"I once heard a great man say, "If you fall behind, you will be beaten."
"If you think about it, these Westerners made a lot of money in our Qing Dynasty, and then transferred all this money to their countries to vigorously develop their own military equipment, and constantly updated their firearms. The red ones used by the imperial court now
Isn't it the missionary Nan Huairen who helped us make the cannon?"
"We do not have the ability to independently develop firearms. If one day, the Westerners' national power far exceeds ours, their weapons and equipment are much more advanced than ours, and they are not as peace-loving in their hearts as we are.
We uphold propriety, justice, benevolence, wisdom and trust, so will they invade and attack us in turn? Then the other side will have sharp ships and sharp cannons, what will we have? Use the low-level firearms that others have eliminated, and our broadsword?"
The imperial concubine pulled up the carved chair next to the twins and sat down. She hugged Little Thirteen and Little Fourteen beside her again. She looked at the two older children in front of her and asked softly with a smile.
The autumn rain outside the window was falling thickly and heavily. After hearing what the imperial concubine said, Yinreng and Xiaosi, who were quite happy at first, could not help but shudder.
This was the first time that Xiao Si heard E Niang discussing government affairs so nakedly. He couldn't help but raise his arms and scratch the blue-black melon cap inlaid with rubies on his head, and whispered in confusion:
"Mother, are you thinking too much? When I was studying in the Shang Shufang, my master said that our Qing Dynasty was the 'Shang Dynasty', and the things made by foreigners were just grotesque and ingenious.
The monarchs of the vassal countries all respect Khan Amma and send envoys to pay tribute every year. How can those Westerners one day far surpass us?"
Qingyan couldn't help but sigh in her heart when she heard her eldest son's words.
She understands that Xiaosi’s thoughts are the common perception among people nowadays. “This all stems from the feudal limitations of this era. The land under her feet has prospered for thousands of years and created countless cultural treasures. Who can
I think that the Japanese country, which is currently regarded as a small overseas country, will one day pin the "Shangguo" to the ground and ravage it severely.
Thinking of those inhumane Japanese pirates, Qingyan couldn't help but feel angry.
She forced herself to suppress the anger in her heart and shifted her gaze to Yin Reng, who was standing beside Xiao Si, frowning and saying nothing.
She knew that Yin Reng was special. Compared with Xiao Si, he had more or less glimpses of future generations due to opportunities. He knew the humiliation of the fall of the Qing Dynasty. She had been holding these words in her heart for a long time, fearing that "the harem cannot participate in politics."
She knew that she could not mention it to Kangxi, so she could only hope that the young prince would have the idea of "powering the country with science and technology" as soon as possible.
Yinreng rubbed the fingers hanging by his side, raised his eyebrows and thought carefully about what his aunt said. Noticing the way the imperial concubine looked at him, he also pulled up the carved chair on Qingyan's left and sat down, facing the emperor beside him.
The imperial concubine asked in a low voice with burning eyes:
"Auntie, do you mean that we need to develop Western learning now?"
When Xiaosi heard what the prince's brother said, he looked at the imperial concubine again.
When Qingyan heard that her nephew immediately grasped the key point, she reached out and patted the soft bellies of the two little boys in her arms. She looked at the two little brothers raising their furry little heads and looking at her in confusion before she smiled again.
He continued:
"Baocheng, the books my aunt has read are definitely not as good as your Khan Amma and the great Confucian scholars. I don't know how to govern the country, but I understand one thing. A weak country has no diplomacy, and flowers cannot bloom for a hundred days, □□
The superior country must rely on its strong strength to make other countries fear and surrender in their hearts, not on our own claims."
"Since the Westerners have made good things now, they will send envoys to our Qing Dynasty to study. Of course, we should also send more people to go overseas to see ourselves. Only by knowing ourselves and the enemy can we be able to fight without danger. This is not what our ancestors taught us when we were young.
Does it make sense?"
"I'm thinking that if there is a chance, I would like Little Thirteen and Little Fourteen to go overseas when they grow up. There are so many countries marked on the Map of All Nations, and you brothers are so many and smart that you can all gather together.
It’s really a pity to live in this three-thirds of an acre of land. The world is a big place, and it’s always good to go out and see more.”
After hearing the words of the imperial concubine, the brothers couldn't help but feel moved, and at the same time, "Yes, the idea of what it is like overseas" flashed through their minds.
Qingyan saw the two brothers looking thoughtful, so she stopped talking and continued. At this time, Bai Lu also walked in with a smile on her face, carrying two bowls of ginger soup on a mahogany tray.
The imperial concubine invited Xiao Si and Yin Reng to drink ginger soup to ward off the cold. About an hour later, at the beginning of Youshi, when the pattering autumn rain outside stopped, Yin Reng and Xiao Si got up and planned to go back to the East Palace and Nansan Institute.
Yan asked Bai Lu to give each of the brothers a box of small mooncakes made in the small kitchen, and then she carried the twins out of Chuxiu Palace.
She stood outside the palace gate and watched the two people gradually leave. She couldn't help but secretly look forward to it in her heart. She hoped that what she said this afternoon would leave some shadow in the hearts of the two brothers. If it could indirectly promote the development of science and technology in the Qing Dynasty,
That would be even better…
At the end of Youshi, the sky outside had darkened. Yinreng and Xiaosi parted ways. After returning to Yuqing Palace, their minds were still thinking about what their aunt said in Chuxiu Palace in the afternoon.
He now also has Western studies classes, and geometry is taught by their Khan Amma himself. Naturally, he also knows that this knowledge is more practical than Confucian classics.
Yinreng walked up and down the carpet in the inner room with his hands behind his back. When he glanced at the chime clock in the corner and the hand had pointed to "eight", he finally made up his mind, raised his feet and was ready to walk out.
He had just reached the door and was about to reach out and open the crystal curtain in the inner room, but He Zhuer happened to open it from the outside.
He Zhuer saw the little prince looking ready to go out, and mistakenly thought that Yinreng could not wait to take a bath, so he smiled and said:
"Master, the hot water in the clean room is ready. I will help you take a bath now."
"Don't worry, let's go to Qianqing Palace to find Khan Ama. Remember to take the mooncakes we brought back from our aunt's palace."
After Yinreng said these words, he bypassed his confidant and strode out.
When He Zhuer heard these unexpected words, he was instantly dumbfounded. He glanced at the dark sky outside the window and felt that it was too late to go to the emperor now! What if the emperor had already turned over the green sky in advance? Has the top card gone to the harem?
He Zhuer was about to speak to stop him, but saw that Yin Reng had already stepped across the threshold of the hall and walked out. He quickly put away his worries and picked up the food box placed on the golden nanmu table not far away with his left hand. He took the box, took a dim ram's horn palace lantern from the little eunuch at the door, and quickly followed.
The temperature on autumn nights is already cold, but after the heavy rain, the temperature outside becomes even lower. Even the lively sound of crickets in the past can no longer be heard.
Yinreng was blown by the cool breeze, his mind became clearer and clearer. While stroking the fingers hanging by his side, he sorted out what he wanted to say later. The East Palace was not far from the emperor's palace. The master and servant were walking along the palace road. Walking all the way to the west, it didn't take long to enter the Qianqing Palace from the east side door.
Liang Jiugong, who had just come out of the imperial study room to make tea in the tea room next door, heard a young eunuch in a blue cloth robe hurriedly come to him before he entered the tea room, saying that His Highness the Crown Prince had arrived with Manager Xiao He.
Liang Jiugong couldn't guess the purpose of His Highness the Crown Prince staying up so late and coming to the Qing Palace for a moment, so he turned around and walked quickly into the main hall. As soon as he crossed the threshold and walked in, he saw that he was wearing an apricot yellow round collar. The little prince in a robe was sitting on an armchair, tapping the wooden armrest with his slender fingers, looking down in deep thought.
With a warm smile on his face, he stepped forward and bowed in salute: "I would like to pay my respects to His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Eunuch Liang, please get up. Gu Xiang wants to meet Khan Amma. Khan Amma shouldn't be sleeping peacefully yet, right?"
Yinreng stood up from the armchair, smiled at Liang Jiugong and asked.
"When I return to His Highness, the Emperor is still busy in the Imperial Study. There have been a lot of twists and turns in the military situation on Treasure Island recently, and the Emperor is very busy with government affairs."
Liang Jiugong straightened up and spoke softly to the little prince.
When Yin Reng heard this, he couldn't help but lift his steps. He understood the implication of Liang Jiugong's words. If his matter was not urgent, it would be best to come see his Khan Ama another day.
He smiled at Liang Jiugong and said:
"Thank you Eunuch Liang. Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Gu and Xiaosi went to their aunt's palace to eat moon cakes in the afternoon. Master Bai's craftsmanship is very good. My aunt specially asked Gu to bring back a box for Khan Ama when he returned to the palace. I want him to have a taste too.”
"So that's it. The Imperial Concubine really cares about the Emperor, and His Highness is really filial. Please follow me here quickly. The Emperor has been busy with government affairs for a long time and is probably hungry."
When Liang Jiugong heard this, he smiled happily, stretched out his right arm and leaned forward to make way for the little prince.
Yinreng also smiled and nodded, and then walked straight to the imperial study.
He Zhuer, who was following the little prince, saw the satisfied look cast by his master, so he had to smile awkwardly at his master, and touched the food box he was carrying in his left hand. He couldn't help but feel a little guilty, feeling that the little prince was really getting better and better. He is getting better and better at deceiving people. This box of small mooncakes was obviously brought back to the East Palace to eat by the imperial concubine because she was afraid that the young prince would be hungry at night. He had stayed in Chuxiu Palace for so long, but he never heard the imperial concubine say a word about the emperor!
When the three of them walked to the door of the royal study, Yin Reng reached out to take the mooncake from He Zhuer's hand, and followed Liang Jiugong in. He Zhuer also consciously stood on the big red paint pillar like the little eunuchs at the door. Guard the door.
As soon as Yinren entered the door, he saw that the imperial study room was brightly lit, with high folds piled up on both sides of the imperial desk. Kangxi, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, was sitting on it with his head bowed, holding a red pen to correct the memorials. He hurriedly shouted
road:
"Khan Amma!"
Kangxi, who was immersed in government affairs, raised his head when he heard the voice. When he saw his precious son who should be sleeping suddenly came over with a food box, he couldn't help but asked in surprise:
"Baocheng, you didn't sleep at night, why did you come to my place?"
"Hey, Khan Ama, aren't you thinking that you haven't eaten mooncakes today? My aunt specially asked Baocheng to bring you a box from Chuxiu Palace."
Yin Reng picked up the food box and ran to the third step with a familiar "kick, kick, kick, kick", carefully moved the tall pile of memorials to the side, made a space to put the food box on it, and smiled.
said.
Kangxi was so moved when he heard this. He had been busy all day and really didn't even eat any mooncakes. His beloved concubine was thinking about him, and so was his precious son.