"Can you just watch and let those mud legs climb onto our heads?"

Hearing everyone's discussion, Cui Yonghui's triangular eyes became even more gloomy, and a cold light kept flashing in his eyes and asked.

At this time, the middle-aged man who had been closing his eyes and resting was talking.

This person's name is Zheng Kai, and he belongs to one of the representative figures of the Zheng family in Xingyang in Chang'an City.

I saw him stroke the short beard under his jaw and speak slowly: "Haha, it's actually not impossible to make those mud legs never stand out."

"Oh? Is there any way?"

Seeing everyone's shocked expression, Zheng Kai achieved his purpose of pretending to behave, so he cleared his throat and explained:

"The content of the Four Books and Five Classics is difficult to understand. Without the guidance of a famous teacher, I don't even know a few mud legs, and self-study will definitely not be able to understand the meaning of the scriptures."

"In addition, whether it is the classics of ancient times or the various pens, inks, papers and inkstones you learned, we are in our hands. As long as we blockade in this regard, even if the poor children have the opportunity to participate in the imperial examination, how high is their knowledge?"

"Of course, the premise is that we must unite and strictly control the output of knowledge and culture."

Cui Yonghui was slightly stunned, thought for a moment, and felt that it was indeed feasible, so he first expressed his opinion.

"Brother Zheng is right. Since the emperor wants to suppress us, let him see the power of our aristocratic family. The pen, ink, paper and inkstone sold by our Cui family will start to increase the price from today..."

Lu Benwei was not willing to fall behind: "My Lu family's engraved books account for about 50% of the entire Chang'an City, and I will also strictly control the price. If Brother Cui controls pens, inks, paper and inkstones, they have no paper or pens, and they can't even afford the books of my Lu family, see how they can turn over."

Wang Lun also smiled and said, "This plan is extremely wonderful. It can not only control the rise of poor children, but also increase our income. Why not do it?"

"In addition, our families can also find ways from other aspects, such as attracting other aristocratic families to join us..."

"Well, there is also that Zhongyi Marquis. That boy is ignorant of the world. He dares to publish a book at a young age. Do you really think it's a house? We can find some great scholars in the scholars to criticize him and make his reputation discredited..."

So, the few people started to make up for each word.

As long as the poor children cannot stand out, no matter whether in the court or in the local area, they will be allowed to control the children of their aristocratic families.

What's more, there were more than a few families in the Tang Dynasty, they were just the largest families.

As long as they are willing to take the lead, they will be able to unite with all other aristocratic families to form an airtight blockade network and curb the rise of poor families.

...

In the following days, the pen, ink, paper and inkstones and various imperial examination books in Chang'an City rose steadily, and the rise was more than five times.

Even some wealthy gentry children think this price is a bit expensive.

After all, pen, ink, paper and inkstone are essential as long as you want to read, and they are a continuous consumable.

This made several major families make a lot of money.

But it is unbearable for the court and poor children, and even feels a bit of complaint.

It’s natural to think about it. The original price has already made it very difficult for ordinary people, not to mention that the price has risen by more than five times at once, and there is a feeling of supply exceeding demand.

After hearing the report, Li Shimin was furious.

The policy of reform of the imperial examination has just been implemented, and the price of pens, ink, paper, inkstone and books will soon rise.

If no one makes trouble, Li Shimin would not believe it if he beat him to death.

Although he had foreseeed the many obstacles to the imperial examination reform, His Majesty Li Er was still very angry.

These aristocratic families who only know how to drink human blood are too hateful, they are simply plundering people's wealth.

In a rage, His Majesty Li Er immediately sent someone to summon the heads of the Cui family and the Lu family in Chang'an City.

Because in Chang'an City, the Cui family controls the largest shop with pen, ink, paper and inkstone, while the Lu family has the largest book printing workshop.

Faced with His Majesty Li Er’s questioning, the two families were not panicked at all, but instead responded with sensible remarks - as today, the people are grateful for the grace of heaven, and the number of people who read are gathered.

Their production capacity and inventory of pens, ink, paper and inkstones and books are seriously insufficient, resulting in a significant increase in costs.

Therefore, the two companies had no choice but to take the method of increasing prices.

Such an explanation is too perfunctory, which makes His Majesty Li Er furious, but there is no way.

The imperial examination reform is a good thing for poor children and a path for ordinary people to climb up.

With the reform of the imperial examination, the enthusiasm of poor children to study will increase, and the number of people will surge. This is certain.

But such a situation must have a process, at least for more than a few months.

Now, in just a few days, the pen, ink, paper, inkstone and books are sold out, and they are simply fooling people.

Although everyone knows what's going on, their explanation is so reasonable.

Even if it is the emperor, His Majesty Li Er could not do whatever he wants, let alone this time the aristocratic family is unprecedentedly united.

In this matter, Li Shimin had no choice but to deal with these aristocratic families, but he would not let it go.

Because these aristocratic families are very likely to raise prices again until most people can't afford it.

At that time, it is almost impossible for poor families to rely on the imperial examination, and the imperial examination reform they launched will only be a joke.

So His Majesty Li Er immediately gathered several ministers in the court to discuss countermeasures, but they could not think of a good countermeasure.

The power of the aristocratic families is really too huge. Now that several major aristocratic families have joined forces, it is really difficult to deal with.

After the meeting ended, Li Shimin couldn't help but shake his head and felt increasingly disappointed with the ministers in the court.

No wonder that Yang Fan, who made himself ready, issued an edict before he issued it, obviously had already expected today's scene.

Yang Fan secretly asked to increase the production of paper, but he was rejected by Duan Ran.

Because His Majesty Li Er proudly believed that as long as papermaking and movable type printing are in hand, he could deal with a family, it seems that he would take it for granted!

Yang Fan knew the power of the aristocratic family well and was indeed foresighted!

No wonder that boy always refuses to be ruthless and is unwilling to have a direct relationship with the aristocratic family.

Fortunately, I became friends with that kid first. If Yang Fan and the aristocratic family were allowed to unite, the Tang Dynasty would probably be in trouble.

Thinking of this, Li Er couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed that he had to go to Yang Fan to discuss it.

He is worthy of being a resolute emperor, Li Er did what he thought of.

After going to court, His Majesty Li Er took Fang Xuanling and Cheng Yaojin to Yang Fan's mansion.

Although he was the emperor, Li Er was still a little cowardly. He was really afraid that Yang Fan would not buy him into his account after a ban on the boy.

Although His Majesty Li Er has not been to the Zhongyi Marquis' Mansion for more than a year, they are all regular customers, so there is no need to inform them when entering the mansion.

When His Majesty Li Er and his other men stepped into the yard, they found that Yang Fan was building a snowman with a few beautiful women and cute kids, and Princess Gaoyang was among them.

At this time, the snowmen had obviously been piled up. Princess Gaoyang ran to Yang Fan lightly and chanted in her mouth: "The snowman you piled up is so ugly! Who is this?"

Yang Fan glanced at Princess Gaoyang, then looked at the snowman, and said, "Of course it's you, I'm the one who piled up according to your appearance!"

"However, how can you blame me for being ugly? You are ugly."

The girls next to them even laughed like silver bells.

When Princess Gaoyang heard everyone teasing her, she was not angry, but instead said coquettishly: "You are ugly, you are so annoying!"

As he said that, he raised his little pink fist and shone Yang Fan's chest with a burst of hammers, and his little face turned red with shame.

His Majesty Li Er in the distance saw it very clearly and couldn't help but feel depressed. His little white rabbit was completely devastated.

The weak and powerless pink fist needs to be squeezed out. It is not a real hammer at all. It is obviously acting coquettish to his own man!

This made Li Shimin frown and felt jealous. If it weren't for something to look for Yang Fan, he would really want to turn around and leave.

"Cough cough!" Cheng Yaojin coughed twice, indicating that someone was coming. Li Er's face was so dark that he could almost compete with him!

Princess Gaoyang blushed when she saw Li Er's gloomy face. After showing off her salute, she and Wu Meiniang and others walked to the backyard.

Seeing Li Er and others coming over, Yang Fan bowed to Fang Xuanling and Cheng Yaojin and bowed and bowed to him: "Uncle Cheng, why are you free to come here?" But he deliberately turned a blind eye to Li Er.

This made Li Er very depressed, and at the same time he couldn't help but scold, "I'll let you stop and think about your mistakes, but you kid are living a very comfortable life."

This guy is obviously still angry with him!

"Oh, it turns out it's Lao Li! I didn't see it just now, don't be surprised. It's so bright that you can visit the humble house in person." Yang Fan raised his eyelids and answered sarcastically, not treating this as an emperor at all.

Li Er said angrily: "Other Prime Minister can hold a boat in his stomach, but you are so stingy that you are just a little careless!"

Yang Fan tsk his mouth and said silly, "Old Li, are you mistaken? Where is your prime minister?"

As he said that, he raised his hand and pointed at Fang Xuanling standing beside him.

Even if you watch a show, you can suffer unintentional disaster. Fang Xuanling could only rescue him and said, "My dear nephew! Today we are here to discuss with you, look..."

Of course, Yang Fan knew the reason why he could stop and led a few people to the study.

As soon as he sat down, Li Er asked impatiently: "Now the price of pen, ink, paper and inkstone and books have increased by more than five times, do you know?"

"Now should I sell the paper stockpiled some time ago and reduce the price of Chang'an paper?"

Yang Fan was not in a hurry at all, but looked at Li Er like an idiot: "Didn't I tell you at the beginning? You must know how to use strategies. Now you are in a hurry to push them out, which will cause doubts among the aristocratic families. If we want to do it, we must seriously damage the vitality of those aristocratic families. If we just scratch it without pain, why are we preparing so much?"

Seeing Yang Fan and the others playing puzzles, Fang Xuanling couldn't help but ask curiously: "Your Majesty, have you already speculated that the price of paper will soar?"

"How much paper has the imperial court accumulated? If there is enough amount, it should be released earlier, otherwise all the money will be plundered by these aristocratic families!"

At this time, the plan had begun to be implemented, and there was no need to continue to conceal it, so the plan in my mind was expressed.
To be continued...