Xiang Nan accompanied Prince Jing and Lu Zhengming to eat at Shiweitian.
During the dinner, Prince Jing and Lu Zhengming talked about reforms and reforms, with great interest and confidence.
It seems that with the emperor's edict, all problems are solved.
The success of the reform is just around the corner. In less than half a year, the Qing Dynasty would be able to eliminate all its ills, regain its strength, and become a world power.
Seeing how naive they were, Xiang Nan couldn't help but sigh secretly.
They have forgotten that those who advocated reform throughout the ages almost never ended well.
Although Shang Yang's reform was successful, he was killed; Wu Qi was shot by the old nobles before his reform was successful; Wang Anshi's reform also encountered many obstacles, and finally died in depression; Zhang Juzheng promoted the reform, but was criticized by the opposition after his death. He almost had his coffin opened, his body whipped, his house confiscated and his family exterminated...
Because the essence of reform is to change the rules of interest distribution and take out the cake in the hands of vested interest groups and distribute it to other groups. As a result, vested interest groups will naturally oppose it.
Vested interest groups have long held distribution advantages and have accumulated considerable power. Once they fight back, their resistance will naturally be extremely violent.
Therefore, all the reforms in the past dynasties have failed more and succeeded less.
And the reform reforms are doomed to fail.
First, the promoters are too naive. Prince Jing and Lu Zhengming never thought about what would happen if the reform failed. They all thought that as long as the emperor issued an edict, the reform would be successful.
It never occurred to me that the emperor was nothing more than a puppet. The Empress Dowager Cixi asked him to be the emperor, so that he could become the emperor. If he is not allowed to be the emperor, he will be kicked off the throne in a matter of minutes.
Historically, Guangxu was put under house arrest by the Empress Dowager Cixi and then poisoned to death. No one in the civil and military dynasties dared to say a word. Therefore, expecting a puppet to promote reforms is tantamount to seeking fish from a tree.
Second, the promoters were too reckless. One imperial edict abolished the imperial examinations, one imperial edict eliminated the green camp, and one imperial edict abolished the hard-core crops of the bannermen... They did not take into account the millions of scholars and dozens of people in the world. Where is the way out for thousands of soldiers and millions of bannermen?
Destroying someone's wealth is like killing one's parents. It would be strange if they didn't make a fuss.
Of course, if there are many people who support the reform, then it will be useless for the opposition to cause trouble. However, the reformers did not know how to mobilize the masses. The common people did not know what the reform was, so naturally they would not support them.
As a result, the force of opposition was strong and the force of support was weak, so that the reform movement only lasted for about a hundred days before it was over.
However, although Xiang Nan felt like a mirror in his heart, it was difficult for him to say these words.
First, the reformists such as Prince Jing, Lu Zhengming, Kang Youwei, and Liang Qichao were all too confident. At the time, no one had opinions about their radical behavior, but they simply refused to listen.
Secondly, the reform is doomed to fail. Even if they were reminded and they listened to the advice and pushed carefully, they would not be able to succeed.
Because their ideas are fundamentally wrong, and placing their hopes on the reform and innovation of the ruling class is unworkable.
The great man once said that revolution is not a dinner party, but revolution requires bloodshed and sacrifice. Revolution is a riot, a violent action in which one class overthrows another class.
The British Revolution and the French Revolution both finally succeeded after many brutal wars that lasted for decades and repeated many times, killing people and causing bloodshed.
So Xiang Nan would rather hide far away than get involved in these nonsense.
…
"Xi Langzhong, why aren't you talking~" Lu Zhengming got excited about talking to the prince. Seeing that Xiang Nan was only focused on eating but silent, he couldn't help laughing.
"Hey, I'm a country man. I haven't read many books and I don't have much knowledge. How can I get involved in these family and country affairs." Xiang Nan waved his hands and smiled, "You and the prince have to worry about family and country affairs. That’s it.”
"Everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of a country. Whoever says it has nothing to do with you." Prince Jing said with a smile, "Let me tell you, reform and innovation have a lot to do with you ordinary people."
"Reform, is it juggling? We also have jugglers in Cangzhou. Wuqiao Kuaishou Liu's Three Immortals Return to the Cave is one of the best in the world." Xiang Nan pretended to be confused and interrupted.
"Forget it, forget it, you'd better eat your food." Upon hearing this, Prince Jing smiled and waved his hands. Talking about reform with a stickman like Xiang Nan is tantamount to playing the piano to an ox.
Lu Zhengming also shook his head and smiled, seemingly speechless.
Seeing this, Xiang Nan couldn't help but sigh secretly.
These reformers are really arrogant and not down to earth at all. People don't understand, and they don't know how to publicize, promote, or educate. It's no wonder that not many people support them.
In comparison, our party understands the truth that the people are the creators of history. Therefore, we went deep into the masses, contacted the masses, mobilized the masses, relied on the masses, and finally won the victory of the revolution with the support of the masses.
…
Wang Tianhe Mansion.
Wang Tianhe summoned Tian Kui and asked him about the progress of harming Yixiaotang and Shiweitian.
"How's it going? Have you found someone to bribe?" he asked.
When Tian Kui heard this, he shook his head.
"What's going on? It's been a few days, why are you moving so slowly?" When Wang Tianhe saw it, he immediately said angrily, "If you don't have the ability and can't do it well, tell me as soon as possible and I'll replace it with someone else."
Tian Kui secretly cursed, "If you can find someone else, you don't have to rely on me all the time."
"Sir, the apprentices and clerks of Yixiaotang and Food for Heaven are all fellow villagers invited from Cangzhou. They know each other well and have lived together for several years. They have deep feelings.
In addition, the rules of Yixiaotang and Shiweitian are very strict, and the apprentices and clerks all abide by the rules, and there are no treacherous or cunning people. So it's very difficult to buy it. ” he explained later.
In ancient times, if young people wanted to learn skills from a teacher or work as a clerk in a store, they did not just go there if they wanted to.
First, it must be local and knowledgeable; second, it must have a guarantor as a guarantee; third, it must go through a long period of testing. Only those who are honest, loyal, smart, capable, and diligent will be left behind. Those who are stupid, cunning and lazy will be driven out soon.
People who are honest, loyal, and diligent are not easily tempted, and naturally they are not easy to be bribed. Furthermore, if something happens, they are all locals and cannot run away. Therefore, they are difficult to bribe.
Tian Kuidu contacted a few tentatively, but no one dared to mess around.
"You idiot, don't you know how to increase the money?" Wang Tianhe immediately scolded him upon hearing this.
"Master Wang, it's not about adding more money." Tian Kui waved his hand and said, "In my opinion, there is no chance of buying the clerks in the store to cause trouble. It would be easier to find a nimble thief and sneak into the pharmacy and kitchen. some."
"I don't care who you find, in short, I want to see the results as soon as possible." Wang Tianhe ordered.
"Yes, sir." Tian Kui immediately bowed.
