Although Li Yu made 100 yen at the expo, he still had something to buy.
After shopping around, I bought a pair of high-precision drawing instruments and several typewriters.
The drawing tools are naturally rulers, compasses, etc.; I bought several typewriters because I bought one each for English, French, and German.
Today's typewriters are simple mechanical mechanisms that can only input phonetic characters.
As the only written form of Chinese characters currently used on a large scale in the world, real Chinese input will have to continue to struggle until the digital age.
Although someone invented the Chinese typewriter ten years later, once you see the real thing, you will know that the thing actually looks for words on a large lead plate with more than 2,000 words. It cannot be called a "typewriter" at all, it is called "picking up words."
"Machine" is more appropriate.
The speed is far less than that of handwriting!
So many people want to abolish Chinese characters, or replace them with a set of Latin letters, because they feel that Chinese is too "backward".
There is even a Korean typewriter nearby.
Many people may not know that although Korean characters look like square characters, they are actually a special phonetic alphabet with 24 letters.
But it’s not just Chinese that’s in trouble.
Japanese is a mixture of kanji for meaning and kana for pronunciation. The Japanese typewriters that appeared later were as complex as Chinese. They were all "type pickers" that found words on a large character list, which was very troublesome.
After all, Japanese does not all use Chinese characters. They once wanted to completely remove Chinese characters.
During the Meiji period, they tried not using Chinese characters and using kana throughout the text, but they soon found that it was impossible to read, so they changed it back within a few years.
So, the Japanese are not much better, and the extreme desire of some Chinese people to abolish Chinese characters was definitely a wrong idea.
Even David Wilson, the father of American Sinology, said personally: "Once Chinese characters are abolished, China will cease to exist."
Foreigners can understand this problem.
Of course, he was also a genius designer. Lin Yutang later designed a typewriter that could type more than 8,000 Chinese characters and used a purely mechanical structure.
There is no association or font library, it is a bit similar to the early intelligent ABC input method (maybe not many people know this input method anymore).
However, the mechanical mechanism of this typewriter was too complex, and it was difficult to mass-produce it based on the technical level at the time. Even if Lin Yutang spent all his savings on this and invested a total of 120,000 US dollars, it could not really benefit the Chinese people.
——The structure is too delicate to be produced on the assembly line.
Li Yu actually bought these typewriters just to type in foreign languages.
After all, it’s not easy to buy a typewriter in China. I finally saw it at an expo and bought it together.
Japan is a small country, and several major cities on Honshu Island have already been connected by railways.
On this day, Li Yu and King Gong and his party took the train to Yokohama.
Shortly after the train started, King Gong said in surprise: "I don't know why, but I always feel that riding a train in Japan is a little different."
Qi Chengwu, the son of Nayantu, was eating Shaqima on the side and said casually: "What's the difference? Aren't they all trains?"
Li Yu said next to him: "Prince Gong feels right. Japan's trains are slower."
Prince Su's son Xian Zhang felt it was impossible: "Japan is stronger than us, so how can it possibly build a train slower than us?"
Li Yu pointed outside: "You will know just by looking at the railroad tracks."
A few people stuck their heads out, looked at it for a while and said, "It's also two railway tracks, just like the ones I saw in China."
"I mean track gauge, which is the distance between two railway tracks." Li Yu added.
"It seems...a bit narrow?" King Gong finally saw the reason.
But Qi Chengwu and Xian Zhang did not seem to pay attention to this: "Isn't the width and width all modified casually?"
Li Yu said: "Of course the track gauge cannot be modified casually. There are rules. Japan has many mountains and little land, so it chose narrow gauge railways, while we chose standard gauge from the beginning."
As the ancestor of the railway between the two countries, Zhan Tianyou obviously has a better long-term vision on this point than Masaru Inoue, the father of the Japanese railway.
Inoue Masaru's original choice of narrow-gauge railway was mainly due to economic issues, but his choice later plagued Japan's railway development for a long time.
The problems of narrow-gauge railways are obvious: slow speed and poor transportation capacity.
However, Qi Chengwu didn't seem to know which one was better, wide or narrow, and said: "Fortunately, we haven't built many railways. We should learn from Japan and adopt their standards in the future."
This guy really doesn't know the difference between bad and bad, he has to learn from both the good and the bad.
Li Yu had no choice but to explain to him: "Standard gauge is obviously better. Most countries also use standard gauge, including Western countries."
King Gong asked: "So, Japan made a mistake? It's impossible, right?"
Li Yu said: "You can say this to a certain extent, but once inertia is formed, it is difficult to change it."
Japan has indeed thought about changing back to the standard track, but after three disputes over the change in 1887, 1894, and 1908, it has been unable to be implemented due to the rigid thinking of the conservatives involved and the pushback and obstruction by vested interests.
It wasn't until the Shinkansen began to be built more than half a century later that speed had to be pursued, so standard rail was used.
Charter said: "I don't believe the Japanese would make such a mistake!"
Li Yunu pursed his lips: "If you don't believe me, just go to Europe or the United States and have a look."
He is also drunk, and now he has this kind of spirit.
But Li Yu has seen too many people like this, and there will be more in the future.
Yokohama is a large city in Japan, close to the port, close to Tokyo, and densely populated.
Yokohama received the news early, and Takeshi Inukai, the honorary principal of Datong School specially established for overseas Chinese students, and Utako Shimoda, the academic director, came to greet everyone.
Inukai Takeshi has now entered the political arena, but currently he cannot compare with the status of Saionji Konobo, Katsura Taro and others. It will be nearly 30 years before he becomes the Prime Minister of Japan.
The accompanying Japanese counselor translated on his behalf and introduced both parties.
As the host, Inukai Takeshi said: "Welcome the Mongol prince and the two princes of the Qing Dynasty to come to Yokohama."
King Gong said: "Mr. Senator Youlao came to greet you personally."
Takeshi Inukai belongs to a faction in Japanese politics that is slightly friendly to China, and has always been opposed to the radical policies of the military ministry.
What he envisioned was to exchange the nominal sovereignty of the Northeast for the actual interests of the Northeast, which is the so-called "peaceful way."
Of course, it is China's interests that are actually being harmed, but Inukai Yi's strategy is to boil the frog in warm water, while the military's approach is to kill the goose to get the eggs, not to mention unscrupulous means.
Takeshi Inukai was the last chain that could suppress the Japanese military. After he was assassinated by the military, no one could restrain the Japanese military anymore.
Inukai Takeshi said: "There are actually several similar schools for international students in Tokyo. It is my honor for you to choose my Datong School."
Takeshi Inukai led everyone in and said, "As expected, you will still go to Tokyo, right?"
"Exactly," King Gong said, "we want to see the various stages of school education in Japan."
"Very good. Education is the weapon that enables our country to reach today and even a more glorious future. It is worth seeing more than the weapons of the military."
From time to time, Inukai Yi still expressed his dissatisfaction with the military department's uncontrolled increase in military expenditures.
Utako Shimoda had not spoken before, but now she said softly: "Sneaking into the night with the wind, moistening things silently. Education is the lowest foundation."
Inukai Yi smiled and said: "Ms. Utako's level of Chinese poetry is still high."
Then he said to Prince Gong and others: "Miss Gezi was once the female official with the highest level of Japanese poetry and Chinese poetry in the palace. Even the queen praised her very much."
King Gong said: "It's amazing. It just so happens that one of our holy masters is coming with us."
"Emperor?" Inukai Yi asked in surprise.
King Gong said: "But he is the emperor's master of Western learning in Shengshang. His name is Li Yu. I wonder if you have heard of him?"
"Li Yu? I seem to have heard of it. It is said that he has achieved a level that shocked the West in terms of mathematics and physics." Inukai Yi didn't pay much attention to mathematical sciences, he just knew a rough idea.
King Gong pointed to Li Yu: "That's him."
"Can such a young person be the emperor's master?" Inu Yangyi couldn't believe it after seeing Li Yu.
Shimoda Utako was also surprised. Naturally, she saw the news, but when she saw her in person, she realized that she was indeed too young. In Japan, she was just a university student.
Utako Shimoda asked curiously: "Are you really proficient in Western science?"
Li Yu smiled and said: "Proficiency can't be mentioned. Science is so vast. I just take a scoop and drink it."
"Can you speak Japanese?" Inukai Yi just thought that Li Yu was just a follower, but he didn't expect that the master was behind him.
Shimoda Utako said: "I didn't expect that you are also outstanding in Chinese poetry."
Well... maybe only the Japanese would say this. In China, Li Yu's level of Chinese studies could be crushed to dregs.
But Japanese people really like Chinese poetry and Japanese songs.
Otherwise, Shimoda Utako was just a very low-level female official in the palace and had no chance to meet the queen.
You must know that the palace fighting in the Japanese imperial palace is no worse than that in China, and if a female official can climb to the highest level of "concubine", she can serve in the palace. If she is favored by the emperor (formerly the shogun), then she can become the emperor alone.
Chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.
In addition to the empress, many of the remaining concubines of Emperor Meiji were female officials.
After hearing Shimoda Gezi's praise, Li Yu had no choice but to reply: "My Chinese poetry is simply unavailable in China."
Shimoda Utako smiled and said: "I can understand, but you are not good at Chinese poetry."
Inukai Takeshi was even more concerned about Emperor Guangxu's passion for science: "Isn't the person in power in your country the Empress Dowager? The Emperor... what is his attitude towards Western learning?"
Li Yu said: "The emperor is interested in science, but the foundation is still weak at present. After all, it has only just begun."
Inukai Yi pinched his beard and whispered: "In this case, the emperor may be able to win."
After walking into the Datong School building, I saw many Chinese people taking arithmetic classes, and the lecturer was a woman in her twenties or eighties.
King Gong was surprised: "Even the teacher is a woman? Can she teach well?"
Japanese Counselor Amano's eyes flashed: "Your Majesty, Miss Kawara is the most outstanding female teacher in our school, and she has an extraordinary background. She graduated from Tokyo Women's Higher Normal College and can speak fluent Chinese. She is a rare talent."
Prince Gong was deeply interested: "I am planning to build a girls' school in the palace, but I am struggling to find a good teacher."
Amano-kun immediately tried his best to recommend: "Miss Kawara is perfect, and she is very friendly to China and has already thought of going to China."
King Gong said: "This is the best! I have always been worried that even if I find a good teacher, I will not agree to leave Japan, let alone go to the grasslands with difficult conditions."
Amano-kun shouted to her: "Teacher Kawara, please come here."
Amano-kun's performance was too obvious. Li Yu tried his best to piece together the memories in his mind, and finally had some impression of this Ms. Kawara.
Her full name is Kawahara Soko, she is Japan's first generation female spy, and can be said to be Kawashima Yoshiko's ancestor.
Kawahara Soko walked in at a leisurely pace. She came from a feudal family and had good tutoring, which gave people the feeling of being from an upper-class family.
She skillfully greeted the Gong Prince and others in Chinese: "Welcome the distinguished prince and crown prince to Japan, and wish you a pleasant stay in our country."
Inukai Takeshi and Shimoda Utako have always spoken Japanese and communicated through Amano-kun's translator. The sudden appearance of a Japanese who can speak Chinese really made Gongwang and others overjoyed.
King Gong replied: "Professor Kawara speaks Chinese really well."
Kawara Soko smiled lightly: "You're showing off your shame."
King Gong asked with some confusion: "You are a daughter of a family, are you really willing to go to the distant grassland alone?"
Kawara Soko moved her lips and said nothing for a while. She remembered what happened a few days ago.
At that time, senior staff officer Fukushima Yasumasa of the Japanese military base camp suddenly found her.
Kawara Soko had also met Fukushima Yasumasa in the past, but she only knew that he was a friend of his father and that he held a high position.
Fukushima Yasumasa went straight to the point: "I don't have much time to elaborate with you, but the Empire of Japan needs your efforts now."
The first sentence made Soko Kawara unable to resist.
Kawara Soko didn't know why. She had always been just an ordinary female teacher. She asked tremblingly: "What does the empire need from me?"
Fukushima Yasumado: "Through our careful arrangements and years of planning, we finally found a breakthrough among the Mongolian kings. As you know, the Mongolian kings are not pro-Japanese now. Once we go to war with Russia, they will take advantage of the geographical advantage.
It is very easy to provide intelligence to the Russians and must be guarded against."
Kawahara Soko did not expect to talk about military and national affairs as soon as she came up. She was completely unprepared: "I am a weak woman, why are you talking to me like this?"
"No, you are not a weak woman, you are a woman of the empire," Yasumasa Fukushima said, "Now King Karaqin of Mongolia wants to set up a girls' school, and he needs a female teacher. You are very suitable. The empire needs you to enter the palace.
Internally, in order to provide us with important information in the future.”
"You mean, you want me to be a spy?" Kawahara Soko said in surprise, "But I don't know how to be a spy."
Fukushima Yasumasa's tone was completely commanding: "You can do it! We have observed you for a long time and found that you are very talented and fully qualified to be a spy. As for any problems during the process, I will arrange for a specialist to investigate you
guide."
If the incident happened suddenly, an ordinary woman might not be able to adapt to it for a while, but Soko Kawahara's father was a typical "loyal to the emperor and patriotic" feudal feudal lord, and Soko Kawahara also grew up in this kind of educational environment.
After thinking for a while, she agreed: "I accept."
Fukushima Yasumasa was very satisfied with Kawahara Soko's performance. He chose a sudden opportunity to ask questions. Only those who can quickly calm down at such critical moments can be a qualified spy.
"You have to remember that for the success of our cause, we must always consider the worst-case scenario. You should also know what the ultimate destination of spies is. Frankly speaking, you must pay for your life at any time."
Kawahara Soko actually replied directly: "I understand that my life is not worth cherishing, and the future of the Japanese Empire is the goal that we disdain to pursue."
Fukushima Yasumasa nodded: "Very good!"
Then he told her about the situation in Mongolia and Russia, as well as some short-term tasks in the future.
That night, after Kawahara Soko's father knew that she was going to become a spy for the military, he excitedly called her to the Buddhist hall, handed her a pistol and a dagger, and said: "This is for ending your life.
You must not tarnish the reputation of the Kawara family, let alone the honor of Japanese women! You are fighting for the country, and we will be extremely happy to hear the news that you sacrificed your life for the emperor!"
Well, the whole family has been brainwashed by militarism.
Now that she saw King Gong arriving in front of her so quickly, Kawara Soko was actually a little excited. It turned out that she liked the exciting feeling of being a spy.
Kawahara Soko said categorically to Prince Gong: "I am willing to go to the grassland, and I am even more willing to do my best to build a girls' school for the palace. This is my supreme pursuit of education."
King Gong was very happy: "I really didn't expect that the women in your country have such noble character."
It was so well concealed that King Gong couldn't even see the flaw.
Li Yu felt like he was watching a show and he was not in a hurry.
On the one hand, he doesn't know much about spies, and he can only expose himself if he is deliberate; on the other hand, in the short term, Kawahara Soko must be familiar with the inside and outside of the palace, and has no chance to carry out espionage work. The real Russo-Japanese War will start a year later.
Several people continued to visit the Datong school. Some of these overseas Chinese children studied very hard.
Li Yu said: "There are so many Chinese students in Japan now."
Inukai explained: "There is also a Datong school in Tokyo, which also accepts Chinese students. The founder is very famous in the Qing Dynasty. I think you will know it."
"I know him?" Li Yu asked in surprise.
"You should know," Quan Yang Yi said, "this man's name is Liang Qichao."