"Sir, why don't we go and learn to take a look today?"

Yulei stood aside and looked at Guo Jinzhang and asked carefully. As a progressive young man who had already developed a progressive young man who was determined to overthrow the ruling thought of the Qing Dynasty, he dared to speak out in front of Liu Tongfu, but when facing Guo Jinzhang, he did not have such thoughts. It was not that he didn't want to, but that he felt that the two were not familiar with each other and had a very deep relationship. Moreover, he also found that Guo Jinzhang looked at him with an inexplicable... contempt! Although he was not sure, as a passionate young man, he would definitely not bow to those who despise him, even if this contempt was just out of his own imagination.

"Let's learn it?" Guo Jinzhang was eating fried dough sticks with soy milk. The fried dough sticks were bought for him by Sun Wen outside... So he had to finish eating them. I'm sorry if I don't eat them.

"It is the translation bookstore formed by Kang Nanhai and a group of like-minded people. They also founded the "Gumbrella of All Nations" in August..." Yulei said.

"Oh, I understand." Guo Jinzhang nodded, "Is Kang Youwei?"

"Yes, it's him." Yule nodded.

"I heard that this guy is quite capable. Someone outside called him 'Kangzi'?" Guo Jinzhang asked again.

"That's right, Kang Youwei wrote two masterpieces: "A Study on the New Learning of Pseudo-Scriptures" and "A Study on the Reform of Confucius" when he was in Guangdong. Last year, he wrote "A Book of Datong", which depicts all kinds of sufferings in the world. He felt that a great harmony society should be built, that is, a paradise on earth with selfless property, classlessness, blind dates, and equality." Yu Lie said.

"Then what do you think about his thoughts?" Guo Jinzhang asked with a smile, biting the fried dough sticks.

"It's pretty good..." Yure replied.

"Really?" Guo Jinzhang looked disbelief.

"This...is good, but I always feel a little uneasy." Yule smiled bitterly.

"Haha, you can even feel how uneasy it is. So, do I still need to see what I can learn?" Guo Jinzhang asked with a smile.

"Sir, do you mean...you also think that Kang Youwei's ideas don't work?" Yurei asked.

"It's not necessarily true. But if it works, it's probably difficult to have a thousand eight hundred years. Maybe it's still just the initial stage of a thousand eight hundred years, and it's still a hundred thousand miles away from real realization." Guo Jinzhang smiled.

"Then do you think this is impossible at all? But I often hear Mr. Liu say that the people of Tangzhou live a happy life, not only do they have no worries about food and clothing, but also have the minimum living security. They can also receive unemployment benefits if they have nothing to do... In addition, there are also school-free money, medical treatment-free money, etc. Although there is no real Datong, it seems that the difference is different from that. Why is Mr. Kang Youwei so unfavorable?" Yu Li asked in confusion.

"Haha, the situation in Tangzhou is indeed as you said. But if you think it is Datong society, then your requirements are too low." Guo Jinzhang shook his head and laughed: "The people of the Qing Dynasty live in a difficult life. If they can have food, clothes, wear, not hungry, or cold, they already feel that it is the happiest. Even intellectuals like you, Yulei, do you actually think that Tangzhou has almost established Datong society? Haha, do you know that this is just the most basic kind of feedback to society and taxpayers. And, do you know that the reason why Tangzhou can have these policies at present is that our income is not low, second, there are few people, and third, in order to unite people's hearts... But even so, we still have requirements. If you want to get these treatments, you need to do at least a little in Tangzhou."

"Which point?" Yuri asked hurriedly.

"Pay taxes!" Guo Jinzhang shrugged, "Our policy is only for taxpayers."

"This should be." Yulei breathed a sigh of relief. He thought Guo Jinzhang would make such a troublesome request, such as joining the Red Corps to fight for Tangzhou, and paying taxes... "When will the people of the Qing Dynasty not pay taxes? But in addition to collecting taxes, the court has overly over the lives of the people?"

"That's why they have the situation today." Guo Jinzhang smiled and swallowed his last bite, "I can't hold on for too long."

"Really?" Yulei was excited, "Sir, how many years do you think the Qing Dynasty can last? Recently, Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao and others frequently advocated the theory of "reform and strengthening", and the government and the public responded a lot. Even Li Hongzhang and Zhang Zhidong were very supportive. Will this allow the court to persist for a longer time?"

"How do you say it?" Guo Jinzhang wiped his mouth, "Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao do have superhuman insights, and they also see the severe situation facing this country and the court. Unfortunately, they only have a slight understanding of the Western world, but they want to transform the entire country with this little knowledge... they think too beautifully."

"But I heard that Kang Youwei wrote a letter to the current emperor, not only receiving praise, but also rumored that he is interested in promoting him to the court to be an official and preside over the reform..."

"Then he will be in trouble." Guo Jinzhang shook his head and said.

"It's miserable? Sir, if Kang Youwei really gets the support of the current emperor, even if he fails, he may be a Wang Anshi. At most, he will be dismissed from office and be criticized... Is this miserable?" Yu Lie was puzzled.

"Not everyone can be regarded as Wang Anshi, and the reason why Wang Anshi was able to become Wang Anshi was because of the Emperor Shenzong of Song. But was that Emperor Guangxu the Emperor Shenzong of Song? Moreover, how could the Qing Dynasty be the same as the Song Dynasty? It was a dynasty that did not kill scholars and officials, the most prosperous era in Chinese history. How could the Qing Dynasty compare with?" Guo Jinzhang sneered, "Kang Youwei and others did not understand the most fundamental contradiction in this country at all. They just thought that with a passion and the authority given by the emperor, they could realize their ambitions. But he didn't think about it, how could Shang Yang be broken by the car if that was true? How could Fan Zhongyan be kicked off? Wang Anshi was so disgraceful; Zhang Juzheng was destroyed and the political absent was almost whipped... Who did he think he was? Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang did not dare to speak nonsense about reform. Can he be better than these people?"

"What is the most fundamental contradiction in this country?" Yulei asked again.

"The most fundamental contradiction? This is a very huge proposition that I can't explain clearly for a while. However, to reform, you must first understand what the political forces in this country are divided into. Unfortunately, judging from the actions of Kang Youwei and others, he obviously didn't understand." Guo Jinzhang sighed.

"So, in my opinion, what are the political forces of the Qing Dynasty?" Yurei asked.

"Four major factions." Guo Jinzhang stretched out four fingers, "One, the diehards. The landlord class diehards with Empress Dowager Cixi as the leader! This is a representative of a reactionary feudal force. They tried their best to maintain the corrupt and declining feudal system and oppose all political reforms. On the one hand, they were afraid that foreign forces would promote the disintegration of feudal society and the development of capitalist factors, so they blindly exclusion; on the other hand, they were extremely afraid of the revolutionary struggle of the people at home, and they would sell their national sovereignty and national interests and collude with imperialism to suppress it. Although they were struggling to death, they were supported by all reactionary feudal forces in the court and the opposition, formed a strong alliance, and firmly grasped the military and political power."

"What sir said," Youlie nodded. He has been living in the Qing Dynasty and has lived in Beijing for many years. Naturally, he knows Empress Dowager Cixi and the power he represents. Emperor? What is the emperor? Who doesn't know that the Empress Dowager who really keeps his word in the Qing Dynasty? In the past two years, Guangxu took power, Cixi gradually retreated behind the scenes, and then he became a little weaker. But Youlie is not an ordinary progressive young man. He and Liu Tongfu have been mingling with each other...will you not know the power structure within the Qing court?

"Apart from the diehards, the strongest one is the Westernization faction."

"Sir, are you talking about Li Hongzhang, Zhang Zhidong and others?"

"That's right," Guo Jinzhang nodded, then shook his head, "But it's a pity that most of the people in this sect are old and have no successors."

"I heard that the Beiyang Admiral Liu Buchan, Jiangnan Admiral Ding Ruchang, and Shandong Governor Yuan Shikai were highly valued by Li Hongzhang..."

"Haha, they are all outstanding people. Unfortunately, they can't convince everyone like Li Hongzhang."

"...I understand." If you can't convince the public, it means that this faction will become a mess and even cause internal strife. Although Yulei has never been a leader, he instantly understood what Guo Jinzhang meant.

"After the Westernization Clan, it was the imperial party. Let's not talk about this faction for now... The fourth faction is the reformist school, that is, Kang Youwei and others. Most of these people are scholars who have never been officials, and the few officials are just Hanlin people, who have no experience in governance, have no skills, but they don't know what this country needs... and most importantly, they have no strength at all."

"So, once you get angry with the stubborn or other factions, they will..."

"Done!"

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"General, we think you'd better be in a carriage."

Thomas stared at the Beijing citizens who kept looking at him and his group, and finally couldn't help but stand in front of Guo Jinzhang... The former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the actual supreme leader of the most powerful state of the United States, suddenly appeared in the Qing Dynasty and had arrived in Beijing. Of course, Tian Xiali, the US Minister to China, could not have known this important news. But even if he knew, so what? Although he had removed various positions, the retired general was still a general, and he was also an general. Of course, this is just second. The key is that there is a Tangzhou behind this person, which is a famous "Western Leadership State" in American newspapers... So, even if the other party is only in his early thirties, the minister has no right to influence others' actions. Moreover, as the highest diplomatic envoy of the United States in China, Tian Xiali is also

I have long known this guy's purpose in China from the telegram from the State Council. Even the White House can't stop him. What can he do as an ambassador to China? He can only pretend that he didn't see it. However, he can't see it himself. Guo Jinzhang has been accusing people over the years. Not to mention that his enemies are everywhere, but many people don't like him. Especially since this guy has not yet left his braids, he dares to run around Beijing in such a situation. Who dares not guarantee that nothing can happen? If something happens to this guy, Tangzhou will definitely be a big chaos, and maybe half of the United States will suffer. Therefore, although he pretends not to see it, Tian Xiali still sent guards from the embassy to protect Guo Jinzhang... There are not many people, only four people, and the leader is Thomas, who happens to be the commander of the White Fleet. However, the commander of the fleet is the rank of major general, and this military officer stationed in China is just a major.

"Why do you want to ride a carriage? Isn't it good for us to walk like this?" Guo Jinzhang looked at the people around him who always looked at him with strange eyes, and felt a little awkward, but he didn't plan to accept Thomas' advice. He was walking in a carriage, so how could he be as leisurely as he is now? Besides, in the Qing Dynasty, how many Chinese people could make foreigners like him who are like bodyguards? He was not rich and not returning home, like walking in a brocade night... He still had to show off when he should show off, otherwise wouldn't it be worth it to work hard on the other side of the ocean for so many years?

"But General, you are so conspicuous." Thomas shouted. Guo Jinzhang doesn't care about being looked at by others, but they care. After staying in China for a few years, they have become accustomed to being the superior, but today they have to protect a yellow man in turn... Well, this yellow man is an admiral and was once the supreme commander of the US Army and Navy except the president. No one in the United States cares about him. But if they keep going like this, they are staring at him like a monkey. They really can't stand it.

"It's good to be conspicuous. It's so charming." Guo Jinzhang grinned unkindly, "I didn't hesitate to retire early and ran back all the way. Isn't it just to be glorious in front of the people in my hometown?"

"You... are really straightforward." Thomas was stunned, and then laughed and cried. He had already prepared various reasons to deal with Guo Jinzhang's possible principles, but he didn't expect that he would ignore this matter at all and told him directly that I was just for the glory... Then what else could he say?

"Haha, I'm always so straight." Guo Jinzhang patted his shoulder with a smile, "I'm just a little sorry. Please bother you and your companions, Major."

"This is our mission." Thomas rolled his eyes. He was actually very awe of Guo Jinzhang. Because when Guo Jinzhang was appointed as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Chairman of the United States' Army and Navy reform and expansion, he was one of them, or rather, he was a member of the "reform" of the army... he had almost personally experienced the entire process of his troops changing from ordinary army to mechanized troops. In his opinion, that reform was epoch-making, and in many places it changed the model of future wars. If it were not for some reason, it was defeated from the main force, and

He was sent to China as a military officer in China, and he might be even more in awe of Guo Jinzhang... The commander of his original army was also a lieutenant general. Because of his poor work, he was forced to retire by Guo Jinzhang and almost couldn't even get his pension. In addition to these, many officers were also sent to the military court by Guo Jinzhang for various reasons. They were either thrown into the military court, either losing their official position or being sentenced, or at least demoted, or even sentenced to death. Guo Jinzhang's actions changed the past casual habits of the federal army to the greatest extent and established a high prestige for him in the entire army and navy.

"If you feel annoyed, you can go back first. I can just go for a walk by myself." Guo Jinzhang said again.

"Don't you want a glory? Let's stay aside." We also want to go back, and we don't want the monkeys in the zoo to be stared at like this, but is this possible? Thomas rolled his eyes again. The ambassador to China asked them to protect Guo Jinzhang's safety at all costs, even if he used his body to block possible bullets. Although he didn't understand why a retired general and a resigned state leader were in danger, since his superiors gave the death order, it means that Guo Jinzhang could indeed be in danger... and it was very likely to be fatal. This made him too casual. However, people always have curiosity, and this general Guo was not as difficult as the legendary one. Thomas thought about it and couldn't help asking:

"General, why are you coming to China? Is it just to go back to your hometown to take a look? But why is it dangerous to do this?"

"What does it mean? What danger? Why do you feel so?" Guo Jinzhang asked in a daze.

"Mr. Tian Xiali asked us to protect you, and at all costs, so I think..."

"Oh, so that's it." Guo Jinzhang laughed, "But isn't this simple? Just make a little reasoning and you can understand where my danger comes from... Your minister is obviously afraid that I will be killed by an assassin from the White House in Beijing!"

"ah?"

"What? Is my analysis wrong?" Guo Jinzhang asked with a smile, looking at the four bodyguards with big mouths and shocked faces.

"You, are you kidding? The White House... Haven't you reconciled with the White House?" Thomas swallowed and asked in a low voice. Although he is still on the streets of Beijing and is surrounded by Chinese people, no one can guarantee that no one around can understand English.

"Reconciliation? What reconciliation? When did I and the White House residents reconcile? And don't you know that the current Secretary of State Brian is my mortal enemy?" Guo Jinzhang asked back.

"Brian?"

"Ah, I know." A guard shouted, "Brian is the Secretary of State during the presidency of Chesert Arthur!"

"Smart!" Guo Jinzhang snapped his fingers, "The young man has a good memory and has a promising future!"

"Young man?" The guard touched the beard on his mouth, looked at Guo Jinzhang, whose face was shaved, and silently accepted the praise.

"You mean, the current Secretary of State Brian may send someone..." Thomas asked softly in the air with a slight stroke of his index finger.

"I'm kidding."

“…”

"Bryan is a politician. Although he is a bastard politician, he would not have used such inferior means as political murder. Moreover, what's the use of killing me to him? Besides, isn't he afraid of death?" Guo Jinzhang smiled.

"Um?"

"Actually, the one who wants to kill me should be the Japanese!"

!#


Chapter completed!