I'm in the Red Mansion

Since it is smuggling, what is involved is contraband that the court prohibits from being sold.

Probably commodities such as salt and iron.

Once this is exposed, it will be a serious crime that will lead to the confiscation of property and extermination of the entire family.

Jia She, Jia Zheng, Jia Zhu and Jia Lian, the names of these four brothers together mean that they were involved in political affairs.

It was inevitable that Jia She and his son Jia Lian were smuggling contraband into Mongolia.

It was because of these thoughts that Jia Cong paid special attention to the news related to Ping'an Prefecture.

The governor of Ping'an Prefecture was named Yun Yi, and this Yun Yi was the adopted son of Prime Minister Qin.

The news about Pyeongan Prefecture in the official gazette happened to be the only good news in this gazette.

This made Jia Cong curious.

The governor of Ping'an Prefecture was connected with Jia She and was engaged in smuggling business with Mongolia.

However, Jia Cong felt that he was connected with more than just Jia She.

Moreover, Yun Yi is the adopted son of Prime Minister Qin.

This kind of person can actually do good things?
Well, this probably means that Jia Cong has become the prime minister.

Things in this world are not black and white.

A good person will never do bad things, and a bad person will never do good things.

However, when Jia Cong read the news in the official newspaper, there was still some doubt on his face.

It turned out that the official newspaper wrote that a small group of Mongolian soldiers trampled on the crops of the people of Pyeongan Prefecture and killed several people in Pyeongan Prefecture.

Yun Yi led his troops out and killed seventeen Mongolian soldiers, forcing them to retreat in panic.

Emperor Yonglong was overjoyed when he heard the report. He praised Yun Yi highly and also rewarded him generously.

Seeing this, Jia Cong always felt that something was wrong.

At this time, Prime Minister Kou also saw Jia Cong's expression.

He couldn't help but laugh and said, "Why, is there something you don't understand in this official newspaper?"

After hesitating for a while, Jia Cong couldn't help but ask, "Master, does Yun Yi of Ping'an Prefecture really love the people like his own children?"

Kou Xiang couldn't help but laugh and asked, "Oh? Why do you doubt him?"

Jia Cong chuckled and said, "Master, I don't see anything wrong, but I have an instinctive suspicion that Yun Yi doesn't seem to be such a loyal and patriotic person."

Hearing this, Kou Xiang couldn't help but shook his head and said, "You are being too arbitrary when you say that."

"When evaluating a person or an event, one should not act on impulse, but must have solid evidence."

Hearing this, Jia Cong hurriedly said, "Yes, Master, what you taught me is correct. I will take note of it."

Before this, he really didn't know Yun Yi at all. He only made inferences based on some details in the book "Dream of Red Mansions" and doubted his identity as the adopted son of Prime Minister Qin.

It is indeed too arbitrary. Maybe Yun Yi is really a good official?

Then Kou Xiang continued, "However, Yun Yi is indeed not a good person."

Hearing this, Jia Cong looked at Prime Minister Kou with a strange expression.

However, Prime Minister Kou seemed unaware of Jia Cong's gaze.

Jia Cong laughed in silence, and couldn't help asking, "Master, could it be that the military intelligence reported by Yun Yi is false?"

After hearing this, Kou Xiang shook his head and said, "Master, I have learned some information about the situation in Ping An Province from other channels."

"In Ping'an Prefecture, the governor Yun Yi is a local tyrant. Not only does he impose heavy taxes, he also colludes with officials to secretly smuggle contraband and do business with Mongolia."

"In fact, the people he killed were not Mongolian soldiers, but the people of Ping'an Prefecture." Hearing this, Jia Cong couldn't help but take a breath.

He couldn't help but ask, "Killing innocent people and claiming credit? How dare he do that? Since Master knew about this, why didn't he expose him in front of His Majesty?"

Kou Xiang smiled bitterly and said, "Because there is no evidence. This news was obtained by me from other channels, but there is no detailed evidence."

"Ping'an Prefecture has almost become Yun Yi's backyard. It is impossible to find evidence in Ping'an Prefecture because of his management."

"And there is another extremely scary thing. Yun Yi has a very good reputation in the court. Almost all the officials praise him."

"Almost everyone praised him for guarding Ping'an Prefecture by himself, making Mongolia afraid to take a step south, and protecting the safety of Ping'an Prefecture."

Hearing this, Jia Cong couldn't help but frown and asked, "Master, could it be that all the civil and military officials in the court have been bribed by Yun Yi, or Prime Minister Qin?"

Kou Xiang shook his head and said, "That's not the case. The truth is that Yun Yi is very good at disguising himself, and what people outside can hear are almost all his great achievements."

"Almost everyone hears about his achievements, and hardly hears any negative comments about him. In this case, how can outsiders know his true face?"

"In fact, it's not just him. Almost all the officials sent abroad by Qin Xiang's faction are like this."

"No matter how they levied heavy taxes, were greedy, embezzled and abused the law, and took human lives, what we heard in the capital was almost all about their achievements."

Jia Cong was quite familiar with this situation.

In the words of later generations, officials from the Qin Xiang faction controlled public opinion in the capital.

He only lets the people of the capital hear what he wants them to hear, and the people of the capital will never hear the information he doesn't want them to hear.

It is actually a very scary thing that the Qin Xiang faction can control public opinion to such an extent.

If Emperor Yonglong had been a little more foolish, he would have been completely deceived by officials from Qin Xiang's faction.

By then, won’t they be allowed to do whatever they want in the court?

They can unscrupulously confuse right and wrong and call a horse a zebra.

And he himself was a member of the hostile faction of Prime Minister Qin.

If at that time, officials from Qin Xiang's faction controlled public opinion, countless people would accuse him of being a traitor.

Being pointed at by so many people, I am afraid I really have no way to defend myself.

By then, he would be a traitor if not a traitor to his country.

After thinking for a while, Jia Cong couldn't help but say, "Master, actually, Prime Minister Qin's method of controlling public opinion is not impossible to resolve."

Hearing this, Kou Xiang's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help asking, "Brother Cong, I wonder what countermeasures you have? Why not tell me?"

Prime Minister Kou was really curious, because in his opinion, Prime Minister Qin's method was almost unsolvable.

The common people are ignorant, and as long as you can manipulate public opinion, it is easy to control public opinion.

The people will believe whatever they want them to believe.

It’s just because there are too many wealthy and powerful families among the officials of Qin Xiang’s faction.

They can control public opinion unscrupulously.

Jia Cong couldn't help but laugh and said, "Master, we can create a newspaper similar to the court bulletin."

After hearing this, Prime Minister Kou frowned and said, "The court reports only record important national events, and only local officials can read them."

"The people can be made to follow it, but they cannot be made to know it. How can the court's reports be announced to the public? This method is absolutely inappropriate."

"Besides, even if the court bulletin is announced to the public, I'm afraid it won't be able to be truly deciphered."

"Furthermore, officials from the Qin Xiang faction will never tolerate the court bulletin being announced to the public!" (End of this chapter)