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

Chapter 596: Imperial Power Confrontation
The military deployment in Datong has been arranged and is progressing in an orderly manner.

However, undercurrents were surging in the capital.

The civil servants in Beijing all knew about Zhu Houzhao's plan to establish a newspaper and periodical department. They did not need the top leaders to remind them of the interests involved, and they were also clear about Zhu Houzhao's plan.

After the abdication incident led by the Imperial Censor Ma Qi, the civil servants fell into deep worry.

Because the public opinion and discourse power on which they depend for survival is no longer in their hands.

After the newspapers were purchased by the imperial court, the content published in the newspapers was completely controlled by the imperial power.

It has been four or five years since Chen Ce established Shuntian Press. The newspaper has spread across the country and its influence has reached ordinary people's homes.

Whoever controls the discourse power of newspapers controls the power of public opinion.

This grand court meeting on the first day of November is particularly important.

Early this morning, the civil servants were waiting outside the Meridian Gate with their hands rubbed in anticipation. Today, Zhu Houzhao was going to announce the establishment of the Newspaper and Periodical Bureau, and the civil servants were determined not to allow it to be established.

With the shouts of the eunuchs in the inner palace, the Meridian Gate opened, and all officials entered the Fengtian Hall in an orderly manner. Civil and military officials stood on both sides, and the grand court meeting in early November officially began!
……

After the six ministries and commissions of the Cabinet had finished their review, it was almost noon, and everyone knew that the highlight of the day was not the political affairs reported by the six ministries and commissions of the Cabinet.

Finally, Zhu Houzhao spoke.

"I plan to set up a Ming newspaper and periodical department. The content published in newspapers and periodicals is now in disarray and needs correction from the imperial court. What do you think?"

As soon as Zhu Houzhao finished speaking, Hong Zhong, the Right Censor of the Censorate, said, "I second the proposal. There are many untrue statements in newspapers and periodicals, and some useless and messy statements. The court needs to take the lead in regulating them."

Fei Hong was silent for a moment, then stepped out and said, "I second Lord Hong's words."

These are people trained by Zhu Houzhao, so naturally they are all on Zhu Houzhao's side.

However, soon, Chen Yu, the Imperial Secretary of the Ministry of Rites, stepped out and refuted: "Your Highness! Newspapers and periodicals are civilian commercial activities. How can the court deprive civilians of their right to speak?"

"If the imperial court builds the newspaper and periodical department into a government office, wouldn't that be competing with the people for profits? Will the people dare to submit articles to the newspaper industry? What kind of news will there be?"

"I beg Your Highness to think twice. Instead of setting up a newspaper department, you should delegate the power of the newspaper industry to other places so that more merchants can come in. Only in this way can a hundred schools of thought flourish and a hundred flowers bloom."

After the Minister of Rites finished speaking, a group of civil servants immediately came out to support Chen Yu's suggestion.

Zhu Houzhao glanced at Fei Hong, who stepped out and said gently, "Perhaps you have misunderstood what His Royal Highness the Crown Prince meant."

"The establishment of a newspaper and periodical department does not mean that this government office will dominate the content of newspapers and periodicals, but rather that it will establish a supervisory agency."

"As you all said, the content of newspapers is disorganized, and some even begin to allude to the gains and losses of the court. If there is no supervisory agency, the development of the newspaper industry will only grow disorderly, which is not a good thing for the Ming Dynasty."

"Many false, exaggerated and eye-catching news have appeared one after another, which is bound to mislead the public."

"The purpose of establishing a newspaper and periodical department is to curb this kind of behavior!"

Officials such as Hong Zhong came forward to support Fei Hong.

However, Chen Yu began to refute again. He believed that if the court intervened in the Newspaper and Periodical Bureau, it would undoubtedly breed corruption and other situations.

Hong Zhong asked back, "According to what Lord Chen said, the Ming Dynasty court, the two capitals and the thirteen provinces are all peaceful and pacified, so there is no corruption?"

Chen Yu said: "Of course there are, but isn't your Censorate supervising it?"

"My Censorate can also supervise the Newspaper and Publication Department." "I think you want to seize power!"

"What nonsense!"

A fierce quarrel immediately broke out between the two sides. The civil servants were unwilling to establish newspaper justice at all costs, but Zhu Houzhao's agents were determined to help Zhu Houzhao win this war without gunpowder.

Zhu Houzhao sat on the dragon throne and watched the two sides quarreling quietly.

It was unknown how long it had been before he spoke up to stop both sides.

"Shut up! This is Fengtian Palace! This is not a meeting hall for bandits. Look at what you have become?"

"The purpose of establishing a newspaper and periodical department is to regulate and manage newspapers and periodicals. The duty of this department is to supervise newspapers and periodicals. There is no question of competing with the people for profits."

"As for what Lord Chen said about letting more private merchants come in, that's what I wanted to say as well."

"With so many private businessmen pouring in, some people with ulterior motives will inevitably release news and information at random, so I plan to set up a newspaper and periodical department to supervise them."

Chen Yu was stunned for a moment.

He really didn't expect that his rebuttal argument would become a breakthrough in the hands of the prince!

Not only Chen Yu was shocked, but Fei Hong, Xie Qian and others also looked at Zhu Houzhao meaningfully.

At this moment, they were all extremely shocked in their hearts, shocked by the sophisticated methods of the young prince, the future emperor!

He seized upon the arguments of Chen Yu and other civil servants and counterattacked them. His arguments were well-reasoned and would not tolerate any rebuttal!
The naughty boy has really grown up! No wonder Emperor Hongzhi always praised his son as a unicorn!

Zhu Houzhao's growth during this period of his rule was undoubtedly terrifying!

Chen Yu knew that he was now at a disadvantage and had no chance to refute. He could only bow and say, "Your Highness, what you said makes sense."

"I second the proposal to establish a newspaper and periodical department!"

All the officials were stunned and looked at Chen Yu in disbelief. He actually compromised with the prince?
Does this mean that the power of the civil service group must completely compromise with the imperial power?
All the officials looked at cabinet leader Xie Qian unwillingly. Xie Qian did not speak, as if he already knew what Chen Yu meant.

The Newspaper and Periodicals Department can be established, but the people in it must be from the civil service group. In this way, this power will still be controlled by the civil servants!

That’s why Chen Yucai didn’t worry about whether to set up a newspaper and periodical department.

This is not the point. The point is whether we can let our own people control the newspaper and periodical department!
Whoever controls the newspaper and periodical department will have absolute power. This is what Chen Yu values ​​most!

The officials were silent for a moment, and understood what Chen Yu meant, so they all clasped their fists and agreed with Zhu Houzhao.

It was already past noon, and today's court meeting ended.

The next focus of the struggle is the selection of the Director of the Newspaper and Periodical Department!
So after finishing their shift today, Chen Yu and a group of people from the civil service group secretly went to Xie Qian's mansion to look for Xie Qian.

"Mr. Ge."

Chen Yu bowed to Xie Qian, who pressed his hand and said, "Think carefully this time. The prince is not so easy to deal with."

Chen Yu nodded. He also felt the pressure from Zhu Houzhao in the court today. Only then did he realize that Zhu Houzhao was no longer a puppet that could be manipulated by others. He had to be very careful with his words in the future!

(End of this chapter)