The letter sent to Sun Quan had yet to receive any reply. Instead, news came back first from Jian Yong, who was still traveling abroad.
Liu Bei did not hesitate for even a moment. He immediately summoned his most trusted "external brain" to discuss the matter.
Zhuge Liang.
When Kongming arrived, he was still wearing a straw hat, his trousers rolled up, barefoot, and with mud clinging stubbornly to his feet. He looked every bit like a farmer who had been dragged straight out of the fields.
And yet, even so, Liu Bei could not help but sigh inwardly.
Some people truly looked good no matter what they did.
Even farming.
"Kongming, why didn't you at least wash up first?" Liu Bei stepped forward and, with a natural familiarity, wiped the mud from Zhuge Liang's face using his own sleeve.
"The matter sounded urgent, so I came at once," Zhuge Liang replied with a bright laugh. "What does my lord require? The fields have already begun using the methods from Tiangong Kaiwu. The seedlings are far stronger than in previous years. This harvest will certainly be a good one."
"Oh? Is it truly that remarkable?" Liu Bei had been running back and forth between Chanling and Gong'an, while also dealing with Zhou Yu across the river, leaving agricultural matters entirely in Zhuge Liang's hands. He genuinely did not know the details.
Zhuge Liang nodded firmly.
"From raising seedlings to fertilizing the soil and managing the fields, the book covers everything. When I explained it to the farmers, even they were astonished. They said it was the first time they had seen farming explained so clearly."
Liu Bei let out a long breath.
"Since ancient times, too little attention has been given to agriculture."
Then he smiled.
"Later, I'll go with you to transplant the seedlings."
"Oh, right!" Liu Bei suddenly slapped his forehead and picked up a letter. "A message from Xianhe."
Zhuge Liang wiped his hands on his robe hem, took the letter, and scanned it rapidly. A smile soon appeared on his face.
"Congratulations, my lord. The hearts of Yi Province are already inclined toward you."
This, Liu Bei thought, was exactly why he relied on him.
After reading the letter himself, Liu Bei had only felt as if he were reading a travel diary, filled with descriptions of banquets here and food there, with nothing particularly meaningful.
Zhuge Liang spread the letter open and began explaining patiently.
"Xianhe likely feared the letter might be intercepted or fall into the hands of spies, so he wrote in an intentionally vague manner. However, by examining the names mentioned, his meaning becomes clear."
"He reports that Yi Province is in a precarious state. Liu Zhang indulges in pleasure and neglects governance. Externally, Zhang Lu watches like a tiger and cannot be suppressed. Internally, Pang Xi and Li Yi are stirring with ambition."
"Liu Zhang lacks authority. Zhang Song and Fa Zheng are willing to act as intermediaries and invite my lord into Yi Province."
"And now, Xianhe has already left Yi Province. After meeting Ma Mengqi, he will return."
Liu Bei's expression grew complicated.
"Xianhe has suffered much on this journey…"
The roads into Yi Province were notoriously difficult, yet Jian Yong had volunteered for the task without hesitation.
Then, slowly, the weight of the message sank in.
They wanted to welcome him into Yi Province.
Liu Bei began pacing.
Back and forth. Again and again.
His heart was restless, his hands unsteady.
Zhuge Liang finally sighed.
"My lord, is there anything else? If not, I should return to the fields. Today is the day for transplanting."
Liu Bei stopped, thought for a moment, then made his decision.
"I'll go with you."
Liu Bei changed into simple working clothes, put on a straw hat, and went barefoot like a farmer. There was no trace of a lord about him now.
In the fields, Zhuge Liang had strictly followed the methods recorded in Tiangong Kaiwu. Seeds had been soaked until sprouting, then nurtured in seedbeds for thirty days before transplantation.
The temporary shelter he and Jiang Wan used for work had been built right beside the seedling field.
Today was the day.
Liu Bei followed Zhuge Liang's example, carrying a cloth bag, gathering seedlings neatly, and moving into the new field to plant them one by one.
After half a mu, he finally could not hold it in anymore.
"Kongming… they want to welcome me into Yi Province."
"My lord is sincere and loves the people. It is only natural," Zhuge Liang replied flatly. "Also… please step a bit to the side. 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 plant anymore."
Liu Bei was gently but firmly pushed out of the field.
Standing by the edge, he continued 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 condemned him!"
"Zhang Lu has long since ceased to care for reputation."
"I…"
"My lord, perhaps you would like to plant the entire field?"
Zhuge Liang switched places with him and sat down at the edge of the field, finally feeling a bit of peace.
But soon, he sighed inwardly.
His lord was still struggling to accept the future shown on the light screen.
From being chased across the land by Cao Cao to suddenly gaining territory, auspicious signs, and now even having others actively invite him to rule… it was too abrupt a transformation.
He needed guidance.
Carefully.
Elsewhere, Mi Zhu had already received the newly produced paper from Huang Yueying.
He lifted a sheet, examining it closely, smelling it, touching it, testing its texture with experienced hands.
"Excellent paper," he said at last. "It is no inferior to Zuobo paper."
"Madam Huang, does it have a name?"
Huang Yueying shook her head.
"In the workshop, it is simply called 'Red Mulberry Paper' to distinguish it from the others."
Mi Zhu immediately frowned.
"That name will not do."
He chuckled.
"With a name like that, anyone could guess the material at a glance."
Huang Yueying thought for a moment, then smiled.
"Then perhaps… to echo Zuobo paper, we could call it Zhuge paper."
Mi Zhu nodded easily. The name itself did not matter much to him.
"What matters is this. What is the production capacity?"
"If we operate at full capacity, we can produce three hundred rolls per month."
"Too little."
Huang Yueying blinked.
"Too little? Zuobo 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 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."
He shook his head.
"It is far too little."
Huang Yueying fell silent. She had never thought of it that way.
"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, their price will collapse."
Huang Yueying hesitated before speaking again.
"Yesterday, when Kongming and Jiang Wan saw the paper and books, they discussed an idea."
Mi Zhu raised an eyebrow.
"Let us hear it."
"Could we use woodblock printing to produce and sell court bulletins?"
Mi Zhu froze for a moment.
"Court bulletins…"
As someone who had spent most of his life as a merchant, even after briefly serving under Tao Qian, he had nearly forgotten such things existed.
But now, the idea struck him like a spark.
Yet almost immediately, concern followed.
"If such bulletins spread widely, the printing method itself will soon be learned by others."
Huang Yueying nodded.
"That is why this matter requires careful consideration… and the approval of Kongming and my lord."
Back at the field, Zhuge Liang, still giving Liu Bei his "private lessons," received new information.
"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 Jiangling's ownership should soon be decided."
"Not only that," Zhuge Liang added.
"By my calculations… in five days, the light screen will reveal its next segment."
Footnote: Mi Zhu: The Ultimate Venture Capitalist
Mi Zhu wasn't just a merchant; he was one of the wealthiest men in China. When Liu Bei lost everything to Lu Bu, Mi Zhu didn't just join him, he funded him. He provided Liu Bei with 2,000 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.