SFS Chapter 316 The Attitudes of Various Forces Towards Printing Technology
Chapter 316 The Attitudes of Various Forces Towards Printing Technology
Conversely, some students from well-off families who already owned numerous books initially showed disdain for the new bookstore. Accustomed to the superior resources provided by their families, they paid little attention to newly opened shops. However, driven by curiosity, some of them eventually ventured into the Daqin Bookstore. But this casual glance left them utterly astonished.
The text in these books was not only perfectly uniform in font, but the spacing between each line was also flawless, as if it had been printed by some precision instrument, completely unlike anything handwritten. This peculiar phenomenon aroused their curiosity: how were these books made in such a magical way? This mystery deeply captivated every student who visited the bookstore, and everyone racked their brains trying to find the answer, with hushed discussions frequently echoing throughout the store.
This discovery instantly struck a chord with many students from prominent families, stirring their previously proud and fearless hearts. They had never felt the slightest fear regarding scientific expeditions. After all, from a young age, they had been immersed in the ocean of knowledge, with all the best resources of their families poured into them.
They possessed the best teachers, the richest collections of books, and enjoyed unparalleled learning conditions. From childhood, they were the center of attention, basking in unparalleled glory and respect. Even when the king announced the holding of the imperial examinations, they maintained their composure and calmness. They knew the resources they controlled were far beyond the reach of the poor commoners. In their eyes, those born into poverty might never have even seen a decent book, and were utterly incapable of competing with them.
However, the situation has now changed. Suddenly, an astonishing number of classics and historical texts have emerged, not only at affordable prices, making them accessible to ordinary people, but also of superior quality, in no way inferior to the rare and precious copies treasured in their homes. This sudden change has caused these pampered and self-important sons of high-ranking officials and nobles to feel a strong sense of crisis for the first time. Their former arrogance and confidence have vanished, replaced by anxiety and unease. They have all purchased several books, more or less, and hurriedly taken them home to present to their elders for review.
When those high-ranking officials and dignitaries saw these books with their own eyes, they were all greatly astonished. Their eyes widened, and they repeatedly stroked the pages in disbelief, secretly marveling, "This could absolutely not have been handwritten!"
The neat, uniform handwriting, as if printed, was clearly displayed before their eyes. Every stroke seemed meticulously crafted, a truly breathtaking sight. What kind of magical skill was this? For a moment, they racked their brains but could hardly fathom its mystery. What worried them even more was that if such advanced technology were to spread and become widespread, the competitive advantage their children had accumulated over the years through resource advantages would be significantly weakened.
However, at this time, the Qin Dynasty established the imperial examination system to select talent. This would deprive these people of their advantage, which also meant losing the guarantee for their families' continued prosperity. Faced with such a dire situation, these high-ranking officials and nobles could no longer sit idly by. They anxiously gathered together to discuss countermeasures.
Some suggested taking a hard line to suppress the bookstore, using family influence to create various problems for it, even resorting to illegal means to completely eliminate it and prevent future troubles; others believed that money could be used to bribe the bookstore owners, making them obedient and controlling the circulation and sale of books to ensure that their own children's privileged position was not affected. For a time, everyone expressed their opinions, arguing endlessly, and the scene was quite chaotic.
When Wang Wan and Li Si heard about the Great Qin Bookstore and the miraculous printing technology, a slight ripple of worry stirred in their hearts. However, they each had important matters to attend to and were busy with court affairs every day, making it difficult for them to spare much energy to pay attention to this matter.
For Wang Wan, who had long held the position of Prime Minister, the stability of the court's power structure and bureaucratic system was his primary concern. In his view, even the emergence of this novel printing method would have limited direct impact on his own position and power. As long as the bureaucratic system of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers functioned smoothly and his power as Prime Minister was not unjustly weakened, other matters were insignificant to him and unlikely to cause any substantial impact. He was busy managing various government affairs daily, single-mindedly pursuing the implementation of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers system; his attention to new developments remained solely on aspects that did not threaten his own interests.
Li Si and Wang Wan held subtly different views. Li Si, of humble origins, had climbed to a high position through tireless effort and exceptional talent. He deeply understood that every ordinary person could possess immense energy and potential, and should not be underestimated. Therefore, while Li Si was concerned about the various rumors and potential upheavals surrounding the Qin Bookstore, fearing they might disrupt the existing balance of power, he primarily chose to observe the situation cautiously from the sidelines. He knew that in this turbulent era, hastily judging new developments or engaging in unwarranted suppression could lead to unforeseen consequences.
For Confucian scholars like Kong Jia, Shusun Tong, and Chunyu Yue, this revolutionary printing technology was a devastating blow. Back when paper had just been invented, they naively believed that the dissemination and control of knowledge would remain firmly in the hands of a select few, inaccessible to the common people. But now, this astonishing printing technology had appeared out of nowhere, like a violent storm, shattering their illusions and instilling in these Confucian scholars an unprecedented fear and panic. In their minds, knowledge was a crucial asset for maintaining their status and influence; once knowledge spread uncontrollably and widely, their authority would be severely challenged.
After careful consideration, Kong Jia, Shusun Tong, and Chunyu Yue decided to personally visit the Daqin Bookstore to investigate. When they arrived at the bookstore, the scene before them left them speechless. Countless students were flowing in and out of the bookstore like a tide, their faces filled with an intense thirst for knowledge. The fervent scene was like that of travelers who had been wandering in the desert for a long time finally finding water.