noveltune Chapter 89 The Battlefield of Public Opinion
Chapter 89 The Battlefield of Public Opinion
Shanghai is still shrouded in the lingering plum rains.
The oil lamp in the editorial office of the "Current Affairs Daily" stayed on all night, having just published the full text of "The Rise of Great Powers: The Spanish Chapter".
The scent of ink wafted through the rain along with the newsboy's shouts: "Extra! Extra! Mr. Chen Feng has published another magnificent article! Unraveling the mystery of the collapse of the British Empire and paving the way for a new policy that avoids pitfalls!"
This article, titled "The Golden City: Feasts and Graves of Colonial Empires," stands in sharp contrast to the previous work, "Portugal."
The former elaborates on the rise of a small country by pooling its strength, while the latter analyzes the root causes of the decline and fall of the British Empire. This dialectical reflection on rise and fall instantly ignited public opinion in Shanghai.
In just three days, the "Current Affairs Daily" went through five reprints but still couldn't be found anywhere. Newspapers in both the north and south vied to reprint it, and a cross-border ideological debate swept across China.
Inside the editorial office of *Shiwu Bao*, Liang Zhuoru clapped his hands and sighed deeply. Following his "After Reading 'The Rise of Great Powers: Portugal'", he penned "Rereading 'The Rise of Great Powers': True Insights Revealed Between Rise and Fall," which was published in a full-page spread on the front page.
Portugal's rise was due to its specialization, with the whole nation focusing its efforts on maritime exploration; the West's downfall was due to its isolation, with the aristocracy monopolizing the market and stifling the people's intellectual development.
The flaws of today's new policies lie in their decentralization and exclusivity. If we could emulate Portugal's exclusivity, promote industry, open ports for trade, avoid Western exclusivity, broaden channels for expression, and implement checks and balances, then China could prosper!
Upon the publication of this article, the Circulation Daily responded immediately.
As Hong Kong's earliest Chinese-language newspaper, its editorial, "On Chen Feng's Two Theories and the New Policies," stated frankly: "Mr. Chen Feng has experienced the suffering of colonialism, and what he said is true. Spain perished from plunder, while Portugal prospered through trade. The new policies should promote commerce to enrich the people and decentralize power to ensure national stability. This is the right path for a weak country to become strong."
The response was particularly enthusiastic in Shanghai's commercial districts.
The Shen Bao newspaper published a joint commentary by Chinese businessmen entitled "On 'The Rise of a Great Power' and Commercial Rights": "Chen Feng said that commerce is the lifeblood of a nation, and rights are the shield protecting commerce; this is exactly what Chinese businessmen feel! If the new policies open up commercial rights and protect commercial interests, allowing Chinese and foreign merchants to stand on equal footing, then the national treasury will be self-sufficient, and what is there to fear from foreign aggression?"
The *Suzhou Daily*, speaking from a grassroots perspective, published a short commentary titled "Two Essays to Awaken the World," which stated: "The common people may not understand the pronouncements of the imperial court, but they know that a powerful nation does not oppress its people. Mr. Chen Feng criticizes Spain for plundering and silencing dissent, and praises Portugal for its maritime power and its people's well-being. New policies that align with the will of the people will prosper!"
Inside the Governor-General's Mansion in Wuchang, Zhang Xiaoda slammed a stack of newspapers onto the table.
He gripped the pages of "The Spanish Chapter," a furious roar escaping his throat: "Chen Feng, you brat, what do you know about powerful nations!"
Zhao Fengchang stood with his hands at his sides, not daring to respond.
"He said Spain was defeated by authoritarian monopolies?"
Zhang Xiaoda sneered, his fingertip slamming hard on the paper. "When I oversaw the Hanyang Ironworks and the Hubei Textile Bureau, wasn't it all thanks to the centralized control of the imperial court that we managed to snatch a bite of food from foreign merchants? If power were truly decentralized, each province would act independently, iron ore wouldn't be able to be transported out, machinery wouldn't be able to come in, and industry would be nothing but a mirage!"
"Spain's defeat was due to its insatiable colonial plunder and its forgetting of the fundamental needs of agriculture and people's livelihoods!"
He slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups rattle, and his tone grew increasingly sharp. "The hundreds of millions of Chinese people must first have enough to eat before they can even talk about trade! He, on the other hand, keeps talking about how merchants are the lifeblood of the nation, yet he doesn't mention that with foreign merchants surrounding us, Chinese merchants without the protection of the imperial court are nothing more than fish on the chopping block! You immediately write an article refuting this!"
Zhao Fengchang accepted the order and further denounced Chen Feng in his article: "Chen Feng has long lived in barbarian lands, engaging in empty talk about overseas affairs. He has never seen the hardships of China's modernization efforts or the difficulties faced by the people! The West's defeat was due to its unjust colonial rule, not to centralized power. For China to become a strong nation, it should base itself on agriculture and sericulture, centralize power to develop industry, and rely on the army to protect its territory! Abandoning the foundation of agriculture and sericulture, discarding the powerful tool of centralized power, and engaging in empty talk about decentralization and commerce—such fallacies are truly poisonous words that mislead the country and its people!"
Inside the editorial office of Tianjin's Guowen Daily, Yan Youling picked up his pen and wrote "A Review of Two Essays in 'The Rise of Great Powers'": "Chen Feng's two essays, one on rise and one on fall, are truly remarkable books!"
Portugal's rise was due to its tactics and institutional innovation; the West's downfall was due to its principles and its reliance on outdated practices.
The new policy should adopt Portugal's approach of focusing on developing industry, avoid the West's arbitrary policies and efforts to enlighten the people, uphold Chinese values and strengthen ethics, only then can it hope to succeed.
The anger of the conservative faction in Beijing intensified.
Minister of Rites Xu Tong sternly addressed his protégé Zhang Zhongxin: "Chen Feng's words are utterly destructive to our moral principles and disrupt our order! China was founded on moral principles and order; commerce is relegated to a lowly position. Such heretical ideas about seizing power and plotting rebellion must be banned!"
Zhang Zhongxin immediately published an article in the *Shenbao* entitled "A Second Rebuke of 'The Rise of a Great Power': It Damages Our Ancestral System and Disrupts the Court": "Chen Feng has been bewitched by Western heresies and has recklessly criticized the Chinese system! His two articles have brought disaster to the country and the people. I earnestly request the Empress Dowager to ban the book, conduct a thorough investigation, and arrest and kill any remaining followers!"
The report published "Refuting the Fallacies of Chen Feng's Two Arguments": "China is based on the fundamental principles of ethics and morality, and agriculture and sericulture. Chen Feng admires the West, promotes commercial rights, and advocates the separation of powers between religion and the West. He abandons the fundamental for the superficial, undermining the foundation of the nation. He should be banned immediately!"
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Emperor Guangxu held a copy of the "Current Affairs Daily," his brow furrowed with barely concealed excitement.
In recent days, the new policy has been hampered by the conservative faction at every turn. These two articles, "The Rise of a Great Power," struck him like a thunderbolt, stimulating his eagerness for change. He immediately summoned ministers such as Weng Tonghe, Sun Jianai, and Ronglu to discuss the matter.
"Gentlemen, please observe."
Emperor Guangxu threw the copy onto his desk, his voice impassioned, “Chen Feng, an overseas wanderer, though his identity is unknown and he writes in vernacular Chinese, is able to foresee rise and fall, and has even raised up thousands of Chinese armed forces in Luzon to establish a foothold. Such a talent, who is both literary and military, is exactly what the new government urgently needs!”
Portugal prospered by employing capable people, while Spain perished due to its jealousy of talent and its clinging to power. I intend to issue an edict summoning Chen Feng back to China immediately to serve as a secretary in the Zongli Yamen (Office for the Management of Affairs with Foreign Countries), specializing in matters related to the new policies, industry, and commerce. His abilities will be observed before any promotion is considered!
Upon hearing this, Weng Shuping was overjoyed and bowed deeply, saying, "Your Majesty is wise! Heroes are not judged by their origins, and vernacular language makes it easier to spread the wisdom of the people!"
Having personally experienced colonial rule, Chen Feng deeply understands the dynamics of power imbalance. If he were to return to the country and assist in governance, he would undoubtedly pave a bloody path for the new policies! I hereby draft an edict, ostensibly to express Your Majesty's thirst for talent, to inform the world and demonstrate Your Majesty's determination for reform!
Sun Jianai looked worried and cautiously advised: "Your Majesty, Chen Feng has been living overseas for a long time, his identity is unknown, and his intentions are hard to fathom. Moreover, he writes in vernacular Chinese, which may lead to attacks from conservatives that could damage my writing style and exacerbate the turmoil in the court."
It would be more prudent to first send someone to investigate his background, then summon him to the capital for an audience with the Emperor, observe his words and actions, and then discuss his appointment.
Ronglu, who had always been a follower of the conservatives, immediately retorted upon hearing this: "Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
Chen Feng's identity is unknown; he must be a Western spy!
"Writing books in vernacular Chinese to bewitch the people is a book that shakes the foundations of the nation. If such talent is to cause harm, it may be even more devastating than that of Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao! Such heresies should be banned, not recruited; otherwise, they will surely bring disaster upon themselves!"
Emperor Guangxu's face flushed instantly, and he slammed his hand on the table, saying, "Minister Rong, you are mistaken! Spain perished because of its jealousy of talent and its suppression of thought. How can I, as Emperor Guangxu, criticize a worthy man because of his status or writing style? Chen Feng's talent can help the Qing Dynasty become stronger. My mind is made up. Draft an edict immediately!"
When news spread that Emperor Guangxu intended to summon Chen Feng, the conservative faction was on high alert.
Ministers Xu Tong, Gang Yi, and Huaitabu, among others, rushed to the Empress Dowager's court that very night, weeping and pleading: "Chen Feng's origins are unknown. He uses vernacular Chinese, which corrupts the literary style, and he uses the concept of 'division of power' to defy the law. He must be a spy sent by the West. Once he enters the court, he will surely corrupt the government! We earnestly request the Empress Dowager to intervene and stop him, and to have His Majesty rescind his decree and thoroughly investigate his identity and background!"
Empress Dowager Cixi sat behind the curtain, her expression shifting between light and dark.
She was already dissatisfied with the new policies implemented by Emperor Guangxu, and was even more wary of the chaotic writing style of vernacular language and the entry of people of unknown identity into the court, which could shake the foundation of her rule. She immediately said in a deep voice: "The emperor is young and easily misled by rumors."
Chen Feng's remarks are eccentric, his identity is unclear, and he uses vernacular language to violate our ancestral rules; therefore, he must not be allowed to serve as an official in the court.
"By imperial decree, the conscription is suspended. Local authorities are ordered to thoroughly investigate the dissemination of this book and the background of Chen Feng, and to prevent the spread of heresies!"