At this time, movable type printing was also introduced.

However, when movable type first appeared, it was not cheaper than engraving.

Each version of printing needs to be typeset and not to mention, because the general use is clay type, a word is fired, printed not many times, the handwriting is blurred, and new words need to be re-fired. The same is true for movable wooden type.

The number of printing of copper movable type is not bad, but such a set of systems, the cost of a single investment is too high, and the general workshop does not dare to make it, for fear that the business is not good, and it will go out of business on the day when it is not profitable.

In addition, if there is a pattern, or if you want to print the word a little smaller, movable type printing simply can't do it.

On the contrary, it is engraving printing, a stone engraving is engraved, as long as the number of printing is more, the cost will be reduced. For example, the Four Books and Five Classics, because of the high demand, I am not afraid that I will not be able to sell them, and the printing workshop will use engraving.

But whether it is printed with movable type or engraving, the cost is expensive.

In history, it was not until 1450 that the German Gutenberg invented lead-tin movable type and ink, and made the first printing press, which reduced the cost of printing, thus promoting the cultural prosperity of Europe and the progress of the whole society at that time.

Now, the eldest princess of Shangde is facing such a problem.

Like a women's newspaper, it is published every ten years, because it is aimed at women, and the literacy rate of women in this era is low, so it would be good to sell 100 copies at the beginning.

Even if it doesn't make money, a newspaper needs to be sold for one or two hundred dollars, except for the aristocratic women who are not bad for money, how many commoner women are willing to buy newspapers?

If only about 100 newspapers were to be issued, they could do so by hand. But their original intention was to empower all literate women to gain knowledge through newspapers. If the number of issuances is small, it will not make much difference.

And if you want to have a large circulation, you have to print.

So there's an endless loop.

The newsroom cannot break even, which also means that it will not go far, and I am afraid that it will die after a few issues.

This is also the reason why there were no newspapers in ancient times. It is completely limited by objective conditions.

The imperial court has a mansion report. In ancient China, the newspapers of the Song Dynasty were all hand-copied. It was not until the end of the Ming Dynasty that Western movable type was introduced to China, and Di Bao issued a movable type version.

In ancient times, officials of a certain level could not see the Di Bao.

Zhao Ruxi is a character who takes one step at a time and sees ten steps, how can he not know the difficulties faced by running a newspaper when giving advice to Mrs. Cui? She's been waiting here for a long time.

She made movable lead type, made inks, and made and improved Gutenberg's printing press.

She suggested that Princess Shangde and Mrs. Cui should set up a newspaper, not only to provide spiritual food and employment opportunities for women, but also to bring this kind of printing technology and printing press to this Jin Dynasty and promote the cultural development and social progress of the Great Jin Dynasty.

Therefore, although her printing workshop opened a few years ago, she did not go around to solicit business, but only silently printed some four books and five classics and piled them up. She had been waiting for Princess Shangde and Madame Choi to raise the question.

"This question was thought of as early as when I proposed that you run a newspaper." Zhao Ruxi said with a smile.

She walked to the table, took out a charcoal pen and notepad, wrote down an address, tore off the page and handed it to Mrs. Cui.

"This is a printing workshop that I stumbled upon, and I have been inquiring for a long time and I don't know who the owner of the printing workshop is. But his printing seems to have used a new method, which can print the words and patterns very well, the price is not expensive, and the speed is fast. You go and ask and see. ”

Mrs. Cui was overjoyed, took the address and took a look, and found that it was in the south of the capital, and she couldn't wait to stand up: "I'll go now." ”

Zhao Ruxi bowed and retired: "Then I'll go to class first." ”

After returning from the Chinese New Year, Princess Shangde and Mrs. Cui no longer let her take classes with her classmates, but asked her master to tutor her alone.

After checking Zhao Ruxi's learning progress and mastery of knowledge, they formulated a set of plans for her, so that she could get a good ranking in the children's exam.

During this time, the training class did not start, and Zhao Ruxi was completely immersed in the sea of four books and five classics and could not extricate himself.

Mrs. Cui entered Beijing, found the printing workshop in the south of the city, and found that the printing workshop was located in an alley, and a plaque was hung at the door, which read "Wang Ji Printing", the plaque was old, and the walls of the house were mottled, which was very inconspicuous.

Wang is a big surname, Zhao Ruxi's mother's surname in her last life was Wang, so she used this surname, so as not to let this workshop be traced by others, and it would be easy to contact her, the Xu family, Xiao Lingyan and others. When people saw this workshop, their first reaction was to check the family surnamed Wang in the capital.

It's an eyesore.

Mrs. Cui was obviously tricked.

Seeing this plaque, her first reaction was to search for the family surnamed Wang in her mind, and then let someone knock on the door.

After knocking for a long time, they thought that there was no one inside, and then the door opened with a "ah", and a thin middle-aged man came out and asked them, "What's the matter?" ”

"You're here in the Printing Workshop, right? Our lady wants to print something. "Humanity.

The man glanced at Mrs. Cui, who was standing next to the car, and nodded, "Come in." ”

Mrs. Cui brought three guards, a maid and a mother-in-law, but she was not afraid and walked in directly.

led Mrs. Cui and her party to sit in the hall, and the man went to the back, and after a long while, he walked out behind an old man in his sixties.

"You want to print something?" The old man didn't even save his greetings, and asked directly.

Mrs. Cui nodded: "Exactly." ”

"Print what?"

Mrs. Cui took out the newspaper she had shown to Zhao Ruxi and handed it to the old man.

The old man glanced at it: "How many copies do you want to print?" ”

Mrs. Cui hesitated: "Three hundred." Raising his eyes and staring at the old man, "What is the asking price?" ”

The old man stroked his beard: "Three taels of silver." ”

Mrs. Cui looked at him in disbelief: "Is three taels of silver the total price, or is it ......?"

One tael of silver is 1,000 wen, 300 copies of newspaper, and the average printing price of a newspaper is only 10 wen, which is completely impossible. Not even the cost of paper, let alone the cost of printing.

But if three taels of silver is the unit price of a newspaper, and it is too expensive, it seems impossible.

"Total price." The old man said.

Mrs. Choi frowned.

I'm afraid this isn't a liar, is it? Received three taels of silver and newspapers from her, and did not admit to taking her business after it was over. She couldn't report to the official for three taels of silver, so she could only suffer a dumb loss.

When the old man saw her like this, he knew what she was thinking, and said impatiently: "If you want to print, you can print it, and if you don't print it, you will go out." If you print it, you must pay a deposit of 100 Wen first. ”