C124 (1/2)
Chapter 124 - Gun at midnight
Since the birth of the human race, humans had faced all sorts of threats and confrontations. In ancient times, humans had to fight with wild beasts and different tribes for the sake of survival. A piece of meat, a clump of wild fruit, and even a brook can all be the cause of human rivalry.
Humans, after all, were highly intelligent species. During the long process of evolution, they discovered that the power of a group was greater than that of a single person. It was easier to survive in groups, and it was easier to win in battles. As a result, tribes appeared. Large tribes slowly annexed small tribes, and humans began a more efficient massacre in order to survive.
Later on, the country appeared, and the concept of a nation also appeared. The scale of the war became larger and larger, and there was even the phenomenon of killing one thousand enemies while killing eight hundred enemies. It was from that moment onwards that mankind came to terms with the idea of compromise.
Compromise is not a failure. It is a way for both sides to take a step back so that the conflict can be resolved. It is an act of human development that goes beyond war.
In the idealist mind, conflicts between nations, and wars between factions within the country, should be resolved by sitting at the negotiating table and compromising with each other.
Simply put, in all the political battles, the various factions felt displeased, but the end result allowed the various factions to carry out their plans. This was the greatest benefit brought about by the compromise. If there is no compromise in politics and forces on all sides are at odds, then the end result must be war.
The reason was very simple. If you wanted to live, others had to live as well. If you didn't want others to live, the result would be fierce resistance. It was like French Marshal Fuxi after the end of the First World War. After reading the terms of the ”Versailles Contract”, he exclaimed, ”This is not peace, this is only a twenty-year armistice.”
Just look, the old politician had sharp eyes. With one glance, he could tell that such a harsh truce could only make Germany hate the English and French more. The next war was inevitable. Sure enough, the humiliated German populace launched Hitler, and at the same time led to a greater catastrophe.
Compromise sounds like a good political remedy, but in real politics, compromise is often the hardest thing to come by, because the selfishness and greed of the human root are magnified by the struggle. Who is willing to give up their own interests?
The most important reason was that those who proposed political compromises were usually the most undesirable ones. Most of them ended up in a miserable state. For example, the more famous reformers of Chinese history, Shang Martingale, Wang Anshi and even Zhang Juzheng of the Ming Dynasty, all ended up with poor endings, of which Shang Martingale suffered the most.
The lesson of the past was right in front of him. If his descendants wanted to walk this path, how could they not think twice?
Xiao Letian and Sakamoto Ryoma's dream was to be a successful reformer. In the past three thousand years, everyone had hoped that their Home Country's National Aura would be able to help them out. But reform must involve redistribution of benefits, a sensitive minefield that cannot be more sensitive.
You want to be neutral among all the forces? Do you want all the powers to give up some benefits so that the country can be industrialized and modernized? As long as you dare to do this, you will become the enemy of all forces. What awaits you will be beyond redemption.
Sakamoto Ryoma's death was a mystery, but considering his death from a political standpoint, it was inevitable. The six noblemen died. Their deaths were a pity, but it was also a certain thing.
Wanting to be rich and powerful in the country? You want to be industrialized? Do you want compulsory education to be universal? Want a modern army? Hehe, how can I do this without money? Money didn't fall from the sky out of nowhere. Other than establishing colonies to rob the weaker races, the only other way to raise it was to raise it from within the country. However, the wealth within the country was not without an owner, it had long been divided up by the various forces.
If you dare to carry out reforms, I will take your life. In that case, from the moment Tan Si and the others started to do things differently, they were already destined to die.
Sakamoto Ryoma's question was not unsolvable, but Xiao Letian did not want to tell him that on one hand, he did not have the obligation to answer Japanese's question, and on the other hand, this method of walking down was way too evil, ordinary people could not continue playing this game. The banquet lasted until 12: 00 AM, but there was no discussion about it.
Xiao Letian slowly walked on that quiet and tyrannical street, his mind thinking about the predicament in front of him as though he were walking on a lantern. Not to mention that he was not afraid, Xiao Letian had actually also been extremely worried in his heart, because everything he had done in the Ryukyu had touched upon the reverse scale of the Manchu dynasty. Not to mention that he had the protection of an American citizen, if the Qing Dynasty was to kill him, with his current strength, it would not even be worth looking at.
”Time, what I lack now is time …” Xiao Letian's mutterings alarmed Xiao Hexin who was beside him. Other than Shi Dakai, this young man understood her own strategic intentions the best.
”Yeah, I had originally wanted to avoid conflict with the Japanese this time, and secretly get an official identity from Shang Tai so that I could trade with the Americans. In the end, I didn't expect that this group of Japanese s would be so crazy, and actually cause such a commotion …” Xiao Hexin scratched her head.
”I estimate that in four or five days, those men in the capital will find out about this news. Who knows how the Imperial Court will explode …” Just as the two of them were analyzing the situation, a dull explosion suddenly came from the deep night, the sound was not far behind Xiao Letian and the rest.
Hm? All of the guards present felt goosebumps rise all over their bodies. Wasn't this just a gunshot? Before Xiao Letian and the others could even react, an ear-piercing scream came from the Japanese courtyard not far behind them. Chaos had occurred without any warning.
”Protect Mr.... ”Protect sir!”
”Bullshit, why are you protecting me? It's Sakamoto Ryoma, Mr. Ryoma is in trouble, go back immediately …” Xiao Letian took out his gun and rushed back, but at the same time, the courtyard was already starting to emit smoke, and flames were already seeping out from within.