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Ruan Zhongshu asked Song Xiaofei to remove Lu Xun from his post as vice minister of education, and Song Xiaofei was very embarrassed. \. At that time, there were already some young students from poor families in Beijing who took to the streets to demonstrate because they strongly supported Lu Xun and social injustice. In China in 1910, the freedom of citizens to march and demonstrate was protected by the Constitution and laws.

Song Xiaofei knew that this time, from the scolding war triggered by Lu Xun's article to the students taking to the streets, it was just the fuse for the general outbreak of domestic contradictions. Although China's economy has been growing at a high speed every year, social injustice has accumulated day by day, and the situation of the country being rich and the people poor has not fundamentally changed. The outbreak of world war in 1908 diverted attention. Now that the war is over, and a large number of veterans of the empire, such as Liu Kunyi and Zhang Zhidong, have also died of illness one after another, it can be said that domestic politics has reached the node of upgrading, and the people's call for deepening government reform is getting higher and higher.

Although President Soong Xiaofei and Premier Sheng Xuanhuai vigorously pursued various government reforms from 1895 onwards, and later the Finance Minister Xi Jiadong also understood the economy, the low starting point of China's modernization was not something that could be determined by Soong Xiaofei, an ambitious president, and government officials at all levels. Like other civilizations with a long history, the transformation of Chinese civilization has been relatively slow. The late Qing Empire, inherited from the Chinese Empire, was generally poor and backward, the people were ignorant, the old bureaucratic class was rotten and conservative, the vast majority of the population was illiterate, and the gentry and landlords still controlled the cultural and economic lifeblood of the country until the rapid rise of the merchant class.

Song Xiaofei is familiar with postmodern history and understands that economic development does not necessarily lead to the modernization of the country. Even after World War II. There are several countries and regions in the world that have successfully achieved modernization, including South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Israel. Those countries that are rich in oil. Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Libya, either political and economic failures, or poverty is left with money, modern political civilization is in shambles, and the entire Middle East is almost a powder keg sitting on oil, becoming the center of turmoil in the whole world. Why? Because these countries are basically authoritarian politics, there is no peaceful political game mechanism. There is also a lack of a well-developed system for the protection of private property rights, which has caused internal turmoil in these countries.

So, despite the beginning of the introduction of enlightenment**. The economy has been developing at a rapid pace, and Song Xiaofei has been cautious about China's modernization transformation. In 1910, as an international superpower, it was also one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. Song Xiaofei's power is in full swing. Far surpasses those fictitious monarchs in Europe, even the fathers and grandparents, and even the president of the United States. But what else is he missing? Most of his people are still as conservative and backward as before. Although it is already a remarkable achievement to let China rise to prominence in the international community and make tens of millions of Chinese rich first, for an aspiring president like Song Xiaofei, the fate of the majority of the people must be changed. The sooner the better!

In the past, there was a strong desire for the modernization and progress of the country. Against the backdrop of the unchecked absolute power of the president and the pre-modern society in which the Chinese people were accustomed to obedience to authority and lacked the ability to organize and manage themselves, Song Xiaofei had carried out a series of grand "social revolutions."

For example, China has rapidly expanded the scale of social welfare such as education for all and health care for all. For a small group of conservative forces opposed to the "social revolution", Song Xiaofei used the military and police to suppress them. These important "social revolutions," including land reform, privatization of some state-owned enterprises, workers' shareholding dividends, women's suffrage, and rural literacy, lasted until 1910 and included twenty reform programs.

From 1895 to 1910, the Chinese Empire was like China after the market economy was determined in 1992, in just a dozen years, it can be said that it was the "golden age" of China's economic development, and no country engaged in a technological blockade of China at that time, China actively introduced the world's most advanced technology, as well as top talents, and the economy achieved double-digit growth for many years.

Industrialization and modernization are rapidly taking place across China, with high-rise buildings rising from the ground in cities and highways and railways sprawling. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Harbin and other cities have all developed from ancient small cities into modern big cities, where the rich and middle-class have almost the same food and clothing as those in Europe and the United States, and their society and culture are unprecedentedly open.

During the "Golden Age" from 1895 to 1910, Song Xiaofei's wives also performed well, especially Xi Muyan and Rong Rong, who won widespread love and popularity from the public.

At the helm of China's Red Cross Society, Xi Muyan has traveled non-stop to various parts of China, frequently attended the opening ceremonies of domestic education and medical institutions, campaigned for Chinese philanthropy and humanitarianism on the international stage, and visited China's most remote and impoverished areas, such as Yunnan and Guizhou, to show concern for the local people. Xi Muyan is also quite wise and can play her role. She has become so accustomed to defending her beloved husband that she can answer any pointed question with ease. At the event of accompanying Song Xiaofei on his visit to the United States, an American left-wing reporter asked her: "I once saw someone picking up garbage in Beijing, how should you explain it to the president?" Xi Muyan replied: "You can also see people picking up garbage in Berlin and New York today!" We're still the largest developing country, but we're making rapid progress!"

Rong Rong, on the other hand, not only knows a lot about European literature and art, but also has a soft spot for Chinese traditional culture and art. As the mother of a country, she also made full use of her position to develop China's cultural and artistic undertakings. She applied for special funds from government revenues to purchase Chinese cultural relics from abroad and from the private sector, including rat and rabbit heads, which were lost from the Old Summer Palace.

Song Xiaofei was also supportive of her move, because he realized that China must have a "proper" collection of its own history and culture. In addition, Rong Rong has established and funded a large number of museums and art galleries, and established to operate and maintain these cultural and artistic institutions, showing the world the glorious Chinese civilization.

But. The rapid reforms of the "Golden Age" from 1895 to 1910 touched the interests of the traditional landlord and gentry class, especially the land reform. A large amount of the land they owned was distributed to the landless peasants through the redemption of state bonds, which directly harmed the economic interests of these people. Moreover, the various ideological shocks brought about by the establishment of industry and commerce, such as freedom, equality, and the rule of law, have gradually marginalized them. They feel at a loss for what to do in an increasingly materialistic society.

And, the improvement of public health. It has greatly increased the growth rate of the Chinese population, and has also changed China's demographic structure, increasing the proportion of young people in the population. By 1910, the introduction of public education and the literacy campaign had increased China's literacy rate from 4.7 percent in 1890 to 67 percent. Urbanization has also grown to 40 per cent. There are also millions of international students who have returned from studying in Europe and the United States. At the same time, the establishment of industry and commerce has made a very small number of people rich. This has led to a widening gap between the rich and the poor. Under the authoritative system. China's mixed economy, in which state planning and the market coexist, has led to a large area of rent-seeking by government officials**. In addition, some economic liberalization policies have created a small bourgeoisie and middle class that want to expand political participation, so many people are dissatisfied with the authoritarian dictatorship of the Ba'ath Party.

Moreover, the concept of freedom, democracy, and equality for all is easy to attract young people, and the high expectations and unsatisfactory social reality are not satisfactory. This has exacerbated the dissatisfaction of young people, especially students from some European and American countries. So they took to the streets to demonstrate and demand Baath

Song Xiaofei knew that China's major reforms had to start immediately. When Ruan Zhongshu asked Song Xiaofei to dismiss Lu Xun, Song Xiaofei thought for a long time and said: "You immediately inform the Central Committee members of the Baath Party in Beijing to convene a plenary session of the National Assembly tomorrow. ”

Ruan Zhongshu knew that Song Xiaofei was ready to respond to social concerns, and he said a little worriedly: "I still remember President Li Hongzhang's words relayed by the president: 'The road must be taken step by step, and the food must be eaten one bite at a time'. There are many people in the party who oppose him. Both the left and the right attacked him, believing that he was no longer fit for the post of deputy minister of education. ”

Song Xiaofei said: "A generation has a generation's historical responsibility and mission, and now that our children have grown up, it is time for us to give young people a fair and just world." ”

Ruan Zhongshu said: "I'm afraid that young people are too anxious." By the way, when it comes to our children, it's really not worrying. It was reported that Karen and Yiyong also took part in the students' street demonstrations. ”

Yuan Keren is the eldest son of Song Xiaofei, and Keren is the name given by Song Xiaofei. Yuan Keren's biological mother is Yu Xiaowan. Soon after giving birth, he was passed on to the eldest lady Qiuyi. Because Qiu Yi has no children under his knees, he dotes on Yuan Keren very much, almost to the point of obedience.

Yuan Keren is also very smart, he never forgets at a glance, and he aspires to be a person with lofty ideals since he was a child. Therefore, Song Xiaofei had some preference for him, and sent him to the United States Military Academy at West Point for further study, and graduated and returned to China at the age of fifteen. He is open-minded and ambitious, obsessed with Western culture and institutions, and his aesthetic is also Western, in addition to suits, his favorite outfit is the military dress of West Point, blue wool, wide epaulettes, and silk ribbons.

Nguyen Ngai Dung is the second son of Nguyen Trung Shu and a classmate of Yuan Keren at West Point. Joining them on the street was Feng Guozhang's extremely important third son, Feng Jiayu, who graduated from the Beiyang Army Non-commissioned Officer School. Feng Jiayu is smart and studious, and has a stubborn personality, and is very competitive, after entering the school, he studied various sciences diligently as an ordinary student, never relying on his father's reputation, and entered the school for a long time, and no one among his classmates knew that this thin young man was actually Feng Sangongzi. In addition, there is Duan Honggang, the son of Duan Qirui's younger brother, who grew up with his uncle Duan Qirui since he was a child.

These four people are all the second generation of officials from prominent families, and they are headed by Yuan Keren, who are known as the "princelings" in Beijing. After the news spread, more and more young people took to the streets to demand that the Baath Party immediately carry out electoral reforms and crack down on black-hearted real estate developers.

When Song Xiaofei heard that his son Yuan Keren had also participated in the demonstration, he sighed and said to Ruan Zhongshu: "Hurry up and prepare for tomorrow's meeting of the Central Committee of the Renaissance Party, and the theme will be the rule of law in China." ”

Nguyen Zhongshu said: "It is imperative that the Baath Party express its stance on Lu Xun's scolding and fighting, and that the students who marched in the streets should be dispersed as soon as possible. ”

Song Xiaofei said: "Demonstrations are not a flood of beasts, but just a means for the people to express their demands, and we can respond to social concerns." ”

In the evening, Song Xiaofei went home to have dinner with his family, called Yuan Keren to the study, and asked, "I heard that you and your friends participated in the demonstration?" Is there such a thing? ”

Yuan Keren is long-legged, 1.81 meters tall, handsome face, looks very gentle, has a good temperament, and there is no problem in acting in modern Korean idol dramas. He was wearing a white shirt and a gray suit, he stood straight, he was very respectful of his father, he did not dare to lie, and replied softly: "Yes, father." ”

Song Xiaofei asked, "Why?" ”

Yuan Keren replied: "For the sake of social fairness and justice." ”

Song Xiaofei said: "In the eyes of your young people, what kind of society is a fair and just society? ”

Yuan Keren touched the back of his head and said, "No matter how high or low, everyone is equal." Regardless of your background, you should work hard to get it. I didn't give anything to live a comfortable life like I am now, I just had the privilege of being born in the president's family. That's not fair. There are also those rich second generations, who are born with a rich life. They didn't put in much effort either. ”

Song Xiaofei said with a smile: "You young people really like equality, equality is not equal to average." Your enjoyment today is what you and I got from the bloody battles back then. The comfortable life of those rich second generations was also obtained by their parents back then. Working hard for the sake of the family and for the sake of one's own children is the driving force for society to move forward, so what is unfair? A society where everyone is the same, those who research and invent airplanes, and those who sell tea and eggs in society, is what you think is fairness and justice? Do you know why the Bolsheviks ended up leading to human tragedies? The fairness and justice that people imagine is actually distorted in reality. I appreciate the enthusiasm of your young people for politics, but passion is no substitute for reason, especially in a big country like ours! The road must be taken step by step, and the meal must be eaten one bite at a time! ”

Yuan Keren was speechless for a while. Song Xiaofei said: "In the real society, everyone's ideas about fairness and justice are different, and many of those who steal, rob, and even kill people think that social injustice has caused their misfortune. Everyone thinks they're right, so what? ”

Yuan Keren asked at this time: "Father, what kind of society do you think is fair and just?" ”

Song Xiaofei said: "For fairness and justice, everyone in the society thinks differently, and everyone thinks that they are right, 'my life is smooth, the world is fair and just, my life is not smooth, then the world is dirty', then the rest of the fairness and justice, only the law!" So I want you young people to pursue legal justice, not some abstract equality. Only when everyone is equal before the law can there be a fair and just society! Although the process of rule of law is very slow, only the rule of law in China can truly achieve fairness and justice! That's what I'm going to do next, and I hope you'll continue to do it in the future. ”

Yuan Keren asked: "So how to ensure the fairness and justice that people give and receive?" ”

Song Xiaofei said: "Market economy. Everyone is free, so if you think it's unfair to sell tea eggs, you can choose to be a scientist, as long as you have that ability. A market economy based on the rule of law, this is the direction of our country's future reform! ”

Yuan Keren said: "I understand, father, I will go and convince my friends." ”

Song Xiaofei sighed and said to himself: "I haven't found time to talk to you for a long time, this is my mistake." (To be continued......)