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

Chapter 158 Celebrities Get Together
Li Yu did the math, and now he has almost 3 taels of net worth, and he would definitely be a very good "rich household" in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China.

Zhao Qian staggered and drove Li Yu to Zhengyangmen East Railway Station in a carriage. He originally wanted to buy a second-class seat, but it was sold out, so he had to spend another 15 silver dollars to buy a first-class seat.

After arriving in Tianjin, Li Yu first delivered the introductory lectures on mathematics and physics to Zhang Boling, and then went to Tanggu to buy a boat ticket to Shanghai.

The ship is a passenger ship of China Merchants.I have to say that the price of the ticket is really high.

What Li Yu bought was not the most luxurious cockpit, but the fare was already as high as 120 silver dollars, which was simply terrifying.

It can only be said that rare things are more expensive, and now the logistics and transportation capabilities of the Qing Dynasty are really limited.

As for ordinary people, how could it be possible to take a cruise ship? Even if they really want to take a boat, they usually use their own small fishing boats, or find ways to squeeze onto a cargo ship, and starve for a few days to smuggle across.

After arriving in Shanghai, Li Yu discovered that there was still someone coming to pick up the ship.

"Shenbao" reporter Shi Liangcai knew him. After seeing Li Yu from a distance, he said to a person beside him, "I see, that is Mr. Li Yu, the most dazzling figure in the scientific world today."

Then he greeted him: "Mr. Li Yu, I'm finally waiting for you."

Li Yu asked in surprise, "How did you know I would come to Shanghai?"

Shi Liangcai said proudly: "Sir, forgot what I do? I'm a reporter. If I can't get this information in advance, how can I make the most advanced news report."

Li Yu smiled and said, "You are really competent."

Shi Liangcai pointed to the person beside him and said, "Let me introduce you, this is Zhang Shizhao, the editor-in-chief of Su Bao."

Well, here comes another big shot.

Zhang Shizhao shook hands with him and said, "I have admired Mr. Mr.'s name for a long time, and I can finally meet you today, what a blessing!"

Li Yu said, "You two are here to welcome you."

Shi Liangcai said: "It's nothing but a welcome. Professor Cai and a few students from Nanyang Public School have already booked a seat at the Huizhong Hotel, and we'll be waiting for you, sir."

Li Yu asked: "Cai Jiaoxi refers to Cai Yuanpei?"

Zhang Shizhao nodded: "It's Professor Cai. After Liangcai told me that the husband would come, I immediately told Professor Cai. He also wanted to come to the port to meet him, but he still had school affairs to do, so he had to go to the hotel first after he was done. .”

Li Yu said: "You guys are too grand."

"Hey!" Shi Liang shook his hand and corrected, "You don't know how famous you are in Shanghai, how can this be considered grand!"

Zhang Shizhao also said: "Yes, Shanghai is the headquarters of "Shenzhen", with a huge circulation. How many people who have read "Shenzhen" now don't know that our country has produced a remarkable Li Yu, who is famous in the West, even foreigners are familiar with it. It's better to sigh."

Well, Li Yu really forgot about this. In the past half a year, "Shenbao" has reported on Li Yu so generously. I don't know how many times he has been on the front page. Now he is also a top-level existence in Shanghai. .

After all, the news media at this time are newspapers, and being able to be on the headlines of newspapers is equivalent to being a hot search in later generations.

Shi Liangcai called three rickshaws and went to Huizhong Hotel together.

On the way, Zhang Shizhao said to Li Yu: "Mr. Taiyan, who was in Japan a few days ago, sent back an article to be published in Su Bao, and Mr. Li Yu was also mentioned in the accompanying letter."

Li Yu said: "Your Majesty did have a meeting with Mr. Taiyan in Japan."

Zhang Shizhao said: "Mr. Taiyan praised you very much. I know Mr. Taiyan. He seldom praises others. We even once thought that those who were not scolded by him were great people. Now it is even more unprecedented. rare."

Li Yu laughed and said, "Even if Mr. Taiyan scolds you, it's not something to be ashamed of."

Zhang Taiyan really dared to scold anyone, not to mention the royal family in the late Qing Dynasty, who had been scolded bloody for a long time.

Later, Zhang Taiyan and Mr. Zhongshan started the revolution together, and because of some trivial matters, he had personal conflicts, so he often scolded Mr. Zhongshan.

However, Zhang Taiyan was very clear-headed. He believed that the conflict between the two was just a private conflict, and he did not oppose Mr. Zhongshan's revolutionary ideas.

Once, when Zhang Taiyan scolded Mr. Sun Yat-sen, a person around him also scolded a few words. Unexpectedly, Zhang Taiyan was slapped in the face when he turned around, and then angrily said: "What are you! The Prime Minister is the number one great man in China, except me , who dares to scold him?"

Well, maybe this is another kind of love...

However, Zhang Taiyan will be arrested this year, and the reason has a lot to do with Su Bao, after all, too many reactionary articles have been published.

Li Yu asked, "Has the imperial court followed your newspaper?"

Zhang Shizhao said: "I have been eyeing it for a long time, but there is nothing to be afraid of."

Li Yu praised: "Good job! Courageous!"

Zhang Shizhao added: "Sir, you should really read Mr. Taiyan's article this time. It's so wonderful! It's called "Refuting Kang Youwei's Theory of Revolution". Hey, I still respected Mr. Kang at the beginning, but I didn't expect it to become a book now." That's it."

Li Yu said, "Perhaps it was like this in the first place."

Zhang Shizhao said: "Mr. Taiyan's words are really sharp. He not only refuted Kang Youwei's argument that 'only the constitution can be practiced but not the revolution', he even scolded the current Emperor Guangxu in a contemptuous tone. There is no difference between him and the Empress Dowager Cixi, they are both 'the public enmity of the Han people', it is really a joy to watch!"

Yes, "Su Bao" was blocked because of Zhang Taiyan's article.

However, Li Yu saw that Zhang Shizhao was in good spirits and full of confidence, so he knew that he must publish it. Besides, he also knew that the Qing court could not really do anything to them, so if he did, he would do so.

Li Yudao: "I will definitely read it after it is published."

Shi Liangcai is also a newspaperman, but now the boss of "Shen Bao" is still British, so he will definitely not publish these articles, so he said: "Brother Xing Yan (Zhang Shizhao), I think you should pay more attention. I will also read this article. I'm afraid it will cause a lot of repercussions."

"What's needed is a strong response, otherwise what's the use of going up there?" Zhang Shizhao said.

Shi Liangcai smiled and said, "If Mister is arrested because of this, I will definitely bring you food."

Zhang Shizhao also said with a smile: "I like the food of Huizhong Restaurant the most."

Shi Liangcai patted his head: "Don't! You want to eat me into a pauper."

During the conversation, they had arrived at Huizhong Hotel.

Not many people may know this name, but the name of its later generations is too famous: Peace Hotel!

The British built this hotel 50 years ago in 1854, but the original name was "Central Hotel".

This year, the British merchant Huizhong Foreign Trade Co., Ltd. has just bought the property rights of the Central Hotel and renamed it "Huizhong Hotel".

It was not until 1956 that it was named "Peace Hotel".

This hotel is the first modernist building in the history of modern architecture in Shanghai, known as "the tallest building in the Far East".

Li Yu was in Shanghai more than 100 years ago, and he has already begun to take on the style of a "magic city".

It is said that Shanghai is big and Hong Kong is small. Today, Shanghai has gradually become the economic and financial center of the East, and is one of the most open and civilized cities in China.

The location of the Peace Hotel is very superior, right at the core of the Bund, across the river is the Oriental Pearl Tower.

After getting off the car, Li Yu looked across to the other side. Of course there is no Oriental Pearl now, let alone what Lujiazui said, the whole of Pudong is basically a wilderness.

Who dares to imagine what earth-shaking changes will be here in 100 years.

When Li Yu was looking at the other side of the river in a daze, Shi Liangcai said, "Sir, what's wrong with you?"

Li Yu came back to his senses: "It's nothing, I just think the scenery is beautiful."

Shi Liangcai pointed behind Li Yu and said with a smile, "The beauty is here. You'd better take a look at it at night. When the lights are on, it's just like magic. It's hard to imagine that modern technology can create a fairyland-like scenery."

Li Yu said, "I still think the other side is more beautiful."

Shi Liangcai said: "What's there to see over there? Oh, I see. You think the scenery of the Huangpu River is good, um, it's really good."

Li Yu knew that he couldn't explain it, so he smiled and said, "Let's go in."

The three came to a room, and Cai Yuanpei led a few students to welcome him, "It's Mr. Li Yu. It's the same as the newspaper said. He is really young and promising. Let me introduce myself, I am Cai Yuanpei, the name is Heqing, and the name is Mr. Jiu Yang." .”

Li Yu shook hands with him and said, "Cai Jiaoxi was admitted to the imperial examination at the age of 25, so he is also young and promising."

Cai Yuanpei smiled and said, "It's just old learning, nothing to worry about."

Then he pointed to a few people around him and said, "These are all my students from the Special Economics Department of Nanyang Public School. I admire you sir, and I'm here to pay a visit. This is Huang Yanpei, styled Ren Zhi; this is Xie Wuliang, styled Dacheng; This is Shao Wentai, styled Zhonghui; this is Li Shutong, styled Xishuang."

Good guy, I really saw a lot of celebrities today.

Huang Yanpei later became Minister of Light Industry;

Xie Wuliang is a great master in poetry, books, and essays, and he will become the deputy curator of the Central Museum of Culture and History in the future.

And Shao Wentai's other name is more familiar to everyone: Shao Lizi.

As for Li Shutong, let alone, I am afraid that everyone has heard his "Farewell".

Several of them are currently Cai Yuanpei's students, and they clasped their hands together and said, "I've seen you sir!"

Li Yu also replied: "It's a pleasure to meet you. By the way, I also have characters now. It was taken by Mr. Taiyan, and it's for talents."

Zhang Shizhao said in surprise, "Mr. Taiyan actually took it."

The group of students in front of me is really incredible.

Of course, Nanyang Public School has been very powerful since its development. Needless to say, it is enough to name it in later generations: Shanghai Jiaotong University and Xi'an Jiaotong University.

The resumption of diplomatic relations in the north of the Qing Dynasty was on the list.

Cai Yuanpei said: "Mr. studies the science that Chinese people don't understand the most, and he is much better than us literati."

Li Yudao: "The education you do is also related to the lifeblood of the country."

Shi Liangcai is also a staunch supporter of Li Yu, saying: "There are not many people who understand foreign knowledge, so I spare no effort to report. Although I am dull and can't understand Mr. Li Yu's works, just reading the reactions of Western newspapers is enough. Knowing that it is definitely a big deal! I think Mr. will have a chance to win that Nobel Prize in the future."

Several people said yes, and Cai Yuanpei sighed: "We are really short of talents in this area! If China also has millions of scientific and technological talents, why worry about the country not being strong!"

(End of this chapter)