Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

That evening, Zhang Shi returned home from his duties as usual, riding in a sedan chair.

Several sedan chairs were already parked in front of the house. After alighting, the head butler greeted him.

He said obsequiously, "Master is back? The guests are all waiting for you in the main hall."

Zhang Shi grunted in acknowledgment and walked straight to the main hall.

The chairs on both sides of the main hall were already filled with people.

There were eight people in total, two or three of whom had completely white hair. These people were all considered veteran officials of the court.

They all greeted Zhang Shi upon seeing him.

Zhang Shi revealed a smiling face: "Everyone has been waiting for a long time. I was busy with official duties today and returned a bit late."

"It's nothing! It's nothing!" the crowd replied hurriedly.

"I wonder what matter Lord Zhang has called us here for?"

Zhang Shi sat down, looking worried.

"What else could it be, gentlemen?"

"Fang Zheng Yi?"

"Precisely! This son has an insincere heart and confuses the people. Are you all just going to watch him continue to be arrogant?" Zhang Shi said with a pained expression. "The court has always been clear and bright, and everyone has always been at peace and harmony. Even if there are problems, we can sit down and discuss them."

"But now Fang Zheng Yi is increasingly favored by the Emperor and does not abide by the rules. If this continues, the court will be filled with miasma, which is truly not a blessing for the people!"

"Moreover, he is now spreading rumors about us among the people. We are all old, and personal honor is nothing, but the honor of our families cannot be lost!"

"If this continues! How can we and the families behind us deal with this? Originally, we were all families that accumulated good deeds, but now we have become rats crossing the street!"

The people present did not rush to respond, but kept stroking their beards.

Suddenly, someone spoke up: "But His Majesty's attitude is clearly supportive of Fang Zheng Yi, and the Crown Prince is also in league with Fang Zheng Yi. What can we do?"

Zhang Shi said sternly: "Everyone, you have already witnessed the power of the newspaper."

"With this thing, the public opinion of the capital is almost entirely in the hands of Fang Zheng Yi alone. The newspaper is the mouthpiece of the world. How can such power be controlled by Fang Zheng Yi?"

"Let him continue to act recklessly, wouldn't the world be in chaos! Moreover, the Crown Prince trusts this person very much, and I am afraid he has gone astray."

"Therefore, even if this matter is difficult, we should fight hard!"

"So the main reason for calling you here is to deal with this matter. His Majesty obviously does not agree to hand over the management of the newspaper to the Hanlin Academy."

"But why can't the various departments of the court run their own newspapers? The affairs of the world should be categorized, and newspapers should also have a focus."

"Now the Crown Prince's Daily is mixed into a团; it should be split up."

"For example, the Ministry of War can set up a Ministry of War Daily, specializing in interpreting the general trend of the world, border movements, and the situation of war public opinion, which can even be influenced by the Daily."

"Similarly, for example, the Ministry of Revenue, the world's money and grain matters can also be influenced by the Daily."

"The same should be true for other departments."

"Although this thing was figured out by Fang Zheng Yi and the Crown Prince, the more I think about it, the more I feel it is an extraordinary thing."

"This incident may be a war. I am willing to call it a war of public opinion!"

The remaining people looked at each other, conveying information with their eyes, and then nodded at the same time.

One person said: "This statement is reasonable! However, Fang Zheng Yi is deeply trusted by His Majesty and the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince's Daily may not be able to be split up."

Zhang Shi smiled slightly: "Splitting up is just a convenient way of speaking."

"It is not necessary for His Majesty to directly split it up. It is enough for each department to directly apply to His Majesty to establish a new newspaper."

"Although the Crown Prince's Daily is booming, it is not professional enough, and most of it is content that ordinary people like to read."

"If the newspapers run by the various departments of the court will definitely attract ambitious scholars from all over the world! Maybe, it can also affect the selection of the imperial examination."

The crowd talked to each other.

Zhang Shi looked at the crowd with a smile.

This is the general trend. Although his family's relationship is usually only superficial, they now have a common enemy.

Fang Zheng Yi, this ignorant thing, has offended everyone.

Now, of course, His Majesty can protect you for a while, but people make mistakes, and horses stumble. There will always be a day when you fall!

After some discussion, someone said: "In this case, I am afraid His Majesty will not agree for a while."

"This time, although the loss of grain donation is not significant for each family, the most important thing is the damage to reputation and the damage to the court's prestige. I am afraid that establishing a new newspaper now will not be able to recover it."

"In our opinion, it is better to first advise His Majesty to prohibit the publication of the Crown Prince's Daily."

Zhang Shi said sternly: "Everyone, prohibiting the publication of the Daily is not feasible."

"The temporary loss is nothing, after all, more people who believe in the Crown Prince's Daily are those ordinary people."

"How can they represent the world? The affairs of the world are in the hands of scholars, in the hands of people with insight! As long as the new newspapers of each department are built, it will not take long to reverse public opinion."

"This is a long-term plan! Please consider it carefully."

The crowd talked to each other again.

Then they replied: "Okay! We are willing to go with Lord Zhang to advise His Majesty to open a new newspaper!"

Zhang Shi smiled and stood up to salute: "Everyone present is a pillar of the country, distinguishing right from wrong, so good!"

"Today, His Majesty asked Fang Zheng Yi to verify the amount of grain stored in each family. As a result, this son ran away. Starting from this tomorrow, this official will impeach..."

"Dad! Dad! A big thing has happened!"

Zhang Shi was halfway through his words when Zhang Chang ran back from outside in a hurry.

He was also holding a newspaper in his hand.

Everyone's eyes looked at Zhang Chang. Zhang Shi felt a little embarrassed and raised his hand to slap Zhang Chang.

He said angrily: "Bastard! What kind of behavior is this! Can't you see there are guests?"

Zhang Chang covered his swollen face and muttered: "I... I... There's a big thing!"

Then he weakly took out a newspaper from behind him.

"Dad, this is the second newspaper issued today! That Fang Zheng Yi, he..."

"Get aside!"

Zhang Shi snatched the newspaper and chased Zhang Chang aside.

Seeing this useless son made him angry! He was dealt with by Fang Zheng Yi and was like a mouse seeing a cat. He even trembled when he mentioned Fang Zheng Yi's name.

How could he have raised such a useless son!

Zhang Shi picked up the newspaper and read it carefully, while the others stretched their necks and looked on.

Before long, Zhang Shi's face changed.

He put down the newspaper and said: "Fang Zheng Yi sent reporters to the homes of various ministers to secretly investigate the grain storage situation, and also claimed that those reporters may not return to the newspaper alive...."

Everyone was stunned, and suddenly someone slapped their thigh!

"Oh dear! This Fang Zheng Yi, he's really a motherfucker!"

"Everyone, I'm sorry, I'm going home first...."

"Lord Zhang, I also have something to do, I'm leaving first....."

Before long, only Zhang Shi and Zhang Chang were left in the hall. Zhang Shi was anxious and angry, and shouted angrily: "Xu Bo! Immediately notify the people below! If strangers come to the fields in the house, they must be carefully guarded, and if they lose a hair, I will punish them severely!"

Zhang Shi took the newspaper and muttered, "Fang Zheng Yi, I CNM..."

Zhang Chang said with a mournful face: "Dad, why don't we forget it? Fang Zheng Yi, he's not human...."

"..........".

"Dad! Don't hit me! Don't hit me... Ah! ! ! ..."