chapter 110

Chapter 110: Countering Rumors with Rumors

Shen He wasn't really confronting Sui Yunxing.

Most people, including Qi Zhuoyun, would likely approach the problem in this manner.

If the commoners want to live, tell them that daring to rise up will only hasten their demise.

By making an example out of one (i.e., "killing the chicken to scare the monkey"), those acting impulsively would naturally cower, hesitating to lead the charge.

The ones remaining would mostly be problematic.

Indeed, it's a method that works quickly.

The only downside, inevitably, is that many will have to bleed for this method to achieve its intended effect.

Shen He doesn't want to witness such a scene.

Some bloodshed is inevitable, but some can perhaps be prevented with enough effort.

As someone who came from a peaceful society where information spreads rapidly, Shen He, with a touch of pride, believed he could try his hand at influencing public opinion.

He had numerous tactics from his world to draw upon, applying them to the current rumors.

For the latter half of the day, Sui Yunxing remained silent, simply accompanying Shen He.

After Young Master Shen finished his sugar art, their day's journey came to an end.

He grinned, waving at Sui Yunxing, "See you later!"

Sui Yunxing looked at him, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Many questions welled up, but in such an inappropriate setting and timing, Sui Yunxing swallowed them back.

He'd wait, giving it some time, and once the current matter with the young master was resolved, he'd then seek the answers he desired.

After all, things might not turn out as he anticipated.

Perhaps he's overthinking, getting lost in too many details.

……

Shen He spent two days outside, racking his brain and drafting plan after plan.

Who would've thought, in this lifetime, he'd not only lament his studies but also undertake such tasks.

Young Master Shen rolled around his bed in frustration.

After his roll, he felt rejuvenated and got up to continue pondering deeply.

The next afternoon, Shen He, with the results of his brainstorming, sought out Zheng Xueze and Liu Zheng.

If Qi Yianbing could have been present, he might've offered some excellent advice in this area.

Currently, Zheng Xueze and Liu Zheng worked in the same department as subordinates.

Shen He arrived outside their office and sent someone in to fetch them.

It felt much like calling someone out from the academy.

As they appeared, Shen He smiled warmly, greeting the officially dressed Zheng and Liu with a bow, "Greetings, Lord Liu and Lord Zheng."

Although they had been given official titles for some time, it was Shen He's first time seeing them in their formal uniforms.

They indeed looked different than their usual attire as young gentlemen.

Amused by his younger cousin's demeanor, Liu Zheng chuckled and, lifting his robe, quickly descended the steps to push Shen He toward a quieter spot, with Zheng Xueze trailing behind them.

In a secluded corner, Liu Zheng inquired, "What brings you to us, Little He?"

Shen He asked in a hushed tone, "You've heard about the recent rumors spreading, haven't you?"

Zheng Xueze and Liu Zheng exchanged a glance and nodded, "I believe everyone in the capital is aware."

They both knew full well who was behind these rumors.

Regrettably, without tangible evidence, the fact that King Jin, personally appointed by the late emperor and now detained in the capital without being sent to his fiefdom, indicates repression by the new emperor.

If King Jin, Qi Leyong, were to be dealt with baselessly, it might very well solidify the rumors in the public's eyes about the new emperor being cold-hearted and punishing his kin.

Especially since the new emperor has only recently ascended the throne.

Taking hasty actions would indicate a lack of wisdom.

At the very least, one should wait for half a year, if not a full year, before making any moves.

As long as King Jin exists, he poses a potential threat to the throne.

Shen He had no intention of discussing when Qi Leyong would meet his end.

Given how the narrative has evolved, leading a rebellion with an army was an inevitable next step.

If Qi Leyong approaches the city gates with his army, dealing with him would be justified in the eyes of the world.

Shen He's immediate goal was to address the current problems, ensuring fewer challenges and casualties when the time for rebellion comes.

Reaching into his sleeve, Shen He handed them a stack of papers, whispering, "Please review these first. Think about their feasibility and point out any major oversights I might have missed. If it's feasible, I plan to return to the palace tonight to show these to the crown prince."

Shen He provided at least twenty pages, annotated in red ink and accompanied by simple charcoal diagrams. His preparations were meticulous.

The two of them scrutinized each page before exchanging stacks.

Shen He anxiously awaited their feedback.

Liu Zheng and others were originally troubled by this issue as well.

Or rather, many in the court were concerned about the matter.

With the vast population, even a decree from the court can't entirely silence the chatter.

In reality, since the rumors originated in areas far from the capital, local officials had already ordered punishment for anyone discussing the matter.

However, given the daily tasks of the local constabulary, they couldn't be on constant vigilance, and reporting systems had their pitfalls.

In summary, despite numerous attempted solutions, the situation only worsened.

At first, Shen He thought about clarifying the matter.

But he quickly dismissed that idea.

Attempting to clarify oneself is the least effective method.

It's unreasonable to expect Qi Zhuoyun, an emperor, to lay out his entire life for the world to see and explain himself. Moreover, even if he did, there's no guarantee they would believe him.

…and indeed, Qi Zhuoyun did overthrow the despotic emperor.

The best defense is often offense.

In today's digital society, one of the most effective ways to counteract a rumor is to create an even bigger one.

The more outrageous the rumors counteract each other, the better.

Once a rumor becomes too outrageous, those who believe it will start to question its validity. Once the public begins to ponder the truth of a rumor, more than half the job of clarification is done. At the same time, it will be challenging for adversaries to spread new rumors successfully.

The second method to debunk rumors is to address those who believe, fear, or even act drastically based on them.

What do they need? What would reassure them?

The commoners don't care if the emperor killed his father or his brother; they care if the emperor would bring calamity. They are concerned about whether they can live peaceful lives under the current emperor's rule.

Rather than the emperor revealing every detail of his life to prove his benevolence, it's better to inform the people about infrastructure developments, grain storage, tax revenue, and how the government would protect them in case of disasters.

These can be combined with the earlier spread rumors.

After all, if eggs are given away at the village entrance, the elderly would surely rush for them. This is a perfect opportunity to spread outlandish rumors while calming the restless hearts of the public - killing two birds with one stone.

Of course, this is just Shen He's current plan.

After all, modern society is worlds apart from ancient times.

To implement these ideas, they need more people to review and refine them.

Liu Zheng's and Zheng Xue's eyes lit up.

Zheng Xue couldn't contain himself and showed a bright smile. Glancing at the paper in his hand and then at Shen He, he said, “This is feasible. Very feasible. There might be minor issues, which I'll highlight for you. Later, present this to the emperor; he might think even more thoroughly than we did.”

Liu Zheng patted Shen He on the head, "Little He is truly clever."

Receiving the compliment, Shen He felt slightly embarrassed.

It wasn't just his cleverness but the collective wisdom of many public relations and marketing experts from various eras.

At most, he's a gatherer and summarizer.

Yet, with affirmation from Liu Zheng and Zheng Xueze, Shen He became immensely invigorated, his enthusiasm multiplied.

Zheng Xueze marked a few minor points with his pen. Shen He carefully stored his manuscript, not waiting for further questions from Zheng Xueze and Liu Zheng about matters like his recent move into the East Palace.

Shen He left in a whirlwind-like hurry.

His voice echoed from afar, "I'm going back to the palace to show my brother first. I'll discuss details with you all tomorrow! Goodbye!"

And then he vanished.

Riding his horse swiftly, his sky-blue robe disappeared around the street corner.

Zheng Xueze, with deep, dark eyes, watched for a moment before turning to Liu Zheng, "Liu Dai wants to go out and have some fun. Find a way to help her sneak out in a couple of days."

Liu Zheng: "?"

Liu Dai's wedding to Zheng Xueze was imminent. Being the bride-to-be, she was confined at home, with her mother guarding her closely, fearing she'd follow her brother's adventurous ways.

Consequently, Liu Dai was also kept indoors, forced to focus on her studies, aiming to emulate her cousin, the top scholar Liu Zheng.

Liu Zheng's eyebrows furrowed, "She hasn’t gone out; how do you know?"

Zheng Xueze, with a mysterious tone, replied, "I just know. Will you help or not?"

Liu Dai couldn't assist, but given Liu Zheng's current stature within the Liu family, there was a high probability he could cover for Liu Dai, allowing her a brief escapade before sneaking her back home.

Zheng Xueze believed this was the best plan.

Liu Zheng grinned slightly, "So, am I helping or not?"

Zheng Xueze: "?"

Sensing something amiss, Zheng hurriedly turned, lifting the hem of his robe and dashed up the steps into the office.

The esteemed scholar, Master Liu, followed closely, his fist clenched tightly.

*

Upon returning to the East Palace, Shen He urgently inquired, "Where's my brother?"

The palace maid replied, "His Majesty hasn't returned to the palace yet."

Shen He instantly understood: the Emperor must still be in the Hall of Diligence.

With a twinkle in his eyes, he hurried towards the hall.

When he saw Qi Zhuoyun, the emperor was still in conversation with a minister.

Shen He peeked in and recognized him as the Vice Minister of the Rites Department.

The minister's white beard was long, and he looked like the kind of stern old man who could chase someone with a cane in hand, berating them for misleading the emperor.

Shen He tiptoed, keeping quiet, and gestured for silence with a hand to Zhong Hong.

He discreetly moved to the other end to wait.

Zhong Hong suppressed a grin and indicated to Shen He that he would subtly hint to the emperor.

Shen He was indeed anxious since this was an important matter. He nodded from afar, hoping Qi Zhuoyun would wrap up his discussion with the Vice Minister promptly.

Sure enough, in a short while, the Vice Minister took his leave from the hall.

The old man looked hale and hearty; he might even outrun Shen He, a young man, when wielding his cane, hitting his mark with precision.

Shen He felt increasingly apprehensive.

He thought it might be wise to avoid these scholarly officials in the future.

Young Master Shen didn't consider that one of the most prominent scholarly families was his maternal family.

Shen He almost skipped as he rushed into the hall.

Upon seeing him, Qi Zhuoyun smiled, his voice a blend of weariness and warmth, "Hehe, are you back to the palace?"