"Since Xia Qing wrote those contents about the court on it, it means that Xia Qing advocates the affairs of the court, so that the people of the world know and discuss it, right?" Li Shimin's expression did not fluctuate, and he couldn't see his joy or anger, so he just said lightly as if he was asking casually.

"To sort this matter out, I also ask Your Majesty to forgive your courtiers for being rude, and dare to ask Your Majesty a few questions." Xia Hongsheng thought about it, got up and said to Li Shimin.

Li Shimin nodded: "There are only you and me here, it's for discussion, but it's okay to ask." ”

Xia Hongsheng bowed and saluted, and then asked: "Weichen wants to ask, why does the imperial court set up the post of supervising the imperial history?" ”

"The superintendent of the imperial history is in charge of supervising hundreds of officials, inspecting counties and counties, correcting prisons, and purging court ceremonies. Xia Qing asked me this just to tell me that if a newspaper was issued and the affairs of the imperial court were reported in the newspaper, I could add countless imperial histories. Li Shimin said: "It's just that Xia Qing knows that although the imperial history of the imperial court supervises hundreds of officials, inspects counties and counties, corrects prisons, and rectifies the court, if there is a mistake in the imperial history, the punishment is also extremely severe." Because its punishment is extremely severe, the supervision of the imperial history needs to be diligent, and it also needs to be reasonable, not credible. And the affairs of the court are recorded in the newspaper, so that everyone in the world can see, know, and observe, among them, there are naturally talented people who dare to check the disadvantages of the times and supervise the actions of the court. However, there will also be traitors who confuse the public and deliberately misinterpret them, but they will also be seen by the people and instigated. ”

Xia Hongsheng understood Li Shimin's worries, so he smiled and said, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten that with the limited space of the newspaper, how can any article be published?" All articles that can be published in the newspaper are the result of selection. Those who are beneficial to the country will be published; Those who are harmful to the country should be abandoned. And so it goes. Why should Your Majesty be worried? If His Majesty is still not at ease, Wechen suggests that His Majesty can send personnel to join the editorial department of the newspaper to supervise it. ”

"The one I'm worried about, is it Xia Qing?" Li Shimin shook his head and said, "If I agree to issue a newspaper, Xia Qing will take the lead." And how can no one follow suit? Xia Qing is sincere and loyal, and I naturally trust him. And stationing personnel is also a law. But if someone in the world follows Xia Qing's example and also comes to start a newspaper, will it be difficult for me to send a special party to supervise everyone who runs a newspaper? ”

Xia Hongsheng had expected that Li Shimin would have this worry. Historically, the control of speech was extremely strict, from the Qin Dynasty's "Occasional Language" to the Song Dynasty's "Slander and Abandon the City", to the Qing Dynasty's "Literary Prison", where rulers enacted various bans on speech, books, and publications. Extreme control over the speech of the people in order to maintain their own **** and reduce the voice of opposition. Although the Tang Dynasty is more enlightened than later dynasties, and there is no precedent for being convicted for words, it is a feudal dictatorship after all, because it also has some scruples and controls over the people's speech -- it is said to be enlightened. It's just compared to the Ming and Qing dynasties in later generations.

"Your Majesty, there was a school of scholarship in the pre-Qin period. Called Legalist, Your Majesty should know, right? Xia Hongsheng asked.

"Nonsense!" Li Shimin glared at Xia Hongsheng.

Xia Hongsheng said with a smile: "Legalism advocates the legal system, emphasizing that the emperor rules the people and the state manages the people. Break the law". Your Majesty thinks this doctrine can be useful? ”

"Nature is of great use. The country cannot stand without standing, and now there is a clear law in the imperial examination, so if the world is impossible, how should it be governed? Li Shimin said.

"Wechen also knows some Legalist doctrines, Wechen thinks. A rational legal system is the foundation and necessity for maintaining social stability. Xia Hongsheng said to Li Shimin: "If you want to have a legal system, you must have a law to follow, if there is a law, you must follow the law, you must strictly enforce the law, and you must be prosecuted if you violate the law." Having a law to follow is the premise, having a law to follow is the core, strictly enforcing the law is the key, and violating the law is the guarantee. Having laws to follow means establishing unified, complete, and rational laws, and supplementing and perfecting them in the light of new situations that are constantly emerging. The law must be followed, that is, to ensure the universality and effectiveness of the law, regardless of nationality, race, gender, occupation, origin, belief, education level, property status...... They must all abide by the laws of the imperial court equally, enjoy legal rights and bear legal obligations in accordance with the law. Strict law enforcement means to ensure strict and impartial law enforcement and justice, safeguard social fairness and justice, and prevent law enforcers from abusing their powers. Violations of the law must be prosecuted, that is, all illegal and criminal acts must be punished in accordance with the principle of "taking the facts as the basis and the law as the criterion." The law is not noble and the rope is not bent. With the addition of the law, the wise can resign, and the brave dare to fight. The punishment does not avoid the minister, and the reward is not spared. ”

Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, but soon his eyes lit up, and he said: "Xia Qing said so much, which means that he wants me to formulate a law for the newspaper and restrict the people who run the newspaper and the content of the newspaper through the law!" If the newspaper exceeds the limit of the law, it can be punished according to the law! In this way, people can start a newspaper according to the law, comment on the affairs of the court in the newspaper, and under the restrictions of the law, they cannot talk nonsense! ”

Xia Hongsheng nodded: "Your Majesty is wise!" Although the transparency of the affairs of the imperial court will bring trouble to the imperial court, in the long run, it will bring about the practical implementation of the policies and the people's confidence in the imperial court, His Majesty, and the civil and military officials. At the same time, it can also enable the imperial court to understand the thoughts of the people through the reaction in the newspapers, and there will be no more such a situation as 'why not eat minced meat'. And in order to prevent the negative impact of people's speech, the imperial court can formulate and promulgate newspapers, periodicals, articles...... and other laws and regulations related to the gathering, dissemination, printing, and exchange of affairs of the imperial court, regulating the dissemination of these news and news, clarifying the nature, tasks, and specific responsibilities of news organizations similar to newspapers, clarifying the relationship between newspapers and the imperial court and the people, and providing legal safeguards for newspapers that adhere to the interests of the imperial court, and at the same time restricting newspapers and news that do not conform to the interests of the imperial court, so as to prevent newspapers from abusing their rights, making nonsense, and inciting the people. In this way, the newspaper will become a mirror in the hands of the imperial court, and its own shortcomings will be reflected through the reaction of the people. It is also a sword of public opinion in the hands of the imperial court, which can guide the people's thoughts through newspapers, so that the people's ideas can be attached to the needs of the court! ”

Li Shimin pondered, weighing the pros and cons. Publish the affairs of the imperial court in the newspaper, so that everyone in the world can see it, knowing that for Li Shimin, this is a risky thing. However, Li Shimin also knows that taking risks always goes side by side with opportunities, and he is reluctant to have children and can't trap the evil wolf.

Xia Hongsheng waited for Li Shimin to come up with a result, and he believed that with Li Shimin's vision and ambition, he would try to take this risk.

After a long time, Li Shimin suddenly asked: "If Xia Qing is asked to publish a newspaper, and through the newspaper, whether it is a scholar or a common person, whether it is a farmer or a businessman, all support me to attack the Turks, how long will it take for Xia Qing?" ”

Xia Hongsheng became a bamboo in his chest, and said with a smile: "A few months is enough!" (To be continued.) )