Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1226 The Return Date is Approaching, I'm Reluctant to Leave

For the next two weeks, the sunlight in Chang'an was scorchingly warm. Accompanied by Ma Xiu and Ma Tie, Cao Ang truly treated this capital of Xiliang like his own backyard. The group of young men from the Cao family followed him through the streets and alleys, from the library in the west of the city to the armory in the east. In the library, yellowed bamboo slips were piled up to the rafters, and Cao Ang led them to examine them shelf by shelf, not even missing the dusty maps of the Western Regions in the corners. The military training grounds in the barracks became a frequent destination. Ma Xiu dragged him to watch the cavalry formations, and Ma Tie pulled him to try out the newly forged ring-pommel sword. Even the aroma of sesame flatbread wafting from the kitchen became a rare treat in the young men's mouths, described as "three times crispier than the flatbreads of Xuchang."

Cao Zhang and Cao Chong were the most excited. Cao Zhang, in particular, was indignant when he saw Ma Yue, the heir of Xiliang, instructing his companions in the martial arts hall, relying on his years of spear training at home. That day, on the sandy ground of the martial arts hall, Ma Yue was demonstrating spear techniques when Cao Zhang, with his neck stiff, shouted, "That move is wrong! You should sink your shoulders and drop your elbows!" Ma Yue raised an eyebrow: "Why don't you try?" The two teenagers immediately began to spar. Cao Zhang's spear was powerful, while Ma Yue's spear was agile. After three rounds, Cao Zhang's spear was knocked away by Ma Yue's skillful force, and he fell to the sand. He was about to get angry when Ma Yue threw him a water bottle: "You're quite strong, but too stiff." Cao Zhang caught it with a red face, gulped down half the bottle, and admitted defeat: "How did you train that move?" Before long, the two became inseparable partners, even eating together at the same table. Cao Chong, on the other hand, followed Ma Yue and the others to study in the martial arts hall, deeply attracted by the Young Lin Army.

Meanwhile, Xun You found Xun Yu in Chang'an. The former Lord Xun of Luoyang, now dressed in coarse cloth and short clothes, was squatting on the muddy floor of the workshop, gesturing with several craftsmen. Upon seeing Xun You, he wiped the ink off his hands and laughed, "You certainly know how to pick your time. A batch of tough paper has just come out."

Xun You looked at the paper pulp drying all over the room, then at the calluses on his uncle's hands, and his throat tightened: "Uncle... what happened to you..."

“Papermaking.” Xun Yu picked up a half-dry sheet of paper and examined it against the light. “The fact that the common people have no books to read is why aristocratic families have maintained their superior status. This is all because of the preciousness of books, and the most crucial factor is paper. Although Marquis Cai had already produced paper, the cost was too high, making it difficult to popularize. I’m thinking of improving the process and trying it with local reeds. Look at its toughness; it’s no worse than bamboo slips.” He pointed to the pile of official documents on the table. “Ma Chao gave me a sinecure, managing the document room and workshops. It’s quite peaceful.”

"You intend to stay in Xiliang like this forever?" Xun You pressed. "Is King Liang... Ma Chao, worth all this trouble?"

Xun Yu put down the paper, a rare ripple appearing in his eyes: "In chaotic times, it's worthwhile if the common people have food to eat and the craftsmen have work to do." He paused, looking out the window, "Although Ma Chao is a military general, he understands the importance of 'keeping wealth among the people.' Look at Chang'an, the workshops are bustling with activity, and the markets are noisy. It's much more peaceful than it used to be."

Xun You gazed at the newly graying hairs at his uncle's temples, a wave of sadness washing over him. The Xun Yu of his memory was always dressed in court robes, holding a tablet, arguing vehemently for the Han dynasty in the court, his eyes burning with the flame of "restoration." But the man before him was reeking of paper pulp and wood, his fingertips stained with ink and wood shavings. When he spoke of politics and craftsmanship, his tone was as indifferent as if he were discussing the weather. The uncle who had so wholeheartedly devoted himself to restoring the Han dynasty was truly gone.

"Uncle," his voice trembled, filled with undisguised sorrow, "Are you really willing to do this? You have the talent of a king's advisor, you should be governing the country in the court, but now you are buried in these trivial matters of craftsmen, isn't that a pity?"

Upon hearing this, Xun Yu put down the paper pattern in his hand, looked up, and laughed. The laughter was not as gentle as usual; it carried a hint of worldly wisdom, startling a few sparrows in the locust tree outside the window.

"What a pity?" He picked up a piece of freshly cut tough paper and examined it closely in the sunlight. "I used to feel the same way. I felt that I had great ambitions but was trapped in a chaotic world, and could only watch the Han Dynasty sink little by little."

He turned around, his gaze falling on Xun You's face with an unprecedented calm: "Until that day when the King of Liang scolded me awake. He said, 'What difference is there between having talent but not using it and rotten wood?' Yes, rather than clinging to the so-called 'talent for assisting a king' and staying at home, sighing over the broken Han Dynasty, it would be better to come out and do something practical for the people."

"The chaos in this world is deeply rooted and cannot be changed by us simply waving our pens and shouting a few words about 'restoration'." Xun Yu's fingertips traced the papermaking diagrams on the table, which were densely covered with the proportions of herbs and the cooking temperature. "But if we refuse to take a single step just because it's difficult, how long will this world remain in chaos?"

He picked up a small shovel and gently scraped away the impurities from the pulp, his movements as skilled as an old craftsman: "Look at papermaking, it may seem like a menial job, but when more paper is made and the price is lower, poor families can afford books, and children can go to school and learn to read. These small changes may be slow, but they are real. Taking a step forward for these changes, so that people can have less hunger and cold and more security, isn't that doing something?"

Xun You was stunned. Looking at his uncle's focused profile and listening to the sounds of pounding and shouting coming from the workshop, he suddenly understood that Xun Yu was not "buried," but rather that he had planted his talent in the soil. The thoughts that were once used to annotate classics and draft memorials had now been transformed into the proportions of paper pulp, the wages of craftsmen, and the textbooks for children. He no longer pursued the empty fame of "restoring the Han Dynasty," but was doing something more substantial than empty fame.

“But…but the Han Dynasty…” Xun You wanted to say something, but Xun Yu waved his hand to interrupt him.

“The roots of the Han dynasty lie in the hearts of the people,” Xun Yu said with a smile. “As long as the people can live peacefully, be literate, and look forward to next year’s harvest, the flame of the Han dynasty will never be extinguished. Even if the King of Liang were to overthrow the Han dynasty in the future, as long as the people can live a good life, what difference does it make whether the world is called the Great Han or the Western Liang? As for my talents…” He weighed the paper in his hand, “If they can be used to give them one more sheet of paper and one more book, then it is not a waste.”

Xun You remained silent, feeling a lump in his throat, a mixture of ache, numbness, and warmth. He suddenly recalled his early days in Chang'an, seeing women carrying vegetable baskets, children with schoolbags, and craftsmen wielding hammers in the market. The peace on their faces was rare in Xudu. He realized that behind this peace lay people like his uncle, paving the way step by step.

Before leaving, Xun Yu gave him a bundle of newly made, resilient paper, white and supple, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees. Xun You took the bundle of paper, feeling it was heavier than any memorial to the throne. He bowed deeply to Xun Yu, this time not as a nephew to his uncle, but as a sign of respect to someone who truly worked in a chaotic world.

Stepping out of the workshop, the sunlight was perfect, shining brightly on the streets of Chang'an, almost dazzlingly so. Xun You glanced back at the bustling workshop and suddenly understood that some changes are never shouted from a high place, but rather achieved step by step with heads down. And his uncle had already walked ahead of that.

In late March, willow catkins began to drift in Chang'an, carrying the warmth of late spring. Cao Ang and Xun You were discussing bidding farewell to Ma Chao. In the blink of an eye, they had been staying in Chang'an for more than half a month. April was approaching, and they didn't know how their father's war in Xudu was progressing. Cao Ang also had to rush to Xuzhou to take up his post, so they really couldn't delay any longer.

But trouble struck when they were packing. Cao Chong had somehow caught a cold, his face flushed red, and he lay listlessly in bed; Cao Zhang clung to Ma Yue's arm, refusing to leave no matter what; even the most carefree Cao Zhi, who spent all his time with Lu Zhi's son Lu Yu, sometimes reciting poems and sometimes discussing the classics, looked reluctant to leave when he heard that they were going.

"Brother, Brother Lu said he would teach me the newly acquired commentary on the Tai Xuan Jing. Can I stay a few more days?" Cao Zhi clung to Cao Ang's arm and pleaded, "Just a few more days!"

Cao Ang looked at his three younger brothers, then at Xun You, whose expression was grave, and felt conflicted. His father's war was urgent, and the situation in Xuzhou couldn't be delayed any longer, but seeing his brothers' expressions, he couldn't bring himself to say anything forceful.

Left with no other choice, he took Xun You to the Liang King's residence and told Ma Chao about his predicament.

After hearing this, Ma Chao laughed loudly: "Zixiu, what's so difficult about this?" He looked at Cao Ang with understanding in his eyes, "Lu Yu has been studying behind closed doors with his sister Lu Wan since he was a child. He is very introverted and has always lacked a companion to talk to. Now that he gets along well with Zhi'er, it's a good opportunity to liven him up and also give your sister Wan'er a break."

Mentioning Lu Wan, Ma Chao's tone softened, but a hint of guilt flickered in his eyes. Lu Wan was his childhood sweetheart and the deposed empress of the late emperor. Although she had long since severed ties with the Han dynasty, she always identified herself as "a woman of the Lu family." In the past few months, Ma Chao had married all the women he had promised to marry, but he couldn't arrange anything for Lu Wan. She always said that if she married him, it would tarnish her father Lu Zhi's reputation, and she resolutely refused. This stubbornness made Ma Chao both respectful and heartbroken, and he could only hide his guilt in his heart, taking extra care of her in his daily life.

Just then, Lu Wan and Dong Bai walked out of the inner hall side by side. She was dressed in a plain dress and had a gentle demeanor. She nodded slightly to Cao Ang: "Young Master, there is no need to make things difficult. Zhi'er and Yu'er are compatible in temperament and it is fate. Let him stay. Chang'an is safe and sound. I will take good care of him."

Cao Ang had always respected Lu Wan's character, and when he heard her say the same thing, he nodded and said, "In that case, I'll trouble Sister Wan'er to take care of you."

But then he added, "It's just Zhang'er and Chong'er..."

“Zhang’er?” Ma Chao raised an eyebrow. “Yesterday he told Ma Yue that he wanted to serve in the Youlin Army and that Ma Yue would appoint him as a captain to learn how to lead cavalry. How could he possibly leave now?” He looked at Cao Ang with a smile in his eyes. “As for Chong’er, how can he travel while he’s ill? It would be better for him to stay in Chang’an to recuperate. With the two doctors, Hua Tuo and Zhang Ji, they will surely take good care of him.”

He patted Cao Ang on the shoulder: "Don't worry, I like these children and will treat them like my own. You go back first, and I will send someone to send them back to Qiao County after they have played enough and recovered from their illness."

Having said that, Cao Ang had no room to refuse. Looking into Ma Chao's sincere eyes and recalling everything that had happened in Chang'an over the past half month, he felt a surge of warmth in his heart and finally cupped his hands and said, "I am deeply grateful for your care, elder brother."

On the day of their departure, Cao Zhi held Lu Yu's hand and stood reluctantly at the gate of the mansion; Cao Zhang, carrying the bow and arrows given to him by Ma Yue, patted his chest and said, "When I become a colonel, I will go to Xuzhou to find my elder brother"; Cao Chong, wrapped in a thick cotton quilt and held by a maid, waved weakly.

Cao Ang gave him detailed instructions before mounting his horse with Xun You. Looking back at the eaves of the Liang Prince's mansion, although the red silk had been removed, he could still almost hear the music and rituals from that day. He suddenly realized that this marriage was not only a destiny between him and Ma Yunlu, but also a quiet way of bringing together two originally distant camps.

"Let's go," Xun You said softly from the side. "The road ahead is still long."