Chapter 149 Future
Count Rostovtsev has indeed never found a good solution. In fact, at this moment, he still has no good solution. Even if he knows that if he wants to be enlightened and autocratic, he must strengthen enlightenment, but how to strengthen enlightenment? But there is no good way.
The French Revolution did inspire him to a certain extent, and the democratic system can indeed strengthen enlightenment, but as a traditional aristocrat, he has an indescribable feeling for the common people.
I can't say I despise it, but I don't trust it. Democracy is the rule of the people. But if you look at these ordinary people in Russia, they can't tell the difference between their left and right feet. How can they be democratic? Is it possible to let a group of vulgar and foolish people decide the fate of the country?
Anyway, as soon as this idea came up, Count Rostovtsev gave up without hesitation. He couldn't see that Russia had a democratic foundation, and he was deeply afraid that such behavior would destroy Russia.
Therefore, the one-time Count Rostovtsev began to pay special attention to the issue of national education, thinking that after universal national education can improve the quality of the people, can we engage in limited democracy. Such enlightenment should be guaranteed.
It is a pity that this idea has been hit head-on from the very beginning. Who is the Minister of National Education?
Would Uvarov allow the children of serfs to enjoy the same education rights as the children of nobles?
Obviously that is impossible. Uvarov especially advocates ignorance of the people. He, the Minister of National Education, is only willing to be loyal to the group training that teaches the people to be loyal to the monarch, patriotism and abide by the serf system. The remaining? Sorry, he's not interested!
In addition, you thought universal compulsory education was easy! Considering Russia's population base, this is a huge expenditure. Do you think nobles are so kind enough to pay for the education of serf children?
Even if the nobles were willing, Nicholas I, a spendthrift guy, would destroy all of this. Building palaces, wars, and military parades, which one does not need to cost a lot of money? For the tsar, he felt that money was not enough to do these three things. How could there be too much money to invest in education?
Taking a step back, even if the big guys are willing to pay the money, the problem is that the economic level of the Russian serf family cannot afford to let the little ones go to school with peace of mind. After all, food and clothing are a problem for most serf families. The children of serfs have endless farm work since they were young. How can they have the time to study in the United States!
What, not convincing enough? Let’s take a step back and say that even if the country is willing to invest money, the children of serfs are willing to go to school, but there is still a key question, that is, what is the purpose of studying?
Don't underestimate this problem. This problem is too critical. If this problem is not solved, there will still be no enthusiasm for reading.
For the majority of serf children,
If reading can’t solve the problem of eating, if after reading the book, they are still trapped in the land of the serf owner, digging food in the soil like their parents, and their life is not a dime different from that of their ancestors, then you think they will have the ability to learn and live. Passion for reading?
Reading without giving a way out is playing hooligans, but the question is, can Uvarov and his generation give serf children a way out?
If the children of the serfs could compete with the children of the nobles for food through studying, it would be chaos for the Uvarovs, which was absolutely unacceptable.
So you know, as long as the serfs can't be given a way out, and they can't be treated equally, then reading is really not that attractive. I have to say that in this regard, the imperial examination system in ancient China is simply amazing. Although this thing has various shortcomings, it is undeniable that this is the dragon gate for the poor to change their fate, and it is its existence that shatters the powerful family.
Even in the future, the disguised imperial examination system will still be popular. To put it bluntly, there is no problem with this system, the problem is only what content is tested by this system.
Only by truly changing that only nobles have the privilege of receiving education, and only by allowing nobles and commoners to compete together can the blood relationship's hold on state power be completely disintegrated.
Of course, Count Rostovtsev couldn't think so long-term. After the failure to implement universal compulsory education for all, the dilemma he faced was almost insoluble. The people's wisdom is not yet enlightened, so he dare not rely on democracy, and after all, those in the aristocratic class who support reforms are a minority.
So after thinking about it, the only thing Count Rostovtsev can hope for is the tsar himself. If he can choose a sufficiently enlightened tsar, or if he can always choose the most enlightened person from the Romanov family If you become a tsar, can you guarantee the tsar's enlightenment?
I have to say that this is really no way, but Count Rostovtsev has only this way. He felt that if a system for selecting enlightened tsars could be perfected to ensure that each tsar's successor after his death would be enlightened enough, would everything develop for the better?
Of course, this kind of thinking was treacherous enough back then, and no tsar would like this method. Everyone has selfish intentions. Who doesn't want to pass on their wealth to their children and grandchildren?
Count Rostovtsev knew that it was impossible for Nicholas I to agree to this method, and he did not expect that the autocratic tsar might agree. The only way to implement this method was to destroy Nicholas I's dynasty. American dream, smashing everything he has.
When Nicholas I's autocracy and his rule were completely negated, Count Rostovtsev felt that there was hope to create another system. Of course, he didn't realize his ultimate dream right away. He knew that it was still unrealistic. , after all, his methods are too shocking to be accepted by others.
His hope is that the generation of Crown Prince Alexander will continue to weaken the authority of the tsarist autocracy and promote reforms to a limited extent. Only when the strength of the reformists completely overwhelmed the conservatives could he realize his ultimate dream - to select an enlightened and autocratic tsar through a special election committee.
Count Rostovtsev has been preparing for this dream for more than 20 years, and now the opportunity to bring down the autocratic rule of Nicholas I has appeared. He knows that this dream will come true soon, and soon he will be able to carry out the next One step away.
The next step is to thoroughly reform and destroy the serf system, and then the next step can be to discuss how to establish the Tsarist Election Committee.
Thinking of this, Count Rostovtsev glanced at Dmitry. He knew very well that his generation's ability to destroy the serfdom system was the limit, and it was very likely that Dmitry would be able to realize his ultimate dream. In this generation, only Dmitry is clearly not enough to entrust this dream now...