[Red Mansions] The Road to Empress Dowager

"Selling newspapers! Selling newspapers! Beida Ding! The empress is about to return to court!"

"Selling newspapers! Selling newspapers! The Pingnan Army will form an alliance with the ten southern vassal states, respected by the whole world!"

In the streets and alleys of Kyoto, there are many boys selling newspapers along the streets.Different from the printing of many modern people, there were actually folk newspapers in the Song Dynasty.Because there are no official newspapers or mansion newspapers among the people, but there is still a need for news, so "Xiaofan" was developed, which was implicitly called "news" by readers at that time.

The Sichuan Special Economic Zone has an official organization "Dazhou Minbao", which is equivalent to the newspapers of "Xinhua News Agency" and "People/People/Daily". Direction, of course, military and some gossip stories are also published to cater to folk tastes.

Of course, the literacy rate among the people is not so high, but Sichuan has a well-developed tourism and business industry, and there will be people reading newspapers in tea houses, restaurants and inns.In fact, merchants were mostly literate although they had no talent in imperial examinations, and private newspapers were not written in vernacular like Dibao.

Although the "Dazhou Minbao" has the official nature of the special zone, it is also a profit-making organization. It sells more, advertises more, and has better employee benefits.Therefore, taking advantage of her status as a queen, she entered Kyoto four years ago and established the "Jingshe", while the original Sichuan headquarters was called "Chuanshe".

At that time, the people in Kyoto were still very curious about this thing, and people who could read a few words were not stingy to buy one for three copper coins to have a look.This also aroused the vigilance of the court, and many courtiers demanded that the tabloid newspapers be banned, which was fought several times in the court.

But one day a few censors were talking about the dangers of folk tabloids, saying that people's hearts are not ancient and so on.

Tu Yuanyi didn't say much, so he took out some newspapers, pointed to a chapter of a vernacular serial novel, and said, "Isn't the novel written by 'Bai Yi Qing Xiang' pretty good?"

Those imperial envoys were very stupid and naive, and one of them came forward and said with a straight face: "The writing in this Jingshi dialect is vulgar, and it cannot be considered elegant."

The rest of the people joined in.

In fact, they just think that such a tabloid is popular in Kyoto, challenging the authority of scholars, but they have never read the serialized novels.

Tu Yuanyi looked serious, but lowered his voice and said: "This is what you said, not what I said."

A censor said frankly: "It is the duty of a minister to speak to His Majesty."

A censor tried his best to show his loyalty, and said with righteous indignation: "The people don't want to read the words of the saints in poetry and books, but let the vulgar scripts prevail. I'm afraid that the people of the Zhou Dynasty will be contaminated with these unhealthy tendencies!"

The rest agreed again.

Tu Yuanyi let out a long sigh, and said: "This... is not so evil, is it? I also know that you are all from the second list of Jinshi. The Taishanghuang's writing style makes you talented people seem to be... But the Taishanghuang is always strong and strong, day and night He presided over the revision of "The Great Canon of Qianzheng" for the Great Zhou Dynasty. He read the scriptures and history and occasionally got inspiration to write a storybook. This is also his heart of benevolent monarch who enjoys the joy with the people. , How can you disobey him because of such a trivial matter? How about you, dear friends, go to Shangyang Palace to make admonishment, let the Supreme Emperor and the old man close his pen and think about it from now on, and don't want that... to show ugliness?"

Thinking about Taishanghuang's pen name, it's still very high school, but it can't be called "Lan/Ling/Xiaoxiaosheng" or something like that, "Baiyi Qingxiang" seems to be a romantic figure, who regards fame and wealth as dung.The ghost knows that the machinations of the Supreme Emperor back then could make people vomit blood, and a man who has been greedy for power all his life actually has such beautifying fantasies about himself.

The censors were dumbfounded.

What?Taishanghuang?Those censors were cold all over, and cold sweat broke out on their backs.

What did they just say?The writing is vulgar, so it's hard to be elegant?Unhealthy tendencies?

Mother Wodi, can you take back the original words!

Although Tu Yuanyi was good at cheating the censor, he still adhered to the principle that the censor should not be convicted with words, and even smiled gently to make them retreat from their souls.

The old sage has many book fans. The "Beishe" and "Chuanshe" of Dazhou Minbao receive letters from enthusiastic readers every day. After these letters are checked and found to be safe, they will be transported to Shangyang Palace for the old sage to read.

Afterwards, the "Da Zhou Min Bao" was not alone, and more "tall" academic societies also started their own newspapers one after another, talking about poetry and articles.

Of course, there are also bolder newspapers that veiled the "Xing Banchao" of this dynasty.In this dynasty, Empress Xing was involved in politics, and also presided over the military and political affairs of the Sichuan Special Zone, and many ministers with real power in the court were related to Empress Xing.These actually caused a lot of dissatisfaction among the folk scholars. Many editors and readers of "Da Zhou Min Bao" could see the irony, and would write small articles to criticize it.

Xing Xiuyan mostly laughed at these criticisms, and instead of writing such useless mouthpieces, he let the "Da Zhou Min Bao" publish some data regularly.It is the price of rice, flour, cotton cloth, oil, wine, fertilizer, hoes, sickles, kitchen knives and other tools in Sichuan every month, as well as the cost of roads, government offices and other projects.

In the eyes of brainless trolls, this is "cheating the number of words", but it has aroused deeper thinking by people of insight.These aspects of life are real, and the people's living and working in peace and contentment is not just a floating word, but something based on these details.

If almost all of these things in Sichuan are cheaper and more stable than elsewhere, then the place must be prosperous.

And such news attracted many businessmen to flock to Sichuan to do business, promote the development of its industries, and increase the taxation of the service industry and trade.It is not so simple for Sichuan to be able to fight Annan by itself. It must have a huge financial accumulation as the backing.

Of course, not many people among the people know that the popular chatterbox belongs to the old sage.After several years of serialization, the old sage has also earned nearly ten thousand taels of manuscript fees. After all, although newspapers are cheap, they have a large number of publications. Now some businessmen order newspapers to be distributed in other provinces.

Traveling through time and space, having said that.

Due to the North-South War, the sales of newspapers have increased by [-]% recently.The Battle of Pingnan was settled, Pingnan border was opened up, regained the land lost in the former Song Dynasty, newly established North Vietnam, and now I heard that all the feudal vassals in the south bowed their heads and paid tribute. All these were reported in detail in the newspapers, and the people of Kyoto were very happy. Encourage and decorate.

In such a festive atmosphere, a small convoy made its way from the pier to Ningrong Street.

Jia Tanchun has never been back to Kyoto to visit her relatives since she married in Sichuan eight years ago. The man she married was originally an eighth-rank school lieutenant, but she was promoted to sixth-rank after her meritorious service, and her rank in the new army was a major. An artillery/battalion commander attached to the First Army.This time she also received a letter from Nanguo, her husband has been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel after his hard work, and the court will also reward him in the future.

Tanchun always had the ambition of a man. In a place like Sichuan, many women were admitted to the organization as civil servants. Of course, Tanchun was also admitted to the tax department.Over the years, she has been raising a son and a daughter while going to work, and she has lived a happy life in Sichuan.

Although her husband is low-educated, unable to reunite with her every day, and sometimes be at a loss when encountering a woman who pounces on her, he respects her very much in his bones.Because the husband knew that he was born with mud legs, he naturally felt inferior to her, the granddaughter of a former prince. Although it sometimes made her laugh, he felt that marrying such a man in this life was probably a blessing.

Sichuan was originally a place where barbarians and Han people lived together, and there were not so many men and women in the folk. Farm women also had to work in the fields, and it was common for women to remarry.

Her husband was supportive of her becoming a civil servant in the tax department. He also said, "Our teacher's wife is said to be the deputy director of the education department! All the girls from Kyoto are talented."

This time I'm on a long vacation, because the autumn harvest is over, and the tax department's busiest time has passed, and I heard that my husband also has a long vacation after the war, so he will also come to Beijing.

At this time, Jia Amnesty and Jia Zheng had already separated, but Jia Huan and Jia Baoyu brothers were both in the officialdom, and Jia Huan was the deputy secretary of the newly established Budget Department of the Ministry of Households. He was already a fourth-rank official. The official luck is prosperous.After Jia Baoyu worried about Jiamu Ding, he entered the Imperial Academy as a Shuji scholar, and three years later entered the Ministry of Rites as a sixth-rank chief.

But Jia Baoyu and Jia Huan didn't have a separate family. They didn't have such great honor and favor. The Ministry of Industry didn't give them an official residence, but bought land on Ningrong Street to build Jia's mansion.

Aunt Zhao had heard the news that Tanchun was coming back to visit relatives earlier, and she also had some people under her command, so she sent someone to pick her up earlier.

Tanchun revisited the old place in a sedan chair, Ningrong Street was still bustling, the voices of the people were overwhelming, and my heart was full of emotions.

Hearing the sound of selling newspapers outside, saying what about Queen Ping Nanjun, Tanchun couldn't help thinking: I was really stupid when I was young, how could I expect to enter the palace and be favored?Many sisters in Sichuan are still from the palace.

Jia's mansion (Jia's second bedroom) opened the side door, and Aunt Zhao was waiting at the second door with Xiao Jixiang and other maids.When the mother and daughter met each other after several years of separation, there were tears in their eyes, and I couldn't count them in detail.

Tanchun also went to meet Jia Zheng and Mrs. Wang according to the etiquette. Mrs. Wang wanted to gain power, but her daughter-in-law and niece were just trying to save face, while Shen Man didn't take it seriously, and beat her hard.She has long been in a mess among the women's families in the capital, and no one has a decent communication. In the mansion, she actually depends on the faces of her daughters-in-law.

Mrs. Wang saw Tanchun and a son and a daughter who were five or six years old.

Mrs. Wang sees that this bastard can escape from what happened back then, and she must be living a good life now, she is very jealous in her heart, but she said: "After all, she is raising people in the south. I haven't seen you for a few years. Spying on a girl When I became a mother, I am even more outstanding than when I was a girl. This brother and sister are born by coincidence."

Tanchun hurriedly motioned to his son and daughter, and the pair of sons and daughters met on a weekly basis, graceful and dignified.Jia Zheng liked it very much when he saw it, so he hurriedly asked Nian Geng to study, but his brother and sister spoke clearly.

Jia Zheng asked the boy to give the four treasures of the study to his brother, and Mrs. Wang had to give each of them a purse.

Jia Zhengyin asked, "How is the son-in-law doing his errands?"

Tanchun said: "He has been to the south for almost two years, now that the war is over, there will be holidays, of course he will visit the master, wife and aunt."

Jia Zheng himself is a joke in Kyoto, but the common people are forgetful, and no one mentions him as a "hypocritical". He couldn't help asking: "What is the official position of the son-in-law now? Can he make any contribution during the Pingnan War?"

Tanchun laughed and said, "A lot of talented people come out of the new army. My husband was just a major battalion commander, and he was an artilleryman. It is said in the family letter that he made a third-class meritorious service during the Battle of Liangshan and defeated Thang Long City, er, Hanoi City. At that time, he made second-class meritorious service, and then the army divided into three groups to sweep south of Beiyue and made some minor meritorious service one after another."

Aunt Zhao didn't quite understand what she heard, but she also had a sense of vanity, and asked, "Can the son-in-law be named a marquis for his achievements?"

Tanchun couldn't help laughing and said: "What is Auntie thinking? In the new army, there are many officers like my husband and people with such achievements. There is no place to be a Marquis, but there are rewards."

Aunt Zhao and Jia Zheng couldn't help being a little disappointed.

After going to settle down, the Jia family allocated a small courtyard for her mother and son and a few servants.In the evening, when the dinner was set in the main hall, in addition to meeting Baoyu's wife Wang Xiyan, she also saw Shen Man. When Tanchun got married, Shen Man had not yet entered the door.

Tanchun didn't know if it was an illusion, but felt that this younger brother and sister were gloomy and had no warmth with his younger brother Jia Huan.Although Jia Huan's official luck is not bad, he is no longer high-spirited, but appears taciturn.

Before going back to his yard, Tanchun stopped Jia Huan, just like he would hold Jia Baoyu for a private chat.

Jia Huan was very polite, and said: "It's rare for my sister to come back to the capital. Although this mansion is not the same as before, my sister can feel more at ease. Whatever you eat and use, you should just treat it as when you were in your boudoir. What's the matter with you?" Just tell Auntie that even Sister-in-law Bao, you can get closer, but your younger brother and sister are quiet, so you don't have to provoke her too much in the future."

Aunt Zhao was illiterate, but Jia Huan had no intention of mentioning it, and her family ugliness should not be publicized, so Tanchun, who was far away in Sichuan, had no idea of ​​Jia Huan's marital status.But hearing what my younger brother said, I was afraid that there was some reason, so I didn't dare to ask more.

Tanchun laughed and said: "There are many people who like to be quiet in this world, and when I go back to the capital, I still have to meet Sister Lin, Second Sister, and Fourth Sister. When my husband comes to Beijing, he will also be very busy. If there is nothing to do, there will be no disturbance." Brother and sister reason?"

Jia Huan couldn't help but feel sad when he saw this sister who he wanted to use in the end and she made a mistake and was abandoned by him. At this time, she was able to hold him back to talk, and she couldn't say that she didn't have the same purpose as she did with Baoyu, but she was also somewhat sincere.

Jia Huan said: "Seeing that my sister is doing well, I am also relieved. My sister is blessed with a future life, and she deserves to be called a rose."

Tanchun laughed and said, "Huandi came to laugh at me. When others heard it, I felt ashamed. Huandi Junior High School, our brother still wants to be a part of Huandi's aura."

The two siblings gossiped and parted, and each went back to the house to rest.

At night, Tanchun always felt that something was wrong, and suddenly remembered that she had met Baoyu's two children and gave them a gift, but Brother Huan had no children to see him.

She had thought that the little one might be sleeping or going to school, but no one mentioned it until after dinner.

The next day, she took the child to Aunt Zhao's room for breakfast, and asked the child away in private. Unexpectedly, Aunt Zhao burst into tears when she asked this question.

Aunt Zhao said in a low voice: "Brother Huan's life is also suffering, and such a rouge tiger is on the table! Back then, there was also a matchmaker in the county prince's mansion. Mrs. Shen married Brother Huan. Later, the old lady came out of prison. This Mrs. Shen She is very powerful, needless to say the first few maidservants serving your younger brother, they are dead or scattered. That Caixia is a good girl, I pity her once and let her go, I heard that she went to your Feng I worked in my sister-in-law's shop, and later I got a servant, so I got a job."

Tanchun was dumbfounded, and said again: "Brother Huan is such a thoughtful person, why can't he manage his younger siblings?"

Aunt Zhao said: "You don't know how powerful it is. Mrs. Chen dared to fight your brother directly. Your brother also wanted to divorce his wife, but if the county prince's mansion and the marquis' mansion came forward, your brother would have to give him face."

No matter what, Tanchun of course still favored Jia Huan, and said: "Absurd, isn't this unreasonable?"

Aunt Zhao told about the attack in a cryptic manner again, Tanchun couldn't help being dumbfounded, and then said: "How can Brother Huan be so confused?"

Jia Huan was born in the imperial examination, so he had an affair with his elder brother's former maid and had a child before he got married, and his reputation was almost as good as it spread.

Scholars in the officialdom want face the most, and the troubles are more terrifying than the modern "Xiaozhao/Men". I have not seen that no matter how talented and hardworking a certain celebrity is, once she is stained, she will have countless frivolous and lewd language attacks when she comes out.Jia Huan was terrified when he thought about it carefully.

Tanchun said: "Isn't that Lian's big brother helpless? I've heard in Sichuan that his reputation is getting bigger and bigger in recent years."

The development of the economy has promoted the prosperity of market culture, so it is natural for newspapers to serialize story books, and the story of Jia Qingtian, who is very popular among the people, is of course also spread into Sichuan.

Aunt Zhao wiped her tears and said: "It's hard for a young official to break up housework. I don't ask for anything else, I just hope that Mrs. Shen will leave a queen for Brother Huan."

Tanchun couldn't help but feel a lot of emotion, Brother Huan is also really suffering, this feng shui turns, Jia Huan was considered the best person in the second house before, but now although he has the highest official position, he is obviously the least happy.

Thinking about it, Mrs. Shen is really a capable person, and even a person like Brother Huan made him live like a walking dead.