Mrs. Cui ran back and forth a few times, and finally negotiated the business for the eldest princess Shangde.

As a result, this Wang Ji Printing Workshop became the property of the eldest princess of Shangde.

This printing press divided 30% of the profits to Princess Shangde, and the rest of the profits were distributed to Wang Shixing 30%, looking at the small profits, it did not mean much to Xiao Lingyan and Zhao Ruxi. But their intention was not to make a profit in the workshop, but to push the printing press in front of the people.

Sure enough, after seeing the convenience and high profits of the printing machine, the eldest princess of Shangde was not a little moved.

She called Wang Shixing and asked him, "Shopkeeper Wang, where did you get this printing press, I want to buy a few more to make the workshop bigger." ”

"It was a vendor in the south who went to Jiangnan to sell it, and this machine cost me 4,000 taels of silver at that time. I originally wanted to open a printing workshop in Jiangnan, but I didn't expect it," Wang Shixing sighed and didn't continue.

"The shopkeeper doesn't have to be sad, and it's the same when the printing workshop is opened in the capital." The eldest princess of Shangde comforted him.

"It's an old decay and a gaffe." Wang Shixing stood up and saluted, "The princess can send someone to Jiangnan to inquire." Because this machine is too expensive, when they go to various printing workshops to sell, everyone is afraid of being deceived, and no one buys it. However, there are still people with good eyes who buy it. Because the ink used in the machine cannot be made by home, you have to find someone who sells the machine to buy it, and maybe they still have contact with that side. ”

He thought for a moment and wrote the names of the two workshops: "These two workshops were bought in the first place, and the princess can ask for them." ”

"Okay."

The eldest princess of Shangde immediately sent someone to Jiangnan.

Within half a month, the people sent came back and pulled back a few machines.

The eldest princess of Shangde was overjoyed and asked, "How did you buy this?"

The owner of a workshop given by Wang's shopkeeper also bought a machine at that time, and thought it was easy to use, so he bought two more machines, and often bought ink, and had contact with suppliers. We got in touch with him and bought these three machines. If the princess feels that it is not enough, her subordinates can also go and buy it again. ”

"Where did this machine come from, have you ever inquired?" asked the eldest princess of Shangde.

"This is a foreign product, and like the bell that was auctioned at the auction of the Five Princes some time ago, it was all shipped from the West. However, the mold was cast by the missionaries here. The font can be sold separately, and the subordinates are worried that the original font will be worn, so they buy a separate set of font molds, which cost 2,500 taels of silver. ”

The machine of the printing workshop, the eldest princess of Shangde also went to see it herself, and knew that this machine was a wooden base, and the movable type molds were lined up on the pedestal, dipped in ink with wool cushions, brushed on the molds, and then covered with paper, and shook a pole to push the embossing plate to print out the handwriting.

These letterings are all metal and do not wear easily. Coupled with the leverage of the machine, it is not only labor-saving but also prints clearly, which is different from the operation of the general printing workshop. said that it was a foreign product, and the eldest princess of Shangde also believed it.

"Did you buy the ink?"

"Bought fifty barrels." The subordinate said, "The supplier said that even if the business is good, it can be used for half a year." The fifty barrels of ink cost five hundred taels of silver. ”

Only then did the eldest princess of Shangde put her mind at ease.

Compared with the use of ink for clay and wood block engraving and printing, the adaptability of metal movable type to water-based ink is very poor. These machines have to be printed with special inks.

This ink is made by Zhao Ruxi having flaxseed boiled, mixed with a small amount of turpentine and carbon black, and then left for several months.

Others can't understand the formula, and they can't make it themselves, so they can only buy ink from sellers.

However, the ink used in printing is not much, and the profit is high, and the cost of ink in ten taels and one barrel is nothing.

The eldest princess of Shangde was very satisfied with the flexibility of her subordinates, and praised: "Well done, there is a reward." ”

The courtyard of the Wang family is too cramped, and the eldest princess of Shangde naturally looks down on it. Bac Ninh is her food town, and she has a lot of property in Bac Ninh. She took a courtyard out, still hung the signboard of the Wang Ji Printing Workshop, arranged all the machines in, bought some people, and the workshop opened.

The paper used for printing was made by Xiao Lingyan and was sold in several large four treasure shops. However, this kind of paper is not highly absorbent, which does not conform to the writing habits of the ancients, and it cannot be sold at all.

Fortunately, after Zhao Ruxi's charcoal was made, because of the convenience of writing, it slowly rose in the capital. After Zhao Ruxi asked Zhaoming to learn, he went to Zhuangzi to organize some people to make charcoal and sell it to the four treasures of the study. Although the profit is not high, the mosquito legs are also meat, so they can increase the income of those women and children in Zhuangzi.

The rise of charcoal has slightly boosted the sales of paper made by Xiao Lingyan, and it has not been directly removed from the shelves by the four treasures of the study.

Now that the four machines of the Wang Ji Printing Workshop are running, they plan to print a batch of four books and five classics and put them on the market, and the demand for paper will be large.

Naturally, it was impossible for them to go to the Four Treasures of the Scholar's Shop to buy paper, but directly contacted the paper mill to buy this paper in large quantities.

Even the shopkeeper of the paper mill didn't know that his boss was the fifth prince, and he only thought that he was a relative of a powerful person.

Seeing that someone came to buy this kind of paper, he also said with great emotion: "When I first made this kind of paper, I still said no, I couldn't sell it, and the owner insisted on making it." I didn't expect it to sell so well now. The proprietor really has a unique vision. ”

The Four Books and Five Classics printed by Wang Ji Yinfang were put into the market, like a drop of water falling into an oil pot, which caused great repercussions.

First of all, it's cheaper than the average book. Secondly, the paper is relatively solid and not easy to break; The handwriting is also very clear, and if it is stained with water, the handwriting on it will not be blurred. The quality is excellent.

Wang Ji Printing Workshop gives the bookstore a lot of room for profit. So when someone came to buy the Four Books and the Five Classics, the shopkeeper and the guys of the bookstore gave priority to recommending the books of Wang Ji Printing Workshop. If the bookstore has a book or other books to print, they will also take the lead in looking for the king's printing workshop.

Business was booming, and the eldest princess sent people to buy a few printing presses and inks, and continued to expand the workshop.

In less than three months, the printing workshops around the capital were greatly impacted by the Wangji Printing Workshop.

As soon as everyone inquired, this printing workshop belonged to the eldest princess of Shangde. So it was another open and secret fight, all kinds of stumbling blocks.

But these eldest princesses of Shangde are not afraid, there is the emperor standing behind her.

Her three-seven split with Wang Shixing is just the first machine. Later, she bought the machine herself, and only gave Wang Shixing half of the profit share.

She also knows that the printing workshops around the capital are controlled by major families, and it is not easy to gain a foothold. Zhao Ruxi's safe business inspired her, and she also went to find Xiao Qi and gave Xiao Qi 30% of the profit.

With the emperor escorting behind, Wang Ji Yinfang is naturally not afraid of other people's swords and arrows. Because of the large profit margins, her business has become popular.

Those families in the capital are not vegetarians, as early as when they sent someone to infiltrate Wang Ji to make a stumbling block, they inquired about the secret of Wang Ji's printing workshop, and quickly sent people to Jiangnan, bought machines and ink, improved their own printing workshop, and adopted a price reduction method, trying to take back the market occupied by the eldest princess of Shangde.

As a result, Zhao Ruxi and Xiao Lingyan's printing machines and paper were sold skyrocketing, and the prices of books in various parts of the Great Jin Dynasty also dropped.