Tower of Babel

Constitutionalism refers to constitutional monarchy, and it referred to the imperial system during the Republic of China. Zhang Cheng's article published in the newspaper, What is China, did praise the imperial system. But an article must be an article, an official article, and often does not represent a specific personal opinion. Puyi asked about this with a happy face, and it was obviously not as simple as the literal meaning. He was obviously asking whether Russia supported his restoration.

Zhang Cheng said: "Your Majesty, any founding emperor would immediately fight for the country. It is difficult to rule the world without strong military force. There is no such thing as pie in the sky in this world, and there will be no throne falling from the sky. How much military power does the Qing Dynasty have now? Who else can fight for the world step by step with their feet on the ground? May I ask if your majesty can share the joys and sorrows with the soldiers. The country is not something you want to come, but it is won by the iron cavalry. No one is a favorite of God.

I know that Jiaobenji has had a lot of contact with your majesty, but no matter what they promise, in the final analysis, it is just a corpse resurrection! No one will make wedding clothes for others, and Emperor Xian of Han will have a hard time. However, the Cao family must be Han Chinese, but the Japanese are foreigners. If an emperor of a country colludes with foreigners to become a puppet emperor, he will inevitably be nailed to the pillar of shame in history like Shi Jingtang.

I also know that the Qing Dynasty is the world of the Manchus and has never regarded the Han people as their compatriots. However, no matter how much, the Qing Dynasty has been in prison for three hundred years, and there is still some incense and love. I hope Your Majesty will cherish this friendship and don’t easily cut yourself off from the world. "

You can never wake up a person who pretends to sleep, but if you pour a basin of cold water on him, he will wake up even if he doesn’t want to wake up. Zhang Cheng’s words were like a bolt from the blue, and he was very unceremonious. Puyi’s face was very ugly, and he lowered his head in silence with sweat on his forehead. Zhang Cheng continued:

"Your Majesty, as long as you are alive, it is possible. I do not deny that you can regain the world, but you must understand that the world is bustling for profit. Even the eunuchs and palace maids under you will not flatter you if it is not for three meals a day. To become the leader of a group, the simplest requirement is to obtain benefits, distribute benefits, and feed your own subordinates. May I ask what ability your Majesty has to obtain benefits? Just rely on the four million oceans allocated to you by the government every year, and the property accumulated by your ancestors?"

It is deafening. The four million silver dollars per year have long been insufficient to cover expenses. The construction years are countless. Now the palace loses countless treasures every year. Although it has not yet been decided, Puyi and his confidants have already had the idea of ​​dismissing the palace maids and eunuchs. But this can only be austerity, not Kaiyuan. The annual national appropriation is just a gift from the emperor. It can be given or not. It is obviously impossible to restore the country with this little money.

Although these are all true, it is difficult for people who live in fantasy to face reality, just like most people are afraid of heights when standing on a high building. That feeling is not good. Reluctance! Fear! Escape, countless negative emotions quickly turned into embarrassment and anger, but reason told Puyi that he must not get angry, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous.

Zhang Cheng did not control his emotions and continued: "Your Majesty, the times are different. In the past, conquering the world required proficiency in archery and horsemanship, but nowWhat matters is military technology. The Qing dynasty's old and young people have not only abandoned archery and horse riding for a long time, but have also indulged in sensual pleasures. How can they develop industry and technology, produce guns and ammunition to arm the army, and build a strong army to unify the world? Your Majesty knows that there is nothing you can do about it. Why does Your Majesty live in delusion? ”

I know you want me to support you. Not only you, but also the people of the world are asking me why I don’t support the Chinese people. However, which person or organization can bear the historical burden of the rise and fall of the nation. The Ming Dynasty at least could do without marriage, ceding land, and paying compensation. The emperor guarded the country and the king died for the country. But what did my Qing Dynasty do? We signed more than 400 treaties of surrender and humiliation, and even mortgaged the tariffs!

Finally ending the unpleasant words that made him listen, Zhang Cheng changed the subject and said, "I am not here to support you in regaining the country. I am not against the monarchy, but I am absolutely against the restoration of the Qing Dynasty. The purpose of my coming here is to continue the Chinese heritage. I want to make a copy of the Forbidden City and all the royal cultural relics and books. At the same time, in view of the serious theft of cultural relics, I ask you to move out of the Forbidden City. ”

As soon as these words came out, it was like a bolt from the blue. It was true that what you fear would come true. However, even a clay man has a little bit of dirt. Puyi had no way to retreat and refused to give in: "According to the abdication treaty signed by the Qing emperor, the Forbidden City and the Eight Outer Temples are all private property of the royal family. There is also a four million oceans of support every year. If the general wants to do something unjust, please give me a cup of poisoned wine."···

Zhang Cheng laughed and said: "I am not taking it for nothing. Ten million taels of silver, plus 400,000 vehicles of severance pay, and the cure for your hidden illness. I want you to carry on the family line, and I also give you political asylum from my government. ”

As time went by, Puyi was damaged by a maid when he was a child, and he had long lost his ability as a man. This damage is irreversible and difficult to cure. Even if medical treatment is developed in the future, it cannot be changed. However, the medical technology in the biochemical world can change fate, but this is still not enough to change Puyi's bad mood.

The reason why Zhang Cheng wanted to drive Puyi out of the Forbidden City was because the Forbidden City was suffering from crazy theft. Since the abdication of the Qing emperor in 1912, the maids and eunuchs lost the control of the state law and began to steal and sell cultural relics, including many rare and unique books. In particular, Qianlong compiled the Siku Quanshu, collecting books from all over the world. Those like the Siku Quanshu were kept, and those not as good as the Siku Quanshu were banned, which was a great blow to Chinese culture. The most serious destruction was carried out, but although many books were banned, as a need for governance, many books were left in the palace with rare copies. They are all knowledge that I have learned but you cannot learn. Now it is unknown how many of these rare copies have been stolen. After all, Zhang Cheng came to this world a little late.

Although these things theoretically belong to the royal family and are also the private property of the legal heir in front of him, they are also the heritage of China, and no one can use these old and young people from the previous dynasty to harm them. Zhang Cheng is not bullying people.

But Puyi didn't think so. This reason didn't make sense to him, but when he heard that there was compensation, his mood didn't collapse again, and he bargained.: "General Luo's 10 million taels of silver may sound like a lot, but it's just a drop in the bucket compared to the value of the Forbidden City. And..."···Who wouldn't want more?

Zhang Cheng smiled coldly and said, "Zhang Xun had already violated the original treaty when he restored the monarchy, so this treaty is no longer valid."

Speaking of the past, Puyi looked at the silent representatives of the Republic of China next to him and was sweating profusely. He said without giving in, "But that was two years ago! Besides, you are a foreigner, why do you care about Chinese affairs?"

Zhang Cheng said, "This is not up to you. The bigger the fist, the more right it is. I won't tell you this, but you can rest assured that I will transfer the Forbidden City and other treasures intact to the Republic of China government. So everything I do is legal. Today I also invited officials from the Republic of China to be witnesses"···

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