Chapter 333: End-of-Volume Summary for Volume 4

End-of-Volume Summary for Volume 4

I only remembered yesterday, while reading reader comments, that I hadn't written the end-of-volume summary yet.

I really don't know what to say...

Let me start with the results.

*Shao Song*'s average subscription is just a hundred short of twenty-one thousand—a big improvement. We're also close to one hundred and fifty patrons, which shows the readers are incredibly supportive.

Even *Fu Han* has been carried along to nearly twenty thousand.

But while the readers are amazing, I've clearly fallen short.

I'm just washed up.

This "washed up" isn't just about laziness, but also mindset, and then there's the issue of skill and ability...

Thinking carefully, it's not just that the book is in its middle-to-late stages, and my own physical and mental energy is naturally flagging; the key point is that after the Battle of Yaoshan, I completely departed from the original historical framework and entered a phase of extrapolation, and I really don't know how to write it.

Old readers should know that I don't have an outline, or rather, I have an unorthodox one—sometimes, while listening to music or reading historical materials, random ideas pop into my head, a few scenes... and then I string the plot together around those scenes.

Once a few plot points are linked and the characters are arranged, the general storyline emerges.

So when it comes to writing what happens next, I'm often completely in the dark. And often, after a volume's chapters come out, the earlier parts feel lower in quality, not as satisfying as a few specific chapters.

Of course, the cycle of linking plot points isn't as short as everyone thinks... For example, the alliance and coronation plot in this volume was already conceived during the "Two Emperors Return" arc in the Baima chapters. That's when I started constantly mentioning the Western Xia, as a way of laying out the map in advance.

And the plot about the Tangut imperial consort was also a setup from the very beginning for the "vassal and subject" trope. One thing I have to admit is that, perhaps because the updates have filtered out some old readers, everyone's tolerance for me has greatly increased. After that plot came out, I was a bit scared, thinking it might cause trouble, but in the end, there wasn't much trouble.

It passed smoothly.

Of course, there are also short-cycle plots, like the Crow Noodles... Seriously, I have a deep impression of Crow Noodles, and it's been in my mind for a long time. When I was very young, seeing Chang'e and Hou Yi, like a gossipy wife and a henpecked husband, chattering about Crow Noodles in the story shocked me, but I never thought of using that trope... Then, recently, I revisited Lu Xun's complete works and suddenly saw those humanized heroes, gods, and ancient sages again, and I instantly felt it—I had to use the Crow Noodles!

As for Yelu Dashi, that character was also planned from the start... even earlier than the alliance and coronation plot. I wanted him to come like the wind and go like the wind, and that's it.

It's not as gay as everyone thinks, but without a doubt, this man should be the protagonist's true soulmate—a soulmate in terms of nationalism and national responsibility.

As for "vassal and subject," it's a traditional term in Chinese history. Everyone can extrapolate, but don't go overboard.

And then there's Yue Fei in this volume. To be honest, Yue Fei has a lot of screen time in this volume, but I didn't really want to make him a prince so early, and I've been holding back. He should have a grand battle in Hebei, but whether that battle is in the next volume, the one after, or later, it's hard to say.

That depends on how far this book can go.

Aside from that, in this volume's plot, I feel I overdid it a bit with the Baima chapter... Although I've repeatedly emphasized that the protagonist's real enemies at that time weren't the Two Emperors, but the opposition and the conservatives who had no moral or capability issues—these were the protagonist's true enemies in the first half of the volume, with the Two Emperors merely being their slogan—it still felt a bit excessive regarding the Two Emperors themselves.

Yet, even excluding the argumentative chapter comments, that chapter's comments broke my personal record: eight thousand words and over six thousand comments. I don't know if that's a success or a failure.

But in any case, I could have done better with that plot.

Seriously, sometimes when I look at these plots, see everyone's reactions, and recall my own previous expectations, I can clearly feel that I've gotten old... out of touch with the times.

I even feel that my aesthetic sense is out of sync with everyone else's.

Because sometimes, the climax scenes I think of, when I actually reveal them, don't always get a strong reaction from everyone. But during the writing process, when I polish a character, feel I can't drag it out any longer, and create some short-term plot echoes, the response is actually good... Maybe it's a burst of short-term inspiration? Or just a matter of the plot incubation cycle?

I don't know what it is either. Maybe I'm overthinking it.

And it's not just an issue of aesthetics; I feel my skill has hit a ceiling. I clearly think I can write better, but when I actually put pen to paper, it still falls far short of my mental expectations. I don't know if I'm washed up or if my own aesthetic ability has improved, but either way, I've developed a sense that there's a long-term contradiction between my declining creative output and the growing cultural demands of the masses (including myself).

Of course, all of the above is just me rambling. Once the novel is written, the criteria and results of judgment have nothing to do with me; you guys are the ones who decide... In short, it's "What the hell does Liudan Pa Shui know about *Shao Song*?!"

I'm nothing more than a humanoid typing machine that steals everyone's passion and inspiration to make a profit.

And I work three days and slack off for two.

Aside from that, there's some good news, though I'm not sure if I should mention it here, or if it's a bit too early, but I don't know where else to say it... *Shao Song* should be getting a manhua adaptation, through Tencent Comics' channel. It'll be a while before there's a result. Anyway, I'm a layman; I only know that the contract was just signed and has indeed been sent off... I don't know anything about comics, but I checked it out on Weibo, and it doesn't look bad!

I have to thank Editor-in-Chief Ruili Dalao and Editor Shuize Dalao for their help.

Having said that, I really don't know what else to say.

Let me talk about the summary for this volume.

This volume is clearly split in two: the first half deals with the internal trend toward peace negotiations and the return of the Two Emperors. The second half is the surprise attack on Western Xia and the tripartite alliance.

There's a reason they're put together, of course.

From a macro perspective, all these things happened for only one reason—after the Battle of Yaoshan, the Jurchens chose a strategic contraction.

Everything, from the inside to the outside, from the south to the north, happened because of the Jurchens' strategic contraction. It was precisely because the Jurchens chose to retreat strategically that the Zhao Song, which had grown strong in the previous wars, gained enough military breathing room.

In short, this volume is about the protagonist overcoming the nation's internal muscle paralysis, leading the entire country to spread its arms. After being beaten for seven or eight years, they can finally stretch their limbs... That's roughly the theme.

During the creation of this volume, I especially want to thank the map creators in the academy, the comment section, and the chapter discussions. They provided enough maps for my obscure military descriptions for everyone to consult. Their contribution is huge.

Also, Ms. Mei, who wrote a set of fanfics on Laofute, where the characters in the book gather to read their own biographies from the *Song Shi*. It's top-notch.

An absolutely outstanding set of fanfics. Highly recommended (to be honest, I haven't even finished reading those biographies myself).

Now, let's talk about the next volume.

What will the next volume be about? Any ideas? As usual, I'm pretty clueless, just like before almost every volume.

But one advantage now is that the character images of the protagonist and many supporting characters have already been established. And characters like Xiao Lin Xueshi and Liu Ziyu have also returned. Once the plot is decided, letting the characters move according to their own personalities, identities, abilities, and wills might just barely allow me to keep writing.

Also, in the new volume, there will definitely be new characters appearing and new plot developments.

I'm certainly not good at developing new plots; the beginning of every volume is terrible. But on the flip side, every time I write a new plot, I feel an unprecedented sense of calm... because the previous volume is more or less finished. It's like starting to paint on a blank sheet of paper again—before I mess it all up, there's a somewhat unrealistic sense of anticipation.

As I said before, I'm really old, and my brain has degenerated to the point of uselessness... Before I open the keyboard, I have an infinite amount to say, but the moment I pick up the pen, I don't know what to say.

Anyway, let's all cherish this while we can! Although I'm old, this is a bond built over many years. Please don't leave me; I'm still counting on you all to keep me fed with a hot meal in the winter!

That's all. Good night!

Also, a special thanks to the new patron, Fuping Hou Yixiao, the 148th patron of this book!