When the cabinet meeting had just decided on a new ambassador to the United States and was discussing how to strictly observe neutrality after China declared neutrality, the outer hall reported that the DPRK ambassador wanted to see him, and this person actually broke in without heeding the advice.

Since independence, the DPRK has always admired the grace of heaven and has always followed the trend of China's domestic and foreign policies, and has never been so rude. But today he went straight to the prime minister's office despite the advice, which made the participants very strange, Weng Wenhao put down the mind of the meeting, and wrinkled his brows with displeasure: "What does this North Korean want to do?" ”

"My lord, he ......" Weng Wenhao's other secretary, Wang Yunwu of the Commercial Press earlier, had a very unsightly face at this time, and he stammered a little: "My lord, you can go out and have a look." ”

"Eventful!" Weng Wenhao said impatiently, but he still went to the main hall. But when he saw the DPRK ambassador Zhu Jinxiu, he was also made to cry and laugh by this person's dress -- Zhu Jinxiu's body was covered with yellow paper, and even these things were glued to his hat and forehead. Without exception, there are some ghost talismans drawn on the paper that no one recognizes. In addition to this strange dress, several of his entourage also brought in a long red wooden box, which was wrapped in a large red cloth, and it was not known what it contained.

"Lord Zhu, this is ......" Weng Wenhao ninja smiled and pointed to Zhu Jinxiu's dress and asked, Wang Yunwu, who was a step slower, wanted to stop it but was too late.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister: In recent years, the demonic atmosphere in Kyoto in your country has been so great that in order to protect himself, the lower officials have to go to the temple to ask for some talismans to protect themselves. Every time I go out, I stick to my body, so as not to be confused by demons and forget who my majesty and ancestors are. Zhu Jinxiu replied with a serious face, and gave a serious salute to Weng Wenhao.

"Enchanting atmosphere?!" Although Weng Wenhao was born in a foreign country, he also read ancient books when he was young. His face immediately turned red - this Zhu Jinxiu was here to humiliate himself, but he knew that North Korea was more exclusive than Japan. The country is full of some kingly madmen, and if he drives him out at once, it will only achieve his reputation, and he will endure his displeasure. "Why is Your Excellency here today? How can you not listen to the advice of the officers and forcibly break in? ”

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister: Your Majesty is indeed in a hurry, and I hope you will forgive me if I have to do it." Zhu Jinxiu arched his hand again as an apology, and then straightened out his clothes and said: "Your Majesty the King sees the United States bullying Japan, seizing its land and slaughtering its people, and feels the same way; Remembering also that Japan is an ally of small states, which have declared war on the United States, and that small states should be enemies of the same ......"

Zhu Jinxiu was interrupted by Weng Wenhao before he finished speaking, he had forgotten his anger, only deep surprise. He said: "Is your country also going to declare war on the United States?" After saying that, he emphasized: "Have you forgotten that Japan once swallowed and enslaved your country......

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister: The teacher of the past, I dare not forget, but since we have formed an alliance, we should keep our promises and keep our promises, otherwise how can the country be established? How should a man stand? And the Americans are cunning and ferocious, ignoring justice and bullying the yellow race, how can a small state stand idly by? Brothers are on the wall, and the outside is insulted, so the small state will also declare war on the United States, and His Majesty the King will send a special official to tell the mother country. ”

Zhu Jinxiu's body was fluttering with yellow paper, and he spoke like a Song Confucian scholar with the greatest integrity. Although Weng Wenhao did not approve of his actions in his heart, he loved his people because of this, and he was no longer angry at the moment, but only asked seriously: "Your country is so powerful, declaring war on the United States is undoubtedly hitting a stone with an egg, is it ...... Isn't your majesty the king afraid of defeat? ”

"Your Excellency, if a small state does not declare war, it will be morally defeated. Soldiers can be killed, not humiliated, and the small state is willing to die unyieldingly. Zhu Jinxiu's righteousness Ling Ran made Weng Wenhao, who wanted to say something more, immediately lose his interest in talking.

"Okay, I see. Your country has full diplomatic freedom. Weng Wenhao said a little weakly, and wanted to send off the guests right away.

Seeing Weng Wenhao like this, Zhu Jinxiu said again: "The lower official wants to give the prime minister a gift here." ”

As soon as Zhu Jinxiu said the gift, Wang Yunwu next to Weng Wenhao shook his head vigorously again, signaling him not to accept it. But Weng Wenhao is now out of the way, he doesn't care how he is ridiculed by the North Koreans, he has his own ideals in his heart, and after laughing loudly, he said: "Okay." Then open it and see what the gift is. ”

As soon as Weng Wenhao said to open it, Zhu Jinxiu signaled his entourage to open the wooden box. I saw that the red cloth had faded, and an old stone tablet was revealed in the wooden box. is different from what Wang Yunwu thought, this is not an inscription specially engraved by Zhu Jinxiu to insult Weng Wenhao. But this is a stone tablet specially selected by Zhu Jinxiu, with large Chinese characters written vertically from the right: 'Foreign invasion, non-war peace, lord and traitor', and the two lines on the left are: 'Ring me for ten thousand years. Bingyin made and Xin did not stand. ’

"It's ...... This is ...... "Wang Yunwu, the deputy director of the compilation office of the Commercial Press and the inventor of the four-corner number checking, has more ancient books than Weng Wenhao after all, and after he 'this' twice, he finally pointed to the stele and said loudly: "This is a rebuke and a stele?!" ”

With these smiles, Zhu Jinxiu said proudly: "This is the national treasure of Xiaobang: the Monument of Rebuke." His Majesty begged for a long time before he was given such a gift to the Prime Minister. ”

Just look at the words on it, Weng Wenhao doesn't know what it is, but Wang Yunwuyi said that he reprimanded the stele, and the memory in his mind immediately came up - the inscription on this stele was written by the Korean Dayuan Jun in 1866 during the Bingyin foreign disturbance, so it is called Bingyin; Bingyin foreign disturbance is France, the Americans came back in the year of Xinwei, occupying the Ganghwa Strait with the intention of the British to cut off the fortunes of Korea, so that North Korea sued for peace, Dayuan Jun immediately asked people to engrave the twelve characters written by Bingyin into an inscription, erected in the streets and alleys of Seoul, this is Xin Weili.

Bingyin and Xinwei were both defeated and retreated, which was not a big deal at the time, but after the first afternoon, China was divided day by day, and the past of North Korea was often used as an inspiration by old scholars and enthusiastic young people. Weng Wenhao was born in 1889, and when he was a teenager, he naturally heard old scholars tell about this 'integrity' past, but then gradually forgot about it.

North Korean Ambassador Zhu Jinxiu sent a gift and took his leave. In his view, China is, after all, a superior state and a mother country, and the rebuilding of Korea depends entirely on the help of the mother country -- although there are still many interests left in Japan's hands after the Sino-Japanese peace talks in the four years of Shenwu, one of the backgrounds for the Sino-Japanese division of the Russian steppe governorate is Japan's commitment to give up all its rights and vested interests in Korea, so that it has obtained more than 400,000 square kilometers of territory. Yang Rui not only ordered domestic capital to prohibit the manipulation of North Korean industry, but also took out loans to help North Korea develop itself, and the Customs Union also left a lot of time for North Korea.

This reinvention is indeed a selfless reconstruction, not that you rob me and deceive me. With such respect, even if Zhu Jinxiu was sarcastic and mocking, he only stopped at the point, but when he left, Weng Wenhao looked at the monument and stood still. The four big characters of 'Lord and traitor' on the inscription and the four words 'peace is more difficult than war' that Hu Shi and others always said in his ear appeared in his mind at the same time.

"Prime Minister, what's going on inside?" Wang Yunwu, who understood his thoughts, reminded.

"Oh, it's a meeting." Weng Wenhao agreed for a long time, and finally said: "Let's break the meeting, I want to be quiet." ”

"This ......" Wang Yunwu was familiar with Hu Shi as early as when he studied in Chinese public schools before he went abroad, and he almost became Sun Wen's secretary that year in Xinhai, and then was hired by Cai Yuanpei as an official of the Ministry of Culture and Literature. Such an experience made him a loyal liberal who did not stay in the fraternity. Weng Wenhao's ideological changes were the focus of the brotherhood's attention, and seeing that he was hesitant because of North Korea's declaration of war on the United States and the rebuke of the peace monument, Wang Yunwu immediately hurried back to the inner room to tell everyone about the matter.

"What! North Korea also declared war?! Gu Weijun was shocked. North Korea is insignificant, but it would be a moral reproach for the cabinet at home, and it is his foreign minister who bears the brunt of it.

"North Korea wants to use an egg to hit a stone and a mantis arm as a car, so let's let it go." Jiang Menglin of the Ministry of Education said indifferently.

"North Korea declared war on the United States ......" Zhang Dongsun of the Ministry of Rites kept shaking his head, and then said categorically: "This must have been instructed by Yang Jingcheng." ”

"North Korea declared war on the basis of a treaty, which is pitiful but respectable." Tsuchibe Ding Wenjiang's opinion is different from the others, and it is generally praised.

"If North Korea declares war on the United States, we need to hurry up and declare neutrality, what about the prime minister? How can the prime minister ......" Ma Junwu of the Ministry of Industry, he said this, and everyone happened that Weng Wenhao was not there.

"I'll go see him." Zhan Tianyou of the Ministry of Transport said that he was silent before. But after Wu Jingchao glanced at him, he stood up and went out to find Weng Wenhao.

"In addition to saying that it would declare war on the United States, North Korea also sent a piece of reprimand and peace monument." In the process of going to the main hall, Wu Jingchao said the news that Wang Yunwu had told him, and he was quite worried. Yongni seemed to hesitate.

"It's all come to this, what else is there to hesitate about." Zhan Tianyou was puzzled, but then said: "Life is precious, love is more expensive, if it is free to care, both can be thrown." ”

Seeing that Zhan Tianyou, an old Yale brother member, was still in the mood to chant poetry, Wu Jingchao had to smile bitterly, and he said: "I'm afraid that Yongni won't be able to see it for a while and fall into a sour temperament." The so-called integrity, like chastity, is something that feudal rulers used to bind human nature. A truly free man does not care about integrity and chastity, he only has freedom and humanity, and for the sake of the freedom of people not to interfere with each other, he created democracy as a way to get along with others......"

Wu Jingchao also chattered a bunch of things, and when he and Zhan Tianyou walked to the hall, Weng Wenhao had already asked people to put away the monument. He said: "Prime Minister, today's meeting ......"

"Let's adjourn today's meeting, I want to be quiet." Weng Wenhao, who was reminded of his childhood xenophobic memories, said silently.

"And when are we going to declare neutrality?" Wu Jingchao asked. "Now that North Korea has also declared war, if we are not neutral, we will not say that the United States will misunderstand, even the Inspectorate will not be able to get by."

"...... the Inspector's Academy" Weng Wenhao remembered the attitude of the Inspector's Academy. Yes, most of the representatives of the Inspectorate are thinking about peace. "Then send this tablet to the Inspectorate." He said mischievously.

"Yongni has a knot?" Seeing Weng Wenhao say this, Zhan Tianyou asked directly.

"Yes, indeed." Zhan Tianyou is an elder, and his identity and status are higher than Hu Shi, and Weng Wenhao told him bluntly when he saw him inquiring. "North Koreans think that peace is a traitor, and this touches me deeply. During this time, I have always wondered whether this kind of imposition of those of us who take it upon ourselves to give freedom to the people is not a kind of dictatorship. System? They are accustomed to having an emperor above their heads, accustomed to the Three Platforms and Five Constants, and accustomed to the old Yellow Calendar, and we are really right to think about changing the national system without consulting them?

Some people say that a country cannot develop its economy without democracy, but our economic growth rate is the largest in the world, surpassing that of other countries in less than 30 years, and only inferior to the United States. Some people also say that science and technology cannot develop without democracy in the country, but in the past year, I have read the scientific report of the Academy of Sciences, and I do not feel that science and technology cannot be developed. ”

"Yongni, I used to have such doubts, but in the end I came up with an explanation: that is, the people of this land are exclusive. It has been made for too long, and they have become accustomed to being enslaved. Of course, it will be difficult for them to accept the sudden freedom for a while, but it will not be long before they get used to it. Don't you see the students of Yan University? They are specialized. The freest group of people in the country. Seeing Weng Wenhao express the doubts in his heart, Zhan Tianyou immediately persuaded him as a passer-by.

"I know the students of Yan University, but this is love. Indulgence of desire or freedom of the spirit? Weng Wenhao asked rhetorically, "As far as I know, the male and female students of Yan University are the most ......" He couldn't say the word 'Yin chaos', and paused before saying: "To be honest, I don't have a good impression of the students of Yan University, no matter how you look at it, they are the most rebellious group of people. ”

The turmoil in the relationship between men and women in Yanda is famous all over the country, but Zhan Tianyou smiled and said: "This is because they are not religious. Yongni, even Yang Jingcheng believes that among Western civilizations, the only two Greek civilizations, Hebrew and Greek, are the most worthy of attention. Christ originated in Hebrew, and if freedom is not suppressed by religion, it is what you say. Indulgence. ”

"But why is the Confucian Three Principles and Five Constants denounced as feudal and backward, and the suppression of Christianity called progress?" Weng Wenhao asked an evil question, which was not raised by him, but written in Yang Jingcheng's book. "Of course, I'm not saying that I'm in favor of the Three Principles and Five Constants, I'm just wondering if we're ignoring something by excluding progress and backwardness?"

Weng Wenhao's question made Wu Jing extremely shocked, and in terms of thoughts, he felt that Weng Wenhao was terminally ill. Freedom and democracy are, in the final analysis, a kind of faith, and since they are beliefs, there is no room for the slightest doubt and questioning, because even the slightest doubt will shake the whole faith, which is not science at all, but religion.

Wu Jing was shocked, Zhan Tianyou's eyes narrowed, and he smiled kindly: "It seems that Yongni is indeed going to be quiet." But before you think clearly, I still have to say that throughout human history, the West has been the source of human progress, and Western civilization is superior to the civilization of the East. After the Opium War, the reason why we have been learning from the West is because they are more advanced than us......"

"Nope! No! No! Weng Wenhao said three nos in a row, because he suddenly remembered a passage in Yang Jingcheng's book, and he wanted to say it immediately in order not to forget. The British Whig historian Macaulay once said that all the arts, sciences and literature of the Western world are unmatched, and the people there are also elegant, perceptive, and ready to make things out of nothing, and they are tolerant, kind, and humane, but almost completely lacking courage and honesty.

They exist only as vanquished, and the true conquerors are brave and determined, faithful to their promises, deeply immersed in religion, and at the same time ignorant, arbitrary, and cruel. Thus, every boorish centurion can comfort himself that although he is inferior in intelligence, he is only an atheist, a coward, and a slave made of knowledge and taste. ”

After reciting the words in this memory, Weng Wenhao said again: "Mr. Yucheng, the West is indeed the birthplace of human civilization, and their art, technology and literature are indeed unmatched, but what about this? They will eventually be destroyed by the ignorant, arbitrary, cruel conquerors! Do we learn from the West and pursue freedom and progress in order to follow in their footsteps? ”

"Yongni!" Wu Jingchao looked at Weng Wenhao with deep resentment, "Didn't you promise me not to read Yang Jingcheng's books anymore?" You're ....... I said a long time ago, Yang Jingcheng's thoughts are poisonous! It's highly toxic! He is anti-civilized, anti-progressive, anti-humane ......"

"But he doesn't fight back. Person. Kind! Weng Wenhao suddenly retorted for some reason. He simply believes that progress and freedom are the source of human destruction. He said that the history of human civilization is actually a history of human detachment from nature. At first, man did not have a self, and then he began to understand himself, but he was still bound by religion, politics, and superstition, and finally through the religious revolution and the Renaissance, human nature was truly freed from all shackles. Since then, people have created civilizations like no other in the world, brilliant literature, philosophy, and music, but this is only the self-satisfaction of their desires. When everyone lives only for themselves, civilization begins to come to an end......"

Weng Wenhao said Yang Jingcheng's point of view, but Wu Jingchao's face turned blue with anger. In his eyes, this was a complete betrayal! And the old Zhan Tianyou was silent, and only after he finished all his words did he say: "Yongni, but the current world is that the West is conquering us, and the colonies in the world are theirs." Weng Wenhao, who he said, was stunned for a moment and then said: "Beihai's suggestion is still useful in my opinion, and Yang Jingcheng's things are indeed less than good." His ideal is to make this civilized world evolve into a barbaric killing world. I don't know if this counts fascist or not, but it's certainly more evil than fascism. ”

Weng Wenhao could not explain why the West still rules the world. He is not Yang Rui after all - in Yang Rui's time, Europe was basically decaying, and if it were not for NATO, which was led by the United States, they would have been bulldozed by Soviet Russia long ago. This kind of bulldozing is not only military, but also a kind of defeat of vitality. Just like an old man with an AK47 facing a group of young people with arquebuses, the generation difference of the weapon does not matter, the young people can bleed and die, but the most terrible thing is that they can wait.

And the beacon of freedom, the United States, whose religion slows his aging, whose population is enriched by immigration, and whose welfare is maintained by the dollar oil system, is only twenty years younger than Europe. The only terrible thing is that he not only economically enslaves the whole world and enjoys the worship of the world's slave labor, but also grabs the world's elite population. In this way, the decline of the United States is the decline of the entire world civilization. And the longer those countries or nations that are different from the United States hold on, the longer the world civilization will last; On the contrary, when the whole world is Americanized, the death knell has sounded and the end of civilization has crept in.

However, in later generations, there will always be a few people who can see the veins of civilization and want to shout about China. It is necessary to disintegrate and divide so that the glory of freedom and democracy can shine on all mankind. They have completely forgotten what those who hoped that all countries would never be war-free and that the world would be unified during the Warring States period. Assuming that there was an external force at that time to maintain the balance of power of the Seven Kingdoms and prevent the whole of China from entering the cycle of absolute imperialism, the classical civilization of China would never have almost perished in the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

Weng Wenhao did not have the ability to look at the world for a hundred years, and Yang Rui did not need to describe that fallen world to the world in his own writings (really his own writings) - for him, world history would be completely new, created by him and countless people.

So, under Zhan Tianyou's forced gaze, Weng Wenhao finally nodded, and he sighed: "In the past few months, I have thought about it a lot, and there are always some inexplicable things that pop up in my heart. He randomly took off his black gauze hat, reached out and grabbed his hair and smiled bitterly: "I lose my hair every time I wash my hair, and each time it falls out more than once." Hey, if I continue like this, I'm going to be bald. ”

The hair on the top of Weng Wenhao's head is indeed missing, and there is a small area that is completely naked like a leprosy head. Zhan Tianyou, who was relieved, said: "Yongni has indeed worked hard this year, but we must not forget our ideals. I think as long as I suffer for another year, maybe half a year, all this will be settled. After saying this, he turned to today's business, and then said: "Japan and Korea have both declared war on the United States, and we should declare external neutrality immediately." If we don't announce it, the Inspectorate will let us announce it. ”

"Okay, announce, announce it right away." Weng Wenhao is like a train that almost derailed, and with the efforts of Zhan Tianyou, the chief engineer of the railway, he rejoined the established track, and rushed to a place where he thought he was incomparably bright. (To be continued.) )