Chapter 54 10. Yuan Shikai came up with an excellent idea for constitutionalism

In order to compete for control of Chinese territory, at the end of the 29th year of Guangxu, Japan and Russia simultaneously declared war in Northeast China.All of a sudden, houses were burned, roads were bombed, fertile land was scorched, and the unjust war provoked by the two invading bandits caused the Chinese people to suffer terribly. However, the cowardly and incompetent Qing court followed the buttocks of other countries Later, declare neutrality on the Russo-Japanese War! The war lasted for more than a year, and finally ended with Russia raising the white flag and begging for surrender.A mere small country on the sea has actually defeated the great empire of Tsarist Russia that spanned Europe and Asia, and the world looks at Japan with admiration.This incident even caused shock inside and outside China.Knowledgeable people believe that Japan's victory over Russia is not a victory of the nation but a victory of the regime, and it is the victory of constitutionalism over autocracy.In the Sino-Japanese War of Sino-Japanese War ten years ago, Japan defeated the Qing Dynasty, which was actually a proof of the superiority of the two systems.It was just that at that time people generally believed that the reason why China failed was because of its weapons, not its regime.Now that we are both foreigners, with strong boats and guns, the real reason for victory or defeat has been clearly exposed.Especially when the defeated Russia called for constitutionalism, constitutionalization became a fashionable word in Chinese political circles.

A group of high-ranking officials who were clear-headed and enthusiastic about state affairs began to directly report to the Empress Dowager Cixi, talking about constitutionalism to that authoritarian and violent old woman.Sun Baoqi, Minister to France, was the first to send a constitutional request from overseas, followed by Zhou Fu, Governor of Liangjiang, Zhang Zhidong, Governor of Huguang, and Cen Chunxuan, Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi.There was news from Ouchi: Lafayette did not get angry after reading these memorials.Therefore, in the yamen of the governor of Zhili in Tianjin and the minister of Beiyang, the aides and Qing Ke are also looking up foreigners' books and newspapers in recent days, racking their brains to make a memorial for the master that is better than other Xinjiang officials.

The owner of the most prestigious yamen outside Beijing is Yuan Shikai, who is in his prime.He has been sitting on this throne left by Li Hongzhang for more than four years.In these years, when most of the governors were at a loss in the face of the drastic changes, he took the lead in setting up a police station in Tianjin, and then opened a police school to train a large number of police officers and spread the police system to all parts of the province.He rectified the administration of officials, maintained the incorruptibility of officials with high maintenance fees, and set up officials' testing and investigation offices.He also put forward the slogan of opening officials to wisdom, opened Zhili Law and Politics School, and hired Japanese instructors to teach officials various legal knowledge.It is also stipulated that all officials in Zhili prefectures and counties who are actually missing must travel to Japan for three months to visit various administrative and judicial offices, industries, and schools before they can take office.

He vigorously advocated industry, established Zhili Arts and Crafts General Administration in Tianjin, and established a series of enterprises.Larger industries include Machine Paper Co., Ltd., Luanzhou Coal Mine Company, Electric Lamp Co., Ltd., Ji'an Water Supply Co., Ltd., Beiyang Quanye Iron Works, Beiyang Tobacco Company, etc.Among them, the most famous Qixin Cement Company has a capital of one million yuan and an annual output of more than 200,000 barrels of cement. He set up the Railway Bureau, appointed Zhan Tianyou as the chief engineer, and personally supervised the repair of the first Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway designed and built by the Chinese themselves.

He actively set up education, set up an academic affairs office to strengthen leadership, raised funds widely, and took the lead in donating 20,000 silver.In just a few years, he founded more than 20 higher education schools such as Beiyang University Hall, more than 90 normal schools, more than 200 primary and secondary schools, and more than 40 girls' schools in Zhili. One hundred thousand. In this way, Zhili became a model province for the New Deal in the country, and Yuan Shikai himself became a veritable leader of Xinjiang officials, who was especially valued by the Empress Dowager Cixi.However, all these are not Yuan Shikai's most outstanding achievements.What he devoted himself to investing a huge amount of money in was the training of the Beiyang New Army.

Yuan Shikai, who was born in the general family, had a deep understanding of the importance of military power, which was far beyond the comparison of other contemporaries.From the comparison between his uncle Yuan Jiasan and other officials, he further realized that there is a big difference between commanding a ready-made army and creating his own army.Yuan Jiasan commanded the green battalion, and the only thing that maintained the relationship between them was the appointment letter from the imperial court. He was majestic when he was in office, and a soldier did not belong to him when he was transferred.Zeng Guofan built the Hunan Army, and all the generals and Yong Ding were his personal personal.Although he was dispatched by him when he was in power, when he was in the system of registration, the imperial court did not command. He gave a warrant, and the soldiers drove thousands of miles for it.Although there were many people who opposed him, the court had to use him.Li Hongzhang built the Huai Army, and his cronies and bureaucrats spread all over the important cities, which ensured his unshakable Chonglong status for more than 20 years.

Yuan Shikai disdained to follow the old ways of his great-uncles. He wanted to learn from Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang and build an army that was entirely his own.The newly built army in Xiaozhan accumulated experience and prepared a team of generals for him. The imperial edict ordering the provinces to organize and train the new army created the right time for him. The power of Zhili governor and Beiyang minister provided him with ample salary. The proud son of the times, determined to use all these favorable conditions to train a brand-new army that is invincible in the world. Yuan Shikai personally ordered the recruitment regulations, and by summarizing the experience of the Xianghuai Army, he established a new military system with towns as units. In just two or three years, he formed a new Beiyang army with nearly 80,000 people in six towns.The troops of these six towns are well-equipped and well-trained, and their soldiers are strong and majestic in the territory of Zhili.

Yuan Shikai is well versed in politics and skilled in politics.Drawing on Zeng Guofan's successful experience in preventing the suspicion of the Manchus, he suggested that the imperial court set up a military training office, and recommended Prime Minister Yikuang, Prince Qing, who was favored by Cixi, to do it.Sure enough, this suggestion was immediately praised by the imperial court, who appointed Yikuang as the prime minister of the military training department, Yuan Shikai as the minister of the meeting office, and Manchu Tieliang as the minister of the assistant office.On the surface, among the three ministers, the Manchus occupy the second place, and the military power seems to be in the hands of the Manchu relatives, but in fact it is not.Yuan Shikai arranged all the key personnel in the military training department. Duan Qirui, the military commander, Liu Yongqing, Wang Shizhen, Feng Guozhang, Lu Jianzhang, etc. The promotion of Xu Shichang is all his descendants of Xiaozhan, so the real power of the military training department is still in the hands of Yuan Shikai.

All signs have indicated that a bright new political star has risen over Zhili.However, although the appearance of this new political star is dazzling, there is a deep worry in his heart.When the lights are dim and no one is around in the middle of the night, this secret will often emerge, burning his heart. Seven years ago, in those days of drastic changes, he carefully compared the power of the emperor and empress, assessed the situation, and shrewdly chose the decision to betray the emperor to the empress dowager.Since then, his official career has been prosperous, and he has been promoted step by step, and finally he has the situation he is today.However, the empress dowager is already seventy-one years old this year, and the emperor is only thirty-five years old. Once the empress dowager dies, the emperor who is now a prisoner will become the real emperor who takes life and death. Can he not avenge the bloody hatred of those years?Maybe when the Empress Dowager died, it was also the day when she died.Whenever Yuan Shikai thought of this, he couldn't help but feel his heart beating and panting, and he was sweating profusely.He cannot see the day of death without taking precautions, he must take precautions.

Of course, Cao Cao poisoned Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty to death, which is also a precedent that can be emulated.However, he does not yet have the conditions like Cao Cao, so this method is not advisable.The most effective method that can be adopted is to implement a constitutional monarchy system in China, so that the emperor cannot do whatever he wants.The real power of the constitutional monarchy is in the hands of the Prime Minister of the Cabinet. Even if he could not become the Prime Minister of the Cabinet at that time, no matter who took up the position, Yuan Shikai believed that with his ability, this person would obey him.right!There is no other way to protect oneself without a constitution. What's more, the call for a constitution is getting louder and louder in the country, and it has gradually become a trend. If you follow this trend, you will get twice the result with half the effort.A few days ago, he suddenly received a long letter from Zhang Jian, which made him even more unexpectedly happy.

In the 11th year of Guangxu, Yuan Shikai returned from North Korea and paid homage to Li Hongzhang in Tianjin. After being appreciated by Li, the 26-year-old general of the Huai Army Battalion Office in Seoul was a bit complacent and showed his talent, which made Zhang Jian, a modest gentleman. I couldn't get used to it, so I wrote a letter to accuse Yuan.Yuan Shikai did not accept Zhang Jian's criticism, nor did he reply to Zhang Jian's letter.For two decades since then, there has been no communication between the two.Later, Zhang Jian became the No. 1 scholar in the world, and his father's death coincided with his happy day, so he returned to his hometown of Nantong, Ding Fuyou. The bigger he was, he was embraced as the leader by the Jiangsu gentry.He advocated a constitutional monarchy, believed in the role of powerful people, and saw at a glance that his former students had become powerful ministers with heavy troops. For the future of the country and his own principles, Zhang Jian put aside his past suspicions and sent Yuan Shikai a letter.The letter said: "Your Majesty is now recruiting the world's most important soldiers and shouldering the world's heavy responsibilities. It is advisable to have a life-and-death friendship with the country. Gu also knows that the country is in danger. Is it not like what my husband Jiawu or Gengzi got? The government does not change, and minor remedies are useless. The victory and defeat of Japan and Russia are also the victory and defeat of constitutional autocracy. Japan's Ito and Itagaki formed the constitution together, which is a great achievement of respecting the Lord and protecting the people. How is the talent of the public inferior to everyone? The constitutional proposal, with the heart of the empress dowager and the emperor, is expected to be the same for the gentry and the people of the world! In today’s world, those who have achieved great results in implementing the monarchy and constitution include Japan, Britain, Germany, Holland, Belgium and other powerful countries. The imperial court should send officials to observe and learn. Such matters should be proposed as soon as possible." Yuan Shikai played with Zhang Jian's letter, one hand kept stroking the upturned German-style beard, and his two unusually energetic eyes stayed on the three thin pages of letter paper, as if he was concentrating on admiring the calligraphy of the champion. Ruan Zhongshu, chief of staff, walked gently to his side, bent down, and whispered into his ear respectfully: "Master Gong Bao, the document you want has been drawn up, please have a look." "Okay, let's put it here first." "Yes." Ruan Zhongshu agreed, and tiptoed out of the signing room. Yuan Shikai has always been able to do things well, so he put down Zhang Jian's letterhead and picked up the manuscript. "The establishment of a constitution is a top priority, and it should be implemented quickly, and we should respectfully pray for the Holy Spirit."After he read the first sentence carefully, he quickly read through the whole manuscript by counting the lines at a glance.The staff of Zhili governor's yamen are all well-educated people, and the chief of staff is even a veteran of writing.The dissertation is undoubtedly a good book, but Yuan Shikai is not satisfied.Because Sun Baoqi and Zhang Zhidong have already taken the lead on the topic of implementing constitutionalism, no matter how good the article is, it will not be very new.Yuan Shikai never liked to follow others' steps. What he valued was starting anew and making a difference.In the past twenty years of his official career, he has been promoted step by step, and the trick is mainly here.He picked up a pen and wrote four words heavily on the side: commonplace, so he pushed it aside and continued to study Zhang Jian's letter. From the bottom of his heart, Yuan Shikai valued this Nantong celebrity very much.More than 20 years ago, when he was cast under Wu Changqing's tent after he had just passed the weak crown, Zhang Jian, who was ordered to guide him in reading and composition, was not yet thirty years old.However, it was this young man who knew everything about ancient and modern times, astronomy and geography, economy and military affairs, and customs and customs, which made the soldiers who came out of Yuan's village dumbfounded and ashamed.To his gratitude and admiration, Zhang Jian did not laugh at his ignorance, but saw that he had the ability to manage affairs.On the eve of being ordered to send troops to North Korea, he was strongly recommended to assist in the preparations before the departure of the army, so that his talents could be fully displayed.Therefore, Wu Changqing formally appointed him to handle the former enemy camp affairs, which became the beginning of his career.Especially after Zhang Jian won the first prize, he did not stay in the Imperial Academy to be a nerd, but devoted himself to the industry that benefited the national economy and the people's livelihood, which made Yuan Shikai look at his former teacher with admiration.Yuan Shikai didn't read many books, and he also looked down on those young scholars who wrote brilliant poems and poor classics. What he paid attention to was practical facts. "A number one scholar like Zhang Jian deserves to be called a real talent!" He praised in his heart, holding up this rare letter again.Slowly, his eyes stopped on a sentence: "Those who have achieved great results in the implementation of the monarchy and constitution in various countries in this world, such as Japan, Britain, Germany, Holland, Belgium and other powerful countries, the imperial court should send personnel to observe and study. carry out." "Yes, take his idea here!" Yuan Shikai was inspired immediately. He brought over the manuscript just now, crossed out the first sentence, and wrote another line: "The memorial is to send relatives and dignitaries to investigate the constitutionalism of the Eastern and Western countries, and pray for the Holy Spirit." Then he asked his attendants to take the original manuscript Return to the staff and tell them to redraw a book according to this requirement. A few days later, this booklet was delivered to the East Nuan Pavilion of the Hall of Mental Cultivation through the internal affairs office.The Empress Dowager Cixi was reclining on the kang bed covered with yellow satin dragon mats, with her eyes slightly closed listening to the eunuch reading aloud.Before Emperor Guangxu came to power, she had read all important excerpts by herself.He was sixty-four years old when he was in charge again in the year of 1898. Although he still wanted to force himself to read the books, he was old and tired, and his energy was low, so he had no choice but to let the eunuchs read them.As she listened, she thought about how to deal with it.In the past two years, she felt that her energy was getting worse, and sometimes she fell asleep on the large kang bed while listening to it.When the slight snoring sound came out, the eunuch hurriedly stopped talking.Unexpectedly, as soon as he stopped talking, the snoring on the kang bed also stopped, followed by a stern question: "What's the matter, read on!" The eunuch who reported the matter was so frightened that his legs trembled, and he hurriedly continued the interrupted recitation, muttering in his heart: Did you listen to what I read earlier?It is no wonder that the country is not in chaos if it handles political affairs so obediently! Today, there was no snoring on the kang bed, and the eunuch who reported the matter knew that Lafayette was listening carefully.He didn't dare to be negligent, and read every word very clearly: "Since ancient times, China has had the tradition of harvesting the strengths of the barbarians and accepting the tribute of the feudal vassals. Today, the laws and regulations of the Thai and Western countries are complete, and the skills are excellent. There are indeed things for me to learn from. The East and Japan are of the same language and the same species as me. It is especially worthy of emulation to become one of the powerful countries with the constitution. I respectfully request that you send relatives and noble ministers to go abroad for investigation, to observe on the spot, and to gather the best of all countries for the empress dowager and the emperor to choose." Cixi did not doze off, she was in a better spirit today, and what Yuan Shikai played also suited her taste.As a female politician who personally brought about the revival of Tongzhi, Cixi was clear-headed.The state of the country is in decline, many problems abound, and many established methods passed down from her ancestors cannot adapt to the drastic changes. She understands it in her heart no less than her nephew and nephew, Emperor Guangxu who has great ambitions but is incapable of doing things.Therefore, at the beginning of the Reform Movement of 1898, she did not stop it, but later she heard the cry of Manchu relatives and nobles every day, saying that the emperor favored the Han people, kicked them away, and begged her to come forward to protect her. With antipathy.She became vigilant and made arrangements in secret.She was shocked and angry when the news that a little chief had taken out six officials from the Ministry of Rites on the same day reached her ears.A person who is almost 30 years old and has been sitting in the world for more than 20 years is still so immature that he treats state affairs as a trifle!Can you rest assured that the ancestors' country is handed over to such rash and rash descendants, and the country's future is entrusted to such a group of impetuous and arrogant young people?When the elderly Fujin, Minister of Rites Huaitabu, fell to her feet in tears, she shed tears of pity.Until late at night that day, she suddenly got a piece of news—when the Reform Party wanted to surround Yuanzi and put her under house arrest, she finally became furious, and what burned in her heart was the flame of revenge.She rushed back to the Forbidden City overnight, resolutely imprisoned the emperor whom she had single-handedly raised in Yingtai, beheaded Tan Sitong and six other people in Caishikou Execution Ground, and took back the supreme power of the Qing Dynasty into her own hands again.What followed was the invasion of the Eight-Power Allied Forces and the fall of Beijing. She fled westward with the emperor in a hurry.The great shame and humiliation that the Qing court had never experienced in the past two hundred years since the founding of the Qing Dynasty was caused by her mistakes, and the strong Empress Dowager Cixi felt ashamed for this.In the second year, on the way back to Luan, she issued an edict to reform and improve herself, with a bit of remorse.In the past few years after returning to Beijing, she encouraged ministers and workers to talk about the New Deal, the abolition of imperial examinations, the new schools and the establishment of industries; the Hundred Days Reform, which was abandoned by her, was actually re-introduced in China. Even so, Cixi's resentment towards Guangxu has not disappeared, and the emperor of the Lord of the People is still a prisoner, and sometimes he is released only as a display.In the past two years, as her body has been getting weaker and weaker, she has thought more about what will happen to her a hundred years later.This strong and ruthless old woman could never tolerate the emperor's liquidation of her deeds during her lifetime after her death.She wanted to abolish the emperor, but the situation forced her not to.If it cannot be abolished, the only way to limit his power is to adopt the constitutional monarchy that many people are obsessed with, and use the constitution and the cabinet to contain him.Besides, the influence of the Revolutionary Party at home and abroad is expanding day by day. Many people turned to sympathize with the Revolutionary Party because they were disappointed with the imperial court. The basis for the existence of the revolutionary party. In this way, Cixi and Yuan Shikai, based on the consideration of their own interests and the interests of the group to which they were attached, coincidentally took a fancy to constitutional monarchy.But since it was a posthumous matter, Cixi was unwilling or unaccustomed to seeing this political system emerge during her lifetime. This is why she neither opposed nor planned to implement the Junxian.Facing the rising voices, she must have a reason to prevaricate in order to achieve the purpose of delaying. Yuan Shikai's note just gave her a fair excuse. After reading the scriptures, I made up my mind.She opened her eyes and asked the eunuch feebly: "Little Zhuzi, which minister is on duty today?" "Return to Lafayette." Xiao Zhuzi played, "It's Lord Chun who is on duty today." "Go ask him to come in." "twitter!" After a while, King Chun, dressed in a luxurious stone blue prince's robe, came in. The name of this generation of Chun Wang is Zaifeng, he is the fifth son of the old Chun Wang Yixuan, he is twenty-two years old this year, with handsome features and elegant demeanor.When Zaifeng was eight years old, Old Chun Wang died.At that time, his eldest brother, third brother and fourth brother had all died young, and his second brother Zai Tian had been emperor for seventeen years, so he inherited the title of King Chun.At the age of eighteen, he married Ronglu's daughter, Guerjia, and his big matchmaker was his aunt, Empress Dowager Cixi.These days he was very happy, because the Guarjia family was pregnant, and the experienced female family members said that Prince Jin was pregnant with a boy, and he was so happy that Prince Jin was humming a yellow tune every day in the study. He hoped that Fujin would have a son. In addition to inheriting the incense for himself, he also had a secret idea: the second elder brother had been emperor for thirty-one years, and there were many concubines, but none of them gave birth to a boy and a half girl. It seems that the second brother has no hope of having children in this life.According to the ancestral family law, the heir to the throne should be born from the closest blood, and the closest blood is his son.In this way, the son will be the emperor one day, and he will be the emperor one day.Thinking of this, the young Chun Wang was floating in the clouds for a long time.He read the "Kangxi Dictionary" repeatedly, and after careful consideration, he finally chose an auspicious name for his future son: Puyi. He has not yet had a formal official position.At the age of eighteen, he was sent as the first-class minister of foreign affairs, and received a humiliating mission: to go to Berlin to apologize for the German minister Klind who was shot dead by the Tiger God Camp.Later, he went to England via France, visited Paris, London and other places, and then returned to China by sea.Although the errand is very useless, the young prince has gained a lot of knowledge. After returning to China, he was liked by Cixi and ordered him to be on duty in front of the imperial court so that he could learn political affairs.Zaifeng is also diligent, and he still fulfills his duties on this day when he is on duty.When he walked into Dongnuange, Cixi had already sat up on the kang bed. "The servant Zaifeng kowtowed to the Lafayette." Zaifeng took off the three-eyed flower feather and red top hat and put it aside, knelt on the embroidered soft cotton cushion, and kowtowed to Cixi for instruction. "This is Yuan Shikai's excerpt, you can read it!" Cixi picked up the memorial that was placed on the low table and raised it. Xiao Zhuzi stepped forward, took the memorial from Cixi, and then turned around and handed it to Zaifeng who was kneeling. Zaifeng was very nervous, and there was a trace of heat on his back.Normally, he does not have the right to read the papers, he is actually just a senior errand runner.His job on duty is to call.All the ministers who needed to be interviewed within the day sat and waited in the court room, and Zaifeng was ordered by the queen mother to call in the court room.Everyone whose name was called stood up and followed behind him to the East Nuan Pavilion to meet the Queen Mother.This is calling.When the first shift was over, he led them out, and then went to the court room to call the second shift and the third shift.As for the conversation between the Empress Dowager and the servants, he could not intervene; nor could he glance at the handed down notes.This is the rule of the court. Today, why did the Queen Mother show Yuan Shikai's book to herself?It must be related to Prince Chun's Mansion!He hastily read the booklet with a feeling of uneasiness before he was completely at ease. "The servant finished watching." Zaifeng reported. "Zaifeng," Cixi said leaning against the short chair, "you have been to the West, tell me, does Yuan Shikai's story make sense?" "Back to Lafayette." Zaifeng guessed that Cixi had the intention of establishing a constitution recently, so he catered to the old aunt's wishes. "According to my slave's humble opinion, what Yuan Shikai said makes sense. Western countries do surpass us in many ways, especially the politics of constitutional monarchy countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom. If we want to establish a constitution, we must send people to Visiting and learning is not enough. In this way, we can not only get its essence, but also learn from their experience and lessons, avoid detours and suffer setbacks." "Which countries do you think it is better to go?" "The slave thinks that Germany and England must be visited." The beautiful garden-like Berlin and dream-like London left a deep impression on Zaifeng's mind. He answered without thinking, and added , "Japan is just a narrow strip of water away. It has the same language and species as my country, so Japan should also go." Cixi was more interested in Japan, so she picked up a piece of white silk and wiped the corners of her eyes, then asked, "How long will it take to send someone out?" "Reporting to Lafayette, the servant left Shanghai that year, and traveled a full month and a half before arriving in Germany. According to this calculation, it would take three months to commute, and then three months to observe. The servant thought it would take half a year." Sending people out to study is a pretense, and delaying the establishment of the constitution is the real purpose. Cixi hopes that the longer the time to go out, the better.She scolded with a long face: "What can I learn in three months! It will take at least half a year to see something." Zaifeng hurriedly kowtowed, and said repeatedly: "Lafayette is right, three months is less, at least half a year." "You go to the cabinet to pass an edict, asking them to select personnel, choose a date to go abroad, and examine the constitutions of Japan and Western countries. Of course, Britain and Germany should go, and other countries should also go and have a look, regardless of the length of time, so as to learn foreign constitutions. experience, and inform the whole country of this matter.” "twitter!" Several Manchu and Han scholars in the cabinet were busy for a few days, and five ministers who were enthusiastic about constitutionalism were elected. Youcheng Shaoying decided that Zaize, Xu Shichang and Shaoying would go to Britain, France, Belgium and Japan together, and Dai Hongci and Duanfang would go to Germany, Britain, Russia, Italy, Austria and other countries together. Waiting for a list of thirty-eight entourages, scheduled to depart in July.At the same time, it is suggested to set up a political investigation museum in order to recruit talents who study politics in various countries. Cixi agreed with these proposals.Two days later, the "Beijing News" published the news, and the whole country knew that the imperial court would send five ministers abroad to investigate constitutionalism, which was indeed a great encouragement to officials and gentry who advocated constitutionalism. As a result, many people went to the mansion of the five ministers to congratulate him.Some congratulated them on their mission to study abroad this time. From now on, they will be the constitutional authority of the Qing Dynasty and a reliable pillar in the future constitutional government.Some congratulated them for being able to visit the Western powers, which would open their eyes and gain insights, and they really got a top-notch job.Some also congratulated them on being able to eat French dishes, British steaks, and feast on the beauty of Thai and Western girls, and even spend thousands of taels of silver to buy a foreign concubine to come back.He deduced that the five ministers who were about to go abroad for inspection beamed with joy. After being excited for a few days, Xu Shichang's heart suddenly felt cold: the errands are beautiful, but it is difficult to come back to do the errands.He has a full stomach of the Four Books and Five Classics, and has added a lot of military knowledge since the military training at Xiaozhan. He can write high-level discussions in this area with a single stroke of a pen, but he knows nothing about constitutionalism and Western laws. .When meeting people or attending banquets, if you don’t understand the language, you can use a translator to do it for you. But when it comes to constitutionalism, you can’t ask questions yourself, and others will be at a loss when they talk about it.After a few months of looking at flowers, in the end, you will not even know the name of the flower. Can you still talk about how the flower is cultivated?Thinking of this, the excitement of the past few days disappeared, replaced by depression. At night, Dai Hongci visited.Before Xu Shichang complained, Dai Hongci confessed the same distress.The two Han ministers were helpless in the face of this problem.In the alley next door, the mansion of Lord Zhen Guo was burning with red candles, and the festive feast was still in progress, and the melodious music kept coming in, which annoyed them even more. "Duke Zhen has thought about this matter?" Dai Hongci frowned and asked. "Where does he have the time to think about this? He can't win a wedding!" Xu Shichang pointed in the direction of the Duke's mansion and said, "From the twelfth day onwards every night until one or two o'clock, I also admire him for having such a big Drinking capacity, such good energy." Xu Shichang is fifty years old this year, so he can't stay up too late. The bitter cold of poor scholars in his early years and the poverty of Hei Hanlin made him not fond of feasting, singing, singing and dancing. Wasteful style. "Actually, he doesn't need to think about it. At that time, he will just say, 'You guys go make a script,' and this matter will fall on you and me." Dai Hongci smiled wryly, looked at Xu Shichang and said, "Chrysanthemum Man, you have to think of a way!" Xu Shichang paced around the room with his hands behind his back.There is a way. He thought of it yesterday, but he didn't think it was very decent, so he didn't want to say it.Seeing that Dai Hongci was very anxious now, he knew that he had no better idea, so he stopped and said with a smile, "I really have no other idea, only one bad idea, don't laugh." "Come on, a bad idea is better than no idea." Dai Hongci urged. "The Empress Dowager attaches so much importance to constitutionalism, so much to you and me. It stands to reason that we should submit a detailed investigation report on constitutionalism in Western countries and Japan after we come back, as a reference for the Empress Dowager to formulate national policies, but we don't have the ability. Let's not talk about us, Even the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty have no such ability." This sentence made Dai Hongci nod his head straight, because it was true and saved his face. "This must be a great talent who is proficient in the constitutionalism of various countries!" Xu Shichang affirmed in a resolute tone. "I think this matter should be carried out in two aspects at the same time. Those who go abroad will be in charge of going abroad, and those who write reports will be in charge of writing reports." "Oh, I understand." Dai Hongci is also a smart person, so he understood it immediately. "You mean to hire a knife catcher. It's a good idea. I thought about it too, but it's hard to hire such a clever knife catcher." "There are none in China, but there are two overseas." Xu Shichang sat down again and picked up the tea bowl. "One is Liang Qichao, your fellow Cantonese. Do you have any contact with him?" "Brother, stop joking, I don't dare to have contact with him." Dai Hongci hurriedly shook his hands, as if he was afraid of getting a little bit involved with Liang Qichao. Xu Shichang smiled coldly and said: "Although Liang Qichao is a fugitive prisoner, he is indeed a talent. It doesn't matter if you contact him. Since you have no contact with him, forget it. The other is Yang Du from Hunan. This person is also very good at constitutional government. Research, he is also in Japan. I met him at Xiaozhan before the 1898 Incident, but we have not been in touch since then, and now I don’t know how to get in touch with him.” Dai Hongci touched the lid of the tea bowl, thought for a while and said, "Xiong Xiling is from Hunan. He may be related to Yang Du." "Okay." Xu Shichang said happily, "Go and tell Xiong Bingsan, just ask him to go to Japan and meet Yang Du in person, and ask him to persuade Yang Du to write some articles. These articles are like this..." Xu Shichang paused for a moment, and said: "One article is called "Comparison of Constitutional Governments in Eastern and Western Countries", the other is called "The Outline of Constitutional Government Should Learn from the Best of All Countries", and another article is "Procedures for Implementing Constitutional Government". Give him one thousand taels of silver first, limit him to finish writing within half a year, and give him another thousand taels when the manuscript is delivered." "Okay, I will do it according to your opinion." Dai Hongci stood up. "I'll take my leave now, and I'll tell Bingsan tomorrow." Xu Shichang sent Dai Hongci to the gate, and told him again: "Brother Shaohuai, if you want Bingsan, you must persuade Yang Du to write it, even if he asks for a higher price. You can also tell him that he will definitely use it when he returns to China." "Don't worry, Bingsan is very smart, he will handle it well." Dai Hongci bowed his hands to Xu Shichang, and got into the green wool sedan waiting outside the door.