For the constitution and republic of the West, Zhao Liewen has also studied it attentively, and he quite agrees with the view that it is easy to be content, whether it is a constitution or a republic, it is based on multi-headed politics, the Qing Dynasty lacks such a foundation, although the three thousand years of feudal dynasties also have a group of heroes competing for hegemony, the three kingdoms are full of power, and the situation of confrontation between the north and the south, but the main thing is the situation of great unification with a high degree of centralization.

In this respect, the Qing Dynasty is indeed not suitable for constitutionalism or republicanism, the current pattern for the Qing Dynasty is indeed an opportunity to implement constitutional government, Yuanqi and the imperial court are the two major political factions, although Yuanqi is in the opposition, but with strong economic strength and military strength in a strong position.

Thinking of this, he wondered if the big shopkeeper had deliberately formed this pattern so that he could try constitutionalism? Judging from his encouragement of constitutionalism, this may be very big, he wanted to ask, hesitated but held back, and said: "Since Xianfeng, the imperial court has had a lot of compromises, and the little emperor ascended the throne, and the imperial court should also be regarded as a compromise in terms of preparing for the constitution and land reform." ”

"That's not called a compromise, it's forced to be helpless, because of Yuan Qi's strength, the court had to make concessions." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "If you really want to say that it is Yuan Qi who compromises, not the imperial court." After a pause, he continued: "By compromise, I mean a balance between the subjective will and the peaceful solution of the problem.

At present, it is also because Yuan Qi is strong, if the court is in a strong position, it is a completely different situation, the emperor, King Gong, Su Shun, which side is not thinking of monopolizing power? ”

This is a fact, Zhao Liewen nodded, although the imperial court has announced that it is ready to establish a constitution, but the princes of the court and the central government are bent on fighting for power and profit, thinking of monopolizing power, who is really thinking about the constitution?

After a slight sigh, he spoke: "Since the big shopkeeper feels that he is not suitable for constitutionalism, why do he still support the constitution of the imperial court?" ”

"How do you know if it's a good fit if you don't try it?" Yi Zhizhi said slowly: "Moreover, if the constitution fails, it will be more conducive to trying a republic or other forms of government." ”

What other forms of government are there besides constitutional and republican? Zhao Liewen was quite surprised, but he didn't ask much, he knew that the other party should not have mature ideas, otherwise he would definitely take the initiative to say it.

Jingshi, Yangxin Palace, East Warm Pavilion.

Empress Dowager Ci'an slowly closed the fold in her hand, frowned slightly and glanced at Yixun kneeling below, the fold was presented by Yixun, but it was written by Yi Zhicontent, and the content of the fold was naturally a plea for the imperial court to conclude an alliance with the United States and Russia.

Since the beginning of the Crimean War, Yuanqi newspapers have frequently reported on Western countries, and the American Civil War is also a follow-up report, with detailed analysis and explanation of the attitudes and positions of Britain, France, and Spain, as well as the reform of serfdom in Russia and the large-scale uprising in Poland.

As a prisoner, Ci'an has no reason not to pay attention, even if she has no intention of studying and pondering, she has a general understanding of the relationship between Western countries, not to mention that the imperial court is relying on Britain and France to build military factories, and she is basically clear about the situation in Britain, France, the United States, Russia and other countries.

After pondering for a while, she spoke: "Uncle Sixth has been to Shanghai in recent days?" ”

"Back to the Queen Mother." Yixun did not hide it and said truthfully: "Wechen did just rush back from Shanghai, the Russian Foreign Minister visited Shanghai, and Yi Zhizhi put forward the matter of the alliance of the three countries, and the matter is very high, and Wechen had to go to Shanghai in person to dissuade him." ”

Dissuade? Ci'an glanced at the fold in his hand, and his voice was a little cold, "Sixth Uncle can't be dissuaded, but has become a contented lobbyist?" ”

Hearing her unkind tone, Yi Xun muttered before saying: "When Wei Chen first heard about this, he secretly thought that Yi Zhi's move contained evil intentions, intended to provoke friendly relations between the imperial court and Britain and France, and after a long talk between Shanghai and his party, he learned that the alliance of the three countries was not only for the long-term consideration of the Qing Dynasty, but also for the needs of the continued expansion of the northwest of Yuanqi. ”

Ci'an slowed down his tone and said, "Sixth Uncle knows that the alliance with the United States and Russia will lead to estrangement and even rupture between Britain and France, and still agrees, what is the reason?" ”

"Britain and France are strong, strong in the present, the United States and Russia are strong, strong in the future, abandoning Britain and France and choosing the United States and Russia is conducive to the long-term development of the Qing Dynasty." Yi Xun said calmly: "Furthermore, when it comes to the threat to our Qing Dynasty, the first to bear the brunt is not Britain and France, but its close neighbor Russia, Yuan Qi first bought Alaska and Kamchatka Peninsula from Russia, and then bought Siberia, and demarcated the border in the Kazakh steppe, Russia also suffered a lot of losses.

Russia is also a European power, before the defeat of Crimea, the so-called "European gendarme" was a strong opponent of Britain and France in Europe, although the Crimea was defeated, but Russia is determined to innovate, and it is just around the corner to become strong again. If it is not able to make friends with Russia, once Russia is strong, a major war will inevitably break out in the northwest. ”

After a pause, he continued: "Now Yuanqi is actively building a railway to the northwest, it is reported that this railway is to connect Russia, known as the trans-Eurasian railway, which is enough to show Yuanqi's determination to ally with Russia, if the imperial court refuses to form an alliance with the United States and Russia, then Yi Zhizhi will inevitably form an alliance with the United States and Russia in the name of Yuanqi, which will inevitably lead to Yuanqi's secession or even self-reliance."

If this is the case, the Qing Dynasty will inevitably form a situation of confrontation between the north and the south, and even if the imperial court has the support of Britain and France, it will be difficult to resist Yuan Qi, and Weichen secretly believes that whether it is in the long term or from the current consideration, the imperial court should not refuse to form an alliance with the United States and Russia. ”

Build a railway to Russia? How much silver does that cost? Yuanqi's construction of the railway connecting the northwest had already shocked Ci'an, but he didn't expect that the railway was still connected to Russia, and it seemed that Yuanqi's wealth had completely exceeded the expectations of the imperial court.

After pondering for a moment, Ci'an said: "Dealing with Britain and France is not conducive to the foreign trade of the imperial court, and it is also possible to make the military factory that is prepared to be abandoned halfway, if the imperial court cannot manufacture guns and ammunition on its own, no matter how large the scale of the Eight Banners New Army is, it is useless, can the sixth uncle consider this?" ”

"Back to the Queen Mother." Yi Xun said unhurriedly: "My Qing Empire can be called the overlord of the East, and it is also a powerful country in the world, so we should conduct equal diplomacy with other countries according to our own interests, and we don't need to care about the ideas of other countries. As for the hostilities, it is not necessarily, after all, the alliance with the United States and Russia does not harm the interests of Britain and France.

As for the foreign trade that is not conducive to the imperial court, Weichen does not dare to agree, Britain and France will not give up trade with the imperial court for this reason, and furthermore, after the alliance, American merchant ships will also go north to trade, after all, the imperial court does not monopolize the bulk commodities of foreign trade like Yuan Qi.

The only drawback was that Britain and France might have reduced their support for the imperial court, slowed down the process of building military factories, or stopped assisting.

Wechen thought that we should first test the reaction of Britain and France, and if the construction of the military factory was stopped because of this, the imperial court could also ask the United States for help. ”

Ci'an was stunned when he heard this, "Yuan Qi will assist the imperial court in preparing for the construction of a military factory?" ”

"Yuan Qi is not unable to prevent Britain and France from assisting the imperial court in preparing for the construction of a military industrial system, and it is completely possible to threaten Britain and France through commerce and trade." Yi Xun said slowly: "The reason why Yuan Qi didn't do this is obviously because he doesn't care about it. If the imperial court stops building a military industry because of this, Weichen is sure to let Yuan Qi assist. ”

Ci'an's heart sank, "Why doesn't Yuan Qi care about the imperial court's own military industry?" ”

This question, Yi Xun did not ask Yi Zhizhi but thought about it repeatedly, and immediately said with a bitter face: "Back to the Queen Mother, although Yuanqi's military industry started far later than Britain, France, the United States, Russia and other Western powers, it is the last, and the guns and ammunition produced are ahead of Western countries. Yuan Qi didn't care that Britain and France assisted the imperial court in preparing for the military industry, it should be out of self-confidence. ”

Assertive? In other words, Yuan Qi didn't take the imperial court in his eyes at all, so he ignored the imperial court's preparation for the military industry, Ci'an suddenly felt a deep sense of powerlessness welled up in his heart, Yuan Qi was like an incomparably huge mountain that overwhelmed her, she didn't have the heart to ask anymore, and said straightly: "Kneel down." ”

Waiting for Yi Xun to bow down, she couldn't help but sigh lightly, first to prepare for the constitution, then to land reform 375 rent reduction, and now it is an alliance of the three countries, look at this trend, Yuan Qi will be endlessly tossed, partial to Yixun, Su Shun and actively coordinated, in the long run, this Qing Dynasty court has not become Yuan Qi's court?

This person's alliance with the three kingdoms, in fact, has been unable to help her willing, whether she is willing or not, she must nod her head and agree, otherwise, Yi Zhicontentment, Yixun, and Su Shun will inevitably take turns to exert pressure, thinking of this, she can't help but feel a little panicked, called Jianguo, but in fact it is like a puppet.

As a cruise ship slowly sails up the Huangpu River, U.S. Secretary of State Seward stands at the window and looks curiously at the largest and richest port city in the Far East, which many American businessmen see as legendary as Yuanqi.

A graduate of Confederation College, Seward began his career as a lawyer, and in 1830 he ran for the state Senate, becoming the youngest member of New York State. In 1838, he ran as a Whig candidate for gubernatorial election in New York State, and was successful. He entered the U.S. Senate in 1849. He joined the fledgling Republican Party as a Whig in 1854 and was considered the founder of the party, leaving the Senate in 1861 to become Secretary of State to President Lincoln.

For Yuanqi, he is full of gratitude, Yuanqi from the beginning of the establishment of close business cooperation with the United States, over the years, Yuanqi has given the United States too much help, so that the United States in the Far East business and trade steadily improved, this civil war, Yuanqi is also the first attitude clear and firm support for their Northern Federal Government, but also gave great help.

For the legendary Yuanqi treasurer, not only him, but even President Lincoln is full of curiosity, this time the United States, Qing and Russia alliance, whether it is Lincoln or him, are extremely important, this is not only related to the United States after the war, the rapid recovery of the economy, but also related to the United States' long-term plan to expand commerce and trade to the Pacific.

As for the Far East, as early as in the Senate, he clearly pointed out with the sensitivity and foresight of a statesman that the Far East would become the center of major world affairs, the center of world trade, and a new arena for human activities. The United States must do everything in its power to maintain close ties with the Far East.

In addition, he realized that the European threat to the United States was not elsewhere but in the Pacific, and that the future war for world hegemony would take place in the Pacific, and that the victory in this war should belong to the countries with great economic power.

For the visit of US Secretary of State Seward, Yi Zhicontent also attaches great importance to it, and the Prime Minister Yamen held a grand welcome ceremony with the same specifications as the Russian foreign minister, and if he wants to say that the three countries are in alliance, he actually attaches more importance to Russia, after all, for the Qing Dynasty, the relationship with Russia is more important, which is directly related to the expansion of Yuanqi in Central Asia and the stability of the border between the two countries.

Of course, the gentry did not pay attention to the United States, after all, Alaska is now part of the territory of the Qing Dynasty, which is now an empire spanning the two continents of Asia and North America, and the Qing Dynasty also needs the full support of the United States in consolidating Alaska, and Canada is now a British colony between the two countries. In addition, Yuanqi has close ties with the United States in many fields.

As soon as they met, Seward warmly held Yi Zhi's hand, his mouth was full of enthusiastic praise and praise, and it took two or three minutes to let go of his hand, and that enthusiasm made Yi Zhifen a little unbearable, it was obvious that Yuanqi and the United States had been friends for so many years and this time in the Northern Union when he was most in need of help in a timely manner won the most sincere gratitude from the United States.

After the formal meeting, Seward visited the house that night accompanied by Bo Jia, Yi Zhishu also met with each other in Chunhui Garden, and the two sides exchanged pleasantries and sat down separately, Seward once again expressed his gratitude to Yi Zhifen before saying: "For the alliance of the three countries, our President Mr. Lincoln attaches great importance to it, and clearly pointed out that the alliance between your two countries will greatly promote Pacific commerce and trade, and the Pacific Ocean will become the new center of the world. ”

According to information collected by Yuan Qi over the years, Seward was a strong expansionist and once claimed in the Senate that the United States would expand its territory indefinitely. Whether the sun shines in the tropics or radiates the polar circles, this federation will welcome the dawn.

He also stressed that the United States should turn to the Asia-Pacific region after completing its continental expansion, and that the way of expansion should be to shift from territorial expansion to commercial expansion, but it did not rule out the acquisition of certain important trading posts, and that the territory of the United States should include distant islands in the two oceans.

This so-called Pacific trade should be the means of the United States' expansion into the Pacific and the Asia-Pacific - commercial expansion, Yi Zhishu said slightly: "I agree with Mr. Lincoln's statement that the Pacific Ocean will become the new center of this world, because both the United States and the Qing Empire will become one of the greatest countries in this world." ”