No war in the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 84 Propaganda (st update)
Su Ze continued to read. The next article was the inaugural words written by Zeng Gong, which distilled Su Ze's idea of ​​running a tabloid.

Su Ze looked at it and nodded repeatedly, and sure enough, the voice of the guiding boy sounded.

【Absorbed 50 points of cultural energy! 】

He is still half as good as a great writer like Ouyang Xiu. Perhaps Zeng Gong has not yet reached the level of the Eight Great Masters of Tang and Song Dynasties, and cannot be compared with Ouyang Xiu in his "great achievement period".

However, the article also reflects Zeng Gong's writing style, which is elegant and ordinary, but can express subtle insights into simple things, with a fresh and timeless style.

This was also the disadvantage for Zeng Gong when he took part in the imperial examination which mainly focused on poetry.

This literary style is not very suitable for the field of ostentatious and exaggerated poetry.

To put it bluntly, Zeng Gong was born with a talent for prose, but he was at a disadvantage when writing poetry and prose.

One article has 50 pieces of literary energy. Of course, Su Ze knew that Zeng Gong could not contribute such masterpieces to him every issue, but a stable income every month could meet Lingyun Tongzi's salary needs.

As long as you produce a few excellent works every once in a while, that will be pure income.

Zeng Gong's article was circulated and everyone applauded after reading it.

Su Ze finished reading the rest of the manuscript.

【Absorbed 30 points of cultural energy! 】

【Absorbed 20 points of cultural energy! 】

【Absorbed 10 points of cultural energy! 】

【Absorbed 10 points of cultural energy! 】

50 points of literary context is a short poem about plum blossoms that Wang Anshi submitted to Zeng Gong before his departure.

It’s a pity that it is not the "Plum Blossom" he wrote after the failure of his reform, but an uplifting poem praising the plum blossoms blooming in the wind and snow.

Wang Anshi is worthy of being Wang Anshi. This article is also recognized as having the spirit of 30 literary context.

The 20 points of literary energy are the poems and essays submitted by Yang Zong. When he heard that Su Ze wanted to start a newspaper, Yang Zong naturally supported it.

In Su Ze's opinion, he actually couldn't understand it.

This poem is both powerful and impressive, and reads majestically, worthy of being the top scholar.

It's just that the content is too empty, a pure examination essay, and a congratulatory poem written for the founding of Su Ze's magazine. It was judged by Taohuayuan to lack a strong literary context.

The other two articles, one is written by Wang Gui, who was also a student of Ouyang Xiu.

All we can say is that this future Prime Minister Sanzhi is talented, but this can only be considered a good article for a while, not a book review that will become a famous piece.

Among these 10 points of cultural heritage, I am afraid that 5 points of calligraphy are also contained in them.

Su Ze was a little jealous. How come the calligraphy of these Northern Song Dynasty literati was better than each other?

Yes, how can I draft an edict for the emperor if my handwriting is not good?

The other 10 points of literary context come from a travelogue written by Han Jiang, which meets Su Ze's requirements and is nothing special.

Su Ze was a little moved. It turned out that everyone present had contributed to his tabloid. Not to mention its literary value, the top four students in Class A had contributed to him, which meant that the tabloid had real value.

Su Ze bowed to everyone to express his gratitude.

Zeng Gong frowned and said:

"Brother Su, if we remove Scholar Ouyang's article, there won't be enough space on the page."

For the first issue of the tabloid, Su Ze planned to use only four pages.

Originally, Zeng Gong planned to put Ouyang Xiu's article on the front page.

Su Ze said:
"Brother Zigu's article will be on the front page." Zeng Gong did not refuse. If Ouyang Xiu's article was not used, only his article could be on the front page in terms of subject matter and length.

But he said:
"But there's still a space left."

Su Ze took out the soy sauce and pork belly that he had prepared earlier and said:
"As you all know, Su has been hired by the Store and House Market Exchange. This is the soy sauce produced by the soy sauce and vinegar factory that has a contract with the Store and House Market Exchange. Everyone, please try it."

After everyone tasted it, Zeng Gong and Wang Gui both praised it, but Han Jiang and Yang Zong did not comment.

After Yang Zong and the other two finished praising him, he said:
"It's a little inferior to the soy sauce used in Dengkelou, but it's enough for ordinary people to use."

That's right. Yang Zong wandered around all the major hotels in Bian Jing. He lived in his brother's house. His sister-in-law was the daughter of the prime minister. The food in his brother's house was the best, so naturally he had seen and eaten it.

The same was true for Han Jiang. His father had also been a prime minister and had also eaten good food.

Su Ze also knew this. He took out the jar of pork and said:
"Try it again, everyone. This is a delicacy made with this soy sauce."

As soon as the jar was opened, a rich aroma filled the air, and pieces of shiny meat were placed on the plate. Even Han Jiang and Yang Zong, who had seen and tasted the meat before, were amazed!

It was fat but not greasy, soft and delicious, and everyone present exclaimed in praise!

Of course Su Ze knew that the reason why this piece of meat was delicious was not just because of the soy sauce.

The excellent cooking skills of the chef god and the fresh and fragrant pork produced in Taohuayuan are the important reasons why Bazi Rou is so delicious.

But Su Ze wanted to connect the soy sauce in the vinegar with the pork belly, so he said to the four people:
"Could you please, my four brothers, write down your thoughts on eating the pork belly as an advertisement for the soy sauce in the vinegar sauce. We will publish this on page four."

This is the solution Su Ze came up with to break the impasse at Shiyi.

Since these big merchants monopolized the wholesale channels, Su Ze could only find a way through retail.

As a modern man, he certainly knows that the highest added value of a product is the storytelling part.

Who is better at telling stories than a scholar?
With the help of tabloids and the delicious taste of braised pork, the popularity of sauce and vinegar has been increased.

The population of over one million in the city of Bianjing alone was enough to lift the poor people out of poverty.

As long as the city exchange publicizes its name and attracts more merchants to join, it will be able to gain the power of bargaining and break the monopoly of big merchants.

Everyone nodded in agreement, and Yang Zong simply asked the servant of Dengke Tower to bring paper and pen, so that he could write a poem on the spot to promote the braised pork and soy sauce.

At this moment, a middle-aged man dressed in silk walked to Su Ze's table.

Seeing this middle-aged man, Yang Zong introduced him to Su Ze:

"This is Mr. Qian, the owner of Dengke Tower."

Yang Zong was an arrogant person, but he had been eating and drinking in Dengke Building for a long time, so he still had some respect for Qian Dongjia.

Su Ze also knew that those who could open a legitimate store in Bianjing City were not small figures. He did not put on the airs of an official and greeted Mr. Qian.

Mr. Qian looked at the pork in the jar and saw a lot of business opportunities in his eyes.

He heard what Su Ze and the others were talking about from the waiter, and hurried to the third floor.

"Gentlemen, could you please let me taste this meat?"

Su Ze nodded. After getting Su Ze's permission, Qian Dongjia picked up a piece of meat and put it into his mouth. He shouted:

“Delicious! Delicious! So delicious!”

The fact that Dengkelou was able to rise from a low-ranking store among the 72 official stores to a famous store in Bianjing today is inseparable from the excellent marketing efforts of Mr. Qian, who himself was a chef and understood food.

Qian Dongjia glanced at Su Ze, then made up his mind and said:

"Su Tiju, our shop is willing to order soy sauce from Jiangcu and is willing to offer 500 guan in exchange for your meat dish recipe!"

(End of this chapter)