CHAPTER 264: CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY-NINE

"I’ve thought of a way regarding this issue."

Mr. Xiao curiously asked, "What way?"

"Sir, there are many students in the Imperial College who are from poor families, aren’t there?"

Mr. Xiao nodded and said, "Yes, there are many."

"We can ask these poor students to copy books, and of course, we’ll pay them." Zhao Yao raised two fingers and said, "Asking them to copy books not only familiarizes them with the content but also lets them earn money, a win-win solution, don’t you think, sir?"

"That’s indeed a good idea." Mr. Xiao said, "I’ll mention it to my friends at the Imperial College and ask the students there to help with the book copying."

"Besides the students at the Imperial College, we can also enlist the help of bookstore owners, asking them to hire some students to copy books." Zhao Yao said, "I think many students would be willing to copy books for money."

"As for bookstores in the capital, I’m quite familiar with them, and I can ask the owners to help." Mr. Xiao often visited various bookstores in the capital to buy or read books, so the owners and clerks all knew him.

"If that’s the case, that’s great." Zhao Yao replied candidly, "Then I’ll trouble you with this matter, sir."

"What kind of books do you want to collect?"

"Of course, I want all useful books." Zhao Yao said, suddenly smiling slyly, "My fourth brother’s maternal family, the Li Family, has many books, and I’ll ask my fourth brother to lend them to me so I can find people to copy them."

"The Li Family indeed has a vast collection, and there are quite a few excellent books that can’t be found elsewhere," Mr. Xiao said, "There are quite a few books in the Li Family that I haven’t read."

Although Mr. Xiao was a student of the Li Family, it didn’t mean he could borrow all the books they had. Families like the Li Family, or other noble families, had their own Book Collection Pavilions. Their collections were not only vast but also very precious, with many rare editions, for instance.

The Li Family was a scholarly family. Although part of their library was open to students, another part was not lendable outside the family.

"I’m on good terms with my fourth brother, so I’ll ask him for books from the Li Family and have them copied, so in the future, students in Qingzhou can read good books."

Mr. Xiao was shocked by Zhao Yao’s idea. He reminded Zhao Yao, "Your Highness, even if the fourth Prince and the Li Family are willing to lend you their treasured books to read, they won’t agree to you having them copied."

"Why not?"

"Because these are their treasured books, only for the Li Family members’ eyes, not outsiders."

This was something Zhao Yao disliked and disapproved of. He pursed his lips and said, "How is the Li Family any different from other noble families, hoarding good books and only allowing their family to read them, not to be disseminated outside?"

"Your Highness, this has been the practice of noble families since ancient times."

"However, this is wrong," Zhao Yao said sternly, "Knowledge shouldn’t be controlled by these noble households but should be accessible to everyone, so that the Great Zhou can improve."

Once again, Mr. Xiao was taken aback by Zhao Yao’s words, standing in a daze.

Like everyone else, he believed it was right for noble families to have some good books, not seeing anything wrong with it. But now, hearing Zhao Yao speak, he suddenly felt that his and everyone’s thinking was wrong.

"Of course, it’s right not to lend those prized lone copies, since they need preserving, but not allowing them to be copied is wrong. Isn’t knowledge meant to be shared? Otherwise, why would Confucius have taken disciples and taught them to read in ancient times?"

Mr. Xiao said with an embarrassed look, "I was narrow-minded."

"Don’t worry, sir, I will definitely get my fourth brother to agree to let me copy those books."

Inside the Lanyuan Pavilion, the fourth prince, who was having lunch, suddenly sneezed.

"Also, I won’t overlook the books in Lanyuan Pavilion," Zhao Yao added.

Mr. Xiao laughed and said, "Your Highness, do you intend to copy all the books in the capital and move them to your fief?"

Zhao Yao grinned and said, "That’s exactly my plan."

Mr. Xiao: "!!!!!"

"I have at least ten years." Zhao Yao revealed his ambition, "Within these ten years, I aim to gather as many books as possible. Oh, and I’ve also asked my grandfather to help me collect books in Jiangnan."

Mr. Xiao’s eyes lit up as he said, "There are many excellent books in Jiangnan that can’t be found in the capital."

Jiangnan has been home to talents since ancient times, and currently, many great scholars reside there. Jiangnan has many rare, world-renowned books.

"I’m thinking if I could invite a great scholar to teach in my fief, it would be wonderful." A great scholar in residence would attract many scholars and students to Qingzhou.

"It’s not easy to invite great scholars; they won’t leave their retreats easily." Mr. Xiao thought Zhao Yao’s idea was good but unrealistic.

"I was just thinking aloud," Zhao Yao chuckled, "With you and your friends, it’s more than enough."

"Your Highness, do you have any other ideas?"

"I also want to..."

In terms of reading, Zhao Yao had many ideas. He planned to realize all these ideas before going to his fief.