It must be said that Gordon still has some talent for languages. During the years when he fought in China, his Chinese had reached a certain level. During this time, he stepped up his attacks and now he can communicate normally with the little emperor.
No matter how proficient foreigners are when they speak Chinese, they still have a weird accent, because Chinese has a unique intonation, which is what is known as the four tones in modern languages, and this is something that no one in Europe knows.
Listening to Gordon's ungrateful Chinese, Da Sixi and the others always wanted to laugh but didn't dare, and their faces turned red because they suppressed it.
Zai Chun rolled his eyes at the servants and then said to Gordon with a smile, "I called Aiqing here mainly because I have something I want to ask. I hope Aiqing will give me some advice!"
"Don't dare, don't dare! Your Majesty, what are you talking about..." Gordon raised his buttocks excitedly and kept bowing.
"Sit down, sit down, you are my trusted confidant, treat me as a friend, don't be like those slaves, okay..."
Zai Chun is quite good at winning people's hearts. He knows how to control his subordinates and knows how to prescribe the right medicine. When dealing with Europeans like Gordon, you can't use the same methods that the Manchus used to treat their slaves.
As expected, Gordon looked excited and his loyalty was beyond words!
"My dear... I have always wanted to ask you a question... Many newspapers and books in Europe always mention the word capitalism. What does this mean?"
As soon as the question came out, Gordon's face froze. He looked at Emperor Tongzhi for a long time and didn't know what to say, but the emperor's question had to be answered!
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty... Why do you want to read the newspapers and documents of those socialists? Let me tell you the truth... Please try not to say this word all the time, it is very taboo!"
After thinking about it for a while, Gordon still felt that he should tell the truth to Long Live Lord.
"Your Majesty, there is no problem when you mention the words capital or capitalist, but the word capitalism is a very annoying word in the European political arena!"
"It's not that there's anything wrong with the meaning of the word, it's that the people who always talk about it are annoying... They're all a group of anti-government socialists!"
"Blanquy and others who are causing trouble in Paris are socialists. They shout this word all day long to brainwash the people and spread hatred back and forth..."
"Just watch, Paris will be in chaos sooner or later, and it will be in the hands of these people!"
After all, Gordon is sitting on the side of the rulers. Whether it is the British or the Qing Dynasty, he is a guest of the rulers. His thinking and interests are of course consistent with the government.
This kind of people hate the socialists very much, because these socialists have always been provoking conflicts between the people at the bottom and the elites at the top.
Of course, Gordon will not look at these contradictions from a historical high point. He only analyzes the current situation as a vested interest in them.
Zai Chun smiled, "There are no outsiders here, and I just want to ask for advice on these things that I don't understand. My dear, you can rest assured that I will not talk nonsense in diplomatic situations!"
Gordon then felt relieved, "If someone else asked me, I'm afraid I wouldn't say anything, but His Majesty loves me so much that I will never give up, so of course I can't hide anything..."
"I do not agree with and seriously oppose the concept of capitalism mentioned by those socialists, but Your Majesty wants to know the truth behind it, so I can briefly explain it..."
"In their minds, the so-called capitalism actually means that the country is based on capital! Capital is superior to all people and things. Capital is protected by the state machine, and capital in turn rules the country's people!"
"In their eyes, capital is evil, and all social conflicts are caused by capitalism! For example, the gap between rich and poor! War! Poverty and disease!"
"In their eyes, capital is inherently bloodthirsty and wants to squeeze the blood and sweat of the people!"
Zaichun's eyes lit up when he heard this, "Isn't it like this? Isn't the wealth of capitalists created by workers?"
"Nonsense! Your Majesty, please don't listen to those people's nonsense!" Gordon stood up immediately. "Those are all lies from the socialists!"
"How can it be that workers create value? It is clearly capitalists who create value! Those workers should be grateful! It is capitalists who provide the means of production, new technology, and jobs so that they can have food!"
Gordon's face turned red with anger, "What a bastard. These are such bastards! Workers create wealth? Your Majesty, please think about it. That factory was built by workers? Wasn't it built by capitalists who invested heavily in it?" "
"Whose wealth is the ocean-going ships? Can workers and sailors afford them? It is precisely because capitalists provide ships that they can participate in ocean-going trade!"
"Who drives technology? Without capitalists investing a lot of money, how can new technologies be born? Even if new technologies are born and there are no capitalists to promote their applications, is it all in vain?"
"So Your Majesty, please don't believe the rhetoric of those swindlers! How can they create wealth? They are obviously borrowing money, okay? Without capital to create basic working conditions for them, where can they find employment?"
"How can you put the cart before the horse! How can you put the cart before the horse!"
Zai Chun didn't expect Gordon to be so excited. He quickly asked Xiao Sixi to get him a cup of tea, "Take a rest, dear, don't be excited!"
From today's perspective, Gordon's remarks are of course full of holes, but at the end of the 19th century, Gordon's remarks were the mainstream of society.
Why does Big Beard say that class conflicts are irreconcilable? Because from the most fundamental world view, it is different!
Capitalists have their reasons, which generally make sense to you. Take a look at Gordon's remarks. They indeed represent the social reality of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.
Once these truths come to Zai Chun's ears, Zai Chun will naturally accept them happily, because Zai Chun is also one of the rulers, and he is the emperor above hundreds of millions of people.
Of course, his worldview is similar to that of these European rulers. He also looks down on the untouchables. In the eyes of these people, the wealth of the world is only created by the elite. The untouchables only need to learn to be grateful. How can they not be angry when they are promoted?
Zai Chun said, "What Ai Qing said makes sense. Untouchables should learn to be grateful. If we hadn't given them a bowl of rice, these people would have starved to death sooner or later!"
"That's right! Lord Long Live is right to think so!"
Zai Chun smiled and glanced at him, "Then I have another question. Since the capitalists dominate Europe, let me ask you, money...especially gold...who is going to manage it?"
"Let me be clear, who issues the currency? Who manages the pricing power of gold?"
Hiss... Gordon took a breath of air, "Well... Your Majesty, why do you ask these questions?"
