The ministers begged me to ascend the throne

The swamp lake is not only very large, but also very deep, but no one knows how deep it is. The local old man said that he had lived for decades and had never seen the swamp lake dry up. Even the severe drought thirty or forty years ago did not cause the water in the swamp lake to bottom out.

Since Marsh Lake is a little far away from Marsh Mansion, although the people know that the water in Marsh Lake is good, they are too lazy to go to Marsh Lake to fetch water. Only when there is a drought, people will go to the swamp lake to fetch water.

One of the reasons why the people of Marsh Mansion are not in good health is because they drink salt water all year round. Zhao Yao has been in Marsh Mansion for so long that he has never noticed this matter. It wasn't until I went to inspect the people's farmland a few days ago and drank water from people's homes that I realized that the water they had been drinking was salty.

Domestic water is very important. Furthermore, the trade conference is about to begin, so we can’t let guests from far away drink salty water. Even if he makes the trade conference a success, if the guests are not used to the salt water of Marsh Mansion and are unwilling to come to Marsh Mansion to do business, then all his efforts will be in vain.

Whether it is for the people of Marsh Mansion or for the guests who come all the way to Marsh Mansion to attend the trade conference, the draft problem must be solved.

Ever since he decided to divert the water from Marsh Lake to Marsh Mansion, Zhao Yao has been discussing plans with the craftsmen. If you want to bring water from the lake far outside the city of Marsh Mansion to the city, you must first use water pipes to bring the lake water down, and then dig a well.

Zhao Yao imitated Su Dongpo in the world history of Zhao Yao in his dream and dug six wells in Hangzhou City. He also dug six wells in Marsh Mansion.

When the people learned that His Highness the King of Han was going to bring water from the Marsh Lake to the city, their first reaction was that he was joking, and many people opposed him. They didn't want him to destroy Swamp Lake.

For the people of Marsh Mansion, Marsh Lake is their "life-saving straw." During the severe drought thirty or forty years ago, if the water from the swamp lake hadn't saved them, they would have died long ago. For this reason, the people of Marsh Mansion are full of gratitude and respect for Marsh Lake.

They usually don't drink the water from Marsh Lake, firstly because Marsh Lake is outside the city and a bit far away. The second is because they dare not use the water of the swamp lake at will. If they eat the water from the swamp lake every day and finish the lake water, then there will be another drought like thirty or forty years ago, and there will be no water from the swamp lake to save their lives.

Zhao Yao knew that the people were worried about eating up the water in the swamp lake, so he specifically told them that the reason why the swamp lake had never dried up was that in addition to the spring water flowing continuously from the mountain, there was also a spring at the bottom of the swamp lake. If it weren't for the springs, during the great drought thirty or forty years ago, there would be no water flowing down the dry mountains, and the swampy lake would have dried up long ago.

The people were doubtful. Zhao Yao also told them that if they continued to drink salt water as before, they would not only get sick and die early, but also become extinct.

The people were frightened when they heard the word "genocide", but they still didn't believe it. They felt that His Highness the King of Han was lying to them.

Zhao Yao asked the people, haven't they noticed that they are giving birth to fewer and fewer children? Haven’t you noticed that the children they give birth to always die in infancy?

When the people were asked this question by Zhao Yao, they were horrified to find that they were indeed giving birth to fewer and fewer children, and more and more of the children they gave birth to died.

Zhao Yao told them that the reason why fewer and fewer children were born and more and more died was because of drinking salt water. If they continue to drink it, they won't be able to give birth to a single child in twenty or thirty years. Of course, what he said was an exaggeration. However, the birth rate of children in Marsh Mansion is getting lower and lower, which is indeed related to drinking salt water. He did not lie to the people.

When they heard that they would not be able to have children in twenty years, the people were so frightened that they dared to stop His Highness the King of Han from diverting water from the Marsh Lake. They immediately changed their attitude and praised His Highness the King of Han for loving his people like a son, but they had misunderstood His Highness. Not only that, they offered to help.

Zhao Yao also thought about this matter earlier. When he saw the common people offering to help, he was naturally not polite and immediately arranged things for them.

With the concerted efforts of the people and craftsmen, the water from the swamp lake was successfully diverted to the city. To this end, Zhao Yao also specially held a celebration ceremony. In addition to setting off firecrackers, people also spontaneously performed lion and dragon dances.

In the courtyard of He Lianfang in the Han Palace, Uncle Gao was lamenting to He Lianfang that Zhao Yao had really succeeded in bringing water from the swamp lake to the city.

"I really didn't expect His Highness to know how to do water conservancy."

"It was also his idea to build reservoirs to store water in various parts of the Zhou Dynasty. It's not surprising that he knows how to build water conservancy." To be honest, He Lianfang was also surprised. "Don't forget, he also proposed the canal that Zhao Zheng ordered to build a few years ago. He also proposed the previous method of repairing the Yellow River."

"If you didn't tell me, I would have forgotten." Uncle Gao exclaimed, "Our Highness is really versatile."

He Lianfang said calmly: "This is his routine operation." Of course, He Lianfang learned the term "routine operation" from Zhao Yao. "Nothing he wants to do will fail, so you don't have to make such a fuss."

Uncle Gao smiled and said: "Compared with the fire blunderbuss made by His Highness, there is nothing surprising about diverting water from the swamp lake into the city." These days, Uncle Gao and He Lianfang have been practicing marksmanship. "General, didn't you say before that His Highness was going to make a smaller version of a fire gun, called a pistol? Did His Highness make it?"

Mentioning this matter, He Lianfang frowned slightly: "You see he is so busy these days, does he have time to make a pistol?"

"You won't wait until the end of the trade conference before your Highness does it, right?" Uncle Gao said with a bitter face, "I will leave for Japan at that time."

"You can urge him to do it before the trade conference." He Lianfang was also anxious to get the pistol.

Uncle Gao was anxious and called the housekeeper over and asked where Zhao Yao was now.

The housekeeper told Uncle Gao that Zhao Yao should be in the staff department now.

"The Ministry of Personnel?" Uncle Gao asked with a puzzled look on his face, "What are you doing in the Ministry of Personnel?" He thought that His Highness went to Beishan or Nanshan again. Since successfully diverting the water from the swamp lake to the city, His Highness has no longer worried about this matter and turned around to do other things.

"I don't know, little one." How could a housekeeper know what His Highness was doing at the Ministry of Civil Affairs? Besides, he didn't dare to ask what His Highness was doing.

He Lianfang said: "His Royal Highness must have some serious business going to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. You can wait until he comes back."

"Okay, then I'll wait for His Highness to come back." When he saw His Highness, he must urge His Highness to make the pistol quickly. He must ask His Highness to reward him with a pistol before returning to Japan.

At this moment, Zhao Yao, who is in the Ministry of Personnel, is working with the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel to produce a news newspaper.

By diverting water from the swamp lake, Zhao Yao discovered that the people really knew nothing. So, he thought of newspapers. If you sell news newspapers and tell the people what happened in Marsh Mansion or some important policies of the court, the people will not understand everything.

Zhao Yao decided to set up a small news newspaper department in the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Select some officials to be responsible for this matter.

The imperial court had a Di Bao, and the news paper proposed by Zhao Yao was similar in nature to the Di Bao. The Minister of Civil Affairs felt that there was something wrong with this. After all, only officials could read the Di newspaper, not ordinary people.

Zhao Yao told the Minister of Civil Affairs that the news newspaper was not Di Bao, but was for everyone. His main purpose of running a news newspaper was to let the people know what was happening around them.

Newspapers are divided into several sections. The first section is specially used to announce major events in the Marsh Mansion or important policies of the imperial court. The second section is specially used to announce matters related to agriculture or industry. The third section is specially used to announce some things that happened in the Swamp Mansion, such as interesting things or touching stories. The fourth section is specially used to announce some entertainment news. The fifth section...

After hearing what Zhao Yao said, the Minister of Civil Affairs was stunned. Di Bao only records some affairs of the imperial court and has no other content. And this news newspaper that His Highness mentioned actually has to record so many things.

As soon as Zhao Yao finished speaking, he suddenly thought of something very important.

“Our news papers can also be used for advertising.”

"Advertising?" The Minister of Civil Affairs was confused. "Your Highness, what is advertising?"

"It's publicity. For example, if I open a restaurant, I can spend money to promote it in newspapers and attract more customers to come to my restaurant to eat and drink." Zhao Yao added, "For example, I have children or elderly people at home. If I get lost, I can also spend money to publish a missing person notice in the newspaper so that more people can see it and provide clues to help me find my relatives."

When the Minister of Civil Affairs heard this, his eyes instantly lit up: "Your Highness, your proposal is really great." In this case, their news paper can still make money.

"By the way, we can also serialize the stories in newspapers to attract more people to buy our newspapers."

"Serialized storybook?" The Minister of Libu did not understand what he heard. "Your Highness, do you mean to write a storybook in a newspaper?" "If I write a storybook, do I have to write it many times?"

The official minister nodded.

"Generally speaking, I should write the entire story and sell it in bookstores, right?"

The official official said: "Yes."

"The meaning of serialization is to publish the content in a news newspaper once or twice, so as to whet the appetite of newspaper readers. Will they continue to buy our newspapers in order to read the next issue of the storybook?"

Hearing this, the official's expression became very excited: "Yes!"

"Now you know what to do with newspapers."

The Minister of the Ministry of Personnel said in a learned voice: "I understand."

As soon as Zhao Yao finished speaking, he suddenly remembered that the people in Marsh Mansion were basically illiterate and couldn't read. How could they possibly read newspapers.

"For the time being, newspapers will publish news content and the advertisements I just mentioned. As for other content, they will come later."

"Your Highness, why is this?" Your Highness just said so much, why did he suddenly change his mind?

"I forgot that most of the people in Marsh Mansion are illiterate."

After hearing this, the official's expression froze for a moment, and then he smiled bitterly and said, "Your Highness is right."

Zhao Yao pondered for a while and said: "Let's do this. The news newspaper will be published every five days and will not be sold to the public for the time being."

The Minister of Rites asked in astonishment: "Aren't they going to be sold?"

Zhao Yao asked: "Do you think anyone will buy newspapers now?"

The Minister of Civil Affairs paused for a moment and then said: "No."

"Newspapers are not for sale to the public for the time being, but they can be distributed to every official." Zhao Yao added, "After the newspaper is published, a copy will be posted on the wall of the yamen, and then guards who can read will be sent to guard it. If people come to ask what is posted, ask the guards to read the contents of the newspaper to the people."

The Minister of Civil Affairs said: "Yes, Your Highness."

Zhao Yao sighed heavily: "Well, it seems that the literacy campaign must be arranged as soon as possible."

"Literacy campaign?" The Minister of Civil Affairs looked confused, "Your Highness, what does this mean?"

"Illiterates are all illiterate, and the literacy campaign is to eradicate illiteracy." Zhao Yao said with a serious look, "After the trade conference is over, schools must be built so that children can read and write."

The Minister of Civil Affairs said: "Your Highness, if you need help from me at that time, just give me your instructions."

"Since it is a news newspaper, the news published in the newspaper must be true, especially about major events in the Marsh Mansion and the court's policies." Zhao Yao's expression became very solemn, "The news must be true, do you understand?"

The Minister of the Ministry of Personnel felt his heart tremble, and said with a serious expression: "I understand."

"Let's call the newspaper a swamp newspaper. After you draft the content of the newspaper, bring it to me for a look. After I read it, it's OK. You can take it and print it."

Zhao Yao gave some more instructions, which the Minister of Staff kept in mind.

After telling the Minister of Civil Affairs about the news and newspapers, Zhao Yao did not rush back to the Han Palace, but went to see the condition of the drainage pipes and wells.

Although the water from the swamp lake has been successfully diverted to the city before, it does not mean that the matter has been completely solved. This is just the beginning, and water must continue to be diverted.

Seeing that the drainage pipes and well digging were going well, Zhao Yao felt relieved. Also, regarding the sewer drainage, the craftsmen have already renovated it and are undergoing renovations during this period, so the streets of Marsh Mansion during this period were messy and smoky. Fortunately, the people knew that His Highness the King of Han did this for their own good, and they did not complain.

As soon as Zhao Yao returned to the Han Palace, he was caught by Uncle Gao.

Seeing that Zhao Yao finally came back, Uncle Gao asked him how the pistol was doing and whether it could be finished before the end of the trade conference. After he asked, he saw that Zhao Yao's expression was unnatural, and he knew that He Lianfang was right.

"Your Highness, you won't forget, will you?"

"I'm too busy to take care of this matter." Zhao Yao laughed dryly and said, "The Beishan side should be doing it, but they haven't come to report to me so far, which means it hasn't been successful."

"Your Highness, can you take the time to take a look?"

"Okay, I'll go take a look in two days."

"Will there be two more days?" Uncle Gao asked, "Your Highness, what will you be busy with next?"

"I will write a letter to the court later." He had to tell his father how to bring water from the West Lake in Quanting County to the county. "Tomorrow I have to go to the farm in Nanshan. I have to see how the silkworms are being raised on the farm. I also have to see how the cowpox vaccination experiment is going. I also have to..."

After hearing this, Uncle Gao was dumbfounded.

"Your Highness, are you too busy?"

"Didn't you see that I am as busy as a spinning top every day?" After he came to Lingnan, he never had a free day. "I still have to go to the military camp to see how their military parade training is going."

He Lianfang said, "I'll go to the military camp with you."

"Okay, but I won't be free for two days." After Zhao Yao finished speaking, he remembered that he had forgotten to go to the Ministry of Rites, so he hurriedly called Tong Xi in and asked him to call the Minister of Rites. He had something to explain.

When a trade conference is held, foreign guests must be well entertained. In addition to rituals and music, there must also be singing and dancing performances or acrobatic performances. I wonder if the Ministry of Etiquette has planned a performance program. If not, he has a good idea. (End of chapter)