I, Jiajing, successfully cultivated immortality

Chapter 407 Status Symbol

At this moment, seeing that the emperor had made the final decision, Xu Jie had no choice but to let it go, even though he felt extremely unwilling.

Xu Jie's original idea was to use the opportunity of holding the court meeting to make a big fuss about the whole thing, preferably to the point where everyone knows about it!

In this way, not only can we select suitable candidates who are like-minded and willing to join the Qingliu to fight against the strict party, but also take this opportunity to greatly improve our reputation and prepare for the future.

But now, with Jiajing's acceptance of Yan Song's proposal, all this will come to naught.

Therefore, although the expression on Xu Jie's face didn't change much, he already hated Yan Song in his heart, wishing to get rid of him on the spot and then quickly.

"Hmph, Yan Song, wait for me!"

"I'm younger than you, and I'm in better shape than you. You're 81 now, and you won't be able to survive me after all!"

"When I become the chief assistant of the cabinet, I will definitely liquidate the strict party, and you will not be able to escape either!"

Seeing that the discussion on the first matter had been finished, after a short break, the eunuch who had an extremely loud voice came up to the stage again and said loudly.

"The first matter has been discussed, and now we are discussing the second matter, which is the newspaper to be issued by the imperial court!"

After the eunuch finished speaking, Jiajing coughed twice, and then added.

"Dear dear ministers, before this, you must have seen the notice posted by the cabinet. The imperial court will officially issue a newspaper soon!"

"I will name the newspaper to be published by the imperial court as the Daming Daily."

"If you have any suggestions or doubts, you can put them forward."

After Jiajing finished speaking, he looked away from the many ministers present and said nothing.

After Jiajing's words fell, Gao Gong came out, raised the wat board in his hand slightly, and said respectfully.

"Report to Your Majesty, this minister has his own performance!"

Seeing this, Jiajing waved his hand, and immediately ordered.

"allow!"

After Gao Gong organized the language in his mind, he opened his mouth to speak.

"My Majesty, I feel that although the original intention of the newspapers issued by the imperial court is to let the officials and the people understand the events that happened in the recent period in our Ming Dynasty, most of the people are illiterate, so the effect may not be good. So ideal..."

After listening to Gao Gong's words, Jiajing first affirmed, and then explained.

"Well, yes, what Gao Aiqing said pointedly pointed out the disadvantages of newspapers."

"But before that, I have already thought about the corresponding countermeasures. I plan to divide the newspaper into two types. One is for officials, gentry and other literate people to read, and the other is for ordinary people."

"The newspapers read by officials and gentry are mainly text-based, while the newspapers read by ordinary people are mainly pictures."

"Of course, the newspapers read by officials and gentlemen will definitely be different from the newspapers read by ordinary people. Of course, the difference between the two is not only reflected in the material, but the content of newspapers read by officials and gentlemen will also be more Rich!"

Jiajing's words undoubtedly made everyone present look forward to the upcoming newspaper issued by the imperial court.

In the eyes of these officials, the newspaper to be published by the imperial court is not only for the purpose of getting information, but more importantly, it is a symbol of status!
After all, only officials and gentry who can read and write can understand the contents of newspapers.

But ordinary people can only read newspapers with lower quality and less content, and this greatly satisfies the vanity of these officials. What is the purpose of studying hard for so many years, isn't it just to be superior to others?

In the future, if you want to know a person in the shortest time, it will be even easier. You only need to read the newspaper that person reads, which one is it.

After listening to Jiajing's explanation, Gao Gong was quite convinced, and immediately returned to the queue, saying respectfully.

"Your Majesty Shengming!"

After Gao Gong returned to the queue, Zhang Juzheng stood up again, holding a wat board, and asked Jiajing.

"Report to Your Majesty, this minister has his own performance!"

Jiajing withdrew his gaze from Zhang Juzheng, and immediately ordered.

"allow!"

Afterwards, Zhang Juzheng frowned slightly, and then raised his own question.

"Your Majesty, the newspaper to be published by the imperial court is aimed at the 13 provinces in the two capitals of the Ming Dynasty, right?"

When Jiajing heard this, he nodded slightly, and immediately responded.

"Well, that's right."

After Zhang Juzheng got Jiajing's exact answer, he continued to ask questions.

"Your Majesty, if the newspaper is printed, how should it be delivered to the rest of the provinces?"

"The time required for this process can range from ten days and a half months to a year and a half years. By then, the content recorded in the newspaper will no longer be used as a reference because of the passage of time!"

Zhang Juzheng's words undoubtedly expressed the aspirations of most of the officials present: "Yes, how should this be avoided?"

Jiajing seemed to have expected this, and after thinking about it for a moment, he responded immediately.

"Before this, I have already considered this issue. I plan to set up a branch of the Information Administration in the 13 provinces of the two capitals of the Ming Dynasty."

"At that time, when newspapers need to be printed, the News Agency in the capital will distribute the time and content of the newspapers to other agencies. In this way, there will be no problem of changing times!"

After Zhang Juzheng listened to Jiajing's explanation, he immediately fell into deep thought, as if he was thinking about the feasibility. replied.

"Your Majesty is wise, I feel that this strategy must be feasible!"

After that, several officials successively put forward some suggestions, and this court meeting gradually came to an end.

Seeing that the time was almost up, Jiajing looked around and immediately ordered in a deep voice.

"Okay, let's stop here for the time being, I still have things to deal with!"

After Jiajing finished speaking, he got up from the dragon chair. Many officials in the audience, under the leadership of Yan Song, the chief minister of the cabinet, knelt down on the ground in unison and said in unison.

"I'm waiting to send you to Your Majesty!"

Jiajing had already turned a blind eye to this, and immediately called Lu Fang, took a dragon chariot, and left the Taihe Gate.

On the way back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Dragon Chariot, Jiajing turned his gaze to Lu Fang who was aside, chuckled lightly, and then urged.

"Lu Fang, when the time comes, raise the price of the newspaper again!"

Jiajing's voice fell, as if he had noticed something wrong, and then explained.

"Of course, I mean the part of the newspaper that is exclusively for officials and gentry!"

When Lu Fang heard this, a look of doubt appeared on his face at the right time, and he immediately spoke.

"Your Majesty, I don't quite understand why you want to..."

Jiajing seemed to have seen what Lu Fang was thinking, and explained again.

"In the eyes of those officials and gentry, they are higher than those ordinary people!"

"And I just want to use their vanity to get enough profits from them, and then subsidize this part of the profits to newspapers that are specially oriented to the common people."

"In this way, the promotion of newspapers can be facilitated while the national treasury does not have to bear too much pressure."

"By the time they really realize my intentions, it will be too late. By then, the right to speak will be firmly in my hands!"

……

The development of the matter did not exceed Jiajing's expectations. After the court meeting ended, Yan Shifan personally found Lu Fang on the grounds that there were merchants in the capital who were willing to contribute money to sponsor the upcoming newspaper issued by the court.

"Eunuch Lu, Boss Zhao of Liuxinju in the capital, is willing to donate 5 taels of silver to sponsor the upcoming newspaper issued by the imperial court!"

In the room, Yan Shifan had an extremely respectful expression on his face, and said to Lu Fang who was beside him.

"Six Hearts?"

After hearing the name of the businessman Yan Shifan mentioned, Lu Fang was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized and responded with a smile.

"Liuxinju, I know, their pickles seem to be very famous in the capital!"

When Yan Shifan heard this, he echoed repeatedly.

"Yes, that's right, their pickles are very famous, even my father loves their pickles!"

"Why don't I ask them to send some over another day, so I can give you a taste?"

After hearing this, Lu Fang nodded, and immediately spoke.

"Well, just in time, our family also wants to try how their pickles are, so let them send some over then!"

Seeing that Lu Fang agreed to his proposal, Yan Shifan's face was full of excitement, and he opened his mouth immediately.

"Thank you, Eunuch Lu, for showing me your face. I will definitely ask them to bring you the best pickles!"

When Lu Fang heard this, she nodded slightly, and immediately made a point.

"Master Xiaoge, don't delay the business!"

Yan Shifan naturally understood the meaning contained in Lu Fang's words, and quickly responded.

"Don't worry, Eunuch Lu, you won't delay the business."

After getting Yan Shifan's assurance, Lu Fang also felt relieved, picked up the teacup at the side, and took a sip.

Seeing this, Yan Shifan on the side quickly got up from his seat with a respectful expression on his face: "Eunuch Lu, I still have some things to deal with later, so I won't bother you!"

When Lu Fang heard this, a smile appeared on his face, and he spoke immediately.

"Well, Mr. Xiao Ge, go get busy!"

After Yan Shifan left, Lu Fang also slowly got up from the seat, and immediately walked towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation with leisurely steps. He wanted to tell Yu Jiajing the news face to face.

Along the way, no matter how heavy the work at hand, the eunuchs and court ladies would consciously stop what they were doing, salute Lu Fang respectfully, and then call Eunuch Lu.

On the one hand, it was out of respect for Lu Fang, the eunuch who was in charge of the government and the public, and on the other hand, it was because, no matter when, Lu Fang always had a smile like a spring breeze on his face.

And he was very patient in dealing with those eunuchs and maids who made mistakes, unlike the rest of the chief executives, who beat or scolded.

Therefore, all the eunuchs in the Forbidden City, big and small, respected Lu Fang, the eunuch who was in charge of rites and seals.

Lu Fang looked at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, which was close in front of her. After calming down, she stepped up the steps.

In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Jiajing was sitting on a futon with his eyes closed to rest his mind. After realizing that Lu Fang came in, he quietly opened his eyes.

"Lu Fang, what can I do for you?"

Seeing this situation, Lu Fang immediately came to Jiajing's side, and unreservedly reported to Jiajing about Yan Shifan's visit to him and his promise to send him pickles.

After Jiajing listened to Lu Fang's narration, he was not surprised at all, and immediately turned his gaze to Lu Fang, and said.

"What I said earlier, isn't there a merchant willing to sponsor it?"

"Hmph, Six Hearts Home!"

Hearing this, Lu Fang took advantage of the opportunity to flatter Jiajing.

"Your Majesty really knows things like a god, I admire you!"

Afterwards, Jiajing got up from the futon and turned to speak again.

"In the future, if those merchants want to contribute and sponsor again, it won't be the price of 5 taels!"

When Lu Fang heard this, she quickly realized, and then said.

"Right now, in my Ming Dynasty, there is only one kind of newspaper, and that is the Ming Daily published by the imperial court!"

"After seeing the promotion effect of Liuxinju, those merchants will scramble to sponsor the newspaper in order to promote their products."

"And the imperial court can take this opportunity to let them bid, and the highest bidder wins!"

After listening to Lu Fang's analysis, Jiajing also nodded, and immediately responded.

"Well, that's right, that's what I mean!"

When Jiajing said this, he turned his eyes to Lu Fang, changed the subject, and ordered.

"Next, Lu Fang, you have to speed up the progress of the newspaper. For the layout of the newspaper, just do what I told you before!"

When Lu Fang heard this, his face immediately turned serious, and he replied in a deep voice.

"Obey, Your Majesty, this servant will do it now!"

Just as Lu Fang was about to leave the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Jiajing's voice sounded behind him.

"By the way, when the time comes, Yan Shifan sent you Liuxinju pickles, and bring me a taste too!"

Hearing this, Lu Fang was stunned for a moment, then realized immediately, with an unconcealable smile on his face, and respectfully replied.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

……

Zhejiang, Zhejiang Governor's Mansion.

At this moment, before departure, Hu Zongxian specially called Zheng Michang to the Governor's Mansion, and told him the things that need to be paid attention to in the next period of time.

I saw Hu Zongxian sitting at the head, turned his gaze to Zheng Michang who was aside, and asked.

"By the way, you and the officials of the Maritime Trade Department sent by the court have already completed the handover, right?"

When Zheng Michang heard this, he was immediately out of breath, and immediately poured bitter water on Hu Zongxian.

"My lord governor, you don't know that the Maritime Trade Department officials sent by the imperial court earlier, if you describe them as arrogant and domineering, they are regarded as flattering them. Aren't they sent from the capital? What's the air?"

"The subordinates are not under their control. During the handover, they actually asked to be subordinated. After sorting out the records of Ningbo Port in recent years, they will then hand them over to them!"

"It's been so long, where can I find those records!"

After listening to Zheng Michang's bitterness, Hu Zongxian couldn't help becoming interested, and immediately asked.

"Oh, did you give them the records?"

As soon as Hu Zongxian finished speaking, Zheng Michang responded without thinking.

"My lord governor, the officials were out of breath for a while, so they rejected their request."

"In the end, they still had to do it themselves to sort out those records. The officials also heard that they have not had a rest for a week because of this."

When Zheng Michang said this, his face was full of schadenfreude.

(End of this chapter)