Since he wanted to send them away, Lu Xu didn't miss any of them, including places where literati gathered, outside the Imperial Academy and eunuchs, and outside major well-known academies.
He also gave various bookstores benefits, gave gifts and money, and asked them to place his books in the most conspicuous place.
Soon, a scholar who was buying books saw the huge and ugly words on the door of the bookstore and asked in confusion: "What does free books mean?"
Bookstore owner: "These are the damaged books. Each person can get one."
"Free?"
"good."
"If you think the content is good, here is a book that is a set of these articles. If you buy a book, it will be given as a gift. If you buy one, you will get one for free." The boss showed him the "Selected Works of Famous Writers of the Past" placed aside.
The scholar opened it curiously, looked at the introduction, and was surprised when he looked at the table of contents. Isn't this exactly the masterpiece of ancient Chinese they are advocating now? !
"How much?!"
"Fifty cents."
"How much?!" The scholar couldn't believe it.
"Fifty cents."
"Isn't that a loss?"
The bookstore owner curled his lips and said, "Boss Lu said that this book was compiled by Yan Hanlin from other collections. It was not their original creation. They originally only planned to charge a fee for paper and ink, so that they could make small profits but quick turnover. They did this just because they wanted to It was not easy for them to study in the past, but now they can see the rare books in the palace library, they can't put them down, and they recommend them to others. They don't want the world's scholars to miss out on good articles because of money constraints."
The scholar exclaimed: "This is a great thing. How can we make them lose money? How can there be such a book price in Beijing!"
He opened it and saw that the quality of the printing, no matter how thick it was, would still cost one or two or two taels of the same grade.
It was an excerpt from a rare book in the palace library!
"Hey, wasn't it finished?" The bookstore owner told him a piece of gossip he had just heard today, "It was said that it was not finished. The engraving was smashed, so we had to sell the finished print. Those that have not been engraved will not be engraved. It is the first time to engrave a book, and if it is damaged, I can’t bear to throw it away, so I just print it and give it away for free, so the hard work is not in vain.”
The scholar said angrily: "What? Someone in the capital could do such a thing? Who is so outrageous?!"
The bookstore owner shook his head, "Then we don't know."
He also wanted to know, and when he asked, the boss, Xiao Lu, shook his head and waved his hands, his face full of sullen anger that he could no longer hold back, but he wouldn't say anything!
The scholar sighed and paid for the book.
The reference book you need is just what you need, and it’s so cheap. Don’t miss it if you pass by.
He immediately bought five books and received five free books.
After he took it back to the academy and shared it with his classmates, several young people gathered together to read a few articles, and then looked at the gift book full of cracks. They couldn't help but cursed, "Who is this evil and smoking person who actually hit people?" Engraving thing?!”
The same thing happened in various places where literati gathered in the capital. Soon, the well-informed people found out the truth——
This book was originally printed by Guangtong Bookstore, but there were more than ten pages left unfinished, so they were smashed.
Why was it smashed? Because there is still a very insignificant procedure missing, many bookstores even sell small procedures that have not yet been completed.
Who smashed it? Some rascals.
Some people sneered, rogue gangsters dare to smash the printing shop of Guangtong Bookstore? There are several marquis connections behind Guangtong Bookstore!
Do the little scoundrels in Beijing dare to provoke those big scoundrels?
The engraving was smashed, and Guangtong Bookstore didn't dare to let it go. How could the other party have such a small background?
The good-hearted person was eager to give it a try, and he probed again and again. Soon someone inquired and saw that Guangtong Bookstore had sent all the engravings to Yuehui Tower that day.
Some people don't understand, and some people are not surprised. Isn't it printed on the first page of the book, "I would like to dedicate this book to my best friend in this life, Lu Xu"?
The Lu Xu mentioned in the book is the second owner of Yuehui Tower, and he is from the same hometown as Yan Hanlin, who compiled this anthology.
Everyone suddenly became enlightened.
Just say it! How could a Hanlin official get the money to print books and sell them at a loss? It is 80% that Mr. Lu Xu, a fellow countryman, was the sponsor. Yan Hanlin specially wrote his name in order to express his gratitude.
"This Boss Lu is truly a righteous man. It would be great if all merchants in Daqi were like this."
"How could he be willing to lose money printing books?"
"I heard that the dim sum prices at Yuehui House are very high."
Someone got back to the point.
"Then who smashed the engraving? Does this boss Lu have any enemies?"
Everyone immediately remembered the stories that had been circulating in the streets and alleys of the capital recently.
"..."
The truth is about to come out——
"Dong Chengguo?!"
Scholars all over the capital suddenly awakened their detective radars. The more they checked, the clearer and more reasonable they became.
The smashing of the engraving was the same day as Cheng Guogong falsely accused Yuehui Tower.
It was Prince Rui's private printing shop who accepted the help in printing the book. The person who helped Yuehui Tower at the Jingzhao Mansion Yamen that day was Prince Rui who happened to be passing by.
These days, Lu Xu is helping King Rui open a restaurant in Beicheng!
…
That is to say——
Cheng Guogong wanted to frame Boss Lu for some unknown reason. Prince Rui happened to pass by and demanded justice. The two met. Lu Xu's printed book was smashed. In desperation, he approached Prince Rui. After hearing about it, Prince Rui took action again. , to save the book in danger, Boss Lu helped Wang Rui open a restaurant in order to repay his kindness.
How reasonable!
The detectives thought hard and couldn't figure out how on earth a commoner with a business background could offend Duke Cheng Guo?
Idle people chewed over the facts of the case that day and searched for clues in the various versions sung by storytellers in the capital city.
The truth that one person cannot find out is no longer a secret under the careful investigation of countless "detectives".
The petty official whom Zong Hongfei hired to help Lu Xu go to Jingzhao Mansion to report Zhou Hong's prostitution in a brothel sent the servant sent to Jingzhao Mansion to report back to his hometown that night.
The elders in his family knew that he had caused trouble and did not dare to offend Duke Cheng. The next morning they went to the princess to apologize before she returned home. However, the prince-in-law didn't take it seriously at all and accepted the gift and let them go.
Later, when they heard that the princess and the prince-in-law were quarreling, his family quickly went to the Ministry of Personnel to ask for a transfer order for him, and also asked him to return to his hometown to avoid trouble.
It's just that he was unconvinced when he left. Once he left, he would probably never have the chance to go to Beijing again. Before leaving Beijing, he had a party with friends and couldn't help but lamented his bad luck after getting drunk.
He didn't want to leave in despair because he was implicated in his uncle's family, who were working hard for him.
Friends who sympathized with him saw that all the scholars in the capital were scolding Cheng Guogong, so they couldn't help complaining on his behalf and complained to many friends.
At this time, everyone only scolded Chengguo Gongfu for being overbearing and irritating innocent people. No one had yet connected this matter with Lu Xu.
But Fang Yanshui couldn't stand it. He had been listening to books every day recently, and he was very interested. He encouraged each other with his friends, and even made an appointment to go to Yuehui Tower together to see what the outstanding person who dared to call Duke Cheng was a fool looked like.
When he saw it, he blurted out: "Isn't this the boy who went to the gambling shop to beat me up that day?!"
The friend asked: "Why did he beat you?"
Fang Yanshui: "My brother-in-law offended him, and he wants to mess with my brother-in-law."
He also curiously asked his friend: "You said that Duke Cheng was causing trouble for him, is it because he reported my brother-in-law that day and the consort was arrested?"
The more he thought about it, the more it made sense, and the more he thought about it, the more proud he became. He even boasted to his friends, and was particularly proud of the fact that he had indirectly broken up the princess and the consort.
Can you live with such a big shot in your lifetime?
Look at him, how awesome he is!
So, his friends were also proud and began to tell the story of "I have an awesome friend" to their friends.
The speaker was unintentional, but the listener was intentional. It didn't take long for this matter to reach the ears of the "detective" scholars who were everywhere in the capital asking for the truth.
It doesn't matter if you don't listen, you'll be shocked when you hear it.
They made bold associations, bold assumptions, bold excavations, and used their wisdom and connections to finally deduce an astonishing truth——
Lu Xu and the minor official reported to the Jingzhao Mansion that an official went to a brothel to pick up a prostitute. As a result, the consort was arrested by mistake. The princess divorced the consort. Duke Cheng retaliated in anger and drove the minor official out of the capital. He refused to spare Lu Xu. Just smashed his engraving!
Soon another witness came out. On the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, someone had dinner with Lu Xu in a restaurant and witnessed the capture of the consort!
The smashing of the engraving was not due to incomplete procedures at all, but because Duke Cheng was angry and deliberately sought trouble to avenge himself!
Just look for faults. It's not enough to lock someone else's dim sum shop, but they also smash the engravings!
illiteracy!
The scholars were angry.
In addition, those who only focus on studying and preparing for exams, without exploring the truth and gossip behind the scenes, find themselves enjoying the anthology of famous writers from all over the world.
It's cheap and of high quality. It's more cost-effective than copying a copy themselves. The person who compiled this book is simply a kind person who is rare in the world. It really benefits scholars all over the world.
The only pity is that this book is so thin and small.
Thanks to the mutual benefit, one thousand copies of the book were sold out in two days. Some people went to all the bookstores in the capital but failed to buy it.
Those who got the news late had to go home with the unfinished free booklets.
They read and read, and the more they read, the more they felt they were making money. When they looked at the unclear handwriting in the pamphlet, they were so angry that they wanted to curse.
The bibliophile scratched his head and scratched his head when he saw stains that looked like cracks in the engraving, and felt itchy all over his body. Such good content and such a good engraving turned out like this, so angry!
Thinking that the content in the booklet should have been published in a collection with the works of famous writers of all ages, the mysophobic people were angry. Damn it, Duke Cheng Guo, was so full that he couldn't live with the book?
Was printing this book digging into his family's ancestral graves? !
Some people went to nearby bookstores to inquire, and some people went directly to the bookstore where King Rui bought it and asked, "Will this collection be published again in the future?"
The bookstore owner replied good-naturedly: "It won't be printed any more."
"Why?"
Shopkeeper: "Mr. Lu, who printed the book, said that after printing just one copy, his stall was smashed. He became disheartened, tired, and no longer loved it. He will never print again."
Scholar: "..."
The shopkeeper shook his head and sighed as taught by Lu Xu, and said casually: "I heard that the second volume has been compiled, alas."
Scholar: "Volume 2? There is a second volume?!"
Shopkeeper: "No, what a pity. Many people have come to inquire about buying it."
Scholar: "..."
I want to curse even more! !
Scholar: “Can’t Prince Rui help me?”
The shopkeeper smiled and said: "Your Majesty wants to help, but they are afraid that it will implicate the Prince and ask people to smash us again."
Scholar: "Who dares to smash the prince's shop?!"
Shopkeeper: "My prince said the same thing. Isn't Mr. Lu afraid?"
He spread untrue gossip without conscience. "After all, he was a young man from a foreign country. He didn't know the importance of the matter. He impulsively scolded the crown prince Cheng Guo. He didn't know what the Duke meant. When he found out later, he was so frightened that he couldn't sleep well for three days." , I heard that I have nightmares every night, and my eyes are so irritated that they feel like they have been punched twice."
The scholars were filled with righteous indignation: "Humph! The prince broke the law and the common people were guilty, and the Chengguo government maliciously framed him. Mr. Lu scolded him well!"
The shopkeeper quickly put on a careful look, saying, "Stop talking, we're afraid." "Be careful what you say, be careful what you say."
The scholars are not willing to give in.
Especially since I didn’t buy even one copy, and now I heard that the second one has been compiled but cannot be printed, I feel even more angry.
They discussed it and went to Yuehui Tower to find Lu Xu.
As a result, Lu Xu was not there, only Uncle Taiping was there.
The shopkeeper of Yuehui Tower said with a grimace: "Are you guys buying paper? If it's snacks, why don't you come back a few days later?"
"Why?"
The shopkeeper sighed: "Our second boss is sick and hasn't been here for several days."
"Sick?!" They turned around and saw Uncle Chengping, whose face was pale and his eyes were dull. They were so frightened that Uncle Chengping, who couldn't sleep well and was depressed, immediately felt that the bookstore shopkeeper's words were good.
A small businessman in his early twenties, with no relatives in the capital, even Uncle Chengping is afraid of him, how can he not be afraid? How pitiful!
But what can they do.
They searched for other bookstores all over the capital and asked other powerful adults to help Lu Xu at least print the second book. They were willing to raise funds to pay for it.
When other bookstores that could print books heard about this, their scalps went numb.
They want to print it, but besides the storybook, I haven’t seen such a best-selling book in many years.
But it can't be printed. Not everyone is afraid that Duke Cheng will cause trouble. They have completed the procedures. If Duke Cheng wants to cause trouble, there must be a reason.
But the first one was sold too cheaply, and the second one is of the same quality as the first one, so they still have to pay for it?
Print one copy and pay for one copy, what’s the point?
If you know more about the situation, tell them tactfully that you should go find Prince Rui - Silly boy, the poor Mr. Lu you call is busy opening a restaurant with Prince Rui, and they are now coming to ask for a seal. Books, aren't they competing with Prince Rui for work? Don’t you really think that Prince Rui is afraid of Duke Cheng?
As a result, the scholars misunderstood and thought that except King Rui, all the bookstores in the capital were afraid of Duke Cheng.
They were disheartened and angry. As soon as they returned, they heard the fresh truth that the group of "detectives" had learned while they were chatting.
The scholars became angry and ran to Jingzhao Mansion, Dali Temple, and outside the Mansion of Duke Cheng Guo, demanding compensation for the smashed engravings and promising not to interfere with other people's printing of books again.
The students of Imperial College and Imperial College even asked for sacrificial wine and doctors to reflect on their behalf.
Others made trouble outside the Grand Master's Mansion and the General's Mansion.
The Grand Master is the head of the civil service, so he has to make decisions for the scholars in the world.
The general is the head of the meritorious generals, so he should be in charge of Duke Cheng, right?
The civil servants, Duke Cheng and other dignitaries were pinching each other fiercely, but they never expected that the little scholars in the capital would get ahead of them.
In other places, they can be persuaded and told to go back first, but how can the Chengguo Duke's Mansion be bullied by a group of poor people with no hair.
The housekeeper immediately brought people out to attack them: "What cats and dogs dare to come to the gate of our Duke's Mansion to make trouble without even looking at where this place is? Fight them away!"
Those who dared to come here to make trouble were young and energetic students. Being driven away and beaten with sticks really made a few people angry. One student picked up a brick and smashed it into the gate of the Duke's Mansion.
He took the lead, and others picked up bricks from under the flower-planted fence at the door and threw them into the Duke's mansion.
The housekeeper of Chengguo Duke's Mansion was so angry that he jumped three feet high: "Catch them! No one can escape!"
The two sides started a street fight in Beicheng. Half an hour later, more than 20 scholars were arrested and taken to Jingzhao Mansion Prison.
This stirred up a hornet's nest. As soon as the escaped scholars spread the word, they didn't care which college you were from or which college I was from. They swarmed up with the same enemies and surrounded the Jingzhao Mansion Yamen, shouting that they wanted to let him go.
The author has something to say:
Lu Xu: Look at me pretending to be miserable and pay someone who knows how to scold me to scold me. If you don’t believe me, the censor won’t listen. I will impeach you to death! (satisfied) (stops abruptly) Huh? This plot development is wrong!
Please stay tuned. Tomorrow Lu, editor, Wanertuo, drama, Xuer will enter Jingzhao Mansion and open the mic.
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