Jinling City.
There are hundreds of thousands of households.
As the location of the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties, and now the capital of the Ming Dynasty, the people of Jinling also have an unusual sense of pride.
After making a living every day, drinking a glass of wine, discussing court affairs, and talking about the heroes' merits and deeds throughout the ages is what life in Jinling is.
Today, as the morning sun sets, people take to the streets. When the shops open their doors, they find that there are many more shouting people on the streets.
"The newspaper was sold, the newspaper was sold, His Highness Taisun paid a private visit incognito, and the Prince Consort was executed for evading taxes."
"Don't miss it if you pass by. The first issue of People's Daily is officially released. It records world affairs and is the most well-informed."
"Breaking news, the Japanese pirates were so audacious that after their lair was burned down, they still fled in all directions and tried to sneak into Jinling City. They were intercepted by Taisun outside the city. The Japanese pirates failed to assassinate Taisun."
“The first tranche of Treasury bonds was issued and sold out, first come first served, then no more.”
"A lot of information can be known at a glance, and it only costs ten cents."
…
Following the shouts, a drink came from the mouth of a famous newspaper vendor, which immediately attracted countless people from Jinling to watch.
Tabloids have actually been available among the people in big cities since the Song Dynasty.
However, due to limitations in printing technology, it could only be issued once every few days.
Most of the published content is the so-called "secret news" of some ministers of the DPRK and China, and relatives of the emperor.
Whose aunt is on good terms with her brother-in-law, and whose father-in-law has fallen in love with his daughter-in-law...
In short, various arrangements are made to capture the wind and shadow.
After all, these are the people's favorites.
Otherwise, the literary masterpieces "The Plum in the Golden Vase", "Secrets of Miscellaneous Affairs", "Spring Scenes in the Han Palace" and "Feiyan Gaiden" would not have been banned repeatedly and spread throughout the ages.
It has even been listed as a top-grade book by literati who do good things.
And sacred books such as "A Dream of Red Mansions" and "The Romance of the West Chamber" have to be put on the sidelines and rated only as middle-grade.
This shows the profound influence of this kind of books and their popularity.
In addition, there are various secrets of the imperial court.
The joy of guiding people has existed since ancient times.
Books such as "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "The Chronicles of the Sui and Tang Dynasties" can satisfy this kind of hobby.
However, once it comes to matters of this dynasty, it is completely different.
Although the imperial court usually doesn't care much about ordinary people discussing state affairs.
Although the law prohibits it, it really can’t be controlled!
So, as long as it doesn't cause too bad an impact, you can say whatever you like.
But there are also many taboos.
At least, don't go too far.
The tabloids published content about the father-in-law picking up the ashes and the aunt raising the brother-in-law, although it would make a certain official furious.
But compared with making false statements about state affairs, which attracted the full force of the court to block it, the impact was still much smaller.
It should be noted that tabloids are not allowed by the imperial court and can only be published secretly and secretly.
But there is too little entertainment in this era, and there are even fewer channels for obtaining information.
A tabloid that is both entertaining and can get a lot of news is naturally loved by many people.
Even if the court pursues the investigation with the most severe punishment, it will be difficult to stop him.
But no matter what, this kind of thing cannot see the light.
Moreover, the news is not accurate. There are many false and few true.
There are too many people who make up nonsense, but there are few people who pursue facts.
It can only satisfy everyone's curiosity and entertainment needs, but it also takes a lot of risks.
But no one expected that today someone would openly shout and sell newspapers on the street, and the content of the revelations was even more shocking.
"Keep your voice down, do you want your life?"
A man who looked like a scholar stopped a newspaper seller and warned him in a low voice.
The newspaper seller chuckled and said, "I want to sell newspapers and do business, so naturally I have to shout louder. How can I speak quietly?"
The scholar asked doubtfully: "Aren't you afraid that official officials will arrest you? The news contained in your newspapers is prohibited!"
When the newspaper seller heard this, he was stunned for a moment and then laughed.
He took out a newspaper, pointed at the four big characters on it, and said with a smile: "Did you see it? People's Daily, this is the name chosen by His Highness Taisun himself. It was authenticated by the imperial court and published legally. Which official dares to arrest me? ?”
"Publicly published newspapers and periodicals of the imperial court?"
The scholar was startled.
Only Di Bao was always published by the imperial court.
But the Di newspaper can only be read by officials.
Moreover, in principle, only officials from the capital can read all the contents of the Di newspaper.
Local officials are only allowed to copy content relevant to their location.
Local officials are also not allowed to hear other irrelevant content.
Although in practice not many people follow this rule.
Magistrates still copied everything to keep abreast of what was going on at court.
Even many scholars who are not officials but have achieved fame will get the news.
But at least formally, it remains strictly confidential.
Ordinary people without any social status really can't get it.
Most of the scholars and scholars only heard the news revealed occasionally.
Unexpectedly, the imperial court now publicly publishes a newspaper.
What was written was so appalling.
Taisun paid a private visit incognito and was assassinated by Japanese pirates...
Even the underground tabloids would not dare to print this news!
"How about it? Do you want to buy it?" the newspaper seller asked the scholar.
The scholar came back to his senses and said hurriedly: "Buy, buy, buy... quickly, give me a copy."
If it were an underground tabloid, he would still be a little scared.
After all, once found out by the court, those who buy newspapers will be severely punished.
But if Taisun certified it and the court issued it publicly, there would be no scruples.
Just listening to what he shouted before, the scholar could not wait to see the specific details.
Soon, the surrounding crowds rushed forward to buy newspapers and periodicals.
"Don't crowd, come one by one, the circulation is huge and there is something for everyone."
The seller had to speak out to maintain order.
The people in Jinling are so enthusiastic.
Even illiterate people came to buy them.
Anyway, if you buy it back, you can find a reader who knows how to read it.
The same scene was played out everywhere in Jinling City.
The people were surprised and couldn't believe it at first, and then started the craziest panic buying.
People's Daily Distribution Center.
Yao Guangxiao is sitting here.
"Sir, all the newspapers and periodicals are sold out, are there any supplies left?"
In less than half the morning, all the newspaper sellers who had been arranged to go out came back one after another.
"So fast? That's a total of 30,000 copies!"
Yao Guangxiao was a little hard to believe.
He has arranged sufficient quantities.
There are only hundreds of thousands of households in Jinling City.
Thirty thousand copies means that on average, someone from several households will buy one copy.
Unexpectedly, the supply still exceeds the demand.
"Seal, then seal!"
Yao Guangxiao didn't even think about it and immediately gave the order.
Anyway, there is a mimeograph machine, so printing is very fast.
In order to improve the efficiency of printing, craftsmen also installed rotating wheels on the mimeograph machine, which was a step further than the hand-pressed type.
Just shake the wheel and a copy will be printed.
Yao Guangxiao knew very well that the circulation of newspapers and periodicals was the key to Taisun's control of public opinion. The greater the number of circulation, the better.
"The newspapers and periodicals that are to be sent to other places will be transferred to Jinling first."
"Then print and send to other places."
…
Countless newspapers and periodicals flew to every corner of Jinling City.
The things published above also aroused heated discussions among the public.
"This Ouyang Lun is still the Prince Consort, and he evades taxes. He deserves to die."
"It's just that I have to pay taxes when I run a small business, but he doesn't pay taxes when he runs such a big business?"
"You can't say that. Since ancient times, how can the emperor's relatives pay taxes? Aren't they all paid by ordinary people? It is because today's great grandson manages politics differently that the emperor's relatives also pay taxes."
"Let me tell you, Your Majesty the Grand Sun is really good! In the past, the tax collector of my shop gave me a fixed tax of fifty taels a month. Even after paying all the money I made, it was not enough. Recently, the royal family and nobles have been strictly investigated for tax evasion. All the taxes have been collected, the tax collector's task has been completed, and the monthly tax for my shop has been reduced to five taels."
…
"Zhao Mian is still the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and he actually takes bribes? Damn it!"
"The whole family committed suicide. This is the fate of corrupt officials."
"It's only Sun Yingming who can find out in one fell swoop."
"I didn't expect that my great grandson would pay a private visit incognito. Do you think it's possible that we would bump into our great grandson on the street?"
"Hahaha, it's hard to say whether you will bump into me, but those corrupt officials are probably afraid of bumping into me."
…
"Ouyang Lun, as a consort, colluded with the Japanese pirates and deserved to be executed by the grandson."
"When a prince breaks the law, he is guilty of the same crime as the common people. Your Highness, the Grand Sun, really does not follow personal feelings."
"He dared to let the Japanese pirates assassinate his grandson. Why is he still keeping this scourge? By the way, those Japanese pirates have escaped. We must be more vigilant and report it to the official as soon as we find it."
"That's natural. It can be said in the newspapers that if a Japanese pirate is discovered, the person who reports it will be rewarded three hundred taels of silver, and the one who is caught will be rewarded one thousand taels of silver."
"With so much money, why don't we go shopping and maybe catch some Japanese pirates?"
"It makes sense, but the Japanese pirates will definitely not dare to enter Jinling City again. I have relatives in the countryside. I will look for them. I will look for them on remote and uninhabited roads. Maybe I will find them."
"I am coming too!"
…
"Treasury bonds are selling like crazy. Have you bought them?"
"It's a must! I bought fifty taels a long time ago!"
"Wow, why didn't you say anything, secretly making a fortune? No, I have to buy it too..."
"Buy it, hurry up, otherwise, it will be gone when it sells out. I heard that the quantity of the issue is not large, if you grab it like this, it won't take long to grab it."
…
After the newspaper was released, its influence was explosive.
In one day, the entire streets and lanes of Jinling City were talking about the things in the newspapers.
From Ouyang Lun's murder to Zhao Mian's suicide; from His Royal Highness Taisun's private visit in disguise to his assassination by Japanese pirates...
After the issuance of national bonds, although many people initially bought them, they gradually cooled down.
Most people still have a wait-and-see attitude.
But with the release of newspapers and periodicals, after a lot of publicity.
The issuance of national bonds was detonated again in an instant.
Countless people have started a new round of panic buying, and this one is bigger and more intense than the last one.
Public opinion propaganda has initially revealed its terrifying power.
And it is still fermenting, because more newspapers and periodicals are being printed continuously and prepared to be sent to other places and to the whole country.
…
Just when the newspapers were detonating Jinling City, Jiang Yu's intrusion in the lobby of the Ministry of Justice made everyone tremble.
Besides Huang Zicheng, would anyone else do such an unscrupulous thing?
Who could it be?
Everyone's eyes fell on Jiang Wei.
As the commander of the Jinyi Guards, if he dared to break in at this time, he must have conclusive evidence.
In the hall, Jiang Yu's eyes were like eagles, with murderous intent.
Looking at Zhu Yunwen, Chang Mao, Qi Tai and others who were already restless, a thunderous sound suddenly exploded.
"Come here, take down Qitai, the left minister of the Ministry of War!"
(End of chapter)
