Five days later, under the early summer morning sun, Qu Ji mounted his horse. Gazing at the Yongcheng city tower behind him, his eyes held reluctance before turning resolute as he faced forward. He cracked his whip without looking back.
Less than ten li beyond Yongcheng, several figures stood in the riverside pavilion by the Yong River.
Spotting them from afar, Qu Ji dismounted.
Zhang Han waved him over, handing him a bundle with a smile. “The Queen Dowager granted us a day’s leave to see you off. Here—your sister-in-law made these cakes you love so much. She woke at dawn to prepare them; they’re still warm.”
“Brother Zhang.” Qu Ji accepted the bundle, his trembling shoulders betraying his emotions.
Zhang Han clapped his shoulder. “Don’t disgrace the Queen Dowager in the Black Armor Army. Becoming a noble or minister might be beyond reach, but you’re my protégé. Set a simple goal: become a Five Hundred Commander within a year.”
The Qin military structure comprised five soldiers as the basic unit led by a Corporal, then a Sergeant leading ten, a Platoon Leader commanding fifty, a Centurion overseeing a hundred, and a Five Hundred Commander managing five hundred. Above them were the Two and Half Hundred Commander, Colonel, Commandant, General, and Supreme General.
Reaching Five Hundred Commander was the pinnacle for commoners.
Zhang Han’s goal was ambitious yet attainable.
Qu Ji nodded firmly. “I won’t disappoint you!”
Du and Shan had also come, having exchanged their Qin guard uniforms for commoners’ short robes.
Du unbuckled the dagger at his waist. “No wife to bake for you, so take this blade instead.”
Qu Ji protested urgently, “Brother Du, isn’t this your father’s legacy? Your most treasured possession—I can’t accept it!”
A bitter smile touched Du’s lips. “A blade only becomes a weapon on the battlefield. With me, it’s just scrap iron. My father left it hoping I’d fight for our kingdom, but now—” He could barely stand, let alone battle.
“So only by bearing it can it fulfill its purpose.”
“Brother Du…”
Du shoved the dagger into Qu Ji’s arms. “Enough dithering. Use it to win more victories for Qin. Next year, we’ll celebrate your triumphs here.”
“Agreed!” Tears glistened in Qu Ji’s eyes.
Finally, Shan produced a thin book from his robe. “A military text—part family heirloom, part my humble annotations. The Queen Dowager recently gifted us paper, so I transcribed it. May it serve you well.”
Qu Ji didn’t understand what “paper” meant.
Opening the booklet, black characters on white sheets stunned him. “This—”
Du and Shan roared with laughter. “We knew you’d react like this!”
Qu Ji pressed, “Is this what the Queen Dowager tasked you with creating?”
They nodded. Shan explained, “We couldn’t believe it either when we saw it. Her Majesty calls it ‘paper’—writes smoother than bamboo slips.”
“Smoother” was an understatement!
Qu Ji sensed the Queen Dowager had created something extraordinary, the booklet’s weight feeling like gold in his hands.
“I’ll protect it with my life.” He carefully tucked it into his robe, drawing another round of laughter from Du and Shan.
Shan said, “Paper isn’t an extremely precious item. Her Majesty the Queen Dowager intends to distribute it throughout the Qin state. Soon, whether you’re in Xianyang or elsewhere, you’ll likely see it.”
Even so, Qu Ji carefully stored the book away and bowed to the three of them. “Elders’ kindness, I will never forget it in this lifetime.”
The three returned the courtesy and bid each other farewell.
Only when the horseback-riding youth completely disappeared from view did the three finally withdraw their gazes.
Shan, being the most sentimental, sighed, “Who knows when we’ll meet again after today’s parting.”
In recent years, Qin’s continuous military campaigns meant many who left never returned.
Though none voiced their worries aloud, each had already imagined every possible outcome—both good and bad.
Du, who knew Qu Ji best, declared with firm conviction, “He will return!”
Qu Ji was the most diligent, hardworking, and intelligent among them. Previously, he overthought everything, burdened by too many doubts, making it seem as though even his utmost efforts couldn’t find direction. But now he had found his path.
“Hey, tell me about this paper! How did Her Majesty the Queen Dowager create such a marvelous thing?” Zhang Han interrupted their melancholy atmosphere, voicing his curiosity.
He slung an arm over each of their shoulders, and the three walked back embraced.
Du and Shan began recounting their experiences over the past few days.
In an old residence south of Yongcheng, Zhao Yuanxi passed through wooden frames drying paper, her smile radiant—this was all money!
Gao Sheng directed workers to store bundle after bundle of paper in the warehouse. After taking inventory, he reported, “Madam, we currently have three hundred sixty-one bundles of paper produced. Each bundle contains a thousand sheets. If sold at ten coins per sheet, we could earn 361 gold. After deducting costs, we’d have at least three hundred gold.”
Before knowing the Queen Dowager, Gao Sheng had never engaged in such profitable business. This was just the output from their small courtyard in less than half a month.
If this business expanded throughout the nation and to the other six states, he couldn’t even imagine how much money he could make.
Zhao Yuanxi wasn’t as optimistic.
The paper business would only profit significantly from nobles initially. Once it became widespread, paper would no longer be a rarity, and profits would naturally decline.
However, she never intended to rely solely on paper sales long-term. For now, she aimed to extract as much wealth from the nobles as possible before they caught on.
“Use this paper to paint birds, flowers, and plants, then inscribe a few words beside them. First, send them to the nobles and ministers in Xianyang.”
Qin’s artwork primarily consisted of silk paintings and lacquer paintings. No one had ever painted on paper before.
Gao Sheng could imagine the sensation these paper paintings would cause in Xianyang.
But Zhao Yuanxi had also presented him with a challenge.
“But this servant is not skilled at painting,” Gao Sheng said anxiously. He was merely a eunuch; being literate was thanks to his father and his experiences in Xianyang Palace. How could he possibly know how to paint?
Zhao Yuanxi looked at him meaningfully. “If you can’t paint, should I do it instead?”
Gao Sheng broke into a cold sweat and hurriedly replied, “This servant will immediately hire skilled painters. I will surely satisfy Madam’s requirements.”
A competent employee solves problems for their employer—they don’t create more.
Zhao Yuanxi nodded in satisfaction. Although this subordinate of hers was somewhat sycophantic, his work ability was quite commendable.
Many tasks were completed without her needing to explain them explicitly.
If this were modern times, he could definitely become a CEO.
“Madam, the brush you asked me to make is finished,” Li said, his rough large hand holding a small brush.