Time Travel to 1859: The Iron-Blooded Soldier King

Guo Songtao said in a deep voice, "My dear brother, this is not difficult. At worst, we can just focus on developing industry and commerce. We Chinese are no less skilled at business than the West. As long as we encourage industry and commerce, the prosperity of our country will be just around the corner!"

Liu Ye smiled bitterly and said, "Brother Bochen, you are indeed too optimistic. Regarding the development of industry and commerce, China has always been based on agriculture. The policy of emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce has been implemented for two thousand years. How can we change national policy with just a word? Let alone fully developing industry and commerce, look at it. It's already very difficult to lift our current maritime ban. The court is constantly criticizing us. If we can't lift the maritime ban, who will you sell your goods to?"

Guo Songtao sucked his teeth. He was really annoyed by Liu Ye's incisive analysis. He didn't expect that this guy could see through everything so clearly!

Guo Songtao replied, "My dear brother, what do you think we should do to enrich our country and strengthen our military?"

Liu Ye replied, "If we want to enrich our country and strengthen our military, then we need to find the root cause of our backwardness. Why is it backward? First and foremost, our political system is backward. In the West, officials are elected based on meritocracy. If you don't do your job well, the people have the right to oust you. In other words, if you do your job well, you stay. If you don't, get out! Even their leaders can be ousted. Officials elected in this way are all practical men of action, not old pedants who quibble over words."

Guo Songtao was horrified and quickly covered Liu Ye's mouth, saying in a low voice: "My dear brother, be careful with your words. If such treasonous words are spread out, you will lose your head!"

Liu Ye said in a hoarse voice, "Brother Bochen, your insights are already first-rate in China. If even you think so, you can only imagine how deep our accumulated problems are. Emperor Taizong of Tang once said, 'Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it.' The ancient sages all had such insights. Are we being too self-deprecating and truly inferior to them?"

Guo Songtao said anxiously, "My dear brother, water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. I understand this. However, even the emperor can be driven out of office. Isn't this blatant rebellion?"

Liu Ye replied, "Rebellion? Brother Bochen, China has been ruled for nearly five thousand years since the reign of Emperor Yanhuang. How many dynasties have we experienced? Which one wasn't overthrown? Liu Han, Li Tang, which one didn't have its moment of glory? Which one wasn't replaced in the end? Since they couldn't provide a good life for the people, they deserved to be overthrown. The people are the most important, the country is second, and the emperor is the least important. This is what the Second Sage said!"

Guo Songtao was completely shocked by Liu Ye today. He originally thought that Liu Ye was a perfect hero, but unexpectedly, this guy dared to say anything. Today he finally understood why. The monk king was terrified as soon as he left Liu Ye. He was afraid that this kid would get into trouble!

However, this was not the most shocking thing for Guo Songtao. The next words almost made him wet his pants. "Brother Bochen, the Qing Dynasty was only established by the Manchus, not by us Han people! They robbed us Han people of our world, why should we work for them foolishly? If they can make China prosperous and attract all nations to pay tribute, then we can accept it. Traditional virtues have now been ruined by them. Why, do the Manchus have to ruin this country? If they can't bring welfare to the people, then they deserve to be driven out!"

Guo Songtao was already getting a little restless. If his legs had not been shaking so badly, he would have turned around and run away. If his previous words had meant dismissal from office, then these words now meant the confiscation of property and the extermination of the entire family. My God, there were probably dozens of people in my family who were not enough to be beheaded!

Liu Ye looked at Guo Songtao's pale face and suddenly realized, damn, the fire was too strong today, damn it, he only cared about his own pleasure!

Liu Ye quickly said, "Alright, alright, Brother Bochen, I'm just complaining in front of you. Is it necessary for you to be so angry?"

Guo Songtao calmed down after a long while and said anxiously, "My dear brother, I am not afraid of losing my head, but what about the guilt of the whole family? Please be careful with your words!"

Liu Ye smiled awkwardly and replied, "Okay, let's put this matter aside for now. If there is a chance, Brother Bochen can travel to the West. By then, you will naturally know whether what I said makes sense or not. Let's move on to the second thing. I have already told you about the second thing, that is, the study of things. This is the most important way to enrich the country and strengthen the army. Now, an arsenal in Western countries can produce hundreds of thousands of rifles and thousands of artillery pieces a year. As for us, let alone artillery, we can't even make a rifle! We don't have that technology. Where did this technology come from? In a word, it's the study of things, only the study of things to gain knowledge! All our young people are reading the Four Books and Five Classics and taking the Eight-Legged Essay test. Who is left to study these things? Without the study of things, even if we want to enrich the country and strengthen the army, it will only be empty talk. So we must change the current situation and introduce Western knowledge and technology!"

Guo Songtao nodded and replied, "My dear brother, the previous one was truly shocking. You and I, on our own, want to fight against the world's great trend? How is that possible? We will only be crushed to dust! This viewpoint is much more pragmatic. Learning from the barbarians to defeat them is the way to strengthen a country. You and I brothers should vigorously promote this path. Zeng, Zuo, Li, and Shen in the south also want to learn from the West. If we work together, this matter can be accomplished!"

Liu Ye smiled and said, "I'd like to ask about the names of Zeng, Zuo, Li, Shen, and others. I've wanted to get to know them for a long time, but unfortunately, I don't have the chance. Now that land and sea are sinking, China is in turmoil. If we don't rise up and earn a living for our descendants, we will be cursed in the future."

Guo Songtao said in a deep voice, "My dear brother, I am already over forty years old and have accomplished nothing. You are different. You are just twenty years old, but you are already a pillar of the court. As long as you work hard, you will be in charge of military affairs, become a general or a prime minister in the future. Isn't the whole of China in your hands? I am dull, but I have no problem wasting my talents. If you have an order, I will do my best!"

Liu Ye laughed heartily and replied, "Brother Bochen, am I someone who underestimates myself? I have every right to help turn the tide, but I was only promoted to the military by the Monk King a year ago, so I have very little experience. If you want to accomplish something big, you need a team of people. I admire your talents immensely, and I sincerely hope you can lend me a hand. Since you have such words, Liu Ye bows in gratitude! Brothers, we will definitely live up to your lofty ambitions!"