Emperor Ming Dynasty

Outside the window, there are clumps of green shade, the flowers are rushing to bloom first, and the birds are spreading their wings. It is indescribably comfortable.

Suddenly, there was a sound of mountain wind blowing, and the mountain rain came crashing down.

Just like Zhu Yixi's mood, relaxed and stretched.

"Let the cabinet come to see me."

Zhu Yixi ordered softly, moved her body back two steps, and sat down on the reclining chair.

"Yes!" Liu Afu hurriedly responded.

Closing his eyes and resting his mind, Zhu Yixi's ears were quiet.

Although he is a time traveler, his ass decides his head. In the face of the wealth and honor of future generations, the ordinary and poor people who are tall and empty have no weight.

Perhaps, he will lighten the tax, reduce corrupt officials, build large-scale projects, etc., and the people will benefit, but in the final analysis, all this is for the stability of the rule.

After all, in future generations, those big bosses who are worth over [-] million may donate tens of millions to a certain university for the education of their children, but they will never easily increase their employees' salaries.

"Catch a group and exile a group. I don't believe that there will be people who will dare to do it."

"But the Yangzhou government found out, and even came to see me, saying that the government school was broken and needed to be repaired, and directly asked me for 3000 yuan."

Criticizing the eunuch party and pursuing the Donglin party were the most popular things in the late Ming Dynasty, and later even evolved into scholars attacking the yamen and interfering in folk affairs.

Soon, the salt merchants reached a consensus that a newspaper must be run, and the name was called: Yangzhou News.

Zhu Mou said decisively.

After careful research, the household department only needs to spend an extra 5000 yuan per year to complete the management of the entire newspaper industry.

To put it bluntly, newspapers can manipulate public opinion and affect the power of the court.

Being able to think of this method is something Zhu Yixi did not think of, but it is a good and feasible method.

As soon as these three words came out, there was a heated discussion among the salt merchants.

Here, the bulletin has just been published in Yangzhou, and the former salt merchants gathered together to discuss the newspaper.

One person is short, many are long.

The Daming Gazette was first established to publicize government orders, prevent local officials from cheating, and maintain Zhu Yixi's rule.

Although the emperor holds great power, he relies on the literati to rule the world. If he acts arbitrarily, he is an independent husband.

He looked up and saw that the emperor's face was still calm and unmoved, obviously he had already planned in his heart.

"Master, all the elders are here."

Soon, the Daming Gazette was published, the decree approving the issuance of private newspapers, and the review, approval, etc. were also explained one by one.

Because they don't even have the right to participate, they belong to the level of being abused.

These words can be regarded as hitting everyone's minds.

Soon, this news spread across the world through the spider web-like network of the Ming Gazette, causing an uproar.

At this time, the chief assistant is usually the last to speak, and Feng Xianzong confided: "As early as several years ago, there were private reports, but now there are still, and they will never stop."

"Everyone, we salt merchants, even in the peaceful and prosperous age, are still fish in the officialdom, ready to be slaughtered."

"Be flat!"

During the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period, the inspection system prevailed, and filial piety became the key. As for whether you are filial, it naturally depends on the public opinion of the people.

Even though others were dissatisfied, they were powerless to contend.

Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty's cutting of the vassal was also blamed on Chao Cuo.

Public opinion is naturally what the gentry pursue.

At the beginning of the 15th year of Shaowu, Wang Yingxiong, the chief assistant, retired at the age of seventy.

Although it is said that the salt introduction system was abolished and the ticket salt system was implemented, which greatly diluted the profits of salt merchants and suffered heavy losses.

"Then do it like this!"

For example, even an emperor like Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, who was constantly fighting, had to rely on the Gongyang faction as his wings, shouting, to expand the territory.

In this way, the salt merchant group composed of Huizhou merchants, with the implementation of the ticket salt law, made the number of salt merchants expand rapidly.

"After all, it is a big taboo for laymen to direct experts."

At this time, Zhu Mou said: "In my opinion, just like the official salt, the entire newspaper can be distributed, with each prefecture and county as the boundary, and the scope of its publication can be controlled as much as possible."

After all, everything is public opinion.

"Last month, Huizhou government needed to build a school dormitory. I donated 1000 taels without blinking an eye."

As Zheng Mengxian said, he laughed too. He walked up and down and said, "I can see that this group of officials and gentlemen are not afraid of anything else, but they are afraid that the gentry will talk too much, and they are afraid that their reputation in the scholarly society will be bad. affect your own future."

Those who can participate in the salt merchant meeting in Yangzhou are basically salt merchants spanning several prefectures and even several provinces.

"Impossible." Zhu Mou vetoed: "Is this adding redundant officials without disguise? Absolutely not."

These four people are all important ministers who have experienced the wind and rain in the late Ming Dynasty. Du Yinxi is more special. He is not an old minister with meritorious service, but a local civil servant who has been promoted.

Soon several people in the cabinet reached a consensus and came up with a set of management methods, which seemed to be effective.

At the same time, before each newspaper comes out, it must be handed over to them for review, and if it is not approved, it will be sent back.

With a guess in his heart, Yan Chongxin roughly understood what it meant.

"Your Majesty, this matter is easy, just send troops to arrest it." Zhu Mou said decisively: "It just so happens that Qi State is short of people, and all of them will be exiled to Qi State."

It can be said that it took one step at a time to reach the current position.

"Just relying on the power in the hands of the official."

All their actions can be washed clean.

The emperor waved his hand, then looked directly at these people, and said: "Recently, Zheng Sen, the prefect of Tianjin, talked to me, saying that there are more and more private reports in the local area."

Local officials do not cooperate?

Today, public opinion among the people also serves the officialdom.

"So, I think, if we salt merchants want to protect our property and not let them bully us, we have to run a newspaper."

Du Yinxi said softly: "How about letting the cabinet take charge as before?"

"The Bulletin has been handling newspapers for many years now. Obviously, it has long been experienced and has a deep understanding of the things in the business. Letting it control it is the right thing to do."

Ordinary gentry were overjoyed to see new avenues by which they could participate in public opinion.

Running a newspaper——

That is corrupt officials, and the reputation among scholars will be stinking on the street.

The face that was smiling like Maitreya Buddha was tense at this moment, without the slightest hint of a smile.

Even if they built bridges and paved roads, and did all good deeds, the gentry said: If you are a thief with a guilty conscience, you may make up for some evil debts!

The richer people are, the more afraid they are of having no money.

Because no one believes what you say.

"There are more than 1000 counties in the world, how many people have been added here?"

"The action is too big, it's a bit motivating."

But unless it is a big local gentry, the kind that everyone expects, or an ordinary gentry, no matter how rich they are, they are nothing but farts.

As soon as this remark came out, everyone laughed out loud.

"Since all of you have spoken like this, let's do it like this!"

At the same time, an article was added to the communiqué:
However, if you want to issue a private report, you must have a deposit of 1000 yuan. .

Zhu Mou raised his head and vetoed the proposal: "No, isn't this conniving the place to sit big?"

Although the Ming Gazette was established by the emperor, the specific management responsibility rested with the cabinet.

In a sense, this can also be regarded as a threshold, which excludes those stinky fish and rotten shrimp.

Thinking in my heart, I heard light footsteps in my ears after a while.

The reason why I dare not use the Yanshang Daily is because I am afraid that some people will be taboo.

The few people stopped talking and listened to the emperor's words: "According to my opinion, the cabinet manages the communiqué, so let the communiqué manage the newspapers in the world!"

The emperor stood up, opened his eyes, and saw four people.

The second assistant is Zhu Mou who wandered around the six parts.

"From my point of view, although private reports have many disadvantages, they are deeply loved by the people and spread widely. If we let the local government manage it, wouldn't we let them cover the sky with one hand?"

If there is such an advantage in running a newspaper, even if it is slight, it is worth a try.

"As for a province, its scope is still too large, and it is better to ban it at present."

It's just that this interest has changed from a private person to the interest of the entire literati group.

"If a newspaper wants to be in a county, it needs the approval of the county magistrate, and if it passes through the prefecture, it needs the approval of the magistrate."

If it is said that the gentry will meet because of insufficient public opinion participation, then the merchants will be miserable.

This is human nature, but also human inferiority, selfishness.

After Zhao Shu retired, Lu Daqi also retired the following year.

"Unless the number of cabinet ministers increases to a thousand, or new yamen are dispatched to the local area."

3000 yuan is not as good as others' 100 yuan. In the end, I can't even keep my name, which is really sad.

If you don't have a million dollars, you don't have the qualifications to participate.

In other words, they were summoned this time to resolve this matter and reach a consensus.

Zheng Mengxian gritted his teeth, angrily said:
"The Zhao family in Yangzhou Prefecture, the Qian family, which one is not rich? But this time, they only paid 100 yuan, and they knew that the mansion was full of joy, and even wrote a monument to commemorate it."

"Your Majesty is wise——" Yan Chongxin immediately cupped his hands, and praised: "The Great Ming Gazette has manpower relations in every prefecture and county in the world. At that time, as long as the constraints are the same, the rules are stated, and it is easy to sort out private reports."

Among the assistants are Feng Xianzong, who is in his forties, and Du Yinxi, who is in his sixties.

Du Yinxi frowned and said: "Although these private reports violated the law, they did not cause any damage after all. The exile is too heavy."

"Ok!"

"This is called flood control, blocking is worse than sparse."

"Killing one to warn others is the most effective way."

A large number of wealthy people immediately saw the benefits involved.

"And me? It's just that in the inscription, there is a word 'waiting'..."

"At that time, the local government will be deceived, and the tyranny will come out one after another, and it will become the master of Qingtian instead."

But in the final analysis, it is nothing more than turning the previous high profits into small profits but quick turnover.

"This deal is worth it."

At this time, Zheng Mengxian, who was the president of the Salt Merchant at the time, raised his head and puffed up his chest, revealing his big belly.

"Borrowing the name of selling books, it is actually running a newspaper, imitating the Daming Gazette, seeking huge profits, and banning it endlessly..."

They are responsible for reviewing content, publishing government orders, and even personally writing articles to praise the emperor, serious and serious.

Zheng Mengxian, a native of She County, Huizhou. Although salt merchants come from all over the country, they still adhere to the rule that non-Hui people are not allowed to be the chairman.

At this moment, Yan Chongxin glanced at Zhu Mou thoughtfully.

He stood up, while all the salt merchants were sitting, their eyes turned to him.

Because of too much wealth, they naturally belong to the rich-hating group of the common people, and have no right to speak in society.

Obviously, what he said was to give everyone a hint: this road will not work.

"It must be open and restrained at the same time, but you can't mess around."

And those big businessmen who are rich and powerful are ecstatic.

"It's better to keep it away." With a plan in mind, Yan Chongxin nodded and agreed: "Over the years, there have been endless private reports, and it is very difficult to deal with them. According to the old minister's opinion, private reports have to be released, but strict control is required. "

"Private reports from various places can be reviewed by local officials. If something goes wrong, they can be rescued to the end."

Therefore, no matter how powerful the emperor is, he will hide his thoughts and let the ministers take the initiative to make a final decision.

The market for private salt was occupied, and the losses of these salt merchants were not as great as imagined.

Because the salt merchants are only part of the Huizhou merchant group, they have both sides and have great influence.

In this way, controlling public opinion is tantamount to controlling the way to become an official.

Limiting the newspaper's influence to one county or one prefecture is currently the best way.

As soon as Zheng Mengxian's words fell to the ground, a businessman raised his head and said, "1000 yuan is a fart? You can spend it in two or three hours at a brothel."

"Why? Huizhou is my hometown. How can Yangzhou ask for 3000 yuan?"

"One bulletin is enough to cause headaches. There are so many prefectures and counties in the world, I'm afraid they can't manage them at all."

However, like a diehard in history textbooks, Zhu Yixi began to fear that the local gentry would collude with the newspapers and plan to attack the yamen like a scholar in the late Ming Dynasty.

In each provincial station of the Daming Gazette, procuratorial offices were set up, which were responsible for approving the publication of newspapers in the entire province.

At this point in the discussion, the emperor began to speak: "Zhu is right, adding redundant officials is absolutely unfeasible."

Feng Xianzong is not sure.

If it is said that what Zhu Mou said really hit the emperor's mind, the next words must be superfluous and not worth listening to.

It is a new thing to be close to the news published in the Ming Gazette.

The bulletin does not belong to the category of redundant officials, even if they receive salaries.

"Your Majesty is waiting to greet you—"

"As long as this group of officials and gentlemen are afraid, they dare not break into the house to make money at will."

If something goes wrong in the future, won't there be a blame man?

In this way, the chief assistant of the cabinet was changed to Yan Chongxin, a civil servant who had been with him during the Hanzhong period.

"This strategy is very good." Du Yinxi praised: "Now the imperial court can try to implement a county newspaper, and then gradually open it in the future."

At the same time, I am also afraid that the people will not buy it.

After all, they also know that their reputation among the people is too bad.

Salt merchants published newspapers, Shaanxi merchants, Anhui merchants, and Shanxi merchants, naturally not to be outdone, set up one after another.

And those local gentry were equally enthusiastic.

Soon, just collecting the deposit, the amount reached 39 yuan, which surprised the cabinet inexplicably.