Following the Confucian journal's similar request for paid contributions, the wave of patent law was pushed to a climax. The scholars immediately rubbed their palms together, ready to show their talents. The Confucian journal had offered the same conditions as the Mo journal. These royalties were not a small sum for scholars with poor family backgrounds.
In an instant, envelopes containing manuscripts flew towards the Confucian journal like snowflakes. Every scholar took out their proudest work. After all, this was a good opportunity to make a name for themselves and gain some benefits.
In the Mo journal, Tian Qiong looked tiredly at the mountainous pile of manuscripts in front of him. He shook his head in disappointment. "There are so many manuscripts, but none of them are of any use."
Mochi smiled bitterly. "Elder Tian, it's all the Confucian journal's fault for following the trend. All the scholars in the world have submitted their manuscripts to the Confucian journal. Those who submitted their poems to the Mo journal were all poetry enthusiasts who did not pass the imperial examinations!"
With the Mo journal offering such a heavy bargaining chip, it was not that no one had submitted their manuscripts. Most of them were small merchants and peddlers who had gone to school. There were also people from other schools. Compared to the scholars who had been immersed in poetry for many years, the poems they wrote were simply unsightly.
"From what I see, although this bookkeeper does not have a degree, his poems are quite unique and can be put to good use!" Mo San had no choice but to pick out one from the short list of generals that he could use.
Tian Qiong glanced at it and said helplessly, "It's just a low-level work! If it's compared to the Confucian journal's poems, it will definitely be laughed at! "
Although Tian Qiong had not read the Confucian journal, he knew that the Confucian journal would have countless superior poems to choose from. There was no need to compare the poems written by this bookkeeper to be inferior.
Mochi heard this and said helplessly, "Now that things have come to this, we can only buy horse bones with a thousand taels of gold!"
Although the Mo journal did not receive any good manuscripts, it could force the Confucian journal to follow suit and increase the value of the copyright. It was a great victory, and the money spent was worth it.
However, Tian Qiong was not willing to give up. As soon as he took over the Confucian journal, he fell in love with this job. It was so satisfying to be able to criticize current affairs and fulfill his ambitions. He wanted to do his best, even if it was the most obscure column of poetry and literature.
"In my opinion, the onlookers see more clearly than the onlookers. Mo Periodical has the most talented poet, so why should we ask others for help?" Tian Qiong's heart stirred as he stroked his beard.
"The most talented poet!" Mochi was stunned for a moment before he suddenly understood. "Elder Tian is talking about Young Master!"
Tian Qiong snorted coldly, "Of course. Just how many people can surpass Meton in terms of poets? If you go to the Mo clan and ask for a poem, you'll definitely be able to beat the scholarly journals."
"That's not good! If we only use Young Master's poems, I'm afraid people will gossip about us! " If Ink Publishing gave Meton the royalties for the poem, no matter how one looked at it, it would be like keeping the goodies within the family.
Tian Qiong waved his hand and said, "That's easy. We'll accept both poems at the same time. Meton's poem will be worth a thousand coins per word, while the accountant's poem will be worth a thousand coins per word. We'll treat it as buying horse bones for a thousand coins."
Mo San helplessly nodded his head. Given the current situation, this was the only way.
… … …
"What? You want me to write a poem!" In the Mo clan, Meton looked at the uninvited Mochi in surprise.
Mo San nodded his head and said, "Young Master, right now, only you can personally write a peerless poem. Only then will we be able to salvage Mo Magazine's decline!"
Meton immediately laughed angrily and said, "Do you think peerless poems are cabbages? You can grab a bunch of them!"
Mochi immediately felt embarrassed. He couldn't help but feel ashamed. In the end, he was still incompetent. He actually made things difficult for Young Master.
"What's wrong?" Princess Changle happened to come over and asked curiously.
"Mochi was rash. I want to ask Young Master to write a poem for Ink Publishing." Mochi said with shame.
"Write a poem? I haven't seen my husband write a poem for a long time! "Princess Changle said coquettishly.
Meton immediately raised his eyebrows and waved his hand. He said, "What's so difficult about that? Wife, wait a moment. Your husband will write a poem for you. "
Princess Changle immediately cheered. Like a fan, she quickly took out a pen and paper from the room.
Under Princess Changle's expectant gaze, Modun's heroic spirit erupted. Picking up his brush, he began to write in one breath.
Mochi immediately felt like he was in the wind. Is this what Young Master meant by making things difficult?
Princess Changle ignored Mochi who was in a daze. She couldn't wait to snatch the paper and read.
"Ten miles of calm lake filled with frost. Every inch of black hair worried about the glorious years. Looking at each other in the shape of the moon, I only envy the mandarin ducks, not the immortals."
Princess Changle couldn't help but be infatuated. Just from the words, she could feel the pure love in this poem.
"Looking at each other in the shape of the moon, I only envy the mandarin ducks, not the immortals!" When Mochi heard the poem, he couldn't help but be overjoyed. Although he didn't understand poetry, he could tell that Young Master's poem was much better than the one in the bookkeeper's room.
"Husband, what's the name of this poem?" Princess Changle saw that Meton had only written four lines of the poem and didn't have a name.
Meton thought for a moment and solemnly wrote down four words, "A Chinese Ghost Story".
"A Chinese Ghost Story?" Princess Changle said in surprise.
Meton nodded and said, "This is a very poignant love story. In the previous dynasty, there was a bookkeeper named Ning Caichen. Once, on his way to collect debts, he spent the night in a desolate temple called Lanruo Temple …"
With Meton's tireless narration, a poignant love story slowly unfolded.
Mochi trembled with excitement. He really came to the right place today. He didn't expect that not only would he obtain such a classic poem, he would also obtain a serialization in Mo Magazine. He believed that this "A Chinese Ghost Story" wouldn't be inferior to the sensation caused by Liang Zhu.
In Mo Magazine, it was about time to finalize the latest issue of Mo Magazine, but Mochi, who had gone to the Mo Estate to ask for a poem, still hadn't returned.
"Chief Editor! Can we finalize the issue? "A Mo Magazine editor came forward and urged.
Tian Qiong shook his head and said, "Don't panic, wait a little longer!"
This issue was the first issue of the paid manuscript solicitation. Mo Magazine was bound to become a hit. As long as he could ask for Meton's poem, even the delay was worth it.
After a long time, just when Tian Qiong couldn't wait any longer, Mochi hurried back to Mo Magazine.
"Did you ask for Meton's poem?!" Tian Qiong's eyes lit up.
Mochi nodded excitedly. He reached into his bosom and took out a poem draft and handed it to Tian Qiong.
"A Chinese Ghost Story!"
Tian Qiong took a look and couldn't help but frown. He was an old-fashioned and stubborn person. How could he like these poems of love? According to his original plan, it would be perfect if he could ask for Mo Jiazi's impassioned frontier poem.
However, this wasn't the time for him to be picky. Meton's love poem was also extraordinary. He patiently read it.
"Ten miles of calm lake filled with frost …"
Tian Qiong softly read and couldn't help but shake his head. Although this poem was much better than the one in the bookkeeper's room, it was still a far cry from Meton's previous poem.
"Fine, I'll just make do with it!" Tian Qiong was slightly disappointed. His expectations of becoming a hit were greatly reduced. It might not even be as good as Confucian magazines.
Mochi, who was standing at the side, obviously knew what Tian Qiong was thinking. He immediately kept him in suspense and said, "Elder Tian, don't be anxious. This poem alone might not be much, but if you add this to it, it will definitely go down in history!"
As Mochi spoke, he took out a thick manuscript and handed it to Tian Qiong.
Tian Qiong took the manuscript and looked at it carefully. He couldn't help but narrow his eyes. The title page of the manuscript had the same four words.
"A Chinese Ghost Story."
"This is …" Tian Qiong couldn't believe it.
Mochi nodded heavily and said, "Yes, this is the poem with the same name. It's not inferior to 'Lovers of the Liang'."
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