Seeing Lily and Autumn both run over to Ian Song, Prince Daniel Jiang instinctively tried to slack off. But before he could straighten up, a piercing gaze landed on him, and Ian's cold voice followed: "Don't even think about slacking off. If I catch you, you'll hold that stance for an extra half hour."
"Yes, sir!" Daniel replied, but in his heart he kept cursing the Great Demon King.
Ian didn't treat Daniel the way he did Lily and Autumn. Instead, he made him practice horse-stance and run every day.
First, to strengthen his body; second, to temper his character.
"Grand General, the deputy prefect just sent over two bunches of grapes from the Western Regions. I'll bring them right in." As she spoke, Lily darted into the house and soon came out carrying two plates piled high with plump grapes.
Autumn, meanwhile, brought out a reclining chair and set it before him.
This reclining chair had been custom-built by craftsmen at Ian's request.
"Please, Grand General." Autumn smiled sweetly.
"Good girl, you're getting smarter by the day." Ian nodded in satisfaction, lay back on the chair, and let it start rocking with a creak.
"Grand General, please have some grapes."
Ian had just settled in when Lily brought the freshly washed grapes right to his mouth.
Back in the real world, grapes were just an ordinary fruit, but here and now, Ian found they tasted somehow different.
It had only been seven or eight days, but thanks to Ian's marrow-washing for the two girls, they were looking healthier and more radiant by the day. Even their skin was smooth and glowing—though they still looked thin, a bit like scrawny country girls.
"Lily, Autumn, have you gotten used to your new life these days?" Ian asked, squinting.
"Thanks to you, Grand General, we've never been so happy!" the two girls replied in perfect unison.
"You girls sure know how to talk. By the way, how's your family doing?" Ian asked offhandedly.
"Thanks to your kindness, Grand General, our families are well cared for and doing great."
"Glad to hear it." Ian nodded, then waved his hand at the girls. "Go ahead and split the rest of the grapes between yourselves."
"Thank you for the reward, Grand General!" the girls said happily.
After spending some time with Ian, the girls had figured out his personality. They knew the Grand General meant what he said, so when he gave them grapes, they didn't refuse or act polite—they just accepted the reward and thanked him straight away.
"Alright, you don't need to serve me here. Go rest for now!"
Watching the two girls leave in high spirits, Ian couldn't help but sigh inwardly—just a bunch of grapes could make them so happy. They were truly easy to please.
Gradually, Ian began to snore on the chair, while Daniel, still holding horse-stance, quietly straightened up.
At that moment, Ian's voice suddenly rang out: "Another half hour!"
Daniel was stunned, not understanding how Ian could catch his laziness with his eyes closed.
"What are you waiting for? Keep squatting! Or do you want to squat for another half hour?" Ian said coldly.
Daniel glared at Ian with a resentful look and continued holding the horse-stance.
Just like that, three more days passed.
Sean Song was the first to bring good news: the paper had been produced.
Following Ian's instructions, three types of paper were made this time.
One was softer—not suitable for printing or writing, but perfect for wiping. Since there's no tissue in this world, people use wood chips or branches, which is honestly awful.
It had only been a little over ten days, but Ian already couldn't stand it.
"Hmm, not bad! Not bad!" Ian said, very pleased as he held the softest paper.
"Grand General, if I may speak candidly, this paper is too thin and soft—it’s not suitable for writing or making books."
"You just don’t get it! Even if you can’t write on this paper, it has other uses!" Ian said mysteriously.
"Other uses?" Sean asked curiously.
"Don’t you think it’s perfect for wiping your butt?" Ian winked at Sean.
"What? For wiping your butt? That’s… that’s just a waste!" Sean exclaimed. To him, paper was a revolutionary invention—a blessing for scholars everywhere.
Writing or carving on bamboo slips was always a hassle, but now with paper, things were different.
"Alright, let’s move on. I’ve got a task for you: take all the books from the city lord’s archives, copy them using movable-type printing, bind them into volumes, then organize a merchant caravan to sell books and paper!"
"Also, the factory needs to expand and ramp up paper production. Our future prosperity depends on this!"
"Understood!"
Just after Ian finished touring the paper mill, Victor Zhao brought more good news: the spies sent to Yian Prefecture and Fan Prefecture had returned with reports. Yian's granaries held at least two million sheng of grain, and Fan's held about 1.5 million.
If they could empty both storehouses, it would be enough to feed forty thousand troops for over two months—a real lifesaver.
"What should we do next, Master?" Victor asked.
"Are the three thousand cavalry ready?" Ian asked in return.
"We can set out anytime!"
"Good. Tomorrow we'll head to Yian Prefecture to transport grain!" Ian said with a mysterious smile.
The next day, Ian set out with Victor and three thousand cavalry. Since they were all mounted, they traveled quickly.
To avoid alerting Yian's defenders, Ian had Victor keep the cavalry thirty li away and wait for nightfall before approaching, while Ian went on alone.
Like Lingshui, Yian was a mid-rank prefecture. Its governor was Hart He, and the general in charge of the city's troops was Jason Ye.
Yian's walls rose three zhang, but such defenses were nothing to an expert like Ian.
Moving like a wisp of smoke, he tapped his feet against the wall a few times and easily vaulted over, slipping into the city.
The spies had brought back not just the grain count but also a detailed map of Yian.
With the map in hand, Ian easily found the city lord's mansion.
City Lord Hart He was currently in bed with a woman.
One has to admit, entertainment in this world is truly lacking; aside from romance, there's little else to do.
Ian was considerate enough to wait until Hart finished before clearing his throat.
"Who’s there?" Hart shouted.
Ian couldn't be bothered to talk, and simply used his Puppet Divine Power to enslave him.
An hour later, the city gates swung open. The general and the governor together escorted hundreds of grain- and treasure-laden wagons out of the city.
Ten li out, they met up with Victor's three thousand cavalry.
After receiving the hundreds of wagons of grain and treasure, Ian waved at Hart and Jason, signaling they could return to Yian.
The next day at noon, the wagons formed a long line as they entered Lingshui City. Bruce Meng, Sean Song, and Shen Du rushed over upon hearing the news, and were overjoyed at the sight of all the treasure.
After letting the cavalry rest for a day, Ian set out again with them—this time heading for Fan Prefecture.