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

Chapter 654 Nine Heavens Ring Pendant
Yu Heqin, who has been with Li Yu for many years, is also in Shanghai now.

Yu Heqin is famous for his achievements in chemistry. Later generations have always respected him as the founder of Chinese chemistry and the name of organic chemistry.

These titles are already quite powerful, but Yu Heqin's hobbies in history are actually a bit broad. Now he no longer focuses on chemistry, but has instead studied music, chess, calligraphy and painting, which are the favorites of traditional Chinese literati, and has attainments in these areas. Not low at all.

Especially for the traditional musical instrument Guqin, Yu Heqin is a master in the industry, even a little bit like Zhuge Liang.

Yu Heqin has a very famous anecdote about "the army suppresses the situation and plays the piano calmly".

During the Second Zhili-Fengtian War, Yu Heqin followed Song Zheyuan, the governor of Rehe, to serve as the Director of Education of Rehe Province and lived in the Chengde Summer Resort.

The armies of Zhang Zuolin and Wu Peifu invaded from the north and south respectively, and the situation was very urgent.

Song Zheyuan wanted to withdraw from the army, but he was afraid that the news would be leaked and cause changes in Chengde, so he made a plan to hire dozens of masons to paint the walls and clean up the ruined summer resort.

Then Yu and Qin hosted a banquet for all the gentry in the city at the summer resort.

Halfway through the wine, Yu Heqin took out the piano and played for the guests, and then invited everyone to take turns singing. Amidst the banquets and music, the army quietly withdrew. The feast is about to end, and all the troops have gone north.

Song Zheyuan, Yu Heqin and other seven or eight people went back. They exchanged fire with Wu Peifu's small troops several times on the way, but did not suffer much losses.

Although this was just an insignificant episode during the Zhili-Fengtian War, it fully demonstrated the courage of Yu Heqin.

Among them, Yu Heqin playing the guqin is an important part.

And this sharp weapon is not in place yet.

Li Yu would not interfere with Yu Heqin's personal pursuits. Although he felt a pity for him to give up chemistry temporarily, to be honest, the chemical industry itself is the most difficult category to engage in. Yu Heqin may have felt desperate. opt out.

Many people don't feel much about chemical engineering when they hear it, thinking it is ordinary, perhaps because it is too basic.

But in fact, even a hundred years later in the 21st century, most countries in the world cannot manufacture an extremely common thing like urea on a large scale and with high quality, because industrial ammonia synthesis is a very complex and comprehensive heavy industry category. Not to mention other troublesome chemical products.

So you can understand how difficult chemical engineering is.

On the other hand, in terms of machinery manufacturing, it is possible to do something with individual efforts, and the domestic steel industry also started early. But the heavy chemical industry can only rely on the strength of the country in the future.

Therefore, most of those who studied chemistry, such as Yu Heqin, could only engage in education and were unable to devote themselves to too many chemical industries.

Fan Xudong and others have broken through the soda ash process and are close to a miracle.

——Chinese people have actually understood the principles of chemistry for a long time. There is no doubt about the learning ability of the Chinese people. After all, the IQ is there, but they cannot be put into practice.

Fortunately, Ren Hongjun and others have not completely given up on chemistry, but Li Yu only hopes that he can break through some theoretical problems, that is, in the field of pure science, not the chemical industry.

Wearing a traditional robe, Yu Heqin came to Li Yu's Yu Garden and asked politely: "Brother Shucai, what big things have you been busy with recently?"

"It's an annoying thing," Li Yu said.

"Is it related to the Industrial Association and the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce?" Yu Heqin guessed it easily. "I was in the Shanghai Concession recently and saw more foreign faces. I knew that trouble was definitely coming."

Li Yu said helplessly: "That's true."

Yu Heqin knew etiquette very well and said, "I have something to bother you sir. I will come back to you when you are free."

"It doesn't matter," Li Yu said, "anyway, foreigners and economic and trade matters cannot be solved in a short time. It's better to change your mind and think about other things."

"So thank you!" Yu Heqin said, and then mentioned what he asked for, "Recently, there is news that Pu Dong, the former Qing royal family, came to Shanghai with the intention of selling some of his collections. I know that Mr. Academician has always been keen on collecting. Cultural relics, so come and inform.”

"Pu Dong?" Li Yu didn't know this person very well.

Yu Heqin explained: "Pu Dong is the great-grandson of the former Emperor Daoguang, known as the owner of Hongdou Pavilion. He ranks fifth, and is generally called Dong Fifth Master in the Dao. Among many relatives of the former emperor, Pu Dong is a very talented person. He is good at calligraphy, painting, appreciation, and singing. By the way, he also composed the national anthem of the previous dynasty.”

"That song "Gong Jinou"?" Li Yu asked.

Yu Heqin said: "Yes, this song was composed by Pu Dong and lyrics by Yan Fu. However, within a few days of completion, the Revolution of 1911 happened, and it took less than a week."

The lyrics of the Qing Dynasty's national anthem "Gong Jin Ou" are in classical Chinese: Gong Jin Ou, bearing the sky, the people's property is iron fuzao. I am happy for my compatriots and enjoy the good times. True Xi howls, the empire is protected by the sky. The sky is high and the sea is roaring.

Before that, there were actually two versions of the national anthem in the late Qing Dynasty, one was "Li Zhongtang Music":
The golden palace is the most important, while the purple pavilion is the most important.
Jade hibiscus on the cactus,
The Emperor of Taiping looks up to the sky,
The five-color cloud chariot drives six dragons.

At that time, Li Hongzhang was visiting Europe and the United States. There was no national anthem at the official ceremony, which was a bit embarrassing, so Li Zhongtang asked his entourage to compose this song by referring to the quatrains of the poet Wang Jian. Anyway, in ancient times, Tang poetry and Song lyrics could be filled with music.

But this song has not been designated as the national anthem.

A few years later, the Qing Dynasty Army's military song "Ode to the Dragon Flag" was used as protocol music on formal occasions. The lyrics of this song are more domineering:
In Siwannian,

Yadong Empire!
The mountains stand out in vertical and horizontal directions,
Rivers spread the waves of civilization;
Four hundred trillion people and gods,
The land is vast and the products are abundant.

Show me the emblem of the Yellow Dragon Empire,
Sing the song of my empire!
But it was not until a few days before the fall of the Qing Dynasty that "Gong Jin Ou" was hastily promulgated as the official national anthem.

It is said that after hearing this, Cao Xinquan, a Kunqu opera musician at that time, told people that the Qing Dynasty was about to lose its national spirit because this song contained the sound of national subjugation. Sure enough, not long after the promulgation of "Gong Jin Ou", the Qing Dynasty disappeared. "Gong Jinou" immediately became the funeral song of the Qing Dynasty.

It really suited the occasion.

Li Yu heard it several times, so he said: "This Pu Dong is indeed a music expert."

Yu Heqin said: "Not only music, this person is skilled in Kunqu Opera, and his level is even higher than that of Yuan Ergong. He is a well-known figure in the entire voting circle. He is also proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. Recently, perhaps because of his livelihood, he Then I put my own treasures up for auction.”

The Manchu clan had too many cultural relics for sale, and Li Yuchu said calmly, "The Aisin Gioro people have collected rare cultural relics for more than two hundred years. I would not be surprised if there are any treasures."

Yu Heqin said: "What Pu Dong took out this time is really extraordinary. It is an extremely rare Tang Dynasty guqin, named Jiuxiao Huanpei. It is recognized in the guqin circle that there are three peerless guqins in Shanghai, one of which belongs to the Wang family. "Iron Sparrow Dance", one is the "Autumn Moon" hidden by the Wu family, and the best one is the "Nine Heavens Ring Pei" in Pu Dong's hand. "

Li Yu was surprised and said: "Jiuxiao Huanpei? What a beautiful name! Tang Qin's words are probably worth a lot of money."

Yu Heqin nodded and said: "This Qin was once owned by Huang Tingjian and Su Shi. Over the past thousands of years, countless literati and poets have played with this Qin. This alone gives it a far-reaching aura that transcends eternity."

Li Yu also yearned for the guqin, but the threshold for learning traditional Chinese musical instruments was too high. Even if he could get started, it would be too difficult to become proficient. So he said: "Such a good thing is his favorite, why?" Want to sell?”

Yu Heqin said: "Since the Republic of China, have the clans of the previous dynasty sold less cultural relics? I'm not sure of the specific reason. I guess it's just selling off the ancestral property. It's just like blood scattered in the water. Inadvertently, it's just like blood. It attracted countless people’s attention.”

"There won't be another kid...Japanese, right?" Li Yu asked.

Yu Heqin said: "Brother Shucai knows the Japanese very well. They do exist."

Li Yu stood up immediately: "Then let's go, no need to say more."

It seems that only four or five guqins from the Tang Dynasty were passed down to later generations, making them extremely rare. The little devils are engaged in cultural plunder, eager to collect China's treasures.

——Pu Dong was very fashionable and was publicly auctioned at the auction house in the French Concession.

Not only did it attract Japanese people, but many British and French buyers were also present.

Due to the large number of bosses, Huang Huangrong, the Chinese detective in the French Concession, personally came with his younger brother to warn them.

"Master Li." Huang Jinrong greeted. He always respected Li Yu very much.

"Inspector Huang," Li Yu also greeted casually, "Thank you, Your Excellency."

Huang Huangrong said with a smile on his face: "There are so many cultural people here today, and I, Mr. Huang, don't dare to neglect them."

Li Yu said: "Hard work, hard work."

Huang Huangrong is now the absolute eldest brother of the entire underworld and Qinggang in Shanghai. It won't be long before Principal Jiang owes millions due to failed investment in stocks. He will ask someone to hand Huang Huangrong an apprenticeship letter, and he will come forward to settle the matter. If you don't let the creditor know, the life of debt collection will be difficult.

Of course, there is no need to say that Chiang Kai-shek became Huang Huangrong's disciple.

With Principal Jiang's style, it was impossible for him to take people like Huang Huangrong too seriously. Comrade Chiang Kai-shek was just making use of the available connections around him on his way to the peak of power.

Li Yu walked into the venue and met Pu Dong, the owner of the red bean restaurant.

As I have said several times before, there was a saying in the Republic of China about the so-called "Four Young Masters of the Republic of China", and one version included Pu Dong. As a former nobleman, Pu Dong did have the capital to enter this ranking.

Unlike his contemporaries Pu Yi and others, Pu Dong was not keen on politics, but only liked playing music, chess, calligraphy and painting.

Yu Heqin introduced him: "The museum owner, this is the famous scientific giant Li Yu."

Pu Dong leaned forward and said, "Master Emperor, you are polite."

The phrase "emperor's teacher" comes from the fact that Li Yu taught Guangxu a lesson.

Li Yu said: "It's easy to talk about."

Pu Tong added: "There are so many important people here today. I specially called my brother Pu Ru to receive them together."

He turned around and shouted, and a young man in his twenties came over: "I've seen the Imperial Master."

Pu Ru was the queen of Prince Gong Yi, and his status was actually higher than that of Pu Dong. However, he kept a lower profile. After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, he lived in seclusion at Jietai Temple in Xishan to study calligraphy and painting.

Puru gave himself a name, Jiu Wangsun. When Qi Gong was young, he once sought lessons from him. (Qi Gong was also an Aixinjueluo clan, but they belonged to a side branch. By the late Qing Dynasty, they had completely fallen into disgrace and were considered an ordinary clan at best.)
In short, Pu Ru and Pu Dong were the leaders of the Qing Dynasty clan in the fields of literati such as piano, chess, calligraphy and painting during the Republic of China.

After Puyi became the puppet emperor of Manchukuo, Pu Ru even wrote an article denounced Puyi for "Nine temples will not be established, the clan will not continue, sacrifices are not his ghost, and worship is not his Shuo", and then angrily scolded his cousin for "acting as a concubine." The door is a ghost clan." Very harsh words.

These clans left over from the former Qing Dynasty are not all of the same mind.

After a brief introduction, everyone took their seats. Li Yu saw that there were indeed several Japanese sitting in the distance, along with the faces of several young Chinese, but he could not see who they were.

Pu Dong first gave everyone a detailed introduction to the Jiuxiao Huanpei Guqin he held: "This Qin was made by Lei, a master of Qin making in the Tang Dynasty. It was collected by famous masters in the Tang, Song, Ming and Qing Dynasties. You don't have to doubt its authenticity."

No one is worried about this problem at all, because it has been verified by several luthiers before.

Pu Dong said: "Although it has been used for thousands of years, this Qin still has an ethereal sound. It is a rare and famous instrument."

He gently plucked the strings, and the sound that spanned thousands of years was enough to make people intoxicated.

Then Pu Tong skillfully played the song "High Mountains and Flowing Waters", and the melodious and melodious sound of nature, like flowing clouds and flowing water, filled the venue, which was extremely elegant.

After the song was over, some people could no longer hold themselves back: "Hongdou Pavilion Master, hurry up and start the bidding auction!"

PuTong slowly raised his hand from the strings, clenched his fist, gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, let's get started! The base price of this piano is 6000 yuan, everyone, please bid!"

"I'll pay 7000!"

"I'll pay 8000!"

"I'll pay 1!"

"..."

Li Yu was not in a hurry. He glanced sideways and saw that the Japanese over there seemed to be very calm.

When the price reached 2, few people bid again.

The Japanese whispered a few words to the young man next to him before raising his hand: "2 yuan."

Li Yuze slowly raised his hand: "2."

The Japanese hesitated for a moment, glanced at the young man next to him, and raised his hand again: "2."

Li Yu raised his hand again: "2 yuan."

The Japanese looked at the young man next to him again, and he shook his head, so the Japanese could only give up.

Li Yu successfully took this photo of Jiuxiao Huan Pei Guqin.

The price is far beyond the initial imagination.

Although Pu Tong was reluctant to leave, he could not refuse such a huge fortune.

"I hope sir can treat this treasure well."

"Don't worry." Li Yu said.

He turned around and handed the Jiuxiao Huan Peiqin to Yu Heqin: "The sword is given to the hero. Brother Yu is good at playing the piano, so I will leave it to you for safekeeping."

Yu Heqin waved his hands repeatedly: "I can't afford such a precious thing."

Li Yu smiled and said, "I can't play the piano. It would be a waste to keep it. You are keeping it temporarily, why don't you have to refuse?"

It was difficult for Yu Heqin to resist the temptation of Jiuxiao Huanpei: "I will play with it for a few days and then return it to sir."

"There's no need," Li Yu said, "Just leave it here with you."

I hope that when the time comes, Yu and Qin can use this harp to repel the enemy troops outside the city.

(End of this chapter)