Although the courses in the Jinshi Hall are biased towards the direction of politics and law, it does not mean that you do not need to understand any modern science to study politics and law.
Therefore, the courses taken by these new scholars in the Jinshi Hall of the Capital University are not that different from the previous official schools. They still seem to be a mixture of nine years of compulsory education and high school.
You must take some basic courses in mathematics, physics and chemistry that you have not learned before, otherwise your knowledge blind spots will be too large, which will have a huge impact on your future employment.
Although Zhu Guozhen did not win the first prize, he was still a Shujishi in the Hanlin Academy. This position may sound mediocre, but in fact it is quite powerful. The Shujishi are basically selected from among the Jinshi with the best grades. They will
He was a close official of the emperor, responsible for drafting edicts and explaining scriptures to the emperor.
Many cabinet members in the Ming Dynasty came from this position.
But Zhu Guozhen has obviously developed a strong interest in Western learning. After learning that Li Yu has written a set of textbooks that are more suitable for the introduction of Western learning, he must ask Li Yu to give him a set to study in person.
Naturally, Li Yu couldn't dissuade others, so he agreed.
Zhu Guozhen said: "Senior brother's approach to explaining Western science seems to have been done by the ancient great sage Zhu Xi."
Zhu Guozhen actually started to praise Li Yu. It seemed that he was really interested in Western learning.
Zhu Xi devoted his whole life to annotating the Four Books, and it took more than 40 years to write the "Collected Annotations on Chapters and Sentences of the Four Books", from which the name of the Four Books was officially established.
This set of books later became the imperial textbooks and imperial examination standards, and Zhu Xi became the only person who was not a direct disciple of Confucius to be enshrined in the Confucius Temple and ranked among the twelve philosophers in the Dacheng Hall.
Li Yu laughed and said: "Brother, I'm sorry, but there is a big difference between them."
Wang Shoupeng, the number one scholar, heard their conversation and intervened: "So you have written an introductory book on Western science?"
Li Yu said: "Yes, and it has been printed. Through the printing press, it will be promoted in new schools everywhere."
Wang Shoupeng said: "In this way, private school students may grow up to be much better than us in the future."
Wang Zhuangyuan's words are quite self-aware.
Zhu Guozhen asked: "If I start learning now, is it too late?"
Li Yu said: "It is indeed a bit late to study science. But in the future, you will take the political and legal route. If you study hard, I think you can still reach a better level."
Wang Zhuangyuan asked in surprise: "Is it possible that the way of science is so much more difficult than the knowledge of politics and law?"
Li Yu had no choice but to explain: "Difficult and not difficult are relative concepts. They are not in the same field at all and cannot be compared together. I can only say that you have too little exposure to science and need to spend a lot of time laying the foundation; and politics and law
At least there are local laws and regulations that can be used for reference and comparison, so it will be less difficult to get started."
Wang Zhuangyuan concluded: "To put it bluntly, it is still difficult. If I can understand your 'Collected Notes on Various Scientific Subjects', can I integrate all scientific subjects?"
Wang Shoupeng also compared Li Yu's approach with Zhu Xi's.
Li Yu didn't want to hit them, but he could only say frankly: "No, it's far from it. These books are just an introduction to various scientific subjects."
Wang Zhuangyuan curled his lips: "In this way, you cannot be called a 'scientific sage'. Zhu Xi's annotations can understand the true meaning of the Four Books, but your 'collected annotations' are just an introduction."
Wang Shoupeng seems to have read the newspaper and heard the words of the "sage of science".
Li Yu spread his hands and repeated: "So I say it's not even close."
Wang Shoupeng did not understand the meaning of Li Yu's words, and continued: "If it is a book that cannot understand the true meaning of science, it will be meaningless to read."
Wang Shoupeng's understanding of science is still too backward.
Li Yu said with a smile: "Although it is a superficial book, it is enough for an introduction. I have left a small number of after-school exercises at the end of each book. If the number one scholar can do it, that would be it."
Li Yu gave a thumbs up.
Wang Shoupeng said: "Is it possible that I can't understand such a simple book?"
Li Yu said: "The number one scholar can naturally read it. If it is really superficial, it will not take long to finish it. In the future, it will also be helpful to read books about the great principles of science."
Wang Shoupeng said: "If it can really be helpful for understanding the 'great meaning of science' in the future, it wouldn't hurt to read it when you have nothing to do."
Li Yu cupped his hands and said, "I hope the number one scholar will give me some advice."
Wang Shoupeng really thought that Li Yu was complimenting him, so he politely said: "Easy to say, easy to say."
Li Yu brought several sets of books over when he went back. Now the Capital University Hall and the Normal Hall have begun to promote Li Yu's books, but they are not complete yet.
After receiving it, Zhu Guozhen attached great importance to it. After flipping through it, he said: "Sir, you are a great talent. I will do my best to study it during this period of time."
Li Yu said: "Read slowly. They are all textbooks, and the density of knowledge is a bit high. They are originally intended for new-style schools that last five to nine years."
Wang Shoupeng was full of confidence. He looked at a few books and found that they were not very thick: "I thought that science could have much content, but compared to my wall-to-wall bookshelf, it was just a drop in the bucket."
Li Yu said: "Compared to science, they are just a drop in the bucket."
Wang Zhuangyuan turned around and started reading. Although he was a little better than Qufu Yanshenggong Kong Lingyi, he also got stuck when he read mathematics.
"Rational numbers? Fractions? What a mess!"
"Negative numbers, just kidding, there is no such strange thing in the world!"
When Wang Zhuangyuan encountered something he didn't understand, he didn't delve too deeply into it. He looked back quickly, but when he read about unknown numbers and linear equations of one variable, he was completely confused.
“Foreigners’ scientific approach is like child’s play, baseless and meaningless.”
Wang Zhuangyuan was already confused after reading it for a few days, let alone solving the problem.
I thought about what Li Yu said but felt that I couldn't give up, otherwise it would be a bit embarrassing. Just at this time, a letter from Yan Jingyu of Qufu arrived.
After Wang Shoupeng read the letter, he still felt that the Four Books and the Five Classics were more amiable and could not let the imperial examination decline, so he prepared to stand on the same front as Yan Shenggong Kong Lingyi as the number one scholar in the new subject.
Wang Shoupeng's idea was that although Western learning should be used, the imperial examination system should not be lost.
A few days later, Kong Lingyi and Yan Jingyu came to the Confucius Temple in Beijing in person. After carving the Jinshi stele, they encouraged everyone to sign a petition together.
The name of the Holy Duke Kong Ling Yiyan was quite appealing, and many Jinshi said that the imperial examination was the core of talent selection for the imperial court.
So many Jinshi signed the petition, and the court had to take it seriously. When the memorial was delivered to Cixi in Xiyuan, Cixi felt a headache when she saw it.
As a ruler, what you are exposed to most are multiple-choice questions, that is, decisions.
Moreover, rulers like to listen to opinions rather than forcing themselves to make decisions. This feels like coercion, and emperors have not liked it since ancient times.
Therefore, although many loyal ministers were dedicated to serving the public good, if their memorials were too straightforward and instructive, they would arouse the emperor's dissatisfaction and resentment.
Only some tactful loyal ministers knew how to coax the emperor while advancing policies.
It's really difficult to be an official.
The reason for Cixi's headache was that she suddenly thought of the petition on the bus that year. At that time, Kangliang prevented thousands of people from signing the memorial together. Cixi said to Rongqing next to him: "Go and discipline these people, why are you so unreasonable?"
"
Rongqing also felt that they were really inexperienced, and doing so was obviously suspected of being a clique, which was the most taboo for the court.
So he immediately issued an edict to reprimand them: The imperial court has its own decisions, so please don't interfere with the hearing!
Kong Lingyi felt very embarrassed. He didn't expect that even the court would not stand on his side. Could it be that he had done something wrong?
But it would be a bit inappropriate to submit a letter again, so we can only discuss it after some time.
Wang Zhuangyuan had already become the number one scholar anyway, so he could only let the situation develop and helplessly go back to reading those "superficial" science books.
Naturally, Li Yu had no intention of taking care of Kong Lingyi and the others, and Japanese Minister Uchida Yasuya also came to visit them.
Uchida Yasuya asked: "Li Yujun, we like your radio equipment very much, can we purchase a few more sets?"
Li Yu pretended to be helpless: "The current production is quite tight, I'm afraid I can't provide much."
In fact, Li Yu has already sent a telegram to the United States, trying to rush to produce more, but the current manpower is really small, there are not many people who understand this technology at the moment, and the production capacity really cannot be increased.
Uchida Yasuya said: "I can continue to order at the original price of 12,000 silver dollars."
Li Yu asked: "How much does the minister need?"
Uchida said without thinking: "Thirty sets."
Li Yu said with a smile: "Definitely not thirty sets, three sets at most."
Uchida thought about it in his mind: "Three sets are three sets."
Li Yu didn't expect that he would make such a big decision.
After several days of delay, Li Yu allowed him to deliver the goods, and Russian Minister Resal also came to Li Yu to get two sets.
This thing is indeed profitable, and other ministers have sent requests.
Things are rare and valuable.
If more civilian-friendly radios and wireless walkie-talkies are made in the future, there will really be a big market.
The Russian minister also brought an official letter from St. Petersburg, granting Li Yu permission to ride on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
I have done many experiments over and over again during this period, and the results are almost there, so I can leave for Europe.
Today, Europe is simply too mysterious for people like Lu Bicheng who have never been exposed to the Internet.
Although I really wanted to keep a reserved attitude, my eyes couldn't suppress the overflowing joy.
Li Yu said: "Why are the corners of your eyes so crooked today?"
Lu Bicheng was holding back her joy, but she said: "Maybe the wind and sand are a bit strong."
Li Yu looked up and said, "Where is the wind?"
Lu Bicheng said "Ouch": "Let's go!"
Zhao Qian drove them to the train station in a carriage, and then the two took a train to Tanggu Port in Tianjin and continued to take a ship to Dalian.
It’s not much different from the last trip.
The people at Dalian Station read the documents, checked that they were correct, and then let them board the train.
The Manchuria Branch of the Trans-Siberian Railway in the Northeast, also known as the "Middle East Railway", has been fully opened to traffic, forming a "T" shape connecting Dalian, Shenyang, Changchun, and Harbin from south to north; and then connecting Vladivostok and Harbin from east to west.
, Harald, Manzhouli.
It basically connects all the major cities in the Northeast, which shows the great ambition of Tsarist Russia.
They took a soft sleeper, so the whole journey was not tiring.
After the train stopped in Shenyang, Li Yu got off the train to buy some fruit, and then went to the dining car to have lunch with Lu Bicheng.
As soon as Li Yu entered the dining car, someone suddenly grabbed his shoulder from behind.
Li Yu obviously felt that this hand was very heavy. He instantly remembered the grappling technique Huang Feihong taught him, and immediately took his wrist and twisted it against the joint.
However, he did not expect that this man was very strong, and Li Yu did not completely twist his body.
When Li Yu turned around, he found that he was actually a Japanese ronin samurai in front of him.
The Japanese Ronin's skills were superior to Li Yu's, but they were not fortified, so they were in a bit of a panic for a moment.
The Japanese Ronin wanted to grab something at his waist with his other hand, but was blocked by his other hand.
When Lu Bicheng saw it, he also wanted to rush over, but Li Yu saw that the other party did not mean to fight, so he let go.
"I didn't expect Li Yujun to have such skill. It's unexpected." The speaker was a lean and capable Japanese who was also a ronin. It was he who stopped the tall ronin samurai before.
The tall Japanese ronin samurai treated him respectfully and quickly stood behind him.
"Let me introduce myself. I have a handsome head, a nickname like Liyun, and I am known as a wanderer in the world."
Li Yu frowned, it turned out to be the leader of the Black Dragon Society.
He was a little confused. How a few Japanese people dared to board a Russian train. It was really audacious.
But thinking about it, they must have gotten involved, because now the China Eastern Railway Administration mainly controls key nodes.
Toyama Manto's biggest goal at the moment is to have Japan defeat Russia, and he is desperately collecting all kinds of intelligence in the Northeast region.
The railway is one of the most critical factors, so in-depth investigation is naturally indispensable.
Moreover, Touyama Mitsuru never held any Japanese official position in his life, he was just a civilian.
But he is the "King of Ronin" in Japan. He has profoundly influenced Japanese politics through the mysterious organization Black Dragon Society, and has very deep connections with revolutionary parties such as Mr. Sunakayama.
Tou Shanman's Black Dragon Society supported Mr. Zhongshan's Tongmenghui's anti-Qing revolution. In fact, they also wanted to use this to jointly fight against Tsarist Russia.
After that, Principal Jiang and Toushan Man also had close contacts.
Li Yu asked: "What does Mr. Toushan want from me?"
Toushan had a smile on his face and said, "I'm taking the liberty, let's sit down and talk."
Toushanman walked straight to the dining table where Li Yu and Lu Bicheng were before and sat on the opposite side.
Lu Bicheng glanced at Li Yu, and Li Yu said, "It doesn't matter, we'll sit too."
Toyama Mitsuru said: "I heard that Mr. has extraordinary talents. Not only is he familiar with foreign knowledge, but he can also use scientific methods to create superb wireless equipment. I have admired his name for a long time, so I came here to pay a visit."
Li Yu said: "If you want to visit me, I'm afraid this place is not suitable."
Toushanman laughed and said, "I don't speak Chinese well. Chinese culture is vast and profound, and I still can't master many words."
Toushanman took out a pot of sake and poured Li Yu a glass: "Please."
Li Yu took one look at it and drank it in one gulp.
Toushan Man said: "Okay!" and then said, "Your Excellency has this kind of talent, and you will definitely be valued by the military circles of various countries in the future."
Li Yu said: "Are you referring to radio equipment? The technology I research is not for military use, but for general commercial use. As for how it is used in the military, it has nothing to do with me."
Li Yu quickly distanced himself from the relationship.
Tou Shanman said: "I'm really surprised that your Excellency thinks this way. It was said in ancient times that there is a person who can conquer the world and conquer the world. I met him today on a speeding train."
Li Yudao: "Mr. Toushan doesn't have to go around too much. He came to me on the Russian train. He must not have wanted to discuss scientific inventions with me, right?"
Tou Shanman said: "Your Excellency is very straightforward. I don't think I have the ability to discuss science with you."
Li Yu said: "Then Mr. Toushan is afraid that I will go to Russia and do something detrimental to Japan."
Li Yu roughly guessed what Toushan Man meant.
Toushan smiled and said: "It's comfortable to talk to smart people. To be honest, even if you have a wise heart, others may not think so."
Li Yu knew his true intention and said: "The war between you and Russia is about to begin. I understand your original intention. But when I go to Europe, my destination is not St. Petersburg, but Germany."
Tou Shanman said: "So that's the case, then I really want those people to do some more in-depth work."
Li Yu said: "Intelligence is difficult to do, but it is really not easy for you to know that I have obtained the letter from the Russian Embassy."
When Toushan Man saw Li Yu pointing it out directly, he stopped covering up: "You are already an important academic figure and you have such enviable skills. Please don't be offended."
Since then, the United States and other countries have conducted espionage work on many great scientists. Li Yu had already been mentally prepared, so he said: "Technology is not a decisive factor between you and Russia. After all, there is no generational difference."
Toyama Mitsuru said: "The words spoken by a scientific authority like you give me some comfort. I would like to ask, you have visited many countries, including our Empire of Japan and Russia, what do you think...
Do you think Orientals can defeat Caucasians?”
Toushan paused for a moment, then abruptly changed the second half of the sentence.
Li Yu smiled and said: "The outcome is never predictable, but I remembered a game."