Qing Yao

Chapter 366 The old master has made a move!

If we don't occupy the high ground of public opinion, the enemy will.

How do we seize the high ground in public opinion? By relying on so-called "word-of-mouth" dissemination of public sentiment?
No, no.

It relies on capital investment.

Without financial support, where would the "tap water" come from?
Zhao An attached great importance to this "struggle between the two provincial governors". In order to achieve an overwhelming victory over the provincial governor's office in all aspects, he took time out of his busy schedule to personally contribute 500 taels of silver to promote public opinion. The specific agency that handled this business was the Xuanzheng Office, which was specially set up by Zhao An in his capacity as provincial governor within the provincial governor's office.

This is not a formally established organization, but a temporary one, set up solely to package the personal image of the Provincial Governor and to provide propaganda support in the area of ​​"struggle against the enemy".

The person in charge was Shen Yizhi, another secretary of Zhao An, who was also a county school student brought by Lao Song from Yangzhou.

As it was a temporary institution and not listed in the list of local government agencies in the Qing Dynasty, it was officially under the jurisdiction of a certain department of the Bureau of Records. Shen Yizhi's official position was a clerk under the Bureau of Records, which can be considered as solving the problem of "civilian to official".

Currently, the Propaganda Department consists of seven people, including its head, Shen Yizhi. Since it is in the exploratory stage and there is no specific outline, they simply follow Zhao An's instructions to take out money to bribe the "masses" for targeted propaganda.

It's somewhat similar to how peasant rebels would send people to spread messages before their uprising, implying that "the old heavens are dead and the new heavens shall rise."

The fees are not high; those with good looks and eloquence earn 800 coins a day, while those with average looks earn 500 coins a day.

Five hundred taels of silver can hire several hundred people to do propaganda, and the word will spread from one to ten, and from ten to a hundred, enough to dominate the Anqing hot search list for half a month.

Xu Ligang, the provincial education commissioner of Anhui, was used by the propaganda department as a practice subject and an experiment.

Previously, Zhao An mainly focused on cultivating his own image. This is the first time he has launched a public opinion attack against a "political enemy" in order to undermine the moral character of the student affairs officer.

Why do we do it this way?
Because Zhao An had carefully studied the resume of the academic official, he concluded that this old master was the kind of person with a particularly strong sense of self-esteem and was extremely proud of his character and abilities.

The kind of people who are the pride of heaven.

He was considered quite accomplished, after all, he was a second-class Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) and a Shujishi (a probationary official in the Hanlin Academy), and had been working diligently in the Hanlin Academy. In the eyes of the common people, he was no different from the God of Literature.

He passed the imperial examination in the fortieth year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign and was appointed as the provincial education commissioner fifteen years later. Judging from this resume alone, the future prospects of the education commissioner were quite bright, and he was likely to be promoted to a ministerial position before retirement.

He was a prominent figure from the Qing Dynasty, and had a close relationship with Zhu Gui, so it was impossible to make Master Xu lower his noble head voluntarily. The only way was to destroy his Dao heart, force him to become disheartened and doubt himself, and then pack his things and leave.

Nothing is more damaging to a business than a barrage of negative reviews.

The methods were somewhat underhanded, and the personal criticism of the provincial education commissioner was immoral, but compared to the great cause of anti-Qing in Anhui and even the whole country, what did personal gains and losses matter?

Xu Ligang was indeed an honest official, but he was an honest official of the Qing Dynasty, upholding the Qing Dynasty's rules and regulations, and naturally stood on the opposite side of Zhao An.

The more honest officials like this there are, the harder it will be for Zhao An to rebel!
The instruction given to the Propaganda Department was to achieve the goal by any means necessary, and he did not ask what means the Propaganda Department would use.

Fueled by public opinion, the rivalry between the two platforms became the most talked-about topic of conversation among officials in Anqing.

At a banquet in Chengnan Yayuan, after several rounds of drinks, the topic of conversation among the officials turned to the recent hot issue of the "battle between the two platforms".

Salt Commissioner Cui took a sip of wine and said in a low voice, "I heard that some students went to the Education Bureau to cause trouble yesterday. The leader was a student who was receiving a stipend. He said that if his stipend and salary were not paid, he would unite all the students in the province and send them to the capital."

Like the Grain Commissioner, the Salt Commissioner was a third-rank official. The Salt Commissioner in salt-producing areas was in charge of supervision and anti-smuggling, while the Salt Commissioner in non-salt-producing areas was in charge of supervising the sale of official salt and inspecting salt permits.

In Anhui, Cui Daotai ranked eighth, below the four major officials, the military commissioner, and the grain transport commissioner.

The salt commissioner was also independent of the local official system, so the struggle between the provincial governor and the education commissioner had nothing to do with the salt commissioner, and Commissioner Cui was just watching the show.

Upon hearing this, the Grain Supervisor, Lord Ma, sitting opposite him, shook his head and laughed, "The Education Commissioner usually considers himself superior and always looks down on us practical officials. Now look what's happened. Lord Zhao has done to cut off our resources, and the yamen is almost unable to function. It's ridiculous."

Ma Tongzhi spoke with great respect to Zhao An, the provincial governor, for no other reason than that he was Zhao An's direct subordinate.

The old master's decree appointing Zhao Anshi as the Provincial Treasurer of Anhui did not relieve him of his concurrent posts as the Circuit Intendant of Huiqingchi and the Grain Superintendent.

The Grain Management Assistant was a subordinate of the Grain Transport Commissioner, and he was specifically responsible for the transport of grain in Anqing.

Would Lord Ma dare to advocate for the education commissioner when it comes to his superior's affairs?
Sun, the Assistant Magistrate of Anqing Prefecture, picked up the conversation and asked curiously, "Do you two gentlemen think that Lord Xu will back down?"

Cui Daotai put down his wine cup and chuckled, "What can he do if he doesn't bow his head? Lord Zhao holds the power of taxation for the entire province and has the Emperor's trust. Although Lord Xu has a high reputation among the upright officials, in this day and age, without money, reputation is meaningless. I think it won't be long before Lord Xu either submits a letter of resignation or has to sheepishly apologize to Lord Zhao. Otherwise, how will he clean up his mess? If the Provincial Treasurer's Office finds out something else, Lord Xu will probably regret it by then."

"Makes sense."

Everyone nodded in agreement and continued to toast each other.

In the back hall of the Education Bureau, the Education Commissioner sat alone in his study, lost in thought. His teacup was empty; there was no way around it, he had to use tea leaves sparingly these days.

A soft knock came at the door. When the butler, Old Chen, entered, he saw that the master looked ashen and said with concern, "Master, please eat something. You haven't had a proper meal for two days."

The provincial education commissioner sighed softly, waved his hand, and said in a hoarse voice, "What are people saying about me outside?"

"This"

Butler Chen dared not speak directly and could only remain silent.

“You think I don’t know about all the rumors going around outside just because you don’t say anything? Humph, who in Anqing City, from officials to ordinary citizens, isn’t laughing at me? But there’s one thing they’re right about,” the Education Commissioner said with a self-deprecating smile, “I, Xu Ligang, am just a pedantic scholar who only knows how to talk big.”

"Please don't say that, sir. You are a scholar who passed the imperial examinations twice and hold a prestigious position in the Hanlin Academy."

The butler, fearing that the master might do something rash, tried his best to comfort him.

"Refined and elegant?"

The provincial education commissioner gave a bitter smile. "Can a meager salary put food on the table? Can a meager salary pay the officials' salaries? Can a meager salary solve the students' tuition problems? Can a meager salary stop the officials, gentry, and common people of Anqing from laughing at me and calling me Xu Ligang a white-faced treacherous minister!"

Five questions in a row left Steward Chen speechless.

The academic official himself sighed deeply, silently got up and walked to the window. Autumn was getting stronger outside, and the courtyard was full of withered yellow leaves.

He looked haggard, and his heart ached even more.

He held immense power over education and culture in the province, and even the governor had to show him deference. How did he end up in this state, and why did he become the laughingstock of Anqing?
The academician couldn't understand it, he really couldn't understand it, and stared blankly, motionless.

"Master, I've heard that many poor students at the prefectural school have pawned their books, and some are even selling their calligraphy on the streets to make a living."

Steward Chen, who stepped forward quietly, knew that the master was in a very awkward situation, but as long as the master bowed his head to that Lord Zhao, wouldn't all the difficulties of the Education Bureau be solved?

"Is that so? Alas, it's my fault for dragging these students down with me."

The steward's words struck the softest spot in Xue Zhengda's heart like a heavy hammer. He had dedicated his life to cultivating talents, but now he had let these poor students fall into difficulties, which was more humiliating than the humiliation he himself had suffered.

After a long pause, he finally gritted his teeth and decided to stop avoiding the issue: "Let's go to the provincial governor's office. We'll walk there on these two legs!"

"Sir, as an official in charge of education, is it not dignified for you to come to my door on foot like this?"

Steward Chen suggested that if they couldn't take the sedan chair, they could go outside and take a mule taxi; it wasn't far, and twenty coins would be enough.

The provincial education commissioner gave a bitter laugh and waved his hand helplessly: "What dignity do I have left now?"

I let out a long breath and stepped out of the study.

Steward Chen followed closely behind. The two of them walked through the back gate of the yamen, deliberately avoiding the bustling crowds on the street and passing through the alleys. However, even so, they still couldn't help but encounter people who recognized the old master.

"Isn't this Lord Xu?"

A merchant, whether he happened to be passing by or had been waiting there, recognized the Provincial Education Commissioner and asked with curiosity, "Why don't you travel by sedan chair, Your Excellency?"

The academic official ignored him, his face turning ashen as he quickened his pace.

After crossing another street, several idlers who had been squatting on a street corner playing chess also started to move. After exchanging glances, they began to speak sarcastically to each other.

"Hey, isn't that the old grandmaster from our province?"

"What grandmaster?"

"That's the one who went against Zhao Qingtian!"

"Hey, it's him. That's strange, how come the old master travels on two legs?"

"The sedan chair bearers of the yamen have run away. If he doesn't rely on his own two legs to walk, what will he rely on?"

"Have you heard? The people in the education office can't even afford paper and ink, and they won't even go on credit. Tsk tsk."

"."

Hearing the idlers' words, the academic official felt his face burning, as if he had been slapped in public. He practically ran across the last street.

Looking at the provincial governor's office in front of him, the provincial governor hesitated back and forth, wanting to turn around and leave several times, but stopping himself each time. Finally, under the persuasive gaze of Steward Chen, he came to the door and introduced himself to the suspicious look of the gatekeeper, hoping to see the master of this office immediately.

"Master Xu?"

The yamen runners were taken aback by the sudden arrival of the Education Commissioner, who was not wearing official robes, riding in a sedan chair, or accompanied by any attendants. And then, that was the end of it.

A gatekeeper came out and gestured for the academic official to hand him the document, fill out a "Visitor Registration Form," and then obediently wait in line.

This arrangement enraged the provincial education commissioner: "I am the provincial education commissioner!"

"Don't even mention that you're the Provincial Education Commissioner; even the Governor-General would have to register!"

The gatekeeper wasn't going to tolerate the education commissioner. He snatched the registration form from his hand and said, "If you're not going to register, please go back to where you came from."

"you!"

The well-read and learned education official was furious. He punched the gatekeeper to the ground and rushed into the yamen while shouting angrily, "Zhao Youlu, you bastard who bought his way into the academy, if you have the guts, stop my salary. If you don't, come and see me!"

(End of this chapter)