Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

"But these are just rumors among scholars. These people are also destroying the reputation of the Marquis in the market."

As the supervisor of the East Factory, his main responsibility was to monitor and collect information. Concealing the news of cursing Zhang Shikang was Fang Zhenghua's subjective behavior.

Since Zhang Shikang asked, Fang Zhenghua certainly would not hide anything.

"Oh? What do people say about me?" Zhang Shikang said hatefully.

Fang Zhenghua hesitated for a moment, but finally said:

"In the market, they all say... that the Marquis is a troublemaker who has stirred up chaos in the Ming court and caused unrest in the Ming world.

My Lord, please don't be angry, these people are just making up stories.

The court is much better than it was half a year ago, and this is all due to the efforts of the Marquis and the Emperor.

These people have no gratitude for the emperor's grace and are short-sighted. "

Fang Zhenghua knew that Zhang Shikang had a bad temper. Seeing Zhang Shikang's sullen face, he hurriedly spoke to comfort him again.

"Yes, Shikang, no matter how the world sees you, to me, you are the true pillar of the Ming Dynasty.

That Su is not allowed to come, I said so."

Emperor Chongzhen also tried to comfort him, but he didn't learn the essence of Zhang Shikang's way of speaking, and he didn't even recognize Jesus.

Seeing that both the master and the servant were so kind, Zhang Shikang was not so angry anymore.

"At least I'm still a stick, and they're all shit."

Li Banghua couldn't help himself after hearing that.

"Master Zhang, this is in the court, and His Majesty is here. How can you speak so crudely? This will damage the dignity of the court. It is better to say less."

Zhang Shikang was already unhappy. He had just mentioned a piece of shit and piss in the court, and now he was dragged out by this old man Li to be whipped. He immediately retorted:

"Master Li, were you a robot in your previous life? Why do you always keep harping on these insignificant little things?

What happened in the court? What happened with His Majesty being here? You can’t even say anything?

Don’t you want to poop? Even His Majesty has to poop! "

Even if you don't let me say it, I'll still say it, no matter what.

However, after Zhang Shikang finished speaking, he saw that Chongzhen's face was not very good, so he added:

"Your Majesty is of course different. Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, the dragon. Even if you are doing that, you cannot use the common people's terms.

Well, it should be called Xiang, yes, Long Xiang!"

It would be worse if this supplement was not given, and Emperor Chongzhen looked even uglier.

But he didn't say a word. If Zhang Shikang could stop talking nonsense, he wouldn't be named Zhu.

"How disrespectful! How rude! A rotten tree cannot be carved, and rotten mud cannot be climbed on a wall!" Li Banghua saw that Zhang Shikang not only did not restrain himself, but became even more unscrupulous.

But even when Zhang Shikang acted like this, the emperor remained silent, not even giving a perfunctory rebuke.

Li Banghua was furious and felt that the court was just as corrupt as those scholars had said.

Seeing that he had angered old man Li and his blood pressure had risen again, Zhang Shikang was no longer angry, and even smiled and comforted him:

"Hehe, the rotten mud is lying on the ground fine. Maybe it doesn't want to climb up the wall. The rotten wood may not want to be carved. Lord Li, please don't get angry and hurt yourself."

However, this consolation was worse than no consolation. Li Banghua snorted coldly and even closed his eyes, looking like he was closing his eyes and ears and was not bothered by anything.

"But Your Majesty, we can't let these scholars talk nonsense!

You are the ruler of the Ming Empire!

What a joke! Public opinion is controlled by a group of educated people!

Literary inquisition, we must have a literary inquisition, the kind that even Jesus can’t stop!

Teach these ignorant people that spreading rumors has a price to pay! "

Zhang Shikang said seriously.

"Literary inquisition." Emperor Chongzhen frowned and thought for a moment before he understood what was going on.

Although literary inquisitions existed in every dynasty, it was the Qing Dynasty that truly promoted it.

Generally speaking, in the impression of ordinary people, literary inquisition seems to be linked to framing loyal and honest people, and is considered to be a very bad thing.

But in fact it is true.

But from the perspective of the rulers, this is not the case.

From the perspective of the rulers, literary inquisition was one of the means to strengthen control over the thoughts and culture of the literati.

Zhang Shikang certainly didn't want the Ming Dynasty to become a place where there was no freedom of speech, but he could only make up stories, slander and defame others as soon as he opened his mouth.

This is absolutely not okay.

"If this move can help the implementation of national policies and the long-term stability of the country, you can do it. I have said that I will stick with you through thick and thin."

Emperor Chongzhen did not understand, but respected.

"Okay." Zhang Shikang made the decision immediately.

"Manager Fang, you are the right person to handle this matter." Zhang Shikang turned his head and said to Fang Zhenghua.

Although Fang Zhenghua had strong execution capabilities, he did not know much about controlling public opinion and did not know how to use the literary inquisition, so he took the initiative to ask Zhang Shikang.

"As for literary inquisition, of course, we should focus on the words.

That’s not difficult. Just check every word of the articles of those who curse the court and me.

I think our dynasty is very cautious about this. Oh, I don’t think these people will make such a low-level mistake.

It's just a false accusation. Are you afraid that you won't be able to find one?

In those articles, they were against this and that, so there must be the word "against", right?

They keep saying "Great Ming", so this has the word "Ming" in it, right?

Look, he actually dared to "rebel against the Ming Dynasty".

This is a rebellion!"

As Zhang Shikang gave examples, he saw Li Banghua's eyebrows and beard trembling at the same time. Seeing that the old man Li was about to lose his temper again, he immediately added:

"Oh, I'm just giving you an example, Manager Fang. I'm not saying anything bad about you, but you need to be more active."

"Yes, yes, yes, I know." Fang Zhenghua was stunned.

If this is really the case, I guess those who wrote the articles will suffer.

"Master Zhang, you...don't do anything stupid! Don't do anything stupid!

If scholars are treated like this, who will dare to work hard for the country in the future?"

Li Banghua couldn't help but persuade.

"Don't worry, Lord Li. I know what I'm doing." Zhang Shikang said perfunctorily.

Li Banghua opened his mouth, but perhaps he realized that it was useless to object, so he simply closed it.

"As for controlling public opinion, that's easy to say. I remember that the imperial court had a newspaper."

The so-called Dibao is an official newspaper that records major events and important appointments of the court. It is printed by the Tongzhengsi and circulated among officials in various places, but not shown to ordinary people.

“Since we have the official gazette, we can of course also publish other newspapers and periodicals.

How could our great Ming Dynasty not even have a newspaper serving the people of the world?

This newspaper is a knife that controls public opinion.

The content of newspapers and periodicals could be a rebuttal and criticism of the articles written by corrupt scholars, or it could be an explanation and supplement to the important national policies of the imperial court.

Of course, it could also be a public notice wall for those who curse the imperial court, publishing these rumor-mongers in newspapers and noting the crimes they have committed.

As for the charges, Manager Fang, you don't need me to teach you, right?

You can learn from Inspector Lu. Wherever he goes, there will be armor in the cellar.

People don't care what the crime behind this is.

We are an official newspaper. Based on our trust in the imperial court, once we make it public, we will definitely hate this group of people to the core.

Teach those who spread rumors to pay the price, and teach those who just watch the show that the court is on their side.

This is called controlling public opinion.

I have already thought of the name of the newspaper.

It's called "Da Ming Daily"!