"On March 18, 1871, the working class in Paris, France, faced the guns and cannons of the menacing bourgeoisie, rose up and bravely planted the red flag on the top of the downtown building. From 21 to 28 May, the fine sons and daughters of the Paris Commune fought the world-famous barricade battles against the ruthless enemy. They fought to the death to defend every street, every house, every inch of land. When all the barricades had fallen, the last of the Communards, numbering less than 200 soldiers, were still in the Père Lachaise cemetery in their final struggle against the 5,000 Versailles bandits, until they ran out of ammunition, faced the enemy's bayonets, shouted "Long live the Commune", and all fell on one side of the wall of the cemetery, leaving behind the glorious image of the proletariat forever unyielding. ”

The Paris Commune

From the airport to the camp in Harbin City, Guan Mingtang walked into His Majesty's living room as soon as possible, as in the past, Chen Moran politely received his prime minister, and after giving the seat, Guan Mingtang sat down to talk. As soon as he said a few words, a man came in and reported:

"The British Consul General in Harbin has come to present his credentials."

As soon as he heard that it was the British Consul General in Harbin, Chen Moran said to Guan Mingtang slightly apologetically:

"He is coming to deliver a letter from the King of England, and it is estimated that it has nothing to do with the situation in Russia, and I cannot refuse to receive him. You go to the next room and sit for a while, and soon he'll be gone, and we'll talk. ”

Although he was a little surprised, Guan Mingtang quickly got up and said:

"Your Majesty, let's meet the British Consul General first!"

Then a guard took Guan Mingtang into the small room next door, and after entering the room, Guan Mingtang first looked at the room. He saw that the interior was simply and elegantly furnished, and there was no Russian luxury, but after looking at it, his eyes were drawn to a letter sleeve on the table. When I got closer, the envelope read: Presented to His Majesty the Emperor for Reading. There is also a seal in the upper left corner. I saw that there were only two words on the seal: top secret. And in front of the seal, you can still see the logo of the Imperial Bureau of Investigation, what is so "top secret"?

As a subordinate, he shouldn't have continued to read it, but there was still half a piece of paper in the document, perhaps out of curiosity. He still couldn't help but look at it a few times. But just a few glances, Guan Mingtang's face changed sharply. It turned out to be written on it: ...... Dissolve Congress to ensure that there is no Russia-style unrest in China.

Seeing this sentence, Guan Mingtang, whose face changed sharply, didn't care about anything else at all, and hurriedly opened the document and hurriedly read a few lines. Looking at it, his hands trembled, and he finally didn't dare to look any further. Trembling, he stuffed the paper into the envelope and sat on the couch in a daze.

This is a report submitted to His Majesty by the Bureau of Investigation, and the content of the report is very simple, it is a response to the riots in Russia, and China should take measures. First of all, it is necessary to establish a strict news censorship system, so that news that has not been censored and approved shall not be published at the first time, otherwise the editor-in-chief and reporter will be held accountable, and the investigation bureau will directly arrest and exile them under the "Security Law", and at the same time will be punished for "non-Chinese doctrine". The scope of non-Chinese doctrine is extremely broad, and it can be said that it is simply a "literal prison" of unprecedented scale. That is, treason can be prosecuted, and the prosecution and trial are carried out by a special tribunal composed of a special prosecutor and a military court, which is also extremely deadly, and both for military prosecutors and military courts, their trials are always extremely fast, and many crimes that cannot be recognized in ordinary courts. It is possible to be considered a felony in a court-martial, and it is passed by a jury.

But. This is just the beginning, and after the control of the press, the control of thoughts, the Congress and the provincial assemblies will be dissolved,...... However, the last sentence of the document reads: "In order to ensure that there will be no turmoil in China, it is necessary to completely remove the current situation of political chaos in China, remove the situation of ordinary people interfering in politics, and return power to Your Majesty......"...,

Sitting silently on the sofa, Guan Mingtang was completely surprised by this report, and what surprised him even more was His Majesty's signature on the document...... Come up with a detailed plan and assess the risk level", what does it mean? This means that His Majesty has been inclined to completely solve the problems of the country by means of "full restoration of imperial power".

"Crush any possible political opposition and avoid opposition parties from taking advantage of popular discontent and inciting civil strife in the country!"

Perhaps, in the past many years, the rapid expansion of the urban class, especially the middle class, has made them eager to gain more political power, and parliaments at all levels give full play to the role of "civil communication and supervision of the government", but for the vast majority of the people, they are still accustomed to imperial power, accustomed to "Ming Jun", and in the eyes of the people, His Majesty is undoubtedly a Ming Jun, But on the other hand, the domestic opposition is working with the middle class who are trying to have more political power, taking advantage of popular discontent and trying to expand their power, how similar is it to Russia?

If it leads to a revolution...... Just thinking about it slightly, a cold sweat broke out on Guan Mingtang's back, perhaps, the best solution is to completely eliminate internal problems through a series of tough measures, but, who knows, will this cause a new political turmoil?

At that point, what awaits China?

The army, millions of troops will march into the city, maintain order in the city, all the opposition will be brutally suppressed, in the face of the life and death of the empire, Guan Mingtang does not feel that His Majesty will be merciful, those who try to destroy the empire will be the enemies of the country, and the enemies of the country must not be merciful, the fall of the Russian Empire has proved all this.

Don't......

At this time, thinking of this summons, Guan Mingtang realized in horror that during this trip to Harbin, His Majesty probably wanted to collude with him on this issue, otherwise there would not be this emergency meeting.

Perhaps, these tough measures can save the empire and avoid civil strife in the empire, but all this is only temporary, only a symptom but not a cure, Guan Mingtang is convinced that these tough measures are impossible to fundamentally solve the problem!

And, if this hard-hitting approach doesn't work......

At this time, the guards came in and asked him to come out. Said that the British Consul General was gone, and His Majesty would continue to talk to him. When Guan Mingtang, whose face was pale, walked into the living room again, Chen Moran immediately asked with concern:

"Zheqin, what's wrong with you, your face is wrong. What's uncomfortable? ”

In fact, when he asked these words, Chen Moran knew that he might have read the "report", the report that was deliberately "manufactured". In fact, it is just as an introduction, an introduction buried in Guan Mingtang's heart, sometimes, even as an emperor, you need to play some means, only in this way can you achieve some goals.

His Majesty asked casually. But it was Guan Mingtang who asked Guan Mingtang to become more and more flustered, and he hurriedly replied:

"Nothing, nothing!"

personally brought a glass of water to Guan Mingtang, looking at this performance, Chen Moran knew. His own "introduction" became a success.

"Take a sip of water, I kept you waiting for a long time."

Drinking tea, Guan Mingtang's heart was in turmoil, he didn't know how to persuade His Majesty, could it be said that he "peeked" at the confidential submission of the Investigation Bureau to His Majesty?

No way!

But how can it be ......

Just when Guan Mingtang didn't know how to deal with it, he listened to His Majesty say.

"Zheqin. I asked you to come this time because ......"

The voice was a little deeper, holding a teacup. Chen Moran glanced at Guan Mingtang, and then continued. …,

"Now, the riots in Russia, you have seen it, I, worry about ......"

Really. It's coming, it's coming. His heart tightened, and Guan Mingtang felt that his palms even began to sweat.

"I'm worried that the same thing will happen in China, although many people say it's impossible, but, as the emperor, I have to consider this possibility! Zheqin, what do you think? ”

"This ......"

Seeing that His Majesty kicked the problem to himself, Guan Mingtang's heart sighed, if it was in the past, he might agree with His Majesty's point of view, and then persuade His Majesty to make some concessions appropriately, but now, he can't do this, because he knows that maybe what His Majesty is waiting for is his approval, once he agrees, I'm afraid that the investigation bureau's plan will soon be agreed by His Majesty, and by then, it will be too late to say anything.

But if you don't agree with this point of view, it goes against the most basic common sense, as the Prime Minister of the Empire, he clearly knows that in the process of the founding of the Chinese Empire, the luckiest place is that there is too little blood, and the saddest place is also here, and because of this, Your Majesty actually did not create an empire, but inherited an empire, although in the past ten years, Your Majesty has been determined to forge ahead and constantly promote changes in order to seek the strength of the country, but many problems have not been fundamentally solved, Moreover, in the process of progress and change, some problems are magnified little by little, and if those problems are not solved, in the end, it is very likely that this empire will be destroyed, just like the destroyed Russian Empire.

Dilemma, dilemma is placed in front of Guan Mingtang, if it is in normal times, maybe he still has time to think about how to solve these problems, but now, in the face of His Majesty's problems, he does not have much time to solve these problems at all, he must "pretend" to look like he does not know the "inside story", and use some methods to do everything possible to resolve those problems, and only in this way can he make His Majesty believe that everything has not yet reached that kind of place, everything has the possibility of redemption, and there is no need to take too much risk at all.

But what can be done?

At this moment, a report suddenly popped into his mind, and he realized that perhaps this was the safest way to go.

"Your Majesty, in this riot in Russia, it is the workers who act as the mainstream, and the riots are started by the workers, which in turn affect the soldiers, and ultimately, the riots of the social elites, so if you want to prevent the same thing from happening in China, you must solve the problem of the workers!"

Guan Mingtang said as he combined the content of a proposal he vetoed when he was chancellor of the exchequer years ago and his understanding of another country to make his own interpretation.

"Your Majesty, in the sixth year of the Empire, the minister went to Germany, France, and Russia for a half-year investigation, and the investigation of the three countries found that compared with France and Russia, the most stable situation belongs to Germany, and the most chaotic one belongs to Russia, Your Majesty knows the reason?"

Tentatively asked a rhetorical question, Guan Mingtang raised his eyes slightly and looked at His Majesty.

"Among the three countries, Germany's stability is due to its relatively sound social security. In terms of social security, Germany is the most sound, followed by France, and Russia has almost no social security, which is why there is almost no social security. The Russian working class and the petty burghers are the most susceptible to agitation, the most susceptible to rebellion because they are dissatisfied with the present situation! ”

Noticing that His Majesty seemed to be thoughtful, Guan Mingtang knew. I still need to work harder to prevent His Majesty from seeing hope, I'm afraid Your Majesty will not change his decision, no matter what, he must nip the danger in the bud! Whether it's for the country, or for His Majesty, or for yourself. …,

Social security.

The words that Guan Mingtang came out made Chen Moran stunned. Originally, he wanted to talk to Guan Mingtang about the dissolution of the parliament and some other related matters, but he didn't expect him to suddenly mention social security.

"Your Majesty, Germany adopted the Magna Carta of German Social Policy in November 1881 under Wilhelm I, which is also known as the Golden Edict in Germany. In this edict, Kaiser Wilhelm I declared the establishment of the "Basic Law on Social Security", and Emperor Wilhelm I declared in Parliament that "a person who expects a pension is the most observant and the easiest to rule", and that the introduction of social insurance is "an investment in the elimination of the revolution" ......

"A person who expects a pension is the most observant and the easiest to rule." Listening to this somewhat unfamiliar sentence, Chen Moran didn't think there was anything strange, if he hadn't had that change back then. Will they take risks? Obviously, there is no possibility, I may be like many people, guarding that iron rice bowl, what kind of people will take risks? People who have expectations for the future will never take risks, they will wait for change, even if it is hopeless.

"An investment in the elimination of the revolution". I really didn't expect it, decades ago. If the rights and interests of the workers are protected, then for the Chinese people who are accustomed to being obedient to the people, they will never take risks to launch any revolution, which means that the "vanguard of the greatest powers" in the revolution can be disintegrated, and without those "vanguards" who take risks, what chaos can be set off by relying only on the so-called social elite?

Glancing at His Majesty, seeing that His Majesty seemed to be thoughtful, Guan Mingtang hurriedly added.

Although the state has to bear a considerable burden in establishing social security, as Bismarck emphasized, as long as it can stabilize the regime, it is worth paying some material costs, because "the revolution will be a greater price", and in practical terms, Bismarck's policies are undoubtedly successful, at least, as an eyewitness, it is hard to believe that a worker who expects a pension at the age of 60 will plunge into a revolution full of risks, but a worker who has nothing, But it is very susceptible to incitement. ”

Looking at His Majesty, Guan Mingtang hurriedly emphasized.

"Your Majesty, if we want to stop the revolution in China, we must consider the establishment of social security, since the founding of the empire, there have been as many as a thousand strikes of more than 1,000 people, and 40% of these strikes are concentrated in state-owned enterprises and 60% in private enterprises, and in terms of strike demands, their demands are on the one hand excessive working hours, on the other hand, low wages, and in private enterprises, there is one more, only a very small number of workers can enjoy retirement pensions, and correspondinglyIn the factories of all His Majesty's industrial companies, there are very few workers on strike! ”

When Guan Mingtang mentioned the "industrial company", Chen Moran smiled slightly, as early as when he founded the industrial company, he used his own enterprise as the basis to provide employees and their families with insurance against illness and death, and also built a workers' residential area near the factory, which has amusement places and grasslands, and also established a daily commodity store in the workers' residential area to protect employees from the damage caused by outside businessmen's price hikes. At the same time, a factory hospital was set up to provide free medical services to employees, of course, all for one purpose - to win people's hearts!

"People's hearts can be encircled!"

Listening to His Majesty's words, Guan Mingtang raised his eyes slightly and looked at His Majesty, whether it was to buy people's hearts or maintain the royal reputation, the industrial company is now the only enterprise in the country that stipulates an eight-hour working week, and the corresponding insurance company under it underwrites the retirement insurance of all workers, and its relatively generous salary, which directly leads to a situation that the industrial company has always been able to recruit the best workers in the country.

In contrast, even state-owned enterprises with "retirement insurance" are difficult to compare, partly because of the long working hours of state-owned enterprises, and partly because of the low level of wages in state-owned enterprises. As for other private companies, they have lower wages and longer working hours.

"Your Majesty, although the industrial company is a royal property, it can be greatly favored by Your Majesty, but the Chinese under the whole world are also Your Majesty's subjects, and they need to be treated equally by Your Majesty!" Therefore, I believe that now, in view of the possible adverse effects of the turmoil in Russia, it is necessary to consider proposing a corresponding social security system that would eliminate the risk of revolution, and ......"

Looking at His Majesty, Guan Mingtang deliberately emphasized again.

"And this change must be pushed before others instigate strikes to win it, and not forced, under social pressure......"