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

At this time, "Shenbao" was in a relatively low period, probably because there were too many newspapers emerging, which caused a certain impact.

However, in terms of newspaper running capabilities, most of the founders or operators of new newspapers cannot compare with professional journalists like Shi Liangcai.

Li Yu drove to the Qing Navy Headquarters to find Zhang Jian - the former site of the Qing Navy Headquarters was the responsible cabinet office of the provisional government.

When it comes to the style of the Republic of China, many people often think of the Western-style buildings on the Bund in Shanghai, or the Five Avenues in Tianjin, or the Yihe Road in Nanjing, but almost no one mentions the city of Beijing.

But before the Northern Expedition, the center of rule of the Beiyang government had always been in Beijing, which was definitely an extremely important part in the history of the Republic of China.

For some reason, everyone’s impression of Beijing in the Republic of China is always alleys, coats and the like. The same is true for many films and TV dramas of the Republic of China. When it comes to Shanghai Beach or Tianjin's Five Avenues, they all have Western-style buildings plus suits, cheongsams, hair oil, and cigarettes. But when they come to Beijing, the style changes.

Could it be the inertia of history?
  However, Beijing is not completely devoid of modern-style Western architecture. The Qing Army Ministry and Navy Ministry in front of you are typical examples. They are rare imitation Western-style buildings in Beijing, and they are also a group of buildings.

Located on Zhangzizhong Road in later generations, it was called Iron Lion Hutong during the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China.

The War Department Building was built around 1906 and is taller than the Admiralty Department next to it.

It is said that the construction of these two buildings was made with the remaining money Empress Dowager Cixi misappropriated from the Navy to repair the Summer Palace.

Yuan Shikai took office as president in the War Department Building, and his office for more than a year was also here.

The office buildings of the Congress and the Cabinet are in the Admiralty Building next to it, and the Senate also has an office in Elephant Street. The two places are quite far apart, one is in the northeast corner of Beijing and the other is in the southwest corner.

In short, the Qing Army Ministry and the Navy Ministry were the center of power in the country for a period of time.

As soon as he got off the bus, Li Yu met Cai Yuanpei and went in with him to find Zhang Jian.

After listening to Li Yu's words, Zhang Jian immediately expressed his position: "The Shenbao was finally bought by our own people a few years ago. It's a pity that Chairman Zipei can't run it. I feel heartbroken when I see it. It would be better if Shi Liangcai bought it earlier." OK! How much does the other party want?"

Li Yu said: "The asking price is 12 yuan."

Zhang Jian thought for a while and said: "Xi Zipei bought it from a foreigner for 75000 yuan, and he made so much money when he resold it. The key is that the "Declaration" in his hands has been declining in the past few years. Can it be cheaper?"

Li Yu said: "Times have changed, and the price is not very high. While he is determined to sell, it is better to just buy it and buy it quickly."

Zhang Jian said: "That's fine, we can get the money together."

Zhang Jian has been in the industry for many years and is a wealthy owner. Naturally, Li Yu is not short of money, with 12 yuan easily.

You must be quick to buy "Declaration", otherwise Xi Zipei, the current owner, is likely to regret it.

Xi Zipei began negotiations in 1906, and it was not until 1909 that he fully purchased "Shenbao". The sale of "Declaration" is very fast, and it can be concluded within a few months.

He regretted it afterwards, because Shi Liangcai's business was so good, the sales volume of "Shenbao" was rising steadily, and its value was rising.

So Xi Zipei hired a lawyer to sue three years later, arguing that he only sold the newspaper property and that the trademark "Shen Shen" was not sold to Shi Liangcai, so Shi Liangcai could not publish a newspaper under the name "Shen Shen".

The lawyer he hired was very capable and caught the legal loopholes in fixed assets and intangible assets, causing Shi Liangcai to suffer a hidden loss. Shi Liangcai ultimately lost the lawsuit and could only pay another 24.5 yuan to Xi Zipei.

However, after Xi Zipei received this huge sum of money, he was still unwilling to accept it. He started a "New Shenbao" to compete. As a result, it ceased publication due to poor management a year later, and he lost all his money.

At that time, Li Yude told Shi Liangcai that the contract must include a clause including the declaration of trademark rights.

Cai Yuanpei said to Li Yu: "Now the Ministry of Education needs to recruit a group of personnel. Since Brother Shucai is unwilling to enter the political arena and 'complicit' with us, he should help introduce some people, otherwise I will become a polished commander."

Li Yu smiled and said: "It should be."

Cai Yuanpei said: "You are familiar with science talents. Let them take a position in the Ministry of Education. The salary will not be wasted, and then your own job as a university lecturer or engineering staff will not be delayed."

Li Yu said: "I understand."

Yu Heqin will return to China soon. Not only does he love chemistry, but he is also a person with management skills, so he is very suitable to do something in the Ministry of Education.

Lu Xun will also be employed by the Ministry of Education this year.

During the Republic of China, ordinary workers' wages were very low, only about ten yuan a month. However, Lu Xun's salary in the Ministry of Education was two to three hundred yuan a month, which was considered a high-income group.

After leaving the Admiralty Building, Li Yu first gave the money to Shi Liangcai and urged him to hire a lawyer to draw up the contract.

Although Shi Liangcai didn't know what the future would be like like a time traveler like Li Yu, he saw that Li Yu's words were conclusive and that the transaction of more than [-] yuan was really a big deal, so he agreed.

A few days after bidding farewell to Shi Liangcai, Tsinghua University finally opened.

Li Yu still has the position of supervisor, so he must go there.

Li Yu drove into his car as usual, exited Xizhimen, and then walked along a road toward the northwest of Haidian.

At this time, Haidian was just an ordinary town, quite desolate. However, since the road leading to Tsinghua University also leads to the Summer Palace and Old Summer Palace, it is maintained basically every day, and the road condition is not bad.

Since the late Qing Dynasty, there have been several maintenance points along the route where the infantry commanders' offices were stationed, with scavengers inside. Li Yu saw them sprinkling loess on the road from time to time, and then pouring water one ladle after another.

Li Yu's car took a road paved with stones on both sides, and it could also ride on a horse-drawn cart.

It's spring now, and the willow branches on both sides of the road are in full bloom. If you walk on this road in the evening, you will definitely be on the ancient sunset road, and the scene will be secluded.

Tang Guoan, the first president of Tsinghua University, and Zhou Yichun, the later second president, greeted Li Yu at the door.

Zhou Yichun had just returned from studying abroad. Tang Guoan thought highly of him and appointed him as the provost.

"Brother Guolu (Tang Guo'an's word), Yichun, you are well." Li Yu greeted them after getting off the car.

Tang Guoan said: "Brother Shucai, you are a big star. I heard that you founded a university in Shanghai and was asked by Yan Fu to teach at Peking University. I was afraid that you would never return to Tsinghua University."

"How is that possible!" Li Yu said with a smile, "On the contrary, Brother Guolu could have obtained a high position in the Senate, but he still stayed in the school, which is admirable."

After the Revolution of [-], Zhou Ziqi, Yan Huiqing, Fan Yuanlian and others who had been together at Tsinghua University all became senior officials in the new cabinet, leaving only Tang Guoan.

Originally, Tang Guoan could also hold a prominent official position in the National Assembly. After all, he had no academic qualifications and a profound background. He and the Prime Minister Tang Shaoyi were both from the same hometown and classmates, and they were also uncles and brothers of the same clan and generation.

Tang Guoan said: "I don't care about my career because I don't care about my talents. I am the same. I am more satisfied at Tsinghua University."

Several people walked towards the campus, and Li Yu asked casually: "How many students are back?"

Tang Guoan said: "It's not bad, 360 people came back." Almost all of them came back. After all, Tsinghua's conditions are among the best in the country.

Moreover, students currently studying at Tsinghua University are not like those who are dawdling around in Beijing Normal University. Most of them have clear goals. Moreover, they wear labels such as "Reparations School", "National Humiliation School" and "China's Defeat Monument" on their heads, and they have a strong sense of patriotism in their hearts.

Li Yu asked another key question: "What about the funding issue?"

Tang Guoan sighed and said: "The school was suspended for half a year because funds were withheld during the 20 Revolution. Now President Yuan is still withholding funds. I had to borrow [-] taels from Hua'er Daosheng Bank, thinking about the Geng funds that were withheld before. Also, this year’s Geng repayment can be repaid once it is in place, but President Yuan will not approve it at all. Now the manager of Hua-Russian Daosheng Bank frequently sends me telegrams to urge repayment.”

So the Americans still don’t understand China well enough. Although they have formulated many policies to ensure that Geng Geng money must be used for education, who is Yuan Shikai? He doesn't even pay attention to Congress, will he act according to the rules?

Even though Minister of Finance Zhou Ziqi is the founding father of Tsinghua University, there is nothing he can do.

Li Yu frowned and said, "Funding is a big problem. I can help you stabilize the Hua-Russian Daosheng Bank first, and then we can jointly go to President Yuan Da to explain the matter. Brother Guolu just needs to take care of the school affairs."

Historically, Tang Guoan died of illness a year later. In his own words, half of all his energy was spent on school affairs, and the other half was spent on funding.

Tang Guoan said: "After half a year's rest, I have a more complete plan for the development of the school. I have obtained permission from Minister Cai of the Ministry of Education to combine the three departments of the Academic Affairs Office, the school, and the Supervision Office in the United States into one. All affairs are managed by the school, so that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United States cannot interfere, and we can make our own decisions."

Li Yu said: "This is the best. Neither the Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor the Americans know the school better than the management who is in the school."

Tang Guoan added: "I am also planning to change the past 5-3 system of 4 years of secondary subjects and 4 years of tertiary subjects back to the [-]-[-] system of [-] years of secondary subjects and [-] years of tertiary subjects, and enrich the teaching content to improve students' ability after studying in the United States. The adaptability. Among them, the detailed arrangement of science and engineering courses needs the help of brothers Shucai."

Li Yu said: "I won't hesitate to do anything."

The current Tsinghua University cannot really be called a "university". It is quite appropriate to call it Tsinghua University.

However, Tsinghua’s academic pressure is quite high. The eight-year academic system is also the longest in the country. According to Tsinghua’s school charter, after four years of study, students who graduate from secondary subjects can reach the first and second grade levels of American high schools, and those who graduate from advanced subjects can reach the level of first and second grade students of American universities. Sophomore level, equivalent to junior college in the United States.

Then when students go to the United States, they can go directly to the third and fourth years of college, shortening the period of college and creating conditions for early entry into graduate school to study for master's and doctoral degrees.

In short, these measures taken by Tang Guoan are very suitable for Tsinghua University.

While talking, Tang Guoan covered his chest from time to time and coughed twice. His body was already showing signs of serious illness.

Li Yu felt deeply sorry and knew that he had a heart disease, but there was no good treatment plan at this time.

Zhou Yichun said: "Principal, the students have gathered and we can hold the opening ceremony."

Tang Guoan cheered up: "Brother Shucai, let's go together."

It's not really an opening ceremony, because the students took classes for half a year last year, and they only took half a year off because of the Revolution of [-].

But no matter what, with the new dynasty and new atmosphere, school should be reopened.

Tang Guoan first went on stage to say a few words, and then asked Li Yu to come up. He was the leader in the scientific community, and Tsinghua University was a typical science and engineering school.

Li Yu started helping to establish Tsinghua a few years ago, and he also has the title of supervisor. He is an old acquaintance of Tsinghua. Students are familiar with him, and many even admire him.

Li Yu cleared his throat and said:
  “You must understand that in today’s world, those Western civilizations cannot be said to be free and democratic, because if they were truly free and democratic, they would not colonize the world and invade others.

Therefore, we need to be strong ourselves when we are forging iron. We must strengthen ourselves. Only then can we be qualified to talk about freedom.

I am not saying this to talk about political topics, but I am just telling you that the strict management of the school may seem to restrict your freedom, but it is actually for the sake of true freedom in the future.

If you want to build a country in the modern world, you must lay a solid foundation for modernization in all aspects of science and culture; political system and political atmosphere are naturally important, but they are less decisive than the former.

So how can we make the country strong?
  Let me give a few simple examples. For example, if you can turn Shenbao into a newspaper that truly reflects public opinion, speaks out and upholds justice, and is valued and respected at home and abroad, it will establish a solid pillar in the public opinion circle.

Another example is that we strive to make progress in the chemical industry, and our products are among the most advanced in the world. In this regard, we have also established a solid pillar.

If China had dozens of such pillars, the foundation would be solid.

The government is like a roof. A good roof will be firmly built on these pillars; if a bad roof cannot be installed, it will collapse and be rebuilt, but it will not affect the pillars below.

With these pillars, one day, a majestic building that attracts worldwide attention will be built! "

After Li Yu finished speaking, there was warm applause from the audience.

Student Wu Mi said to Jin Yuelin next to him: "I even want to switch to science."

Jin Yuelin smiled and said: "As far as your math scores are concerned, you should give up! And didn't Academician Li Yu just say that Zhuzi is not just science and engineering, the example of "Declaration" represents the liberal arts."

Wu Mi whispered: "But Tsinghua's liberal arts..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Yichun, as provost, took the stage and continued to review Tsinghua's discipline.

Tsinghua University's school rules are definitely the strictest, and it is almost a semi-military management.

I won’t mention the routine things like not being able to read novels and not being able to bring money. Here are some detailed examples:
  Tsinghua University wakes up at seven o'clock every morning, and everyone's towels and washbasins are numbered, and those who are dirty will be punished.

Have breakfast at [-]:[-], four plates of pickles such as dried radish and eight-treasure vegetables, three steamed buns per person, and no limit to porridge.

Even on the dinner table, everyone’s student number is written down, and punishment for absence is written down. So you don’t have to wash your face, but you have to eat breakfast.

However, food at Tsinghua University is currently free, and Tsinghua University is located in a "remote area". If you don't eat in the cafeteria, there is no place to have a meal.

Skipping breakfast is considered a minor mistake. If you accumulate too many minor sins, you will be recorded as a minor demerit. Three minor sins will be considered a major demerit. Three major sins will result in expulsion!
  ——Theft is the most serious sin. Even if you only steal a dictionary, no matter how you argue that "stealing a book is not stealing", the school will not be accommodating.

And as long as you make a small mistake, you will basically not get the large copper cartridge that represents good conduct.

By the way, there are also "informants" among students who are responsible for making snitches. If the information is verified, the informants will receive rewards.

It seems that most informants have received large copper ink cartridges.

But like ordinary students in later generations, Tsinghua students also hate snitches.

Historically, it was not until many years later that this system was criticized by foreign teachers that it was abandoned.

Li Yu had also hated snitches since he was a child, and planned to ask Zhou Yichun to cancel the "spy war" on campus as soon as possible.