With the firm decision in his mind to create paper using 21st-century knowledge, Cyrus immediately turned his analytical mind towards the practical aspects of this idea. The task ahead was immense: reconstructing a technology that existed thousands of years in the future, using only the rudimentary resources of the ancient world. He knew the general principles, but the precise details of material science and applied chemistry, which were once commonplace matters, now presented him with significant challenges. Nevertheless, his modern memory was a treasure trove that allowed him to recall the main components and basic processes of papermaking.
Cyrus's first step was to identify suitable raw materials in the natural environment around Anshan. He recalled that paper could be made from various plant fibers; from the stalks of dry plants to tree bark and even the fibers of old and worn fabrics. His curious eyes, during his childhood games in the palace gardens and courtyards, searched for any shrub or plant that had the potential to be turned into paper pulp. He considered the properties of plants such as flax, hemp, and even certain species of reeds and bamboo that grew in the region.
The main challenge was adapting this modern knowledge to the rudimentary tools of ancient times. He knew that pulping fibers required abundant water and a method for softening the materials, perhaps through prolonged soaking or boiling in large vessels. Then, to flatten the pulp and form sheets, some kind of sieve and pressing tool would be needed to extract excess water and compress the fibers. This process, in the mind of a three-year-old child, became a series of complex puzzles that had to be solved, but he enjoyed solving puzzles.
To begin these experiments, Cyrus needed someone he could trust and who would support his "childish" curiosities without too many questions. He thought of the trusted nurses and some maids who were always by his side. Perhaps he could convince them that this was a new game; a game of making a "better surface for drawing" or a "smoother leaf for writing stories." He tried to guide them towards basic materials and methods using gestures, sounds, and even simple drawings, although this required a lot of patience and repetition.
The initial experiments were, naturally, accompanied by numerous failures. The pulp did not form correctly, the sheets tore, or after drying, they became stiff and unusable; sometimes they had an unpleasant odor or quickly decomposed. But every failure was a new lesson for Cyrus and his unwitting companions. He continued his efforts with patience and perseverance, refining the smaller details of the process each time. This resilience in the face of setbacks indicated his iron will, which was forming even in childhood and driving him towards his great goal.
With each attempt, Cyrus realized that paper production was not just an invention but a complex process requiring great precision and trial and error. But he did not abandon his goal. He knew that success in this area would open new doors for his future empire and pave the way for his information and educational revolution. Paper was a bridge between ancient knowledge and modern wisdom, a bridge that could bring his linguistic revolution to fruition and spread literacy to all social classes.
These small steps in the rooms of the Anshan palace and amidst childhood games were, in fact, the seeds of a great revolution; seeds that were destined one day to grow into a magnificent civilization. With every piece of raw paper that took shape, Cyrus dreamed of a thousand-year empire where knowledge would be easily accessible to all, and no one would be deprived of the gift of literacy, and this was the beginning of his path to transform the world.