Chapter 77 Fairness

In the evening, Zhang Zhidong was still paced back and forth in his office on the fourth floor of his State Council office building. The back window penetrated some gray light and reflected on his face with deep lines on his forehead. This face seemed to be covered with a shadow, and only the long white beard was whiter whiter by the sun.

Zhang Zhidong is 68 years old. Although his body seems to be good and strong, he does not have much strength when he starts. Whether it is his look or appearance, he has shown the old age of an old man.

Although he is the prime minister of the empire, his office room is not large. Unlike most of the rooms of other civil and military officials, there are Western-style desks and chairs. The office furnishings in this room are all traditional, and many of them are even brought by him from Hubei. The only Western-style decoration in the room is a comfortable but not luxurious leather sofa. An ordinary mahogany desk is placed against the wall. In addition to ancient classics, there are many translations of Western political and economic translations in the bookcase. As the prime minister of the empire, whether it is middle school or Western learning, he is always learning some Western things. There must be a good truth. How can he not know that he has been in officialdom for a long time? .

And the half-length portrait of His Majesty is hung on the wall behind the desk. In China, this is almost an official decoration. In the political axe department, schools and most of the homes of the people, there are half-length portraits of His Majesty. Some are required by decrees, and some are a way to express loyalty to the emperor, and at the desk On the wall, there is the "Gubeikou Great Wall Map" that has accompanied him for decades.

A little different from most senior officials is that there is no phone installed in his office. The purpose is to prevent unnecessary interference. It is necessary to ask him for instructions and knock on the door of his office with the permission of his secretary-general. Most of the time, he is often claustrophobic alone in this isolated office, reading some official documents and letters, or walking back and forth in the room, thinking about some major issues.

This is how he is in charge of the government affairs of this huge empire. The increasingly professional division of labor and most of the time, the emperor directly listens to the report, so that he, the prime minister, does not have too many things. Of course, he also understands that in military warfare, even the emperor only has the power of advice, not to mention him as the prime minister. As for industrial, economic and legal matters, he is a layman. His purpose as a prime minister is to maintain the normal operation of this semi-new and semi-old imperial bureaucracy, and finally realize the great change of the three-year political system.

And at the dusk of late spring, when it was time to get off work, he was not in a hurry to return to the private official residence given to him by His Majesty, but walked back and forth in the room with a solemn expression. He felt in a trance that there was a trace of uneasy shadow passing through his heart, but the shadow was so erratic that he caught it. I don't know.

Just ten minutes ago, he saw a report submitted to him by the Imperial Bureau of Investigation and the General Administration of Imperial Police, which confirmed that the republican faction was involved in the "Shanghai rebellion". Because the Minister of Justice led a delegation to visit, the Undersecretary of Justice had approved an unprecedented arrest warrant and search warrant.

"3859 people!"

muttering this number and looking at the lists one by one, Zhang Zhidong seemed to see a repeat of history, but hundreds of years ago, Emperor Hong Wu borrowed Hu Weiyong's case to make a wide range of cases, but now, it is... - What's going on?

Does Your Majesty know all this?

After yesterday's "Shanghai Rebellion", what he was most worried about was an unprecedented political wave, and then similar news came. Republican newspapers and clubs were closed in various places, and a large number of people involved in the "Shanghai Armed Rebellion" were arrested.

It was arrested according to the list and letters copied from the home of the rebel leader Mei Enping and other related people. At that time, there were more than a thousand people. Just as he was worried about, the arrest was expanded again today.

Even Yang Du, Sun Yat-sen and others are on the list! Does your majesty really want to use the case of armed treason in Shanghai to use an iron fist?

As soon as this idea came out, His Majesty's words appeared in front of Zhang Zhidong's eyes.

"Give people dignity as a human being! This is the ideal country I pursue!"

"The most basic premise of the so-called human dignity is freedom! Free speech brings free will, and ultimately free will brings the progress of the nation!"

No way! Your Majesty is by no means that kind of person! He will not take the opportunity to liquidate the republicans and constitutionalists. When he said this, Zhang Zhidong himself doubted all this in his heart. He had been an old bureaucrat. Of course, he knew that people would change, especially in the face of power.

What is more ** than the supreme imperial power? Now that there is such a good opportunity, who will let it go?

"Dangdang"

The knock on the door sounded, and then his secretary-general opened the door and walked in.

"Your Highness, Minister Yuan is here!"

Yuan Xiangcheng?

"Quick! Hurry up and invite him in."

Now Zhang Zhidong does not despise Yuan Shikai's lack of study as in the past. Now the two of them have a deep friendship. Both of them are leaders of the royalists. They should get along well with each other in public and private, not to mention Yuan Shikai's deliberate sincerity.

After his words, Yuan Shikai, who was slightly fat, came in and saw the slender figure of Zhang Zhidong in the gray light of the window.

"Weiting, I'm looking for you!"

Zhang Zhidong enthusiastically asked Yuan Shikai to sit down. He really had to listen to Yuan Shikai's opinion on this matter. He was better at merizing your majesty's thoughts than himself.

"Weiting, I know the Ministry of Justice today..."

"Zhang Xiang, do you mean the arrest warrant signed by the Ministry of Justice of China?"

Yuan Shikai asked, in fact, he came here for this matter.

"I'm afraid that tomorrow will be a big mess in the whole country, Weiting. At this time, it's the key to rejuvenate the country. I'm afraid... I'm afraid..."

The rest of the words is really difficult for Zhang Zhidong. Although he vaguely guessed that this may be your majesty's intention, how can he speculate on the holy will? What's more, your majesty said yesterday that the judiciary will deal with this matter, and even suggested that the advisory house should set up a reading investigation committee to investigate the armed rebellion in Shanghai. The crime of collaborating with the enemy.

"Zhang Xiang, are you worried that this is what your majesty means?"

Yuan Shikai looked at Zhang Zhidong and said what he wanted to say but didn't say. As the Minister of the Interior, of course, he knew the arrest warrant signed by the Ministry of Justice. After receiving the report of the General Administration of Police, he began to guess the shadow behind this matter in his heart, but the final result was that he was shocked into a cold sweat.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty is the Holy King, and I won't take this... I'm afraid that some people will do harm in your Majesty's name!"

Although Yuan Shikai said what he wanted to say, Zhang Zhidong was still old-fashioned to pull things on the courtiers and keep your majesty clean. This is what a minister should do.

"In the name of Your Majesty? ...Zhang Xiang, do you mean the Bureau of Investigation?

He admired Zhang Zhidong's old way from the bottom of his heart, but Yuan Shikai was shocked by his words.

"Intelligence Bureau, Investigation Bureau, it can be said that it is Your Majesty's..."

Zhang Zhidong wanted to say but didn't say that there were two factories in the east and west. This is a private evaluation of the two departments.

"The case of treason in Shanghai is naturally punishable, but... more than 1,000 people were arrested yesterday, and today there are nearly 4,000 people!"

Speaking of this, Zhang Zhidong couldn't help sighing.

"Except for the culprit Mei Enping, Youlie, Yang Du and Sun Yixian, but all the well-known constitutionalists and republicanists will not be listed. I'm afraid that if we continue to catch them like this, there will be trouble sooner or later!"

Worried, Zhang Zhidong stood up.

"It seems that I must ask about this matter!"

Zhang Zhidong began to walk up and there on the carpet again, and those old faces were full of sadness.

"In the past, I didn't understand many things, such as industrial planning, so I didn't ask. I, the prime minister, was in the easing of the new and old official systems of the empire, which was... Well, a cornerstone for maintaining the stability of the imperial political system"

Zhang Zhidong said what His Majesty used to say, and he was also very happy. When he was running an industry in Hubei, he interfered indiscriminately. As a result, he wasted countless crossbows. Now His Majesty's penny is regarded as a few words, and naturally he did not dare to let himss. Therefore, he knew that the safest way was to make this buffer and run into the new and old official bodies.

Although this seems to be a powerless responsibility, he, who has been in officialdom for a long time, does not know that this matter is related to the stability of the empire for thousands of years. Its transformation has changed the political body of more than a thousand years since the Sui Dynasty, which is the last and most important thing he can do in his life.

That's why he has no complaints, but now he feels that the prime minister must come forward to ask about this matter.

"However, Zhang Xiang, if the evidence is not conclusive, the Ministry of Justice would not have signed an arrest warrant... Moreover, as you have seen, now the people are infuriated and everyone is fighting against those who have rebelled against the enemy and betrayed the country! Will it be..."

Yuan Shikai said so, but he quietly extended his words. This is an opportunity for Zhang Zhidong to refute himself and also strengthen his "heart for the country and the people". What Yuan Shikai is worried about is not that will cause any trouble in catching those people. What he is worried about is whether he will be involved in himself.

"All right! Weiting, let's not argue. If you are a prime minister and don't go to your majesty that you are powerful, how can this be the work of a minister!"

As Yuan Shikai expected, Zhang Zhidong decisively interrupted his dissuasion.

"Your Majesty is surrounded by a group of young and unslightened ministers. How can you understand that such a big fight is harmful to the country."

For a long time, Zhang Zhidong has complained about His Majesty's appointment of young people. The army is like this, and the political axe organization is like this. Those young people are in a prominent position without grinding. Naturally, they are young and easy to cause disaster. Isn't this the case now?

"Zhang Xiang,..."

Yuan Shikai still tried to dissuade him again, saying that he should always do everything.

"All right! Weiting!"

Zhang Zhidong's face showed a smile without hesitation, as if comforting Yuan Shikai, and earnestly told him.

"This time, I must ask about this matter, otherwise the chaos of the country will start from now on, Weiting, I am old..."

"Zhang Xiang, you..."

He waved his hand to interrupt Yuan Shikai's words. Zhang Zhidong looked at the "Gubeikou Great Wall Map" and then straightened the Han costume on his body. This was perhaps the biggest difference between him and others. Even at the time of the ceremony, he wore Hanfu instead of new clothes.

"But you are still young, if... please!"

"Zhang...Zhang Xiang, you..."

Listening to these seemingly different words, Yuan Shikai stood up and saluted Zhang Zhidong.

"Old prime minister, you..."

"Okay, Weiting, you go back!"

Zhang Zhidong waved his hand. Before Yuan Shikai walked out of the office, he went out of the office. After he left, Yuan Shikai shook his head helplessly.

"I hope the old prime minister can persuade your majesty!"

After dinner, Chen Moran did not go for a walk in the garden after dinner as usual, or in the past two days, he was not in the mood to go for a walk at all. The Shanghai incident exceeded his expectations. Although he had acquiesced in all this in his heart, the final evolution was beyond his expectation.

"Dead 32, injured 159..."

Nearly 200 civilians died in the rebellion, all of which were due to the participation of the overseas Chinese.

When he thought in his heart that he must show some colors to the Japanese book, Yu Guang saw the report on the table and fell into meditation again. There was a wisp of light blue smoke floating in the bookstore for more than an hour. Chen Moran has smoked several cigarettes in a row.

He sat on the circle chair, holding the chair and smoking a cigarette and meditating. On the desk in front of you is a report from the Bureau of Investigation, which is the arrest list listed by the Bureau of Investigation.

If all of them are arrested, it can be said that the republicans will be captured and the constitutional faction will be re-established. At that time, no one will oppose themselves in this country. All those who oppose themselves will be discredited, trapped in prisons, and even a prison has been prepared for them somewhere.

At that time, he will monopolize the power, his will will will become the will of the country, and he will become the embodiment of the empire. Thinking of all this, Chen Moran found that he did not fantasize about the excitement of all this in the past. On the contrary, he had a sense of guilt.

... Why is that?

Isn't this what you want?

Why do you feel ashamed? They asked for it, didn't they? They betrayed the country, betrayed... just a few people!

At this time, a voice suddenly appeared in his heart.

Is this really what you want? What are you pursuing?

When thinking about these problems, it seemed to be to excuse himself, and he was talking about his credit in the bottom of his heart.

I'm right to do this for stability, and I also did a good job.

Academics in my university are free. Whether it is national or private, it is university autonomy, professors govern the school, and academics are absolutely free. If the professors feel that the principal is outrageous, they can jointly expel them. Professors in college, even if they go by themselves, they can ignore it. They can say whatever they like in class. They never worry about being expelled for non-academic reasons, that is, the Ministry of Education or even themselves have the right to expel professors.

Public opinion is also free. They can write as much as they want. The political axe will not interfere with them. Reporters want to scold, so they scold. They even scold themselves. Aren't they laughing?

Academic freedom is to promote national education. Without academic freedom, there is no freedom of thought, and without freedom of thought, there will be no scientific and technological progress. The country can be unified, but the ideology and academia are unified, and the country's innovation ability is over.

Freedom of public opinion is to supervise the political axe. If the political axe has no supervision, it will act recklessly. If officials do not supervise, they will fish the people. If the law does not supervise, they will... give them power that they have never thought of in the past. Although it is an imperial system, what they give is not what they have given in the past, and even... what they can get. Is it wrong to do this yourself?

That's right!

Those people are different from professors and journalists. The academic freedom of professors is for the future of China, and the freedom of journalists is for the exercise of power to supervise the political axe. But what about those people? Those people only know how to sacrifice national interests for ambition. In their eyes, there are only political differences, not the righteousness of the country.

I'm right to do this!

When he thought so in his heart, Chen Moran turned over the long list again. At the same time, he picked up a pen and looked at the list one by one, each of which was afraid of omission.

"History, history will prove that everything I did today is right!"

When writing a few words on this list, Chen silently said to himself in his heart that history, history will eventually prove everything. In a few decades, perhaps, the people will appreciate what they have done today, and they will understand how necessary and helpless their choice today is.

"In any country, the monarch regards the country as "own". However, on the other hand, this tradition also means that the king must "love his people" and love his people like his family, because this is the king's responsibility..."

"If that day really comes, it may be because you abandoned them first. When you no longer love them, they will naturally not love you again!"

When Chen Moran signed the list, Ji Li's words suddenly rang in her ear, hanging the pen, and Chen Moran's eyes stared at the list.

"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister, please meet!"

The report of the attendant asked Chen Moran to quickly sign a few words on the list, which may be to show his attitude.

"Please let him in!"

"Your Majesty!"

When he saw His Majesty, Zhang Zhidong immediately bowed deeply. Although Chen Moran said exemption, he still did not straighten up.

"Zhang Xiang, what can I do for you?"

"Your Majesty, please make an order immediately to stop..."

Did not wait for Zhang Zhidong to finish his words, Chen Moran opened his mouth and said.

"Zhang Xiang, the law is not allowed to interfere. Even I must not interfere with the arrest warrant issued by the Ministry of Justice based on the legal framework. I think whether they are guilty or not will naturally have a conclusion in the end!"

"But Your Majesty, aren't you afraid that such a big fight will damage the national body?"

"I'm more afraid that after the judiciary is interfered with, fairness will not be available!"

When he said this, Chen Moran smiled bitterly in his heart. Is it really fair?

(to be continued)