Chapter 825 — Dyeing

"His Majesty has entrusted me with the task of compiling the *Imperial Gazette*, and the greatest lesson I've drawn from the past six months is that I must change the old way of thinking that one-sidedly pursues 'elegance' and 'profundity,'" Habiya said, setting down the magazine and looking at Count Duller with some seriousness. "Periodicals are a new thing. Unlike the costly, scarce volumes of the past, their readers do not hold high station, nor do they need profound learning. Heraldry and ceremonial protocol do not interest them—nor can they make sense of them."

So saying, the old gentleman pointed at the magazine he had laid on the table: "What they truly can understand is something more popular and plainspoken, and in this regard the Cecil people are plainly doing better than we are. His Majesty hopes we can learn from the Cecil people's strengths in this area, and discover their knack for rallying hearts, lifting morale, and guiding the common folk. That is why he sent me, and naturally I must pay attention to what they've achieved here."

Count Duller raised an eyebrow: "Oh? And what have you gained these past few days?"

"A great deal. These magazines—and the other popular reading material circulating in the market—all have something compelling about them. I wonder if you've noticed: even many of the young people in the mission have taken an interest in these publications. They discuss those popular stories among themselves in private, and some have already gone to see two shadow-puppet plays and are utterly taken with the characters. The allure of novelty is undeniable," Habiya said with a smile. "I also had a chat with that Mr. Godwin Orlando. He is a man of wide learning—so much so that I was almost tempted to overlook his being a Cecil."

"Nearly half of those magazines and periodicals were founded by Godwin Orlando. His ideas on organizing such publications opened my eyes. Frankly, I even thought of inviting him to Typhon—though of course I know that's unrealistic. He holds a lofty position here and is highly valued by the royal house; there's no chance he'd go serve us."

"Ha, it's rare indeed to hear you praise someone so candidly," Count Duller could not help laughing. "If you're truly of a mind, perhaps we might try to win over the apprentices that Mr. Godwin has trained—after all, recruiting and assessing talent is one of our tasks on this trip."

Habiya smiled and shook his head: "If our visit weren't drawing to a close, I would certainly give your suggestion serious thought."

……

"The signing ceremony this morning went smoothly," Hedy said in the spacious, bright study, laying a thick stack of documents on Gao Song's desk. "After all these days of bargaining and revision, the Typhon delegation has finally agreed to most of our terms—and we've reached a mutual understanding with them on many reciprocal clauses as well."

"This is what they call a win-win," Gao Yang said with a faint smile, setting down the stack of materials he had just been reading and picking up the documents Hedy had brought. Flipping through them, he went on, "New trade categories, new diplomatic memoranda, new peace declarations, and... investment plans..."

Gao Song's gaze fell on certain lines in the documents, and smiling, he leaned back in his chair.

In the new investment permits, "film and television production and distribution" and "audio-visual and book products" were prominently listed.

Hetty's gaze fell instead upon the stack of documents Gao Yang had just set down, and curiosity stirred in her. "What is this?"

"A new script for a shadow-play," Gao Dai said. "Beacon Fire—in honor of the valiant and fearless Marquis Belk Loren, in honor of that calamity which ought to be remembered forever. It will be released this summer, or perhaps sooner, and if all goes smoothly... the Typhonians will see it not long after."

Hetty's eyes grew deep and thoughtful, and then she heard her ancestor's voice come through, slow and level:

"Give them shadow-plays, give them magazines, give them more popular stories, and everything else that can beautify Cecil. Let them worship Cecil's heroes, let them grow familiar with the Cecilian way of life, tell them over and over what advanced civilization is, and keep hinting at how far their own lives fall short of a true 'nation of civilized enlightenment.' In the midst of this, we must stress our goodwill, stress that we stand with them—and so, when a phrase is repeated a thousand times, they will come to believe that phrase was their own idea all along...

"And then, Hetty, the age of peace will arrive."

Hetty's gaze drifted slowly across the desk, and at last came to rest upon a document lying by Gao Yang's hand, one that seemed to have just been completed.

On its cover was a single line of words:

The Tincture Project.

Miaoshuwu