Reborn Bao Guowei, I really didn’t want to be a great writer!

Chapter 373: The Chrysanthemum and the Sword is out! Peking teachers and students are in a frenzy!
Beiping.

Tsinghua University.

"In my opinion, the evolution of the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties is the decisive role of social class in the historical process. At that time, the social class differences of the rulers of the Wei and Jin Dynasties were significant. The Sima family of Henei belonged to the traditional Confucian nobles, while the Cao Wei family belonged to the non-Confucian nobles. This was a fundamental conflict of interests. The reason why the Sima family was able to succeed was that they gained the support of the nobles and the poor, while the Cao Wei family tried to destroy the spiritual fortress of the Confucian nobles."

In the classroom, Chen Yinke, with his flowing hair and long face, talked eloquently about his research on the history of the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

Chen Yanke, who was 40 years old at the time, had studied at the University of Berlin, Harvard University, etc. After returning from his studies abroad, he taught at various universities in China.

His research on the history of the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties can be said to be profound and logical, especially he put forward many new viewpoints and concepts.

For example, Chen Yinke believed that the root cause of the "Eight Kings Rebellion" lay in the feudal system of the early Western Jin Dynasty, in which the prefectures and counties were controlled by the emperor but had no military equipment, while the fiefdoms were controlled by the kings but had armies, which laid the seeds of disaster.

There are also views that the migration of Rongdi was a historical trend, and such views played a vital role in historical research at that time and even in later generations.

In addition, Chen Yinke had a unique teaching style and his research was never limited to history, but often introduced literature, philosophy, linguistics and other fields.

Integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines and put forward unique insights.

It is no wonder that so many Tsinghua students chose to take his history course on the "Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties".

The students present listened attentively and occasionally lowered their heads to take some notes.

If Bao Guowei were present, he would definitely be surprised.

Because with just a quick glance, you can see several familiar faces, including some masters who later became famous in their fields.

For example, Cao Yu, who was admitted to Tsinghua University last year, is now a third-year student in the Department of Western Literature.

Some time ago, he completed the drama "The Shawshank Redemption" in the south, and became famous both at home and abroad.

But he did not stay in the south for long, nor did he go to see the glamorous world of the foreign concessions. Instead, after dealing with matters in Shanghai, he rushed back without stopping to continue his unfinished studies.

Also in the Department of Western Literature, of course, there is Ji Xianlin, who was just admitted this year.

I don’t know if it was luck, but the two of them happened to sit together. Ji Xianlin, who was in the first grade, and Cao Yu, who was in the third grade, naturally had few interactions.

However, Cao Yu did not know Ji Xianlin, but Ji Xianlin was very familiar with the other party and had watched that drama countless times.

In the corner, the young man with regular features and a handsome face, who kept lowering his head and writing quickly, was naturally Qian Zhongshu.

When he was admitted to the Foreign Languages ​​Department of Tsinghua University last year, it caused a sensation, probably because his math score was extremely low, but his English and Chinese levels were close to full marks, so he was admitted to Tsinghua as an exception.

As soon as he entered Tsinghua University, Qian Zhongshu showed his outstanding talent in literature and history, and he was a literary genius among the younger generation.
Peking in this era was a gathering place of heroes. Countless masters and geniuses rose up here, but even so, they could not overshadow another person.

When the get out of class was about to end, Chen Yinke decided not to give the lecture anymore and instead talked about things outside of class.

He said as he pulled out a few books.

“I hope that while you are reading domestic history, you can also expand your knowledge of foreign history books, learn from them, and compare them to find the commonalities, so that you can gain a thorough understanding.”

Chen Yinke first briefly introduced several English books on the desk.

"These are what I am reading. They can be found in the library, such as History of Greece, History of Rome, and History of the Peloponnesian War. In particular, History of Rome is written by the German classical historian Theodor Mommsen. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1902 with this book and was called 'the greatest historian of our time'. Students who are interested can read it in their spare time."

For the gifted students of Tsinghua University, the usual course schedule is definitely not able to meet their learning progress.

Therefore, professors and lecturers usually recommend some books for them to read and study simultaneously.

The ability to learn independently is the most important learning ability.

After hearing Chen Yinke's suggestion, the students present all started to write down the titles of these books.

At present, there are few translated books of this type, so they are basically all in English.

English teaching in the Republic of China is still relatively backward, so being able to read fluently requires a certain threshold.

Therefore, many students targeted the other two books on history on Chen Yinke's desk.

Those with better eyesight can see that the two books have Chinese covers, which would make them easier to read.

“I think there should be the book Guns, Germs, and Steel.”

Suddenly, Ji Xianlin smiled and said to Cao Yu beside him.

Cao Yu frowned and couldn't help asking, "Why?"

Ji Xianlin said with a matter-of-fact expression: "Among the historical works in China today, apart from the ancient Chinese texts that have been around for hundreds of years, the only one that can be ranked is Mr. Bao Bingwen's Guns, Germs, and Steel! It is said that this book has been recognized by the Americans and almost won the Pulitzer Prize! Mr. Bingwen is really a role model for our generation!"

"I heard that Mr. Cao once had an encounter with Mr. Bingwen. I wonder what kind of person he is."

"What kind of person?" Cao Yu thought about it, and for a moment he didn't know what words to use to describe Bao Guowei. Seeing Ji Xianlin's expectant eyes, he finally spoke.

"An ordinary person, but he can show the talent of a master."

Ji Xianlin immediately understood what the other party meant. What Cao Yu meant was that Bao Guowei had a character like an ordinary person, but had the talent of a master.

Regardless of whether the other party meant this or not, Ji Xianlin already thought so in his heart.

Next, Cao Yu briefly recounted how he and Bao Guowei interacted in the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

The expressionless face now showed a smile.

"Every time I talk to Mr. Bingwen, I feel that I have gained something. I heard that he will come to Peking next year, but he will go to Peking University. You can visit him then."

"Really?" Ji Xianlin's eyes suddenly lit up. When he read Bao Guowei's works before, he already had the idea of ​​communicating with him.

He really wanted to see how the other party could achieve so much at the mere age of seventeen.
After opening the conversation, Ji Xianlin just wanted to chat with Cao Yu for a while longer, but he heard Chen Yinke on the stage say.

"Compared to Guns, Germs, and Steel, I would like to recommend The Chrysanthemum and the Sword, also written by Bao Bingwen. Although Bao Bingwen's works tend to be popular and a bit like vernacular novels, their academic value is not bad at all, and the historical data foundation is also very solid. Whether you are a beginner who has just come into contact with social science history or a learner who wants to conduct in-depth research, you can find your own nourishment in it."

Before Chen Yinke had finished speaking, the audience suddenly went into an uproar, with students stretching their heads to see the true appearance of "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword".

There was a sudden buzz of discussion in the classroom.

"Is it Bao Bingwen's latest work? How come I have never heard of it?"

"Mr. Impossible, you must be mistaken. I heard that Bao Bingwen is trying to raise funds from all sides to treat the seriously ill Mr. Zhang Taiyan! How can he have time to write a book?" "Does Bao Bingwen also understand the history of Japan? Such a versatile person is really hard to understand!"

"Sir, you bought a fake. I am well-informed but I didn't get the news. How did you get this?"

Seeing the excited expressions of the students in the audience, Chen Yinke immediately felt Bao Guowei's popularity among young students.

He said, smiling and shaking his head.

"I guarantee with my reputation that this book must be written by Bao Bingwen. In the next few days, you should be able to buy it in major bookstores.

As for how I was able to get this book, it was of course because of my extraordinary means. "

After saying this, as the bell rang, Chen Yinke picked up his books and walked out of the classroom door in a very casual manner.

He protected the book with one hand and pushed the door open with the other, as if he was afraid that the students who were rushing in would snatch his copy of "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" away.

But even so, he was still surrounded by excited students.

"Sir, I'll give you ten dollars if you can lend me your book!"

"Sir, I am your loyal believer. I have read every one of your works. If you don't believe me, you can test me!"

"What exactly is the story about in The Chrysanthemum and the Sword? Does it mention the threat posed by the Japanese to us? Sir, please don't keep us in suspense. Tell us now!"

"Mr. Chen Yinke, you don't want anything to happen to the old hen downstairs in your dormitory, do you?"

Chen Yinke had never seen such a scene before, and he ran towards the office, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

There were only a few people left in the classroom, and no one knew what had happened.

Ji Xianlin looked at Chen Yinke in disbelief as he walked away. For a moment, he almost couldn't think straight. He turned his head to look at Cao Yu and said.

"Senior, you are familiar with Mr. Bingwen. Do you know what this book "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" is about?"

Cao Yu thought about it, shook his head helplessly and said: "I have heard Mr. Bingwen mention it, but I didn't expect it to be written so quickly."

"Then can you get the content of this book?" Ji Xianlin said expectantly.

Cao Yu spread his hands and said, "I haven't contacted Mr. Bingwen since I left Shanghai. Didn't you say just now that it might be listed in the next few days? Just wait."

When Ji Xianlin heard that Cao Yu didn't have any either, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, but he already had a vague expectation in his heart.

What kind of response will Bao Bingwen's book generate?

For several consecutive days, the book "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" became a hot topic among major universities in Peking.

Before the book was officially released, many professors had already obtained the first edition. For a time, professors who had obtained the first edition became popular, and countless students and teachers wanted to borrow the book from them.

This is not an exaggeration. Considering Bao Guowei's current reputation, it will be a grand occasion once it is released.

Countless student readers want to know what this book is about.

Occasionally, some gossip from someone, such as a few sentences from "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword", further intensified their curiosity.

It's like being scratched by a hundred claws.

However, after observation, many people have discovered that the professors and scholars who received the first edition of "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" were basically related to one person.

Zhang Taiyan!
Most of them were either students of Zhang Taiyan or good friends of Zhang Taiyan. They received the first edition of "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" from Zhang Taiyan, and also received a task.

Help expand the publicity of "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword".

The master's personality is eccentric, not to mention that these legendary masters in Peking are all well-known figures in various fields.

It's not easy for ordinary people to ask them for help.

But Zhang Taiyan’s importance was completely different. Everyone could see that the old man wanted to help his apprentice build momentum, and they were somewhat resistant.

But after reading the content of the book, I immediately decided to spread the word about it!

Professors and scholars who got this book, such as Chen Yinke, Qian Xuantong, Zhu Xizu, Liu Wentian, etc., introduced it to their students in advance in class.

For a time, in the city of Peking, if you didn’t have a copy of Bao Guowei’s latest book, “The Chrysanthemum and the Sword,” you would be embarrassed to call yourself a master!
Three days later, in such a boiling atmosphere, "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" was released simultaneously in Peking, Jinling, Shanghai and other places.

The book market in Liulichang, Beijing, was bustling with people early this morning.

The market was noisy and students' voices could be heard everywhere.

"Damn it! Who stepped on my foot? And then you run away after you stepped on it. That's not what a gentleman does!"

"Give me one copy of The Chrysanthemum and the Sword, not two copies. What? Limited to one person. Damn it! Just one copy!"

"Damn you Bao Bingwen, I want to see what you have written in this book."

The city of Beiping was bustling with activity for the entire day. It had been a long time since the Central Plains War began.

In the evening, Ji Xianlin had his trodden shoes stuck on his waist and his face was covered in black.

He returned to the dormitory with joy on his face, lit the kerosene lamp, and planned to read the long-famous book "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword".

The kerosene lamp had just been lit, and I saw myself in the mirror, looking like a calico cat.

Ji Xianlin was indignant. He picked up his diary and wrote on it.

"

November 8, the 17th year of the Republic of China.

I went to the bookstore to buy books today, especially "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" recommended by the professor. Damn it! These people are pushing and shoving, what the hell are they pushing for!
My shoes were stepped on and broken, and after that, I couldn't find any trace of the murderer. It's really abominable!

But luckily I finally bought it. I won’t go to women’s basketball games to watch the thighs in the next few days. I will study hard! ”

(End of this chapter)