“Can strategists not ascend the throne?”
Chapter 256: Four Types of Paper
If it weren’t for the fact that no one in Chang’an would understand this joke, and that it would be somewhat out of place to say, Qiao Yan was almost tempted to declare, “This is a small step for me, but a giant leap for history.”
Although earthen cement had already been utilized in multiple locations within Bingzhou, this was the first time it was being presented as a road.
There was also the production process where various slags and gypsum powders were crushed to an ultra-fine state. Plus, the regulations during construction meant that the hardness of this road achieved the standard of cement roads.
The results from this troublesome process wouldn’t disappoint them.
As she set foot on the road, it clearly left no mark.
The convoy following her didn’t lag behind either.
From the carriages to the war chariots, and even the heavily armored troops, none were left behind.
At first, these folks walked a bit hesitantly, but once they recognized that this road was indeed different from the dirt paths, one by one, they swaggered with confidence, no longer leaving mere scratches behind.
Even knowing this was just a test for the road and that the onlookers were their own people didn’t prevent them from showing off their swagger.
The Son of Heaven hasn’t even walked on this road yet!
They must be the first!
This procession of chariots, warhorses equipped with horseshoes, and soldiers accompanied her to the end of the road.
When Qiao Yan looked back, aside from the orderly lines, she saw two rows of flaming torches stretching behind her, creating a scene orderly enough to almost bring the southern gate of Chang’an into daylight with the glow.
Her gaze reflected this long chain of fire, clearly illuminating her sense of achievement.
Even though she hadn’t openly praised it, simply ordering the soldiers to regroup didn’t stop her subordinates from seeing her current mood —
The city was named Chang’an, and so was the road. This was the opening ceremony for her conference on wine.
And this was the surprise she intended to share with the world!
Or rather, this was the start of Chang’an showcasing its might.
This start didn’t have to wait until the end of May.
Because she wanted to let it further ferment under public opinion, she scheduled this first showcase for —
Tomorrow.
Yuan Yao had just entered through the East Gate of Chang’an, intending to pay a visit to the Grand Marshal. Following his father’s instructions, he meant to ask the Grand Marshal to lend him the renowned physician Hua Tuo to treat his father’s leg issues, when he suddenly heard a burst of drum and music.
Since the music didn’t stop right away, Yuan Yao quickly recognized it was the ceremonial band from the Grand Minister of Rites welcoming someone.
It was rare for someone to need such a grand reception.
Even the current Grand General, Liu Yan, didn’t seem to require such a fuss when coming to Chang’an.
When was the last time he heard music like this?
It felt like ages since Emperor Xiaoling had selected the General of Pacification of the West during a military review in the western suburbs.
If he went further back, those were merely tales he’d heard.
It was said that when an envoy of the Daqin Empire (Rome) came to pay their respects to Emperor Huan of Han, they also had such a scene.
Yuan Yao had initially come with the purpose of seeking medical help for his father, but upon hearing this uproar, he instinctively dashed toward the source of the sound.
After all, if he happened to witness something special in Chang’an, it would be best to see it with his own eyes so that he could report back to his father in Runan.
Fortunately, his reaction was quick. By the time he reached the southern end of the city, the crowd drawn by the noise hadn’t yet blocked the source of the sound with throngs of people.
Moreover, since the new road started from the South Gate and ran north-south across Chang’an, he managed to find a spot in the front row.
As he stood there, he saw the ceremonial procession still producing the joyous sounds of drums.
The line of dressed-up musicians and performers was leading toward him, showcasing a completely different road than what he had seen before.
Yuan Yao had never seen the beginning of this road while it was being paved, so all he could see was the fully completed cement road.
It was as if a giant stone had been moved into place, with the road solidified into a hard surface. Though there were transverse seams every so often, Yuan Yao could clearly see from the sides that the two halves essentially belonged to one whole.
This was quite a marvelous sight.
Who had ever seen such a road? At least not him before this.
Just the sight of this “giant stone” was enough to impress him, and at that moment, he overheard curious spectators discussing how this stone had been soft over a month ago, allowing Qiao Yan to leave the inscription “Chang’an” at the road’s beginning.
“Speaking of which, before this road was officially opened, the soldiers guarding it were getting quite hefty salaries,” someone muttered to a companion.
As if afraid someone would think he was lying, he quickly pointed to a soldier maintaining order and said, “Look, that’s my cousin! He was selected for service right after the Grand Marshal advanced into Guanzhong.”
“Why would a mere road guard earn such hefty pay?” someone immediately asked.
The man replied, “I heard that once this road is fully maintained, it’ll be as hard as a rock. Before, it could easily show marks, which is why the previous decree was issued. But can such decrees stop people, or prevent birds from falling from the sky or wild dogs from running wild?”
“Those on guard had to keep an eye on everything, afraid something might fall from the sky or come running by to ruin their hard work.”
“My cousin said it’s fine now, he doesn’t have to worry about that stuff anymore. Tomorrow he’ll…”
“Cook it?” someone interjected.
“Of course not!” he replied, “He’ll just grab its paws and give the road a couple of slaps.”
Yuan Yao couldn’t help but chuckle.
But he keenly heard amidst the laughter, a voice mixed in that sounded like a taunt.
Turning around, he saw a tall man standing not far away, a distinct expression of disdain on his face.
What confirmed his suspicion was hearing the man say coldly after his laughter subsided, “A road that needs to be guarded against dogs running across? How sturdy could it be? I reckon this road is just for show, brother. You’re going to lose.”
The old man beside him gave him a helpless look and replied, “Uncle Wei, is your patience not enough to wait until the end?”
Yuan Yao didn’t recognize Zhang Chang and Zhang Meng, but his instincts told him their identities were not ordinary.
He wanted to step forward and chat with them, but just then, a sound of a gong struck, drawing everyone’s attention toward the city gate, including his.
Before the sound of the gong even faded, two boys were tugging a long scroll and running towards the north.
They were treading on this new road.
The long scroll unfurling in the wind clearly revealed the words “Chang’an.”
Although they knew that since the boys dared walk on this road, it could surely support their weight, at that moment, everyone instinctively held their breath, fearing that this modified royal road might leave two trails of footprints, just as Qiao Yan could leave traces with an iron stick.
But when the two boys dressed in cotton single-layer garments brought the scroll from one end of the cement road to the other, onlookers clearly saw that this road, which once required vigilant guarding, had long ceased to show marks, maintaining the same appearance as before.
What they should pay attention to wasn’t just the boys’ feet but also the paper scroll they held.
That paper…
Anyone who had come in contact with mulberry bark paper and the hemp paper promoted years earlier could easily tell that while this paper appeared less resilient than bark paper, it was much smoother than hemp paper, evidently belonging to an entirely different category of paper.
The ink effects on this paper were quite impressive, at least in Zhang Chang’s eyes as a calligraphy master.
He instinctively felt that the appearance of such special paper was definitely not an ordinary sign.
Just as these two had disappeared from their sight, two more individuals ran past with scrolls in hand, featuring the word “Jian’an.”
This time, the paper they held was indeed mulberry bark paper.
The third batch of paper nearly had Zhang Chang taking a step forward just to see more clearly, but unfortunately, road guards intercepted him.
Fortunately, this time, the two individuals didn’t hold the scrolls simultaneously; instead, they each held one scroll, displaying them on either side and walking at a considerably slower pace than the previous two groups.
On the paper, the scene of Chang’an City was sketched, with the words “Determining the Central Plains” written in the blank spaces.
What caught Zhang Chang’s attention was not the inscription but this new type of paper. It was whiter compared to the first two kinds, as if that were its most insignificant quality.
Being well-versed in calligraphy and painting, he could easily tell that this paper absorbed ink much better than the previous two—it was practically born for art.
If it weren’t for the inappropriateness of the moment, Zhang Chang would have snatched the paper and asked about its origins.
This was genuinely good news for artists like him.
Who could refuse such temptation? At least, he couldn’t.
When the fourth round of presentations began, Zhang Chang’s eyes widened further.
This paper wasn’t just white; it had a unique, lustrous glow and was smoother than the previous three.
The ink traces left on it were of no lesser quality than those on the others, and it looked as if the ink was flying.
The four characters “Everlasting Chang’an” written on it were penned by his brother, Zhang Zhi!
Yet, Zhang Chang had never heard about such paper from the letters sent by his brother.
It must have appeared recently.
Of course, once such paper was introduced to the world, it would surely become well-known.
Zhang Chang gazed at the pristine paper as it was carried away, regretting that no one was discussing its qualities among the observers.
Not far from there, on the pavilion, Ren Hong watched this scene and asked Cai Zhaoji, who was also present, “The Marquis said these four types of paper are bamboo paper, mulberry bark paper, Qingtan paper, and mulberry paper. If you had to choose, which one would you prefer?”
If it were Ren Hong, she would surely prefer mulberry paper.
Being placed last in such a lineup was enough proof of its aesthetic value.
A special substance in the mulberry bark would become part of the paper during its production process, so even if it was complex to make, the resulting paper undoubtedly retained its toughness and luster, and according to Qiao Yan, it could significantly extend its preservation time.
The saying that this paper could last a thousand years was incredibly appealing for the Lingtai, which recorded astronomical phenomena and history.
Unfortunately, its cost was indeed high.
However, Ren Hong was surprised when Cai Zhaoji replied, “Bamboo paper.”
Seeing Ren Hong’s astonishment, Cai Zhaoji explained, “The quality of the first batch of bamboo paper still seems rough; as you mentioned, even if it’s technically improved, it’s unlikely to compete with Qingtan or mulberry paper in terms of quality. Among these four kinds, it truly ranks last, so it was displayed first. But does it really matter?”
Cai Zhaoji didn’t forget the earlier advice from Qiao Yan, who had cautioned her when she connected coin minting with printing.
Roads should be built step by step, and meals eaten bite by bite. Now that the cost of paper is lowered, could it be a sign?
At the very least, it would allow the students of Leping Academy to have more paper available and increase the number of Leping Monthly Reports further.
These were immediately visible benefits.
Just that point was enough for Cai Zhaoji to make her choice.
“I’ve heard the Marquis intends to reduce the use of mulberry trees in favor of bamboo paper. As for the high-end paper sought after by noble families and calligraphers, Qingtan and mulberry paper will take their place. That’s sufficient for two categories.”
Cai Zhaoji smiled gently as she looked at the four types of paper posted at the end of the cement road, “The historian’s ink must endure through time, but I just want more people to know what we are recording.”
Fortunately, they had gained another advantage now.
Looking at the crowd below, it highlighted the rarity of the bamboo paper’s emergence.
Zhang Chang felt that no one could discuss the ink absorption of these papers with him, while Cai Zhaoji believed that not many in the crowd recognized the four types of written characters.
And because of this, when the sound of a gong rang out, signaling the start of the next segment, those who were merely here to watch turned their gazes back to the South City Gate.
Only a few had managed to recover from the impressions left by the four sheets of paper.
However, this new unfolding scene certainly fit the definition of “lively.”
Just like last night’s stress test of the cement road’s compressive strength, what rolled onto the road now were war chariots.
For ordinary folks, they would hardly see such things, and if they did, it would usually be a sign of impending doom.
But this time was different.
The war chariots were merely ceremonial in their presentation.
To show that the load on the chariots was substantial, the soldiers standing on them wielded long spears and wore heavy armor.
The only exception was the individual at the front, holding the commander’s banner—Dian Wei.
Of course, in such a context, the characters on the banner could not possibly be “Qiao”; instead, it had to be a Han character.
Yet, as Dian Wei led the chariots down the new road of Chang’an, no one would forget this was a unit belonging to the Marquis of Leping.
Heavy armor, heavy banners, heavy chariots, and even the occupants of the chariots were heavy; the sound of the horseshoes crashing into the ground was particularly resounding.
Even so, as this line of chariots disappeared from one end of the road to the other, the road surface still showed no signs of wear.
Everyone’s gaze fell to the ground, afraid it might be due to their lack of careful observation that led to such discrepancies.
But absence meant absence.
The cement road showed no signs of yielding to such treatment.
And while keeping an eye on the situation of the ground, whether it was Yuan Yao, who had just arrived in Chang’an, or Yuan Xi, waiting to meet Tian Feng, they each spotted the unique attachment on the horseshoes.
They suddenly realized this was no ordinary presence.
Qiao Yan’s grasp over the territory separated from others, along with the heavy crossbows represented by the powerful scorpions, made many overlook her cavalry setup.
But in fact, horseshoes, like this cement road, had groundbreaking significance.
Yet, as Qiao Yan held both Liangzhou and Bingzhou under her command, greatly limiting other regions’ sources of warhorses, it was probably her opponents who needed to worry about whether this would cause any trouble for her.
Worry when her iron-hoofed cavalry marched east or south, would it not become a nightmare for them!
At this moment, that was precisely what Yuan Xi was thinking.
It seemed they were lagging not just in crop yields and bows!
What shocked Yuan Xi even more were the heavy-armored soldiers stepping onto the cement road.
Their footsteps were uniform, sending a tremor through the ground even more than the chariots had.
Following these heavily armored infantry were the cavalry, a magnificent team of Da Yuan steeds returning from Bingzhou.
Even if Yuan Xi didn’t know that in just two years, the second generation of these Da Yuan steeds alongside the horses from Bingzhou and Liangzhou would be ready for battle, potentially even serving the distant generals, he realized at this moment—
In this place, the dreams of Chang’an and Jian’an were likely not merely dreams.
They were declarations of war against all enemies!
Including his father!
He thought about how he needed to quickly send these messages, along with his perceptions of friend or foe regarding Tian Feng, back to Ye City to inform his father. Otherwise, they might be truly faced with disaster…
As he pondered this, the next person stepping onto the cement road changed again.
But this time, it wasn’t a well-coordinated army; it was just one person.
A person holding a knife.
With Yuan Xi’s keen eyes, it was easy to discern that the knife in this person’s hand was indeed a good knife, able to slice through iron like mud, with only the edge being slightly thin, which wasn’t necessarily a flaw but a mark of quality.
In the silence that settled over the crowd due to confusion, the person asked loudly, “Is there anyone willing to step forward and use this knife to carve this road?”
Cutting the road with a knife?
Still recovering from the spectacle of the soldiers passing by, the crowd exchanged glances, unsure of the intent behind this.
Although they all recognized it might be a great chance to step into the spotlight, this new road, made of special materials, had once been a royal path—what if something went wrong?
Maybe it was Zhang Meng’s imagination, but he felt that as hesitance spread among the crowd, the knife-wielding person’s gaze landed somewhat provocatively on his face.
Thinking back to the bet he made with his brother, recalling the earlier ridicule he aimed at this road, and remembering how he had stared at it blankly for so long—
Zhang Meng suddenly jumped out from the crowd, shouting, “Let me give it a try!”
If he could leave a mark on this road with the knife, he could at least have a reason to hold his head high!
