Chapter 7: Heavenly Machine

Under the sky, all men are created equal.

On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, the first "Huaiyang Xun Bao" after the end of the New Year's holiday, in its first edition, the first article, and the most eye-catching position, printed and distributed these ten words in the original text. It is called the Declaration of Equality.

These ten words are followed by the official explanation of the Governor's Office as to why the Declaration of Equality is mentioned. According to them, enslaving and bullying each other is the greatest evil in this world. The reason why the rule of the Mengyuan Empire was tyrannical was because the Mengyuan court, from top to bottom, did not treat the Han and other conquered people as human beings. And after the Red Turban Army expelled Meng Yuan, in case some of them forgot their original intentions, they also treated the people as slaves like Meng Yuan's officials. The uprising of the Red Turban Army lost any significance. Furthermore, the whole team also loses the righteousness of the zài.

Therefore, in order to let everyone not forget their roots, do not forget their original intentions, and let future generations never be treated as fourth-class slaves again. Wu Guogong, Prime Minister Zuo, and Zhu Chongjiu, the chief administrator of Huaiyang, made a covenant with the officials and people under his rule, "Under the sky, everyone is born equal." And vowed to take this as the mother of all laws, it is not easy for a thousand years.

When the newspapers and periodicals were issued, they immediately caused a big wave in the north and south of the Yangtze River and on both sides of the Yellow River.

The first to react were the newspapers everywhere.

The day after the "Huaiyang Xun Bao" published the "Declaration of Equality," a number of official and private newspapers and periodicals, such as "Huaiyang Business Daily," "Canal Miscellaneous Talks," "Yangtze River Anecdotes," and "Spring and Autumn Justice," all forwarded the original text of the declaration and the explanations published in the "Huaiyang Xun Bao" as quickly as possible. At the same time, according to their respective locations and needs, or Zangzhi, or not, comment.

Stimulated by the new industry and commerce and encouraged by the governor's policy of not sinnering people, newspapers and periodicals of all sizes have sprung up in the Huaiyang area in the past two years. At its peak, there were more than 40 kinds of newspapers on the market. Although seven or eight out of ten were quickly eliminated for various reasons, the remaining twelve out of ten have gained enough support from readers with their own unique styles and positions. At the same time, they also exert an influence that cannot be ignored in their respective readers.

Each newspaper has a different origins and a wide range of opinions. For example, the "Huaiyang Xunbao", which has the greatest influence in the Huaiyang region and the oldest seniority, was originally the residence newspaper of the Huai'an Governor's Mansion. In order to open up trade routes and obtain money and food to support the development of the Huai'an Army, Zhu Chongjiu specially ordered people to print the Di Bao on a large scale, and enriched the functions of the Di Bao, so that in addition to issuing official decrees, it also published some old news, anecdotes, and messy news about merchants seeking to buy and sell. Over time, this newspaper became the official newspaper of the Governor's Office, and it would only speak from the official standpoint. The issuance time was changed from half a month to ten days, and at the same time, the name was logically changed from Huai'an to Huaiyang!

And the major shareholder behind "Canal Miscellaneous" is said to be the boat gang. In the past two years, the war between Lianghuai and Jiangnan has continued, and the grain is no longer transported from the canal to Dadu, and the boat gang has suddenly become a rootless ping. But with the help of the quick minds and sharp eyes of the three family members, the strength and influence of the boat gang have not decreased, but have increased a lot compared to the original. Among the children who are willing to take their lives to gain fame, they just have to apply for the Navy Recruit Training Camp. Most of them, from examiners to instructors, came from boat gangs. Therefore, I will definitely take care of my younger generation.

Those who did not want to be soldiers and eat food followed the fleet to do some other business. Such as Huai salt, Huai cloth, cement, soap, and even valuable glass and ice green, as long as the boat gang is willing to pay, there is almost nothing that cannot be bought. From the hundred workshops under the name of the Grand Governor's Mansion to the shops belonging to the Huaiyang firm, they always have a high view of the business of the Boat Gang. Not only is the delivery speed faster than others, but it can also give a lot of convenience in terms of discounts.

Therefore, although "Canal Miscellaneous" usually mainly publishes some folk anecdotes and unverifiable Confucian privacy, as long as it involves major events, it is basically the same nostril as "Huaiyang Xunbao". Whatever the Huaiyang Governor's Office does is good governance and moral governance, and whatever is publicly propagated by the Governor's Office is farsightedness. No, no, there is no need for a reason at all!

The "Huaiyang Business Daily", which was funded by the Huaiyang firm, was not so polite to the governor's office. Especially when it comes to the adjustment of the tax rate of a specific goods, the entry and exit procedures, and the business scope of the business, every once in a while, they will deliberately sing a contradiction to the governor's office. Even in June and the winter solstice months of each year, the two months when taxes should be settled, there are always rumors that some vendors are overwhelmed and go bankrupt, sell their children, and even commit suicide to avoid debts. It was as if the merchants of Lianghuai were forced to do business and didn't make any money at all.

However, in this discussion of the "Covenant of Equality", "Huaiyang Business Daily" rarely stands on the same position as "Huaiyang Xunbao". It is even more active and active than the government-run "Huaiyang Xunbao". A few days after the first newspaper was launched, the second newspaper after the New Year was published in advance. From the first edition to the last edition, almost every edition spends a great deal of space on the opinions of many merchants, shopkeepers, shopkeepers, and fellow men, all of whom are shouting for the Governor's Office.

The attitude of the remaining newspapers such as "Anecdotes of the Yangtze River" and "Spring and Autumn Justice" is more complicated. "Anecdotes of the Yangtze River", which has always attracted readers with its grotesque rhetoric, is rare and rigorous, seriously analyzing the meaning of the phrase "all men are created equal". However, the conclusions they came to made people laugh and cry after reading them.

"There's a villain around the chief manager. Liu Gongbowen is difficult to support alone", this is the title of another article published in "Anecdotes of the Yangtze River", alongside the "Declaration of Equality". After carefully analyzing the various decrees of the Great Governor's Office over the past year or so, as well as their possible sources, the writer keenly judged that someone was bewitching Zhu Chongjiu and making him make a wrong decision. And Liu Bowen is obviously one of the few sober ministers in the Great Governor's Mansion today, but his experience is the same as that of loyal ministers of previous dynasties, and no one is willing to listen to what he says, and he has also caused him a lot of trouble.

"Spring and Autumn Justice" has always taken the maintenance of Taoism as its own responsibility. In the past, he had been critical of every decree of the Huaiyang Governor's Mansion, and this time, of course, he would not let go of the opportunity to criticize him. "Perverse!" , "The Order of the Emperor", "Sensationalism", almost every version of the eight boards in the same issue is to refute the idea that "all men are created equal". Each one reads like a flood of bells and is deafening.

Lively, never stay in one place.

Half a month after the newspapers in Huaiyang began to criticize the "Declaration of Equality," the famous scholars and scholars south of the Yangtze River and north of the Yellow River decisively set off a wave of even greater crusade. This time, the Confucian scholars who belonged to different sects and had fought with each other rarely gave up the battle for the portal. The north and the south echoed, the east and the west cooperated, and made concerted efforts to criticize the Huaiyang Governor's Mansion.

"Propriety, righteousness, honesty, shame, the four dimensions of the country, if the four dimensions are not prosperous, the country will perish!" In the eyes of the gentry in Rulin and other places, Zhu Chongjiu led the Huaiyang Red Turban group of thieves to subvert the government and plunder the gentry, which was already in the category of shamelessness. Blatantly chasing copper odor and participating in the dividends of the firm is a loss of integrity. Taking advantage of the death of the big thief Sesame Li, and crossing Zhao Junyong, Peng Da and others to seize power, it is unjust. Now he is hyping up what "all men are created equal", treating the hierarchical order since the Spring and Autumn Period as waste paper, and destroying the Zhou rites.

Slander, unrighteousness, incorruptibility, shamelessness, how can such a person, such a robber and thief, be qualified to live in the world again? There are wise and brave people in the world, and they should attack them in groups. Destroy his army, destroy his city, and capture himself and his henchmen in a solemn criminal code, so as to restore peace in the world.

This call was very loud, and almost within a month, it was supported by thousands of local celebrities and Confucians. Even some Taoist priests, monks, green forest knights, and thieves who occupy the mountains as kings also jumped out one after another. It was announced that if the court could reuse them, and the gentry could provide them with convenience, they would not hesitate to die to eradicate the traitors for the world.

However, it is disappointing that the crusades from the people have been rising in waves, but most of those who really hold the power of the soldiers and horses are extremely cautious. In addition to Zhang Shicheng's public announcement that from now on he will completely draw a line with the Huaiyang Governor's Mansion. Other princes, such as Zhu Yuanzhang, Peng Yingyu, Liu Bowen, etc., had very ambiguous attitudes. It did not prevent the gentry and Confucian forests under the autonomy from spitting on Huaiyang, and constantly cut off contacts with Huaiyang. He should send envoys to Zhu Chongjiu to congratulate him, he should do business with Huaiyang firms, and those who should repay their past debts will continue to repay their debts, as if this sudden conflict of public opinion has nothing to do with them at all.

The most disappointing thing is the Mengyuan Mansion. Instead of immediately following the requirements of the gentry and the famous confucians, a large army was sent to plow the court and sweep the cave of Zhu Thief Chongjiu and his minions. On the contrary, when the people's reaction was most intense, the soldiers and horses deployed on the north bank of the Yellow River and the west bank of Weishui quietly retreated 60 miles. Although it was declared to the soldiers that it was to take advantage of the arrival of spring to conduct a routine drill for soldiers and horses in various places. But the people who understood it immediately realized that the Mengyuan Imperial Court did not want to start a war with the Huai'an army at all now.

"There are traitors around the emperor!" The gentry and celebrities who were splashed with a big scoop of cold water on their heads were furious. They turned the spearhead around and pointed at the right minister Hama in the capital. But this time, they really kicked the iron plate. Having learned the lesson of the last assassination, Hama immediately took action. Mobilize his followers in the center and the local government's palace, and according to the plan, arrest all the gentry who shouted the loudest. then casually buttoned the hat of "arguing about the government and framing the ministers", and made these few folk "loyal people" bankrupt.

"The sky has no eyes, the sky has no eyes, you can't distinguish between turbidity, and you will judge loyalty and traitors in vain!" Those gentry have a wide range of connections, and they have been wronged, so naturally someone will come forward to call for them. However, within a few days, everyone discovered another strange phenomenon. That is, "Confucianism Justice" opened in Huaiyang is still hoarse and desperate to speak up. The various newspapers that were opened in various places under the rule of the imperial court, whether they were run by officials following the Huaiyang model or privately published for the purpose of earning money, were all dumbfounded, and they were no longer willing to say a word about Zhu Chongjiu and his "Declaration of Equality."

"God, it turns out that you are also the master who bullies the weak and fears the hard, and you have wasted our hard work and worked tirelessly to wave the flag and shout for you!" After receiving another heavy blow to the head, the gentry and Confucian students in various places under the rule of the Great Yuan Dynasty finally understood that the imperial court did not want them to seek meat eaters at all. Keeping your head down and following orders like a donkey is the best option.

However, after all, it is not the first time that they have been beaten, and they have already developed a certain degree of adaptability on the whole. Soon, the battlefield shifted from newspapers to civilians. In the drama and small songs, he once again launched a charge towards Huaiyang.

In the drama and song, Zhu Chongjiu turned into a reincarnated demon, leading 100,000 evil demons to try to overthrow the heavenly court. And there is a high-ranking official in the heavenly court, Hemar, who was born as a slave, and has been benefited by demons, and has repeatedly deceived the Jade Emperor and delayed the warplane. And the loyal Tai Bai Xing, the Big Dipper Star and other civil and military forces, all of them were defeated in the mortal world to suffer. It wasn't until the evil demons finally became bigger, broke through the Nantian Gate, and directly hit the front of the Lingxiao Palace, that the Jade Emperor repented and re-sent someone to take the jade dew of Guanyin Bodhisattva, and went to the people to wake up the Tai Bai Xing and the Big Dipper Star, so that they could return to heaven, eradicate the traitors, and exterminate the evil demons.

Under the impetus of well-intentioned people, whether it is excerpts or loose operas, they have rapidly spread in the north and south of the Yellow River. However, in the face of this new round of crusade, the Mengyuan Imperial Court and the Huaiyang Grand Governor's Mansion adopted completely different ways of responding.

Tuhuan Timur and Hama still caught a group of bold people and set an example for chickens and monkeys. On Zhu Chongjiu's side, he didn't even bother to respond, but just released a message through the guò newspaper, announcing that the Governor's Office would build a stargazing platform on the Purple Mountain outside Jiangning City on Jiqing Road. After the platform is completed, anyone who submits an application and pays 200 Wen Huaxia Datong Treasure can get a glimpse of the Moon Palace and the galaxy with the help of the extra-large telescope on the stargazing platform. The first stargazing day is set for the 15th of next month, and celebrities from all over the world are invited to visit as scheduled.

"Phew, then Zhu Chongjiu must be poor and crazy, and he is trying to make money!" After the news broke, some people scolded loudly as usual.

Some people also asked very hesitantly, "Then Zhu Chongjiu doesn't want to learn Hama, and trick everyone into killing him!" After all, when it comes to stargazing and admiring the moon, ordinary fools and fools will not spend that unjust money! ”

"How is that possible!" In all directions, there was immediately a voice of rebuttal, "Zhu Chongjiu's house is the best name, and "Confucianism Justice" has not been run under his rule for one or two years, you look at the owner and the main writer, aren't they all still alive and well?!" ”

"Right?" The refuted person nodded slightly. Immediately, he quickly wrinkled his eyebrows into a big pimple. Zhu Chongjiu is indeed perverse, and the chaos is common. But Zhu Chongjiu, a thief, really didn't raid people's homes, smash other people's newspapers, and ask for people's lives because others refused to say good things about him! For this alone, he is much more atmospheric than the Mengyuan court, and he is also a hundred times more confident.

"Then the old man will go and see who is protecting the Zhu thief in the sky, so that he dares to be so unscrupulous!" After being slightly shocked, someone felt a sense of grandeur in their hearts.

Just scolding, scolding can't defeat the Zhu thief. Since he firmly believes that under the sky, everyone is equal. And the imperial court had no intention of sending troops. The only way to defeat him is to get a glimpse of the whole sky and break his obsession from the root.

This is a major event involving the rise and fall of propriety and righteousness. The children of Confucianism have an unshirkable responsibility!

Therefore, although there are tens of millions of people, I will go!