Early the next morning, Shi Kefa returned to the cabinet to take charge of matters.
I met several censors on the road, and they pointed at him as expected.
It doesn't take much thinking to guess that these censors must be saying behind his back that he is shameless, unwilling to go to a hotel, or something like that.
In the past, Shi Kefa would have been ashamed when he saw this, but at this time, his heart was not disturbed.
After Shi Kefa returned to the cabinet, he immediately summoned Xie Xuelong and Lu Zhenfei to his duty room to discuss the aftermath of the regicide case and the frame-up case.
"Shou Kui, it's great to have you back."
The expression on Jie Xuelong's face was still very happy. Only God knows whether he was like this in his heart.
Lu Zhenfei also raised his hand and said: "If the Prime Minister can come back to the cabinet to take care of things, the servants and the cabinet will be settled. Otherwise, I really don't know how to deal with the current situation."
The current situation in the court is indeed very delicate.
More than two hundred Donglin Party members went on strike and stayed home.
With so many positions vacated at once, many of which are still positions of real power, other officials will inevitably have strange thoughts, and many people have already begun operations in secret.
In the past two days, the thresholds of Jiefu and Lufu have been crossed by visitors.
However, Xie Xuelong and Lu Zhenfei knew very well that this was a hot potato, so they did not dare to agree easily.
Now that Shi Kefa has returned to the cabinet, this hot potato can be thrown to Shi Kefa.
But after Shi Kefa had a long conversation with Chongzhen last night, his mood was completely different, and he immediately said: "This is not difficult to handle. The Holy Father has given clear regulations."
"Oh?" Jie Xuelong and Lu Zhenfei were stunned when they heard this.
Shi Kefa added: "Immediately give an ultimatum to the Donglin Party members who have dismissed themselves from office. Within two days, they must declare their separation from the Donglin Party in the Huangming Times. Otherwise, they will be dismissed from office and return home."
"Huangming Times? A statement in the newspaper?" Jie Xuelong was stunned again.
Lu Zhenfei knew about the Huangming Times, but he didn't know about the newspaper's statement.
Shi Kefa had already written a statement and handed it to Jie Xuelong and the other two: "Mr. Xie Ge, Mr. Lu Ge, you can also write a statement."
By the way, Lu Zhenfei is actually a member of the Donglin Party, but his brand is not obvious.
Jie Xuelong took Shi Kefa's statement and after reading it said, "Okay, I'll write the statement right now."
After Xie Xuelong and Lu Zhenfei had finished writing, Shi Kefa called Shi Dewei in again and ordered: "Long Jiang, take the statements from your father and Mr. Xie Ge and Mr. Lu Ge to Lu Daqi, Qian Qianyi and the others, and ask them to
They also followed the instructions, and if anyone is unwilling to write, let them strike off their posts and return home."
"Yes." Stewie took three statements and left.
Shi Kefa then said to Jie Xuelong and Lu Zhenfei: "It's easy to get the Donglin Party members to publish a newspaper statement and declare their innocence. What's really difficult to handle is to get Gao Hongtu, Jiang Yueguang, Zhang Youyu, Zuo Guangxian and others to confess to the crime!"
Jie Xuelong frowned and said, "The Holy One still wants Gao Hongtu and the others to plead guilty?"
"Yes." Shi Kefa nodded and said, "All prisoners must go to court to plead guilty."
Lu Zhenfei looked serious and said solemnly: "Shou Kui, this matter is not easy to handle."
There is a difference between pleading guilty and signing a confession. From a legal perspective, the effect is actually the same, but from the perspective of a scholar, the nature is completely different.
Because the confession will not be recorded in the annals of history.
But the confession will definitely go down in history.
Yes, this is Chongzhen's murderous intention.
Not only do I want to kill people, I also want to destroy your inner persistence.
I want to make this case an ironclad case that can be proven by history, so that the Donglin Party will never be able to stand up.
"This matter is difficult to handle." Shi Kefa nodded and said, "But it must be done even if it is difficult to handle."
After saying this, he added: "We can only talk to these prisoners separately, starting with the lowest-ranking clerk of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and finally talk to Gao Hongtu together."
…
The entire conversation lasted three days.
Three days later, Shi Kefa, Jie Xuelong and Lu Zhenfei appeared in Gao Hongtu's cell at the same time.
Although he heard footsteps behind him, Gao Hongtu, who was sitting with his back to the door, did not look back.
"Gao Hongtu." Shi Kefa bowed his head in the direction of the Imperial College and said, "By the emperor's order, I come here to talk to you."
"It turns out to be Shou Kui." Gao Hongtu then dragged his shackles and turned around. When he saw Jie Xuelong and Lu Zhenfei, he suddenly said, "Mr. Jie Ge and Lu Bu Tang are also here."
Gao Hongtu deliberately didn't say Mr. Luge.
This was used to express his contempt for Chongzhen's edict.
Gao Hongtu added: "Are you here to persuade me to write a confession?"
Shi Kefa solemnly said: "The Holy One has made it clear that as long as you go to this confession and plead guilty, you will not be punished as much as your family. Not only will the Gao family be exempted from the Yi tribe, but Gao Ge, your family and the younger ones will also be able to save their lives, and they will not be demoted to
Low profile."
"Can we be exempted from the Yi tribe? You actually believe this?" Gao Hongtu smiled and said, "According to the law of the Ming Dynasty, regicide is the first of the ten unpardonable crimes, and the punishment is Lingchi. The barbarians will destroy three to nine tribes.
!”
After saying this, Gao Hongtu said again: "Now you tell me that Chongzhen only plans to pursue me alone. Not only will there be no harm to the Yi tribe, but my descendants can also be saved. Do you think I will believe this nonsense?"
"Gao Hongtu, how can you speculate on the generosity and mercy of the Holy One?" Jie Xuelong said, "Just from his punishment for this regicide case, it is enough to see that he is a benevolent and righteous saint king who is rare in ancient times.
I advise you not to make any mistakes."
Lu Zhenfei said: "Gao Hongtu, even if you don't want to think about yourself, you should think about Gao Hong."
Speaking of Gao Hong, Gao Hongtu's expression suddenly darkened. His son died young and now he only has his grandson Gao Hong.
Thinking that Gao Hong would have to go to the execution ground with him at such a young age, and even be tortured like Ling Chi, Gao Hongtu couldn't help but feel his heart twisting. How miserable was it?
But soon, Gao Hongtu became iron-faced again: "You don't need to persuade me any more. I have made up my mind. I will not write this confession. Neither the three tribes of Yi nor the nine tribes will write it."
Make a confession."
It's okay to kill people, but don't even think about killing your heart. I, Gao Hongtu, will never give up my inner perseverance no matter what.
As long as he does not write this confession, thousands of years later, descendants will naturally give him a fair judgment.
But if he wrote this confession, Gao Hongtu would be nailed to the pillar of shame in history forever. How could he not see the power of this? Chongzhen, a foolish emperor, must be punished!
…
In the Imperial College.
Wang Wei took a newly printed copy of Huang Ming Times and handed it to Chongzhen.
As soon as he reached out and touched it, Chongzhen knew that the newspaper was made of fine jute paper. This was indeed a bit luxurious, but it was just an instant reading material and there was no need for such fine jute paper.
Looking at the style, there is basically no difference from the newspapers of later generations.
On the right side of the front page is the title of Huangming Times, which was written by Wang Duo. After Dong Qichang's death, Wang Duo's calligraphy was recognized as the best, so Chongzhen specially asked Wang Wei to ask Wang Duo to write this title.
Then the front page is the current affairs news column. This issue mainly publishes the Yangzhou regicide case and the Zuo Guangxian frame-up case. In addition, there are also fifteen Donglin Party members' declarations of quitting the party.
Wang Wei said: "From now on, each issue will publish the statements of fifteen Donglin Party members, and it will be serialized in twenty issues."
Chongzhen hummed and turned to the second page. This was a comprehensive page, but now it mainly published contemporary articles, as well as some poems, songs, or opera tunes.
The third page is a column about fox fairies and ghosts.
This was designed by Chongzhen specifically for the popularity of Huang Ming Times.
When the reading group of Huangming Times is formed in the future, this page can be changed to a science column.
The fourth page is an industrial and commercial column. For example, the information about the third bond issue was previewed in Huangming Times, and the date is tentatively scheduled for August 20th.
In addition, there is sales information and prices for raw silk, wood, and tea.
To put it bluntly, this is advertising, but the service fee at this time is extremely low, which is almost like advertising for free. However, Chongzhen believes that it will not take long before this revenue alone will turn Huang Ming Times from a loss to a profit.
Seeing Chongzhen just reading without speaking, Wang Wei was inevitably a little nervous.
Because no one had ever filed a newspaper before, Wang Wei didn't know how well he was doing.
Finally, Chongzhen put down the newspaper and said with a smile: "Yes, it's pretty good that the first issue can be done like this."
Hearing Chongzhen's words, Wang Wei's heart dropped and he asked again: "Does the Holy Father have any other instructions?"
Chongzhen thought for a while and then said: "I remember that a scholar named Lanling Xiaoxiaosheng wrote a book of poems about plum blossoms in the golden bottle. I think he should also serialize it on the third page of Huangming Times."
"Ah? Jin Ping Mei's words?" Wang Wei was dumbfounded.
Wang Wei has of course read Jin Ping Mei Ci Hua, but would serializing such an erotic book in Huang Ming Times really not cause harm to the image of Huang Ming Times?
"Don't pay attention to those fake Taoist comments." Chongzhen said.
"I hope you can make Huangming Times a down-to-earth newspaper, rather than a high-minded newspaper."
"Since the third page of Huangming Times is a column, it is natural to publish stories that the common people like to hear and see. Jin Ping Mei Ci Huan is undoubtedly a wonderful story that the common people like to hear and see."
When Chongzhen said this, the matter suddenly became more serious.
At that moment, Wang Wei said solemnly: "I understand, I will start serializing Jin Ping Mei Ci Hua from the second issue."
Chongzhen knocked on the table and continued: "I will not ask you for profits within one year, but after one year, Huangming Times will have to ask for profits, and the specific amount will be determined at that time."
Chongzhen has no plans to lift the newspaper ban for the time being, so as a monopoly publication, Huang Ming Times is certain to make a profit. The only suspense is the amount of profit.
Don’t underestimate Huangming Times.
Because this is a big industry, a news and publishing industry.
Of course, the cultivation and growth of this industry will take time.
But to borrow an old saying, the future is bright and the future is promising.
But then again, Chongzhen’s original intention in founding the Huangming Times was to guide public opinion. With this sharp tool, it would be easier to twist the Ming Dynasty into a single rope.
