"Since Uncle Dingyuan is the sponsor of the newspaper, he cannot interfere with the operation of the newspaper. The newspaper must be operated independently. As mentioned in Uncle Dingyuan's letter, there must be independence of thought and a spirit of freedom. The purpose of running a newspaper is to report facts. The purpose must not be restricted by other aspects.”
Yang Fan smiled and said: "What do I think it is? Don't worry, I am only providing capital. I will never interfere with the normal operation of the newspaper. I support you in running a newspaper, not to be my personal mouthpiece. I want you, Zhang Tianru, to do it." This is the mouthpiece of the world."
Zhang Pu looked at Yang Fan seriously, as if judging whether what he said was true or false.
"But I also have a request, that is, the newspaper should open up a wide space for speech. Anyone, regardless of origin, social class, property status, official faction, can contribute. If the reason is unclear, what I ask is that everyone in the Ming Dynasty should From the princes and nobles to the people who drive cars and sell pulp, they all have the right to speak. Any issue can be discussed, but you cannot just let some people speak and not allow others to speak."
"If you disagree with other people's views, you can publish an article to refute, but you must not silence others. I hope that this newspaper will not be my personal mouthpiece, Yang Fan, nor the mouthpiece of the Jiangnan gentry, but a place where people all over the world can express their opinions. A forum. Newspapers must be impartial and have no preset positions.”
Yang Fan's meaning is very clear. I will not control this newspaper to serve me personally.
However, you, Zhang Tianru, cannot use it for your own personal gain. They even seek personal gain for a small group of Jiangnan gentry. Since it must be fair, open and just. Let's just talk ugly things up front, and the newspaper will be a platform for everyone to express their opinions.
Zhang Pu coveted the newspaper as a weapon, but was unwilling to be controlled by Yang Fan, who contributed the capital, so he asked this question.
But he didn't expect that Yang Fan's ideological level was so high. I really followed the principles mentioned in the letter. Yang Fan's words and deeds are consistent, and he does what he says, and he really has no selfish intentions at all.
Zhang Pu's eyes widened in surprise. He had never seen such a person before. There are many people in this world who say one thing and do another. No one is willing to get up early if there is no benefit. Especially in the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty, there was a naked exchange of interests.
This was the first time he had seen someone like Yang Fan.
Yang Fan smiled and said: "The most sincerity in the world can defeat the great hypocrisy in the world, and the greatest clumsiness in the world can defeat the great ingenuity in the world."
Yang Fan's words have reached this level, so it's hard for him to make any more requests.
Zhang Pu said with shame: "Uncle Dingyuan is really an honest and trustworthy gentleman. Just handle it as such."
Subsequently, Yang Fan and Zhang Pu finalized the newspaper's size and staffing, organizational structure, and manuscript review principles. Basic principles have also been discussed for the selection and training of journalists.
Zhang Pu lamented that Uncle Dingyuan had arranged such a new thing as a newspaper office with such ease and clarity. Although it was agreed upon at one time, after careful consideration, every measure was very practical and had great impact. operability.
Yang Fan knew that Zhang Pu was extremely difficult to control. Simply don't control it.
Anyone who wants to control such a character will turn against him.
Now, he has begun to be dissatisfied with Donglin. As his status and reputation in the Ming Dynasty continued to rise, his ambitions gradually fermented. He later arranged for Zhou Yanru to be the first assistant, and secretly took advantage of Zhou Yanru in an attempt to control the political situation in Jiangnan. This shows how ambitious this person is.
Yang Fan is optimistic about him because of his motivation.
An eight-year-old child, no matter how tossing it is, is just a naughty child and cannot make a difference. But if you give him a gun, the situation will be different. He can do great things.
Yang Fan doesn't have to do anything, just give him money and weapons. He himself will cause trouble in Jiangnan.
Historically, although he could be tough, he did not have the absolute strength to back him up. Once he went against Dong Lin, he quickly failed.
Zhang Tianru, who had such fighting ability, died too early.
But this time, Yang Fan gave him more sufficient conditions and expected him to cause greater destructive power. Only by breaking up an iron plate in Jiangnan can Yang Fan defeat them one by one. put these people
Pull the development path of industry and commerce. Thereby changing the status quo of involution.
Yang Fan and Zhang Pu finished talking. When I came to the side room, I saw that the doctor had already connected the bones. Yuanyuan stayed by her father's side obediently.
"My dear Xing Bin, I have met Uncle Dingyuan and thank him for saving his life." He struggled to get up and salute.
Yang Fan quickly stopped him and told him not to move, so as not to affect the effect of bone setting.
Just now the doctor connected the middle-aged man's bones and bandaged them. He asked Han Jun in fear, "This brave man, dare to ask me who the benefactor who saved me is. If you are young, you can pray for my benefactor in the morning and evening."
He also understood that if he hadn't happened to bump into Yang Fan, their father and daughter would have been captured long ago.
And Yang Fan's demeanor, as well as the equipment and behavior of these people, are obviously not ordinary gentry.
"Our master is the uncle Dingyuan, General Zhengxi, and commander of Jinyiwei in the current dynasty. His surname is Yang Taofan." Han Jun said.
Xing Bin was shocked, he didn't expect to be such a big shot.
He grew up in a small village on the outskirts of Suzhou and made engraving and printmaking his profession. Later, he moved to Suzhou and lived in a poor alley. The biggest officials he met were subordinates in the yamen. People like Yang Fan simply exceeded his imagination.
"No need to be polite, you owe the Huang family money and that's why you are being hunted by them?"
Xing Bin lowered his head and said, "My wife's family was seriously ill and all the family's savings were spent. I borrowed the Huang family's usury money, a total of three taels of silver, and the compound interest has now reached fifteen taels. In the end, my wife's family has no money." Rescue her. Unexpectedly, the Huang family refused to give up after taking over the house, and even wanted to take Yuanyuan away. I hugged Yuanyuan and ran out."
"What do you do for a living and what are your plans in the future?" Yang Fan asked.
"I am a master engraver, and I take on some printing and engraving work. Now that I have offended the Huang family, I can no longer stay in Suzhou City. I have no choice but to flee to a different place. Yuanyuan has an aunt who has no children. I plan to send Yuanyuan to her aunt so that she can have a home. I will take it one step at a time."
As soon as Yuanyuan heard that her father was going to give her away, she immediately burst into tears. She pulled her father's clothes and cried, "Dad, don't abandon Yuanyuan. Yuanyuan can make money by washing people's clothes, or she can go to work." Herd cattle for others. Dad, Yuanyuan can make money, don’t abandon Yuanyuan."
Yang Fan smiled bitterly, how could a five-year-old child herd cows when he was not as tall as a cow? It sounds funny, but I can't laugh at all. Instead, I felt uncomfortable in my heart.
At this time, children tended cattle and sheep to the rich man's family to earn a meager ration. At that time, Taizu of the Ming Dynasty also let people herd cattle, but at that time, Taizu was seven or eight years old and still a boy.
It is common for girls from poor families to follow their mother at home to wash clothes at the age of seven or eight.
This may be the limited way Yuanyuan can think of to make money.
Yang Fan frowned. If he didn't intervene, Xing Yuan would still follow Chen Yuanyuan's path.
"If you could settle your affairs and find a job that was enough to support your family, would you still want to give your child away?" Yang Fan asked
