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

Chapter 243
Although the courses in the Jinshi Hall are biased towards the direction of politics and law, it does not mean that you don't need to understand a little modern science to study politics and law.

Therefore, the courses of these new scholars in Jinshi Hall of Jingshi University Hall are not so different from the previous Shixue Hall. It still seems to be a mixture of nine-year compulsory education and high school.

Some basic courses in mathematics, physics and chemistry that have not been studied before must be taken, otherwise the knowledge blindness will be too large, which will have a huge impact on future employment.

Although Zhu Guozhen did not win the first prize, he is still a scholar of the Hanlin Academy. This position sounds mediocre, but in fact it is quite powerful. The scholars are basically selected from the Jinshi with the best grades. He is a close minister of the emperor, responsible for drafting edicts and explaining scriptures to the emperor.

Many cabinet members in the Ming Dynasty came out of this position.

However, Zhu Guozhen has obviously developed a strong interest in Western learning. After learning that Li Yu has written a set of textbooks that are more suitable for the introduction of Western learning, he must ask Li Yu to give him a set of textbooks to study by himself.

Naturally, Li Yu couldn't discourage others' enthusiasm, so he agreed.

Zhu Guozhen said: "Brother, this way of explaining the way of Western science seems to be done by the ancient sage Zhu Zi."

Zhu Guozhen has already started to praise Li Yu, it seems that he is really a little enamored of Western learning.

At the beginning, Zhu Xi devoted his whole life to annotating the Four Books. It took more than 40 years to write the "Four Books Chapters and Sentences Collection", and the name of the Four Books was officially established.

This set of books has since become the textbooks and imperial examination standards appointed by the imperial court, and Zhu Xi has also become the only one who is not a direct disciple of Confucius who enjoys worship in the Confucius Temple and is among the twelve philosophers of the Dacheng Hall.

Li Yu said with a smile: "Brother, it's ridiculous, there is still a big difference between the two."

The number one scholar Wang Shoupeng heard their conversation, and interjected: "So you also wrote a book explaining the introduction to Western science?"

Li Yu said: "Yes, and it has been published and printed. Through the printing press, it will be promoted in new schools in various places in the future."

Wang Shoupeng said: "In this way, the private school students may grow up much better than us in the future."

Wang Zhuangyuan's words are quite self-aware.

Zhu Guozhen asked: "If you start learning now, is it too late?"

Li Yu said: "It is indeed too late to delve into science; but everyone will follow the path of politics and law in the future. If you study hard, I think you can still reach a better level."

Wang Zhuangyuan was surprised: "Could it be that the way of science is so much more difficult than the knowledge of politics and law?"

Li Yu had no choice but to explain: "Difficult and not difficult are relative concepts. The two are not in the same field at all, and cannot be compared together. It can only be said that you are too little involved in science, and it takes a lot of time to lay the foundation; At least there are local laws and regulations that can be used for reference and comparison, and the difficulty of getting started is relatively small.”

Wang Zhuangyuan concluded: "It's still difficult to put it bluntly. If you can understand your 'Scientific Subjects Collection', can you master all scientific subjects?"

Wang Shoupeng also compared Li Yu's approach with Zhu Xi's.

Li Yu didn't want to hit them, but he could only say frankly: "It's not possible, it's still far away. These books are just an introduction to various science subjects."

Wang Zhuangyuan curled his lips: "In this way, you can't be called a 'sage of science'. Zhu Zi's Annotations can understand the true meaning of the Four Books, but your 'Jizhu' is just an introduction."

It seems that Wang Shoupeng has also read the newspapers and heard the saying of "scientific sage".

Li Yu spread his hands, and repeated: "That's why I say there is still a long way to go."

However, Wang Shoupeng did not understand the multiple meanings in Li Yu's words, and continued: "If it is a book that cannot penetrate the true meaning of science, it must be meaningless to read."

Wang Shoupeng's understanding of science is still too backward.

Li Yu said with a smile: "Although it is a superficial book, it is enough for an introduction. I left a small amount of after-school exercises at the end of each book. If Zhuangyuan Lang can do it, that's it."

Li Yu gave a thumbs up.

Wang Shoupeng said: "Could it be that I can't understand such a simple book?"

Li Yu said: "Zhuangyuan Lang can naturally read it. If it is really superficial, he can finish it in a short time. It will also be helpful to read the book 'Science and Greatness' in the future."

Wang Shoupeng said: "If it is really helpful to understand 'Science' in the future, it's okay to read it when you have nothing to do."

Li Yu cupped his hands and said, "I hope Zhuangyuan Lang will give you some pointers."

Wang Shou and Peng Zhen thought that Li Yu was flattering him, and said politely, "It's easy to say."

Li Yu brought a few sets of books when he went back. Now the Beijing Normal University Hall has begun to promote Li Yu's books in the normal hall, but it is not complete.

After getting it, Zhu Guozhen attached great importance to it. After looking through it, he said: "Mr.

Li Yu said: "Read slowly. They are all textbooks, and the knowledge density is a bit high. They are originally used for new-style schools that last five to nine years."

However, Wang Shoupeng was full of confidence. After reading a few books, they were not very thick: "I thought the way of science could contain so much content. Compared with my bookshelves all over the wall, it is like a drop in the bucket."

Li Yu said: "Compared to science, they are also a drop in the bucket."

Wang Zhuangyuan looked back and looked at it. Although he was a little bit better than Qufu Yansheng Gong Kong Lingyi, he also got stuck when he read mathematics.

"Rational numbers? Fractions? What a mess!"

"Negative numbers, just kidding, how can there be such a strange thing in the world!"

When Wang Zhuangyuan encountered something he didn't understand, he didn't delve too deeply into it. He looked back quickly, but he was completely confused when he read about unknown numbers and linear equations in one variable.

"The way of science of foreigners is like child's play, groundless and meaningless."

After watching it for a few days, Wang Zhuangyuan was already in a mess, let alone solving the problem.

Thinking about what Li Yu said but felt that he couldn't give up, otherwise it would be a bit embarrassing, just at this time the letter from Qufu Yan Jingyu arrived.

After Wang Shoupeng finished reading the letter, he still felt that the Four Books and Five Classics were more amiable and that the imperial examinations could not be allowed to decline, so he prepared to stand on the same front as Yansheng Gong Kong Lingyi as the number one scholar in the new department.

Wang Shoupeng's idea is that although Western learning should be used, the imperial examination system should not be lost.

A few days later, Kong Lingyi and Yan Jingyu came to Beijing Confucian Temple in person. After engraving the Jinshi stele, they encouraged everyone to write a letter together.

Kong Lingyiyan Shenggong's name is quite appealing, and many Jinshi said that the imperial examination is the core of the imperial court's talent selection.

So many Jinshi jointly signed the letter, the court had to pay attention to it, and the memorial was delivered to Xiyuan Cixi, and Cixi felt a headache when she saw it.

As a ruler, in fact, the most exposed are multiple choice questions, that is, decision making.

Moreover, what the ruler likes is to listen to opinions, rather than forcing himself to make a decision. This has a sense of coercion, and emperors have never liked it since ancient times.

Therefore, although many loyal ministers are dedicated to serving the public, their memorials are too straightforward and instructive, which will arouse the emperor's dissatisfaction and disgust.

Only some tactful loyal ministers know how to coax the emperor and advance policies at the same time.

Being an officer is really hard.

The reason for Cixi's headache is that she instantly thought of the public bus writing in those days. At that time, Kang Liang prevented thousands of people from jointly signing the memorial.Cixi said to Rong Qing beside him: "Go and discipline these people, why are they so unreasonable?"

Rong Qing also felt that they were really inexperienced, and they were obviously suspected of cronyism, and the court was the most taboo.

So they immediately issued an edict to reprimand them: the imperial court has its own resolution, so don't interfere with the audio-visual!
Kong Lingyi felt very embarrassed. He didn't expect that the court didn't even stand by him. Could it be that he did something wrong?
But it would be a bit inopportune to write a book again, and we can only discuss it after a while.

Wang Zhuangyuan has already become the number one scholar anyway, so he can only let the situation develop, and he has no choice but to go back and continue reading those few "superficial" science books.

Naturally, Li Yu didn't care about Kong Lingyi and the others, and Japanese Minister Yasuya Uchida had already approached him.

Uchida Yasuya asked: "Li Yu-jun, we like your radio equipment very much, can we buy a few more sets?"

Li Yu pretended to be helpless: "The current production is quite tight, and I'm afraid we can't provide much."

In fact, Li Yu has already sent a telegram to the United States, trying to make more, but the current manpower is really small, and there are not many people who understand this technology at the moment, so the production capacity really cannot be increased.

Uchida Yasuya said: "I can continue to order at the original price of 12000 silver dollars."

Li Yu asked, "How much does the envoy need?"

Uchida said without hesitation: "Thirty sets."

Li Yu said with a smile: "There are definitely not thirty sets, at most three sets."

Uchida thought about it in his mind: "Three sets, three sets."

Li Yu didn't expect him to make such a big decision.

It took several days for Li Yu to deliver the goods to him, and Russian Minister Resal also came to Li Yu to get two sets.

This thing is really making money, and other envoys have sent requests.

Rare things are more expensive.

If more civilian radios and wireless walkie-talkies are made in the future, there will really be a big market.

The Russian envoy also brought an official letter from St. Petersburg, granting Li Yu permission to ride on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

I have done many experiments repeatedly during this period, and almost have the results, so I can leave for Europe.

Nowadays, Europe is simply too mysterious for people like Lu Bicheng who have never had access to the Internet.

Although I really wanted to maintain a reserved attitude in my heart, I couldn't suppress the overflowing joy in my eyes.

Li Yu said, "Why are the corners of your eyes crooked today?"

Lu Bicheng was enduring his joy, but he said: "Maybe the wind and sand are a little bit bigger."

Li Yu looked up: "Where is the wind?"

Lu Bicheng said "Ouch" and said, "Let's go!"

Zhao Qian drove them to the railway station in a carriage, and then the two took the train to Tanggu Port, Tianjin, and continued to take a ship to Dalian.

Not too different from the last trip.

The people at Dalian Station read the documents, checked them and let them board the train.

The Manchurian branch of the Trans-Siberian Railway in the Northeast, that is, the "Middle East Railway", has been fully opened to traffic, connecting Dalian, Shenyang, Changchun, and Harbin from south to north in a "T" shape; and then connecting Vladivostok and Harbin from east to west , Harar, Manzhouli.

It basically connects the major cities in the Northeast, and it can be seen that Tsarist Russia has great ambitions.

They sat on soft sleepers, and the whole journey was not too tiring.

After the train stopped in Shenyang, Li Yu got off to buy some fruit, and then went to the dining car to have some lunch with Lu Bicheng.

Li Yu had just entered the dining car when suddenly someone grabbed his shoulder from behind.

Li Yu obviously felt that this hand was heavy. He instantly remembered the grappling technique that Huang Feihong taught him back then, and immediately took his wrist and twisted it against the joint.

But I didn't expect this person to be quite strong, and Li Yu didn't completely twist his body away.

When Li Yu turned around, he also found that there was a Japanese ronin warrior in front of him.

The Japanese ronin's kung fu was superior to Li Yu's, but he didn't have any defenses, and he was a little embarrassed for a moment.

The Japanese ronin wanted to grab something around his waist with the other hand, but was blocked by the other hand.

Lu Bicheng wanted to rush over when he saw it, but Li Yu saw that the other party didn't mean to fight, so he let go.

"I didn't expect Li Yujun to have such skills. It's unexpected." The person who spoke was a lean and capable Japanese, who was also a ronin, and he was the one who stopped the previous tall ronin warriors.

The tall Japanese ronin warrior respected him and quickly stood behind him.

"Let me introduce myself, I have a head full of mountains, my name is Liyun, and I am a rogue in the world."

Li Yu frowned, it turned out to be the leader of the Black Dragon Society.

He was a little confused, so it was really audacious for a few Japanese to dare to board the Russian train.

But think about it, they should also be mixed up, because now the Middle East Railway Administration mainly controls key nodes.

Tou Shanman's biggest goal at present is to want Japan to defeat Russia, and desperately collect all kinds of intelligence in the Northeast.

The railway is one of the most critical factors, so in-depth investigation is naturally indispensable.

Moreover, Tou Shanman has never held any Japanese official position in his life, he is just a commoner.

But he is the "King of Ronin" in Japan. Through the mysterious organization of the Black Dragon Society, he has profoundly influenced the Japanese political arena, and has a very deep relationship with Mr. Zhongshan and other revolutionary parties.

Toushanman's Black Dragon Society supported Mr. Sun Yat-sen's Tongmenghui against the Qing revolution, in fact, they also wanted to use this to jointly fight against Tsarist Russia.

Since then, President Jiang and Tou Shanman have also had close contacts.

Li Yu asked, "What is Mr. Toushan looking for?"

Toushan put on a smile all over his face: "It's presumptuous, let's sit down and talk."

Tou Shanman went straight to the table where Li Yu and Lu Bicheng were before, and sat across from them.

Lu Bicheng glanced at Li Yu, and Li Yu said, "It doesn't matter, we will sit too."

Tou Shanman said: "I heard that Mr. has the talent of heaven. Not only is he familiar with the knowledge of foreigners, but he can also use scientific methods to create superb radio equipment. I have admired his name for a long time, and I am here to pay a visit."

Li Yu said: "If you want to visit, I'm afraid this place is not suitable."

Toushanman laughed and said, "It's because I don't speak Chinese well. Chinese culture is extensive and profound, and I still can't master many words."

Tou Shanman took out a jug of sake and poured a glass for Li Yu: "Please."

Li Yu glanced at it and drank it in one gulp.

Toushan said, "Okay!" Then he said, "Your Excellency possesses such talent, and will surely be valued by the military circles of various countries in the future."

Li Yu said: "Are you referring to radio equipment? The technology I research is not for military use, but for general commercial use. As for how it is used in the military, it has nothing to do with me."

Li Yu quickly disregarded the relationship.

Tou Shanman said: "Your Excellency's thinking like this is really unexpected to me. In ancient times, it was said that there is a man who has both knowledge and power in the world. Today, I met on a speeding train."

Li Yudao: "Mr. Toushan didn't need to detour, he came to me on the Russian train, presumably he didn't want to discuss scientific inventions with me, did he?"

Tou Shanman said: "Your Excellency is really straightforward. I don't think I have the ability to discuss science with you."

Li Yu said: "Then Mr. Toushan is afraid that I will do something that will be detrimental to Japan if I go to Russia."

Li Yu roughly guessed Tou Shanman's meaning.

Toushan smiled and said: "It's comfortable to talk to smart people. To be honest, even if you have a heart of understanding, others may not think so."

Li Yu knew what he meant, and said, "Your side is about to go to war with Russia, and I understand your original intention. But when I go to Europe, my destination is not St. Petersburg, but Germany."

Tou Shanman said: "So that's the case, then I really want to let those people do some in-depth work."

Li Yu said: "It's not easy to do espionage, but it's really not easy for you to know that I got the letter from the Russian embassy."

Seeing that Li Yu directly pointed it out, Toushanman no longer concealed it: "Your Excellency is already an important academic master, and you have such enviable technology, please don't be offended."

Since then, the United States and other countries have carried out espionage work on many great scientists. Li Yu has long been mentally prepared, so he said: "Technology is not a decisive factor for you and Russia. After all, there is no generation difference."

Tou Shanman said: "I have some comfort from what you said from the mouth of a scientific authority like you. I would like to ask, you have been to many countries, including our Great Japanese Empire and Russia. What do you think... you Do you think Orientals can beat whites?"

Tou Shanman paused for a moment, and abruptly changed the second half of the sentence.

Li Yu said with a smile: "The outcome is never predictable, but I remembered a game."

Toushan was full of surprise and said, "Game?"

(End of this chapter)