The hustle and bustle gradually subsided, and the city of Nanjing gradually restored its pre-revolutionary order and tranquility. Although it is now the depths of winter, and the sycamore has fallen all the cold branches, the numerous branches that can be seen everywhere still make people think of the prosperous scene - that is the grand scene that can attract the phoenix!

Before dawn, a small snow fell at the end of the world in Nanjing, gently covering the long street full of blood stains. Since the king of Han suddenly appeared in the city of Nanjing, he issued a seven-killing order in a fit of rage, so that the ancient city of Nanjing, which was crowded and lively, was really noisy for more than ten days, and the old people in the city couldn't help but think of the Tianjing chaos decades ago.

But what is different is that after this hustle and bustle, many Nanjing people happily set off firecrackers and drank wine for a long time. It's the upcoming Spring Festival, but I'm afraid there won't be such a lively scene again.

In the final analysis, what does the change of dynasty or something have to do with the people? As long as they can live quietly and die in a stable and familiar order, who can hope for anything?

"Heroic things must always be accompanied by the suffering of the people," Zhu Chongzhen walked to the street, looked at the shops that were gradually recovering from liveliness, and sighed to Situ Leiden: "The history of China is always concerned about the people's livelihood, but the most bad thing is the people's livelihood." ”

Why did these two people meet together and stroll down the long street? It turned out that after the night tour of Qinhuai, Situ Leiden had to do his duty as a reporter and wanted to do an exclusive interview with Zhu Chongzhen. It just so happened that Zhu Chongzhen was also very interested in Situ Leiden, and the two walked through the long streets of the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties after the first snow and talked about Xinhai.

"King Han, I don't know if this title is still appropriate," Situ Leiden asked in his pure Hangzhou dialect, "As soon as you came to Nanjing, you issued a seven-kill order to let the southeast start revolution again." Listening to what you just said, are you not satisfied with the current provisional government? ”

Zhu Chongzhen smiled when he heard this, this American person is really direct, even if he has lived in China for many years, the national character in his bones is still difficult to change, "Mr. Situ's question, if it were a Chinese reporter, he would not ask such a question." ”

"Oh? Does King Han mean that my question is too direct? If you are Chinese, you will ask very implicitly, and then you will also answer very implicitly, is this what you want to say? ”

"Mr. Situ, don't you think it's a very interesting thing for the two of us to stand together?" Zhu Chongzhen smiled, "You are an American, but you were born in Hangzhou, the paradise of China, and then you will live here for a long time, I am afraid that you will die here in the future; And me? I was born in Nanyang and grew up in Hawaii after being a member of the Chinese royal family. But as soon as he returned to China, he would change the thousand-year-old Taoist system of China and replace it with imported products from the United States. Don't you think it's a very interesting thing? ”

These words aroused Situ Leiden's thoughts and also evoked his memories. This Situ Leiden was originally a missionary family of the Southern Presbyterian Church, and his father Stuart came to China to preach alone in 1868. Situ Leiden was born in Hangzhou and spent his childhood in Hangzhou. When he returned to Virginia at the age of 11, he was laughed at as a monster by the locals. After a few years, Situ Leiden missed China more and more, and finally returned here, back to the place where he was born.

"I feel more like a Chinese than an American," Stuart said, "although I have the appearance of an American, at heart, I am a Chinese, I believe in Christianity, but I also like Chinese Confucianism." What about King Han? Could it be that the Han King has been in Hawaii for a long time and has fallen in love with the American civilization? ”

"What does Mr. Situ think?" Zhu Chongzhen asked with a smile.

"I think it's very strange that King Han is acting," Situ Leiden didn't seem to care that the conversation was led by Zhu Chongzhen, "I have also interviewed many people in the presidential palace, and it is very strange that I think they are not enthusiastic about Chinese culture itself. As the King of Han said, I am a foreigner, but I think that the Chinese culture is good, there is a very generous feeling, like a rock, but it is a rock full of green plants, the core is hard and persistent, but the outer layer can rise and fall with things, and the light and dust. It's a very old and fascinating culture. But the people of the presidential palace, many of them are talented, they are the pride of this land, but they hate their own civilization. ”

"This revolution was triggered by the King of Han in Wuchang. Moreover, I heard Mr. Zhang Xiaozhai say that the King of Han had entrusted him to preside over the creation of the constitution long before the revolution. It is modeled after the republican presidential system of the United States. However, I have heard that the King of Han set up the National History Museum in Beijing and set up the Han Museum, which is clearly to protect his own civilization, and it seems that the King of Han does not have any hope for this revolution, so he will do so, so I don't know if the King of Han is willing to talk about these contradictory things to me, a foreign-skinned Chinese. ”

The two walked slowly, and as they spoke, they turned several alleys. This Chinese city, if you say the last ancient word, generally has a lot of gray and simple colors, the walls are gray, the buildings are gray, and even the ancient wood, in winter, is also a little gray.

After listening to Situ Leiden's words, Zhu Chongzhen suddenly stopped, took off the hood on his head, held the hat in his right hand, and made a gentleman's salute to Situ Leiden.

"Mr. Situ looks at my outfit, do you still look like a Chinese?"

It turned out that Zhu Chongzhen was not wearing the signature Zhu Yiming suit today, but wearing a hood and a windbreaker suit, full of American aristocratic dress.

Mr. Situ said that he was a foreign-skinned Chinese. What about me? At best, a half-middle-half-ocean hybrid person. If you talk about blood, I am an authentic Chinese, or a descendant of the Chinese royal family; But to put it more closely, I have been in a foreign country for many years. For my homeland, I am a person who has not inherited the Taoist lineage. The Taoist system of China, in this life, has actually been severed. In fact, it's not just me, but China at this time, I'm afraid I can't say it with confidence, and the Taoist system is still growing strong. ”

"Now the revolution in Xinhai is still utilitarian. Lift all kinds of names and see the bottom, it is just to seek wealth, but what can you do after you get rich. When I was Zhu Ming, there was a Tang Bohu who wrote poems, and he tried his best to seek things. But there must be an end to things, and what happens when things are gone? Europe and the United States don't really have this kind of imagination. Because it is too short and poor, it has only been a hundred years of reckless desire, and it has not yet gone through any pain of ruin. This kind of thinking is only available in the East. But it just so happened that at this time, the East was in ruin, and the West was just thriving, and a nouveau riche and a broken aristocracy happened to meet, but the ragged aristocracy wanted to learn from the nouveau riche. ”

"My compatriots, through the Meng, Yuan, Manchu and Qing dynasties, and I Zhu Ming are also, the national nature is extremely despicable. At this moment, even if I am the emperor of the Han Dynasty and have worked hard for several generations, I may not be able to twist this inferiority, and if I don't get rid of this inferiority, whatever I say, it is all floating clouds, and it is all a mirror. Spring and Autumn Festival, although there is the power of education, there is also the quenching of fire, without trial, how can this root nature be removed. Therefore, it is up to him to go by himself, whether it is a blessing or a curse. I have come here, although I have led to revolution, it is only a superficial prosperity, and I have come here only to promote education. ”

"Indoctrination?" Situ Leiden asked puzzledly, "What does King Han mean?" ”

"If people are not born to know, how can they be free from confusion? Does Mr. Szeto know where this sentence comes from? ”

"Han Changli's "Shi Said"." Situ Leiden is familiar with Chinese classics, and this level of problem naturally cannot be difficult for him.

"People are not born to know, so they need teachers," Zhu Chongzhen said, and suddenly looked up, but there was a school next to it, and the wooden sign next to the gate read "Nanjing Zhongying Middle School". He thought about it, then walked towards the school, and as he walked, he continued: "If there is a teacher, there will be education, and there will be a school system. I wonder if Mr. Situ has ever been to Hawaii and heard about the Yiye Academy I founded in Hawaii? ”

"I really don't know." Situ Leiden followed Zhu Chongzhen's side and shook his head.

"Yiye Academy has not yet taken shape at this time, and Mr. Situ doesn't know, but it's normal. However, within 20 years, Yiye Academy will be the leader of education in the world, and Mr. Situ can wait and see. Zhu Chongzhen was a little conceited.

"I don't know what is so strange about that Yiye Academy?" Stuart became interested.

"Hearing is false, seeing is believing. When this revolution is over, Mr. Szeto can take the time to go to Hawaii and see it for himself, and he will find out. ”

"This revolution is coming to an end soon, right?" "We've talked so much, and you haven't answered my question yet. King Han, are you not satisfied with the current provisional government of the Republic of China? ”

"Haha," Zhu Chongzhen said with a smile, "Since Mr. Situ insists on asking, I won't hide it from Mr. Situ." Don't you think that the southern country is more chaotic today than it was before the revolution? ”

"Chinese tradition, those who win the hearts of the people win the world. Now that the southern government has failed to meet the expectations of the world, it is difficult to restrain the party, and in the long run, it will inevitably exhaust the enthusiasm and patience of the people, and at that time, the people's hearts may remember the emperor again. ”

"King Han still didn't answer my question." Situ Leiden said dissatisfiedly: "Although you grew up in the land of the United States, this Tai Chi Kung Fu is very much like an official who has been in China for many years. ”

"What Mr. Situ said is, and I won't hide it from Mr., I have really been an official of this China for a long time in my dreams." Zhu Chongzhen laughed.

Situ Leiden thought it was just a joke, he thought about it sideways, and asked: "In the history of China, such a great dynasty collapsed, and I have the impression that there is only the Han Dynasty. ”

This Situ Leiden is really a China expert. Zhu Chongzhen thought secretly.

"It turns out that Mr. Situ has also read the Romance of the Three Kingdoms?"

"Romance of the Three Kingdoms, what is there to read? At the beginning of this book, it says: "The general trend of the world, if it is divided for a long time, it will be divided for a long time, and it will be ruled and chaotic for a long time". Look at the countries of England and France in Europe today, when they are united, they will no longer be divided, and when they are governed, they will no longer be chaotic. It's time for us to learn from them. Books like the Romance of the Three Kingdoms are best never read again! ”

Zhu Chongzhen and Situ Leiden looked at each other when they heard this, but saw a young man about the same age as Zhu Chongzhen, leaning against the wall next to him, looking at them intently.