Chapter 31 seven elements in life

After I lived in Zhangyuan for a period of time, I felt that the environment was far more comfortable than the Forbidden City in Beijing.I have this idea: unless the time for restoration is ripe, or an irresistible external force occurs, it is better for me to live here.This is also one of the reasons why the idea of ​​going abroad gradually faded away. For me, Zhang Yuan (and later Jing Yuan) had nothing in the Forbidden City that I didn't like, while retaining what seemed necessary.What I dislike the most in the Forbidden City, first of all, is the set of rules that do not even allow you to ride a car or go to the streets freely, and secondly, the group of people in the Ministry of Internal Affairs that make me angry.Now I have the freedom to do whatever I want, and others can only advise but not interfere.In the Forbidden City, what I considered necessary, my majesty, still exists here.Although I no longer wear the clumsy emperor's dragon robe, I often wear ordinary robes and mandarin jackets, and more often wear suits, but this does not affect others to worship me.The place where I live used to be an amusement park, there are no glazed tiles, and there are no carved beams and painted buildings, but some people call it walking (I also think that the western-style buildings with flush toilets and heating equipment are far more comfortable than the Hall of Mental Cultivation), and the clansmen in Beijing, etc. I have to take turns to come here to be on duty for me. The room at the ticket office of the Zhangyuan Amusement Park in the past is just like the guard's office of the Qianqing Gate in the past.Although there are no such famous halls as the South Study Room, the Maoqin Hall, and the House of Internal Affairs, in people's minds, the signboard of the Qing Dynasty Office in Tianjin in Zhang Yuan is their incarnation.As for what people call me, the Xuantong reign name used in the garden is meticulously preserved. For me, it is all natural and necessary.

During Zhang Yuan's era, only Rong Yuan was left among the ministers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the rest either stayed in Beijing to take care of them, or retired.The first edicts I issued after I arrived in Tianjin included these two items: Zheng Xiaoxu, Hu Siyuan, Yang Zhongxi, Wen Su, Jing Fangchang, Xiao Bingyan, Chen Zengshou, Wan Shengshi, and Liu Xiangye were all stationed in Tianjin as advisors.Set up the General Affairs Office, with Zheng Xiaoxu and Hu Siyuan in charge, Tong Jixu in the General Affairs Office, Jing Fangchang in the Revenue and Expenditure Office, and Liu Xiangye in the Negotiation Office.Chen Baochen, Luo Zhenyu, and Zheng Xiaoxu were close ministers who had to meet every day. They and the advisers would come once every morning and sit in a row of bungalows on the west side of the building, waiting to be summoned.There is a room near the gate, which is the place where those who ask for an audience sit and wait for the summons. People who have sat there include warriors, politicians, old people, all kinds of modern people, poets, poets, and doctors and astrologists.Zeng Qi, the leader of the Youth Party, Lin Baohua, the famous tennis player, Liu Rangong, the editor-in-chief of "New Tianjin News", and Gao Youtang, the supervisory member of the Kuomintang, all joined the ranks of Zhang Zongchang and Liu Fengchi, and waited here to be introduced by the official.The Japanese police stationed in the park, known as white hats by Tianjin people, are stationed in the bungalow opposite, and register these people who come and go every day.Whenever I go out, there is a Japanese policeman in plainclothes following me.

Compared with the Forbidden City, Zhang Yuanli's economic situation is naturally much worse, but I still have a considerable amount of property.I got a large amount of property from the palace, part of which was exchanged for money and stored in foreign banks to earn interest, and part of it was turned into real estate for monthly rent.I still have a lot of land inside and outside the pass, that is, the so-called imperial property acquired after the Qing Dynasty entered the pass. , Not counting the Eight Banners, there are about 120,000 farms.Even discounting this figure a few times is still impressive.In order to deal with the lease and sale of these lands, the government of the Republic of China set up a special private property management office for the Zhili Supervision Office and the Qing Dynasty.In addition, as I said earlier, a large number of precious ancient calligraphy and painting books that Pu Jie and I worked hard for more than half a year to transport are all in my hands.

After I arrived in Tianjin, there were still many places in Beijing, Fengzhou, and Tianjin that had to continue to pay monthly fees. For this reason, the Beijing Office, the Mausoleum Office, the Liaoning Office, the Clan Mansion, and the Private Property Management Office ( Combined with the authorities of the Republic of China), the Minister of Protection of Dongling and the Minister of Protection of Xiling are to be managed separately.I found a document, which only counted the fixed monthly fees, salaries, and meals in Beijing and Dongxiling, and it would cost 15,837 yuan and eighty-four cents [1]. Land expenses are about 10,000 yuan per month [2]. The biggest expense is the money for buying and mobilizing warlords, which is not counted here.The purchase item in the average monthly expenses accounts for about two-thirds of the monthly expenses, and items such as cars and diamonds are not included.The expenditure on purchasing supplies in Tianjin was much larger than that in Beijing, and it increased every month, such as pianos, clocks, radios, suits, leather shoes, glasses, and I bought and bought them again and again, never tire of them.Wanrong was originally a young lady from Tianjin, and she has more ways to spend money to buy trash than I do.Whatever she bought, Wenxiu must also want it.I bought it for Wenxiu, and Wanrong will definitely buy it again, and it costs more, as if it is not enough to show her status as a queen.Seeing that she bought it, Wenxiu naturally asked for it again.This kind of competition-style purchase made me have to set their monthly fee quota. Naturally, the amount set for Wanrong is larger than that for Wenxiu. I remember that it was 1,000 for Wanrong and 800 for Wenxiu. Difficult, reduced to three hundred and two hundred.As for my own spending, of course there is no limit.

Due to this kind of extravagance, Zhang Yuan was once again in the embarrassment of the Forbidden City era. Sometimes he couldn't celebrate the holidays, couldn't pay the rent, and later couldn't even spend the salaries of his neighbors and advisers. I spent a lot of money and bought a lot of unnecessary things, and at the same time bought a stronger concept than Johnston gave me: everything is good for foreigners, and in contrast, I feel In China, everything is bad except the imperial system. A piece of spearmint brand chewing gum, or a piece of Bayer aspirin, these few cents are enough to make me sigh, thinking that the Chinese are the most stupid and the foreigners are the smartest.Of course, the Chinese I think of do not include myself, because I consider myself superior to all my subjects.I think even the smart foreigners see me that way.

At that time, in the foreign concession, I received treatment that ordinary Chinese people would never get.In addition to the Japanese, the consul generals of the United States, Britain, France, Italy and other countries.The chief of the garrison and the boss of the foreign company are also very respectful to me, calling me His Majesty the Emperor, and invite me to a military parade on their National Day, to visit the barracks, to see the newly arrived aircraft and warships, and to congratulate me on the New Year and my birthday Before Johnston left, he introduced me to the British Consul General and the Commander of the British Garrison. Afterwards, they introduced me one after another, and all the previous commanders kept socializing with me.The third son of King George V of England visited me when he was in Tianjin and took the photo I sent his father. Later, the King of England sent me a letter to thank me and gave his photo to the British Consul General for me.Through the Italian Consul General, I also exchanged photos with the King of Italy.

I have seen many barracks and participated in many inspections of foreign troops.When these foreign troops stationed on Chinese soil in accordance with the Gengzi Treaty recognized by my ancestor, the Queen Mother of the West, walked past me arrogantly, I felt quite proud, thinking that the foreigners treated me so well, which shows that they still treat me well. Treat me like an emperor. There is a club called Country Club run by the British in Tianjin. It is a luxurious amusement place that only foreign big bosses are allowed to enter. Chinese people can’t enter that gate at all, except for me [3] .I can come and go freely, and I can bring my family to enjoy the taste of being a special Chinese.

In order to dress myself up like a Westerner, I tried my best to use clothes and diamonds from foreign stores such as Huiluo Company and Longmao Co., Ltd. to decorate myself like a foreign nobleman in "Master Magazine".Whenever I go out, I wear the most exquisite British suit, with a diamond pin on the tie, diamond cufflinks on the sleeve, a diamond ring on my hand, a portable stick, and glasses made by the German Zeiss factory. The smell of silk Buddha, cologne and camphor, accompanied by two or three German hounds and monogamous concubines in strange clothes My life in Tianjin has aroused quite a lot of discussion among elders like Chen Baochen and Hu Siyuan.

They have never objected to my spending money on shopping, nor against my dealings with foreigners, but when I go to Zhongyuan Company to get a haircut, or go to a theater once in a while, or go to a movie theater outside in a suit, they think it is a big mistake. The majesty of the emperor must be admonished.Once, Hu Siyuan submitted a memorial requesting his resignation because of my repeated admonitions (I changed the title of the original text to a blank space): Zuo is a humble official who has neglected his duties for many years, resulting in lack of holiness and virtue, and fear of self-reporting.The thieves have no sense of shame and lack of talent. After the change of the country, all the official affections have been exhausted. Only my 300-year-old illustrious clan and virtues are deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Fortunately, theft has become a handle, and there must be a recovery.Noir and the remaining ministers closely encircled the grand plan, and Ding Si was about to succeed and lose, so there were many divergences in planning.In the past ten years, the situation has become worse and worse, and the ministers and others have to take the blame.And those who have a deep heart and never turn back, rely on my emperor's sage to live in vain, and Long Qian will become virtuous.Ji Chengyu went out hunting and ran to the north. He recorded his madness and stupidity and kept it secret. He suffered so much that he dared not resign.So far, there has been a lot of guilt, or he has been impeached for exhausting his talents, or he has been reprimanded for being jealous of the virtuous and capable, or he has been sick of his temperament and haste, or he has been underestimated for his greed and rich salary.Jingchen repeatedly asked for a retreat, and in a sympathetic manner, he accepted His Majesty's repeated favors and refused to accept the request.The minister is extremely unworthy and has a good conscience. If you touch your heart in the clear night, can you not be surprised?The former minister looked down at the theater with Cuihua, and his external remarks were quite insulting, and he did not feel his tears.I have been praised and blamed a lot, and I have been told that there are no big or small things in the future, and they all hope to benefit at any time. For this reason, I love it!Looking up at the emperor's speed like the sky, how to reveal his heart, and try to protect him.Remembering that there have been rumors of occasional visits to shopping malls and restaurants recently, Luo Zhenyu has threatened the public, saying that someone has personally seen a Zhongyuan company get a haircut, acquire toys, and spend thousands of dollars, etc.The road spreads, quite cute.The commentators are left and right because of doubts, but they know Rongyue, and there is no loyal minister.If the minister fails to perform the performance before the event, let alone obtain the bien Ming after the event, then the minister's dereliction of duty is another one.It's a minister who is oblivious to his duty and Gu En, which is already difficult to understand. It is as clear as a statement, and it is appropriate to blame him to show his arrogance.For a long time, if you follow the rules and make mistakes, how can you steal your breath in the world?If you are stuck in your throat, you can't help but feel helpless, and you can only go to manage the office in Tianjin with kindness, that is, you can know the general staff with simplicity and hard work, and take over the affairs recently. The Zongshe is very lucky!I am so lucky!

Hu Siyuan’s Fulin theater refers to the time when Wan Rong and I went to Kaiming Theater to watch Mr. Mei Lanfang’s performance of "Xi Shi".His old gentleman saw me in the theater and thought I had lost my dignity, so he resigned to me after he came back.After I comforted him again and again, I took out two fox fur boxes to reward him, and once again expressed my determination to follow the advice, he turned his anger into joy, and praised me as a British lord who followed the advice well. As a result, both parties were satisfied, and everything went smoothly. .The resignation caused by Zhongyuan Company's haircut this time also asked me to use similar methods to solve it.When I first arrived in Tianjin, when Wan Rong celebrated her 20th birthday, my father-in-law Rong Yuan wanted to invite a foreign band to play. Upon hearing the news, the bereaved old man Ding Renchang hurriedly remonstrated, saying that the sound of foreign music has a mournful sound inside. Don't listen to it on the queen's day.As a result, foreign music was discontinued, and Ding Renchang was rewarded with two hundred yuan.Remonstrating ministers with material rewards probably started this time.

Since then, until I went to prison, I have never seen a play outside or had my hair cut.I followed Hu Siyuan's advice, not because I was afraid that he would make trouble again, but because I had accepted his education and considered going to the opera garden to watch plays as something demeaning.Here's an example of my progress.Later, a Swedish prince came to Tianjin and wanted to meet me. Because I saw a photo of him and Mei Lanfang in the newspaper, I thought he had lost his identity. To show my disdain, I refused his request and did not meet him. Hu Siyuan and Ding Renchang, the elders of Chen Baochen’s faction, seem to have despaired of restoration in the later period, and they are unwilling to try any risky ideas. This is the difference between them and Zheng Xiaoxu, Luo Zhenyu, etc. , but it seems to be more important than Zheng Xiaoxu and others, which is why I still trust these old men.Although their opinions are often regarded as pedantic by me, I always adopt their opinions when I meet them with Yatada.Therefore, in that very novel foreign life, I never forgot my identity and firmly remembered the emperor's rules. When Kang Youwei passed away in 1927, his disciple Xu Liang begged me for a posthumous posthumous title.According to my initial thought, it was for him.One year before his death, Kang often visited me in Zhangyuan. When he saw me for the first time, he kowtowed to me with tears streaming down his face, and told me about the kindness of Emperor Dezong Long Yu. I traveled around looking for supporters of the restoration, and asked his disciples to spread widely to overseas Chinese: To save China, you must proclaim the rule of the world and rebuild the empire.Shortly before his death, he appealed to Wu Peifu and other people in power for restoration.I think judging from these actions, it is very appropriate to give him a posthumous posthumous title.But Chen Baochen came out and objected.At this time, in his opinion, the distinction between loyal and traitors should not only be based on braids, but even the actual actions of the restoration are not enough.He said: Kang Youwei's purpose was impure, and he once said to protect China but not the Qing Dynasty.And it is unforgivable to disobey the Empress Dowager Xiaoqin (Cixi) back then!Hu Siyuan and others fully agreed with Chen Baochen, and Zheng Xiaoxu also said that Guangxu was harmed by Kang Youwei back then.In this way, I took another class on distinguishing loyalty from traitors, and refused to bestow posthumous titles on Kang Youwei.It is said that Xu Liang later said that he would meet Chen, Zheng and others with old fists. In 1931, Wenxiu suddenly asked for a divorce. After the solution was resolved, the elders still hadn't forgotten this: an imperial edict was issued to demote Concubine Shu to a commoner.Of course I did as well. Speaking of the divorce between Wenxiu and me, I thought of the abnormal life between my family and my husband.This is not so much an emotional problem as it is due to the emptiness in Zhang Yuan's life.In fact, even if I only have one wife, this wife will not find it interesting.Because my interest is not only restoration, but also restoration.To be honest, I don’t know what love is. Others are equal couples, but to me, the relationship between husband and wife is the relationship between master and slave, and wives and concubines are the slaves and tools of the king. Here is a short essay written by Wenxiu in the palace, which more or less revealed her mood at that time: Aiyuan deer The spring is bright and beautiful, the garden is full of red and green, and I even take a walk in it, wandering my eyes and thinking about it, and I believe in Coke.Leaning against a tree to rest for a while, I suddenly heard a deer, screaming sadly, and looked at it, dying, looking very pitiful.Yu used this deer to be able to enter the imperial garden, be fed by the benevolent salary, and keep his life forever, which can be called luck.However, wild animals are not kept at home, so the deer are not allowed to be free in the garden, just like the prisoners in the prison, who cannot come out unless they are pardoned.Zhuang Ziyun: It is better to have its tail dragged in the paint while it is alive, than to have its bones and bones be precious after its death. Wenxiu received the education of three obediences and four virtues since she was a child. She started her life as a concubine when she was less than fourteen years old, so she has a deep concept of monarchy and husband power.She dared to file for divorce in that environment, and it cannot be said that it was not an act of double bravery.She overcame all difficulties and fulfilled her request for a divorce. After the divorce, she was still under a lot of pressure.Some people say that she filed for divorce because she was instigated by her family in order to covet a considerable amount of alimony.In fact, the mental persecution given to her by her family members is not necessarily less than that of outsiders.It is said that the 50,000 yuan in alimony she received was deducted, misappropriated, and asked for help by lawyers, middlemen, and family members, and there was not much left, and her mental damage was even greater.One of her elder brothers once published an open letter to her in Tianjin "Business Daily", which contained the following words: My family has been favored by the Qing emperor for more than two hundred years, and my ancestors and my clan have been officials for four generations to the first rank.Moreover, Emperor Man Yunxun did not abuse you, even if he really abused you, you should endure it to death.You serve the Emperor Xun, wearing silk, filling your mouth with fish meat, using servants, your salary is paid by the accountant, and the price of the purchased items is paid by the accountant, and there is a monthly fee of 200 yuan. Let me ask you, a woman in the boudoir, what are the shortcomings? ?Zong Zhonggong treats you a little bit strictly, and refuses to pretend to be polite, but hugs the quilt and tunes, it is the duty of a small star, and the real life is not lost, why should I complain? This letter was once circulated among the survivors for a while.Wenxiu's later circumstances are unknown, only that she became a primary school teacher in Tianjin, died in 1950, and never married again. From the surface, Wenxiu was squeezed out by Zhonggong.Although this is not the whole reason, it is also one of the reasons.Wanrong’s mental state at that time can be glimpsed from the shackles she begged for (Jin Rong’s refers to Wanrong, and Duan’s refers to Wenxiu): Wan Rongqiu's Quaint My Immortal Master called Jin Rongshi to listen to my advice. Long live is the same as Rong’s sincerity. You can’t be suspicious of Rong. My immortal master protects Long Live. Master said, I protect your body, Wansui and Duanshi have no sincerity, Rongshi, take care of yourself and rest assured. By the way, this kind of amusing activities such as Fushi, face-to-face, fortune-telling, and horoscopes were not surprising social phenomena at that time, and they were even more indispensable in daily life in Zhangyuan.In the Jingyuan where I later lived, there was a Buddhist altar set up by the landlord Lu Zongyu.It can be said that the spiritual power given to me by the altar and divination at that time, the guiding role for me was second only to the education given to me by my master and other close officials.From this aspect, I am often inspired by prophecies such as the fortune of a certain year and the great fortune of a certain year.Sun Xueshi, the chairman of the Beijing Chamber of Commerce, claimed to be proficient in sackcloth, and once predicted when my royal appearance would be transported and when he would take power again.A Japanese physiognomist in the Japanese consulate also said that I will surely become a big event in a certain year.These are the driving forces for me to drive in reverse. [1] This number includes the following items: 8,000 yuan for the two concubines Jingyi and Ronghui Alcohol prince 2800 yuan Meals such as the chief eunuch of Shouhuang Palace are 72 yuan Taimiao chief eunuch and other money and food 19.44 yuan Dongling worship 960 yuan 832 yuan for offering sacrifices to Xiling 200 yuan for the guardian minister of the East and West Mausoleums Prince Chunxian's bedroom offerings are 266.4 yuan per quarter 144 yuan for officers and soldiers in the garden sleeping wing The on-duty meal in the toffee's residence is 80 yuan Meals for the guards in the Taifei Mansion are 32 yuan The salary of the head of the Liujing Office and the retained staff is 1,932 yuan Clan House office expenses 500 yuan A total of 15837.84 yuan above [2] The staff salary is about 4000 yuan, the monthly silver for Wanrong and Wenxiu is 1800 yuan, the rent is about 200 yuan, and other expenses, according to a document written by the secretary of the office in Tianjin, I would like to submit all the items to the royal review Table, in which the average monthly expenses calculated are as follows: Dining room 536.511 yuan Electric lamp 234.947 yuan Vegetable dining room 215.115 yuan Postage 1.877 yuan Tea room 168.782 yuan Tap water 61.341 yuan Meals for office staff 236.194 yuan The fare is 110.642 yuan Phone 113.947 yuan Travel expenses 38.364 yuan Reward 142.902 yuan Shopping 4128.754 yuan Horse dry 85 yuan Miscellaneous fees 236.825 yuan A total of 6311.201 yuan author [3] Chinese people are also allowed to go in the later stage, but only comprador capitalists and the like, who are brought by foreign members.This place was taken over by the people's government after liberation and changed to the people's club.author