Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 583 The Last Artifact, the Flintlock

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, all officials in the court were on duty as usual, but they all looked unhappy.

Most of the civil servants in Beijing knew the news that Emperor Hongzhi was about to pass away, and most of them seemed very sad.

Ma Wensheng had just entered the duty room of the Ministry of War this morning, and first glanced at the Shuntian newspaper as usual.

There hasn't been much news in the newspapers these days. The most common news is about corruption among the Japanese vassal states and officials, and the severe punishment imposed by the imperial court.

The news about civil servants such as Machi forcing the crown prince to abdicate was also recorded in the Shuntian newspaper, but the content recorded in the newspaper was very different from what actually happened.

The content in the newspaper recorded that the actions of March and his group were in collusion with the bureaucrats on the Wanu Island.

After reading this, Ma Wensheng sighed deeply. When Chen Ce was developing the newspaper industry, he probably thought of the current scenario.

It was said very well at the beginning that newspapers would not be involved in the political affairs of the court, but who knew that Chen Ce established newspapers actually for Zhu Houzhao.

Today, newspaper opinion is more powerful than the pens of civil servants. The civil servants have finally realized the power of newspapers. Now they have begun to plot to ban Ming newspapers, but they have not found the opportunity.

Just as Ma Wensheng was thinking, a clerk found Ma Wensheng and said respectfully: "Master Ma, a servant from the Chen Mansion has come and said he wants to see you in person."

Generally speaking, servants in a mansion, let alone those in the six ministries, even those in the cabinet, are not qualified to enter the imperial city.

Ma Wensheng immediately asked, "People from Chen Ce's residence?"

"Yes!"

The clerk was not stupid. If he was not a servant in Chen Ce's mansion, he would not have told Ma Wensheng such a trivial matter.

Ma Wensheng pondered for a moment and said, "Bring him in."

"Here!"

Not long after, a servant from Chen Ce's mansion came in and said respectfully to Ma Wensheng: "Master Ma, our young master has sent you a diagram of a weapon and asked you to quickly build it according to the weapon."

Ma Wensheng nodded and said, "I understand. Go back and tell Chunjian that he has worked hard and ask him to take care of himself."

"Here!"

A doctor from the Ministry of War happened to come to Ma Wensheng to report on his work. After hearing what Ma Wensheng said, he couldn't help but asked in surprise, "Sir, the Marquis of Tai'an only sent a piece of weapon, why do you value it so much?"

Ma Wensheng shook his head. There was also a doctor in the Ministry of War who did not take Chen Ce’s weapons atlas seriously. What happened later?

With the lessons learned from the past, it is impossible for Ma Wensheng to ignore Chen Ce's things.

Moreover, Chen Ce's life is in danger now, but he still asked someone to deliver the weapon atlas, which is enough to show how much importance Chen Ce attaches to this weapon.

The fact that Chen Ce takes this weapon seriously speaks volumes about how powerful this weapon is.

Ma Wensheng looked at the diagram, which was full of disassembled parts, some of which looked like firearms. However, the firearms of the Ming Dynasty were already very well developed, and he didn't know what was so special about Chen Ce's firearm. So he said to the doctor of the Ministry of War, "Take the diagram down quickly and make it for him as soon as possible."

"Here!"

The doctor from the Ministry of War took the map handed over by Chen Ce and left quickly, preparing to find the craftsmen from the Armory to start making flintlock rifles.

……

Qianqing Palace.

Emperor Hongzhi glanced at the latest newspapers. The public opinion was quickly moving in the emperor's favor. When he had killed Machi's group of civil servants, countless civil servants secretly cursed Emperor Hongzhi for being arbitrary and dictatorial. The rapid change in public opinion was all due to the newspapers. This was undoubtedly the sharpest knife in the hands of the emperor!

When Chen Ce first built and developed newspapers, it took so many years, and many people thought it was useless. Until now, newspapers have finally exerted tremendous power.

Zhu Houzhao was still in a low mood, and during this period he sent many people to look for famous doctors. Although his younger brother's condition was incurable, he was unwilling to give up because of his father's concern.

Emperor Hongzhi could only sigh helplessly when he saw Zhu Houzhao like this. He called Zhu Houzhao to the warm room early this morning.

"Father, are you feeling unwell? Where do you feel unwell? I will go find the imperial physician right away."

Zhu Houzhao was afraid every time Emperor Hongzhi summoned him. He was really afraid that one day his father would summon him and tell him that he was running out of energy.

Emperor Hongzhi smiled and said, "It's okay, Father is fine, don't worry."

"Your Majesty."

Emperor Hongzhi handed him the newspaper and said earnestly, "Chun Jian left you a good weapon, the sharpest weapon."

"press?"

Zhu Houzhao asked suspiciously.

Emperor Hongzhi nodded and said, "It will be the sharpest knife for you to control the direction of public opinion throughout the world. The reason why civil officials have great power is because they hold the pen, so we have to be controlled by them. Once we do something wrong, there will be civil officials who use the pen as a knife to attack you."

"What emperor doesn't cherish his reputation? What emperor wants to hear the people's complaints?"

"That's why I was so afraid of civil officials in the first half of my life, and why I tolerated them in everything."

"But in the future, you don't have to do this. This newspaper will be the sharpest knife in your hand against the civil servants."

"Find someone you trust and let him take over the newspaper's position!"

Zhu Houzhao asked Emperor Hongzhi: "Father, who should I look for?"

Emperor Hongzhi shook his head and said, "The civil servants I have left for you all hold important positions. You need to find them yourself."

"But I can give you a direction. You can choose one of Chen Ce's three students to come over."

"You can set up a separate department, the Newspaper and Periodical Department, and then transfer Chen Ce's three students back and let them take charge of this department for you."

Newspapers are very important to imperial power. Chen Ce’s three students will be transferred back to the capital sooner or later. These are the people Chen Ce left for Zhu Houzhao.

Now that Zhu Houzhao has personally transferred them back, they will definitely be more grateful to him.

That's why Emperor Hongzhi let Zhu Houzhao handle it himself. He no longer needed anyone to be loyal to him, but his son was different. After his son ascended the throne, he needed loyal people to help him. Now these favors came from Zhu Houzhao, and they would be more grateful to Zhu Houzhao no matter what.

Zhu Houzhao nodded heavily and said, "Then Father, who should I transfer back?"

Emperor Hongzhi smiled and said, "Your Highness will decide for yourself. The power of personnel is in your hands. You can transfer whomever you want."

"But remember, because this important power is in your hands, you must be more careful. Chun Jian has already taught you how to employ people and how to control your subordinates. I believe you can handle it well."

Zhu Houzhao hummed, still feeling a little sad. He would have to face all these things on his own in the future. His father would no longer be able to give him advice. Thinking of this, Zhu Houzhao's eyes turned red again.

(End of this chapter)