[Server Chat Log]
[Abyssal Martial Fanatic: Where is the limit of a true master? A master's potential is a bottomless abyss!
Scroll-Keeper: Shu Brocade was truly the crown jewel of the Han Dynasty. As a quick side note, let me recommend one of our first national treasures prohibited from being exhibited abroad. The "Five Stars Rise in the East to Benefit China" woven silk armguard.
Ghost of Yiwu: Our Boss has gone all out once again. I did some checking. A single roll of this authentic Shu Brocade starts at roughly twenty thousand gold pieces. This is the real deal, not like the cheap knockoffs from Yiwu we have seen before.
Iron Loom Daoist: Compared to ancient times, it is actually much more affordable now. Back then, this stuff was literally worth its weight in gold. Today, thanks to industrial machinery, the price has plummeted.
Pondering Ascetic: But seeing Shu Brocade makes me realize our textile technology did not seem to evolve for the longest time, did it?
Water-Wheel Sect: Technically, yes. We had hand-cranked and foot-pedaled spinning wheels as early as the Spring and Autumn periods, but it was not until the Song Dynasty that we saw water-powered large spinning frames. Then came the modern era, where the spinning mule and ring spinning frames were all Western inventions.
Cotton-Sect Leader: It is not just the tech, though. The main issue was that cotton was not native to China. It did not arrive until the Northern and Southern Dynasties and was not grown on a massive scale until the Song and Yuan eras. They even developed cotton armor back then. Without cotton, talking about a textile revolution is just empty chatter.
Himalayan Hermit: God, speaking of which, I am thinking about India again. They have the world's largest alluvial plain, perfect for farming, but they are separated from us by the Himalayas.
Smug Charioteer: The kicker is that India's historical defense was, well, weak. They were conquered by eleven different ethnic groups in succession. For instance, the Yuezhi, who were at the bottom of the East Asian power hierarchy, went to India, flipped the script, became the overlords, and built the Kushan Empire.
Destiny-Seeking: So, as they say, the destiny of a race depends not only on self-struggle but also on the progress of history. One last thing. If the uploader actually transmigrated with that roll of silk, they would probably end up being hacked to death. Before the Tang Dynasty, a roll like that was the ultimate passport into high society. People would literally draw blood just to own a piece.]
As usual, the Light Screen's appearance was brief, yet intense.
Jiang Wan, known as Gongyan, finished scribbling the final line with a trembling hand.
The next video will be broadcast in three months.
The moment those words were complete, he dropped the brush and collapsed into his chair in utter exhaustion.
Liu Bei noticed the weariness etched across both scribes' faces.
"Gongyan, Jichang, the two of you have worked tirelessly. The kitchen roasted some mutton legs this morning. Take two each home and recover."
Ma Liang and Jiang Wan bowed in gratitude.
The moment Jichang heard the words, he immediately thought of his younger brother. Ever since Ma Su, known as Youchang, had arrived in Gong'an, he had developed an inexplicable fondness for mutton. Two roasted legs would surely keep him delighted for quite some time.
Among the group, the one whose eyes shone brightest was Lady Huang Yueying.
Without wasting a moment, she pulled over a fresh sheet of paper and carefully transcribed the two points concerning spinning-wheel technology. She was the first to leave, practically sprinting for the door.
Liu Bei watched her retreating figure with sincere admiration. "Lady Huang truly is a peerless talent among women."
He exchanged a glance with Pang Tong, who clearly shared the sentiment.
Zhuge Liang, however, understood her better than anyone. He shook his head with a small, knowing smile.
"For the past few months, my wife has been obsessed with improving the paddle-wheel design. She wishes to connect various mechanisms to the wheel in order to save human labor. She even developed a water-powered Eight-Ox Crossbow."
He gave a short laugh. Apparently, after finishing that monstrous device, she had found a fresh spark of inspiration. At present, her chambers were buried beneath mountain-like piles of ship blueprints.
"After seeing the Light Screen, she likely realized she had completely overlooked the spinning wheel. In her urgency, she has most likely rushed back to the workshop to begin research."
Liu Bei nodded. "Everything Lady Huang creates benefits the livelihood of the people. She is a blessing to the Han. A blessing to the common people."
Then his expression shifted. "This cotton. The future seems to place great importance upon it."
Zhang Fei, never one for subtleties, immediately cut in.
"If we can grow armor and weapons straight from the ground, we will be unstoppable!"
Zhuge Liang reached for the map he had previously copied from the Light Screen, the one detailing Great Han and Great Qin. He spread it out across the table.
"India, the land of Shendu. It has cotton, fertile soil, and weak defenses. However, the route is the problem."
Pang Tong furrowed his brow. Even on this simplified map, the obstacle was painfully obvious. Between Han and Shendu stood a single mountain range. Yet that single range was a divine barrier. Stretching from the northern seas to the western regions, it stood like a heaven-sealing curtain, cutting off the shortest route between the two lands.
"It is too early to debate this," Zhuge Liang said softly. "Since we now know this ancient Shendu Road exists, we may eventually offer bounties to merchants and see whether they can bring back cotton seeds."
The others nodded. For now, that was indeed the only viable option.
As the group looked on with lingering longing, Zhuge Liang slowly rolled up the map. In the past, he had often lamented the limits of his knowledge concerning the world's vastness. But now, after glimpsing even a fragment of the globe, a grand ambition had taken root.
Never before had the desire to defeat the Cao thief burned this fiercely. Destroy Cao Cao. Subdue Jiangdong. The world was this vast. And Zhuge Liang wanted to see all of it.
---
The mutton legs had been roasted to perfection, their skin crisp and glistening with fat.
On the way home, Jichang had secretly torn off a small piece to taste. The flavor was indeed mouthwatering.
What he could not understand, however, was why Youchang insisted on chopping the meat into chunks, placing it into a ceramic pot with water, and boiling it again before eating.
It was late January. Winter in Jingzhou had reached its harshest point. The wind howled outside their small residence, rattling the paper windows.
After the meal, the brothers extinguished the lamp and lay side by side beneath the covers for warmth.
"Brother, is the Lord about to mobilize the troops?"
Youchang's eyes gleamed in the darkness, bright with a hunger Jichang knew all too well.
Jichang shifted slightly beneath the thick blankets. "Do you seek a position as Army Advisor?"
He knew his younger brother had been obsessed with military strategy since childhood. Whenever warfare was discussed, Youchang's insights were always lofty and far-reaching. The boy had read every military classic he could get his hands on.
But Jichang fell still.
Ever since being invited into the inner circle that discussed the Light Screen's revelations, he had been plagued by a conflict in his heart. Because when he reviewed the earlier records, the Light Screen had explicitly mentioned one name. Ma Su. After Ma Su lost Jieting, Shu Han's fate was sealed.
Those had been the exact words.
Whether it was Jieting or Youchang himself, the Light Screen had never brought it up again. But Jichang knew Zhuge Liang's temperament. The strategist had certainly taken those words to heart.
That was precisely why, for the past year, every task assigned to Ma Su had been strictly civil. Administrative work, never military command.
Ma Su performed his duties diligently. Yet the frustration during his idle hours was impossible to miss. Civil office was not bad, but what was the point of all those years spent studying military classics if none of it could ever be used?
Besides, the Light Screen had never explained the circumstances behind the so-called loss of Jieting. Perhaps it had been unavoidable. Perhaps it had been merely the first of many setbacks. Perhaps Youchang had already done everything he could.
"Brother!"
Youchang's earnest voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Jichang turned onto his back and stared into the darkness above.
"I will speak with the Lord tomorrow. Whether it happens or not will be for the Lord to decide."
Ignoring his younger brother's muffled cheer of excitement, Jichang slowly closed his eyes. At the end of the day, this was still his own brother. Putting in a word was hardly a burden. If Liu Bei refused, he would simply say that the Lord did not approve.
---
The next morning, Zhuge Liang sought out his Lord carrying a stack of official documents awaiting signature.
"I have said before, Kongming, you may handle these matters yourself."
Liu Bei rubbed his temples with a faint headache as he pulled over a small table and began processing the papers. They were currently at the county office's training grounds, where the morning air carried the sharp scent of sweat and steel.
Zhuge Liang glanced toward two young officers squaring off like a pair of angry roosters. He shot Liu Bei a questioning look.
"Ma Zhong and Ma Su," Liu Bei explained with a weary sigh. "Ma Su is an excellent civil official, but he insists on joining the military and is utterly obsessed with tactics. As for Ma Zhong." He scratched his head. "The Light Screen identified him as a great talent, but the boy is completely illiterate, and all he wants is to lead troops into battle."
"I put them together to see what would happen. I did not expect Ma Su's tongue to be so sharp that they would end up trying to kill one another."
As Zhuge Liang sorted the signed documents into separate stacks, he offered a suggestion.
"Yunchang once persuaded Yide to study in Jiangling. Why not try the same approach with Ma Zhong? A general who leads troops must eventually learn to read the world. One may rely on raw bravery in youth, but once the body weakens with age, how can one continue relying upon bloodlust alone?"
Liu Bei nodded. "Very well. Ma Su is full of scholarly knowledge. Let him be the one to persuade Ma Zhong to study."
Zhuge Liang looked toward the two young men, who had already started brawling in the distance, and let out a faint chuckle.
"My Lord may wish to suggest that Ma Su use a little provocation. It is usually more effective."
Liu Bei's eyes lit up. "Excellent. Let us try that."
As Zhuge Liang carried the processed documents back toward the side hall, a thunderous shout erupted from the rear courtyard.
"MA YOUCHANG, PREPARE TO DIE!"
Zhuge Liang stretched lazily and shook his head. Young people truly had too much energy.
---
The river wind carried the sharp tang of salt and tar as Guan Yu moved from vessel to vessel, inspecting his war fleet. His boots thudded against the damp timbers, each step deliberate and heavy.
After manually operating one of the ships according to a craftsman's instructions, his expression shifted from scrutiny to rare satisfaction.
He beckoned Gan Gui forward.
Gan Gui sauntered over, moving with that lazy, theatrical swagger he had perfected across years of commanding river rats and pirates. His hand rested on the silver bell at his belt, and he gave Guan Yu a grin that was neither too respectful nor too familiar.
"General Guan." He inclined his head just enough to be polite. "You called?"
Guan Yu studied him for a long moment. Gan Gui met his gaze without flinching, still wearing that easy smile. He knew exactly who Guan Yu was. The beard, the blade, the legend. But he had seen too much of the world to be awed by anyone. Men were men. Some were taller. Some were louder. Some had better beards. None of them were gods.
"This warship was designed by Lady Huang," Guan Yu said, gesturing at the vessel. "You know naval warfare. Give me your assessment."
Gan Gui turned his attention to the ship. The moment his eyes landed on it, his expression shifted. This, he could respect.
He studied the vessel carefully, giving the silver bell a tiny, deliberate ring. The sound danced across the water like a secret.
It was unlike anything he had ever seen on the Yangtze.
Most river vessels were light and agile, built for boarding actions and quick maneuvers. The Yangtze wasn't wide enough to justify massive ships. They'd be too clumsy, like trying to dance with a fully loaded ox cart.
But this vessel was sizable. Judging by the deck, it had clearly been modified from an older large ship. The most striking features were the two repeating crossbows mounted along the sides, each fitted with three unnaturally massive bows.
Then there was the circular mechanism at the stern. Gan Gui recognized it immediately. He'd already seen many such devices being constructed around Gong'an and Jiangling, usually while he was pretending to supervise and actually napping in the shade.
"A paddle wheel?" He recalled the term, then gave a slow, approving nod. "Now that's a proper trick. Sneaky. Cunning. I like it. Very much."
"This is a Paddle-Wheel Ship," Guan Yu said. "Come. Lend a hand."
He signaled for a squad of personal guards.
Gan Gui glanced over his shoulder and whistled sharply. His crew materialized from the shadows like they always did.
Old Man Liu, one-eyed and cynical, spat over the side. Big Nose Zhang hefted his axe with far too much enthusiasm. Lao Zheng folded his scarred arms and nodded once. A'Shan the carpenter wiped sweat from his brow. A'Hei the scribe clutched his bamboo slips like they were the only thing keeping him alive.
"Come along, boys," Gan Gui said, waving a hand like he was inviting them to a feast rather than hard labor. "The General wishes us to test his new toy. Try not to break anything. At least not on purpose."
Together they descended into the belly of the ship.
Guan Yu explained the operation in his usual gruff manner. "Step on the pedals. Brace your back against the cabin wall. Keep the cycle going."
The process was simple enough. Gan Gui gripped the handrails and flashed a roguish grin.
"Pedaling like a common laborer." He let out a dramatic sigh. "My father would weep. He always said I was born to command, not to sweat like some river rat who hasn't seen a bath in three seasons."
Old Man Liu grunted from the pedal beside him. "Your father also said you'd get yourself killed before you turned twenty. You're already proving him wrong on one count."
"Quiet, old man," Gan Gui said cheerfully. "Or I'll make you swab the deck with your beard."
Then Guan Yu removed his outer robes, bared his upper body, and planted himself at a set of pedals. Gan Gui watched with mild interest. The man was built like a war god, certainly. But Gan Gui had seen strong men before. Most of them were dead now.
With a rhythmic chant, the men began pedaling in unison. Gan Gui immediately felt the stern wheel begin to rotate. Half-submerged in the water, it churned the river and drove the ship forward with surprising speed.
"Well now," Gan Gui breathed, his eyes widening. "That is... actually rather impressive."
This was an entirely new kind of warship, and Gan Gui instantly understood the implications.
He was no shipwright, but he was a veteran of river warfare. He could tell at once that this ship would be difficult to turn. It moved like a charging bull, straight and powerful, but lacking the agility of a smaller craft.
He opened his mouth to say so, already framing the words in his most dramatic and insightful tone.
"Engage the winch!" Guan Yu's roar cut him off.
"Engage the winch!"
The command echoed above deck.
Gan Gui immediately felt the pedals become far heavier. At the same moment, a bone-chilling mechanical groan filled the hull. The massive bows of the repeating crossbows were being drawn back by the power of the pedals.
So that was how they cocked the weapon. Brilliant. Brutally efficient. Absolutely diabolical.
Gan Gui kept his legs moving, but his mind was already elsewhere. He imagined those monstrous bolts smashing into enemy ships, tearing through formations along the riverbank, slamming into city gates. He thought of the silver bell on his belt and the brocade sail waiting on his own flagship.
His father had been a terror on this river. A man whose very name made sailors cross themselves and pray to whatever gods they believed in.
But this ship? This ship could make the Gan family name echo across the entire Yangtze. Not just as pirates or raiders, but as the architects of a new kind of warfare.
"General," Big Nose Zhang grunted, his face turning red from the effort. "When do we get to shoot something? I want to see what these big bows do to a Wu soldier's face."
"Patience, my large-nosed friend," Gan Gui said, though his own grin was widening. "All good things come to those who pedal. And also to those who know which side of history to stand on."
Lao Zheng shoved Big Nose Zhang aside with his shoulder. "Shut up and pedal, you oaf. You're slowing us down. When the shooting starts, I'll be first through whatever gate we aim at. Not you."
"Try it, old scar-face!"
"Both of you, quiet," Gan Gui said, never breaking his rhythm. "Or I'll tie you both to the paddle wheel and use you as extra weight."
In a daze, Gan Gui realized something.
Naval warfare on this river might never be the same again.
And for the first time in his life, he felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be.
He let out a sharp laugh that echoed through the wooden hull.
"General Guan!" he called out. "If this thing works half as well as it feels, every Wu dog on the river is going to piss themselves when they see us coming! They'll be throwing down their spears and swimming for the banks before we even loose a single bolt!"
Guan Yu's deep chuckle rumbled from the pedals beside him. "Then let us make sure they do."
Gan Gui grinned, his legs pumping harder. The river churned outside. Somewhere ahead, the future waited, and it looked absolutely glorious.
"A'Shan!" he barked.
The young carpenter jumped. "Yes, Captain!"
"Make a note. We're going to need one of these. Actually, make it three. And find out if Lady Huang would be willing to consult. Offer her anything she wants. Except my bell. No one touches the bell."
A'Hei the scribe was already scribbling furiously on his bamboo slips. "And what should I write about the Wu soldiers' impending terror, Captain?"
Gan Gui winked. "Write that their fashion sense is terrible and their ships are uglier than Big Nose Zhang's mother. It'll be good for morale."