A Man of Science and Engineering in Troubled Times Wandering in the Late Qing Dynasty

Chapter 12 Start the class

In fact, the Qing court also wanted to go back to the three northeastern provinces, after all, it was their own land of prosperity, but Russia is now garrisoning troops and refuses to leave.Although Japan intends to intervene, their wolfish ambitions are clearly revealed: they want to drive Russia away and occupy the Northeast for themselves.

Only the Qing court was caught in it, and both sides were angry.

Martin did not really care much about political matters, he just wanted to do a good job in his own education, but he still knew the international situation, and said: "Russia and Japan are eyeing each other, and the prince naturally wants to mediate between them."

Yikuang said, "What are you mediating? Just try to maintain it. Everything needs to be decided by the Queen Mother."

Yikuang really can't take responsibility!
To put it bluntly, last year's "Xin Chou Treaty" was finally signed by him and Li Hongzhang, but for some reason, later generations only remembered Li Hongzhang as a "traitor", but he stayed out of the matter.

Now the original "Xin Chou Treaty" is still there, and it is really hard to see which words are in the place where it was last signed.Li Hongzhang's signature is a bit like the word "Su", which corresponds to his title of Uncle Su Yi, and Yikuang's signature next to it is too difficult to read.

Anyway, the photo name of this place is too embarrassing!

Now that Li Hongzhang, the person who knew the most about Western affairs in the Qing Dynasty, is dead, Yikuang himself really can't handle many things.

So he is also planning to learn more about foreigners, learn about Western learning, and understand Western affairs.

If it wasn't for him being too busy with affairs, he really wanted to go around the European countries like Li Hongzhang, and see why others are so powerful.

Yikuang walked into the main hall, saw the crystal chandelier, and his boredom eased a lot, and he praised: "There are some things that foreigners really look at novelty."

Zai Zhen interjected, "Father, after installing it, our hall will be much brighter, and playing cards will be much more comfortable in the future."

Rui Zheng didn't study the right pair at this time, and immediately greeted him, "Master, this lamp is a real Italian product, and it took a lot of trouble to buy it."

Yikuang was quite satisfied, and said, "It must have cost a lot of money."

Zai Zhen said: "It's not too much, 3000 taels."

"3000 taels!" Yikuang was a little dissatisfied, "A Beijing lantern in the palace costs only 200 taels, so this thing costs 3000 taels?"

After realizing Yikuang's attitude, Zaizhen immediately looked at Ruizheng and said, "You bought this, so tell me."

The hot potato was delivered to his hand all at once, so Rui Zheng had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "Master, there is no rule in the etiquette system that foreigner's chandeliers are beyond the control, so I just want to pick a good one..."

Yikuang's caution is justified: when He Shen's house was ransacked, a Beijing lantern dedicated to the royal family was found in the basement, which was added to his death penalty.

Yikuang thought about it and said, "Okay, don't mention this matter when you go out in the future. If someone asks, just say that it cost 300 taels to buy obsolete goods."

Yikuang removed a zero all at once, and Zai Zhen cried out inwardly, this 13 cannot be pretended in front of Pu Wei, and 300 taels is not enough to embarrass him!

These young masters, their vigilance is still far from that of an old fox like Yikuang.

The topic of the chandelier had to be passed, so Ding Weiliang called Li Yu over and introduced it to Yi Qiang.

Yes, it was such a troublesome thing to do at that time, and it took most of the morning to get to the point.

Yiqian was in frequent contact with Ding Weiliang, and with his guarantee, he was naturally not worried at all: "Very well, if we have a few more talents like this in Qing Dynasty, why not worry about the big things going wrong!"

Li Yu secretly smiled in his heart, you Daqing is now a grasshopper after autumn, and you will not be able to jump for a few days.But verbally, he still hurriedly praised: "The prince is flattering you."

Yiqian naturally regarded Li Yu as Ding Weiliang's person, and said, "You will be staying at the mansion during this time, Ruizheng, order the following to prepare a good room for the gentleman."

The anger in Rui Zheng's heart, but he didn't dare to explode, he quickly responded with a few words and exited the hall.

Yiqian originally wanted to stay with Ding Weiliang for dinner, but his servants came to tell the Dutch minister that he was waiting in the Prime Minister's Office of International Affairs, because it involved official business and needed a seal.This kind of thing can't be done at home, so Yikuang had no choice but to go to work again.

When Ruizheng came back, Yikuang was about to go out. He wanted to take him back to the Yamen, but after thinking about it, the Dutch envoy seemed to speak Dutch, so he left by himself, muttering to himself: "The foreigner What a hassle, I have to find many translators!"

After seeing off Yikuang and Ding Weiliang, Ruizheng said to Zaizhen, "My lord, I have already arranged a wing room for Li Yu in the West Fourth Courtyard. What do you think?"

Zai Zhen frowned: "It's too small, just give up the West Third Courtyard."

"Isn't that reserved for Master Yang?" Rui Zheng said.

"It's okay, it looks like Pu Lande won't be coming back in a few months."

Pu Lande is an Irishman, and now he is the Secretary-General of the Bureau of Industry in the British Concession in Shanghai, and he is also a reporter for The Times.After the Reform Movement of [-], he helped Kang Youwei get a boat ticket from Shanghai and escape to Hong Kong. Now the Empress Dowager Cixi is still angry with him and dare not return to Beijing.

Pu Lande lived in Prince Qing's Mansion for a long time, during which he taught English to Zai Zhen, so Zai Zhen's English level is actually not bad.

Li Yu took advantage of him and changed the shotgun to the cannon, directly changing from the side room of Tongwen Hall to a courtyard house.

In the evening, Yikuang invited him to have dinner together.

Under the brand-new chandelier, the table feels extravagant: fried chicken with winter bamboo shoots, steamed sea bass, Wensi tofu, dried five-flavored spices, Sixi meatballs, dried Yangzhou shredded...

The tableware is also extremely delicate, all from Jingdezhen official kilns.Each piece of these porcelains is invaluable in later generations, because as early as the end of Xianfeng, the official kilns in Jingdezhen had been destroyed.

But to Yikuang, this is nothing, because he is really too rich...

What an evil feudal society!
Li Yu cursed a few words in his heart, and then quickly filled his stomach.

Gou Jian tried his best to eat the feces of his enemies, so it makes sense for him to eat a meal for the rich and powerful of the Qing Dynasty!
It's just that my own expedient measure is not as miserable as the old Goujian's.

Yikuang wiped his mouth and said to Li Yu: "I heard that Professor Ding said that you are very good. I will take time to listen to it every day. You can start talking."

This is where it starts?Not even a theme?

Li Yu asked, "I don't know what aspect of Western science my lord wants to know?"

Yikuang lay down on the chair: "I don't know, you just pick up the important ones and say."

Li Yu didn't expect Yikuang to be so casual, and he didn't even know where to start. He looked outside at night, "Why don't we talk about astronomy?"

"Astronomy? Well, this sounds interesting."

When Li Yu was in college, his undergraduate major was mechanical design, which was his family’s voluntary choice.Later, I developed a strong interest in physics and mathematics, so I took a double degree in physics, and I was a graduate student in physics.

And he is best at astrophysics and quantum mechanics.

Of course, to deal with Yikuang, I'm afraid middle school knowledge is enough.

(End of this chapter)