My Father in Law is Lu Bu

Chapter 719

“This is outrageous! I must write to the court. I must write to His Majesty about this! The words and actions of the King of Shu are an insult to the Emperor and the royal family!” Qiao Xuan who returned to Zhou Yu's residence was gasping for breath.

The old man was angry. He had never seen such a shameless person before. Not only that, this person was even proud of it.

“What's wrong father? Who made you so angry?” Qiao Yue who just saw her father return home asked.

“It is that King of Shu, Liu Mang!” Qiao Xuan's voice became louder.

“Him? What happened with him?” Qiao Yue asked anxiously.

“He doesn't want to marry you!” Qiao Xuan replied.

“Really?” Qiao Yue felt bitter in her heart. “Sure enough, he likes my sister more.”

“Yue'er. It is not that His Highness doesn't want to marry you. It is just…” Zhou Yu did not know how to explain. For now, he should appease Qiao Xuan.

“Lord Qiao. Calm down!” Zhou Yu persuaded. “It is understandable that you asked him to marry Yue'er but how can you ask him to divorce his wife? Isn't that forcing him to do the impossible?” Zhou Yu looked at Qiao Xuan with a troubled expression.

“Impossible? How is it impossible? How can my daughter be a mere concubine? I, Qiao Xuan, cannot afford such a humiliation! I may not be a noble but I am still from a family of scholars. What will people think of me if the marriage is not proper and honorable?”

Qiao Xuan was ultimately a man who cared about saving face too much. Qiao Xuan embodies the example of a person who seeks to impress by feigning more than his own abilities. The only difference is that Qiao Xuan actually had the strength as well. The whole world had to be respectful to him. Even the Emperor, Liu Xie, once sent a letter towards Qiao Xuan while humbling himself as a disciple. This alone was proof of how awesome this old man is.

Qiao Xuan's achievements were just as impressive as Liu Mang's when he was Liu Mang's age. If Qiao Xuan was born later, half the world would belong to him. In Qiao Xuan's mind, Liu Mang was just a naughty boy who is shameless and vulgar.

“But Lord Qiao. If this goes on, both you and His Highness would be put in a bad spot.” Zhou Yu said bitterly. Zhou Yu never expected to shoot himself in the foot with his own plans. One insists on getting the other party to divorce while the other party doesn't care if this one kills himself.

“Hmph! I refuse to believe the King of Shu can supress others with his power. Do you think I am afraid of him?” Qiao Xuan shouted. He had never been afraid of the powerful even when he was younger. In the past, when the Governor of Yuzhou visited Liang, Qiao Xuan exposed the crimes of the chancellor, Yang Chang. He even compiled evidence. However, Yang Chang was under the protection of the Grand General, Liang Ji. Liang Ji gave the order to stop investigating and release Yang Chang. However, Qiao Xuan did not do so. In the end, Yang Chang was escorted to the capital as a prisoner while Qiao Xuan gained reputation.

“Haha.” Zhou Yu laughed bitterly and shook his head. It was not the King of Shu supressing others but Qiao Xuan.

“Grand Commander! Someone wants to see you!” At that moment, the housekeeper appeared and informed Zhou Yu.

“Do not call me Grand Commander. This title is something from the past.” Zhou Yu furrowed his brows and said to his subordinate. This was his position when he was still part of Jiangdong. If he keeps this title, people will start to gossip.

“Yes, Patriarch.” The housekeeper nodded.

“Lord Qiao. I have other matters to attend to.” Zhou Yu turned to Qiao Xuan apolegetically.

“Gongjin. You do not need to take care of me. You just need to have someone bring me something to write with!” Qiao Xuan replied. He really wanted to write to Liu Xie to denounce Liu Mang.

Zhou Yu sighed. This old man was so stubborn that no one could stop him.

“Who wants to see me?” Zhou Yu turned back to the housekeeper

“I do not know who. He sent a name plaque.” The housekeeper said and handed the card over. The visitors all wore fine silk so they were clearly of high status. The housekeeper did not dare to be late in reporting their arrival. 𝐑₳𝐍𝐎ＢĘ𝓢

There were no words on the plaque. Just a large seal with the inscription of the Sage King of the Han. This was unmistakably Liu Mang's seal.

“Quick! Take me to him at once!” Zhou Yu hurriedly ordered to be taken to the distinguished guests.

The housekeeper sighed with relief. These guests have already been taken to the side hall. He had not been negligent.

“Your Highness! Forgive me for not welcoming you properly!” Zhou Yu quickly said as he entered the hall. As expected, it was Liu Mang who visited.

“Stand up, Gongjin. I was the one who came unannounced. I hope you won't be bothered by my presence.” Liu Mang smiled and replied.

“Your Highness. For what reason are you here this time?” Zhou Yu asked.

“Of course, it is to see that person.” Liu Mang smiled bitterly.

“Your Highness agrees?” Zhou Yu's eyes widened. He knew that Lu Bu was very powerful. If Liu Mang did not handle the matter well, Yangzhou would be the one to suffer.

“How could I agree?” Liu Mang shook his head. This made Zhou Yu sigh with relief.

“It's all my fault.” Zhou Yu subconciously said.

“Hm?” Liu Mang frowned.

Zhou Yu immediately realized he mispoke and gave quickly gave an excuse. “It is my fault for bringing Lord Qiao here at this time. Otherwise, all of this would not have happened.”

“I cannot blame Gongjin for this. It is Lady Wu's birthday and Lord Qiao is related to Lady Wu. Visiting her is not wrong.” Liu Mang may say words to placate Zhou Yu but deep down he blamed Zhou Yu for this. It was better for Qiao Xuan to just grow old and die in Jiangdong.

“In that case, Your Highness is here to…”

“Of course, I am here to get that old man… no, to get Lord Qiao to change his mind!” Liu Mang gnashed his teeth.

“Your Highness?” Zhou Yu looked behind Liu Mang and sighed with relief. There were no soldiers and armor. This meant that Liu Mang did not intend to use force.

“Alright. Gongjin, please go and tell him that I am here.” Liu Mang said to Zhou Yu.

“There is no need to inform him. Your Highness, please follow me!” Zhou Yu knew that they would meet sooner or later so they might as well face each other directly.

Liu Mang nodded and followed Zhou Yu in. At this point in time, Qiao Xuan was already in the study. When they arrived, they saw Qiao Xuan fully focused in writing something down.

Zhou Yu wanted to call out to Qiao Xuan but was stopped by Liu Mang. Liu Mang stepped forward to see what Qiao Xuan was writing. The moment Liu Mang read it, he could not help but frown. Qiao Xuan was writing to the Han Emperor, Liu Xie and there was nothing nice written in it. In Qiao Xuan's letter, Liu Mang is the synonym for vulgarity and shamelessness. Qiao Xuan was questioning the Emperor's decision in naming Liu Mang the Sage King of Shu. He hoped that His Majesty could see things clearly, strip away Liu Mang's title, and then execute Liu Mang.

“Lord Qiao have good caligraphy!” Liu Mang said grimly.

Lord Qiao responded without raising his head. “I'm old and my writing is not as graceful as before. However, it is still acceptable!”

“It may be acceptable to you but not to me, father-in-law!” Liu Mang said angrily.

Qiao Xuan finally realized that this was not Zhou Yu's voice. Who was it who dared to enter Zhou Yu's room without permission? Qiao Xuan turned his head to see the person he does not want to see the most. “It's you! The shameless and despicable scoundrel!”

“It's me, you old man who stabs people in the back and force others to divorce their wives!” Liu Mang immediately retorted. He was just as petty.

“Stinky brat! I will kill you!” Qiao Xuan rolled up his sleeves.

“Bring it on! Let us see who is afraid! Today, I will make sure you learn that Lord Ma has three eyes! Do you think I am that easy to bully?” Liu Mang roared back in anger.

“Lord Qiao! Your Highness! Calm down!” Zhou Yu was flabbergasted. These two barely conversed before they started to fight. Qiao Xuan was not entirely powerless. He may be old but he has been on the battlefield before. In the past, he was the General Who Guards the Liao Region. He led campaigns against the Hu rebels and the Bogui. He served for three years securing peace at the borders.

This meant that his achievements alone was equivalent to the combined efforts of Lu Bu, Ding Yuan, Gongsun Zan and Gongsun Du.

These men may be accomplished but they were barely as accomplished as Qiao Xuan during his prime. Imagine how irritable Qiao Xuan would be in his youth.

Liu Mang was also not a pushover. He had seen the battlefield and even killed before.

Zhou Yu was horrified and wanted to intervene.

“Gongjin! Step aside!” Both men shouted in unison.

“Why are you copying me?”

“Bah! Who is copying you?”

“Shameless brat!” “Despicable old man!”

“For Gongjin's sake, I will spare you today!” The two said in unison again.

Zhou Yu breathed another sigh of relief seeing that the fight was averted. He then approached Liu Mang and asked. “Milord. Didn't you come to discuss matters with Miss Yue'er with Lord Qiao?”

“Hmm…” Although Liu Mang found the old man destestable, he also feared that the old man would actually ram his head onto the pillar in protest.

“Lord Qiao. Surely you do not want the rumors to spread even further? This does not affect just your daughter's reputation but yours as well.” Zhou Yu tried to reason.

“Hmph!” Qiao Xuan snorted coldly. He wanted this matter resolved as quickly as possible.

“Your Highness. Are you here to marry Miss Qiao?” Zhou Yu asked. At the same time, Qiao Yue was outside the study listening in onto the conversation.

“Yes.” Liu Mang nodded. “Yue'er is gentle and kind. I cannot bear to see her reputation ruined. How unfortunate that she is born as your daughter!” Liu Mang said with gritted teeth.

Qiao Yue blushed.

“You want to take Yue'er as your wife?” Zhou Yu needed to ask. There was a huge difference between a wife and a concubine.

“I will never divorce my wife. She can only be a concubine. But I will treat Yue'er well.” Liu Mang shook his head.

“A concubine? Impossible! Yue'er will never be your concubine! You'd better give up on that idea!” Qiao Xuan said to Liu Mang.

“This is not up to you!” Liu Mang said back to Qiao Xuan.

“Why not? She is my daughter. Her affairs are my affairs. Marriage is a matter of parent's orders and matchmaker's words!” Qiao Xuan shouted at Liu Mang.

“I said it is not up to you because Yue'er is already my woman!” Liu Mang was ready to be extremely shameless.

Zhou Yu himself almost spat out blood hearing this. When did Yue'er become Liu Mang's woman?

Qiao Yue who was outside also did a spittake.

“You…! What did you say?” Qiao Xuan stared at Liu Mang with his eyes wide. He could not believe what he just heard.

“What did I say? Are you deaf? In that case, let me say it again. Yue'er is already my woman! That is why you have no choice but to marry her to me!” Liu Mang no longer cared about face.

“Impossible! That day, you only slept in her room. Nothing could have happened between the two of you!” Qiao Xuan took a deep breath. His daughter was not in Zhou Yu's residence that day.

“Haha. Old man. Do you think that was the first time I met Yue'er?” Liu Mang sneered. “Actually, we've known each other for a long time.”

“In your dreams! How can you and Yue'er know each other for a long time? When you and your father-in-law came to Yangzhou, my family have already moved to Jiangdong!” Qiao Xuan mocked.

“Haha. I knew you didn't know that Yue'er and I met at the Shu County in Lujiang.”

“Shu County?”

“Yue'er and Yu'er went to find Gongjin together. On the way to Gongjin's hometown, they encountered a tiger and their guard was bitten to death. If it was not because I happened to pass by, your daughter would have been bitten to death!” Liu Mang said to Qiao Xuan.

“Looking for Gongjin?” Qiao Xuan finally remembered the time his two daughters gave the excuse of going out with Gongjin. Zhou Yu covered for them but they unexpectedly went to Lujiang?

Qiao Xuan could not help but look at Zhou Yu.

Zhou Yu could only nod with a bitter smile. That time, it was Qiao Yue who used his name to run away. Zhou Yu had no choice but to cover up for her. Later, it was the King of Shu's men who sent them back to Jiangdong.

“We had already agreed then to be together for life. From then on, Yue'er was already my woman!” Liu Mang said to Qiao Xuan. “So you have to marry her to me regardless of whether you want to or not!”

“Impossible! Impossible!” Qiao Xuan's face was red. His household's education was so strict so how could this have happened? This was the first time Qiao Xuan doubted his household's educating methods. Qiao Xuan has so many students across the lands but his own daughter was not well taught.

“You… you… I…” Qiao Xuan was rendered speechless.

Liu Mang smiled. Qiao Xuan's current expression was the one Liu Mang liked the most. As long as Liu Mang was shameless enough, Qiao Xuan would have no choice but to give in.

“Father! Don't listen to his nonsense!” Just when Liu Mang was about to suceed Qiao Yue intervened.

“Yue'er!” Liu Mang was happy to see her. Since he last saw her, he kept thinking about her every night.

Qiao Yue glared at Liu Mang. “Father! Don't listen to his nonsense. Nothing happened between me and him!” Qiao Yue betrayed her husband before she even married him.

“I told you so! How could my Yue'er have anything to do with a despicable person like you?” Qiao Xuan shouted again.

“This old bastard!” Liu Mang gnashed his teeth and shamelessly added. “Even if Yue'er is not my woman, I already had skinship with her!” Liu Mang wanted to disgust Qiao Xuan.

“You…!”

“If you don't believe me, you can ask Yue'er. Was I not the one who carried her out of the forest?” Liu Mang said.

“Shut up!” Qiao Yue was dissatisfied but did not deny it as this was the truth.

“So you have to marry your daughter to me!”

“If it is not as a primary wife, you can keep dreaming!” Qiao Xuan was still insisting on this.

“Old man. I understand now. You do not care about Yue'er's happiness at all. All you care about is your own reputation and that of the Qiao Family!” Liu Mang pointed at Qiao Xuan.

“That's not true!” Qiao Xuan objected loudly.

“No? Then why do you not let your daughter marry me?” Liu Mang asked.

“That is because I don't want her to marry a shameless bastard like you!”

“That is fine. But even if I am shameless and despicable, your daughter can only find happiness with me as we are in love.” Liu Mang said to Qiao Xuan.

“In love? Who said so? My Yue'er doesn't like you!” Qiao Xuan said and turned to his daughter for her affirmation. But then he saw her daughter blushing and realized that he has lost.

“You see. Yue'er admits it! Old man. For the sake of your own reputation you have forced one of your daughters to die. Do you want your other daughter to die as well?” Liu Mang shouted loudly.

“I didn't! You are the one who killed Yu'er! It was your Yangzhou Army that forced her to die!” Qiao Xuan suddenly shouted back at Liu Mang.

“Yes. I forced her to death. If Yu'er was captured and returned to Jiangdong, would you still recognize her as your daughter? No. You absolutely wouldn't! You will never recognize her for the sake of the Qiao Family's reputation! You would rather have a daughter who died than a daughter who is alive and humiliated!” Liu Mang pointed at Qiao Xuan and shouted loudly.

“At first, I thought that you were upright and fearless of authority. That you are a great scholar of this generation. Extraordinary and unwordly I was wrong. You are a hypocrite. You are no different from others. It is just that while others seek profit, you seek fame!” Liu Mang did not hesitate to scold Qiao Xuan.

“For the sake of your own reputation, you killed your son and your daughter is also dead. You only have this daughter left. Do you want her to die?” Liu Mang said all this not to be cruel but because some things needed to be said. It would be terrible if Qiao Xuan continues to be stubborn like this,

In the past, Qiao Xuan's ten year old son went out to play alone and got kidnapped. They asked Qiao Xuan to pay ransom money but Qiao Xuan refused. Soon, Supervisory Officer Yang Qiu, the Governor of Henan and the Magistrate of Luoyang surrounded the Qiao residence with their men. They hesitated to make any further actions as they were afraid that these kidnappers would kill Qiao Xuan's son.

However, Qiao Xuan loudly declared that criminals have no humanity and that he is unable to allow criminals to run rampant in the country even if it is for his son's life. He insisted on getting the troops to act. As a result, Yang Qiu launched an attack on the kidnappers. Qiao Xuan's son was also killed in the chaos.

Later Qiao Xuan personally met with Emperor Ling to ask the Emperor to make a decree. “Kidnappers would be killed immediately and no one is allowed to pay the kidnappers money to prevent criminals from profiting.” The decree was passed and the then rampant kidnapping completely stopped.

Although this showed Qiao Xuan's integrity, it also showed that Qiao Xuan loves fame too much. Everything he does, he does it for the sake of reputation. He was made a role model in the Han Dynasty but his son died for the sake of his reputation. If this continues, Qiao Yue would only face ruin.

Was having reputation worth destroying your family over?

“No! This is not true!” Qiao Xuan shook his head violently.

“Is your reputation more important than your own children? If Yue'er also dies, what will you have left? Just your reputation and loneliness!”

“No! I said that this is not true!” Qiao Xuan grabbed his head and shouted.

“Hanyang?” Qiao Yue also called out to Liu Mang. She was hoping that Liu Mang would stop. Otherwise, her father would really die from the humiliation.

Liu Mang took a deep breath. He had to give face to Qiao Yue. “Lord Qiao. If you say that this is not true, then I will give you a chance to prove it. If Yu'er was captured, survived and returned to Jiangdong, will you still recognize her as your daughter?” Liu Mang asked Qiao Xuan softly.

Qiao Xuan seemed to struggle with his thoughts. “Yu'er… Yu'er!” One was his daughter and the other was his reputation. Which of the two was more important?

“Lord Qiao. Did you know? Where I am from, there is a saying called ‘going though hell for the sake of appearances'. In this world, your family should the the thing that is most important. Not your reputation!”

“Yu'er. Come here and greet your father!” Liu Mang suddenly said to one of the servants behind him.

“Yu'er?” Zhou Yu and the others were confused about what Liu Mang was talking about.

“Father. Long time no see.” The servant let his hair down and removed his fake beard. She then walked in front of Qiao Xuan and Qiao Yue. Though she looked more mature than Qiao Yue, she also has Qiao Xuan's eyes. This was Qiao Yu, the eldest daughter of the Qiao Family.

“Sister!” Qiao Yue cried out with joy. She knew her sister was alive but it has been a long time since she saw her sister. Now that they finally reunited, she burst into tears and rushed to her sister. “Sister! I miss you so much!

“Da Qiao?” Zhou Yu did not know how to face Da Qiao. In the beginning, Da Qiao married Sun Ce and then she died for her loyalty. Zhou Yu felt guilty and did not know how to face Sun Ce. Now, Da Qiao appeared again but as the King of Shu's wife. This made Zhou Yu feel uncomfortable as Da Qiao was once his sister-in-law.

“Gongjin. I already knew about this a long time ago.” Sun Ce suddenly walked in.

“Brother! You…” Zhou Yu became more confused.

“Milord.” Sun Ce greeted Liu Mang and Liu Mang nodded. “I will explain things to you later.” Sun Ce said to Zhou Yu.

Sun Ce was actually called over by Liu Mang. It was unfair for Qiao Yu to keep herself hidden any longer which is why Liu Mang decided to be honest. As for Sun Ce, he found out when Liu Mang send a letter warning him about Sun Quan's rebellion. Liu Mang also wrote that this is to repay the debt he owes Sun Ce for Qiao Yu's matter and they no longer owe each other anything else.

“Silly girl, I miss you too.” Qiao Yu patted Qiao Yue's back to comfort her.

“Sister. Why did you not come to Jiangdong to visit us? Why?” Qiao Yue asked as she cried.

Qiao Yu sighed at this. She also wanted to visit her family but would it work?

“Yu'er? No! Yu'er is dead! You are not Yu'er!” Qiao Xuan could not believe it.

“Father. This is elder sister!” Qiao Yue also said to her father.

“No! It cannot be her!”

“Father. You still refuse to recognize me.” Qiao Yu felt very bitter.

“My Yu'er is dead!”

“Then do you still recognize this?” Qiao Yu took out a beautiful piece of jade from her neck. This jade pendant has the Yu (玉 ) character on it. The special thing about this jade is that the character was not carved but naturally formed. Qiao Yue also took out a jade of similar quality with but with the shape of a moon.

Qiao Yu and Qiao Yue were named after these pendant.

“Yu'er! It is really Yu'er!” Qiao Xuan's voice was bitter. “Was I wrong all this time?” Qiao Xuan began to question himself. In his pursuit for fame, he sacrificed his son, the only heir to the Qiao Family. If Qiao Xuan had more fatherly affection, his son would have survived. Now, Qiao Yu has returned. Though Qiao Xuan was filled with joy, he was also overwhelmed with grief. Was he truly wrong all this time?

Liu Mang sighed. He took Qiao Yu's hands and then placed it on Qiao Xuan's.

“Lord Qiao. She is your daughter Qiao Yu. She never died. She simply could not return home because of you valued fame too much and would not recognize her!” Liu Mang said to Qiao Xuan. Though he despised the old man, he also knew that this old man was his father-in-law.

“Yu'er. It is really you! My daughter!” Qiao Xuan finally relented and recognized Qiao Yu.

“Father!” Qiao Yu also began to cry in her father's arms.

“Your Highness. King of Shu. Have I been wrong?” Qiao Xuan's attitude towards Liu Mang changed. He asked Liu Mang this question because his values and outlook on life crumbled, leaving him confused.

“No. Lord Qiao was right.” Liu Mang smiled. The old man was finally beginning to understand.

“I was not wrong? But I caused Ren'er to die. I made Yu'er unable to come home. I almost ruined Yue'er as well.”

“Lord Qiao. The world moves because of profit. The Grand Scribe's words are correct. The people of the world pursue fame and fortune. Mi Zhu pursues wealth. I pursue power. And you pursue fame. Everyone struggle for these things. There is no right or wrong. The only question is if they did not do enough or if they did too much.

“Too much is as bad as too little?” Qiao Xuan finally realized and said calmly.

“Lord Qiao. About your two daughters..?” Liu Mang finally asked.

“Marry! I will marry them to you!” Qiao Xuan finally gave up. Having high reputation was not as good as having grandchildren. No matter how famous a person is, it was not as good as reuniting with family.

“What about the primary wife?” Liu Mang asked again.

“You have already decided and you still ask me?” Qiao Xuan sneered at Liu Mang.

“Haha!” Liu Mang could only laugh awkwardly. He called Qiao Xuan an old man just now but now he has to call Qiao Xuan father-in-law. “Father-in-law. Since you gave me your precious daughters, I will give you something in return.”

“Hmph! Do you think I care about money or rank?” Qiao Xuan assumed Liu Mang wanted to bribe him with money or position.

“Those things are too common. How can I give my father-in-law such common things?” Liu Mang laughed.

“Oh? Show it to me then.” Qiao Xuan was a little interested in what Liu Mang intended to give.

“Come and bring those gifts over!” Liu Mang ordered Guan Hai and the others.

“Understood!” Guan Hai opened up a package and took out a book.

“Not bad. You know I like books.” Qiao Xuan nodded with approval. If Liu Mang gave money, Qiao Xuan would simply slap him. However, Qiao Xuan was a scholar and scholars all loved books.

“Lord Qiao. It is not just a common book.” Liu Mang laughed.

“Hm?” Lord Qiao took the book and saw the title. <Lord Qiao's Notes>.

“This is…” Qiao Xuan's eyes grew wide. These were all the things Qiao Xuan had written down over the years. They were all compiled into a book.

“Your Highness. Thank you for going through the trouble.” Qiao Xuan was grateful. Liu Mang compiled his notes into a book and it was even in good handwriting.

“Lord Qiao, don't thank me yet. There are still these.” Liu Mang said and took out a few more books. Qiao Xuan saw that they were all <Lord Qiao's Notes>.

Qiao Xuan's eyes shone with realization. The contents of these books were all exactly the same. He sniffed the book and then asked. “The ink is still fresh. Were all these just copied?” Qiao Xuan asked skeptically.

“Lord Qiao. You are only half right!” Liu Mang laughed.

“Huh?”

“Come. Bring that box over.” Liu Mang ordered and two men brought a box over.

“Open it.” Liu Mang waved.

Once the box was open, Qiao Xuan saw that the box was entirely filled with <Lord Qiao's Notes>. There were at least a hundred books in there.

“All these all copied?” Qiao Xuan's eyes widened. If it was just one or two books, then getting a few people to transcribe for about four hours would be enough. Yet there are hundreds of books here. How much effort does it take to copy all of these down?

“Lord Qiao. If it was copied, do you think the two books will have exactly the same handwriting?” Liu Mang asked Qiao Xuan with a smile.

“What is this?” Qiao Xuan was becoming more confused and he felt itchy when he was confused.

“These books are all freshly printed.” Zhou Cang helped to answer for Liu Mang.

“Printed?” Qiao Xuan did not understand.

“It is just like those official seals. Once you press it down, it becomes a book.” Zhou Cang's way of phrasing was vulgar but it was easy to understand.

How many seals are needed for one book? Qiao Xuan began to calculate. A single page would need an entire engraved block and there were a total of over a hundred pages.

“There is no need for that many.” Liu Mang explained with a smile. “Lord Qiao. Your notes contain a total of about one hundred and twenty thousand characters. By removing duplicates, there are actually only about five hundred different characters used. A printing block is carved for each character and then arranged according to the text and the page is printed. After that, the blocks are rearranged for the next page and the process is repeated. All of these were printed in about two hours.”

“Two hours? Over a hundred books?” Qiao Xuan's felt that his brain was inadequate in comprehending what just happened. Copying one book in two hours was hard enough but here, a hundred books just got copied in two hours.

“Lord Qiao. I am going to teach you how to print books. I wonder if you can help me lift some of this pressure?” Liu Mang asked with a smile.

“This is not good.” Qiao Xuan did not actually want to refuse but he felt embarassed. This position had a lot of potential. It can even be said that his name would go down in history by printing books.

If everything Liu Mang said was true, books that used to be extremely valuable will be able to spread to the common people. The poor would finally have the chance to study and many new scholars would appear. When that happens, who would they be grateful to? They would definitely be grateful to the one that introduced printing. Qiao Xuan's reputation would soar to unimaginable heights.

“We are family. There is no need nitpick. You already gave me your most precious daughters so naturally, I have to reciprocate.”

“I am satisfied! I am satisfied! Haha!”

“This old bastard”

“This smelly brat!”

The two men laughed together.

***

Zhuge Liang was laughing happily as he held the money given to him by Liu Mang. He had just paid off his debts of three hundred gold and he owe his household one thousand gold. This left him one thousand seven hundred gold to have fun.

Seeing his wife come, Zhuge Liang stepped forward and respectfully said, “Milady. This is the salary one thousand gold. Please keep it.”

“Salary? Wasn't your salary deducted by the Lord?” Lady Huang frowned.

“Huh? Zifang didn't tell you?”

“He did. He said your money was deducted by the Lord.”

“What!” Zhuge Liang's eyes went dark.

“Why is there more money? One thousand gold? Did you hide money behind my back?” Lady Huang was sharp. “Tell me where you hide the money!”

“Milady! I'm innocent!” Zhuge Liang cried. “Mi Fang! You better remember this!”

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