Chapter 110: The Cultivation World Gazette

Yang Cheng continued, "When I return, I will design some clothing patterns and have them sent over—that’s called packaging. You choose some promising individuals, some may be solo, others might form duos or small groups with good chemistry. The Wang Mansion has the convenience to handle this. First, arrange for people to take charge of one area each in the southeast, southwest, northwest, northeast, and the city center. I will design them into theaters. If construction starts early, we can begin operations by next spring."

Zhu Wushang replied, "Alright, I don’t understand these details, so I’ll follow your arrangements. If needed, I can also bring over some famous courtesans from Wuzhou City."

"That’s naturally excellent—they come with their own fame. You’ve already seen the paper from my family, the packaging for the wine bottles. I’ll make some smaller flyers for promotion and distribute them widely. This kind of publicity will spread quickly. For the larger ones, I’ll have city painters create giant posters—very large paintings—placed in heavily trafficked areas throughout the city."

"Wow, this is innovative, something you can see anytime. The spread will be fast. Is this what they call creating momentum?" Zhu Wushang praised, feeling confident. Being astute, he grasped many things at once.

Yang Cheng chuckled, "Yes, there are many ways to create momentum—for example, doing a good deed publicly, stirring rumors, or spreading gossip through every street and alley. That’s also a rapid way to build buzz. We’ll take it step by step."

Zhu Wushang said, "Brother, you really have ingenious ideas. I’m already tired of staying at the Wang Mansion and have long wanted to accomplish something. Whatever needs to be done by me, I will do well."

Yang Cheng said, "With your words, Your Highness, there’s an eighty percent chance of success. This endeavor will burn money at the start, but neither you nor I lack funds. It’s just a matter of handling many affairs carefully."

"Naturally," Zhu Wushang agreed.

"If this succeeds, once these ladies become famous, the ways to make money will multiply. For example, we can serve as endorsers, do image promotions. Various families and merchants will flock to send money—they are all wealthy and this money will be inexhaustible," Yang Cheng said with longing.

Zhu Wushang still didn’t fully understand, but he was willing to trust Yang Cheng. The important thing for him was that money came easily and losses didn’t bother him—something ordinary people couldn’t compare to.

He clapped his hands and said, "Good, this artist guild business is settled. If it succeeds, I will split the profits fifty-fifty with Brother Yang."

Yang Cheng pondered and said, "Your Highness takes sixty percent, I take forty."

Zhu Wushang was surprised, "Oh? Brother Yang, do you lack confidence in this matter?"

"Not at all. This will surely succeed and the benefits are huge. I voluntarily take less because there is another matter I need Your Highness’s help with."

"Oh? What matter?" Zhu Wushang asked.

"When we spoke of creating momentum, I suddenly thought of another way that is even more effective. I want to do this now. I call it a ‘newspaper’—selecting and arranging daily events onto a single sheet of paper so people can learn what’s happening without leaving home."

Zhu Wushang had heard Yang Cheng mention paper before but didn’t understand this ‘newspaper.’ However, he could see that if details about an artist’s schedule and information were presented in such a paper, it would indeed spread quickly and make people aware much faster. Compared to word-of-mouth about courtesans, this was far speedier.

He immediately understood that this would also benefit his artist guild and said, "How can I assist? Just say the word."

Actually, making newspapers was the original purpose behind Yang Cheng having Xiao Wu research papermaking and printing—just now he was turning this opportunity into profit.

In the cultivation world, where cultivation is supreme, papermaking and printing might only be valued by scholars, and the benefits to Yang Cheng would be limited. In this culturally sparse world, the government only used strategies to keep the people ignorant and did not actively promote printed books.

His library had only two or three copies of each book, with a few scribes to copy them by hand—no need for printing, which would be time-consuming and laborious. Here, information spread by word of mouth was slow, and the public’s most urgent demand was to overcome information gaps. Newspapers, with their rapid dissemination, could create an information dependency.

However, this had enormous implications, so Yang Cheng had long hesitated. Over time, anyone perceptive would realize that the power of newspapers was far beyond making money. They could influence people’s judgments and steer their thoughts. If the technology leaked, it could become a tool for the elite to control others. This was why he kept papermaking and printing a secret—not just for profit.

Without cooperation from high-ranking officials, possessing such a treasure was a curse, and he could not protect it for long. Only someone at the level of city lord, the nominal ruler of Wuzhou, could see its value. Yang Cheng, as a minor, unknown family head, had no connection to the city lord. Moreover, there was fear that if the city lord’s ambition was too great, he would demand the technology, bringing disaster to Yang Cheng. So although he had succeeded in papermaking and movable type printing, he had delayed putting it to major use.

Fortunately, now he had met Your Highness, a special power in Wuzhou. After some interaction, it was clear this person was carefree and without ambition. Beyond the royal family’s inherent authority, he had no real strength. So Yang Cheng proposed cooperation, using His Highness’s name. Except for the distant royal family, no one in Wuzhou City would dare make a move.

Yang Cheng said, "I intend to start a newspaper business. I will give Your Highness one percent from the artist guild and one percent from the newspaper business as well."

Zhu Wushang rubbed his head, overwhelmed by unfamiliar terms today. "What exactly is this newspaper?"

"It’s also part of the entertainment industry. You know most people love gossip and neighborhood chatter. For example, Your Highness, which wealthy daughter did you marry yesterday? Or, some young master spent the night at a brothel but was punished by his wife for half a day upon returning; Mrs. Zhou caught in an affair with Old Wang next door, caught red-handed, and so on. These are stories the common folk enjoy. I compile these tidbits onto a sheet and distribute it promptly. That’s the newspaper business."

"The reason I let Your Highness take a share is because, as you know, I’m weak and have too many enemies. With Your Highness’s name, no one will dare interfere," Yang Cheng smiled broadly.

Zhu Wushang laughed heartily, "Ha ha, interesting, very interesting. I’ll do it."

He didn’t care much about the profits from a sheet of paper; if it benefited his artist guild, he was naturally willing to support it.

The two quickly reached an agreement, each getting what they needed, quite satisfied as they drank and had Yang Cheng guide them through the songs in the booklet.

Lan Ruoli and the others found the lyrics novel but did not know the melodies. Since Yang Cheng could not compose music, he recalled tunes from his past life and hummed them, while Lan Ruoli and the others arranged the compositions.

Once completed, Lan Ruoli softly sang "Laughing in the Mortal World." It was beautiful and drew applause. The twin sisters Yun Yuefeng and Yun Yueqing also sang exceptionally well.