An Engineering PhD’s Road to a Strong Nation: From the Start, Making Paper in the Northern Song

Song Yi accidentally transmigrates to the Northern Song and becomes a poor Taoist outside Bianliang.

With just two years left before the humiliation of Jingkang, Jin envoys are already openly insulting the Song court and its officials.

He quietly moves into a ruined temple and makes alkali from plant ash and paper from bamboo slips.

When translucent new paper appears in the Zichen Hall, the assembled officials erupt: “This paper is as thin as a cicada’s wing, yet worth its weight in gold!”

Song Yi simply smiles. “Your Majesty, papermaking is only the beginning.”

Wanyan Zonghan, the Jin envoy, sneers at his words. “Is this all the Song can manage, a few clever tricks?”

Slowly, Song Yi pulls a gunpowder formula from his sleeve. “And this? Would you call this a clever trick?”