Zhenhai Road, Fengyuan, Qincha Xingyuan.

Fengyuan is one of the favorite footholds of officials from all provinces to come to Shanghai, it is only a mile away from Zhenhai Gongfu, it covers a vast area, the scenery is beautiful, the large and small courtyards are scattered, the interior decoration, the utensils and furnishings are mostly a combination of Chinese and Western, it is refreshing, the garden is also equipped with gas lamps, and the lights are bright at night when a maple garden arrives, just like day.

As soon as Yixun entered the maple garden, he instructed: "Inquire about the six departments, whether they are concerned about the English civil service evaluation system, if not, ask the British consulate as soon as possible." ”

The maple garden is brightly lit but quiet, there are not a few people to see, after two years of visiting, all the members of the mission have developed a good habit, after staying in the evening will sort out what they see, hear, think, and think, and will not easily come out to wander.

Not long after Yi Xun and Yi Fang returned to the single courtyard where they stayed, they heard that Zeng Guofan, the left attendant of the newspaper department, asked to see him, and Yi Yan smiled and said: "It seems that someone has noticed the English civil service evaluation system and let him in." ”

In his forties, Zeng Guofan, who had a long beard, walked into the room steadily, lifted his official robe, knelt down and said, "The lower officials have seen the fifth master and the sixth master." ”

"Bohan doesn't need to be polite." Yixun said with a warm face, and then stretched out his hand, "Look at the seat." ”

Getting up and sitting down, Zeng Guofan said slowly: "Back to the two princes, England has established a permanent civil official system, set up a special committee, and presided over the competitive examination of ordinary civil officials, but it has only been a few years, although there is no lack of characteristics, but it is not suitable for the imperial court to learn from." ”

Yi Xun asked slowly, "What is the feature?" ”

"England is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, with the Conservative Party and the Labour Party taking turns to form a government." Zeng Guofan said unhurriedly: "The civil servants in the English civil service evaluation system actually do not include cabinet ministers, that is, the so-called administrative officials, but only affairs officials, that is, they do not participate in partisan disputes, but are only responsible for the implementation of government. Provincial policy.

Their main role is to ensure the stability and continuity of policy in the case of a two-party rotation of power, that is, a change of cabinet, like a behind-the-scenes government that will never change. If the cabinet is the front desk, the civil service system is the backstage, the front desk is replaced in turns, and the background is consistent, which is the most important feature of the English civil service system. ”

Hearing this, Yixun and Yifang glanced at each other, and both of them were a little puzzled, what does this have to do with the imperial examination system? Why did Yi Zhishu deliberately mention the civil service system in England when talking about the abolition of the imperial examinations?

Seeing the two people with suspicious faces, Zeng Guofan hesitated before saying: "Two princes, this English civil official assessment system is still modeled after our imperial examination system, in the past, Western countries adopted the official system or the political party fat distribution system, after contacting and understanding the imperial examination system of our dynasty, it began to establish the system of selecting civilian officials from competitive examinations, the first to adopt the civil official assessment was France, followed by Prussia, and then England. ”

Hearing this, Yi Wei was a little surprised, and blurted out: "What Yi Guocheng opposes is only the content of the imperial examination? ”

Yixun frowned slightly, then stretched out again, glanced at Zeng Guofan, and said: "Bo Han is a member of the imperial examination, what do you think of the eight shares?" ”

When Yi Xun returned to the sea, he had revealed many times that if the Qing Dynasty wanted to enrich the country and strengthen the army, it was necessary to change the law and reform and implement constitutional reform.

He himself is a child of a peasant family in Heyetang, Xiangxiang, and he has been able to get ahead through the imperial examination, and his friends are all scholars.

After a slight sigh, he said in a rambling voice: "In the last years of Chongzhen, there were scholars who posted a ceremony on the Daming Gate of the Imperial City of Beijing - I would like to have a Daming country, Chongzhen and his wife, Feng Shen Zhen, and the late birth of eight shares. This is to blame the demise of the former Ming Dynasty on the style of the Bagu Wen and the Bagu Wen Scholar.

There are also satirical lyrics and songs of the Eight Strands: Readers, the most poor; Abuse of time, rotten as mud. The country was originally a plan to seek talents, but who knew that it had become a trick to deceive people. Three sentences to cover the topic, two sentences to solve the topic. Swinging his tail and shaking his head, he said that he was the senior brother of the Holy Gate.

can know what kind of article the three links and four histories are; Han ancestor Tang Zong, is the emperor of that dynasty, put a high head on the case, buy a new science sharp weapon in the store, read the shoulder and back high, sigh at the corner of the mouth, bagasse, chew and chew, what is the taste? If you live up to the time and fall into a coma during the day, you will teach and deceive high-ranking officials, and it is also the bad luck of the people's court. ”

Speaking of this, he sighed lightly, "In fact, from the beginning of the Holy Ancestor's succession to Gaozong, for more than 100 years, the controversy between the government and the opposition over the eight shares of the scholars has never been broken, during the Kangxi period, the eight shares were abolished for a time, but they were immediately restored, Kangxi's Huang Ji, Wang Shizhen, Yongzheng's Zhang Tingyu, and Qianlong's Ortai all opposed the abolition of the eight shares. ”

Listening to these words, Yi Fang and Yi Xun couldn't help but look at each other, the controversy between the three generations of Kang Yongqian's government and the opposition over Baguwen is so big? Kangxi also abolished the eight-strand text?

"Since the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the dispute between the eight shares has always been a depreciation of more praise and less praise." Zeng Guofan aggravated his tone and said: "The lower officials steal that the eight strands are empty and useless, the learning and application are different, and the words and deeds are inconsistent, so that the scholars of the world are buried in the Confucian scriptures, the "Historical Records" and "Han Shu" are not heard, the "General Dictionary" and "General Chronicles" are not asked, the thinking is rigid, and the eight shares are complacent. ”

Speaking of this, he changed his words, "However, the eight-share scholar does not represent the imperial examination system, and the abolition of the eight-share can and the abolition of the imperial examination must not be!" ”

"Why?" Yi Yan said in a deep voice.

After a slight sigh, Zeng Guofan said: "The imperial examination is related to the country, and it is difficult to explain it in a word, and the lower officials will write a note tomorrow to present it." ”

Yixun bowed his head slightly: "The imperial examination is very important, Bohan may wish to consider it carefully and carefully draft the report." ”

"Your Majesty." Zeng Guofan arched his hand, paused, and continued: "Xiaguan and Yi Guocheng are old acquaintances, and since they have come to Shanghai, they want to visit. ”

"Bohan didn't mention it, but the king forgot." Yi Xun said with a smile: "Go overnight, the mission may have to return to Beijing tomorrow." Zeng Guofan, who was waiting, got up and saluted to say goodbye, and he added, "Go to Weifu." ”

Zhenhai Mansion, backyard.

Yan Kexin accompanied Yi Zhicontent to walk in the courtyard in the moonlight, Yan Kexin pointed to the gas lights passing through the road, and said with a smile: "Westerners' things are becoming more and more practical, and these gas lamps are like shining night pearls." ”

Hearing her mention this, Yi Zhizhi smiled and said, "Manager Zhang of the fire room sent someone to lobby again?" ”

"I can't hide it from my lord." Yan Kexin was exposed, and simply nodded generously: "Manager Zhang is worried that if our government does not install it, it will affect the promotion and popularization of gas lamps, and they are willing to install it for free and guarantee absolute safety." ”

Before the invention of electric lights, it is natural to say that gas lamps were used for lighting, but Yi Zhizhi knew that gas lamps had huge hidden dangers, and the British fire house was actually a gas factory, and it was just a matter of using gas lamps on the road.

What's more, no one knows better than him that electric lights will soon replace gas lamps, and in the past two years, taking advantage of the large-scale economic crises that have broken out in Western countries one after another, Yuan Qi has brandished banknotes to dig up walls all over the world, sparing no effort to dig up experts and scholars in physics, chemistry, mathematics, medicine and other fields all over the world with high salaries and various favorable conditions, and has set up various research laboratories large and small in Shanghai.

In these years, electric light is not a new thing, the Englishman Joseph Wilson Swan began to study electric light as early as 1850, but failed to invent a durable light bulb, this thing is not a problem for him at all, with his knowledge, a little dial, Yuan Qi can definitely study the carbonized bamboo light bulb and tungsten wire lamp in advance.

It's only been a year or two, and now he can't wear any gas lights, and after a little muttering, he said slowly: "How many shares does Yan Shikuan have in the British Fire House?" ”

"Not much, only thirty percent." Yan Kexin knew that there was no need to hide this, so he replied truthfully.

Yi Zhizu nodded slightly, "Gas lamps have huge hidden dangers, there is no need to install them in the house, as for the promotion and popularization of gas lamps, we should focus on street lights, which can be installed on roads and docks." In addition, tell the fifth brother that he sold the shares as soon as possible. ”

Hearing this, Yan Kexin knew that Yi Zhixin was not optimistic about the gaslight, and immediately said: "Xin'er understands." ”

As soon as the words fell, a maid trotted after him and said, "Master, someone has come to visit." Saying that, he presented a name sticker, Yi Zhizhi looked at the dim light of the lantern, and saw that the name on it was Zeng Guofan, and couldn't help but smile, "Take him to the study, accompanied by Mr. Zhao, and I will come later." ”

Seeing that he was going to see someone to talk about things again, Yan Kexin was not surprised, but just asked: "What kind of supper does the master eat at night?" ”

"Porridge, lotus seed porridge is ready." Yi Zhishu said that he had turned around and strode away, he had the habit of supper, he really couldn't do it if he didn't have a supper, the amount of training in the barracks was large and he had developed the habit of three meals a day, but in the house, he had two meals a day, and he really couldn't stand it if he didn't have a supper.

Walking slowly into the Changle Book House, Zeng Guofan quickly stepped forward and said with a smile: "I came to visit at night, and I didn't disturb Brother Guocheng." ”

"It's a pleasure to have friends from afar." Yi Zhicontent returned the salute and laughed loudly: "I thought Brother Disheng would come tomorrow." ”

Zeng Guofan said slowly: "The mission is going back to Beijing tomorrow, and when I heard about it, I hurried over. ”

The three of them greeted each other and entered the house, Yi Zhishu deliberately added a candlestick, and then looked at Zeng Guofan by candlelight, and said: "It has been reduced a lot, and it has also become darker. ”

"Visiting countries all the way, ushering in the send-off, courtesy and thoughtfulness, what kind of hardship can you endure." Zeng Guofan said with a smile: "If you want to say hardship, it is mainly sea navigation, but compared with ordinary merchant ships and warships, it is also a world of difference. As he spoke, he arched his hand and said, "This is thanks to Yuan Qi's careful care." ”

"The mission is visiting Western countries for the first time, how can Yuan Qi not do his best?" Yi Zhizhi said with a smile, the first large-scale mission of the Qing Dynasty to visit the West was promoted by him, and it was Yuan Qi's money, and even the date of the mission's itinerary was arranged by Yuan Qi, how could he not be unsatisfied, in fact, except for the time when the telegram was truncated, the situation of the mission in various countries was regularly reported, and he knew the situation of the mission in various countries well.

After a few polite sentences, Zeng Guofan didn't go around in circles, and said straightforwardly: "Brother Guocheng is in favor of the imperial court to reform the law and abolish the imperial examination?" ”

Is this what it is for? Yi Zhishu glanced at him, thinking that the other party was from the same Jinshi, and he was also from a poor family, so he said: "Brother Disheng doesn't approve? ”

"Naturally, I don't approve of it." Zeng Guofan said without hesitation: "The imperial examination system, whether in the East or the West, at least for the time being, is the most complete and effective education system, assessment system, and official selection system, which can be called the best three-in-one comprehensive system. ”

Yi Zhizhi naturally knows that the abolition of the imperial examination system is tantamount to hollowing out the cornerstone of the Qing Dynasty, and the fundamental reason why the Xinhai Revolution in later generations was able to easily overthrow the Qing Dynasty is that the Qing Dynasty cut off its own way of life and abolished the imperial examination!

To be precise, the death of the Qing Dynasty was due to the abolition of the imperial examination!

The imperial examination is the link between the imperial court and the world's scholars, the imperial court through the imperial examination to give the scholars the corresponding fame, and the scholars through the imperial examination to obtain fame and share the power of the imperial court, or to become an official, or to live in the countryside as a gentry, the abolition of the imperial examination is equivalent to breaking the bond between the imperial court and the world's scholars, the scholars not only no longer have to obey the orders of the imperial court, but will be separated from the imperial court!

What Yuan Qi did was to dig up the corners of the Qing Dynasty, and what he wanted was to easily overthrow the Qing Dynasty at the lowest cost, and there was nothing more convenient than agitating and forcing the imperial court to abolish the imperial examination!

Of course, the abolition of the imperial examination is a dangerous act of stabbing a hornet's nest, Yuan Qi can't do it blatantly, otherwise it will be a situation where he will be burned and discussed by the gentry of the world.

In today's world, science and technology are changing with each passing day, all kinds of new technologies, new machinery, and new weapons are emerging one after another, navigation and railways are developing rapidly, sea routes are wide open, land routes are wide open, countries in the world are competing for prosperity and power, and Western powers are ready to move, intending to dominate Europe, America, Asia, Africa, the sea, and the world!

Under such a general trend, Yuan Qi alone cannot support the Qing Dynasty, and the imperial court must change the law to become stronger, otherwise the entire Qing Dynasty will face a situation of life and death! ”

"Change the law to be strong, don't oppose it!" Zeng Guofan said in a deep voice: "What I oppose is the abolition of the imperial examination!" ”

Slowly lit a cigarette, and Yi Zhizhi said slowly: "I am also not in favor of directly abolishing the imperial examination, but the Baguwen must be abolished, and the content of Western studies must be added to open the subject for scholars, such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, economics, etc., and the donation system should be abolished. ”