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

After sending out the manuscript, Xie Yuxi found Li Yu again.

"Do you know how to rent a house?" Xie Yuxi asked.

Li Yu wondered, "Is it uncomfortable to live in the Beijing Hotel?"

This is the most luxurious, if it doesn't work, there is really no place to replace it.

Xie Yuxi said: "It's not a question of comfort, I'm just very interested in Chinese culture, and I want to live in a traditional courtyard house with an enlarged area for future office use."

"It's really necessary," Li Yu said, "We happened to go to the teahouse together to find Cui Laosan to ask where I can rent a house, and let you try authentic Chinese tea."

In the Qing tea house, Li Yu ordered a pot of good Mingqian tribute dragon, and then called over to Cui Laosan: "Are there any bigger houses for rent near the Beijing Hotel?"

Cui Laosan realized that as long as Li Yu came to the door, it would be a big deal, and he immediately became energetic: "Yes, of course! It just so happens that there is an owner in Xila Hutong who wants to rent out, but the house is a bit big, so you can enter the yard."

Xila Hutong is on the edge of Wangfujing, close to Donghuang City, not far from Dongchang Hutong where Li Yu lives, and it takes ten minutes to walk.

Li Yu said, "Good place, what's the price?"

Gua Pimao Cui Laosan said: "The owner just told me that he wants to lease, but he hasn't had time to set the price. Why don't you wait a moment, and I will invite the owner in person."

Li Yu asked, "Alright, how long will I have to wait?"

Cui Laosan tightened his clothes: "Soon, the host is not far away, I will bring my people back after you drink two pots of tea."

"Go and come back quickly," Li Yu said.

After Cui Laosan left, Li Yu poured Xie Yuxi a cup of tea, "How about it, is it different from what you drink in America?"

Xie Yuxi said: "It is indeed different, and the environment is also different."

How could the current capital be as prosperous as New York and Chicago.

Cui Laosan came back earlier than expected, and one of the two people behind him cupped his fists as he entered the door and said, "It's really the emperor himself!"

Li Yu asked, "Your Excellency?"

"I am Wang Chonglie, and my name is Hanfu."

It turned out to be the son of Wang Yirong, the discoverer of oracle bone inscriptions.

Li Yu clasped his fists and said, "Look at you for a long time!" Then he stretched out his hand and said, "Sit down and have a cup of tea."

Wang Chonglie said: "I didn't expect such a coincidence that the renter of my late father's house was the emperor's teacher."

Li Yu said, "It turned out to be Brother Han Fu's ancestral house."

Wang Chonglie sighed: "Since my father passed away, the house has been idle, and I can't live in it any longer."

In 1900, when the Gengzi State was in disaster and the Dongbian Gate was breached, Wang Yirong, his wife and widowed eldest daughter-in-law committed suicide by throwing themselves into a well at home.

Li Yu hurriedly said, "I'm sorry, I brought up brother Han Fu's pain."

"Sir, you don't need to apologize." Wang Chonglie pointed to the person next to him, "I forgot to introduce him when I entered the door. This is Liu E, whose name is Lao Can. I heard that the emperor's master is here, and I will come to pay a visit with me."

Well, Liu E, the author of "Lao Can's Travel Notes".

Liu E also cupped his fists and said, "It's very fortunate to see the emperor's master!"

Li Yu smiled and said, "Lucky!"

Wang Chonglie said: "Mr. Lao Can is a good friend of my late father, and they studied the study of gold and stone together."

Li Yu said: "Oracle bone inscriptions are our treasure, and they really need to be studied in depth."

After Wang Yirong's death, in order to repay the debt, Wang Chonglie sold the bronzes and other cultural relics collected by his father Wang Yirong to Emperor Guangxu's master Weng Tonghe and others; then he sold half of the more than [-] oracle bone inscriptions he collected and studied to Liu Ya. Help him compile and develop the famous first oracle bone inscriptions research work "Iron Cloud Hidden Turtle", so as to complete the unfinished business of his father.

Liu E was the first person to make oracle bone inscriptions public. Previously, oracle bone inscriptions were only circulated among a small range of cultural relic collectors.He was also the first to propose that oracle bone inscriptions are "Yin people's knife and pen writing", and recognized more than 40 characters.

When Liu E heard Li Yu say the word "Oracle Bone Inscriptions", he was surprised and said, "The emperor knows about Oracle Bone Inscriptions?"

"Iron Cloud Hidden Turtle" has not yet been published, but these are common sense in later generations. Li Yu said with a smile: "They are our earliest characters, and their value is inestimable."

Liu E was even more surprised: "Could it be that the emperor has studied it in depth?"

Li Yu said, "I only know so much."

Liu E said: "It is already extraordinary to have such prejudices. It can be seen that the emperor's teacher does have real talents and learning, and he is worthy of being a man of world reputation."

Li Yu said: "Mr. Lao Can is too famous."

Seeing that they chatted for a long time, Cui Laosan, who was on the side, became more and more excited, and didn't want to talk about the price at all, so he coughed: "How many people, this matter about renting a house?"

Li Yu immediately said, "It's easy to say, how much is it?"

Cui Laosan said: "On the road, the owner said 40 hangs."

Li Yu was straightforward and did not bargain: "That's it."

In fact, just like the house that Li Yu rented in Dongchang Hutong before, because someone died or committed suicide a few years ago, the rent is very low, and it is easy to bargain.

But Wang Chonglie said: "I just found out today that it was rented by the emperor's teacher. I think 30 slings are enough."

Wang Chonglie actually hanged himself 10 yuan.

Li Yu said with a smile: "How can there be such an owner, since I recognize it, this is the price."

Wang Chonglie wanted to back down again, but Li Yu insisted, "Brother Han Fu, stop arguing!"

The higher the price, the higher the commission for Cui Laosan, he immediately took out the contract: "It would be best if you know each other."

After signing the contract, Liu E said: "Drinking tea here is too satisfying, if the emperor doesn't dislike it, come to my house, how many cups shall we have together?"

Wang Chonglie who was on the side said: "Brother Can is very knowledgeable about food, whether it is Jiangnan cuisine or northern cuisine!"

Liu E really understands life. Although his "Lao Can You Ji" was rated as one of the four "condemnation novels" in the late Qing Dynasty by Lu Xun, this book also contains a lot of life in the late Qing Dynasty besides criticizing the officialdom. Diet is mentioned in many places.

Xie Yuxi didn't know them, she didn't feel like she was in the education field, and she didn't want to drink, so she didn't go with them.

In addition to being a writer and epigrapher, Liu E was also a businessman with a lot of money.

After entering Liu E's mansion in Beijing, Liu E ordered his servants: "Bring out the best wine and the best sauced meat in the house. Today is the most distinguished guest!"

The house that Liu E rented was very large, and after sitting down in the hall, he saw the two people who were renting at his house.

Liu E said to them: "Come together, it's rare to see the emperor himself."

Then he introduced Li Yu: "This is Shen Jin, and this is Wu Shizhao."

The two bowed their hands to Li Yu and saluted: "I have seen the emperor."

"You don't need to be too polite!" Li Yu smiled, and then said to Liu E, "Mr. Lao Can is like the ancient Lord Mengchang, who still has guests at home."

Liu E sighed: "They are all talented but unsatisfactory people. They all joined the New Party and echoed the Reform Movement back then, but the result..."

It is no wonder that most of those who have participated in the Restoration Movement are not satisfied.

Li Yu said: "Sooner or later there will be a day when the clouds will be cleared."

Liu E said: "Shen Jin worked as a reporter for the Japanese newspaper "Tianjin Daily News". It was also through his suggestion that I planned to continue writing that fragmented volume."

The fragment Liu E was talking about was naturally the famous "Lao Can's Travel Notes".

It was this year that Liu E started writing, but at first it was only to support a friend Lian Mengqing. At that time, he was struggling to make ends meet. Liu E knew that he didn't want to receive money directly, so he planned to write a novel as a gift for him, and earn money after serialization. Some living expenses.

However, it was not finished at first, and the subsequent serialization was in "Tianjin Daily News", signed "Hongdu Bailiansheng".

The food at Liu E’s family is really good. Now most of the best cooks in the north are from Shandong. There is a Shandong chef in Liu E’s mansion. He himself knows Shandong cuisine very well. After drinking three rounds of dishes and five flavors, the few people had a great time. .

Shen Jin is also a journalist, so he naturally knew Li Yu's name, and praised: "The emperor's master is proficient in advanced mathematical sciences that foreigners understand, and he is really No. 1 in science!"

Li Yu corrected and said: "Science is not understood by foreigners."

But Shen Jin said helplessly: "The reform has been defeated. Except for the emperor, I am afraid that only foreigners can understand it."

Li Yu said, "It's definitely not so pessimistic."

Shen Jin said: "I'm afraid things are more pessimistic than imagined."

"Why do you say that?" Li Yu asked.

Shen Jin took another sip of wine, and said with the strength of the wine: "It's okay to tell you in advance, I have received information from reliable sources that the imperial court will continue to sign the "Sino-Russian Secret Treaty" with Russia, and give the Northeast to Tsarist Russia! "

Liu E and Wang Chonglie were surprised: "How can this be? The northeast is the land of dragon prosperity, how can we give it up to others."

Shen Jin said: "Tomorrow I will publish the original manuscript of this matter in the newspapers, so that people all over the country can take a good look!"

A few years ago, when Li Hongzhang passed through Russia, he secretly signed the "Treaty of Mutual Assistance against the Enemy" with Tsarist Russia, also known as the "Sino-Russian Secret Treaty".As a result, Russia turned the three eastern provinces into its own "sphere of influence" and took the opportunity to build a railway.

Since then, Tsarist Russia has made an inch of progress, directly sent troops to invade the Northeast, and forced Shengjing General Zengqi to sign the "Temporary Regulations on the Handover of Heaven and Earth", turning the three northeastern provinces into actual colonies.

But no matter how stupid Cixi was, she knew that the Northeast was the "lifeblood" of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, so she refused to sign the "Temporary Regulations for Handing over Heaven and Earth", and dismissed Zengqi for questioning.

Seeing that the Qing court refused to submit, Tsarist Russia signed the "Treaty of Handing over the Three Eastern Provinces" with the Qing court, agreeing to withdraw its troops in stages.

However, after the signing of the treaty, Tsarist Russia repeatedly delayed the withdrawal process and put forward the so-called "seven new conditions for withdrawal" in an attempt to continue to occupy the three eastern provinces.Under the threat of military force from Tsarist Russia, the Empress Dowager Cixi finally chose to be forced to compromise, and decided to agree to all the other party's demands by signing a secret contract.

As for the so-called "joint defense against the enemy", it is actually the Qing government and Russia jointly resisting Japan.

Shen Jin happened to be working in a Japanese newspaper again. He got the top-secret news from a Manchu nobleman, and with the help of the son of Wang Wenshao, Minister of Government Affairs, he got the original text of the secret contract.

In order to prevent Empress Dowager Cixi's traitorous behavior and keep the three northeastern provinces for China, Shen Jin decided to put his personal life and death aside, and published the draft of the secret agreement in Tianjin's English version of "News West News", and the newspaper published the original text.

This is a big deal.

Several people were very angry after listening to Shen Jin's explanation of the whole story. Wang Chonglie's father died in the Eight-Power Allied Forces' invasion of China. It can be said that he hated the foreign powers.

Liu E also said angrily: "I'm afraid they will covet the pass after occupying the northeast!"

Li Yu said coldly: "The evil wolf is not just Tsarist Russia."

Japan must not be reconciled to seeing the two neighboring countries unite against itself.

Only Wu Shizhao was eating nervously, and only echoed a few words.

Li Yu knew that the country would not be able to tolerate him if this matter broke out, and there was only a chance of escape to Japan, so he urged: "Sir, hurry up and buy the boat ticket to Japan tomorrow, so that the green hills are here, and there is no need to worry about no firewood."

Liu E knew Shen Jin's identity better. Back then he participated in the uprising with Tang Caichang. Tang Caichang and others were suppressed and executed. He escaped under a pseudonym and is now a wanted man.

Liu E said: "After the newspaper is published tomorrow, you should leave immediately!"

Shen Jin drank the wine, but he was not afraid of anything: "Tan Sitong can die, why can't I die? If my cheap life can be exchanged for the Northeast, then why not let me die a hundred times?!"

Wang Chonglie said: "You have already done what you should do. There is no need to risk your life. If you don't buy a ticket, I will go to Tianjin to buy it for you tomorrow!"

It's a pity that everything must be guarded against, and house thieves are hard to guard against.Although several people planned well, Wu Shizhao slipped away immediately after the show ended that night.

Sure enough, the newspaper published the secret agreement the next day, and the whole country was in an uproar. The Japanese embassy went directly to the prime minister's office and asked Yikuang to explain exactly what was going on.

On the other side, the Russian envoy also did not believe that this matter could be revealed, and the Japanese envoy was about to scold him directly in the face.

The Qing court felt that it was extremely difficult, and neither side dared to offend.At this time, Wu Shizhao approached Yikuang, told Yikuang exactly what Shen Jin had said, and even added: "My lord, hurry up, or he will run away!"

If no one reported it, it would be impossible for the Qing court to know that it was Shen Jin who broke the matter.

Because he worked as a reporter for a Japanese newspaper, this matter not only harmed the interests of the Qing court, but also harmed the interests of Japan, so Japan will not confess him.

But what the Qing court did was really funny.

Now under the pressure of public opinion and Japan's political pressure, the Sino-Russian secret agreement must be disseminated.I did not dare to offend Russia by leaking the secrets on my own side, so I decided to find out the "murderer" and give Tsarist Russia an "account".

How ridiculous and sad.

Shen Jin was caught before he could escape.

Even when he was beaten to death, he never thought that it was his friend Wu Shizhao who betrayed him.

Even in prison, facing interrogation, Shen Jin did not deny his words and deeds, confessed his patriotic behavior, and exposed the traitorous behavior of the Empress Dowager Cixi who tried to cover up the "Sino-Russian Secret Treaty".

How could Cixi's narrow-mindedness bear such anger, so she ordered him to be executed.

Since it happened to be Guangxu's birthday, it was not appropriate to execute the prisoner according to the law, but Cixi didn't care about it. She just specially told the Ministry of Punishment not to see blood, so the execution was executed with a very cruel stick.

After more than 200 sticks, Shen Jin's bones were shattered, but he never heard a single cry.Just when the executioner thought Shen Jin was dead, he suddenly said, "Why are you still alive? Use a rope to hang me quickly." The executioner had no choice but to strangle Shen Jin with a rope.

Things happened very quickly, Shen Jin was persecuted to death by the Qing court not long after his arrest.

What was broken was a person's bones, but it also shattered the Qing court's own bones.

The tendons are broken.