Li Xiao sighed and was speechless looking at Leonid whose face was full of confusion and chaos. You have to say that this kid is a bit annoying, and sometimes he is very righteous. But you have to say that he is very interesting.
Sometimes he is so stubborn that he can make you angry to death.
Anyway, this is a very contradictory and special person, but no matter how special he is, one thing is clear to Li Xiao, that is, no matter what Leonid does, he does it right for the person he is dealing with.
Even if he does something that leaves you speechless, he probably thinks it is right and feels that he is completely dedicated to the public.
What can you do with such a person and a friend? It feels a bit irritating and pitiful. But Leonid is pretty good. At least he still has persistence and his own ideas, which is better than the thousands of people in St. Petersburg.
A playboy from an aristocratic family who is obsessed with feasting and feasting is really powerful to the sky.
Li Xiao feels that Leonid's problem is that the corrupt aristocratic thinking has caused great constraints and troubles to his noble personality. If he cannot break through the constraints of those rules and regulations, he may live a very uncomfortable and entangled life.
There are many such people in Russia today, and most of them have tragic endings. As a friend, Li Xiao really didn't want to see him end up like this, so he persuaded him with sincerity: "My friend, your biggest problem now is
Your horizons are not broad enough. You should go out and take a look. It is best to go to London or Paris to live and work there for a while and make more local friends. I think that will be of great help to you!
"
Seeing that Leonid did not speak, he continued to persuade: "Being trapped in St. Petersburg and continuing to stay in the country will greatly constrain your thinking. You will never be able to break out of the existing rules, and the future will be very tangled!
"
Li Xiao took a deep breath and said sincerely: "This is my most pertinent advice to you as a friend. You really should go abroad and take a look!"
Leonid remained silent, but Li Xiao could see that he was having a fierce ideological struggle. It was very likely that on the one hand he wanted to go out for a walk and broaden his horizons as Li Xiao said, but on the other hand he felt
The country is in its most difficult time, and he should face the difficulties with his king and friends. At this time, he feels like a deserter when he goes abroad!
"How can you be a deserter when you go abroad?" Li Xiao said loudly, "You are going out to study and learn advanced Western European ideas and technologies so that you can better serve the country... This is by no means a deserter, but a return to the country.
Rise and fight!"
Finally, Leonid's expression changed. He recognized Li Xiao's theory and felt that it was really necessary to go out and take a look. Of course, this was not because he recognized Li Xiao's democratic theory, but because he thought it was necessary.
It is necessary to check whether what Li Xiao said is true or false. It is best to use what you have seen and heard to pop the soap bubble of better democracy.
He nodded very reservedly and said: "What you said makes some sense. Seeing is better than hearing. I have always heard that Britain and France are powerful and developed, but we can't jump to conclusions without seeing clearly what they are like...
I really need to go out and see. Do you think it would be better for me to go to London or Paris?"
If Li Xiao is allowed to speak his mind, he thinks that neither London nor Paris is suitable, because neither the British constitutional monarchy nor the French repeated republic are very democratic.
However, there has never been more than one form of democracy in the world, and there has never been complete democracy in an absolute sense. There has never been a unified standard for the interpretation of democracy in various countries. At least Li Xiao believes that the so-called universalism of the West in later generations
Values are not a true democracy.
What's more, the national conditions of each country are completely different, and the social practices are naturally completely different. Copying the democracy of other countries mechanically may end up being like a tiger but not a dog.
After thinking about it, he said to Leonid: "Whether it is Britain or France, whether it is London or Paris, the situation is completely different from that of Russia and St. Petersburg. Different countries have different national conditions. It cannot be said that London is better or better.
It is said that Paris is more perfect. You can only know how to go by walking. After all, other people's experiences and lessons can only be used as a reference but not as a guide. Do you understand what I mean?"...
Strictly speaking, Leonid was a little half-understood, but he thought Li Xiao's words still made sense. At least he didn't tell him where it would be better or who he could learn from would be helpful. If someone really said that,
He was really unconvinced and didn't believe it.
But Li Xiao just told him to read more and practice more, which suited his taste. He suddenly felt that Li Xiao was completely different from other liberals and reformers. Those people would only keep telling him that Britain or
How good and strong the French institutions are, and how beneficial it would be to study them.
To be honest, he was really tired of this and even had a rebellious mentality. After all, history shows that Russia did not learn from the British and French systems, and even severely resisted the revolutionary output of the French Revolution. In the end, they still defeated the arrogant Napoleon.
.
If Russia's system was really that bad, none of this should have happened. The result should have been completely reversed. France, which represented the most advanced development direction, should have defeated the backward and barbaric Russia.
But history is not written like this, so he naturally doubts the conclusions above.
After thinking for a while, Leonid asked again: "Don't you really have any recommendations? I want to start my observation from the place you recommended. I believe you will not let me take detours!"
Li Xiao relaxed a little, because Leonid's tone has softened. If he really doesn't accept your suggestion, then it's useless what you say. Now he is obviously interested, at least it's a good start, isn't it?
Li Xiao thought for a moment and then replied: "My suggestion is that whether it is the United Kingdom or France, if possible, it is best for you to go to the United States. There are three different forms of expression in these three countries, and they are all worth learning, but they are also worth learning.
There are all problems, it’s best to take a look at them all. I suggest you go to Paris first, then to London, and finally to the United States..."
At this point, Li Xiao muttered to himself: "I'm worried that if you go to the United States first, you won't be able to accept the vulgarity of Americans. Those cowboys and Puritans really don't have any aristocratic atmosphere..."
Leonid smiled gratefully at Li Xiao and said sincerely: "Great, then I will discuss with my father and go to London first!"
At this point, he suddenly paused, then held Li Xiao's hand tightly and said, "Thank you for your advice, my friend. Even if you know that I don't agree with your opinion, you will always agree with me calmly."
I find out that your personality is extremely noble and I admire you endlessly!"