Two days later, the first newspaper, named the Great Tang Times, was personally delivered to the Fang residence by Xue Zhiqian.
This edition of the newspaper, in addition to the previous content, featured two new sections.
One was an investment section, where Fang Er had specifically placed an advertisement for his dictionary.
The other was a call for submissions, inviting all scholars to submit their manuscripts, with generous remuneration for any accepted pieces.
For scholars who had no means to gain fame, this call for submissions was simply irresistible! kanShuWu.ξà
After carefully reading through it, Fang Er said to Xue Zhiqian.
The newspaper is good. Let's go to the printing workshop!
Upon arriving at the printing workshop, bundles of newspapers were directly thrown into the back of the pickup truck.
Fang Er stepped on the accelerator and drove directly to Chang'an City.
Li Xiaogong had been waiting for two days. Upon seeing the neatly stacked newspapers, he waved his hand.
Guards! Send the newspapers to the various newspaper bureaus and notify them all to be diligent!
Those who do well will be rewarded, and anyone who dares to mess this up for me will have their legs broken!
Li Xiaogong's servants quickly divided the five thousand newspapers into seven portions. Apart from Chang'an, the representatives from other prefectures and counties, each taking their share, immediately set off!
Li Xiaogong had set up two shops in Chang'an, one near the East Market and the other near the West Market.
The one in the East Market was a gift from Li Yuan, while the shop in the West Market was acquired by trading his residence.
It had to be said that, along with the other six prefectures and counties, Li Xiaogong had truly invested heavily this time.
After the newspapers were dispatched to the West Market, Li Xiaogong looked at Fang Er.
Brother, shall we go and check out the East Market together?
Fang Er nodded.
The two of them drove, carrying the remaining newspapers, with the person in charge of the East Market shop sitting in the back of the truck. They set off from the Li residence, and after a few turns, they arrived.
A two-room shop, with a plaque for the newspaper bureau hanging above.
The people from the newspaper bureau got out of the car and opened the shop door.
As the newspapers were moved inside, no one entered for a long time.
Fang Er frowned, "Brother, did you not do any publicity before opening?"
Li Xiaogong looked rather bewildered.
Publicity? What is that?
Fang Er was speechless. Looking at the fellow, it was clear he had no idea how to run a business.
Something that even a dog from his previous life, an engineering student, knew, this guy didn't.
He said to the shop assistants inside the newspaper bureau.
Each of you take a copy of the newspaper and go to the major restaurants and teahouses.
When you get there, loudly announce the headlines of this newspaper.
Remember, you must shout it out!
If anyone asks, tell them the location of this newspaper bureau. Remember, you are not to sell the newspapers you have!
The servants looked at Li Xiaogong and did not move.
Li Xiaogong kicked one of them directly.
What are you standing around for? Hurry up and go! And do the same for the West Market side!
And so.
A quarter of an hour later, in the major restaurants, teahouses, and streets of Chang'an City, people from the newspaper bureau began to appear.
Holding newspapers, they loudly hawked their wares.
Read the newspaper!
Outside Chengtiangate, a sow died on the spot! The current Emperor only laments the decline of public morals!
Read the newspaper!
The newspaper has all the things that men and women should know!
Everyone who heard these shouts was stunned on the spot!
What in the world is this?
After a while, people started coming forward to inquire.
Young man, what is a newspaper?
The newspaper bureau's assistants opened the newspapers. The person glanced at it and quickly put it away.
Newspaper bureaus have opened in both the East and West Markets, two copper coins per copy!
There are many good things written on it. If you want to read it, buy it yourself!
Oh, and I heard that the number of newspapers is limited. If you are slow, there won't be any left!
After speaking, the assistant continued to walk and shout.
Li Xiaogong, waiting anxiously in the newspaper bureau, saw no one coming to buy newspapers and looked at Fang Er with some concern.
Brother, this business isn't going to fail, is it?
Fang Er sat calmly in his chair, looking towards the door.
Why are you in such a hurry? Don't you know that haste makes waste?
Wait a little longer!
A cup of tea.
A quarter of an hour.
An incense stick.
The first customer arrived at the door. It was a scholar in his teens, with a long sword hanging from his waist.
The scholar looked up and saw the newspaper bureau. This was the place.
After entering the door, he looked at Li Xiaogong, "Shopkeeper, do you have newspapers for sale here?"
Li Xiaogong was delighted. Finally, someone had come.
He quickly took a newspaper from the table and handed it over.
Yes, yes, this is the newspaper, two copper coins a copy.
The scholar did not take it. He took out a small string of copper coins from his懷.
Take all of this.
Li Xiaogong solemnly took it, counted it, and it was thirteen copper coins.
He counted out six copies of the newspaper and handed back one copper coin.
The scholar only took the newspapers and left without looking back.
That one copper coin is for you as a tip!
After the scholar left, Fang Er looked at Li Xiaogong and laughed.
Hahahaha!! Even the dignified Prince of Hejian is being tipped!
Here, boy, I'll give you a tip too!
Saying that, he actually took out a copper coin and threw it at Li Xiaogong.
Li Xiaogong showed no displeasure. He caught the copper coin, straightened his clothes, and looked at Fang Er.
Thank you, Marquis, for the tip!
Then the two of them looked at each other and laughed heartily.
More and more people found the newspaper bureau.
And they weren't buying them one by one.
Instead, they were buying several copies at a time.
Li Xiaogong began to feel that he had sold them too cheaply. He pulled over a scholar and asked.
Why are you buying so many at once?
The scholar stared at him as if he were an idiot and said.
Two copper coins for such large paper, with interesting content, and you can use it to practice calligraphy after reading it. Isn't that better than buying paper that costs ten copper coins a sheet?
After speaking, he took his newspapers and swaggered out the door.
Li Xiaogong rushed to Fang Er.
Brother, tell your workshop to print more! Send as many as you have!
Hahahaha, brother, I'm going to get rich now too!
Fang Er did not answer him. Instead, he picked up a newspaper, took a pencil out of his pocket, wrote the words "Add print run of twenty thousand" on it, and then put his small seal on it.
He told someone to take it to the estate and give it to the teachers at the academy.
Li Xiaogong quickly made arrangements.
At this time, scholars and literati throughout Chang'an City were discussing the Great Tang Times.
The content was novel, the coverage was extensive, and one could even get paid for submitting articles.
Seeing this, some restaurant owners rushed to speak kindly, requesting a copy of the newspaper.
When they saw the investment advertisement on the back page, the clever shopkeepers went crazy, abandoning their businesses and rushing directly to the newspaper bureau.
Where there is good, there is also bad.
Eventually, the newspapers reached the hands of the scions of noble families.