and he has to listen to the boss about what to do: "I will go to buy a printing workshop tomorrow and toss it for Lord Shen." ”

"One is not enough, at least ten." Chen Ke shook his head and said. What he envisioned was a large-scale book printing factory with a scale of several hundred people, with a typesetting workshop, a typesetting workshop, a proofreader, a printing workshop, and a binding workshop. This is the only way to improve productivity.

"My lord really plans to unify the publishing industry in Bianjing?" Zhou Dingkun smiled bitterly: "This plan to cut expenses has been ruined again." ”

"Time is running out, Old Zhou." Chen Ke stood up and said the true meaning to his confidants: "If people want to succeed, they need to have opportunities, but opportunities are fleeting, and if you can't grasp them, it will be difficult to think about the situation again." ”

"Do you want to print out the "Shangshu Apocryphal Examination"?" Zhou Dingkun said suddenly.

"Yes." Chen Ke nodded and said: "Identifying the fake is a matter that cannot penetrate into the hearts of the people just by talking about it on the scriptures. It is still necessary to print the research certificate into a book and let the world's readers examine it. As long as I can stand scrutiny, the "Shangshu" that I have refuted will naturally be untenable. ”

"This, traditional engraving printing, is completely competent." Zhou Dingkun said.

"I'm going to strike while the iron is hot, and I will publish a long list of articles in the future," Chen Ke shook his head and said: "In the future, I will have to run newspapers and magazines, and the engraving will be too slow." ”

"My lord......" Zhou Dingkun saw that Chen Ke was not on a whim, but seemed to be working hard, and was puzzled: "Why did you change to a pedant?" In his opinion, Chen Ke's personality should like the scenery and pomp, which is incompatible with pedantry, right?

"Let me ask you," Chen Ke did not answer directly, but asked: "Once you have been exiled for thousands of years, why have you not dissipated, but have become more united?" ”

"Because we have rabbis and we have the Bible." Zhou Dingkun said solemnly.

"Yes." Chen Ke said: "The teachings of Judaism interpret the worldview, values and outlook on life of a person who is blessed with happiness, and a nation that grows up under this kind of education will naturally produce self-confidence, pride and cohesion, and will naturally not be defeated by suffering. ”

"Your Excellency is really insightful." Zhou Dingkun was extremely impressed when he heard this: "I never thought of this truth when I grew so big. I am afraid that this is the purpose of Moses' creation of Judaism. As he spoke, his eyes widened and he said, "My lord wants to establish a religion?" ”

"There is such an idea," Chen Ke was not afraid of the wind and flashed his tongue and said: "After the decline of Han Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism were rampant, and it was not shallow for my China. Therefore, this dynasty re-emphasized Confucianism and respected Confucianism, with the intention of uniting people's hearts and setting things right. However, after all, Confucius and Mencius are too far away from us, and the Han Confucian's set has long been proven to be unworkable, so I Song Confucianism has always wanted to re-inject the classics and establish a set of ideological systems applicable to the Great Song Dynasty. ”

"I thought that they were not very good, and they couldn't shoulder the heavy responsibility of reshaping my Great Song people. Therefore, although I hate to be a pedant, it is my duty to revive the decline of my Chinese people's hearts! ”

"Adults don't say it sooner." Zhou Dingkun admired the five-body cast and said: "The subordinates are smashing pots and selling iron, and they will fully support it." ”

"How can you smash a pot and sell iron?" Chen Ke shook his head and said: "The publishing market of the Great Song Dynasty is actually very large. It's just that because the cost of engraving printing is too high, many people who want to publish books are discouraged. Once we bring the cost down, there will inevitably be endless business. He said with a smile: "Moreover, you can also produce some legendary novels that the people like to see, what kind of talented and beautiful women, the romance of the Sui and Tang dynasties, and make a lot of money." ”

"Adults don't have to worry about that." Zhou Dingkun said: "Tomorrow, I will go to inspect the publishing industry in Bianjing and select ten to acquire as soon as possible." ”

"The book "Shangshu Apocryphal Scripture Examination", let's entrust them to print it with engraving." Chen Ke was worried that if it dragged on for too long, the heat would dissipate.

"That's what my subordinates mean." Zhou Dingkun nodded and said-

Partition -

insisted on finishing the writing, and died of pain, begging for encouragement......