My Ming Dynasty, I have the final say

Chapter 130 Hong Chengchou

"Something magical happened?"

He was summoned out of nowhere, and the emperor asked for an explanation with a confused look on his face.

Wang Shunding picked up Jin Yiwei's memorial, opened it and glanced at it for a few times before his face darkened.

When he reached the end of the page, where Jin Yiwei's part about taxes was circulated in the market, Wang Shunding's face turned livid.

Officials of the Ming Dynasty were still very concerned about the country and the people.

Nowadays, the Ming Dynasty is facing internal and external troubles. The emperor wants to recover the taxes lost by the imperial court. The reason is very clear, and he also supports it very much.

But now that someone is spreading rumors like this, Wang Shunding, who is the general envoy, is a little embarrassed.

"Your Majesty, I would like to ask you to issue an imperial notice to clarify this matter and order someone to investigate strictly."

Raising it above his head, Wang Shunding first expressed his attitude.

He supported the emperor's policies.

"I will send Jin Yiwei to do this."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao nodded, very satisfied with Wang Shunding's attitude.

At least the first sentence didn't shirk responsibility.

"If something like this happens again in the future, do you think I will ask Jin Yiwei to clarify it?"

"Go back to Your Majesty."

Knowing that the highlight was coming, Wang Shunding cupped his hands and said.

"Previously, the late emperor passed away, and the people who went to various provinces to promulgate edicts have not yet returned. Now, there is a shortage of officials in the general administration department, and there are no general administration or councilors. The minister is in charge of the ministry alone, and it is already a struggle just to carry the memorials from one to the next. Support, I really have no time to worry about it.”

"Lack of people."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but rolled his eyes.

Yes, priority is given to officials from the Six Ministries, and it is not the General Affairs Department’s turn yet.

However, if you are short of people, I am also short of people.

"The officials recruit themselves. Officials, you go to the Ministry of Personnel to urge them."

After waving his hand, Zhu Youxian Wang Shunding continued.

"I want to create a new position in the General Affairs Department, which will be responsible for publicizing policies and regulations to the people of Guizhou. I wonder if Ai Qing can recommend someone?"

"Promote policies and regulations to the private sector?"

After hearing the emperor's words, Wang Shunding frowned and then said.

"I think it is best to elect someone who is good at sociability and has done a lot of things on the streets."

After thinking about the candidates, Wang Shunding cupped his hands and said.

"I feel that Hong Chengchou, the head of the Jiangxi Qing Li Department of the Ministry of Punishment, can handle this matter."

"Hong, Hong Chengchou?"

Hearing this, question marks suddenly appeared on Zhu Youxiao's head.

"Why?"

It's not that he has any bad feelings towards Hong Chengchou.

It is true that this man is a big traitor.

But you really can’t blame Hong Chengchou for voting.

After all, people are defeated and surrender to the enemy.

In the past, Brother Shuhan cried out of Tongguan, and in the later period, Hong Chengchou cried out of the mountains and seas.

On the stall, Chongzhen is such a master who uses and uses others. Even if Zhuge Wuhou comes, he can't help him.

"Your Majesty, this son comes from a poor family and makes a living by making dried tofu. He helps his parents work every day and hawks in the streets, so he knows a lot about civil affairs."

"At that time, Hong Qiyin had not yet become an official and was running a village school in Shuigouguan. Hong Chengchou often attended classes outside the hall, and was eventually accepted by Hong Qiyin as his student."

"When Hong Qiyin was appointed as the Imperial Academy Supervisor, I had an old relationship with him. I heard Hong Qiyin praise him as a man whose family is thousands of miles away and whose country is worth thousands of stones."

"Therefore, I think this son is qualified for this position."

"Ah."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao nodded thoughtfully.

"Then let him give it a try."

Zhu Youxiao said, waved his hand and said to Liu Shimin.

"Edict to enter the capital."

"The slaves obey the order."

"Let's put aside the matter of announcing the government to the head of Guizhou for now. I have one more thing I need you to do." "Please give me your Majesty's instructions."

Wang Shunding was quite happy to hear that the emperor had chosen someone he recommended. Hearing that he had something to do on his own, he immediately bowed.

"I flipped through the Ming Dynasty's newspaper, and I felt that since there is a newspaper for officials to read, there should also be a newspaper for ordinary people to read."

"But the Di newspaper is a matter of confidentiality and cannot be circulated to the public at will. Therefore, I want to publish another newspaper and circulate it to the people."

The implementation of Ming's confidentiality measures cannot be said to be foolproof, it is only in name only.

Historically, Chongzhen asked Chen Xinjia to negotiate peace with Qi Qing. Even such a big thing could be spread among the family members, making it known all over the city, and there were ups and downs.

Although the Di Bao was only for officials to read, many people among the people were concerned about state affairs and would buy or copy it from court officials. As a result, the court could say that there were no secrets at all.

Of course Wang Shunding knew what kind of virtue Di Bao was.

"I agree with the confidentiality of the report."

Upon hearing this, Wang Shunding immediately raised his hands and said.

"I once heard that in order to satisfy the curiosity of traitors, some private businessmen specially purchased the imperial palace newspapers and then published them for profit."

"As for publishing foreign magazines specifically for ordinary people to read."

Hearing this, Wang Shunding tugged at his goatee, thought for a moment, and then said.

"I think it is feasible. It can not only prevent the court's decrees from being misinterpreted, but also ensure the smooth circulation of the court's decrees among the people and prevent the officials below from slacking off."

"At the same time, selling foreign magazines can also add an amount of income to the national coffers."

"However, the General Administration Department is now short of manpower. If we continue to do this, I am afraid it will be difficult to maintain."

As he said this, Wang Shunding looked helplessly at the emperor sitting above.

Boss, no one is doing anything.

"That's a problem."

Seeing that the problem was back to the beginning, Zhu Youxiao was helpless.

He has no system and cannot summon the fourth natural disaster.

"In this case, you will write a note to me about the printing of external publications, and I will give you 1 taels of silver from my own funds to do this."

"As for the shortage of manpower, I asked the eunuchs of the Sanjing Factory to allocate manpower and establish a new Chao Press Bureau to take charge of this matter."

Sanjing Factory, the Ming Emperor's private publishing house, could certainly do things like printing and typesetting books.

Thanks to Zhu Yuanzhang's popularization of education, the literacy rate in Ming Dynasty is still very high.

Coupled with Ming Dynasty's low tax policy, industry and commerce have developed very well.

Books are no longer valuable items in this era.

Tang poetry, Song lyrics, Yuan music, Ming and Qing novels.

Thanks to the increase in literacy rates, people's spiritual world needs sustenance, and novels are booming at this time.

The four famous works are Water Margin of the Three Kingdoms, Late Yuan and Early Ming dynasties, Journey to the West during the Jiajing period, and Dream of the Red Chamber during the Qianlong period.

"Wang Aiqing worked hard on the printing of foreign publications. He made a big sample first, and I will take a look at it before talking about it. After Hong Chengchou comes to Beijing, he will be in charge."

With that said, Zhu Youxiao looked at Wang Shunding and continued.

"As for the content review, it will be first reviewed by the General Affairs Department, and then I will review it again before publishing it."

"The minister obeys the order."

Hearing this, Wang Shunding had no intention of making wedding clothes for others.

He is a practical person, and he supports anything that is beneficial to the court.

Moreover, the initial review power of this foreign journal rests with the General Affairs Department, which increases the General Affairs Department’s say in the court.

Then, Zhu Youxiao talked to Wang Shunding about some precautions.

These days, newspapers cannot be published every day.

One issue every ten days is just right.

Just write down some new policies that the court wants to implement among the people.

The emperor's concern for civil affairs, his hatred and punishment of corrupt officials, his desire for talented people, etc.

The two of them chatted for half an hour before Zhu Youxiao let Wang Shunding leave.

Looking at Wang Shunding leaving, Zhu Youxiao tapped his fingers on the table.

Now that the Propaganda Department has its big frame, the next step is how to improve it.

Just printing newspapers is not enough. There are many people who are illiterate.

We still need to find a group of people to go through the streets and beat gongs and drums to read to the people.

(End of this chapter)