The police, the gold and the salt are being combined by Chen Wenqiang to become a large working group that is both separate and cooperating with each other. Pen, fun, and www.biquge.info

The police are not only in charge of clearing the township, but also in charge of maintaining law and order, as well as the collection of cents; The bureau has the function of supervision and accounting, and the supervisor sits in the police station and the office and is in charge of the collected money; The salt reform was ensured by the force of the police, and the patrol boats of the Salt Bureau were assigned to the use of the Marine Police.

An intersectional, collaborative model has improved efficiency and streamlined offices, but the core safeguard remains the ever-expanding police force. Armed police, public security police, water police, patrol police, using the southwest battlefield to transfer most of Guangdong's military strength, Chen Wenqiang exerted the power of a patrol police general office to the extreme.

These are only the embodiment of the official face, and under the situation of the rising tide of constitutionalism, Chen Wenqiang, as the backbone of the constitutional council, still has a close connection with the enlightened business gentry in Guangdong. As the chairman of the Guangdong Consultative Bureau, although Chen Wenqiang gave up this position, he still has a great influence in the Consultative Bureau, which is in full swing.

From officialdom to the people, Chen Wenqiang has both soft and hard strength, especially in Guangdong, because the land commander is Wu Luzhen, and the naval commander Li Zhun is friendly with him, and the power is difficult to shake. Besides, he still has a big base in Qiongzhou, which can be attacked and defended, even if it is the Qing court, it can't help him.

The situation in China as a whole was also changing rapidly, with the repeated victories of the revolutionary army in the southwest and the urgent urging of the constitutionalists forcing the Qing court to speed up the pace of constitutionalism.

From the return of the five ministers from their overseas investigations, to the official announcement of the Qing court's intention to establish the constitution in 1906, and to the approval of the Qing court in early 1907 to change the name of the inspection political hall to the Constitutional Compilation and Investigation Hall, so as to make this institution for handling constitutionalism more worthy of its name and began to accelerate the promotion of constitutionalism. Time flies.

At the same time as the work of the Constitutional Compilation and Investigation Museum, the Qing court once again sent ministers abroad to inspect the constitution. However, this expedition was not exhaustive, but specifically went to England, Germany and Japan to learn from experience.

In a sense, the first overseas expedition of the five ministers, including Zai Ze and Duanfang, led to the Qing court's announcement of its readiness to establish a constitution, while the second constitutional expedition of Dashou, Li Jiaju and others made the Qing court determined to use Japan as a model. Implement a preparatory constitution.

The reason why the Qing court liked Japan's constitutionalism was that the two countries had similar social structures and national psychology, and the two countries also had a lot of understanding and exchanges in history, so it seemed relatively feasible to transplant the Japanese system; The most important thing is that Japan "is the party that builds the country, the subjects of the public council, the ruler who exercises political authority, the people have all the secrets, and the monarch has the right to exclude himself." Other words. Japan's constitution does not infringe on royal prerogatives, and the promulgation of codes does not require prior public scrutiny, and the emperor promulgates the constitution as if it were a gift. In this way, of course, the Qing court liked it.

In October 1907, under the pressure of the revolutionary party and the constant clamor of the constitutionalists, the Qing court finally promulgated the "Outline of the King James Constitution", the "Essentials of the Election Law of the House of Representatives" and the "List of Preparatory Matters for Each Year Before the Opening of the House of Representatives" (hereinafter referred to as the "List of Preparatory Matters"), and declared that "from the imperial court." Down to the ministers, they all abide by the King James Constitution. In order to always follow the lead, there is no transgression. ”

This is the first time in Chinese history that the imperial court has officially promulgated a constitution in public politics. However, the traces of the imitation of the Japanese constitution in the "Outline of the King James Constitution" are too heavy and undignified, and its first and second articles are almost directly translated from the first and third articles of the Meiji constitution of Japan.

And what makes many people unacceptable is. There are only 23 articles in the "Outline of the King James Constitution", of which 14 articles are all about the "great power of the monarch", and the nine articles on the rights of the people are only appendices for poor baba at the back.

Still, something is better than nothing. After all, this is the first time in China's thousands of years of feudal history that the basic rights and obligations of the people have been stipulated in the form of a constitutional document. According to these constitutional documents, the people basically had the right to vote and to stand for election (with property restrictions, which was the general practice in the world at the time) and the basic rights of speech, writing, publication, and association, especially the article "property and residence shall not be intruded upon without reason", which is basically close to the "sanctity and inviolability of private property" in the constitutions of European and American countries. And these rights were provided for in the feudal code that was unthinkable.

In order to show its sincerity, the Qing court set a roadmap for the preparation of the constitution in the "List of Preparatory Matters", set the period for the preparation of the constitution at nine years, and listed in detail the major events and timetables to be prepared in the next nine years.

Objectively speaking, if we want to develop this kind of pseudo-constitutional monarchy, which imitates Japan, into a constitutional monarchy of Britain, so as to peacefully and smoothly establish a democratic system that conforms to the trend of the world, nine years should be far from enough, and it can even be said that it is very hasty.

But for the Constitutional Progressives and Revolutionaries, nine years was too long. For Chen Wenqiang, the purpose of forcing the Qing court to carry out constitutional reform was achieved to a limited extent, promulgating the charter of local autonomy in towns and villages, and holding the election of the Consultative Council in 1908, which made the constitutional council take another big step forward on the road of grasping local power.

It was in such a situation, when Yuan Shuxun became more and more urgent and showed weakness, that Chen Wenqiang returned to Guangzhou in a high-profile manner.

The so-called high-profile is to show his strength and influence, so that Yuan Shuxun and others can correct their position from now on. That's right, on the surface, the lower officials can have respect for the upper officials, and they can even constantly give similar filial piety benefits. But you can't thwart my career, stop me from moving forward.

"Zhizhong" is a wooden hull with a displacement of 500 tons and is equipped with six guns; The "Jixi" is an iron-ribbed wooden hull with a displacement of 320 tons and is equipped with six artillery pieces; The "Hai Changqing" is a wooden hull with a displacement of 320 tons and is armed with five guns. Chen Wenqiang led 200 armed policemen to appear majestically at the Guangzhou wharf on the three largest patrol ships of the Salt Bureau.

There was an announcement in advance, and the dock was crowded with people, some to greet and some to watch the excitement. Since the name of the fight is to arrest the rebellious party outside, Chen Wenqiang naturally has something to say. He led the armed police to attack Datang Township, defeated the bandits in one fell swoop, wounded and captured the famous bandit Li Fulin.

What was a little surprising was that Chen Wenqiang did not have to put the hat of the Revolutionary Party on Li Fulin's head, because this guy did have ties with the Revolutionary Party, and among the seized stolen goods were evidence such as the eagle ball stamp, the blue sky and the white sun flag. And. Chen Wenqiang also learned from the confessions of the captives that Zhu Zhixin, the former of the League, is now teaching at the Guangdong School of Political Science and Law, and it is he who is in contact with the Mobilization Association and Lvlin, preparing for an uprising and riot when the time is ripe.

Regarding Zhu Zhixin, Chen Wenqiang did not want to arrest him, and even the confession implicating Zhu Zhixin was destroyed by him. But he still secretly sent people to monitor Zhu Zhixin. In case of chaos for him in Guangdong.

As soon as the ship docked at the wharf, Li Fulin and other bandits were escorted ashore and handed over to the Guangzhou police, where they were immediately brought to justice after being paraded through the streets.

Talking, watching, and watching, a large number of people gradually left, and Chen Wenqiang abandoned the ship and landed ashore, accompanied by Yuan Shuxun's staff, and led the team into the city.

Straight uniforms, mighty marches. With shining swords and guns, the two hundred armed policemen are all elite soldiers, full of spirit and murderous spirit. Chen Wenqiang rode on a horse, under the protection of several horseback guards, marched proudly into the city gate, and walked through the street under the stunned and shocked gaze of the people on both sides of the street. Until the front of the Governor's Office.

No matter how unwilling Yuan Shuxun was, he could only bow his head to Chen Wenqiang. They should also make a gesture and lead the officials to the door of the superintendent's office to greet them.

After all, Chen Wenqiang informed him in advance that Li Fulin, the leader of the chaotic party, had been arrested, his troops had fled, and the remnants of the chaotic party were hurrying to pursue him, and there was no possibility for the chaotic party that had infiltrated Guangdong to make waves.

In other words. Chen Wenqiang's return to the provincial capital this time meant that the general had returned triumphantly. Leading elite soldiers and strong generals, riding a majestic ship, such a high-profile behavior is to make this meaning even stronger.

"Your Excellency the Governor has come out to greet you. The lower officials dare to be so daring? Chen Wenqiang saw Yuan Shuxun on the steps from a distance, so he turned over and dismounted, strode forward, bowed, and said politely.

Yuan Shuxun looked at the neat, well-organized, and well-equipped team behind Chen Wenqiang, sighed secretly, turned his gaze to Chen Wenqiang, and a kind smile had already appeared on his face, and he stepped forward to stretch out his hand to help, "Lord Chen suppressed the chaotic party, and returned the provincial city to peace, and his hard work is high, why don't you dare to do it?" ”

"This is a matter for the lower officials, and the Governor has praised it falsely." Chen Wenqiang straightened up, stretched out his hand and waved, and someone behind him had already sent a large tray, and lifted the cloth, revealing letters, eagle ball seals, flags and other things.

"Your Excellency, please see, this is the seizure of the lower officials to exterminate the rebellious party." Chen Wenqiang stretched out his hand and pointed, and introduced to Yuan Shuxun: "The Eagle Ball Seal, according to Li Fulin's prescription, was awarded by Sun Wen, the leader of the chaotic party, and was used to make a bell mark in times of chaos; The style of the blue sky and white sun flag emblem is said to be painted by Sun Wen......."

"Yes, yes!" No matter how much resentment he has against Chen Wenqiang, Yuan Shuxun still admires Chen Wenqiang's ability, and these solid physical evidence can be used as a basis for asking the court for merit and reward.

Moreover, he is still a police officer in name, but his equipment and momentum have far surpassed the armed police of the patrol battalion, which makes Yuan Shuxun feel great coercion. Perhaps it was only now that he really knew why Chen Wenqiang was so tough.

After a little noise, Yuan Shuxun and Chen Wenqiang both walked into the supervision office with a relaxed face. Pretending, this is the basic skill of mixing in officialdom, even if you grit your teeth with hatred, it is impossible to bring it out on the surface. Joy and anger are invisible, and the city government is very deep, and that is the requirement of a qualified official.

Sitting down in the hall, without saying a few words, Yuan Shuxun mentioned the supply of grain to the southwest in a little anxious. After all, the urging over there is getting tighter and tighter, and the situation seems to be getting more and more severe, Wu Luzhen's description makes Yuan Shuxun feel that the soldiers' mutiny is imminent.

"My lord, if the salt policy reform can be sustained and the sales of official salt can rise, the grain and salary will still be guaranteed." Chen Wenqiang was the first to talk about Yanzheng, and waited for Yuan Shuxun to make a final statement.

The premise of the implementation of the program law is the division of salt sales areas and the distribution of quotas. In order to ensure the implementation of the introduction of monopoly business, the Qing Dynasty firmly established a supporting set of salt production areas and salt sales areas. According to the regulations, once the salt sales area is demarcated, a fixed relationship is formed between the production area and the sales area, and the salt merchants can only buy salt in the specified salt field for distribution, transfer it according to the prescribed route, and then sell it in the specified land. Otherwise, it is a private argument, "Whoever will have official salt, and does not detain the salt to sell on the ground of the bank, and goes to another country to violate the boundary of the goods seller, will be given 100 rods." Whoever knows and buys food, sixty rods." This is the basic situation of salt production and sales in the Qing Dynasty.

From the issuance of salt, the collection of taxes to the production and transportation of salt, the salt yamen has the right to "divide and rule its own affairs". It should also be pointed out that, in addition to the salt affairs yamen, local administrative officials also have the responsibility of dismissing salt sources, approving salt prices, and investigating illegal salt. In particular, in terms of trade and smuggling, the responsibility is more important from the supervision and supervision to the state and county health offices, and the so-called "levy taxes is the special responsibility of salt officials, and the local departments and responsibilities are also responsible for the introduction of smuggling."

In line with the legal system, the salt merchants' organization also plays a vital role in the management of salt affairs. The names of the salt merchant organizations in each salt area are different, Lianghuai is called "Salt Merchant Office", Shandong is called "Shang Division", and Hedong is called "Shang Hall". The person in charge of the salt merchant organization is called "General Merchant" in Lianghuai and Liangguang, "Jiashang" in Liangzhejiang, "Gangtou" and "Gangshou" in Shandong, and "Gangzong" and "Value" in Hedong. Despite their different titles, their functions are broadly similar.

The salt merchants' service in the Qing Dynasty can be roughly divided into several types: military service, relief service, work assistance and bulletin service. After years of accumulation during the Chengping period, the capital of salt merchants expanded rapidly, and they were able to invest in the performance on a larger scale.

In the case of a large number of benefits, the Qing court also adopted various measures to ensure that salt merchants received more benefits, such as increasing catties, increasing prices, exempting levies, and deferring levies. However, under the combined effect of a large number of factors, such as the increase of floating fees, the impact of private salt, the entrainment of salt merchants and the corruption of officials, the cost of salt transportation in the salt area still increased steadily, resulting in the situation that even in the heyday period, many places began to have a situation of unsalable official salt and a backlog of salt.

Due to the influence of unsalable, floating fees, smuggling and other factors, the interests of the government, businessmen, and the public have been damaged to varying degrees. The government has no salt tax, businessmen have closed down, and the people have violated the law, but the beneficiaries are salt barons and lawbreakers. In addition, because the smugglers, as an armed smuggling group that spans several provinces, are often combined with the green forest or the party, they have become a huge hidden danger to social order.

It is precisely because of this that Chen Wenqiang wants to remove resistance and reform the salt administration. Many officials were also well aware of the drawbacks, including Zhang Renjun, the former governor of Liangguang, who handed over the salt service to Chen Wenqiang, hoping that he could change the corrupt situation of the salt service, increase local revenue, and provide food and wages for the southwest.

……………… (To be continued.) )