Seeing Hu Changan's vowing eyes, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but become interested: "Shilang Hu, please tell me, what on earth is this newspaper?"
Hu Changan's various things have brought Zhu Yuanzhang too many surprises before.
Subconsciously, Zhu Yuanzhang felt that what Hu Changan mentioned this time would be a good thing.
Hu Chang'an looked at Zhu Yuanzhang's expectant eyes and stopped pretending.
Looking at Zhu Yuanzhang, Hu Changan said calmly: "The newspaper is similar to the Di newspaper."
"It's just that the audience of Di Bao is only officials, while the newspaper is aimed at the general public."
The prototype of a newspaper was Di Bao.
As early as the Tang Dynasty, Di Bao had already appeared.
Dibao is an official document sent by the government and is generally only circulated among officials.
Dibao was issued by the government and was generally used to convey the emperor's will to officials at all levels and local officials.
In the Tang Dynasty, there were special scribes who copied Di newspapers.
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he couldn't help but be a little confused: "Let the people read the Di newspaper? Why do the people want to read the Di newspaper?"
"They are illiterate, can they read this newspaper?"
"What's more, what is recorded in this residence newspaper is all the decrees of the imperial court."
"The imperial officials read the imperial newspaper in order to better implement the imperial decrees."
"But what do the common people do after reading the Di newspaper? The common people don't have to work like the imperial officials?"
However, when Hu Changan heard this, he just smiled slightly: "Your Majesty, ordinary people do not need to follow the orders of the imperial court like officials."
"But this does not prevent them from understanding the trends of the imperial court!"
"If ordinary people are illiterate, they can have someone read it to them."
"There are really very few sources of information for ordinary people now."
"The only channel for them to get information is from the rural gentry family."
"Only from the mouths of the squire can the common people know about various national affairs."
"In this way, the squires unintentionally control the public opinion in the village."
"Even if they slightly distort the facts or add some of their own ideas to the facts, people will still believe what they say."
"After all, these poor people have no other channel to get information except the squires."
"But if the government issued a newspaper, things would be completely different."
"Now the common people can not only learn about things from the squire's mouth, but also learn about national affairs by reading newspapers."
"In this way, ordinary people will have two channels for news."
"And the common people will definitely trust the newspapers published by the government more than the squires."
"After all, this represents the official will!"
"Thus, the government can use newspapers to openly control grassroots public opinion!"
At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang finally realized what he was doing.
Hu Changan's move is really wonderful!
As long as newspapers are published, the people can always know the latest trends of the court.
If there was anything that needed to be known to the people, Zhu Yuanzhang could just write it in the newspaper.
With newspapers, Zhu Yuanzhang could educate the people at the minimum cost!
If there were not so many people watching now, Zhu Yuanzhang would even want to slap his thigh hard to show his excitement.
But soon, Zhu Yuanzhang thought of a new problem: "Shilang Hu, the number of common people is much greater than the number of officials!"
"Now the scribes are overwhelmed by the supply of Di newspapers for officials to read."
"If we continue to copy residence newspapers for the common people, how many scribes will the imperial court need to hire?"
However, when Hu Changan heard this, he just smiled slightly: "Your Majesty, have you forgotten the wooden movable type printing technology I just invented?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned at first, and then suddenly realized.
Yes, with this convenient and fast wooden movable type printing technology, why do we need scribes?
Just type and print at will, and this newspaper will come out.
Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but have mixed feelings.
Sure enough, science and technology are the primary productive forces!
With technology, everything is easier!
But soon, Zhu Yuanzhang thought of a new question: "Shilang Hu, what if a newspaper is published and these people don't want to read it?"
"Not everyone can understand that newspaper!"
"I think even if there are dedicated people to help these people read the Dibao, they may not be interested in it."
What Zhu Yuanzhang said is actually quite reasonable.
Zhu Yuanzhang actually had this newspaper.
But for this newspaper, Zhu Yuanzhang usually just put it there for show.
Even Zhu Yuanzhang did not want to read this newspaper unless he had to.
Without him, this newspaper looks really boring.
Just like government documents, others will only take a look at them unless they really need to be executed.
Otherwise, who would read this boring government document?
Zhu Yuanzhang didn't think the people would be interested in this boring government document.
However, when Hu Changan heard this, he smiled again: "Your Majesty, since this newspaper is boring, we can change the narrative method of the newspaper for the common people."
"I suggest that we invite the storyteller from Ying Tiancheng to compile this newspaper."
"For example, if there is a theft in a certain place, the newspaper may just write a dry button description, but in the newspaper, we can make the incident vivid."
"For example, the storyteller can compile a short story based on this incident. On a certain day of a certain month of a certain year, a gang of criminals broke into a house..."
"In this way, people will know the important news from different places while reading the story. Isn't this great?"
"And we can also serialize novels in newspapers to attract people."
"In this way, even if people are not interested in dry official documents, they will still come to listen to this newspaper for interesting novels!"
This time, Zhu Yuanzhang was satisfied.
If we follow what Hu Changan said, this newspaper will definitely become a big hit in Yingtian City!
Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but put his hand on Hu Changan's shoulder and said happily: "Shilang Hu, you still have the ability!"
"You will be solely responsible for the distribution of this newspaper."
Zhu Yuanzhang believed that if this newspaper could be successfully published, the imperial court's control over the grassroots would definitely be greatly enhanced!
Hu Changan also smiled when he heard this: "In that case, can your Majesty allow me to place an advertisement in this newspaper?"
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he couldn't help but be confused: "Advertisement? What is this? Hu Aiqing, please tell me."
Upon hearing this, Hu Changan also cleared his throat and said loudly: "This advertisement is actually similar to a merchant's promotional slogan."
"It's just that this promotional slogan is printed in the form of text on the newspaper."
"I want to use this newspaper to promote the new Ministry of Industry School!"