My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 51: The National Destiny is Reduced by Two
Su Ze was not completely confident, but he had expected it.

Although he has his own tricks, in any stable bureaucratic system, there will be huge resistance to pushing forward even the slightest reform.

Even if the emperor and the cabinet agreed to let him publish a newspaper, there would be many obstacles that could hinder him. Su Ze had also anticipated the situation of having his financial power blocked.

This was even the aspect he had expected to encounter the least resistance. At least the emperor still allocated printers from the Hanlin Academy and the Ministry of Rites to him.

Su Ze said to Shen Yi Guan:
"Isn't your Majesty's decree very clear? The funds for running the newspaper must be raised by ourselves."

Shen Yiguan was stunned and said:

"Self-financing, how can we raise funds by ourselves?"

Su Ze glanced at Shen Yi Guan and said:
"Self-funding means selling newspapers, right? If we sell newspapers, we'll have the funds, right?"

"what?"

Su Ze did not explain any further, but said to Shen Yi Guan:
"Brother Jianwu, the most urgent thing is to get the Yuefu New Newspaper up and running first. I happen to have a few things that require manpower, and I wonder if Brother Jianwu would be willing to help."

When Shen Yi Guan heard Su Ze asking him for help, he immediately patted his chest and said:
"I, Shen Yi Guan, will allow Brother Zi Lin to drive me around!"

Luo Wanhua, who was standing by, was slow to react, but he also stood up and said:
"Brother Zilin, just give me your orders!"

Su Ze looked at the two of them and said:

"It's not a particularly difficult thing. Su wants to ask you two brothers for an article."

"Commissioned work?"

"I'll pay you the manuscript fee once I get the funding for the newspaper. I'd like to ask you two to write an eight-part essay."

"Eight-legged essay?"

Both of them were stunned. Eight-part essays were formulaic essays for the imperial examinations. After they passed the imperial examinations, they never wrote them again.

Nonsense, who would write an essay after passing the civil service exam?

"How about each of you write an eight-part essay based on the topic from last year's Yingtianfu provincial examination?"

Luo Wanhua was the top scorer in the same subject as Su Ze. Shen Yikuan's imperial examination ranking was not high, but he was also the best among all the scholars in the country who passed the imperial examination. A mere eight-legged essay was easy for him to write.

The two agreed immediately, but they didn't know what the point of Su Ze asking them to write eight-legged essays was.

After sending off his two friends of the same age, Su Ze noticed that the "Settlement Report" popped up on the [Portable Ming Congress].

The Yuefu New Newspaper was published and immediately became popular in the capital.

Some people have noticed the crucial role of newspapers as a platform for public opinion.

The Yuefu New Newspaper intensified the intensity of the factional struggles in the late Ming Dynasty. Various factions within the court began to publish newspapers and attack each other's political opponents, further escalating the political chaos of the late Ming Dynasty.

【The Ming Dynasty-2】

ha?
It’s okay if the Ming Dynasty’s reign is reduced!

But think about it, the public opinion field in the previous life was so chaotic. In the late Ming Dynasty, wouldn't the fighting be even more intense with newspapers?
Forget it, my original intention was good, but later generations carried it out incorrectly!

We’ll find a way to continue the Ming Dynasty when the time comes!

Su Ze let go of his psychological burden. After all, the Ming Dynasty's national life span was -2, and there were still 75 years left.

Putting down the portable Ming Dynasty court, Su Ze said to Shen Yi Guan:
"Brother Jianwu, do you know anyone in the Imperial College?"

Shen Yiguan was shocked and asked, "Imperial College? I know one or two fellow countrymen there. Are you going there?"

It was no wonder that Shen Yiguan was shocked. Su Ze had been surrounded by the Imperial College several times. His reputation in the Imperial College was almost as bad as a rat crossing the street, almost equated with treacherous people. He actually wanted to go to the Imperial College? Shen Yiguan was worried about Su Ze's safety and said:

"Brother Zilin, the students at the Imperial College love to stir up trouble, and they are all young and frivolous. If you have anything to do, please let me run errands for you."

Su Ze shook his head and said:

"Your Majesty's imperial edict also stated that students from the Imperial Academy should be appointed as envoys for collecting folk songs. Of course, I will go to the Imperial Academy."

"Brother Jian, please relax. I have my own plan. This trip to the Imperial College will be fine."

Su Ze looked at Luo Wanhua again and said:

"Brother Yifu, please accompany me to the Imperial College."
-
Su Ze did not go directly to the Imperial College from the History Museum, but went home first to pick up Xu Wei, and the four of them arrived at the Imperial College.

Shen Yikuan first handed in a visiting card, and soon a middle-aged official came out of the Imperial College.

"Brother Su, this is Shen Li, the director of the Imperial College. Brother Zilin, do you know him?"

Su Ze shook his head, and Shen Yi Guan said doubtfully:

"Shen Siye is a fellow townsman and disciple of Lord Gao. Brother Zilin, do you really not know him?"

Although Su Ze did not know Shen Li, he was also a cabinet minister during the Wanli period in history.

Shen Li and Gao Gong were from the same hometown. Shen Li became a Jinshi in the 44th year of the Jiajing reign, and Gao Gong was the chief examiner that year.

As Shen Li's teacher and fellow townsman, the court naturally regarded him as a member of Gao Gong's faction. Now Su Ze is also a well-known member of Gao's faction. It is no wonder that Shen has always been suspicious that Su Ze did not know Shen Li.

However, the benefits of having someone above you were apparent at this time. Shen Li was quite enthusiastic towards Su Ze and said to him:
"Did Su Hanlin come here to publish the Yuefu New Newspaper?"

"That's right. I, Su, came to the Imperial College today to serve as a collection envoy from the Imperial College in accordance with Your Majesty's order to write for the Yuefu New Newspaper."

Shen Li smiled as he led Su Ze and his group into the Imperial College. After they reached the Ming Hall, he said:

"Lord Gao sent a letter to the Imperial College yesterday, ordering us to cooperate with Su Hanlin in running the newspaper. However, the Imperial College has been in decline for many years, and most of the students there are foolish, while few are capable. I'm afraid it would be difficult for them to write for Su Hanlin."

Shen Li took out a list, handed it to Su Ze and said:

"These are all talents that Shen has observed since taking office. Some of them have ambitions to take the imperial examinations. However, we have all experienced the sea of ​​learning in the imperial examinations. The imperial examination is their top priority. Whether they can serve Su Hanlin depends on their own wishes."

Su Ze looked at Shen Li. He was indeed worthy of being a cabinet minister in the future. He was very meticulous in his work.

He first talked about the difficulties, explaining that the students in the Imperial College were of mixed quality and could not bear the heavy responsibility, which lowered Su Ze's expectations.

Then he threw out a list and recommended the people he had selected to Su Ze.

Finally, he reminded Su Ze that these people's weakness was the imperial examination, and he could lure them with benefits and start from there.

Who said that traveling across time would allow one to slay countless enemies? If I hadn't had a cheat, I would have been killed by these cunning civil servants long ago.

Gao Gong presided over the imperial examination in the 44th year of Jiajing's reign. He had many disciples. Why is there only a record in history books that he took a fancy to Shen Li?

This Shen Li really has something.

Su Ze said:

"I guess these students are all disciples of Shen Siye?"

Shen Yikuan looked at Su Ze in surprise. No, Brother Su, can you ask this directly?
Unexpectedly, Shen Li said openly:

"To be honest with you, Hanlin Su, these are all impoverished students who were admitted to the Imperial Academy through the Imperial Examination. I pity their talents and teach them the eight-legged essay when I have time. If Brother Su can help them out and save them the trouble of traveling, then I, Shen, will be doing Brother Su a great favor."

(End of this chapter)