You have truly caused me great suffering!

July is scorching hot.

Zhang Run was sweating profusely and asked his wife and maids to help him put on his official robes.

Lady Li said with a smile, "His Majesty's new official robes are indeed excellent, made of fine materials and with a beautiful design!"

The number of officials in the Great Jing Dynasty was more than half that of the Great Song Dynasty, and the Great Jing Dynasty was also much wealthier.

Therefore, the official robes of the Great Jing Dynasty were even more generous and luxurious than those of the Great Song Dynasty. They were made of silk, satin, and gauze, which were light, breathable, crisp, and had a subtle luster. They were both dignified and suitable for the climate of the Jiangnan region.

"Isn't that right, my lord?"

Zhang Run was preoccupied with his thoughts and didn't hear what she said at all. He casually agreed, "Yes, yes, Madam is right."

Lady Li glared at him, then laughed along with her maid.

Zhang Run didn't care about any of that; he was ambitious, and his lifelong dream was to become prime minister.

He was from the Zhang family of Qilian Mountain. If he wanted to live a life of wealth and luxury, it would be an easy and carefree existence for him.

The Zhang family are the elders of the eleven prefectures of Dingnan, and Zhang Yinghan is the current emperor's favorite concubine. The Zhang family is responsible for governing the Qingtang barbarians in the northwest for the Great Jing Dynasty.

Such families, as long as they don't make any major mistakes, are basically destined to live and die with the nation.

But he was not content with being a carefree and wealthy young master in the Northwest. He pondered deeply, and because the Zhang family's territory was close to Dali, he was certain that a powerful ruler like His Majesty would definitely want to subdue Dali.

So he proposed the theory that Chinese and white characters share the same origin. After it was reported, it was an instant sensation and he was highly valued by His Majesty.

The people in his household also followed him to Jinling, and everyone was very satisfied.

Although they were local bullies in the Northwest and lived a comfortable life, it was still nothing compared to Nanjing.

"Your Majesty is recuperating at the Summer Palace, so why did you suddenly summon your ministers? If it's something important, why didn't you return to the palace for court?" Zhang Run nodded and said, "This shows that this is not the old system. I think Your Majesty must have made some reforms."

Zhang Run immediately perked up, determined to speak to His Majesty's heart and offer crucial opinions at this imperial edict meeting.

This is a golden opportunity; if you miss it, you'll be cursed by the heavens!

Once inside the carriage, he sat quietly with his eyes closed, putting a piece of ginger candy in his mouth, and speaking clearly after a while.

After leaving the city, we walked for a while and saw many horse-drawn carriages on the road, all heading towards Zhongshan.

Zhang Run knocked on the window and said to the coachman, "If you encounter a carriage, give way to it. Don't argue with others and ruin the harmony."

Upon arriving at the palace gate, Zhang Run straightened his robes and stepped inside.

Following the guards who led the way, we arrived at a mountain stream, where His Majesty was sitting by the river, chatting and laughing with several court officials.

His Majesty was not wearing a dragon robe, but only a plain brocade robe, and his attire was very casual.

The stream babbles, carrying a cool breeze, and the surrounding trees are filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers.

You can smell the mosquito-repelling fragrance of mugwort from a great distance.

Zhang Run felt a surge of excitement; he knew he would eventually have to sit there himself.

He lowered his head and quietly stepped forward, silently finding several officials from his own department, only to discover that almost everyone from the Ministry of Rites was present.

These officials were neither too close nor too far from the emperor and the prime minister, about twenty paces away.

Some people may never reach these twenty-odd steps in their entire lives.

As Zhang Run composed himself and greeted everyone, Chen Shao suddenly pointed over here and said, "Zhang Run, Zhang Run, come here."

Zhang Run's heart tightened suddenly. He had always been a person of composure since childhood, and he could remain calm no matter what happened.

But that shout did break his composure, and he hurriedly stepped forward to pay his respects, still holding his official robes.

"Your subject, Zhang Run, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Chen Shao ignored him and instead said to the others, "Zhang Run is quick-witted. Although he's young, he might have some good ideas. You can sit here."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

His colleagues behind him were all envious, including some ministers sitting here, who all looked at him with special respect.

Zhang Run trembled slightly, his heart filled with mixed emotions, a surge of gratitude for being recognized and appreciated rushed to his head.

Immediately, a young eunuch brought over a wooden stool. Chen Shao waved his hand, and the eunuchs began to distribute a piece of paper to each of the officials present.

It was filled with Chen Shao's ideas on reforming the "official gazette".

Actually, this can no longer be considered a government gazette.

Because this is not specially made for officials, but is for everyone.

Zhang Run quickly lowered his head, and after reading it, he immediately understood His Majesty's meaning.

That's it!

He didn't even consider the pros and cons of the matter; instead, he focused on how to handle it well.

Chen Shao continued, "I have another sample here; you can take a look as well."

The eunuchs, each carrying a stack of papers with the ink still dry, began distributing them.

This time, there won't be one for each person, there will only be three, so everyone can pass them around.

Minister of Rites Zhang Xiaochun took the paper and examined it closely. The paper was made of bamboo pulp, thin yet tough, with clear characters, and it used newly engraved simplified movable type.

The front page headline read, "His Majesty's Edict: Reduce Tea Tax in Jiangnan by 30%", followed by a detailed accounting statement from the Ministry of Revenue and the implementation date.

The second edition contains the full text of the memorial submitted by the Censorate impeaching a prefectural official for falsely reporting the amount of land he had cultivated.

The third edition describes how the new looms at the Suzhou Institute of Weaving could produce thirty bolts of cloth per day, and includes illustrations.

Zhang Xiaochun frowned slightly, seemingly lost in thought, and remained silent.

Minister of Works Xu Jin chuckled and whispered to his colleagues, "Let me tell you all, the cost of this paper is only three coins. If we print ten thousand copies a day, we can afford it."

Everyone knows that papermaking technology has improved a lot these days, and costs have indeed been reduced, especially for some less high-end papers.

Both Korea and Annam had paper mills everywhere, and boatloads of paper were transported to the Central Plains.

Chen Shao looked around at everyone, his gaze settling on Zhang Xiaochun: "Yongxi, what do you think?"

Although Zhang Xiaochun was Chen Shao's trusted confidant and considered part of the Hedong faction, he always spoke his mind and never deliberately echoed Chen Shao's opinions. "Your Majesty," he said, "the old system of the official gazette only recorded imperial edicts, appointments, and auspicious omens. Now, with the addition of impeachments, civil affairs, and ingenious items, I fear it will disrupt the dignity of the court. Moreover, few common people are literate, so even if it is widely distributed, it will be difficult for them to understand. On the contrary, some treacherous people will take the opportunity to spread rumors and confuse the people."

Chen Shao nodded: "What you say makes sense, but I think everything has two sides. Last year in the imperial examination, some scholars from poor families were at a loss because they did not know that the newly promulgated 'Mathematical Classic' was part of the examination syllabus. If the policy had been made public earlier, wouldn't that have been a way of cherishing talent?"

"As for the fact that few common people are literate, we don't intend for everyone to read. There are always one or two literate people in the village who can explain the imperial decrees to the people."

Liu Jizu had always been very receptive to new policies; being a businessman, he was naturally open to change. Hearing this, he smiled and added, "A few years ago, Guangzhou merchants were privately printing their own banknotes. We could publish those to prevent merchants in other places from printing their own." Li Tangchen sighed, glanced at his friend Zhang Xiaochun, then at his close friend Liu Jizu, and said, "Your Majesty and the two ministers are absolutely right, but if the newspapers publish impeachments, those impeached will inevitably incur the wrath of those who speak out. If slander becomes rampant in the court, it will likely be detrimental to the nation."

On the first piece of paper, Chen Shao did indeed write that officials could be openly discussed and held accountable.

After Li Tangchen's reminder, he also felt it was inappropriate. Fortunately, Chen Shao was always open to good advice and listened to suggestions.

Chen Shaodao said, "This can be temporarily ignored. Unity is the most important thing, haha."

Zhang Run had remained silent until now, when he finally felt the time was right and spoke up: "I believe that newspapers are feasible, but regulations must be established. First, the content must be verified by the Newspaper Administration; second, distribution should be limited to prefectures and counties and above; and third, private printing should be strictly prohibited. In this way, we can communicate with the higher authorities and prevent abuses."

"If this policy is to be implemented, I propose that a 'Public Opinion Column' be established, allowing scholars to submit their opinions on politics. Any opinions that are worth considering will be compiled and presented to the Public Affairs Department. In this way, extraordinary talents will not be buried."

Chen Shao nodded in satisfaction.

He felt that Zhang Run's words were the best and most realistic, and clearly had been carefully considered.

"To think of these issues in such a short time," Chen Shao said, "Zhang Run will handle this matter. A News Service Office will be set up in the capital, under the Ministry of Rites. You, Zhang Run, will concurrently be in charge. You will oversee the printing, manage the funds, and assist in the investigation of documents."

Zhang Run's palms were sweating, and his chest was filled with ecstatic joy. He stood up and bowed, saying, "Your subject will certainly not fail in his mission."

This time, the other officials were not envious, because it was actually a tough job.

They were the kind of people who knew that doing it would yield results and earn His Majesty's favor, but because it was too difficult, requiring starting from scratch and building something from nothing, no one wanted to get involved.

After the general direction was finalized, everyone began to work out the details. Chen Shao then asked other officials from the Ministry of Rites to come forward and share their opinions.

This discussion lasted for more than an hour.

Finally, Li Tangchen took up his pen and wrote an imperial edict on the spot:
[I believe that governing the empire hinges on understanding the people's sentiments. I have now established the Great Jingbao, a daily publication covering state affairs, the people's suffering, and new knowledge in science and technology. All my subjects may read it. Reading points will be set up in prefectures and counties, where teachers will read it aloud. Scholars with proposals may submit them to the "Public Opinion" column. I hope that all will work together with one heart to create a prosperous era.]

Chen Shao was very satisfied. This imperial edict meeting was substantive and successfully implemented his policies.

The resistance encountered was not significant.

Actually, gradually, everyone has realized that although His Majesty seems easy to talk to and will seriously consider your suggestions, his adoption rate is not low.

However, he rarely changed his mind on important matters, which could be described as "stubborn and arbitrary".

Later, the ministers realized that His Majesty was right, so they gradually stopped arguing and simply followed His Majesty's orders.

I only offered suggestions on the details.

As noon approached, Chen Shao laughed and said, "You all have come here for a reason. I have had some wine and drinks prepared. Let's gather here for a drink and a discussion. You can all write a preface to the Zhongshan Collection, and we'll choose the best one to publish in the first issue of the Dajing Gazette!"

Everyone's eyes lit up; apart from Xu Jin and Liu Jizu, everyone else was a scholar.

This is a great opportunity to make a name for yourself in history.

Zhang Run lowered his head silently, his eyes filled with excitement. He didn't plan to put much effort into the next article.

As the person in charge of this matter, if my own article is the first one published, I will inevitably be the subject of gossip and criticism.

Even if it's really well-written, it can't stop people from talking.

Unless one writes an essay of the same caliber as "Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng," then no one will question it.

His mind was still filled with the Emperor's evaluation of him, and every word stirred his emotions.
-
Chen Shao was in high spirits today and returned to the small building drunk.

Fortunately, the alcohol at this time doesn't have much alcohol content, so it doesn't actually cause much harm to the body.

There are even some benefits.

At this time, most of the wine is made from the natural fermentation of grains. It can aid digestion, remove fishy and muttony smells, and also enhance the effects of medicines, promote blood circulation, and dispel cold.

Of course, there are still potential dangers if you binge drink alcohol.

As soon as Chen Shao arrived at the building, he heard the sound of reading coming from inside:

"The way of the superior man is like traveling a long distance, which must begin from nearby; like climbing a high place, which must begin from low."

The Book of Poetry says: "Wife and son are in harmony, like playing the zither and lute. Brothers are united, joyful and carefree. May your household be prosperous, and your wife and children happy." Confucius said, "Aren't your parents obedient?"

Inside the bright and clean building, the sound of reading aloud filled the air. Chen Xing'er and Chen Haohao, two maids, each dressed in a crimson dress, were dozing off at their desks.

The young girl, sitting upright behind the desk, nodded her head slightly and said in a clear voice, "'To travel far, one must start from nearby; to climb high, one must start from low.' This means that to travel a long way, one must start from nearby; to climb a high mountain, one must start from low. Just like everything in the world, one must proceed step by step and not achieve everything at once. This is the way of a gentleman."

Chen Shao was a little stunned. The one giving the lecture was actually Jin Zhu'er, and her voice was still so clear and pleasant.

She sat there upright, looking quite dignified, almost like a female teacher.

Chen Shao found it amusing to recall how Jin Le'er had forced her to stay put and dress her up.

And it turns out I had misunderstood Lao Zhu.

This daughter of theirs was a legitimate candidate to be the princess's tutor, and she entered the palace through her talent and learning.

I thought it was a gift for my bed.
From the moment Old Zhu arrived in Yinzhou, he hired a large group of people to help him learn to read and write.

That's when the family's values ​​started to change. Old Zhu wanted to be a respectable person and no longer wanted to be a tycoon.

That was when Jin Zhu'er was young, and it coincided with their family's transformation. Naturally, she was raised well from a young age, unlike her older sisters.

So although she was young, she was very talented and well-read.

Chen Shao smiled, finding the two princesses' dozing off particularly adorable.

His daughter naturally didn't need to study too hard, nor did she need to take exams or seek a way out; all she needed to do was be literate and understand principles.

The learners aren't very diligent, while the teachers are enjoying themselves. It seems both sides are quite clear that this is just a simple enlightenment, and it doesn't matter whether one learns or not.

He quietly went downstairs, trying not to make a sound, and then randomly chose a path to a courtyard.

This happens to be the courtyard of the Virtuous Consort.

After Chen Shao entered, Zhai Rui went to the door to greet him, a hint of joy on her face.

Helping Chen Shao to the table, Zhai Rui took the teacup from the palace maid and personally offered it to his lips, saying, "Your Majesty, this is a hangover remedy."

Chen Shao nodded, noticing that Consort Xian's hair was slightly loose, and she was only wearing a thin veil over a tube top, revealing a bulging, beautiful garment.

"Were you taking a nap?"

Chen Shaojiu's alcohol kicked in, and he felt a bit thirsty.

Zhai Rui nodded, blushing, and said, "Does Your Majesty also wish to take a short rest?"

"I'm not sleeping anymore, let's sweat it out and sober up!"

In the sweltering heat of midsummer, only a thin veil of rosy clouds draped the windowpanes, through which the silhouette of a person inside the embroidered curtains could be clearly seen. (End of Chapter)