As a man of both talent and good looks, renowned throughout the land, Gu Zheng had countless admirers both inside and outside the court. Since he had read the book and thought it was good, others naturally wouldn't miss it. Thus, the book was first copied and circulated among officials within the Hanlin Academy, then spread to the Imperial College and the Imperial Academy, quickly becoming a viral sensation throughout the capital, and the craze was spreading throughout Great Chu.
Many people have a curiosity about the world, let alone this group of the most outstanding people in the entire Great Chu?
The various propositions raised in this book quickly became the hottest topics in the capital. Even the common people, who knew nothing about anything, knew that such a book existed and what was written in it. And many of the contents were common in their daily lives.
In such an atmosphere, it is naturally easier to create sparks.
Some relatively simple questions were quickly answered, and some young scholars had even begun designing experiments.
Because she wrote the book herself, He Qing openly collected the follow-up feedback, feeling quite relieved. Although it was just a trend at the moment and it was unknown when it would pass, she believed that after the great waves washed away the sands, there would definitely be some people who would remain who would dedicate themselves to studying this art.
Taking this opportunity, He Qing also reported to the Empress Dowager and purchased a number of research tools for herself, and began her research openly. At the same time, she also wrote to the Empress Dowager, requesting to start a newspaper specifically to publish related content.
Her plan progressed step by step, and was getting further and further away from the court. Naturally, the Empress Dowager had no objection.
A special fund was allocated to her, and she was allowed to select helpers from the entire inner palace to set up the framework of the newspaper.
So, before the Chinese New Year, He Qing met Gu Zheng again after a few months.
This time, with the Empress Dowager's permission, she summoned Gu Zheng openly. She wanted to leverage his fame to solicit articles for the newspaper. This would both pique everyone's interest and provide guidance for their research. Otherwise, she would be left alone, and the point of running the newspaper would be lost.
Gu Zheng had connections within the palace and was well-informed. He had already heard of He Qing's plan. Hearing her lay it out, he smiled and said, "Master, since you think so highly of me, how can I refuse? If this newspaper were to be established, it would certainly serve as a platform for those who enjoy studying this art. It would be better than just going it alone."
"That's right," He Qing said. "In fact, considering your status, Lord Gu is more suitable for this. With your reputation, you will definitely attract a lot of support. However, Lord Gu holds an important position and is busy with many things every day. I am afraid he can't take care of these things. As for me, I am a free man, so I dare to take care of these trivial matters. If we really want to run the newspaper, we need Lord Gu's full support."
"Master, you are too polite." Gu Zheng laughed, "I think it is most appropriate for Master to handle these matters."
He Qing felt that his words were suggestive and was about to ask, but Gu Zheng had already changed the subject, "I wonder how Master Zhen will run this newspaper, and what it will be called? Once I know the name, I can tell others when I go out."
"I'm just discussing this with Lord Gu," He Qing said. "I'm hesitating whether to call it 'Nature' or 'Science'."
"Science?" The meaning of "natural" was clear at a glance, but the last two words made Gu Zheng ponder for a moment, and then he smiled, "Is it the science of golden rules? The way of nature has hidden laws, and all things follow them. What a 'science'!"
He left another sentence unsaid: He Qing actually named it "Xue," which showed that he believed this natural way could stand on equal footing with other schools of thought. This kind of pioneering spirit was not something that just anyone possessed.
"Does Lord Gu think that Science is good?" He Qing asked.
Gu Zheng shook his head and said, "I think it would be better to have two documents. One side's opinion is always biased. It would be better to have two documents, with the same content but different focuses, which would allow for compatibility and inclusiveness."
"That makes sense!" He Qing clapped his hands. "How about this: a Science edition focusing on theory, and a Nature edition focusing on various phenomena and techniques? Only then would it be considered complete."
Physics is a discipline that moves from theory to technology, or vice versa. Making this distinction from the outset will also benefit those who come after.
Gu Zheng naturally had no objection.
So He Qing got busy again. She planned to launch the first newspaper in February of next year, but there was a lot to do before then.
The newspaper's message, spread through Gu Zheng's mouth, had an immediate effect. He Qing set up a submission point outside the palace, receiving at least two or three submissions every day, a level of enthusiasm far exceeding expectations. After all, the literati of this era were very confident in themselves and were still very willing to speak out.
This matter seemed very important to He Qing, but from the perspective of the entire court and the entire Chu, it was nothing.
Firstly, the Lunar New Year was approaching, and the most important matter at court was the offering of sacrifices. Secondly, the new emperor had already been born, so the coronation ceremony should be organized as soon as possible, and the title should be determined early. However, before the court could finalize its deliberations, memorials from various vassal kings requesting to return to the capital for the coronation ceremony arrived, inevitably stirring up another uproar.
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