Gauguin had always been curious about one thing - after the paper mill was built, nearly 30% of the area was still idle, and this area was obviously separated from the paper mill because it was separated from the paper mill by a wall with two small doors.

Gauguin racked his brains but could not guess the purpose of this area until Woolley said it himself.

"This will become the world's first printing house," Wu Lai said at the time.

Printing? What does it mean? Gauguin didn't understand the transliteration. After he asked politely, Wu Lai said, "It's just another business to make money, Gauguin. My father once praised you when he was alive, saying that you were cautious and never asked or said anything rash. I hope you can live up to his praise."

"I will, Master Wu Lai." Gao Geng nodded quickly. He understood that Wu Lai was reminding him.

Soon, Gauguin knew more details after Woolley named the six large houses in that area Ink Room No. 1, Ink Room No. 2, Plate Making Room, Engraving Room, Printing Room No. 1 and Printing Room No. 2.

The four slaves who had studied with Wu Lai in the White Stone Building for a whole month became the protagonists of this area.

When Gauguin saw the four slaves starting their first job in the plate-making room, he finally remembered the biggest thing these four slaves had in common - they were all literate.

Gudun and two slaves immediately entered the area. From the moment they entered, they could not leave unless they obtained permission from Wu Lai or Gauguin. Similarly, no one else could step into the area without permission.

That night, Woolley gave Gauguin a purchase order that included musk, borneol, orpiment, rhinoceros horn, pearls, and some pigments commonly used to dye cloth.

"Go around the shops tomorrow and ask about the prices of these goods, but don't actually buy them. I just want everyone to know that I need these things. The more shops you know, the better." Wu Lai ordered.

"I understand, Master Wu Lai." Gao Geng took the purchase order.

"By the way, buy some rough leather and ask Hippo to sew two more sandbags for me." Wu Lai stretched.

Gauguin nodded and reported, "Master Wu Lai, before dusk, Greendo Manor sent a message saying that they hope you can go there tomorrow. They said they have something to discuss."

Wu Lai pondered for a moment and nodded. Although he did not have a good impression of Lady Leah and Tina, Eton was his blood brother after all. In addition, he also promised to take good care of Eton in a conversation with his alcoholic father before his death.

I hope it's not a loan or something. Wu Lai suddenly started to have wild thoughts.

The next afternoon, Woolley's carriage drove directly into Greendo Manor. As soon as the manor gate behind him closed, Woolley saw Tina and several maids waiting on the stone steps in front of the main building from afar.

When Wu Lai jumped off the carriage, Tina greeted him with a smile: "Wu Lai, long time no see."

Woolley smiled back.

When he walked into the reception room of Glendower Manor, Woolley frowned slightly, because in addition to Lady Leah and her brother Quentin, there was also a bald middle-aged man with luxurious clothes and a big belly.

Lady Leah stood up with a smile on her face. "Wulai, you are back home. You are so lucky. Lord Doji, the tribune, happens to be a guest at Glindo Manor."

It turned out that he was the peace officer Doji. Wu Lai smiled and half bowed to the bald fat man: "I am surprised and honored to meet Lord Doji at Greendo Manor."

Doji laughed, clenched the copper cane in his left hand that symbolized the power of the tribune, and said, "Wuliglindo, when I heard your age, I subconsciously thought I had heard it wrong, because I never thought that a twelve-year-old child could achieve such great achievements."

"Thank you for the compliment, Lord Doji. What I did were just small things, not worth mentioning." Wu Lai tried his best to make his voice sound respectful. It was true that he was a noble, but those who could become officials were nobles, and only nobles with deep backgrounds and rich family assets could become officials. Although the power of the tribune was less than that of the tribune, it was ranked second only to the consul Anthony. With Wu Lai's current ability, he was far from being qualified to underestimate him. If he wanted to give Doji the cold shoulder, apart from the consul, the only person in the Seneca city-state who could do it was probably Mikoyan.

"Please sit down." Doji had a good impression of Wu Lai and nodded with a smile, but the sentence "Please sit down" seemed to be a case of the guest taking the initiative.

Wu Lai sat down and greeted Quentin with a smile, while thinking about why Doggie and Quentin appeared here. He didn't believe it was just a coincidence.

Sure enough, as soon as the maid brought the fruit plate to Wu Lai, Quentin smiled and said, "Wu Lai, I heard that your mill business is good."

"Thanks to the temple's care, I'm doing okay." Wu Lai replied.

"Where's the paper mill?" Quentin asked with a smile.

"It's just so-so." Wu Lai's smile remained on his face, but his heart was moved. He thought that these two people were most likely here for the paper mill.

"Let me be frank. Lord Doji is kind and generous and likes to make friends. After hearing that the paper named 'Gift of Kindness' by the temple was produced by you, he became particularly interested in this new paper mill business. He said that it would be a wonderful thing if other city-states in the Assyrian territory could also receive the 'Gift of Kindness'. Wu Lai, do you understand what I am saying?" Quentin's face was full of pride and anticipation.

Of course, making a lot of money is a wonderful thing. Wu Lai thought about it in his heart, and said with a smile: "Uncle Quentin, I understand what you mean, but unfortunately, the 'gift of mercy' comes from the revelation of the god Amon, and it can only belong to the temple. As for allowing other city-states in the Assyrian territory to also receive the 'gift of mercy', High Priest Mikoyan has already started. You know my age, so I can't take charge of this matter."

Wu Lai's direct refusal froze Quentin's smile, and the smile on Doggie's face also disappeared instantly.

After Doggie glanced at him, Quentin spoke to Wu Lai in a colder voice: "Wu Lai, don't bring up Mikoyan. I know what the so-called 'gift of mercy' is. Its greatest use is just to replace parchment. The raw material used to make it is nothing more than straw. With a little effort, anyone can imitate it."

"Then why did you come to me?" Wu Lai smiled and spread his hands. If the other party did not infringe on his interests, he naturally did not want to make an enemy, but if the other party wanted to take his food without his consent, then it would be an offense. At worst, he would just find a way to balance it.

Doggie's expression became even uglier. After looking at Wu Lai coldly, he turned his face aside impatiently: "Quentin, tell him."

"Okay, Lord Doji." Quentin said flatteringly, and there was a hint of anger in his eyes when he looked at Wu Lai. "Wu Lai, all the wheat straw in Seneca City-State this year has been reserved by Lord Doji and Greendo Manor. As long as Lord Doji gives an order, not a single straw can enter the intersection leading to the surrounding city-states. And with Lord Doji's status in Seneca City, no one will be willing to sell to you even if you double the price. I think you don't want to sit back and watch your paper mill stop production because of a lack of raw materials, right? As your elder, I advise you not to lose the big picture for the small!"

When his eyes scanned the pride in Doggie's eyes, Wu Lai smiled bitterly and shook his head, then looked at Lady Leah: "Oh, my poor stepmother, I guess it was your ignorance that caused Lord Doggie to misunderstand. Straw? Raw materials? Hahahaha, the reason why I was willing to spend three hundred silver coins to pull three hundred ox carts of straw from Glyndwr Manor was because of my half-brother Eton. I didn't want his mother to worry about the New Year banquet at Glyndwr Manor. In other words, this was just a disguised gift for my brother, that's all."

Wu Lai looked at Doji and said, "Respected Lord Doji, the only use of wheat straw in the paper mill is to start a fire. If you don't believe me, you are welcome to visit us anytime. Of course, if my uncle Quentin insists on preventing me from buying wheat straw as a fire starter, I don't mind changing it."

There are so many raw materials for making paper, including reeds, wheat straw, corn stalks, flax, mulberry bark, cotton, cotton linter, etc. Wu Lai didn't believe that the other party could buy all of them.

Doji's face looked even uglier.

Wu Lai glanced at the uneasy Madam Leah and sighed heavily, "I am very willing to pass on to you the advice your brother Quentin gave me. In addition, I would like to give you one more thing: do not regard my kindness as unlimited tolerance."

The latest novel is published first on Liu9shuba!

"Wu Lai..." Quentin was about to say something, but Wu Lai had already stood up with a smile on his face.

"Lord Doji, no matter what, meeting you is a memorable thing. The only regret is that you seem to have trusted someone you shouldn't have trusted. Goodbye." Wu Lai smiled slightly, turned around and left, without even paying attention to Lady Leah's call.

As he walked out of the main building's door, the anger on Wu Lai's face finally showed.

"Take me to the temple immediately." After getting into the carriage, Wu Lai said in a deep voice to Gauguin who was driving.

Gauguin was startled, and immediately whipped the horse's buttocks with the whip in his hand: "Gee!"

…

After listening to Wu Lai's story, Mikoyan shook his head disapprovingly: "Wu Lai, you are still a child, what is there to worry about? Your papermaking technique belongs to the Temple, and the Temple has already informed the Senate and the Noble Council. Don't worry, no one in the Assyrian territory dares to imitate it. You should know that in the Senate, which actually controls all affairs of the Assyrian territory, the Temple occupies more than half of the seats. In the Noble Council composed of 125 nobles, the nobles who support the Temple also account for the majority. You came at the right time today. I happen to have something to talk to you about."

"I'm not in the mood right now." Wu Lai also shook his head. "That man named Doji is a peace officer after all. I have offended him today, but that was also for the sake of protecting the interests of the temple."

"Don't worry, he dare not do anything to you. Your workshop has a protection order issued by the temple. No one can enter without the temple and your permission. Let's talk about business first." Mikoyan said with a smile.

"Your Excellency the High Priest, what I am talking to you about now is serious business. As you can see, I am just a child. It is good enough for me to be tough in front of the tribune of Seneca City. Until you provide me with more protection and make me feel at ease, I will never be in the mood to discuss other things." Wu Lai said.

"Wu Lai, you are not an ordinary child. In my opinion, there is a mature and wise soul living in your body. Don't play these tricks on me. Just tell me, what kind of shelter do you want me to provide this time?" Mikoyan said with a smile.

"If possible, I would like Doji to salute respectfully when he sees me," Wu Lai replied.

"That's impossible." Mikoyan laughed heartily. "Your idea is too naive. Although Doji is a scumbag, he is a high-level scumbag. Salute respectfully? From what I know about him, even if he salutes me, he may not necessarily be respectful in his heart. Wu Lai, your request is very naive."

"Your Excellency the High Priest, I guess that what you want to talk to me about must be related to papermaking, and I also believe that with the favor of God Amon to me, I can meet your and the temple's requirements in the fastest way. But this requires at least a condition of exchange, and this is what I deserve, isn't it?" Wu Lai asked.

Mikoyan pondered for a long time, nodded seriously, and said, "What you said makes sense. In addition, you also guessed very accurately. What I want to talk to you about is papermaking. A few days ago, in order to ensure that our interests are not coveted, I reported the papermaking matter to the temple. Yesterday evening, the messenger of the Assyrian Temple rushed to Seneca and handed me a handwritten letter from the High Priest Saint Lean. In this letter, the High Priest generously praised me and also made some requests, including returning the complete papermaking technology to the temple. It was also pointed out that you will be rewarded so that you can better serve the temple. In other words, if you have no doubts about dedicating the papermaking technology to the temple, you can get this reward. Before you came in, I was thinking about the advice I should give you. Since you feel that Doji has become a threat to you, then my suggestion is to ask the temple to let you become the High Priest's disciple."

"Disciple?" Wu Lai frowned.

"It's just a title, but it's very useful. Not only can you be tax-exempt, but you can also be directly exempted from some minor crimes, such as injuring civilians. The most important point is that with this title, people like Doji will not come to bother you, because the disciples of the high priest actually represent holiness." Mikoyan replied.

"Does this great priest Saint Lean have many disciples?" Wu Lai asked again.

"Not many. As far as I know, there are only about 40 people in the entire Assyrian territory. They obtained the title in various ways, but each of them is highly respected." Mikoyan paused and added, "But there are two points I must explain. First, after becoming a disciple of the high priest, you cannot serve as an official. Second, if you commit a serious crime or blaspheme the god Amon, your disciple title will be revoked..."

"Sorry, I refuse." Wu Lei interrupted Mikoyan.