Chapter 31

Zhou Zhubu suddenly fell silent.

Fang Yun knew what Zhou Zhubu wanted to say, as some things were known to everyone.

Chen Guanhai, nearly two hundred years old, had been injured in a battle with the Barbarian Saint. The hostile Qing State had spread rumors that Chen Guanhai would not last more than five years, and if he engaged in another fierce battle with the Barbarian Saint within those five years, he might fall and become a fallen saint.

No country could exist without a saint.

Once Chen Guanhai fell and Jing State had no half-saint, according to the Ten-State Agreement, neighboring countries could annex Jing State and take on the responsibility of defending the border.

Some even rumored that the Left Chancellor had already colluded with Qing State, weakening Jing State's power to prepare for its future annexation by Qing State.

Fang Yun put the holy page into a leather paper bag and said, "Please thank Lord Cai on my behalf. Regarding the publication documents..."

"Rest assured, I will issue the publication documents tomorrow. Are you planning to combine the two novels into one book?"

"Yes. Besides writing the preface, I also need to print several thousand promotional pages, which require the approval of the Academy. Could you do me a favor?" Fang Yun asked.

"Give it to me, and I will issue the documents tomorrow." Zhou Zhubu said.

"Can I write it now?" Fang Yun hadn't expected things to go so smoothly.

"Go to my study." Zhou Zhubu led Fang Yun to the study.

Fang Yun thanked Zhou Zhubu, sat in the study, and pondered how to advertise the new book. In this world, there were no televisions or internet, so the best method was to distribute flyers, which required careful thought.

Zhou Zhubu flipped through "The Western Chamber" and "The Pillow Record," memorizing the highlights.

After a quarter of an hour, Fang Yun finally wrote a one-hundred-word promotional flyer, but the content was exaggerated. He cautiously handed it to Zhou Zhubu, observing his reaction.

Zhou Zhubu took a look and burst into laughter, saying, "Read 'The Western Chamber' to talk about love, read 'The Pillow Record' to become a great scholar? Fang Yun, why do you have so many tricks up your sleeve?"

Zhou Zhubu continued reading and, after finishing, looked utterly defeated.

"The only double-jia saint candidate in Jing State's journey? The only author in 'The Holy Path' monthly magazine to have three poems shine together, pouring his heart and soul into a new book? Contains the secrets of the imperial examination for the students of the literary minister? Highly recommended by the Jiangzhou Academy this year? The grand scholar was so impressed he slammed the table? The literary minister was speechless after reading it? Fang Yun, are you not afraid of being charged with spreading rumors? Not to mention, would the literary minister be speechless?"

Zhou Zhubu wanted to use his authority to intimidate Fang Yun but was rendered speechless by the bizarre promotional flyer.

These words seemed outrageous, but upon closer inspection, they were incredibly appealing. Zhou Zhubu admitted he couldn't come up with such unique phrases.

Fang Yun said calmly, "Lord, you said 'The Pillow Record' could be published in 'The Holy Path.' This book will inevitably be presented to the literary minister, and he probably won't comment on it soon, so he will be speechless."

"What if the literary minister is very dissatisfied with the book? Wouldn't you be shooting yourself in the foot?"

"Then it would be even better. I could say, 'This is a book that shocks and angers the literary minister!'"

"Quibbling!" Zhou Zhubu shook his head and smiled.

"Is this promotional content not acceptable?" Fang Yun asked.

Zhou Zhubu pondered for a moment and said, "The phrase 'Read 'The Western Chamber' to talk about love, read 'The Pillow Record' to become a great scholar' is too much. You can have your people say it, but don't put it in writing to avoid giving others a handle. As for the grand scholar slamming the table, that's fine; Lord Academy appreciates you and won't be angry. Remove the part about the literary minister and rewrite it for me."

"Alright." Fang Yun removed the problematic parts and added: "This is a touching love story, a moving and dramatic legend, a heartfelt offering from the double-jia saint candidate and the author of three shining poems, Fang Yun!"

Fang Yun finished writing and carefully read it, feeling a peculiar sense of a historical drama.

Zhou Zhubu looked at the last sentence for a long time, speechless. Fang Yun had pushed his literary reputation to the extreme, showing no restraint.

After a while, Zhou Zhubu said, "With 'The Western Chamber,' the novelists in Jiangzhou might starve to death. This is a one-time exception; I will ban such seductive words in the future! If young scholars and women see it, they will skip meals to buy a copy."

Fang Yun smiled inwardly. The last part was designed for women. "The Western Chamber" was just the beginning; "Dream of the Red Chamber" would be the ultimate pitfall for love-struck men and women.

"When will you start selling the book?"

Fang Yun cleared his throat and said, "The 'Holy Path' monthly magazine is sold at the Academy on the first day of each month. Lord, could you do me a favor and allow me to sell books in front of the Academy for one day?"

"You..." Zhou Zhubu was speechless at Fang Yun's shrewdness.

"The 'Holy Path' is sold on the first day of each month, and the 'Literary Gazette' is sold on the first, tenth, and twentieth days. Both publications are only sold at the Academy's bookshop, and the first day of the month sees the most people at the Academy."

"The Academy has a clear rule that no selling is allowed in front of the Academy. I can't help you with that."

"Then I will drive ten ox carts to the Academy's printing house to pick up the books. If people want to buy books as I pass the main gate of the Academy, the Academy can't punish me, right?"

Zhou Zhubu imagined the bizarre scene of ten ox carts filled with "The Western Chamber" parading through the city, feeling a headache. Fang Yun was truly adept at exploiting loopholes. He said vaguely, "Be careful. If something goes wrong, I can't protect you."

"Thank you, Lord!" Fang Yun was delighted.

"How many copies will you print for the first run?" Zhou Zhubu asked.

"Daoyuan Prefecture has nearly a million people, and there are many more scholars here than in Jixian County. I plan to print 50,000 copies for the first run," Fang Yun said.

"What will be the price?"

"The book is not for the imperial examination, so the price can't be too high. Fifty coins per copy should be fine," Fang Yun said.

"Good. Is there anyone helping you with the planning?"

"Of course. I opened a Three-Flavored Bookshop and discussed it with the clerks," Fang Yun said.

Zhou Zhubu said, "Leave the original manuscript here. I will write a preface tonight. Before you leave, I will write you a handwritten order. Tomorrow, you can take the order to the Wenhuai Hall to get the publication documents and go directly to the printing house to pick up the books."

Fang Yun's eyes fell on his manuscript, thinking it was a bad idea. "I need the original manuscript to go to the Academy's printing house. I can't go empty-handed tomorrow."

Zhou Zhubu waved his hand, collected Fang Yun's novel manuscript and the two advertising drafts, and "righteously" tucked them into his clothes, looking at Fang Yun warily. "I will have someone deliver the manuscript to the printing house. You can come to pick up the books when they are ready."

"Lord, that's not fair. This manuscript took me ten days and nights to write, with multiple revisions. I almost turned gray from worry," Fang Yun complained.

Zhou Zhubu said, "We'll leave that aside for now. Remember to find me if you need a preface in the future."

Fang Yun stared into Zhou Zhubu's eyes and said, "County Magistrate Cai gave me a holy page, which is said to be worth 50,000 taels of silver from the Four Seas Dragon Clan!"

Zhou Zhubu immediately showed a fierce look, displaying his authority.

Fang Yun showed no fear.

In the Holy Yuan Continent, literary rank came first, and official rank second. Even the rulers of the Ten States could not deprive a child scholar of their literary rank. Therefore, even if Fang Yun offended the powerful Left Chancellor, the scholars of Jixian County were still willing to associate with him.

With a literary rank, scholars had the backbone to face authority without fear. This was why, despite the Left Chancellor's power, more than 80% of the military and the Academy system opposed him.

After a moment, Zhou Zhubu glared at Fang Yun and said, "In the future, any books published by your Three-Flavored Bookshop will be reviewed first, with results within twelve hours. You can go to the printing house for priority printing."

Fang Yun continued to stare at Zhou Zhubu.

Zhou Zhubu said helplessly, "I will request Lord Academy to expedite the review of this book by the Holy Academy. Then you can contact the three major book merchants to sell the book in other countries! Your 'The Pillow Record' will be recommended by me to Lord Academy to become a required reading for all academies and the Academy in Jiangzhou. This alone will spread your literary reputation throughout Jiangzhou, and a single copy of 'The Pillow Record' can sell nearly ten thousand copies."

Fang Yun was very satisfied but kept a calm expression.

Finally, Zhou Zhubu showed a reluctant look and said, "This is my final step. I can't back down any further. As one of the editors of the 'Literary Gazette' in Jiangzhou, I can do my best to get some news published. As long as it meets the conditions of the 'Literary Gazette,' I will try to help you get it published."

Fang Yun immediately smiled, not expecting such a significant gain. He understood the value of the 'Literary Gazette' or media better than anyone in this world, as media could even become a major force in toppling a country.

"Thank you, Lord Zhou. I will take my leave." Fang Yun bowed in gratitude.

Zhou Zhubu wrote a handwritten order for Fang Yun with a displeased look and saw him off. However, as soon as he turned around, his face bloomed with a smile, and he carefully took out Fang Yun's manuscript, looking at it with fascination.

"Good stuff, good stuff! What are gold and silver, what are antiques and treasures, compared to the wisdom of scholars! Just looking at and touching it makes me content. Excellent, very excellent. I must help him more in the future."

Zhou Zhubu became increasingly excited and, unable to contain himself, rushed to the residence of Lord Academy, Li Wenyi, the grand scholar of Jiangzhou.

Soon, a painful and angry shout echoed from inside Li's residence.

"Li Wenyi! How dare you snatch the manuscript... that Fang Yun gave me! I will impeach you! As a grand scholar and a third-rank official, you are robbing a sixth-rank clerk and a mere scholar of his private property. You are utterly mad!"

"You are even using battle poems to force me to leave? I will die at your doorstep! Return my 'The Pillow Record'! Otherwise, I will file a complaint with the emperor!"

"Despicable! Despicable to the extreme!"

"Lord Academy, Grand Scholar Li, please, return my 'The Pillow Record'!"

"Fine! Fine! Fine! I will lock 'The Western Chamber' away so you can never see the original manuscript! I will also write to Cai He, vowing never to let him see the original manuscript of 'Early Morning in Jixian County'!"

"Li Wenyi, you old scoundrel, I won't let this go!"

Zhou Zhubu, exhausted from cursing, muttered, "Is this karma?" and returned home in a bad mood.

Fang Yun, having gained what he wanted, went home happily, lit two incense sticks before going to bed, and slept soundly.

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