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

Chapter 704: The reason for not dying

"Something bad has happened!" Li Siguang hurried to Yu Garden.

"What's wrong, Zhong Gong?" Li Yu asked.

Li Siguang said: "Sven Hedin is here, and he wants to set up a Northwest scientific expedition team."

Sven Hedin was the Swedish explorer who discovered the ancient city of Loulan and took away a large number of cultural relics. After that, Loulan was looted again by the Japanese expedition team.

Li Yu was very disgusted with these so-called Western explorers.

"Under what name was the Northwest Scientific Expedition established?"

Li Siguang said: "Sven Hedin was funded by a German airline company and wanted to study the opening of an air route from Germany to Beijing and Shanghai via Central Asia. He first came to investigate the geology and meteorology along the route."

Li Yu sneered: "You also need to 'by the way' inspect the cultural relics and geography, right?"

"Of course! That's the problem," Li Siguang said, "Sven Hedin has already contacted the Beiyang government and successfully obtained a negotiation agreement that is very favorable to him."

Li Yu's eyes shone: "Let me see!"

This agreement is extremely outrageous, especially the two clauses concerning the Chinese:

First, only two Chinese were allowed to join the delegation, and they were only responsible for contacting the local governments for one year, after which they had to leave.

Secondly, all cultural relics collected by the scientific expedition team must first be transported to Sweden and then returned to China by relevant institutions.

Li Yu cursed: "A dog will never change its eating habits!"

Li Siguang said: "When the entire Beijing academic community learned about this, they were immediately in an uproar and strongly opposed it."

"How could the Beiyang government sign such an outrageous agreement? It must be stopped!" Li Yu was speechless.

Li Siguang said: "The academic community in Beijing hopes that you will do justice. You are familiar with Europe and America, and have won several awards in Sweden. The Swedes respect you enough."

Li Yu knew that the matter could not be delayed, so he stood up and said, "Let's go to the station."

-

Zhou Zhaoxiang, director of the Palace Museum's Ancient Artifacts Exhibition Hall, Yuan Fuli from the Peking University Archaeological Society, and Li Ji from Tsinghua University's National Academy of Chinese Studies had already been waiting.

Zhou Zhaoxiang said anxiously: "Mr. Academician, I heard that Sven Hedin has arranged for people to prepare the supplies for departure in Zhangjiakou."

"They don't take us seriously at all!" Li Yu said, "We must stop this immediately."

Yuan Fuli asked: "Do we need to contact the Geological Survey Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce? They are the ones who signed the agreement with Sven Hedin."

"No," Li Yu said, "Who in the Fengtian clique is in charge of this matter?"

"Young Marshal," Zhou Zhaoxiang said, "He is now a member of the 'Palace Museum Management Committee.'"

Not long ago, Zhang Zuolin unilaterally announced the establishment of this organization and dismissed many members of the original Palace Museum.

In fact, as early as when Feng Yuxiang drove away the small court, a temporary board of directors of the Forbidden City was established, and Zhang Xueliang was one of its members at that time.

"Where is he now? His home in Wenchang Hutong?" Li Yu asked.

"No," Zhou Zhaoxiang said, "He is hosting a tea reception in the Imperial Garden of the Forbidden City."

"He's really in the mood!" Li Yu said, "Let's go find him."

-

After the notification, several Fengtian Army soldiers took Li Yu into the Forbidden City from the Shenwu Gate.

The Imperial Garden is actually quite small, and it is too miniature compared to the Summer Palace. The young marshal was drinking tea and chatting with several adjutants in the Fubiting Pavilion next to Duixiu Mountain.

"It seems that there is nothing good about being an emperor," said the young marshal.

The adjutant said, "That's right. It's not as good as living in Fengtian."

"That's not the case. There are dance floors, golf courses, tennis courts and all kinds of people in Beijing and Tianjin," Zhang said.

The adjutant said, "I feel it's too depressing here."

"It's a bit cramped in the capital, so I'm going to take my brothers to Tianjin to have some fun in the spring," said Zhang.

The adjutant smiled and said, "Young Marshal is probably worried about Miss Zhao!"

Zhang Xiao scolded, "Shut your mouth tightly, don't let the Madam hear it."

A soldier came over and said, "Young Marshal, Mr. Li Yu is here."

The young marshal put away his smile and said seriously, "Please invite Academician."

Li Yu walked into Fubi Pavilion and bowed, saying, "Young Marshal."

Zhang said, "Hello, Mr. Academician! The old commander has always said that he would invest heavily in education. In the future, Northeastern University may invite Mr. Academician to give a lecture."

"The Marshal has done a great job," Li Yu said indifferently, and then went straight to the point, "I heard that the Beiyang government signed an agreement with the Swedish explorer Sven Hedin to allow them to conduct an expedition to the northwest?"

"Ah, that's it!" The young marshal was obviously a little guilty. "Mr. Hedin has been to the Northwest for many expeditions. He is not only experienced in exploration, but also well-equipped and has his own money and food. We don't need to worry too much about him. He is doing good things."

"Young Marshal, do you really think they are doing good things?" Li Yu asked.

Zhang said: "Mr. Hedin said that he wanted to survey the route for German airlines, and we will also benefit from it in the future."

Li Yu said solemnly: "Young Marshal, over the past few decades, Europeans and Japanese have been collecting specimens, exploring mineral deposits, excavating historical sites, stealing cultural relics and ancient monuments, and stripping cave murals in the name of investigation and exploration in the Western Regions. They have been smuggling them to museums in their own countries and have never returned a single one. Is this all good intentions?"

"I...have never been abroad, so I don't know much about it," Zhang said.

Li Yu continued, "There are also Japanese who secretly survey and map mountains and rivers under the guise of tourism and investigation. Such obvious spy activities are all well-intentioned?"

"That's definitely not it!" Zhang said.

Li Yu took a document from Zhou Zhaoxiang and said, "This is a stern statement from the Chinese Academic Association, which was established by 14 academic groups, including the National Studies Department of the Peking University Institute, the Peking University Archaeological Society, the Tsinghua University National Studies Institute, the National Museum of History, the Palace Museum, the Central Observatory, and the Antiquities Exhibition Center. They oppose foreigners from entering China at will to dig for antiquities. Please have a look, young commander."

The young marshal was not stupid. After reading the document, he was secretly surprised and said, "That's not what the Swedes told me at the beginning. Isn't this a disgrace to our Fengtian clique?"

Li Yu didn't care whether what he said was true or not, and said to him: "Young Marshal, I request to renegotiate with the Swedes. If they agree to our conditions, that's good. If they don't, we can only pack up and go back to Sweden."

The young marshal immediately said, "Mr. Academician, you have the guts. I'll leave this matter to you."

The Fengtian clique is currently worried about the war in the south and is concerned about its own safety, so it is a good idea to get rid of them.

Li Yu said: "Young Marshal is wise."

Zhang smiled and said, "Sir, would you like to sit down and have a cup of tea?"

"No need, business is more important. Goodbye, young commander."

-

Sven Hedin did not expect to arouse such a big response. Twenty years ago, he would not have to care about the Qing government at all and would have gone on the "exploration" directly.

In the Six Nations Hotel, both sides sat down at a long table.

Sven Hedin wanted to argue: "According to tradition, major Western research groups have conducted many surveys in your country's northwest region. And if I may be frank, your own research groups are not capable of conducting such professional surveys."

Li Yu refused to give in: "If you don't have the ability, wait until you have the ability to investigate. Our own country's affairs are not urgent, so why are you in a hurry? Do you have some unspeakable conspiracy?"

Sven Hedin said, "What bad intentions do we have? We are just helping your country to survey the geography and collect cultural relics scattered in the wild." Li Yu was almost amused by this: "We will take them back to your country and never return them?"

Sven Hedin was slightly stunned: "Mr. Academician, we don't have such an idea."

Li Yu folded his arms and said, "Very good. When will you return everything you have taken, we will consider Sir's inspection plan."

"Mr. Academician, this requires very complicated procedures and I don't know how long it will take," said Sven Hedin.

"Oh? The procedures are complicated again now? Did you leave any formalities when you took them away?" Li Yu asked.

Sven Hedin opened his mouth, sighed and said, "Mr. Academician, okay, I admit that we were wrong. I have never seen a Chinese as tough as you."

Li Yu said coldly: "You are the only ones who can be tough?"

Sven Hedin smiled to ease the awkwardness at the meeting, and then pleaded, "But I still want to go to the northwest for another inspection. Only your country has infinite treasures left by its splendid culture. As for all other conditions, you can propose them."

Li Yu put his hand back on the table: "Why don't you just say this earlier? Stop trying to act so superior."

Zhou Zhaoxiang then took out a prepared document:

"Mr. Hedin, our conditions are as follows: the survey will be supervised and guided by the Council of the Chinese Academic Association; there will be two Chinese and foreign heads of delegation with equal authority; a total of 10 Chinese members will participate; the collections will be transported to Beijing by the Chinese head of delegation; matters involving national defense and sovereignty will not be surveyed; the survey period is two years; an English translation will be attached to the agreement, but the Chinese version shall prevail."

Sven Hedin asked: "Not a single thing can be changed?"

Li Yu handed him a pen: "Sign it."

Sven Hedin sighed, "I accept it. The Chinese demand that all archaeological finds be preserved in their own museums is in line with the legal provisions common in any civilized country. But your country still has great deficiencies in scientific level and organization, and must strive for foreign aid, that is for sure."

Li Yu said calmly: "Thank you Mr. Hedin for your concern."

Sven Hedin took off the cap of his pen, signed his name, then slowly stood up and said, "Everyone, I'll go get ready."

After Sven Hedin left, Zhou Zhaoxiang held the document and said happily: "The interpretation of the agreement shall be based on the Chinese version. I like this sentence so much! It is simply opening a new era for our country to sign contracts with foreign countries."

Yuan Fuli also laughed and said, "Isn't this just an unequal treaty turned upside down?"

They were so excited, but Sven Hedin was later complained by his "peers": "Accepting these ridiculous conditions will make it extremely difficult for other expeditions to carry out their activities."

——You deserve it.

Li Yu gave the expedition team two cameras and told them, "You will definitely need them. Keep the images and data safe."

The camera was definitely very useful, so Yuan Fuli did not refuse: "Thank you, sir!"

Overall, this Northwest expedition is of great significance, especially the discovery of paleontology. A large number of dinosaur fossils have been unearthed, which fills the gap in domestic paleontological research.

-

In Shanghai, Kang's disciples were very active during this period. They were preparing for Kang Youwei's 70th birthday celebration. Nearly a hundred Kang's disciples came to Youcunlu.

Youcunlu is a garden-style residence built by Kang Youwei on land purchased in Shanghai. It is not part of the concession, but not far from Jing'an Temple. Youcunlu covers an area of ​​more than 10 mu, with a large pond for boats, more than 1200 flowers and trees, and animals such as peacocks, golden monkeys, and wild donkeys.

Saint Kang spent the last dozen years of his life in China, building villas, taking concubines, and traveling.

Before that, he spent money to build a garden covering more than 30 acres in Hangzhou; he also bought the admiral's office that he had won in the past in Qingdao and lived in it himself, which cost a lot of money.

As for where the money came from? Of course, it was all revolutionary funds donated by Chinese Americans, but Kang Shengren spent it all on himself.

He also had several concubines, the fourth of whom was Japanese, but she returned to Japan in 1925.

The last wife he married was a washerwoman. She was only 18 years old when she married Kang Youwei. At that time, the Saint Kang was already over years old, a true outcast.

At this time, Kang Youwei and his wives were sitting on the throne, in a very good mood. Liu Haisu specially painted a picture for them.

Then, Puyi's special envoy Xu Liang sent a gift of jade ruyi, on which were written Puyi's four characters "Yue Zhi Yuan Qing".

Kang Nanhai was flattered, and quickly stood up from his seat, performed a three-kneeling and nine-kowtow ceremony, and said with tears of gratitude:
"Every time I think of the emperor being displaced and living in seclusion in Tianjin, I feel heartbroken. And even in this situation, the emperor has not forgotten me! I cannot thank the emperor for his grace even if I die! Quick, bring me a pen, I want to write a letter of thanks!"

After finishing writing, Kang Nanhai was in high spirits: "This year I will go to Tianjin to meet the emperor and discuss the cause of restoring the country."

Several disciples boasted: "With Master Kang's assistance, we will accomplish great things!"

"If the Empress Dowager had not placed Emperor Guangxu under house arrest, Master Kang would have been the Emperor's tutor long ago!"

"That's right, where are those arrogant revolutionaries?"

……

A disciple of Kang's sect who was standing at the door came in at this time and said, "Master, Zhang Taiyan sent a pair of birthday couplets."

"Zhang Taiyan?" Kang Youwei had always been at odds with him. "He actually sent me a birthday couplet? Open it and take a look."

The student slowly unfolded it and saw Zhang Taiyan's handwriting on it: "When a country is about to perish, there must be someone; when old and not dying, this is the reason."

The last word of the couplet just happens to be "youwei".

The first line "When a country is about to fall, there must be evildoers" comes from "The Doctrine of the Mean"; the second line "When an old man refuses to die, he is a thief" comes from "The Analects of Confucius: Xianwen" "When an old man refuses to die, he is a thief."

So he secretly called Kang Youwei a "monster" and a "thief".

Sage Kang was so angry that his face turned green, and he cursed: "Bullshit! Bullshit! Throw it out!"

-

At this time in Huizhong Hotel, Li Yu laughed and said, "I don't even need to think about it to know how ugly Saint Kang's face is."

Zhang Taiyan, who was sitting opposite him, stroked his beard and was very satisfied with his birthday couplet. He took a sip of wine and said, "I hope Saint Kang will keep it well."

Li Yu smiled and said, "It's good that I didn't burn it for you."

Zhang Taiyan said: "Normally, so many people come to me for calligraphy, but I never write. Today, I took the initiative to send him a copy, which can be regarded as giving him face."

By the way, ten days later, Kang Nanhai died in Qingdao due to diarrhea caused by drinking a glass of orange juice.

Li Yu put down his wine glass and asked, "Mr. Taiyan, are you going to leave Shanghai soon?"

Zhang Taiyan said: "According to the current trend, Chiang's army will soon enter Shanghai. What am I doing here? Waiting to be wanted by him?"

Zhang Taiyan called himself a "remnant of the Republic of China" and only recognized the Beiyang government's five-color flag, but not Chiang Kai-shek's blue sky, white sun flag.

Li Yu said: "They dare not do anything to you, sir."

Zhang Taiyan said, "Then I won't feel comfortable here either."

Li Yu understood his stubborn temper, and his personal grudge with Chiang Kai-shek made it impossible for him to recognize him.

Chiang Kai-shek did later issue a warrant for the arrest of Zhang Taiyan, but he was more clear-headed than Zhang Zongchang and Zhang Zuolin, so he would never really kill such a famous figure in the academic world as the negative impact would be too great.

When Lu Xun was wanted, he said: The Kuomintang did not really want to kill him. If they did, he would have a hard time surviving even if he hid in the concession. The fact that he was wanted for several years but was not captured shows that they did not really want to capture him, but just wanted to scare him to shut him up.

Chiang Kai-shek had the same idea when dealing with Zhang Taiyan. After all, Zhang Taiyan was very harsh in scolding people, and he definitely didn't want Zhang Taiyan to send him a birthday couplet.

"I heard that Brother Shucai is going to travel west to Europe and America?" Zhang Taiyan asked.

"The academic world is still a little quieter," said Li Yu.

Zhang Taiyan sighed: "Be quiet!"