"Your Majesty, the matter of propagating laws can also be combined with newspapers," Chu Chen said again, uttering a word the Empress found incomprehensible.
"Newspapers? What is this?" the Empress asked, somewhat bewildered.
"Newspapers are made using the movable-type printing technique that I previously presented to Your Majesty. Content is printed on paper, such as important matters discussed in court, policies implemented, tax rates set, moral laws to be followed, and interesting anecdotes and storybooks," Chu Chen explained.
"Then, they are sold for two copper coins, allowing the common people to understand the affairs of the world through newspapers."
"Although this price and the limitations on newspaper production mean they cannot be widely distributed to all citizens for now, as the news spreads from ten to a hundred, it will ultimately be far more effective than official notices."
After hearing Chu Chen's explanation, the Empress understood what newspapers were. She pondered for a while and saw immense value in them. If newspapers could report court matters for people to know, propagate morality and laws, and include storybooks and anecdotes, could they also be used as a voice?
For instance, if a policy beneficial to the nation and its people faced obstruction from officials or gentry, newspapers could be used to publicize the policy's advantages, thereby controlling public opinion. Compared to the entire realm, the gentry and officials were ultimately a minority. As long as the majority could be informed and supportive, the resistance from officials and gentry could not be too strong or excessive.
If they still dared to openly oppose, to gather and oppose, newspapers could be used to build momentum, and then the army could be dispatched to quell them, bypassing officials and gentry and forcefully implementing the policy among the populace. In this way, officials and gentry could no longer stand on the pretext of righteousness and use public opinion to oppose. They would naturally be at a disadvantage, while their side would hold the moral high ground.
"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!" The Empress's calm expression changed, and she became excited. She recalled past struggles for power with Chen Yuanliang, where she was suppressed by public opinion when any action threatened their interests, as he rallied court officials.
Thinking of this, the Empress mused, "If I had these newspapers back then, I wouldn't have been unable to contend with Chen Yuanliang, resulting in no new policies being promoted for over twenty years, except for the initial few years. I even allowed Chen Yuanliang to dare to rebel!"
"This matter of newspapers is excellent, even more important than other matters. Chu Chen! When do you plan to undertake this?" The Empress, suppressing her desire to see the finished product, asked.
"Replying to Your Majesty, I have already dispatched craftsmen from the Ministry of Works to busy themselves with this. In at most three days, a small quantity of newspapers can be published as samples for Your Majesty and the court officials to read. Afterward, we can increase production and expand the speed and scale of newspaper production."
Chu Chen surprised the Empress again; she hadn't expected him to have already started. Delighted, she said, "Excellent! I am greatly pleased. I will provide you with another one hundred thousand taels of funds for the newspaper initiative. If more funds are needed after expansion, you may apply to me."
"Yes!" Chu Chen first bowed in agreement, then said with some difficulty, "Your Majesty, this newspaper involves papermaking, ink, craftsmen, and a series of issues and limitations. Even with future expansion, the scale within a year may not be large."
"In my estimation, if concentrated, it can supply the needs around Shuangyue City. If distributed, it might only reach one-fifth or one-sixth of the nation."
"It matters not. I am already satisfied that you have conceived of this ingenious idea of newspapers. As for the nationwide popularization of newspapers, I can wait a few years," the Empress said with a slight smile, already contemplating what she could do with the newspapers.
"In that case, I am relieved," Chu Chen nodded, fearing the Empress's impatience. As long as she was not overly eager for stability, it could be accomplished within three years, perhaps even less.
The Empress temporarily halted her thoughts and asked, "With these three approaches for propagating laws, it should be adequate. Then, what is the meaning of knowing the laws?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, knowing the laws is much easier. With constant propagation through newspapers and by scholars, people will naturally come to know what the law is and how to abide by it over time."
"Thus, the fourth step, obeying the law, can be implemented."
"Continue, please," the Empress said, nodding.
"To obey the law, one must have laws to rely on and seek them out when encountering matters. For example, if a local gentry member bullies others, and there are laws to rely on, reporting it to the government will result in legal xử lý. Then, the gentry and other lawbreakers will naturally understand the power of the law and be deterred from acting recklessly."
"And the populace, protected by the law, will both understand the horror and consequences of breaking the law, and thus abide by it, not daring to offend again." Chu Chen pondered for a moment before stating the fourth step.
However, this made the Empress question, "But is this not entirely different from what is currently being done? Currently, local governments are also maintaining our dynasty's laws."
"Your Majesty, this is vastly different," Chu Chen explained. "The laws in various regions are solely in the mouths of the county magistrates, with no oversight. To know and obey the law, there must be specialized departments. The Dali Temple is an example. However, the Dali Temple only serves court officials and the powerful, and has not reached the grassroots."
"If we consider the Dali Temple as the headquarters, to achieve knowing and obeying the law, the Dali Temple must establish branches in all regions, stripping the county magistrates of their interpretation and judgment of the law. This would form local supervision and checks on the county magistrates."
"Furthermore, the Dali Temple would have no administrative power, thus it could not interfere with people's livelihoods. At the same time, it would be subject to the county magistrates, unable to act recklessly with its authority."
"Stripping the county magistrates of their legal authority, establishing Dali Temple branches, forming mutual checks..." The Empress murmured, contemplating the feasibility. After a moment, she realized this method seemed very good! However, there was still a problem. She asked, "But what if the county magistrate and the local Dali Temple collude?"
Chu Chen smiled and replied, "Your Majesty, what is the Censorate for? Is their original job not to report rumors and supervise all officials?"
"And my Embroidered Uniform Guard, while supervising officials, secretly collects evidence of their illegal acts. Once the evidence is conclusive, they can be arrested."
"This is a double-layered safeguard, greatly ensuring that collusion between officials is ten to a hundred times more difficult!"
The Empress tapped her fingers on the table, almost forgetting the role of the Censorate. For the past ten years, the Censorate had been used by Chen Yuanliang as a tool to eliminate dissent and enforce conformity, rendering it useless. This had caused the Empress to forget its duties.
The Empress mused, the Censorate, as an overt inspection agency, would dispatch personnel to patrol everywhere, gather information on the reputation of local officials, conduct simple investigations, and then report directly to me. The Embroidered Uniform Guard, as a covert agency, could, after the Censorate's suspicion, send personnel to investigate the truth. If true, they would collect evidence, and finally, I would make a decision, handing the case to the capital's Dali Temple for joint trial.
This mutual restraint would perfect the issue of corruption and bribery among officials and resolve the problem of knowing and obeying the law. It was perfect!