"The imperial report?" Fang Beidou frowned slightly. "My lord, are you talking about the imperial report sent by the court?"
"Yes, that's right, it's the official bulletin issued by the court!" Yan Liqiang nodded.
"Of course I know about the court report. I have seen it before. I wonder what the master means by asking me this?"
Yan Liqiang smiled and said, "It's very simple. What I mean is that we should also publish a newspaper..."
"Ah?" Fang Beidou's eyes widened suddenly, and he looked at Yan Liqiang with a puzzled look, "Aren't these court reports produced by the court officials? How can ordinary people interfere? Besides, isn't one copy of the court report enough? If I want to do it, what's the point of copying the court report every time?"
As soon as Yan Liqiang saw Fang Beidou's expression, he knew that Fang Beidou's mind had not turned around at all. It was no wonder. For countless years, people in this world have been accustomed to the fact that the only newspaper in this world is the official newspaper. When he said he would start a newspaper, Fang Beidou first thought of the official newspaper. He felt that there was no need to have two copies of the same content. The official newspaper was the official newspaper of the Han Empire, which was also equivalent to the internal reference in later generations. It was a tool for the court to release news downwards. Those who could read the official newspaper were officials in local government offices and members of the system. Ordinary people generally could not see the news in the official newspaper.
"I'm not talking about the official gazette, but something similar to it. I call it a newspaper. The official gazette is aimed at court officials at all levels and is for officials at all levels to read. The newspaper I'm talking about is not limited to officials. Anyone can read it, and it's mainly for ordinary people to read!"
Fang Beidou was stunned for a long time, and he didn't come back to his senses. "Isn't it the same as the court bulletin? The news of the court can be known by asking someone in the imperial capital. Moreover, the decrees and various news issued by the various departments in the court are very boring. What's the point of the lord sending these things to the people? Who will read them?"
Seeing that Fang Beidou's thinking still hadn't gotten out of the mode of court bulletins, Yan Liqiang could only patiently explain to Fang Beidou again, "The first difference between the newspapers and court bulletins I mentioned is that they target different readerships. Court bulletins target officials at all levels of the Han Empire, and the newspapers I mentioned are mainly targeted at ordinary people. The second difference is their distribution methods. Court bulletins are distributed free of charge by the court and government, while the newspapers I mentioned are not distributed for free to others. They need to be purchased by others with money. They have to pay to see what is in the newspaper. This is the second difference. The third difference is also the newspaper I mentioned. The difference between the court gazette and the newspaper is the content they publish. The court gazette contains news and decrees from the court, while the content in the newspaper I mentioned is all-encompassing as long as it is related to the lives of the people and is of interest to everyone. News about court decrees is only a small part of it. Other things published in newspapers include various fresh and interesting things happening in the capital and surrounding areas, some people's opinions criticizing current social ills, notices from the people looking for people and things, stories told by storytellers in teahouses, advertisements from merchants and business groups, etc...."
Even though Fang Beidou considered himself to be worldly-wise, he was still dumbfounded after hearing what Yan Liqiang said about the contents of the newspaper, "This... the newspaper... can... can contain these things!"
"Of course, if I say yes, then yes!" Yan Liqiang smiled confidently. The value of the newspaper he was talking about has been tested by time and history, so it is impossible for it to be wrong. The reason why people in this world did not think of it is because their thinking has not jumped out of the circle of court reports, and they did not expect that newspapers could be done this way. And the so-called court reports, in this world, are actually almost the same as books. A court report is the size of a book and consists of many pages. After being issued by the court, these court reports can be regarded as official documents and archives and must be retained. The concept of fast-moving consumer goods like newspapers does not exist in this world. In everyone's concept, words printed on paper are books, and no one knows what newspapers are.
Yan Liqiang's idea of publishing a newspaper was the result of his careful thinking during this period of time.
How to prevent the natural disaster four years later from killing tens of millions of people? This question has been lingering in Yan Liqiang's mind these days. Yan Liqiang imagined various possibilities in his mind, but found that it was impossible to avoid this result. After thinking about it, the only way to avoid the disaster was to make everyone leave the Imperial Capital and the four regions when the disaster occurred. There were only two ways to do this. One way was for him to become the emperor of the Han Empire in four years, and he could also overthrow the prime minister and have the final say in the court. With the invincible leader's aura, he could naturally make the entire Imperial Capital and the cities around it retreat and make tens of millions of people migrate. The second way was to give everyone an early warning before the disaster occurred.
It is not difficult to give a warning to one person, but it is difficult to give a warning to the entire Imperial Capital and the cities around it and tens of millions of people. To do this, there must be a strong information channel. Otherwise, even if you shout until your voice is hoarse, few people will be able to hear you, and even fewer will believe you.
The government is a channel for the rapid release and dissemination of information and warnings, but this channel is not in the hands of Yan Liqiang. Yan Liqiang has no confidence that he can make the bureaucrats in the court listen to him with just a few words in four years. He would not rashly release such news that could affect the stability of the entire Han Empire. Therefore, if he wants to save people and avoid disasters, the safest way is to master an information release and dissemination channel that can rival or even exceed the government. When the time comes, if he says this in advance, everyone will know immediately and can evacuate before the disaster occurs. This is the only way. I am the best solution that Yan Liqiang can think of with his experience and knowledge accumulated in two lifetimes...
The easiest channel for publishing and disseminating this information in this world is newspapers.
Unlike Yan Liqiang's previous life, in this era, there is almost no control or licensing system for news publishing. No matter what you want to print, you can print it. There are no restrictions on publication numbers or book numbers, and you don't need anyone's consent. As long as it is not something that misleads the public and advocates rebellion, no one will interfere. Just like those bookshops, they print and sell their own books without any restrictions. Such a publishing environment is simply the diamond age of any paper media.
After Yan Liqiang said this, Fang Beidou suddenly understood what kind of newspaper Yan Liqiang wanted.
"My Lord wants me to use this 100,000 taels of silver to start a newspaper..."
"Well, that's good. You can first go to the Imperial Capital and find a bookshop with a printing workshop to buy it. As for the rest, we can slowly discuss how to do it..."
(End of this chapter)