"M-me? What?"
Old Third had never heard the term before. He did not even know which two characters made it up.
Wearing the Black Guy Question Mark meme expression, he looked at Zhang Qingyuan in confusion.
Just then, Old Sixth brought over the tea. Zhang Qingyuan said, "Have some tea first. Let me explain slowly."
"Sure. Let's see what tricks you can pull."
They both raised their tea bowls. Zhang Qingyuan was genuinely thirsty. After talking for so long, this was his first sip of tea.
Setting down his bowl, Zhang Qingyuan took out a sheet of paper. He had written it up last night.
Old Third took it and glanced over it, only half understanding.
Zhang Qingyuan explained, "Media, as the name suggests, are mediums for spreading information."
"Be more specific." Old Third put down the sheet, somewhat interested.
"You know the court gazette, right?"
"Of course. The court uses it to publish policies and such for the common people to read. But officials generally control the thing, and most of what they publish is so obscure that ordinary people can't understand it. Even when they can, it's all officials singing their own praises. In other words, if people can understand something, it's because the officials want them to."
Third Brother really was a rich second-generation heir. He had been exposed to plenty growing up and knew a great deal.
"Then what do you think ordinary people like?" Zhang Qingyuan raised his tea, took a sip, and asked another question.
"All sorts of things." Bian Zhenxuan smiled. "Palace secrets, unofficial histories, interesting jianghu stories, the various sects' spheres of influence, even all sorts of dubious stuff. Stories, storytelling performances, steamy tales, and so on."
"Exactly. Ordinary people love those things. And not just ordinary people-the jianghu loves them too."
Zhang Qingyuan tapped the table with his index finger, gathered what he wanted to say next, and continued, "In the jianghu, news of anything spreads incredibly fast. Who killed whom today, who did what tomorrow, which sect fell out with which the day after, and so on.
"There are people who travel from place to place specifically to gather information, making a living selling it to sect leaders, clan heads, and the like.
"Others simply enjoy watching the excitement. Take the campaign against the Heavenly Principle Cult. Plenty of jianghu rogue cultivators went, but how many actually contributed? Weren't most just there to watch? Only our master and martial uncle were foolish enough to really charge ahead.
"Would you believe that, right now, people in the jianghu have already embellished the campaign against the Heavenly Principle Cult into something utterly miraculous, more exciting than any storyteller's tale?"
"Heh, that's a certainty." Disdain showed on Bian Zhenxuan's face, along with confusion. "But what does that have to do with this media of yours?"
"Which do you think is better: letting them spread these things for free, or even make money selling intelligence to various parties, or having us compile and write them out as a gazette and sell it to ordinary people ourselves?"
"Hmm?"
Bian Zhenxuan's interest stirred. "Go on."
Zhang Qingyuan sat up straight and gestured. "Like I said, media are channels for spreading information.
"A sheet of paper this big, with different sections on it.
"I'm thinking a front page, a second page, and so on, with different content in each section.
"For example, the front page could cover major jianghu events: which sect leader lost a duel to whom, what martial arts a certain hero practiced, what he did somewhere.
"It could cover jianghu loyalty, or inspiring stories of growth.
"Do you think ordinary people would pay for that?"
"Of course they would. Ordinary people love asking about jianghu affairs. Especially heroes and loyalty and such-they'll even pay a storyteller to hear about them.
"But I feel like something's still missing."
"What's missing?"
"Why aren't there any scandalous romances or embarrassing stories about people?"
Zhang Qingyuan waved his hands repeatedly. "We can't write those. We can't withstand that sort of retaliation right now. Even if we do write them, we have to wait until we're strong enough to protect the business."
"You're right." Old Third nodded, realizing he had not thought it through.
With their current strength, if they really wrote about someone's embarrassing incidents, they might well be hunted down.
"When we write about the jianghu, we'll focus on positive portrayals first."
"Mm."
"But we can exaggerate the headlines a little."
Bian Zhenxuan understood instantly. Pointing a finger, he said, "I get it. The untold secret between the Bright Moon Sect's sect master and the master of Lotus Island!"
"Exactly. An eye-catching headline, but the actual content is about them becoming sworn brothers last year."
"Go on."
"On the second page, we can run current interviews. Interview someone famous, for instance-the Bright Moon Sect's sect master, say-and explore his inner story."
"But that sort of thing isn't very appealing."
"There's more," Zhang Qingyuan said. "In other sections, we can write steamy stories and some news..."
"News?"
That was another new term. Bian Zhenxuan mulled it over.
"Right. For instance, the battle against the Heavenly Principle Cult: its causes, course, outcome, and so on.
"People in the jianghu know the details, but ordinary people don't. If they're interested, we'll write it.
"We can find steamy stories in books and storybooks. There's plenty we can write.
"Or we could serialize a novel."
"Make up stories?"
"Right. They could be martial arts stories, myths, or that sort of story."
Zhang Qingyuan raised an eyebrow at him. "Do you think anyone would buy a newspaper like that?"
"Yes. Lots of people."
"Could it make money?"
"Yes! But that depends on how the news is written and how each section is managed. Only a minority of ordinary people can afford newspapers. Some don't have spare money and might share one between several readers. If we want most jianghu people to buy it, we'd need nationwide distribution, and that would cost too much."
Bian Zhenxuan considered its feasibility and what it would take to carry it out.
Positive news was not to be underestimated, as though nobody would read anything that was not sensational.
In Zhang Qingyuan's previous life on Earth, nobody read the things the UC Editorial Department put together anymore. It seemed ordinary people paid no attention unless the news was explosive.
But that had only happened after internet users in his previous life had been bombarded with information.
This, however, was ancient times, the Great Zhou dynasty. Ordinary people had never suffered an information bombardment. Everything looked fresh to them.
Thinking back to the 1980s, newspapers had been the mainstream.
People had even believed claims that Japanese people were so clean you could drink their toilet water, and that gold littered the United States.
Even before Zhang Qingyuan transmigrated, huge numbers of stupid internet users were still fooled by all kinds of news.
Let alone in this world. What did ordinary people know? What did they understand?
Especially since this world also had the jianghu. Half the newspaper would be written for jianghu readers; only the remainder would be for literate ordinary people with money to spare.
"The price can't be too high. Ordinary folk couldn't afford it. Too low, and we'd lose money."
"We only need to make sure we don't lose money," Zhang Qingyuan said.
"Hmm?"
"A sheet of paper costs less than one copper coin. Printing costs one coin, staff expenses one coin, and let's count transport as another coin. That puts the cost at roughly three or four coins.
"We sell each newspaper for five coins. That way, we won't lose money, and we'll even make some.
"But the two or three coins we earn from each copy are only small change."
"Small change?"
"Exactly!" Zhang Qingyuan explained, "Once the newspaper becomes popular and famous, once it's everywhere, do you think wealthy merchants will offer us money to run advertisements?"
"Yes!"
He instantly understood what "advertisement" meant and immediately grasped its implications.
"But once our newspaper becomes famous, all kinds of newspapers will appear across the country, whether from the court or wealthy merchants, martial arts circles or the jianghu. Won't our business shrink?"
"Don't worry. That's fine. Business isn't for one person alone. You won't last long if you hog the whole meal.
"We just need to make sure we earn some quick money before other newspapers appear. By the time they do, we'll have earned enough.
"And other newspapers appearing will only mean we earn a little less, not that we stop making money."
"Mm."
Zhang Qingyuan had never intended to establish a monopoly, but he could ensure his newspaper would not decline.
Back in Hong Kong Island, how many people had bought Ming Pao for the news?
Most had read it for the serialized martial arts novels!
Good stories were something Zhang Qingyuan certainly did not lack.
He was actually eager for other newspapers to appear sooner, because his stories could be serialized in those too.
Bian Zhenxuan thought for a long time before finally saying, "So you're telling me this because you want to work with my family..."
"Exactly. You'll need to go back and talk to your old man. Our Tianyang Sect has no money right now, not even startup capital, so we can only find a partner.
"Why let fertile water flow into outsiders' fields? Your family is just right. We split the profits fifty-fifty."
"Good. I'll head down the mountain shortly!"
Zhang Qingyuan stopped him as he grew restless and reminded him, "Remember, once you've assembled the team, I'll come oversee things. Once you're familiar with the process, I won't need to come anymore."
"Understood."
Unable to conceal his excitement, Bian Zhenxuan was about to stand, but sat back down.
Smiling, he said, "Old Seventh, I keep feeling that making money isn't your real reason for starting a newspaper."
Zhang Qingyuan smiled too. "You really are my third brother. With a newspaper of our own, who would be the first to advertise?"
"So you're after publicity, you rascal."
"Including, but not limited to, raising our sect's profile."
"Mainly recruiting!"
"Exactly!"
"I'm off. Just wait for my good news."
As he was about to leave, Zhang Qingyuan stopped him again and took out two pills. "One Creation Pill to improve your constitution, and one Minor Rejuvenation Pill to add three years to your True Qi cultivation. Take them when you have time."
"Where did they come from?"
"The inheritance Master left behind."
"Heh, you rascal." Bian Zhenxuan smiled, his smile somewhat mysterious.
Once he had left, Zhang Qingyuan let out a long breath.
Of course he had to start a newspaper. He did not know how to make perfume, soap, or those other things!
Old Sixth went to fetch Fourth without being told. Before long, Fourth arrived.
"What is it, Qingyuan? When do I leave?"
Bai Shuyan was very excited. He loved the job of chasing women by imperial decree-loved doing it in every sense of the word.
"Calm down, calm down. Don't get impatient."
Fourth Senior Brother might be lacking elsewhere, but he really was an expert at picking up women.
The fellow was handsome, and even the martial arts he practiced were graceful and dashing.
"It's fine. Come ravage me all you like. Just tell me who I'm doing diplomacy with, and I'll go right now. I guarantee I'll win her over in three days."
Who the hell are you "doing diplomacy" with?
The corners of Zhang Qingyuan's mouth twitched. This guy was an animal.
He stopped him. "Don't rush. You'll have your chance to contribute to diplomacy. In a few days, you, me, and Fifth Senior Brother will head out together."
"Wait." Fourth looked puzzled. "What are you two going for?"
"Don't ask. Just wait for word from me."
"All right, then."
Hearing that there would be two third wheels along, Bai Shuyan instantly lost interest.
"Then I'm off?"
"Take these." Zhang Qingyuan gave him the pills.
He was currently in the fifth-grade realm, and his martial arts aptitude was the second best. After taking both pills, he might very well break through to fourth rank.
"What are these?"
He took the pills and examined them in confusion.
"Aphrodisiacs," Zhang Qingyuan said. "I was afraid you'd overwork yourself in the future, so I specially found these to nourish your body."
Fourth was deeply touched. "That's thoughtful of you, brother."
"Off you go."
Bai Shuyan swaggered away. After stepping outside, he turned back, clenched his right fist, thumped his chest, and pointed at Zhang Qingyuan.
Brotherhood lives in the heart!
Zhang Qingyuan answered with the same gesture. Old Sixth went to fetch Fifth.
"Have you sorted everyone else out?"
After entering, Li Moran plopped into a seat, picked up the tea Fourth had left untouched, and took a sip.
Sun Xiaotian glanced at him and did not replace the tea again.
"They're all sorted out. Only you are left."
Li Moran set down the tea bowl and asked without prompting, "Tell me. What's my assignment?"
"Very simple. Take these, and in three days we'll head out to recruit people."
"Recruit people?"
"Yes, recruit people."
"Where?" Li Moran looked down at the pills, which resembled Maltesers. "And what are these?"
"A Minor Rejuvenation Pill and a Creation Pill." Zhang Qingyuan explained once again, then immediately continued, "This time, we're not recruiting disciples. We're recruiting teachers."
"Teachers?"
"Yes. So over these three days, you and Fourth Senior Brother need to compile a list of nearby experts: capable people who haven't found success, those who want to retire from the jianghu, or those who can't afford to live.
"Once the list is ready, we'll leave in three days."
Zhang Qingyuan looked at him, and Fifth looked back at Zhang Qingyuan.
They stared at each other. After a while, he said, "All right. I understand."
"Mm. Off you go."
Having arranged everything, Zhang Qingyuan turned to Old Sixth.
He took out the pills and handed them to Sixth Senior Brother. The man had been bustling about in this room all this time, so why did it always feel as though he wasn't even there?
He really was a sneaky Old Sixth.
Sun Xiaotian also knew how precious the two pills were. He accepted them and carefully put them away.
After giving him the pills, Zhang Qingyuan saw that he was still standing there blankly and could only say, "All right, Sixth Senior Brother, go ask the other senior brothers if they need help with anything. There's nothing else to do here."
"Mm."
Old Sixth nodded, turned, and left.
His silence was different from Old Second's.
Old Second was putting on a cold, aloof act, pretending to be deep.
He genuinely had social anxiety and was particularly withdrawn.
After Old Sixth left, Zhang Qingyuan stood up, straightened his stiff back, and turned to walk toward the library.
Outside, Old Sixth followed Eldest into the city to buy supplies.
Eldest's job now was to spend money. He needed to buy all kinds of supplies and also repair the sect's buildings and facilities.
Old Second headed down the mountain to kill people, reading those three martial arts manuals as he walked.
Fifth went to discuss something with Fourth.
Old Third also returned to the Bian family residence in Phoenix Cry City.
As soon as he entered, Old Zhang, the gatekeeper, spotted him and hurried over, his face full of excitement. "The eldest young master is back! The eldest young master is back!"