C32 (1/2)
Chapter 32 - late Qing Clear Stream
As the oldest member of the Hanlin House, Wang Shizheng had always considered herself to be a Qingliu Leader. Although everyone had only dealt with him for his age, he didn't feel that she was a pillar of the brotherhood.
Qing Liu was the general name for the political group formed by the Ancient China for the scholars in the imperial court. They didn't have much money in their hands, and they didn't have any soldiers, but they had a sharp mouth, a mouth that was the orientated public opinion of the ancient society. The right and wrong were all between their lips, because the people at the bottom trusted them too much.
At that time, besides the foreigners, the late Qing government was made up of three kinds of political forces. The Qing Dynasty Aristocrat Group was the biggest group here, and the second was the Group which was the predominant group in this area. The other was the so-called 'clear river in the wilderness'.
In real history, Ci Xi had relied on ingenious methods to balance these three forces, allowing himself to hold onto the enormous empire until his death. It was not because Ci Xi had such great talent, but because Ci Xi had already seen through the social structure at that time and used a small amount of effort to control the entire empire.
To the foreigners, it was just selling their country. It was just asking for money. Give it to them, it was just giving it to them. No one would feel sad even if they sold it for hundreds of thousands of kilometers in remote places.
However, the chaos caused by Hong Yang's Chinese Officer had caused the government of Qing Dynasty to have more and more headaches due to the huge military power they had. They didn't even dare to fight, they wanted to ignore it but couldn't fall asleep. As a result, after thinking about it, a few smart people cast their gaze at Qing Liu.
Qing Liu had neither money nor authority, but Qing Liu had a sharp tongue. They were like the media and were like the brick masters. These scholars, who knew the Confucian classics, could forcibly kidnap morality on everyone. You, Ceng Guofan, want to rebel? Aren't you afraid of leaving behind a reputation throughout the ages? Does your descendant still want to be a saint? As for those fence-sitters, aren't you afraid of bearing the brunt of the infamy?
This kind of thinking was a joke in Xiao Letian's eyes, but in this era where Confucianism was firmly in control of people's hearts, if these moral kidnappers got their eyes on you, you would at least lose a layer of skin.
The result was that Ceng Guofan, Ceng Guoquan did not dare to revolt, and Li Hongzhang did not even dare to think about it, while Zhang Zhi Dong, Liu Kun and the rest were even more loyal and devoted. Were they really loyal? Hadn't they ever in their lives thought of overthrowing this impotent empire?
The truth was that under the abduction of Qing Liu, the, who had an increasing amount of power, didn't even have the slightest intention of rebelling even after they had perished. For example, Yuan Shikai had always been a loyal servant to the royal family. It was only when the Southern Revolutionary Party was already in a state of turmoil that he was able to force the royal family to abdicate their throne.
This was also the reason why Wang Shizheng could scold Xiao Letian casually at Hundred Flowers Hall. He understood very well in her heart that if she scolded the two devils in the imperial court, she would only be encouraging them but not reprimanding them. But today, Wang Shizheng was a little dumbfounded, because he had already seen the latest chapter.
”Everyone, I have bad news for you today …” That fame seeking Second Demon, that shameless swindler, his book actually entered the palace! ”
South of Beijing, Tai Bai House. This was the restaurant where Wang Shizheng and Old Han Lin often gathered with their comrades. In the Sky Room on the second floor, Old Han Lin reported the bad news to everyone with a face full of grief and indignation. Their Holy Lord, Tongzhi, was about to be taught badly by a villain.
”Shameless! Truly shameless! This is a crime! Just who sent these words to the Sacred Monarch? Who was it!?” ”As the Son of Heaven, if we allow such preposterous logic to get into our heads, we will be sinners for all eternity …” Old Han Lin slapped the table and wailed, causing everyone in the private room to look as if they were about to be tested and criticized.
”First, let's join hands with Ben Ginseng, this two devils, and let the imperial government punish us severely. ”If it's not enough, we'll join forces with the other officials and all the officials here will take turns at dealing with him. We will not rest until we've punished him …”
”But this Xiao Letian is not someone from our Great Qing Dynasty, the foreigners have already accepted his identity, if we blow up, will we offend the foreigners?”
”Oh, what are you afraid of? Didn't you read his writing carefully? ”I don't believe that this guy won't be angry after he revealed all the secrets and ugly things about the foreigners …”
”That's good. If that's the case, count me in …”
In a short while, an alliance of attack and defense was formed in the Sky Room. More than ten old Han Lin stood around Wang Shizheng, passionately preparing to write a memorial for Xiao Letian. In their eyes, the emperor could be changed, and the dynasty could be replaced. However, the Confucian system of ruling the country and conducting examinations absolutely could not be changed.
Just as the group of people were discussing amongst themselves, a twenty-something big sis suddenly walked in timidly from the entrance of Tai Bai Restaurant. She was even leading a fair little boy of seven or eight years old. At that time, women were not allowed to enter teahouses, wine shops, or play in public places, unless they were worldly women, or unless they were women from influential clans who came to take care of the place. Most poor women did not dare to enter these places.
At first, the shopkeeper thought it was the woman who was in trouble and quickly told the waiter to bring a bowl of rice to her. He didn't expect that this woman didn't ask for food, but wanted to see Wang Hanlin.
”Esteemed shopkeeper, I just want to know, is Hanlin House's Wang Shizheng eating at your place? Below... ”I'm here to look for someone …” The woman wore very simple clothing with patches at the corners. However, from her appearance, it could be seen that she was definitely a beauty if she only dressed up a little.
To be able to open a restaurant in the Beijing, the shopkeeper must have had a sharp eye. At that time, his heart was filled with gossip and flames, there must be something going on.