Jingshi, Haidian, Old Summer Palace, Fangbi Cong.

Xianfeng read the sorted conversation record word by word, raised his face and was silent for a while, then glanced at Yixun and the others who were sitting precariously, and said, "What do you think?" ”

Listening to Xianfeng's mouth, Yixun hurriedly got up and knelt down in front of him, Mianyu, Zaiyuan, Yifang, Su Shun, and Wenxiang got up one after another and knelt down one after another, and Qi Qi stretched out his hand to take off his top and put it aside, and fell to the ground, Yixun said in a deep voice: "The ministers and others prayed to the emperor to abolish the Eight Banners system." ”

Abolish the Eight Banners system? Xianfeng frowned, and was silent for a long time before he said in a low voice: "You all believe in easy contentment?" ”

Yi Xun kowtowed lightly and said: "Your Majesty, Yi Zhixin may have the meaning of pandering, but it is also imperative to abolish the Eight Banners system!" ”

Xianfeng snorted coldly, "Imperative? ”

This cold snort seemed to lower the temperature in the room by a few points, and everyone bent down and didn't dare to move, and Zaiyuan and Wenxiang even regretted wading through the muddy water.

"Your Majesty." Yixun said calmly: "Now that the country is insufficient, the livelihood of the banner people is becoming more and more difficult, and the government and the opposition have long been dissatisfied with the imperial court's policy of spending huge amounts of money and food to support the banner people, and the banner people are gradually dissatisfied with the imperial court because of their difficult livelihoods.

The imperial court wants to change the law and innovate, implement new learning, build factories, and build railways, all of which require large investments, and it is difficult for the imperial court finances to make a big change in the short term, and continuing to maintain the Eight Banners system can only be boiling with public resentment.

Now that the ban has been lifted in the northeast, Mongolia has been lifted, and the northwest is expanding, and Yuanqi is working to recover the vast area east of the Altai Mountains, it is a good time to abolish the Eight Banners system, and millions of banner people, multiplying thousands of people a year, it is really not appropriate to continue to delay. ”

"Your Majesty." Yi Yan continued: "Since the time of Sejong, the livelihood of the Eight Banners has become increasingly difficult, more than 100 years later, it has become a stubborn disease of my Qing Dynasty, the imperial court income is limited, the banner people are infinitely multiplying, and the larger the base, the faster the reproduction, if you don't take advantage of the early solution, there will be a day of collapse." ”

Su Shun added: "Your Majesty, the number of soldiers in the Eight Banners is fixed, and it is maintained at around 300,000 all year round, at the beginning of the founding of the Qing Dynasty, it was still five dings and one amount, and when Gaozong was in time, it was already ten dings and one amount, and now it is fifteen and one ....... ”

"Enough!" Xianfeng said with a gloomy face, the livelihood of the Eight Banners is difficult, he is not unaware, he also knows that the number of bannermen continues to swell, and sooner or later there will be problems, but now is not the time to abolish the Eight Banners system at all, calmed down, and then he said slowly: "Now that Yuanqi is eyeing the southeast, how can the imperial court mess up at this juncture?" ”

"Your Majesty." Mianyu said boldly: "If Yuan Qi has the intention to advocate chaos, he will not go to conquer Goryeo after the defeat of the Xiyi Four Kingdoms Alliance, and the ministers think that even if Yuan Qi has the intention of advocating chaos, he must have some scruples, and now is a good time for the imperial court to change the law and strengthen itself."

In addition, the abolition of the Eight Banners and the reform of the military system complement each other, and if they are properly implemented, they will not only be supported by the banner people, but also praised by the government and the opposition, which will help win the hearts of the people and reform the law and improve themselves. ”

The abolition of the Eight Banners and the reform of the military system complement each other? Xianfeng's heart moved, indeed, the New Army of the Eight Banners is now beginning to take shape, and it is imperative to reform the military system, speaking of which, it is indeed a good opportunity to abolish the Eight Banners system.

Seeing Xianfeng, he didn't say anything, Su Shun estimated that he was on the point, and immediately continued: "Your Majesty, the Qing Dynasty has been established for more than 200 years, and the banner people are indeed a little out of shape now, abolishing the Eight Banners system, cutting off the privileges of the flag people, and letting go of the ban on the flag people, it can be said that it kills three birds with one stone, which is not only beneficial to the court, but also beneficial to the flag people, and can also cut off the people's dissatisfaction with the court, and win the praise ......of the government and the public." ”

"More importantly, the abolition of the Eight Banners is conducive to the reform of the military system of the imperial court." Yixun took over the conversation and said: "The Eight Banners military system is no longer suitable for the current war, in the first battle of Crimea, the two sides invested millions of troops, Russia suffered more than 500,000 casualties in the first war, and Britain and France suffered more than 300,000 casualties.

The invasion of the four countries of Xiyi, the first battle of Jinjing, the new army of Yuanqi annihilated more than 10,000 British troops in half a day, showing the huge lethality of firearms, and the number of 300,000 soldiers was far from meeting the needs of the current war, and the children of the Eight Banners could not withstand such great consumption!

Therefore, the imperial court innovated the military system, and must adopt a recruitment system to expand the source of troops as much as possible, as for the control of the army, the banner man can serve as a middle, high and high level officer, so as to protect the flag man to the greatest extent. Even if the Eight Banners system is abolished and the privileges of the Banner People are abolished, the Banner People are still the most loyal servants of the emperor! ”

These words really moved Xianfeng, the battle of Zhangjiawan, the battle of Majiakou, the strong combat power of the new army of Yuanqi really shocked him, once Yuanqi advocated chaos and a large-scale war broke out, the casualties would definitely be as high as hundreds of thousands, and the banner people really couldn't afford to consume, and after a long silence, he said: "Kneel down." ”

The people who brought it got up and saluted and retreated, Xianfeng sat in a daze for a long time, then stood up and walked slowly to the window, looking from the window, the garden was full of autumn colors, but he had no intention of appreciating it, and his mind was full of abolishing the Eight Banners system!

He really didn't want to touch the Eight Banners system, which was the foundation of the Qing Dynasty, and all along, the banner people were the pillars of the Qing Dynasty to maintain its rule, even if he knew that the Eight Banners system would not be maintained sooner or later, he didn't want to abolish it in his own hands, he really didn't want to cause trouble.

However, he now has to think about this issue carefully, not only because the attitude of Yixun and others gives him a lot of pressure, but also because the attitude of Yi Zhixin causes him even more pressure!

As early as when Yuan Qi captured Luzon and established the Provisional Governor's Palace in Manila, Yuan Qi openly preached ethnic equality in Luzon, freedom of hair and clothing, and openly put forward and preached the concept of the 'Chinese nation' several times.

The court's benevolence and various privileges to the banner people were originally quite criticized, and when Yuan Qi openly denounced it and then abolished it, it was inferior, active and passive, occupying not only the opportunity, but the gain and loss of people's hearts.

In all fairness, the current situation is indeed a great opportunity to abolish the Eight Banners system, the reform of the military system can be inclined to the banner people to the greatest extent, Tianjin is preparing to build a series of military factories can also give priority to the flag people, and the northeast, Mongolia, northwest and other places are also suitable for the flag people to relocate, as long as the arrangements are appropriate, it is enough to soothe the loss and dissatisfaction brought by the abolition of the Eight Banners to the flag people.

In addition, the Eight Banners stationed in the southeastern provinces can also be justifiably transferred back to the north or northwest, and the eight banners in the southeastern provinces are now useless at all, but have become hostages-like existence, and he has long planned to withdraw, but there has been no good excuse.

This matter is too important, he doesn't dare to make a decision easily, and let Yixun and the others test the reaction of the clan prince first, he knows very well that his attitude is ambiguous, and Yixun and the others will definitely talk around.

Yixun and others were indeed not idle, and within a few days, there was a rumor that the imperial court wanted to abolish the Eight Banners in the Beijing Division, and it quickly caused a sensation, and there was a heated discussion inside and outside the Beijing Division, and the reaction of the banner people was also divided into two groups, one against and one for support.

Opposition is naturally vested interests, most of them have official positions, rich and do not worry about the livelihood of the banner people, because the banner people have many privileges, in terms of politics, the flag people can enter the official through a variety of ways, such as schools, recommendations, discussions, donations, hereditary, shadows, translators, etc.

Moreover, the official vacancies involving important positions such as military, royal family, ethnic affairs, money, food, and arms are all full and monopolized, and the Han people cannot be touched at all, and the official vacancies are also divided into special full vacancies and Han vacancies. The chief officials of each yamen are also banner people.

In terms of law, the banner people also have many privileges, such as 'commutation' and 'exchange of punishment', special provisions for exemption from death, replacing the main punishment with whipping and shackles, confiscating the army and relocating the army, exempting from repatriation, and setting up a prison yamen specializing in civil litigation of the banner.

In addition, in terms of economy and culture and education, the banner people also have many privileges, and it is these privileges that have established the special status of the banner people in the Qing Dynasty and become the privileged class of the Qing Dynasty.

There are also many banner people who support the abolition of the Eight Banners system, but most of them are banner people who live at the bottom and even have difficulty maintaining their livelihoods.

There is a controversy in the officialdom, and there is also a controversy in the market, all large and small teahouses and restaurants, streets and alleys are talking everywhere, and ordinary flag people go out to meet and greet each other, and they are all asked 'Have you eaten today?' ''Did you drink today' became 'Did you hear today?'..... ’

Prince Rui's Mansion, Study.

Seeing Su Shun come in, Prince Rui Renshou rebuked unceremoniously: "What are you thinking in your head? What is a Flag Man? The flag man is the pillar of the Qing Dynasty, without the flag man, our Qing Dynasty is still called the Qing Dynasty? Yixun wants to implement constitutionalism, what are you fooling around? ”

Su Shun had a smile on his face, and sat down without waiting for the other party's courtesy: "What the prince said is good, but I will ask you next, without the Qing Dynasty, what do you want the flag people to do?" ”

"What do you mean?" Renshou looked suspicious, "Yuanqi wants to rebel?" ”

"The prince's question is fresh." Su Shun laughed and said, "Yuan Qi rebelled, isn't it a matter of time?" ”

"Yuan Qi really wants to rebel?" Ren Shouden was a little unsettled.

"If the imperial court does not change the law and is self-reliant, and Yuanqi rebels, it will be an ironclad matter, this is an obvious matter, do you need to ask?" Su Shun rolled his eyes, "With thousands of miles of rivers and mountains at your fingertips, will Yuan Qi not reach out?" ”

Renshou glared, "Don't buy Guanzi, what's going on?" ”

Su Shun slowly took out a box of cigarettes, took out one and lit it, and asked slowly: "Dare to ask the prince, our Daqing Dynasty is now supported by the flag people?" ”

Renshou shook his head and asked rhetorically: "Is it possible that it is still supported by the Han people?" ”

"It's really supported by the Han people." Su Shun said: "Don't be unconvinced, there is no Yuan Qi, the foreigners may have entered the Beijing Division earlier, without Yuan Qi, the bandits and twist bandits may also enter the Beijing Division, when the imperial court is in danger, where are the banner people?" The officials are busy making money, and those who have no errands are pretending to be uncles, and they have to rely on them, and we may not be able to return to the Northeast now. ”

Renshou opened his mouth, but he couldn't say a word, this can't be refuted, it is indeed a fact, without Yuanqi, it is really hard to say what the Qing Dynasty looks like now.

Su Shun continued: "Since they are a bunch of useless waste, why does the imperial court still risk offending the Han people to raise them? ”

"If the Eight Banners are abolished, Yuanqi will not rebel?" Renshou said angrily: "The banner man is useless, after all, he is still my slave of the Qing Dynasty, a loyal slave!" ”

Su Shun said with a disdainful face: "No matter how loyal the waste is, it is also a waste!" ”

was robbed repeatedly, Renshou was a little annoyed, "You are here to raise the bar today?" ”

"The abolition of the Eight Banners system is considered from two aspects." Su Shun said unhurriedly: "First, it is out of the need to reform the military system, and the other is the need to carry out constitutional reform.

The imperial court must abolish the Eight Banners system and implement the recruitment system to expand the scale of the new army, improve the combat effectiveness of the new army, and prevent the rebellion of Yuanqi.

Therefore, it is necessary to abolish the Eight Banners system, move some of the bannermen to the Northeast to develop the Northeast, and reserve a way to retreat in advance, which is not only a move by the imperial court to preserve its strength, but also to avoid excessive casualties among the bannermen.

The implementation of constitutional reform is also to protect the Qing Dynasty, the constitutional monarchy in England is a responsible cabinet system, and the two political parties take turns to form a cabinet, if they can establish a constitution, it is very likely to encircle Yuanqi, so as to completely avoid the outbreak of war between the imperial court and Yuanqi.

No matter what aspect you consider, it is imperative to abolish the Eight Banners system, and the prince may wish to weigh it more and say hello to those who are disobedient. ”

After being silent for a long time, Ren Shoucai said: "Reform the military system, it is impossible for more than 100,000 Eight Banners Beijing Battalion to be converted into a new army, once the abolition of the Eight Banners is announced, will the banner people who have cut off their livelihood make a rebellion?" ”

"The court doesn't still care about them." Su Shun said indifferently: "The imperial court will allocate money to arrange for them to move to the northeast, Mongolia, and the war in Goryeo is almost over. ”

With a slight groan, Ren Shoucai bowed his head and said: "I'll talk about those minions, don't use your mantis arm as a car." ”

Seeing him say this, Su Shun secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, he knew very well how much resistance to the abolition of the Eight Banners system, those banner people who had a rich life in an official and a half-job would inevitably oppose it, and the banner people who occupied most of the difficult livelihoods might not strongly support it, he knew too well the virtues of those banner people, he wanted to save face and suffer crimes, and he was used to being high, even if he was poor, he couldn't open the pot, and he was unwilling to take the initiative to give up the identity of the flag people.

The only way is to lobby the high-level banner people and persuade them that Xianfeng must consult the opinions of these clan princes for such a big event as the abolition of the Eight Banners, as long as they do not oppose and support the abolition of the Eight Banners, it is useless for the bannermen below to howl their throats.