"Your Majesty, isn't this cleansing method too harsh?" Qi Yuchang, who had just stepped down as Minister of Education, asked. He had now become the executive chairman of the National Library, the National Museum, and the Preparatory Committee of the National Archives. As a bibliophile, Qi Yuchang was very happy with this new position. Qi Yuchang was very supportive of the new government's establishment of a library in the past ten years.
Although his political views were very different from his son-in-law, Vézé, Qi Yuchang had to admit that Vézé had performed well in both literature and martial arts, even though he had been wandering around with his bumpkin brothers. To be in charge of the National Library and establish a general catalogue of China's historical books, such a huge project would probably not be completed before Qi Yuchang's death. But as long as this project could be carried on, Qi Yuchang's name would definitely not be ignored in the history of China's culture.
Therefore, Qi Yuchang specifically asked Vézé what books could leave a name and what couldn't. Vézé told Qi Yuchang that all books had to leave a name. It would be too stingy to hide it. Even some religious books had to have a special section. Moreover, Qi Yuchang was going to lead a team to Beijing soon. After conquering Beijing, there were too many books and materials to protect.
As they chatted, they talked about some religious issues, and the matter of Vézé's efforts to eliminate some religions was mentioned. This involved some very troublesome problems. Some of Vézé's methods seemed too vicious.
Vézé was not unhappy with his father-in-law's questions. He said seriously, "The new China is a modern nation-state. The bottom line of a modern nation-state is that all people have to recognize that they are first and foremost Chinese. He is a materialist of China, a Buddhist of China, and a Taoist of China. But when Buddhism and Taoism are in conflict, which side will he stand on? He must stand on the side of China. I don't like to kill people, but I have the responsibility and obligation to protect the fundamental interests of China. This is the responsibility and obligation that every China person has to bear. If any religion propagates that it is above China, I will have no choice but to destroy it. This is a fundamental contradiction between us and the enemy, a matter of life and death. "
This was what Qi Yuchang was most unaccustomed to about Vézé. Vézé never talked about what he wanted to do as an Emperor. Vézé always talked about what he wanted to do based on certain ideals. For the imperial power, this attitude was very dangerous, because according to this attitude, the emperor himself could also be overthrown based on a certain ideology. The change of dynasties was never based on ideology. The overthrow of the emperor was based on the simplest logic. The rebels would not be able to survive if they did not overthrow the emperor. It would have been fine if the Manchu Qing had been destroyed in a tide of blood and fire, but Vézé had opened up a new possibility of overthrowing the Emperor.
Men were born to be such hopeless creatures. If Vézé's two wives were in a bad mood after listening to Vézé's political ideas, they would not respond at all. If they were in a good mood, they would probably smile. If they were a little impatient, they would probably say, "Let's eat."
Qi Yuchang was a cultured and self-conscious person with ideals and taste. When faced with Vézé, who could be discussed and even argued, he would not simply listen to him. He asked, "Your Majesty, the previous dynasties have never been so harsh on religion, right?"
Vézé answered unhappily, "Religion itself is a lie. The real Taoism doesn't talk about the afterlife, which is fine. Other religions talk about the afterlife, going to hell, and going to heaven. There are too many lies in politics. The new China should become a country that tells the truth and not be fooled by lies. How can I support the blind lies of religion? "
As a person who read the books of sages, Qi Yuchang was not interested in gods and ghosts. What the Chinese really worshipped was the spirits of their ancestors in heaven. Wei Ze had also talked about this issue. As long as a person survived, they would definitely have ancestors. Vézé must have taken an anti-religious stance, but Qi Yuchang did not find it objectionable. But Qi Yuchang still had his own point of view. "It's hard to educate the people. The Sages said that the people can do whatever they want, but they can't be taught. Even the Sages, who teach without discrimination, are like that. Your Majesty, do you really think you're more capable than the Sages? "
"Of course I'm more capable than him!" Vézé rolled his eyes. When it came to Confucius, Vézé's attitude became more intense. It was not that Confucius was worthy of Vézé's displeasure, but Vézé had seen a theorist who was more powerful than Confucius.
"Let me give you an example of Kong Rong giving away a pear. Kong Rong gave away a pear because he really didn't want to eat it. In my opinion, what he said at that time was to protect other people's dignity, so he found a few good reasons for others to eat the pear. In the end, it was Kong Rong who didn't want to eat it. If he wanted to eat it to death, it would be a different situation. I admit that there are people who don't like to eat, and this should be the truth. But when this matter spread, countless lies were added to it. Some people want fame and profit, so they make up a reason that is beneficial to them and spread it around. Or they want to eat the pear, so they say that others should give it to them, and they should accept it. Or they say that they are too kind and let others eat the pear that was supposed to be eaten by them. It was supposed to be a very, very normal thing, but it was ruined by these b * stards. "
After listening to Vézé's words, Qi Yuchang was happy. As an adult in his fifties, Qi Yuchang could completely understand that Vézé was telling the truth, even though he couldn't speak the truth. He smiled and said, "Your Majesty is right. There is nothing wrong with the world, and people worry about nothing. But if people are not ambitious, if they really tell the truth, how can those incompetent people establish themselves? If they don't even have a reason to lie to themselves, they would rather die than live! "
It was fun to talk to smart people. Vézé smiled and said, "This kind of matter, of course, depends on the development of productivity and social progress to solve it. Although I think highly of myself, I don't think I'm an immortal who can solve all problems. So, back to what I said before, I'll kill those who don't believe in lies and feel that life is boring! "
There were indeed people who didn't believe in lies and felt that life was boring, but there were also people who lived completely in reality. After receiving the report of the massacre of the White Hats and their families, Chen Yucheng immediately gathered the troops. If someone was hot-blooded and thought that they could go against the Liberation Army and try to seize Luoyang, it would be extremely stupid. Chen Yucheng would never allow his men to do such a thing that would endanger the entire army. Since the revenge had been taken, it was time to return to Sanmen Gorge to defend.
Before leaving, Chen Yucheng went to see the political commissar and commander of the Liberation Army. "As far as I know, Lai Wenguang and his brother are still in Henan. I wonder how the Liberation Army is going to deal with them?"
The political commissar said seriously, "If they want to return to Shaanxi, we won't stop them. Most of the Nian Army brothers are from Huaibei, Shandong, and Henan. If they are willing to stay in their hometown and live a good life, we won't make things difficult for them. But we have to make it clear to the King of England first. If they don't choose either, our Liberation Army naturally won't let them do whatever they want. "
Chen Yucheng also knew that the Nian Army had no hope of establishing a separate territory in Henan, and the Liberation Army would never give up Henan. He wanted to ask tentatively how the Liberation Army was going to deal with the Taiping army in the northwest, but when the words were on the tip of his tongue, Chen Yucheng swallowed them back. If he were to face Vézé, Chen Yucheng would naturally ask honestly with a younger and lower status in reality. But the general of the Liberation Army opposite him was simply an ordinary general. It was really impossible for Chen Yucheng to bow his head to such an insignificant person.
Therefore, Chen Yucheng could only say, "I hope that you will be more tolerant on account of the fact that we are all from Guangxi."
The political commissar smiled. "Please rest assured, Your Majesty. Our greatest enemy is the Manchu Qing. We will not be unreasonable towards our brothers who are fighting against the Qing."
Chen Yucheng knew that the political commissar's attitude was amiable, but the meaning behind his words was not amiable at all. But now that the situation had come to this, Chen Yucheng could only take his leave.
At about this time, Lai Wenguang faced the Nian Army leaders and forced a smile. "The Zhu brothers have fought with me for so long. Without their help, I would not have been able to be conferred the title of King. I thank you all. From now on, we will go our separate ways. I can only wish you all well. "
At first, the Nian Army resting and reorganizing south of Chenzhou was not quite sure what to do next. Wen Yuewei, who had been in charge of contacting the Liberation Army, went back to her hometown in Huoyang. If the Nian Army had not suffered heavy losses recently, and those small hills had almost been wiped out, a considerable number of people would have immediately chosen to leave with Wen Yuewei.
Even though there was no avalanche effect, the change in people's hearts was quite obvious. Later, the Liberation Army began to enter southern Henan. Nanyang, Lushan, and other places fell into the hands of the Liberation Army. The Liberation Army was getting closer and closer to the Nian Army, and the Nian Army had to have a public discussion.
At this time, the Nian Army was divided into two parts. One was naturally the Nian Army, and the other was the Taiping army led by Lai Wenguang. The two sides had completely different stances on what to do next. Lai Wenguang naturally tried to invite the Nian Army to go with him to Shaanxi. If the Nian Army really had this intention, they would not have avoided the Taiping army's generals during the previous meetings.
Zhang Zongyu was not particularly talkative. He said with a straight face, "We are going to join the Liberation Army." After that, he closed his mouth and said nothing more.
This had already explained all the problems. If Zhang Zongyu had said that he wanted to go back to his hometown, Lai Wenguang would naturally have tried to persuade him. Zhang Zongyu said that he wanted to join the Liberation Army, and there was no need to mention anything else. The cooperation between the old Nian Army and the Taiping army came to an end.
Given the current situation, it was possible that the two sides would fight again on the battlefield in the future. Other than wishing everyone well before they parted, Lai Wenguang said nothing else. There was also a small number of Nian Army soldiers who chose to follow Lai Wenguang. More than two thousand cavalrymen ultimately followed Lai Wenguang west to Shaanxi. The remaining nearly ten thousand Nian Army soldiers went straight to Huoyang to join the local Liberation Army.
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