"Send newspapers, send newspapers, "Daming Times", the freshly baked "Daming Times", come and take a look!"

A fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy carrying a dark green satchel walking on the Qinhuai River, the most prosperous part of Jinling, today is the seventh day of the release of the Daming Times, and the Daming Times has also entered the life of Jinling people in a sudden way in these days.

The first issue of the "Daming Times" printed 1,000 copies, and Yue Yang hired 30 newspaper boys to distribute them for a day, and by the third day, the 1,000 copies of the newspapers had been delivered in the evening, and on the seventh day, the 2,000 copies of the newspaper had been looted before noon.

Today, Yue Yang is sitting in the courtyard to meet a middle-aged man who is about thirty-four or five years old, this middle-aged man is dressed in green clothes, and the whole person's spirit does not look very good, Yue Yangxinna's daughter-in-law Wang Yue is standing behind the middle-aged man and beating him on the back obediently, and Yue Yang is sitting on the side and talking to him, he is Wang Qian, the father of Wang Yue, who has just been brought out.

Because he has eaten prison food for more than half a year, he can't help but look in bad spirits in front of him, and there are vegetables on his face, and Wang Yue's eyes are about to fall off again.

Wang Qian took a sip of tea, looked at Yue Yang's expression a little stern, and was not afraid because of Yue Yang's identity, and still said to Yue Yang solemnly: "Marquis Yue, the old man is in prison these days, and I originally thought that I was afraid that I would be killed in prison by that eunuch, but the old man is not afraid of death, but the only thing that I can't rest assured is Yue'er." When the old man heard in prison that Yue'er had sold herself to the Qinglou, he even had the heart to die. I didn't think about it until I knew that Yue'er was with you, and this time the old man was able to get out of prison thanks to the Hou Ye running around, it stands to reason that the old man should thank you first. But the old man still has to tell you something first, hoping that the Hou Ye can agree. ”

Yue Yang smiled and said, "Lord Wang, please speak!" ”

Wang Qian said solemnly: "Yue'er's mother died early, over the years, the old man has pulled her up with a handful of and urine, in the old man's heart, Yue'er is more precious than the root of life, so the old man wants to ask Master Hou, can you treat Yue'er well in this life?" ”

"Daddy......" Seeing his own Lao Tzu talking to Yue Yang in this tone, Wang Yue behind him was a little anxious. kept pulling Wang Qian's sleeves, but Wang Qian ignored them.

"Absolutely, you don't have to doubt that." Yue Yang Zhengse said: "Your Excellency, don't worry. Since Yue'er has followed me, I will definitely take care of her for the rest of my life, and I will have children and grow old in the future, and I will not let others bully her. ”

Seeing Yue Yang's serious look. Wang Qian stroked his beard and nodded. He has been an official for more than ten years, and he thinks that he has some experience in looking at people, and from Yue Yang's expression, he really loves his daughter. Therefore, he nodded and said, "In that case, then are you still called the old man?" ”

The meaning of Wang Qian's words was very obvious, so Yue Yang immediately stood up, bowed down to Wang Qian, and said respectfully: "Yue Yang has seen my father-in-law!" ”

"Good...... Good ......" Seeing that a marquis in Yueyang also saluted himself so respectfully, Wang Qian, who felt that he had all the face, was both happy and a little sad. I am happy that my daughter has a home since then, and I am sad that the daughter of my dignified official actually gave someone a concubine, and he stroked his beard and said to Yue Yang with a somewhat complicated mood: "Virtuous son-in-law." Now that they have become a family, the old man will not say those polite words. I hope you can treat Yue'er well in the future, so that the old man will be blind even if he dies. ”

Seeing her father say such a thing, Yue'er was a little anxious, and quickly interrupted him: "Dad, today is a big day, why did you say such a thing." Haven't you been dismissed, that's just right, in a few days, you and your child will go back to Shanxi with the prime minister, and it must be easy to let the prime minister arrange an errand for you in Shanxi. ”

Wang Yue was also kind-hearted, originally thinking that his father-in-law was a prince, and it was not a big deal to arrange an official position for his father-in-law, but Wang Qian was furious when he heard it, and said angrily: "What are you talking about, the official position of the court is appointed by the Holy Lord's hand-appointed officials, how can it be privately conferred, don't mention this matter again!" ”

Wang Yue was scolded so much that she lowered her head, and her eyes were so red that she almost cried out with grievances. Yue Yang saw that his cheap father-in-law was quite stubborn, and he had to ...... Since you don't want to be an official, let him go.

After thinking about it, Yue Yang said: "Father-in-law, since you don't want to go to Shanxi to serve as an official, why don't you serve as the editor-in-chief of the "Daming Times" in Jinling?" In this way, even if the son-in-law returns to Shanxi, there will be no one to take care of him. ”

"Daming Times...... What does this do? ”

Wang Qian, who had just been released from prison, did not know about this, so Yue Yang had no choice but to introduce this newspaper to him, and told him the original intention of founding this newspaper, and finally he said: "Father-in-law, the son-in-law thinks that the court is now in the twilight, and the officials are either for wealth, fame or promotion, but there are very few people who seek the well-being of the people, and the mouthpiece and atmosphere of the court are controlled by the Donglin Party, so the son-in-law founded this newspaper to dissect the faces of those shameless people, so that the world can also see the true faces of these well-dressed beasts." ”

"Xianggong, how can you say that." Wang Yue, who was on the side, was taken aback when she heard this, her father was also a scholar, wouldn't Yue Yang scold him when he said this.

When Wang Qian heard this, his brows furrowed, and he said unhappily: "The difference between the virtuous son-in-law's words, although there are some villains in the Donglin Party, many of them are worried about the country and the people, how can they all be generalized?" ”

Yue Yang smiled freely, "My father-in-law's words are wrong, those Donglin Party satirizes the government and comments on the officials, and demands that the court be honest and honest, revitalize the rule of officials, open the way of speech, eliminate the shortcomings of the government and the opposition, and oppose the corruption and perversion of the law by the powerful, but in fact, these people have never put forward any good strategy to save the country and the court, and they are better at internal strife and shorter than governing the country and the army." The only difference with the three parties of Qi, Chu, Zhejiang, and the eunuch party is that the Donglin Party misleads the country, while the opposite of Donglin harms the country. Now there are even more people who say that they are not my own kind, that is, enemies, how stupid must such a person be! ”

As soon as Yue Yang's words came out, even Wang Qian's face changed in fright, and he hurriedly said, "You...... Do you know that if this statement spreads? There will be no place for you to stand in the whole Jiangnan! ”

"What are you afraid of, my son-in-law wants to see, who can help me?" Yue Yang's face was disdainful.

Seeing Wang Qian, he was so angry that he blew his beard and glared. Wang Yue was afraid that his father would be angry, so he hurriedly took out a book and said to Wang Qian: "Daddy, this is a book written by Xianggong, called the Travels of the Old Remnant, which is being published in the Daming Times these days, you can see if there is anything wrong, please correct it." ”

Wang Qian took the book angrily, and wanted to scold a few words. Finally, I thought about it and stopped talking, opened the book and read it, but it didn't matter. He soon fell into it, when he saw that "the corrupt officials are hateful, and everyone knows it." Qing officials are especially hateful, and many people don't know about it. The stolen officer knew he was sick. Don't dare to do evil openly. Qing officials think they don't want money, so why not? Rigid and self-serving, small is murderous, big is misleading the country, I have seen it with my own eyes, I don't know how many things", the heart set off a shocking wave, this sentence hit the nail on the head of those officials in the officialdom. When he saw the official named Yuxian written in the book, he said, "This man is wronged or not. If you let him go, you must not be reconciled. I won't be able to keep my future in the future. As the saying goes, 'cut the grass to the roots'. When he said this, Wang Qian's hands trembled a little, and this sentence also exhausted the ugly faces of some officials.

I wanted to criticize a few words, but he couldn't think of a rebuttal after thinking for a while, so he could only sit on the chair and shake his head and smile bitterly, and finally he said: "That's it, the old man just do it, but you are putting the old man on the stove and torture it!" ”

Wang Qian's words are good, after a short period of seven days, the "Daming Times" set off a wave of enthusiasm in Jinling City, although those who submitted to the "Daming Times" to the "Daming Times" to write a good level of manuscripts, but the "Daming Times" serialized "Confucian Lin Biography" and "Old Disabled Travels" in the entire Jinling set off a monstrous wave, many officials saw this novel like a sharp knife pierced into their chests after thunder, many people have asked to close this Daming Times.

In the hall of a mansion located in the most prosperous street of Jinling, Qian Neng sat on the main seat, and under him sat more than a dozen people, and these people were also very interesting, on one side were businessmen in long robes, and on the other side were seven or eight officials in official uniforms, although the identities of these people were different, but the expressions on their faces were the same.

I saw an official embroidered with a heron on his chest and asked: "Father-in-law Qian, the lower officials think that this Ming Times openly flouted the court and criticized the government, which has caused a great impact on the people, and now many people are talking about the "Old Disabled Travels", saying that the corrupt officials are hateful and the Qing officials are even more hateful, especially those storytellers in some teahouses have compiled these things into paragraphs and spread them widely, if they are not stopped, I am afraid that it will take less than a few months for the whole Ming Dynasty to know." ”

Qian Neng glanced at the official who spoke and did not speak, this person is the general judge of Jinling Mansion named Zhang Wen, and he is also a member of the Donglin Party, after the publication of the "Old Disabled Travels" in the Daming Times, the most affected are those people of the Donglin Party, because the Donglin Party prides itself on being honest on weekdays, and now the "Daming Times" has openly said that "corrupt officials are hateful, and clean officials are especially hateful", which is no less than a sharp knife stabbed into their hearts, so many people can't sit still.

Seeing that Qian Neng didn't speak, a middle-aged man who looked like a businessman on the other side also said to Qian Neng: "Father-in-law Qian, the villains have received the news, that Zhongyong Marquis not only openly published those beleading remarks, but also a group of sea ships carrying refined salt have already left Tianjin, and they will arrive in Jinling in two days, what should we do at that time?" ”

"Yes, Father-in-law Qian, as soon as this loyal and brave marquis arrived in our Jinling, he made so many things, if this person is allowed to stay in Jinling any longer, I am afraid that there will be no peace!" A number of officials and businessmen also complained one after another.

Listening to everyone's complaints, Qian Neng only felt bored in his heart, and scolded angrily: "Then what do you want our family to do?" Send troops to seal his inn and raid the "Daming Times", or arrest him and put him in prison? Or send troops to seize his refined salt? You say! ”

Everyone couldn't help but be dumbfounded, if Yue Yang was an ordinary person, they had a hundred ways to make Yue Yang disappear in Jinling, and they would sit up without pressure if they sat up, but was Yue Yang an ordinary person? He is a dignified Hou Ye, and he has elite soldiers in his hands, and the inn where he lives alone is stationed with five hundred heavily armed elite soldiers, and it is just a joke to move others. What's more, without the emperor's will, who moved to send troops and horses to besiege a marquis. Unless he's impatient to live.

The immigrant salt merchant begged bitterly: "Father-in-law Qian, if you really can't do it, can you make a decree to the emperor and let the loyal and brave marquis leave?" ”

"Please ask the emperor to decree?" Qian Neng had a sarcastic look on his face. sneered: "You are the owner of the Baolai Shun Salt Shop, let's ask you, how much salt tax did you pay to the imperial court last year?" If our family is not mistaken, the salt merchants in Jinling only paid less than five hundred taels of silver, hehe...... Five hundred taels, you are really generous! As for Yueyang, the salt tax that Yueyang paid to the imperial court last year alone was no less than 300,000 taels, so you can tell our family about it. If you were the emperor, who would you help to speak? ”

"This ...... This ......"

The salt merchants looked at each other, and everyone was dumbfounded. 300,000 taels VS 500,000 taels. This multiple-choice question is a multiple-choice question for anyone who has not had their brains caught in the door panel and knows how to choose. But there are also people who are not convinced, can they be blamed for this, all the salt merchants in the Ming Dynasty do this, and the people who pay taxes are fools in their eyes. If you don't evade taxes, you're embarrassed to say hello when you go out.

The salt merchants were dumb. But those officials still had something to say, and the general judge Zhang Wen said: "Father-in-law Qian, the officials of the loyal and brave marquis don't want to take care of the sale of private salt, it is the salt transportation envoy who is in charge, but he can't say anything about openly insulting the officials of the imperial court, right?" Don't you want to ask? ”

"Ask a fart!" Qian Neng finally got angry, pointed at Zhang Wen and scolded: "Aren't you scholars reasoning all day long, the more you argue, the clearer you are? Since people can publish news to scold you, then why don't you know how to scold back, you have read all these books in vain for so many years? People can run a Daming Times. You can also run a Jinling Times, this little will also bother our family! ”

Although Qian Neng is a word that is said in a fit of anger. But it made many officials feel that their eyes suddenly lit up. Yes, since the martial artist of Zhongyong Hou can run newspapers and periodicals, there is no reason why our local landlords can't do it, so many people seem to see hope. In their opinion, if it is talking about fighting or something, a group of them are not Yueyang's opponents, but when it comes to playing tricks, it is their old business, and we will scold them back, and when it comes to scolding, who are we afraid of.

"That's right!" Zhang Wen slapped his thigh and said loudly: "Everyone, we only saw that the Times run by the Marquis of Zhongyong was popular, but we forgot that in fact, these things also cost money, and this official roughly estimated that the cost of such a Times together with the engraving, hiring someone to distribute it, and paying the writer's pen fee will cost at least fifteen yuan per copy. But this kind of newspaper is free, you can think about it, so that the more he sends, the more he loses, such a loss-making business can be done for ten days and half a month, if you sit down for a long time, then the loyal and brave marquis is a mountain of gold and can't stand it, what are we afraid of? ”

"That's right!" Everyone just woke up from a dream, everyone in this world is grabbing money-making business, but who wants to do a loss-making business, this Yueyang is now just losing money and making money, and I'm afraid he won't be able to hold on for ten days and half a month. Besides, this kind of newspaper Yueyang can run it himself, and these people can do it too!

Qian Neng didn't know what he inadvertently said made these officials make up their minds to start a newspaper, but when these officials wanted to start a newspaper, they found that they encountered a big problem, that is, because the movable type printing technology at this time was not yet mature, the Ming court generally used engraving printing when printing post newspapers, so that both the cost and speed were far from being comparable to the Daming Times, the Daming Times is a daily issue, and the Jinling Times they founded can only be half a month. In this way, it was left far behind by the Daming Times in terms of timeliness.

Time has passed another week, after more than half a month of publicity, the Ming Times has gradually entered the lives of the people, seeing that the time is ripe, Yueyang began to implement his charging policy, after all, the daily circulation of the Ming Times has reached 5,000 copies, and there are signs of gradual spread to the surrounding areas, I heard that there are even many businessmen who bring them to the Jiangnan area and the capital, so that every day Yueyang will paste more than 200 taels of silver on it, a month is more than 6,000 taels of silver, That's not a small number.

For the Yueyang Times to start charging, at first many people were resistant, unwilling to pay for it, even if these newspapers and periodicals were only fifteen yuan each, on the first day of the start of charging, the sales of "Daming Times" plummeted, and only sold less than 800 copies on the first day, after the news came back, Yueyang was not troubled, and still smiled and comforted his three daughters-in-law and cheap father-in-law: "Don't worry, they will regret it soon." ”

Yue Yang was right, those who were not willing to pay for the "Daming Times" soon found that they were so unhappy for a day, and many people scratched their ears and cheeks to think about the follow-up content of "The Biography of Rulin" and "The Travels of the Old Remnant" serialized in the newspaper, and this feeling made them almost crazy.

Therefore, when the newsboy went to the street to sell the newspaper the next day, the sales rose like a tide, which also stunned those who were ready to see Yueyang's jokes...... (To be continued......)