PNB Chapter 372 Brainwashing
Chapter 372 Brainwashing
Of course, no one dared to say this, not even the emperor.
Shen Shixi didn't have mind-reading abilities, so she didn't know that both the emperor and his ministers viewed her this way.
The current supply and demand imbalance, coupled with a less developed industrial sector, could alleviate some of the supply and demand imbalance by importing goods from abroad, such as cotton, plows, sickles, and hoes.
Sweaters and canned goods don't actually sell very well in China, and they don't help boost industrial and agricultural production. If they can be sold, it gives ordinary people another way to do business, so what's wrong with that?
The opening of study abroad quotas by the Great Zhou Dynasty is a great opportunity for various academies and the Imperial Academy to attract sponsorships. As for the idea that the good things of our ancestors should not be learned by others, that is a narrow-minded view. Why? When teaching, we must do our best to brainwash these people and make them supporters of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
See later examples of brainwashing in Europe and America, where many people believe that the grass is always greener on the other side.
This task was then assigned to the Ministry of Rites.
Lu Shixun almost cried; he couldn't do it!
A man who would be unable to live with himself even if he told a lie his whole life, is he still suitable for this job of deceiving people?
But if he quits now, all his hard work will have been for nothing, and he might even be accused of treason. Who will he complain to then?
That's the downside of working for the Empress; you always have to resort to methods that go against morality.
However, it's hard to say why this method is bad.
In fact, one has to admit that it is a method that ordinary people would not think of.
Although it crosses moral boundaries, it makes foreigners feel superior!
Normal people don't think this way.
For example, brainwashing international students is actually a brilliant strategy in the long run.
The longer Shen Shixi held power, the more Li Yuanke was grateful that he had risked being bitten to death by this scoundrel to force her to return to the capital and enter the palace. It was the best decision he had ever made in his life; otherwise, he would have been sold out by this scoundrel sooner or later.
Moreover, toiling away as emperor is like an old ox pulling a broken cart—it's nothing but a joke for that scoundrel.
As a result, Li Yuanke became even less inclined to handle government affairs.
The key issue is that Shen Shixi doesn't want to do it either. Every morning, the couple almost fight over who should go to court.
But most of the time, Shen Shixi loses because the two little ones insist on being taken out to play by their father.
Compared to taking care of the child, Shen Shixi would rather earn money to support her family and doesn't want to take care of the child for even a minute.
At the end of the year, Shen Shijin and Liang Jinyue returned together, bringing with them a boy who was a little over one year old.
Last January, after the two slept together, Liang Jinyue ran away. Shen Shijin went to find her, begging and pleading with her. It was only after Liang Jinyue discovered that she was pregnant and didn't want the child to have no father, and Shen Shijin's attitude was uncompromising, that they reconciled.
Ling Menghui already knew Liang Jinyue's identity. Shen Shijin was the emperor's brother-in-law, and he personally officiated at their wedding, having them bow to heaven and earth.
Now that they've returned, the Shen family has given the two of them a belated gift, and the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Empress have naturally bestowed upon them many rewards.
Madam Shen, accompanied by Madam Shen, Liang Jinyue, and her grandson, entered the palace. Shen Shixi met them at Zhaoyang Palace.
First, they went to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager, who then bestowed gifts upon them. Afterward, they returned to Zhaoyang Palace.
Shen Shixi called his nephew over. The boy was just learning to walk and was dressed in many layers. He wobbled like a clumsy little penguin and looked just like his older brother Shen.
The prince and Xihe loved playing with their little brother, taking him around the palace.
Madam Shen then said, "I wrote to your father, asking him to name the child. Your father said that this child grew up on the frontier, and both his parents are military generals. He will surely guard the frontier in the future. Your Majesty the Empress is very fortunate. Please bestow a name upon him so that he can guard the territory of our Great Zhou for the rest of his life!"
Shen Shixi seemed to be able to see her father's handwriting. She looked at her nephew who was running around happily and said, "Good! The pass is as solid as iron, but we are starting anew. Let's call it Ru Guan, Shen Ru Guan, one man guarding the pass, ten thousand men cannot pass."
In the future, he will surely become a valiant general of our Great Zhou, protecting the country and its people with unwavering loyalty!
Liang Jinyue was extremely grateful and bowed deeply to Shen Shixi on behalf of his son.
Madam Shen said, "There's one more thing, which is your second brother's marriage. Do you still remember Commander He Xilie?"
Shen Shixi nodded, "Of course I remember! After Commander He died in battle, the Emperor posthumously honored him and wanted to bestow favors upon the He family, but Madam He refused. She only asked me to allow Young Master He to study at Yongxi Academy. I heard that his family has a very good second daughter. Could it be her?"
Madam Shen said, "That's right. Your second brother is on good terms with Young Master He. He has visited his home several times and met Miss He twice. He said he wanted to ask for her hand in marriage and asked me to go to the palace to ask Her Majesty the Empress for her opinion."
Shen Shixi said, "Since you've taken a liking to each other, why not get married? The He family has a pure and upright tradition, and Madam He is of noble character. I'm sure the second Miss He is a good match."
The main reason is that her second brother is not easily fooled.
Madam Shen breathed a sigh of relief. "Then I will ask the matchmaker to go and say that if the He family agrees, we would like Her Majesty the Empress to give the He family's daughter a proper visit."
"We're family, what's the big deal? Even if Mother didn't say anything, would I refuse to give it to her?"
Madam Shen thought to herself, "I was just afraid you'd forget."
Before leaving the palace, Shen Shixi rewarded Liang Jinyue and his nephew handsomely.
The He family's mourning period is not over yet. He Er's daughter will be twenty years old by the time she finishes her mourning. Even if a girl that old is engaged, there are always concerns that things might go wrong if things drag on and the son-in-law is unwilling to wait, resulting in the birth of an illegitimate eldest son. This is especially true for girls who are not engaged.
Madam Shen sent a matchmaker to the door, saying that it was settled first, and the formalities would be held after the mourning period ended. Madam He readily agreed and was extremely grateful.
Miss He also breathed a sigh of relief. Young Master Shen was a scholar who had passed the imperial examination. He was elegant and refined, of noble character, and naturally handsome.
The Shen family is a scholarly family, the maternal family of the current Empress, and the maternal family of the Crown Prince.
This kind of marriage is what countless girls in the capital dream of, and now it has fallen into her lap. How could she not be happy?
In March of the following year, which was the twelfth year of Yongxi, on the occasion of the Empress's birthday, the Empress held a flower-viewing banquet and invited He Qimo, the second daughter of the He family.
At the tender age of twenty, still in mourning, she wore simple makeup and light clothing, with striking features and an exceptionally refined character.
The palace hasn't held a selection of consorts for several years. The emperor is only in his early thirties, and the crown prince is still young. Who knows what the future holds? If a daughter were to enter the palace, it might be a good chance to make a profit.
The key issue is that none of the concubines in the palace are favored by the emperor, so it's necessary to bring in new ones.
The Queen held a flower viewing party, and all families with daughters of marriageable age came.
This time, there were several noble ladies present, and the leader was Yang Tingjiao, the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Ying.
After Princess Yunyang, Yang Tingyue's mother, passed away, the Duke of Ying promoted his favorite concubine to the position of legitimate wife, and Yang Tingjiao went from being a concubine's daughter to a legitimate daughter.
She was quite good at pleasing Yang Tingyu, and often had Yang Tingyu take her to the palace to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager. Unknowingly, she rose to fame in the powerful circles of the capital.
Seeing He Qimo standing alone by the koi pond, Yang Tingjiao walked over with several noble ladies. "Hilarious! The mourning period isn't over yet, and she's already out and about, even coming to the palace. Is she afraid of missing the blooming season? It would be terrible if she couldn't get married in the future!"
He Qimo looked up and didn't recognize any of them.
Her father was a scholar who entered officialdom after passing the imperial examination. He first served as a censor, and later volunteered to go to the frontier as a military governor, where he died in battle.
Her younger brother was still young, her older sister had married far away, and she was still expected to maintain appearances in the family.
The He family was not of high social standing, and there was a vast chasm separating her from these noble ladies.