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

Chapter 648 Outbreak
The ship sailed across the Pacific and arrived in Shanghai, where Hu Shi, Jiang Menglin and others were greeted.

Like other foreigners who had just arrived in Shanghai, Dewey said to Li Yu after walking around: "Shanghai is very much like New York. These Western-style buildings make me feel like I have not left the United States. The layout of the streets and so many prosperous storefronts, in addition to The faces are mostly Asian, not too different from American beach cities.”

Li Yu said: "That's why we say Greater Shanghai, it is second to none in Asia."

Hu Shi said: "Sir, we have set up a podium at Datong University. Please come over."

Dewey asked: "I don't know Chinese, can I just give a speech in English?"

Hu Shi said: "There will definitely be no problem."

The season was not too hot at this time, and the audience was very enthusiastic.

In fact, Dewey was not good at speaking, and he was a bit slovenly and dressed casually. Fortunately, the content of his speech was good.

The slogan "Scientific authority replaces traditional authority" was played at the venue, which is a favorite phrase of the New Culture Movement.

After Dewey stood on the stage, he said slowly:

“No matter what authority, we should not take it too seriously, what we should pursue is actual recognition and validity.

“I know that the Chinese people have been trying hard to learn from the West and change the status quo, and I appreciate that very much.

“And I want to tell you in particular that the essence of modern Western civilization lies in spiritual culture. If the Chinese want to get inspiration from the West, they must focus on this point and transform their own national spirit.

“I came to China not long ago, but I found that ordinary people in traditional Chinese culture seem to be very indifferent to national issues.

"I was very shocked by this. I once specifically asked a passerby what he thought of the Japanese occupation of Manchuria, but he answered me calmly, 'Oh, that is a matter for the Manchurians.'

“But when faced with the Shandong issue, he was filled with righteous indignation and refused to give in at all.

"I knew on the ship that Mr. Sun's proposal for a republic of five ethnic groups was a very clever move in terms of political philosophy. It has indeed been achieved now. How can anyone still maintain the concepts of the Qing Dynasty?

"Also, I specially took a rickshaw in Shanghai. I found a pedestrian knocked down on the road. He seemed to have suffered injuries such as fractures, but other pedestrians ignored him. In the end, a passing patrolman took the injured person to the hospital. .

"From these little things, I feel that Chinese people have a kind of indifference due to psychological habits.

"..."

Well, as expected of a philosophical person, Dewey really dared to say it.

However, it is indeed more appropriate for a foreigner to talk about this kind of exposing shortcomings in public.

Brother Xun definitely has a deeper understanding of the indifference of the Chinese people, but he explains it through literary works, and the form is different. Brother Xun's method is strong, powerful and lasts longer.

The subsequent speech was given by Li Yu, who had to ask a key question:
"I recently went to Paris, and I think everyone knows a lot of things. Although the final result has not come out, the situation is very not optimistic.

"I understand that everyone is outraged, and I can only say it again. Students ultimately want to learn. If they can express political views and take political actions with a more intelligent and patriotic spirit, it will be more effective and protect themselves at the same time.

"You must not act emotionally. You need to have a purpose, a method, and a determination, so that you can achieve where you want to go. Otherwise, even if it is five minutes of passion, even if it can be enjoyable for a while, it will explode like gunpowder and be extinguished in an instant; another example is The water vapor evaporates and dissipates immediately.

"But if enough wisdom is added, gunpowder can be turned into bullets, and water vapor can turn machinery. The effect is multiplied several times!
"You and I are both academics, so we should use a smart way to organize all aspects of society like an advanced machine. Each part cooperates with each other to achieve maximum effectiveness. But once it is taken apart, it becomes useless. Iron. So there must be a proper group and help each other to achieve the best goal..."

What Li Yu and Dewey said will definitely be published in a newspaper for many students to see, which is considered more timely.

That night, Dewey stayed in Li Yu's Yu Garden. He was so crazy about this kind of traditional Chinese garden that he wished he could build one in the United States in the future.

Li Yu said: "Chinese gardens pay attention to artistic conception. Even if your country is better at creating them now, you definitely don't understand the word 'artistic conception'. This is the most soulful thing in Chinese art."

"I understand, but in the United States, as long as you show an appearance, many people will be fascinated. Even if there is a mood, they can't understand it," Dewey said, then pointed to the rockery and fish pond and said, "What I am most satisfied with is this."

Li Yu said with a smile: "There are carp in it. If Mr. Dewey brings it back to the United States, it may damage the ecological balance."

"Aren't they all fish!" Dewey didn't care. After all, there wasn’t much concept of invasive species at this time. “And it’s hard to say whether it can be brought to the United States alive. If it’s not possible, I’ll put in a few fish from the Mississippi River.”

"As long as it's not too ferocious and easy to raise, it's fine." Li Yu said.

-

The next day, Mr. Sun also paid a visit after learning that Dewey was coming.

"I am now concentrating on learning, and this is just for this reason." Mr. Sun said.

Dewey said: "Even if I talk about politics, I can't talk much as a philosophy professor, let alone the politics of your country."

Mr. Sun said: "I read the report and know that Mr. Dewey upholds a pragmatist philosophy. I happen to have a very interesting question that I would like to discuss with you."

Dewey said, "Sir, please speak."

Mr. Sun said: "Regarding your pragmatic philosophy, there is a very famous scholar in China who mentioned the idea of ​​'unity of knowledge and action', which has influenced many Chinese scholars. It is not easy to achieve unity of knowledge and action, so later two views emerged: knowing is easy but action is difficult and knowing is difficult but action is easy."

Dewey thought for a while and said: "We Europeans and Americans only know how difficult it is, but we don't know how difficult it is to do it."

That is to say, Dewey agreed that “it is easier to do than to know.”

Mr. Sun was deeply impressed: "I have the same emotion. It's easier to do it than to do it, but it's easy to do it. China just can't find a good road and doesn't know how to go on."

Mr. Sun's life was quite full of twists and turns, especially on the road to revolution.

In fact, in the eyes of ordinary people, it is indeed "easier said than done", because you can always find the path guided by successful people.

But once you reach a certain level and need to explore unknown things, it becomes "hard to do, easy to do".

Anyway, there is no absolute right or wrong between the two, and they are often used as debate topics.

Dewey asked: "Academician Li Yu, what do you think?"

Li Yu said: "The ancient saying in China has long been 'Knowing is easier than doing', because knowledge is generally fixed, but some people are unwilling to take action. Although to a certain extent, there is nothing wrong with knowing that is easier than doing, the problem is that the Chinese people lack From the perspective of 'knowing is easier than doing', I think we should have both.”

Dewey said with a smile: "Academician Li Yu has more Chinese characteristics of moderation and does not like extremes."

Li Yu shrugged: "China has always had its own characteristics, which are very different from the West." Dewey said: "Indeed, when your country learns from foreign experience, it must also be based on the needs of its own national conditions. I have many Chinese students, and I have learned from them It can be understood that China’s education imitates Japan and draws lessons from Germany, but it seems that it never knows how to determine the purpose and system of a country’s education. It should be based on the needs of the country and the current situation of the people, and then be carefully imitated by other countries. , it is too easy to fail.

"Because all imitation can only learn the superficial form and cannot get the core spirit. Now all countries are reforming education. After the imitation is successful, they have already secretly changed the old system. In this way, they will always fall behind."

Dewey's words are still very sincere.

Mr. Sun nodded and said, "Mr. Dewey is saying that Chinese educators should study the local social needs of their country on the one hand, and use Western educational theories as a reference in order to create a new modern Chinese education."

Dewey said: "Yes, I know it is difficult. I am just putting forward some conceptual ideas. As for how to do it specifically, I can't suggest it. As you said, it is easier said than done."

-

After meeting with some cultural celebrities in Shanghai, it was already May 2, and the "Morning News" sent out a telegram from Liang Qichao, signaling that the storm was about to come.

Li Yu said to Dewey: "Let's go to Beijing to see where the eye of the storm is now."

Dewey agreed: "There are several universities in Beijing that I am very interested in, and Mr. Cai Yuanpei has sent messages many times asking me to go to Peking University."

"That's really interesting."

When the two arrived in Beijing, it happened to be May 4th.

At the train station, Hu Shi asked strangely: "Why isn't Principal Cai here?"

Li Yu said: "There must be something wrong in the school."

Several people immediately rushed to school.

After the "Morning Post" published the article, Shao Piaoping immediately held a report at Peking University on May 5, reporting on the failure of the peace conference on the Shandong issue.

That night, three thousand students at Peking University were almost set on fire, and they immediately decided to launch a demonstration.

Their original plan was to march on May 5, the day of national humiliation, but they did not prepare many things, so they had to spend more than 7 yuan stored in the student bank overnight to buy more than flags and banners.

The money was raised by students last month to pay for the telegraph fee to Paris. I didn't expect to save so much.

They started gathering this morning.

Li Yu and others came to the school gate and happened to see Cai Yuanpei discussing with several student representatives.

Most of the student representatives are well-known figures: such as Fu Sinian, Luo Jialun, etc.

Cai Yuanpei was not tall, so he stood on a stone pier and said to them: "Demonstrations cannot change the situation! Peking University has always advocated academic freedom, which is disgusted by conservative figures and the government, and is regarded by them as a scourge that advocates heresy. If students go out to march on campus again and something happens, if I tell you the truth, Peking University will suffer even more damage!"

A student leader named Zhang said: "The demonstration is inevitable. The principal did not know about it in advance. There is no need to worry about it now. Please go back to the office."

After that, they moved on.

Li Yu and others came to Cai Yuanpei. After briefly introducing Dewey, Cai Yuanpei adjusted his glasses and said, "I'm really sorry. I'm afraid I won't be able to deliver the speech scheduled for today."

Dewey was more interested in the march: "This is a manifestation of the true will of the students. Since they are dissatisfied with the peace conference, they should speak out loudly. If their voices are deafening, but the higher-ups remain silent, more problems will be revealed. ”

Cai Yuanpei sighed: "I understand everything you said, but you know the students, but you don't necessarily know the Anfu Department."

Dewey said, "I want to go see the parade, okay?"

Li Yu said: "Let's go, I want to go too."

Hu Shi saw his favorite protégé Fu Sinian among the students. Although he knew that he had leadership qualities, he was afraid of causing trouble: "The demonstration with anger can easily become more violent. Let's follow!"

At this time, Peking University was in the Second Ring Road, not far from Dongjiaomin Lane.

After arriving at the front gate, the infantry commander in charge of public security in the capital and Wu Bingxiang from the Capital Security Department immediately came up to negotiate with the students.

Fu Sinian, one of the student leaders, said to Wu Bingxiang: "We came to the embassy today just to show our patriotism. We will be cautious in all actions. Seniors can rest assured."

Wu Bingxiang had been in Beijing for so many years and had seen several student movements without strong opposition, so he said to them: "You go ahead, but be careful not to engage in international negotiations. Don't forget how foreigners used lesson plans back then." event."

The police bosses let them go, and the students continued to chant slogans such as "Give me back Qingdao," "Abolish the Twenty-One Articles," "Punish the traitors," and "Swear to the death not to recognize the contract." They waved several huge five-color national flags in a mighty manner. Walk towards the foreign embassy area of ​​Dongjiaomin Lane.

However, it was undoubtedly blocked again in the embassy area.

Luo Jialun and several other student representatives went in first and approached the American minister. The Americans knew that the students' target was the Japanese Embassy and even praised them a few times.

However, in the end, most students were still unable to enter the embassy area.

Then someone in the crowd shouted, "Go to Zhaojialou to demonstrate!"
So the students turned around, shouted "We will get rid of the national traitors," and headed toward Cao Rulin's home near Dongjiaomin Lane.

Fu Sinian was a little confused and wanted to say a few words, but his voice was no longer audible.

Next, the Zhaojia Building will be burned down.

Zhaojialou is the home of Cao Rulin. It is a large bungalow in the style of a Manchurian palace. It is derived from the former residence of Zhao Zhenji, a great scholar in the Ming Dynasty, so it is called "Zhaojialou".

There were many policemen at the door. After learning about the students' demands, these policemen no longer stopped them and allowed them to open the door of Cao Rulin's house.

The students poured in, but Cao Rulin was smarter and hid himself without being discovered.

Zhang Zongxiang was fatter, and someone happened to recognize him, so he pulled him over and was beaten up.

Naturally, the Cao family was beaten to pieces. Someone suddenly took out a lighter and lit Cao's house on fire.

Seeing that what had happened, Fu Sinian took out a notebook full of names of student representatives from his arms, threw it into the sea of ​​fire, and then left.

The police had to take care of the fire, but most of the students dispersed and only a few dozen were caught.

Hu Shi and Dewey were almost stunned. Li Yu patted them both: "It's time to do something."