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Chapter 165 Copyright Fees

Xu Ping looked at Ouyang Xiu in front of him, in his twenties, with a pale complexion and a little bit of moustache on his mouth, which looked young and energetic, and a little mature.

Nodded, Xu Ping said: "Sit down and talk."

The guest and host sat down, Ouyang Xiu took out a few pieces of paper and handed it to Xu Ping, and said, "I had seen the Qianfa book engraved by the Sansi in Luoyang. The discussion was very detailed. Although Xiu was superficial, he was aware of the wise and also wrote a small article about the money method, asking the county marquis to correct it."

Xu Ping took it, took a few casual glances, and then put them aside.

It cannot be said that the article is not good. In Luoyang for several years, Ouyang Xiu was deeply influenced by Yin Dizhu. The article has begun to change towards Shanggu, which is very different from the previous four-six parallel prose. However, no matter how good the article is, there are not many desirable contents in it, which is very different from the functions of Xu Ping Sansi and the positioning of Qianfa books.

During the years Ouyang Xiu was in Luoyang, he basically spent time and fun, and had some romantic relationships with the prostitutes. He also studied articles with a group of literati who were similar to him. He basically did not participate in political affairs. How could he write a very profound article without practical experience? His articles looked very imposing at first, and quoted classics, from the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, basically made some empty comments on historical records, and there was nothing to be given.

Sansi Bookstore carves practical articles, and does not attach much importance to literary talent, and even deliberately requires simple requirements, so that people can understand it at a glance. Ouyang Xiu is still far from this point.

Seeing that Xu Ping was not enthusiastic, Ouyang Xiu felt a little disappointed. At this time, his literary name was already everywhere, and most of the well-educated scholars in the world praised him very much, and they called him a genius at first sight. He was used to being praised by others, but suddenly he met Xu Ping's cold attitude, which made him very uncomfortable.

After drinking a sip of tea, Ouyang Xiu calmed down and asked Xu Ping: "Why did the marquis of the county lord say nothing? This short article may have shortcomings. The marquis of the county lord just say it clearly. What's the harm in giving some advice?"

Xu Ping smiled and said, "If you write an article, you are better than me, how can I give you guidance? If you are talking about money method, I have been in charge of money and grain since I was a magistrate in Yongzhou and later as a sour sugar office. When I returned to the capital, I was in charge of the Salt and Iron Department, which was more thorough than you. I wish to say it bluntly, your article only lists the money method of the past dynasties and basically does not involve the money method of the world. How can I know where to start? Bai Letianyan, the article is written in time, and your little article is still a bit inferior in this regard."

Xu Ping could not give Ouyang Xiu's advice on the techniques of the article, but he didn't even see the content of the article. The part of the money method written in this article has reached the point where Xu Ping's eyes are flaws and no flaws. What are some good comments?

Ouyang Xiu felt ashamed after hearing Xu Ping's words. He understood his strengths and weaknesses. He did not know much about the specific affairs of the court. He avoided this when writing this article, but only quoted the classics. In the eyes of people who do not understand it, it is still a good article that is normal. In the eyes of money and food experts like Xu Ping, it is not surprising that it is worthless.

At this time, northern Confucianism gradually began to revive, and the literary style was emphasized and the ancient and brief. The representative figure was Yin Zhu. Ouyang Xiu and other southern Jinshi were influenced by this, and gradually began to merge the literary styles from the north to the south. Until later, Ouyang Xiu raised the banner of the ancient prose movement. Under this tide, the evaluation of the predecessors was also affected. Poetry and literature were also influenced by Han Yu. In addition to Han poetry, Ouyang Xiu also studied Li Bai, Shi Yannian specialized in Du poetry, and Mei Yaochen was influenced by some Chu Ci and Li Sao. In short, in the words of later generations, with some special exceptions, realistic poetry received unprecedented attention. Under this trend of thought, Du Fu's status was unprecedentedly improved, including poets such as Bai Juyi, whose status was very different from the evaluations of the Tang Dynasty.

It is precisely because of this that Ouyang Xiu and his group of people made their debut by borrowing the empty "Xikun style". As a result, when they came to Xu Ping, their articles were vaguely said to be frivolous and without actual content, and he was still embarrassed. Although they were simple in their hearts and did not appreciate the words of Xu Ping's articles, they still had to admit that Xu Ping's articles did have content.

This topic is really hard to talk about. After all, the two of them are on different paths and it is difficult to resonate with each other.

After calming down, he said a few gossips, Ouyang Xiu said again: "When I was young, I occasionally got the fragments of Mr. Changli's collection of essays, and I couldn't put them down, and I got a lot of them. However, at that time, I was young and unconscious, only knew that it was good for Duke Han Wen's articles, but I couldn't explain the wonderful things. Later, I went to Xijing to go to the prime minister's shogunate, and I was surrounded by literary scholars. I learned that the Changli collection of essays was increasing day by day, and then I took out the Changli collection of essays to understand its exquisiteness. In the past few years, I have read the articles of Duke Han Wen in various schools, carefully proofreading, and integrating the collection of Mr. Changli's collections. I heard that the Sansi Bookstore had excellent printing and quickly publishing books. I wonder if I could compile them and publish them?"

"Good thing! Of course!" Xu Ping immediately agreed.

The personnel and equipment of the Sansi Book Engraving Company are in place, but the printed items are all newly compiled by Sansi and Qianfa books, which are highly practical and do not pay attention to the literati and doctors, and there is no such thing as the author. If you can print a well-designed collection of Han Yu, your fame will suddenly become popular.

In this era, whether it is poetry or later literati, Han Yu, the older generation of Yang Yiqian Weiyan, has become less powerful. Han Yu's collections are available on the market, but the proofreading is rough and there are many errors. Most of them are booksellers who engrave the prints in order to make quick money, which makes people feel uncomfortable. Ouyang Xiu is a literary master. He has carefully proofreading it, but it is a rare good book.

Ouyang Xiu stood up and saluted: "Thank you, Marquis of Jung Yucheng for this matter!"

"Sit down and say slowly." Xu Ping asked Ouyang Xiu to sit down, "It is naturally a good thing to print books, but there are two things I want to explain to you in advance so as not to feel regretful in the future."

"Please speak with the marquis of the county, and listen carefully."

"First point, a person's energy is always limited. No matter how knowledgeable you are, you will inevitably have omissions. Now that you have worked in the Pavilion, the Pavilion staff are a temporary choice, so you might as well ask them to help proofread it. Another point is that the book is printed and sold, and there will be some interest. When it is sold, you will get 10% of the book price, and part of it will be given to you and the people who help proofread it, and the other part is given to the descendants of Mr. Changli. What do you think?"

Ouyang Xiu was stunned for a moment, not knowing what Xu Ping meant to mention this.

Usually, booksellers ask people to proofread books by paying wages according to time, word count or page count. After paying wages, the book has nothing to do with the proofreader, let alone the descendants of the author. However, Han Yu's collection of proofreaders, which is a major event in the literary world, and Sansi Bookstore is owned by the court. Ouyang Xiu did not think about money at all.

Xu Ping was very serious, because this was related to the seriousness of copyright. He could not allow the writers to live by writing epitaphs and shrines for others. In the future, the printing industry will develop, and orderly copyright protection will allow the industry to develop well.

After thinking for a while, Ouyang Xiu tried to ask: "Monk Marquis, how many copies should be printed by the book engraving company?"

"In the early stage, I would have to have five thousand copies, Changli's collection. Who wouldn't buy one for anyone who has spare money to put on the desk?"

Ouyang Xiu was shocked. Sansi is worthy of being in charge of the world's money and food. His courage is extraordinary. He prints five thousand copies at the beginning of his mouth. There are several sets of books that have printed this amount these days, not to mention that the number of times the carved version is used is limited, so he cannot be fooled by his own nature.

Thinking about the amount of money, this kind of big money can cost you a lot of money. One hundred entries per book, and five thousand books is 500 entries. This is a large sum of money, and even a few square meters of money is a considerable amount. This is just the first batch of printing. Wouldn't you be able to eat it for the rest of your life if you continue printing it?

Seeing that Xu Ping's attitude was not like joking, Ouyang Xiu asked in a low voice: "Is the county marquis serious?"

"Of course, am I joking? Five thousand copies are not big numbers. We have printed two thousand copies of the new regulations of the three departments."

In this era, the price of printing books is not only expensive, but also the price of paper and the price of paper. The version is made of letterpress, which is no longer expensive. The three papers will not be able to live long and will make their own, and the cost will also be reduced. What's so great about it?

"So good, so good! I feel that the amount of money is a little bigger."

Ouyang Xiuhan is almost over. How much money does he earn in a year as a left-behind prosecutor in Xijing? Even Qian Weiyan often helps them, and he dare not think about getting hundreds of coins of money at once.

Xu Ping looked at Ouyang Xiu's appearance and couldn't help but smile: "Don't think too much. There are many ways to give money. At that time, Shi Quanbin, who was in charge of the editorial office, would have to talk to you in detail. For example, if you want to get all of them at once, the amount will definitely be a little less, or you will give it according to the five thousand copies printed for the first time. If you sell the books and share the money, then you have to share it in turn."

"That's not much."

Ouyang Xiu thought to himself, everyone in your county marquis’ family knows that they have money and don’t take hundreds of guan seriously. For himself, if you have hundreds of guan in your hand at once, you can buy a business. How can you not worry about food and drink in the future?

After talking about this, when the two of them talked about some specific matters, Ouyang Xiu asked again: "The county marquis thinks how can I share the 10% of the money I have obtained with others? After all, it is the first time I have done such a thing and I have no idea."

The first time it was related to the rules that followed, Ouyang Xiu was destined to be a literary master of this era. His momentum had been achieved, and no one could cover up his sharpness. The influence would inevitably be greater. Of course, be cautious.

After thinking for a while, Xu Ping said: "You mainly complete the proofreading by yourself. If you ask the people in the museum to do it, you can only help. Each person may be three or five stakes, depending on your intentions. As for the descendants of Han Wengong, you cannot be too thin. It is also appropriate to divide 100% or 20% of your income."

I have only been out for dozens of stakes. I don’t have to give too much to help with the proofreading. Ouyang Xiu thought so too. But is Han Yu’s descendants less than only a few dozens of stakes? However, Han Yu’s articles are everywhere on the market, and no one has ever given his family money. It seems that it is not too much to give dozens of stakes at a time. Moreover, if later generations comment on Han Yu’s articles, they have to pay accordingly. In this way, the Han family can live a worry-free life together. Han Liu’s articles are passed down from generation to generation, are you still afraid that no one will read them?

Ouyang Xiu originally came to Xu Ping with his articles, but although he didn't think he could be appreciated, he was still a little disappointed if he didn't pay attention to it. Unexpectedly, in the end, he got a huge sum of money from proofreading Han Yu's collection of essays and felt better again. To be continued.

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