The news of the Nobel Prize spread quickly in China, and foreigners looked at it from the perspective of a "strange anecdote". A Chinese proved his strength in the scientific community with irrefutable performance, which was indeed a miraculous thing in the world in 1909. Most people think that Chen Ke is just lucky, and many more are full of interest in Chen Ke's origins. Chen Ke's proficiency in the application of various chemical equations is enough to prove that he received higher education at European and American universities. But such a person was unknown, and even ended up as a rebel leader. This makes Chen Ke's image inadvertently shaped into a "modern Robin Hood" impression in Europe and the United States.

American journalists were intrigued by Chen Ke, and the number of them was huge, boiling with all kinds of colorful unknown liquids in all kinds of strangely shaped glassware up to the roof, and a chemist who was also a rebel leader squinted his slender eyes in this magical nightmare laboratory, creating all kinds of strange ideas in his mind. This is completely in line with the American imagination of the mysterious East.

John 61 Fleming is one of those who wants to bring such a report from Chinese leader Chen Ke to American readers. It was October when he disembarked in Tianjin, and Fleming reporters learned that China had convened its first Constituent Assembly, which was a big deal. And Fleming thinks that Chen Ke is very likely to appear at this meeting. So he plunged headfirst into the interview.

“…… Chinese, especially Chinese officials, seem to have had a natural opposition to journalism since birth, and what was supposed to be an open Constituent Assembly, all officials kept silent about it, as if everyone was hiding an incomparable secret. They all take a kind of evasive attitude towards journalists. Not only officials, but also parliamentarians and gentlemen dispatched by the provinces have done the same. I doubt that after they made the constitution, they would also hide it deep in the underground coffers and never show it to others......"

“…… Although the BJP was a rebel, it sent its own representatives to the meeting. The congress elected one person out of 100,000, and it is generally estimated that the population of the BJP-controlled areas is between 30 million and 40 million. That's more than one-third of the current population of the United States. The BJP delegation, which was supposed to have 30 delegates, had only three observers. The three delegates came from very surprising backgrounds, all of them were Manchu officials, even very important officials. Mr. Yan Fu was the dean of the Beiyang Naval Academy, the earliest naval academy in China, for 20 years. Mr. Feng Xu was once a high-ranking local official in Anhui Province, equivalent to the state secretary of the Treasury of the United States. At one time, Mr. Shang Yuan was a subordinate of Mr. Feng Xu, serving as the top local administrator in the areas where the People's Party initially raised the flag of rebellion. The BJP sent these three men, most likely to show their ......"

“…… Almost all officials and parliamentarians expressed great fear of the three BJP representatives. On the same day that the People's Party representatives arrived in Beijing, the Manchu Cabinet officially announced the release of the father-in-law and family of People's Party leader Chen Ke. These people were arrested and imprisoned by order of the late Empress Dowager Cixi because they were family members of the rebels. It is said that the order to execute them had already been given at that time, but because of the unexpected death of the Empress Dowager Cixi, these orders were not passed on to the executioner, and they were able to save their lives, which is really an unfortunate but fortunate family......

“…… Observer sessions are not allowed to sit in on council meetings, and no one can apply or seek help......"

The Constituent Assembly begins, and everyone bows in the direction of the palace. Yan Fu, Feng Xu, and Shang Yuan sat in their positions in a big way, looking at the group of people who knelt down and kowtowed around them. It's an embarrassing situation. Yuan Shikai, who presided over the meeting, regretted it at the time, but when he planned the opening of the parliament, he forgot that it was impossible for the People's Party to bow down, and now no one dares to throw out the representatives of the People's Party. After all, Yuan Shikai has a heart, and he doesn't care what these representatives will think of this matter. Anyway, Yuan Shikai has done a lot of things about carrying the black cauldron, Chen Ke is the person Yuan Shikai has met who can best help Yuan Shikai's interests, and he really carried such an idea of the black cauldron, Yuan Shikai is willing.

The deputies got up from the ground and saw the three representatives of the People's Party sitting in their positions with cold faces, despising the deputies like emperors. Everyone's hearts immediately gave birth to a wave of shame and annoyance. These three people are all former courtiers of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, not to mention Yan Fu and Feng Xu, the two of them have a high status and are well known, and most of the parliamentarians are not as good as the two. Shangyuan is a county magistrate in his thirties, and his Pingsuri nationality is unknown. The one who was able to attend the National Constituent Assembly was not a high-ranking official or celebrity, and the limelight was still far away. Every member of parliament who came to the meeting was holding back a wave of anger in their hearts.

No matter how ordinary people they are, almost every parliamentarian has a sentence in their hearts at this time, "Those who steal the hook will be punished, and those who steal the country will be punished."

After the congressman sat down, Yuan Shikai took the stage and began to speak, "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to invite you to come to Beijing to discuss the state affairs of the constitution as you are now. He served as the Minister of Beiyang, the Governor of Zhili, and also walked in the military aircraft. Every time I talk to the local lords about the things in this place, all I hear is complaints. When it comes to this matter, all the princes are full of ambition, thinking that if they can become the masters of the local area, they will definitely make the local area prosperous. I thought that it would be good if the court could let the princes do it. Now that the Cabinet has been established, I feel that as the Deputy Prime Minister of the Cabinet, I must do something for you. This inter-provincial autonomy is exactly what you want......"

Although everyone knew that this time they were here to talk about the autonomy of the provinces, the deputies always felt that they had no bottom in their hearts. No one knows exactly what the autonomy of the provinces is all about. Yuan Shikai talked about the problem straight to the point, without threatening or persecuting, even if there was a small storm about the idea of the People's Party representatives not bowing down, all the deputies felt very satisfied.

Except for the representatives of the provinces of the Beiyang family, most of the representatives of the other provinces had only met Yuan Shikai and had no experience in listening to errands under Yuan Shikai. The dealings in officialdom are all superficial, and everyone has only heard that Yuan Shikai is shrewd and capable, but they have never experienced Yuan Shikai's real ability. Now listening to Yuan Shikai spend more than an hour clearly explaining the concept, basic methods, and layout of the autonomy of the provinces. The parliamentarians admired Yuan Shikai's talent and threw himself to the ground. Regardless of whether the autonomy of the provinces is good or not, the deputies from all over the country are ashamed of themselves when they ask themselves about this kind of cognition and layout. No wonder when it comes to the world's famous ministers, the first to recommend "Northern Yuan". Just listening to this story, everyone believed that this Beiyang Yuan Shikai was indeed a peerless countryman.

Seeing that Yuan Shikai was so well prepared and his attitude was so tough, the provincial deputies felt a strong uneasiness in their hearts while admiring it.

As soon as Yuan Shikai finished speaking, the representatives of the first Beiyang family took the lead in applauding, and the representatives of other provinces, whether sincere or false, also applauded warmly.

The BJP delegates listened attentively all the time, and finally joined in the excitement with a new applause.

After everyone's applause fell, Yuan Shikai continued: "In this Constituent Assembly, the cabinet will first come up with a charter, and the provinces will discuss it themselves. At the end of the discussion, the representatives of the provinces went up to speak. When all the speeches are over, it is time to vote on each of the constitutional contents. Of course, let's vote on this process first. Provincial delegates can go to their own lounges to discuss first. ”

The BJP is very small and the meeting room is not large. The guards held on to the door outside, and the three delegates began to discuss in low voices.

"It seems that Yuan Shikai has really fully adopted Chairman Chen's suggestion." Feng Xu took the lead in saying.

Yuan Shikai seemed to be very interested in using Chen Ke's intelligence, and before this meeting, Yuan Shikai specially sent people to the base area to ask Chen Ke for advice. Chen Ke wrote a more detailed proposal to Yuan Shikai. The three representatives have all seen it, and for every step of Yuan Shikai's future, Chen Ke has proposed various ways to deal with and choose. The reasons for many strategies are clearly targeted.

What Yuan Shikai just told is that he chose to combine a set of routes by himself.

Shang Yuan said in a deep voice: "It seems that Yuan Shikai has chosen the economy-based route." ”

"There is no way, Yuan Shikai is short of money." Feng Xu is a political envoy, and he is in charge of finances. He knows Yuan Shikai's choice best, "The income of the Qing Dynasty was 80 million taels the year before last, and the expenditure was as high as 100 million taels. Last year and this year are only not as good as the year before. Even if Yuan Shikai looted the clan and the royal family, how much money could he have? Thirty million taels in the sky. Many of them are still unsellable. Sheng Shixing collection, Chairman Chen said very clearly. Everyone knows that Yuan Shikai has antiques in his hands, and they all want to buy one at a low price. In such a chaotic time, where are the rich willing to spend money to sell these things? ”

When Shang Yuan heard this, he couldn't help but snort coldly, "Beiyang definitely can't afford to fight, but I'm still very uneasy." Beiyang was originally a broken ship, full of holes. There are many lice and no itching, and there are no worries about debts, they just need to maintain their breath. They certainly can't afford to fight, but he's sure to deal with us with all his might. On the contrary, we are engaged in industrial construction in the base, and once the loopholes are attacked, our losses will be much greater. So why be in such a hurry to promote inter-provincial autonomy? What Chairman Chen said is reasonable, if there is no strong central government, it will certainly become a situation of warlord scuffle. If these people can be gathered, our People's Party will be the target of the public, and it will definitely be controlled everywhere. ”

Yan Fu and Feng Xu were silent after hearing this, and comrades with this attitude were not a minority in the party. Chen Ke once stressed the significance of the strategic initiative, and opening up the Shandong base area is an important part of striving for the strategic initiative. Shang Yuan, as a pioneer, undertakes the most active work. In the process of giving the Manchu Qing Dynasty the final military blow, the Shandong base area made great contributions. Up to now, it has been the People's Party that has struck at others first, and there has been strategic passivity. It is no wonder that Shang Yuan is far from accepting such a direction.

After being silent for a while, Feng Xu couldn't help but say: "Secretary Shang, the swords and soldiers are together, and Yi Yuhudi." It is not a good thing for a civil war to continue like this. Even if the People's Party is brave and good at fighting, it is now not capable of conquering the whole of China. The so-called long pain is better than short pain, anyway, it has to be fought in the end, so why rush for a while? ”

Yan Fu nodded slightly after hearing this, he knew very well that Chen Ke had never intended to give up the military struggle. However, the gap between the People's Party and the industrial countries of Europe and the United States is too great, and Chen Ke tried to establish a sufficient industrial system first, which Yan Fu believed was the right way. The comrades in the party had not really fought against the countries of Europe and the United States, so they did not understand what a powerful war of that scale was like. Luring the enemy deep and clearing the wilderness is indeed a good strategy. But, as Chen Ke said, that is a policy in the face of inevitable realities. Before the war, however, it was necessary to avoid situations that were unfavorable to us as much as possible. The two are not inherently in conflict.

It's just that a series of military victories by the BJP have made these fears seem "unfounded". Moreover, with the strategic initiative that the People's Party now grasps, it still seems unbreakable in China. Yan Fu didn't want to criticize Shang Yuan, and he himself didn't fully understand Chen Ke's strategy. While the comrades were trying to understand what had happened and trying to summarize what had happened, Chen Ke had already stood farther away and told everyone that there was a new world here. This strong sense of disobedience made Yan Fu himself reluctant to make more evaluations.

After the end of the provincial assembly time, the first round of voting officially began.

The first to come to power was Zhang Renjun, the governor of Liangguang, and the old man, who was in good spirits, came up and began to criticize the undesirable autonomy of the provinces. What "makes local magnates collude", "forms parties for personal gain", and "opens the door to those who mislead the public with fallacies". All of this sounds really reasonable.

However, the statement itself is inevitably off topic. Yuan Shikai asked everyone to discuss the "meeting process", that is, to formulate the rules of the game first. Zhang Renjun's speech did not care about the establishment of rules at all, but violently attacked the plan proposed by Yuan Shikai.

Yuan Shikai listened carefully, but some of the low-ranking parliamentarians among the Beiyang deputies couldn't help but boo. Wait for Zhang Renjun to finally finish. The second to rush to power was Wang Youhong, the governor of Jiangsu. Wang Youhong first expressed his support for Yuan Shikai's plan for inter-provincial autonomy. The representatives of Beiyang were quiet, and the representatives of other provinces began to make noise. made Wang Youhong even forget about the voting rules.

Cen Chunbei, the fourth governor of Hunan Province, finally put forward his views on the voting charter. Cen Chunbei is Cen Chunxuan's younger brother and one of Yuan Shikai's political enemies. He questioned the right of provincial delegates to vote. The reason seems to be sufficient, "since it is the autonomy of the provinces, the attitude of the provinces should be unified." Otherwise, what is the use of this inter-provincial autonomy? ”

The people in the conference hall were all people, and everyone knew that Cen Chunbei was fighting back against Yuan Shikai's difficulties. This time, quite a few of the Hunan deputies were from Beiyang. In fact, not only Hunan representatives, but also many provinces have people who are politically inclined to Yuan Shikai.

Provincial legislators probably know or have heard of the parliamentary principle of "the minority obeys the majority". It's one thing to know or hear about it, but all councillors have an instinctive aversion to the rule. The most powerful of them all believe that their position is inherently dominant. The minority obeys the majority, which may be something that the lower ones can do, but as the upper echelons, they should not accept this system. As for the legislators in lower ranks, it is natural to think that their vote should be the key one. If your vote is not critical, then why do you vote?

This mentality is directly reflected in the voting, under the strength of Yuan Shikai, he really wants to promote legislation, and based on the number of people alone, Yuan Shikai can really get a majority majority. However, three of the twenty-four provinces in the world have been returned to the People's Party, but the prince of Inner and Inner Mongolia did not participate. Of the remaining nineteen provinces, Yuan Shikai only occupies nine provinces, and it is not realistic for the remaining ten provinces to unite and overthrow Yuan Shikai's cabinet, but this meeting is fully capable of forcing Yuan Shikai to make huge concessions.

Listening to the people on stage express their attitudes one by one, Yuan Shikai was calm on the surface, but in his heart he was also galloping with herds of alpacas. Chen Ke had long warned Yuan Shikai of the possibility of this situation, and Yuan Shikai felt that the governors knew each other anyway, and the sky-high asking price was inevitable, but it would never cause such a mess. If he followed the method of the governors, Yuan Shikai spent so much effort, but he made dishes for others. At least the governors from all over the country will definitely be able to blackmail Yuan Shikai once.

It seems necessary to introduce a system of provincial councils. Yuan Shikai couldn't help but sigh in his heart. As an old-style politician, Yuan Shikai was more accustomed to the Manchu Qing Dynasty's mode of holding power and having to obey the words of the first sentence and the lower one. But this requires a national government. During Cixi's lifetime, through decades of accumulation, she was finally able to play with personnel issues. But it doesn't work at all. Yuan Shikai started as an officer, although he was able to guarantee his political achievements, but he lacked this kind of legal system with great power. In comparison, the provinces have parliaments, and Yuan Shikai can play with more tricks. The provinces of Beiyang are naturally subservient. The BJP is simply unable to form an advantage in parliament, and the two sides have an alliance, and Chen Ke is not a person who does not understand the general situation. As for the other provinces, they can all be co-opted by Yuan Shikai's ingenious operation.

At the heart of provincial autonomy is that the parliament meets once a year, and only seemingly grandiose issues, such as laws, are voted on. The President and the Prime Minister are elected every five years, and the members of the Cabinet are arranged by the Prime Minister. Such a meeting is just a matter of the strength of the buyout, and Yuan Shikai is confident that he will win. Therefore, in any case, it is necessary to let the provinces set up their own parliamentary system, and if there is no parliament, the governors of the provinces will definitely fight against them to the end.

One speech after another, and everyone spoke at length, and they did not finish until the afternoon. The council temporarily concludes its session for the day and resumes the following day.

As soon as the parliamentarians went out, a group of reporters from various newspapers and a group of foreign devil reporters rushed up with cameras and tried to interview the parliamentarians. The military police quickly pushed the reporters away and put the parliamentarians in the carriage for pick-up.

"Yuan Shikai's life is not easy." Shang Yuan said happily.

Yan Fu and Feng Xu both smiled bitterly, the car was full of their own people, and the guards were guarding outside, but it was a good place to talk.

"Chairman Chen's letter to Yuan Shikai has already mentioned this matter, and it seems that Yuan Shikai still listened to the persuasion." Yan replied.

"With such a method, I don't think we will be able to return to the base in the short term." Feng Xu has a good understanding of the arduous nature of the parliamentary struggle.

Shang Yuan said with a mocking sneer: "We came here to watch, no matter how hostile Yuan Shikai and the local governors are. They are unanimous in dealing with our People's Party. Let's follow the plan and watch the situation develop. Anyway, every day passes, our strength is a little stronger. They could have talked about it for ten or eight years. I think that's pretty good. ”

Hearing this, Yan Fu and Feng Xu also smiled helplessly, ten or eight years may be a bit exaggerated. However, it is not alarmist to talk about the results in a month or two.

"Both, this time in Beijing, Chairman Chen asked me to say hello to my teacher, Mr. Li Hongqi. I'm going to visit Mr. Lee tonight. Shang Yuan made a rather personal request. The observation group has its own discipline, and this visit has been said a long time ago, and Yan Fu and Feng Xu agreed.

It's still that ordinary alley, or that ordinary courtyard. Not long after Shang Yuan knocked on the door with the guards, Mr. Li Hongqi opened the door himself. Compared with leaving Beijing in four years, Mr. Li Hongqi does not look much different, he is still wearing ordinary clothes, and the courtyard is still neat.

Let the guards guard the door, Shang Yuan carried his mentor into the wing. With excitement, Shang Yuan wanted to bow down to the teacher seriously, but he couldn't kneel, and he expressed his respect to Teacher Li Hongqi with the army's hand salute. After Li Hongqi saw his beloved disciple saluting him, he stepped forward and grabbed Shang Yuan and asked him to sit down. After looking his disciples up and down, Li Hongqi asked, "Wangshan, I saw the things you sent a few days ago." You say you have great confusion, but you don't know where the confusion is? ”

"If we want a revolution, it is the mandate of revolution. When advocating revolutionary ideas, we should follow the destiny of heaven with the hearts of the people. But Wen Qing privately told me that it was very different. I'm puzzled. This time, I had the opportunity to ask the teacher for advice. Shang Yuan said very eagerly.

"What Wen Qing said is still the same as your People's Party. From the perspective of a Confucian disciple, I just replaced a gentleman with a laborer. In my opinion, I'm afraid that you will see Wen Qing as Fan Chi. I think compared to Wen Qing, you are Fan Chi. ”

Shang Yuan knew that the teacher gave the example of "The Analects of the Confucian Road".

Fan Chi asked for advice on planting crops. Confucius said, "I am not as good as an old peasant." ”

Ask for advice on growing vegetables. Say, "I'm not as good as a vegetable farmer." ”

After Fan Chi left. Confucius said: "Fan Chi is really a worthless guy!" If the higher-level officials attach importance to etiquette, the masses will not be disrespectful; If the higher officials attach importance to morality, the masses will not disobey; If higher-level officials value credibility, the masses will not be dishonest. If you do this, then all the people of the world will come to you with their children and daughters, and what is the crop you are planting now?! ”

Shang Yuan never expected that his teacher would criticize him like Chen Ke, and he quickly explained: "Teacher, I am not against labor ......."

"If you don't object to labor, you can do it. So what is there to say. Li Hongqi interrupted Shang Yuan's words at that time, "Wen Qing made it clear in his letter to you that management is just a part of labor. As long as it is a laborer, there is no distinction between dignity and inferiority. It really amazed me. There is no greater rule of three generations than this. ”

Hearing this, Shang Yuan's heart sank. His teacher is too perceptive, and he said through the point that he was most reluctant to mention in his heart, but he was the most confrontational with Chen Ke. That is, "there is a difference between the top and the bottom, and the dignity and the inferiority are orderly." ”

Seeing that Shang Yuan was silent, Li Hongqi couldn't help but sigh lightly. "Wangshan, you know me, I have never liked to talk about the past and the present. Even if the ancient Confucianism is now reduced to rotten Confucianism, I only think that this is the exhaustion of Confucianism. But when it comes to the rule of three generations, I think it's definitely right. Wangshan, you stretch out your hand and I'll take a look. ”

I don't know what the teacher means, Shang Yuan stretched out his hand. It was the palm of the hand that was used to holding a pen, and the skin used to be delicate and smooth, but now it has become rough because of the labor involved.

"There's not enough of this cocoon." Li Hongqi said with a smile, "I heard that you are in Anhui and Hubei for flood relief, although I am worried about you and Wenqing, but I am really proud of you in my heart." When Dayu, he didn't say anything about the door three times. Dayu wears tattered clothes, eats shoddy food, lives in a simple tent, and personally holds a hoe every day, taking the lead in doing the hardest and dirtiest work. Over the years, the hairs on his legs and arms were stripped off, his palms and soles were calloused, his body was dry, and his face was dark. This is also an ancient emperor, and he doesn't look as good as an old peasant. Do you have a lot of Dayu, and are you heavy with Dayu? You just see Wen Qing commanding when he mobilizes everyone, but if Wen Qing has not done it himself, if he hadn't worked on the front line day and night, how could he know how to mobilize everyone? ”

During the flood in Anhui, Chen Ke has been on the front line, leading his comrades to brave the wind and rain, endure countless hardships, do countless jobs, and experience countless dangers. At that time, Shang Yuan was only responsible for the work of the county magistrate in the county. When it comes to hard work, he knows that he is indeed inferior to Chen Ke. Thinking of this, Shang Yuan couldn't help but frown slightly.

"Wangshan, do you think Wen Qing is a weirdo who is not afraid of hardship?" Li Hongqi's words broke Shang Yuan's mind again.

"Teacher......" Shang Yuan only felt that his teacher, Mr. Li Hongqi, was extremely terrifying at this time, and he even stammered in his voice, "You, how do you know." ”

"Wen Qing is not afraid of hardship, nor is it what the book says about taking pleasure in it. If you think of Wenqing in terms of bitterness, then it is not right. After Li Hongqi finished speaking, he couldn't help but sigh. This is extremely rare for Li Hongqi. If it weren't for his sincere love for his disciples, according to Li Hongqi's usual practice, Shang Yuan would have been sent away a long time ago.

Shang Yuan saw that the teacher was like this, and hurriedly got up and said, "Teacher, I do have countless doubts in my heart, please give the teacher advice." ”

After all, Li Hongqi had great expectations for Shang Yuan, and he pondered for a while before speaking again, "Actually, what I want to say, Wen Qing has already said it in his letter to you. Wangshan, do you think there is a distinction between high and low? ”

"This ......, teacher, I think there is."

"The difference between you and Wen Qing is that Wen Qing doesn't believe that there are high and low people. He truly believed that labor created man himself. If you can't do the right thing, it's just that you don't work enough. I know why you don't believe it, because there are really some people who don't really like to work, and they really don't want to believe that labor creates everything. What they want is not to work, not to work. And in this world, it seems that there are indeed some people who do not work or work, but they enjoy glory and wealth. Ask yourself, everyone wants to sit in this position, and they all want to get something for nothing. In the past, the Manchu Qing Dynasty closed the door and did it by themselves, which had caused chaos in the world. Foreigners, on the other hand, are willing to work, can work, and can work. As a result, people came from far and wide to make our China a scourge like this. Wen Qing made it clear to you that it is one thing for foreigners to harm China, and it is another thing for us to work not as well as foreigners. Wangshan, you used to know that it was wrong to get something for nothing, but when you have the opportunity, you still hope that you can get it for nothing. Wen Qing was afraid that the hard-working revolution would start, so many people would die, and so many battles would be fought, and as a result, a group of people who had not worked hard would be overthrown, but it was like taking turns to sit in the village, and then a group of people who had not worked hard would come up. Then those who died in this revolution died in vain. That's what he writes to tell you. ”

Although it was not winter, Shang Yuan's face turned pale as if he had stood in the cold night. But Li Hongqi's words did not end there. "Wangshan, do you think you are a fool?"

Shang Yuan originally wanted to follow the teacher's meaning and say that he knew that he was stupid, but he clearly knew that if he said this, he was actually talking nonsense, and the most important thing was that his teacher would clearly know that this was a lie, and after hesitating for a while, he replied: "This ......, I don't think so." ”

Li Hongqi nodded slightly, "I see Wen Qing also said that if there are a hundred links in a thing, as long as one link is not done, then the whole thing will definitely be unrecognizable." It's hard to know what these 100 links are just from the beginning. And after knowing these links, if you try to do it yourself, you will definitely find that you are incorrigibly stupid. Of these 100 links, there are only a few who can do it. Ordinary people do things completely differently, everyone always glances at it, finds a few links that they can do, and thinks that if others can match the remaining 90 links, he can make unparalleled achievements. Only seeing what you can do and not what you can't do is the real stupidity. ”

Since the beginning of the revolution, no one has ever criticized Shang Yuan so badly. But Shang Yuan began to return to normal at this time, and his expression and attitude gradually returned to the same as usual.

Li Hongqi continued to talk as if he hadn't seen it, "I have read some of Wenqing's books, and it is indeed insightful to talk about the biological and social aspects of human beings. The biological aspect is self-oriented, and sociality is based on social relations. Therefore, Wen Qing criticized low-level taste, and low-level interest means that biology has not been transformed in society. Self-centered, afraid that others will not know what they have, afraid that others will not see their superiority, and afraid that their social value will be underestimated by others. But what you can really do, you know very well. If you lie to yourself, it doesn't matter. As long as things really get done, you can't fool others. That's why I read that Wen Qingxin only said one thing, asking you comrades of the People's Party to transform yourself and be honest workers. I think that's right, so I really don't know what you're confused about. ”

"Teacher, I feel like I've done everything I need to do. But I always feel that there is something different from Wenqing. Let me say what's the difference, I can't tell. That's where I'm confused. Shang Yuan looked at Mr. Li Hongqi's eyes eagerly and anxiously.

"Wangshan, this is me underestimating you, it turns out that you can already understand to this extent." Mr. Li Hongqi couldn't help laughing, "That's because Wen Qing does everything, it's what he should do." And what you do, is what you want to do. ”

Shang Yuan felt unacceptable to the teacher's statement, "Teacher, why do I feel the opposite?" ”

"That's because you don't feel like a bad person. You feel like a good person, a saint. You love to give yourself an evaluation so much. Li Hongqi finished sneering, then pointed at Shang Yuan and said, "Villain, look at the mountain!" ”

After giving such an unknown evaluation, Li Hongqi kicked Shang Yuan out.

The next day's parliamentary discussion continued yesterday's style, with a group of parliamentarians ostensibly ignoring the rules of the game, but speaking from the south to the north. The literati speak like this bear, forcibly summing up a "truth" from different time and space, different backgrounds, and different ways, and then claiming to be a "defender of the truth". In fact, the representatives of other provinces are all opposing the one-person-one-vote system in the parliament.

Shang Yuan's mind was full of what the teacher said yesterday, and it was also the unclear meaning of the cloud mountain fog cover. I don't know if it's because I'm thinking too much or if it's something else. In the end, Shang Yuan couldn't remember what the teacher said. That night, Shang Yuan went to visit the teacher again.

After Shang Yuan seriously informed the fact that "the teacher's teaching was not taken to heart at all", Mr. Li Hongqi couldn't help laughing.

"It seems that you don't hold a grudge against me." Mr. Li Hongqi smiled very happily.

"How could I possibly hold a grudge against the teacher?" Shang Yuan hurriedly said.

"Wangshan, what did I tell you the last time you left?" Mr. Li Hongqi asked.

"I forgot about this ......." Shang Yuan replied very simply.

Mr. Li Hongqi's memory is very good, and he replied: "Last time I said, if today's brutality and rebellion are like this, it is already a big chaos. And which dynastic change is not so. How to deal with the tyranny, cruelty, and shamelessness of the world, how to break free from these tyranny, cruelty, and shamelessness, and how to get rid of all injustice with a firm attitude is a very difficult thing for people with ambition like you. In today's China, as long as the Manchu Qing Dynasty falls, it will be a great chaos. It is destined to be mournful all over the wilderness, and millions of corpses are ambushed. You don't have to worry about making the world more chaotic. This is China's luck, and you alone can't stop it. What you can do is to cure this great chaos, take advantage of this great chaos, sweep away all the evils, and eradicate all injustice from the roots. ”

Hearing the teacher repeat these words, Shang Yuan's expression became serious.

Li Hongqi looked at his beloved apprentice and said with the same seriousness: "Last time Wen Qing looked very confused, you are self-righteous. That's all I can say. In fact, everyone in the world has tyranny, cruelty, and shamelessness in their hearts. But no one will admit the darkness of this human heart. Whoever is willing to admit it must be a down-to-earth worker. Just like Yuan Shikai and Cixi, they took power after suffering so many sins and doing so many things. After coming to power, he used this tyranny, cruelty, and shamelessness to do things. No matter what the world thinks of them, they have done extraordinary things. Do you understand? ”

"Teacher, I understand." Shang Yuan replied.

"I read Wen Qing's letter to you, he has seen his own darkness, and he has found a way to overcome the tyranny, cruelty, and shamelessness in his heart. That is to be a real worker and live frankly. This tyranny becomes bravery, cruelty becomes firmness, shamelessness becomes modesty. Wangshan, you think that Yuan Shikai and Cixi and others are filthy, and they are unwilling to learn from them. I just want to learn to be a brave, determined, and humble person. Learning these things is just a façade. It is like a monk who studies the Dharma intensively and recites discernment, but if there is no compassion and generosity, the idea of purifying sentient beings, even if the scriptures are flooded and the wonderful argument is unhindered, what is the use? ”

Hearing this, Shang Yuan had a feeling of sudden realization. But according to what the teacher said, the gap between himself and Chen Ke turned out to be like a chasm. This made Shang Yuan completely unacceptable.

Li Hongqi didn't mean to make Shang Yuan have an epiphany, he continued: "So I said yesterday that you are a villain, and you love to evaluate yourself too much." The matter of evaluation, to put it bluntly, is a matter of the afterlife. The current thing is that everyone should live well. Whether it's a revolution, a rebellion, or even a road-cutting robber who blocks the road and loots, that's all he wants. Therefore, Wen Qing repeatedly said in his letter that it is not you who lead the revolution, but the people who need it. I think he's right. If you think what Wen Qing said is reasonable, and you are willing to contribute to the lives of the people in the world, then follow Wen Qing, if you are unwilling. Then I advise you to find your own way as soon as possible. Wen Qing is writing to you now to persuade you, which means that he will certainly work hard to make all members of your People's Party have the same conviction in the future. If you can't do it, and you are forced to sit in your current position, it will definitely not end well. ”

Shang Yuan didn't care about the teacher's prophecy, he thought for a while and asked, "Teacher, why do you say that Wen Qing does everything he should do." And what I do, is what I want to do. ”

"It's you who think Wenqing is brave, firm, and humble. He doesn't care about other people's evaluations at all, even if everyone in the world scolds him, he thinks this thing should be done, and he will definitely do it. You do things to get the courageous, firm, and humble evaluation of others, and if someone you care about criticizes you, you are afraid that you will not do it. ”

After listening to the teacher's words, Shang Yuan wanted to speak several times, and finally he smiled bitterly: "Teacher, I only know now that I am really stupid and incorrigible." ”

Hearing this, Li Hongqi laughed and said, "If you really think like this, then it's great." If you really know that you are incorrigibly stupid, then you will definitely study modestly and prudently. See, with this thought, you immediately become a humble person. ”

Shang Yuan thought that the teacher was laughing at him, but after thinking about it carefully, what the teacher said was not wrong at all. The more you know that you are incorrigibly stupid, the more you will be really humble and cautious. The so-called virtue is just such a thing, and Shang Yuan found that in addition to a bitter smile, he only had a bitter smile.