Inside the editorial department, Zhang Qingyuan was explaining the newspaper's major sections to the editors.
In truth, he did not know much about newspapers himself. He had been born after 2000 in his previous life, after all. Apart from seeing his grandparents paste newspapers over the walls of their rural home as a child, he had never read the things.
Once he grew up, he went straight to checking trending topics on his phone. Who still read those things?
So he had only a general impression of newspapers in his head. As for the specifics, he did not really understand them.
Still, it did not matter if he was no expert. He knew the broad strokes.
A group of licentiates gathered around the table, listening as Zhang Qingyuan deployed his troops.
"Look, a sheet of paper this big has a front and a back. Fold it in half along its length like this, and you have four pages.
"Here on these four pages, we'll print the name of our Tianyang Daily in large characters, with the front-page headline underneath.
"Why do we call it the front page?
"Because when we distribute and sell this newspaper, this will be the outermost side. It'll be the first thing ordinary people see.
"So, to draw more attention to our newspaper, the front page needs the most explosive, most exciting content-the things ordinary people care about most.
"What are people out there interested in right now?"
Zhang Qingyuan looked around at them. One licentiate suddenly said, "Uh, the autumn provincial examination is coming up soon. Would that work?"
"Of course. For ordinary people, the autumn examination is the topic they care about most. So what should we write about?"
They exchanged looks, each looking at the others.
Seeing their silence, Zhang Qingyuan smiled and prompted them, "It's fine. Let your minds wander. Say whatever comes to mind. It doesn't matter if you get it wrong."
"Write about licentiates?" one licentiate asked, looking cautiously at Zhang Qingyuan, a little nervous.
"That works," Zhang Qingyuan said.
Seeing that Zhang Qingyuan really was letting them speak, another man gathered his courage. "Predict which talented scholars will pass the provincial examination this year?"
"That works!" Zhang Qingyuan nodded.
"Could we introduce talented scholars from several nearby cities and describe how they studied and made their names?"
"Absolutely."
"We could also publish their poems and some of their refined pursuits."
"I think we could write about older men who succeeded in the past, too. Telling the story of Lord Zhou, who left our Phoenix Cry City thirty years ago, could inspire more students. It would also give ordinary people a more direct understanding of his inner journey from a commoner to Minister of Revenue."
"Exactly. Brother Yang is absolutely right."
"And there's Fang Yueming, Donglin's talented scholar from fifty years ago. His story is the most legendary."
"Yes, yes, and we could also write..."
"Ahem!"
Listening to their discussion, Zhang Qingyuan cleared his throat twice. They hurriedly fell silent and looked at him nervously.
He had encouraged them to think freely because he wanted to broaden their understanding of what they could write in news articles.
He could not possibly stay here watching them every day, much less dictate the contents of every newspaper. That was why he had let them speak their minds.
But the limitations of this society had still dealt Zhang Qingyuan a blow to the head.
A bunch of licentiates, all talking about talented scholars. Who am I supposed to sell my newspaper to?
Zhang Qingyuan looked around and tapped the table with his forefinger. "We're making a newspaper, not a collection of scholar biographies."
They looked at one another, none daring to speak again.
Li Xiuwen spoke up then. "I understand, Director. What we write shouldn't just be refined. It needs to catch people's eyes."
As expected of the editor-in-chief Bian Zhenxuan had paid a hefty sum to recruit, he caught on faster than the others.
"Exactly," Zhang Qingyuan affirmed. "Go on."
After a moment's thought, he rested his right hand against his chin. "We should write about talented scholars, but also beautiful women. About literary trends, but even more about the jianghu!"
He seemed to have grasped something, almost as though his governing and conception vessels had been opened.
Zhang Qingyuan nodded. "Well said. Anything else?"
"That's all I can think of for now. Please offer me some guidance, Director." Li Xiuwen cupped his fists.
He was a talented scholar, but his talents did not lie in winning scholarly honors.
Bian Zhenxuan had recruited him because, after repeatedly failing the autumn examination and with no money at home, the fellow had gone around writing vernacular fiction for others.
He had written a great many stories, and they spread extremely quickly.
Besides that, he was an excellent painter. In particular, the paintings of beautiful women he made for wealthy clients were simply unmatched.
That was what Third Brother had seen in him.
He might not be able to pass the provincial examination, but in other areas, he was unquestionably talented.
Zhang Qingyuan said, "You're too modest, Editor-in-Chief Li. Your ideas are excellent. Everyone else should learn from you."
Editor-in-chief?
They had heard a new term, but after turning it over in their minds, they quickly understood what it meant.
Zhang Qingyuan explained anyway. "This is our editorial department. You're all editors, and he is the editor-in-chief.
"From now on, before each newspaper is published, aside from anything I specifically ask to review, he'll review the regular editions. For every section's news content, if he approves it, it passes. If he doesn't, replace it."
"Editor-in-Chief Li."
"Editor-in-Chief Li."
Their attitudes toward Li Xiuwen grew more respectful, and they greeted him one after another.
Previously, they had only heard that he was some sort of deputy director. They knew he was their immediate superior, but had thought little of it. Not knowing what powers he had, they had simply assumed he supervised their work.
Now that he held the power of life and death over them, of course they had to flatter him.
Zhang Qingyuan added, "If you think something you've reviewed is good, you can also award them some silver at your discretion. How much is up to you."
Li Xiuwen unconsciously straightened his back. The others' gazes had grown fervent.
"If we have more people in the future and you feel you can't keep up, you can also choose one or two deputy editors-in-chief to help you."
Hearing that, they wished they could chop off a chicken's head and burn yellow paper with him right then and there.
To put it plainly, they were a bunch of penniless scholars. They might put on refined, lofty airs before ordinary people, but before money, they were all little brothers.
"Thank you for raising me up, Director." Li Xiuwen cupped his hands and bowed low.
"You're welcome," Zhang Qingyuan said. "Let's continue."
They listened closely. With monetary rewards added to the mix, they were now more attentive than anyone.
Looking at them, Zhang Qingyuan said, "Those biographical pieces you mentioned can be written, but they don't need to go on the front page.
"Front-page content has to be fresh. Even three-year-olds know Lord Zhou's story. What's fresh about that?
"Put it in another section. People who buy the newspaper can read it if they want, and skip it if they don't."
They nodded, taking careful notes of Zhang Qingyuan's words with paper and brush.
"News means fresh happenings. The autumn examination is fresh. What happened somewhere, what appeared somewhere-you can exaggerate in the writing, but don't go too far.
"As Editor-in-Chief Li said, talented scholars and beautiful women, the imperial court and the jianghu-we should cover them all."
Just then, Li Xiuwen suddenly said, "But we're all in Phoenix Cry City. We can't learn about everything happening elsewhere in time, can we?"
"That's why our editorial department needs to recruit more people besides you. Find people with strong legs to travel to other cities in the Eastern Realm, to discover and learn about fresh happenings in every city and prefecture," Zhang Qingyuan reminded him.
He looked at Li Xiuwen. "You're the editor-in-chief. Who we recruit and where they go will all be up to you. They don't all have to be scholars. Martial artists are fine too, but they must be literate.
"And we can call these people reporters."
"Reporters?" Li Xiuwen murmured.
"Right," Zhang Qingyuan said. "People who record and report events.
"As for determining whether the information they provide is true, that'll depend on your abilities. We can't provide false information."
Li Xiuwen nodded. "I understand."
He understood Zhang Qingyuan's meaning in an instant. Some of the information reporters brought back was bound to be true, and some false.
We can't provide false information, but he didn't say false information couldn't be printed in the newspaper.
After writing up the news, we can simply add a line at the end: the actual details remain subject to the final outcome; this is all we currently know, and we will continue following and reporting on further developments, and so on.
Once we've written it, we'll tell you outright that we don't know either. Go guess for yourselves.
Zhang Qingyuan met his eyes, confirmed that he truly understood, and smiled at him.
"Also, besides our own reporters, we need to gather information from the public.
"In the jianghu, some people make their living specifically by selling information.
"You can put a call for information at the back of the newspaper. When someone comes forward with information, pay them according to how explosive it is."
"Understood." Li Xiuwen nodded.
"I'm planning on roughly six sections per newspaper." Zhang Qingyuan pointed at the paper on the table. "Here goes the Tianyang Daily's name and the front-page content.
"Over here is the second section. This can contain things that aren't quite so time-sensitive.
"For instance, the battle at Mount Kunlun three or four months ago. Some people in the jianghu know about it, and others don't, so we need to write it up in detail.
"Ordinary people and people of the jianghu will certainly want to know about it, so we'll give them a clear account from beginning to end.
"The next portion can provide current grain and commodity prices, primarily based on the court's announcements. Ordinary people care about that most.
"The fourth section can contain other things-strange tales and unusual happenings. Even folk legends will do.
"For the fifth section, you can send reporters to interview famous people."
"Interview famous people?" They looked at one another.
One of them said, "Director, is that appropriate? I mean, would they let us interview them?"
Zhang Qingyuan smiled. "Not right now, of course. But once we've published a few issues and our newspaper becomes popular, do you think they'll be rushing to let you interview them?"
"Uh..."
"Take Phoenix Cry City's city lord. Tell him you want to interview him about his views on the sea raiders, and see whether he launches into a fluent speech.
"Ask the Phoenix Cry county magistrate what good deeds he's done during his term, and see whether he heaps praise on himself."
They all nodded. Of course he would!
The city lord was one thing. Once a city lord, always a city lord. His descendants might all be city lords too. The common people knew what they were like.
The county magistrate was different. Once his three-year term ended, someone else would take over.
The city lord was a martial man, but the county magistrate was a scholar. Scholars cared most about their reputations. He would certainly be eager for lavish coverage.
Not a single scholar could resist the temptation of leaving a name that would endure for a thousand ages.
Li Xiuwen felt that once the newspaper became famous, those officials would be desperate to have them conduct interviews, even if they had to pay.
The others understood as well. The scholar surnamed Yang suddenly raised his head. "We could also interview sect leaders and outstanding disciples. Everyone wants to become famous!"
Zhang Qingyuan pointed at him. "Exactly. Everyone wants to become famous."
"If the interviewee's status is high enough and they're famous enough, we can put their interview on the front page," Li Xiuwen added.
"Exactly." Licentiate Yang thought of something and said excitedly, "If we interview the East Sea Sect's leader and put him on the front page, then interview the master of the Forest Immortal Sect, which is on roughly the same level, will he demand a place on the front page too?"
"Probably. I think they have a feud," someone said uncertainly.
"Then what if we aren't quite so firm in refusing?" Licentiate Yang asked.
Not quite so firm in refusing?
They thought about it, and one man suddenly understood. "He'll... offer us benefits!"
Beautiful!
Listening to their conversation, Zhang Qingyuan felt deeply gratified.
At the same time, he thought that the genes for taking bribes and squeezing favors really did lurk in everyone's heart.
They had not even started working, and they had already figured out how to ask for benefits.
There was nothing particularly blameworthy about that. Zhang Qingyuan had known it in his previous life.
It was like the trending lists on various apps back then. Some topics genuinely trended, while others had paid their way there.
Not only could people buy a spot on the trending lists, they could also pay to push a topic down.
Otherwise, why did some news suddenly become known nationwide, while other news could no longer even be found in a search?
After listening to their enthusiastic discussion for a while, Bian Zhenxuan, who had remained silent, suddenly asked, "Qingyuan, what goes in the other two sections?"
He had been listening from the side all along, and the more he heard, the more he felt this had been the right move.
Zhang Qingyuan said, "Think of the rest yourselves. It doesn't matter what you write, as long as ordinary people enjoy reading it."
"We certainly won't disappoint either of our employers!"
Every editor looked as though he had been injected with chicken blood, utterly different from the lifeless men they had been at the start.
"I have something to say about the final section."
They picked up their little notebooks again to take notes as Zhang Qingyuan took out several sheets of paper and placed them on the table.
He said, "The final section won't carry news. It'll carry vernacular fiction, serialized in the last section.
"This is a story I wrote, called Journey to the West. I've only written an outline. Find someone with a good writing style to turn it into vernacular prose, with two thousand characters serialized in each issue."
Li Xiuwen picked up Zhang Qingyuan's outline and read through it.
A stone monkey, the Celestial Court, the underworld, the West...
The stone monkey, the Handsome Monkey King, sprang out of a rock, studied on Mount Fangcun, subdued the demon kings of the seventy-two caves on Flower-Fruit Mountain, caused havoc in the Dragon Palace and the underworld, served as Keeper of the Heavenly Horses in the Celestial Court, and wreaked havoc in Heaven...
After reading it, he asked, "A mythological story?"
"Yes."
"Why does it end with the Buddha pinning him beneath Five Fingers Mountain?" Li Xiuwen felt there was more. It was called Journey to the West, yet no one had journeyed west.
Zhang Qingyuan said, "Write the beginning first. I have a use for the rest."
"All right."
Would he write the rest?
Of course he would!
But not in the newspaper. What a joke. How much was a newspaper worth?
Once the early serialized chapters became popular in the newspaper, of course he would find a bookseller to publish the book!
The newspaper's earnings belonged to the Tianyang Sect and the Bian Family, but the money from the complete novel would be his own, damn it!
What was wrong with making a little money for himself by writing a novel?
"Use movable type for the newspaper. It'll be faster."
"Understood."
"Everyone, start with the autumn examination for the front page. I'll give you ten days to work out the contents. Ten days from now, we'll publish the first issue of the Tianyang Daily. After that, one issue every five days."
"Yes!"