Best of both worlds? Yi Zhifen shook his head slowly, and said slowly: "There is no possibility of the best of both worlds, England is the most industrially developed country in the world, let's talk about the textile industry, the industrial revolution in England is from the textile industry, after decades of development, the English textile industry has become extremely huge, engaged in the textile industry and related industries of up to one million workers, how many of us are in the Qing Dynasty?" It's only tens of thousands.

If it weren't for the high tariffs on textiles, the cheap and high-quality British machine-made cloth would have flooded the provincial markets of the Qing Dynasty, and all the homespun workshops would have closed down, even if the textile mills opened by Yuanqi would have to compete at a loss.

This is the fundamental reason why I do not give the most favored nation treatment to Britain and France, which can be given to the United States or Russia, but absolutely not to England, because China and the United States and Russia can be said to be in the same stage of development, and giving the most-favored-nation treatment can not only promote foreign trade, but also effectively promote the development of China's industry.

But compared with England, it is not a level at all, the difference is too great, to give Britain the most favored nation treatment, laissez-faire competition, is to stifle the development of China's national industry, and even to say that the Qing Dynasty is not too much! ”

This is very serious, Zaiyuan quickly closed his mouth in amusement, and secretly regretted in his heart, he knew that the consequences of this incident were so serious, there was no need to come to this troubled water.

Yi was silent, he was a little dissatisfied in his heart, as early as when he signed an alliance with the United States and Russia to sign a tariff agreement, Yi Zhixiang should have taken into account the reaction of Britain and France, since the other party is so aware of the drawbacks, why wasn't he more cautious in the first place? Or is it that the other party intended to do this at all, in order to sow discord between the imperial court and Britain and France.

After a long silence, he spoke: "Brother Guocheng, can you compromise on this matter....... ”

Yi Zhifen glanced at him and said, "Compromise? How to compromise? ”

"Since Britain and France cannot be granted MFN status, can we make appropriate compensation to ease relations with Britain and France?" Yi stared at him and said in a calm tone: "For example, adjust the tariff rate appropriately, as for the specific adjustment, Yuan Qi will negotiate with Britain and France." ”

Speaking of this, he took a long breath and said sincerely: "Western countries like to negotiate and pay attention to compromise, if we do not give in to this matter, it may cause some unpredictable troubles, and Britain and France will definitely not be willing to ........." ”

What else can you do if you are unwilling? War again? Now I don't have to worry about going to war! Besides, Britain and France do not dare to engage in a large-scale war in East Asia at present, Yi Zhizhi glanced at the two of them and did not say a word, the imperial court is now holding on to Britain and France as a life-saving straw, and it is not a good thing if the imperial court is really forced to be in a hurry.

After a slight sigh, he said: "According to what King Gong said, make a compromise, and the imperial court and Yuan Qi will set up a negotiation team to negotiate with Britain and France, and clearly tell them that they should seize this opportunity, if they are insatiable, they will not even have the opportunity to negotiate in the future." ”

Seeing that he finally relented, Yi couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and said with a smile on his face: "Brother Guocheng, don't worry, if Britain and France are insatiable, the imperial court will not agree, after all, the imperial court is now actively advocating the development of industry." ”

Yi Zhifen nodded, said: "It is a good model to promote industrial development with the textile industry, the north itself is also rich in cotton, suitable for the development of the textile industry, in addition, strict protection of private property, can not stay on the laws and regulations, must be implemented, otherwise the development of industry is a luxury." ”

Yi nodded and said, "Brother Guocheng, rest assured, the Supervision and Administration Office has specially set up several inspection teams to inspect various places to supervise the implementation and implementation of the new policy. ”

"That's good." Yi Zhisuff smiled and then pulled the conversation back, "The tariff negotiations are held in Shanghai, and it is most suitable for King Gong to take the lead." ”

The tone of these words was unquestionable, not a discussion, but an order, Yi glanced at Zaiyuan and said with a smile: "This king invites the queen mother, and the queen mother will not be the queen mother." ”

After talking about the matter, both of them knew that the other party was very busy, and I got up to say goodbye after a few idle words, Yi Zhishu sent the two to the gate of the courtyard before stopping, looking at the back of the two leaving, he was a little puzzled, the intelligence of the Jingshi, said that Prince Yi has frequently entered the palace recently, and it is obvious that he is quite valued by the Empress Dowager Ci'an, why did he come with Yi this time? Isn't Ci'an at ease?

Thinking about it, it should be like that, preparing for the constitution, Ci'an should have quite an opinion on Yi, this time the most favored nation treatment proposed by Britain and France is a big deal for the imperial court, and it is not too abrupt to let Zaiyuan accompany him.

After a busy day, at dusk, Yi Zhizhi rubbed his slightly sour cheeks back to the backyard with a smile, after dinner, he wondered if he was going to Yanjiang Avenue at night, the gas lamps along Yanjiang Avenue were not extinguished all night, every holiday was full of tourists, and the night market had been spontaneously formed after a long time, which added a bit of liveliness.

As soon as this suggestion was put forward, several wives and concubines applauded, and hurriedly went to dress up, Yi Zhishu also changed into a soap-colored vertical collar gown, and was cleaning up, but Lin Meilian came in quickly to report: "Big shopkeeper, Prince Yi is here." ”

Zaigaki? Yi Zhixiang was a little surprised, "Just him?" ”

Lin Meilian nodded, "He's alone." ”

It seems that Zaiyuan came to Shanghai this time for another purpose, Yi Zhizu nodded slightly: "Take him to the study, and I will go over later." After a pause, he commanded, "Don't spoil their interest, tell Madame that they don't have to wait for me first, and I'll look for them later." ”

After packing up, he slowly paced to the study, as soon as he entered the room, Zaiyuan got up with a smile to greet him, and arched his hand: "Xiyi is not a year, and he is urging the most favored country thing, and he may have to rush back to Beijing tomorrow, come to visit at night, and look at Brother Haihan of Guocheng." ”

Prince Yi Zaiyuan and Yi Zhifen are about the same age, Zaiyuan is slightly older than three or four years old, the two have dealt with each other many times in Beijing Shanghai and Tianjin, and they are also familiar with each other, listening to him say so politely, Yi Zhiyuan smiled gently, stretched out his hand to give up his seat, and after sitting down, he said very casually: "Come by the order of the Queen Mother?" ”

Yi Zhixiang spoke directly, Zaiyuan had already been taught, but being so direct still made him a little uncomfortable, and he smiled reluctantly, and he said straight to the point: "The queen mother has always been worried about the constitutional....... ”

Worried? Yi Zhicontent laughed and said: "If you can really successfully establish a constitution, it is the blessing of the queen mother, the blessing of the emperor, the blessing of the Manchurians, and the blessing of the Qing Dynasty. ”

Zaiyuan said: "Can the constitution really keep the throne forever and the Qing Dynasty forever?" ”

"Isn't England the best example, so why bother?" Yi Zhizu said slowly: "If the emperor establishes a constitution, the emperor will become the spiritual leader of the country, just like a god on the altar. After the constitution is enacted, it will inevitably flourish again, and it is a matter of course that the national honor will continue. ”

Spiritual leaders? It's not just a marionette! Zaiyuan was very disapproving, and sighed slightly, before he said: "Brother Guocheng really has no intention of being regent?" To implement constitutional government, Brother Kunishiro is the most suitable candidate for regent. ”

Tempted again, Yi Zhishu was a little annoyed, but he endured himself and said patiently: "From the ** imperial power and the constitution of the hypocrisy, this is a leap, there must be a transition period, how long will this transition period be?" At least ten or eight years, at most twenty or thirty years, during this transition period, you must be the regent of a highly respected person in the imperial court to make a smooth transition, I am not the right person, and besides, I do not want to suffer that sin. ”

Jaegaki asked, "How to determine the length of this transition period?" ”

"Of course, it is determined according to whether the basis and conditions for the implementation of constitutionalism are ripe." Yi Zhizhi said without thinking: "To implement constitutional government, there must be a certain political, economic, legal, ideological, cultural and social foundation, etc., China's three thousand years of feudal imperial power, if you want to change, it is not an overnight thing." ”

It is indeed not unreasonable, Zaiyuan nodded, and said, "England is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy........ ”

"Not bad." Yi Zhizhi said: "The parliamentary monarchy is the most suitable for the national conditions of the Qing Dynasty, one is that it can retain the privileged class, the royal family, the princes and nobles can be preserved the existing title privileges, and second, this is a constitutional government that can be achieved without war. ”

Zaiyuan obviously spent a lot of effort and careful study of the constitution of England, but he did not understand it very thoroughly, so there were many problems, and it was easy to know that he was making a detailed understanding of the Empress Dowager Ci'an, and he was tireless to explain it in detail at the moment, of course, he hoped to win Ci'an's support for the constitution, which would save a lot of trouble.

The two talked for more than half an hour, and the waiting Yi Zhizhi got up to cut the candle, and Zaiyuan realized that it was time to end this long conversation, and when he turned around and sat down, he tentatively said: "Can the palace set up a wired telegraph line with the Zhennan Palace?" ”

Hearing this, Yi Zhishu was quite surprised, there is a special line between the Military Aircraft Department and the Zhennan Palace, and there is one in the palace? Is Ci'an going to bypass the Military Aircraft Department and contact him directly? He immediately laughed and said, "That's a good thing, of course." ”

Zaiyuan added: "The queen mother's meaning is that it is best not to be noticed. ”

"It's not that hard." Yi Zhizhi said with a smile.

Sending Zaiyuan away, Yi Zhi's contented face sank, Ci'an wanted to bypass the military aircraft department and contact him directly, this is to rely on Yuanqi, and it can also be seen as a release of goodwill to Yuanqi, but think about it, what does Ci'an want to do? Don't trust Yi and Sushun, and want to cultivate their own forces?

This is not a good thing, but it is not easy to stop, Yi and Sushun are in their own line, Ci'an is unwilling to be hollowed out, and it is reasonable to cultivate power, and many princes of the clan and ministers of the court are also willing to rely on the emperor.

Do you need to remind Yi Sushun? This is not necessary, with the political sense of the two people, how can they not detect this? Let them fight, just sit in Shanghai and watch the play, the more they fight, the more beneficial it is for Yuan Qi.

In February, tariff negotiations with Britain, France and other countries began in Shanghai, and Yi Zhishu did not even show his face, but only set a general framework for them to negotiate, this kind of repeated and trivial and complicated negotiations, he did not have the slightest interest, and the differences between the two sides were large, and he estimated that no agreement could be reached in a few months.

He was more concerned with the American Civil War, and after the beginning of the spring, Lincoln appointed Grant as commander-in-chief of the Union Army, commanding all the Northern armies in the Eastern and Western theaters. At the same time, Sherman was appointed to command the Northern Army in the entire Western Theater, and the Northern Army, which had won victories in the five major battles last year, had high morale and began to launch an all-out counteroffensive, launching a coordinated offensive on the south from three fronts in the eastern and western theaters at the same time.

Zhao Liewen flicked the telegram and said: "Big boss, the Southern Alliance is obviously gone, the internal and external difficulties are in difficulty, and there is no hope of independence, why do you have to fight hard?" ”

"You can't say that." Yi Zhishu lightly knocked the cigarette ash, and said unhurriedly: "Although the general trend has gone, it has not reached the point of despair, it has been four years since the outbreak of the war, and the northern army only gained the initiative on the battlefield last year, although the southern army suffered many casualties, but it still has the ability and motivation to continue fighting." ”

"The motivation to keep fighting?" Zhao Liewen said: "Could it be that the south thinks there is still a chance to turn around?" ”

"There is hope if the war continues." Yi Zhizhi said: "The south may have been able to soberly realize that they have no hope of winning this war, but they may not have the hope of achieving the goal of independence ........." ”

Zhao Liewen said, "The big shopkeeper is saying that Britain and France will still support southern independence?" ”

"This may be very small, and the south probably won't have this luxury anymore." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "The south should want to fight a protracted war, a war of attrition. If the war continues, the losses will be staggering for both the North and the South, who should want to drag out the war and wait for the presidential election at the end of this year.

If the Democrats win the election at the end of the year, it is very likely that they will take advantage of the war-weariness of the people and use the brutality of the war and the huge losses as an excuse to recognize the independence of the South. ”

"There were elections during the war?" Zhao Liewen was stunned for a moment, and said quickly: "If Lincoln loses the election, the Democratic Party governs, and recognizes the independence of the South, isn't the four-year war in vain?" ”

"It depends on whether this year's war goes well." Yi Zhixiang said slowly: "If the war goes smoothly and a series of victories or victories of great significance are achieved, Lincoln will inevitably be re-elected, but if the war is deadlocked, the casualties are too great, and there is no hope of victory, then Lincoln has a great chance of losing the election." ”

"So, this year's war is extremely critical?"

Yi Zhizu nodded slightly: "We don't need to worry about salty radishes, I can see through this, Lincoln who is in it naturally understands this better, we don't need to worry about it, but we should pay close attention to the situation of the Prussian-Danish War, the rise of Prussia will affect the whole of Europe." ”