Zhao Song: My father was Emperor Taizu of Song

Chapter 32 3 Countries

"Does Your Highness know what one million strings of cash is equivalent to?"

Ludoson couldn't hold back any longer and spoke up to remind him:

"The current imperial court's annual revenue is only five million strings of cash. Those with ten thousand strings of cash are already considered wealthy and powerful, while one hundred thousand strings of cash is only something that regional military governors and regional military commanders can afford..."

"I know," Zhao Dezhao nodded solemnly.

"Is Your Highness serious?" Ludoson frowned.

"nature……"

After receiving Zhao Dezhao's affirmative answer, Lu Duoxun sighed, picked up his teacup, drank it all in one gulp, and after calming himself down slightly, asked:

"I wonder how Your Highness plans to earn this million strings of cash."

Zhao Dezhao looked at the scrolls of books on the bookshelf and said in a low voice, "Write books, print books, sell them for money."

Upon hearing this, Lu Duoxun swallowed hard, his emotions, which had just calmed down, turning into panic again: "Does His Majesty know about this?"

"My father doesn't know, and I don't intend to let him know."

Zhao Dezhao withdrew his gaze and stared intently at Lu Duoxun:

"If my father finds out about this, then all of this will no longer belong to me. It's not that I want to deceive the emperor, but once a person sits on that throne, he becomes extremely greedy. He will seize everything in the world and then take it for his own use."

"Even if that person were my father, it would still be the same."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ludoson was completely stunned.

He felt like he was going crazy, or maybe it was His Highness the Prince who had gone mad.

Fortunately, it was just the two of them, Prince Dezhao and himself, in the quiet room of the Imperial Library. If a third person had heard these words, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Ludoson felt a chill on his neck.

"Am I being incredibly disrespectful?"

"Your Highness, although I am a gambler, I also want to live a few more years so that my family line can continue..." Lu Duoxun swallowed hard.

Zhao Dezhao patted him on the shoulder: "Lu Shiyi, we have a mentor-student and friend relationship, can't you support me...?"

"Your Highness, I can support you, but this is..."

"Fine, forget it. Just pretend I never said those things and forget about it."

Zhao Dezhao sighed in resignation, then heavily flicked his sleeve, making as if to leave.

Seeing this, Lu Duoxun's expression changed several times, shifting between light and shadow. Just as Zhao Dezhao was about to push open the door and leave the quiet room, he suddenly spoke:

"Your Highness, please wait!"

He took a deep breath, as if making a firm decision: "Your Highness, I am willing to help you!"

He reached the pinnacle of his official career!

Everything was for the sake of reaching the pinnacle of power!

Zhao Dezhao suddenly stopped, smiled slightly, and showed no surprise at Lu Duoxun's choice.

Ludovin then asked, "What does Your Majesty require?"

Zhao Dezhao took out the writing set from the shelf beside him, and while grinding the ink, he said, "You are a man of great literary talent, and I need you to write a book for me."

"Me write it?" Ludoson frowned.

Although he did not doubt his own literary talent, he did not believe that his writing could earn His Highness millions of strings of cash.

"Yes, you write it." Zhao Dezhao handed the pen to Lu Duoxun and said, "I'll tell you the story, and you write it down."

Although Lu Duoxun was puzzled, he still took the brush and stared intently at Zhao Dezhao.

Zhao Dezhao recalled for a moment, then slowly began to speak:

"In the first chapter, the heroes of the Peach Garden swore brotherhood, and the hero who slew the Yellow Turbans made his first contribution."

"It is said that the world, after a long period of division, tends to unite; after a long period of unity, tends to divide..."

……

Thanks to his experience writing historical web novels in his previous life, Zhao Dezhao could not recite the entire Romance of the Three Kingdoms from memory, but he still remembered the main plot of the story very clearly.

And coincidentally, Ludoson also possessed this literary talent.

As a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) under the imperial examination system, Lu Duoxun's literary ability was undoubtedly exceptional.

Even if one cannot reach the level of Luo Guanzhong, there is absolutely no problem in writing a captivating story from Zhao Dezhao's perspective.

"In the fifth chapter, Cao Cao issues a false edict, and the three heroes of the army break through the pass to fight Lü Bu."

At first, Lu Duoxun was somewhat dismissive of the story told by Zhao Dezhao, but when Zhao Dezhao recounted the battle of the three heroes against Lü Bu, Lu Duoxun almost dropped his pen.

It's utterly unbelievable that a civil official like him could feel such fervor!

How could he not tell that this was a story from the Three Kingdoms period?

The key question is, how come the same story, told by Zhao Dezhao, has an inexplicable feel to it? It's like...

A handful of tea leaves were added to the bland water?

It leaves a lingering aftertaste, and is thought-provoking...

Especially after carefully reading it, he was even more shocked, and almost couldn't continue writing several times.

This is hardly a historical story.

It is clearly an encyclopedia teaching human resource management, strategy, military tactics, governance, and so on, as well as how to conduct oneself in the world!

"Alright, that's enough for today."

After the story of the three heroes fighting Lü Bu was told, the morning had quietly passed.

Zhao Dezhao glanced at the sun high in the sky and shook his head with some regret.

Time was still too short; Ludoson only taught for one morning each day, which was only enough for him to write five chapters of the story.

Lu Duoxun put down his wolf-hair brush, glanced at the manuscript he had written, clicked his tongue in amazement, and a look of admiration flashed in his eyes. Then he sighed and said:

"Your Highness, I must say, this is indeed a good book. If it were published during the Zhenguan or Kaiyuan eras, it would have been possible to earn a million strings of cash with this book."

At this point, he shook his head, saying with considerable regret, "But nowadays, it's almost impossible..."

In chaotic times, books are the least valuable because there are very few literate people. Even if there are, most of them are scholars and literati who would not buy books like vernacular stories to read.

There weren't many people buying the books, so there was no market, and naturally, they didn't sell for much money.

It's a good book, but it's a pity...

Thinking of this, Lu Duoxun sighed heavily. Seeing Zhao Dezhao remain silent, he wanted to offer some words of comfort, but suddenly noticed that Zhao Dezhao's face showed no panic at all, but rather a calm expression.

Zhao Dezhao shook his head and said, "It's alright, I never intended to sell these books to ordinary people anyway."

"Then who does Your Highness intend to sell it to?" Lu Duoxun was slightly taken aback.

"Sell it to whoever wants to buy it." Zhao Dezhao smiled mysteriously, then beckoned Lu Duoxun to come closer.

"After you leave, try to take over a printing shop..."

Zhao Dezhao whispered his plan to Lu Duoxun.

Upon hearing Zhao Dezhao's plan, Lu Duoxun first looked puzzled, then his eyes widened in disbelief, and finally his gaze became blank and lost as he muttered to himself in a daze:

"Your Highness...is this...is this feasible?"

"It's feasible!" Zhao Dezhao nodded confidently.

Ludovin frowned and sighed, "But this will require a large sum of money to get started, Your Majesty..."

"It's alright." Zhao Dezhao waved his hand to interrupt Lu Duoxun, sighed and said, "I'll figure out how to get the gold and silver to start. You can take care of it for now."

"Yes..."

Lu Duoxun put the manuscript into his sleeve, and the two walked out of the Imperial Library together. Lu Duoxun then took his leave.

Zhao Dezhao was just about to head to Kunning Palace for lunch when he saw a eunuch running towards him, panting.

"Your Highness... His Majesty has summoned you..."

Dad?

What did he call me for?

Zhao Dezhao was puzzled, but he still hurriedly followed the eunuch to the Chuigong Hall. However, just as they reached the door, Zhao Kuangyin's voice suddenly came from inside the study:

"The Crown Prince has arrived? I've been waiting for you for so long..."

These words carried a slight hint of mockery, but were mostly chilling.

Zhao Dezhao paused, his scalp tingling instantly...

……