Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 166 The Gyeonggi Daily

Xishan Coal Mine.

Zhang Hangzi carried a simple kerosene lamp in his hand, the gourd-shaped lampshade he had blown out of the lamp so that a faint light could be seen coming out.

He moved cautiously, relying on the light provided by the kerosene lamp to navigate the coal mine and see his surroundings.

These kerosene lamps, made in Liulichang, Xishan, are far superior to pine torches.

The lighting lasts longer and is also safer.

In the past, when pine torches were used, workers would often get scalded or burned inside the kilns.

However, fire is the least likely thing to happen inside a cave dwelling.

Zhang Gouzi touched the damp cave wall and chuckled as he spoke.

"This cave dwelling is even more damp than the women in the brothels; you can't even walk through it if you want to!"

Zhang Hangzi carefully placed the kerosene lamp on the rock wall, took a chisel from behind his back, and said with a puzzled look.

"Run?"

“I told you you’re a virgin, but you’re still not convinced, and you don’t even know that.” Zhang Gouzi said smugly.

"Pah!" Zhang Hangzi said, looking unconvinced. "So what if he's a virgin? He can't compare to the old days in the countryside, when he paid a few coins to find that Lady Xue, but she came out in less than half an incense stick's time after entering the house."

The villagers all say, "That kid hasn't even finished taking off the guy's pants."

Zhang Gouzi looked as if a sore spot had been hit, his face turning red as he spoke with a stiff neck.

"Don't listen to their nonsense! I'm a perfectly upright man, I'm not even wearing my underwear!"

The two bickered, but their hands never stopped moving, and in no time the half-person-high basket was filled to the brim.

"Let's go!"

Zhang Hangzi gave a shout to the person above, and the sound of a winch turning came from above. The basket slowly rose up.

The two of them were already very familiar with these procedures.

Immediately afterwards, Zhang Hangzi inserted a brand new wooden support into the mine shaft to support the subsequent coal seam.

Following the methods taught in the workshop, Zhang Hangzi didn't quite understand theories like "triangles are the most stable structures," but he remembered that the wooden support had to be placed securely.

"Boom boom boom!"

Zhang Hangzi used the tip of his chisel to forcefully embed the wooden supports into the wall. These wooden supports were naturally unlikely to withstand the collapse of the coal mine, but they could warn the workers inside the mine of potential danger before the collapse.

They chiseled off a large piece of coal, and saw black water seeping out from the coal seam, gathering together like spring water, and soon forming a small puddle at their feet.

Seeing this, Zhang Hangzi frowned and said, "Is this West Mountain really as rumored, belonging to the water element?"
"We don't mind, but if there's too much water, the coal mine won't be able to get in."

Zhang Gouzi answered nimbly, "I heard that in several coal mines next door, the water is up to our knees."

“Master Zhang doesn’t seem to be in a hurry, but the villagers are very anxious. Losing a coal mine means losing income. I think Master Zhang must have a way to deal with it,” Zhang Hangzi said without much confidence.

Zhang Gouzi squatted on the pile of coal slag and spoke in a muffled voice.

"Why should we care about these things? That Master Zhang is kind-hearted; even the local earth god of West Mountain has to give him some face."

"Hopefully, this is how it goes. We've only had a few good days; if this drags on any longer, we'll be starving again at the end of the year!"

Zhang Hangzi grunted and put more effort into swinging his pickaxe, smashing it heavily against the coal seam, sending gravel tumbling down.

Prince Lu's Mansion.

Zhu Yiliu sat upright in the main hall, sizing up Fan Yongdou, a Shanxi merchant who was prostrate on the ground, before his gaze fell on a gift list in his hand.

This gift list is undeniably extravagant.

From the Pearl of the South China Sea to the Luminous Wall of the Western Regions, there are also Persian enamel-inlaid diamond incense boxes, and even mythical beasts such as peacocks and lions.

If it weren't for the fact that Prince Lu was so young, Fan Yongdou would have wanted to offer him more than a dozen women from Korea and Annam.

Young Zhu Yiliu was not yet married, and this Luwang Mansion was only a temporary residence for him. He had never seen such a grand display of gifts before.

He swallowed hard, feigning an authoritative expression, put down the gift list, and then slammed his hand on the table.

"You audacious Fan Yongdou, you present me with these exquisite treasures, are you perhaps trying to curry favor and curry favor? Do you really think I am a greedy and insatiable person?"

His outburst immediately made Fan Yongdou, who was prostrate on the ground, tremble. After all, he was a merchant who was looked down upon, and he didn't have much confidence when he spoke.

However, compared to the young Prince Lu, Fan Yongdou was more like an old fox. He bowed respectfully and responded loudly.

"Please forgive me, Your Highness! I, Jueji, have no intention of flattering you in the slightest. I am but a commoner, and I dare to come to see Your Highness not because I have any greed, but simply because I admire Your Highness's hard work in sharing the burdens of the country and the people."

The prince, having endured a long and arduous journey from the capital to Nanjing, traveled thousands of miles to pay homage to the Xiaoling Mausoleum on behalf of the people of Beizhili, seeking the protection of Emperor Taizu Gao.

It is thanks to Your Highness's hard work that the people of our capital enjoy peace and stability today. This small amount of money is just a humble token of my appreciation, intended to welcome Your Highness and celebrate your arrival.

If Your Highness feels your hands are dirty, you may simply find a place to throw them away. I would never dare to have the slightest intention of bribing Your Highness, nor would I dare to have the slightest ulterior motive.

Fan Yongdou's words highly praised Zhu Yiliu, even linking the visit to Xiaoling Mausoleum with the resolution of the plague in the capital.

These sweet words completely confused Zhu Yiliu. He used to be cautious and timid in the palace, under the supervision of Empress Dowager Li and a group of Hanlin scholars.

He was only recently allowed to establish his own residence outside the palace, but because he is not yet married, he has only found a dilapidated old mansion to live in temporarily.

At court, Zhang Juzheng advocated frugality, and even Empress Dowager Li's desire to build more temples was rejected by him.

Not to mention him, the Prince of Lu.

Therefore, after Zhu Yiliu moved into the Lu Prince's Mansion, the mansion was so deserted that it was hardly the grandeur one would expect from a member of the imperial family.

In the past few days, apart from some members of the royal family, only Fan Yongdou has come to pay his respects.

Hearing his sincere words made Zhu Yiliu feel very comfortable. After thinking for a moment, he spoke in a deliberately low voice.

"I understand. You may rise."

Fan Yongdou relaxed a lot, but he only knelt in the hall and did not dare to get up at all.

He said with a fawning smile.

"I am but a commoner, and I dare not rise to look Your Highness in the eye. Kneeling will suffice."

Prince Lu was quite similar to his brother, both being short and stout. When he sat upright in the hall, he looked like a small ball of flesh. If Fan Yongdou stood up and bent over, he would inevitably look at him at eye level.

"You certainly know the rules."

Zhu Yiliu nodded in satisfaction, quite pleased with this respectful attitude.

Fan Yongdou cupped his hands and said, "Although I am just a merchant, I have read some classics since I was a child. Before meeting Your Highness, I will make sure to familiarize myself with all the etiquette."

"Ai--"

Zhu Yiliu sighed and said.

"Even you, a merchant, know the principles of proper etiquette, yet some people in the capital are completely unorthodox and do absurd things."

Fan Yongdou was a smart man, and he was certainly confident that he could get in touch with the Prince of Lu.

He said with an indignant look on his face.

"What Your Highness says is very true. Nowadays, the moral order in the capital has collapsed, and it is already a mess. The common people are misled by treacherous officials and are still ignorant and unaware."

"I, a humble citizen, believe that in this world, where heaven and earth are clear and bright, how can we tolerate villains harboring malicious intentions, distorting the truth, and controlling the discourse?"

"What do you mean?" Zhu Yiliu noticed the hidden meaning in the other person's words.

Fan Yongdou smiled and said, "This humble subject has come today not only to pay respects to Your Highness, but also to show Your Highness something."

As he spoke, he took something out of his pocket and handed it to the eunuch beside Zhu Yiliu. The eunuch took it, checked it briefly, and then respectfully handed it to Zhu Yiliu.

"This is."

Zhu Yiliu frowned deeply, recognizing it as a newspaper with the headline "Gyeonggi Daily." He looked up at the person in question, somewhat surprised.

"You want to start a newspaper?"

Fan Yongdou smiled and said, "Your Highness, this newspaper is quite strange. It publishes vernacular novels for certain people, and when it comes to matters of state, it is based on biased and one-sided information. If this continues, the common people will believe all of his words and regard them as gospel, which may lead to endless troubles in the future!"

Zhu Yiliu's eyes lit up. He read the "Gyeonggi Daily" again and again, and felt more and more that what the other party said made sense.

Whenever I saw the Wanli New Daily in the past, although I also read some of the vernacular novels in it, I always scoffed at Zhang Yunxiu's self-aggrandizing methods.

He kept wondering why this person was able to win the praise of so many people.

Looking back now, it must have been this newspaper that played a role!
He squinted and said, "What do you mean?"

Fan Yongdou immediately replied, "I think this matter is of great importance. If we want to start a newspaper and compete with the Wanli Xinbao, we will definitely not be able to accomplish anything without the approval of the imperial court."

However, the court was already filled with the cronies of the Zhang family father and son, and there was absolutely no room for dissenting voices.

"Humph!"

Zhu Yiliu became somewhat angry at the mention of this, and he said coldly.

"The court is so corrupt because of these two people."

But he looked helpless.

"However, the Empress Dowager and His Majesty trust them, and the two are indeed quite capable, so they should not be touched for the time being."

Fan Yongdou lowered his voice and said, "Your Highness is wise, but our Jingji Daily is the weapon to fight against them. If we want to expose the crimes of these two, we must have the support of the people. With the support of the people, the newspaper is indispensable! The effectiveness of the newspaper lies in spreading public opinion and winning the hearts of the people!"

As a businessman, Fan Yongdou initially didn't know much about newspapers, but after reading them for a few months, he eventually figured out some of their tricks.

What is the most important thing about this newspaper?
That is the public opinion and public sentiment it brings!

If you grasp these two points, newspapers will be more than just a means to make money.

Zhu Yiliu frowned upon hearing this and said, "Don't you know that His Majesty has the backing of this Wanli Xinbao? Even if I help you, can you stand against His Majesty? Don't you want your head?"

(End of this chapter)