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Seeing Duan Qirui stand up and confront Li Jingfang in front of him, Song Xiaofei raised his hand and motioned for Duan Qirui to sit down, and then said: "Brother Boxing, don't be surprised, Duan Qirui is a martial artist, he has only studied private school for one year, and he may not understand what you mean by constitutional monarchy." But now most of the soldiers in China, who have not read a private school for a year, must think that when they mention the emperor, they must think that they are the kind of Manchu emperor who wants to bow three times and bow nine times. ”

Li Jingfang said: "My father's name has been thought of, so he will be called Hong Xian, which means to promote the Constitution." He asked me to ask you about your attitude. ”

Song Xiaofei heard that Li Hongzhang's era name was Hongxian, which was exactly the same as the era name taken by Yuan Shikai, Yuan Shikai won and lost that year, and he turned from China's Napoleon and Washington to the national disgrace referred to by Wanfu, will Li Hongzhang have the same ending? He hesitated in his heart, and at this time, Qiu Yi happened to come in and ask what kind of wine to prepare? Song Xiaofei interrupted, did not express his position, and then asked the generals present what their opinions were.

Ruan Zhongshu, Wang Shizhen, and Lin Tai once strongly supported the constitutional monarchy, Liu Buyun and Deng Shichang favored the republic, and Feng Guozhang said: "I listen to my eldest brother." ”

Song Xiaofei didn't know that Li Jingfang came to ask him on behalf of Li Hongzhang, thinking that Li Jingfang, like Zhang Peilun who came to him last time, just represented his personal opinion, so he said honestly: "In fact, whether it is a republic or a constitutional monarchy, you can't be in a hurry, you have to be patient, as long as you go down one road, China will definitely be prosperous and strong." But now that there is a sudden change of course, I am afraid that the people must be educated first, at least so that people can understand the difference between a constitutional monarchy and a monarchy. ”

Li Jingfang saw that Song Xiaofei's attitude towards the constitutional monarchy was not very positive, and he was very unhappy. But he didn't say anything on the surface, he still chatted and sang happily with everyone, and stayed in the guest room of the Song family for one night at night. The next day, Song Xiaofei was busy with military training and did not go home for two or three days, so Li Jingfei went back to the capital to resume his life.

That night, in the study of the presidential palace, Li Jingfang reported that Song Xiaofei was not active in the constitutional monarchy, and Li Hongzhang, who was immersed in reading the documents, was taken aback. Asked, "What about the foreigners?" ”

In fact, the foreigners did not support Li Hongzhang's establishment of a constitutional monarchy, but Li Jingfang lied to Li Hongzhang and said: "Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang said that Britain, Russia, and Germany are all constitutional monarchies, and their ministers in China are very supportive. ”

After speaking, Li Jingfang also sent a copy of the "Times" of the same day, which contained an article signed "Morrison", which read: "President Li Hongzhang is preparing to rebuild a constitutional monarchy in Beijing where imperial power is weakened and restricted. Young officials who have been educated in the West and really understand what a constitutional monarchy is would not object to this idea. But in the South, especially the non-gossiping students and journalists who live in the concessions and are protected by the treaty, declare. It is impossible to restore the monarchy. The republican system is the only expression of the will of the people. I can assert without hesitation that this ignorant prejudice and illusion of the republic is wrong, and that the restoration of the imperial movement will win the heartfelt support of the vast majority of the people, and they welcome it, not least because the idea of the supremacy of the Son of Heaven has endured in China for thousands of years, built on the solid foundation of the way of Confucius. And because the republican regime is now numb and chaotic from the central to the local. I can predict that President Li Hongzhang will devote his whole life to promoting China's constitutional cause and dedicate everything to the happiness and progress of the Chinese people! ”

This copy of "The Times" is not a forgery, Li Hongzhang held it in his hand, put on reading glasses and looked at it for a while. Convinced of Li Jingfang's words, he then bowed his head thoughtfully. said to Li Jingfang: "I know, you go out first." ”

After about a stick of incense, thirty-year-old Li Jingshu came in with a lame leg and a bowl of ginseng soup, brought it to the desk, and said, "Father, it's already late at night, why don't you rest?" I just made you a bowl of ginseng soup in the kitchen, so let's drink it while it's hot. ”

Li Hongzhang glanced up at Li Jingshu, his eyes showed a rare trace of love, although he was too dissatisfied with this cowardly and sickly eldest son, but Li Jingshu's filial piety still made him feel extremely warm, and said: "It's rare to have a filial piety in the garden." You put it down first. ”

Li Jingshu was born by Li Hongzhang's wife of the Zhao family, born with two tiger teeth, bright eyes, relatives and friends were very surprised, thinking that probably the "dragon son" descended to earth, and even Zeng Guofan, who has always been good at knowing people, couldn't help but praise "this public auxiliary device", predicting that Li Jingshu will become a great weapon in the future. When he was a child, Li Hongzhang's mother, Li, also loved her grandson very much, and said to people: "His father is the same, and this son will be his father." ”

Li Hongzhang is naturally also a Jackie Chan, enlightened at the age of five, and supervises classes very strictly, but Li Jingshu is not a weapon in the end, and when he is thirty years old, he is still idle at home, and he is not good at dealing with people. However, Li Jingshu is filial piety to "stay", his mother Zhao suffers from liver disease all the year round, and after many years, the disease comes from severe pain, Li Jingshu always serves beside him without undressing, and tastes the decoction. He also inquired everywhere about cures, and once heard a man say that the disease could only be cured by the flesh and medicine of his own son. Li Jingshu really cut a piece of meat from his own hand, and into his mother's Chinese medicine torment, presented to the old mother, but unfortunately his mother's illness did not improve, the year before last, Li Jingshu was grief-stricken, every time he thought of his mother's grace, he would cry sadly, every time he cried, he would gasp, so that he often fainted, rolled down the steps again, and fell his leg lame.

At this time, Li Hongzhang asked Li Jingshu in the study: "Idiot, do you have any plans in the future?" ”

Li Jing said: "My parents are here, and I don't travel far. My father is old, and I can take care of my diet and daily life, and I don't dare to think about anything else. ”

Li Hongzhang was very dissatisfied with this answer, but he didn't say anything, waved his hand, and asked Li Jingshu to leave the study.

Looking at the back of Li Jingshu's departure, Li Hongzhang shed tears for the second time in his life, the older he gets, the more worried he is about the future of this filial son, and he feels that he has a great life, and it is best to find a suitable position for Li Jingshu before he dies.

So, Li Hongzhang followed the old system, held a grand ceremony in the Temple of Heaven and a ceremony to worship the hole, and also played an improved version of the ancient ritual music, this time the scale of the sacrificial ceremony was unprecedented, in addition to Japan, the ministers of various countries in China, the princes of ethnic minorities and the living Buddha of Mongolia all came to the court, and the governors and generals from all over the country also came to congratulate, but Song Xiaofei did not come to participate in this grand ceremony because he was busy with military training in Tianjin, Li Hongzhang was very angry, and the consequences were very serious!