Crimson Dawn

Chapter 55

On the afternoon of October 1905, 10, Mr. Gu Hongming led the way, and Chen Ke walked into the auditorium of the Imperial University Hall.There are already quite a few waiting in the auditorium.Chen Tianhua was very smart in doing things, he had already entered the auditorium ahead of time and sat down in the last row.Seeing the two coming in, the other students almost turned their heads to look at Chen Ke.

"That's the Chen Ke who wrote the book?" There was surprise, astonishment, and perseverance in the whispers.

Everyone is a cultural person, so the voice is not too loud.Ever since, Chen Ke could hear the following subtle voices clearly.

"Writing something like that at such a young age? I don't really believe it."

"The book is full of mistakes."

The so-called literati respect each other, Chen Ke listened to those lectures on TV, and he himself satirized the TV while listening, Chen Ke didn't care about such treatment at all.With a habitual smile on his face, he looked at the students on both sides.Gu Hongming briefly introduced Chen Ke, and then asked Chen Ke to give a lecture.

One result of the popularization of compulsory education is that the ages of the students are almost the same.The longer compulsory education is popularized, the smaller the age difference between students of the same grade.Chen Ke has already gotten used to this kind of situation in the 21st century. He went to school a little earlier, and as a result, he failed to keep up with each step. Since elementary school, his age was either the bottom one or the bottom one in the class. Two, it wasn't until I went to college that I was able to change this ranking.In the auditorium of the Imperial University Hall, Chen Ke looked at the students below. The age gap between them made Chen Ke quite uncomfortable.There are people in their 20s to 30s, and there are a few uncles who don't know if they are students or teachers. No matter how you look at it, they must look like they are in their 40s.The Imperial University Hall was remodeled from the former Imperial College in the capital city. It should not be surprising that there are some older students in it.

Chen Ke glanced around the students below again, there were about 50 of them, and Chen Ke had a good impression of everyone's appearance.Among these people, more than [-]% have short hair, and those with braids are mixed in, which looks surprisingly not annoying. "Hi everyone, my name is Chen Ke. I have some personal opinions when I come here today, please correct me." Chen Ke's opening remarks were quite satisfactory.

However, the people below are not polite. Those who can study in the Jingshi University are all elites from all over the world.Everyone is pretentious.But he saw a young man about the same age as Chen Ke standing up. He had short hair and was wearing a suit. "Mr. Chen, I have read your book. In fact, everyone who came here today has also read it. After I read Mr. Chen's book, I have a question. I don't know what Mr. Chen thinks about the imperial examination."

On September 1905, 9, a group of senior officials including Yuan Shikai, governor of Zhili, General Zhao Erxun of Shengjing, Zhang Zhidong, governor of Huguang, Zhou Fu, governor of Liangjiang, Cen Chunxuan, governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, and Duanfang, governor of Hunan, jointly signed a petition to the court, clearly stating: The country is in crisis, and every moment is worth a thousand dollars. "If you want to remedy the difficulties, you must start by promoting schools; and if you want to promote schools, you must first stop the imperial examination."Facing the joint request of these important northern and southern border officials, the imperial court could no longer take it lightly. On September 2, it issued an edict in the name of Emperor Guangxu, announcing to the whole world: "All townships, associations, All examinations shall be stopped.” The issuance of this edict announced the end of the imperial examination system in ancient China.

Chen Ke didn't know why this young man thought of asking this question, seeing the people sitting next to him staring at him, Chen Ke felt that this question could not be answered easily.He asked: "In my book, the imperial examination system is highly respected. If this brother."

Ke heard someone sneer.Most of the students' faces were not very appreciative of Chen Ke's expression.

"I'm doing a small survey, how many people support the abolition of the imperial examination, please raise your hand."

The students looked at Chen Ke, and no one expressed their opinion.Chen Ke felt strange, "Could it be that these people all support the imperial examination?" He thought strangely.

The young man who stood up raised his hand, only then did people greet him one after another.In the end, among the more than 50 people, more than 40 people raised their hands in agreement.It seems that those people refused to express their views just now, they just thought highly of themselves and didn't buy into the account of a young man like Chen Ke.

"Please put your hands down. And this brother, please sit down too." Chen Ke said.

After the venue returned to its original appearance, Chen Ke asked, "Who supports the imperial examination, please raise your hand."

Sparsely seven or eight people raised their hands.Looking at their expressions, they were quite excited.It seems that the attitude of supporting the imperial examination is still very firm.

"We are all scholars. The so-called state affairs, family affairs, world affairs, and everything concern us. If we talk about the merits and demerits of the imperial examination itself, I think everyone has their own reasons. But what I want to talk about today is my book, so I have to Let’s talk about the political level. From a political point of view, I am against the abolition of the imperial examination.”

With a buzzing sound, there were various reactions from below.Some people showed disdain on their faces, and some people had the excited look of "meeting comrades".

"It seems that Mr. Chen likes stereotyped essays very much?" The young man just said mockingly.

"Brother, I don't know the tutorials in the university hall. I want to ask if you have studied mathematics before?"

"I have learned it." The young man said in an obvious tone.

Chen Ke didn't answer, he turned around, picked up the chalk, and began to write on the blackboard.Everyone can see that they are all simple math problems, such as 1+1=? 4*()=16.Such a simple topic is naturally a child's play for these students of the Imperial University.Someone has already laughed out loud. "Are these questions for children?"

As Chen Ke wrote more and more, the laughter obviously increased, but with the whispering discussions below, all kinds of ironic voices gradually decreased.

When Chen Ke turned around, many people below had already understood what Chen Ke meant, and their expressions became serious.

"It is true that the stereotyped writing does not meet the modern trend and needs. However, standardized tests will never be outdated." Chen Ke said, pointing to the questions on the blackboard.

These students were not ignorant people. What Chen Ke wrote on the blackboard was simple in content, but Chen Ke didn't intend to test everyone. The key to these things was the classification of exam questions.Fill-in-the-blank questions, multiple-choice questions, multiple-choice questions, essay questions, calculation questions.Chen Ke simply wrote the exam papers of his time.

"I have to explain to everyone first that I have only read a little bit of stereotyped essays. I don't even know how to write stereotyped essays myself." Chen Ke didn't want to pretend to understand. "However, I have always believed that there are no rules and no rules. Stereotyped essays can be regarded as a standardized test model after all. What I value is this kind of thing."

After hearing these words, a pot was immediately opened under the table.Some people support Chen Ke, while others oppose it.It seemed that those who supported Chen Ke had a slight advantage.

"Mr. Chen, these are all new-style school courses, what does it have to do with the imperial examination?" the young man continued to ask.

"The imperial court is abolishing the imperial examinations now. To put it bluntly, it is self-destruction." Chen Ke replied tit for tat.As soon as these words came out, there was a complete silence from the audience.Chen Ke calmly put down the chalk in his hand, and wiped off the chalk shavings stuck to his fingers.

"No matter what you say about the imperial examination system, there are such and such problems. But the significance of the imperial examination system itself is that it provides a relatively fair promotion model. Even if various frauds emerge in endlessly, those who pass the imperial examinations at all levels will be admitted. Some of them are ordinary scholars. I think everyone has to admit this."

No one objected, everyone looked at Chen Ke with their own emotions, wanting to see what Chen Ke meant.

"Then abolish the imperial examination and promote new schools. Do you want to maintain this kind of fairness? If you want to maintain fairness, you can increase the content of the imperial examination. Mathematics, physics, chemistry, these subjects are gradually added to the imperial examination. If you want to To increase the number of people receiving education, can the new-style schools be included in the imperial examination system? I disagree with overturning the imperial examination.”

"What does this have to do with what Mr. Chen said about the imperial court's self-destruction?" Another brother, who was in his 40s, frowned and asked.It seems that Chen Ke didn't understand such an elegant statement.

Chen Ke turned around and picked up the chalk again, only then did he realize that his pretentious calm just now was superfluous.But now I can't control so much, Chen Ke wrote a line of big characters, "The king enriches the people, the overlord Fuji, the only remaining country rich doctor, the subjugated country rich baskets, real treasury." The people below are all scholars, Knowing that this is the words in "Xunzi-Wangzhi Chapter", many quick-thinking people have nodded slowly.

"In today's world, there is no such thing as enriching the people. In order to pay reparations, the imperial court is working hard to enrich the treasury. This is already extremely dangerous. It was because of the Opium War that the imperial court greatly increased taxes in order to pay reparations. So the people immediately With a response, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom rose up to rebel. Zeng Guofan led the Hunan Army to fight fiercely with the Taiping Army, burning, killing and looting, but enriched the Hunan Army in Hunan. It can be regarded as Fuji. Finally, it wiped out the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. The Westernization Movement, which enriched Westernization Pai can be regarded as a rich doctor. The imperial court also looks like Tongguang Zhongxing. Now that the imperial examination is abolished, whether it is a doctor or a scholar, there is no fair promotion opportunity in the original system. Yes. If mathematics and physics are added to the imperial examination, although those scholars feel that the imperial examination is much more difficult, they still have hope. In order to be able to pass the exam, they must learn new knowledge, and the new school of the imperial court can just take advantage of the situation. Now that the imperial examinations are all put aside, what do those scholars think, what do they think? The imperial examinations are originally meant for thousands of troops to cross a single-plank bridge, and only a small number of people are admitted. With the new type of education, there are not many official positions in the imperial court. And the new type of education is so sudden The promotion is tantamount to cutting off the way for those scholars. Those who can read are not poor. They have a very close relationship with the gentry everywhere. Now the imperial court has offended the people in order to pay compensation, and then offended the scholars. Can rely on It is only these big officials, that is, officials. In the year of Gengzi, the southeast self-protection came out. Can the imperial court be reliable for the big officials in the world?"

Chen Ke's words were resounding, no matter whether it was a teacher or a student who came to listen to the class, no one could rise up and refute immediately.After a pause for a while, someone asked: "Isn't this going to implement a new deal and establish a constitution?"

"There is a saying in our hometown, it's called getting up early without profit. Who is the main proponent of the constitution? Isn't it the officials in the southeast and the gentry from all over the place. Why should the constitution be established? Isn't one of the important officials because the imperial court wants to be rich? Can’t they stand the treasury? If the constitution is successful, these people will not be able to beat foreign countries, and the money they should pay will be nothing less. The gentry will definitely not pay more than a penny when they are in power, but try to pay less. Foreigners are persecuted like tigers and wolves, and the money will eventually be passed on to the people. Now that some people have read my book, then you may have read that at the end of Ming Dynasty, there was still a year to pay 12 taels of tea tax in the south It will be like this back then, and it will still be like this now. If you persecute the people too much, what will be the result? Everyone is a talented person with extensive knowledge, so I don’t need to talk about it.”

No one said anything anymore, those who can be admitted to the Imperial University are all sensible people, and everyone knows that Chen Ke is not lying.Everyone looked at Chen Ke without any contempt anymore.Originally, these people's evaluation of Chen Keshu was similar to that of Yan Fu and Mr. Ma Xiangbo, and they all felt that Chen Ke's theory was very "dominant".Many people think that Chen Ke is a "crazy student".The student who asked the question originally wanted to discuss the stereotyped essay with Chen Ke.But Chen Ke's focus is not on small details at all, but from the perspective of the general trend of the country, and the analysis is very profound.Although some people are still unconvinced, they dare not say anything easily.

"If you have no other questions, I'll start the lecture." Chen Ke saw that no one jumped out to speak again, and his expression had returned to his usual gentle and elegant appearance.

After the lecture that day, Mr. Gu Hongming must treat Chen Ke to dinner.

"Wen Qing's words are sharp, and he is worthy of being Yan Jidao's disciple." Mr. Gu said at the dinner table.

Yan Fu's letter this time stated his master-student relationship with Chen Ke, and Mr. Gu Hongming did not doubt it.

"Wen Qing, I didn't realize that you know so much about the government."

"Mr. Gu, I'm not very shy about what I said today. Now that I think about it, I regret it very much. If it causes inconvenience to Mr. Gu, please speak directly."

"Wen Qing, what you said about stereotyped writing today is all old-fashioned talk for the country. Now there is a lack of people like you who can see problems in the court and are stable and reliable. Everyone is full of factionalism and eager for quick success. I didn't either After thinking so much, after hearing Wen Qing's explanation, the more I think about it, the more afraid I become. The imperial court is still riding a tiger, and the New Deal is bound to be implemented. What does Wen Qing think about the New Deal?"

"Mr. Gu, you can do evil by nature, and you can't live by yourself. As for the New Deal, as I said today, the court is simply self-defeating. No matter how the New Deal is implemented, it is the court, the gentry and the feudal officials who compete for interests. Looking at it now, no matter which side has the upper hand, whoever suffers must be the common people. If the people of the world lose their hearts, they will wait for those two people."

After hearing this, Gu Hongming frowned and said nothing.Chen Ke was also polite and let go of his chewing.When I was half full, I heard Mr. Gu ask: "Wen Qing wrote a book and said that he must think that the New Deal constructed in your book can save the country and the people."

Ke answered decisively.

"Wen Qing, said in several letters to me that he wrote a letter to Yuan Weiting to introduce you to him. Yuan Weiting, as the Minister of Beiyang, is also a smart person. I was wondering if Wen Qing could write an article about the New Deal. Article. I will personally take you to see Yuan Weiting."

"This is not easy to write. It will take some days to finish."

"It's okay. You come to the school to give lectures in the afternoon, and you can write at other times."

"Then after I finish writing, Mr. Gu, you have to correct me."

"It's natural."

After dinner, Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua went back to the residence together.

"Wen Qing, you are so straightforward, which is beyond my expectation."

Chen Ke didn't take this issue, he was concerned about other things, "Xingtai, look at how the students react to my class."

"I think the response is good. What's the matter, Wen Qing, are you planning to develop comrades in the Imperial University Hall?"

"For the Imperial University, I am Jiang Taigong fishing. I don't spend so much time on them. It is the Westernization faction, who needs to make good friends. After the Gengzi Year, the strength of the Westernization faction has been greatly damaged. They are the most dissatisfied with the court. , it can be developed.”

"What exactly is Wen Qing going to do?"

The two talked while walking, it was already October, and it got dark early.When the two returned to their residence, it was completely dark.He raised his hand to touch the lock, but found nothing.Chen Ke was taken aback. Could it be that there was a robber in the place where he lived?Pushing open the door, I saw lights were on in the main room and the side room.Several figures were cast on the bed paper.Hearing the sound, a tall figure stood up first.Chen Ke breathed a sigh of relief, and after a while, Wu Xingchen came out from the main hall.Chen Ke closed the courtyard door, then turned around, there were several other people besides Wu Xingchen on the stone steps in front of the main house.One of them turned out to be Pang Zi.

After seeing the ceremony, everyone went back to the house.There was a pile of wine and meat on the table in the room, but it didn't move much. It seemed that the crowd had not long since sat down.Chen Ke didn't expect Wu Xingchen to bring Pang Zi to Beijing.Just as he was guessing why Pang Zi came, he saw Pang Zi got up and poured wine for Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua, and then held his own cup, "Mr. crime."

Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua hurriedly stood up holding the wine, everyone clinked glasses and drank them down in one gulp.Just sit down.

"Wen Qing, you and Brother Pang are straight-tempered. Especially you, you just don't like to speak well. Brother Pang said something about you, I don't think everyone should break up so badly. Brother Pang also feels quite regretful. No, he made a special trip to Beijing to make amends for you."

After hearing this, Chen Ke quickly got up and poured wine for Pang Zi and others.He raised his wine glass, "This is how I speak. If you offend Brother Pang, you must ask Brother Pang to forgive you."

Everyone also got up, said a few polite words, and then everyone drank their drinks.

After sitting down again, Pang Zi said: "Mr. Chen, what you said last time, after you left, I thought about it many times. And Brother Wu also talked to me specifically. Brother Wu said no I think it’s very reasonable, but I still don’t understand many places. This time I came to Beijing to ask Mr. Chen for advice.”

"Brother Pang, I don't know anything about you. I wonder if Brother Pang can tell me about you first. If I don't even know the basics, what I say must be wrong."

After hearing this, Pang Zi's eyes flickered, and his vigilant expression became obvious, "About Pang, what exactly does Mr. Chen want to know?"

Chen Ke didn't care about Pang Zi's expression, he said frankly. "Brother Wu didn't say how you met, so I have to talk about this first."

Chapter 55

No. 55, to URL