Long Qian's prediction of Fang Shengyuan was not so accurate. On September 1, 1906, the Qing court's edict on the preparation of the constitution was issued. This edict was issued in the tone of the Guangxu Emperor.

This is an extremely important proclamation. It is worth repeated study by future generations.

"I Qin Feng Cixi Duanyou Kang Yi Zhaoyu Zhuang Chengshou Gong Qin Present Chongxi Empress Dowager Yi Zhi," the opening sentence makes it clear that I, the emperor, acted in accordance with the will of the Empress Dowager, and what made future generations laugh was that Cixi's honorific title actually had eight groups of sixteen characters, which were naturally all beautiful words.

“…… At present, the transportation and political laws of various countries have the tendency to cause each other, and our country's government decrees have accumulated for a long time, and the day is in danger, and the crisis is urgent...... Now Zaize and others have returned to China to perform Chen, all of them are in a sluggish state of affairs, but because of the mutual discord between the top and bottom, the internal and external barriers, the officials do not know so they protect the people, and the people do not know so they defend the country. The reason why countries are rich and strong is because of the implementation of the constitution, the decision to determine public opinion, the integration of the military and the people, the common breath, the learning of others' strengths, and the ...... of authority."

Openly acknowledging that other countries are rich and powerful because "the implementation of the constitution depends on public opinion"

“…… Today, the only way to do this is to conduct timely and detailed screening, imitate the constitutionalism, unify the power in the imperial court, and make public opinion in the government to establish the foundation of the country's longevity. However, at present, the regulations are not prepared, and the people's wisdom has not been opened. Therefore, it is imperative to first negotiate the official system separately, change the order in order, and carefully determine the various laws, and promote education and clean up the finances. Prepare the armed forces, set up patrol police, make the gentry clear about the state affairs, and prepare the foundation for the constitution......"

However, it is not yet possible to carry out the constitution all at once, because "the regulations have not yet been prepared, and the people's wisdom has not yet been developed." The first thing to do is to clarify the official system, and then to promote education, clean up finances, and reorganize the armed forces. General patrol police. Lay the foundation for the constitution. All that needs to be done now is to prepare for the constitution.

No one can simply ignore this decree. For a regime, changing its political system is definitely an earth-shattering event.

Cixi, who was in control of the imperial situation, was well aware of this, because there was a deep conflict of interests between the meaning of a modern state and the current system. Change the political system of the Qing Empire. Change the rules left by your ancestors. It is bound to face unprecedented political challenges and social crises. Although Cixi could not have foreseen the consequences, the striking thing was that she had agreed to promulgate a preparatory constitution. will be prepared to bear any consequences. In this sense, no matter what Cixi's decision-making was forced by external pressure. Whether it was out of inner helplessness, or whether she was prepared to play tricks on the "preparative" deadline, as far as the course of China's history is concerned, the announcement of this decision is enough to make future generations look at this elderly woman who caused China to be backward and suffered land reparations.

Yang Shixiang was the first to see this edict. When Long Qian played the attitude of the imperial court on constitutionalism, he showed him the recital that he had prepared for Fang Shengyuan, and he clearly remembered the two sentences in Long Qian's recital, that is, "the regulations are not prepared, and the people's wisdom is not opened", and he also remembered Long Qian's conclusion - if you want to engage in constitutionalism, then you should first do preparatory work.

Clarifying the bureaucratic system is not something that local officials can do. However, Guangxing education, cleaning up finances, rectifying military equipment, and setting up patrol police, Shandong is really at the forefront of the country, and his shrewd and capable lord Yuan Shikai is not as good as Shandong!

It's hard to say whether the imperial court borrowed Long Qian's opinion, but Long Qian once again guessed Cixi's thoughts, which shocked Yang Shixiang. The most important skill of officialdom is to figure out what to expect, and so far, Yang Shixiang is convinced. If it is good to cooperate with this young admiral, it may not be a good choice.

The Beijing official who came to deliver the letter told Yang Shixiang another thing. Of course, he was entrusted by Yuan Shikai to inform Yang Shixiang. But after Yang Futai, whose mood had changed greatly, sent off the guests, he took an edict and went to the Dragon Mansion to see Long Qian in person.

It just so happened that Long Qian was at home on this day, not in his "office", anyway, he lived in the backyard of the Admiral's Yamen, which was also in line with the practice of officialdom. Yang Shixiang suddenly visited the Fifth Town Headquarters and immediately informed Long Qian. Long Qian didn't go outside to greet him, but asked his subordinates to take Yang Shixiang into the backyard.

In the past, when the two met, almost all of them were in the governor's yamen, and in rare cases, such as the Huayuan Economic Research Association, which interested Yang Shixiang, such as the Russo-Japanese War, the study of the relationship between raw silk exports and the Japanese economy, etc., Yang Shixiang would deign to go to the Huayuan headquarters, and perhaps meet Long Qian there. Coming to Long Qian's "territory", Yang Shixiang is still the first time.

When Yang Shixiang was accompanied by Ouyang Zhong to the backyard, Long Qian was watching his eldest son count eggs with interest at the door of the main house. The title was given by Long Qian, and he didn't believe it, because Chen Shu said that Zhenhua could count the eggs in the basket!

According to Chen Shu, there were eight eggs in the basket yesterday, and three-year-old Zhenhua counted them accurately. Now it's thirteen, covering the bottom of the basket. Zhenhua stared, his chubby little finger pointed to the eggs in the basket and did mental arithmetic, while Long Qian squatted aside with great interest.

"Oh, Lord Yang! If you miss the distance, you still hope to forgive your sins. Long Qian smiled and stood up.

"Ha Luha, it's so leisurely to retreat." Yang Shixiang's expression of calling Long Qian also showed an attitude, "What are you doing here?" Yang Shixiang leaned over curiously.

"Humble Jing said that the dog can count, I'll try it." Long Qian said with a smile.

"How old is Ling Lang?"

"Three years old."

"Really? That's a prodigy. ”

"What a prodigy. How can there be so many prodigies. Long Qian lifted the curtain and made a gesture of please.

This is the expression of the good of the Tongjia. Yang Shixiang hesitated, "It's in the courtyard......

"It's hot, it's still cool in the house. Ouyang, prepare herbal tea for Lord Yang. ”

After Yang Shixiang sat down, Long Qian handed over a fan, "If there is something wrong with Lord Futai, send someone to inform me and I will go over, and the Lord will come over in person, and the lower officials are really frightened." "I talk about fear, but what is the meaning of fear?

"Retreat, look at this," Yang Shixiang came in an official uniform, took out the edict from his sleeve and handed it to Long Qian.

"Oh, the imperial court is really going to engage in constitutionalism......" Long Qian read it at a glance. It was returned to Yang Shixiang.

"It's preparing for the constitution. Or think about it, you are like a god. Yang Shixiang took a sip of the teacup, and then took a few big sips, "It's so refreshing!" In your opinion, can this constitutional thing succeed? ”

"Whether it succeeds or not is a matter of the center, and it has nothing to do with us." Long Qian smiled and said, "Instead of envying the fish in the abyss, it is better to retreat and close the net." It is what we should do to do education, develop industry, gather some vitality for the country, and relieve some hardship for the people. ”

"Father. It's thirteen ......" Zhenhua came into the house.

"Oh. That's right, Zhenhua is amazing! Long Qian got up and hugged his son and kissed him on the cheek, "If you like counting." Dad will teach you later. Good no good? ”

"Good ......"

"Good son. Let's go find my mother. Dad and Uncle Yang have a serious discussion. Long Qian didn't care whether the child understood or not, put down his son with a smile and slapped his son's buttocks. Zhenhua jumped out of the air.

In this era, it is important to hold grandchildren and not children. Yang Shixiang himself never gave his son a false excuse. Moreover, the children of the eunuchs must salute the guests in this kind of scene, and Long Qian's gesture made him feel novel.

"I made the adults laugh. Ha Lu Ha. ”

"Well, it's okay...... Thinking about it, although Yang is a few years older than you, in terms of the sharpness of his eyes and the sophistication of his means, you are much stronger than me. Yang Shixiang waved his hand to stop Long Qian's interjection, "Retreat, set up education, clean up finances, rectify armaments and patrol police, we are all right." But there is still something unclear, and now that I think about it, I think that the rural autonomy you advocate has something to do with the implementation of constitutional government. Am I right? ”

"Brother Lianfu," Long Qian changed his title, "When Long first returned to his homeland, he was very surprised by the devastation of the countryside, especially the plight of the mountainous countryside. The annexation of land is so serious that the rich have no place to stand, and the poor have no place to stand. However, it is difficult for the government to penetrate deep into the countryside, relying only on the power of the clan to maintain order in the countryside. If there is a virtuous patriarch, the situation is better. If the gentry are in charge, the people will be unlucky. Therefore, the idea of rural self-government was born, allowing the people to try to manage themselves and to regulate the tense relationship between the rural landlords and the hired peasants. In addition, it is to reaffirm, revise and establish village conventions to gradually eradicate the bad habits of gambling, opium smoking and human trafficking...... If Shandong, especially Lunan has achieved some results in recent years, it is everyone's efforts, and Long does not dare to take credit. As for the connection with constitutionalism, I can't talk about it, how did I know that the imperial court would learn from other countries in a few years? However, the education of the common people and the eradication of illiteracy must create the basic conditions for the implementation of constitutional government. It is hard to imagine that a country with more than 90 per cent illiteracy can become constitutional. ”

"The establishment of industry is also to alleviate the plight of the countryside?"

"Of course. This is the case in the Americans, most of the peasants have moved to the cities and become new citizens, and the land contradictions have naturally eased due to the decline of the rural population. However, the purpose of setting up industries is not to alleviate the contradictions in the rural areas, but more importantly, to increase tax revenues and enhance the strength of the state. The predecessors saw this very clearly. After all, for a country to be rich and strong, it must take the path of industrialization. If Shandong's industrial scale were to increase by 20 times, many problems would have been solved. ”

Although he and Yang Shixiang have also discussed industry, education, transportation, and finance in the past year, the other party rarely puts down the shelf and talks on an equal footing. Long Qian really hoped that Yang Shixiang would not become a stumbling block for himself, because this person was by no means a mediocre official. As for the identity of the other party, Long Qian didn't care, anyway, he couldn't avoid dealing with Manchu officials, whether it was Beiyang or Nanyang, he always had to face it. Even if the Mengshan army is ten times stronger, it is impossible to completely abandon the existing official class and start anew.

"Ponder that your vision is amazing. It seems that Shandong's new policy is on the right track...... In the future, I will not hesitate to give advice on government affairs. ”

"Your Excellency's words are serious. Long returned to China in order to contribute to the country, and he will definitely make suggestions on anything that is beneficial to the country.

"There's another thing, that's what you're doing. It is said that the imperial court is going to hold a large-scale autumn exercise in Zhangde Mansion. ”

"Autumn exercises?" Long Qian pretended not to understand.

"Yes. It has been a few years since the imperial court formed a new army, in addition to the six towns of Beiyang, the eighth and ninth towns were formed in the south, and it is said that the eighth town of Hubei spent a lot of energy on Zhang Xiangshuai (Zhang Zhidong), and the elite was abnormal. The military department is planning to hold a north-south parade to review the results of the formation of the new army. Originally, there was no such thing as the fifth town, and it is said that the queen mother asked the fifth town to send troops to participate. This time, don't fall into the majesty of the Shandong soldiers. ”

"Really? That's a good thing. Please rest assured, Lord Futai, the fifth town will definitely not disgrace the elders of Shandong. Long Qian said excitedly, "I don't know how many troops to mobilize?" ”

"It is said that Naoli is the third town, and there is also the first mixed association that has just been formed. I don't know how many troops the southern army has sent, and we don't know how many troops we have sent. I got the news from other sources, and it is estimated that the official documents of the Ministry of War are already on the way. ”

What Yang Shixiang didn't know was that the intelligence system that Long Qian had vigorously built had infiltrated Beiyang, and the relevant information had been received two days ago. (To be continued......)