It is already the beginning of autumn, but the weather is still as unbridled as the heat of midsummer, the heat of the 'autumn tiger' is no less than the height of summer, the Huangpu River is full of boats, among all kinds of large and small ships, the large steam ship with black smoke and whistle is particularly conspicuous.

With the end of the Qing war against the British and French, large steamships and steam-sail hybrid merchant ships that were no longer subject to the monsoon poured into the Huangpu River, and all the merchants seemed to be eager to recover the losses caused by the war, as if overnight, Shanghai had regained its prosperity as the largest commercial port in the Far East.

On the river, three steam-sailed hybrid merchant ships flying the Qing Dynasty flag (a dragon flag with a bright yellow background and a dragon pattern) slowly arrived at Yuanqi Wharf under the escort of five warships flying the American Stars and Stripes.

On the wharf, Xu Jishe, the governor of Jiangsu, Wu Changqing, the prime minister of the Yamen, and Wu Changqing, led a group of civil and military officials to look at the fleet slowly approaching the shore with complicated feelings.

Behind them were the famous local gentry in Shanghai, as well as many students from various Western-style schools wearing student uniforms and waving banners.

The Qing envoy delegation who visited Western countries for the first time was not only large, but also had a long time to go, more than two years, Yi Zhicontent specially ordered to welcome the return of the envoy with the grandest ceremony, but he himself did not participate in the welcome ceremony, but stayed in the Zhenhai Mansion to play chess with Zhao Wenlie.

Yi Zhi's chess strength is not high, the victory lies in the novel layout, and the chess is a little powerless in the middle game, Zhao Wenlie took a sip of tea after completely recovering the disadvantage, and said: "If the big shopkeeper doesn't go to greet him, will the fifth and sixth masters have complaints?" ”

"If there are still complaints, it will disappoint me." Yi Zhicontent said that he fell into a son.

Zhao Wenlie didn't think about it, and said, "The fifth master and the sixth master are the key ...... to promote the reform of the imperial court. ”

After staring at the chessboard for a long time, Yi Zhizhi slowly fell, "The reform of the law is not a joke, if the two masters don't know how to follow the general trend, then they can't count on it at all." ”

Zhao Wenlie nodded slightly, there are many princes and ministers in the court who oppose the reform of the law, if Yifang and Yixun don't know the situation, then they really can't count on it, and he slowly responded to a son, and he said: "The two masters are too young after all, and they are both ...... to the end." ”

"It's hard to say the fifth master, but the sixth master ...... I'm confident. Yi Zhizhi quietly dropped a son, and said with a pun: "When chess reaches the middle game, it depends on the strength." ”

It was almost dusk, and the two four-wheeled carriages stopped outside the gate of the Zhenhai Mansion one after the other, and the carriage under Prince Gong, who was dressed in Western-style clothes, glanced at the middle gate that was still closed and frowned imperceptibly, but Wang Yifang of the alcohol county smiled, "In the battle of Jinjing, Yiguo City has been sonic at home and abroad, and it is rare that he is still guarding this mansion." ”

Wu Changqing, who got off the back carriage, hurriedly greeted him, stretched out his hand with a smile on his face, and said, "Two princes, please——。 ”

Ran into the door, Yi Xun found that there was no one in the house to greet him, and he was slightly unhappy, although the two of them came in small clothes, it was just a matter of not opening the middle door, but even the house did not greet him, this is not rude, but deliberately put on the shelf!

Yi Zhicontent, who had heard the report for a long time, was wearing a navy blue robe, shaking a folding fan, and standing outside the courtyard gate of Changle Book House with a smile.

Wang Yifang, who originally fell half a step behind Yixun, noticed that Yixun's pace was still unhurried, so he walked over Yixun and walked forward quickly, took off his hat from a distance, stretched out his hand and said with a smile: "After a year or two, Brother Guocheng's demeanor is better than in the past." ”

Yi Zhizhi took two steps to greet him, shook hands with him and said with a smile: "After two years of travel, the Western etiquette of the fifth master has grown a lot. ”

At this time, Yi Xun stepped forward, took off his wide-brimmed top hat, bowed slightly, and said: "After two years of travel to Western countries, the mission has benefited from Yuan Qi's meticulous care. ”

"The fifth master doesn't have to be so outside." Yi Zhizu said indifferently, stretched out his hand and said politely: "The two of you, please——。 ”

After entering the room and sitting down and serving tea, Yi Zhizhi shook the folding fan unhurriedly and said: "Two years of visiting Western countries, although there is a suspicion of sightseeing, should also be beneficial?" ”

Wang Yitong said with a smile: "This trip to Western countries, although it is a glimpse of the leopard in the tube, I have seen it from time to time, but it is also an eye-opener and has benefited a lot. ”

These words were extremely empty, and Yi Zhizhi smiled contentedly, and said directly: "The most significant difference between Western powers, such as Britain, France, the United States, and other countries and our Qing Dynasty, lies in the system, which is commonly known as the structure - the national institutional structure.

In fact, since the Tang Dynasty, as a traditional politics in our country, it has been a small policy. The management model of the government, which is somewhat similar to the classical liberal concept of the West, is that society is greater than politics. Prefecture.

The so-called centralization, centralization is only reflected in the central seat - Jingshi, in the locality, it is generally a more laissez-faire management model, in a nutshell, that is, the imperial power is not under the county, the county is only the clan, the clan is autonomous, autonomy depends on ethics, ethics to create the squire, this is the so-called and the squire to rule the world.

This is a model with very low management costs, few officials, and a small army, so the need for taxes is small, and it is precisely because of this that the Holy Ancestor was able to propose 'never increase the tax'.

This kind of petty politics. The government model, the most afraid is the eventful autumn, disasters, wars for small politics. The government is deadly, a few catastrophes, a few major wars, can exhaust decades or even hundreds of years of accumulation, and then what? Sit back!

In the past, when the whole world was closed or semi-closed, this kind of petty politics. The government model is arguably the ideal mode of governance, but now, with the rapid development of sea and land transportation, the closure has been broken.

Whether you are active or passive, you will be involved in this big world - all countries are numerous, powerful countries compete for hegemony, competition is everywhere, all the time, both grim and urgent in the world trend, if the Qing Dynasty wants to maintain the original status of a great power, it is necessary to change this existing small policy. The government model, learning from the West, is gradually transformed into a great policy with a difference. Prefecture.

Among the Western powers today, Russia is also a petty policy. government model, but now that Tsar Alexander II of Russia is brewing reforms, what about our Qing Dynasty.......? ”

Wang Yitong hesitated and said: "What does Brother Guocheng mean, the Qing Dynasty must also carry out law reforms?" ”

Yi Zhishu glanced at him and said, "If you don't want the Qing Dynasty to die in your generation, you don't have to change the law and innovate." ”

"Constitutional reform is the priority?" Yi Xun said in a deep voice.

Yi Zhizhi shook the folding fan unhurriedly, "Any reform and innovation requires a certain social foundation, what is the constitutional reform that the fifth master said?" How many people in the Qing Dynasty and the opposition know what constitutionalism is? The vast majority of officials and gentlemen do not even know what constitutionalism is, so how can they carry out constitutional reform?

Governing a big country is like cooking a small fresh, and it is especially necessary to be cautious and cautious in changing the law and innovating, and if the Qing Dynasty wants to change the law and innovate, it is first necessary to popularize education and emancipate the mind. ”

"Brother Guocheng means abolishing the imperial examination system?" Wang Yitong of the alcohol county lost his voice.

"That's not what I said." Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "This is what the sixth master said. ”

Hearing this, Yixun's heart moved, and he deliberately tried to say: "There is nothing to hide, it is imperative to abolish the imperial examination!" ”

This devil is so radical in his thinking? Yi Zhisuff was a little skeptical, and immediately bowed his head slightly: "Indeed, the abolition of the imperial examination is the trend of the times. However, the abolition of the imperial examination cannot be rushed, the fifth master inspects England, and should have an understanding of the civil service evaluation system in England, right? ”

What is the civil service evaluation system in England? After all, this mission to Europe, because of the war, England is not one of the main countries to investigate, but after all, he has visited, and said that he doesn't understand, and he really can't open this mouth.

After a slight hesitation, he said vaguely: "Why can't you be in a hurry to abolish the imperial examination?" ”

"The imperial examination system is the foundation of the country, and if it is abolished rashly, it will inevitably shake the foundation of the country." Yi Zhixin said without hurry: "But measures can be taken to abolish the imperial examination gradually, quietly, but it is just a little longer, the imperial examination is the body, and the eight shares are used, but people of insight in the world know that the eight shares are useless."

What would be the result if a debate on the usefulness of the Eight Strands was launched in the newspapers, and after refuting the uselessness of the Eight Strands, the reform of the imperial examination was carried out, and the Bagu Essay was banned in the imperial examination and the examination was replaced by a policy for the examiners? Later, the arithmetic examination will be added, the new examination will be added, the age of the candidates will be restricted, and so on. ”

Listening to these words, Yi Fang chuckled and said: "The imperial examination is the body, the eight shares are used, the abolition of the eight shares, the suspension of the imperial examination is the proper meaning of the question, adding new learning, arithmetic, is to promote new learning, Brother Guocheng is calculating!" ”

"It is necessary to abolish the imperial examination, but also not to shake the national foundation, and it is really not good to calculate well." Yi Zhifen said with a smile: "During this period, you can also focus on the English civil service assessment system in the newspaper, the imperial examination system itself has a positive effect, but it is not suitable for the current era in terms of assessment content."

You have traveled to Western countries this time, you should see the strengths of Western countries, but also should see their shortcomings, we have inherited thousands of years of traditional culture, not useless, change the law, innovation, can not blindly copy the rigid routine, must learn from each other's strengths, in line with their own national conditions, otherwise it is possible to draw a tiger into an anti-dog. ”

Hearing these words, Yi Xun bowed slightly, and said with a solemn expression: "This king has been taught." ”

The two got off the boat today and rushed to visit, Yi Zhishu didn't want to stay for a long talk, raised his wrist and looked at his watch, and said: "The two of you are tired of traveling, it is not appropriate to talk for a long time, let's talk another day." ”

Sending Yifang and Yixun out of the courtyard, Yi Zhizhi stopped, watched a few lanterns go away, and Wu Changqing, who was like a stuffy gourd, said softly: "I'm confused, the fifth master really has the heart to abolish the imperial examination?" ”

"If the Qing Dynasty wants to reform and abolish the imperial examination, it is imperative." Yi Zhizu said softly: "However, it is easier said than done, being in the court, it is more involuntarily, let's push it back." ”

Push? Wu Changqing was worried, but he didn't know how to speak, he knew too well the importance of the imperial examination system over the years, many officials he knew were from poor backgrounds, and they all changed their fate and social status through the imperial examination through studying, and it was just a matter for the imperial court to come forward to improve the imperial examination.

Following Yi Zhishu back to the study, he hesitated and said: "Big shopkeeper, the imperial examination system involves a wide range of things, and it is extraordinary, if you are not careful, Yuan Qi may be pushed to the forefront and leave the ........" ”

"I know." Yi Zhishu nodded, lit a cigarette casually, and said slowly: "Yixun and Yifang led a delegation to visit Western countries and are most concerned about constitutionalism, and these two people have a lot of vision and know that implementing constitutional reform is the only choice to consolidate the rule of the Qing court. However, in order to implement constitutional reform, the imperial examination must be abolished, and those two masters are more anxious than us. ”

Coming out of the Zhenhai Mansion and getting into the four-wheeled carriage, Wang Yitong of the Alcohol County said: "What Yi Guocheng said is not unreasonable, to carry out constitutional reform, you can't expect a group of officials who read the Four Books and the Five Classics and are good at doing Baguwen...... However, this abolition of the imperial examination is a matter of affecting the whole body. ”

Yi Xun pursed his mouth tightly and didn't say a word, and it took a long time before he spoke: "Step by step, abolishing the imperial examination, it is definitely not something that can be said in a hurry, Yi Guocheng has long had the intention of abolishing the imperial examination, this is to borrow our hand to abolish the imperial examination." ”

"The abolition of the imperial examination is not trivial, and in the current situation, the whole court must be opposed." Yi Wei pondered and said: "It's rare that Yi Guocheng has this meaning, you might as well join hands with it to promote it together." ”

Yixun asked unhurriedly: "What is the purpose of Yi Guocheng's initiative and vigorously funding the imperial court to send missions to visit Western countries?" ”

Yi Yan said: "Isn't it just that I hope that the imperial court can carry out top-down reform and innovation?" ”

"What's in it for Yuanqi?" Yixun Zhou Zhao frowned.

"No matter what Yi Guocheng's intentions are, even if we know it's a pit, don't we have to pinch our noses and jump down?" Yi Yan said: "If you don't change the law and innovate, you can't save the current crisis that the imperial court is in, even if you don't die in Yuanqi, you will die in the West, we have no choice." ”

He didn't know this, Yixin sighed lightly, and said faintly: "Let's go back to Beijing and talk about it." ”

"I want to stay in Shanghai." Yi Yan said softly.

Yixun understood his intention to stay in Shanghai, but he didn't dare to make decisions about this matter at all, and immediately quipped: "For two years, the fifth brother won't miss the beautiful wife and family in the house?" ”

Yi Yan smiled bitterly: "Once you return to Beijing, if you want to come to Shanghai again, it will be difficult. ”

"Okay." Yi Xun is the first to say.