Senior Minister's New Chapter was a plan for the founding of the People's Republic drafted by Hong Rengan when he went to Tianjing as a military adviser in the ninth year of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom (1859).
The new chapter of Senior Minister first put forward the ideas of "sizing up the situation" and "legislation", expounded the history and present situation of western countries at that time, pointed out that the most advanced countries in the world at that time were Britain, the United States and France, and praised these countries for their "exquisite skills and profound national laws". When introducing Britain, he said: "English, ... is called the strongest country today, and it is also good to use law." When introducing the United States, he said: "Citigroup is Millikan, and its president ... has a five-year term with limited salary. When you are full, you will be pampered and the provinces will raise them again. If something happens, the provinces will generally discuss it, and ... it is wise to take many people as candidates. But also for many discussions. When introducing France, he said, "Francie's skills, ... all countries started here." Although other countries are excellent, Buddhism is not below them. The political situation, economy, history and geography of Germany, Russia and other countries are briefly discussed. It is pointed out that Russia was once a backward and beaten country. After learning from the west, it has also become strong. It says, "Russia ... was repeatedly persecuted by Britain, Buddha, Sweden, Romania, Germany and other countries more than 100 years ago, so it sent its eldest son to the Franciscans to study the national law and firefighting skills in disguise, and returned to China for a few years, and ... prospered politics and religion. For more than 100 years, he has gained great fame. Make an accurate forecast of Japan's development situation, saying: "Japan's close trade with Citigroup needs all kinds of skills, thinking that the law will be unique in the future." " 」
The analysis of these advanced western countries and emerging countries in the new chapter of senior ministers not only shows their excellent skills, but also emphasizes the "good laws" of their political and religious systems. The rise of Russia and Japan is to "learn national laws" and "think about laws" from the West, not just to learn their "firefighting skills". It also pointed out that some countries in the world ignored the general trend and followed the old rules, which led to the decline of their national strength. They were beaten and bullied and said, "Turkey ... didn't know how to change it, so it never recovered. It was invaded by Russia for many years in C." It said sadly: It is precisely because of its inflexibility that China has become a weak country being bullied in the world. "Can't be the crown of the east, but will be eclipsed for the time being. What a pity! " It cries out loudly that China must clearly understand the general trend of the world, learn from Russian and Japanese examples, learn from Turkish lessons, "conform to the times", adopt the "big gifts" of French and western countries, and make laws and regulations, otherwise it will be too late to regret! "I strongly urge the heavenly king Hong Xiuquan," I don't want this promising day. I want to work hard for China. I want to uphold the principle of heaven, father and brother and peacefully unify the country for 10 thousand years. "That is to say, to build a new country, we should not follow the traditional path of China. We must learn the politics and science and technology of the advanced capitalist countries at that time.
Hong Rengan (A.D. 1822- 1864) is Hong Xiuquan's younger brother. When Hong Xiuquan founded Worship God, he actively participated in and accompanied Hong Xiuquan in propaganda work. He arrived in Nanjing in the late Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Hong Xiuquan named him as the dry king and appointed him as the strategist and "Prime Minister". He became the second person in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. After accepting this task, he presented an article to Hong Xiuquan, entitled "Senior Minister's New Chapter". This is one of his policy platforms.
At the beginning of this article, I said: "The story that is not feasible today but can be scheduled is a blessing in the future; What is feasible today but not permanent will be a disaster in the future. The reason lies in sizing up the situation and strengthening the ear at the end. However, whether the final strength is appropriate depends on the flexibility of the times. From now on, from childhood to adulthood, from introspection to the country, from the country to all countries, it is feasible. The key is to adapt to time and judge time. "
The word "keep pace with the times" is the general spirit of Senior Minister's New Chapter and the theoretical premise of this paper. Starting from the general spirit, this paper also discusses the situation and economic progress of various countries, and holds that western powers are "skilled and profound in national laws, so it is appropriate to let them trade first." In other words, the west has advanced industrial civilization, and backward countries should give priority to associate with it and learn from it. Some concrete examples are listed to prove this point. For example, "Russia was forced by Britain, Buddhism (France), Switzerland, Romania, Germany and other countries, so he sent his eldest son to Lanxi, Buddhism (France) to study national laws and firefighting skills, and returned home a few years later. No one knows that he is the eldest son of Russia. On the day of returning to China, Daxing has been famous for its politics and religion for more than a hundred years. " "Siam is close to Britain, and it can also imitate fireboats and big ships to buy from other countries. Now it has become a country of wisdom. " It is also predicted: "The close trade between Japan and Citigroup (the United States) needs all kinds of skills as the law, and will be unique in the future." Under the conditions at that time, it was very rare to realize this degree. When talking about the situation in various countries, Hong Rengan pointed out the word "time" to "adapt to the times" to see the "time" in which the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom lived. The main content of this "era" is to learn advanced western technology and realize industrialization. This is the theoretical premise of this paper.
In this "time", what should "appropriate" be? Inferring from the above premise, we should take the road of industrialization and implement some industrialization measures. This is the theoretical conclusion of this paper. This article seems to be a syllogism throughout. In the official documents of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, this is a big article.
"Senior Minister's New Chapter" also talks about many concrete measures to learn from the West and promote industrialization. One is to "publicize the benefits of horses and chariots in order to benefit the lighter." If someone can build a foreign steamboat that travels seven or eight thousand miles a day, he is allowed to specialize in his own interests and allow others to imitate it. "One" is "the advantage of prospering a boat, and it is better to be strong, light, convenient and skillful. "Or use fire, gas, force, wind, and let smart people create their own. The first skilled person will be rewarded for his interest, and let others imitate him when he is full. ..... If the kingdom of heaven promotes this technology, ... the country can be safe and the outside can be harmonious. " One is "developing the art of utensils." If someone can really make wonderful things, let them sell them themselves and others imitate them. They will be punished for their crimes. First, it is ok to start a bank, ... or to enrich the people, or to set it up by one person. The other is "Xingshi Town Company, which handles industrial and commercial land and water tariffs with strict officials". There are other specific measures such as mining and developing postal services. Its basic spirit is that the specific industrialization should be left to private businessmen and skilled craftsmen, and the state can advocate and encourage them to use political power to protect the economic rights and technological patents of private enterprises and use taxes to regulate them, but there is no need to intervene. This is the characteristic of Hong Rengan's theory of industry.
1840 after the first opium war, learning from the west and industrialization became a mainstream in China's modern history. There are some problems in the process of industrialization, the most important of which is who will drive industrialization. Industrialization is not empty talk, it needs a new social force to promote it. There are two ways to go: bottom-up way and top-down way. The two roads seem to be not far apart at first, but the more you go, the greater the difference. Hong Rengan advocates the bottom-up road, which can be called "taking business for business". Zeng Guofan's road under the Qing regime is a top-down road, which can be called politics as the forerunner.
Hong Xiuquan expressed his approval and appreciation for the new chapter of Senior Minister. However, after Hong Yang's civil strife, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was divided and powerless, so all the suggestions put forward by the new chapter of Senior Minister were not implemented and a big article became empty talk. In fact, the road of commercial belt industry has not gone on, and the actual effect is unknown.