Kyoshi, Prime Minister's Office.

The newly appointed Yin Zhoujialin of Shuntian Mansion walked into Yi Li's spacious office in a nervous mood, and saw at a glance that the assistant ministers Su Shun and Wu Changqing were also present, he hurriedly bowed down to salute, Yi Yi waved his hand, and said in a gentle tone: "There is no need to be polite in the small hall, sit." ”

"Xiaguan Xie Wang Ye sits." Zhou Jialin said and sat down at the head of the body diagonally, and then bowed and said: "The lower officials sent people to investigate for several days, and there are indeed many rumors inside and outside the Beijing Division, saying that it is because of the implementation of constitutional government, the cabinet has acted perversely, and the heavens are angry, so this catastrophe has befallen you. ”

After a pause, he continued: "These rumors seem to have only popped up suddenly in the last few days, but they spread very quickly, and there have been rumors inside and outside the Beijing Division, and there are rumors that constitutionalism is a Western thing, and it is not suitable for the Qing Dynasty, calling for the abolition of constitutionalism and returning the government to the Son of Heaven and the Queen Mother, and saying that if you don't return to the government, the disaster will not stop every day." ”

"Humph!" Su Shun snorted coldly, "Let's die and work hard for disaster relief, it's better for them to put cold arrows in their backs!" I don't think there's anything to scruple about, so I just clean it up on a big scale, lest they jump out and toss it when there is a stir! ”

These words were murderous, Zhou Jialin's heart tightened when he heard it, the royalist faction is not small, if it is purged on a large scale, the Jingshi will inevitably bleed.

Yi Yi was gloomy and silent, last time he used public opinion to accuse Yuanqi, but this time he directly aimed the finger at the cabinet and the constitution, which made people unbearable, and did not blame Su Shun for being angry, with Yi Guocheng's judgment, this disaster will last for four or five years, if it is not painful to suppress it, it will inevitably be tossed repeatedly!

Seeing that his expression was uncertain, Wu Changqing was afraid that he would be impulsive, so he hurriedly said softly: "Let's discuss it with Yi Guocheng." ”

"Yi Guocheng is decisive externally, but it is inclusive internally, and there is no need to discuss this matter." Su Shun said in a deep voice: "No matter what, Yi Guocheng will support us with all his might!" ”

Hearing this, Yi Yi was a little moved, but he quickly came back to his senses, such a big thing, if he is good at advocating, I am afraid that the prime minister of the cabinet will also do it, and he groaned slightly, and then he said slowly: "The reason why Yi Guocheng is inclusive of internal affairs is that he is worried that he will act too hastily, cause civil strife, and seriously affect or delay the industrial development of our country." ”

With that, he stood up and walked over to his desk, "It's better to consult with him." As he spoke, he held down the phone and shook it, then picked up the microphone, "Pick up Zhennan Wangfu." ”

"Di Bell Bell" waited for the bell to ring twice, and Yi Zhizhi picked up the microphone and asked directly: "How is the situation in Jingshi?" ”

Yi Yi briefly explained the situation of the Jingshi before continuing: "This disaster has lasted for a long time, and if it cannot be properly handled, I am afraid that there will be a lot of trouble in the future." ”

"What is the Cabinet's plan?"

After a slight groan, Yi Yi said in a deep voice: "Proper cleaning to be a deterrent!" ”

Proper cleaning? Yi Zhizu sneered: "The local gentry are charging into battle, and the royalists are just the driving force behind the scenes, is it to purge the royalists or purge the local gentry?" And how did the local gentry cleanse? ”

Slightly stunned, Yi Yi said: "Without the support of the royalists behind the scenes, the local gentry have nothing to fear." ”

"The local gentry are not to be feared? Did the sixth master underestimate the local gentry too much? Since the Qin and Han dynasties, it was the imperial power and the local gentry who ruled the world together, and the gentry's control over the local area was not weakened by constitutionalism, but greatly improved! ”

Yi Zhi's contented tone was rarely harsh, "The royalists and the local gentry were originally opposites, once the royalists were purged, even if it was only a proper purge, they would inevitably be panicked, and they would force the royalists to hit it off with the local gentry who were eager to protect their own interests!"

Once this happens, it's not as simple as political strife, it's civil strife! Civil war! At a time when the northern provinces are experiencing a rare catastrophe, how many people have died in civil strife and civil war? Have you thought about it? ”

Yi Yi was stunned for a long time with the microphone, and then said in a muffled voice: "The unity of heaven and man, the idea of heaven's punishment and punishment is deep-rooted, such a rare catastrophe, only a little instigation, can inspire the people's dissatisfaction with the constitution, if this sign can not be contained, with the further deepening of the disaster, the consequences are unimaginable." ”

"Naturally, we can't just sit idly by and let it go." Yi Zhishu slowed down his tone and said: "Let the Queen Mother issue an edict in the name of the Son of Heaven, affirm the constitution and firmly implement the constitution, than purge, depriving the royalists of their military power is more deterrent!" ”

Depriving the royalists of their military powers? Yi Yi hesitated and said, "I'm afraid that the Queen Mother may not agree." ”

"The great drought of Chongzhen buried the Ming Dynasty, and the holy Ming of the Queen Mother will not let the Qing Dynasty be buried in the great drought of Guangxu." Yi Zhizu said coldly: "This is an opportunity!" ”

Yi Zhishu put down the phone, turned around and saw Zhao Liewen and the others looking at him intently, couldn't help but smile, and said, "But what's wrong?" ”

Li Hongzhang preemptively said: "Although the royalists are mainly Manchu and Mongolian officials, there are also a large number of Han members, who themselves represent the local gentry, why do you say that the royalists and the local gentry are opposites?" ”

"The Qin and Han dynasties respected Confucianism alone, and a situation in which the local gentry and the imperial power ruled the world together." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "It can also be said that this is a situation in which the monarchy and the gentry are playing with each other, and the imperial power is not lower than the county, which is the result of the game between these two powers."

The constitutional monarchy constrained the imperial power, and the power of the gentry was greatly expanded, and the royalists wanted to restore the absolute monarchy, which was naturally opposed to the local gentry.

Of course, this antagonism is not immutable, and when we touch the interests of the local gentry, and they are unable to defend it, we may choose to join forces with the royalists in order to protect their interests from infringement. ”

Seeing Li Hongzhang, he didn't ask any more questions, and Zhao Liewen said: "Really let King Gong take the opportunity to cut the royal family's military power?" ”

At present, the military power of the Qing Dynasty is actually divided into three parts, which are controlled by Yi Zhicontent, Yi Yi and the Empress Dowager Ci'an, Yi Zhi'an is a monopoly, enough to crush the power of Yi Yi and Ci'an, if Yi Yi takes away Ci'an's military power, even if it is not enough to compete with Yi Zhi'an, it is also a big threat, Yi Yi and Ci'an check and balance each other, it is more beneficial to Yi Zhi'an!

"Sooner or later, military power must be unified." Yi Zhi said disapprovingly: "If you want to unify the military power without the outbreak of war, you must let the cabinet first cut the military power of the royal family." ”

Zhao Liewen said: "The students are worried that it will be difficult to control the military power of the north after the cabinet unifies it, after all, the north has now laid an industrial foundation ........ ”

"Don't worry." Yi Zhizhi smiled and waved his hand, "Both the navy and the army are still in the initial stage of development, and at least for thirty or fifty years, we can guarantee an overwhelming advantage." ”