Chapter 775 North Korea: The First Song of the Eastern Courtyard

The Temple of Heaven in Huangpu is still the usual drum noise, several groups of people are holding signs and shouting, I don't know what is going on, and the children are giggling and flying kites behind the crowd.

The two middle-aged men were strolling in the square and chatting, and the black-clad police officer glanced at them lazily and ignored them, focusing on the vendors who sold food and drink at the Temple of Heaven and the potential bandits with swords. These two people are well-dressed, and their gestures are all like people, and they are not officials, or they are members of the two courts.

The babbling erhu sounded, the cymbals were clanging, and the small drum beat was accompanied by a banghuang opera troupe [1] entered the Temple of Heaven, and before the song was finished, it was suppressed by the siren, this is not a place for singing.

The two men turned a blind eye, chatting as they walked.

"The ticket price of the National Court is really high, it took 60,000 taels to send you in, Lord Wang."

"This is only the price of the East Courtyard, the West Courtyard is in charge of industrial and commercial affairs, especially the tax law, and the ticket price is higher, I heard that in Guangdong, a ticket in the West Courtyard costs 3,000 taels."

"There are few people in the West Courtyard, and there are only a few thousand to 10,000 people in the Provincial Federation of Industry and Commerce, and the number of candidates is also small, and the ticket price is of course expensive."

"There are only five people in one province in the East Courtyard, but all the talents above are selected people, and hundreds of thousands of people are selected in one province, although the ticket price is low, to get enough votes, the cost is not lower than that of the West Courtyard."

These two people are Zhu Yigui, who has just been elected to the Eastern Academy, and Du Junying, the magistrate of Fengshan. The "buying tickets" and ticket prices that the two of them talked about are a new business that has emerged in the country after the election of the court has gradually entered the hearts of the people.

At present, Yinghua has a unicameral system from the township to the prefecture, and the province and the country are two chambers. The provinces and the state not only have high reputations, but also have more influence on taxation and the power to approve bills, admonish and impeach, so the provincial and national courts are the focus of everyone's attention.

However, all shareholders of the company whose principal exceeds a certain standard [2] are selected by the West Academy, and all Xiucai [3] who graduated from primary school are selected by the Eastern Academy.

There are few members of the Western Academy, with a national quota of 45 people, and there are many members of the Eastern Academy, with a national quota of 182 people. The term of office is four years, and half of the two-year elections are elected.

In the early days, the election was still very simple, and the wealthy business owners of the West Courtyard were ousted from power, and if they wanted to enter the West Courtyard, they could not hold positions in listed companies, nor could they hold stocks, so the people who entered the West Courtyard were the sons and nephews of the wealthy business owners. Negotiate with each other in a friendly manner, draw up a list, and the selection is just a process.

However, most of the scholars in the Eastern Courtyard were talented and unwilling to go out, and they had a good reputation, and the early selection of people in the Eastern Courtyard was mainly scholars, and they were all recommended rather than elected.

However, the times are sophisticated, the wisdom of the people is gradually opened, the people's knowledge has increased sharply, and the court has spoken for the people of the world, and the power of the two houses has gradually grown, and this harmonious atmosphere soon dissipated, and after more than ten years, the election has become an election campaign. More and more people, whether they want to be famous or want to make a profit, are crowding into the two houses. The previous amicable election has become a black-box vote, and then disregards human feelings. Candidates are also gradually discovering that their election qualifications are a resource that can be sold at a price.

As a result, the "selection of merchants" was born in response, and they contacted the people who were electing people downward, and the people who were vying for the election of the court were contacted upwards, and they bought and sold, and there was a ticket price. When Yinghua later generations talked about this period, they all called it "scalper politics", which means that the scalpers decided the candidates for both houses.

The buying and selling of votes is a prohibited matter under the "Yuan Election Law", and people such as Wang Blind and Chen Yuanlong have been denouncing this malpractice. It doesn't prevent scalpers from setting up a name and going back and forth in private. In addition, at this time, most of the electors did not feel that the affairs of the court were very important, and it was more affordable for the ballots to be exchanged for silver.

Seriously, the court didn't have much effort to press, the emperor said, even if you press hard, there will be people who jump out and say that there is a problem with the election process, it is better to wait until everyone takes this ticket seriously and is reluctant to sell it, or when there are more and more people selected, and the ticket merchants can't afford to operate, it's not too late to govern. …,

Therefore, in addition to the high prestige, there are a large number of fans who do not have to pay attention to the ticket price, and others who want to be selected for the academy have to pay silver.

Du Junying said: "The Provincial East Court has obtained the right to verify the provincial government's tax, and everyone is eyeing the Provincial Court, and the provincial ticket is more expensive than the national ticket." Relying on the reputation of Fujian, it is not impossible for the prince to protect the affairs of the Fujian Provincial Academy, and it is impossible to compete for the capital, so why rush to the National Academy? The head of the provincial court, even the governor has to be polite, and he can help the children of our Fengshan and Chiayi counties to fight for welfare, and the benefits are in front of him, what ...... the national court?"

He shook his head and sighed: "There are more than 100 houses in the National Academy, and there are many assignees, and it is difficult to keep the position if you don't fight for fame." Chen Yuanlong, the head of the previous court, was a famous Confucian in the south of the Yangtze River, served as the governor of Guangxi in the Manchu Dynasty, a scholar of Hongwenguan in this dynasty, and a close friend of Duan Guoshi. But in this year's re-election, even the affairs of the hospital were lost. ”

Zhu Yigui said with a smile: "The season is different, most of the new batch of people are young people who read hundreds of books, dial abacus, walk in military steps, and can manipulate swords and firearms, and their horizons are much greater, rather than nerds who come out of the four books and five classics." Chen Yuanlong opposed the division of the clan land last year, and also dragged the East Courtyard to restore the official gentry to tax exemption, and everyone in the world was afraid of him, who would dare to elect him to enter the National Court? The general trend has changed, the kind of person who is blind Wang, he entered the East Courtyard with a single breath, he bought a ticket? ”

Du Junying sighed in a long tone: "Yes, because of this, the ticket merchants have also divided into various party categories, and the ticket prices of different party categories are different. ”

The vote party is a feature of Anglo-Chinese politics, and the new batch of electors began to pay attention to the votes in their hands, even if they want to sell, they hope to sell them to the type of candidates who meet their hearts, instead of drawing a good name and throwing the blank votes directly to the voters.

The ticket dealer changes according to the needs, and a certain price code is divided according to the candidate's origin, region and "education level", as well as whether he has an official status. The more famous the person, the lower the price, to buy the vote of the elector, to vote for strangers, like Zhu Yigui nest in a remote place like Taiwan, the name rarely appears in public opinion, and the person who once proclaimed himself the prince is naturally very expensive. Fortunately, Zhu Yigui still has the status of a county official, otherwise he would not want to be in the national court.

Zhu Yigui said confidently: "Don't worry, I already understand the pattern of the two courts, that is, to fight for the interests of the people, and fight with the court and the government without breaking it." There is a big deal to be done about the division of legal powers, the correction of legal judgments, the increase or decrease of taxes, the welfare and welfare of people, and even the entry of Annan into China and the spread of opium in Chaoshan and southern Fujian. Now that I have just entered the Eastern Hospital, I have to ponder and understand what banner I can hold up to correct myself and speak out longer. ”

Du Junying said with a smile: "The prince has his own world in his heart, and he must have a lot to do." The younger brother waved the flag and shouted for the prince in Taiwan. ”

As soon as he said this, a large number of people flowed into the Temple of Heaven, and the shouts and cheers overwhelmed the other trumpets, shaking everyone's attention.

"Opium is harmful! Profiteers have no virtue! ”

"No smoking, no drugs, no seas!"

The flow of people is non-stop, and the shouting is not limited to this category.

"Punish the Qing Dynasty! Just my Huaxia! ”

"Full of grasshoppers! How can North Korea not be protected!? ”

There are also well-organized crowds and clear banners, which are the business community at a glance.

"Yidi is plundering! Where does Huaxia have face!? ”

"The people were killed, the goods were robbed, where was the court? Where is the Navy!? ”

Zhu Du and the two took a breath, looked at each other and said in unison: "What's the news in today's newspaper?" ”

They didn't have time to read it, so they hurriedly snatched a few newspapers from the newsboy who had been surrounded by a large number of people, and hurriedly glanced at them, their faces suddenly changed.

"Brother Fool is one step ahead, and the East Courtyard must have made trouble." ..., Zhu Yigui hugged his fists and said goodbye, with an awe-inspiring look on his face that he was about to set foot on the battlefield.

As he said, when he entered the hall of the Dongguo Yuan on the east side of the Temple of Heaven, the sound of quarrels was endless, and the new head of the court, Qu Minghong, sat at the top of the lobby, and the shocking wood knocked on the sky, but he still couldn't suppress the noise.

"I only know about disputes, I don't know how to seek success, stubborn and stupid, the old man is ashamed to be in company, so he quit!"

Qu Minghong was furious, slapped the shocked wood again, got up and was about to leave.

Qu Minghong was once a scholar of the Ministry of Education, and after retiring, he concentrated on the cause of enlightenment, pulling many scholars in the country, and established the "Zhengmeng Society", which vigorously promoted Mongolian education from the people, and had an outstanding reputation in the country. He entered the Eastern Courtyard in response to the appeal of the people, and wanted to use the Eastern Courtyard to Guangxing Education.

But everyone obeys him for more than this reason, he is the head of the court, in charge of the power of the legislature, if he is not there, everyone will be present in the court for hundreds of years, and no bill will be released, which is also in vain.

The hospital officials coaxed and persuaded this old man who had no temper for adults and no temper for children.

Zhu Yigui found Wang Shishen, who was lonely, and asked, "What do you want to discuss?" ”

Wang Blind's Ink Society has long been well-known among the people, and he is even the leader of the non-mainstream trend of the college. And he competed for study in Jiangnan, argued with the emperor, and his reputation was also outstanding. But in the East Courtyard, he is still an alternative, Zhu Yigui, who sharpened his head from the East Courtyard of Fujian Province and squeezed in by buying tickets with a lot of money, is poor and white in the East Courtyard.

Wang Blind said lightly: "Fan Sihai sold opium in North Korea, and was robbed by North Korea and Nian Qianyao, the court is discussing countermeasures, and the Western Court has already put forward a proposal in the morning, asking the court to send troops to protect the merchants and seek justice." The Eastern Court felt that it was also going to speak, and it was arguing about whether to deal with Fan Sihai or seconded the Western Court and send troops to North Korea. ”

The emperor is still in charge of foreign affairs, and the two houses can only put forward a bill, but now the two houses have the weight to speak by relying on the power of taxation and judging the law, so this bill is not a piece of paper, the emperor can veto it, but he cannot ignore it. It was too neglectful, and the two chambers would not necessarily have to wrestle with the emperor and the court in domestic affairs.

Zhu Yigui asked: "Brother Wang, what do you think?" ”

Wang Blind shrugged: "I mentioned another case, but everyone's heart is not on this now, so I can't find many people to sign it." ”

Zhu Yigui became interested: "I want to hear about it." ”

Wang Blind also cheered up, the Eastern Court is not a loud voice, but to see if you can persuade as many people as possible to agree with you, everyone is precious.

"I want to reformulate the "Anti-Drug Law" in the future, opium is a great harm to our British and Chinese, and if we don't take precautions early, I am afraid that when a country is overflowing, I will regret it."

Wang Blind was thinking about domestic affairs, but others were thinking about parting ways with the West Courtyard and speaking out on foreign affairs, so naturally not many people echoed him at this time.

Zhu Yigui nodded and said: "Yes, in Chiayi, Taiwan, there are people who smoke hibiscus paste locally, and in southern Fujian and Chaoshan, this logistics is widely spread, and if you don't make great efforts to ban it, you really want to harm a country." ”

After attracting Wang Blind to regard him as a comrade, Zhu Yigui said again: "As for foreign affairs, Brother Wang, you see ......."

Wang Blind had a clear attitude: "According to the law of the country, Fan Sihai is not guilty." Since our country is a country that follows the way of heaven with the law, we cannot rely on people's hearts to arbitrarily condemn crimes. On the other hand, the Korean and Manchu Qing plundered our British and Chinese people, and on the other hand, the East Court should seconded the West House to support the dispatch of troops to seek justice. ”

Zhu Yigui smiled: "I thought Brother Wang was going to talk about ending the war......

Wang Blind also smiled: "That's Gu Mo, Wang also agrees that there is a distinction between righteousness and injustice, defending our people, this is a righteous war." ”

Zhu Yigui nodded and said, "Brother Wang is worthy of everyone, and I admire him." ”

In just a short conversation, Zhu Yigui brought the relationship between the two closer, and in the heart of Wang Blind, although Zhu Yigui is not a like-minded person, he can be regarded as a partner in the hospital. ..., Seeing that another member of the court was entangled with others to list the punishment of Fan Sihai as a bill, Zhu Yigui hurriedly said loudly: "Brother Wang and I don't agree that this case is negotiable!" ”

Unlike other court affairs that oppose this case, Zhu Yigui didn't want this case to become an issue at all, which immediately attracted everyone's attention. Those who have been in the East Courtyard for two years, and even those who have stayed for six years, have eyes full of disdain. This nouveau riche who jumped out of nowhere is not allowed to speak to others?

Zhu Yigui said loudly: "I thought that Fan Sihai was a person without virtue and should be punished by God." But think about it, we are the Eastern Court, speaking on behalf of a citizen, and the matter of Fan Sihai also implicates the dignity of our country. If our Eastern Court does not protect the righteousness, but instead attacks each other, isn't this inferior? ”

This was said too properly, and the court officials only regarded it as a façade, most of them didn't care, and they were about to make a noise, but Zhu Yigui changed his words: "Even if we come up with a proposal to punish Fan Sihai, the national law can't deal with him, what does this have to do with my Eastern Court?" ”

What is the benefit......

A sharp word, so that everyone was silent, they woke up from a dream, yes, although everyone quarreled endlessly, but after all, they were one, facing the Western Courtyard, facing the court, and even facing the emperor, there were "public interests".

What public interest? That, of course, carries the weight of words. Compared with the Western Yuan, which has the power to audit industrial and commercial taxes and supervise financial operations, the Eastern Court has much less power. The salaries of the members of the West Court are all from the industrial and commercial tax, and they are calculated to support themselves, while the East Court also depends on the local land tax transferred by the imperial court, and the land tax is a local tax, and the affairs of the State Court cannot be determined.

The affairs of the East Courtyard are all outstanding people, and when they wake up at one o'clock, someone says: "That's right! Fan Sihai's matter is still related to righteousness, our East Courtyard does not have the same heart as one country, but holds Fan Sihai and does not let go, and in the eyes of the court and the people, it is said that my East Courtyard has become Donglin! ”

Another humanitarian: "It is good to seconded the Western Court and sell the imperial court to other bills." ”

Zhu Yigui hurriedly answered: "Yes! Our Eastern Court pushed the imperial court to establish the "Anti-Drug Law" before, dividing Fan Sihai's affairs into internal and external, and revising the "Anti-Drug Law" is an internal affair. Therefore, there is such a discussion, and it is agreed whether to seconded the Western Court, and after sending troops to North Korea, Brother Ji Wang will be attached to the lower court, and with the strength of our Eastern Yuan, the "Anti-Drug Law" will be revised! ”

The lobby was quiet, everyone was thinking about the stakes, Wang Shishen looked at Zhu Yigui, and there was a hint of uneasiness in gratitude, this person ...... It seems that he used the power technique in the affairs of the East Courtyard, and it stands to reason that he should be happy, but why does he always feel that it is not a taste.

Then he shook his head and smiled, secretly saying that he was still too pedantic, just like running a business, this Eastern Courtyard also needs to operate, otherwise how can he gradually carry the legal power as he ideals? This direction should also be what the emperor wants.

As the host, Qu Minghong thought about it, and resolutely patted the wood and said: "First discuss whether to seconded the Western Court and urge the imperial court to send troops!" ”

This case is quite arduous to discuss, and many people still believe that opium trafficking is intolerable, Fan Sihai is guilty first, and according to the "Trade Law", Fuhua Company has already gone to seek justice on its own, and there is no need for the imperial court to come forward again. This would make the people of the world think that the imperial court approved of the opium trade, and did not hesitate to defend the business by force.

There are also people who believe that after Yinghua Zhengshuo, North Korea should be a Yinghua vassal, and if it hits the door like this, it will damage the face of the Yinghua Celestial Dynasty.

It is said that Nian Qianyao is eyeing North Korea, and he has the intention of swallowing it as a backyard, so he should let the court beat the Manchu Qing Dynasty, get rid of Nian Qianyao's thoughts, and calm the situation in the north!" ”

Those who have been officials consider practical problems: "The imperial court is powerless to fight, the main force of the navy sails to the Western Ocean, the army has been reduced a lot, and the elite are preparing for the war in the Western Regions. ”

The voice of opposition was slapped down in waves, "This is the attitude of the Eastern Court, whether to fight or not, or Your Majesty has the final say!" ”

"We should take the opportunity of expelling Nian Qianyao and let North Korea respect our Yinghua as the kingdom of the Celestial Empire!"

Born in a red-clothed soldier, after being disabled, he set up another Huashan Association, famous for relieving orphans and orphans, and Duan Lindong, who is the nephew of Duan Guoshi, said sonorously: "Even if the countrymen are guilty, they should be dealt with by me Yinghua myself!" Little North Korea, dare to kill and injure Chinese people and loot goods!? This matter is placed in Daming, don't you send an edict to ask for guilt!? Wouldn't you raise an army to fight!? ”

Yes, putting aside the opium matter, in the past, this is a major matter to ask the other party for guilt, whether to fight or not depends on whether the other party admits guilt or not, and whether he can fight or not.

Duan Lindong looked around at everyone and set the tone in one word: "If you don't say anything about this matter, that is a traitor and a traitor!" "——u-c-t-x-t——[UCebook]End of body [UCebook]——u——c——t——x-t