Back at the Ji Yun She, the sky had already darkened. Lin Xie glanced over the manuscript and saw that Zhao Shuhan had written it very densely to save paper. Fortunately, Zhao Shuhan's small script was extremely beautiful, so even with many corrections and deletions, the entire manuscript was still quite comfortable to read.
To prevent accidents during the delivery of the manuscript to the printing house, Lin returned to his residence and called Qian Xiao Wu and Chen En Ze to the wing room. He asked them to separately copy the manuscript carefully, and Liu Yue Er lit two more candles in his room; Lin Jing Zhong was busy with many things, so he didn't let him participate in copying the manuscript.
"Without taking a single penny, he still wants us to pay him another 100 taels of silver?" Lin Jingzhong and Lin Fu sat opposite each other at the desk, took over the several pages of manuscript copied by Qian Xiaowu and Chen Enze, and looked at them under the candlelight, asking Lin Fu in doubt.
"Of course it's true," Lin Xian smiled and said, "I've already had Zhao Hu send over the remaining eighty taels of silver."
"It's really going to cost me my life savings." Lin Jingzhong felt a bit painful, one hundred taels of silver was a huge sum of money, enough to equal Zhao Shuhan's five years' salary as the head of the Jiangning Prison Department.
"The manuscript may not make a profit, but Zhao Shuhan is indeed a good scholar. He has always been concerned with the affairs of the world and has never written a specialized book. This manuscript, however, thoroughly explains the duties of a prison officer. This manuscript is worth a thousand pieces of gold to those who hold the position of prison officer in the world." Lin Xuan smiled, "I am going to be a prison officer, should I pay him 100 taels of silver?"
"It's reasonable," Lin Jingzhong also thought that with such a detailed manuscript, Lin Xian wouldn't have to be led by the nose by the old prisoners in jail. So, it seemed that the 100 taels of silver were well spent. He then asked, "But, are you really going to take it to the bookstore to be published? That would cost another large sum of money."
"Exactly!" Lin Xuan said decisively, "Publishing the manuscript will not only benefit others in governing prisons, but also allow them to further study and improve prison governance. Over time, there will be significant gains. It's not just about governing prisons; all other matters in the world are the same: accumulating experience, writing books for future generations, and allowing later generations to further study, propose improvements, and innovate. Especially for this kind of miscellaneous learning, it requires generation after generation to explore, summarize, and innovate. Those who stubbornly believe that the laws of their ancestors cannot be changed in the slightest, I do not have such thoughts, nor should you."
Lin Jingzhong's gaze fell on the manuscript under the lamp, he didn't think as far as Lin Lian, but hearing Lin Lian say so, he had some thoughts.
Liu Yu'er sat at the desk, holding scissors to cut lanterns and candles. She used to run a tea hotel in Shiliang County and often heard scholars and officials drinking and boasting in the store. However, Lin Xie's words were something she had never heard before. She sat sideways, stealing glances at Lin Xie's sharp profile and straight nose under the lamp, thinking that his face was really handsome. On the other side, Qian Xiaowu, who was copying manuscripts, felt that the candlelight was a bit dim and called out to her. She responded with an "oh" and somewhat nervously moved over to help Qian Xiaowu and Chen Enze trim the wick, cutting off the blackened part to make the flame brighter.
At this time, Zhao Hu came in and said that Zhao Shuhan was coming over. Lin Xing excitedly stood up and said: "Quickly invite him in..." As he spoke, he changed his words and pulled Lin Jingzhong up, "Jingzhong, you also come to meet this Mr. Zhao, a truly knowledgeable person." He told Liu Yu'er, "Trouble Liu young lady and Yunniang to prepare two more dishes, Mr. Zhao has probably not eaten yet..." Pulling Lin Jingzhong, he directly went to the front yard.
Zhao Shuhan and the old servant walked through the city, while Zhou Pu was teaching Zhao Hu's younger brother Meng Xiong martial arts in the front yard. Zhao Hu reported to the main courtyard, and he stood with the old servant in the front yard, watching Meng Xiong, a half-grown boy, practicing his fists under the dim light of the lanterns, listening to the sound of horses neighing continuously from the backyard, thinking that Lin's residence was hiding several fine steeds.
In this day and age, to measure the wealth of a family, one looks at their residence, secondly at their horses. The same principle applies as it will in a thousand years: first look at their mansion, then at their car. The Cloud Gathering Residence on Broom Lane can only be considered an ordinary household, its scale and momentum far inferior to those of the Bai Garden where Su Mei resides. However, the six steeds within are all top-notch fine horses, adding no small amount of color, and in Jiangning City, there aren't many households that can own six such high-class horses at once.
Zhao Shuhan was intently listening to the neighing of horses in the backyard, watching Lin Tie and a young man walk out from inside. He hastily cupped his hands and said: "The manuscript has many places that don't meet my expectations, but I've been too lazy to take up my brush, putting it off until now without revising it. I didn't know when Brother Lin would use the manuscript, so thinking about it made me uneasy, and I rushed here overnight to point out the mistakes to Brother Lin..."
"That's great, Lin Fu is afraid of disturbing Brother Zhao," said Lin Fu, pulling Zhao Shuhan's arm and saying, "I'm also a bit impatient, I know the manuscript is precious and can't be lost. After returning, I'll find two family members to copy the manuscript, and Brother Zhao will come over to instruct in person, that would be perfect. I also have many doubts about governing prisons, and it's just right to ask for Brother Zhao's advice..." He also instructed Zhao Hu to take good care of Zhao Shuhan's family.
Zhao Shuhan followed Lin Xuan into the main courtyard house, watching Qian Xiaowu and Chen Enze carefully copying with fine brushes. Qian Xiaowu and Chen Enze's small script characters were beautiful, and they copied diligently. Only then did Zhao Shuhan confirm that Lin Xuan had no other intentions, but truly valued his learning, and his heart was filled with emotions.
"This is Lin Jingzhong, a brother of our clan, whom I have invited to be in charge of the Ji Yun Society," Lin Fu introduced Lin Jingzhong to Zhao Shuhan. "As for the publication of your manuscript, Zhao brother, I have entrusted it to Jingzhong. If you have any requirements for the printing, please feel free to instruct him..."
Zhao Shuhan and Lin Jingzhong exchanged greetings, then worriedly said to Lin Fu: "Miscellaneous learning is not prominent, printing books will definitely lose money. I think about it over and over again, my heart is uneasy."
"Please sit down, Brother Zhao," said Lin Xie, inviting Zhao Shuhan to take a seat in front of the desk. "For thousands of years, miscellaneous studies have never been prominent, and the books that are widely printed and circulated are either about the virtues and morals of sages, or lyrics and songs from the Pear Garden. I understand these things clearly, but my intention in printing your manuscript is not to curry favor with you or for any other purpose. In fact, I have many doubts and questions, and Brother Zhao is a man of great learning. Now that you are here, I would like to ask for your guidance on one or two matters."
"How dare I claim to have knowledge when there are so many scholars from the Xixi Academy present? I am not worthy of being called knowledgeable." Zhao Shuhan said humbly.
Those are the virtuous ones who write moral essays, they all do obvious learning, and it's all about fame and reputation. Whether obvious learning is good or bad, whether moral essays are good or bad, Lin Xie doesn't dare to comment; 'emphasizing morality while belittling skills' is also a tradition that has been formed over thousands of years, this tradition is good or bad, Lin Xie also doesn't dare to comment," Lin Xie said with a smile. "Over the years, miscellaneous learning has had great benefits for governing the family and governing the world, but it's not obvious, and it's even viewed as strange and clever techniques by the schools of obvious learning, and looked down upon. The artisans and craftsmen in this world are directly classified as lower-class households... whether this tradition is good or bad, Lin Xie also doesn't dare to comment.
The Lin family is a noble clan, but they don't despise commercial affairs. Although commercial affairs have always been considered inferior - it's actually managing commercial affairs that lets us understand a very simple principle: our family's business needs to make more money than others, cheating isn't a long-term solution, honesty is fundamental. Apart from this, we need to make the things we manage more exquisite and durable than others. This is where the learning of miscellaneous skills comes in.
From small to large, knowing the subtle and seeing the obvious, Lin Xie thinks that the principle of enriching the country and strengthening its military is actually very simple. Whether moral essays are useful for enriching the country and strengthening its military, Lin Xie says it's not good, but there's one thing Lin Xie understands clearly: miscellaneous learning may not be obvious, but empty talk about enriching the country and strengthening its military is useless.
Zhao Shuhan sat there, frowning deeply in thought. Although he had devoted all his thoughts to the draft of "Zhi Yu" for the past four years, and "Zhi Yu" was a small category in miscellaneous studies, but the relationship between miscellaneous studies and orthodox studies, he had not carefully considered it before. Lin Xuan's words touched him deeply, and for a moment, he forgot what to say.
"The art of farming is not trivial, is it? In the eyes of those sages and worthies, perhaps the art of farming is indeed trivial. However, even they need to eat their fill twice a day before they can focus on reading the classics. Lin Xie was just venting his frustrations, as he rarely found someone who could appreciate his words. He spoke at length with Zhao Shuhan, 'The land in Jiangdong is fertile, yielding over two stones per season, and can be harvested twice a year. In contrast, the land in West Qin is barren, only yielding one season's crop, which often doesn't even amount to half a stone. What kind of knowledge lies within this? The sages and worthies wouldn't bother to investigate, but Lin Xie thinks that this knowledge is more valuable than all the moral teachings in the world. Brother Zhao, don't you think Lin Xie's words are heretical and contrary to conventional wisdom?"
"Wrong!" Zhao Shuhan said with a stirring expression, "Don't laugh at me, Brother Lin. Although I am poor and humble, I have always considered myself to be quite proud. Compared to the lectures of the Xicui Academy, your words just now made me realize what it means to have great insight and profound knowledge."
"It's nothing, Lin Xie just let out a sigh," Lin Xie said with relish, continuing, "Brother Zhao, I have one more thing to trouble you about this manuscript?"
"Please go on, Shu Han will respond accordingly." Zhao Shuhan also felt that listening to Lin Xie's words was very pleasant.
"I have perused the books on agriculture, and in the past two dynasties, only three books were published. Two hundred years have passed since then, but no new agricultural book has been written. Is it that the techniques of farming have not improved? Moreover, when I read the old agricultural books, I only knew what to do, but not why. Later generations wrote new agricultural books, but they could only borrow from experience and not from research methods, which is also a regrettable thing." Lin said, "Brother Zhao's manuscript is a culmination of the world's agricultural knowledge, and Lin hopes that Brother Zhao will write another book on the thought process and categorization method used in this book. If later generations want to improve upon Brother Zhao's agricultural techniques, they can follow the same method..."
"Method/thesis?" Zhao Shuhan had never heard of this term.
"Ah, yes, that's the method/theory," Lin Xie didn't mind bringing up this term ahead of time. "Various miscellaneous studies, based on the summary of experience, teach us the methods of governing and doing things. Where do these methods come from? Yet few people have taken the trouble to write about them. Lin Xie believes that one reason why miscellaneous studies are not prominent is that they lack a detailed and coherent internal system. For example, farming, water management, river management, and other miscellaneous studies all have commonalities. Although predecessors have written about these commonalities, they are scattered and disorganized, lacking a clear and perfect system..."
"......" Zhao Shuhan was originally a knowledgeable scholar, but he also found it difficult to accept too much at once. Listening to Lin's words, he furrowed his brow and thought carefully.
"Lin Xuan has never had any great ambitions, and what I just said is not something that can be accomplished in a short period of time or even by one or two generations," Lin Xuan said. "Lin Xuan only has an idea, which can also be called a wish. If there are still such comprehensive books on miscellaneous studies and craftsmanship, Lin Xuan would like to publish them and make them known throughout the world. Even if it means losing money, Lin Xuan is willing to take on the responsibility; if it makes a profit, he will share the benefits with the owner of the book manuscript..."
Agricultural administration, water conservancy, and construction engineering were still highly valued by the government, even if there were few people engaged in these fields. Every dynasty had scholars who specialized in these areas, as the daily operation of the empire depended on them. However, the technical heritage of many other industries was mostly passed down through master-apprentice relationships within the artisanal community. Although every generation and industry produced skilled craftsmen and products that could be considered works of art, these were all crystallizations of experience transmission. Rarely did systematic or structural research exist, making it difficult for some products that could be considered works of art to be replicated elsewhere or at a later time. It was hard for people at the time to imagine the perfect industrial products that would emerge from assembly lines thousands of years later.
Lin's way of thinking was influenced by the modern civilization of a thousand years later, he knew more deeply than people at this time that the true source of social civilization and the strength of a country or nation lies not in the existence of sharp swords and strong crossbows, powerful armies and wise generals, but in the fact that these things are not replicable, while simple social and political structures and economic systems are prone to collapse.
Lin Xie doesn't think that he has brought anything more useful to this world in his two lifetimes. Even the most advanced technology can be lost if people only know how to use it but not its underlying principles. The most advanced systems can also collapse due to being out of touch with the times. Moreover, there is no such thing as the most advanced technology and system in this world. He always feels that people should be wiser and better at learning.
Lin Xie was unwilling to spend his life in mediocrity, so he secretly built up his power for self-protection and to achieve great fame. He also needed to do some other things, which seemed to have no obvious benefits at the moment, and might even require him to suffer losses. However, he believed that doing these things was just as meaningful as earning a lot of money, secretly raising private soldiers, or gaining people's admiration. Sometimes, these things were interdependent.
