Before in Fengyuan, from the words blurted out by Yi Yuan, Zeng Guofan had already guessed that Yi Zhixiang's attitude towards the imperial examination was not to abolish it, but to oppose the Bagu Scholars, and now after listening to these words, he knew that the other party was not only against the Bagu Wen, but wanted to add new Western study assessment subjects,

After pondering for a moment, he said slowly: "The donation system has obvious drawbacks, there is no doubt about it, but the opening of the donation can open up another source of wealth for the imperial court, increase revenue, and make up for the shortage of the national treasury.

In the case of preparing for the aftermath of Sichuan and Chu, which was opened in Jiaqing three years, the donation of silver was as high as 30 million taels. In the case of the Henggong opened in the eighth year of Jiaqing, the donation of silver was as high as 21 million taels, and with the current situation of the imperial court, how could it dare to discuss the donation?

In addition, the donation is not useless, the landlords, merchants, and medium-sized families who donated can be among the gentry through donations, which is conducive to stabilizing the rule of the imperial court, and there is no shortage of good officials and capable officials, Li Wei of Yongzheng, Zhang Guangsi of Qianlong, Yang Jingtai, Li Shijie, and Lu Kun of Daoguang, all of whom are ranked as governors. ”

"The reason why the temporary donation during the Jiaqing period is as high as tens of millions of taels is that the temporary donation has not been made for many years, and it cannot be often reasoned." Yi Zhisuff knocked on the cigarette ash and said: "Those who donate to the officials can be good officials, and there is no one in ten thousand, and they can't be generalized."

To reform the law, we must rectify the rule of officials, and to rectify the rule of officials, we must abolish donations. The imperial court often donates only three or four million silver a year, and as long as the imperial court decides to abolish the donation, Yuan Qi can subsidize the imperial court with four million per year. ”

"Brother Guocheng is really rich." Zeng Guofan joked on his lips, but he secretly said in his heart, how strong is Yuan Qi's strength? Only then did he end the war with the four kingdoms of Xiyi, and he dared to subsidize the imperial court with four million taels of silver every year.

Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "Abolishing donations, benefiting the country and the people, this silver is worth it." ”

Even if Yuan Qi subsidizes four million a year, the imperial court is afraid that it will also make up its mind to abolish the donation! Zeng Guofan didn't dare to say along this topic, and immediately pulled back the conversation, "The abolition of the eight shares is also strongly in favor of it, but the imperial examination will increase the number of Western subjects....... If this kind of road is cut off for tens of thousands of scholars, once it is propagated, it will inevitably ...... the whole world. ”

"With such a forward-looking future, how can we change the law and innovate?" Yi Zhizu chuckled and said, "When Ming Taizu ordered the implementation of the examination system of the Eight Shares of Scholars, it should also be the world's turbulence?" Speaking of this, he smiled, "If the imperial examination can't increase the number of Western studies, how can new studies be promoted?" If we can't implement new learning, what's the point of changing the law and innovating? ”

Zeng Guofan did not give in, "The imperial examination is the foundation of the country, how can it be achieved overnight if it affects the whole body?" ”

"In what Brother Disheng thinks, it should be safe, let the wind go first, ten or twenty years later, the imperial court will abolish the eight shares and increase the number of new schools." Yi Zhixiang had a playful look on his face, "In this way, it is safe, but Brother Disheng has not thought about it, will Western countries give us such a long time to calmly change the law and innovate?" Look at the current Shanghai, how much has changed in less than 20 years? ”

Zeng Guofan was speechless and muttered: "Isn't there an economic crisis in the West now? ”

"Western countries are indeed in an economic crisis now, but it will not be too long, it will recover in three or five years, and it will ......." Yi Zhicontent pondered for a moment before saying: "Moreover, every large-scale economic crisis often breeds a new scientific and technological revolution, which will bring new breakthroughs in science and technology.

It has been 100 years since the first industrial revolution opened up the age of steam, and I predict that within a decade or two, it is likely that the second industrial revolution will be ushered in - the electric revolution, the electric age!

If we miss the first industrial revolution, it is not fatal, but if we miss the second industrial revolution, it will definitely be the end of the destruction of the country and the extinction of the species! In the past 20 years, have we delayed? ”

The Second Industrial Revolution – The Electric Revolution, The Electric Age? Zeng Guofan secretly wondered, they had never heard these words in Europe in the past two years, could this guy be alarmist?

Zhao Wenlie also listened to it one by one, and it was the first time he had heard of these terms, and he hesitated for a moment before he said: "The electric revolution that the big shopkeeper said is not electric light?" ”

Yi Zhizu said slowly: "The so-called electrical revolution, the electric era, refers to the wide application of electricity, electric lighting is only one of the applications of electricity, can really lead an era is generators, power plants, internal combustion engines, at present, I am most concerned about the research of several research laboratories in Shanghai is these things." ”

Speaking of this, he looked at Zeng Guofan and said: "Eight shares of scholars, leading to the decline of historiography, Gong Zizhen hated this, once said: The country that destroys people must first go to its history, the fang of fallen people, the program of defeating people, must first go to its history, and the teaching of people must first go to its history; The ancestors of the Yi people must first go to their history.

The imperial examination is added to Western studies, and it is difficult for the scholars of the world to accept it for a while. Scholars are the elite of the country, sitting in the well and watching the sky, closed and blind, not knowing the size of the world, not knowing the country of the world, and can't say it? Geography should also be added. ”

Abolishing the Eight Shares, adding history and geography, Zeng Guofan's eyes lit up, this method is worth trying, and after a little groaning, he said: "Brother Guocheng doesn't want to take the opportunity of abolishing the Eight Shares to build a school and implement a new school?" What about new subjects such as physics, chemistry, and mathematics, ......? ”

"Two prongs!" Yi Zhizu said slowly: "On the one hand, the imperial court abolished the Bagu Wen, added history and geography, maintained the continued operation of the imperial examination system, and gradually reduced the number of places in the imperial examination. ”

Co-authored, this is the real plan of the other party! Zeng Guofan pondered for a moment before he said: "The number of people is fixed, a province is less than seventy or eighty in three years, and more than 100 people....... Exempt from taxation and servitude, and the qualifications to be officials, can Brother Guocheng think about it? ”

"From primary school to middle school to university, to obtain a bachelor's degree, it takes at least 15 years of hard study, which is no easier than the imperial examination." Yi Zhicontent said with a smile: "Graduates who have obtained a bachelor's degree do not necessarily have to be officials, only a small number of them should enter the office, and most of them will enter various fields such as shipbuilding, metallurgy, machinery, transportation, commerce, education, culture, and military industry. ”

This is working, Zeng Guofan glanced at him and said, "Brother Guocheng is really well-intentioned for the sake of the imperial court's reform and innovation. ”

These words obviously have a mocking meaning, but Yi Zhizhi is dissatisfied with his preferences, and said with a smile: "Yuanqi is the Yuanqi of the Qing Dynasty, how can I not know the truth that the skin does not have hair?" ”

"Brother Guocheng has such an idea, so it is best not to have the intention of abolishing the imperial examination." Zeng Guofan said in a very sincere tone: "The imperial examination has been ugly for a long time, and it is the general trend to change the imperial examination, advocate new learning, open up the wisdom of the people, and seek talents, but the imperial examination can be changed and cannot be abolished!"

The imperial examination system has unparalleled superiority, the imperial examination is both a system of selection of bureaucrats and an education system, and the people compete to learn without waiting for persuasion, which can be described as a combination of politics and religion.

The second is fair competition and class mobility, the imperial examination communicates the official and civilian classes, and those who have been white for several generations may become generals and enter the prime minister as soon as they appear on the dragon and tiger list, while the children of official eunuchs who do not interpret the scriptures and have no chance to participate in the scientific field may become commoners.

A good scholar is the son of the common people, and a bad scholar is the son of the common people, on the one hand, there is a way, and on the other hand, wealth and impermanence are impermanent, which is to maximize the flow of talents from all walks of life, and also to achieve equality in the system as much as possible.

From a top-down perspective, the imperial examination selects talents from all walks of life, provides excellent officials for the imperial court, ensures the normal operation of the imperial court, and is conducive to consolidating imperial power.

From the bottom up, the imperial examination is also a well-established promotion channel, and outstanding talents from all walks of life can enter the official through the imperial examination, and even enter the center of the imperial court. ”

After a pause, he continued: "The imperial examination has originated in the Sui and Tang dynasties, and has been practiced for 1,200 years, and has been unswervingly pursued by various dynasties, not only because the imperial examination has many benefits, but also because of the imperial examination, which can make 'the heroes of the world enter the world', and retreat can 'sell the heroic spirit of the world with the imperial examination'." ”

Speaking of this, he glanced at Yi Zhizhi meaningfully, "Brother Guocheng is known for his long-term vision, and he will not do anything like 'abolishing the imperial examination for the sake of revitalizing new learning'." ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled noncommittally, "I also reminded the two princes before, pay attention to the English civil official selection system, Brother Di Sheng can rest assured, Yuan Qi has no intention of abolishing the imperial examination, and he does not have that ability." ”

Seeing his casual expression, Zeng Guofan sighed secretly in his heart, unwilling to bother any more, and asked instead: "How is Zuo Jigao doing in the northwest?" ”

Yi Zhizu said slowly: "Zuo Ji has been promoted to a first-class viscount for his meritorious service, and he has been awarded the title of Counselor of Tacheng. ”

First Rank Viscount? This is a genuine product! Zeng Guofan was happy for Zuo Zongtang, but he couldn't help but be a little jealous in his heart, Zuo Zongtang was just a person, and he was easily satisfied, and he was promoted to a first-class viscount after only a few years, which made him embarrassed that he was born in the officialdom for so many years and was a servant of the ministry.

Yi Zhishu naturally didn't know that Zeng Guofan had mixed feelings in his heart, and continued: "Xinjiang should be established as a province, Brother Disheng might as well make a fold, follow the example of Sichuan, set up a governor, and the governor candidate will recommend Zuo Jigao." ”

Recommend Zuo Jigao as the governor of Xinjiang? Zeng Guofan was shocked, nodded slowly, and said, "The subordinates are soft-spoken, ....... recommend candidates for governor?" ”

"No one is more suitable than Zuo Jigao." Yi Zhizhi said with a smile, paused, and continued: "There is no shortage of talents in Hunan, is there a suitable candidate in the bag of Brother Disheng?" ”

Hearing this, Zeng Guofan was overjoyed, although Yi Zhishu had no position, but he was no different from the king of the torn soil, and he really controlled the land of the ten provinces of the Qing Dynasty.

This is not the time to be humble, he groaned slightly, and then he said: "Brother Guocheng is thirsty for talent, only talent, I don't dare to recommend indiscriminately, and I will go back and carefully sort out a list of recommendations for selection." ”

"Good!" Yi Zhizhi smiled heartily: "The more talents that have been applied by the world, the more the merrier." ”

Two days later, newspapers of all sizes in the southeastern provinces published two articles signed by Changle Jushi in a conspicuous position on the front page, "On the Donation System" and "On New Learning." The former article listed the various drawbacks and injustices of the donation system, pointed out that donation was one of the important reasons for the corruption of officials, and called for the abolition of donation and the prohibition of donation as officials.

The latter article describes the necessity of new learning, calls for the establishment of schools to promote the popularization of new learning, and cultivates new learning talents, and bluntly says that new learning talents must be better than donors to fill the vacancies!

As soon as the newspaper came out, it caused a sensation in the southeastern provinces, and now the officials and gentlemen of the southeastern provinces who do not know that this Changle layman is the pen name of Yi Zhicontent, these two articles are related to the donation of candidates, and the other is related to the new school, which is closely related to the officials and gentlemen of the southeastern provinces, and can be described as the attention of the whole people, and the hot discussion of the whole people.

What does it mean that new learners must be better than donors to fill vacancies? This means that new scholars have the qualifications to be officials and have meritorious fame! For scholars, fame is deep in the bone marrow, new scholars have fame, many gentry and businessmen and ordinary people began to light up, as if they saw a shortcut to fame!

The donor alternate officials in the provinces of the Great Qing Dynasty wanted to cry without tears, and these two articles were tantamount to cutting off all hope that they would go to the southeastern provinces to be alternate! Since Yi Zhishu has written openly in the newspaper, it is definitely not a joke, and the 'Yi Xuan Guan' of the two Nanyang provinces and the southeastern provinces did not wait to see those who donated officials, but now they openly put new scholars in front of them, and there is no hope at all.

The focus of the discussion is not the donation system, but the new learning, the abolition of the abolition of the donation is not not many people to care, if the donation can not make up for the vacancy, it is not much different whether the abolition is not abolished.

But Xinxue was vigorously promoted by Yuanqi, what is the attitude of the imperial court towards Xinxue? Is the status of a new student recognized? With a little bit of eyesight, you can see that Yuan Qi is persecuting, forcing the imperial court to recognize Xinxue, recognize Xinxue talents, recognize Xinxue graduates, and give Xinxue graduates the corresponding status to the imperial examination! Otherwise, why blatantly write in the newspapers?

This matter is not big, it is not small, the court pinched its nose and admitted, it was a great joy, if the court opposed it or dealt with it perfunctorily, this matter may be an introduction, and the court and Yuan Qi may openly tear their faces!

If this is the case, how will Yuan Qi react? Cut the king? Yang or directly raise troops for the Northern Expedition? For a while, the officials, gentry, and businessmen in the southeastern provinces were a little uneasy, nervously waiting for the reaction of the imperial court.

The influence of these two articles was too great, and the next day, the northern newspapers also reprinted them one after another, and for a while, the whole country and the north and the south, the government and the opposition paid attention to it!