Chapter 248: Volume Three Summary and Thanks for One Hundred Patrons

Volume Three Summary and Thanks for One Hundred Patrons

First, thanks to the one hundred patrons!

I just noticed we've reached one hundred and three patrons.

I hesitated for a moment—the list of thanks is too long, so I won't put it at the front; I'll put it at the back instead... to avoid scaring off other readers. But to be honest, I was indeed scared myself, but as the beneficiary, aside from being startled, I must sincerely thank you all... bow, and express my gratitude.

To be fair, I never expected this book to achieve such results.

Why is that?

First, let me be honest. After *Covering Han*, I lost confidence for a while, feeling I might have been drained dry. Later, it was the repeated encouragement from editors like Ruili, Huya, and Xuxu that made me decide to start this book. But even so, this book inevitably felt like forcing a duck onto a perch... I knew nothing about Song history before writing it; I crammed by reading a few books at the last minute. So first, I must thank several Song history experts like Hongcha Moshu Mao, Xiangwang, and Buyi for their ongoing help.

Second, my condition wasn't good either, and many things happened during this book—the pandemic, work, all sorts of issues—affecting both my mindset and time. I have to thank everyone for your tolerance, and also the moderators for being caught in the middle... bow, apologize, and give thanks.

But in the end, perhaps because of the foundation from the previous book, the results are still far better than that one.

We didn't hold any events for the one hundred patrons. Seven months after starting the book, five months after going online, at one million words, it came naturally. The previous book took a whole year, and I even ran a small feedback event to achieve it. Moreover, despite the terrible update schedule, *Shao Song* has now reached the same results as *Covering Han* did at its completion.

It's not as miserable as outsiders guess, nor as impressive (someone on Zhihu guessed thirty thousand average subscriptions—it would be strange if my updates could reach thirty thousand average). With fewer than fifteen thousand average subscriptions, one hundred and three patrons, and a two-star rating on Qidian's Famous Works Hall, these are the summary results of this book so far.

For someone with my personality, this is naturally more than satisfying... Why ask for a bicycle? Even if you gave me one, I'd be too lazy to ride it.

Now, let me talk about the plot of this volume:

To be honest, I don't know what there is to introduce about this volume's plot. You should probably see that the entire volume's content is laying the groundwork for the final battle in Guanshan. The outcome of that battle, following the themes of the first two volumes, can probably be guessed. The first volume was about the protagonist establishing himself, the second about Zhao the Emperor securing his position, and the third about this country no longer needing to worry about being conquered by the Jin Army any day, with the predators hovering overhead no longer able to take whatever they want.

The book now, at over a million words and three volumes, marks the point where this country has finally stood up again.

As for some plot handling and character settings, there's not much to say. Truly, as that saying goes, this volume had a clear goal—everything was for that final battle... Everyone knows Jin Wushu learned from the extraordinary man and crossed the Yellow River; Han Shizhong and Chang Yuchun—to be honest, their historical images and positions are somewhat similar; and as for Zhao Jiu failing at a direct confrontation and relying on unity of will, that was foreshadowed for an entire volume.

As for the poems at the end of the volume and the beginning... to be frank, I don't even know the rhyme scheme (looked down upon by Ji Cha). The adaptation of the poem at the end of the first volume was an overperformance, yet even that was a joke in everyone's eyes... This time, a reader actually offered a poem for the volume's end. Individual lines were excellent and fit the context well, but overall it was hard to use as a reflection. After thinking it over for a long time, I didn't use it, feeling that "the setting sun is like blood" was more suitable. I hope you understand.

As for the plot ahead, the so-called "the strong pass is truly like iron, yet now we step over it from the start"—the protagonist needs to sort out some internal matters, then determine who he is fighting for and what ideals he is pursuing. The higher he stands, the more stable his power, the more he must understand who his enemies and friends are. Then the Jin Kingdom should become a bit more interesting too... Of course, I'm just talking nonsense. I don't know how to write next; I don't have an outline. Basically, I write wherever it goes.

When I started the book, I only had a rough outline of the first volume in my head. After finishing the first volume, I only had a general idea for the second. When writing the third volume, I only had some scattered fragments in my mind, with a pile of names copied from encyclopedias under the WPS document, and some people and fragments never written out... Some things seem beautiful in thought but can't be written, and as I get older, I forget the fragments I stored in my head as I write.

So, as for how to write next, same old rule—I'll sneak a peek at the chapter comments, lurk in the book forum posts, lurk in various book review public accounts and book reviews, then organize a bit... I also hope everyone will speak up more and let their thoughts run wild, but I won't pay for the ideas I steal.

Of course, since this is a summary, I can't avoid mentioning the true ending of this volume, which is the chapter "Falling Eagle." To be honest, I was caught off guard. I said earlier that I was scared—that wasn't false. In fact, before I posted that chapter, I expected to be scolded... Writing so tediously, without including a map, and some parts were indeed handled poorly, feeling stiff.

But... everyone was praising it, and within twenty-four hours, nearly a dozen new big patrons appeared (here I remind senior Andisi Chenfeng, one patron is a thousand yuan, not ten thousand—if it were ten thousand, I'd be rich), thousands of monthly tickets, and a full four thousand chapter comments... Then I started to doubt myself—could this chapter really be that good?

But to be honest, it's human nature... Everyone was praising, so I secretly enjoyed it. Over the next two days, I scoured every place that might praise me—QQ groups, WeChat groups, Zhihu, Weibo, book forums—and secretly indulged in self-satisfaction for several days... Don't take it amiss.

Finally, no more joking... Regardless of whether it was good or the effect of the long chapter, I must understand in my heart that this is everyone's generous love. What I wrote didn't exceed any boundaries, and there must be quite dissatisfied readers. It's just that online literature naturally has an echo chamber effect (thanks to senior Qiansè for the invention), temporarily covering up the flaws and amplifying the praise. Next time, if I write something that doesn't suit the mainstream taste, it might form a criticism vortex of similar scale.

Writing seriously from now on is what truly matters.

—————I'm a fake serious dividing line—————

I'll also recommend a few things. Aside from Anzong's *Book Sea Fish Man* and Chi Ji's *Book Famine Relief Station*, *Novel Gleanings* also wrote a long review for *Shao Song*... You can go check them out.

Finally, I wish all the young lads and lasses taking the college entrance exams a score of 700, wish all readers a happy weekend and prosperity, and also wish myself in advance that my updates this month will keep up...

Then, the main text begins, the list of big patrons:

Classmate Mr. Mu of Jamir

Classmate A Miao

Classmate Jin Zai Deng Ren

Classmate King of Swapping Homes

Classmate Life is a Tea Table 666

Classmate I'll Go Move the Train Station Here

Classmate See a Doctor If Sick

Classmate xuetutu

Classmate Li Jingze

Classmate Liu Li Qin

Classmate Disgusted with Being Poor and Ugly

Classmate Book Friend

Classmate Wild Expanse Snow Silence

Classmate I Grant You Death

Classmate Candle Stuck on Face

Classmate Wei Mang 0930

Classmate Advanced Nature Construction

Classmate Little Flying Carpet

Classmate Sky Mirror 1900

Classmate He Changed the Human Empire

Classmate Yunge's Fans

Classmate Nastasya

Classmate Little Seaweed Explosion

Classmate Human World Fireworks Words

Classmate Zhegu Shanren Qu Zhong Qiu

Classmate Gu Yue Gongsun

Classmate Blue Cloud Facing Wind

Classmate Silver Moon Under the Void

Classmate Bear Walks the World~~

Classmate Su Lai Bu Yan

Classmate camelyexs

Shui Changdong~classmate

Luxi Huan classmate

I want to buy ninety-nine classmate

Black Ice Technology classmate

Wuxin Wuding classmate

Classmate

Restless Volcano classmate

Maple Fall Heartbreak classmate

Wo De Guaiguai classmate

Wang Dayu classmate

Auntie Please Cheer for Me classmate

Master Xiahou classmate

Dima Xiya classmate

Junzi jiang classmate

Peipei Duoya classmate

Unaware Then Regretful classmate

Cat Awake in Deep Sea 1i classmate

Private Moth to the Flame classmate

Light-Colored Fold-Ear Psychic Monster classmate

adrian_fufu classmate

Xiaoyu's Xiaoyu classmate

No Driver's License 777 classmate

Beef Noodles in the Sun classmate

Maite Kaosuo'en classmate

World's Brothel Lord classmate

Beef Jerky~classmate

God's Saint classmate

Jun Yixing classmate

Xiaoxiao Yu Weimo classmate

Tianze Lü classmate

Pianxian Crow classmate

Balasen classmate

BIUX classmate

Duke of Ke'ersong classmate

Hundun Qiri classmate

Wen Ying classmate

Linghu Wuzhong classmate

reimuu classmate

Drink All the Yogurt classmate

Le Yanshan classmate

Bald Monk classmate

Squad Leader Yiliao classmate

Know Thyself classmate

Old Man Qingteng classmate

Tiger-Skin Diamond Gourd Boy classmate

Bingyanbiao classmate

Huang Qianjiu classmate

Old Daoist classmate

Pure Little Dragon classmate

Kang Chengfeibai classmate

Shepherd Boy on Niutou Mountain classmate

Linghu Yizhong classmate

Shu'er Tuoxi classmate

yoyowalker classmate

Weiweiweiweidu classmate

Bai Chenxiang classmate

Young Master Jiu classmate

Asidun Difangguan classmate

Hen Feitian classmate

Wuren Meitounao classmate

Classmate Lin

Classmate mousex

Classmate Flying Big Stupid Bear

Classmate taoyoo

Classmate ch4nge

Classmate Armed Mining Vehicle

Classmate Angel Silver White

Classmate Yuwen Ganchou

Classmate Strange Train

Classmate Leaping Horse Heavenly Mountain

Classmate Wang Xiaonan_

Classmate Tom Ding

Wishing the patrons a happy weekend, happy birthday, prosperity in salary, and fortune in the stock market! May everything bring wealth! By the way, what is the relationship between Spirit Fox No. 1 Middle School and Spirit Fox No. 5 Middle School?

See you in the next volume.