$136, Single Volume

Bai Gui frowned and looked at Kondo Isao again.

It is also the same haori kimono as Yagyu once, but it has a mountain pattern printed on the sleeves, which should be the Shinsengumi's symbol.

He shook his head, took a sip of tea, and said calmly: "Martial arts is about one's own improvement, not about being brave and ruthless. Once Liu Sheng brings it upon himself, you can't blame me."

If it is something that is unnecessary and uncertain, he will never do it rashly.

Kondo Isao, the leader of the Shinsengumi, had watched his duel with Yagyu Issei at the Yagyu Kendo Hall, so he must have some confidence in coming this time.

Not worth it.

There is no benefit, it is not worth it, he is not a pure martial artist.

Kondo Isao looked slightly embarrassed.

When he came this time, he thought that as long as he proposed a martial arts competition, Bai Gui would definitely agree.

After all, once Yagyu published a challenge in the newspaper, Bai Gui readily agreed.

"If you don't have anything important to do, please leave!"

"I still want to write a book..."

Bai Gui said.

The meaning of his words is very clear. I am a scholar and a writer, and I am different from you roughnecks. He also has a certain status. If he breaks into a private house wantonly and attacks a scholar, public opinion will not take him lightly.

Lean less.

Isao Kondo was asked out with an embarrassed look.

He is the leader of the Shinsengumi and can be considered an official, so he certainly cannot be as unscrupulous as Yagyu Issei. Moreover, he was not sure of victory against Bai Gui. He came here for martial arts exchanges and to verify that the Japanese swordsmanship was not inferior to the martial arts of the Qing Dynasty. However, he did not expect that Bai Gui did not accept the challenge and did not even pay attention to him.

…

The long winter passed by in the blink of an eye.

Isao Kondo challenged him several times, but without exception, he was ignored and rejected by Bai Gui.

It's March, when spring is about to begin.

Bai Gui submitted all the manuscripts for the first part of "The Qin Empire", Black Fission, to the newspaper office.

The Asahi Shimbun also got the news.

The next day, he came to the door.

The two of them sat facing each other on their knees.

"Mr. Bai, Senior Ryuko Tanabe also told you before that after the novel is completed, he will authorize the Asahi Shimbun to print a single volume. I would like to confirm with you again. Is that correct?"

A young man in a suit pushed up his glasses on the bridge of his nose and said.

"Yes, Tanabe-senpai told me this and signed a peace contract."

Bai Gui nodded.

The young man in a suit showed a relaxed smile, opened his briefcase, and took out a contract with more detailed content, "Mr. Laobai signed a contract to issue a single volume."

He pushed the contract to Bai Gui.

He took out another ink pad and a pen and handed them over.

Bai Gui did not rush to sign the contract, but carefully screened every content in it. Contracts have been deceptive throughout the ages. Even if writers belong to a group with a certain social status, they cannot avoid it.

Still need to go through it carefully.

"Huh? Is this? Raising my royalties to 13%?"

Bai Gui was a little surprised when he saw the last page of the contract.

Is Asahisha still doing a loss-making business?

"Mr. Bai's Great Qin Empire has been well received by readers and has good sales. Therefore, in view of this, the company has given Mr. Bai a two percentage point increase in the first publication. Please don't blame Mr. Bai!"

The young man in a suit replied.

For someone like Bai Gui who can write a historical masterpiece at a young age, he will definitely be famous in the future. Just two percentage points is enough to give him. Asahisha is not short of this money, and it is good to form a good relationship.

If Bai Gui gives priority to submitting articles to the Asahi Shimbun in the future, it will be their profit.

"The first issue is scheduled to be 2,000 copies and will be sold nationwide. If the sales are good, the second and third issues will be published..."

He continued.

Bai Gui is also very satisfied with this. The number of copies printed in the first issue also proves the appeal and influence of an author. If the first issue is printed too little, it will inevitably be a bit embarrassing. Two thousand copies is considered a good and appropriate amount.

This is 1,000 copies less than the 3,000 copies of the first issue of "The Quail Cage" printed by Natsume Soseki.

But... this cannot be compared. You must know that Natsume Soseki wrote mostly short stories and novellas, and full-length novels are still very rare, not to mention that the first volume of his Great Qin Empire has more than 700,000 words.

There are few novels longer than his, so the price is definitely not cheap.

Later, the members of the Asahi Society handed over writing materials. Combined with the single volume and the outstanding manuscript fee of 70,000 words, the total amount was a thick stack of nearly 500 yen.

It can be said that for the one-time copyright fee for the first publication, you can buy a fairly good house.

"Please also ask Mr. Bai to reply to readers and call on readers to buy."

The Asahi Club member said again.

"That's the way it should be."

Bai Gui nodded.

"Then I won't disturb Mr. Bai."

Members of Asahisha submitted their resignations.

After a while.

Bai Gui sighed and ran to the utility room. He felt a headache just looking at the piles of letters from readers.

When I didn't have many readers, I would come across one or two letters and write random replies. But as the letters came in more and more, he could only temporarily put them in the storage room. He never thought that the number of letters would pile up.

"It's estimated that there are more than a thousand seals, right?"

He moved the letters from readers to the study, and his eyebrows couldn't help but twitch.

But I had no choice but to reply.

The first issue of the Great Qin Empire is also important to him now, and he can't just leave it alone. If the first issue doesn't sell well, Asahi Shimbun will most likely not issue the second or third issue.

For the first issue, only readers who have already subscribed to the newspaper will buy the single volume again...

After all, the price of the single volume is a bit expensive. Asahi has sufficient printing experience and can lower the price of the single volume to 3 yen, but this number is still too high for most people to afford...

General single volume novels are not expensive, around a few tenths of yen, and you can still afford it if you grit your teeth.

Who made Bai Gui write too many words, so the price of the single volume remains high.

At this time, the textile workers only earned 5 yen a month.

Buying one book costs about a month's salary.

However, the target group for sales is not them, so Asahisha does not make a separate volume. Anyway, no matter whether it is priced at 0.5 yen or 1 yen, ordinary people will not buy it...

"Reply to each letter one by one. At the critical moment, we can only rely on readers."

Bai Gui sighed and began to open the envelopes and reply.

These letter writers are basically students. Although some celebrities subscribe to novels, they are obviously much more mature and will not waste time on this.

"Yamada Mitsuko..."

"Hmm, a female reader?"

When replying to male readers, he was a little perfunctory, but when replying to female readers, he always had a little more patience. After all, things are rare and valuable. Ninety-nine percent of the writers are male readers. This kind of historical text is a bit obscure and can't attract female readers.