British writer

Five days later,

Saturday, September 22nd.

Wodehouse Office, Palace of Westminster.

At this time, he had a manuscript of an academic work - "The Nature of Japanese Civilization" spread out in his hand, and at the same time he was clicking his tongue,

"A curious book."

Churchill couldn't help but be surprised,

"What?"

He came closer.

As a result, Wodehouse snatched the cigar from Churchill's mouth and put it out.

"Don't click on the manuscript."

Churchill said dissatisfied: "It's not the original manuscript. Besides, have you ever seen a cigar whose ash could set the manuscript paper on fire?"

Wodehouse glanced at the carpet;

"What do you think?"

There are still holes left there that were burned.

Churchill touched his nose awkwardly and changed the topic: "You think this book is good?"

Wodehouse nodded,

"Well, it should become an academic bestseller. Of course, it can't compare to "No One Survived" and "Roger Mystery", let alone the now extremely popular "I Am Cat", but it will definitely sell a few thousand copies. Not a problem.”

Churchill couldn't help but wonder,

"Let me see."

Wodehouse happened to have finished reading the first chapter and handed it over casually.

Churchill looked ten lines at a time,

But soon, he slowed down and started reading from the beginning again, as if he wanted to chew every word into his stomach.

After a long while, he said: "I want to see the original manuscript."

Wodehouse spread his hands,

"Then you have to talk to Professor Lu. Also, are there any problems with the printed manuscript?"

Churchill said: "There are definitely differences between the finished book and the original manuscript. What's more, it was printed by the London University Alliance. Professor Lu probably has reservations."

He said this because of the relationship between Japan and Britain.

After the signing of the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation between Japan and Britain, Britain and Japan entered a honeymoon period

As for the reason, anyone who understands international politics will understand.

It's nothing more than "dragons and furry bears."

Britain had the largest share of commercial interests in China, so it naturally wanted to fight against Russia's expansion in China and stop Russia's momentum in a timely manner when its foothold was not stable, so it supported Japan.

Against this background, it was impossible for Lu Shi to publish a monograph analyzing Japan in the UK.

Wodehouse lowered his voice;

"Speaking of this, have you heard? Mr. Prime Minister is preparing to... hum..."

He smiled, stretched out his index fingers with both hands, and hooked them together.

This means "collusion."

Churchill nodded and said in a slightly mocking tone: "Arthur does have the idea of ​​forming an alliance with Japan. However, I don't think he can be blamed for this. In the final analysis, he is still wiping out his Uncle Robert's 'continental balance of power policy' butt."

Arthur is Arthur James Balfour, the current Prime Minister;

Robert is Robert Gascoigne-Cecil, former Prime Minister.

The two are uncle-nephew.

According to original history, in early 1902, Britain and Japan formally signed a treaty, and the Anglo-Japanese Alliance was formed.

But in fact, Britain's first consideration was to form an alliance with Germany.

Unfortunately, the two countries have a competitive relationship in Europe. Germany responded indifferently and instead asked the United Kingdom to join the "Triple Alliance" led by Germany.

This is obviously unacceptable to the UK, which pursues a "balance of power policy" and emphasizes freedom of movement.

As a result, Britain turned its attention to the Far East,

Even though Japan at that time was still a second-rate country that was not taken seriously by the great powers, Britain had no choice if it wanted to find allies.

Churchill looked at the manuscript in his hand,

"However, having this book may affect Arthur's judgment of Japan."

Wodehouse was surprised;

"You think Balfour is more enlightened than Cecil?"

Churchill smiled,

"If listening to advice means being enlightened, then you are right. But I just think that Arthur is better at weighing the pros and cons. If the Japanese are really as this book says, they are polite but arrogant. Arrogant; they are extremely stubborn, but also very fickle; they are loyal and generous, but rebellious and full of resentment...', then you really have to think carefully about whether to form an alliance. After all, no one wants to be stabbed in the back. "

"Tsk..."

Wodehouse was speechless and admired very much.

"You did carry it."

Churchill had a photographic memory, and it seemed that only Lu Shi had this ability.

At this time, there was a knock on the door suddenly.

"Sir, the newspapers have arrived."

Wodehouse answered the door: "Here he comes."

He went to open the door, took the newspaper from the clerk, and eagerly pulled out the "Mirror".

Churchill asked in confusion: "Why are you so impatient?"

Wodehouse explained: "Professor Lu has informed me before, saying that there will be an advertisement for Carlo Foods in today's newspaper."

Churchill spread his hands,

"His sausages taste just average."

Wodehouse rolled his eyes at the other party, and while reading the newspaper, he complained: "You just can't get used to the Scottish style... Huh? What's going on?"

Halfway through, he looked at the newspaper with a puzzled expression.

Churchill leaned over,

I saw the article on the front page of "Mirror" was "Charity!" Children, we are waiting for you to go home...".

The title is too harsh.

Others are like "Charity gathers great love, love warms Liverpool", "Gathering together to help the poor" and so on,

"Mirror" is good, reporting charity news has a unique lace temperament.

Churchill couldn't help laughing,

"Well, it's the tabloids."

Wodehouse did not answer, still frowning at the newspaper.

Churchill was puzzled;

In the past, Wodehouse would have started to complain.

He asked: "What's wrong?"

Wodehouse handed over the front page and said, "Take a look."

churchill reading,

——

So far, the Boer War has been going on for two full years.

In Mafeking and Kimberley, in Ladysmith and Dundee, on the Swaziland border, on the Basotho border in the Caledon Valley...

We lost over seven thousand people.

However, is death really the scariest thing?

The soldiers are always plagued by illnesses, serious injuries, and lingering nightmares.

The brave Congressman Mr. Churchill once interviewed a military doctor on the battlefield. The military doctor expressed his bitterness and said: "I am even dreaming about amputation, amputation, amputation..."

…

——

Churchill had a headache;

"What the hell...why do you still have to do with me?"

Wodehouse laughed and said: "Isn't that what you said in your speech in the House of Commons? It was very sensational and I was very impressed."

Churchill was speechless for a while.

Come on, keep reading.

——

At this time, this newspaper thought of an organization——

British Red Cross.

So, we organized an international business summit, which was also a charity meeting, hoping that kind people would donate generously.

And they are indeed not stingy people.

——

Next is a long list, the format is "Enterprise - Fields involved - Business owners\

,"For example:

Patek Philippe, clock, Joseph Philippe.

At the end of the article is a sensational sentence: "Children, we are waiting for you to go home..."

What will this say to the residents of London?

But it was a violent killing of the military group.

Even Churchill, who had developed a heart of stone, could not help but sigh slightly and said: "The advertising is really good. These companies have made money."

He turned to Wodehouse,

"Sir, tell me... after Arthur reads this article, will he feel that Professor Lu is using the Mirror to target the Conservative Party or himself? Now he is holding a hammer in his hand and looks like everyone. nail."

Wodehouse was not worried about this;

Britain was in deep quagmire, and the Boer region had become a wound of the empire, losing blood continuously.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see this.

Moreover, Balfour took the initiative to show kindness to Lu Shi when Cecil stepped down, so he should not think too much about it.

In fact, if this article could help the cabinet sign a peace treaty with the Boers, Balfour might even say thank you to Lu Shi.

Wodehouse said: "Is this an advertisement?"

Churchill was a little confused;

"Why isn't it an advertisement? Look at these companies, Asprey, Barber...well...they are sorted by first letter."

Wodehouse took over: "Furthermore, I have been clearly informed that the first time the Mirror sold advertising was to Carlo Foods."

Both of them were surprised,

Where are the ads?

…

"Where are the ads?"

Buckle, the editor-in-chief of The Times, looked at the front page of the Mirror with confusion in his eyes.

At his desk, the clerk lowered his head and said nothing.

Bucker was very helpless.

"Forget it, asking is in vain."

He walked towards the window, his eyes swept across the busy traffic of Fleet Street, and landed on a building not far away.

That was the newspaper office of The Mirror,

At this moment, there were a bunch of newsboys and newspaper delivery men waiting at the door to get their goods.

There is no doubt that "Mirror" is already the largest newspaper in the universe.

Bakker sat back and continued to read the newspaper, reading from the people's livelihood section to the gender section, and then to the comics section. He never saw the advertisement for Carlo Foods.

No "sausage\

,"There is no "slaughterhouse\

,"There is no "Caro Food\

,"…

None of these words appeared!

Bucker couldn't help but lose his patience.

In the past, he would finish reading the "I am a Cat" comic immediately, but today he felt a little uneasy.

He threw the newspaper aside,

"Isn't this Lu Shi just playing tricks on us?"

Just after he finished talking to himself, he felt that it was impossible.

Carlo, that reckless man, had gambled his fortune and life on it. If he didn't succeed, he might have killed Lu Shi like a pig with a knife.

With Lu Shi's Asian body, the meat production rate must not be high.

"well……"

Buckel sighed.

He looked at the clerk again and said, "Have you ever...have you...let me ask you, why the hell are you showing me "I Am Cat" here!?"

After noticing that the clerk was staring at the comics, Buckle couldn't help but fly into a rage.

The clerk was startled, and waved his hands repeatedly: "No! I didn't...ah...I was reading, but what I was reading was not the content of the comic...Ah this...I was reading the content of the comic, but today The content is very special.”

He was speechless and could not even speak.

Bucker frowned,

"nerve!"

He picked up today's Mirror again and read the comic version.

It has now been serialized to Chapter 8 of "I Am a Cat\

,"This chapter mainly revolves around the "teasing" incident of the protagonist Kushami by the students of Luoyunkan. The cause, development, conflict, climax, aftermath and ending are all included. It is an extremely standard short story narrative structure.

Therefore, the editor of "Mirror" was too conscientious to choose to break the article.

This complete structure also makes caricature easier.

Buckle read a few lines,

Suddenly, his eyes widened and he murmured to himself: "Advertisements...there are really advertisements..."

In the comic, the protagonist Mao said: "Eating astringent persimmons will cause constipation. Once constipated, anger will naturally rise."

It sneers at this because it has its own unique taste——

Canned cats.

The amazing thing is that there is no advertising content in the comics.

No ingredients are introduced,

There is no taste of introduction,

The manufacturer is not even introduced.

What the Mirror did was just populate the cartoons with canned cats from time to time, and the Carlo Foods logo on the cat cans was not even clear.

But even so, Bakker couldn't help but tremble all over.

He knows that this is advertising,

but,

How can this be an advertisement! ?

He felt like there were two voices in his head tug-of-war, as if they were tearing his brain in half.

At this time, the clerk on the side spoke: "Editor-in-Chief, that thing should be for cats, right? There are so many people in London raising cats now, and they are all rich people, so their business must be very good."

Bakker rolled his eyes at the clerk.

"In your words?"

The most critical point is that the placement of this advertisement is very precise.

Among those readers of "I Am Cat", the consumer conversion rate is definitely high.

Bakker closed his eyes and thought back,

Only then did he realize that although the comic version did not introduce Carlo Foods’ canned cats at all, it was strengthening readers’ impression of it every moment.

Generally, readers will get over it after reading it.

Soft advertising is different, and it can actually leave such a profound "aftertaste" on people.

The room was quiet,

"..."

"..."

"..."

Buck's eyes were almost blank as he looked out the window.

Apparently, his mind had wandered away.

I don’t know how much time passed before he walked to the window and looked in the direction of the Mirror newspaper office again.

"sharp."

The clerk was a little surprised.

Every time my own editor-in-chief talks about "Mirror" and Lu, he grits his teeth with hatred.

But this time, I don’t know why, but I felt convinced.

The indifferent attitude that comes from the bones is like a man who has entered the time of the sage and regards Hongfen as a skeleton, without any trouble.

The clerk couldn't help but ask: "Editor-in-Chief, is this advertisement really that powerful?"

"More than just awesome?"

Bucker smiled bitterly,

"If this advertisement is successful, then it will definitely leave a mark on the newspaper industry. In fact, if the media wants to make money in the future, they will have to learn this advertising method."

The clerk asked again: "Then, will it succeed?"

Bakker looked complicated,

"I hope it succeeds. And reason and experience tell me that it will succeed."

The clerk was silent,

He could tell that his editor-in-chief was completely convinced by Lu Shi.

Bakker said: "Lu Shi...sigh...he is simply feeding us practitioners hand-in-hand. It can even be said that he is pouring rice down our throats with a bowl. From today on, anyone who enters this industry will , everyone should worship him as their teacher. No, the so-called 'parents of food and clothing' should worship him as their father."

If a father feeds him, how can a son not worship him?

Don’t worship?

That's a traitor!

If there was a photo of Lu Shi at the scene, Bakker would definitely bow deeply and say, "Lu Shi, my father!"

The clerk asked: "Editor-in-chief, then we also..."

Bucker waved his hand,

"No rush, study first."

At that time, I rushed out the "Daily Times", but was pushed to the ground and rubbed by the "Mirror".

Therefore, he also learned to be patient like Saatchi of the Daily Telegraph.

Bucker pondered for a moment, looked at the comic version again, and said: "This food for cats should be a new product. You go to the mall...forget it, I will go there myself."

As he spoke, he walked to the door,

"I want to see the success of this ad."