Dominate the Country

Political skills and political wisdom are not something that can be increased just by saying it will grow. Although more experiences will turn experience into energy and replenish your brain. But Chen Ming may be one of those people with relatively low innate political ability.

Such a person is more cautious about his own governance, and Chen Ming also pays great attention to the evaluation of the outside world.

"Your Majesty, the manor in Qixia Mountain has become a platform for Europeans in China to speak freely. Everyone can tell their new and strange understanding of China. For example, Russian Ambassador Muravyov and Mr. Perrier before, they all saw your supreme power and majesty in ruling the country; and Robert, Bronte and Mr. Watson saw your respect and seriousness for the law..." Rodoni gradually faded out of the palace two years ago. He bought an abandoned farm at the foot of Qixia Mountain and built the Rothschild Manor on the basis of the farm. Soon it became a place for private gatherings for Europeans in China.

In the imperial garden, the emerald green in front of me looks so pleasing to the eye. Chen Ming walked on the path, followed by Newton. As a patriot, Newton continued to belittle France and Russia, the two biggest enemies of the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Before the outbreak of the Great Revolution, France had always been a symbol of the centralization of European monarchy, and after France, Russia was the base camp of the feudal monarchy in Europe.

"So, what do they think of this set of bills that have just been announced?"

In February, the law that had been brewing for more than a month was finally released. In the past few days, the whole of China has been madly spreading the relevant punishment regulations for the illegal and disorderly behavior of officials' relatives and children and the officials themselves. This is finally a law to seriously restrict one or two.

And this law of the court was so fast from formulation to promulgation. It was just filed in the Ministry of Justice, and the specific regulations were released in a blink of an eye. It felt too sudden, and I felt shocked and puzzled. Although after this shock and puzzlement faded, countless people were smiling.

Because the formulation of these regulations really stood on the standpoint of ordinary people.

If the children or relatives of officials have any misconduct, we will not mention the serious cases. For minor cases, such as fighting and bullying, as long as the matter is confirmed, they will be recorded with one point. After ten points, the official himself does not need to consider any future, because if he gets another ten points, his official hat can be wiped off.

The evaluation and promotion of officials also refer to these points. People with high scores, hehe, will certainly have obstacles in promotion. And it can only be eliminated after a term of three or five years.

Chen Ming was not going to eliminate it at first, but considering the mood of the vast majority of civil and military officials, he thought it would be better to do it bit by bit. First, formulate a "loose" framework, and then tighten it bit by bit.

After this law was promulgated, as far as Chen Ming knew, the Chinese people were very happy. Since ancient times, officials and the people have been in opposition. If officials are uncomfortable, then the people are comfortable. But he wanted to know more about how Westerners view this issue.

In the Western world of this era, corruption is much more serious than in China. There is no country that is not dark, and no official who is not corrupt. Chen Ming wanted to know how Westerners viewed this set of laws.

"Your Majesty, we cannot agree with your thinking. This set of newly introduced laws is too restrictive for nobles and officials. We can be sure that you are standing on the standpoint of civilians to formulate this set of laws. Just like the "Labor Protection Law" you formulated before..."

"Isn't this right? Protecting the interests of vulnerable groups can better promote the development of society and maintain social stability." This is Chen Ming's understanding, and it is also the policy purpose of many Chinese native "honest officials".

But Newton said: "Shouldn't the law serve the ruling class to rule the country? It is a means for the rulers to rule the ruled." So Newton and others could not accept some of the laws formulated by Chen Ming. "So, Your Majesty, some of the laws you have formulated are simply impossible to appear in Europe. Your kindness covers all classes of society." Newton believed that the glory of the emperor only needed to cover the middle and upper classes, and the vast lower classes were too far away from the emperor. That is to say, the emperor of China has supreme power throughout the country, so he can launch such plans again and again. If it were in Europe, the monarch's behavior would be a betrayal of the noble officials and the wealthy business class. Even in France, where the monarch has the greatest power, it would be impossible to truly implement it in the world.

"Your Majesty, your thinking is too deeply influenced by the traditional Chinese idea of ​​universal harmony."

In this era when capitalism has not yet fully developed, Chen Ming is too advanced in his eyes to formulate some laws to protect the proletariat.

The true meaning of capital is to make all profits. When the proletariat has not shown an unbearable momentum, the pursuit of capital is to squeeze out all profits as much as possible. Only when the contradictions cannot be mediated and resolved will they be forced to give in and give up a little profit in their hands to continue this mode of production in the society, so that they can continue to make profits.

And Chen Ming's approach obviously violates the nature of capital. He took the initiative to give up the profits in his hands when the exploited class has not yet shown their anger, which is of course incomprehensible to Newton and others.

Therefore, Newton, who had a certain understanding of Chinese culture, believed that Chen Ming was deeply influenced by Datongism. He also felt that in the minds of many Chinese scholars, the most ideal world is for everyone in the world to have food to eat and clothing to wear. , have a house to live in.

Thousands of years ago, Du Fu had a very high status in Chinese literature. His poem "Song of Thatched Cottage Broken by the Autumn Wind" said: There are tens of thousands of vast buildings, and the shelter of the poor people all over the world is happy. The wind and rain do not move as peacefully as the mountain. Alas! When I suddenly see this house in front of my eyes, my house alone will be broken down and frozen to death! It fully contains this kind of thoughts and feelings.

It seems that for one or two thousand years, the Chinese people have always had this feeling of pity for the weak and disadvantaged classes.

It was difficult for Newton to understand this idea passed down from ancient times, but he felt that this was the mystery of Eastern civilization that attracted him.

"No poet can become great because of himself and by describing himself, whether describing his own pain or describing his own happiness. The reason why any great poet is great is because their pain and happiness have deep roots. It has penetrated deeply into the soil of society and history, because it is the organ and representative of society, the times, and human beings.”

——"Chinese Culture·Part 6, Chapter 3" by Stephen Newton

…

Luo Dongni is already old. Since the third year of Chengtian, he has stayed more at his manor outside Nanjing instead of traveling around with Chen Hui. He also resigned from the compilation of "A General History of Europe". The experience of taking a ship across thousands of miles of sea waves when he was young left irreparable damage to his body, even though he is only fifty-six years old now.

Ji Xiaolan, who is the same age, is not only energetic, but also successfully entered the Ministry of Culture and Education as the deputy minister with real power during the recently announced adjustment of important officials in ministries and commissions.

However, Luo Dongni no longer has much energy to continue dancing on the Chinese political stage.

Rodong Ni's manor is located at the foot of Qixia Mountain. With Rodong Ni's retirement, it has become an important place for leisure gatherings of Westerners in Nanjing. No, not only Westerners from Nanjing City, but Westerners from all over Jiangnan also like to gather here. At the same time, some wealthy and powerful officials from Jiangnan are also attracted. There are always a group of people who are curious about imported products, right?

Pierre and his wife, who had left France, often came here. Not many Westerners expressed disdain for Pierre's choice. There is no overly fierce concept of loyalty in Western civilization, especially since Pierre wanted to defect to China. This powerful country has nothing to laugh at and despise.

Newton is one of the most distinguished guests here. Every time he comes, he brings a lot of fresh news to the manor, not necessarily palace secrets, but also many anecdotes from China's top political class.

But the crowds coming and going did not disrupt Rodoni's rigorous personal life order. He personally trained his daughter Luo Weier and his youngest son Luo Anluo, who was only fourteen years old, and taught the children nature, algebra, geometry and painting courses. Luo Dongni was not a professional painter, painting was one of his Hobby.

Although his health is not very good, he still properly arranges the lives of his two underage children, asking them to continue to complete their homework and enrich themselves. Although he is not very busy, Rodoni is writing a memoir, and he also likes making purple clay pots. Luo Dongni, who hardly drank tea when he was young, now not only likes drinking tea, but also likes Chinese-style tea drinking, whether it is black tea or green tea.

If he had extra time, he would go back to supervise the work of the workers and slave laborers in the manor, driving them to do this and that, and build uninterrupted building projects one after another.

Because this manor is the best dowry for his daughter. The property left to his younger son is the shares of the family company. Now his eldest son is in charge of the company. His second son is a teacher at the Foreign Affairs College in Nanjing. Has been promoted to associate professor, and then comes his only daughter and youngest son.

Rodoni has retired and seems to be unable to play any role in China's affairs, but anyone who really thinks so is an absolute fool. Luo Dongni has been in and out of Chen Han's power center for so many years, so why is there a trace of hypocrisy between him and many nobles in China? At least during the holidays, the rewards in the palace are never less than his, which can already explain some problems.

So when the sky above Nanjing was filled with strange clouds, Westerners in the embassy area gathered at Luodoni Manor in Qixia Mountain.

The then tall and tough Macau Civil Affairs Chief Rodong Ni has now become thin and old, with wrinkles all over his face and a tendency to walk awkwardly. His hair is completely gray, and his eyebrows are also gray. When he frowns, his eyebrows are deep enough to trap mosquitoes, but his eyes are very sharp.

Rodoni's study room was filled with various things, obviously all commonly used things. A large table - there are books and charts on the table, several tall glass bookcases - the keys are inserted directly into the cabinet doors, and a high table designed for standing and writing - there is an open book on the table. A notebook, a blank car - there were several tools nearby. It was a magical tool. Rodoni used the rotating wheel-like object to pull out the blank tires one by one.

Rodong Ni obviously cherishes this utensil. There is no mud around it. Rodong Ni always cleans it with his own hands after using it.

Rotoni, who always had a serious expression when working, was very gentle when facing his daughter. He looked at Rovel with concern and said, "What's the matter? Why do you look so frightened?"

"Dear father, Catherine sent me a letter and I just received it."

"Then there must be terrible news in the letter?" Rodoni said with a smile.

"Yes, father. Catherine's brother Piro was drafted into the army by the colonial army in Batavia, and Catherine's fiancé Jose..." Rovel looked terrified.

War can be used as a joke when it is still far away from you, but when the war really involves your own people, it is too terrible.

Catherine was Rovel's playmate when she was a child. Catherine's father was a big boss of the Dutch East India Company in Guangzhou. His family lived in Macau and was Rovel's neighbor. Her brother Piro also wrote to Rovel. Rovel also met Jose, who was three years older than Catherine. But they were not engaged at that time.

Rodoni frowned, and he reached out to take Rovel's letter. He wanted to read it carefully, and he smelled a lot of information from his daughter's words. If he remembered correctly, Jose, who was engaged to Catherine, was only seventeen years old this year.

Catherine wrote in the letter:

Dear friend, parting is such a terrible and painful thing!

The whole Batavia is talking about war, they only talk about war. My brother and fiancé received the company's conscription letter one after another. One of them is in the navy, and the other became a member of the artillery guard. ……………… God played a huge joke. In Europe, we [the Netherlands] fell out with the Anglo-Saxons. Our former allies have abandoned the United Provinces. Some people speculate that London intends to attack the United Provinces to strike at the increasingly arrogant armed neutral alliance...

May God bless you, the almighty God is merciful and appoints an angel to serve as our commander. I hope he can suppress the crazy Anglo-Saxons.

God bless my brother and fiancé, I don’t want to lose either of them.

Dear Mary [Lovel’s original name], I confess to you that their joining the army this time has caused me great pain and worry.

The whole Batavia is full of a sense of failure. Our threats come not only from the British in India, but also from the Chinese in the north..."

"Haha, it’s really funny. Is Batavia going to resist the upcoming war with force?"

Rodoni shook his head and said to his daughter: "You go and write a reply to your friend. Invite her family to Nanjing to play. Let her brother and fiancé withdraw from the army. "Although Rodoni didn't know when China would attack Batavia, he believed that the Dutch in Batavia would not be China's opponent at all. How many people were there?

How many Chinese troops were there? And the deadly secret weapon, the Fire Dragon Bomb, had not been stolen.

The Dutch should not resist Nanjing with force. They should negotiate with Nanjing immediately and give the land to China in a peaceful way in exchange for their greatest rights and dignity.