Due to the popularity of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes", when Zhou Hexuan came here again, he finally met Liu Yangong, the president of the New Tianjin Newspaper Department.
Liu Beard's real name is Zhongru, and Beard is just his nickname. He served as a soldier and a revolutionary when he was young. He co-founded the "New Tianjin News" with his friends two years ago. In the history of the Republic of China, he is a famous newspaper tycoon.
In a few years, "New Tianjin News" will be marketed in several provinces in North China, with a peak sales volume of more than 50,000 copies. Even the sales volume of "New Tianjin Evening News" has increased to more than 20,000 copies.
Until Japan fully invaded China and occupied Tianjin, it forced Mr. Liu to do propaganda for the Japanese army. Mr. Liu refused to obey and was eventually tortured to death by the Japanese invaders. He deserves the honorific title of patriotic newspaperman.
This gentleman had a thin face and no appearance of wealth. He had a mustache and wore an old gown. At first glance, he looked like a down-and-out scholar. He took the initiative to shake hands with Zhou Hexuan and praised: "Mr. Zhou, what a pleasure it is to meet you!
Reading the masterpiece every day makes me forget to eat and sleep."
"It's just a recreational thing, Liu Gong laughed at it." Zhou Hexuan said modestly.
The two exchanged pleasantries and complimented each other, and Liu Yangong expressed his thoughts: "After "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" was serialized in the Evening News, many readers wrote to the newspaper saying that they had missed the previous story and hoped that the newspaper could reprint it.
Journal.”
Speaking of this, Mr. Liu said with a smile, "There are many people in Tianjin buying the two issues of the evening newspaper that published the first chapter of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes". An expired newspaper was sold for as high as 5 cents."
, Mr.’s masterpiece really makes Luoyang paper expensive.”
Zhou Hexuan was not proud of this, and asked with a smile: "How will Mr. Liu plan to reprint it?"
Liu Beard explained: "I am going to publish two extra issues of the Evening News, specifically reprinting the first three chapters of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes"."
Zhou Hexuan was a little surprised. The extra issue is equivalent to a special issue, which is used to report major events and good news. It was just for a martial arts novel to issue an extra issue. It was quite drunk to think about it. Liu Yangong worked hard to expand the sales of the newspaper.
Liu Beard added: "How about 5 yuan per thousand words for the three chapters republished outside the magazine? As for the normal manuscript fee for "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" in the future, I think it should be raised to 3 yuan per thousand words."
"It's all up to Mr. Liu to make the decision." Zhou Hexuan said happily. He was naturally happy to make more money.
The manuscript fee of 3 yuan per thousand words is considered the ceiling price for martial arts novels. The martial arts master Ping Jiang Buxiaosheng in the south paid this price. The reason why Liu Yangong took the initiative to raise the price and even came to talk to Zhou Hexuan in person was naturally to win over
Emotionally, Zhou Hexuan was trapped in the New Tianjin newspaper system.
During the Republic of China, literati were very popular, and writers who could write best-selling works were always the targets of major newspapers and magazines. Although Zhou Hexuan was a newcomer, the potential he showed was enough for newspapers to give him special treatment.
At noon, Liu Yangong hosted Zhou Hexuan for dinner, and specially called Li Shoumin to attend.
The three of them had a great time, and drank a few glasses of wine. Suddenly, they heard a commotion in the restaurant, and even the sound of tables being lifted.
There was a dining table in the lobby with its legs in the air, and leftovers scattered all over the floor. Several big-headed soldiers with red faces and thick necks from drinking were standing in front of the counter, with ferocious looks on their faces.
One of the soldiers took out a military ticket, smashed it on the counter and shouted angrily: "You idiot! We braved bullets and artillery fire and worked hard to fight here from Shandong just to help you drive away the big bastard Feng Yuxiang."
.Hey, you're lucky, you won't even let us eat! You are going to rebel!"
The shopkeeper looked miserable and begged for mercy: "Master, this is Shandong's military ticket. I can't use it even if I accept it."
Another soldier suddenly raised his gun, pulled the bolt, pointed it at the shopkeeper and said, "I think you are a spy of the National Army!"
"Yes, we will arrest you later!" the accomplice yelled.
"Sir, spare your life!" The shopkeeper was so frightened that he trembled all over and quickly took out the money to make replacement.
Hearing the clattering sound of the silver coins colliding, the big-headed soldiers finally put away their guns, laughed arrogantly, and then walked away with the silver coins in their arms, leaving only the shopkeeper sighing.
They ate more than two yuan for a meal and ordered some good wine and food. When paying the bill, they were given military coupons in denominations of 10 yuan. Since Fengjun had just occupied Zhili, the military coupons in the Pingjin and Tianjin areas had not yet been printed.
The big-headed soldiers are still using the banknotes from Shandong, which are no different from waste paper. They feel uncomfortable even if they are used to wipe people's buttocks.
The shopkeeper couldn't accept it, and he had to pay them more than 7 yuan in real money. After all, it was a huge loss.
After the big soldiers left, the diners in the restaurant started talking about it:
"Alas, if there is a gun in this world, it is the Grass-headed King."
"Warlords are all like birds, and these turtles will be punished sooner or later!"
"..."
Zhou Hexuan watched the scene in silence, not knowing what to say. He was silent for a moment and asked: "Isn't Fengjun in the Northeast? How come these soldiers came from Shandong?"
Liu Yangong explained his doubts and said: "Those Qiu Ba just now are soldiers under the demon king Zhang Zongchang."
Well, when talking about Zhang Zongchang, Zhou Hexuan immediately had an impression. He was a great poet in the warlord circles of the Republic of China. His poetic talent could drive Li Du to death, anger Xin Su, and make Qu Yuan feel ashamed even in his lifetime!
The styles of Zhang Dashuai's poems are varied, some are bold and unrestrained, such as "The Song of the Wind": The cannons are firing to blast his mother, and the Weijia is returning to his hometown. The heroes are Zhang Zongchang, and the giant whale is swallowing the fusang.
There are also fresh ones like "Da Ming Lake": Daming Lake, Ming Lake is big, there are lotus flowers in Daming Lake. There are toads on the lotus flowers, they poke and jump around.
There are also elegant ones such as "Visiting Penglai Pavilion": What a Penglai Pavilion, it's really good. If the gods can come, I'll take a seat. Place a drink by the window and sing to the sea. Come and guess a few punches, my brother-in-law is afraid
Drink too much!
Last year, when Zhang Zongchang and Zhang Dashuai's collection of poems came out, it really shocked the literary world of the Republic of China and attracted countless scholars and writers to pay homage to it.
Zhou Hexuan joked: "There are no weak soldiers under strong generals. They really didn't embarrass Marshal Zhang."
Li Shoumin held the wine glass and said disdainfully: "To tell you the details, those soldiers just now were from Zhang Zongchang's general Chu Yupu. I know Chu Yupu, a son of a bitch. He was born as a bandit by Weishan Lake. He committed robberies and robberies. Later he turned into a revolutionary.
The party has now been appointed as the Superintendent of Military Affairs of Zhili and Governor of Zhili, and has overwhelming power in the Pingjin area."
"Haha." Liu Yangong laughed scornfully. He had also worked in the revolutionary party and knew very well what a bunch of things they were.
After a good meal of food and wine, the three of them were so satisfied that they left, each feeling slightly tipsy.
Zhou Hexuan returned to his rented house and continued to write and write manuscripts. He originally thought that by writing some recreational novels, as long as he did not get involved in military affairs, he would be able to live a stable life in the Republic of China.
But what Zhou Hexuan didn't expect was that even if he didn't cause trouble, trouble would come to his door.
The person who was causing trouble for him was Chu Yupu, the current actual controller of Tianjin!
