It is also the same haori kimono as Yagyu once, but it has a mountain pattern printed on the sleeves, which should be the Shinsengumi's logo.
He shook his head, took a sip of tea, and said calmly, "Martial arts is about one's own improvement, not about being brave and ruthless. Once Yagyu brings it upon himself, you can't blame me."
If it is something that is unnecessary and uncertain, he will never do it rashly.
Kondo Isao, the leader of the Shinsengumi, had watched his duel with Yagyu Isao at the Yagyu Kendo Hall, so he must have some confidence in coming this time.
Not worth it.
There's no benefit, it's not worth it, he's not a pure martial artist.
Kondo Isao looked slightly embarrassed.
When he came this time, he thought that as long as he proposed a martial arts contest, Bai Gui would definitely agree.
After all, once Yagyu published a challenge in the newspaper, Bai Gui readily agreed.
"If you have nothing important to do, please excuse yourself!"
"I still want to write a book..."
Bai Gui said.
His subconscious words made it very clear that I am a scholar and an author, and I am different from you roughnecks. I also have a certain status. If I wantonly break into a private house and attack a scholar, public opinion will not take it lightly.
Lean less.
Isao Kondo was asked out with an embarrassed look.
He is the leader of the Shinsengumi, and he can be considered an official. He certainly cannot be as unscrupulous as Yagyu once. Moreover, he is not sure of winning against Bai Gui. He is here for martial arts exchanges and to verify that Japanese Kendo is not defeated.
Yu Qingguo martial arts, but unexpectedly, Bai Gui did not accept the challenge, and did not even pay attention to him.
…
The long winter passed by in the blink of an eye.
Kondo Isao followed up with several more challenges, but Baigui ignored and rejected them all.
It's March, when spring is about to begin.
Bai Gui submitted all the drafts of the first black fission of "The Qin Empire" to the newspaper office.
The Asahi Shimbun also got the news.
The next day, he came to the door.
The two of them were kneeling facing each other.
"Mr. Bai, Senior Ryuko Tanabe also told you before that after it is completed, he will authorize the Asahi Shimbun to print a single volume. I would like to confirm with you again. Is that correct?"
A young man in a suit pushed up his glasses on the bridge of his nose and said.
"Yes, Tanabe-senpai told me this and signed a peace contract."
Bai Gui nodded.
The young man in a suit showed a relaxed smile, opened his briefcase, and took out a contract with more detailed content, "Mr. Laobai signed a contract to issue a single volume."
He pushed the contract to Bai Gui.
He took out another ink pad and a pen and handed them over.
Bai Gui did not rush to sign the contract, but carefully screened every content in it. Contracts that deceive people have been common throughout the ages. Even if writers belong to a group with a certain social status, they cannot avoid it.
Still need to go through it carefully.
"Huh? Is this? Raising my royalties to 13%?"
Bai Gui was a little surprised when he saw the last page of the contract.
Is Asahisha still doing business at a loss?
"Mr. Bai's Great Qin Empire has been well received by readers and has good sales. Therefore, in view of this, the company has given Mr. Bai a two percentage point increase in the first publication. Please don't blame Mr. Bai!"
The young man in a suit replied.
A person like Bai Gui who can write a historical masterpiece at such a young age will definitely be famous in the future. Even if he gives me only two percentage points, he will give it to Asahisha. It is not short of the money, and it is good to form a good relationship.
If Bai Gui gives priority to submitting articles to the Asahi Shimbun in the future, it will be their profit.
"The first issue is scheduled to be 2,000 copies and will be sold nationwide. If the sales are good, the second and third issues will be published..."
He continued.
Bai Gui was also very satisfied with this point. The amount of printing of the first issue also proves the appeal and influence of an author. If the first issue is printed too little, it will inevitably be a bit embarrassing. Three thousand issues is considered a good amount.
This is 1,000 issues less than the 3,000 issues that Natsume Soseki originally printed for "The Quail Cage".
But... this can't be compared. You must know that Natsume Soseki writes mostly short stories, medium stories, and long stories are still very rare, not to mention that the first volume of his "Da Qin Empire" has more than 700,000 words.
There are few novels longer than his, and the price is definitely not cheap.
Later, members of the Asahi Society handed over writing materials, which, combined with the single volume and the outstanding manuscript fee of 70,000 words, added up to a thick stack of nearly 700 yen.
It can be said that the one-time copyright fee for the first publication can buy a house.
"Please also ask Mr. Bai to reply to readers and call on readers to buy."
The member of the Asahi Society said again.
"This is the way it should be."
Bai Gui nodded.
"Then I won't disturb Mr. Bai."
Members of Asahisha submitted their resignations.
After waiting for a while.
Bai Gui sighed and ran to the utility room. Looking at the piles of letters from readers, he felt a headache.
Originally, when there were not many readers, he would just write a reply after seeing one or two letters. But as the number of letters increased, he could only temporarily put them in the storage room. He never thought that the number of letters would keep piling up.
"It's estimated that there are more than a thousand seals, right?"
He moved the letters from readers to his study, and his eyebrows couldn't help but twitch.
But I had no choice but to reply.
Now the first issue of the Great Qin Empire is also somewhat important to him, and he cannot leave it alone. If the sales of the first issue are not good, the Asahi Shimbun will most likely stop publishing the second and third issues.
As for the first issue, only readers who have already subscribed to the newspaper will pay for the full version again.
After all, the price of a single volume is a bit expensive. Asahisha has sufficient printing experience and can lower the price of a single volume to 1.3 yen. However, this number is still a high cost that most people cannot afford...
The average single book is actually not expensive. It costs around 0.00 yen, so you can still afford it if you bite the bullet.
Bai Gui actually wrote too many words, and the price of a single volume remains high.
At this time, a female textile worker only earned 1.5 yen a month.
Buying one book costs about one month's salary.
However, the target group of sales is not them, so Asahisha is not publishing separate volumes. Anyway, no matter whether it is priced at 0.5 yen per day or yen per day, these ordinary people will not buy it...
"Reply your letters one by one. At the critical moment, you can only rely on the readers."
Bai Gui sighed and began to open the envelope and reply.
Most of the people writing these letters are students. Although some celebrities subscribe to a lot, they are obviously much more mature and will not waste time in this regard.
"Yamada Mitsuko..."
"Hmm, a female reader?"
He was a little perfunctory when replying to male readers, but female readers always showed a little more patience when replying to letters. After all, things are rare and precious, and 99% of the people who wrote letters were male readers. This kind of historical writing is a little more obscure and not very popular.