It was already the beginning of autumn, but the weather was still as unscrupulous as midsummer. The heat of the "Autumn Tiger" was no less than that of midsummer. The Huangpu River was coming and going. Among the many ships of all sizes, large steamships emitting black smoke and whistles were particularly conspicuous.

With the end of the Qing Dynasty's War against Britain and France, large steamships that were no longer subject to the monsoon and mixed steam sails poured into the Huangpu River like thrusts. All the merchants seemed to be eager to recover the losses caused by the war, as if overnight, Shanghai restored the prosperity of the largest commercial port in the Far East.

On the river surface, three steam sail hybrid merchant ships with the Qing Dynasty flag (the dragon flag with bright yellow as the background and the dragon as the pattern) slowly arrived at Yuanqi Pier under the escort of five American Stars and Stripes warships.

On the dock, Jiangsu Governor Xu Jishe, Zongli Yamen Ministers Weiren, Wu Changqing and others led a group of civil and military officials to look at the slowly docking fleet in a complicated mood. The ship was the first mission of the Qing Dynasty to go to the Western Conference - a large ambassador group with Prince Gong Yixin and Prince Chun Yixing as the leader and deputy leader.

Behind them were the famous local gentry in Shanghai, and many students from various Western schools wearing student uniforms and banners. The people who came to watch the fun even surround the huge dock.

The Qing envoys who visited Western countries for the first time were not only huge in scale, but also had a long mission, which was more than two years old. Yi Zhizu specially ordered the return of the envoys to be welcomed with the grandest ceremony. However, he himself did not participate in the welcome ceremony, but stayed in Zhenhai Gong Mansion to play chess with Zhao Wenlie.

Yi Zhizu's chess skills are not high, and his victory is novel layout. He is a little overwhelmed when he reaches the middle game. After completely regaining his disadvantage, Zhao Wenlie took a leisurely sip of tea and said, "If the shopkeeper doesn't go to greet him, will the fifth and sixth masters have any complaints?"

"If there are still complaints, it will disappoint me." Yi Zhizu said one more time.

Zhao Wenlie responded casually without thinking, saying, "The Fifth Master and the Sixth Master are the key to promoting reforms in the court..."

After staring at the chessboard for a while, Yi Zhizu slowly fell down, "Reform and reform are not a joke. If those two masters do not know how to follow the trend, they will not be able to count on them at all."

Zhao Wenlie nodded slightly. There were many princes and ministers who opposed reforms in the court. Yideng and Yixin didn't know how to take advantage of the situation, they would really not be able to rely on it. After a while, he said: "The two masters are too young after all, and they are all beaten to the end..."

"The fifth master is hard to say, but the sixth master... I have confidence." Yi Zhizuo fell into a piece of paper without hesitation and said in a pun: "It depends on strength when it reaches the middle game."

It was almost dusk, and two four-wheeled carriages were parked one by one and one behind outside the gate of the Duke Zhenhai Mansion. Prince Gong Yixin, dressed in Western style, looked at the central gate that was still closed and frowned without notice. Prince Chun, Prince Yitian, smiled, "In the battle of Tianjin and Beijing, Yiguocheng has already shaken the sounds at home and abroad. It is rare that he still guards this Duke Mansion."

Wu Changqing, who got off the carriage in the latter, quickly met up and reached out with a smile, "Please, two princes, please--."

When Yi Xin entered the gate, she found that there were no servants in the mansion to welcome him. She felt a little unhappy. Although the two of them came in contempt, it would be fine if they didn't open the middle gate, but they didn't even welcome him. This was not a rude, but intentionally pretending to behave!

Yi Zhizu, who had heard the news for a long time, was wearing a navy blue gown, shaking a folding fan, and standing outside the courtyard gate of Changle Bookstore with a smile. When he saw the two brothers Yi Xin coming, he did not move, but stood there reservedly.

Prince Chun, who had originally landed half a step behind Yi Xin, noticed that Yi Xin's pace was still slow, so he walked over Yi Xin and walked forward quickly. He took off his hat from afar, stretched out his hand and smiled: "After two years of separation, Brother Guocheng has a better style than the past."

Yi Zhizuxu took two steps and shook hands with him and said with a smile: "After two years of travel, Wu Ye's Western etiquette has improved a lot."

Yi Xin then came forward, took off her wide-brimmed hat, and bowed slightly and said, "For two years of travel, the delegation benefited from Yuan Qi's meticulous care. On behalf of the delegation, I sincerely thank the shopkeeper Yi Da."

"The Fifth Master doesn't have to be so dissatisfied." Yi Zhizu said in a calm tone, and said with a polite hand: "Please, please--."

After entering the house and serving tea, Yi Zhizu slowly shook his folding fan and said, "If you have been inspecting Western countries for two years, you should benefit from it even if you have the suspicion of seeing the flowers?"

Prince Chun Yifen smiled and said, "This time I traveled to Western countries. Although I saw it from time to time, I also opened my eyes and benefited a lot."

This is extremely empty, and you can smile contentedly and say directly: "The most significant difference between Western powers, such as Britain, France, the United States and the Qing Dynasty is the system, which is commonly referred to as structure-the national system structure.

In fact, since the Tang Dynasty, as a traditional politics in our country, it has been a small government management model, which is somewhat similar to the classic Western liberal concept, that is, society is greater than government.

The so-called centralization, centralization is only reflected in the capital, where the central government is located. In the local area, it is generally a relatively laissez-faire management model. In summary, it means that the imperial power does not fall below the county, and only the clans are all autonomous under the county. Autonomy relies on ethics. Ethics creates gentry. This is the so-called governing the world with gentry.

This is a model with very low management costs, few officials and not large in size in the army, so the demand for taxation is small. It is precisely because of this that the Holy Ancestor proposed "never increase taxes."

What this kind of small government model is most afraid of is the troublesome situation. Disasters and wars are fatal to small governments. A few major disasters and wars can consume all the accumulation of decades or even hundreds of years. Then, what about? Wait for death!

In the past, when the whole world was closed or semi-closed, this small government model could be said to be the most ideal model to govern the world, but now, with the rapid development of sea and land transportation, the closed state has been broken.

Whether you are active or passive, you will be involved in this big world - there are many nations, strong countries compete for hegemony, competition is everywhere, and it is always severe and urgent. If the Qing Dynasty wants to maintain its original status as a strong country, it must change this existing small government model, learn from the West, and gradually transform it into a capable government.

Among the Western powers today, Russia also has this kind of small government model, but now Russian Tsar Alexander II is planning to carry out reforms. What about our Qing Dynasty...?"

Prince Chun, Yi Ting, hesitated and said: "Brother Guocheng means that the Qing Dynasty must also carry out reforms?"

Yi Zhizu glanced at him and said, "I don't want the Qing Dynasty to perish in your generation, so there is no need to reform the law."

"The most urgent task is constitutional reform?" Yi Xin said in a deep voice.

Yi was contented and shaking the folding fan slowly, "Any reform requires a certain social foundation. What is the constitutional reform that Wu Ye mentioned? How many people in the Qing Dynasty and the opposition knew what constitutionalism was? The vast majority of officials, gentry, and civilians didn't even know what constitutionalism was. How can they implement constitutional reform?

Governing a big country is like cooking small fresh food. Reform and reform must be especially cautious and cautious. If the Qing Dynasty wants to reform, it must first popularize education and liberate the mind. The Wuye cannot expect a group of officials who read the Four Books and Five Classics and are good at writing eight-legged essays to support constitutional reform, right?”

"Brother Guocheng means abolishing the imperial examination system?" Prince Chun Yi Ting said in a lost voice.

"This is not what I said." Yi Zhizu said with a smile: "This is what Master Liu said."

After hearing this, Yi Xin felt aroused her heart and deliberately tentatively said: "There is nothing to hide. It is imperative to abolish the imperial examination!"

The six Japanese thoughts are so radical? Yi Zhizuo was a little suspicious, and immediately said with a slight slightest saying: "Indeed, abolishing the imperial examination is the general trend. However, the abolition of the imperial examination cannot be too hasty. The fifth master should have some understanding of the civil servant assessment system of England, right?"

EnglishGieli's civil servant assessment system? Yixin was stunned. He really didn't understand this. If you want to ask, he felt that he couldn't let go or was embarrassed. After all, this time he went on a mission to Europe, because of the war, EnglishGieli was not one of the main countries to investigate. But after all, he had visited and said he didn't understand it, so he really couldn't speak.

After pondering for a moment, he said vaguely: "Why can't you be too hasty if you abolish the imperial examination?"

"The imperial examination system is the foundation of the country. If it is abolished rashly, it will inevitably shake the foundation of the country." Yi Zhizu said without any haste: "But measures can be taken to gradually and calmly abolish the imperial examination. It is just a little longer. The imperial examination is the body and the eight-legged essays are used, but knowledgeable people in the world know that the eight-legged essays are useless.

What will happen if the eight-legged essays are useful and useless in the newspaper, and after refuting the useless in the eight-legged essay, implement the improvement of the imperial examination, ban the eight-legged essay program in the imperial examination, and change it to the test of the scholars with strategy, what will it be? Later, we will add the mathematics exams, add new exams, limit the age of candidates, etc., and the time will take longer, and the imperial examination system will die if it is not abolished."

After hearing this, Yi Xian chuckled: "The imperial examination is the body, the eight essays are used, and the eight essays are abolished. The suspension of the imperial examination is the proper meaning in the question. Adding new learning and math is to promote new learning. Brother Guocheng is good at calculating!"

"It is necessary to abolish the imperial examination system, but not to shake the foundation of the country. It is really not possible to not make good plans." Yi Zhizu smiled and said: "During this period, you can also focus on introducing English civil servant assessment system in newspapers. The imperial examination system itself has a positive role, but it is not suitable for the current era in terms of assessment content.

When you travel to Western countries this time, you should see the strengths of Western countries and their weaknesses. The Qing Dynasty has inherited the traditional culture for thousands of years, and it is not useless. Whether it is reform or innovation, you cannot blindly copy it. You must learn from your strengths and weaknesses and conform to your own national conditions. Otherwise, you may be able to draw on your tiger but become a dog."

After hearing these words, Yi Xin bowed slightly and said with a solemn expression: "I have been taught."

The two of them got off the boat today and came to visit. Yi Zhizu didn't want to leave them to talk for a long time. He raised his wrist and looked at his watch and said, "The two of them are tired from the boat and the car should not be long. Let's talk again next day."

Yi Xiao and Yi Xin were sent out of the yard. Yi Zhizu stopped and watched a few lanterns go away. Wu Changqing, who was like a silly gourd, said softly: "I'm confused. Is the fifth master really willing to abolish the imperial examination?"

"If the Qing Dynasty wants to improve and abolish the imperial examination, it is imperative." Yi Zhizu said softly: "However, it is easy to know and difficult to do. In the court, it is more of a person who has no choice but to help him. We will give him a push."

Promote? Wu Changqing was worried, but he didn't know how to speak. In recent years, he knew very well the importance of the imperial examination system. Many officials he knew were from poor backgrounds, and they all changed their destiny and social status through studying. It would be fine if the court came forward to improve the imperial examination. If Yuan Qi promoted the fire, he would probably be the target of public criticism immediately.

After Yi Zhizu turned back to the study, he hesitated and said: "The shopkeeper, the imperial examination system is so involved in a wide range of people. If you are not careful, Yuan Qi may be pushed to the forefront and betrayal of his relatives..."

"I know." Yi Zhizu nodded, lit a cigarette casually, and said slowly: "Yi Xin, Yi Shin led a delegation to visit Western countries and was most concerned about constitutionalism. These two people have a good vision and know that implementing constitutional reform is the only choice to consolidate the rule of the Qing court. However, to implement constitutional reform, the imperial examination must be abolished. Those two masters are more anxious than us."

After leaving the Zhenhai Duke's Mansion and getting on the four-wheeled carriage, Prince Chun Yi Ting said: "What Yi Guocheng said is not without reason. To implement constitutional reform, we cannot expect a group of officials who read the Four Books and Five Classics and are good at writing eight-legged essays... However, this abolishing the imperial examination will affect the whole body."

Yi Xin tightly silenced her mouth and said for a long time: "Following step by step, abolishing the imperial examination, it is definitely not something that can be said in a hurry. Yi Guocheng had long intended to abolish the imperial examination. This is to use our hands to abolish the imperial examination."

"The abolition of the imperial examination is a great deal. In the current situation, the court must have opposed it." Yi Xian said carefully: "It is rare that Yiguocheng has such a meaning. You might as well work with it and promote it together."

Yi Xin asked without any haste: "Yiguocheng advocated and vigorously supported the imperial court to send envoys to visit Western countries. What is the purpose?"

Yi Xiao said: "Isn't it just that the court can carry out top-down reforms?"

"What are the benefits of this for Yuan Qi?" Yixin and Zhou Zhao said with a brow.

"No matter what Yiguocheng is thinking, even if we know it is a pit, we have to pinch our noses and jump down?" Yising said: "If we do not reform the law, we cannot save the current crisis in the court. Even if we do not perish in Yuanqi, we will perish in the West. We have no choice."

He didn't know this, Yi Xin sighed lightly and said quietly: "Let's talk about it when you return to the capital."

"I want to stay in Shanghai." Yixing said softly.

Yixin understood his intention to stay in Shanghai, but he didn't dare to make decisions on this matter without authorization. He immediately joked: "In a blink of an eye, two years, will the fifth brother not miss his beautiful wife in the mansion?"

Yi Xian smiled bitterly and said, "Once you return to Beijing, it will be difficult to come to Shanghai again. I will send a sealed telegram."

"Okay." Yi Xin's first thought.

:.:
Chapter completed!