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

Chapter 342 Two Successors
When Li Yu returned home, he received a telegram from Beiyang Duan Qirui:

"Your Excellency Emperor, last time you left in a hurry, I hope to write another handout related to radio and send it to you."

Li Yu was very puzzled, so he telegraphed back: "General Duan, I remember that I left the handouts, and the excellent student Wu Peifu's notes have always been very good."

However, Duan Qirui quickly called back: "The previous lectures were too advanced, and it is still a bit difficult for Zhang Guandai and Cao Guandai and other soldiers in charge."

In fact, Duan Qirui, Feng Guozhang, and Li Chun, the Beiyang military officers, didn't understand it, but they were embarrassed to say it directly, so they borrowed the names of Zhang Xun and Cao Kun, two small Guandai.

Li Yu knew it well and didn't point it out, so he called back: "I will finish it as soon as possible."

Duan Qirui happily replied: "That's very good, I will send someone to the house to pick it up in a few days."

It can be seen that Beiyang is still in a hurry. After all, the Japanese army and the Russian army have already handed over hands along the Yalu River.

Once the army fights, it means entering China's territory, and the problem will escalate.

Although the Qing court remained neutral, Beiyang still wanted to investigate as much information as possible. Soldiers couldn't swallow this breath.

And all walks of life are also paying special attention to the war situation.

In Xiyuan, Yuan Shikai was summoned by the court.

As soon as Yuan Shikai entered the hall, he saw that Yi Kuang and other ministers from the Military Aircraft Department were almost all present.

Cixi said: "Yuan Shikai, I heard that you have got a skill, and you can know the situation on the front line in Liaodong."

Yuan Shikai said: "Return to the Queen Mother, it is like this, this item is called radio transmission equipment, and it comes from Li Yu."

"Oh? It's Li Yu again!" Cixi took a sip of tea and continued to ask, "How is the situation on the front line?"

Yuan Shikai said: "According to the spies I sent out, I learned that Japan and Russia had already fought in Dandong. The Japanese side at least said that there were tens of thousands of people; the defensive Russian army'Dongman Detachment' also had [-] to [-] people."

Cixi said: "Who has the advantage?"

Yuan Shikai said: "As stated in the book of war, encircle if ten, attack if five, and divide if twice as many. The two sides have similar military strength, so they should try to disperse each other. But I didn't expect the Russian army to disperse on the wide front. What happened? hum."

Yi Kuang asked in surprise, "Is Japan the dominant side?"

Yuan Shikai nodded: "Yes, Prince Qing."

Cixi swallowed a sip of tea, "It's best."

Yikuang immediately praised: "Lafayette is blessed with great blessings."

Cixi said: "Shen Jin's case was not wasted before."

Last year, Shen Jin was shot because he leaked the secret agreement between the Qing government and Russia. Li Yu also met him.

Minister of Military Aircraft Wang Wenshao said: "This scene was done very well, and it saved our Ministry of Foreign Affairs the trouble of leaking information to the Japanese."

Unexpectedly, Shen Jin's life principle was regarded as a pawn.

A careful analysis is also the same reason. Since the relationship between the Northeast region and the Russians has dropped to a freezing point, the Qing court dare not go to war with them.

And the Qing court didn't have the courage to directly reveal the secret agreement, and happened to meet Shen Jin, who was not afraid of death.

He obtained the content of the secret contract through the son of Wang Wenshao, Minister of Military Aircraft, who is present now!

Shen Jin was beaten to death, but Wang Wenshao was fine, which has already explained the problem-the Qing court leaked it to him on purpose.

Hey, poor Shen Jin turned out to be a pawn of the Qing court playing politics.

Although Yuan Shikai didn't know the specific details, he got a general understanding after a few words, and cupped his hands and said, "As expected of the Military Aircraft Department."

Shen Jin was beaten to death, and the Qing court gave Russia an explanation so that they could not blame them.

Wang Wenshao said: "Unexpectedly, the Japanese are really angry and want to go to war with Russia."

Yuan Shikai said: "Originally there was a wolf in the house, but now that another wolf is brought into the house, we must be careful in the future."

Yikuang said: "I have already met with the Japanese Minister Yasuya Uchida, and he assured me that he will not get involved in the Northeast."

Yuan Shikai smiled: "I hope so. But I heard that there is a shrine in Japan called the Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines the spirits of dead soldiers and war-related memorial booths. During the Sino-Japanese War, oh, the Japanese called it the Nissin War Booth." Finally, there is an idiom in Chinese characters called 'Low on fire and taste gall'."

Cixi was surprised and said: "Lying on salary and tasting gall? What salary to lie on? What kind of courage to taste?"

Yuan Shikai said: "Naturally, it was because of the intervention of the Three Kingdoms to return Liaodong. This incident has made the Japanese worry about it, so they must still want Liaodong in their hearts."

Cixi pondered for a moment and said, "I can only take one step at a time."

-

On this day, Li Yu received a stack of boat tickets from Pu Lun's trustees, including Yang Xiaolou's Tongqing Class.

Li Yu was about to set off to bring it to him, and the location of the Tongqing class was still near the Jingzhong Temple in Nancheng.

Zhao Qian drove to the place, there were not many people today.

After getting off the car, Li Yu saw a sallow and thin man sitting outside the Jingzhong Temple to see if he could steal offerings.

However, it seems that there are many people who have this idea, and it is not easy to succeed.

Li Yu gave the ticket to Yang Xiaolou. Although he didn't understand the dazzling English, he definitely knew that the price was not cheap.

Now that there is war at sea, the number of ferries has decreased significantly, and the price of ferry tickets has more than doubled.

Jia Honglin, the leader of the Tongqing class, took Yang Xiaolou and said gratefully: "We will definitely live up to our mission."

Li Yu is still very relieved about their level, "Don't be burdened, just let go of acting."

Yang Xiaolou took out the written script and introduced the background story: "We don't understand foreign languages, so we have to entrust scholars like you to do the translation."

Li Yu took it over: "It's easy to say, easy to say."

When he was about to return, someone came to him suddenly.

"Your Excellency is the Emperor Teacher."

Li Yu sized up the young man in front of him; "Who are you?"

The other party replied: "I have met the emperor! I, Xu Shuzheng, in the name of General Duan Qirui, came to the emperor to get the radio handout."

Xu Shuzheng was Duan Qirui's core military adviser, and his position was very important.

Li Yu asked, "How do you know I'm here?"

Xu Shuzheng said: "As soon as I got off the train, I went to the Emperor's Mansion to pay a visit, and then I was told that the Emperor had come to the Jingzhong Temple. It happened that I also knew about this place, so I took a rickshaw and came directly."

Li Yu said, "Are you quite familiar with the capital?"

Xu Shuzheng said: "I'm not familiar with it, but there are not many Yuewang Temples now. My mother is a descendant of Yuewangye, and I also rely on Yuewangye very much, so I came here to pay homage to him last year."

Li Yu really didn't know about this, and said in surprise, "Your Excellency actually has the blood of the Yue family."

"It's not directly related," Xu Shuzheng said with a smile, and then looked at Jingzhong Temple, "Let me go burn a stick of incense first."

The skinny man next to the Jingzhong Temple saw someone approaching, and hid in the corner excitedly, his eyes widening.

Xu Shuzheng actually bought pastries on the way, put them on respectfully, put incense on them, and kowtowed three times.

As soon as Xu Shuzheng left the Jingzhong Temple, the skinny man sneaked away the pastries inside, and started to eat them in big mouthfuls.

Fortunately, Xu Shuzheng seemed to understand the situation, so he never looked back.

Xu Shuzheng said to Li Yu: "Now there are Guandi Temples everywhere, it is really not easy to find a Yuewang Temple."

Li Yu said, "It is true."

Yue Fei was almost a god in the Yuan Dynasty and Ming Dynasty, and his status was a little higher than Guan Gong.

However, after the Qing Dynasty entered the customs, it felt unreasonable for the common people to worship an anti-golden hero, and they were also afraid that the people would use Yue Fei's name to engage in anti-Qing activities.Therefore, the status of Guan Gong was raised even more, and only Guan Gong was left among the martial saints in various places.

Of course, Yue Fei's image has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, the Qing court did not belittle him, and several emperors liked Yue Fei quite a bit.

Yue Zhongqi, a direct descendant of Yue Fei, even served as a general in the Yongzheng and Kangxi dynasties, and was named the highest duke.

Li Yu took Xu Shuzheng back to his home and gave him the entry-level radio handouts that he had already written.

This kind of handout is the easiest to write, because the subject can be regarded as a complete novice, without involving the principle, a purely basic popular science storybook.

Xu Shuzheng flipped through it, and praised: "The emperor really knows both Chinese and Western, and I will definitely ask you for advice when I have the opportunity in the future."

Li Yu laughed and said, "It's just an ordinary introductory book."

Xu Shuzheng sighed: "I can be regarded as a scholar, but I can't understand the introductory books you mentioned. It seems that I also need to study abroad for further studies, otherwise I will still be at a loss."

Li Yu agreed: "It is very necessary, otherwise we will not be able to help the great cause."

Xu Shuzheng cupped his hands: "Thank you, Master, for your teaching."

Xu Shuzheng will go to Japan to study next year with Duan Qirui's sponsorship, and will enter the Army Non-commissioned Officer Academy that Principal Jiang dreams of.

-

After Xu Shuzheng left, Pu Lun came to visit again, "Master Emperor, hurry up, let's go to Eunuch De's place together."

"Eunuch De?" Li Yu was a little puzzled, why did he go to Xiao Dezhang, so he asked, "He is looking for me?"

Pu Lun said: "Yes, Eunuch De said that without you, things can't be done."

Li Yu followed Pu Lun to Xiao Dezhang's residence in confusion, and after entering the door, he realized that it was Xiao Dezhang who was doing design there.

Empress Dowager Cixi paid more attention to the World Expo, and Pu Lun and others proposed to build a "Chinese Village" at the World Expo, that is, to design and restore a palace.

Since construction is involved, even if it is only temporary construction, drawings are required.

So Xiao Dezhang took the initiative to ask Ying to be responsible for the drawing work.One of Xiao Dezhang's personal hobbies is architectural design.

At this time, Xiao Dezhang was talking to someone: "Brother Lei, I know what you said is correct, but since it is a grand event for foreigners, we must use some foreigner tools."

This person surnamed Lei is the imperial architectural design family of the Qing Dynasty, the eighth generation successor of the famous style Lei, Lei Xiancai.

He looked about 25 or six years old.

Lei Xiancai said: "Eunuch De, I don't know how to use these tools of yours, I can't say one, two, three."

Xiao De Zhang proudly said: "So I told you a long time ago, you need to study! Everyone should study, if I don't know how to study, I might still be a little handyman cleaning the toilet in the palace."

Lei Xiancai smiled and said, "Eunuch De is right. But what you said about three views and proportions are all foreign words, I don't understand."

Xiao Dezhang said: "Then you'd better learn foreign language too."

Pu Lun knocked on the door: "Eunuch De."

Seeing them, Xiao Dezhang quickly put down his ruler and pen, and greeted them: "Master Bei, Master Emperor, you came so fast."

Pu Lun said: "The main reason is that the emperor has a foreigner's car, which drives like lightning and is much smoother than riding a horse."

Xiao Dezhang said: "I have seen Lafayette's car in the palace, but I have never ridden it once, so it was Master Pei who enjoyed it first."

Pu Lun laughed and said, "Why don't Eunuch De go for a ride first?"

Xiao De Zhang waved his hands and said, "There is plenty of time for a drive, so let's finish what Lafayette told you first."

Xiao Dezhang said to Li Yu: "Emperor Master, I can't do this without you. Last time you brought me foreigner's drawing tools from the West. I have been thinking about it day and night, and finally I have some clues. But really. When it came time to draw the drawings, I encountered a lot of problems.”

Li Yu said: "Eunuch De, actually I don't know architecture, let alone draw architectural drawings."

Xiao Dezhang said: "I don't believe it. You are an imperial teacher and a sage of science. How can you not have this little skill of a foreigner?"

Li Yudao: "The word sage cannot be used casually."

Xiaode Zhang pulled Li Yu over: "The emperor taught me two hands, and I will definitely repay you if I learn it."

Li Yu couldn't resist him, so he had to say: "Then I will tell you some basic things for foreigners to draw."

Fortunately, in his last life, Li Yu had a degree in mechanical design. He got full marks in descriptive geometry, and he used to draw all night for assignments.

Although there is a big difference between the mechanical diagram and the architectural diagram, one is enlarged and the other is reduced, but the use of tools is the same.

Li Yu showed him how to use a ruler, a pencil, and basic drawing principles such as three views by drawing a car chassis.

Lei Xiancai, who was at the side, praised him again and again: "I've heard that the emperor's teacher is talented, but when I saw it today, I didn't expect to know how to draw!"

Li Yu said with a smile: "I'm not a designer, I just know a little bit of geometry."

Lei Xiancai said, "I didn't expect that foreigner's tools could be so convenient for drawing. If I learn this craft, I will benefit a lot."

"Uh," Li Yu looked at his posture and asked, "You want it?"

Lei Xiancai clasped his hands and said, "You take the liberty to ask the emperor to teach you this skill! It is very important to my Lei family!"

Li Yu said: "It's not that I don't want to, but I really can't afford it. If you want to learn, I think you should also find a foreign architect to learn from."

Lei Xiancai immediately asked, "Where can I find it?"

Li Yu said: "There are concessions in Tianjin and Shanghai. The school I invested in Shanghai hired British architects."

Lei Xiancai was very interested: "I also invite the emperor to introduce you."

But Xiao Dezhang said: "Brother Lei, it's too late, I can't catch up with the Americans' World Expo. Besides, I'm looking for a foreigner as a master. Do you understand foreign language?"

Lei Xiancai said helplessly, "It's true."

Xiao Dezhang's mind is quite flexible: "But you can go to the Expo together. Anyway, there must be someone responsible for building the Chinese Village. There must be more authentic architects in the United States."

Lei Xiancai's eyes flickered: "It makes sense! I wonder if there is still a place on the boat?"

Pu Lun continued: "Of course there is. Building a Chinese village is a major event. I don't worry if there is Shi Lei who will come forward."

Lei Xiancai then said to Li Yu: "During the journey, I happened to be able to consult the emperor's teacher and learn the basics of drawing."

"This... I can only say that I give them all, but in reality they don't give much." Li Yu said awkwardly.

Lei Xiancai was very grateful and said: "Thank you, Master Emperor!"

Li Yu himself has never thought of "being a good teacher". Why does everyone want to learn from him after gaining the title of "Emperor Teacher"?

(End of this chapter)