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

Li Yu sent a telegram to Lu Bicheng, asking her if she could go south. Lu Bicheng called back and was feeling unwell recently, and the baby had not been weaned. He wanted to wait until the weather got warmer before coming back.

Unexpectedly, Konoe Akiyuki found out and volunteered to come to Shanghai.

During this period of time, Konoe Aki was very confused. On the one hand, the death of Konoe Atsumaro in the country caused the Konoe family to fall into decline. The head of the most prominent Five Photographers family in Japan was now destitute.

Konoe Akiyuki's fantasy of entering the master's house suffered a huge blow.

As for her boss, the Japanese intelligence agency, currently due to the huge political changes in China after [-], he is very busy and has no time to assign her new tasks.

Today, Konoe Akiyuki can only choose to "lurk" and wait for new instructions from the summit.

Anyway, I have nothing to do, so I came to Shanghai to visit the old guys from the East Asia Association.

"Konoe-senpai! We haven't seen you for so many years, and I miss you so much!" Kenjiro Hayade said excitedly.

Konoe Aki glanced at the somewhat weathered Hayashide Kenjiro, and simply said, "I have always remembered Hayashide-kun's outstanding performance in school."

Hayashide Kenjiro continued happily: "I have always wanted to write to you, but Shangfeng said that you have an important mission and cannot contact you casually."

"That's right," Konoe Akiyuki asked, "What are your achievements in the past two years?"

Kenjiro Hayade immediately said proudly: "Back to my senior sister, I traveled alone to Xinjiang and the Sino-Russian border, all the way to Ili, and drew a large number of fine maps. The dean said this is the best he has seen in recent years. A travel assignment.”

"Congratulations." Konoe Akiyuki said.

"Where are you?" Hayashide Kenjiro asked.

Konoe Akiyuki looked at his fiery eyes, lowered his eyes and said, "My mission is still being carried out, so I can't reveal too much."

Kenjiro Hayade didn't take it seriously: "Sister Konoe is the best graduate in the school. You can definitely complete the task of climbing to the top."

"It should... no, it must be possible." Konoe Akiyuki said.

"You..." Kenjiro Hayade paused, and after a few seconds he turned around and said, "By the way, senior, there are some big names coming to the academy this time."

Konoe Akiyuki asked casually: "Who is it?"

Kenjiro Hayade said: "The master of Shinei-in Temple of Honganji Temple, Baron Takashi Masuda, the great shopkeeper of Mitsui, as well as Mr. Shuji Izawa of the 'Kanji Unification Association' and Mr. Park Saijun of Korea."

Konoe Akiyuki was surprised: "Master Otani of Honganji Temple?"

Kenjiro Hayade nodded: "Previously, the Master personally traveled to the Xinjiang region, and I also followed him. This time we walked the ancient Chinese Silk Road and found many treasures for the empire. More than 6000 kilograms were transported back to the country."

Konoe Akiyuki said: "Everything you have done for our Empire of Japan will be remembered with great achievements."

Kenjiro Hayade said: "Let's go see them now!"

Shanghai East Asia Tongwen Academy is just an academy in name, but at this time it was an important chess piece of Japan in China and had a very high status.

Nezu Kazumasa, the current dean of Toa Doubun Academy, was drinking tea in the reception room with Mitsui Otani, Takashi Masuda, Shuji Izawa and other Buddhist masters of Honganji Temple.

Otani Mitsui is a relative of the Japanese emperor, and his wife is the sister of Emperor Taisho and the Empress. In other words, Otani Mitsui and the Emperor of Japan are brothers-in-law.

Otani Mitsui's wife was born in the Kujo family and is also one of the five photographic families in Japan.He is also the head of the Honganji Temple of the Jodo Shinshu sect in Japan, and the name of the temple is Shinei-in.

As for Honganji Temple, its name is somewhat similar to the Honganji Temple that was famous during the Warring States Period in Japan, but it is not the same thing.

Honganji Temple is a branch of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Japanese Buddhism. It was quite famous during the Warring States Period in Japan. At that time, the temple was very powerful. Oda Nobunaga fought for more than ten years before he could barely conquer Honganji Temple.

As for why the master of Honganji Temple can get married, it is also a characteristic of Jodo Shinshu...

Anyway, when Japan learns things from China, it always learns them strangely.

Otani Mitsurui can speak Chinese. To be precise, these people here today can all speak Chinese.

"During my stay in China, I deeply felt the power of Doubun Academy. It is indeed an important legacy of Mr. Konoe and will play an extremely important role in the unification of Greater East Asia." Mitsui Otani commented.

Nezuichi, the president of Toa Doubun Academy, said: "We are extremely frightened to receive such comments from the Master."

Otani Mitsui said: "I have had contact with the people of the Choshu Domain and the Satsuma Domain. They are still immersed in the joy of victory in the Russo-Japanese War. They are arrogant and always think that they can occupy the entire East Asia region by force. Take Toyoda Kanshiro. They are too self-righteous.”

Nezu flattered him and said, "The Dharma Master has thoroughly studied Buddhism and indeed has a more profound insight."

Otani Mitsui said: "It is difficult to digest even a small treasure island, let alone the whole of East Asia. Looking at countries with many overseas colonies, such as Britain and France, their governance policies are not suitable for us. We should go deeper and look at it from the perspective of culture and Economically, the whole of East Asia will surrender and even become one with us. Mr. Izawa and Mr. Park must have a deep understanding of this."

Shuji Izawa said: "What the Master said is absolutely true. I have been the Minister of Academic Affairs in Baodao for many years. Although we have conquered Baodao with military force, in the future we want to completely conquer the hearts of Baodao people and make them last for thousands of years." The key to Japan becoming a Japanese territory forever is to assimilate the people on the island from the bottom of their hearts. To do this, education is the best choice.”

Otani Mitsui said: "Your pilot is very successful and can be extended to North Korea and Manchuria in the future."

Pu Qichun is a North Korean. Hearing what they said, his face did not change and he said: "We have achieved good results in North Korea."

This old boy is very famous in South Korea, and has since been awarded the title of "National Thief" in South Korea.

Nezu: "The situation in China is somewhat different. Our culture is deeply influenced by China. It is extremely difficult to culturally assimilate it."

Izawa Shuji said: "This matter has been carefully considered by Mr. Ito Hirobumi when he was still alive. We already have some methods. The 'Chinese Character Unification Association' organized by Mr. Ito is for this purpose. Chinese culture cannot be assimilated. We can approach it from another angle, such as taking the initiative to unify the characters of Japan, China and North Korea, and the main body is still Chinese characters."

"This..." Nezuichi was a little confused. It sounded like he was actively helping to promote Chinese culture.

Shuji Izawa continued: "We must admit that without Sinology, Japan's current civilization would be gone."

Otani Guangrui said: "Please tell me in detail."

Before Izawa Shuji could speak, Konoe Akiyuki had already arrived at the door. She wanted to attract the attention of these senior Japanese people, so she said: "Mr. Izawa must mean that Japanese characters are composed of kana and kanji, with kanji accounting for the majority. If Remove it, and Japan's national language will become shallow, barbaric, and weak. Right?"

Shuji Izawa looked at the beautiful young girl with bright eyes and white teeth at the door and asked, "Who are you?"

Dean Nezu said proudly: "This is Konoe Akiyuki, one of the best female students in the academy in recent years."

"円西!" Izawa Shuji said, "It's interesting, keep talking." Konoe Akiyuki said: "Based on the origin of Japanese and Chinese, although today's Chinese characters and sinology are named this way, they are actually a kind of Japanese Literature and Japanese studies.

“Judging from the situation after the Russo-Japanese War, China will be the center of future world competition and the center of politics, diplomacy and industry among the great powers.

"So the importance of the Shina language cannot be ignored. We can take advantage of the fact that Japan and China are of the same species and have the same language to gain an advantage in the competition with the great powers."

"Very good!" Izawa Shuji applauded, "Young lady has mastered the key points of my 'Kanji Unification Meeting'."

During the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, the members of the Chinese Character Unification Association were all prominent figures from Japan, the Qing Dynasty, and Korea.The president is Ito Hirobumi; Zhang Zhidong is the president of the China Department; Duan Fang, Yan Fansun and Yang Shu are the vice presidents of the China Department; Park Qichun is the president of the Korean Department.

Konoe Akiyuki smiled slightly and said, "It's just my humble opinion. It would be better if the adults don't laugh."

Otani Guangrui said: "Please sit down."

Kenjiro Hayade didn't expect that Konoe Akiyuki would attract a lot of Japanese big shots' glances as soon as he came up, and his admiration for this senior in his heart grew even stronger.

Director Nezuichi said: "Girl Konoe now reports directly to General Nobujun Aoki and Mr. Mitsuru Toyama, both of whom have spoken highly of her work."

"It turns out he is affiliated with General Aoki and Mr. Touyama!" Otani Mitsurui became even more interested, "He must be a rare espionage talent in the future."

Nezuichi then said: "Mr. Izawa, since you have mentioned the theory of unification of Chinese characters many times, do you have any specific measures?"

"Of course there is," Shuji Izawa said. "After years of research, we compiled a dictionary called "Tongyin Dictionary" just to promote this theory."

"Please let me take a look." Nezuichi said.

Shuji Izawa took out a thick dictionary: "We have already printed it and hope to sell it vigorously in China."

Nezu read it for a while and said, "It's very in-depth. There are many fragments of our Japanese culture between the lines. Mr. Izawa put a lot of effort into it."

There is no doubt that the Chinese character dictionary compiled by the Japanese was produced in the early [-]th century. It contains so much private information that it is impossible to look directly at it. It is used for brainwashing.

Shuji Izawa said: "We printed a lot, enough to sell."

Nezuichi said: "I will list it as an important task for Doubun Yuan in the near future."

After a while, Mitsui boss Takashi Masuda said again: "Miss Konoe, I also want to ask you something."

Konoe Akiyuki said: "Sir, please speak."

Masuda Takashi said: "Our Mitsui Corporation was about to reach a loan agreement with Nanjing, but it was suddenly interrupted recently. According to my informant, it was Li Yu who helped them set up the connection and obtained the German loan."

Konoe Akiyuki said: "It is true."

Masuda Takashi said: "Why did Li Yu help the Germans to borrow money? Instead of us? Do they have any business cooperation or conspiracy?"

Konoe Akiyuki said: "I only know that when Li Yu was in Germany, he established a cooperative relationship with the German Minister of Industry and received a large amount of money."

Masuda Takashi pondered: "Germany's economic strength is far superior to ours, but Germany has always lacked overseas colonies. Could it be that Germany wants to deepen its interests in the Far East, just like Russia before?"

Although Masuda Takashi made the inference from a business perspective, it aroused Nezuichi's great vigilance: "Germany is a more formidable opponent than Tsarist Russia. If they want to intervene, it will be difficult for us to fight against it."

But Izawa Shuji said: "We have defeated Tsarist Russia, what should we fear if another Germany comes?"

Masuda Takashi said: "We have to be cautious, but if our interests are really touched, it is not a problem to break up with the Germans."

Nezuichi said: "It's all for the empire's Greater East Asia policy!"

After hearing this, several people suddenly became confident: "For the empire, for the emperor!"

-

When they were discussing the "conspiracy", Li Yu actually heard about it, but it was just a coincidence.

Because Wang Guowei and Luo Zhenyu happened to come to school and met Li Yu.

Both of them were great scholars in the former Qing Dynasty, and they had contacts with Cai Yuanpei and other Ministry of Education personnel. However, they were now worried that the situation had not stabilized, so they decided to go east to Japan to avoid the limelight.

The person who contacted them to go to Japan was none other than Otani Mitsui, the head of Honganji Temple.

It can be understood that after World War II, various countries searched for German scientific research talents. Now Japan is taking the opportunity to provide a so-called safe haven, hoping to guide some Chinese elites to Japan.

Wang Guowei was really a little afraid of the situation. He had feelings for Qian Qingting, and he did not cut off his braids until he committed suicide by jumping into a lake in the Summer Palace more than ten years later.

Li Yu saw that they were carrying large suitcases and several heavy luggage pulled by rickshaws, and asked: "Brother Jing'an, Mr. Luo, are you going to Japan to study oracle bone inscriptions?"

Wang Guowei said: "I do have this intention. I have heard that Mr. Liang Zhuoru can also make world-renowned academic achievements in Japan. I think I can do the same."

Wang Guowei will stay in Japan for four years. During this time, he has indeed made considerable academic achievements.

"Then I wish you success in your academic career," Li Yu said. "Do you need help arranging accommodation? I know people from Tokyo Imperial University in Japan. Maybe I can help."

Wang Guowei said: "Thank you so much for your concern. We have received support from the Buddhist monk of Honganji Temple and Mr. Naito Honan, so we don't have to worry about our lives."

Li Yu didn't know the master of Honganji Temple, but he knew Naito Hunan, so he said: "Brother Jing'an must be cautious when he is in Japan."

"I understand," Wang Guowei said. "The master of Honganji Temple is in Shanghai now. Do you want to meet me? I heard that they have compiled a "Tongyin Dictionary" and want to sell it in China."

"Tongwen dictionary?" Li Yu asked.

Wang Guowei said: "Although I have never seen it, it is said to be written by an organization where Hirobumi Ito works. It may be one of the results of Japan's sinology research."

These damn little Japans!

People at that time could not clearly see Japan's ambitions, but Li Yu could guess their rancid ideas just by hearing their name.

Originally, I wanted to follow the historical context and oppose the Chinese character abolition movement, but now it seems that I have to let Zhonghua Book Company start the compilation of the super tome "Cihai" as soon as possible.