Time passed quickly, and during this period, two major developments took place.
The first was the completion of a new version of the Thousand Character Classic with Cai Yong's assistance. Although it still contained exactly one thousand characters, the selection and arrangement were entirely different, giving the text a new meaning and structure. In Zhang Xin's view, this version even surpassed the original. It was a work worthy of Cai Yong's reputation.
At the same time, the remaining teaching materials were finalized. After careful proofreading by Cai Yong, Zhang Xin ordered Yan Jin to carve woodblocks and begin large-scale printing, distributing the materials across various counties.
After careful consideration, Zhang Xin concluded that woodblock printing was far more practical than movable type at this stage. The cost of producing movable type was too high, and more importantly, arranging thousands of Chinese characters required skilled and literate craftsmen—something that was not realistically available.
In addition to textbooks, Zhang Xin also had a local calligrapher transcribe all the books Cai Yong had provided. These were then sent to Yan Jin for woodblock printing as well. Cai Yong's distinctive "flying white" script, while elegant, was more suited for artistic appreciation than everyday reading, which is why Zhang Xin did not use it for printed texts.
When Cai Yong saw the printed books, he excitedly brought them to show Cai Yan. Soon, news of the new Thousand Character Classic and the printing method spread among scholars, carried by Cai Yong's letters.
The reactions were mixed at first. The textbook itself, though novel, was still just an elementary work—acceptable, but not particularly groundbreaking in the eyes of learned scholars.
However, two innovations caused a true stir: punctuation and printing.
For generations, classical texts had been difficult to interpret largely because they lacked punctuation. A single misplaced pause could completely alter meaning. The introduction of punctuation marks greatly improved readability, reducing ambiguity and making texts far more accessible.
Then there was printing.
Previously, books were written on bamboo slips—bulky, heavy, and inefficient. A single scroll could weigh several kilograms while holding only a few hundred characters. Copying them by hand was tedious, and any mistake required physically scraping off the character and rewriting it.
Because of this, even among the elite, books were scarce. Many families specialized in a single field simply because they had no access to other texts. Scholars often had to travel great distances to study or borrow books from others.
Printed books changed everything. A single, lightweight volume could hold thousands—even tens of thousands—of characters and be reproduced in large quantities. The implications were obvious to anyone paying attention.
Zhang Xin's name once again spread throughout Luoyang. Previously known for military achievements, he was now gaining recognition for his contributions to civil administration. Even the emperor, Liu Hong, sent inquiries.
Zhang Xin responded without hesitation, presenting the woodblock printing technique to the imperial court. Books meant little if they remained scarce; allowing wider printing would ensure eventual dissemination—even to commoners. Moreover, it earned him favor with the emperor.
He was in no hurry. Once printing expanded, the demand for paper would inevitably exceed supply, forcing attention toward new sources.
And when that happened—those who wanted paper could simply pay for it.
Zhang Xin had no intention of sharing his papermaking techniques. Unlike printing, papermaking itself did not yet yield massive profits, but it held strategic value. From the beginning, he had implemented an assembly-line system in his paper mill. Each worker handled only one part of the process, ensuring that no individual possessed complete knowledge.
Only a handful of trusted veterans, such as Yan Jin, knew the full method.
After the news spread, Zhang Xin ordered Hu Cai to recruit a security force of several hundred men to guard the operation day and night, preventing powerful families from stealing skilled workers.
The second major event involved the pirates of Quanzhou.
Gu Yong began construction of a water fortress in Nanxiang and spread word that a navy would soon be formed to eliminate the pirates. Anticipating their reaction, he requested troops from Zhang Xin and set an ambush nearby.
As expected, the pirates attempted a nighttime raid to sabotage the construction. They were swiftly captured by Zhang Liao, who had been lying in wait.
Several hundred pirates were taken, including their leaders Guan Jian and Guan Cheng.
Under interrogation, Guan Jian revealed that a local magnate had been secretly supporting them.
"I am willing to surrender—please spare my life!" he pleaded repeatedly.
Zhang Xin listened in silence, deep in thought.
These pirates were experienced fighters. With proper training, they could become a formidable naval force. They even had their own ships, saving significant resources.
The problem was leadership. There was no reliable naval commander available. Allowing Guan Jian to retain control was risky—if he chose to flee, he could disappear among the islands.
Suppressing a sigh, Zhang Xin asked about their living conditions.
Guan Jian sighed. "Barely surviving. We were driven to piracy because we had no other way to live. Even when we cooperated with powerful families, they took most of the profits."
"How many people are there?" Zhang Xin asked.
"About 1,800 households."
Zhang Xin was startled. That meant nearly 9,000 people.
Guan Jian's expression grew somber. "Not all places are as prosperous as your lands."
Having traveled to Yuyang, he had seen thriving fields and contented people—a stark contrast to his own situation.
Zhang Xin turned his gaze to Guan Cheng, Guan Jian's son, and after a moment's thought, made a decision.
"Leave your son here as a guarantee," he said. "Return to the island and bring all your people here. I will register your households and grant you land."
"If you succeed, not only will your crimes be pardoned, but you will also receive an official position."
Guan Jian's eyes lit up with joy. "I am willing!"
"Go, then," Zhang Xin said calmly. "But your son stays."
"Of course," Guan Jian replied without hesitation. "Rest assured, my lord—I will bring them all."