Lin'an City, Da Nei, Qinzheng Hall, Imperial Study Room.
The new emperor likes to be close to his ministers in the royal study, and everyone knows this.
Chen Qi, Zeng Ji, and Liu Kezhuang knelt down together and bowed respectfully to Zhao Hong who was behind the imperial table.
"The common people are waiting to see Your Majesty."
Zhao Hong smiled slightly and waved his hand.
"Everyone, please get up. There are no monarchs and ministers here today, only friends gathering. Everyone, please sit down!"
Zhao Hong said with a smile, trying to be approachable.
It's really boring to show off one's authority in front of the common people and always be on one's side.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Chen Qi and others got up from the ground and carefully sat down on the chairs opposite Zhao Hong. Everyone was smiling.
If they were to meet the king on a normal day, they would still have some pride and might not kneel down. But Zhao Hong had saved their lives, and now that the new emperor had ascended the throne, the etiquette was particularly intense.
This also shows that the monarchy of the Song Dynasty was weak and close to the people.
"Everyone is okay in prison. Are the jailers doing anything difficult for you?"
Zhao Hong asked with a smile.
"Your Majesty, the common people are all well. Your Majesty asked Chen Shangshu to take care of you, so the common people escaped. Your Majesty's kindness is so great that I can't thank you enough!"
Liu Kezhuang, on behalf of the three people, expressed his gratitude to Zhao Hong.
"Your Majesty, you don't know. When the common people were released from prison, they met Shi Miyuan and others who were imprisoned. Shi Miyuan was wearing prison clothes, unkempt, staggering, and not as arrogant and domineering as before. Looking at his nose and face, he must have been beaten. He got beaten a lot. This is really unpredictable!"
Chen Qi sighed unconsciously.
How arrogant he was back then, he is so embarrassed now. The speed of Shi Miyuan's downfall was completely beyond his expectation.
"People are doing it, but God is watching. Shi Miyuan was so audacious that he tried to correct the edict and abolish it. His crime cannot be punished. He deserves his own fault for his fate today."
Zeng Ji was filled with emotion, shook his head and said.
Shi Miyuan had offended so many people, and those jailers probably would not spare the Shi family and his son lightly.
"Your Majesty, if you receive a drop of kindness from someone, you must repay it with a spring of water. Cao Min was arrested and imprisoned by Li Zhixiao and Luo Zhi. He asked Zheng Qingzhi to save him, but he was safe and sound. Cao Min asked your Majesty not to treat Zheng Qingzhi and his son harshly in prison, and let him Father and son can go on the road with peace of mind."
Chen Qi bit the bullet and asked Zhao Hong for mercy.
The crime of treason is a capital crime that implicates the nine clans. He did not dare to plead for Zheng Qingzhi, so he could only try to make him suffer as little as possible.
"Shopkeeper Chen, I promise you this."
Zhao Hong nodded and said in a deep voice:
"Zheng Qingzhi is also a famous man of the generation. If he hadn't been greedy and wanted to follow the dragon's merits, how could he have ended up in this situation now?"
"Your Majesty's grace, I will never forget it!"
When Dong Songchen went down to deliver the order, Chen Qi knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly, with a loud "Bang Bang" sound.
"Shopkeeper Chen, you know how to repay your kindness. You are also a loyal person. Get up, sit down and talk."
Chen Qi got up and sat down aside.
"His Majesty has been blessed with great blessings. Fortunately, there was no danger, and he has been enthroned as a great treasure. The common people sounded like they were breaking out in a cold sweat afterward!"
Liu Kezhuang said with emotion, his eyes full of surprise and curiosity.
In fact, he really wanted to know the adventure of Zhao Hong's murderous rampage that day.
"His Majesty passed the test all the way, and it was so exciting to hear that it really frightened us. If Your Majesty falls short, we will have no hope!"
Zeng Ji shook his head and said, and Zhao Hong laughed.
"You all don't know. Everything seems to be calm now. In fact, it was a big gamble that day. I carried the thunder on my back and was ready to die together. If Shi Miyuan hadn't been too careless, I might have been deposed!"
Thinking about it now, Zhao Hong also secretly called it a fluke.
If something goes wrong in the process, he will either be killed, deposed, or both.
"I heard that His Majesty killed the squad commander Shi Mou in the palace that day, and also killed the palace commander Xia Zhen, and the deputy commander Xu Yi. Everyone knew that Xia Yuanmin and others, and beat Shi Miyuan, Cheng Jue and other traitorous ministers in the hall. It's really true. It’s so satisfying!”
Seeing Liu Kezhuang's excitement in his eyes, Zhao Hong couldn't help but shake his head and smile bitterly.
"Mr. Liu, you are just watching the excitement and don't take it too seriously. It is very likely that you will fail in your success that day. If that happens, we will have to go to the Lord of Hell to talk about poetry and lyrics!"
"Your Majesty has a body of ten thousand gold and is filled with great blessings. If the Song Dynasty wants to enrich the country and strengthen its army, it must count on Your Majesty! Nothing will happen to Your Majesty!"
Chen Qi's eyebrows were dancing with joy, and his face was full of joy.
After the rain, the sky clears up, and everyone is happy. This is the best ending.
"Shopkeeper Chen, did you take a look when you got home and see if there was any damage to the bookstore? If so, report it and the court will provide you with supplies."
Zhao Hong comforted Chen Qi who suffered heavy losses.
At this time, he can still remember his benefactor Zheng Qingzhi, who is on death row. He is a good person.
Ge Hong, the Minister of Punishment, is smooth, transparent, and exquisite in all directions. However, the national law is of paramount importance, and the position of Minister of the Ministry of Punishment does not seem to be suitable for him.
Maybe this has nothing to do with Ge Hong, but just the general environment.
"Your Majesty, those are just small amounts of money, not worth mentioning. Now that His Majesty has ascended the throne, it is not easy for ordinary people to make some money!"
Chen Qi smiled apologetically and complimented Zhao Hong.
In fact, his family has a great business and has not suffered much loss.
"Shopkeeper Chen, you are a smart man. Don't worry, your business will get better and better!"
Zhao Hong laughed. He turned his eyes to Liu Kezhuang and Zeng Ji and asked softly:
"Brother Liu, Brother Zeng, what are your plans for the future?"
Publishing a book, causing such a big thing, and almost losing their lives, must have been a huge psychological blow to these two people.
"Your Majesty, after this calamity, we two are disheartened and plan to return to farming in the mountains and fields, or travel around to cultivate our moral character and write books."
Liu Kezhuang and Zeng Ji looked at each other, seeming really frustrated.
"Brother Liu, I don't agree with you. A hero can only show his true colors when the sea is changing. If you retreat when faced with difficulties, you are escaping from reality. There is a saying that goes well, it is easier to die than to live."
Zhao Hong looked at the two people with solemn expressions, thought for a moment, and then said:
"I plan to start a newspaper and spread it throughout the Song Dynasty. I wonder if you two are willing to host this matter?"
"newspaper?"
Liu Kezhuang and Zeng Ji looked at each other with doubts in their eyes.
There are so many tabloids in Lin'an City, do we need any more newspapers?
"You heard it right, it is a newspaper. It is the same as the tabloid in Lin'an, but it is more formal, and it must be circulated in all states in the Song Dynasty. As mentioned above, politics, economy, border affairs, and people's livelihood should criticize current ills and alert the world. Everything. But one thing is, you can’t tell lies.”
Zhao Hong laughed, speaking seriously and righteously.
"For example, in the Song Dynasty, the current trend of arrogance, empty talk, and malaise is spreading. If it is not stopped, it will be extremely harmful and may even destroy the country and the species. Then we must call on the people and tell the world to put an end to these unhealthy trends. , changed the customs and changed the customs, allowing the Song Dynasty to change its appearance and be reborn."
Liu Kezhuang and Zeng Ji both dared to speak out among the people, which shows that they are both passionate people. Give them a better platform to serve the country and the people, but he doesn't believe that they will just sit back and watch.
"Your majesty...are you talking about a newspaper that is popular throughout...the Song Dynasty?"
Liu Kezhuang asked in a trembling voice.
Zhao Hong's thinking jumped so fast that he was so excited that he couldn't keep up.
"That's right! At least it should be popularized in all roads and states. It is not about making money and profit, but about enlightening people's wisdom, enlightening people, promoting iron-blooded spirit, martial arts and heroism, so that the people of the entire Song Dynasty can wake up!"
Zhao Hong warned the two of them seriously and preached to them.
"Cures can only save people's bodies, but articles can change people's spirits. If you want to awaken the people, you must use articles and the pen in your hand to hurt them and change them!"
In this era, public opinion was in the hands of scholar-bureaucrats, and the role of the state was in name only. How could the public opinion position be controlled by ministers?
"Please...your majesty, please tell me how to start?"
Zeng Ji's face turned red and he bowed respectfully.
Zhao Hong's words completely spoke to his heart, and made his little heart skip a beat.
If newspapers can be used to alert the people of the world, it will not only give the Song Dynasty a new atmosphere, but also leave a name in history. Why not?
"Zeng Ji, you asked well!"
Zhao Hong patted the table lightly and said thoughtfully:
"The Tatars in the north are watching eagerly and are ready to make a move. The newspapers should promote martial arts and restore the martial spirit of the Han and Tang Dynasties. This is one of them."
"The second is that powerful officials invaded the land and hid taxes, and the national taxes were drained out, and the land was cleared. This is the second."
"Scholar-bureaucrats and powerful men are committing lawlessness and amassing wealth; local officials prey on the common people and deceive the superiors and subordinates. The imperial court must clarify the administration of officials and fight against corruption. This is the third one."
"In addition, arrogance and empty talk must be curbed in newspapers. The suffering of the people, all walks of life, and all the long-standing shortcomings of this dynasty must be dealt with one by one."
Zhao Hong's words made Liu Kezhuang and Zeng Ji's blood surge, and they suddenly had some ideas in their minds.
"Your Majesty's "Tatar Strategy" and those inspiring poems must have been written to awaken the people of the Song Dynasty."
Zeng Ji's eyes lit up and he spoke loudly.
"Your Majesty, the common people are just worried that if the newspapers publicize the imperial court's shortcomings, it may cause instability in the people's hearts and unrest in the government and the opposition."
Liu Kezhuang pondered and mentioned it.
Zhao Hong smiled slightly. It seems that these two thought carefully and got into the role quickly.
"Two of you, the Song Dynasty has so many ills now that it has to cut off its arms to survive. Besides, I am preparing to implement the New Deal to strengthen the army and enrich the country. I will implement it simultaneously with the eradication of all the ills advertised in the newspapers."
Zhao Hong's words made Liu and Zeng nodded slightly.
Newspapers proclaimed that the worst thing to do was not be so violent at first and be gentler, as long as it did not provoke a popular uprising.
"I have to solve the three major shortcomings of our Song Dynasty, redundant officials, redundant soldiers, and redundant expenses. You publicize it in newspapers and cheer for me to implement the New Deal. I cannot do these things alone. It requires many people. Let’s do it together. Do you understand what I mean?”
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
Liu Kezhuang and Zeng Ji bowed solemnly, and both were moved.
"Your Majesty, ordinary people also want to start a newspaper. What do you think?"
Listening in rapt attention, his heart felt itchy. He felt that Zhao Hong was open-minded and kind, so Chen Qi asked cautiously.
"It's absolutely possible, but it has to be different from the newspapers run by the court. If they are exactly the same, it will defeat the original intention of running a newspaper. For example, the court's newspapers mainly focus on national affairs, and your newspaper focuses on the private sector. The two complement each other. Everyone has their own strengths.”
Of course he fully supports the invigorating the private economy and welcomes it with both hands.
Zhao Hong looked at Liu Kezhuang and Zeng Ji seriously.
"Gentlemen, what do you think?"
These two are both great people. People who can publish books naturally have good writing skills.
"Your Majesty, the two of us are only following your Majesty's lead!"
Liu Kezhuang and Zeng Ji worshiped together.
"You don't have to worry about the constraints of various ministries and officials at all levels. Although the newspaper belongs directly to the Ministry of Rites, it is directly responsible to me. Liu Kezhuang is a doctor in the Propaganda Department. He was once a member of the Yuanwailang and co-chaired the Propaganda Department. All the celebrities of the Jianghu Poetry School, and the world All famous people can join in, express their opinions, criticize the current ills, and make suggestions to enrich the country and strengthen the army."
The Publicity Department is just a new room.
"Your Majesty's grace is so great that I can't repay it for the loss of my life!"
Liu Kezhuang and Zeng Ji knelt down again and kowtowed to express gratitude.
The Ministry of Rites of the Song Dynasty had jurisdiction over three departments: the Temple Department, the Food Department, and the Host and Guest Department. The Langzhong and Yuanwailang of each department were the chief and deputy chief officials. Langzhong is an external-level official who is responsible for the affairs of various departments. Its position is second only to the prime minister, minister, and minister.
A few days ago, the two of them were waiting to die in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment. In the blink of an eye, they became ministers of the imperial court. The ups and downs in their lives were so fast that it was really too much for them.
"Brother Liu and Brother Zeng, congratulations to you two!"
Chen Qi was smiling all over his face, and his eyes were full of envy and jealousy.
New dynasty and new atmosphere. Ke met Mingjun, his two friends, and finally came together.
