Oxford is a very old university. It should be the oldest university in the UK. It has a history of over 800 years, which is several decades longer than Cambridge. Cambridge was founded by some people from Oxford who left Oxford.
But there is no need to think that they are more worthy of praise because they have a longer history. Some academies in China have a longer history.
Later, some universities with short histories in emerging countries were not weak at all.
And what do you think British schools could teach eight hundred years ago? There was no Renaissance at that time, and they were all church schools.
It can be seen from the names of their colleges that "Trinity College" and "St. John's College" are all from the Bible.
It is said that hundreds of years ago, most of the literate people in Europe were church members.
Of course, Oxford's ranking is still very high, and the battle for the top spot between Oxford and Cambridge has lasted for hundreds of years.
When different newspapers in the UK rank each other, sometimes one will put Oxford first, and another will put Cambridge first.
Oxford is quite large and has no walls. It feels like a university constitutes a small city.
Although many people have not had the opportunity to enter Oxford, many people have actually seen what Oxford looks like on TV. The Hogwarts Hall in "Harry Potter" was shot in Oxford (actually the crew later re-set the scene
, but it is always based on Oxford).
British drama also has quite a tradition. After all, Shakespeare is a big tree, and at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century there were Wilde and others, and it has been thriving.
Today the Oxford Drama Society is organizing a performance of Ibsen's "A Doll's House".
While they were still preparing, Li Yu first went to the Bodleian Library. This is a very famous library next to Oxford University. Its collection of books is second only to the British Library. It is said that in the early years, every book published in the UK was
Send a copy of every book to this library.
The library already contains the Star Wars series, and due to the high number of borrowings, the Bodleian Library ordered ten more sets.
The earlier the time goes, the more the library is the soul of a university.
As soon as Li Yu entered the library door, he heard several Chinese people talking inside.
"Luo Chang, you have been in Honolulu for many years and you are also a student at Oxford. What do you think is the strength of Oxford University?"
The person who spoke turned out to be Kang Youwei. What a coincidence. Why did we meet him here again?
However, calculating the time, Kang Youwei has indeed started his own trip to Europe, and his first stop must be the United Kingdom, which is the closest to the American continent.
Luo Chang was a younger disciple of Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao, emerging at the age of only twenty.
His academic qualifications are very prominent among Kang Youwei's disciples: he studied at Waseda University and Japan Army University in his early years, and now he has transferred to the top Oxford University in the UK.
It was this many years of overseas experience that made him become a disciple of Kangmen.
Luo Chang said: "Master, Oxford has a wide range of subjects, including natural philosophy, literature, art, history, etc., and many majors are factory-oriented."
Kang Youwei nodded: "I walked around London a lot and saw their steel giants and workshops. I even saw a shipyard. There is indeed something worth learning from. You are a knowledgeable person. After returning to China,
You must be entrusted with important responsibilities."
It seems that Mr. Nanhai has not forgotten Emperor Guangxu and firmly believes that he will be reused after returning to China.
Kang Youwei was pacing in front of the bookshelf, and another student came to borrow the Star Wars series. After he left, Kang Youwei asked Luo Chang: "In a place with such a prosperous culture in Europe, there are still people who like to watch this kind of entertainment that is purely after dinner?"
Luo Chang said: "Yes, Master, and it will be borrowed almost as soon as it is returned."
Kang Youwei continued to ask: "Where are Li Yu's other books on mathematics and science?"
Luo Chang said: "It's about the same level, and most of the borrowers are professors and lecturers."
Kang Youwei was surprised and said: "Do all the professors in the British universities read Li Yu's books?"
Luo Chang said: "That's right."
"It's really so magical. Have you read it?" Kang Youwei naturally couldn't understand it. Hearing that the professor at Oxford University wanted to read Li Yu's books, he was a little afraid to make any further judgments.
Luo Chang said: "I'm sorry, Master, I can't read. My majors are literature, law, history and military. I know very little about natural philosophy. I can only barely understand his "Game Theory" and "Fractals and Chaos"
The first half is because it is for general readers.”
"So, I can understand it too?" Kang Youwei asked.
Luo Chang said: "My master is blessed with talents, so he is naturally much better than me."
Kang Youwei thought about it but gave up. It was a bit embarrassing not to fully understand it, so he said: "Natural philosophy is just a second-class knowledge. It can't be used to understand the world and worship ministers, so it's okay not to read it."
Li Yu at the door glanced at Lu Bicheng and said softly: "How about we leave first."
But as soon as he turned around, he saw Kang Youwei's daughter Kang Tongbi also coming in.
The two met before at Columbia University in the United States. Kang Tongbi said: "Are you Li Yu?!"
Li Yu smiled awkwardly: "Miss Kang."
Kang Tongbi squatted for a moment, then ran in to find Kang Youwei.
She whispered a few words to Kang Youwei, and Kang Youwei said loudly: "He's here too?"
Kang Youwei strode out and asked Li Yu, "Why are you here?"
Li Yu spread his hands and asked, "Why can't I be here?"
Luo Chang had always had a good impression of Li Yu, but he had been in a trance since seeing Kang Tongbi just now, and he was just thinking about how to talk to Kang Tongbi.
Kang Youwei snorted: "Farewell."
After saying that, he left the library directly.
Li Yu shrugged: "I won't send it away."
After they left, Lu Bicheng asked: "Mr. Kang still seems to be quite prejudiced against you."
Li Yu said: "It was nothing at first, but I grabbed his pigtail, and Liang Zi definitely couldn't untie it. But there is no Internet now... Well, there is no wider media, and many people actually don't know."
Lu Bicheng said: "Literate people, especially intellectuals in the United States, will definitely know. You should be more careful in the future. Mr. Nanhai's energy overseas seems to be quite large."
While the two were talking, James Bruce, the vice-chancellor of Oxford University, and another person came over to greet Li Yu: "Mr. Academician is here, giving me a good meal. I'm here, James Bruce, the vice-chancellor of Oxford."
Li Yu shook hands with him: "Nice to meet you."
"I heard that the best scientists in the world today are coming to our school. We are very welcome!" Bruce said, and then introduced another person next to him, "This is Mr. Abel Rhodes, the great Sir Cecil Rhodes.
's son."
When foreigners introduce themselves, they often say who they are and the son of such and such, especially nobles. Li Yu has long been accustomed to this.
Abel Rhodes shook hands with Li Yu: "My father donated money last year to establish a special scholarship at Oxford University to provide funding for outstanding scholars. As long as they obtain the qualifications, they will be called 'Rhodes Scholars.' We hope that Mr. Academician
I accept this honor."
Only then did Li Yu realize that it was the very famous "Rhodes Scholarship" of Oxford University.
The selection process for the Rhodes Scholarship is very difficult, and the application acceptance rate is appallingly low, less than one in ten thousand. It was later known as the "Global Youth Nobel Prize."
At first, it was only open to a few countries in the Commonwealth. It was not opened to the mainland until 2015. Only four people from the mainland receive the title of "Rhodes Scholar" every year.
As for the person who founded this scholarship, he has a good background: Cecil Rhodes, the South African diamond king and the founder of De Beers, the world's largest diamond mining company.
At the same time, he was an extreme colonialist and was the direct instigator of the Boer War between South Africa and Britain.
Although the Boer War dragged Britain into the quagmire of war and suffered heavy losses, Cecil Rhodes still became one of the richest men in the world at that time.
Cecil Rhodes was also an extreme racist. He said personally: "I insist that we British are the first race in the world; I also insist that the more land we occupy, the more beneficial it is to mankind."
Although Britain has had a very bad relationship with Germany in the past few decades, Rhodes still prefers the Kaiser and Germany (many British people think the same way, but there is currently a dispute between them for first and second place in Europe).
Therefore, in addition to several countries in the Commonwealth, the Rhodes Scholarship also admitted German students because Cecil believed that the world would eventually be ruled by Britain, the United States and Germany, and would bring long-lasting peace.
This kind of thinking is terrifying to hear.
Li Yu asked: "I heard that your school does not have a quota for Asian students in this scholarship."
Abel Rhodes said: "Sir, you are an exception. Haven't you already become an American citizen?"
Li Yu was surprised: "Where did you hear that? It doesn't happen!"
Abel wondered: "Then how can you set up a business in the United States?"
Li Yu said speechlessly: "It has nothing to do with nationality, and Mr. Morgan has shares in the company."
Abel suddenly realized: "So that's it! But we can still be extra merciful. After all, your excellence has surpassed the entire Far East."
Li Yu was a little dissatisfied with the condescending attitude of the British race like him, and refused directly: "Thank you for your kindness, you should consider being 'merciful' to others."
Abel wanted to retain Li Yu, but now Li Yu was a very popular person, and all major institutions wanted to recruit him. Moreover, he had already helped Cambridge conduct experiments, which was another impact on Oxford's reputation, so he said: "Mr. Academician, we
It can give you higher financial aid; and being a Rhodes Scholar will also boost your reputation."
Li Yu smiled coldly: "Do you think I lack money or reputation?"
Abel was speechless.
Seeing that Li Yu couldn't move, Vice Principal Bruce had no choice but to give up: "The club has been organized and will perform immediately. It is the first time in Oxford and even London that Eastern and Western dramas are on stage at the same time. Mr. Bernard Shaw also came to watch it in person. Let's go there first.
Let's see."
Li Yu said: "Please!"
Li Yu was an honored guest and was invited to the front row; Kang Youwei was also a guest from Oxford, so they were not far from each other; and across Lu Bicheng to Li Yu's right was Bernard Shaw.
Bernard Shaw was already famous at this time. His thoughts were relatively advanced. He had read Marx and was very friendly to China. Later, he visited China specifically and formed friendships with Lu Xun and Cai Yuanpei.
George Bernard Shaw smiled and said: "Mr. Literary Man, I have read your Star Wars series, and your imagination is amazing."
Li Yu laughed and said: "I can't afford this title. Without the help of Miss Bicheng, that set of books would not be so brilliant."
Bernard Shaw said: "I have read the whole set of books carefully. I don't know why, but I always feel that it has a strong sense of stage impact. It seems to be specially born for the stage. It makes me want to rewrite it into a play. But its magnificent
The background doesn’t seem to be suitable for the performance on stage.”
Unexpectedly, Bernard Shaw actually saw some clues. The Star Wars series originally came from movies. It is not enough to say that it was born for the stage.
Li Yu said: "Perhaps in a few decades, there will be a way to broadcast it on movies."
"Sir, you are referring to a movie played on a piece of cloth," said George Bernard Shaw. "Since you say so, it seems necessary for me to think about it carefully."
Kang Youwei saw a great British writer talking and laughing with Li Yuyou. He coughed and came over: "I am Kang Youwei, my name is Nanhai. It is a pleasure to meet Mr. Xiao."
Bernard Shaw said politely: "After hearing about your deeds, you were respected as the emperor's teacher, you took refuge overseas, and the story of your clothing and belt order is also very dramatic."
Kang Youwei rolled his eyes and said: "If Mr. Xiao intends to adapt it into a drama, I would like to tell you the details in detail."
Li Yu immediately understood that Kang Youwei wanted to use Bernard Shaw's adaptation of the play to expand his popularity so as to obtain more donations for the Royal Society.
Li Yu said: "The writing of a drama set in the palace of the Qing Dynasty is very different from that of a European royal family. Mr. Nanhai must have a lot of knowledge about British aristocratic culture and should be aware of the key points."
Kang Youwei said: "It doesn't matter. Mr. Xiao can express himself freely. I can provide consulting help if he doesn't understand anything during the process."
Bernard Shaw said: "I think what Mr. Li Yu said makes sense. If you don't have a deep understanding of what you are writing, you will not be able to write a wonderful play. I heard that Mr. Puccini even traveled east to create a play with a Chinese background.
China. Even he didn’t dare to write. Naturally, I couldn’t write rashly without having been to China.”
Bernard Shaw was still very rigorous.
But Kang Youwei couldn't wait any longer and said, "I have a very deep understanding of Chinese court culture, and Mr. Xiao can be completely trusted."
Li Yu suddenly laughed and said: "What a 'palace jade liquor'!"
Kang Youwei's beard stood up: "What did you say?"
Li Yu continued: "One hundred and eighty cups; how do you like this wine? Let me blow it for you."
Kang Youwei said angrily: "What a mess of limericks!"
Lu Bicheng on the side already laughed out loud: "What a poem!"
Kang Youwei said angrily: "Stop crossing your fingers! How dare you, a woman in the class, laugh at me?"
When Li Yu saw him scolding Lu Bicheng, he immediately quit: "Mr. Nanhai, you have read too few books! "A Doll's House" that will be performed soon is about the story of a woman's awakening. This kind of occasion makes people laugh.
Being a woman, or a talented woman, will only make you appear more out of place and ignorant."
To be called "ignorant and ill-informed" by others is a great shame and humiliation for a literati.
But when Kang Youwei heard Luo Chang tell him the general outline of the play, his voice immediately dropped, but he was still out of breath and pointed at Li Yu: "You..."
Li Yu didn't want to quarrel with him and pointed to the stage: "The performance has started. Mr. Nanhai, you should just sit there and enjoy the show."