Shanghai, Zhennan Wangfu, Changle Book House.

In his early thirties, Feng Tiankui, who was wearing a suit with short hair, walked into the courtyard quickly, his steps were light and fast, and his leather shoes with iron palms clattered on the bluestone slab, as if to show his spring breeze. Leather shoes are a new trend and are expensive, and the leather shoes are palmed to protect the soles from being worn out.

Feng Tiankui is the first batch of students to return to China, and is currently the director of the Metallurgical Research Institute of Baoshan Iron and Steel Plant, he is indeed proud of the spring breeze, although there are many people in a huge courtyard, it is very quiet, and the sound of clattering is particularly eye-catching in the yard, Lin Meilian, who walked in front, couldn't help but look back at him after all, and said softly: "When you see the big shopkeeper later, don't wear leather shoes with soles, the big shopkeeper likes to be quiet." ”

Feng Tiankui also noticed that his footsteps ruined the silence in the courtyard, and when he heard this, he paused and hesitated: "Or, take off your leather shoes?" ”

Lin Meilian smiled, "That's not necessary." After a pause, she continued: "Director Feng is from Yuan Qiyixue?" ”

"Yes." Feng Tiankui said with a smile: "I was sold to Yuan Qiyi, but I didn't expect it to be a blessing in disguise." ”

"Have you been in touch?"

Feng Tiankui's expression darkened, "I've been looking for it all these years, but there has been no ........ news." After a pause, he added: "It's from Guangxi." ”

The Taiping army was in turmoil, Guangxi was the hardest hit area, Lin Meilian sighed secretly and said with relief: "Don't be discouraged, Guangxi has immigrated to Annan and Nanyang for many ....... ”

"Thank you." Feng Tiankui said softly, he had long lost hope in his heart, Yuan Qiyi had a lot of students from Guangxi, and Yuan Qi had been helping to find their relatives over the years, and there were very few who could be found.

As they spoke, the two of them had already arrived outside the study, and Lin Meilian stretched out her hand and politely said, "Mr. Feng, please——。 ”

Bowing slightly, Feng Tiankui deliberately lightened his steps and walked into the room, and at a glance he saw Yi Zhizhi being lying on the desk, he hurriedly stepped forward and bowed and said, "Student Feng Tiankui has seen the principal. ”

"Tiankui is here." Yi Zhishu glanced up at him and said, "Sit down, it'll be fine right away." After writing the last line, he put down his pen and got up, and after sitting down, he asked directly, "Has there been any progress recently?" ”

"Nope." Feng Tiankui said with some embarrassment: "I have tried many methods, but the effect of phosphorus removal is not ideal. ”

Although the current open-hearth steelmaking converter steelmaking has greatly increased the steel output, the steel produced is generally high in phosphorus and cannot meet the needs of the military industry.

"Dephosphorization technology can't be achieved overnight, don't worry." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "I will give you a new task, artillery technology has been greatly improved recently, but better quality spring steel is needed, there may be a large-scale war in Yuanqi in the next two years, and there is an urgent need to improve artillery technology." ”

Feng Tiankui hurriedly said: "When the students go back, they will transfer people to conduct research on spring steel."

lit a cigarette, Yi Zhizhi said slowly: "Metallurgical technology is one of the basic technologies, widely used, especially in the field of military industry, the status is very important, guns, artillery, ironclad ships are closely related to metallurgical technology, it can be said that metallurgical technology directly determines the level of a country in the fields of industry, science and technology, military industry and other fields."

Although Yuanqi has always attached great importance to metallurgical technology, but this is not enough, I am preparing to open a metallurgical major in the university, and train a large number of metallurgical talents........ ”

Seeing that Yi Zhixiang attaches so much importance to metallurgy, Feng Tiankui was both happy and excited, and said loudly: "The principal attaches so much importance to metallurgical technology, and in a few decades, China's metallurgical level will inevitably be able to catch up with and surpass Western countries." ”

Yi Zhishu nodded slightly, and said: "As a metallurgical leader, you should adopt a more open attitude, actively introduce talents, cultivate talents, as for research topics, in addition to task topics, you can take the initiative to apply, and there is no need to worry about funding." ”

Feng Tiankui hurriedly got up and said, "The student understands that he will not disappoint the principal's high expectations. ”

Feng Tiankui just came out of the study, and Zhao Liewen walked in quickly, and said with a smile: "The big shopkeeper, the military aircraft department called, and Su Xiang went to Shanghai to review the Constitution, the House Law, and the Election .......Law. ”

What do you mean? Is this an intention to promulgate the Constitution ahead of schedule? Ci'an is showing his attitude - honestly promoting constitutionalism? It seems that the exposure of the Qingdao base has caused a lot of deterrence to the imperial court, and after a slight sigh, Yi Zhizhi said: "It seems a bit of a fuss to let Su Shun, the chief military minister, come to Shanghai, shouldn't the Queen Mother be inclined to let Su Shun form a cabinet regent?" ”

Hearing the tone of this, Zhao Liewen said tentatively: "The big shopkeeper likes King Gong? ”

"It depends on who the Queen Mother prefers." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "If we want to promote the realization of constitutional government in the Qing Dynasty in a peaceful way, we must fully respect the opinions of the Queen Mother. ”

Zhao Liewen was stunned for a moment, "I'm afraid this is not conducive to the realization of real constitutionalism, right?" ”

Yi Zhisuff sneered: "Our country's more than 2,000 years of feudal autocracy, the imperial autocracy has been deeply rooted, to achieve a real constitutional government, how easy it is to say, this requires a long process, at least three generations or even four or five generations of unremitting efforts, it is possible to achieve real constitutional democracy." ”

So long? Zhao Liewen hesitated and said, "So difficult? ”

"It's far more dangerous than we thought." Yi Zhizhi said in a deep voice, he knows better than anyone how difficult it is to achieve constitutional democracy in the Qing Dynasty, and it can even be said that it is beyond imagination.

Seeing that he seemed reluctant to say more, Zhao Liewen pondered and said: "The royal family does not enter the cabinet, although King Gong is a leading figure in the constitutionalism, he is also the ....... of today's imperial uncles. ”

"There is no need to copy the Western system, the national conditions of each country are different." Yi Zhizhi said disapprerovingly: "What we need at present is the peaceful implementation of constitutional government, which can make a little concession appropriately, and various laws and regulations can be gradually improved in the future. ”

Zhao Liewen glanced at him and said, "Puppet cabinet? ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled, "Sort of, slowly transition." ”

Three days later, Su Shun and his entourage arrived in Shanghai in a very low-key manner, and lived in the 'Danxiang Garden' not far from the Zhennan Palace.

Ci'an's sudden change of attitude, actively promote the constitutional process, the happiest is more than Shun, Ci'an's change of attitude means that the imperial court to implement the constitution no longer has any obstacles, what makes him even more pleased is that now Gong Wang Yi's situation is a little embarrassing and in the Wa Kingdom, this is an extremely rare opportunity for him, besides, Ci'an let him come to Shanghai this time, it is also a very clear signal.

Hearing the news that Su Shun was coming, Yi Zhishu greeted him at the gate of the courtyard of Changle Book House as usual, and Su Shun came quickly, he smiled and greeted a few steps, but Su Shun was still more than ten steps away and smiled: "After a few years, the demeanor of Brother Guocheng is still the same." ”

Yi Zhizhi arched his hand and smiled: "Brother Yuting is proud of the spring breeze, and his brilliance is better than in the past. ”

"Where does the spring breeze come from?" Su Shun said with a hearty smile: "It's late autumn now, and it's autumn when there is wind." ”

"It's not possible to fight the autumn wind." Yi Zhizhi smiled and said, "I don't have any food left here." ”

Su Shun said with a smile: "If Brother Guocheng has no surplus food here, the Qing Dynasty will have a famine." ”

The two smiled and saluted, entered the study and sat down, and asked with concern: "When will the war against the Japanese end of the war?" ”

"Brother Yuting, is this concerned about the war or about King Gong?"

"Of course they all care."

"There was a rare famine in the Japanese country, and the war went very smoothly without any suspense." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "As for King Gong, he has already set off for Shanghai yesterday. ”

"So fast?" Su Shun was a little surprised.

"I heard that the situation has changed, where can he still sit still in the Wa Kingdom? I didn't hear about it until after he set off. Yi Zhicontent said with a smile, "What are you worried about, he can't go back to Beijing without following the order." As he spoke, he turned his head, "Is it really a change of heart?" ”

King Gong's visit to Shanghai was not good news for Su Shun, he found that he seemed to be happy too early, he didn't dare to think about it, and replied: "The Queen Mother is not a change of heart, but has no choice!" ”

"No choice?"

Su Shun rolled his eyes, "The exposure of more than a dozen ironclad ships in Qingdao not only shows that Yuanqi's naval combat power is strong, but also shows that Yuanqi has a strong industrial foundation and has the ability to build a large number of ironclad ships, not to mention the powerful new artillery."

Even if Britain and France had the intention to vigorously support the imperial court before, they would die down after learning this news, and without the support of Britain and France, what would the royalists do to compete with Yuan Qi? Forced to be helpless, the Queen Mother could only honestly implement the constitution to ensure the continuity of the Qing Dynasty. Brother Guocheng planned it single-handedly, so why ask knowingly? ”

Yi Zhicontent smiled: "I'm just confirming it." ”

"Conclusive?" Su Shun's heart moved, "Wouldn't it be uneasy?" Is it not worrying about the Queen Mother? Still not worried about Britain and France? ”

"What's upset?" Although the naval strength, industrial base and ironclad construction capacity of Britain and France are not comparable to Yuanqi, it is impossible for the two countries to make a large-scale expedition to the Qing Dynasty and Yuanqi, Germany is rising rapidly, and the next target is France, and Britain and France have no time to take care of the Far East.

After a pause, he changed his words, "The Constitution, the House Law, the Election Law and other constitutional regulations have been drafted, you should seize the time to review and see if there are any places that need to be amended, and try to promulgate them as soon as possible. ”

Su Shun nodded, and said slowly: "The imperial court has formulated a cabinet system, with one prime minister and thirteen ministers of state, what is Brother Guocheng's opinion on the candidates for prime ministers and ministers of state?" As he spoke, he took out a fold and handed it over.

After taking the excerpt, Yi Zhizhi said without thinking: "I have always advocated the equality of all ethnic groups, and equality is also the core idea .......of constitutionalism. ”

No more than four? Su Shun hesitated and said, "Can't be more than half?" ”

"I can't." Yi Zhixiang said without hesitation: "There is no room for discussion in this matter, and the prime minister is already five, so there can't be more." As he spoke, he flipped through the folds.

The cabinet system is composed of one prime minister, two assistant ministers, and other ministers of foreign affairs, civil affairs, government affairs, academic affairs, army, navy, justice, agriculture and commerce, government affairs, and postal communications.

After reading it, Yi Zhishu groaned for a while before saying, "Yuan Qi needs a place for an associate minister and six ministers, including the degree branch, the academic affairs, the army, the navy, and the judiciary. ”

Thirteen ministers of state, Yi Zhixin only needs six places, which is not too much at all, but Su Shun has a bitter face, "Can the Minister of War be replaced?" ”

Yi Zhixiang said unabashedly: "The Minister of War has given you a false name. It is not the person of Yuanqi who commands the new army of Yuanqi. ”

Su Shun said in a deep voice: "Without the slightest military power, isn't the prime minister a puppet?" ”

Yi Zhizu said slowly: "You should know that Yuan Qi has been in the northwest for many years, and after the northwest expansion is completed, this war minister will give it to you." ”

When will the Northwest Expansion end? Su Shun didn't ask, but said, "What about the Prime Minister?" ”

Yi Zhizhi said: "In order to ensure the smooth implementation of the constitution, the prime minister, Yuan Qi, will not participate in the competition for the time being, but no matter who is the prime minister, Yuan Qi's number of state ministers must be guaranteed." ”

Su Shun smiled and said, "If I become the prime minister, let alone six places, even eight will be fine." ”

Yi Zhixiang glanced at him, he knew the other party's thoughts, nothing more than hoping to get his support, he said in a sincere tone: "Brother Yuting has not been in the Nanyang Navy for a short time, it can be said that he is half a Yuanqi person, you are the prime minister, I naturally support it strongly, however, in order to ensure the smooth and stable implementation of constitutional government in the imperial court, Yuanqi should not occupy too many places, six is enough." ”

Half a Yuan Qi person? Su Shun's heart was hot, which showed that he and Gong Wang Yili were already close and different from each other in Yi Zhi's contentment, and he nodded slightly and said, "It's still Brother Guocheng's thoughtfulness." ”

Slowly lit a cigarette, and Yi Zhizhi said slowly: "Don't hide it, what else?" are all open to say. ”

Su Shun smiled, "Then I'll say it directly." After a pause, he continued: "The Queen Mother is inclined to bicameral ....... ”

Yi Zhizhi sighed, "Is it inclined to the bicameral system of England?" ”

Su Shun also did not deny that "England is a model of Western constitutionalism, and the bicameral system of England is also in line with our national conditions." ”

Yi Zhizu waved his hand and said: "My country has a vast territory, many provinces, and a centralized system that has been adopted for thousands of years. ”

Su Shun frowned, looked at him and said, "Aren't England and the United States bicameral?" The bicameral system is conducive to the prevention of group dictatorship and to the early realization of true democracy in our country. ”

True democracy is easier said than done! Afraid that it will be difficult to achieve true democracy in a hundred years, Yi Zhishu sighed secretly before saying: "Unicameral and bicameral systems, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. China's territory is vast, there are many provinces, and the population is the highest in the world, if the bicameral system is implemented, it will inevitably restrain each other and blame each other. ”