Let me tell you, there are always some timeless truths in the world, but specific laws and regulations are never permanent. The *I Ching* shows how things change, and the *Analects* shows the patterns in that change. Those that do not change are the Three Bonds and Five Constants (the fundamental ethical principles in Confucianism), guiding principles that illuminate the world; while those that can change are like the strings of a musical instrument, easily changed as needed. From ancient times to the present, dynasties have been constantly reforming. Our Qing emperors formulated laws based on the situation at that time, so there are different circumstances. Things changed drastically after we moved from Shenyang to Beijing. Things were very different under Jiaqing and Daoguang than under Yongzheng and Qianlong. In general, too many laws just make things messy, and when laws become problematic, they must be changed, all ultimately for the purpose of strengthening the country and ensuring the well-being of the people.
Since we moved the capital, the Empress Dowager has been working tirelessly, and I blame myself even more, deeply reflecting on decades of neglect and mismanagement that have led to the current disaster. We're negotiating now, and all political affairs must be seriously rectified, working towards prosperity. The Empress Dowager taught me that we must learn from the West to improve China; we must learn from past lessons in order to accumulate experience for the future. Since the Reform of 1898, those hypocrites have been spreading lies, deliberately provoking conflicts between the old and the new. Kang Youwei and his crew did more damage than the Boxers, and there are still people on the run overseas, enticing others to rebel with money and status, pretending to be loyal, sowing discord within the court. They don't realize Kang Youwei's "reforms" were just a mess. These traitors are using my illness to plot against me.
At that time, I begged the Empress Dowager to assume the regency in order to save me from danger and purge the government of its villains. In fact, the Empress Dowager did not agree to completely replace those dishonest officials; as for amending the regulations, when did I ever fully adopt Western methods and entirely deny the old system? I adhere to a moderate approach, choosing effective methods for implementation, with mother and son working together, and the people see this. Now I respectfully follow the decree of the Empress Dowager, wholeheartedly wanting to revitalize the country, harmonizing the old and new systems seamlessly.
The reason for China's weakness lies in entrenched traditions and cumbersome bureaucracy. Those incompetent officials, as well as talented scholars, rarely operate without relying on regulations. The mediocre hid behind it, while the corrupt exploited it for gain. Official business relies on written communication, with no actual results; talent selection is restricted by rigid rules, gradually becoming sluggish. Self-interest is the root of the nation's problems; clinging to precedent is the source of its woes. Now those who study the West merely scratch the surface of Western strength, learning only a smattering of language and a few technical tricks.
Leaders must be tolerant yet decisive, honest in word and deed. If China does not pay attention to these fundamental issues, but instead clings to the old habits of indecision, cronyism, and graft, only concerned with self-interest, then how can the country become prosperous? In conclusion, unless the laws change and old habits are broken, reform is essential for national revival.
I command the members of the Grand Council, the Grand Secretariat, officials of the Six Ministries and Nine Courts, envoys to foreign countries, and provincial governors to carefully study the current situation. We must thoroughly examine all aspects of governance, including court procedures, administration, the people's livelihood, education, the civil service examination system, military affairs, and finance, determining what should be retained, eliminated, streamlined, merged, learned from others, or devised as innovative solutions. In short, we must devise specific plans that will ensure national prosperity, the cultivation of talent, robust finances, and a strong military. Everyone should submit their proposals within two months. Then I will report your suggestions to the Dowager Empress for careful consideration and implementation after perfecting them.
Since I arrived in Taiyuan, I have decreed for everyone to offer their recommendations. After reading many memorials, I found that most current opinions are extreme: some uncritically adopt ideas from newspapers, while others are confined to superficial academic perspectives. They engage in unproductive criticism and mutual dismissal, limited by their own biases, unable to see the pros and cons clearly, resulting in difficulties in implementation. These new officials talk about enriching the country and strengthening the military, but often do not understand the ins and outs of things; while the old-school Confucian scholars only discuss orthodox knowledge, knowing nothing about the actual situation. Ministers, you must analyze these two extremes, discern the valuable insights and discard the irrelevant, and be flexible in your approach, making thoughtful suggestions for me to carefully select.
To govern a country, you need good systems and good officials. Get the right people, and even a bad system can be fixed; get the wrong people, and even the best system will fail. If we can't see beyond the surface, just sticking to the rules and ignoring what needs doing, then those promotions and demotions will create a real mess. We need to be careful from the start and stay the course; it takes more than willpower; you need the skills to back it up. Therefore, after the reform, it's even more important to select talented individuals and keep reminding ourselves. The Empress Dowager and I have been worried about this for a long time; when we hit a wall, we need to change course. The country's fate depends on this. If we keep doing things the same old way, slacking off and taking shortcuts, I won't tolerate it, even with the law on our side! Get the word out. That's all.
