Chapter 8

New Tianjin News Office.

Due to the hot sales of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," when Zhou Hexuan came here again, he finally met the editor-in-chief of the New Tianjin News Group, Liu Ran Gong.

Liu Ran Gong's real name was Zhongru, and Ran Gong was just his pen name. In his youth, he had been a soldier and a revolutionary. Two years ago, he co-founded the "New Tianjin News" with a friend. In the history of the Republic of China, he was a famous newspaper magnate. A few years later, the "New Tianjin News" would be sold in several provinces in North China, with a peak circulation of over 50,000 copies. Even the "New Tianjin Evening News" would see its circulation rise to over 20,000 copies.

Until the full-scale Japanese invasion of China, when they occupied Tianjin and forced Liu Ran Gong to do propaganda for the Japanese army. Liu Ran Gong firmly refused and was eventually tortured to death by the Japanese, earning him the title of a patriotic journalist.

This man had a gaunt face, not at all plump, with a mustache, wearing an old, faded long robe. At first glance, he looked like a destitute scholar. He took the initiative to shake hands with Zhou Hexuan and praised, "Mr. Zhou, it's truly an honor! I have been reading your works these past few days, and I couldn't put them down."

"Just a pastime, Mr. Liu, you flatter me," Zhou Hexuan said modestly.

The two exchanged pleasantries and compliments, and then Liu Ran Gong expressed his thoughts: "After 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes' started serializing in the evening paper, many readers wrote to the news office saying they missed the earlier stories and hope the newspaper can reprint them."

Liu Ran Gong then said with a smile, "The two issues of the evening paper that published the first chapter of 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes' are now in high demand in Tianjin. An expired newspaper is being sold for as high as 50 cents. Your work truly makes the paper scarce in Luoyang."

Zhou Hexuan was not proud of this and asked with a smile, "How does Mr. Liu plan to reprint it?"

Liu Ran Gong explained, "I plan to issue two special editions of the evening paper, specifically reprinting the first three chapters of 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes.'"

Zhou Hexuan was somewhat surprised. Special editions were usually used to report major events and good news. Issuing special editions for a martial arts novel was quite unusual. Liu Ran Gong was really trying hard to boost the newspaper's sales.

Liu Ran Gong continued, "For the three chapters in the special edition, how about 50 cents per thousand characters? As for the regular manuscript fee for 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes' in the future, I think it should be increased to 3 yuan per thousand characters."

"Whatever Mr. Liu decides," Zhou Hexuan said happily, naturally pleased to earn more money.

A manuscript fee of 3 yuan per thousand characters was the top rate for martial arts novels. The famous martial arts master Pingjiang Buxiaosheng received the same rate. Liu Ran Gong's initiative to raise the price and personally discuss it with Zhou Hexuan was naturally to win his favor and tie him to the New Tianjin News Group.

During the Republic of China era, writers were highly valued, and those who could write bestsellers were always sought after by major newspapers and magazines. Although Zhou Hexuan was a newcomer, the potential he showed was enough to earn him special treatment from the newspaper.

At noon, Liu Ran Gong hosted a meal for Zhou Hexuan and even invited Li Shoumin.

The three enjoyed their meal and exchanged toasts, but suddenly the restaurant became noisy, and the sound of tables being overturned could be heard.

In the main hall, a dining table was flipped upside down, with leftover food scattered all over the floor. Several soldiers, their faces red and necks swollen from drinking, stood at the counter, looking fierce and menacing.

One of the soldiers slapped a military note on the counter and roared, "You scoundrel! We risked our lives, braving bullets and artillery, to help you drive away the big scoundrel Feng Yuxiang. And you, you won't even let us eat! Are you trying to rebel?"

The innkeeper looked pitiful and pleaded, "Sir, this is a military note from Shandong. I can't use it even if I take it."

Another soldier suddenly raised his gun, cocked it, and pointed it at the innkeeper, saying, "I think you're a spy for the Nationalist Army!"

"Right, arrest him!" his companion roared.

"Spare my life, sir!" The innkeeper was trembling with fear and quickly took out silver coins to make up the difference.

Hearing the clinking of silver coins, the soldiers finally put away their guns, laughed arrogantly, and then left with the silver coins, leaving the innkeeper to sigh in despair.

They had eaten a meal costing over two yuan, ordering the best wine and dishes, but paid with a 10-yuan military note. Since the Feng Army had just occupied Zhili, the military notes for the Beijing-Tianjin region had not yet been printed. The soldiers were still using notes from Shandong, which were practically worthless, even for wiping their bottoms.

The innkeeper had no choice but to accept the note and give them over seven yuan in real silver, resulting in a significant loss.

After the soldiers left, the diners in the restaurant began to murmur:

"Ah, in this world, having a gun makes you a king."

"All warlords are the same. These scoundrels will eventually get what they deserve!"

"..."

Zhou Hexuan silently watched the scene, not knowing what to say. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Isn't the Feng Army in Northeast China? Why are these soldiers from Shandong?"

Liu Ran Gong explained, "Those soldiers are from the army of the world-conquering warlord Zhang Zongchang."

Speaking of Zhang Zongchang, Zhou Hexuan immediately recalled him. He was a famous poet among the warlords of the Republic of China, whose poetic talent could outshine Li and Du, and even make Xin and Su envious. If Qu Yuan were alive, he would be ashamed!

Zhang Zongchang's poetic works were diverse. There were bold and heroic ones like "The Great Wind Song": "Cannons fire, blast them to hell, my power extends across the sea, and I return home. Among the heroes, Zhang Zongchang stands, ready to swallow Japan whole."

There were also fresh and clear ones like "Daming Lake": "Daming Lake, big and clear, with lotus flowers in the lake. On the lotus flowers sit frogs, which jump when poked."

And there were elegant ones like "Visiting Penglai Pavilion": "What a fine Penglai Pavilion, it's really great. Where the immortals can go, I can sit too. Wine by the window, singing by the sea. Come, let's play a few rounds, I'm afraid my nephew will drink too much!"

When Zhang Zongchang's poetry collection was published last year, it truly shook the literary world of the Republic of China, making countless scholars and writers bow in admiration.

Zhou Hexuan joked, "A strong leader has no weak soldiers. They truly haven't disgraced Zhang Zongchang."

Li Shoumin, holding his wine glass, said disdainfully, "To be precise, those soldiers are from the army of Zhang Zongchang's general, Chu Yuzhuo. I know Chu Yuzhuo, a bandit from the Weishan Lake area, who committed all sorts of crimes. Later, he became a revolutionary and is now appointed as the military governor and governor of Zhili, wielding immense power in the Beijing-Tianjin region."

"Ha ha," Liu Ran Gong sneered. He had also been a revolutionary and knew what kind of people they were.

The three of them ate their meal with waning interest, each slightly drunk, and then dispersed.

Zhou Hexuan returned to his rented room to continue writing. He thought that by writing some light novels and staying out of military and political affairs, he could live a stable life in the Republic of China.

But what Zhou Hexuan didn't expect was that while he didn't seek trouble, trouble came to him.

The trouble came from the current actual ruler of Tianjin—Chu Yuzhuo!

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