Chapter 61 Capital Daily
At the end of the year, due to the promotion of fertilization methods, the harvest doubled compared to before, and the anxiety of ordinary people was alleviated.
Those who were doing business found that the Jinyiwei who were rushing to and fro on the streets every day ignored them. On the contrary, because of the presence of the Jinyiwei, public security improved a lot everywhere. Gradually, more people began to come out to do business, and the capital slowly regained some of its liveliness.
When the emperor's personal guards searched the Jiang Mansion, they found a secret room inside. There were some secret letters and other items in the secret room that had not been burned in time.
...
A few days after the Jiang Mansion was raided, a group of craftsmen arrived, wearing clothes made in the imperial palace. They removed the Jiang Mansion's signboard and began to renovate it. After a while, they replaced the signboard with a new one, as everyone looked on with either fear or curiosity.
Beijing Newspaper Company.
...
"A newspaper is divided into several sections, and the sizes of the sections vary according to the importance of the content..." Yan Xuanyu explained clearly what a newspaper looks like and what content should be contained in it.
He thought about woodblock printing, that is, carving a plate and then making a rubbing directly, but that was time-consuming and labor-intensive, and the result was not worth the effort. So he chose the most primitive method, manual copying, so the number of copies of the newspaper was not large at the beginning.
The section in the middle describes how grain production doubled in various places after the Great Zhou implemented the fertilization method. The short article introduces the fertilization method in detail and also draws a picture of the modified plow. At the end, it tells everyone that if anyone discovers a way to increase production or improve agricultural tools and reports it, there will be a generous reward. The battle report on the border of the Great Zhou is also on it, as well as the conditions in several places and the officials who were inspected this time.
Just releasing these would be enough to shock everyone in Beijing. Is this something they can actually see?!
In addition, there is an article by Lin Fu entitled "Fengxian Travel Notes", which records what Lin Fu saw and heard during his time in Fengxian City. Due to the large number of words, only the upper part was selected in the newspaper, and then it was simplified and placed on the first edition of the Beijing Daily.
In addition, there are two lively and interesting short stories and two catchy poems. In addition to these, there is also a painting section that expresses a story with simple outlines and short words, which is also very interesting.
The small section in the middle can be reserved for future investment promotion. Of course, according to Yan Xuanyu's idea, the investment promotion purpose of the Capital Daily is different from that of future newspapers. In the future, places with good reputation will be selected and written about.
Thus, the first edition of the Beijing Daily was officially published in the capital.
...
"Newspapers for sale! Newspapers for sale! Twenty cents a copy! The first edition of the Beijing Newspaper Company!"
Early in the morning, the shouting of several teenagers walking around the streets attracted countless people's attention. These teenagers were carrying a cloth bag with a thick stack of paper in it.
At first, no one dared to approach, and some people even walked around this group of strange teenagers. The teenagers didn't care and continued shouting.
"It contains Lord Lin Fulin's article 'Travels in Fengxian'!"
Until someone came over and asked doubtfully, "Did the Beijing Newspaper Company really ask you to sell this newspaper?"
"Of course!" The newspaper boy, finally seeing someone approaching him, suddenly became enthusiastic and introduced himself to the man. "I'm a newsboy from the Beijing Newspaper Company. This is the first one we've sold. There will be a second and a third in the future."
As he was speaking, several people gathered around him, not far away.
Seeing a large crowd gathering around him, the young man quickly whispered, "What are you afraid of? This newspaper is distributed to the people of the capital... You've all heard about the Beijing Newspaper Company, right? It's run by the higher-ups! Don't disbelieve me! Think about it, how many sheets of paper can you buy with twenty coins? Besides, it's covered in words! This newspaper is selling in short supply right now, so if you buy one, you'll have the only copy in the capital!"
Many people were tempted by what he said. The first person who came to ask was named Liu, and his family was quite wealthy. He said, "I'm curious what's in this newspaper. Give me two!"
With Mr. Liu taking the lead, several onlookers followed suit and bought some.
The newsboy immediately smiled and handed over the newspaper with one hand while taking the money.
...
Mr. Liu took the newspaper and took a look at it, and was immediately shocked and cried out.
Someone nearby complained, "What are you yelling about? You're scaring me!"
Master Liu's fingers trembled. "Look at what's written on it?"
When have these common people ever seen the major events in the imperial court? Now they are all written in black on a white background!
Will they get themselves killed if they buy this newspaper?!
The young newspaper seller said with a grin, "Sir, since our Beijing newspaper dares to write about it, they will definitely let us see it."
The young man explained further, which finally reassured the people who bought the newspapers. Someone saw the article "Fengxian Travel Notes" and couldn't help but exclaimed, "It was actually written by Lord Lin! Lord Lin resigned from office a long time ago, and I didn't expect that he went to Fengxian City!"
"Fengxian City? What is Fengxian City?"
Another person asked, "Is what's written in this travelogue true or fabricated?!"
He pointed to the Fengxian Shopping Mall, public carriages and the description of the road in "Fengxian Travels" and showed them to others.
"Look at the painting behind this, it's really interesting!"
The simple black and white drawings were very novel to them. Yan Xuanyu chose the story of three monks fetching water to drink. The first picture showed a little monk carrying a shoulder pole to fetch water. The second picture showed two monks carrying shoulder poles to fetch water together. The third picture showed another monk and an empty water tank, asking people to guess what had happened.
There was more below, but the man was reluctant to show it to anyone else. He extended his hand to dismiss them, saying, "Go away, go away! If you want to see it, buy yourselves a copy. Twenty cents!"
These first group of Beijing residents who saw the newspaper didn’t know that in the future, it would be no exaggeration to say that almost everyone in the city would have one or even several copies of the Beijing Daily!
...
Yan Xuanyu had a lot of things to do, but if he tried to prioritize, he suddenly remembered the three concubines in the palace. Now that the capital was in his hands, it was only a matter of time before the other cities were completely under his control. Even if he dismissed the harem now, no one would say anything.
"What do you think?" Yan Xuanyu asked after pondering for a while.
Naturally, there was no need to call them "my concubine" in the future. Yan Xuanyu allowed them to call themselves "I".
The three of them looked at each other. Zhang Yuezhi was the first to stand up and solemnly bowed to Yan Xuanyu: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I am willing to leave the palace and run a hot pot restaurant for you."
Yan Xuanyu looked at Zhang Yuezhi. Zhang Yuezhi ran the hot pot restaurant very well. In order to prevent it from being discovered by those interested in the court, he thought of handing the hot pot restaurant over to Zhang Yuezhi, who came from a merchant family. It was also very convenient to hide her identity as a palace concubine. Just like now, no one in the outside world knows that the hot pot restaurant is run by Zhang Yuezhi.
"It's as you wish." Yan Xuanyu nodded in agreement.
Wang Qinyao suppressed her smile and asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, do you want to send us out of the palace, or..."
Yan Xuanyu changed her posture at the head of the table, thought for a moment, and said, "It all depends on your wishes. If you don't want to leave the palace, you can still enjoy the treatment of a concubine in the palace. But you also know that in the past, I only set foot in the harem to dispel the suspicions of those with ulterior motives."
Also, continuing to stay in the palace would only waste time and would probably delay their development.
Wang Qinyao deliberately smiled and said, "With your Majesty's words, I will boldly ask for mercy and stay in the palace."
This was within Yan Xuanyu's expectations, but what surprised Yan Xuanyu was that Li Zhiwei also wanted to leave the palace.
Yan Xuanyu hesitated for a moment, then told Li Zhiwei about the Li family: "When the imperial court was purged, the Li family was involved in many things. I spared their lives, but you can't go back to the Li Mansion."
Li Zhiwei shook her head and smiled, "Your Majesty, you are worrying too much. Even if the Li Mansion is still there, I will not go back."
She pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I have heard a little about the newspapers in the capital, and I have also seen what newspapers are. I beg Your Majesty to give me a chance... I want to give it a try."
"The newspaper is currently unmanaged, and Your Majesty can't always do everything yourself." Li Zhiwei paused, "Actually, I have another idea, and it was inspired by Qin Yao."
Wang Qinyao widened her eyes and pointed at herself: "Me?"
"Yes." Li Zhiwei nodded. "You have always been fond of fine clothes. You are also very fond of Yuanhua pancreas produced in Fengxian. The items you once used have also been imitated by other ladies."
She paused here and looked at Yan Xuanyu, as if observing his attitude.
Yan Xuanyu was stunned. "Go on."
Li Zhiwei said "yes", "So I thought, since there is a newspaper for the entire Great Zhou, can Qin Yao and I also make a newspaper with content about jewelry, fine clothes, or...?"
As Yan Xuanyu listened, he thought it was quite feasible. Isn't this a women's newspaper?
He thought more deeply. This women's newspaper needed to be published and maintained. Right now, the Great Zhou had many things to do and couldn't spare the time for now. However, once stability and prosperity were achieved, they would inevitably face a problem: the issue of men and women. The Great Zhou's restrictions on women weren't as strict as those of the last dynasty in his past life, but in some ways, the various restrictions on women were also outrageous.
So we need to publish a women's newspaper, but if we want to get it started at the current stage, we must rely on the power of those upper-class ladies, first gain their attention and promote this newspaper as a trend and a fashion, so that it can have greater appeal later!
Thinking of this, he agreed to Li Zhiwei's request to give it a try. Since Wang Qinyao was going to stay in the palace, she would be the actual founder of the women's newspaper, and Li Zhiwei could serve as the chief editor.
Yan Xuanyu didn't know what effect Wang Qinyao and Li Zhiwei would produce. If feasible, he could release a few issues first to see the effect.
Yan Xuanyu never thought that Li Zhiwei and others were short-sighted and far inferior to modern people like him because they had always been in the backyard and deep palace. In fact, the imagination of ancient people sometimes far exceeded that of modern people. Many popular items in later generations can be found in certain dynasties, and their aesthetics are more in line with this era.
The storybook can then be serialized in a section of the newspaper.
...
As more and more people in the capital read the Capital Daily, which was published every seven days, a piece of news quietly leaked out. According to the bottom section of the third issue of the Capital Daily, the court planned to select officials and recruit scholars by subject-based examinations.
The third issue of Beijing Daily proposed a new word to the world:
Imperial examination.
...
The court of the Great Zhou Dynasty had always been controlled by aristocratic families, and it was difficult for commoners to cross the social class to become officials. In the Chen Dynasty, there was a brief practice of selecting talents based on etiquette, conduct, filial piety and integrity, but it was abolished in the late Chen Dynasty. After the establishment of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the method of recommending and then examining the character of the candidates was used, and it has been controlled by aristocratic families ever since.
The Great Zhou Dynasty is in urgent need of talents for its development, but talents cannot be cultivated overnight. Moreover, the famous ancient books of the Great Zhou Dynasty have always been collected by the nobles. If common people want to learn to read, they have to go to private schools or have great talents give lectures.
There are so many people in the Great Zhou, and we can always select talents who are temporarily available.
Now the benefits of confiscating officials' residences became apparent - almost every residence had a large collection of books, and upon careful counting, they were quite comprehensive. Some officials even had rare and unique books in their homes.
The total amount of books seized from the confiscated mansion was almost the same as the collection of books in the imperial palace!
Yan Xuanyu considered himself a "bandit" and with a wave of his hand, he collected all the books and started copying them!
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