Chapter 5: Editor-in-Chief Grand Historian

Han Media, inside the spacious and bright lobby, a scene of bustling activity.

Several dozen scribes sat on either side of the long desk, their brushes dancing like flying shuttles, vigorously writing on bamboo slips and paper.

They either copied anecdotes from various places, or wrote commentaries and opinions on current affairs.

The scent of ink permeated the air, mingling with the busy atmosphere.

In the Editor-in-Chief's office, various documents piled up before the desk; Liu Ju sat in the chief seat, holding the freshly issued newspaper.

He looked at the energetic Sima Qian beside him and said, "Sima, Chief Editor, our Han Media, counting from its founding, in just three years quickly spread to fill every street and alley of Chang'an, starting from Xianyang."

"Whether nobles and aristocrats or common folk, all praise it without end. Yesterday, the news of the father emperor's death spread everywhere; you too should take primary credit for it."

Sima Qian bowed respectfully and said, "All thanks to Your Highness's far-sighted vision!"

At this time, Sima Qian was in his prime, the best years of his life, and had not suffered disgrace or been subjected to corporal punishment by Emperor Wu of Han for any mistake; he remained the vibrant and intact 'Grand Historian'.

He had just been enthusiastically reporting his recent achievements to Liu Ju, and couldn't help but recall the circumstances of these past years.

Born into a family of historians, Sima Qian initially traveled far and wide, his footsteps covering the south and north of the great river.

His greatest dream was to inherit the seniors' honor and mission, to completely and truthfully record the thousands of years of Chinese history, and pass it down to posterity.

So that future generations could know the seniors' glory and disgrace, rise and fall, order and chaos, prosperity and ruin.

But due to his youth and shallow experience, he had not many opportunities to display his ambitions.

Unexpectedly meeting Crown Prince Liu Ju and gaining his favor, when Liu Ju proposed letting him create a newspaper, Sima Qian's calm heart was like a tranquil lake suddenly struck by a huge stone, sending up towering waves.

In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through his mind at lightning speed.

"Like wind spreading through the forest, sound traveling through the fields, it can cause the thoughts of the wise to spread widely, and allow the common people's intentions to be proclaimed."

"Above, it can ensure the thorough transmission of government orders, making the strategies of the court clearly known throughout the realm; talented individuals can use it to discuss the Way and govern the state, presenting advantages and disadvantages before the ruler, assisting in the governance of the state;"

"Below, it can convey the people's sentiments, making the conditions of livelihood fully reach the heavens; even peddlers and laborers can thus express their feelings and speak of their hardships, prompting those in charge to examine the gains and losses of administration."

When Liu Ju expressed his boundless expectations for the newspaper and his future plans, Sima Qian was convinced by this rumored, unlearned crown prince of the streets.

Thus he poured all his enthusiasm and aspirations into the grand undertaking of Han New Media.

"Your Highness, I will always remember your favor; I will surely devote my mind and strength to Han's media undertaking, exhausting myself in service."

Having spoken these words with fervor, Sima Qian bowed deeply to Liu Ju once again.

"Chief Editor Sima, someone from the King of Qi has arrived."

Suddenly, a report came from outside, interrupting Sima Qian's thoughts.

Liu Ju raised his eyebrows, lowered his voice, and said, "Zichang, I'm not suited to show myself; please trouble you to receive the guest."

After Liu Ju finished speaking, he walked toward the cabinet; Sima Qian returned to the chief seat and sat upright with proper posture.

The envoy of the King of Qi entered Sima Qian's office, looking around arrogantly, and said to Sima Qian seated at the chief position:

"Sima Qian, so you are the editor of that newspaper? Seeing the King of Qi's personal guard, why do you not bow?"

Sima Qian's face darkened, and he said to the scribe beside him, "I say, you record it!"

The scribe took out paper and brush, listened attentively, ready to write vigorously.

"The envoy of the King of Qi trespassed into a private residence, abused his authority, spoke insolently, intimidated the good people of Han; his conduct is wicked, indeed lawless and wanton."

Sima Qian's words were sharp; he spoke passionately, observing the envoy's face suddenly change, and continued:

"Tomorrow's front-page headline will be him."

The envoy trembled with anger, pointing at Sima Qian and shouting, "You scoundrel, you have such gall, dare to..."

"What? You want to use the King of Qi to suppress me again? Guess what the King of Qi will say after I report your words and deeds today?"

Sima Qian looked at him mockingly.

The envoy was instantly speechless, then said, "You, you aren't afraid that the King of Qi will fly into a rage and shut down your Han Media, which bewitches the people's hearts?"

"Don't play the fox borrowing the tiger's might here; if there's nothing important, just go and don't see me out."

Sima Qian couldn't be bothered to waste words with the envoy; even glancing at him once felt like soiling his eyes.

The envoy's expression shifted, and after a long while he spoke in a low voice:

"Sima Qian, don't rely on your slight influence to act without regard for rank; today I come bearing the verbal order of the King of Qi, Your Highness."

Sima Qian's expression turned solemn, and he said, "Han Media has always kept to itself, not interfering with the King of Qi, Your Highness; I don't know what orders the King of Qi has, but isn't he still staying in Chang'an, relying on the state?"

"This matter can be discussed properly, and then put on the front page again."

The envoy snorted and said, "Don't be presumptuous; now that the emperor has passed, the crown prince Ju ought to follow heaven's will and inherit the great mandate."

"But he actually dared to murder court officials, employ evil sorcery to curse the emperor to death; his conduct is vile, intolerable by heaven."

"Your Highness sent me this time to order you to report this matter, so that the crown prince Ju's wicked deeds will be made manifest to the world, letting all under heaven see his ugly true face."

"You scoundrel, how dare you!"

Sima Qian slammed the table and shouted, "You dare discuss the foundations of the state, slander the crown prince's name; cutting you into a thousand pieces would not be excessive!"

The envoy, not expecting such a fierce reaction from Sima Qian, said in a low voice, "Sima Qian, Crown Prince Ju lacks virtue to deserve his position; he has long been a rat in the street, while the King of Qi, Your Highness, is the hope of Han's destiny; you openly offend the future emperor—are you not afraid of extermination of nine clans?"

"You rat-like crew, the Sima clan scorns to associate with you; come, see the guest out!"

The Feathered Forest Guard waiting outside the door, upon hearing Sima Qian's order, shortly drove the Qi envoy out onto the main street.

The envoy's face was grim as water, and he shouted, "Do you intend to rebel? You actually drove out a court official in public!"

"Come, seize them at once and seal off Han Media."

The envoy's angry roar rang throughout the street, but the response he got was the unwilling voices from left and right:

"Sir, we, we have been disarmed by the Han Media's Feathered Forest Guard."

The envoy startled, turned his head, and saw that the guards he had brought were already stripped of armor and weapons, becoming bare commanders.

Each wore only a thin undershirt, shivering in the cold wind.

Inside Han Media.

Liu Ju emerged from the cabinet, smiling.

He looked at Sima Qian, whose anger had not yet subsided, and said, "Zichang, why must you get so angry?"

Sima Qian's face grew even darker; his whole person was like an enraged beast, and he snapped:

"Anyone who dares to frame the Crown Prince deserves death."

"Your Highness, I will immediately draft a new proclamation to denounce these two shameless scoundrels."

Liu Ju shook his head, his eyes flickering, then said:

"Zichang, they will come back; next time you just agree to them, but they must show sincerity."

Sima Qian was momentarily speechless, then he stroked his beard, glared, and firmly shook his head, saying:

"Absolutely not, Your Highness; although you are the largest shareholder of Great Han Media, I am the editor-in-chief and hold a veto—don't even think about overstepping your bounds!"

"No one can tarnish Your Highness's reputation!"

Liu Ju knew the Grand Historian's stubborn temper, so he did not argue.

Moments later, the envoy who had just left indeed returned, this time obviously much more respectful.

Sima Qian had intended to flatly refuse, but recalling Liu Ju's instruction, he endured the discomfort and dealt with the envoy.

The envoy first subjected him to PUA, then arrogantly extended a finger and said:

"Editor-in-chief Sima, if you truthfully report the Crown Prince Ju's blatant misdeeds, the Prince of Qi will naturally not stint in rewarding you—one hundred thousand strings of cash."

Sima Qian was startled; the Prince of Qi opened with a demand of one hundred thousand strings.

You should know that the Great Han's annual treasury revenue is only a mere four million strings.

"Do you realize that relying solely on your one-sided account would let me openly offend the present Crown Prince, who may become the future emperor, and if there is any oversight, the Prince of Qi would also be held accountable alongside me?"

Sima Qian looked at the Qi envoy with a faint smile.

"Two hundred thousand strings!" the envoy raised the price again.

Sima Qian felt utterly awful; sure enough, as the Crown Prince had predicted, the Prince of Qi truly is wealthy.

Although the sudden windfall left him a bit dizzy, Sima Qian still followed Liu Ju's orders and continued to refuse.

The envoy gritted his teeth and said, "Three hundred thousand strings!"

He had secretly hoped to skim some profit off the deal, but he never expected Sima Qian's appetite to be so huge.

Sima Qian slowly extended five fingers and said, "Five hundred thousand strings; your own scribes will do the writing, and Great Han Media will handle the publication."

"It will be tomorrow's front-page headline, guaranteed to satisfy the Prince of Qi."

The envoy hesitated a moment, then said satisfactorily:

"Not bad, you know the bigger picture!"

Having said that, the envoy strode off.

Sima Qian thought of the sudden windfall and felt somewhat excited.

But then he immediately thought of tomorrow's report contents, and his emotions swung back and forth.

Liu Ju walked out, saw Sima Qian sinking into internal turmoil, and suddenly burst out laughing.

Sima Qian straightened his spine, his gaze sharp as he fixed his eyes on Liu Ju and said:

"Your Highness, what time is this, and you can still laugh? Since its founding, Great Han Media has aspired to give voice to the people and uphold justice."

"How could we, for such petty gain, disregard Your Highness's spotless reputation?"

Liu Ju secretly admired, the Grand Historian truly is the Grand Historian.

He put on a feigned look of regret: "Zichang, although money isn't omnipotent, it can also accomplish many great things."

"With this sum, our media could expand severalfold, recruit more talent, and have funds to research better paper."

"It could also let more people see our newspaper, and the ideas we spread could reach wider."

Sima Qian exclaimed anxiously: "But Your Highness's reputation—"

Liu Ju waved his hand and chuckled:

"Zichang, the greatest allure of this new media is that it can sway the masses' thoughts; the power of public opinion lies in our hands."

"Tomorrow we could destroy the Crown Prince's reputation, but the next day, there might just as well be a reversal!"

Liu Ju recalled those media of his past life, which, for the sake of eyeballs and traffic, completely disregarded factual truth and moral底线.

Today they would confidently report an incident, depicting one side as utterly wicked, arousing public righteous indignation;

but tomorrow, due to new interests or so‑called "new evidence," they would easily overturn their earlier claims, turning black into white, leaving the populace dazed as if lost in clouds, toyed with at their whim.

Now that Great Han Media is under his control, Liu Ju wants the Great Han populace to experience the allure of this new media.

First, let that rumor fly for a while!