The Imperial Age with the Resurgence of Han Style

Chapter 82 Trip to Chang'an ([-])

July 7, Daxing Railway Station.

In Qi State, countless books and monographs are published every year, bringing rich and diverse culture and knowledge to many ordinary people in the country, and effectively promoting the construction of "spiritual civilization" in the country.

In addition, newspapers and magazines popular across the country are also the most important part of the prosperous writing activities.Throughout Qi, there are currently more than 600 regularly published newspapers and periodicals.Moreover, as time goes by, the number of various publications continues to increase at a rate of dozens per month.

Royal families, cabinets, officials, scholars, poets, experts, authors and journalists provide newspapers with news material of all kinds every day.Although the number of newspapers published daily in Daxing is not as good as that of Jianye in the north, due to its superior geographical location close to the capital, the various political newspapers published are quite authoritative and timely. Coupled with the dense population in the eastern region, In terms of total circulation, it far exceeds the circulation of Jianye Newspaper.

Previously, the responsible department for newspaper censorship and supervision was the Public Opinion Bureau.However, with the rapid development of the domestic newspaper industry, it is difficult for pollsters to continue to undertake this increasingly complex task while countering espionage.In the fifth year of Shaoning (1690), the cabinet assigned the responsibilities of news review and supervision to the newly established News Management Administration, which was responsible for news promotion and review management.

Several major newspapers such as "Daily Political Affairs" and "Hanzhou News" have a circulation of more than 30 copies. Even the "Daxing Times", with its 16-24 folio layout, has a circulation of more than [-] copies, and its marketing There are several surrounding prefectures and counties.

Of course, there are many tabloids throughout Qi, which will only report foreign news under special circumstances. Their reports focus on local news in various provinces and cities, mostly short "trivia", as well as humorous stories and ridiculous advertisements. , there are very few full-length novels published in it.

In addition to various daily newspapers, special weekly magazines founded in various places are also very popular among readers. The first one is "Guan Tianxia" published by Daxing, which provides a comprehensive interpretation and introduction of important events happening at home and around the world, allowing readers to fully Without leaving home, you can understand the ins and outs of various major events and future trends.

Newspapers such as "Eastern Weekly", "Observer", "Tianxia Zhi", "Literary Weekly", "Huaben" and other newspapers are mainly outstanding for their literary content, so they have also gained a large number of readers who actively purchase them.

Relying on Qi's decades-long compulsory education, the literacy rate of Qi's people has exceeded 75%, far exceeding the world average.In this environment, many people in Qi also developed the habit of reading. They usually pass a brief and boring time with a newspaper or a weekly. It can be said that newspapers play an important role in the spiritual life and spiritual life of the people of Qi. The influence in political life cannot be underestimated.

In addition to attracting professional writers to publish content, many newspapers also invite numerous literary and scientific celebrities to express their opinions in daily newspapers, thereby greatly improving the reputation and popularity of their newspapers and expanding circulation.

As for the sales of various newspapers, apart from the bustling street stalls in the city, the train station is the most important "distribution point".Outside the platform, in the waiting room, and even on the train platform, there are many part-time newsboys, shuttling on both sides of the parked trains, loudly selling their goods.

Considering that the journey from Daxing to Chang'an took nearly three hours, Li Yanliang squatted next to a newsboy, preparing to buy a few newspapers to pass the boring time on the way.

"Sir, if you are traveling not far, you might as well buy a copy of "Huaben"." The newsboy introduced enthusiastically: "This publication has recently been serializing the strange novel "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio" from the Qin State. Each story is particularly fascinating, and it is not in the form of chapters, so the suspense will not be left in the next issue.”

"Strange novels?... Not interested." Li Yanliang shook his head and said, "Give me a copy of "Daily Political Affairs" and "View of the World"."

"Okay." The newsboy quickly pulled out the two newspapers and handed them to Li Yanliang, ""Daily Political Affairs" costs two cents, and "View of the World" costs three cents."

Li Yanliang weighed his luggage in one hand and a newspaper in the other, and slowly walked to the train platform following the passengers checking in.

"...Hello, sir!"

A passenger running from behind, probably in a hurry, kept pushing aside the pedestrians in front and moved forward quickly, but in his hurry, he accidentally bumped into Li Yanliang.He turned his head to look with some annoyance, and found that it was an officer named Xuejie (major) of the Royal Guards. Immediately, he straightened his face and saluted him and said hello.

"Sorry, sorry." Captain Xuejie of the Imperial Guard gently patted Li Yanliang on the shoulder and said with a smile: "I made an appointment with my family at the platform, but I was a little late."

"Sir, it's okay to be humble in your position." Li Yanliang responded.

"Are you going to Chang'an?"

"I was ordered to go to the Army Headquarters to report on my humble duty."

"Just came back from overseas?"

"Yes. I previously served in the garrison in Western India."

"Xizhou Garrison?" The Imperial Guard Colonel Xuejie nodded reservedly and did not pay attention to the little Captain Renyong (lieutenant).

The Royal Guards is a separate military branch independent of the army and navy system. It is under the leadership of the emperor. If it were in ancient times, it would be the Royal Guards and the "emperor's closest ministers".Almost every officer and soldier is carefully selected from the military and reserve forces. Not only must their origin and identity background be examined, but the requirements for professional military skills are also extremely strict.

The entire imperial guard has a strength of 200. In addition to guarding the Imperial City of Chang'an and accompanying the emperor on his travels, they also serve in the Jianye Palace, the Imperial Mausoleum on Zhongliang Mountain, and the Royal Courtyard on Paradise Island (today's Tasmania, Australia). , and there are also various numbers of guards officers and soldiers stationed there.

As a royal guard, he had a sense of pride in protecting the royal family.Not to mention he is a low-ranking officer in an overseas garrison, even an army or navy officer who is one or two ranks higher than him, he may not be able to show off.

Gein, Guards officers, as selected people from the army and navy, often stay in the Guards for a few years, and then are released to their original service, and can be quickly promoted.After all, he has been "bathing in divine grace" for many years, and his loyalty has been proven to be no problem. If he has some military qualities, he will naturally be a key training target for the army in the future.

"Okay, I'm about to get to the carriage. Thank you Captain Li." Arriving at the door of the first-class carriage, Pan Xifeng smiled and took the heavy suitcase from Li Yanliang's hand. "There is no need to thank you. I am willing to serve your superior in this humble position." Li Yanliang sighed secretly and handed the luggage to Pan Xifeng.

"If we are destined to meet one day, we may meet again in Chang'an. At that time, I will treat Lieutenant Li to have a drink." Pan Xifeng said politely.

"Thank you, sir." Li Yanliang responded: "If I meet you again in Chang'an, sir, I should sincerely teach you and listen respectfully!"

"Brother-in-law, brother-in-law!"

Just as the two of them were about to leave after exchanging pleasantries, a man got out of the first-class carriage and greeted Pan Xifeng warmly.

"Brother-in-law, why are you late?... I thought you were going to miss the train and not be able to make it back to Chang'an."

"Haha..., the carriage surprised the driver and hit someone on the way, so it was delayed for a while." Pan Xifeng turned to explain to the visitor: "Oh, by the way, Hao Xuan, this is Captain Li. I just met him at the entrance to the station and he is a promising young officer in our Daqi Army."

"Is it you?" Zhou Haoxuan looked at Li Yanliang, his face suddenly changed, and he said in a gloomy tone: "I know you. Huh, a nosy, competitive officer who thinks he speaks out for justice!"

"..." When Li Yanliang saw Zhou Haoxuan, he immediately recognized this playboy who used the name of the royal family to bully the passengers at the station.

The world is so small! ——
The Changxing Railway (Chang'an to Daxing), which is just over 130 kilometers long, was once the first public-private partnership railway in China and also the most profitable railway line.After this section of railway was put into operation, in less than 20 years, all investments were recovered and all investors made a lot of money.

Under the planning guidance of the Ministry of Transport and Development, the railway company relied on huge dividend income to build an extension of the western section of more than 800 kilometers, connecting the railway directly to Huangyan County (now Quilpie Town, Australia) in the hinterland of the western region. ), allowing agricultural, sideline and mineral products from the vast inland areas to be continuously exported to eastern cities such as Chang'an, Shuntian (today's Gatton City, Australia), Chengde (today's Ipswich City, Australia), and Daxing.

If one of the important pillar industries of Daxing is cotton, then nearby Chengde is wool and worsted wool yarn, woolen wool yarn and recycled wool.

A large amount of wool from pastoral areas was shipped to Chengde, where it was supplied to 40 spindles and more than 8000 steam spinning machines for processing. Then, bales of wool textiles were transported by train to Daxing Port, and were finally sold by countless merchant ships to all parts of the world. .

The Chengde Railway Station was first built in the east of the city. However, with the rapid increase in urban population and the continuous expansion of the city, countless factories and residential buildings gradually surrounded the railway station. The local municipal department then established the Chengde Railway Station more than ten years ago. , a new and huge station was built on a large open space in the north of the city.

Like other industrial cities in Hanzhou, countless tall chimneys have replaced the once beautiful towers. The sky above the city is often filled with black and yellow smoke. Even in train stations far away from the city, you can faintly smell a pungent smell. Industrial chemical smell.

The train stopped at Chengde Station for 15 minutes. When Li Yanliang took his eyes back from the newspaper and looked at the carriage, he felt that the entire carriage was obviously more crowded.

"Sir, can you lend me your newspaper?" A man sitting next to him leaned over and asked cautiously.

"Oh, here you go." Li Yanliang handed a copy of "Daily Political Affairs" to the man.

"On July 7, the Cabinet Ministry of Industrial and Commercial Affairs submitted the "Trading Companies Act", which took two years to compile, to the Imperial Court for review. During the compilation of the law, thousands of suggestions were collected from domestic experts, scholars, and many managers of trading companies, factories, and mines. , after repeated consideration and multiple arguments, it has just been compiled. The significance of this law is that for the first time, private individuals and individuals are allowed to freely and voluntarily form a trading company outside the state and government under a certain framework. The establishment of a joint-stock trading company will start from An elite privilege becomes a national right and no longer requires special permission from the government. This will support the operation of trading companies to enter a formal legal mechanism and establish a high degree of trust among investors, making new trading companies completely It is different from the traditional family industry, and it is also different from the monopoly chartered trading companies authorized by the government.…”

"Hey, in the future, the establishment of this trading company will become easier and freer! What's even more rare is that this law fixed the joint-stock trading company as a system by law, and established limited liability and the free transfer of investment rights. and the legal subject status of trading companies. I am thinking that the promulgation of this law will greatly stimulate more citizens to devote themselves to the establishment and operation of trading companies. Correspondingly, it will also greatly promote the development of the domestic economy and trade. develop!"

"No! The current private trading companies, family trading companies, and a large number of partnership trading companies are basically based on family property, with individuals and families as guarantees. Once they are not managed well, they will lose everything. The whole family has been pushed into the bottomless abyss!”

"If this decree can be reviewed and approved by the Imperial Court and then submitted to His Majesty for approval and issuance, then the competition in the market will become more and more intense. Think about it, this trading company has changed from a charter to a free registration, and from a privilege If it becomes equal rights, then it will eventually change from monopoly to free competition, from closeness to openness, and we small private businesses can also compete with those large trading companies with strong capital in the market."

"...It is said that trading companies have limited liability limited to the amount of investors' capital contributions. This was proposed during the reign of Emperor Taizu. However, in view of the fact that the social and economic conditions at that time were not yet mature, it has been It has never really fallen into the legal provisions. Now, as our domestic industry and commerce become more active and the economic system becomes more perfect, the introduction of this law can be regarded as a matter of course."

"..."

A group of small businessmen were having a heated discussion about the "Commercial Companies Law" in the newspaper, and all of them showed excited expressions, as if they could pass this law and reap countless benefits from it.

Well, the reason why we think they are all a group of small businessmen is naturally inferred from their behavior of riding in the third-class carriage with most ordinary passengers.If you have money, who would want to sit in a third-class carriage with such terrible conditions and overcrowding?
Li Yanliang shook his head, not understanding why these small businessmen were so excited about the promulgation of a law.Then I opened another weekly magazine "Guan Tianxia" and read it carefully.

""The Qin army bloodbathed Qinghai, and tens of thousands of Mongols were massacred. Where will Qin's northwest strategy go?"

A huge headline appears in the most conspicuous position on the front page of the weekly, which can't help but arouse readers' curiosity to find out.

"Oh, the Qin people actually made such a big noise in the border areas!" Li Yanliang gently leaned on the back of the chair, chose the most comfortable position, then held the newspaper with both hands and immersed himself in reading.

(End of this chapter)