After understanding the situation, a strange smile appeared on Liang Xiao's face.
As per Liang Xiao's instructions, Liang Qing purchased printing paper at ten four-cash per sheet, forcing the Ouyang family to abandon their "price war."
If they raised the paper price further, the Ouyang family's bookshops would truly be at a significant loss.
Ouyang Ji naturally could not accept the current situation. He resorted to threats and inducements, and some paper mills still took the risk to make money.
However, unlike Wu Rongzhao, these merchants were solely driven by profit. They did not supply at the original price immediately when the Ouyang family raised theirs, as Wu Rongzhao had.
Even so, with the Ministry of Revenue intervening, they dared not sell.
Liang Qing whispered, "Should we inform His Majesty about this matter?"
Liang Xiao said confidently, "Don't worry, the old fox Ouyang will only bring shame upon himself. His Majesty will surely be aware and will resolve this matter. However, I must also enter the palace tonight, as I miss my Shuang'er and Xiao Shuangzi."
This was a grand plan he and Xiao Qing had devised, a crucial step in breaking the monopoly of noble families on education. Xiao Qing would never compromise!
Xiao Shuangzi…
Liang Qing's brows twitched, and he pretended not to hear.
In the imperial study, Xiao Qing, with a cold expression, questioned Ouyang Ji, the Minister of Revenue, and Ouyang Ping, the Vice Minister of Revenue.
"Why did you two ministers send people to obstruct civilian material transactions?"
Ouyang Ji, having prepared for this, explained, "This action disrupts the market. Furthermore, these materials already have suitable buyers. Liang Xiao's malicious competition will inevitably cause unrest in the capital!"
"Nonsense!" Xiao Qing finally erupted in anger. "Clearly, you are trying to abuse your power for personal gain, because all the bookshops in the capital belong to your Ouyang family!"
"Your Majesty, your minister truly serves the nation and its people, not for personal gain. I hope Your Majesty can see the bigger picture!" Ouyang Ji remained obstinate.
Xiao Qing glanced at Ouyang Ji and smiled slightly, which, however, made Ouyang Ji feel as if he had fallen into an icy abyss.
"Young Minister Liang's actions can clear the inventory of those merchants, promote the development of paper mills, and provide more jobs for the people of the capital. This is a perfectly beneficial endeavor. Your Ouyang family's bookshops have been established nationwide for centuries; are you truly afraid of competition from a few emerging bookshops?"
Ouyang Ji and his son were speechless.
They were accustomed to using high-sounding rhetoric, but they never expected Xiao Qing to use the same tactic against them!
"Considering the Ouyang family's usual diligence and meritorious service, we will overlook this instance of favoritism. If there is a next time, do not blame me for turning ruthless! The former Minister of Works, Du Gu Liang, serves as a warning!"
The father and son's hearts sank. They responded subserviently, "Your subject dares not act with favoritism! We will certainly allow passage!"
After the two left, Xiao Qing gazed at "Po Zhen Zi" sent by Sima Jing, hanging on the wall, her eyes sparkling with joy. "That bratty older brother wrote another poem behind my back. He didn't even come to find me immediately after returning to the capital…"
She had her attendants circulate the poem "Po Zhen Zi." As expected, it became famous throughout the capital, was soon to spread across the land, and would be ranked highly in "Great Qian Poetry."
"Your Lord and the Second Young Master Liang help each other resolve difficulties. Second Young Master Liang will surely be very…"
Before You Jian could finish speaking, Xiao Qing interrupted her.
"Actually, it's he who is helping me resolve difficulties. If it weren't for me, he wouldn't even be an official. Changing the educational landscape of the nation is his dream, and it is also my and all previous emperors' dream. I must protect our dream!"
As Xiao Qing spoke, she changed the subject, resting her chin on her hand, her eyes gleaming. "However, if I could make him happy, that would be even better…"
Ouyang Ji and his son returned home and their faces grew increasingly grim as they looked at the intelligence report on the table.
Liang Xiao had recruited three hundred literate workers, offering them a monthly salary of two taels, with room and board included!
The workers had signed contracts with the Liang Manor and received a month's advance pay. They were overjoyed, which directly led to dissatisfaction among the workers at the Ouyang family's five bookshops in the capital.
If these workers were not illiterate, they would have likely rushed to apply at Liang Xiao's bookshops!
Liang Xiao's bookshops had not even started printing, yet the Ouyang family had already fallen behind in terms of worker treatment!
"This kid, what exactly is he planning to do? Is movable type printing really that good, capable of defeating our newly adopted woodblock printing?" Ouyang Ping was somewhat nervous.
Woodblock printing had only been promoted in the Great Qian nation in recent years. Previously, workers could only do manual copying. Even though printing plates had existed for decades, they could not be widely adopted.
The issue was the ink; printing with ordinary ink was impractical.
The Great Qian nation had finally managed to promote an oil-based ink that could be used for printing, but Liang Xiao's movable type printing also seemed to be able to use this ink!
"Why is there no news from the noble families in Jiangnan?" Ouyang Ji asked angrily.
Ouyang Hong, standing nearby, explained, "Sheng'er and Du Gu Xiao are both working hard in Jiangnan. Currently, Liang Xiao's reputation in Jiangnan is also not very good, which is surprisingly unexpected."
"Why not good?" Ouyang Ji asked with a puzzled expression.
"I heard that many rumors about Liang Xiao have suddenly appeared. With Sheng'er and the others fanning the flames, the effect has been incredibly good. Most people believe them and even scoff at Liang Xiao, considering him a monster nurtured by the Emperor!" Ouyang Hong said, looking confused himself.
"A monster nurtured by the Emperor?" Ouyang Ji and his son were stunned, then exchanged a smile.
"Indeed, he is a monster. Along with this incompetent ruler, we will eventually have their heads paraded in the streets!" Ouyang Ping said resentfully.
Back when Ouyang Ping was studying at the Imperial Academy, his youthful arrogance had offended him, the son of the Minister of Revenue. Later, as he rose to Vice Minister of Revenue, he specifically suppressed Zhang Yang, nearly sending him to prison if not for finding an opportunity.
As a result, Zhang Yang had risen to the rank of Tongyi Daifu, a fourth-rank official, almost on par with him, the Vice Minister of Revenue. Mu Hong and Gu Shaoyan were the same; they became fourth-rank officials at a young age. His previously set record of becoming a fourth-rank official by thirty had not only been broken by Liang Xiao but also by these three!
Those familiar with the noble families all knew that Gu Shaoyan and Mu Hong's appointments as fourth-rank officials were partly due to Liang Xiao's efforts.
It was all Liang Xiao's fault!
"Send someone to inform Sheng'er to pay attention to who is spreading these rumors. Go and contact that person. Such talent must be highly valued and cultivated properly. In the future, they will surely become a powerful weapon to defeat Liang Xiao!" Ouyang Ji said joyfully.
Jiangnan was prosperous, a land of abundance, and its prosperity was comparable to the capital region. If they could gain the assistance of the people of Jiangnan, the Ouyang family would have even more confidence!
The Ministry of Revenue obediently allowed passage, and Liang Xiao's bookshops could continue to hoard materials, waiting for the day they could begin operations.
That night, before Liang Xiao could even leave, Xiao Qing, accompanied by Ning Xue Jun, paid a discreet visit.
"Second Young Master Liang?"
"Brother Xiao!"
With no outsiders in the courtyard, Xiao Qing immediately changed her address and ran to Liang Xiao, hugging his arm. "Brother Xiao, you came to the capital and didn't even look for me or the Emperor Brother…"
"I was just about to go," he said, patting his Guanglu Daifu official robes.
Xiao Qing was finally satisfied. "No need to go! Brother Emperor sent me to find you!"
Jian Qinyan, standing beside them, watched the two affectionate individuals, feeling a pang of sourness. Her resentful gaze swept over the "flower thief" again and again.
"Shuang'er is here?"
Luo Qingxue emerged from inside.
"Sister Qingxue!" Xiao Qing happily ran to Luo Qingxue's side and began conversing with her familiarly.
Liang Xiao, who had been feeling rather smug, suddenly felt like crying.
She truly loved her Sister Qingxue the most!
Zhen Mi and Yue Lian also emerged from their rooms. The women sat down and chatted happily, leaving the "certain person" out in the cold. Even Jian Qinyan joined them.
"Journey to the West? Is this a story written by Mi'er? It's truly an unprecedented flight of fancy!"
Xiao Qing looked at Zhen Mi's handwritten manuscript passed to her by Luo Qingxue, exclaiming in admiration.