He Jingyun simply had his household guards retrieve the statements from all parties involved in the case for Liang Xiao.
After reading the statements, Liang Xiao mused and asked, "When will Marquis Dingguo arrive in Jinling?"
He Jingyun explained, "According to custom, it is inconvenient for him to come to Jinling during the Jiangnan Spring Banquet, to avoid accusations of ulterior motives. However, Nie Yuan is safe; both I and Marquis Dingguo can guarantee this."
Liang Xiao suddenly understood.
Marquis Dingguo, Gongsun Ye, was still a military officer and held military power in the Jiangnan region. It was indeed inappropriate for him to attend the Jiangnan Spring Banquet again, like Prince Nan.
The salt fields in the Jiangnan region also required Gongsun Ye to dispatch people to strictly supervise them, to prevent secrets from being leaked or smuggling from occurring.
Liang Xiao couldn't help but sigh, "For Jiangnan to maintain stability and prevent the Gongyang clan from acting with impunity, it's indispensable to have all of you presiding over the situation!"
He Jingyun modestly replied, "The main credit goes to Zhuo Lingjun and Marquis Dingguo. I was merely assisting!"
Liang Xiao looked at the calm Zhuo Zifang, and his heart was clear.
This old fellow had retired more than ten years ago, but the late Emperor had allowed him to advise on military and political affairs in the Jiangnan region at any time as the Minister of the Imperial Household. For more than ten years, he had often stayed in Jiangnan.
It seemed that retirement was just a guise. The real purpose was to assist the late Emperor in restricting the Gongyang clan, preventing them from completely controlling public opinion in Jiangnan.
Coupled with Marquis Dingguo Gongsun Ye controlling the military power of the Jiangnan region, the Gongyang clan and Prince Nan had no choice but to restrain their claws.
The late Emperor had specifically chosen Zhuo Zifang and entrusted him to Zhuo Xun, which showed his trust in Zhuo Zifang.
However, because Zhuo Zifang strictly adhered to the late Emperor's orders and did not leak secrets to anyone unless necessary, Xiao Shuangzi seemed unaware of the intricacies, but it was harmless.
Zhuo Zifang blushed and asked, "Liang Xiao, do you have a way to save Nie Yuan? We can't let Jinyu teach Nie Yuan to paint in prison, can we? Besides, Nie Yuan is indeed a rare talent in military strategy. After I spoke with him, I can be sure he is not just theoretical. He has his own set of detailed views on military tactics and formations."
"Let's wait until after the Jiangnan Spring Banquet. This matter cannot be spread for now," Liang Xiao nodded solemnly, feeling quite expectant.
According to Shi Liuyun, Nie Yuan's spear technique was exquisite. The Da Gan Kingdom was in dire need of talented generals who were both learned and skilled in warfare, even commanders.
Currently, the Da Gan Kingdom was surrounded by powerful enemies. Relying solely on Lu Yi and Gongsun Ye to guard the north and south was far from enough.
Moreover, Lu Yi was adept at defending territory but lacked the ability to break through strongholds. Gongsun Ye, guarding Jiangnan, was advanced in age and could not afford to fall out with the friendly Da Liang Kingdom to the south, thus limiting his actions.
There were also the Western Regions, the East Sea, the Northeast, and the Southwest, all of which needed generals to guard their respective areas and even expand their territory...
Talent was scarce!
"Marquis An Guo wants to open bookshops and newspaper offices in Jinling. You need to be wary of the Grand Tutor's faction. They might find an excuse to incite the so-called 'masses' to smash your bookshops..." He Jingyun warned.
Liang Xiao laughed heartily, "No need to worry, the bookshops in Jinling will definitely be established!"
Seeing Liang Xiao's confidence, Zhuo Zifang and He Jingyun were relieved and quite expectant.
They had already analyzed the roles of bookshops and newspaper offices.
As long as they were used for legitimate purposes, they would absolutely benefit the country and the people!
After laughing, Liang Xiao added, "I don't think Gongyang He is someone who would just endure silently. I presume they are already plotting how to humiliate us at the Jiangnan Spring Banquet. Zhuo Lingjun, you must also be on guard. The eight hundred scholars are, after all, a force to be reckoned with; each of them has a mouth, after all."
Zhuo Zifang and He Jingyun pondered this, nodding repeatedly.
Meanwhile, in the capital, Xiao Qing was overjoyed to receive news that Liang Fu's people were opening bookshops all over the country.
Conversely, the three major aristocratic families in the capital were as anxious as ants on a hot pan.
Dugu Qun and others came to visit Ouyang Ji again, and even Duanmu Chao followed.
"The books printed in bookshops everywhere are being forced upon us for purchase. If this continues, spending a million taels in a month would be on the low side! Your purchase of Liang Xiao's books for three hundred coins seems to have been too hasty!" Dugu Qun said displeasively.
Ouyang Ji retorted, "If we didn't offer this price, Liang Xiao would definitely not sell. At that point, commoners would easily acquire knowledge, and how could we then control public opinion in various regions?"
Everyone immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
This was also what they feared, which was why they wholeheartedly supported the Ouyang family!
When ordinary villagers could understand the content of imperial decrees, they would not be able to deceive the public!
Once they could not fool the masses, imperial power could indirectly succeed in reaching the countryside, and the influence and infiltration capabilities of the aristocratic families would gradually come to an end!
Duanmu Chao sighed, "Minister Ouyang, our Duanmu family can provide financial support, but... will their bookshops always be profitable?"
"Impossible! Currently, the labor and material costs alone are approaching one hundred and fifty coins. And the printing plates required for the printing technique, that's the main expense. No matter how much he saves, how much less will it be than Ouyang Ji's woodblock printing? Plates that are easily damaged or flawed are the real expense!"
Only then did everyone relax.
They had personally inspected the bookshops that the Ouyang family had specially opened to them, and even provided detailed accounts.
After a complete process, the printing cost for each book was indeed around five hundred coins!
Everyone had calculated that if Liang Xiao was indeed losing money, the more they printed, the greater the initial capital required, and collapse was inevitable!
"Recently, many people have been acquiring land. Seeing that the foolish emperor issued an order to requisition land but is delaying a large-scale repurchase, perhaps he intends to find an excuse to directly confiscate land. We should sell some of the land that cannot be concealed as soon as possible," Dugu Liang suggested.
Everyone nodded in agreement. Just as they were about to return and mobilize, Ouyang's steward reported, "Master, Liang Xiao's bookshop has suddenly started printing historical and miscellaneous books again. They are asking if we want to purchase them!"
Everyone froze and looked at Ouyang Ji.
Ouyang Ji's face turned ashen, his lips pale, and he stammered, "Buy them for me!!"
In the imperial study, Xiao Qing looked at the countless letters with surprise and joy.
The shadow guards she had dispatched had successively acquired nearly two million mu of land in the capital and surrounding areas, all sold at market price by these wealthy capital families!
"Granny Ning, find a way to have the shadow guards spread rumors that my elder brother's bookshops are losing money day by day!" Xiao Qing said excitedly.
Ning Xuejun replied, "Young Master Liang's bookshops have been hinting to the common people that they are losing money. The common people are very worried now... The Ouyang family, after all their calculations, probably never imagined that Young Master Liang is bleeding them dry! Originally, Liang's book sales only yielded meager profits, but now..."
Xiao Qing couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh, "Are they preparing to make my elder brother the richest man by losing money?"
Ning Xuejun smiled faintly, "It's possible!"
In less than a month, the bookshops opened by the Ouyang family across the country had already invested over a million in total!
Including the increased cost of materials, Liang Xiao could profit at least one hundred and forty coins per book...
In Yanzhou, within the Anxi County training camp, three thousand Qingtian Guards, led by Yue Qingtian and the three battalion commanders Jiang Long, Yue Qian, and Yue Heng, were practicing their saber techniques.
At this moment, Liu Fan rushed in from outside, his expression excited, "Captain Yue, the weapons from the Imperial Armory in the capital have arrived!"