The Empire will continue to win

Chapter 102 Local Version of Level 3 Meeting

Yan Fu was stunned by the scolding.

"Master Weng, I don't understand, what's the connection between democratic deliberation and Nurhaci?"

"Of course it's related. In 1637, Nurhaci, the chieftain of the Jianzhou tribe, first established the system of the Eight Princes Council. He no longer made the decisions on major tribal matters alone, but instead the eight banner princes voted on them by raising their hands."

Weng Tonghe, true to his reputation as a master of verbal sparring, uttered a string of brilliant words: "Wheat has ripened three thousand times, but democratic voting is the first. This old servant initiated the Council of Eight Princes; he is the patriarch of the democratic school. Since you claim to be a believer in democracy, then is it wrong for me to say that you are this old servant's filial son and virtuous grandson?"

The ministers chuckled.

Emperor Xuanwu had a stern face!

Although the mainstream of the empire did not have a high opinion of the former Qing dynasty, after all, the Emperor had publicly declared that he had one-quarter Aisin Gioro blood. Master, you are suspected of making a veiled criticism.

The emperor was displeased, but that was all.

After all, things are not 50 years ago now, and the imperial family no longer needs to unite the old Eight Banners. Moreover, there are already calls within the imperial family to exclude the quarter of the Jianzhou bloodline.

Cut it if it needs to be cut.

When the ship turns, all passengers must sway along with it, or they will be thrown overboard.

Sensing the impending storm, the descendants of the former Eight Banners who were serving as officials in the court traced their family genealogies and declared that their ancestors were descendants of Han dynasty nobles, avoiding their old identities at all costs.

"I'm not talking about that kind of democracy; I'm talking about restoring the cabinet's system of raising hands and holding grand court meetings." Yan Fu's face flushed red.

"No matter what kind of democracy it is, it's all the same thing in a different guise; it all falls into the category of servility."

"Where did this slave come from?"

"Democracy was created by the old slaves, and can also be called the study of slavery."

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

Even Shen Moqing was stunned.

Holy crap, a debate genius! Old man, it's a shame you didn't time travel to Peking University's debate team and become a top debater.

Yan Fu grew anxious, stood up, stared at Weng Tong, and said in a clear and distinct voice, "Master Weng, I believe that imperial power should be restricted, and ordinary people should be able to participate in the discussion of national affairs."

Call ~

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The people inside the hall were astonished, as if they had seen a ghost.

Empress Dowager Cixi was furious and turned her gaze to Shen Moqing, her eyes seeming to say, "This is the ally you've found."

Yes, Your Majesty!

Yan Fu was a true gentleman.

Unfortunately, those who lack strategy often end up battered and bruised, or even dead, in the political arena.

Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Weng Tonghe was secretly pleased. He then changed the subject, adopting the demeanor of a kind and respected teacher.

"Yan Fu, you've read too much; you've become poisoned. This isn't your fault. Knowledge can be toxic. For us Confucian scholars, reading is like Shennong tasting hundreds of herbs; we need to use our own eyes and hearts to distinguish which are beneficial and which are poisonous. You've learned too much of a wide variety of things, ingesting toxic knowledge. You must constantly reflect on yourself, force out the poison, and correct your mistakes—that is the greatest virtue."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Besides the two empress dowagers and the emperor sitting on the throne, there were no other people in the hall.

Also present were Prince Gong, Minister of Revenue Shen Zhaolin, Imperial Assets Management Minister Guiliang, Grand Secretary Wenxiang, Minister of Justice Yuxian, Shandong Governor Ding Baozhen, Minister of Rites Weng Tonghe, Second Garrison Commander Senggelinqin, and several members of the imperial family.

There were also some bystanders standing outside the palace gates.

now.

A bearded foreigner stepped forward to share his experience; he was Robert Hart, the chief accountant of the Ministry of Revenue.

"I was born in London and grew up in Downing Street. I have a deep aversion to the so-called European-style democracy."

Democratic deliberation has many drawbacks, the most obvious being endless wrangling, constant arguments, and slow decision-making. Gentlemen, you may not believe it, but Downing Street spent two years building a new stable.

There are many hilltops, and everyone has a party.

How can such a hypocritical bunch of scoundrels and such terrible people govern a country well?

The United Empire was different; the royal family ruled with absolute authority, issuing imperial edicts in the morning and starting to act in the afternoon.

Therefore, I ask you, Lord Yan, why should we abandon the advanced and embrace the backward? In my opinion, Confucianism in governing the country is good, very good, extremely good.

Wow.

No wonder he's a foreign scholar. His house is as tall as a five-story building.

As expected~

Empress Dowager An: "Hmm, well said. Hart has truly grasped the essence of Confucianism. I am very pleased. Gentlemen, is there anything else you would like to say?"

After saying that, he deliberately glared at his younger sister.

Empress Dowager Cixi was in a panic, and sweat was seeping down her back. Oh no, it seems that she has been fooled by that damned Shen Yingjing. So far, I see no hope of winning.

The ministers all criticized it.

Senggelinqin: "What do ordinary people know?"

Prince Gong: "If things continue like this, the royal family will be sent to the guillotine by the mob sooner or later."

Gui Liang: "If the people get a taste of the benefits, they will become craving more and more, and their appetite will only grow bigger in the future."

There was unanimous opposition.

The position determined by the stock is an eternal law.

Even close confidants of Xigong Tiegan, such as Shen Zhaolin and Yu Xian, expressed their opposition in a relatively tactful manner.

Shen Zhaolin: "I think the court should just put on a show. In any case, they should not be allowed to participate in national affairs." This Minister of Revenue was secretly harboring thoughts of rebellion.

No way~

What Nishimiya did was outrageous.

Yu-Hsien: "The Frankish Estates-General serves as a cautionary tale. If we were to gather these traitors together for discussion, we could easily find ourselves in deep trouble."

After saying that, he glanced at his ally, Shen Moqing.

It's as if you're saying, "Brother, you only told me you wanted to join forces to seize power, but you never said you were going to hold a grand court meeting! If I had known this would happen, I would have declared that you were colluding with the Japanese pirates."

In Yu Xian's mind, there are two kinds of people in this world who deserve to be killed: foreigners and traitors.

At this moment, the beautiful Empress Dowager Cixi was all alone, like a widow, but she had no way to express her suffering. She had chosen this path, so she could only grit her teeth and walk to the end. The frequency with which she glanced at Shen Moqing was getting higher and higher.

Son of a bitch.

What a stinky man.

That dog's words.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Is your Winning Strategies any good?

The melancholy-smiling scholar once wrote a poem: "When Professor Shen makes a move, our mother is completely bald."

on site.

Emperor Xuanwu and Empress Dowager An exchanged a silent glance, their stances superseding blood ties, and the emperor's power surpassing that of his mother.

The young emperor stood up and said loudly, "The sage said, 'The people can be made to follow a path, but they cannot be made to understand it.' The Franks are the best example of the opposite; it was because they did not heed the sage's teachings that they caused a century of turmoil. Mother, turn back before it's too late! I urge you not to go further down the wrong path."

Wow~

That's quite a blunt statement.

Empress Dowager Cixi gazed at her own son with a cold and deep look, like Lake Baikal in winter—one wrong step and you're doomed.

Meter.

Empress Dowager Cixi then looked at Shen Moqing—

Shen Moqing stared intently at Ding Baozhen, who hadn't uttered a word from beginning to end. Silence itself was an attitude.

Moreover, Lao Ding was a confidant of Prince Gong and an assistant invited to the capital by Empress Dowager An.

"Governor Ding, what are your thoughts on the Grand Council meeting?"

His words astonished everyone present.

Instantly, everyone in the hall turned to look at Ding Baozhen. Prince Gong was especially startled, thinking, "No way, Old Ding, you're my trusted confidant."

Ding Baozhen slowly rose, his eyes resolute: "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, I believe that convening a grand court meeting now is the most important task of the court, as it can stabilize the people's hearts, gain support from all sides, and achieve victory in the foreign war as soon as possible. I believe that winning is paramount; nothing is more important than winning."

Wow~

The hall erupted in uproar once again.

Empress Dowager An and Prince Gong stared wide-eyed. Damn it, their trusted confidant had actually betrayed them?

Empress Dowager Cixi seemed to have grasped at a straw. She stood up, her voice slightly choked with emotion: "Minister Ding, it's so kind of you to understand my good intentions. Everything I've done is for the sake of the nation, for our country. We must win, we must win quickly, we must win big, we must win beautifully, and we must win in a way that convinces the whole world."

Gentlemen, don't you want to win?

The hall was deathly silent.

Shen Moqing looked at the Empress Dowager and secretly praised her. She truly deserves to be called a shrewd empress. She can turn the tide in a losing situation as soon as she seizes an opportunity. It is worth my daily investment of my knowledge of winning.

He decisively stood up to help: "My lords, the Empress Dowager once said that this is called 'to pacify the internal before resisting external aggression.'"

"My lords, this country belongs to us, so those who most want to win are definitely us." Empress Dowager An also stood up and launched a timely counterattack.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Sister, stop making a fuss in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. If you're so capable, go and persuade those troublemakers at the Grand Theater. I advise you, don't end up shooting yourself in the foot."

Shen Moqing thought to herself, "Plastic sisters, the sooner they break up, the sooner they can have peace of mind."

really.

-

Empress Dowager Cixi: "Sister, you are mistaken. My surname is Jiang, and I am a descendant of Chiang Kai-shek, the founder of this empire. No one loves this country more than I do. By the way, I've been lifting stones since I was a child, but I've never shot myself in the foot!"

Wow~

Instantly, a dazzling aura shone forth, and his aura was fully unleashed.

Many people felt a jolt of surprise. "Damn, how could we have forgotten this? The Empress Dowager's veins flow with the wisdom of Chief Minister Jiang. Chief Minister Jiang's wisdom is the most essential wisdom of the empire."

He comes from a family with a strong scholarly tradition.

We may not necessarily lose.

"Alright, we're all doing this for the sake of the nation, so there's no need to argue anymore. Finally, I'd like to remind my sister not to let that pretty boy Shen Moqing cloud her judgment."

After uttering these words, Empress Dowager An stormed off in a huff.

Everyone's gazes were fixed on Shen Moqing's face, filled with burning curiosity, shock, disdain, and envy. Only Professor Shen stood tall and proud.

how?

I don't feel ashamed at all; I'm actually very proud.

Empress Dowager Cixi's face turned as red as a pig's liver, overwhelmed with shame. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists. She was still young; if she had lived another 10 years, she wouldn't have felt so ashamed.

People become more insightful as they age; you can't see clearly whether the world is round or flat until you're forty.

Ding ding ding~

The bells suddenly rang out, like celestial music from the heavens.

Faint cheers could be heard outside the Forbidden City; needless to say, the unruly commoners couldn't wait to take advantage of the situation.

The ministers left the Hall of Mental Cultivation one after another, their minds heavy with worries.

As he left, Emperor Xuanwu glanced deeply at the imperial steps and silently murmured: Farewell, Mother.

From a distance, the Beijing Grand Theatre appears as a giant white building.

The exterior walls are all made of Quyang white marble, with 72 huge Greek and Roman columns, a large dome with embedded stained glass, and the ground is paved with imperial kiln gold bricks from Suzhou Prefecture.

Regarding the architectural style of the Grand Theatre, some say it is neoclassical, some say eclectic, and some say post-nationalism.

主义。

In short, opinions vary from person to person.

Outside the theater is a huge square.

On the left side of the square stood the Imperial Guards in bright red uniforms, rifles slung over their shoulders, bayonets gleaming. On the right side were militiamen in blue overalls, rifles slung across their backs, revolvers tucked into their waistbands.

Naval cadets in black uniforms were assigned to guard the theater, carrying only swords.

This arrangement is the most appropriate.

As carriages bearing royal insignia entered the square one after another, Shen Moqing glanced at his pocket watch; it was 8:00 AM.

00, there is still one hour before the meeting officially starts.

He walked up to Duolonga and Gongzhaoma and whispered, "No matter what happens, you must not fire today unless I give the order."

"Yes."

Then I walked to the other side.

"Cheng Xueqi, under no circumstances should you fire today."

"Rest assured, Commander Li has sent a telegram stating that the officers and soldiers of the First Division of the Army will forever be loyal to the Empire and the Empress Dowager."

Thank you.

As Shen Moqing entered the Grand Theater, he looked up at the huge glass dome. At the very top of the dome was a round arched stained glass pavilion, surrounded by a painted "Six Saints and One Lord on a Spring Outing".

The art style is very gentle.

Spring breeze is bright, birds sing and flowers are fragrant.

From left to right, they are Cheng Yi, Zhu Xi, Confucius, Jiang Ziya, Mencius, Jesus, and Niu Ziya, all dressed in seven-colored robes, with long swords at their waists, riding white horses, walking side by side, chatting and laughing.

This mural is incredibly valuable.

Its replica is held in the collection of the Vatican.

Only by understanding this painting can one truly understand the United Empire.

Gazing at this painting of deities descending to earth, imbued with religious themes, Shen Moqing silently murmured to himself, "The uselessness has great value."

We don't need to genuinely oppose deities. Ordinary people need deities; they know they're fictional, but they still need to fill the void in their hearts. Very few people in the world have truly unwavering resolve. If you don't create deities, others will; if you don't occupy an area, others will.

-

We need to avoid some trouble.

God.

You may have.

Looking at the right wall, there was even a preview of the upcoming month's festival schedule posted on it:

"Hawaii Wild Woman Hula Dance", "Persian Female Warrior Scimitar Dance", "Eighteen Lawful Women Ballet", "Kabuki of Izu", "Christmas Girl from New York".

Just looking at the name is exciting, and then looking at the poster and oil painting is simply exhilarating.

Professor Shen stopped and admired the oil painting with great interest. It wasn't that he was lecherous; it was mainly because it was relevant to his profession. To be involved in international politics, one needs to learn a lot about foreign cultures.

"Kabuki of Izu" seems worth watching.

Ballet can also cultivate artistic appreciation.

Outside the gate.

Suddenly a commotion broke out.

-

"The imperial court has regulations that everyone must arrive one hour in advance; those who are late will not be allowed to enter."

"I am Kang Youwei, the representative of Guangdong newspapers. It is a full 5000 li from Guangdong to Beijing. I rode a horse, took a boat, and then a train. I did not waste a moment."

The guards didn't care how hard you had traveled; they dragged you out.

"You can't treat me like this. The people need me, the court needs me, and I must go in to participate in government affairs."

"What happened?"

"Lord Shen, this representative is late."

"5000 li (2,500 kilometers)! Just because I was 5 minutes late, you dare to push a true patriot out the door? I will definitely write an article in the Yangcheng Daily to expose your hypocritical nature."

Shen Moqing carefully examined this historical figure.

This opportunist surnamed Kang was short and thin, with two comical mustaches, but he had a very bad temper, gesticulating wildly and spitting constantly.

"Let him in."

"Yes."

"Mr. Kang, it's an honor to meet you!"

"Who are you?"

"Shen Moqing".

"Brother Shen, I've heard so much about you." Kang Youwei immediately changed his expression, beaming with smiles. "Brother Shen is a man of great talent and bearing. May I ask if you are a representative or an official from Beijing?"

"I am ashamed to be serving in the Emperor's presence."

"Young and promising."

"I'm 18 this year."

"I am 28 years old and still in my late twenties. I became a Juren in the 25th year of Xianning. I am currently the editor-in-chief of the Yangcheng Daily. The Governor of Guangdong, Liu Kunyi, values ​​my literary talent and ideas highly and often invites me to his residence to participate in government affairs."

"So you're a rare, highly educated intellectual, Mr. Kang, please~"

"Brother Shen, please~"

As Kang Youwei passed the poster wall, his head remained still, but his eyes turned 90 degrees, staring at the posters with provocative images.

After walking over, he shook his head and sighed.

"The world is going to the dogs, and people's hearts are no longer what they used to be."

"Who can argue with that? The people of Yanjing have loved watching foreign women dance since they were young. Whenever there's a performance at the Grand Theater, it's always packed. Even during the grand court assembly today, they were still watching thighs yesterday and discussing whether they were fair or not."

"The people are apathetic! How pathetic and lamentable!" Kang Youwei gritted his teeth.

"How's it going in Guangdong?" Shen Moqing asked deliberately.

"Don't even mention it. Although I am from Guangdong, I would never protect my fellow countrymen. They only have money and women on their minds and have no interest in politics. I, Kang, feel ashamed."

"What does this have to do with you?"

"As the editor-in-chief of a major newspaper, I have failed to educate the public. The prevalence of prostitution and debauchery fills me with shame whenever I witness it."

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