With today's technical foundation and personnel proficiency, this "Ming Pao" can only print one issue every half a month.
The capital was naturally the first to see the first official report, which would be officially released on the first day of November in the fourth year of Jiajing.
Tomorrow there will be a New Year's Day meeting as usual, but the Forbidden City has been busy since the afternoon.
Mainly around Donghuamen.
Here, three civil servants of the fifth rank gathered for a while: Huang Zongming, a doctor in the Qingli Department of the Ministry of War, Cui Tong, a doctor in the Qingli Department of the Ministry of Etiquette, and Xue Hui, a doctor in the Qingli Department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
But there is another person here who originally held a higher official position than them: Zou Shouyi, the former right servant of the Ministry of Rites, who was recommended by Wang Shouren and recommended by Wang Qiong and others.
His current identity is the president of Ming Pao Bank.
The grade is still there, up to the third grade. This is also the grade range of many "state-owned enterprise" CEOs today: up to the third grade or from the third grade.
But Liu Yu, the sincere uncle in front of him, also has the title of super-grade, and he also has another new identity: the president of Tongyi Bureau.
Now the six of them were standing at the entrance of a courtyard in the southeast outside Donghua Gate, with carriages lined up in front of them.
The small courtyard in the southeast corner outside Donghua Gate now has a new sign: Ming Pao Bank.
At this moment, a Yuanwailang who used to work under Cui Tong became the manager of the circulation department of Ming Pao Bank. He was working with his colleague who used to be the chief of the Vehicle, Driver and Cleaning Department of the Ministry of War and now went to the Interpretation Bureau as the manager of the civil department.
Under the watchful eyes of the guards of the Forbidden City, many strong eunuchs were walking out of Donghua Gate in groups of two, carrying many book boxes.
There was one driver and one escort on the carriage, also in groups of two and two. When the people from the Ming Bao Bank received a box from the eunuch and affixed a note on it, they took it and carried it to their own carriage. When the carriage was full, they left.
Zou Shouyi saluted Liu Yu and said, "Mr. Liu Yi, this first period is of great importance, so you've got to work."
Liu Yu received the emperor's special favor and was renewed as a sincere uncle several generations later.
How prestigious his ancestors Liu Ji and Liu Bowen were, but Liu Yu was a little empty now. He said to Zou Shouyi sincerely: "I still need to ask Mr. Zou Bao for more advice. Huang Langzhong, the post is still being renovated, so I also need to ask Huang Langzhong for advice."
"Don't dare, don't dare..." Huang Zongming spoke first.
He was a little confused.
The Ministry of War drives the chariots and clears the official division, which is mainly responsible for the affairs such as bookkeeping, ceremonial guards, imperial guards, post offices, stable herding, etc.
Among these responsibilities, since the emperor himself was involved in the affairs of the official register, the guard of honor, and the imperial guard, how could he get the chariot driver to clean up the officials?
Now it is fair to say that the Tongyi Bureau will be responsible for the country's post stations, and the stable husbandry related to military horses will be purchased from the Qunhu Supervisor.
However, Huang Zongming, who is only a fifth-rank official, cannot object to the decision of His Majesty and the central court.
After hearing that the emperor personally gave lessons to the presidents and managers of the Interpretation Bureau in Jinshen Hall, Huang Zongming actually regretted not going directly to the Interpretation Bureau.
Those who can be closer to the emperor are better places. The original promotion paths for officials in Ming Dynasty have become more and more numerous.
Looking at the busy scene in front of him, he looked at Cui Tong: "Mr. Cui, this official report was all written by your colleague Colin Xiyuan, right?"
Cui Tong was the top pick in the twelfth year of Zhengde, but Lin Xiyuan was only the top three in that year.
But now, as the editor-in-chief, Lin Xiyuan has the opportunity to meet with the emperor at least once every half month, and his office is directly in the Forbidden City.
In comparison, he, the editor-in-chief, is actually more important than Zou Shouyi, the president who is in charge of all the chores of Ming Pao Bank.
Cui Tong heard another meaning conveyed in Huang Zongming's tone. He just said lightly: "Maozhen was originally a great talent, but now he is walking on thin ice. This "Ming Pao" is written in simplified Chinese characters. Cui is still busy. I have finished my official business. Now that everything is in order here, Cui will go back and get busy first. Mr. Liu Yi, as for the "Jiajing Dictionary", I have to take the trouble to deliver it to each office. This matter is also related to Dr. Xue's own examination. Woolen cloth."
Xue Hui smiled bitterly upon hearing this.
That's right, as a doctor in the Ministry of Civil Affairs' examination of the Qing Dynasty's official affairs, starting from next year, there will be one more item in the examination of officials by the Ministry of Civil Affairs: whether official documents are presented in simplified Chinese characters.
How well this matter is implemented is not only related to Cui Tong, the official in charge of cultural and educational matters in the Ming Dynasty, but also to Xue Hui himself.
"...I dare not slack off."
The two major orders at the beginning of the establishment of the Interpretation and Interpretation Bureau were from the Ming Pao Bank and the annual delivery of official documents from various government offices.
It was really difficult to calculate the accounts clearly between the original inn and various departments.
Liu Yu felt very dizzy now.
The inns are a huge system and are scattered across the country.
The cost of operating the inn includes both the original allocation from the Ministry of War and local taxes.
When a post passenger passes by a post station, in addition to providing a place to live and being responsible for food, the post station also has two major expenditures: the rationing of laborers and the rationing of materials such as stage horses, stage boats, and stage coaches.
Although each has its own standards, they will naturally exceed a lot when it comes to local areas.
Those who can enjoy the services of the inn are qualified and qualified. However, the management that meets the requirements is also in chaos.
Liu Yu knew how heavy the burden was on his shoulders. The entire post system was a huge interest group. It involved various governments and post offices, and was also responsible for the services between reception and delivery in many places.
But now, His Majesty wants to clarify the processes between government offices at the same level in the Ming Dynasty and between superior and subordinate government offices in terms of money expenditure and income.
The Interpretation Bureau consists of the Assets Department, the Civilian Department, the Military Department, the Public Affairs Department, the Internal Affairs Department, and the Financial Accounts Department. Not only does Liu Yu still have to shoulder the important task of transmitting military information and official documents of the Ming Dynasty, but he also has to realize what His Majesty called "the use of the post system." Goals such as serving the people, promoting the exchange of information and materials, alleviating the pressure on local postmen and dispatching personnel, and reducing the financial pressure on the post system."
For Liu Yu, it was too new.
Fortunately, as Bo Chengyi, whose title was renewed by special grace, and as the president of the Interpretation Bureau, he had many opportunities to ask the emperor for advice. He was also allowed to hire experts within the Interpretation Bureau, and had the qualifications to petition for titles and honors.
In addition, the "start-up capital" given by the emperor to the Interpretation Bureau included the assets and personnel system of the already established national post station system, as well as a full five hundred thousand taels of silver.
Now Liu Yu is also looking forward to sending this newspaper to the whole country, because in this issue, various companies have spent fifty taels of silver to publish advertisements and recruit talents from all over the country, as His Majesty said.
There are many new words. The word enterprise was said by the emperor, and advertising was also said by the emperor.
Everyone is indeed short of people. Most people in the original yamen after restructuring still prefer to retain their status as civil servants.
Liu Yu didn't know if anyone would come to apply.
…
High-end talents are difficult to recruit, but as long as they are paid, delivery employees are easy to recruit.
There are already many people in the capital, and there are also some people in the inn.
The Interpretation Bureau Beijing Station is located in the original Huitong North Building.
The original site of Huitong Hall was Yantai Station of Shuntian Prefecture. After several expansions, it now has two halls, the north and the south, covering a total area of more than 40 acres and nearly 500 large and small houses.
This Huitong Pavilion was originally used as a residence for the four vassals to pay tribute, but now the northern and southern pavilions have been given to the Interpretation Bureau.
Among them, the south hall is larger, and the headquarters of the Interpretation Bureau is here.
It is adjacent to Shanglin Garden to the west, and to the west are the Taiyuan Hospital, Qintian Prison, Imperial Medicine Storehouse and Honglu Temple. To the northwest is the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Industry across Shanglin Garden, and to the north is the Hanlin Academy.
The main entrance to the south of Huitong Hall is located on Dongjiangmi Lane. This street later changed its name several times and became Dongjiaomin Lane.
The Huitong North Pavilion was closer to Donghua Gate, which was to the east of what would become Wangfujing Street.
Now the Beijing Station of the Interpretation Bureau, together with Beiguan, is extremely busy.
"Line up the team and get the signatures and orders one by one."
In the delivery office converted from the original library on the west side, many people of different heights are queuing up.
Each of them originally wore different clothes, but now everyone is wearing an undyed cloth gown. The fabric of the coat is very cheap, but the style is the same. There is an embroidered patch sewn on the front chest. The top looks like a double joint without fringes, and the word "驿" is embroidered on the bottom.
The most expensive part of the entire dress is probably the embroidery piece, although the embroidery piece is not very refined.
But that is the most delicate part of the whole dress after all.
And each of them also has a hat, which is much better.
How can ordinary people wear hats? Confucian scholars and high-ranking officials often wear hats. Hats are a sign of status, cultivation, and etiquette.
This hat is actually very similar to the fluttering scarves and Xiaoyao scarves that many Confucian scholars like to wear, except that the front and back slopes of the top of the hat, which are like eaves, are wider and can block light rain.
There is also the embroidery patch on the front slope of the hat.
In addition to the officials and government servants of the Ming Dynasty, the employees of the Interpretation Bureau now also have their own "uniforms", although they are very rudimentary.
But they were excited.
The exciting point is that their status is called employees, which means they are members of the Interpretation Bureau, and they are not temporarily recruited laborers. From now on, there will be stable wages.
Now, Fang Sanhu, the employee at the front of the team, nervously received three things.
A large and bulging cloth bag, a wooden sign with the words Beijing Interpretation Bureau Beijing Seventy-Three engraved on it, and a piece of paper with the number written on it.
Then, he stretched out his finger nervously: "Guanshi Ji, press here?"
"Click here!" The steward in front of him nodded, "Fifty copies. If I miss or send the wrong one, or there is a wrong signature on the delivery form, I have already told you about the regulations."
"The little one knows, the little one knows."
Fang Sanhu pressed his fingerprints where he pointed, then wiped his fingers on the pants he was wearing, then shouldered the heavy cloth bag and rushed out with the wooden pick in one hand and the dispatch form in the other.
The area he was responsible for delivering was the Imperial College.
According to the scholar who was responsible for checking with the previous station, twenty copies will be sent to the Imperial College, and there will be several small yamen and five official households nearby.
Fang Sanhu has already visited the door, and he knows who should sign for it.
Today, he received his own signature: Beijing Seventy-Three.
What needs to be delivered now is just this newspaper, and then the "Jiajing Dictionary" will be delivered, but in the future there may be letters from home and new homes.
The more gifts signed by No. 73 are recorded in the station's account books, the more money he will earn.
Fang Sanhu didn't want to know the people or the calligraphy on the new places he wanted to send later, so he would always need to consult the calligraphy talents at the station.
We still need to know more about this word.
Running all the way to the place he was responsible for, Fang Sanhu went straight to the Imperial College.
The person responsible for signing for the receipt is naturally the concierge, but even though the concierge has been treated with sacrificial wine and has met Fang Sanhu himself, he is now in trouble: "You still need to sign for the receipt? I can't write, and I can't bear the responsibility. You wait first while I check to see if the book is here."
Fang Sanhu had no choice but to wait here.
The prison guards who were coming in and out saw him and were attracted by his strange dress.
"Post?" Someone asked quite interestingly, "Now the post soldiers have changed their clothes?"
"A mere postman is actually wearing a Xiaoyao scarf? It's just that this Xiaoyao scarf is like a mountain pressing on top, so he can't be free." Another person laughed quite interestingly.
Tang Shunzhi in the crowd was quite surprised and looked at it seriously.
"Ying De, why don't you leave?"
Upon hearing this, Tang Shunzhi looked at his companions: "I forgot something. You go first and I will come back later."
After they left talking and laughing, Tang Shunzhi walked up to Fang Sanhu and asked with a smile: "Brother, is this from the Interpretation Bureau to deliver newspapers?"
Fang Sanhu, who was as far away from him as he was, was a little nervous when he asked: "The grassroots are here to deliver newspapers."
"But you can't find the book?"
How concerned was Tang Shunzhi about these new things? As a leader in supervising students, he often interacts with students and professors at Huangming University. He knows that there is now a translation bureau, knows the "Jiajing Dictionary" and simplified Chinese characters, and knows newspapers.
These things were actually not hidden from anyone.
Something as wide-ranging as the inn is about to change. Many things have actually been rumored for a long time, but they have not yet been officially changed.
The Hanlin Academy participated in the compilation of the Jiajing Dictionary in simplified Chinese characters, and some gentry in the capital also discussed it for a long time.
Tang Shunzhi, a popular candidate and potential candidate for the examination next year, had already gotten to know one of the Hanlin bachelors by virtue of the convenience of being a supervisor.
Furthermore, Zhang Zilin of the Ministry of Rites now admires him quite a lot. Tang Shunzhi has already become famous in the capital even before he became an official in high school.
As for the "Jiajing Dictionary", he actually has a handwritten manuscript, and he is already familiar with the new writing methods of many words.
Now, he really wanted to read this new newspaper as soon as possible.
Knowing that Fang Sanhu was waiting for someone to sign for it, Tang Shunzhi said: "Xu Dianbo went to the inner library of the palace to study. He has to wait until five o'clock every night... Oh no, I will come back at Yinshi. I'm afraid you will have to do it." Wait a long time."
Sure enough, the concierge came back at this time: "Xu Dianbu is not here. You can send it before tomorrow at nine o'clock."
Fang Sanhu suddenly became anxious. Wouldn't he be punished when he went back?
"I'll sign it on behalf of Xu Dianbo. It's just that they sent it to the Imperial Academy, signed it to show receipt, and then sent it to Xu Dianbo's office."
When Tang Shunzhi opened his mouth, the concierge naturally recognized him, a student in the Imperial College who was very popular in high school next year.
He thought that as long as someone was responsible, why offend him?
"With Mr. Tang signing for it, of course it's OK."
After all the troubles, Fang Sanhu finally delivered the ten copies of "Ming Pao" that were to be sent to the Imperial College. After thanking Tang Shunzhi profusely, he happily collected the signed dispatch form and rushed to the next place. .
In the gatehouse of the Imperial College, Tang Shunzhi said again: "Xu Dianbo hasn't come back yet, so I'll take a look here first. It's a lot of money, so it doesn't matter to you, okay?"
"Of course, of course! You are always a literary star. I wish I could get closer to you more and bring some talents back to my useless little son." The concierge said with a smile on his face, "Mr. Tang, I'll give you my little one." Make a pot of tea?"
"Don't take it seriously." Tang Shunzhi just smiled, knowing that he would still make a pot of tea, and it would be good.
After taking a copy of "Ming Pao", Tang Shunzhi first opened his mouth slightly.
...Why are the articles in this newspaper read from left to right first, and then from top to bottom?
It is very conspicuous. After all, the two characters "Ming Pao" are the largest, and their location is not the upper right corner, but the upper left corner.
The same goes for other titles, which are not arranged vertically but horizontally from left to right.
Tang Shunzhi thought about it for a while, and felt that there might be some deep meaning in it... He couldn't figure it out for the moment, so he continued to force himself to get used to reading.
Then his mouth opened wider and wider.
The ten newspapers "ordered" by the Imperial College were not only read by the officials in charge, but were also allowed to be circulated and copied by the imperial students.
Tang Shunzhi's first reaction was simple: Ming Dynasty was really going to change completely.
At this time, Yang Yiqing, who had stayed in the northwest town for four years, had just returned to the capital. He was now arranged to temporarily live in the south hall of the Huitong Hall.
Liu Yu accompanied him personally: "According to the official treatment law, all the traveling and lodging officials who are ordered to travel abroad have already signed an agreement with the Interpretation Bureau. All the producer needs to do is sign his name here."
Yang Yiqing looked at him blankly.
Liu Yu was also a little embarrassed: "The Interpretation and Interpretation Bureau can only strictly implement the hospitality standards. Of course, I will personally arrange the excess. I have admired Taiwan for a long time, and today I am asking Taiwan to honor you, and I will be your host."
"...In this case, I will naturally pay for it myself." Yang Yiqing also smiled awkwardly, "I have been away from Beijing for a long time, what kind of reward can Uncle Cheng talk about? I also intend to ask Mr. Liu Yi more about the current situation in Beijing. That's how he is called. Bar?"
"This is indeed what everyone calls them now." Liu Yu stretched out his hand, "Please. If you want to talk about the current situation in Beijing, I will first use this "Ming Pao" as a guide and talk to the editor first?"
"Good work."
Yang Yiqing naturally has been receiving news from Beijing about the general direction. After all, he still has the status of consultant.
But as for the details... He was also surprised: "Why is this "Ming Pao" written in this way?"
At night, interested people in the capital and those who learned the news later were all discussing this issue.
Why is this first official newspaper, not only the text is already like this, but why is the layout also a new style?
However, this issue is not worth mentioning in the face of the amount of information conveyed in newspapers. It is often the first topic of discussion only by those who have seen it with their own eyes.
Tang Shunzhi, who had a photographic memory, had already arrived at the restaurant where he and his friends were gathering to drink, and explained what he had read one by one.
What I got was stunned faces.
(End of chapter)
