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Historically, China did not begin to reflect on its ideology and culture until the late 19th century and early 20th century.
Before that, in terms of ideology and culture, the Chinese always considered themselves to be the best in the world and were always at the forefront of the world.
It was not until the intellectuals were badly beaten by Western powers in the collision between the East and the West that they began to reflect comprehensively.
First, reformists like Liang Qichao thought that we should emulate the West. Later, a large number of scholars represented by Lu Xun made a comprehensive denial of traditional Chinese thought and culture. In their writings, traditional Chinese thought and culture were criticized bloodily, and pedantic people like Kong Yiji became the image of Chinese literati. All Chinese people were sleeping in a paper-pasted house, numb and indifferent... ... ...
This kind of criticism was necessary at the time, otherwise it would not be enough to awaken the people.
Qin Mu attributed the reason why China faced total collapse again and again after the Han and Tang Dynasties to the increasingly closed and rigid ideology and culture. This concept absolutely did not exist before the late Qing Dynasty, which had a strong impact on Gu Yanwu and Fu Qingzhu.
Before this, Gu Yanwu himself had a vague worry about the rigidity of thought. He opposed the eight-legged essay system for selecting scholars because it severely restricted the thoughts of scholars.
However, due to the limitations of the times, he had not been able to raise the problem to such a height. Now that Qin Mu had elevated the problem, he felt as if he had suddenly become enlightened, and his surging emotions were difficult to calm down for a long time.
During the Han and Tang dynasties, China was far ahead of the world. But in the Ming Dynasty, China began to learn from others in astronomy and calendar, arithmetic and medicine, physics and chemistry, and even gun casting.
So what is the reason that China, which was once far ahead, began to lag behind other nations
Gu Yanwu and the other two also tried to argue with Qin Mu, but when Qin Mu put these vivid examples in front of them, they were immediately speechless.
Qin Mu felt that in order to change China's gradual backwardness, it was necessary to first reform it from the cultural and ideological perspective, rather than from the political system. Constitutional monarchy, that kind of thing was definitely courting death.
If a country wants to rise rapidly, a high degree of centralization is absolutely indispensable. Germany and Japan before World War I, and the Soviet Union before World War II, were able to rise rapidly from a shabby state to become a powerful country that could influence the entire world. The most important point was their highly centralized rule.
What's the point of having a republic like the United States? Look at the time it took to rise. After more than a hundred years of survival of the fittest without any foreign invasion, it was finally by chance that they got a chance to rise by taking advantage of the First World War.
In view of this, Qin Mu would never pursue a constitutional monarchy, at least not now. That system is suitable for maintaining the status quo, not for development.
We want to be emperors. We need to have a high degree of centralization and unite the whole country, so that we can quickly open up the situation.
In previous political reforms, Qin Mu only touched the surface and never thought of overthrowing the monarchy.
The formation of a system must first be guided by ideology and culture. Rashly implementing a constitutional monarchy will not only fail to lead the country to prosperity, but on the contrary will have only one outcome: one's own death will be miserable.
The system cannot be changed, but the ideology must be reformed. Abolishing the eight-legged essay for selecting scholars was the first step in freeing up the ideological constraints on scholars.
Then, let the elites such as Gu Yanwu and Fu Qingzhu think, explore, and criticize the closedness and rigidity brought about by Confucianism's self-centeredness, and slowly guide people's ideological transformation.
At the same time, some Western ideas should be appropriately introduced for collision, such as slowly promoting some theories of "survival of the fittest".
In short, this will be a slow process. The idea of changing all Chinese people's thinking in one day is a very naive and self-destructive behavior.
"Listening to the words of the King of Qin is better than reading for ten years. I still have some questions to think about. Please forgive me, King of Qin. I will take my leave first." Gu Yanwu was eager to be alone, so he stood up and said goodbye.
Qin Mu didn't try to keep him either. Some things need to be done slowly. It would be best if he could figure it out himself. If the gap is too big at once, it would cause serious damage.
As soon as Gu Yanwu left, Sima An and Fu Qingzhu also left one after another, leaving Qin Mu alone sitting under the window, watching the winter snow gently falling in the quiet courtyard. It was already dusk, and the evening bell of the Da Baoen Temple could be heard faintly outside the high wall, clear and distant.
"The sound of the bell floats lightly like the snow outside the pines; the smoke from the stove curls up into the clouds above the hill." Qin Mu was moved and recited the sentence softly. When he picked up the wine glass, he found that it was empty and no one had poured wine for him.
He looked at Liu Rushi and asked, "What are you standing there for? Come over and pour the wine."
"Oh... ..Please forgive me, my servant..."
"Well, I will forgive you. You don't seem to be willing to apologize."
Qin Mu was not talking nonsense. Although Liu Rushi became a maid, she did not show any fear or trepidation like a servant. Even the tone of her apology gave people the feeling of "routine".
Liu Rushi glanced at him quickly and lowered her head to pour wine. At this time, Han Zanzhou's voice came from outside, reporting that Huang Lianshan wanted to see her.
When Qin Mu had Huang Lianshan brought in, Huang Lianshan hurriedly bowed and said with a happy face, "King Qin, it's done. Sun Kewang died suddenly, and his three generals Feng Shuangli, Bai Wenxuan, and Ma Weixing were leaderless. Li Dingguo led his army to the scene in time and pacified them. Bai Wenxuan, who had always had a good relationship with Li Dingguo, was the first to submit. Later, Feng Shuangli and Ma Weixing also submitted. King Qin, the disaster of Sun Kewang has been eliminated."
"Good!" Qin Mu hit the small table and said happily, "Ye Bushou did a great job this time. Although Qin Zhaoming and Lu Wanzhong were in charge of this matter, it was mainly because you arranged it well in the beginning. Good, good, good! The king will definitely give you a big reward tomorrow."
"Thank you, King Qin. I was just following your instructions and I don't dare to take credit for it."
"Alright, alright, I know who has made contributions and who has not." Qin Mu tapped the small table with his middle finger, thought for a moment and said, "Since Sun Kewang has been captured, you should quickly pass on my order and have Li Dingguo open up the post road into Yunnan as soon as possible. As for the Thirteen Yaohuang Families, you should appease them if you can. If these people don't know what's good for them, let Li Dingguo do his best to wipe them out."
"Yes, King Qin."
"go quickly."
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I have something else to report. When Li Dingguo was trying to pacify Sun Kewang's followers, he also met a man named Long Wangbao. This man was sent by Long Zaitian, the chieftain of Shiping, Yunnan, to find Sun Kewang and invite him to Yunnan. Li Dingguo and Long Wangbao were also old acquaintances. The two talked privately for a long time, but I have not been able to find out what they talked about. Your Majesty, what do you think..."
Qin Mu shook his head and said, "No need. I trust Li Dingguo. Long Wangbao and he are old acquaintances. It is natural for them to reminisce about the past. There is no need to make a fuss."
"Yes. I will take my leave."
Huang Lianshan left, and Qin Mu picked up the wine glass again. This time Liu Rushi was tactful and poured the wine in advance.
Qin Mu was happy and pointed to the seat next to him and said, "Come, sit down and have a few drinks with me."
"I dare not."
"You dare to disobey orders, but you don't dare to drink? Sit down and don't spoil my fun."
Liu Rushi glanced at him secretly before sitting down as he said. Her petite figure was particularly charming, her skin was as white as jade and as smooth as fat, and she exuded a mature charm naturally from head to toe.
Qin Mu accidentally saw that after she sat down, she tried her best to raise her feet, as if she was afraid of being seen.
Qin Mu couldn't help but laugh. In order to divert her attention, he recited casually: "The Yeqiao Dan Pavilion is always filled with smoke, and the spring air is empty in front of the flower shadows. Who is behind the fragrant grass in Beipu? Xiling should be at the edge of hatred... I have read some of your poems. They are very good. Very good."
Liu Rushi was inevitably pleased to hear him exaggerate her poems again, but she said modestly, "I don't deserve the King Qin's praise."
"People say that Hedong Jun is bright and straightforward, but judging from your poems, you are not bold enough, but your little girl's thoughts are clearly revealed. Just like you, you can't hide your strong feminine charm."
Qin Mu turned from commenting on poems to commenting on people, which made Liu Rushi at a loss for words. So she raised her cup and said, "I offer a toast to the King of Qin."
"Okay, let's do it."
The two drank together under the window. After a few drinks, Liu Rushi relaxed a lot and couldn't help asking, "King Qin, do you really think Confucianism is becoming more closed?"
Qin Mu reached out and pinched her chin, lifted up her charming face, and said with a smile: "It takes time to discuss this issue. It's cold, come closer, and I will talk to you slowly."
"King Qin, your servant..."
When Qin Mu reached out to hug her, Liu Rushi subconsciously dodged, and Qin Mu's hand happened to fall on her soft breasts.
Liu Rushi froze for a moment, but Qin Mu was very calm and certainly had no intention of backing down.
Then he laughed and chanted: "Two peaches in her tender flesh, a ball of soft and bright wine. She is not allowed to see the spring breeze, and is tied with jade buckles and red gauze. She is warmer than jade, and smoother than cream. When she is drunk, she is more excited to touch her..."
Liu Rushi's face was flushed red as if she was drunk. She lowered her head and said, "King Qin... Let's talk about Confucianism..."
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ps: Well, I will make some adjustments tomorrow and write about the tragic deaths in the future. Please support me, brothers, and cast your monthly tickets to encourage me. It takes passion to write war scenes, and passion comes from your support.
Please give me a monthly ticket!
Please give me a monthly ticket!
.(To be continued..)
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