Chapter 32: Affairs of the Pavilion

"Two hundred copies printed?"

Gao Yin looked at the samples Huang Xi presented with considerable satisfaction. Although they lacked the exquisite quality of later eras, they could certainly rival the shoddy pirated books found at street stalls; for this age, it was quite an achievement.

It was a pity that the paper quality was still somewhat fragile, tearing at the slightest tug. It would need improvement.

Come to think of it, the development of papermaking had a connection to Huan Xuan. Huan Xuan, the son of Huan Wen, usurped the Eastern Jin and established the Huan Chu dynasty, only to be defeated by Liu Yu just four months later. Interestingly, the original Gao Yin had also held power for about four months before his uncle, Gao Yan, usurped his position. They were fellow members of the "failure club."

More interestingly, after Huan Xuan was killed, his cousin Huan Qian bestowed upon him the posthumous title of Emperor Wudao—the same title the Yan state had given to Ran Min. It was truly a surreal connection.

During the four months Huan Xuan held power, he did leave one lasting influence on posterity. At the time, the imperial court still used wooden slips for official decrees. He issued an edict stating that the ancients used wooden slips only because paper did not exist, and from then on, yellow paper should be used instead. Thus, paper became the medium for imperial documents, and by this era, even in the north, paper was in widespread use.

For Gao Yin, the most important thing was that the content was written in his own hand. For a long time to come, the people of Qi would be learning by looking at his calligraphy. Even if he were to eventually fail, history would record the feat of his "pioneering printing and teaching the people of Qi through books."

Imagine that, hundreds of years later, people would be studying the classics and commentaries he had compiled, looking at his very handwriting. For scholars and literati, this was an incredibly seductive prospect.

"Yes, Your Highness. I have also selected sites for the printing workshops; they are all in excellent locations. If Your Highness feels they are unsuitable..."

Gao Yin took the map from Huang Xi and felt it was perfectly fine. "No need. Proceed according to your plan."

Hearing this, Huang Xi quickly knelt and kowtowed.

"The printing workshops must be built as soon as possible. Once completed, start by selling some classics and Buddhist scriptures, and include my 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms.' Once the Wenlin Pavilion recruits its staff, we will coordinate with them."

Gao Yin’s intention was to monopolize the publishing industry. No matter how many people copied by hand, they could not match the speed and volume of his printing. Anyone wishing to enter this market later would have to play by his rules. If anyone dared to meddle in his business, he would show them the true meaning of the petty caprice of power.

Even if he couldn't manage it immediately, once the framework for his intelligence agency was fully deployed, he could slowly root them out. At that time, he would also strike down the practice of private coin minting.

Huang Xi memorized these instructions and silently withdrew. Next was Yao Shuang, who reported his progress over the past few days. With Gao Rui’s assistance, the construction of the Wenlin Pavilion would be completed by next month.

"Good."

Gao Yin nodded; there was nothing more to say. Yao Shuang’s task was to coordinate with Gao Rui in selecting talented scholars from the Qi state, which could only begin once the pavilion was built and the personnel were in place.

Yao Shuang also withdrew. Gao Yin summoned Li He into the inner chamber. The first sentence he spoke caught Li He by surprise: "Is the money still sufficient?"

Gao Yin had issued an order the day before yesterday and had allocated some funds, which were effectively nearly exhausted. However, after thinking for a moment, Li He replied, "Thanks to Your Highness's concern, there are still funds available for use."

Gao Yin nodded and then asked, "How is the training of those hundred-plus people in the Jishi Factory going?"

Li He replied, "I requested a few guards from the Eastern Palace to train them. Although it has been quite grueling, they have endured it all, wishing day and night to repay Your Highness."

Gao Yin listened, feeling both pity and helplessness.

The personnel of the Jishi Factory were originally death row inmates; logically, they were heinous criminals. However, the State of Qi had its own unique circumstances. Gao Yang was a man who could never kill enough; the truly vicious and deserving death row inmates had long since been purged. This group consisted mostly of innocent people framed through various fabrications. After Gao Yin’s careful selection, he had picked over a hundred physically fit and sharp-witted candidates.

These people could not remain in the palace. Gao Yin had Li He find a place in the southern part of the city to settle them. Having walked through the gates of hell, they felt deeply indebted and extremely loyal to the Crown Prince, who had not only saved them but also given them a purpose.

However, hearing the rest of Li He’s report, the results were truly unusable.

This was hardly surprising. Although specialized secret investigators had appeared long ago—the "Da Shui He" of the Han, the "Xiao Shi" of the Cao Wei, the "Hou Guan" of the Northern Wei, the "Hou Ren" of the Sui, and the "Bu Liang Ren" and "Cha Shi" of the Tang—they mostly exercised the secret investigative powers granted by the ruler in a personal capacity, rather than as a specialized organization. It wasn't until the sudden emergence of the "Jinyiwei" in the Ming Dynasty that the true terror of imperial secret agents was revealed, which also drove the centralization of imperial power.

Before then, even the rulers themselves were at a loss as to how to train secret agents. Even if they discarded their already thin moral baggage to train one such group, they wouldn't know how to instruct them, let alone a mere eunuch.

Gao Yin sighed. It was his own hubris; he had assumed that with a single order, his subordinates would naturally know how to proceed without guidance.

"Forget it. Return to your previous duties."

Li He breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't really wanted to take on this job anyway. Because the Jishi Factory’s ostensible duty was to monitor and investigate improper behavior within the palace, it would offend many people. Not to mention the Emperor's concubines, he wouldn't even dare to provoke the senior maids and attendants of the princes and princesses. They might not be able to touch the Crown Prince, but dealing with him would be easy.

"I am incompetent, I am guilty..."

Li He knelt on the ground, repeatedly professing his guilt. Gao Yin was not angry; he simply told him to leave and sent for Zhou Yi.

Once Zhou Yi entered, Gao Yin asked the same question: "Is the money still sufficient?"

Zhou Yi bowed and replied, "Only enough for seven days. After seven days, the treasury will be empty."

Gao Yin nodded; this was the answer he wanted to hear. He naturally knew how long his allocated funds would last. He had initially thought that Li He was far-sighted and Zhou Yi was straightforward and honest, and that they would work well together. Now it seemed Li He had been overthinking things.

"Set aside the matter of the Inspection Bureau for now. You will serve as the head of the Jishi Factory. I will dictate some points; take them down."

Zhou Yi nodded as Gao Yin spoke slowly: "Under you, select one Chief Commander and two Deputy Commanders. The Chief Commander holds the seal and oversees all affairs. The Deputy Commanders assist the Chief Commander and report to you, and you shall report to me."

This was the initial phase, and the structure had not yet fully opened. He would let the deputies be managed by the Chief for now, and once the staff was complete, he would refine and specify their duties.

"Set up five investigators beneath you, each equipped with twenty agents to accompany them in their actions, responsible for gathering and spying for intelligence. Intelligence from within the palace is to be called 'Imperial Records,' from the capital 'Capital Records,' and from outside the capital 'State Records.' Divide them into four categories: Red, Blue, Black, and White. Red is the most urgent and critical; no matter the situation, it must be reported immediately. The other three colors are to be submitted every three, seven, and ten days respectively."

This established the framework and system. He would let them operate for a while, and once they were proficient, he would gradually increase their functions and authority.

"Teach them to spend money to buy off desperate men, develop ears and eyes, absorb underworld experience, and learn how to gather intelligence. One day, when I want to know the market price of how much rice a bolt of cloth can buy, or where there are murders or thefts, or where bandits are gathering, they should be able to report it."

"Also, find some clever people—those who are eloquent and good storytellers are best. Have them memorize 'The Three Kingdoms' and go everywhere to tell the stories. Pay them a monthly salary from your funds; if they earn extra money from telling stories, they may keep it. If they hear any valuable intelligence, you will pay to buy it from them."

Once people gathered, they needed entertainment, and the entertainment of this era was nothing more than gambling and gossip. This storytelling approach not only facilitated the gathering of public opinion but was also easy for spreading ideology. When everyone was listening to the 'Three Kingdoms' and reading the 'Classic of Filial Piety,' and no one could stop praising the virtue of the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince would then know everything.

After Zhou Yi noted this down and repeated it twice, Gao Yin nodded with satisfaction. "Finally, find me a group of jesters and performers; I have great use for them. Then go to the treasury and draw three hundred thousand coins, two hundred bolts of cloth, and forty bolts of silk."

"Yes."

Zhou Yi faced Gao Yin, bowed, and backed out of the room.

During their private conversations, the attendants outside would automatically retreat, only returning to their posts once the speakers emerged.

They did not hear the Crown Prince summon anyone else. Gao Yin sat alone in the hall for a while.

No one knew what the Crown Prince was thinking inside, but after he came out, he gave a new order:

"Go find some chickens, ducks, geese, and pigs, and bring me some craftsmen."