Chapter 173

The so-called Dibao, also known as Dichao.

It is an official news gazette issued by the Great Zhou Dynasty, specifically for conveying imperial edicts, political intelligence, and the like.

Its content is of many types; generally speaking, it mainly includes imperial edicts, ministers' memorials, court decrees, and so on.

Sometimes, when border wars occur, battle-related matters are also announced.

All in all, this is a rather formal, even somewhat rigid official newspaper; its circulation is relatively limited, and its audience is generally confined to the middle and upper echelons of the dynasty.

During the years when the Sima Clan held power, they did not particularly value the Dibao, still regarding it as an ordinary channel for transmitting court documents up and down.

But for some unknown reason, after the Current Emperor destroyed the Sima Family, besides attaching unusual importance to control of the Forbidden Army System, he also paid special attention to the issuance of the Dibao.

Under his strong promotion, the Dibao underwent unprecedented major changes.

First.

The Dibao's circulation increased greatly; in accordance with the Current Emperor's request, it was to be popularized among the common people at the bottom as much as possible.

Second.

The Dibao's page count also increased; besides more detailed major state affairs, serialized long-form novels were added.

As for where the long-form novels came from, Gu Xuan naturally had no time to write them himself.

For this, he deliberately sent people into the marketplace and folk circles, hiring two or three storytellers and novelists with high salaries.

These people were originally impoverished scholars; though they had fantastic ideas and knew many strange tales from ancient times to the present, they were already old and frail, and with no one to rely on could only make a living by folk storytelling.

How could they have expected that one day they would be favored by the government, hired at high salaries to serialize ancient stories, and even have subordinates help them proofread manuscripts?

However.

These improvements to the Dibao naturally cost money.

For this, Gu Xuan also expended considerable effort to get the Ministry of Revenue to allocate a bit more money; even he himself, at the start, did not hesitate to dip into the Imperial Treasury.

At the beginning.

Among the court officials, regarding these changes to the Dibao, there was naturally a considerable portion who opposed them; they were mostly scions of aristocratic clans, or their spokesmen in court.

In the eyes of these high-ranking officials' sons, what do those mud-legs understand? Letting them also understand the content on the Dibao? Can they understand it?

And the dignified Dibao, adding what weird tales and strange legends — what propriety is that?

But it is known to all that this change was personally promoted by the Current Emperor.

Therefore, the crowd of court officials and high-ranking officials' sons could not openly oppose it.

You must know, the Current Emperor is an existence who counter-killed the Sima Family and destroyed the Jie Tribe of the North Border, fully deserving the title of an iron-blooded sovereign.

Facing such a sovereign, the court officials ultimately still held considerable awe; and the Dibao's changes were after all a minor matter, not worth them mobilizing troops.

And when not long after.

The back pages of the Dibao serially published "Emperor Gaozu Pacifies Heaven Record," "Gods and Demons Wind Cloud Chronicle," and other strange novels, which also attracted the interest of quite a few young officials.

As for the marketplace, interest in the Dibao increased even more, to the point that sales volume rose considerably because of it.

Thus, Gu Xuan no longer needed to take out his own Imperial Treasury to subsidize its issuance.

And by adopting this method, he gradually brought the Dibao under the control of his hands as the Zhou King.

The purpose of doing this was naturally also very simple: to strive to grasp the pen in his own hands as much as possible.

The so-called gun and pen, both hands must grasp, both hands must be hard.

Even as the Zhou King, wanting to accomplish something is not that easy.

Gu Xuan wants to take advantage of the interest group not having completely torn face yet, to prepare in advance and grasp both hands as quickly as possible.

Otherwise, when the time comes to truly do things in the future, being splashed with dirty water by people from all sides will already be too late.

…

Some young officials of cold-gate origin proposed discussing the "Open Passage Society" matter in the Dibao.

This point naturally drew rebukes from many court officials, who thought they feared things weren't big enough and still wanted to speak up for the "Open Passage Society"?

If placed in the past, these low-ranking cold-gate officials would naturally submit meekly and dare not make any opposing moves.

Unexpectedly this time, the situation was different.

They showed not the slightest fear, but instead argued based on reason at a certain court assembly, saying the concept of "Great Unity World" has existed since ancient times, this falls within the scope of academic discussion, why can it not appear in the Dibao?

Such abnormal behavior inevitably makes one suspect these people have a backer behind them.

However, the many court officials representing the aristocratic clans, though both furious and vaguely guessing who the so-called backer was, ultimately did not dare to break this layer of window paper, and could only continue severe rebukes.

For a time, court and society were in chaotic uproar yet also extremely confused, everyone at a loss.

Needless to say, the backer behind these cold-gate officials was naturally Gu Xuan himself.

And the current chaotic situation in court and society is precisely what he wanted!

The current timing is still far from mature.

He does not want to immediately tear face with that massive interest group, so he adopted this drag-out tactic.

Otherwise, even someone as strong as him cannot necessarily guarantee the situation won't become miserable.

At that time, the entire dynasty beaten into a complete mess by full-scale war is completely not what he hopes to see.

…

Within the Forbidden Army System.

From some unknown time, several articles circulated.

"On Several Major Relationships," "Why the Great Zhou Dynasty Declined," "How to View Aristocratic Clans," "Fairness Justice and National Prosperity"…

If the "Open Passage Society's" concept of creating a fair, just, and great-unity society gave many cold-gate disciples and Feather Forest orphans in the Forbidden Army a certain hope in their hearts.

Then the spread of these several articles was even more like stirring up stormy waves in their hearts.

Many among them had previously keenly felt the injustice and cruelty of the current world, yet rarely could anyone truly understand the reasons from a deep-level, macro perspective.

Why did the Great Zhou Dynasty decline step by step, to the point of falling so low as to be bullied by alien races?

Why is it that despite vast territory and a large population, national power is weak, military strength is lacking, and where exactly have the nation's resources truly gone?

What is the true face of the aristocratic clans?

Why is it that despite all being born human, the common people at the bottom starve and freeze to death, while those high-ranking officials' sons possess such vast resources from birth, living like lofty gods of the Nine Heavens?

What is the relationship between fairness and justice and the stimulation of national power?

The article's discussion of these questions one after another gave these low-born Forbidden Army soldiers a deeper understanding of this world.

Of course.

A considerable portion of the soldiers have a low level of education and need help to read these.

But the reasoning is simple and clear; anyone who has endured life's hardships and is an adult will naturally understand the true meaning within and know this is not empty words.

And over the past year, apart from daily military training, Gu Xuan also advocated promoting literacy learning among the Forbidden Army soldiers.

He was completely treating these tens of thousands of Forbidden Army soldiers as his basic plate for promoting the next step of work.

Naturally, those helping him execute these matters were the many core members of the Open Passage Society, including the many middle-rank officers he had promoted himself, as well as the Imperial Guards Staff Group.

As for the many idlers and dark agents of the aristocratic clans originally in the Forbidden Army, they had long been either isolated or investigated for crimes and cleaned out by him.

Those left behind were mostly of innocent background and could walk the same path with Gu Xuan.

Needless to say, this cost Gu Xuan a great deal of energy, and compared to it, even wiping out the Jie Tribe in the North Border was somewhat more exhausting.

For nearly a year, he spent most of his time stationed in the Imperial Guards Grand Camp, investigating and understanding from all sides, especially caring about food and other aspects of life, and sometimes even training together with the soldiers.

A Zhou King His Majesty actually lived such hardship; without a doubt, this shocked the many Forbidden Army soldiers immensely!

And on this day.

In one part of the Forbidden Army System, namely the East Garden Forbidden Army, a "Recall Bitterness Conference" activity was even secretly carried out.

This activity was held in a relatively solemn occasion within the camp, arranged very carefully.

Around the venue, several sheets of hemp paper were posted, a rare sight, with certain symmetrical words written on them, including "Speak out the man-eating dark world, hold your head high and stride forward," "Vomit out past suffering, smash the iron shackles," and so on.

Obviously.

This was an unprecedented pilot!

Not only was the venue's arrangement like this, but even the text content on every sheet of hemp paper was so sharp and direct, even appearing dazzling!

Even though over these days, all the Forbidden Army soldiers attending the meeting had more or less accepted the ideas of the Open Passage Society and studied articles such as "Why the Great Zhou Dynasty Declined" and "How to View Aristocratic Clans."

But at this moment, seeing these sheets of hemp paper called slogans, some still looked at each other in dismay and felt a certain shock and surprise.

Man-eating dark world?

Smash the iron shackles?

This is too direct, isn't it?!

Precisely because of this, the first "Recall Bitterness Conference" activity initially seemed to have no effect.

Because even when members of the Imperial Guards Staff Group took the stage, as if demonstrating, to speak of the oppression and bullying they had suffered in the past, they still could not stir up much atmosphere.

Many of the soldiers attending the meeting below seemed somewhat restrained, clearly appearing at a loss.

Even the staff member himself who went on stage to complain appeared quite reserved.

Until the second person went on stage did this situation truly change.

When all the soldiers curiously looked toward the person walking onto the stage, at first a few people exclaimed, and then almost the entire venue boomed!

"Your Majesty?!"

"This... how is this possible... it's actually Your Majesty?!"

Everyone was dumbfounded, looking in disbelief at the young Zhou King at the center of the stage!

Many Forbidden Army soldiers knew Gu Xuan.

Many soldiers had not seen him, but that did not prevent them from recognizing who he was from that world-shaking divine aura and the exclamations of those around them.

People could not believe that Zhou King His Majesty would personally take the stage at this "Recall Bitterness Conference"; was he going to personally complain of suffering?

And as expected.

After Gu Xuan extended his right hand and had everyone quiet down.

He had little hesitation or coyness, nor any identity concerns as Zhou King, but frankly and directly spoke of the pain of being suppressed by the Power Minister Family Sima Clan over these years as Zhou King, and almost having great power usurped.

And in contrast, Gu Xuan used more true feelings and length to speak of the pain and anger of watching the entire kingdom suffer various disasters from the aristocratic clans represented by the Sima Clan, watching the common people oppressed and humiliated, watching the Jie Tribe and other alien races burn, kill, loot, and plunder!

If at first, many Forbidden Army soldiers were in a state of novelty.

Then later, when Gu Xuan earnestly spoke of national decline, dark world, and alien abuse, everyone involuntarily immersed themselves in it.

Because all of this was truly related to every one of them!

Human hearts are made of flesh.

Even though Gu Xuan was Zhou King His Majesty, with such a significant difference in status from them, at this moment, their feelings toward the aristocratic clans and the man-eating world were connected!

It was only until this moment that all the soldiers truly felt a certain profound shock.

Many soldiers, during the listening process, did not know what they thought of, perhaps their own bitter past, or perhaps their loved ones who were harmed and perished; in any case, tears silently flowed down, until tears streamed down their faces.

It was only until this time.

That they, to a certain extent, truly understood why Zhou King His Majesty carried out such a "Recall Bitterness Conference," and integrated themselves into it.

Therefore.

After Gu Xuan finished his "Recall Bitterness" narration, it almost triggered an explosive sensation in the entire venue!

Almost everyone was excited, shedding tears, even weeping!

Although somewhat hard to believe.

But they still clearly felt that Zhou King His Majesty before them wanted to lead them to smash this old world harmed by aristocratic clans and fierce alien races, and build a fair and just new world with not too much oppression, exploitation, and humiliation!

Gu Xuan spent quite some effort to barely calm the booming atmosphere of the venue, and then continued to the next person.

With his groundwork, the recall bitterness of the following several representatives naturally had more, and likewise integrated their own true feelings.

Soldier Zhang Gu: born in Huainan Commandery, a place rich in coal, yet the coal mines were all controlled by the three great aristocratic clans — Yang, Shen, and Guo — who had men in the court and retainers locally, families like local emperors; Zhang Gu's father and two elder brothers dug coal all day, yet could only barely fill their stomachs, and in the end died beneath the coal mines, whereupon his mother also wasted away in grief, leaving him alone to flee to the Imperial Capital.

Soldier Liu Pi: born in Nanyang Commandery, originally a Feather Forest Orphan; after his father's battle death, his uncle spent his savings to arrange a village woman for him, but a major landlord over sixty from a neighboring county took a fancy to her and seized her as his sixth concubine; his uncle, unable to swallow the insult, went to demand justice, but was beaten and injured; the other side had money and power, many retainers, and men in the court, so his uncle, fearing assassination, fled with him.

Junior Officer He Zhisheng: born into a tenant farmer household, renting land under the Zhong Clan; misfortune struck in a disaster year with poor harvest, yet the Zhong Clan still forced them to pay the rent in full, compelling them to borrow grain from others; by the time the rent was repaid, nothing remained to stave off hunger, and his parents and elder sister all starved to death before spring arrived.

……

One by one, the soldiers spoke slowly, using the plainest words to recount their respective pasts.

In truth, many among those present had experienced similar things, differing only in time, place, or person.

Among the soldiers present, some had endured deeper suffering, some shallower, but all had walked through this cruel world.

(Chapter End)