The Parent of Paper

The year 200 CE, a year of modernity, writing and culture. A time where knowledge began to flourish. all thanks, to Ts'ai (Cai) Lun. as I need some paper to write down my adventures, I think it might be best to steal it straight from the source. Let's see If i can find MR. Lun.




As I sneak up to his workshop, I can hear him start to talk to himself. 
" Let's see, The emperor needs a way to modernise his empire. a way to streamline and to buckle down and work. but how? The workers are working as fast as they can, and the administrators are barely keeping up!" As he began to pace around his workshop, I started looking around for some paper. I found a few bits of ripped linen, and used hemp mush, but alas, I couldn't find any paper.


 "we cant afford to get any more administrators, and that still wouldn't help the problem. they just cant work fast enough using their tree bark and tablets.". as I walk by a table, I realized I have just picked up a whole bunch of garbage for no reason. used hemp? ripped broken linen? broken bits of bark? what is this good for? I quietly laid the garbage onto the table, and went to sneak out, apparently failing in my mission. as I leave, I accidentally step on a random branch.

"what was that, who's there!" I hear from the other room. I barely managed to sneak out a window before he saw me. "hmm, I though I heard something." he pondered. "hold on" he exclaimed, "used writing linen, bark, hemp. I might be able to turn these separate writing sources into a new united one. a better one. this will allow out administrators to keep up with everything! I must begin Immediately."


As i prepare to go home for the first time in a long time, I realise that this whole trip was a fools errand. in every era, I found things I liked, an didn't like. reasons why I couldn't stay. now I understand. I would never find a new era for myself. because I could never leave behind my home era. 
"there is no place like home."

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