Seeing that Yi Zhisuff objected without thinking about it, Shen Guifen didn't care at all, and said unhurriedly: The hypocrisy of the monarch is constitutional, the imperial power is aside, the honor and disgrace of the clan and even millions of Manchu people and the lives of the family are all in the hands of others, the reason why the queen mother deliberately proposed to add these two items is not just to extend the Qing Dynasty, but to ensure that the imperial family can still enjoy the honor after the constitution of the virtual monarch.

The Constitution of a constitutional state is the supreme law and fundamental law of a country, and these two articles are clearly enshrined in the Constitution, so that the Queen Mother, the Emperor, all the in-laws of the clan, and the princes and nobles can feel at ease, so that the constitutional government can be smoothly implemented. ”

Just to enjoy the honor? Yi Zhizhi said without thinking: "Even if the constitution is formal, the Qing Emperor is still the symbol of the Qing Empire, the nominal supreme leader of the Qing Empire, with hereditary powers, the power to appoint state affairs, regent relevant state affairs, appoint cabinet ministers, etc., whether in etiquette or form, it is still supreme, and enjoys supreme honor and respect in domestic and international state activities."

"These privileges are clearly stipulated in the draft Constitution, and no one dares to infringe on the sacred dignity of the emperor, and no one dares to disrespect the emperor! Isn't that enough? ”

After a slight sigh, Shen Guifen spoke: "The prince has repeatedly emphasized that the formulation of the "Constitution" and the national system must be in line with the national conditions of our country. ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled contentedly, "The Qing Dynasty has dominated China for more than 200 years, and the orthodoxy of the Qing Dynasty has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, so why worry about the sky?" ”

"It's not unfounded." Shen Guifen said slowly: "The hypocrisy of the monarch is constitutional, the imperial power is declining, and over time, it is difficult to ensure that there will be no changes." ”

It seems that the Empress Dowager Ci'an is also a clear person, knowing that the Manchus have always been less to control more, once they lose power, worried that the Qing Dynasty will not be protected, thinking of this, Yi Zhixiang smiled and said with relief: "The history of the change of dynasty, the change of regime, its essence is to compete for power and profit, the hypocrisy of the constitution, the imperial power is empty, there is no value to fight for, once the constitution, the cabinet becomes the center of power, the goal of the competition is no longer the throne, but the cabinet!"

And the change of the cabinet has nothing to do with the throne or the name of the country, and the competition for the 200 years of the constitution of the British hypocrite monarchy, and the throne is as solid as a rock, isn't it the best proof? ”

Hearing this, Shen Guifen simply made his words clear, "After the constitution is established, the Han people are powerful, can they tolerate a Manchu emperor?" ”

"You're worried." Yi Zhizu laughed softly: "Does Lord Shen know that England once invited a royal descendant from Germany to be the king?" King George I of England was a German and could not even speak English. ”

And this kind of thing? Shen Guifen couldn't help but be stunned, for him, this was simply a fantasy, something unimaginable at all, although he knew that the other party would not say anything, he still couldn't help but say: "Is it true?" ”

Yi Zhi said: "England has diplomatic officials in Shanghai and Beijing, so you can know it when you ask." ”

It seems that this matter can't be fake, Shen Guifen groaned for a while, and then said: "After all, the descendants of the royal family ......." ”

"The point is not the royal descendants, but the interests." Yi Zhizu smiled and waved his hand, "Let's not mention this matter for the time being, Master Shen can inquire about the detailed situation after he goes back." ”

After a pause, he continued: "After the constitution of the hypocritical monarch, the emperor and the country name are irrelevant, who is the emperor and what the country name is no longer important, please tell the queen mother, don't worry too much, and don't do it deliberately, as long as you don't interfere in the court situation and don't try to restore, no one will care."

More than 200 years since the founding of the Qing Dynasty, orthodoxy has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and this self-confidence is not there? Moreover, our country has a vast territory and many ethnic groups, and what we promote is equality among all ethnic groups and ethnic integration, so there is no need to worry at all. ”

Shen Guifen forced himself to laugh and said: "Since it doesn't matter, why not add these two articles to the constitution to the heart of the Empress Dowager, the emperor and all the nobles of the clan." ”

Seeing that he was entangled, Yi Zhizhi simply said: "The constitution is the fundamental law of a country, and there is no room for ambiguity, the emperor is only the supreme ruling leader in name, this is the first article, the Qing emperor rules the Qing Empire, and it will be respected forever." How?

This second article is the sacred dignity of the emperor and is inviolable. It is also very inappropriate, if the emperor vainly tries to restore, restore autocracy, and violate or not? ”

Speaking of this, he waved his hand, "There is no need to mention this matter, not only I can't pass it here, but it is also impossible for the Information Administration Yuan to pass it." ”

Seeing this situation, Shen Guifen knew that it would be useless to say more, so she immediately changed her words, "The annual royal family funds three million silver dollars..... Can you add a little more to it? ”

Hearing that the royal family funds were going to be increased, Yi Zhixiang hesitated, and said after consideration: "During the Qianlong period, the annual expenses of the palace were only two million taels of silver, and since Daoxian, the annual expenses of the palace are only about one million taels, does Lord Shen know and agree to pay three million yuan, of which two million are ....... paid by Yuan Qi." ”

Shen Guifen sneered and said, "Yuan Qi's two million is not the income from running the official village and pawnshop under the name of the Ministry of Internal Affairs?" ”

"As for the official village and pawnshop under the name of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the annual income can reach two million?" Yi Zhizhi laughed and said, "They don't think it's a loss, right?" ”

"Not really." Shen Guifen hurriedly said: "The annual expenses in the palace are very large, and it takes a lot of money to maintain and repair the palace, gardens, and cemeteries every year...... and the dignity and honor ......of the royal family still have to be maintained. ”

Listening to this, Yi Zhi's heart couldn't help but move, the constitution is imminent, in order to stabilize Ci'an, more or less to give some benefits, the Forbidden City, the Old Summer Palace, the Rehe Palace, the Qing Dongling, the Qing Xiling and other future are rare historical monuments, let the royal family to maintain and repair, he is really a little worried, in case there are two ruined emperors, maybe it will be barren.

After a slight sigh, he said: "Increasing the royal family's funds, this matter is absolutely difficult for the Imperial Court to pass, and Yuan Qi can't privately subsidize more, just change the name, the royal family should be the maintenance and repair of the palace, garden, and cemetery, and Yuan Qi is responsible." ”

This is tantamount to a subsidy in disguise, and it will save at least hundreds of thousands of silver dollars a year, Shen Guifen couldn't help but be happy, and hurriedly smiled and said, "Lord Xie is considerate." ”

Yi Zhixiang glanced at him and said, "The constitution is imminent, what is the queen mother's plan for the Eight Banners New Army?" ”

Seeing that he asked so directly, Shen Guifen's heart tightened, and he said tentatively: "What is the charter of the prince?" ”

Yi Zhizu said straightforwardly: "The reform of the military system has been in preparation for several years, if it is peaceful today, the constitution is imminent, it is not appropriate to delay it any longer, the Minister of War Yan Yangtian is formulating a detailed reform plan, and I bother Lord Shen to consult the opinion of the Queen Mother." ”

As for how to properly settle the Eight Banners New Army, the Empress Dowager Ci'an mentioned it to him, and Shen Guifen immediately cautiously tested: "Now there are 120,000 people in the Eight Banners New Army in Beijing, and it can be done to garrison two capitals?" ”

Yi Zhizhi was content and lazy to go around in circles with him, and said straightforwardly: "Now that the world is peaceful, after the reform of the military system, the military service system will be popularized, and there is no need to save a huge amount of army and navy, and it is planned to reduce thirty percent, and the Eight Banners New Army is no exception."

As for Shengjing, it has now become a large rear, and there is no need to garrison heavy troops. The Beijing division could retain 20,000 or 30,000 troops as escorts, and the remaining troops could be stationed in the northwest, southwest, and southeast provinces. ”

Jingshi, the Forbidden City, the Palace of Nourishing the Heart.

Prince Yiyun hurriedly walked into the door, until he slowed down outside the Dongnuan Pavilion, and after entering the door to ask for Sheng'an, he respectfully knelt down outside the bead curtain, and listened to Ci'an's voice, "Excuse me, give me a seat." After waiting for him to sit down, a palace maid came out to deliver a telegram, "This is a telegram sent by Shen Guifen from Shanghai, Uncle Seven Emperors will take a look at it first." ”

Glancing at the telegram, he saw that it was talking about the reform of the military system and the abolition of the Eight Banners New Army, Yi Xun's heart tightened, and after reading the telegram carefully, he immediately got up and knelt down, and said in a deep voice: "The Queen Mother, the New Army of the Eight Banners is the last reliance of the Queen Mother and the Emperor, and I can't agree to cut it, nor can I agree to divide the troops and garrison it." ”

The situation is stronger than people, but now she can't help but disagree, Ci'an sighed secretly, and then said softly: "The general trend can't allow us to disagree." ”

"The Queen Mother'——。" Yi Xun raised his head and said in a deep voice: "Yuan Qi has always tried his best to avoid the outbreak of a large-scale civil war, and Wei Chen secretly thought that he could strongly oppose and test Yuan Qi's reaction. ”

"One time, another time." Ci'an's tone was full of helplessness, "Now that the implementation of constitutional government is the desire of the people, Yuan Qi's war in the northwest has ended, and Britain and France can't count on it, and for Yuan Qi, it is imperative to reduce and divide the New Army of the Eight Banners, and he will definitely not make the slightest concession, so why tempt?" ”

Listening to these words, Yi Xun was speechless for a while, think about it carefully, the current situation is indeed the case, Yuan Qi who has freed up his hands from the northwest can send more than 100,000 troops to the north at any time, France was defeated, England retreated in the Persian Gulf, and it was clear that it was impossible to support the imperial court.

Seeing that he was silent, Ci'an continued: "The military system is reformed, and thirty percent of the troops are abolished, and it is useless to fight more, but the troops retained in the Beijing division must be fought for, and the two or thirty thousand troops are afraid that it will be difficult to protect them thoroughly, and the Seven Emperor Uncles will have to fight for it on the basis of reason." ”

"We're honored." Yi Xun hurriedly said.

Approaching the end of the year, especially after the small year, the atmosphere of the New Year is getting heavier and heavier, Shanghai is also more and more lively day by day, as the factory in Baoshan begins to holiday, a large number of workers flock to Shanghai or purchase New Year's goods or play, whether it is the new city or the old city is overcrowded for a time.

On the Huangpu River, all kinds of ships are also very busy, the wide river is crowded with large and small boats, a steam ship with black smoke slowly goes up the river, Huang Dianyuan, who is dressed in a soap-colored robe, stands on the deck and looks at the scenery along the coast, and says with emotion: "But I haven't seen it for a few years, Shanghai has been so prosperous." ”

Guan Haisheng, who has been traveling between Shanghai and Manila all year round, said with a smile: "Shanghai Baoshan has been the same every year these years, and I haven't seen each other for several years, even if we come often, we feel that the changes are too fast." ”

Huang Dianyuan has been traveling in Western countries all these years, last year Yuan Qi sent troops to the Persian Gulf, he was not at ease to rush back, to say that this time to return to China, he felt the biggest is that the change is too big, not only Shanghai has changed greatly, Gropa, Manila, Guangzhou, Xiamen, the changes are not small, the development of the Qing Dynasty in recent years is far from being comparable to Western countries.

Guan Haisheng continued: "Brother Rong has traveled to the West over the years and is well-informed, I don't know how Shanghai compares with the Western port city? ”

Smiling, Huang Dianyuan said: "There are few port cities comparable to Shanghai, and now Shanghai is also famous in Western countries, but most of the slightly prosperous ports have heard of Shanghai." ”

Finally got ashore, Huang Dianyuan washed up and changed into a new clothes, and then rushed to the Zhennan Palace, and saw that the gate was empty and a little deserted, which made him feel a little bad in his heart, and sure enough, he handed the post in, and soon the porter came out to tell him that the prince closed his mouth and thanked the guests.

He quickly reacted, Yi Zhishu should not be in the house, even if he is closed to thank the guests, it is impossible for Yi Zhishu not to see him, he has the intention to ask carefully, and he feels that it is inappropriate, Yi Zhicontent's whereabouts, the housekeeper will definitely not reveal it at will, and the other party may not know.

This made him a little difficult, God knows where Yi Zhixiang went? If it's nearby, it's okay to say, if he goes to Guangzhou for the New Year, how long will he wait here? After a little groaning, he had an idea, and immediately got into the carriage and ordered: "Go to Yanfu." ”

Yan Shikuan's newly built mansion is not far from Zhennan Wangfu, but about two miles away, to the gate of Yan's Mansion handed the post in, and soon, Yi Zhishu personally greeted him, as soon as he saw him, he smiled and said: "Huang Dangjia has been a dragon for many years, when he came to Shanghai, how can he not come to the telegram in advance." ”

After returning the salute, Huang Dianyuan smiled and said, "As soon as I arrived in Shanghai, I came to worship the pier." ”

"Don't kill Huang Dang's family." Yan Shikuan laughed, and hurriedly stretched out his hand to invite him in, and when he entered the room and sat down, Huang Dianyuan asked directly: "The big shopkeeper is not in Shanghai?" ”

Yan Shikuan knew the identity of the other party very well, so naturally there was no need to hide it, so he nodded immediately and said: "The big shopkeeper is rare to have a few days of leisure, and he accompanied his family to Hangzhou to relax, and he will return to Shanghai tomorrow and the day after tomorrow." ”

After listening to Yi Zhizhiming, he returned two days later, Huang Dianyuan put his mind at ease and asked in a casual tone: "The period for preparing for the constitution has expired, will the constitution be established next year?" ”

"It shouldn't be delayed any longer." Yan Shikuan said casually: "King Gong, Wen Xiang and Shen Guifen have only returned to Beijing for a few days, and Prime Minister Yamen is about to move north, so it should not be delayed next year." ”

After pondering, Huang Dianyuan pondered and said, "How can the prime minister of the cabinet be King Gong?" ”

Yan Shikuan knew in his heart what the other party wanted to ask, but he didn't want to talk about this kind of thing, and immediately said vaguely: "It should be for the smooth implementation of constitutional government." ”