HLnovel Chapter 278 Public Opinion Guidance
Chapter 278 Public Opinion Guidance
Chapter 278 Public Opinion Guidance
"Does it still hurt?" Wang Wenzhou asked Chen Yuanyuan, feigning concern.
Chen Yuanyuan felt wronged and wanted to cry. Wang Wenzhou, that madman, wasn't concerned about her at all; he clearly wanted to embarrass her. His hands were rubbing her abdomen haphazardly.
"Wow..." Chen Yuanyuan couldn't hold it in any longer and peed herself, tears streaming down her face.
"Waaaaah..." Chen Yuanyuan lay on the table, sobbing uncontrollably.
Wang Wenzhou looked at Zhu Youjian and whispered, "Brother Zhu, do you see? Yuanyuan has collapsed. Men are always more thick-skinned than women, so don't worry, the officials won't last long."
"Sigh..." Zhu Youjian shook his head with a wry smile. Poor Miss Chen, she's been completely ruined by Wang Wenzhou.
Wang Wenzhou gently patted Chen Yuanyuan's back and softly comforted her, "Yuanyuan, don't cry. Does your stomach still hurt? Should we ask the imperial physician to take a look?"
"Waaaaah..." Chen Yuanyuan cried even harder. Wang Wenzhou, you madman! Why are you playing such a trick on me?
Zhu Youjian said, "Wang Chengen, take Miss Chen to see Consort Tian and have her comfort Miss Chen."
"This old servant obeys the order." Wang Chengen hurriedly went over to help Chen Yuanyuan up.
Chen Yuanyuan wiped away her tears, feeling utterly aggrieved. Although she and Consort Tian were not related by blood, they were like sisters. She was both ashamed and angry, and going to Consort Tian now would be a good opportunity to cry to her sister about how Wang Wenzhou, that madman, had bullied her. She wanted to beg her sister to have Zhu Youjian issue an imperial decree allowing her to leave Wang Wenzhou, that madman.
Chen Yuanyuan wet her pants and could barely walk. She wiped away her tears and cried. She turned back and gave Wang Wenzhou a resentful look. "You crazy bastard, you're so mean!"
As soon as Chen Yuanyuan left, Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "Brother Zhu, are you confident now?"
Zhu Youjian nodded and said, "I hope so!"
After thinking for a moment, Wang Wenzhou said, "Brother Zhu, I want to kill someone to establish my authority."
Zhu Youjian frowned and said with difficulty, "Boxin, our Great Ming does not kill scholars."
Wang Wenzhou said helplessly, "Brother Zhu, the overall situation is more important. We can't deal with these civil officials without killing a few people. They're all afraid of nothing for the sake of their reputations, and they'll only be afraid if their lives are truly in danger."
Zhu Youjian hesitated greatly. Although he was a notorious killer in history, he killed people because of those people who had committed unforgivable mistakes.
Wang Wenzhou thought for a moment and said, "How about this, we don't necessarily have to kill, but we have to put on a show. Of course, this show may not be up to par."
"It's alright!" Zhu Youjian said, "As long as you don't kill anyone, I will fully support whatever you do."
Wang Wenzhou continued, "Brother Zhu, we must take a two-pronged approach. On the one hand, we must force the civil officials to agree, and on the other hand, we must create public opinion to gain the support of the people for peace talks."
Zhu Youjian said with a wry smile, "Boxin, how can the people support us admitting defeat?"
Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "Brother Zhu, no matter what it is, as long as you find the right angle, you can find support. For example, if a farmer keeps a cat and it kills a rat that steals grain, the people will support the rat if handled properly."
"How could that be?" Zhu Youjian shook his head repeatedly.
"Haha!" Wang Wenzhou said with a laugh, "Brother Zhu, I'm about to start telling a story. This poor mouse had just given birth to her babies, but there was no food in the mouse's house, and the eight little mice were crying for food. When the mother mouse saw that her children were starving, she knew that the farmer's house had a cat, but she still risked her life to steal food."
On her first day stealing grain, she encountered a cat. Luckily, she ran fast and managed to steal some, but she was still scratched by the cat. After she had eaten her fill, she had breast milk to feed her child. Watching her child happily nursing, she felt very gratified. What was this little bit of pain?
On the third day, she was so hungry that she had no milk left. If she didn't steal food, her babies would starve to death. However, she was injured and no longer agile, and she was likely to be caught by a cat. At this point, she could eat her babies to fill her stomach. Eight baby mice would be enough for her to heal her wounds and allow her to continue living.
But she didn't do that. She resolutely stole grain, just to feed her children. In the end, the poor mother mouse was killed by a cruel cat. What a great mother, what great maternal love! Doesn't she deserve the people's praise?
"Pfft..." Zhu Youjian was both amused and exasperated, and had to admire Wang Wenzhou's eloquence. He really could turn black into white.
"Alright! I'll leave this matter to you. What do you need me to do?" Zhu Youjian asked.
Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "These days, you should hand over the official gazette to me, and I will be responsible for its contents."
The *Dibao* was an official newspaper in ancient China, appearing as early as the Tang and Song dynasties. Its readers were mainly officials, who used it to stay informed about court affairs.
"Did you run the Hanshan Weekly?" Zhu Youjian asked.
Wang Wenzhou nodded and replied, "Brother Zhu, you also know about Hanshan Weekly?"
Zhu Youjian said with a smile, "I've watched a few episodes; it's a way to pass the time when I'm bored."
"I will also publish relevant articles in the Hanshan Weekly. Take the Song Dynasty for example. If the Song Dynasty hadn't made peace talks, it would have perished long ago. As long as the momentum of peace talks is built up, the people are still easy to fool," Wang Wenzhou said with a smile.
Zhu nodded and said with a smile, "Alright, I'll leave this matter to you."
……
Wenfu.
Madam Wen was very puzzled. What was wrong with her husband? She noticed his unusual expression as soon as he entered the room today. Then, contrary to his usual behavior, he took a bath and changed clothes at this hour, and afterwards, he sat alone in his study, deep in thought with a worried expression.
It was getting late, time for dinner. Madam Wen said cautiously, "Master, let's eat."
"Alas..." Wen Tiren sighed and said, "Madam! I haven't eaten all day. Although I'm very hungry, I have no appetite."
"What trouble has my husband encountered?" Madam Wen asked in confusion.
Wen Tiren said with a wry smile, "This matter is more than just difficult. If I'm not careful, I might not only ruin my reputation in my later years, but also be infamous for eternity!"
"Ah?" Madam Wen's expression changed. Her husband had been an official for so many years, and no matter what difficulties he encountered, he had always remained calm and composed. This was the first time she had seen him like this.
“Xiaodie is 16 years old this year, it’s time to find her a husband,” Wen Tiren suddenly said.
"Huh?" Madam Wen was completely bewildered. What was wrong with her husband? He doted on his granddaughter, Xiaodie, and the reason she was still unmarried was because he wanted her to stay in the mansion for a few more years. Why was he suddenly bringing up Xiaodie's marriage today?
Wen Tiren rambled on, saying, "I wonder if Xiaodie can persuade that lecherous Wang Wenzhou. I really have no other choice."
"Wang Wenzhou?" Madam Wen heard this name. A few days ago, Wang Wenzhou came to the mansion and brought 10 taels of silver notes and 10 taels of shopping vouchers for Hanshan Supermarket. Wang Wenzhou was young and rich, and quite handsome, but why did the master call him a lecher, yet still want Xiaodie to marry him?
Wen Tiren was shrewd and calculating. He didn't want to offend Wang Wenzhou, nor did he want to agree to peace talks. Wang Wenzhou represented the Emperor, and Wen Tiren, though not a member of the Donglin Party, was technically part of the eunuch faction. His rise to the position of Grand Secretary was solely due to the Emperor's support.
Therefore, Wen Tiren did not intend to confront Wang Wenzhou head-on; he wanted to first show weakness and appease him. Of course, his beloved granddaughter, Xiaodie, became a pitiful political sacrifice.