General Qin

Shaofu Paper's workshop is not far from the Weishui River.

An artificial ditch leads the Wei River to the south, forming a large pool in the workshop, which is then manually divided into smaller pools.

Zhao Tuo walked along the path beside the pool, looking at the raw materials soaked separately in the pool.

Jute, cloth head, mulberry bark, wood, even bamboo and so on.

Because the papermaking project is not in a hurry, and there is no shortage of manpower and material resources, Zhao Tuo asked Zhang Han to separate each material, so as to compare the quality and cost of paper made from these different materials, as well as the time required, and so on. Try out the best solution.

"The hemp is soaked in plant ash water, and then boiled repeatedly, let the servants pound it into a pulp, mix it with water to make a pulp, and then scoop out the paper, thin it out and then dry it in the air."

Zhang Han followed, introducing their first papermaking process.

Zhao Tuo looked at the turbid pool water in front of him that was soaked in crushed hemp. Judging from the taste and color, it was true that plant ash was added to it.

"The wisdom of the working people cannot be underestimated."

Zhao Tuo sighed secretly in his heart, the front-end technology of papermaking has actually been figured out a long time ago, but no one has taken this step yet, let him take the lead.

"Poetry" says: The pool at the east gate can be retting.

Soak the hemp in a pool to remove harmful substances such as pectin in the hemp to achieve the purpose of separating fibers. This is a technology that has been mastered hundreds of years ago in the Western Zhou Dynasty.

When talking about retting in "Kao Gong Ji", it is also mentioned that mixing plant ash and mirage ash can greatly increase the speed of soaking and retting.

Although the original purpose of these two technologies was to separate fibers to make textiles, they are now used to make paper.

With these two already mastered technologies, the entire papermaking process is very easy.

Especially for the Shaofu, which has gathered skilled craftsmen from all over the world, as long as Zhao Tuo put forward the general direction, the rest of the procedures are basically not difficult.

Zhao Tuo walked through small ponds where various raw materials were soaked, and finally came to the drying place.

Now it is the Mengxia season in April. Although the sunlight is not as fierce as Zhongxia and Jixia, it is still quite powerful. When it shines on the ground, it can evaporate the water on the paper.

In addition to drying in the sun, Zhang Han also came up with some other plans. He told Zhao Tuo that he planned to stick the paper on the fire wall and dry it later, which would definitely be much faster than drying it.

Zhao Tuo expressed his encouragement. Anyway, for the first time to make paper, it is natural to try various methods, and finally choose the best one.

"Young Mansion, please take a look."

Zhang Han waved his hand, and a small official beside him stepped forward, lifted the paper hanging on the bamboo sieve, and respectfully sent it to Zhao Tuo.

"Paper."

Zhao Tuo took a deep breath, looking at the yellow paper in the hands of the clerk in front of him, a little excited.

After seven years, he finally made paper.

Zhao Tuo still remembered it clearly.

Just seven years ago, I joined the Yan Guo Team for the first time.

In the setting sun, inside the dry grass, he suffered heavy damage from the wood chips.

At that time, Zhao Tuo limped out of the grass, and once shouted to the sky in grief and indignation: "When Nai Gong develops, we must make paper!"

That was his lost youth.

Now, after seven years of struggle, Zhao Tuo finally took the position of Shaofu and fulfilled his dream of the year.

"The paper is tough."

Zhao Tuo tugged at the paper in his hand, nodded and sighed.

The raw materials of this paper are mainly jute, cloth, etc. It is the hemp paper in the paper. It is yellow all over, and it is quite thick and tough.

But aside from the advantages of toughness, hemp paper has many disadvantages, such as the web-like texture on the paper, where horizontal and vertical lines intersect, which is very conspicuous.

In addition, there are some small bumps on the surface of hemp paper, which is probably because hemp paper is made of long fibers and thick pulp.

The front side of the hemp paper is slightly better, but the back side is very rough, and there are even unmasked jute, cloth silk, etc. clearly visible on it.

But Zhao Tuo didn't just want to make hemp paper, he also planned to do the improvements made by Cai Lun and others, and raise the papermaking technology to the level of later generations in one go.

"Hemp paper will start. Straw paper, bark paper, bamboo paper and so on will soon be available. With these things, it will definitely benefit the whole of China."

This feeling became more intense when Zhao Tuo asked Zhang Han to get the pen and ink and wrote the first word on the hemp paper himself.

Paper!

The characters are formed on hemp paper, clear and legible.

Zhang Han beside him widened his eyes and his breathing became heavy.

Paper can really write!

As the person in charge of the papermaking project, Zhang Han knew that the cost of paper was not expensive.

He estimated in his mind the number of words that could be written on a piece of paper, and then immediately calculated the price of bamboo slips for writing the same amount of words in his mind.

"Hiss... to write the same amount of characters, the cost of a piece of paper is only one-fifth of the bamboo slips, and if compared with the same length of silk, it is only one-twentieth."

"And this is just the beginning. If we expand the production scale, simplify the process, and save other costs, the cost of this hemp paper can be even lower!"

Zhang Han swallowed, this thing may replace the bamboo slips that have been used for thousands of years.

"Paper is the carrier of words and the cornerstone of civilization."

Compared with Zhang Han's conjecture, Zhao Tuo is very clear about the role of paper that appeared in advance, and even improved by him, to bring the level of paper to later generations.

In addition to the influence at the level of civilization, it will also be of great use to Qin, which has just annexed the world today.

Zhao Tuo tightly held the hemp paper in his hand, and said to Zhang Han: "Choose sixty-six best papers for me!"

"I want to present a treasure to the emperor!"

...

In the Qin Palace, the First Emperor was sitting in front of the desk, with his hands raised high, stretching his tired body.

He had just finished reviewing the 20-jin bamboo slips, and his neck and waist were a little tired, and the case in front of him was piled up like a hill of bamboo slips.

At this moment, the palace servants came to report, saying that Zhao Tuo, the Shaofu, asked to see him and had a treasure to offer.

"Zhao Tuo wants to present a treasure to me?"

The First Emperor frowned slightly.

Hearing the word Xianbao, he couldn't help but think of the twelve magnificent golden men he had hoped for.

But, that has become an impossible dream.

The first emperor sighed inwardly, shook his head, expelled the fantasy of the golden man from his mind, and ordered Zhao Tuo to come.

At the same time, he turned his head to look at Zhao Gao, the commander of CRRC Mansion, who was standing beside him.

When the emperor was reviewing bamboo slips, he liked to have Zhao Gao accompany him, because the CRRC magistrate was proficient in laws, and if the emperor forgot specific laws and regulations, he could ask him on the spot.

At the same time, Zhao Gao's handwriting was also very good, and he often wrote edicts for the emperor, so he was an inseparable confidant.

At this moment, seeing the first emperor's gaze turned, Zhao Gao smiled and said, "Young Zhao's mansion is the successor of Gongshuzi, and he often has extraordinary abilities. The giant cannon and Quyuanli before were all things that benefited the country. Speaking of offering treasures, it must be a good thing."

"Um."

The First Emperor nodded, quite pleased with himself.

Emperor Shi Huang naturally understood what Zhao Gao said. This is also the reason why he arranged for Zhao Tuo to be the Shaofu before.

Young Palace Master Baigong, he just wanted to see how many other things Zhao Tuo had hidden in his stomach.

A month has passed, and finally I can't bear to come to present treasures.

Everything is as I expected!

Thinking of this, Emperor Shi Huang couldn't help but look forward to it.

After a while, Zhao Tuo walked into the hall respectfully.

As soon as he entered the palace, the eyes of Shi Huangdi and Zhao Gao were attracted by the stack of things in his arms.

Is it silk?

But it looks a little strange.

"Minister Zhao Tuo pays homage to His Majesty."

Zhao Tuo stepped forward to salute.

The First Emperor responded, although he was curious, but still calmly said: "Young Mansion said that it would offer a treasure to me, but I don't know what kind of treasure it is?"

Zhao Tuo glanced at the pile of bamboo slips and slips in front of Shi Huangdi's case, and a smile flashed in his eyes.

He said sincerely: "Your Majesty is diligent in governing the country. He reads hundreds of catties of bamboo slips and slips every day. I often see it in my eyes and keep it in my heart. I worry about your Majesty's health day and night."

"The minister thought hard, recalled the posthumous writings of Gongshu he had read when he was young, and was inspired by seeing people retting, specially made paper and presented it to His Majesty."

After Zhao Tuo finished speaking, Shi Huangdi and Zhao Gao were both stunned.

Paper?

What is this?

The First Emperor was curious, but it was not easy to ask, so he glanced at Zhao Gao who was at the side.

Zhao Gao understood, and hurriedly asked: "Dare to ask Zhao Shaofu, what is paper?"

Zhao Tuo said: "Paper is a kind of writing carrier. It is lighter than silk and cheaper than bamboo slips, and words can be written on it."

As he said that, Zhao Tuo didn't dare to show off in front of the emperor, so he hurriedly presented the stack of papers in his hand.

"This is sixty-six sheets of new paper, and please write it down, Your Majesty."

With a calm face, Emperor Shi Huang reached out to pick up a piece of paper.

Seeing that its whole body is yellow, it is three feet long and two feet wide. It is really lighter to hold in the hand than silk of the same size.

And because this is the tribute paper selected by Zhao Tuo, after polishing and cutting, there are basically no traces of hemp silk cloth on the back, and it looks quite smooth.

Shi Huang's fingers rubbed against the paper, which was a tactile sensation he had never felt before.

"Pen here!"

The First Emperor spoke lightly.

"only."

Zhao Gao beside him immediately moistened the pen and presented it to the emperor.

The First Emperor took ink to write, and wrote a large character "朕" in the middle of the paper.

He squinted his eyes, and saw that the handwriting on the paper was clear, coagulated but not scattered, which was considered a qualified writing medium.

"What's the price of this item?"

Zhao Tuo said with a smile: "This thing is very cheap. Compared with writing the same number of bamboo slips, the cost of this thing is only one-fifth. And if the technology is improved in the future, the price may be even lower."

Emperor Shihuang nodded.

He glanced at the mountains of bamboo slips on the case.

He holds a bamboo slip in his left hand and a piece of paper in his right.

Close your eyes and feel the weight contrast between the two.

When he opened his eyes again, the emperor's eyes were already full of excitement.

"That's it, are you excited? Do you feel the charm of technology? Do you know the importance of me?"

Zhao Tuo secretly laughed in his heart, and kept paying attention to the appearance of the first emperor.

At the same time, he breathed a sigh of relief.

With paper, the emperor will not be so tired in the future.

But in the next second, the words that came out of Shihuang's mouth left him stunned.

"Good stuff!"

"With this thing, I can review more documents every day!"

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