Dominate the Country

"The way to build a country is to respect etiquette and justice rather than power and tactics. The fundamental goal lies in people's hearts rather than skills."

"The way to build a country is to use loyalty as the armor, etiquette and righteousness as the oars..."

"Read the books of Confucius and Mencius and learn the ways of Yao and Shun."

"The whole country is engaged in business, and the smell of copper is everywhere. Morality is declining, and social conduct is deteriorating."

…

…

"When the foreigners teach algorithms, if the ministers and other ministers are sure that the algorithms will be proficient and the machines will be skillful, Chinese scholars will not be used by the foreigners, and the ugly people of the barbarians will be annihilated by the Chinese, then the above It can relieve the worry and fatigue of the people, and at the same time it can alleviate the righteous indignation of the subjects. If not, it will not be effective, and it will lose people's hearts first, and it will not be better than not doing it. "

…

In the palace, Chen Ming held a handful of thick newspapers in his hands. Since the first day of August, Liu Wenwei used Hongchang Textile Company as an example to apply to the court to formulate laws to protect workers' rights and interests. Old Confucian newspapers from all over the country have been Like a wild horse that has let go of its reins, it has struggled all the way from the way of governing the country and the foundation of the country to the reformed Qintian Prison.

Since the Qintian Prison of the Qing Dynasty became a thing of the past, a group of foreigners once again entered this sacred place. And as soon as these foreigners entered, they started to throw out many things that had been covered up in the past, such as reports of solar and lunar eclipses, Jupiter eclipses, comets, and Mercury passing by the sun. Observations of Jupiter's eclipse help determine longitude, thereby providing accurate data for mapping. Observations of comets are also helpful in calculating orbits. But in China, these are things that ordinary people have no access to.

China has respected celestial phenomena since ancient times. Once a thousand years, a solar or lunar eclipse or a comet appears, the position of the prime minister will be shaken, because at that time, such changes in celestial phenomena were directly linked to the king's moral conduct. Of course, there has been no such thing since the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the West, many of these things were born on Chinese soil. They had been made public decades ago, and they were officially separated from the mystery and became a science. But in the east, it is still hidden.

From Nan Huairen onwards, many Jesuits served in the Qintian Prison of the Qing Dynasty. There are many scholars among the Jesuits who have profound research on astronomy, such as Dai Jinxian, Liu Songling, Xu Maosheng, Song Junrong, Bao Youguan, etc. Of course, many of their observation reports cannot be published in China, but they can be published by their Jesuits. Collated and published by colleagues and European astronomers.

Many things that have become common sense astronomical knowledge in Europe continue to be shrouded in mystery in China. At the top level of China's power, astronomical phenomena such as solar and lunar eclipses, comets, etc. have long lost the mythical color of thousands of years ago. However, in the eyes of many common people and ordinary literati, it is still very mythical. And now these people have taken off this mysterious veil in one fell swoop.

In the past, people from Chen Hanqin Tianjian never thought of sorting out these things and publishing them in newspapers and periodicals. However, the newly arrived European colleagues seized this opportunity and not only earned considerable royalties, but also made their reputation known as the Astronomical Arithmetic Museum. This is a branch of Qin Tian Jian, and its members are mainly foreigners, but in this way they have also attracted the attention of the old Confucian sect!

Now a very simple truth explains what happened to them: big trees attract the wind. It's time to arrive at the critical moment of August.

The first day of September is the Great Dynasty.

A full month has passed since August.

Yuan Mei's third resignation was approved by Chen Ming, but the cabinet soon sent him another letter, asking him to continue to participate in the compilation work.

It can be said that the old Confucian school is superior.

And it has caused great repercussions among the people, not only in terms of school competition, but also in many factories. Although the country has not yet introduced a bill of rights to protect workers, many factories have already started to do so. For a time, Liu Wenwei's name resounded throughout China, and he became a living Buddha in thousands of families. He was enshrined in the homes of countless working-class families.

But the fierce battle between the two sides in the court, the "battle" between the old Confucian sect and the new Confucian sect, including the industrial and commercial sect, which the old Confucian sect calls the money sect, is still ongoing. To a large extent, the latter are not interested in Confucian orthodoxy, but the attack range of the old Confucian school is too large, and they can only beat the drum for the new Confucianism. Liu Wenwei caught the New Confucianists at their core, but those who caught them were also caught, and the Old Confucianists themselves were not clean either. You bite me on both sides, and I bite you. Gradually, the New Confucian school lost the momentum of the Old Confucian school. Because they are more powerful than the old Confucianists in the court.

The dispute over the country's foundation had long been abandoned by the old Confucianists in the court. When they discovered that the emperor was not moved by the Hongchang incident, they knew that the country's foundation had been determined and the industrial and commercial assets could not be held back. Then what they held high was "slowly open"!

——Stop opening up and develop first.

"Since Mr. Peng thinks that our proposal is not feasible and will destroy the country and the world, he must have other good strategies to strengthen the country. If Master Peng really has other good strategies that can make our country's mechanical mathematics surpass the West, then I should follow Peng. grown ups , try your best to serve, and deal with it carefully. But if Master Peng has no other good ideas, he just talks about loyalty and etiquette, thinking that these can surpass foreigners, the redeemer and others really can't believe it." Xiong Bingzhang took up the great responsibility of New Confucianism. flag.

Here Peng Zhongrui also came to the end personally and said: "Your Majesty, I still have my original opinion. Learning arithmetic and mechanics from the West will definitely confuse people's hearts. If Lord Xiong is really sure, in a short period of time, arithmetic can be mastered." If you are proficient in it, you can make exquisite machines and report them to the king, and the people will naturally worship you. But if you can't do this, but you lose your moral integrity, then it is better not to open an astronomical arithmetic hall for the time being."

The old Confucian school also knew that blockage could not block the torrent, and the exchanges between the East and the West did not last long. However, in the past, the Confucians regarded the mechanical way as a "wonderful technique", and the Europeans had indeed reached the level of China. In front, and more importantly, these mechanical methods have indeed made the entire country stronger. In particular, the changes brought about by the 'Iron Bull' were completely beyond the imagination of many old Confucianists.

In the past two years, the price of cotton has been falling again and again, but a large amount of money is still pouring into the cotton textile industry. Because that industry is still hugely profitable.

But can these tangible facts make the old Confucians change their ideas?

How is that possible!

For those who can say, "Loyalty and trustworthiness are our armor, etiquette and righteousness are our oars," will they change because of the "facts"? Many of the ‘concepts’ of the old Confucianism have become their beliefs in numbers and the pillars of their lives.

Therefore, the attitude of the old Confucian school in this regard is to be "independent", to separate from the West, and not to have too many close exchanges with the West for the time being. Anyway, there is no guarantee that 'you' will be able to catch up with the level of foreigners in a short time. Then it would be better to wait a few decades until China's own mathematical machinery and other standards are developed before communicating with the West. The world is so big that there is no need for talent. They also specifically mentioned Huanglu Village during the Kangxi period.

This is a strange man who was born at the wrong time. In his life, he invented the dehumidifier, the cold and heat detector, the Ruiguang mirror, the bicycle, the picture mirror, the multi-objective lens, the summer fan, the dragon tail cart (water lifting machine), and the time. Water, waterfalls and other objects use knowledge involving mathematics, mechanics, optics, acoustics, thermodynamics, materials science and other disciplines. But he didn't even leave his name in Yangzhou local annals. Weird and obscene skills!

Although many of Huangluzhuang's inventions are not very popular, the descendants of Huangluzhuang now rely on the inventions of their ancestors and opened a Huang's Wonder House in Yangzhou, and their lives are not too beautiful.

The palace ordered several things from the Huang family, such as the bicycle, which was made of iron and wood, with two wheels at the front and rear. It was more than three feet long, could seat one person, and could move on its own without pushing or pulling. When walking, use your hands to turn the axis and turn around, and then you will resume walking as before.

Although it is troublesome to make, many parts need to be polished by hand, and the damage rate is very high. Not to mention that this thing can travel for eighty miles with the sun in the legend, and it will be scattered if it can't travel ten miles. The rims of bicycles in this era were all made of iron and wood, and there were no rubber belts. In a place like the palace, which was completely paved with stone, children could ride around happily. If they went to the dirt road outside, their buttocks would be hurt. You have three petals.

Among all Huangluzhuang's inventions, Chen Ming was most surprised by the so-called "thousand-mile mirror". This thousand-mile mirror is made of a square box and can be illuminated by the sun. It can take pictures of scenes several miles away. picturesque. It's a pity that even the "Pictures of Strange Weapons" passed down by the Huang family has been lost, so this rarity cannot be restored. Otherwise, Chen Ming would be able to watch the movie.

The old Confucian sect now has no way to suppress what they regard as "obscene techniques" such as mechanical methods, because the backstage of this sect is the supreme emperor. But they took a different approach and started with national dignity. They are still fighting against the New Confucianism, and at the same time they are also looking forward to inhibiting the development of industry and commerce on the other hand.

Industrial and commercial machinery can be developed, and it is not undeveloped in history, but it must be in their hands.

The Northern Song Dynasty was economically developed, right? Trade was also very prosperous in the Southern Song Dynasty, right? But these rights were in the hands of scholar-bureaucrats and under the influence and control of their families. No matter how prosperous and powerful they develop, they can only provide nourishment to the scholar-officials and cannot in turn threaten the ruling status of the scholar-officials.

The ‘germination of capitalism’ in the Song Dynasty and the late Ming Dynasty was different. In the former, the scholar-officials had absolute control over the merchants, but they still discriminated against the merchants and could not "love" doing business like the European aristocrats with a strong business atmosphere. In the latter, although the scholar-officials could still suppress the merchants, the merchants had some power of their own. . It's just that this little power, combined with the Jiangnan scholar-bureaucrat group, will ultimately destroy the whole of China, instead of growing into an indestructible big tree in the sky.

When Chen Ming was in school, he had a simple mind and thought that capital was stronger than feudalism. He saw in history books that the emergence of capitalism in the Song Dynasty and the late Ming Dynasty were interrupted by the Mongolian Yuan and the Manchu Qing. I don't know how resentful I feel towards these two alien races in my heart. But looking at it now, it’s a joke.

In a society controlled by Confucianism, the sprouts of capitalism can only be sprouts.

Now Chen Ming had a smile on his lips and looked at Peng Zhongrui, Chen Gang, Xiong Bingzhang, and Liu Dezhao and Chen Cong behind Xiong Bingzhang. This old Confucian sect is quite interesting. Is their hidden meaning: Our current level in this area is a bit inferior. In some subjects, we have to worship Western barbarians as teachers. How embarrassing this is, how much it affects the dignity of the Chinese people, and how shaken it is. The Chinese people’s outlook on life and values ​​are shaking the foundation of the country. It is better for us to immerse ourselves in research and development for decades. After the level has improved, it will not be too late to communicate with foreigners. There are a lot of talents in the world. There are so many people in China, and Huangluzhuang will never be the only one. With the support of the imperial court, there is no need to worry about not being able to reach the level! And even if you have foreigners as teachers and study for a few or more years, you may not be able to catch up with the standards of foreigners...

Not to mention, there are some people in the army who support this view. The main reason is that Chinese people in this era are really ashamed of imitating Westerners.

China was not defeated by foreigners. It directly suppressed the arrogance of foreigners at its own doorstep - Nanyang. Under such circumstances, asking them to "learn from the West" is really embarrassing and shameless.

Chen Ming has never expressed his attitude, but this squeeze from the Old Confucianists has indeed touched the weakness of the New Confucians. Xiong Bingzhang didn't dare to make his own guarantee. In just a few years, he would catch up with the level of foreigners. "I cannot guarantee the kind of certainty Master Peng mentioned. I can only try my best to do what should be done and what can be done. As for success or failure, even the Han minister Zhuge Liang cannot predict it, let alone Wait!"

"Start, Your Majesty."

Shen Guozhen took action. "Lord Peng once said that the world is so big that there is no need for talent. If you want to learn arithmetic, you don't need to learn from the barbarians. Then Lord Peng will definitely be able to recommend several talents. I would like to ask you to choose a place to set up another math and physics museum, led by Lord Peng The first department is responsible for recruiting teachers and teaching them to see their effectiveness.”

Peng Zhongrui's face suddenly froze, Chen Ming's cheeks twitched, and he almost laughed out loud. In the early Qing Dynasty, there was still a Mei Wending in China. Who can be found now? At least there is no such person in Chen Ming's memory.

"Your Majesty, why don't you make your own decisions?" Li Xiaomei picked a grape and handed it to Chen Ming's mouth. With his head resting on Li Xiaomei's thigh, Chen Ming opened his mouth and continued, and then said: "The more we argue, the clearer the reason, and the clearer the Tao becomes." Without intense ideological confrontation, there will be no in-depth understanding of one's own concepts and no in-depth thinking about the philosophy of life.

Nowadays, Old Confucianism and New Confucianism are at war with each other in the court, and they are also going back and forth in private newspapers. Their influence is constantly expanding, which just happens to inspire folk ideological trends.

"Your Majesty, Chen Liang, the Marquis of Changsha, would like to see you."

After dinner, Chen Ming was in the side hall reviewing the memorial handed over by Zheng Jixian, Governor of Nanming Prefecture, regarding that battalion. By this time, he should have arrived in Taiwan. Liu Wu told Chen Ming in his ear.

"I have met your Majesty."

Chen Liang held a book in his hand. As the head of the overseas intelligence department, if he came to the palace in a hurry so late, there must be important news.

"Your Majesty, Emperor Gomozono of Japan is dead."

Chen Ming's heart skipped a beat. This was indeed extremely important news. Will 20-year-old Hou Taoyuan die now?

"How did you die?" If the Tokugawa shogunate's hand was discovered again, Japan would have fun.

"Those who died of illness did not show abnormal fluctuations." Hou Taoyuan has been frail and sick since he was a child, and it seems that he is not a person who can live for a long time.

"Houtaoyuan doesn't have a son yet." Chen Ming's eyes sparkled.

"Your Majesty, Hou Taoyuan not only has no sons, he doesn't even have a daughter left." Japan's close branch of the royal family has become extinct.

"The news from Tanuma Yiji said that the Japanese royal family intends to let Emperor Higashiyama's great-grandson, 8-year-old Prince Kanehito, succeed him." Emperor Higashiyama is the great ancestor of Gomomon, which is separated by Nakamikado, Sakuramachi and Taoyuan. Third generation, this is Prince Kanehito, the great-grandson of Emperor Higashiyama. Ethically speaking, he is Gomozono's cousin, but in fact, among the royal nobles, such a distant bloodline has long been classified as a distant branch. [Historically, this woman was married to Hou Taoyuan’s only daughter, her own granddaughter. Hou Taoyuan’s daughter was born two years later, and her father Hou Taoyuan died shortly after she was born. The Japanese royal family is really just a piece of history.]

Kanehito is the sixth son of the second-generation Prince Kaninnomiya Norihito, and is considered the third generation of Kaningu. Kaningu is the birthplace of a new prince's palace since the Japanese royal family opened Arisugawa Palace over a hundred years ago. The family is one of the four major palace families.

It’s the hereditary and irreplaceable ***** Japan, a small country with random honorifics. The male prince and the female prince are princes. If they are children, they are princes and kings. Even if their stomachs are full, they are called princes. They deserve it too. ?

Up to now, the most powerful family of Prince Katsura Palace in Japan, one of the four families of Fushimi Palace, Katsura Palace, Arisugawa Palace, and Kanin Palace, has a salary of only three thousand koku per year [territory]. This is so funny.

Chen Ming has read the emperor's genealogy more than once, and his head is blown. He can't remember the intricate relationship between these close relatives.

"Tanuma Yiji believes that this is a great opportunity to shake the foundation of the emperor. I hope that our court can cooperate..."

"I understand."