An important factor that cannot be separated from the stability of political power in the Middle Ages is the closure of public opinion. The household registration system has lasted for thousands of years in China. The people have been locked in their hometowns. Their education level is very low. Not only do they not have newspapers, television and other media, but even among them More than 90% of people are illiterate.
The law stipulates that people cannot leave their hometown hundreds of miles away at will, so their world is only that one county or simply one township and one town. The outside world is a complete myth to them.
In a closed and ignorant society, there are only two ways for people to receive information. One is official spin. The county government will regularly release some court policies, such as tax cuts, the emperor's wedding, the emperor's birthday, and amnesty. ...and so on.
It is absolutely impossible for you to expect the imperial court to expose its family scandal. The second way to receive information is word of mouth. Those traveling monks, merchants from far away, and small traders walking in the streets, including those skilled people who travel all over the country, what they say The world is what the people imagined the Qing Dynasty to be like.
It's funny to say that the word "traveling south and north" is neutral in Chinese vocabulary. It is a kind of honorific for those knowledgeable people among the people.
In ancient times, if you had no fame and were not a big landowner, but you were lucky enough to travel all over the country, even if you only experienced five or six counties, you could be considered a capable person in your hometown. Even the small landowners in the villages and towns had to be tall. One look at you, this kind of person should take the main seat at the red and white wine banquet.
This shows how closed-minded the Chinese people were in the Middle Ages!
Because of the isolation and ignorance, the imperial court could cover up those scandals at will, because they knew that even if the capital was breached, it would be difficult to spread the news to the whole country, let alone the people. The common people were actually a bunch of blind people.
All the imperial court had to do was to control the mouths of the scholars. As long as those academic scholars and pampered civil servants in the fields did not talk nonsense, and as long as they still spoke well of the imperial court, then that would be fine. Then the Qing Dynasty would still be the best. Stable.
Rakshasa ghosts used the negotiation table to cede millions of square kilometers of land in the Far East? Sorry, this has been taken away for ten years. In fact, the people in the Central Plains have no idea at all. They don't even have a concept of the Far East, let alone what those territories are.
But if the Manchus and Qing Dynasties officially went to war with the Rakshasa ghosts and mobilized the country's resources and strength for a national war, then the news could not be concealed. Because once a war breaks out, all provinces, prefectures, counties, and villages must mobilize, recruit troops, pay grain, collect cowhide, and make iron tools, including gathering civilians.
The whole country has to mobilize, and resources are concentrated from every village upwards. Now the news cannot be concealed. Hundreds of millions of people across the country are all aware of this war, and looking forward to the final victory has become a necessity in the hearts of the people. eager.
But can the Manchus win? The answer is very ambiguous. The Manchu Qing, who is already afraid of foreigners, really dare to fight against the Rakshasa ghost? What if we lose? The court's face would be lost, and the foundation of the Manchu Qing's rule would be correspondingly loosened.
Sakamoto Ryoma broke it apart, crushed it into pieces, and instilled this truth into Emperor Tongzhi bit by bit. Zai Chun, who was already smart, understood everything by just turning his head around. He clenched his fists tightly and a sense of humiliation came to his heart, and his face turned red. Incomparable.
You have to strike while the iron is hot. Sakamoto Ryoma knew that the heat had arrived, the pig iron had been softened, and the last wedge finally fell.
"Hey... I mean, I don't feel bad for selling my father's land! Everything in the world cannot escape the same cause and effect. If the concubines of the officials and other people controlled by the snitches are not greedy and want to steal everyone's property, She won’t attract outside ghosts either…”
"Similarly! If there was no corruption and smuggling group created by Yishan and the others, then they would not get involved with the Rakshasa ghosts, and there would be no leverage in the hands of the other party, and the court would not have any leverage at the negotiation table. To be so passive!”
"After all, this country is not theirs! After all, it is not theirs..."
"Haha, hahaha..." Zai Chun smiled, and his smile was extremely sad. "Stop talking, I already understand everything the Master said! I see, that's it, this game of chess is really complicated. I thought I have made all preparations to enter the game..."
"But I never expected that they didn't even tell me the most basic rules! I am a fool, and I will be a puppet in the future when I sit on the throne!"
"If there had been no trip to the Far East, if there had been no war in Vladivostok, would the secrets of Yishan and Tepushin have been hidden forever?"
Sakamoto Ryoma nodded, "Yes, not only will it be hidden now, but there will not be a single ink in the history books in the future!"
With a muffled bang, Zai Chun punched the table, "Okay! They are all loyal ministers! Big loyal ministers... I can imagine that if I didn't know all this, I would be sitting on the dragon throne and taking charge of the government. Now, seeing that all of them are loyal ministers, I still want to reuse them..."
"Hahaha... But they don't know why they are laughing at me. They make me, a stupid dog, run back and forth on the wall. I will bear the infamy through the ages. They will benefit from it! Is this my subject? Okay, okay..."
Zai Chun laughed and cried like a lunatic, "They are all actors! They are all famous actors! In the hall, they knelt and kowtowed, shouting "Long Live" and saying loyal words... Why are they all acting so similar? They are all famous actors from Forty-Nine City! A bunch of bad actors..."
Sad and angry, Zai Chun grabbed Sakamoto Ryoma's hand and whispered, "Teach me, Master! I beg you for mercy and enlightenment, please give me some guidance... As long as I take charge, the Lama Temple in Beijing will be yours! I will make you the national master. I just ask you to help me!"
"I'm really at a loss now, I really don't know what to do!"
Sakamoto Ryoma felt a burst of sadness in his heart. Is this the emperor too? Is this the emperor in the eyes of the people? In fact, he is just a poor man. Why do so many people in all dynasties want to rob him of such a hard job? Stupid!
"Your Majesty, even if you don't tell me, I will give you advice! I have been removed from the power system by the Prime Minister. Although I can still stay by the Prime Minister's side and participate in politics, everyone knows that I have no hope of becoming a knight in this life. This is the Prime Minister My punishment..."
"I can pardon you! After I take charge, I will be the emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and I can reuse you! If the master returns to secular life, he will be an important minister in the court and a distinguished noble among the nobles! If you don't want to return to secular life, you can choose the dojo in the capital! I Provide for you..."
"That's it, that's it! Just think that I owe Your Majesty this karma! Who made you and I predestined? I will help you get on your horse!"
Ryoma Sakamoto came up to Zai Chun and said softly, "Let me give a message to Your Majesty first. You will learn more about him these days!"
"Be pragmatic and not pragmatic! Want power but not fame! Absolutely..."
