Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 601 Tabloid
"what!"

"How come the number of people reading tabloids has increased so much all of the past few decades?"

Not long after Liu Hong ascended the throne,
The eunuchs in charge of palace affairs, dissatisfied with Dou Miao and her father, intended to eliminate the "eunuch faction" and create a situation where "righteous officials fill the court," thus launching another coup in the palace.
Ultimately, this allowed the emperor, who had only been on the throne for a few months, to seize the opportunity, shed his puppet status, and begin ruling in his own right.
Feeling quite relaxed, God finally turned the tables and began to reflect on his "achievements" over the years.

Although the number of matters personally handled by He Bo was extremely small, it could be counted on two hands.

Can serve as a leader,
Isn't the most important skill knowing how to recognize and appoint people to their positions?

Since God has already entrusted us with this task, why should we need to trouble ourselves further?

With this in mind,
He Bo righteously released many people and things to Doctor Ximen, as well as other capable dead men he had captured to serve as laborers.

When the inspection reached the "reporters,"
After listening to the reports from the messengers who were secretly responsible for communication between the four directions to prevent the descendants of the Xia people, who had now multiplied across the entire continent, from losing contact for too long and causing unforeseen problems, He Bo couldn't help but ask the small question above—

The reporter
It is to transmit news throughout the nine provinces.

The daily task of the messengers was to collect news from the various regions of China, including the Western Sea, the Central Plains, and the New Xia.

Regardless of size, good or bad,
Whether through words or through those "private reports" that local courts had investigated for many years without finding their source, it was all possible.
Spread it from here to there.

of course,

Most of the time, it's spread to ordinary people.

This allows the bloodlines of the various Xia peoples, separated by thousands of miles, to know the situation of their kin in distant lands, and to know that even though the main trunk and branches have diverged for many years, they still love to eat similar foods, continue the same customs, and share the same troubles in life.

This is God's favoritism towards the Chinese.

If someone in a higher position hears about it and infers the current situation elsewhere, and takes some action, that can only be considered a side effect.

If someone has nothing better to do and wants to get involved, writing gossip and oddities in the tabloids, that's perfectly fine.

Anyway, this isn't anything serious.

If a tabloid of dubious origin only knows how to write dry and boring quotes from sages, then you might as well read a book!
It can be said,
The reporters were "gossiping on imperial orders."

but,

Leaving aside the physical exhaustion of talking and the hustle and bustle of delivering messages,
Newspapers that were printed out directly, allowing readers to see the text and understand the content, were never very popular.

It is one of the many businesses under the jurisdiction of the underworld, and it is a pure negative asset.

Even between the living and the dead, there are differences in their lifestyles.

It can manufacture paper and print text, but this also requires a certain amount of effort.

Who would be happy if they invested a lot but received little in return?
If even being a ghost requires suffering...

It would be better to simply dissipate and return to nature!

"It's probably because of the Western Sea."

Zhang Heng, who invented movable type printing during his lifetime and was therefore assigned this task by God, couldn't help but say.

His words carried a hint of sighing, likely because he had witnessed the prosperity of the Song Dynasty and the decline of the Han Dynasty, which saddened him.

"The rulers and ministers of the State of Song were very attentive to promoting education, which led to an increase in the number of literate people in the country."

When the nation is prosperous, there is hope for everything.
This naturally encouraged people to support their children and grandchildren in continuing their education, so that they could participate in the imperial examinations and change their social status.

Unlike the Sui and Qi states, which, even with the help of the Song state, temporarily quelled domestic uprisings but remained firmly on the path to their dynastic demise,
Unlike the chaotic regional conflicts, the state of Qi, whose ruler was in a similar position to the Zhou emperor, had been barely surviving.

Unlike the Han Dynasty, which appeared peaceful on the surface but was actually fraught with hidden dangers,

The future of the Song people was hopeful.

Therefore, they yearn for a bright future and would certainly be willing to invest.

"Even in times of peace and harmony, education is highly valued."

He Bo pointed this out.

Zhang Heng's old face looked even more bitter.

He said, "Policies of peace and appeasement are unsustainable... How can we compare to the State of Song?"

So far,

No emperor of the Song dynasty died young, and the successive monarchs who ascended the throne did not fall below the average level, just like at the beginning of the Han dynasty.

more importantly,
The unique circumstances of the Western Sea forced the Song state to rely on education and talent to bridge the gap with the Central Plains.
otherwise,

The imperial examination system, which involved subject-specific examinations and anonymous announcements of results, would not have taken shape in the Song Dynasty.

The Han Dynasty, where wise rulers and foolish rulers both died young, how can it compare to the Western Han Dynasty in terms of policy continuity?
Moreover, the political situation after Emperor He of Han exhibited a regular pattern of "alternation between the enlightened and the tyrannical."
Often, wise rulers in their prime die young before they can fully implement their ideas for governing the country, and are interrupted by their successors or powerful ministers.

Such ups and downs, sometimes soft, sometimes hard,
Even the best-bodied, most robust man will eventually be worn down and become listless.
Let alone a large country?
"That would be a bit hurtful to them."

He Bo laughed heartily, "You probably stayed in the Western Sea for too long and didn't go back to the Central Plains often, so you don't know that the policies of Emperors He and Shun have actually achieved some results."

After dying,
Perhaps they had foreseen the situation of the Han Dynasty.

Zhang Heng then asked God to grant him the responsibility for affairs in the Western Sea, while entrusting the Central Plains to Wang Chong.

The latter had little interest in becoming an official during his lifetime and had witnessed the darkness of officialdom, unlike Zhang Heng, who, like the older man, was eager to escape the turbulence of the future.

Hearing God's words,
Wang Chong also cooperated by handing Zhang Heng a report on the local tabloids from the Central Plains over the years.

"That's true."

"While it is not as good as the Song Dynasty, it is still much better than the Xin Xia."

However, upon closer analysis, Zhang Heng still frowned.

The old man pulled out a few copies from the local newspapers in the Central Plains, and began to read the articles written by living people using pseudonyms. Then he sighed:
"It lacks the grandeur and brilliance of the Song Dynasty."

"There are quite a few who are sarcastic and unsettling."

original,

If Han Chinese wanted to criticize their own dynasty, they could speak frankly and use foul language.

After all, from the time the Han dynasty established its capital in Chang'an, it was extremely lenient with public opinion.
Even a centralized and tyrannical emperor like Emperor Wu turned a blind eye to the so-called "six or seven calamities of the Han Dynasty".

Towards the end of the Former Han Dynasty, the prophecy that "the Han Dynasty is about to end" spread throughout the land.

Before the Han dynasty, the Han dynasty considered itself the legitimate dynasty and continued the legal principles and rule of the former Han dynasty, so naturally it would not do anything to suppress public opinion in this regard.

However, Emperor Huan was a very willful monarch.

He was concerned with two things when he became emperor—

The first priority was to maintain the stability of the state and ancestral temples, thereby ensuring supreme authority for oneself.
Secondly, it's exhilarating and enjoyable.

He was emperor to enjoy himself.

Even if you have to hear bad things,

I heard that all the time when Liang Ji was in power.

The limit has been reached!
So when the clamor of the upright officials annoyed Emperor Huan, he waved his hand and launched the Party Prohibitions.

From then on, the Han Chinese tradition of "freedom of speech" was undermined.

The scions of powerful families don't need to worry too much; they can continue to say whatever they want and even use this opportunity to try and gain a reputation for "honesty."

But how could those below have such confidence?
The deeper one goes, the more one encounters heroes with extraordinary courage and boldness, aside from those who have not yet risen to prominence.

Most people are hesitant and timid when it comes to doing things.

They cannot afford the consequences of causing trouble or failing.

To be able to live a few more years and die without illness or disaster, to be buried in the yellow earth in a flimsy coffin, is already a rare blessing among ordinary people.

Therefore, when some privileged princes and nobles mocked the common people for their shortsightedness and cowardice, the latter could only bitterly agree.

After being ridiculed so much, they couldn't help but forget their youthful liveliness, energy, and fearlessness, and felt that what the noblemen said was absolutely correct.

They are just cowardly, timid, and spineless hooligans.

therefore,

Even though people's real names never appear in tabloids, they still complain with a degree of caution.

He never spoke frankly about national affairs, but only used the sarcasm that people are born with, fearing that the court would expose his disguise and then throw him into prison.

Fortunately, the imperial court will never be able to find the mastermind behind the tabloids.
Their worries were in vain.

But even pointing out the court's mistakes or complaining about the hardships they faced in life was no longer allowed to be spoken frankly.
Doesn't this reveal the corruption of the government?
During the reign of King Li of Zhou, people were forbidden from speaking ill of him, forcing them to communicate only through eye contact.

Now everyone is afraid of the influence of "Party persecution," so they use false names and only dare to express their inner thoughts in a roundabout way.

What about the future?

If future dynasties have more centralized and powerful authority, capable of monitoring the words and actions of the people like gods and spirits,
Once it falls into depravity...
Even the most tactful words will likely be censored.
Even if the praise isn't loud enough, it will be listed as a new offense.

"Moreover, these people are literate and skilled in using the classics, yet they still harbor resentment towards the court... How can this make me happy?"

Zhang Heng continued to sigh, his expression full of exhaustion and helplessness.

He thought:
The state builds numerous schools to cultivate talent.

However, after graduating from these schools, the students were often limited by their family background, connections, and other factors, making it difficult for them to obtain suitable jobs. They were often relegated to minor official positions in counties, ordered around by superiors from prestigious families whose knowledge and cultivation were far inferior to their own.
Once you achieve something, it becomes the basis for your superiors to promote you and give you a raise.

Once someone is found guilty, it is seen as a sign that they have failed the Emperor's grace.

If you are unwilling to accept your fate and want to climb the social ladder, and you painstakingly cultivate a relationship with a powerful person, you must accept the relationship between the "promoter" and the "promoted," being bound to someone else's side and unable to act freely...

How could this not infuriate those from poor families?
Zhang Heng was someone who had worked in local government.

After his death, he traveled to various places and engaged in even more extensive and in-depth learning.
He naturally understood the impact that the existence of a large number of talented but unappreciated individuals who harbored discontent with the court would have on the country.

However, under the recommendation system,

The power of aristocratic families is deeply rooted.
Even as an emperor, one could not appoint a concubine of ordinary birth as empress; one could only choose from noble ladies from aristocratic families.

They will never give up the resources they have worked so hard to acquire over generations.

Human desires are insatiable.
The distinction between noble and lowly will exist eternally along with human desires.

To break free from these shackles, the only option is pure violence.

"The number of chess pieces on the board always increases as more pieces are played."

Even if you manage to 'eat' a few pieces occasionally, you can never catch up with the speed of subsequent moves.

Seeing Zhang Heng's "I'd be sad even if I died" look, He Bo comforted him with his profound knowledge of Go.

"No matter how large the chessboard is, it will eventually be filled with chess pieces."

Old Gui Xi secretly reminded him from the side, "You can't play Go to your heart's content."

As more pieces are placed, some will inevitably be surrounded and captured, leaving several empty spaces on the board for players to fight and compete for.

He Bo readily accepted the suggestion and immediately retracted his previous statement, rephrasing his words as follows:
"The further along it goes, the more it pulls and struggles for the few remaining 'air holes'."

This is very frustrating, really draining and a waste of time.

"Therefore, I generally advise against being obsessed with winning or losing on the chessboard when playing chess."

Only when a piece jumps off the board can it hit the player high above.

If you get hit
The chess player was unwilling to give up his hard-earned opening strategy.

The chessboard can also be moved accordingly.

"After a period of pain, a period of stability and smoothness will follow."

Even in a new game, the outcome will eventually fall into the same situation as the previous one.

But the shape of the pieces is different in every game.

A completely new gameplay experience, a completely new setting.

Twists and turns

It is still slowly moving upwards.

"Besides, even if it's bad, it's still rotten in our own pot!"

Zhang Heng reluctantly agreed.

He Bo smiled and continued flipping through the tabloid, then found an article that was earnest and innocent in tone:
It is rare for it to directly point out the darkness of the court, and to expound its own aspirations and express its loyalty to the emperor and its desire to serve the country.

He has a big mouth; you can tell at a glance that he's not a child raised by an ordinary family.

God then turned to the end and saw the writer's name.

"Oh."

"It's Cao Cao!"

"That's right. At his teenage years, he is full of sincerity and has lofty aspirations."

"It's understandable that they want to restore the Han Dynasty, help it conquer the Western Sea, and establish the prestige of the Central Kingdom!"

Given Cao Cao's penchant for competing with Yuan Shao for brides...

It's not surprising that he would write articles under his real name in tabloids.

Liu Laosan, who was strolling over hoping to get close to God and read some interesting tabloids, happened to hear such comments. He rubbed his hands together, took the newspaper, and read it with great interest.

"Was this written by a child?"

"No wonder it lacks the awkwardness and sourness of those pedantic scholars of today, and instead exudes a pure and sincere atmosphere."

He turned to He Bo and asked, "Whose son is Aman?"

"He is a descendant of Cao Shen and the grandson of Cao Teng, the eunuch."

Emperor Taizu of Han immediately slapped his thigh and praised the loyal and virtuous officials of the Han Dynasty:
"it is good!"

"Truly worthy of the Cao family bloodline!"

"This kid has been so ambitious since he was a child. I guarantee that he will be able to assist the emperors of the Han Dynasty in the future, just like Cao Shen assisted me back then!"

"What if the Han Dynasty is gone before he even grows up!"

He Bo asked him deliberately.

Liu Laosan didn't seem to mind, "That's fine!"

"Anyway, the descendants of the deceased are running all over the place. The flowers in the Central Plains have withered, but the flowers in other places are blooming brightly, which is not bad!"

He is not like the first ruler of Qin.

There was a Yue Kingdom in the south and central regions, a Liang Kingdom in Rongzhou, and a Northern Qin Kingdom in the west.

Clearly, the bloodline has been successfully continued.
Yet they would still waile and cry, "The Qin dynasty is dead!"

"Nine out of ten people in the world with the surname Liu today are descendants of me!"

"What do I have to regret?"

"Let's go drink!"

He tossed aside the tabloid that had just been praising it.
Liu Laosan became very adept at flirting with God.

He Bo cooperated with him, immediately announcing a halt to work, and then, along with some off-key Chu songs, went to find Doctor Sanlu to ask for zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) to go with their drinks.

(End of this chapter)