Longzang

Chapter 1008 Where Do Ten Thousand Swords Return?

The literary world is engaged in fierce competition, and a multi-pronged approach is advisable.

Wei Yuan himself was resourceful and wise, and with the help of many talented individuals, he quickly came up with thousands of strategies. After integrating and refining these strategies, he finally came up with dozens of strategies to be implemented.

These strategies were not closely related and their effectiveness was difficult to rank, so Wei Yuan simply put them together and named them the "policy package".

……

After a moment, Xiaoyu's expression was a mixture of joy and reproach. She weighed the policy bag in her hand and asked, "...So, in your heart, I'm the one who's best suited for this job?"

Wei Yuan hurriedly said, "Everyone has their own things to do, only you are free... Oh, you are very busy, but the capable should do more! Besides, to establish an academic journal, weekly, poetry club, and literary forum, it must have an excellent presentation. Only you can do this!"

Xiaoyu snorted heavily, indicating her disbelief, and then said, "Some of your policies are really insidious and dirty, and some are even vulgar and obscene. How could you come up with such ideas? I really can't believe you're this kind of person!"

Wei Yuan laughed and said, "The sage said: 'Food and sex are human nature.' People are tired after a long day and love to watch these things. Let's give them what they like to watch first, and once they get used to it, we can slip in some of our own ideas. And are you sure you don't want to be on the cover of the first issue of 'Gossip Weekly'? You'll have a lot of good fortune! The first cover will bring even more good fortune in the future!"

Xiaoyu was displeased: "What kind of stuff is this gossip magazine you're writing! It's all vulgar stuff, and you want me on the cover?"

"This one has the largest issuance, the largest quantity, and the most luck."

Xiaoyu hesitated for a moment.

Everyone understands the principle: the number of common people far exceeds that of the gentry. There might be one scholar for every thousand common people, and the magnitude of their influence is completely different.

The common people toil day and night, exhausted and barely able to eat their fill. Who has the leisure to read poetry and prose? Everyone only loves stories of lovers jumping into the river with their daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law to commit suicide. In the first issue of the weekly magazine, there is a story about a Confucian scholar surnamed Fang jumping into the river with three women. It adds a character to the actual historical account, making it even more exciting and intense. It was written by an unknown, unrequited lover among the common people.

Seeing Xiaoyu hesitate, Wei Yuan said, "How about this, let Baoyun do it too. You can give her the parts that you think are inappropriate."

By this time, Bao Yun was no longer the shy girl she once was. She came from a prominent family, was worldly-wise, and possessed the wondrous appearance of a celestial demon, which Wei Yuan found overwhelming. Moreover, the Bao family had many talented individuals, so Bao Yun handled these shady matters with ease.

Xiaoyu finally nodded, and with a somewhat obsessive persistence, she went over all the details with Wei Yuan again.

Wei Yuan's goal this time is not only to retaliate, but also to rebuild the communication system, seize the discourse power in the literary world, and ultimately achieve a situation where one's own voice governs the world.

So in addition to gossip weekly magazines, there are also the Hanlin Journal, which mainly promotes the latest works of literary masters, and the Moyu Weiyan, which specializes in interpreting and explaining classics. These two are specifically for literary people.

Similar to gossip magazines, there was also "New Selections of Stories," a name that any literate person would understand at a glance.

"World Affairs" focuses on major world events, with a significant amount of personal commentary included. Then there's "Water Moon Mirror Flower," primarily featuring personal commentary, with a few genuine world events included. The latter mainly promotes fake news and genuine gossip.

"Water Moon Mirror Flower" later became a huge hit, and was also known as the Water Moon Newspaper or Mirror Newspaper. Because it originated in Huaxuan Street of Yong'an City, it also had another name: Huaxuan Street Daily. The more names it had, the bigger the matter became, something Wei Yuan had not anticipated at the time.

With multiple publications launching simultaneously, they quickly occupied all available platforms.

Next, a poetry gathering and a literary gathering will be held, both on a grand scale. Wei Yuan will fully fund the travel and accommodation expenses, provide high-level hospitality, and carefully select beautiful women and handsome men from the State of Zhao as attendants. Scholars from all over the world will be invited to participate.

The two conferences will each produce a title: the "Poet Immortal of Southern Shanxi" and the "Number One Literary Figure in the Eight Prefectures." While great Confucian scholars would naturally disdain such titles, the official endorsement from both the states of Jin and Zhao holds immense appeal for young scholars and even those in the middle of their careers.

Within Qingming, the Qingming Nine Kingdoms Aid and Development Agency was formally established. Its main tasks were to fund pro-Qingming individuals, smear those who hated Qingming, and indiscriminately attack those who loved the nine kingdoms.

These measures left Xiaoyu dizzy and confused. Then Wei Yuan did the math and realized that it hadn't actually cost much; selling a few boatloads of canned goods would have brought the money back. The trolls who signed contracts with the Development Agency didn't even get a single can of food per person.

Xiao Yu accepted the task and immediately went to Bao Yun to discuss the work assignments. Wei Yuan, on the other hand, continued to work through Chapter 8 of the Initial Exploration of the Desolate Realm. If he could finish this chapter, he would understand the most basic principles of the Heavenly Tribulation, and the Fourth Cave Heaven would be within reach.

In the midst of everyday life, there are increasingly more hidden talents and promising talents emerging, and their thinking is becoming more and more dangerous. Some have already written things like "The people are of utmost importance, while the creator immortals are of lesser importance." Others are drafting their own versions, starting with "Heaven and Earth are ruthless, treating all things as straw dogs; the immortals are ruthless, treating the people as straw dogs."

Wei Yuan felt he needed to hurry up and ascend to the Heavenly Tribulation Cave Heaven to teach these guys a lesson.

Just as he was engrossed in his studies, he suddenly caught a whiff of a familiar, subtle fragrance. Wei Yuan had barely managed to groan inwardly when a familiar figure tackled him, and the two embraced tightly, as if a pillow were sandwiched between them.

Bao Yun smiled faintly and said softly, "I heard you took in a sister who can have eight babies in one litter. Should I go and learn the 'Floating World Dragon Diagram'?"

Wei Yuan was shocked and shouted, "You're not allowed to go!"

Zhao Fusheng is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Although Wei Yuan has dirt on him, he has to be wary and must not let Bao Yun see him.

Bao Yun smiled gently and said, "I've already learned it!"

A strong sense of unease rose in Wei Yuan's heart. He was worried and afraid, and he even wanted to avoid listening. But then Bao Yun leaned close to his ear and whispered, "I'll teach you now..." An hour later, Wei Yuan's cultivation in the third tone of the Wild Roar had slightly regressed.

Bao Yun didn't know the "Floating World Dragon Diagram" at all, nor did she need to. Wei Yuan, who hadn't mastered the third note, was like a ball of yarn under a cat's paw, easily manipulated.

"Why are you here?" Wei Yuan finally had a chance to ask this question.

Bao Yun said, "Xiao Yu came to me and said that you were preparing to fight back against the smears by scholars, and then assigned me some tasks. I came to discuss this matter."

"Oh, is there a problem?" This pile of miscellaneous tasks would be overwhelming for an ordinary person, but in the eyes of geniuses like Bao Yun, who can easily handle thousands of tasks simultaneously, it's just a matter of spending some time. Wei Yuan didn't understand what was so difficult about these things.

Bao Yun took out several sheets of jade paper and said, "These tasks are all good, but they are missing a crucial element: they don't include matters of food and sex. People love to read about these things. If you don't give them any, then who are you going to publish these magazines for? They'd be too rough to even be used as toilet paper."

Wei Yuan was taken aback. How could there be no matters of lust? The proportion of such matters was clearly quite high, so high that there was almost nothing of importance left.

Wei Yuan took the jade paper and examined it carefully. He then discovered that Xiao Yu had given Bao Yun only the clean and elegant parts. The parts that were not suitable for public discussion and could only be talked about at night were all kept by Xiao Yu herself.

Wei Yuan was a little confused. Was Xiao Yu being considerate of Bao Yun, or did he just inherently enjoy doing this? Wei Yuan had a vague feeling that the clear-headed Xiao Yu from back then seemed to have changed.

However, after studying the "Floating World Dragon Diagram" with Bao Yun, Wei Yuan's mind was clear, and he thought of another important matter: the Thirteen Protectors were weak and outnumbered, and had proven to be ineffective. Regardless of which side the Zhao State's court scholars were loyal to, they would eventually have to return. Expanding their own power was the most urgent task at hand.

Wei Yuan and Bao Yun then discussed the matter in detail for an hour, and finally decided to significantly expand the number of literary protectors. If thirteen protectors weren't enough, then they would start with three thousand!

As for the source, Wei Yuan plans to recruit from all of Qingming, while also allocating some dark spots to the hidden talents and promising young talents among the common people.

Wei Yuan believes that history will eventually prove that true critics are found among the people.

……

Ji State, Guantun County.

Spring was in full bloom, and all things were coming to life. Zhang Sheng suddenly felt drowsy, as if he had taken a short nap and was momentarily disoriented.

She slowly opened her eyes and saw the wealthy-looking man still sitting opposite her, smiling, saying, "...Today I'll tell you a story..."

Zhang Sheng suddenly felt as if the scenery before him had become a flat plane, constantly undulating, as if the whole world had become a sheet of paper, trembling in the wind.

Another unknown object comes from a high place outside the paper. If it lands on a solid surface, the world inside the paper will instantly turn to ashes.

Three Taoist priests appeared above Zhang Sheng's head. The middle-aged priest held an apricot-yellow flag, and the elderly priest held a red flag. With a slight wave, something was missing from the attack coming from above, and its power was reduced. However, the two Taoist priests above Zhang Sheng's head also disappeared.

The young Taoist remained unfazed. He stood up, a small banner appearing in his hand. Using his finger as a pen, he tried desperately to write something on the banner. There were several empty spaces on the banner, but after writing only half a character, the entire banner burst into flames, and the young Taoist vanished along with it.

The attack from above slowed down, and its aura changed again, no longer so lofty and unpredictable.

It travels through the world within the paper, through Zhang Sheng, and disappears into the world on the other side of the paper.

The world within the paper expanded again, slowly returning to normal, while the wealthy old man opposite continued speaking: "...the story of the birth of the Buddha Sword."

Suddenly, the world before Zhang Sheng's eyes turned pale red. She reached out and wiped her eyes, only to find her palms covered in blood!

Then she let out a soft groan, and blood seeped from her throat, chest, and lower abdomen.

The jade earrings hanging from the ears of the wealthy man sitting opposite him, the mutton-fat jade adorning his hat, the six thumb rings on his left hand, and the jade bracelet and sandalwood bead string on his right wrist suddenly vanished without a sound. The sword at his waist let out a mournful cry, and its hilt suddenly fell to the ground, already broken.

The rich man's face changed from red to white, then from white to red, repeating this three times before it stopped changing.

Fortunately, the world has returned to normal.

With a thought, Zhang Sheng saw the almanac displayed in the front courtyard of the county government office. It was the fifteenth of the third month, the time of the full moon. The wealthy man had knocked on the door more than ten days earlier.

The wealthy old man paused for a moment before continuing, "If there is a Buddhist sword, then naturally there are also Taoist swords, Confucian swords, celestial swords, Dharma swords, earth swords, and so on. All swords are not truly swords; they are merely manifestations of the Way of the Sword. The emergence of the Buddhist sword signifies that the Way of the Sword has once again come to manifest, and no one in heaven or earth would not want to contend for it!"
And your Dharma form has directly occupied the place where ten thousand swords return; who... can tolerate you?

Zhang Sheng said, "If you can't tolerate me, why come at all?"

The wealthy old man smiled and said, "Haven't you heard the saying, 'If one hears the Way in the morning, one can die content in the evening'? So even though we can't stop him, we still have to come. If I can see 'Where Do Ten Thousand Swords Return to?' in my lifetime, this life will be enough!"

(End of this chapter)