- In fact, Chen Ke's 'translating books for gold' is just a shrunken version of the set of Arab kings back then.

The Arabs exchanged gold for manuscripts, but Chen Ke exchanged gold for books. How much is the difference between the weight of the manuscript and the finished book?

Although the weight of a book is not certain, the workload of a translator in a year is certain. Although Chen Ke did not know how efficient those Arabic scholars were, he knew that Fu Lei, a translator in later generations, said that "the first draft was translated about 1,000 words a day, and the second revision could only change more than 3,000 words a day, and it was retranslated several times." ’

Another translator, Cao Ying, has 360 days a year, and his daily translation speed is only 1,000 words.

At that time, the technical conditions of translation were not much different from those of today, and the level of Fu Lei and Cao Ying was by no means inferior to that of these Arab scholars. Arabs are also notoriously chronic, so the output of more than 300,000 words will never exceed 300,000 words in a year.

The 300,000 words printed into a book weigh, and Bianjing Book Company has an accurate figure - with the current level of paper and printing, even with the book cover, the average weight is two catties.

Because of the sharp increase in copper money on the market, the price of goods has risen, or the depreciation of copper money, two catties of gold are about 500 yuan...... This point is also the most controversial point for Chen Ke, and it is generally believed that the entry of Yunnan copper into Beijing has caused wealthy households to throw out a large number of copper coins in storage. Although the 'money shortage' has been solved, prices have also risen. Chen Ke's monthly allowance of 10 guan to Arabs is actually only equivalent to 7 or 8 guan four years ago.

It's just that people don't understand why everyone's life seems to be much better even though prices are rising and money is worthless. There has also been an increase in government tax revenues. Fortunately, Chen Ke only carried an infamy and was not substantially attacked.

To get back to the point, 500 yuan is indeed a lot, but it is not too much...... and an official of Chen Ke's level. Annual income is about the same. These top academics. came to the Great Song Dynasty across the ocean, and worked hard for a year to earn 500,000 yuan. Chen Ke even felt that he was a little sorry for them.

The reason why the Arab empire could not afford it was because of the Centennial Translation Movement. It has become a translation class, and tens of thousands of scholars specialize in translation work, which is a mountain of gold, and they have also been emptied.

And Chen Ke's side, there are only a few dozen people, and it won't put too much pressure on him. Even if the number of Arab scholars increases dozens of times in the future, he will be able to withstand it with a tight belt.

But his treasurer pointed out that his bankruptcy crisis was not far off – it could really cause him to go bankrupt. It was the people of the Song Dynasty who would inevitably join in when they learned about this. Of the millions of scholars in the Song Dynasty, only a very small number of them were officials and businessmen and had a good life. The vast majority live in poverty. Even the future is hopeless. It is absolutely impossible to resist the temptation of this decent and high salary.

When the time comes, readers who want to join the army of translators flock to it. Do you say yes or no? If you don't say yes, what's the point of the translation movement? Your reputation in the Great Song Dynasty is also going to be ruined. Promised, a quick bankruptcy is a certainty......

"You think translating books is that simple? It is useless to know Arabic in optics, you have to be an expert in this subject in order to translate the works of this subject. Chen Ke shook his head and smiled: "Even if you are a genius, it is impossible to do it without more than seven or eight years of hard work." ”

"Your Excellency, is this boasting?" Zhou Dingkun said suspiciously: "It seems that you have only been learning Arabic for more than a year, and you can start translating the Geometric Original." ”

Chen Ke rolled his eyes and said in his heart, is that all the middle school knowledge of later generations? But in other people's minds, it's all blank!

"That's it." Chen Ke no longer explained, and said categorically: "All the money I have earned in my life has been invested in this matter, and I will never regret it!" ”

......Seeing that the master had made up his mind, Zhou Dingkun no longer bothered, on the contrary, he looked at Chen Ke fixedly, and said softly in Jewish for a long time: "I don't know if you are the Messiah of our people." But you must be the Messiah of the Song people. ”

"What did you say?" Chen Ke has not put learning Jewish on the agenda.

"I mean, in the eyes of us Jews, knowledge is wealth." Zhou Dingkun said: "The knowledge in the brain is a wealth that no one can take away. ”

"yes." Chen Ke smiled: "So you go back and ask Li Wei and Lan Bi, can you sponsor me?" ”

"Ha......" Zhou Dingkun smiled and said: "It turns out that adults also have times when they are not heroes. ”

"Is the flame high when everyone gathers firewood?" Chen Ke smiled helplessly: "Besides, how shrewd are they, how can they not know the benefits of sponsoring culture?" ”

"If it's an official act, they should be more willing to pay for it." Zhou Dingkun's professional ethics did not say that since he is Chen Ke's financial officer, he naturally has to calculate from his point of view.

"In a few years, don't count on it." Chen Ke shook his head and said, "Let's look at the future......

"Then I'm afraid they won't pay much." Zhou Dingkun sighed and lowered his voice: "To say something that should not be said, my lord, Levi and Rabbi are not confident in that person to win, so they would rather invest the money they earn in Nanyang." ”

"It's human nature." Chen Ke didn't care and said: "I can't afford this money, but it's too eye-catching, so I want to set up a special foundation, and the prize money for translating book manuscripts will come from this foundation." They don't necessarily have to pay a lot of money, but mainly to help me share the eyeballs. ”

"My lord, sometimes I feel," Zhou Dingkun smiled bitterly: "You are really asking for hardship." ”

"People, they always have to have some other pursuits above material desires." Chen Ke said with a smile: "I have found my own pursuit now, why bother?" ”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As expected, soon the imperial history impeached Chen Ke, befriended Fanbang, and plotted against him. It is also required to carefully examine the origin and identity of these Yidi, so as not to be mixed up with the spy of the enemy country. If Chen Ke hadn't made all the preparations, it would have been enough for him to drink a pot.

Rao is like this, Chen Ke did not dare to be careless, and hurriedly defended himself, and used an emotional article to portray a dry Arab scholar as having a noble character and refusing to go along with the evil forces. After hearing that the virtuous monarch of the Great Song Dynasty was in power, politically clear, attaching importance to culture and education, and being inclusive, he resolutely overcame thousands of difficulties and dangers and traveled thousands of miles to ......

He also described the storms, plagues, pirates, trekking, water shortages, diseases and other hardships and obstacles encountered along the way, vividly and tear-jerking. The audience was deeply moved by the tenacity and perseverance of these Arabs......

It is said that after reading the recital, the official family sighed again and again: "It's not easy, it's not easy." ”

On duty that day was Wang Qi and Wang Xianggong, who was Chen Ke's fellow villager, but his seniority in the political hall was too shallow, and he never dared to talk nonsense. But this little thing that has nothing to do with the grand purpose, he can still help, so he said to the official family: "There is a way that 'Yidi and China is also, then China', these foreigners are so sincere and well-educated, and they pay such a big price to come to Bianjing, but the court ignores them, and even suspicious of them, which is really chilling." It's better to send condolences and a little more generous, so as to show that my Celestial Empire is tolerant! ”

"That's a good point." Zhao Zhen nodded, but he was a little embarrassed: "But where do these people come from...... Listening to Chen Ke's words, it is really difficult to reassure, if the court is rashly rewarded, I am afraid that it will be embarrassing in the future. ”

"Your Majesty is very worried." Wang Qi said: "However, we don't have to give him an official position, we just go for recreation, and take a little comfort to see if these people are the scholars Chen Zhongfang said." If so, you might as well appreciate more stationery and books, and encourage them to learn the Great Song Dynasty script, if they can translate Fanbang books into Chinese in the future, it will not be a good thing. ”

"Hmm." Wang Qi is an official, and safety has always come first, and the idea is naturally very safe. It is very appropriate to use it in this matter. Zhao Zhen bowed his head and said: "Let's do it, Aiqing ordered people to do it, and then I will reply to the decree." ”

"Yes." Wang Jue complied.

Soon, the officials of Huaiyuanyi of Honglu Temple, who were in charge of the tributes of Jiaozhou in Southern Tibet and Qiuzi, Dashi, Khotan, Gan, Sha, Zongge, etc., were ordered by the emperor to visit a group of Arab scholars and sent a number of rewards such as charcoal, rice, wine, and silk.

Although the language of the two sides is not comprehensible, it is not difficult to see the so-called poetry and calligraphy in the belly, and the demeanor and temperament of Confucianism. There was also Aziz, a delicate fraudster, who coaxed and paid filial piety, which naturally satisfied the officials of Honglu Temple, and when he came back in the report, he really praised these Arabs, saying that although they were 'different in appearance and speech, they behaved elegantly and politely, and were by no means rude and barbaric. ’

At the same time, Aziz also prepared precious gifts, such as Persian carpets, Damascus swords, gemstone crafts, Arabic gold and silver products, and hundreds of other tributes to the Song Dynasty officials.

Zhao Zhen listened to the return, and after seeing these gifts, he was overjoyed, and personally inscribed two handwritten letters of 'coming from afar' and 'treating everyone equally', and gave them to these Arabs. In addition, there are many pen, ink, paper, and inkstone books given, so that Aziz, who is waiting for the emperor to give ten times the reward and make a lot of money, can't help but be surprised.

Later, Chen Ke told him that the Great Song Dynasty only showed its generosity to foreigners, and now that the official family recognizes you as people, it is natural to accept your filial piety.

Besides, with the words 'treat everyone equally', they can live and study in the Great Song Dynasty in peace and stability in the future, and their children even participate in the imperial examination as officials, which can be regarded as earned.

Aziz had no choice but to knock his teeth into his stomach and swallow it, but he turned his face and said to those Arabs, saying that I have made a bloody investment to help you make some connections, and in the future, you can 'live and study in the Great Song Dynasty in peace and stability, and your children will even participate in the imperial examination and become officials'. ——

Segmentation –

The next chapter strives for twelve o'clock.