The Qing River was Great Qi's longest river and carried the most water, dividing the country into the lands south and north of the river. In some past dynasties, the north and south had even been ruled separately.
The Qing River had stretches of dangerous rapids, too, but near its mouth, the current was generally gentle. Traveling upstream aboard a pleasure boat was not difficult.
"Where did you get that book-"
Lin Hao stared blankly at the book in Gong Zichun's hands, looking somewhat stunned.
It was a damn book written in simplified Chinese!
And Gong Zichun was reading it with relish!
If Lin Hao had not known this fellow drew erotic paintings, he might almost have mistaken him for someone from back home!
And this book-
"Oh, this? It's a banned book that's become rather popular in our circles lately. Most people can't read it, though. You have to study a special cipher first. It's very difficult to get started, but that couldn't stop me."
Gong Zichun rather smugly raised the book in his hand, along with a "codebook."
But his expression soon stiffened, and he said to Lin Hao, "Say, young Lin, if your Embroidered Uniform Guard starts arresting people who've read this book, you won't arrest me, will you?"
Lin Hao was also shocked. Books like this were already circulating in secret?
Was University Town behind it?
That was possible, but not very likely!
Literacy was low in this world. Reading already presented a high barrier, and if people had to "translate" it as well, very few would actually understand it.
Other than idle scholars like Gong Zichun, probably only members of the gentry would have the time and energy to read it!
Not only would this fail to spread the ideas University Town wanted among the