Chapter 150: Black and White on Paper

The Records of the Three Kingdoms was authored by Chen Shou and completed in the year 280 AD.

It chronicles the dynastic history of China's Three Kingdoms period and stands as one of the "Four Histories," which hold the highest evaluations among the Twenty-Four Histories.

While the aforementioned facts are common knowledge, it is likely far less known that The Records of the Three Kingdoms was the earliest paper-based book discovered in Zhang Yu's homeland from his past life.

In 1924 and 1965, two fragmented paper manuscripts of The Records of the Three Kingdoms, copied during the Jin Dynasty, were successively discovered in the Xinjiang region. Until Zhang Yu traveled through time, these remained the oldest surviving paper-scroll books.

Paper had already been invented during the Western Han Dynasty. Around the late Western Han and early Eastern Han dynasties, paper books began to emerge. According to Comprehensive Customs and Mores, written by Ying Shao in the 2nd century, Liu Xiu, the Son of the Bit and Emperor Guangwu of Han, moved the capital from Chang'an to Luoyang after his reign was established. During the relocation of the capital, the carts transporting books reportedly "carried a total of two thousand loads of plain silk, bamboo slips, and paper classics." Here, plain silk refers to silk manuscripts; bamboo slips refer to books written on bamboo and wood; and paper refers to books written on paper.

Since paper books were among the texts transported from Chang'an in the early Eastern Han Dynasty, the production of books using paper must have appeared no later than the late Western Han Dynasty. According to Biography of Jia Kui in Chronicles of the Eastern Han, written by Liu Zhen, a contemporary of Ying Shao, Emperor Zhang of Han, Liu Da, commanded the Erudite Jia Kui to lecture on the Classic of Poetry and the Spring and Autumn Annals in 76 AD. To provide him with reference materials, the emperor specially bestowed "one set each of bamboo slips, paper classics, and commentaries." This should demonstrate that paper-made books indeed existed in the early Eastern Han Dynasty.

Furthermore, according to Chronicles of the Later Han: Annals of Emperor He by the Jin Dynasty historian Yuan Hong, Consort Deng was elevated to the position of Empress in 102 AD, whereupon she issued an order prohibiting all states from tributing rare and precious treasures, stipulating that "year after year they shall tribute only paper and ink." This reveals how precious paper was at that time. However, due to the complexity of the manufacturing process, the exorbitant cost, and the poor preservation qualities of the paper produced, the popularization of paper did not progress rapidly. It was not until the Jin Dynasty that paper books completely replaced bamboo slips and silk scrolls of the past, becoming the most mainstream medium for writing.

Be that as it may, in the current late Eastern Han Dynasty, silk manuscripts and bamboo slips remained the most widespread writing utensils. As for paper books, they could still be considered precious rarities.

"Using paper... to write books?" Little Zhen Luo put on a serious expression.

"Making books out of paper not well facilitates writing, but flipping through them and carrying them around can also save a lot of trouble."

"Mm... Brother Yu is right, but if we are to use paper exclusively for writing... Luo'er has never tried this before, and I wonder if it might be somewhat improper."

What could possibly be improper? If paper isn't used for writing... are you supposed to use it to wipe your backside?

Of course, Zhang Yu only kept these thoughts to himself. He would never admit that he had always been unable to accept those bamboo sticks actually known as toilet tallies, and instead always relied on silk fabric to resolve the matter.

Just now, he realized something was amiss the moment the words left his mouth. The difficulty in popularizing paper nowadays was not merely due to its price; otherwise, given the financial resources of the Zhen family, even if it truly became a case of "paper causing a rise in prices in Luoyang," transporting a few cartloads of paper would be effortless.

Aside from price, the sources and channels for paper were also very narrow. Outside of official entities, private papermaking was rarely seen, and it was divided into different tiers based on region. For example, the users and quantity of paper in Hebei were certainly fewer than those in the Three Auxiliary regions, and paper-based books were mostly possessed only by truly prominent and prestigious noble clans. Families like the Zhen family and his own Zhang family did have paper—the poem Ballad of the Wormwood Ravine that Zhang Yu wrote back then was written on paper, and it was mostly used for writing letters and the like. Yet if one were to truly pick up a brush to copy items onto paper to be read as a book, anyone would likely feel it was somewhat extravagant.

For anything to be passed down, it always requires the power of the general populace to ground it in reality; playing within a tiny, closed circle cannot last long. Many games and sports in the long river of history were transmitted from the top down to the common people, allowing them to flourish and endure. Unfortunately... papermaking clearly did not fall into this category.

However, who was he?

Looking at the somewhat heavy bamboo slips in his hand, Zhang Yu quickly relaxed his brow and smiled warmly at Zhen Luo, saying, "Luo'er need not fret. Leave this matter entirely to me. When I return to Lunu in the future and manufacture paper, I will send people to deliver plenty of white paper, allowing my Luo'er to write to her heart's content."

Zhang Yu had not forgotten that the generous Uncle Su had specifically carved out a courtyard for him where papermaking could take place; nor had he forgotten his wild boast at the Cai family poetry gathering that he would produce books to propagate new times and new verse.

Now that he had the territory, he could use it directly as a small hub to disguise his skill usage, and then boldly and arrogantly execute wave after wave of skills—with white paper flying and the fragrance of ink overflowing, wouldn't that be wonderful?

Papermaking alone was of extraordinary significance, to say nothing of printing, that pirated—cough, book-making divine artifact. Right now, the only thing Zhang Yu needed to do was strive to elevate his reputation and enhance his self-preservation capabilities. An ordinary citizen is innocent, but the possession of a jade ring becomes a crime; yet if the bearer of the jade ring was a towering, influential figure or someone not easily trifled with, then perhaps others would see nothing left in their eyes except envy.

Hearing Zhang Yu speak thus, Zhen Luo's young heart blossomed like a cluster of flowers, overwhelmed with sweetness.

In Zhen Luo's eyes, her Brother Yu was truly omnipotent, as if everything could be resolved effortlessly in his hands, and no one else in the world could obscure even a sliver of his brilliance.

Halfway through the banquet, everyone began to eat more casually, losing much of the previous restraint. Zhen Yan still maintained a stern demeanor, occasionally exchanging stiff pleasantries with Zhang Yu, while Zhen Yao was much more relaxed. The two of them conversed back and forth with a certain mutual affinity, except that these two were accustomed to walking around with their heads held high. Now, facing the leading figure among their peers, no matter how much inherent confidence they possessed in their bones, they could not help but feel like the dim glow of fireflies in comparison.

"I wonder what plans Lang has for the future?" Madam Zhen asked with a smile from the seat of honor. Zhen Yao's cheek twitched upon hearing this; he could guarantee he had never heard his mother speak in such a kind and gentle tone.

"A person like me, Yu, is just as I wrote in my poem: 'Young, I lacked the temperament for worldly ways; by nature, I love the hills and mountains.' I do not harbor many ambitions for the imperial court. Perhaps accustomed to this leisurely disposition, I only wish to do the things I enjoy," Zhang Yu replied casually yet respectfully.

"Leisuredness is wonderful. It is a truth that many great figures spend their entire lives failing to see through; who would have thought Lang would have this realization at such a young age?"

"!" The expressions of the Zhen brothers at this moment looked as though they had been struck by lightning. "Is leisuredness wonderful? Then you, old lady, have forced us since childhood to study this and learn that, and we also love the hills and mountains! Just who is your biological son?!"

"Thank you, Madam." Zhang Yu perceived the faint sorrow of the two brothers, though inwardly he felt immensely gratified.

"You two boys, don't go thinking your mother is biased." Madam Zhen had been the head of the powerful Wu Ji clan for quite a few years; how could she not know what these two rascals were thinking? "With Lang's talent and current reputation, even if he did not take up an official post or enter government service, his poetry and prose alone would shake the world. It is only a pity that after Dong Zhuo's rebellion, the two brothers Xu Jing and Xu Shao went their separate ways and could no longer spare the energy to critique figures. Otherwise, if one could obtain an appraisal from their Monthly Assessments, Lang's genius might well be engraved in historical records and pass down a fragrant legacy for eternity.

Since ancient times, fame and fortune have been difficult to acquire simultaneously. Lang is still young yet has accumulated such vast renown; hiding one's brilliance and cultivating oneself amidst rivers and mountains is the righteous path. If the two of you could possess even a tenth of his talent, your mother would not be so harsh with you."

Madam Zhen was truly worthy of being Madam Zhen; hearing these words, Zhang Yu felt a heartfelt surge of respect. Indeed, a tree that stands tall in the forest is battered by the wind. He had still been too naive; had Madam Zhen not brought this up, Zhang Yu might have somewhat overlooked it.

Those poems and essays, had they been authored by veterans like Cai邕 or Zheng Xuan, would inevitably have been sought after by scholars across the realm. The reason he was able to rely on them for fame depended not only on the exceptionally high quality of the poetry, but also upon the title of an imperial Han brother. Otherwise, did he really think celebrities were that easy to be? Before The Palace of A-Fang was brought out by Zhang Yu, there had also been quite a few voices questioning his previous poetry, the most obvious of which was the attack on seven-character verse.

Without resorting to lethal destructive forces such as the profanity of his past life, Zhang Yu would never dare to easily test the combat effectiveness of current scholars and Confucians who used classical allusions to tear each other apart with sharp tongues.

After all, this was an era that highly valued and cherished reputation. Even entering government service as an official required the recommendation of reputable individuals—just like the Monthly Assessments mentioned by Madam Zhen. Whoever was critiqued and evaluated would see their social standing multiply a hundredfold, circulating in the secular world as a fine tale, thereby becoming renowned far and wide and flourishing for a time.

"The Monthly Assessments!" Thinking of this, Zhang Yu paused inwardly. "That sounds rather interesting."