"All right, all of you, get into the water!"
The poorly dressed craftsmen looked at one another, completely at a loss.
One of them gathered his courage and spoke:
"Young lord, the weather is freezing. There should at least be a reason…"
"Didn't you hear what Attendant Officer Ma said? Get in there at once! He naturally has his reasons!"
The voice was flamboyant, the tone leaving no room for refusal. Ma Su turned his head sharply and almost had to squint from the sight.
Fine robes, jade belt, a headpiece threaded with gold, and a jade pendant swaying with each step. If not for his narrow eyes, he would have been the very image of a refined young noble.
Beside him stood another man dressed as a military officer, plainly clothed, slightly hunched in deference.
Perhaps intimidated by the noble's presence, the craftsmen finally began to move. One after another, they jumped into the river.
This, instead, threw Ma Su into a panic.
"Hey, hey! Take off your clothes first! Wash yourselves clean, then come up immediately! Don't jump in fully dressed!"
As he spoke, Ma Su hurriedly ordered his attendants from Yicheng to gather firewood and start several fires.
Only after finishing did he turn back, narrowing his eyes at the newcomers.
"And you two are…?"
"Mi Fang, courtesy name Zifang. My elder brother is Mi Zhu."
The well-dressed Mi Fang warmly grabbed Ma Su's hand and shook it, then introduced the other man.
"This is Fu Shiren, courtesy name Junyi, currently serving as the county bandit officer."
"We have long admired your name, Attendant Officer Ma. Hearing that Ji Chang had returned to Yicheng while you remained, we came specifically to invite you out for some leisure."
The two sized him up as they spoke. Mi Fang's smile was sincere, while Fu Shiren straightened his back noticeably.
To Mi Fang, Ma Su's immediate appointment as an Attendant Officer was no small matter. What others might see as humiliation in minor duties, he saw as favor. Knowing Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang's eye for talent, he had deliberately brought a friend to build connections.
Unfortunately, he was destined for disappointment.
"I am occupied with official duties and have no time for leisure. Please, do as you wish."
Ma Su gave them a brief, stiff smile before turning away, loudly calling the craftsmen who had washed ashore to gather by the fires.
Men who had done nothing but toil, nothing more, he judged inwardly.
"Bring more firewood… no, forget it. I'll go with you!"
After some effort, several bonfires were lit. Standing in the middle, Ma Su addressed the craftsmen drying themselves.
"Liu Jingzhou, in his benevolence, is establishing new workshops here in Gong'an! Many craftsmen are needed. Food and lodging will be provided, along with wages!"
"He has also invited the divine physician Zhang Zhongjing! By his instruction, all who enter Gong'an must first cleanse themselves thoroughly!"
"After all, we have come from Jianghuai, crossing mountains. There is miasma in the hills, and people have died along the way. Precautions must be taken!"
One craftsman spoke hesitantly:
"Young lord, if you had said so earlier, we could have washed before coming. Just now we thought you were making sport of us…"
Ma Su snorted and said nothing.
Leading a group now clean and dry, he brought them in through the western gate of Gong'an County, pointing things out along the way.
"That over there will be the new blacksmith workshop. Blacksmiths can go ahead. Just say you're looking for Master Sun. He will test your skills, and those qualified will be kept."
"Master Sun has a sharp temper, but he is a good man. If he scolds you, there is always a reason. Do not argue with him."
Further along, east of the county office, a plot of land had already been marked out with foundations and wooden stakes. Several craftsmen were gathered around a scholar in discussion.
"That is Attendant Officer Sun. More capable than me. All carpenters in Gong'an are under his supervision now. Those skilled in carpentry can go directly to him."
He added earnestly:
"He is easy to speak to, but do not grow lax because of that. He has followed Liu Jingzhou for ten years."
Continuing south out of the city, the Hudu River soon came into view. A cleared area lay beside the river, with a row of wooden stakes already set.
"Attendant Officer Ma, what is this place for?"
"That…" Ma Su's gaze turned slightly distant. "The strategist says this is the power of technology. In any case, once it is completed, it will surely be remarkable. That open ground by the river will be the paper workshop. We will produce Zuo Bo paper."
The remaining craftsmen looked at each other. One dark-skinned man cautiously asked:
"Attendant Officer Ma… what exactly is Zuo Bo paper?"
After sending the papermakers back to their lodgings in the western district, Ma Su headed home. Passing the rear gate of the county office, he saw a stall had been set up, with a long line stretching before it.
"What is going on here?"
He stopped a plump young man whose face was full of delight.
"This is the divine physician Zhang distributing Tusu wine! He says it strengthens the body and wards off illness! If you want some, better hurry. When I got mine just now, there wasn't much left."
Ma Su was momentarily speechless.
This divine physician truly is enthusiastic.
As for Tusu wine, he had already drunk it at the morning banquet.
Might as well drink herbal medicine directly, he thought.
Nearby, a crowd had gathered at the public notice board. Someone was reading aloud:
"In the past year, Liu Jingzhou and Marquis Sun have repelled the Cao bandit. However, many have perished, and many more have journeyed from Jianghuai, suffering illness and death along the way."
"Therefore, on the Shangyuan Festival, the county office will fund a great Nuo ritual!"
"To expel pestilence, drive away evil spirits, calm the dead, and pray for peace!"
The crowd cheered:
"Liu Jingzhou is benevolent!"
After the cheers, some wept quietly, recalling loved ones lost this year. Others supported them gently.
Ma Su sighed.
Suddenly, he remembered Liu Bei's words from the morning.
"To achieve the great cause together."
Can this great cause truly bring peace to the realm?
In the study, Liu Bei trimmed the wick of the lamp and continued writing by its faint light.
At the top of the letter were bold characters:
"To Mengqi, to be opened personally."
This was already the third letter he had written to Ma Chao recently.
Given the long distance between Jingzhou and Liangzhou, Liu Bei avoided writing anything too sensitive. Instead, he spoke of daily matters, discussed the situation, and praised Ma Chao's bravery.
After hearing the projection speak of Hanzhong, he had immediately ordered Jian Yong to gather intelligence from Liangzhou. Unfortunately, he had been a step too late.
The previous year, Ma Teng had already entered court as Minister of the Guard. His sons had also received official posts, bringing over two hundred family members with them.
Ma Teng's submission meant Cao Cao had secured Liangzhou and could march south without concern, only to be stopped by Zhou Gongjin…
Zhou Gongjin.
Liu Bei could not help but feel envy that the Sun clan possessed such a man.
Then he sighed again.
Zhengdan had passed. The young lord of Jiangdong… his time was drawing near.
And it was precisely because of this that Liu Bei had resolved to make a journey to Jiangdong.
Not for Sun Quan's sister.
But because Nan Commandery must be secured.