[Qing Chuan] Mu Emperor's Grace

Concubine Dun was depressed for a while after learning about the ten princesses' intentions against Ling.

It didn't make sense, so she simply let go of it, but thought that when her daughter left in the future, she didn't know when she would see her again, and she compromised. After all, it was her own flesh and blood, so how could she be willing to suffer and suffer.

The day before Wubaxi left to return to the station, Hongli's imperial decree came down, and Celing held the imperial decree, his heart was overwhelmed with joy.He is a straight person, and he didn't think too much about detours. He just thought that the tenth princess had changed his mind. In addition, he admired the prosperity of the capital and was very interested in Manchu and Han culture, so he happily stayed.

Celing couldn't figure out the key point, but Wu Baxi was quite worried about his son's situation.One thing is that Cering stayed in Beijing alone, but he couldn't even speak Chinese well, and he clearly didn't get along with those scholars who were full of sages. In a place like the capital where there are many officials, big and small, he might be tripped if he wasn't careful. son.Second, he is old, and his second son died young a few years ago. Cering can be said to be the only heir to the Khan throne. Now that Hongli is doing this, Ubaxi naturally understands that Cering has become the capital of the capital. A chess piece to hold him back.Three Celings are older than the tenth princess, and they have already reached the age of marriage. It is only because Tsarist Russia has been fighting for years, and the entire Turghut tribe is in panic, so Celing's marriage has been delayed again and again. Now Hongli keeps him in Even though the capital has the intention of marrying the tenth princess to him, this is still a royal secret, and who can say for sure until the day when the imperial decree comes down.

Different from his father's worries, Celing is full of expectations for the future life. The strange city and situation give him a desire to conquer and challenge.

In any case, the emperor's imperial decree had been issued, and no matter how worried Ubashi was, he had no choice but to set off and return to Ili.

Cering temporarily lived in Heshen Mansion, and could move out only after the new mansion was built. Since then, Ten Princesses and Yongzheng would often go to Heshen Mansion, and even Hongli would often go out in light clothes. palace.

Everyone in the court gradually realized the fact that the family of the Lord and His Excellency would never have a day of decline, and Elder Twelve was getting closer and closer to him, the crown prince.People are animals that seek advantages and avoid disadvantages. It has been a long time since courtiers have mentioned that Elder Brother Twelve was born by an unfavored queen. The trend of conversation has changed to Elder Twelve. Datong.

Since the candidate for the crown prince gradually became clear, He Shen tried his best to pass on some progressive ideas to Yong Xing. As the Taifu, he knew that his student was very smart and capable. Let him learn to observe words and feelings, understand people's hearts, and discuss the king's methods. He Shen never worries that Yong Xing is not doing well enough.

But He Shen also understands that if only Machiavelli's tricks of power are left in governing the country, then the country under the rule of the king will really come to an end.

When he was in school, Shen He, like his mentor, firmly believed in the principle that feudal dynasties must decline when they are prosperous. When the succeeding rulers grow up from the palace of rich clothes and fine food, they are doomed to be unable to understand the customs of the people. suffering.

Even though Yongzhen has the talent of a king, when He Shen explained the way of governing the country to him, Yongzhen would often ask "why not eat minced meat".No one knows better than He Shen that this seemingly prosperous empire is already riddled with holes.

He Shen looked directly at Yongzhen, and said slowly: "My lord, do you know how many people along the canal that this year's tribute passed through were forced to work as coolies to carry goods, and they had to do so every day?" Even if they don’t get some remuneration, they have to be beaten and scolded at every turn, which is unbearable.”

Hearing this, Yong Xin fell into a long silence.In his limited cognition, Qianlong exempted money and food a lot of times, so how could it be that, as Heshen said, the lives of the people were miserable?

However, He Shen's expression did not seem to be fake.

He Shen didn't say much, he knew that with a few words, it was absolutely impossible to reverse the king's long-standing concept of dividing people into three, six, and nine classes.He just talked to Yongzheng about what he had read in history books every day, trying to subtly let the prince understand everything in the world, so that he would no longer be deceived by other people's flattery.

Everyone felt that He Shen held many important positions, and at this point, he could finally rest.But only He Shen himself understands that he is still waiting for an opportunity, waiting for an opportunity to wake up the sleeping empire suddenly.

When He Shen saw Macartney's visit to China association in Rehe Palace, he knew he was waiting.

Early in the morning, when He Shen changed Hongli's clothes, Hongli saw the faint smile on his lips: "Why are you so happy today?" Hongli asked puzzled.

While straightening Hongli's skirt, He Shen said with a smile, "The English envoy is coming today."

He Shen didn't notice for a while, and said what was in his heart. When he realized that something was wrong, he looked up at Hongli again, and found that Hongli was frowning at him, and he held back for a long time before he said: "You don't like those people. A foreigner is so interested?"

He Shen was at a loss for words for a while, he didn't know how to explain to Hongli that he was not interested in the foreigners themselves, but in the business opportunities contained in them.

Ever since time travel, He Shen has often felt that the feudal society he lived in, shackles people from the inside out. When the whole society starts to decay from the inside, the people in it don't feel at all. He, together with himself, has been in this world for a long time, and from time to time he feels that he is about to be swallowed.It is too difficult to open up the situation from the inside, and some external stimulation is always needed.

And Macartney's visit to China happened to be such a timing.The Qianlong Dynasty happened to be in the critical period of the Western capitalist revolution. When Shen He was studying, he made a hypothesis in his heart.If China at that time had not pursued the policy of closing the door to the outside world, and had not arrogantly and flatly refused the envoy's request for trade, everything would have been different.

He Shen doesn't know, but he is willing to do his best to drag the rein of history and walk in the direction of his imagination.If the East began to accept the baptism of Western technology since the Qianlong Dynasty, is it possible for the ancient oriental dragon to wake up step by step?He Shen had a lot of thoughts in his mind, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly, but in Hongli's eyes, He Shen's refusal to answer became a kind of default.

Thinking of this, the emperor's face darkened.

He Shen didn't notice anything strange about the emperor, he even recalled the foreign language that he hadn't reviewed for a long time in his mind, this kind of interesting look made it even weirder in Hongli's eyes.

Macartney's mission was far less grand than imagined, and there was no ostentation. They waited outside in light clothes, looking forward to seeing the true face of the monarch of the Eastern Empire.

When Hongli walked towards the throne, He Shen suddenly said softly: "Your Majesty, how do you plan to deal with the British envoy?"

Hongli pondered for a moment, and replied: "We are the kingdom of the heavens. We must not only convince people with etiquette, but also promote our country's prestige. We must not let foreigners look down upon us."

He Shen's heart sank, and he remembered the documentary films he had seen in modern times. Chinese officials forced Macartney to kneel down three times and kowtow nine times, which made Macartney deeply humiliated. Although the two parties finally negotiated, Macartney was reluctantly allowed to kneel on one knee, but Macartney himself and even the entire British mission lost their goodwill towards Qing Dynasty.

He Shen can understand Hongli's thoughts. As far as the country is concerned, there is no Qing Dynasty in the whole of Western Europe, let alone Britain.He Shen thought of the territory map hanging in Sanxi Hall, and naturally understood that Hongli regarded Britain as the small country that came to pay tribute tremblingly in the past.

Macartney felt humiliated, so why didn't Hongli feel offended?Thinking of this, He Shen reached out and grabbed Hongli's court clothes.

Hongli turned his head in surprise, and what he saw was He Shen who was hesitant to speak.Hongli felt that He Shen was very strange today. Rather than saying that he was too excited, it would be better to say that there was an inexplicable nervousness in his every move. He asked in a strange way: "He Shen, do you know something? ?”

As soon as this remark came out, He Shen couldn't help being stunned. At this moment, He Shen felt like a hundred ants eating his heart. He was like a mirror in his heart, but he just couldn't explain to Hongli what capitalism freedom and equality are.

Hongli's questioning made him see a glimmer of light, and his originally struggling eyes suddenly brightened.Of course Hongli was aware of this change, which made the emperor more certain that He Shen knew something.

He raised his hand to stop the guards who were meeting with the Xuanying envoy, and in full view of everyone, he approached Heshen and asked, "What's the problem with the British envoy?"

Even though Hongli asked patiently, He Shen still didn't know where to start.He tried to say tactfully: "Your Majesty, do you still remember that I mentioned my hometown?"

Hongli nodded in doubt, and heard He Shen say: "Your Majesty, in my hometown, they think that kneeling is a kind of courtesy with a subordination, so they don't use it easily." He Shen repeatedly considered the words, and finally Only such a nondescript sentence was squeezed out.

Hongli seemed to have heard something extremely incredible, even more incredible than what He Shen had told him about the four-wheeled thing running on the road.He couldn't understand that there are still places in the world where one cannot kneel and worship.

Hongli asked cautiously: "Then how should you salute in your hometown?"

He Shen thought for a moment, and suddenly raised his hand to hold Hongli's hand. Such a move was really too bold, and the officials on both sides could only watch, nose, nose, and heart in silence.

He Shen shook Hongli's hand lightly and said with a smile, "Like this, it's called a handshake ceremony."

Hongli was also taken aback by He Shen's sudden action, and when he realized it, he laughed and said, "How can it be such a joke?"

He Shen was a little helpless, he finally realized how difficult it is to forcibly instill in Hongli some concepts that modern people take for granted when the historical process has not reached that point.

However, He Shen understands that he cannot back down, otherwise all his efforts will return to the original point.So he rarely answered, but knelt down on one knee towards Hongli, and when Hongli didn't know why, he took Hongli's hand and kissed it.

The officials present were numb by He Shen's outrageous behavior. Hongli stared blankly at his hands and asked the young man kneeling on the ground, "What kind of etiquette is this?"

He Shen responded with a smile: "This is called a hand kiss, and it is the highest etiquette in countries such as England."

Hearing this, Hongli finally understood why He Shen did this in front of all the officials, he was rehearsing.There is a precedent of Heshen, and the British envoy will meet with him in a while, and the courtiers will not be so surprised if this salute is adopted, and the emperor will not be easily irritated.

Hongli stared at He Shen with extremely complicated emotions in his eyes.He stretched out his hand to help He Shen, and almost pressed He Shen's ear and asked, "Is the British envoy not able to kneel and salute, right? Or, they don't want to kneel and salute?"

He Shen trembled all over, and looked up at Hongli in astonishment. He had never said such a thing, but he was as sensitive as Hongli, but in a short time, he realized what he failed to say.

He Shen nodded slightly, and he added: "Your Majesty, I just hope that your Majesty understands that if the British envoy insists on not kneeling and prostrating, it's not that they don't respect the Emperor, it's just that the etiquette is different in different countries."

When Hongli heard the words, the smile on his face faded away, and he said in a deep voice, "Hasn't Aiqing ever heard a saying that when you go to the country, do as the Romans do?"

He Shen was startled, and then fell silent. He should have expected that Hongli would never give in so easily. For the sake of etiquette, disputes are inevitable.

Seeing that he didn't answer, Hongli still asked persistently, "Have you heard of Aiqing?"

Seeing that He Shen couldn't hide, his whole shoulders drooped, he could only reply sadly: "I've heard of it." Of course He Shen knew what it means to follow the Romans, but it's a pity that he knew better that Macartney wanted to follow the custom. , in Western culture, is insulting.After all, compared to persuading Hongli, he didn't know how to explain the rituals of Zhou to Macartney.

Hongli saw that the man was completely depressed, as if facing an insurmountable problem, he asked softly, "He Shen, did I make things difficult for you?"

He Shen just looked up at Hongli, his lips were tightly pressed together, and he didn't answer, but he didn't know that such a move was a silent protest in Hongli's eyes.

Hongli sighed helplessly: "He Shen, do you really want a foreigner to kiss my hand?"

He Shen was stunned, he suddenly realized that perhaps he and Hongli had different concerns.In other words, he thought that what Hongli cared about was that the foreign envoy's etiquette was not perfect, and that kissing hands was an offensive gesture, but what Hongli really cared about was actually the person who kissed the hand?

For a moment, He Shen felt that he understood something, so he tentatively asked: "If you don't kiss hands, can you just kneel on one knee?"