Chapter 55: No One Worthy of Praise

“Hahaha! Truly, my son is extraordinary—just look at this printing technique he invented for his homework!” Cheng Yaojin laughed proudly. “Back when I was a boy, writing assignments meant getting beaten by the master—my backside was battered beyond recognition!”

He paraded his embarrassing past with such delight that every minister in the court was left speechless. Cheng Yaojin would say anything, no matter how inappropriate.

“If only we could seal that fool’s mouth!”

That was the unanimous thought among them. Yet, the old man was formidable, often triumphing in debates, relentless whether his arguments were sound or not, and so the ministers resolved to ignore him.

But soon, Cheng Yaojin found new amusement. He took the engraved printing block, dabbed it with ink, and pressed out sheet after sheet, quickly producing a thick stack of advertisements. Gathering them up, he distributed them among the ministers.

“Behold, the block printing technique—my son’s invention! Isn’t it remarkable?”

“It’s the same principle as stamping official seals. You all play tricks with your seals, yet a few children managed to create this wondrous tool to educate the masses. Aren’t you ashamed?”

“We use seals for official business, not trickery!” the civil officials protested silently, faces flushed with indignation at Cheng Yaojin’s mockery.

“I submit a formal impeachment against the Duke of Lu for disrespecting the court and distributing Mohist advertisements here,” a gray-haired censor finally cried out to Emperor Li Shimin.

“Cheng Yaojin!”

Li Shimin was exasperated and hurriedly stopped Cheng Yaojin before he could carry on.

“Hmph! You’re all just jealous!” Cheng Yaojin grumbled as he withdrew, leaving behind a pile of advertisements in the court. As for the homework of Qin Huaiyu and his friends, the three seasoned dukes discreetly gathered the evidence, slipping it into their robes—proof of their sons’ cheating, better destroyed than discovered.

“Well done!” Qin Qiong quietly gave Cheng Yaojin a thumbs-up, patting his bulging chest.

Cheng Yaojin responded with a knowing, mischievous grin.

Block printing was actually quite simple—a scaled-up version of carving seals. Once the concept was clear, everyone understood its workings and realized how convenient it was. As officials, they were intimately familiar with the speed of stamping seals.

The senior ministers looked at the advertisements in their hands and could only smile wryly; what was meant to be a grand occasion had been disrupted by Cheng Yaojin. The flyers were filled with pinhole cameras and boys lifting thousand-pound weights—truly eye-opening.

Su Lingnong, the Grand Minister of Agriculture, glanced at his flyer and his eyes lit up. He stepped forward and bowed. “Your Majesty, this is a day of great joy!”

“Eh?” The court looked at him in surprise. What was he doing now? Did he also have a printing technique?

“Minister Su, what brings you such joy?” Li Shimin asked.

“Your Majesty, today is doubly blessed! Not only is this a boon for scholars, but it is also a godsend for fishermen. The Mohist youth has decided to publish the secret of keeping fish alive!” Su Lingnong excitedly pointed to his flyer.

“Publishing the secret of keeping fish alive?” Li Shimin was surprised.

Looking at his flyer, Li Shimin was immediately captivated: pinhole cameras, a youth lifting a thousand pounds—and finally, the news of the living fish secret.

“That little Catfish is true to his word!” Li Shimin smiled faintly.

He had heard of the profits generated by the living fish secret in Chang’an. He had not expected the Mohist youth to release it so soon; few would be so generous.

“With the living fish secret, combined with artificial fish breeding, I guarantee the fish yield will double this year. The lives of fishermen will greatly improve, meat prices will drop, and more—” Su Lingnong rejoiced.

The ministers nodded in agreement. In Tang times, horses were strategic assets and their meat was forbidden, oxen were registered and eating them meant imprisonment, pork was considered lowly, sheep were too expensive, and poultry was scarce—so meat prices were exorbitant.

By contrast, fish required no feed, could be caught from rivers and ponds, and were relatively inexpensive and widely consumed. If fish yields increased, it would benefit countless people.

“Indeed, this would enrich the people!” Li Shimin nodded.

“Your Majesty, I humbly request that the block printing technique be used to publish the living fish secret and artificial breeding methods throughout the empire, so that fishermen may soon enjoy these marvelous techniques,” Su Lingnong said.

“Excellent! The combination of block printing and these methods is like two swords united; it is truly ingenious!” Li Shimin was moved. Such efficiency was impressive.

“In the future, imperial decrees could be printed and distributed to every county and township,” Fang Xuanling exclaimed.

At this time, communication was the greatest weakness; news traveled painfully slowly. With block printing, imperial edicts could be printed swiftly and dispatched across the land, allowing decrees to reach every corner in the shortest time—a great boon for imperial control.

The ministers, shrewd as ever, quickly realized the benefits of block printing extended far beyond publishing books. It could be applied in countless ways, and their respect for the technique deepened.

“Excellent!” Li Shimin was delighted, praising without end.

“Minister Kong, you are selfless and wise, having recommended such a vital invention. I shall reward you handsomely.”

“Your Majesty, I am undeserving. I contributed nothing and dare not claim credit. The true contributors are the three dukes’ sons and the Mohist youth; they deserve the honor for gifting such a treasure to the empire,” Kong Yingda firmly declined the reward.

Li Shimin nodded and turned to Cheng Yaojin and the others.

“Your Majesty, that must not be! These unruly children acted out of mischief—three to escape their homework, one to publish absurd advertisements. Such behavior must not be rewarded, lest chaos ensue!” Cheng Yaojin shook his head vigorously.

Qin Qiong and Yuchi Jingde also objected. As high-ranking nobles, their sons would inherit their titles; they had no need for empty honors.

Li Shimin felt a pang in his teeth. Indeed, none of their motives were pure: three to avoid homework, one as an accomplice, all misusing such a valuable invention.

A magnificent achievement, yet no one would accept the credit. Li Shimin pondered, his eyes brightening: “Mo San of Mohist Village, for presenting block printing to the empire, shall be granted the title of ‘Great Artisan’ and ennobled as a baron.”

“Your Majesty is wise!”

Imperial ennoblement was usually strict, but not a single minister objected. If a baron’s title could trade for such a weapon of state and war, as many as needed would be granted.