When Kobudo arrived to report in, Shire and Major Fernan were about to head to the officer’s dining hall together.
Kobudo’s arrival took Shire by surprise; he had called Kobudo a little after ten o’clock, and now it was just past twelve, and Kobudo was already here. This was about the time he expected him to arrive at the City Defense Headquarters.
Shire introduced to Major Fernan and the others, "This is Kobudo, the editor-in-chief we’ve mentioned to you!"
Major Fernan and the others exclaimed "Wow" and eagerly stepped forward to shake hands with Kobudo:
"Mr. Editor, we are going to have our own newspaper soon, right?"
"Can I sign up first? Interview me first!"
"Get lost, Kote! You can’t get ahead just by lining up!"
The enthusiasm of Major Fernan and the others made Kobudo feel a bit more at ease.
"Come on, Kobudo!" Shire didn’t ask many questions, he led Kobudo towards the dining hall: "You came at the right time, this will be your dining hall too, you can get familiar with it first!"
Saying this, he picked up a buffet tray and handed it to Kobudo: "Take whatever you like!"
Kobudo hesitated for a moment, looking around at all the officers with ranks, he asked nervously: "Can I...Can I really?"
"Of course!" Shire scooped himself some braised beef and mashed potatoes and answered: "In our records, you’re already a lieutenant, we just haven’t issued the enlistment order and uniform to you yet!"
Kobudo quickly followed: "Yes, sir, I’m honored!"
Shire also took a cup of coffee, taking a small sip while he waited nearby.
Kobudo picked out two steaks but hesitated afterwards. He actually wanted to take a third, but a glance at others made him eventually decide against it.
Shire smiled, eventually he would get used to the food here, there’s plenty of opportunity.
As they walked towards their seats, Shire shifted the conversation to work: "We might need some printing presses, do you know where we can buy them?"
"Yes, sir!" Kobudo sat down opposite Shire at the small table: "Schneider sells them, ’Triumph’ offset printing presses!"
He then emphasized: "Made in Germany, around two thousand francs each!"
Shire laughed, starting a military newspaper with printing presses made in Germany, and buying them from the opponent Schneider.
"We’ll probably need 10 of them!" Shire said while eating: "An urgent task is to spread the use of ’hand grenades’ to the army!"
"Hand grenades?" Kobudo looked up at Shire: "The hand-thrown explosives used in the attack on Lafox?"
"Yes!" Shire was a bit surprised at Kobudo’s sharpness, as many people were still unaware of hand grenades.
"We need to spread them throughout the army!" Shire said: "But many soldiers don’t know how to use them, which has caused a series of accidents, this is the first task the military newspaper needs to fulfill!"
Kobudo nodded slightly, as the talk came to work he gradually found his stride.
He skillfully cut the steak and put it into his mouth, thoughtfully answered: "If that’s the case, then 10 printing presses might not be sufficient for our needs!"
Kobudo explained knowledgeably: "One printing press can print at most 8000 copies an hour, 10 presses, even if printing non-stop, only 80,000 copies an hour. This does not account for mechanical failures and paper adjustments. Additionally, we might have only two to three hours of printing time before the newspapers are distributed."
Shire understood later that reporters needed to collect materials and information during the day, write articles, then typeset and plate making before printing.
Therefore, if the newspaper needs to be delivered to clients before dawn, clearly 10 printing presses are not enough.
"If we consider distributing newspapers to the public, we estimate at least 300,000 copies!" Kobudo explained: "200,000 for frontline soldiers, 100,000 for the public, then consider adjusting according to sales."
"Then 20 presses!" Shire said: "20 should suffice, right?"
Kobudo shook his head: "At least 50, we need to be prepared for anything."
"Prepared for what?" Shire asked confused.
Kobudo paused his actions and looked at Shire with firm eyes, saying: "Once our newspaper’s circulation increases, and the printing presses are controlled by Schneider..."
Shire instantly understood, by that time, buying printing presses would not be two thousand francs each, they could be several times higher according to the army’s purchasing practices.
"No problem, 50 presses it is!" Shire glanced at Kobudo’s casual clothes and said: "This is your responsibility, Mr. Kobudo, while you haven’t received your enlistment order yet, you can buy these presses as a civilian, and also find a suitable place to set up the newspaper headquarters!"
"Funds can be advanced from Mr. Dejoka in Davaz Town!" Shire said: "I’ve already spoken with him!"
"Can you drive?" Shire asked again.
"Great!" Shire raised his eyebrows slightly: "After getting the advance funds, buy a car first, this will improve your work efficiency!"
Kobudo was stunned, being given a car right away? God, this was something that an ordinary worker couldn’t buy even if they saved up for several years without spending anything!
Once he realized, he quickly expressed his thanks, while feeling inwardly that working with Shire was indeed different, he had made the right bet, he was already at a turning point in his life.
After sending off Kobudo, Shire leisurely went upstairs and said to Gallieni, who was resting with his eyes closed on a chair: "There’s some progress with the military newspaper, General, we need to give the newspaper a name."
Gallieni yawned and opened his eyes, sleepily said: "Name it? Let’s call it... France Military Newspaper?"
Then he felt this name was too official, the grassroots soldiers might feel a disconnect from it.
He shook his head again, this wasn’t good either, although apt, the soldiers might shiver at the sight of the word "frontline."
After thinking for a while, Gallieni said: "Call it Merit Newspaper!"
He thought this name was good, reporting on people and events that had contributed on the battlefield, this could inspire soldiers to persevere.
Shire didn’t care much about this, he said casually: "We need 50 printing presses, unit price 4000 francs."
"Note it down!" Gallieni answered: "Wait for the government funds to be allocated and then divide the costs!"
"Yes, General!" Shire answered.
Actually there was no real division, it seemed like the military bore all the costs.
And Shire, was doing the work of getting things done with minimal upfront investment.
If there was any effort involved, it was the little benefits given to Kobudo.
It didn’t cost much and could gain shares and win over people, why not?
(The image above is of the ’Triumph’ offset printing press, invented in 1907, capable of printing up to 8000 copies per hour)