Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 168 Book Publishing Review
After the Chang Dynasty ended, Zhu Youji was still frightened when he thought about today's events.

In the eyes of the ministers, what happened today was just a small matter that they suggested to increase the number of cabinet ministers and the emperor to accept advice.

But in Zhu Youjian's view, this was a major challenge to the emperor's authority.

If he handles it improperly, the matter may turn into a big disturbance and even cause conflict between the emperor and his ministers.

Taking this sign very seriously, Zhu Youjian summoned Jinyiwei officials that afternoon to inquire about the progress of Jinyiwei's restructuring.

After the fall of Wei Zhongxian, Zhu Youjian made adjustments to Jinyiwei, and it has been twenty days now.

After such a long time, part of Jinyiwei's organization should be straightened out and started to operate.

After listening to reports from Zheng Shiyi, Qi Changguo, Liu Qiao and others, Zhu Youjian knew that they were still reviewing Jinyiwei personnel and appointed department directors and department directors.

However, they are still exploring the internal settings of some institutions, especially those departments where the emperor has not given clear instructions.

Zhu Youjian frowned when he heard this, and immediately ordered:
"I have said before that the departments under the Security Department should select and perfect their personnel first. We must pay more attention to the confidentiality of the court."

"The Department of Legal Affairs will first set up a party meeting room to prioritize officials who gather, form associations and form parties to be investigated."

"For example, the so-called Donglin Party, the Eunuch Party, and the emerging literary societies in the south should pay more attention."

"Divide the leaders, backbones, core and fringe personnel of these parties, and then find out the reasons why they joined the party."

"We must focus on identifying the teachers, students, classmates, and fellow villagers of these people. Don't let me ask you about them and you don't know."

This is the investigation of officials, which can be said to be Jin Yiwei's specialty.

Although the emperor did not order them to arrest people, Jin Yiwei was very happy to investigate the officials.

Because this means that the emperor is willing to use royal guards to deal with officials, and they have a deterrent effect on officials.

The Jin Yiwei present took orders one after another, and then listened to the emperor's instructions:

"The Public Opinion Department should also pay attention to it and first set up a historical department to be responsible for collecting historical intelligence."

"Especially the creations involving Emperor Taizu and Emperor Chengzu should be investigated and paid attention to."

"We cannot let those jokes spread among the people be recorded in history."

"Relevant public opinions must be carefully explored, and relevant historical books must be reported once discovered."

"Especially those published in print must be scrutinized more carefully."

This was thought of by Zhu Guozhen who was writing history books privately, but Zhu Youjian felt that he could not let it go. Emperor Taizu Chengzu was the ancestor of the Ming Dynasty royal family, and their images were related to the stability of the imperial power.

We cannot allow literati to slander and tarnish their image.

In fact, Zhu You recalled the system of later generations and felt that not only historical books must be censored, but also all books published publicly in the future must be censored.

It’s just that I don’t have that condition now, and I don’t have that much energy. Start with history books first and add variety later.

In fact, the imperial court is also very sensitive to this matter and has always paid attention to it, but there is no specialized agency or person responsible for it.

After Zheng Shiyi heard the emperor's order, he immediately remembered something and said:

"In September of the fifth year of Longqing's reign, the Engineering Department reported to Li Guihe on the matter. Chen Jian, a native of Dongguan, Guangdong, privately compiled the General Records of the Emperor's Ming Dynasty, recording the events from the beginning of the Kingdom to Zhengde. Many of the contents contained rumors and distortions."

"Therefore, this "Tongji" was banned and destroyed by the imperial court, but there were unscrupulous booksellers who used the name of banned books to print and sell them."

"I think the Public Opinion Department can start by investigating the "Tongji" and explore historical public opinion."

After hearing about this incident, Zhu Youjian immediately said:

"What distorted things are recorded in it?"

"Is there any book like this?"

The book could not be found for a while. After all, this book was a banned book and was not collected in the palace.

But Zheng Shiyi heard some of the contents mentioned in it, and said: "The "Tongji" records that Fang Xiaoru was executed by ten clans, and it is said that 847 people in the clan were killed."

"There is also the matter of Yang Shiqi doing three things when Emperor Renzong was sincerely filial to Empress Zhang. The content is absurd and has not been recorded in any previous history books."

"I believe that this book should be investigated and punished, and this book should be strictly banned."

When Zhu Youjian heard that the "Huang Ming Tong Ji" not only arranged for Emperor Chengzu to punish the ten clans, but also fabricated the deeds of Empress Dowager Zhang, he immediately became furious and ordered:
"Since the imperial court has a ban, it should be strictly prohibited."

"The Public Opinion Department and Weiwei Temple investigated the matter strictly and confiscated the banned books."

"What books these contents come from and which books they are adopted by must be strictly investigated."

"This kind of fabricated history cannot be allowed to be spread among the people."

Thinking again of those booksellers who sold banned books under the guise of banned books, Zhu Youjian ordered:
"Businessmen who print banned books should be held accountable."

"As many banned books as they sell, let them take back as many copies as possible."

"If you can't get it back, you'll be fined ten times."

"Illegal and prohibited behaviors will be investigated in accordance with the law."

Feeling that it was necessary to regulate these merchants selling banned books, Zhu Youjian added:
"All businessmen who print and publish books must be allowed to set up publishing houses."

"Establish a president, editor-in-chief, and editor-in-charge of specific books to be responsible for publishing books."

“If there is anything prohibited in it, these people will be held accountable starting from there.”

"Books with sensitive or confidential contents such as history, military affairs, maps, etc. must be submitted as manuscripts for filing."

"These manuscripts are placed in..."

After thinking for a while, Zhu Youjian was not placed in the Jinyiwei, but in the Ministry of Etiquette, and said:
"The matters of etiquette, music and education should be under the control of the Ministry of Etiquette."

"Establish a publishing office in the Department of Rites and Music of the Ministry of Rites to review registered books. If there are too many books and people from the Ministry of Rites cannot review them, you can ask the Hanlin Academy for help. They are all knowledgeable."

"The Department of Public Opinion can raise questions about all published books. If there are any prohibited items, the Department of Rites and Music can review them and decide whether to request modification or ban them."

"After the decision is made, the implementation will be handed over to Weiwei Temple."

This entire process is arranged extremely perfectly.

When the Jinyiwei officials heard this, they were a little disappointed. Because the emperor did not expand their power wantonly, but left the matter of publishing censorship to the Ministry of Rites.

The daily note official who was recording next to him was excited. Thinking that the emperor was not deceived by the slanderous Jinyiwei officials, he made a wise decision.

They were all part-time officials of the Hanlin Academy. Of course it was an honor for the emperor to praise the officials of the Imperial Academy for their knowledge!

However, they couldn't help but feel a little bit dissatisfied with the emperor's decision to let Jin Yiwei set up a lawsuit and investigate the party.

Fortunately, most of these people did not belong to either party. Although they were instinctively disgusted with the emperor's investigating officials, they had to admit that the Eunuch Party and the Donglin Party did exist. It is necessary for the emperor to understand the personnel of these two parties, otherwise he will not know the reasons for many things.

Jin Yiwei's organization and role were revealed a little bit in front of them. This made them even more curious as to what adjustments the emperor had made to the Jin Yiwei twenty days ago. What was recorded in the daily notes that were hidden that day?
With these curiosity, the officials did not dare to ask more questions, or even spread today's content to avoid being spotted by the Jin Yiwei, who wanted to find out who leaked the secret.

In the previous case of Marquis Wu Qing, the influence of the Jinyiwei personnel who investigated people in the name of the Security Department has gradually been revealed.

The Jinyiwei organization will once again make Ming officials frightened!

　"History of Ming Dynasty":
　　Renzong Chengxiao Queen Zhang... the orthodox collapsed in October of the seventh year.

　　When the time comes, call in Shiqi and Pu, and ask the officials to ask if there are any important things that have not been done in the country.

　　Shi Qi mentioned three things. One is that even though the common people of Jian Dynasty are dead, real records should be compiled. One is that Emperor Taizong ordered that those who should receive the posthumous notes of Fang Xiaoru and other ministers should be relaxed. The third one was not ready for the memorial, but the Queen Mother died.

　　(This is the unofficial history adopted by Ming history)

　　
　
(End of this chapter)