After obtaining a piece of calligraphy from the General of the Right’s mansion to balance his standing with the Empress, Zhou Tieyi delegated the task of contacting the independent novelists of the School of Fiction to form a press corps to Hu Wenlang.
He then enjoyed dinner with Mei Juncang and Wu Qian, during which he detailed his layout requirements for the Tianjing Gazette. He instructed them to compile a preliminary draft for his review within three days. Zhou Tieyi knew, of course, that he could complete the task faster—perhaps in half a day—and that he would likely spend more time editing their work than if he had done it himself. However, cultivating subordinates took time; while Mei Juncang and Wu Qian were capable, he had to invest in them, or he would be forced to handle every trivial matter himself forever.
Around the Hour of the Dog (7:00–9:00 PM), just as Zhou Tieyi was planning to find Ada and the others to practice military formations, a sudden intuition struck him. Mirage Qi was being channeled into his Grand Void Illusion Mask, which meant someone was seeking him out.
Chapter 163