You were taken hostage, why pursue the Enemy's Empress?

Everyone in the Shangmo Bookstore knew exactly how they had succeeded.

Ying Wuji's unique printing technique was undoubtedly the main reason.

But if it was only the printing technique, they would never have achieved what they had today. While the classics were good, they were nowhere near as enjoyable to read as "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio."

Many of the people who bought "Strange Tales" were not from scholarly families, but rather had some spare money and saw the books were cheap, so they bought them.

Without "Strange Tales," the Shangmo Bookstore would not have sold out for several days.

But now...

The right to print "Strange Tales" was sold for thirty thousand taels of silver. To make a profit of two hundred wen per book, they would have to sell one hundred and fifty thousand copies just to break even.

Other bookstores were even less likely to make a profit. If they also bought the books for three hundred wen each, they would probably lose money. Spending thirty thousand taels of silver to buy the right to lose money?

This was outrageous!

Hua Chao's voice trembled with anger. She had heard all sorts of tricks and schemes during her time in Jiangcheng, and this was clearly just an excuse to kick the Shangmo Bookstore out of the market. All the popularity they had helped "Strange Tales" gain had become someone else's gain.

She didn't care about the money from the third volume of "Strange Tales."

But the worst part was that at the end of the month, when the students from all over the country came, it was the time for the Shangmo Bookstore to negotiate formal orders. Unfortunately, at this time, other businesses were booming, and who would come to the Shangmo Bookstore?

Certainly, the quality of the Shangmo Bookstore's printing was high, and the cost was low. But printing was not a secret that was difficult to figure out. She had figured it out on the third day of the bookstore's large-scale printing.

By the end of the month, other bookstores would certainly be printing on a large scale. Even if they couldn't reduce the cost, with their foundation, they could afford to lose money on printing to seize the orders and slowly improve their technology later.

Hua Chao looked at Ying Wuji, her lips pale from biting them. "I... I've burdened you..."

Ying Wuji's face also looked a little ugly. He didn't expect Luo Yan to be so unscrupulous. They had only just started this business, and his people were already in trouble.

But if he was really under pressure, it wasn't that big.

After all, in his eyes, "Strange Tales" was just average. It was just a collection of rumors and some passages from the "Classic of Mountains and Seas," with some sensationalism and a lack of story.

"Strange Tales" couldn't compare to "Liaozhai Zhiyi."

Or, if they made "Don't Underestimate Poor Youth"...

He turned his head and smiled, comforting Hua Chao in a gentle voice. "Don't worry, Sister Hua Chao. I have a plan!"

"Really?"

"Really!"

Seeing his calm smile, Hua Chao breathed a sigh of relief.

But she asked one more question. "What are the chances of success?"

Ying Wuji frowned slightly. "It's hard to say right now, but don't worry. Just get a good night's sleep tonight. I'll take care of it."

With that, he stood up and grabbed the white musk that had been closed all night. "Let's go! Let's go back to the embassy first."

"Okay!"

Hua Chao wanted to say something else, but seeing Ying Wuji's hurried footsteps, she knew he was in a hurry to do something, so she didn't say anything.After leaving the bookstore, they walked a few steps.

Bai Zhi suddenly stopped and her frustrated expression disappeared, replaced by anger. "Young Master! They are too much!"

Ying Wuji: "..."

Is her reaction too exaggerated?

Is she jealous to the point of dullness?

Bai Zhi drew her sword. "I'll fight him!"

Ying Wuji was taken aback. "Who are you fighting?"

Bai Zhi gritted her teeth. "Lanling Sheng! He's gone crazy for money. He wants thirty thousand taels?"

Seeing her about to leave with her sword, Ying Wuji quickly grabbed her wrist. "Don't be in a hurry! It's just a book of garbage 'Strange Tales of Mountains and Seas.' I can easily beat him up!"

Bai Zhi's eyes lit up. "Then do it quickly!"

Ying Wuji shook his head. "Not now!"

"What's wrong?"

"There are still two problems to be solved!"

"What are the two problems?"

"First, the fame of 'Strange Tales of Mountains and Seas' was the result of favorable timing, geographical location, and human relations. Although we have good books, what can we rely on to make everyone know them in a short time?"

"Well..."

Bai Zhi felt that with her clever brain, she might not be able to figure out this problem for a while, and asked again, "What about the second problem?"

"Location!"

"Location is also a problem? Although our bookstore is remote, our reputation is already very big, isn't it?"

"But the merchants from other places don't know about it. The location represents status. As long as other bookstores can offer similar quality and prices, why should they choose us?"

This is like a capitalist's luxury watch and car. You may not like it, but most of the time you have to show your economic strength to your partners through them.

You should know that Jiangcheng is the most prosperous city in the world, and the Li Kingdom is the most powerful aristocratic power in the world. If you want to get a store in the golden location, you must have a relationship, otherwise, no matter how much money you have, it will be useless.

He heard from Zhai Yun that the major bookstores have contacted the Mo family several times these days, wanting to borrow Mo family's craftsmen, but they were all rejected by the Mo family.

However, not all craftsmen in the city belong to the Mo family.

When the time comes, it may not be a problem to produce decent engraved prints, but the cost will be higher.

The time is too urgent, and the location and advertising effects have become quite tricky problems. That's why he didn't rush to promise Hua Chao just now, because he didn't have absolute confidence.

Bai Zhi was also anxious and scratching her head. "What should we do? Young Master is so good, why do people bully him?"

Ying Wuji smiled. "Let's temporarily not consider the first problem, but I have a way to try the second problem."@@novelbin@@

"What method?"

"When I came to the Li Kingdom for quality, King Li gave the embassy a golden token as a gift to affirm the diplomatic relations between the two countries. If this token is used, we can take over any vacant store for free, and the cost will be reimbursed by the royal family."

"Really? Where is this token?"

"It's in the embassy, but it needs to be activated by a commercial seal!"

"What!"

Bai Zhi was a little frustrated. "Doesn't Xun Zhiyin have to approve it?"

Ying Wuji: "..."

This little maid has been with him for too long, and her speech is becoming more and more unrestrained."The people at the bookstore, except for Hua Chao, were all more or less infected by him.

He smiled and said, 'Don't worry! I have a way to make him hand it over to me voluntarily, but I need your help!'

Bai Zhi's eyes lit up, and she became particularly excited at the thought of being useful soon. 'How can I help? As long as I can help the young master, I will do whatever he asks me to do.'

Ying Wuji leaned in to her ear and whispered, 'Let's do this first, then that, and finally...'

Bai Zhi was so excited that her pretty face turned red. 'That's brilliant!'

...

At the embassy of Kingdom Qian.

Xun Zhiyin had an extremely bright smile on his face. 'Your Excellency, rest assured, I have investigated them thoroughly. Ying Wuji is very cunning. Although the paper business doesn't make much money, he only gave Hua Chao 49% of the profits even though he took 7,000 taels of silver from her. How could the bookstore let Hua Chao take the lion's share of the profits when they make so much money?

Moreover, I have tested them several times, and all signs indicate that Ying Wuji is the one in charge of the bookstore. If you still don't believe me, it's almost the end of the month. I will go to the yamen to check the business records, so you can rest assured.'

Tie Niu rubbed his rough cheek. 'Alright! You have done your duty for the embassy!'

Xun Zhiyin smiled. 'This is for Young Master Wuji's sake! Our embassy's delegation is about to arrive. When the time comes, the bookstore will directly hand it over to our people. This way, I can help Young Master Wuji plant a money tree. Don't forget to speak highly of me to your superiors!'

Tie Niu nodded. 'Rest assured! You won't miss out on the benefits!'

Just then, there was a furious curse from Ying Wuji in the front hall of the embassy. 'Those bastards from Kingdom Li! They don't care about their face at all, trying to destroy my bookstore and kill me!' "