The Qin Dynasty perished after only two generations? My Great Qin also needs an Emperor Taizong!

(Requesting a vote)

Just as Ying Mu was fully enjoying the rare delicacy, the King of Qin suddenly asked, "Yesterday I heard that girl Yin Man say that you made a kind of paper?"

Ying Mu paused, then swallowed the white bread in a few bites, and replied, "I was just about to say that. Didn't I mention before that bamboo slips were too heavy? In the mountains, I saw that Xiao Shanzi and the others were bored, so I had them improve the papermaking technique. In the past six months, paper has indeed been made, but the first batch of finished products has such severe ink bleeding that it's impossible to write on them... However, it's perfect as toilet paper. Father, you know how cumbersome the toilet sticks we use are... sigh!" At the end, Prince Mu sighed leisurely, and although he didn't say anything more, it seemed as if he had said everything.

In principle, as the King of Qin, Ying Zheng should at least have access to fine silk fabrics. However, as a principled ruler, he should set an example and never allow such extravagance to occur.

That's why Ying Zheng was interested and remembered this little thing.

As for whether he can write, that's really irrelevant to the King of Qin now.

"Oh right, I still have some left here." As he spoke, Ying Mu reached out and untied the pouch at his waist, took out a few yellowed sheets of soft paper, and handed them to Ying Zheng.

Ying Zheng took it and placed it in his hand. The soft paper had been cut in advance, and the size was just right for his palm, although the texture was slightly rough...

But overall, it's definitely better than toilet sticks.

Ying Zheng's eyes cleared slightly. He glanced at Ying Mu without leaving a trace, coughed lightly, and said, "I suddenly remembered that I have state affairs to attend to. Mu'er, wait here for a moment, and I will be right back."

Ying Mu hummed in agreement and sat quietly in place, watching Ying Zheng leave in a hurry.

A moment later, Ying Zheng returned to his study, feeling refreshed. He looked up and saw the child standing on a ladder in front of the bookshelf, flipping through the bamboo slips, humming an unknown, cheerful tune. Hearing footsteps, Ying Mu turned to look at Ying Zheng, raising his hand to wave the bamboo slips in his hand. "Father, may I borrow this 'The Art of War by Taigong' to read?"

Ying Zheng waved his hand dismissively, "Go, go back to the courtyard and play with the birds. I'll have someone move them for you later."

"Okay!"

Ying Mu was overjoyed, put down the book, turned around and ran out of the study.

Ying Zheng rose and walked to the window, opened the hidden compartment, and watched as the child exchanged a few words with Zhao Gao, handed him a letter, and then boarded his palanquin and left. Only after the small figure disappeared from sight did the King of Qin take out the remaining soft paper from the embroidered pouch at his waist. His thumb unconsciously stroked the fine texture of the paper, and he chuckled softly, muttering, "That brat, he really did produce something good... It's just a pity the quantity is too small."

"Your Majesty, this is a letter left by the young master. There are also two wooden boxes, which he said Your Majesty would like." Just then, after checking that there were no hidden mechanisms in the wooden boxes, Zhao Gao led four servants to quickly carry them in. He then bowed to Ying Zheng and placed the letter left by Ying Mu and the two wooden boxes next to the King of Qin.

Ying Zheng stared at the envelope for a moment, then pointed to the bookshelf, "Organize that set of 'The Art of War by Taigong,' and have the Imperial Household Department prepare a simulation sand table, and send it to Mu'er together."

"Yes."

Zhao Gao bowed and quietly withdrew.

As the sun rose high in the sky, the King of Qin put down his pen and sword, closed the bamboo slips piled up to the side, stood up, rubbed his eyes, yawned, and turned his head to see the well-sealed secret letter in front of him. He picked it up, opened it, and looked at the letter paper, which was slightly different from the soft paper he had just received, as well as the clear ink marks on the paper. Ying Zheng raised an eyebrow.

After reading the contents, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.

The letter, though brief, recorded nothing other than the entire process of papermaking after its improvement, accompanied by corresponding diagrams for easier understanding.

In addition, Ying Mu offered another plan: to continuously improve papermaking techniques and produce paper that could be used directly for writing. The goals were simple: first, to make it easier for him to handle state affairs; second, to hoard the paper and secretly sell it to the nobles of Qi and Chu for huge profits, thereby relieving the financial pressure on the court and paving the way for the subsequent conquest of Qi... It was a clever plan that killed three birds with one stone.

Ying Zheng smiled knowingly, not neglecting the matter because Ying Mu was young. He sat on the couch and thought about it, feeling more and more that the plan was feasible.

After a moment's thought, he got up and took a few sheets of paper from the wooden box that Zhao Gao had brought in. He picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and quickly wrote two letters. Looking at the ink stains that were gradually drying, Ying Zheng was in a great mood!

It's really lightweight!

Mu'er loves me!

He picked up a few more sheets of paper, casually splashed ink on them, and wrote a few lines, thoroughly enjoying himself. Then he called out from outside the study, "Little Gao!"

"Your Majesty." Zhao Gao strode in.

Ying Zheng softly instructed, "Mu'er has rendered meritorious service in presenting the treasure. Reward her with a superior Hu horse, a fine bow and sword set, and also assign ten Mohist disciples and five Agriculturalist disciples to your command." He paused, looked at the two kinds of papers in the box, and chuckled, "This item is quite to my liking. The one who developed it will be promoted one rank."

"only."

Zhao Gao didn't ask any further questions, put the letter in his pocket, and left.

……

In the 23rd year of King Zheng of Qin, at the end of November, a rare light snow began to fall over the Qin army camp in the city. Bai Zhong, dressed in light armor, leaned alone against his chariot and looked out at the Chu army camp. In fact, there was nothing in sight, but the Chu army camp stretched for dozens of miles, so it was roughly in that same direction.

By now, the Qin army had barely survived the first winter month south of the Qinling Mountains. A business that Lao Baizhong couldn't quite understand suddenly emerged rapidly within a dozen days: a type of writable letter paper was widely distributed in the Chu region. Both Qin and Qi sent merchant caravans to negotiate, and as a result, this thin foot of letter paper sold for an astronomical price of two coins! As for the slightly inferior soft toilet paper, five feet sold for an astronomical price of one coin!

You should know that nowadays a good bamboo slip costs only two coins!

As for the letter paper? Although the specific method is unknown, anyone can see that it is nothing more than a cheap product made with coarse hemp mixed in... Although the Qin merchants were not fooled, the Qi merchants gladly opened their wallets, allowing the Chu army to gradually recover... Bai Zhong and the others could only watch helplessly.

Just as he was pondering, he heard footsteps behind him. The soldiers didn't stop him. Bai Zhong turned around and saw that it was indeed his grandson, Bai Yu. The old man forced a smile.

"Why would you be interested in coming here in this weather?"

"Everyone's been gossiping and boasting, it's getting boring, I came out for some fresh air." Bai Yu lay sprawled on his horse, completely lacking in decorum. Chang Sheng and the others had gone out to scout with Jia Le and the others, while he remained holed up in his tent. It was somewhat embarrassing to admit. Although he couldn't match Lou Wen in terms of military decision-making, he considered himself an absolute expert in charging into battle, definitely no worse than Chang Sheng and the others. Why did his grandfather always make him stay behind at the camp...?

PS: Papermaking technology also existed during the Qin and Han dynasties, and this is similar to the invention of "Cai Hou Paper".