Lincoln and Seward came to Li Zhen's residence together, but Seward had a straight face and a look of reluctance. In Seward's view, Li Zhen is a hedgehog with thorns all over his body, and whoever touches him is unlucky.

He touched Li Zhen twice in a row, and both times he was stung by Li Zhen, so he was extremely reluctant to deal with Li Zhen in his heart. When he entered the room and saw Li Zhen, Xiward did not put on a good face. The two sat down, and Lincoln asked with a smile on his face, "Is there anything important that President Lee has invited us in?" ”

Li Zhen smiled and said, "There are some things to discuss with the two of you. ”

Lincoln said, "Speak! His expression became serious, because Li Zhen was a man of considerable foresight and ability. The things that Li Zhen took the initiative to mention are certainly not simple.

Li Zhen took a sip of tea and said slowly: "I invited you two to discuss the slavery system in the United States with you. Didn't Mr. President and His Excellency the Secretary of State, as the top of the United States, perceive the adverse effects of slavery? ”

Seward's eyes lit up, and he asked excitedly, "Does President Lee also think that slavery is unreasonable?" Heck, I think slavery is grossly unreasonable. ”

Li Zhen nodded and said, "Of course!" ”

When Xihuade heard this, he felt even more happy, and his senses changed three hundred and sixty degrees, and he couldn't wait to go up and kiss Li Zhen twice. The old man Seward was a fierce opponent of American slavery, and with Li Zhen as an ally, a little lump between him and Li Zhen was directly thrown out of the clouds, as if he regarded Li Zhen as a bosom friend.

Unexpectedly, Li Zhen on the other side of the ocean also thought that the slavery system was unreasonable.

That's what got Seward excited.

With Li Zhen's support, Siward believes that he insists on the truth.

Lincoln glanced at Seward and asked lightly, "What did President Lee think about slavery?" ”

Li Zhen smiled slightly and said: "In front of Mr. President, I am just a layman, after all, I don't even know the basic national conditions of the United States, at most it is only on paper. His Excellency Lincoln is the president of the United States, and his knowledge of the United States is undoubtedly the most authoritative. Mr. President also has his own views on slavery. How about I ask Mr. President to talk about it first, and then discuss it? ”

Seward nodded and said, "Good, good, that's a good statement." The wrinkles on his face were all stretched, and when he looked at Li Zhen, he was full of kind eyes.

Seward was overjoyed, but Lincoln couldn't figure out what Li Zhen meant.

It stands to reason that Li Zhen is an outsider, and he has taken the initiative to discuss the issue of the US system, and he is already suspected of meddling in US national affairs. However, from the perspective that Li Zhen and Lincoln are good friends, Li Zhen may also take the initiative to talk about this matter in order to remind Lincoln, so that it can be discussed.

However, Lincoln made a clear distinction between his relationship with Li Zhen and Li Zhen's relationship with the United States, believing that Li Zhen was not an emotional person and should not help the United States because of their relationship.

Besides, with Seward present, this is definitely not a conversation between the two.

Li Zhen must have a purpose in doing this.

For a short time, Lincoln already had a plan in mind, and said, "Let me tell you what I think first!" ”

Li Zhen waved his hand and said, "Please!" ”

Lincoln took a long breath, and then said slowly: "The current United States is divided by the distinction of slaves, and the whole is divided into two camps: the north and the south. The North advocates freedom, and industry and commerce occupy the main camp, and the proportion of slaves is very small. ”

"Of the six northeastern states, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts are all emerging industrial and commercial clusters, similar to the British model, with fewer slaves and more factory workers. In the northwest, thanks to the Northwest Ordinance enacted during the Westward Expansion Movement, free peasants developed rapidly and slavery was never allowed. ”

"The east, west, and north regions formed the fabric of the whole North, making the North a region with few slaves."

"Most of the estates of white slave owners in the South, especially the existence of a large number of slave-owning states, made the existence of a large number of slavery institutions already deep-rooted. These slaves were an essential tool for slave owners to make money. Once the slaves disappeared, a large number of slave owners would have no labor available and would lose huge amounts of wealth. ”

"Slave owners will not let their financial routes be cut off, so the slavery system in the south has been deeply rooted, and it is very difficult to solve the slavery system in the south."

Lincoln frowned, sighed lightly, and said: "I became the new president of the United States, insisting on the abolition of slavery, and there are already many slave owners who are dissatisfied and have opinions about the federal government, which is difficult!" ”

Seward continued: "All the difficulties were caused by slavery. As long as slavery exists, the development of the United States will be constrained, and difficulties will continue to flow, which must be abolished. ”

After a pause, Seward asked, "What do you think, President Lee?" ”

Li Zhenlang said: "I agree with His Excellency Seward that slavery must be abolished. ”

"I was in favor of the abolition of slavery, but slave owners were a very large percentage of the American citizenry, and they occupied a large number of states, and they were even very powerful militarily," Lincoln said. If slavery was abolished by coercion, the result would be a split and civil war. ”

"In the event of a civil war in the country, the final result of a civil war for the United States will inevitably be a great loss of American vitality, which will seriously affect the military strength of the United States, and the vigorous development of the United States will lag for many years. Therefore, I believe that the abolition of slavery should be done slowly, gradually, and not in a hurry. ”

"For example, among the slave states in the south, we can divide the major slave states one by one, and then gradually pull them together to turn them into our strength. Although it is a long and difficult process, it is undoubtedly good for the country. As long as you are willing to do it, I believe you will succeed. ”

"When I was learning Chinese, my teacher once said: The road is long, and I will go up and down to seek. For the sake of the development of the United States, I am willing to work tirelessly to abolish slavery. We have made unremitting efforts to preserve the territorial integrity of the country and to protect the lives of hundreds of millions of people in the country. ”

"Smack! Syllable!!! ”

Li Zhen applauded and praised: "Okay, what a benevolent heart!" ”

Seward snorted and said, "I don't agree, it won't work at all." ”

Lincoln said, "Your Excellency Theward, I stand by my opinion. I am the president of the United States, and I must be responsible for the lives of the American people and for countless families. ”

Li Zhen shook his head lightly and said: "I appreciate Mr. President's benevolence, but in my opinion, if Mr. President is really willing to be responsible for the lives of hundreds of people and countless families, then it is even more necessary to quickly cut through the mess and abolish the slavery system by thunderous means, which is the best way." ”

"Oh, tell me?"

Lincoln blinked, thinking that Li Zhen had finally revealed his fox tail.

ps: The fourth shift, call it a day.