The letter sent to Sun Quan still had not received a reply.
Before it did, however, news arrived from Jian Yong, who was still traveling through Yizhou and gathering intelligence.
Liu Bei did not hesitate for even a moment. He immediately summoned his most trusted external brain.
Zhuge Liang.
When Kongming arrived, he was still wearing a straw hat. His trousers were rolled to his calves, and he was barefoot, with mud clinging stubbornly to his feet as though it had claimed ownership.
He looked exactly like a farmer who had been dragged straight out of the rice fields in the middle of his work.
And yet, even so, Liu Bei could not help but sigh inwardly.
'Some people really just look good no matter what they do. They could even look handsome while farming. Unfair.'
"Kongming, why did you not at least wash first?" Liu Bei stepped forward and, with the ease of long familiarity, wiped the mud from Zhuge Liang's face with his sleeve.
"The matter sounded urgent, so I came immediately," Zhuge Liang replied with a bright laugh. "What does my lord need? The fields have already begun using the methods from the Tiangong Kaiwu. The seedlings are much stronger than in previous years. This harvest should be excellent."
"Oh? Is it truly that effective?"
Liu Bei had been traveling constantly between Chanling and Gong'an while also dealing with Zhou Yu across the river. He had left the agricultural work entirely in Zhuge Liang's hands and genuinely knew little about the details.
Zhuge Liang nodded firmly.
"From raising seedlings to fertilizing the soil and managing the fields, that book covers everything. When I explained the methods to the farmers, even they were shocked. They said it was the first time they had seen agriculture explained so clearly."
Liu Bei released a long breath.
"Since ancient times, people have never paid enough attention to agriculture."
Then he smiled.
"Later, I will accompany you to transplant the seedlings."
"Oh, right!"
Liu Bei slapped his forehead and picked up a letter.
"A message from Xianhe."
Zhuge Liang wiped his hands on the hem of his robe, accepted the letter, and scanned it quickly.
A smile soon spread across his face.
"Congratulations, my lord. The hearts of the people of Yizhou are already leaning toward you."
This is exactly why I rely on him.
After reading the letter himself, Liu Bei had felt as though he were reading a travel diary. There were descriptions of banquets here, expensive dishes there, and very little that seemed meaningful.
Zhuge Liang spread the letter across the table and began explaining patiently.
"Xianhe was probably worried that the letter might be intercepted or fall into the hands of spies, so he wrote it intentionally vaguely. But if you examine the names he mentions, his true meaning becomes clear."
"He is reporting that Yizhou is in a precarious state. Liu Zhang indulges in pleasure and neglects governance. Zhang Lu watches from outside like a hungry tiger, yet Liu Zhang cannot suppress him. Within the province, Pang Xi and Li Yi are both nurturing their ambitions."
"Liu Zhang lacks authority. Zhang Song and Fa Zheng are willing to act as intermediaries and invite my lord into Yizhou."
"And now Xianhe has already left Yizhou. After meeting Ma Mengqi, he will return."
Liu Bei's expression grew complicated.
"Xianhe has suffered greatly on this journey."
The roads into Yizhou were notoriously brutal, yet Jian Yong had volunteered for the mission without a second thought.
Then, slowly, the full weight of the message settled over him.
They wanted to welcome him into Yizhou.
Liu Bei began pacing.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
Again and again.
His heart was restless, and his hands trembled slightly.
Zhuge Liang finally sighed.
"My lord, is there anything else? If not, I should return to the fields. Today is transplanting day. We cannot be late."
Liu Bei stopped.
He thought for a moment before making his decision.
"I will come with you."
Liu Bei changed into simple work clothes, put on a straw hat, and went barefoot just like a farmer. There was zero trace of a lord about him now. As someone who started out weaving mats and selling sandals, Liu Bei had never lost his craft skills. He even wove things occasionally while thinking, since it helped him organize his messy thoughts.
In the fields, Zhuge Liang had strictly followed the methods recorded in the Tiangong Kaiwu. Seeds had been soaked until sprouting, then nurtured in seedbeds for thirty days before being ready for transplant.
The rickety little shelter he and Jiang Wan used for work had been built right beside the seedling field. Convenient.
Today was the big day.
Liu Bei copied Zhuge Liang's example, carrying a cloth bag, gathering seedlings neatly, and stepping into the new field to plant them one by one.
After half a mu, he finally could not hold it in anymore.
"Kongming... is it true they want to welcome me into Yizhou?"
"My lord is sincere and devoted to the people. That is only natural," Zhuge Liang replied flatly without looking up. "Also, please move slightly to the left. Your seedlings are crooked."
"But if I go, would that not make them traitors to their lord?"
"Liu Zhang is weak, and he is of the same imperial clan as you. Though they turn from him, they do not betray the Han. Also, that one is crooked again."
"But even so, would I not be breaking faith with Liu Jiyu?"
Zhuge Liang finally stopped, wiped the sweat from his face, and reached out.
"My lord, give me the seedlings. Perhaps you should not be planting anymore."
Liu Bei was gently but firmly guided out of the field. Dude was really bad at this.
Standing by the edge, he kept talking without pause.
"But this still feels wrong. Sun Quan and Zhou Yu can attack Liu Jiyu, yet I cannot?"
"My lord is of the Han imperial clan."
"Then Zhang Lu rebelled and no one even condemned him!"
"Zhang Lu stopped caring about reputation a long time ago."
"But I..."
"My lord, perhaps you would like to plant the entire field by yourself?"
Zhuge Liang switched places with him and sat down at the edge of the field, finally getting a little bit of peace.
But soon, he sighed inwardly.
His lord is still struggling to accept the future shown on the light screen.
From being chased across the land by Cao Cao to gaining territory, seeing auspicious signs, and now even having others actively invite him to rule? It is too abrupt a transformation.
'I need to guide him carefully through this.'
Elsewhere, Mi Zhu had already received the newly produced paper from Huang Yueying.
He lifted a sheet, examining it closely. Smelled it. Touched it. Tested its texture with experienced merchant hands that had handled countless goods over the years.
"Excellent paper," he said at last. "Not inferior to Zuo Bo paper at all."
"Madam Huang, does it have a name yet?"
Huang Yueying shook her head.
"In the workshop, we call it Red Mulberry Paper just to tell it apart from the others."
Mi Zhu immediately frowned.
"That name will not work."
He chuckled.
"With a name like that, anyone could guess what it is made from just by hearing it."
Huang Yueying thought for a moment, then smiled.
"Then perhaps, to echo Zuo Bo paper, we could call it Zhuge Paper."
Mi Zhu nodded easily. The name itself did not matter much to him. What mattered was business.
"What is important is this. What is the production capacity?"
"If we operate at full capacity, we can produce three hundred rolls per month."
"That is too little."
Huang Yueying blinked. She was clearly surprised.
"Too little? Zuo Bo paper sells for twelve hundred coins per roll. Even if Zhuge Paper sells for one thousand, after costs, we could still earn two hundred thousand coins a month!"
Mi Zhu remained completely calm.
"Two hundred thousand coins is the equivalent of fifteen fine horses. A full year of sales would not even support two hundred cavalry."
"And that is without accounting for equipment and maintenance costs."
He shook his head.
"It is far too little."
Huang Yueying was left speechless. She had never thought of it on that scale before. Then again, Mi Zhu was a billionaire merchant. His idea of small money was very different from everyone else's.
"As for printed books," Mi Zhu continued, "their value is immense, but they cannot be sold in large quantities."
"Why not?"
"Because once they flood the market, the price will collapse completely."
Huang Yueying hesitated before speaking again.
"Yesterday, when Kongming and Jiang Gongyan saw the paper and books, they discussed an idea."
Mi Zhu raised an eyebrow.
"What is it? What did they discuss, Lady Huang?"
"They discussed whether it is possible to use woodblock printing to produce and sell official bulletins."
Mi Zhu froze for a moment.
Official bulletins. As someone who had spent most of his life as a merchant, even after briefly serving under Tao Qian, he had practically forgotten such things even existed.
But now? The idea hit him like a spark hitting dry tinder.
Yet right away, concern followed.
"If such bulletins spread widely, the printing method itself will soon be learned by others, right?"
Huang Yueying nodded.
"That is why the matter requires careful consideration," Huang Yueying replied. "We will need Kongming's approval and Liu Huangshu's."
Back at the field, Zhuge Liang was still giving Liu Bei his private little life lessons, when new information arrived.
"My lord, Sun Quan has sent Lu Su as an envoy to visit the Grand Commander. He has already entered Jiangling."
Liu Bei let out a breath of relief.
"Then the matter of who owns Jiangling should be decided soon."
"Not only that," Zhuge Liang added, a hint of anticipation in his voice.
"By my calculations, in five days, the light screen will reveal its next segment."
---
Fun Fact:
Mi Zhu: The Ultimate Venture Capitalist
Mi Zhu was not just a merchant, he was one of the wealthiest men in China. When Liu Bei lost everything to Lu Bu, Mi Zhu did not just join him, he funded him. He provided Liu Bei with two thousand servants and massive amounts of gold and silver. In modern terms, he was the Angel Investor who saved a failing startup because he believed in the founder.