Chapter 47: Qin Shi Huang's Envy Flared

Xu Biao did not seem to notice Shi Maoyuan's abnormal reaction.

He continued, "To be honest, I have come all the way from the capital this time upon the direct order of a noble person, specifically to search for this Han Xin!"

"If you can help me find him, I will certainly put in a few good words for Chief Shi when I return."

Clatter—

A crisp sound came from inside the room, as if a rice bowl had fallen to the floor.

Immediately after, an old woman's startled voice rang out, "Xiuniang, what are you doing? Why did you break it..."

"Chief Shi, Chief Shi?" Wu De also noticed something strange about the household and immediately prompted, "Chief Shi, Lord Xu is asking you a question."

"Oh!"

Shi Maoyuan only then snapped back to his senses, asking uncertainly, "Does this Han Xin that Lord Xu is looking for have any distinct characteristics?"

Xu Biao was stunned, silently marveling that it was fortunate His Highness Fusu had given such detailed instructions.

There might well be several people named Han Xin in Huaiyin County.

Therefore.

He took out a brocade pouch, opened it to take a look, and after confirming the details, said, "If I have not made a mistake."

"Chief Shi should have given relief aid to this person named Han Xin!"

"Even if you haven't given him aid, you ought to know him!"

"Have no doubt, the Han Xin I am looking for is the very one you are familiar with!"

Shi Maoyuan sprang to his feet in a single bound, hurriedly walking outward as he said, "My lord!"

"The person who just left is the very Han Xin you are looking for!"

With that, Shi Maoyuan dashed out immediately.

Wu De's head buzzed with a loud hum, his mind going completely blank.

What... What!

That ill-mannered fellow who had just left was the person the lord was looking for?

Xu Biao snapped to his senses as well.

To have actually shared a table for a meal without recognizing each other...

Xu Biao hurriedly gave chase as well.

What a mess things had turned into!

......

Achoo—

Fusu sneezed violently, feeling certain someone was cursing him behind his back.

He could not help but sigh.

A tall tree catches the wind, and a large ship rides heavy waves!

There are always treacherous flatterers plotting against this Highness!

Fusu stepped out of the room, looked up at the sky, and said, "It is going to rain. Everyone, make sure to bring in the clothes drying in the courtyard early!"

Upon hearing this, Bai Shao immediately went to have people collect the laundry.

At this moment.

The Baiyue youths who had been purchased were already settled.

These boys and girls, though deeply curious about the identity of the person who lived in such a massive estate, did not dare to ask.

Fusu did not tell them either; instead, he had them all bathe and eat their fill.

Then.

Fusu began putting them through training based on the contents of the Special Forces Training Manual.

Long-distance running, weighted cross-country marches, strength training...

Fusu trained and ate right along with them, intending to elevate his overall physical fitness.

Fortunately, Fusu had practiced martial arts since childhood, and his physical foundation was not bad.

With adequate nutrition, he could manage the grueling regimen without breaking down.

During this period, Wang Ruonan had visited once and was greatly surprised to see Fusu training alongside the others.

However.

She still held a great deal of prejudice against Fusu.

She simply could not stand his arrogant and bossy demeanor at times.

Time slowly flowed onward.

A grand transformation was quietly and gradually taking shape.

Following the emergence of paper, the bamboo slips conventionally used in the Qin Dynasty suffered a severe blow. People went from initial novelty to usage, then resistance, and finally gradual adaptation, until it was fully accepted.

The Wang family's workshops operated at full throttle, and in just half a month, paper flooded the streets and alleys!

Wang Jian made a fortune over these past few days, grinning even in his dreams.

Xianyang Palace.

Qin Shihuang slammed his hand on the desk and roared, "Summon that old bastard Wang Jian to see me!"

Zhao Gao immediately accepted the order and departed.

Meng Yi spoke up, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This paper is truly convenient to use, and it is said to have miraculous effects not only for bearing seal script, but also numerous other applications..."

Before Meng Yi could finish his sentence.

Feng Quji sneezed violently, pulled out a piece of paper to wipe his nose, and tossed it into a nearby bamboo trash basket.

Qin Shihuang watched this scene, his eyes bulging as he said, "This old rascal actually dared to deceive those above and conceal things from below, secretly starting a business of his own!"

"To think he is still the Marquis of Wucheng; I'd say calling him the Marquis of Commerce now wouldn't be going too far at all!"

"His mind is filled entirely with business, yet he never offers any good proposals for military affairs, spending all day dabbling in crooked and unorthodox schemes!"

While Qin Shihuang cursed him outwardly like this, inwardly he was dying of envy.

I was careless, truly careless!

At first, Qin Shihuang had only seen the utility of patents and the cleverness of regular script, but he had completely failed to spot the magical properties of paper!

Now he had let Wang Jian seize the opportunity.

Paper was selling like wildfire, and the entire city of Xianyang was being overrun by it.

Qin Shihuang could easily foresee that before long, bamboo slips and official documents would be entirely replaced by paper.

At present.

The authorization for paper production rested in the hands of the Wang family, which meant the Wang family was essentially manufacturing paper by imperial decree!

Damn it!

Manufacturing paper by imperial decree!!

The mere thought of this infuriated Qin Shihuang—this was all money!

He hadn't managed to rake in a single coin, yet he had let the Wang family rake in a mountain of wealth. Qin Shihuang's eyes turned red with jealousy.

Li Si glanced at Feng Quji, who was still using paper to wipe his nose, and said with a sarcastic sneer, "Your Majesty, this paper is selling at such an exorbitant price!"

"It is simply too outrageous!"

"A single banliang coin can actually only buy ten sheets of paper!"

"Why, thirty sheets of paper are equivalent to the price of a dou of millet!"

Feng Jie nodded as well, chiming in, "Your Majesty, this is the behavior of a crafty merchant and must be severely punished!"

Qin Shihuang snorted coldly, "I never realized before that this fellow had such a brilliant mind for making money!"

"Ten sheets of paper for a banliang coin—how is this any different from outright robbery?"

...

Just as the ministers were vociferously denouncing Wang Jian for failing to act as a proper subject.

Wei Zhong walked in and lowered his voice to report, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Marquis of Wucheng has arrived."

"Let him in!!!" Qin Shihuang commanded, suppressing his anger.

Before long.

Wang Jian walked into the grand hall, making a rattling sound with every step—the only part of him that wasn't making noise was his mouth.

Upon seeing Wang Jian, Qin Shihuang's eyes twitched sharply.

He saw that Wang Jian was clad in tattered armor covered in knife gashes, with his inner armor slashed open in multiple places.

He looked utterly desolate, appearing much like a beggar as he announced, "Your old subject pays respects to Your Majesty!"

Qin Shihuang looked at him in astonishment, momentarily at a loss for words.

Li Si was equally bewildered by the sight.

Feng Jie and Feng Quji swallowed hard, struggling for a long time to figure out what to say.

Qin Shihuang let out a cold snort and asked directly, "What is the meaning of this attire, Marquis of Wucheng?"

Wang Jian immediately dropped to his knees, crying out with a bitter expression, "Your Majesty, I am poor!"

"I am so poor right now that I rattle with every step!"

"I can't even afford a complete set of armor anymore!"

"You, poor?" Qin Shihuang wore a skeptical look, completely baffled.

Wang Jian nodded instantly, "Your Majesty, in order to make paper, this old subject poured out every last bit of my family's savings. First, I commissioned craftsmen to research and develop the manufacturing methods."

"Then, I had to set up factories and recruit hands!"

"And finally, after we finally managed to produce paper on a large scale, His Highness Fusu had people give it away for free trial use for two whole days!"

陛下可知，老臣前前后后投入了多少钱？？"

Qin Shihuang froze, subconsciously shaking his head as he replied, "I do not know..."

"Ten thousand liang of silver!"