I run a training class in Shu Han

Chapter 124 Paper Mill Commences Construction

The three-day deadline arrived quickly. Liu Shan, rubbing his back and dragging his weary body, headed to the Imperial Academy.

In the past few days, Liu Shan has not attended court.

After days of hard work, he couldn't even get up in the morning, let alone hold a morning meeting.

Important state affairs were jointly discussed by Zhuge Liang's Prime Minister's Office and the Secretariat led by Li Yan.

If it's a minor matter, Zhuge Liang and Li Yan can handle it themselves.

If it was a major matter, it had to be discussed with the ministers in the court before being presented to Liu Shan for review.

Given that Liu Shan had previously ordered Zhuge Liang to seek out alchemists, could it really be that he went to find elixirs to strengthen the body?

"His Majesty has arrived!"

With a loud shout from Wang Gui, Liu Shan straightened his back and walked into the school called "Papermaking Class".

Inside the school, several groups of people sat scattered around, and upon seeing Liu Shan, they stood up respectfully.

In the left corner sat five elderly craftsmen with white hair and beards, dressed in coarse cloth, their faces deeply lined. They were probably the papermaking craftsmen that Zhuge Liang had mentioned, who had been scattered among the people due to the war.

On the right are three middle-aged men dressed in Taoist robes. They have long beards and full foreheads, and they look like reclusive masters.

Closer to the front row were five or six young men, quite robust, with dark red skin, presumably people who worked in high temperatures year-round. Liu Shan guessed they were paper-making craftsmen from Chengdu.

In the first row sat a woman wearing a blue veil. Although her face was not visible, her eyes were very bright.

Liu Shan leaned back, and Wang Gui immediately jogged over.

"This lady is...?"

Liu Shan noticed that her attire was quite mature, and that she wore a "fallen horse bun" hairstyle, which was the hairstyle of a married woman.

"This is the wife of Prime Minister Zhuge," Wang Gui said.

Zhuge Liang's wife?

Huang Yueying!

Legend has it that Zhuge Liang's wife was ugly and nicknamed Achou (meaning "ugly"). Today, she wears a veil over her face, clearly not wanting to show her true appearance. This rumor is probably not far from the truth.

"Lady Zhuge!"

Since she was Zhuge Liang's wife, Liu Shan immediately bowed to her respectfully.

Huang Yueying stood up and responded with the courtesy due to a man.

According to unofficial historical records, Huang Yueying was ugly, but her talent was comparable to that of Zhuge Liang. Could it be that she knew how to make paper?

"I have asked Prime Minister Zhuge to invite you all here today, and I'm sure you all know why."

"I want to gather the strength of everyone to make paper from bamboo."

Liu Shan went straight to the point from the very first word, stunning everyone present.

"Your Majesty, I have never heard of making paper from bamboo before."

Those young craftsmen were ordered by the imperial court to come to the Imperial Academy to make paper, but no one told them that they were to use bamboo to make paper.

They simply don't know how.

Not only the young craftsmen, but even the old craftsmen present shook their heads after hearing this.

"Your Majesty, when I was young, I worked in papermaking in Luoyang. I made 'Caihou Paper' and 'Zuobo Paper,' but I have never heard of making paper from bamboo."

"Caihou Paper" and "Zuobo Paper" use almost the same raw materials, but the process is different.

These old craftsmen thought the imperial court had summoned them to study these two papermaking techniques. Little did they know that they were to invent a papermaking technique using bamboo. They were just craftsmen, not papermaking masters.

Just as the two groups finished speaking, a Taoist priest stood up.

"Your Majesty, we only know how to meditate and refine elixirs. If Your Majesty wishes to prolong your life, we have some elixirs. As for papermaking, we are afraid we cannot help you."

Liu Shan nodded to them, indicating that he had listened carefully to their opinions and difficulties and would give them full respect.

At this moment, Huang Yueying also stood up.

"Your Majesty, my father left behind an ancient book that records some of the methods for making 'Caihou Paper' and 'Zuobo Paper.' Although it has some shortcomings, we have a few old craftsmen here, and I'm sure we'll be able to make the paper within a month."

"But this method of making paper from bamboo is something I've never heard of before. I wonder if it's recorded in any ancient books..."

Liu Shan did not rush to answer. He first asked everyone to sit down, and then sat down himself before slowly speaking.

"I would like to ask you all, since paper is so easy to carry, why are there so many people using bamboo slips and silk?"

Huang Yueying said, "I believe there are two reasons. First, papermaking requires wood, which is strictly regulated by the imperial court, so very little paper is produced, and the price is relatively high. Second, although 'Caihou paper' is made from tree bark, hemp fibers, and scraps of cloth, making it inexpensive, the paper is not easy to preserve."

"Since ancient times, the most important documents, laws, and historical materials of a country have been engraved on bronze vessels and inscriptions, and secondly, written on bamboo and silk. Only in this way can they be preserved for a long time."

"Paper cannot withstand the test of time, so it can only be used for everyday writing."

Upon hearing this, Liu Shan couldn't help but clap his hands.

As expected of the Prime Minister's woman, her insight and knowledge are truly extraordinary!

"Lady Zhuge was very knowledgeable, and Liu Shan admired her."

"Your Majesty, you flatter me!"

"Lady Zhuge has made it very clear that although paper can be used for writing, it is not durable and cannot be used to write books for posterity or to carry history for thousands of years."

"Therefore, the paper I want to make is one that can record the splendid Chinese culture and history."

Huang Yueying was quick-witted and immediately grasped the meaning behind Liu Shan's words.

"Your Majesty, do you mean that paper made from this bamboo can be preserved for a long time and is not easily rotten?"

Liu Shan shook his head and said, "Whether bamboo can be used to make paper is not up to me; it depends on the efforts of everyone present."

Upon hearing this, everyone felt as if a heavy stone was pressing down on their hearts.

This is undoubtedly making them feel their way across the river.

Liu Shan, seeing their furrowed brows, smiled and asked, "What's wrong? No confidence?"

After hearing this, everyone lowered their heads in embarrassment.

Liu Shan stood up and said as he walked, "I have always firmly believed in the principle that there are always more solutions than problems. In the past, even without paper, the sages could still inscribe words on bronze vessels and write on bamboo and silk. Now that we have paper, can't we even find a simple way to prevent insects and decay?"

Seeing the bewildered looks on everyone's faces, Liu Shan comforted them, "What I want is neither the sun in the sky nor the moon in the water. There is no need for you to panic."

"To be honest, I have seen a method of making paper from bamboo in ancient books, which is why I have gathered everyone here to discuss it."

Upon hearing that this method originated from an ancient text, Huang Yueying's eyes immediately lit up.

"Your Majesty, is this true? In which ancient book is it mentioned?"

Liu Shan scratched his face with his hand.

He had only casually mentioned the ancient book as a pretext; he never expected Huang Yueying to take it so seriously.

"The ancient book was unearthed from a Zhou Dynasty tomb. The law was recorded on bamboo slips, which were severely eroded, leaving only a few fragments."

Huang Yueying shook her head regretfully and said, "If the ancients had recorded it earlier, this method would surely have succeeded."

Upon hearing that the method of papermaking had existed since ancient times, the craftsmen were immediately filled with confidence.

"Although this method has existed since ancient times, most of the techniques involved have been lost. It is not easy to replicate it. To succeed, we will have to rely on your experience and wisdom."

An old craftsman stood up, his eyes filled with determination.

"Your Majesty, just tell us what to do, and we will do it."

"Good!" Liu Shan was overjoyed upon hearing this and said, "I have already ordered the papermaking workshop to be built. Now I will assign tasks."

"Although the techniques for making paper from bamboo have mostly been lost, I believe that the processes are largely the same regardless of what is used to make paper. Therefore, you need to research the techniques for 'Cai Hou Paper' and 'Zuo Bo Paper' in a short period of time and perfectly replicate these two types of paper."

"Yes, sir!"

Huang Yueying and the craftsmen enthusiastically accepted the order.

"Your Majesty, what shall we do?" a Taoist priest asked urgently.

Although they wanted to serve the court, they were all experts in their own fields, and they knew nothing about papermaking.

Are you suggesting we have them refine elixirs to boost the spirits of these craftsmen?

"Fellow Daoist, I have heard that your Daoist school is skilled in alchemy. Perhaps you can find something in alchemy that can make paper withstand the test of time and the erosion of insects."

"If this matter succeeds, then your names will surely be remembered for generations, just like paper."

Several Taoist priests nodded repeatedly after hearing this.

Although they didn't care about fame, they were happy to contribute to Chinese history, even if papermaking and alchemy had nothing to do with each other.

The reason Liu Shan summoned the Taoist priests to make paper was that he vaguely remembered that this insect-proof paper was something these Taoist priests had accidentally discovered while refining elixirs.

After all, Taoist priests in ancient times were considered god-like beings.

Who knows what kind of astonishing thing they might concoct while they're refining elixirs?

With the tasks assigned, Liu Shan confidently declared, "Then I hereby declare: The Great Han Paper Mill, commence operations!"