Tang Dynasty: The poisonous scholar in the Eastern Palace, please abdicate and let the wise one take

Chapter 117 Tianxia Newspaper: The disaster in Suzhou is a man-made disaster!

"This article by a top talent and great scholar of the time only costs a penny!"

"The disaster in Suzhou was 30% natural and 70% man-made. For more details, please read the first issue of the newspaper published by Tianxia Newspaper!"

"...?"

Chang'an Street.

Young men, ranging from seven or eight years old to thirteen or fourteen years old, carried a small cloth bag on their backs and held printed newspapers in their hands, walking and shouting on the streets of Chang'an.

Many passers-by were attracted by this novel way of hawking.

But what made them even more curious was that an article written by a talented scholar only cost one penny?

As for the Suzhou disaster, how can it be said to be a man-made disaster?
Driven by curiosity, passers-by bought newspapers from these teenagers.

Just a penny.

It is not worth mentioning for peddlers and hawkers, let alone scholars?
"Have some."

"Which great scholar annotated this book?"

"The smoke locks the willows in the pond, the bells sink into the lights on the terraces. The lamp core is densely red, the willow eyes are clear and green?"

"Oh my goodness! Which genius wrote the poem about the willows in the pond locked by smoke?!"

"Look, this article says that the biggest reason why the Suzhou flood was so serious was not because the river burst its banks, but because grain merchants raised prices..."

"hiss!"

"Liu Li, the Imperial Court Minister?"

"You are in collusion with others and accept bribes. Damn it!"

"..."

……

Wei Zheng, who had just finished his court session, couldn't help but look over out of curiosity when he heard the hawking sounds.

Seeing several scholars buying newspapers from a young newspaper seller and talking about it, he immediately ordered his men to buy one and bring it back.

"Shangshu Annotation?"

Wei Zheng stroked his beard and pondered.

Judging from the annotations, this person can quote from classics with ease, and must be a great scholar who is well-read in poetry and literature.

How could such a person sell his article for just a penny?
Looking down again, the other person's name was very strange.

The Old Man of the Mountains.

What kind of strange name is this?

Obviously it's just a pseudonym.

Wei Zheng didn't care, perhaps the other party didn't want to reveal his identity.

However, it is a good thing that the other party was able to make such a mark for the Shangshu on this newspaper that cost only one cent.

It can help many scholars broaden their horizons and acquire knowledge more easily.

But the following poem caught Wei Zheng's attention.

"Using smoke to lock the willows in the pond to compose a poem..."

Wei Zheng stroked his beard. These five words had been used by the crazy student Su Chen as a gimmick to attract people to come and smell the fragrance. It attracted many learned people, but no one could come up with the second line.

Even the first couplet of "Wen Xiang Lai Wai" still occupies one side alone.

Now a talented person has emerged and wrote a poem using these five words. It is very interesting.

After seeing the name again, Wei Zheng ignored it.

The most talented scholar in the Tang Dynasty.

Although scholars and literati are naturally proud, it is rare to find someone as arrogant as this.

Maybe this is how the newspaper attracts people.

Wei Zheng pondered and focused his attention on the article below.

The article looks extremely sophisticated, as if it was written by a well-educated person, but when you read it carefully, you will find that it has too many flowery words and is more like the work of a scholar.

Regardless of how the article was written, the content of the article made Wei Zheng gradually frown.

The article was sharply worded, pointing the finger of blame for the Suzhou flood directly at the Imperial Court Minister Liu Li.

This is somewhat intriguing.

"What's the story about Mr. Liu Li that's circulating in the streets lately?"

"My Lord, ever since Lord Liu was confined, rumors have been circulating that Lord Liu may have offended someone. Some also say that Lord Liu is very likely to have colluded with the grain merchants in Suzhou..."

There is no airtight wall in the world.

Liu Li was confined to his house, so it was understandable that news about him spread among the people.

However, to be able to describe the affairs between Liu Li and the Suzhou grain merchants in such detail and with such certainty, he must have certain connections to know the inside story.

"Go back and find out who owns this Tianxia newspaper."

……

CommonWealth Newspaper.

Su Chen walked into the newspaper office with Sun Qiang leisurely.

Xu Qizhuang stepped forward with a smile on his face and greeted, "Brother Su!"

When Su Wang found Su Chen with the article he wrote, Su Chen became interested in the author of the article. After meeting Xu Qizhuang, he discovered that it was the guy he picked up on the road before.

He was capable, resourceful, and quick-witted. He was a little young, but what was the problem? So Xu Qizhuang became the owner of Tianxia Newspaper.

"How many points did the newspaper sell today?"

"According to Brother Su, the newspaper has sold more than 800 copies so far."

Xu Qizhuang grinned, "Just now, a few people came back to get newspapers. They said that there were many people buying newspapers at the Imperial College. I estimate that at least two thousand copies can be sold in one day."

Eight hundred newspapers, or eight hundred coins, were not much of an income for them. More of a loss-making business!

All the newspaper-selling boys who take newspapers from the newspaper office have zero cost. No matter how many newspapers they take, how many copies they sell, or how much money they receive, it all belongs to them.

It is precisely because of this that these young newspaper sellers work so hard.

Chang'an City has a population of over one million, and a thousand newspapers are only one thousandth of the sales volume in Chang'an City.

Even if we exclude illiterate peddlers, the ownership rate would not exceed one percent!

The Imperial College is full of young scholars, so it is understandable that they would buy newspapers and want to read the annotations of the Shangshu.

"Today is just the beginning. I believe that in a few days, our newspaper will appear in the hands of all literate people in Chang'an City."

Su Chen smiled indifferently. He had never worried about the sales of newspapers.

Especially the first newspaper.

He put a lot of thought into it and buried many tempting hooks in it.

As long as Cen Wenben's annotations to the Book of Shang are not completed in one day, there will be many scholars looking forward to it.

In addition, the news that Liu Li was under house arrest had spread among the people in recent days.

Once the news comes from Suzhou, the sales of newspapers will inevitably increase explosively.

"Prepare a room for me. I have an appointment with a friend to meet here. I'll introduce them to you when they get here."

"it is good."

Du He arrived very quickly. In just a moment, he came to the newspaper office with a middle-aged man.

After explaining his purpose, Xu Qizhuang, with a smile on his face, brought Du He and the other two to the room where Su Chen was.

"Brother Su."

"Brother Du, please take a seat."

Du He smiled and pointed at the man beside him and said, "Zhou Tao, as his name suggests, is very thorough in his work. He used to be the owner of a bookstore."

Zhou Tao: "I have met Master Su."

Su Chen nodded, "Xu Qizhuang, this is the helper I found for you, take him to get familiar with the place and exchange ideas with him."

Xu Qizhuang looked at Zhou Tao and said, "Brother Su, are you sure you found a helper for me? Why do I feel like you don't plan to use me anymore?"

Su Chen smiled and waved his hand, "He is thoughtful and experienced, and he is older than you. Sometimes he can handle things more conveniently than you."

Xu Qizhuang seemed to be thinking about something.

Du He smiled and glanced at Xu Qizhuang, "Brother Su really cares about this little brother."

Su Chen: "Not bad, this is Du He's current son-in-law, one of our own."

Xu Qizhuang nodded in understanding and said, "Greetings, Lord Du."

Du He waved his hand and said, "Okay, you guys go down first."

After Xu Qizhuang and the other two left, Du He said in a deep voice, "Brother Su, what is your newspaper doing?"

Su Chen said with a smile, "Just for fun."

Du He looked at him strangely, "You called me here not just for a helper like Zhou Zao, right?"

"Of course not."

Su Chen poured him a cup of tea and asked casually, "How is the work going?"

Hearing this, Du Heton felt a headache, "I think we can give up now and stop wasting money on this."

really.

Su Chen smiled and said, "If you try, you will always have to pay a certain cost of trial and error."

"Since you can't do it, let's stop for a while and give everyone a break. I'll give you something else another day. It should be easier."

Seeing Su Chen so calm, Du He understood that Su Chen must have expected this and would not do it so easily.

Du He nodded. "By the way, I heard these days that Roshan is looking for craftsmen, and they were all sent to you. What's going on?"

Su Chen: "Pave the way."

paving?

Paving the way for...the prince?
"check it out."

Du He looked carefully. It was a list. He had seen many of the things on it, but he didn't understand what Su Chen needed them for.

Su Chen spoke again: "Get these things ready, Su Wang will take over."

Du He nodded and put away the list.

"Are you interested in submitting an article to a newspaper?"

After finishing the business, Su Chen suggested with a smile, "If you, the prince consort, submit an article, I think it will attract many literati and poets."

"I?"

Du He pointed at his nose and said, "Forget it. I won't embarrass myself."

"Well, that's called throwing out a brick to attract jade."

"You wrote it?"

"wrote."

Su Chen smiled and placed a newspaper in front of Du He.

Du He looked carefully.

The most talented scholar in the Tang Dynasty?!
Ok!

As expected of you.

Crazy student.

"You used this pen name... on purpose, right?"

(End of this chapter)