Not long after breakfast, several Japanese people came to the door.
The news was probably spread by the media, because among the visitors were Mitsubishi Group's Koyata Iwasaki and reporter Takahashi Yoshio.
Li Yu originally thought of leaving after a short stay, but unexpectedly he was approached by the Japanese.
"Mr. Li Yu, we have met before." Iwasaki Koyata said.
The current head of the Mitsubishi Group is Hisaya Iwasaki, the third generation, and Koyata Iwasaki will be the future fourth generation.
The two are cousins.
The founder of Mitsubishi was Yataro Iwasaki, whom many people have heard of, and the second was his younger brother Yanosuke Iwasaki.
The current Sandaime is the son of the founder.
The Iwasaki Koyata in front of me is the son of the founder’s younger brother, Iwasaki Yanosuke.
It's a little chaotic, but after all, it's the Iwasaki family.
That’s why they are called chaebols.
Li Yu shook hands with him: "Hello, Mr. Iwasaki."
Iwasaki Koyata introduced him to the reporter next to him, Takahashi Yoshio: "This Mr. Takahashi Yoshio comes from "Jiji Shinpo". He is not only an outstanding reporter, but also a disciple of Mr. Fukuzawa Yukichi."
Takahashi Yoshio was very interested in Li Yu. After looking at him carefully, he said: "I never thought that a person like you could be born among the yellow race."
Takahashi Yoshio is a staunch follower of Fukuzawa Yukichi.
Fukuzawa Yukichi is known as the "Father of Japanese Education" in Japan.
From a Japanese perspective, Fukuzawa Yukichi is undoubtedly an epoch-making ideological pioneer.
Before Japan's currency reform in 2019, his face was on the 10,000-yen bill.
However, from a Chinese perspective, he is an opponent with mixed feelings.
In modern history, Japan has been profoundly affected in all aspects from top to bottom, from inside to outside. The famous proposal of "Leaving Asia and Joining Europe" came from Fukuzawa Yukichi.
If you understand Japan's modern history, you can see that in the nearly one hundred years from the end of the Tokugawa period to the end of World War II, the shadow of Fukuzawa Yukichi can be seen everywhere in Japan's politics, economy, education and even diplomacy.
But as a Chinese, we should calmly realize that the militaristic connotation of Fukuzawa Yukichi’s educational philosophy has also been fully inherited by his descendants and turned into reality one by one.
In other words, as Japan became increasingly powerful, the concept of "departing Asia and joining Europe" gradually took on a more conservative tone: "departing Asia" then evolved into "invading Asia"!
Fukuzawa Yukichi once nakedly proposed the prerequisite for Japan to achieve "great rejuvenation" - while strengthening its armaments, it should "seize Asia" at the right time and invade North Korea and China.
In March 1885, Fukuzawa Yukichi published the famous "On Dea", which launched an unrelenting criticism of China and North Korea.
He said in the article that China and North Korea are "countries stagnant in Confucianism and bound by authoritarianism and cruel laws." "Japan not only receives no assistance from the two countries, but also causes numerous diplomatic incidents."
Therefore, he believed that "there is no need for any 'special care' for China and North Korea. Japan should follow the Western powers and jointly occupy China and North Korea."
This kind of thinking can be said to have deeply influenced the Japanese political, military and even ronin circles.
Later, when the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1894 broke out, Fukuzawa Yukichi had an extremely tough attitude towards China. In a special article, he "eulogized" the Sino-Japanese War of 1898-1894 as a "holy war" and compared the fact of Japan's victory to "a long-dreamed victory."
During the negotiations between the two countries, he not only demanded a huge compensation from the Japanese government, but also demanded that Lushun, Weihaiwei, Shandong, Taiwan and even the three northeastern provinces "must be included in the pocket."
In short, the remarks made by Fukuzawa Yukichi at the end of the 19th century were full of extremely irrational, crazy and adventurous militaristic qualities.
But in the eyes of the Japanese, they are extremely enthusiastic about it.
The Japanese people are like this at this time. Regardless of whether it is just or not, as long as they can win a foreign war, even if it is an invasion, they will praise it vigorously.
Of course, many countries are similar.
When the British established an empire on which the sun never sets, and later when the United States stationed troops around the world, how many British people did you think it was inappropriate for the Americans to do so?
What is inappropriate is only losing wars, such as the Vietnam War, which is a quagmire.
But to be able to dominate the world, whether it is the British in the early years or the Americans later, they may say a few high-sounding words that are not humane on the surface, but in their hearts they are happy to death.
Therefore, people like Fukuzawa Yukichi have very different opinions from different standpoints, but it is undeniable that his thoughts have truly changed the historical trend of Japan and even the entire East Asia.
In the second half of his life, Fukuzawa Yukichi was mainly engaged in newspapers and education. This was also the most important achievement in his life: the founding of "Jiji Shinpo" and Keio University.
Yoshio Takahashi took office at Jiji Shinpo, and his remarks clearly had the characteristics of Yukichi Fukuzawa advocating for white people.
Li Yu said lightly: "Does your Majesty mean that Chinese people cannot master cutting-edge scientific knowledge?"
"Because it requires extremely good intelligence," said Takahashi Yoshio, "and this does not seem to be something that yellow people can possess."
Since entering the Meiji era in 1868, Japan has chosen to rapidly “Westernize”.
It was precisely during this period that Western racism was introduced to Japan, and Westerners claimed that races were superior and inferior based on "natural sciences" such as anthropology, evolution, and eugenics.
Then some Japanese people who went abroad, Japanese intellectuals, and social elites suddenly discovered that the Japanese race was listed in the middle and lower levels of the racial sequence, and they were defined as "yellow race", "Mongol race", etc.
Some Japanese scholars said that when taking a boat to the United States, they saw that there was a huge difference between the upper-class carriages and the lower-class carriages.
The Chinese workers lived in cramped, dark, smelly bottom cabins.
Japanese scholars call them "rising and lying like silkworms on a shelf."
After arriving in the United States, I encountered so-called "lower-class white" Irish labor immigrants who strongly rejected Chinese labor immigrants.
Soon under the influence of the anti-Chinese movement in the United States, Japanese people were often misidentified by Westerners because of their similar physical characteristics to Chinese people, and encountered various types of racial discrimination.
This experience undoubtedly made modern Japanese people have a worse impression of China, and made them more eager to break away from Asia and form reciprocal relations with Western countries.
Yoshio Takahashi even wrote a book "On the Improvement of Japanese Race", which specifically discussed how to make the Japanese a "master nation" like the white people.
In addition to him, there were other Japanese scholars at the same time, such as Taguchi Ukichi, who directly proposed the more absurd "Aryan origin theory of the Japanese race".
Anyway, in order to leave Asia and join Europe, ancestors can be identified at will.
Li Yu snorted: "It's a pity that I am a purebred Chinese and I have let you down."
Takahashi Yoshio was indeed surprised. He walked around Li Yu and asked, "Do you really have no European relatives in your ancestors?"
Li Yu crossed his legs: "Are you kidding?"
Takahashi Yoshio marveled: "Is there an error in the theory of evolution?"
Li Yu sneered: "Which theory of evolution are you looking at?"
Yoshio Takahashi took out his copy of "Japanese Racial Improvement" and said: "Of course it is artificial selection, natural selection, and eugenics. These are all viewpoints in the theory of evolution. As a leader in Western learning, sir, you will not understand
Bar?"
Li Yu asked: "Where did you learn it from?"
“It is taught by Fukuzawa’s mentor and Keio private school,” said Takahashi Yoshio.
"So have you read the original work?" Li Yu continued to ask.
Takahashi Yoshio said: "No, but I want to learn from the school to be more efficient, and I have got the essence."
"What's the essence of this? It's a complete misinterpretation," Li Yu said.
I'm really convinced. In the past, the Japanese studied Confucianism and learned two swords. They threw away the core "benevolence" in Confucianism and only learned one "loyalty".
One is up, the other is down, both directions are wrong.
Now I just create the theory of evolution out of thin air according to my own understanding.
Yoshio Takahashi said: "But when I looked at the exhibits and introductions in many museums and exhibitions in the 'Academic Anthropology Hall', the theory that human races have advantages and disadvantages was mentioned."
What he said is true. As early as 1889, the Ainu people of Hokkaido, Japanese, Indians, and Javanese were used as exhibits at the Paris World's Fair.
Of course, future generations will understand that although this kind of display is under the banner of "anthropology", in fact it is undoubtedly a condescending view of relatively underdeveloped ethnic groups.
The previous Japan Industrial Expo also learned from European practices and set up a human exhibition hall. However, the Japanese were very thief and treated the Chinese as exhibits.
However, it was canceled due to strong opposition from Chinese students.
Li Yu said: "I want to tell you that from a biological point of view, at least 99.99% of human beings are the same, and at most 0.01% of the difference reflects the differences between people, including so-called "race" such as height and skin color.
different."
Li Yu abandoned the terms "genome" and "base pairs", and he couldn't even understand it when he said it.
Yoshio Takahashi opened his mouth. He wanted to object, but he also knew Li Yu's status in the scientific community, so he added: "Maybe the 0.01% gap is very big."
Li Yu said: "Then let me tell you another data. The gap between humans and chimpanzees is less than 2%."
Takahashi Yoshio said loudly: "Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
Li Yu calmly said: "Otherwise, why do you think humans can evolve from them?"
Takahashi Yoshio felt that his outlook on things was a bit shattered, and he just repeated: "It's definitely impossible!"
Li Yu said: "Then you'd better ensure your health. Maybe you can see the proof one day. Even if you can't see it, you can ask your descendants to tell you in their dreams."
Takahashi Yoshio's hands were shaking and he couldn't even write a complete word with the pen he was holding. Wouldn't the racial improvement he had insisted on for many years become a joke?
He paused before saying: "As a reporter, I will write down everything, but I really can't accept it myself."
Li Yu said: "The development of science and technology is just in its infancy. There will be many things that you will find unacceptable in the future."
After the interview with Yoshio Takahashi, Koyata Iwasaki said to Li Yu: "I heard that Mr. Invented a telegraph that can transmit information wirelessly over long distances. I wonder if our Mitsubishi Group can form a cooperation with you?"
Li Yu spread his hands and refused: "Unfortunately, I can't guarantee the output now."
Koyata Iwasaki added: "Sir, you can set up a factory in Tokyo, and we can provide support in all aspects, including funding."
Li Yu said: "We will discuss this matter later. After all, my own business has just started."
He first found an excuse to put it off. He didn't want to have too much direct contact with the Mitsubishi Zaibatsu.
After all, Koyata Iwasaki came from a big company and knew that business negotiations were not easy, so she calmly accepted Li Yu's rejection: "Okay, we will follow you sir at all times."
Damn, I'm following him all the time.
It's really haunting.
They are probably focusing on technical details.
However, even though Japan's electronics industry was very strong in the 1970s and 1980s, at the beginning of the 20th century there were very few people in Japan who understood circuits.
When Li Yu was invited to interview, Konoe Akiyuki slipped out under the pretext of buying some items.
She came to a secret little house, opened the door and walked in.
This is a tea room, and there is already a person sitting there waiting to be served tea.
Konoe Akiyuki knelt down behind him, and then shouted respectfully: "Master of the family."
The tea master handed them two bowls of matcha in earthenware bowls.
Konoe Atsumaro took a sip of tea soup, then glanced sideways at Konoe Akiyuki who was also drinking tea behind him, and shook his head: "You look so Japanese."
Konoe Akiyuki put down the pottery bowl and said, "Too much like a Japanese?"
Konoe Atsumo said: "It only takes me a few minutes to figure out how you got close to Li Yu?"
Konoe Akiyuki didn't dare to refute at all: "Akiyuki must study more."
Konoe Atsumaro said: "Many things cannot be learned simply by studying. You should use your advantages."
Konoe Akiyuki wondered: "Is Li Yu really worth it?"
Konoe Atsumaro said: "It's worth it. I have traveled west to China many times and stayed for several years. I have contacted countless so-called elites of the Qing Dynasty, ranging from princes to officials, but most of them are just mediocre people. The decadent Qing Dynasty has not been let go by me.
I was extremely shocked that such a dazzling talent appeared in my eyes. I thought it might just be the dying struggle of this thousand-year-old country, but judging from his performance, it has exceeded expectations."
It was the first time for Konoe Akiyuki to see the master of the family at such a close distance, and he really felt the pressure from his words: "Master of the family, I understand."
Konoe Atsumaro took another sip of tea soup: "Remember, looking at the entire Qing Dynasty, he is one of the top people, and he holds extremely powerful technical information, which is crucial to the rise and fall of the empire. So.
, now do you understand the importance of your mission?"
Konoe Akiyuki leaned over and said: "I will definitely improve myself and will not let the master of the family down."
Konoe Atsumaro said calmly: "If you need anything, we will support you. Chief Toushan reminded me of this, and your identity and file will be updated in the future. You and your family were stranded in Japan because of the Sino-Japanese War of 1898-1895.
I have lived in Tokyo for many years, but my family is well off and I have received guidance from Japanese teachers. Do you remember that?"
"Remember."
Konoe Ayuki was horrified that she, an ordinary woman, was personally mentored by so many big men.
"Go back, don't stay too long." Konoe Atsumaro said.
He has seen too many distant relatives like this, but this girl does have talent, and it is necessary to give her some advice to achieve better results.