kvmb Chapter 317 The Fear of Confucian Scholars
Chapter 317 The Fear of Confucian Scholars
Upon entering the shop, Kong Jia's face instantly darkened, becoming as oppressive and terrifying as the sky before a storm. His gaze was sharp as knives as he stared directly at the shop owner, demanding in a stern voice, "What methods did you use to produce these books? Did you perhaps employ some shady sorcery or evil magic?" His voice was filled with anger and unease, as if the bookstore and the books before him were a blatant provocation against his beliefs and status.
Faced with such aggressive questioning, the shop owner remained remarkably calm, replying with a composed expression, "I truly do not know. I am merely an ordinary person who runs a bookstore." His tone was neither humble nor arrogant, showing no sign of panic, as if such a question had been entirely expected.
Upon hearing this, Kong Jia and the others exchanged bewildered glances, momentarily at a loss for words. They felt the bookstore was increasingly shrouded in mystery, its true nature elusive. At this moment, Shusun Tong stepped forward, relentlessly pressing for an answer: "Then may I ask, who is the real owner behind your store?" His eyes revealed a hint of urgency, as if he sought the key to unraveling the mystery through this question.
Hearing the question, the shopkeeper slowly raised his head, his gaze quickly sweeping over Shusun Tong and the others. Although these guests were advanced in years, the unique air they exuded made it clear at a glance that they were no ordinary people. The shopkeeper pondered to himself, recalling Ying Wuyou's special instructions to him. Therefore, he calmly replied, "It is Princess Jiayang."
Those four simple words struck Shusun Tong and his companions like a hammer blow. They felt as if struck by lightning, their bodies swaying involuntarily as if struck down by an invisible, immense force. In truth, even after hearing rumors about the bookstore, they had vaguely suspected that its owner might be Ying Wuyou. However, receiving concrete confirmation from the shop owner now was like a rude awakening, making them truly realize that it was all real.
At that moment, these people were as if caught in a storm, their minds churning and their thoughts in utter chaos. Countless thoughts surged like a tidal wave, assaulting their fragile mental defenses one after another.
They were once brimming with confidence, believing that their high standing and widespread influence in academia and the imperial court would easily propel the flourishing of Confucianism and ensure their own interests remained unscathed. However, the opening of this bookstore and the continuous printing of new books ruthlessly demonstrate one fact—this new technology has matured and is unstoppable!
They were suddenly filled with confusion and helplessness, as if lost in a boundless, misty forest, unable to find their way forward. What reasons and methods could they possibly use to stop the rise of this new force? This question weighed heavily on their minds, making it hard for them to breathe.
Even more critically, Ying Wuyou was no ordinary person. As an incomparably noble princess, her status and position were unmatched; moreover, she also held a series of crucial positions, including Director of the Coal Transportation Bureau and Chief Examiner of the Imperial Examinations, wielding considerable power. Faced with such a high-ranking and powerful figure, these individuals' confidence waned, even vanished. They knew all too well that trying to contend with such a formidable opponent was a thousand times more difficult than ascending to heaven!
Thinking of this, Shusun Tong and the others exchanged bewildered glances, their faces clouded with worry and despair. Meanwhile, Ying Wuyou completely disregarded the opposition of these Confucian scholars. She had already meticulously planned and laid out her strategy. Besides Xianyang, she was also actively preparing to open more bookstores throughout the Qin Empire. Those books, carrying knowledge, like seeds of hope, would soon be sown across every inch of the Qin Empire. Then, no matter how many obstacles lay ahead, no one could stop the people's pursuit of knowledge; a new era was quietly unfolding.
In Dazhuang Village, Xianyang City, lived a poor scholar named Su Jin. His family was destitute, and he depended on his elderly and frail mother for survival. Although Su Jin had studied diligently since childhood and was very learned, his humble origins prevented him from finding a stage where he could display his talents and realize his ambitions.
However, fate seemed to finally smile upon this talented but unappreciated young man. The news that the Qin Dynasty was about to hold its imperial examinations was like a ray of dawn, illuminating Su Jin's previously bleak future. He knew this might be the perfect opportunity to change his destiny, and a burning flame of hope ignited in his heart.
However, the harsh reality soon became apparent: Su Jin didn't have enough books to study. He was unsure if he could pass the imperial examinations with his knowledge. But how could he let such a rare opportunity slip by? So, to solve the problem of his lack of books, he tirelessly traveled between Dazhuang Village and Xianyang City every day, hoping to encounter a few generous people willing to share their collections. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Each time he went to seek help with high hopes, he was met with merciless humiliation and ridicule.
The series of setbacks nearly drove Su Jin to despair. Just as he was about to give up completely, he happened to hear about a place called "Da Qin Bookstore." It was said to house a vast collection of rare and precious books, everything imaginable. Clutching the meager few taels of silver he had left, Su Jin, with a mix of trepidation and determination, resolutely entered Da Qin Bookstore. The moment he stepped inside, he was overwhelmed by the sheer number of books before him. Rows upon rows of shelves were filled with all sorts of classics, histories, philosophical works, and books related to mathematics, law, and more—the sheer quantity was dazzling. Su Jin's heart pounded with excitement, and his eyes shone with delight.
However, along with his excitement came a deep-seated worry. He secretly pondered that these exquisite books must be quite expensive, and his meager savings were probably far from sufficient. After much hesitation, Su Jin finally mustered his courage and slowly walked to the counter with slightly heavy steps. In a slightly trembling voice, he cautiously asked the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, may I ask... how much are these books?"