“I know this person. He is the poor scholar who failed the imperial examination five times.”
Someone in the crowd recognized the scholar in black and sneered, "He's over thirty and still hasn't passed the imperial examination, so he spends his days drinking and complaining, thinking he's a waste of talent and everyone else is a fool."
Another person chimed in, "I know him too, Yan Zheng, the great scholar Yan!"
"Hahaha!!!" Everyone burst into laughter, clearly taking the title of "great talent" as a sarcastic remark.
Yan Zheng didn't care. With a look of righteous indignation, he slammed his hand on the table and said loudly, "Do you know what kind of organization the Anecdotes Society is? I bet you don't, because even I don't know. Since you don't know, you have to analyze it. Only by figuring out what kind of organization it is can you more objectively judge its purpose in publishing anecdotes!"
How to analyze it?
"Let's start with these three anecdotes and analyze the relationship between them."
As he listened, the crowd that had been making a fuss gathered around, and some busybodies even brought chairs over, placed drinks on Yan Zheng's table, and surrounded him.
"Master Yan, you'd better give us a proper explanation today, or you'll get a beating for calling us ignorant!"
Yan Zheng ignored him and continued, "The first news item is about Prefect Qi. It's not exactly anecdotes in Jingdong County, but it's something new to people outside of Jingdong County. The fact that the Anecdotes Society puts this one first shows that they are a people-friendly leader, making people who see this newspaper for the first time feel that 'Anecdotes Records' is real and not just some boastful charlatan."
"Let's look at the second one: Gun Demon Wen Pojun failed in his challenge against the Jinghai Sword Master and was injured. First of all, let's not discuss whether this anecdote is true or false, but with the news from Prefect Qi as a basis, most people will choose to believe it."
"I believe it too! Because I think Yiwen Society wouldn't dare to spread false information about Wen Pojun! Back then, Wen Pojun challenged the champion king and became famous overnight. Everyone knows that Wen Pojun has an extremely strong competitive spirit. If Yiwen Society were to fabricate something, wouldn't Wen Pojun come looking for trouble?"
"But everyone, the more I believe it, the more terrified I become! How did the Yiwen Society obtain this information that no one else knew, this information about the most powerful master in the martial arts world? Are their intelligence-gathering methods really that advanced?"
"So the second point is that Yiwen Society demonstrates its strength to the outside world."
"Article Three!"
At this point, Yan Zheng stood up, glanced at everyone with a serious expression, and continued, "That's truly where the brilliance of Yiwen Society lies!"
"The imperial court established the Zhenhai Camp. Although no official announcement was issued, there was indeed an imperial army in Jingdong County eliminating bandits, which shows that the Zhenhai Camp actually existed."
"But why doesn't the court issue a proclamation? It's because the matter is not yet settled. Da Jing has been trying to eliminate bandits for many years without success. The emperor is afraid that the Zhenhai Camp will fail and become a laughing stock, so he is thinking of announcing it to the world after the matter is settled."
"But the Yiwen Society released the news on behalf of the imperial court, which boosted the morale of the Zhenhai Battalion, reassured the residents of the coastal areas of Dajing, and sparked a wave of anti-banditry fervor in the Jingdong region. Many able-bodied men went to the Zhenhai Battalion and volunteered to join them in the fight against the bandits!"
"The imperial court certainly did not expect that the people of Jingdong would be so enthusiastic about eliminating the bandits. This anecdote from the Yiwen Society has enhanced the prestige of the imperial court and boosted the confidence of the entire nation in eliminating the bandits."
"The Yiwen Society's move was a calculated move to gauge the public reaction in the Jingdong region, and it deliberately released the news to please the imperial court."
"After all, intelligence organizations established by civilians are sensitive to the imperial court. The Yiwen Society is clearly trying to become a son and hastily recognize the imperial court as its father."
Yan Zheng tapped the table and said confidently, "These three anecdotes from the Anecdotes Society are: first, they are approachable; second, they demonstrate strength; and third, they curry favor with the imperial court. They are gradual, combining firmness and flexibility—truly ingenious strategies! This shows the great vision of the person who founded the Anecdotes Society!"
Aren't you curious about who the owner of Yiwenshe is?
Snap!
Yuan Fei put the cup down decisively, waved to the window, and immediately a young man climbed in through the window.
Yuan Fei whispered a few words to him, a faint smile appearing on his face.
After becoming the captain of the Yiwenfei team, Yuan Fei's temperament gradually changed. Although he was only nineteen years old, he already had the aura of a superior.
The first issue of "Anecdotes and Tales" was not actually obtained by him, but rather selected from the practical assignments of the trainees during the special training phase of the Anecdotes Flight Team.
Downstairs, after listening to Yan Zheng's analysis, everyone fell silent.
Li Guanyu was also drawn to this scene and walked over, saying with a smile, "Gentlemen, let's not talk about state affairs! Let's not talk about state affairs!"
Everyone's attention was on Yan Zheng, and no one paid any attention to Li Guanyu. One person pointed at Yan Zheng and said, "What you said sounds reasonable, but how can you be sure that what you said is right?"
Yan Zheng slowly sat down, quickly flicking his shirt hem with both hands before his bottom landed, and said, "I'll just say what I think, simply to express my feelings. You listen, just to have some fun. Why bother about right or wrong?"
"Then isn't all your talk just empty rhetoric? No wonder you failed the imperial examination!"
"You're wasting my time!"
"Let's call it a day, let's get back to drinking!"
Yan Zheng sighed, shook his head slightly, and muttered, "What a bunch of fools. They still don't understand even after I've explained it so clearly..."
"They don't understand, but I do." Xu An strode over, sat down opposite Yan Zheng in a nonchalant manner, and glanced at Yuan Fei on the second floor.
Yu Jin stood behind Xu An, and six guards surrounded Yan Zheng.
After returning from the south, Xu An gave Yu Jin more money and persuaded him to give up his life of constantly searching for a new employer and become his personal bodyguard.
Yan Zheng asked warily, "Who are you?"
Xu An, with the air of a spoiled brat, hooked his thumb around his nose and said, "You don't even know me, yet you dare to spout nonsense here?"
Li Guanyu quickly said, "This is the young Marquis of Yanchuan, who is as famous as me!"
Xu An curled her lip and said, "Is being on par with you really that important? Why do we have to bring it up?"
"So it's Master Xu An, the young marquis."
Yan Zheng looked at the guards on either side and asked in confusion, "I have never met Young Master Xu before, what is the meaning of this?"
Xu An sized up Yan Zheng and laughed, "Young master, I see you have extraordinary talent and a handsome appearance. You should be the kind of talent my boss is looking for. I'd like to trouble you, talented Yan, to move aside and come with me!"
Yan Zheng glanced at the food and wine on the table and said, "You can go, no problem, but we haven't finished eating this food and wine..."
Li Guanyu said, "Let's go, the meal's on the house!"
Yan Zheng cupped his hands to Li Guanyu and said, "Mr. Li, could you please give me a box? Even though the meal is free, we can't let it go to waste."
Li Guanyu looked at Xu An.
Xu An's mouth dropped open as he stared blankly at Li Guanyu, saying, "Why are you looking at me? Not wasting food is a virtue. You should hurry up and fulfill the guest's request!"
Yan Zheng glanced gratefully at Xu An, then said to Li Guanyu, "And this wine..."
Xu An grabbed Yan Zheng and pulled him away, shouting, "Don't worry about this little bit of wine, come on! I'll take you to a place where you can drink as much as you want!!"
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