Chapter 314 Interview at the Yamen of the Prime Minister's Office
Zhen Yuhuan stared at Li Guolou with a confused expression, "Hey!" She gasped in response. She was led by the nose by this little man and couldn't extricate herself. For Li Guolou's career, she risked her life. She knelt on the ground and begged Prince Gong Yixin to ask her old lover to help her out of past friendship.
Zhen Yuhuan also knows that she is on the decline. In a few years, when she is old and old, who will remember her? Behind the infinite scenery is loneliness. But now there is new hope, and Li Guolou's progress is her fruit. Zhen Yuhuan She made up her mind to see what kind of tree the little man Li Guolou she admired could grow into.
The Yamen of the Prime Minister's Office is lined with sentries, and everyone has their chests and bellies protruding. After passing three security checks, this is the core of the country's operation. Emperor Tongzhi Aixinjueluo and Zaichun were young. Although they had listened to and discussed politics, the real power was still in the hands of Cixi. In the hands of the Queen Mother, the Queen Mother Ci'an and Prince Gong Yixin.
At this time, the Qing Empire seemed to be rising again with the help of annihilating the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and purging Dongniu, winning successive battles. The biggest contributor was Prince Gong Yixin who planned the layout. In addition, Prince Gong Yixin was only about forty years old, Long The Empress Dowager Cixi was very fond of Prince Gong Yixin, which allowed the policy to be introduced to maintain consistency, and the country was developing in a positive direction.
(The official position of Prince Gong Yixin is like that of the Prime Minister of the State Council in later generations, but Prince Gong Yixin is also the chief auxiliary of the military aircraft and has some military power, which is more powerful than the Prime Minister of the State Council in later generations.) Li Guolou is sitting in a luxurious room In the lounge, waiting for the reception of Prince Gong Yixin. Two sentries at the door stood upright with guns in hand, motionless, like two giant Buddhas, which made people wonder if they were two sculptures. Some people came and went, walking in a standard posture, rushing around He looked like he was running out of time and was too busy.
Finally, the bodyguards came out and asked Li Guolou to enter the lobby to meet the superior. It was a very elegant gesture. However, he saw Li Guolou hunched over, head lowered, holding a notebook in both hands, signing up to see him.
"Report! Li Guolou, the servant of the Ministry of Punishment, Zan Liang, kowtows to Prince Gong Jin An!" Li Guolou turned over and bowed, waved his horse hoof sleeves, and knelt on a camel hair carpet. When meeting high-ranking officials in the Qing Dynasty, they would address themselves first. As a "slave", calling yourself a "slave", and coupled with the flying hooves of the donkey, there is only the Qing Empire.
"Well! Li Guolou, stand up and answer." Prince Gong Yixin sat on the main seat with a kind smile. The person next to him was the Minister of Punishment, Shubao, and there was no trace of Zhen Yuhuan.
"Thank you, Prince Gong!" Li Guolou stood with his body bowed and his eyebrows lowered. This was also the rule. The officer did not ask questions and could not look around. That was an unseemly sin. To be an official in the Qing Dynasty, one must first learn official etiquette.
"Yes;;;;;;not bad! He is majestic and majestic. He deserves to be the tiger of the Ministry of Justice. He dares to fight and fight hard! Hahahaha!" Prince Gong Yixin's face was full of flowers, and his first impression of Li Guolou was very good.
The last time Yi Xin met Li Guolou and hundreds of other officials at the Ministry of Justice, but they were just high-sounding polite words. He didn't know how many local officials he had to meet in a day. He also had to deal with official business. How could he treat Li Guolou, who he had just met once? Remember, I have long forgotten what Li Guolou looks like.
"Thank you, Prince Gong, for your compliment. I feel ashamed to be a lower-ranking official." Li Guolou was very respectful and did not dare to show his joy.
Bao Yiyi stroked his beard, nodded and said: "Prince Gong, this person under the student can be reused. The student should brag about himself first. Hahahaha!"
The two officers smiled meaningfully, looked at each other, and nodded slightly. Bao Yiyi said, "I'm right, Li Guolou looks like a woman, that's why he has so many romantic encounters."
Prince Gong Yixin said, "The first impression of Li Guolou is not bad. We can learn more about it."
This is a society where people are judged by their appearance. Officials must not have disabilities and must speak loudly. Age is secondary. There are many old and prudent officials.
Yi Xin looked at the documents on the desk, cleared her throat, and asked: "Li Guolou, I took a look at your resume. It says that you returned from studying abroad. I asked you where you have been. nation?"
Li Guolou leaned forward and said: "Prince Gong, a lower official, went abroad to study at the age of twelve. He visited many ports in many countries along the way with ocean ships. Those were just a quick glance. He mainly studied in London, England, and in Italy when he returned to China. I have been traveling for a while and stayed abroad for six years. Although I have not completed my studies, I have seen and heard a lot, have deep feelings, and understand a truth."
"What's the point?" Yi Xin couldn't help but fall in love with Li Guolou's voice, which was very melodious and standard in Beijing movies.
"If you fall behind, you will be beaten. Foreigners can also be used by me. Knowledge does not distinguish between national boundaries. You must learn what makes sense. What the saints say may not be right!" Li Guolou blurted out, not controlling his mouth, and regretted it as soon as he said it.
Yi Xin squinted and said, "Oh, then you can tell me what the saint said wrong?"
Li Guolou was feeling chilly all over, and cold sweat was already flowing down his face. He did not dare to wipe the sweat away, and said with a bitter face: "What I mean is not that the saint's words are wrong, but that the saint has not met any unreasonable foreigners. See Yiye." And the era of knowing the big tree is over long ago. Saints don't know that the world is changing rapidly, and foreigners only know that guns and cannons are the truth. The ever-changing world needs new ideas and new culture. Governing a country is like cooking fresh food. That's nonsense. In the troubled times, how can we take things slowly? If we continue slowly, our Qing Empire will become even more torn apart. Now God has given us people like Prince Gong of the Qing Dynasty who have the ability to govern the country and stabilize the country, but the people below are using their ancestral family laws to scare people. , unwilling to adapt to anything, huddled in the bird's nest without doing anything, not speaking, not moving, unwilling to see the truth of the outside world. We are willing to leave our own affairs to foreigners, and in turn let foreigners scare the court and put us in trouble. The General Administration of Customs handed over such an important matter to a group of British people, a sovereign country in the world. Only we, the Qing Dynasty, did this. This is because we are sticking our heads out to let foreigners bully us. We cannot resent foreigners. Slaves, the Four Books and the Five Classics I’ve read them all, but I’ll tell you the truth. Thousands of people have integrated and understood the saint’s quotations. Can they change the situation of our Qing Dynasty being bullied by foreigners? It has been nearly forty years since the opium eradication in Humen. How many years have passed since then? If you can't change things even if you try hard on behalf of others, that means it's not working. Why don't you want to go out? Foreigners know how to do it, and we can learn from it."
At this point, Li Guolou did not dare to speak any further. How could he express different opinions on national policy at will? If he said something disobedient, wouldn't he have his superior Bao Yiyi be implicated as well?
Yi Xin frowned, thought for a while, and said: "Li Guolou, take your time and explain one by one, otherwise I will mess up your mind. You are saying that you want the government to send students to study abroad, right?"
Li Guolou wiped the cold sweat with his sleeves and stammered: "That's what slaves mean. Most of the overseas students organized by the private sector are like slaves. They are the children of rich families. The intelligence of the students varies. There are many overseas students who just go abroad to travel. , when he returned home he could only talk a lot, speak a few words in foreign language, and be a qualified interpreter, which was great. He did not learn the professional knowledge we needed in the Qing Dynasty. Only the state organized batches of high-IQ schoolchildren to let them hear it from an early age. You have to be impressed by the knowledge of foreigners and lay a good foundation before you can go to universities run by foreigners. For example, making gunpowder requires chemical knowledge. A Westerner can make explosives as a college student. As long as we have someone to learn it, it is just a matter of using it. Like slaves ten It is too late to study in the UK when you are three years old. It takes a lot of time to learn just one English language, and it is very difficult to learn other professional knowledge. Therefore, only the state can do this to study abroad. The private sector does not have the strength, nor the There are so many reserve talents. Even if the slaves try to do their best, they will not be able to achieve much effect."
"Hahahaha!" Yi Xin laughed loudly, stroking his beard and nodding: "Li Guolou, you think the same thing as a hero. I have had this idea for a long time. We argued in the court for a long time without coming up with a final conclusion. Just now you said It's very good. Even the military experts of the Qing Dynasty can't make explosives, but a foreigner can make it by a college student studying chemistry. If there is such a good thing, why don't we do it. Based on what you just said Well, I believe that the eleven statements were written by you yourself."
Yi Xin picked up a document on the desk, handed it to Bao Yiyi, and said: "Mr. Bao, take a look, these are the eleven statements that you, the tiger of the Ministry of Punishment, wrote to me. Every sentence is so heartbreaking that it scared me at night. I can’t sleep well.”
Bao Tong looked solemn, took the document, opened the file, and read it silently. He knew how ambitious Li Guolou was, and it was definitely not something in the pool. He looked at the eleven statements, which involved national policies, military affairs, and academic affairs. In other departments, Bao Yiyi's face became more serious. He looked at Yi Xin and did not dare to say anything. He was not in his position and did not seek political advice. He was not so bold as to write something random.
Yi Xin raised her hand and said: "Li Guolou sits down to answer and watch tea! I will hold a meeting later and specifically talk about the eleven items in your letter and your official overseas study just now. You can also sit down and listen and make a speech. Your argument. If you don’t slap people with big names in the Prime Minister’s Office, the speaker is not guilty. Even if you scold me, it will be OK.”
"Zha!" Li Guolou felt relieved and asked him to sit down and drink tea. He just wanted to answer questions for a long time. He took out his pocket watch and looked at the time. It was already three-thirty in the afternoon. Could it be that he was having dinner at the Yamen of the Prime Minister's Office?
"That student?" Bao Yiyi bowed, not knowing whether to leave or stay.
"Oh;;;;;" Yi Xin suddenly remembered that there was still business, and said with an unhappy expression: "Master Bao, I have already understood the case of autopsy and murder. If such a thing happens, how can the dignity of the country exist? ?Where is the dignity of the royal family? Yuan Baoheng is not strict in his discipline, and he said treasonous words to this king. He is still kneeling in the courtyard to be punished. I have plucked his flower feathers and dismissed him from his official position. This matter ends here. Don't give the boy a yellow silk ribbon for interrogation again and again, and then crush his ashes for me, just pretend that there is no such person in the world, and destroy the files about that boy. Do you understand?"
"I understand! The students will definitely do it in person." Bao Yiyi breathed a sigh of relief. Prince Gong and Yixin were really heroic in killing their relatives. It's a pity that such an accomplished person was led by a woman and refused to give up his hairpin. Crossing the throne of the emperor. Since ancient times, heroes have struggled with beauty. Prince Gong Yixin also cannot pass the hurdle of Empress Dowager Cixi.
Li Guolou was also secretly happy. As he expected, with the help of Chen Rong, the foreman of the guards of Prince Gong's Mansion, there was no need for people from the Ministry of Punishment to waste words. These four guards would tell the truth, and Chen Rong, the foreman of the guards, who was full of righteousness, and others People will never tell a trace of lies. Most of the people around Prince Gong Yixin are gentlemen. The Yamen of the Prime Minister's Office is full of vitality and prosperity. It really makes people feel that the Qing Empire is full of vitality.
Li Guolou is also secretly looking at the fair-faced and elegant Prince Gong Yixin. Why does such an accomplished prime minister have no ambition? The throne of the emperor is very close at hand, and it is reasonable to replace the brother with the brother. There is no reason to take advantage of the young boy. Teenage Zai Chun.
There are many reception rooms in the Yamen of the Prime Minister's Office. Li Guolou was in only a small conference hall. Prince Gong Yixin and Bao made a few words together and asked Li Guolou to stay for the meeting, and then left the conference hall to prepare for the next round of meetings. Went.
Yi Xin left with her two secretaries, and was going to meet other visitors. Zhen Yuhuan immediately walked out of a door next to her and said with a smile: "Xiaolou, I'm scared."
At this time, Li Guolou dared to take out his handkerchief, wipe the sweat on his forehead, nodded and said: "I was scared to death, even my hands were shaking. Mr. Bao, do I stutter too much?"
Bao Yiyi nodded and said: "Well, there is one thing. It's a bit stronger at the beginning, but it gets better later. Captain Li, it's not a shame. There are many people who are so nervous that they collapse to the ground when they enter the palace. You are really the same, Chen Tiao. Why don't you write a note about the Ministry of Punishments so that I can stay for the meeting?"
Li Guolou smiled awkwardly and said: "Mr. Bao, the Criminal Department is thriving under your leadership. I don't see anything bad about it. How about we learn from the concession and rename the police officers and yamen servants as police officers. Now the local police are called police officers." Coroner, police department, many terms have been changed long ago, do we also have to keep pace with the times?"
"Hey!" Bao Yiyi shook his head and said: "Captain Li, you don't mind mentioning it. Now the official documents from various places have been messed up. They often have words that I can't understand. I even asked Mr. Lin to make a special pamphlet. Write down all kinds of proper nouns. Otherwise, if they are circulated among departments, many old scholars will not be able to understand them. It’s funny to say that in Miao territory, the Miao chieftains were in charge of the Manchus, and the Han local officials were all called the emperor, and the Tongzhi emperor was , he is called the Emperor of the Forbidden City. Listen to how powerful this local official is. He is frightening to death in this world."
"Yes! Fortunately, Prince Gong is still here!" Li Guolou smiled bitterly at Bao Yiyi. The two smart men had already seen the signs of chaos in the place.
The Qing Empire implemented a local governor system, which was divided into 18 provinces including Zhili, Shandong, and Shanxi, and five provincial-level administrative regions including Heilongjiang Jiangjunfu. At this time, it had already shown its shortcomings and showed signs of division and separatism. The warlord pattern at this time To lay hidden dangers, it would be better if the central government has strong men like Empress Dowager Cixi and Prince Gong Yixin in charge, as well as loyal and patriotic Li Hongzhang, Zuo Zongtang and other talented people. It would be better if the head of the central government is less capable, plus foreigners Interfering in local government affairs, the local political power will immediately be ready to become independent.
Zeng Guoquan, the governor of Hunan, once asked his brother Zeng Guofan to lead the Hunan army in rebellion and asked Zeng Guofan to proclaim himself emperor. However, Zeng Guofan was loyal to the Qing Dynasty and devoted himself to being a loyal and patriotic man. He was not deceived by his subordinates, so history was not rewritten. But local history was not rewritten.
The problem of excessive power of governors has taken shape, and small kingdoms with financial and military independence are beginning to take shape.