The next day, Li Yu came to Ding Deshan's noodle stall again. He had just finished half a bowl of noodles when the voices of Eunuch Wei and another young eunuch came from behind:
"Hey, have you heard that Prince Qing said yesterday that the Queen Mother is a monkey?"
"Not only that, Xiao Sanzi from Zhongcuigong told me that they even came out of stones!"
"Tsk tsk tsk!"
"Prince Qing said that it was a Western education teacher in his family who said this. This is all nonsense. He really dares to say anything!"
Bang!
The chopsticks in Li Yu's hand fell directly to the ground, and the mutton in his mouth instantly lost its flavor.
I'll kill you! This is all the same, if it continues to be passed on, it will all change!
No one in the late Qing Dynasty knew anything about the theory of evolution, and it would definitely become more and more outrageous after that.
Li Yu didn't care about eating noodles, threw down a few copper coins and hurried to the Prime Minister's International Affairs Office.
"Your Majesty! I haven't finished explaining the theory of biological evolution to you yet, why did you just start explaining it to the Queen Mother!"
Yikuang put down the document in his hand and said, "I still want to find you. I couldn't explain it to the Queen Mother yesterday, and I couldn't figure out the details. But I just thought about it. Today, the Queen Mother asked you to come in person when she met in Xiyuan.
Tell the Queen Mother!"
What! Li Yu was stunned, wasn’t he pushing himself into a pit of fire? If he didn’t have any scientific literacy, no one would believe in the theory of evolution!
What's more, the theory of evolution at that time was not particularly complete, and there was still some controversy in the West. For example, Lord Kelvin and others had great criticism.
"The Queen Mother...Has the Queen Mother been exposed to Western learning?" Li Yu asked tentatively.
"As for Western learning, there is no Western learning in the palace, so I don't think I know much about it. However, the Queen Mother is far wiser than tens of millions of people, and she can master any knowledge at a glance."
Yikuang was really one of Cixi's own, and she did not forget to slap Rainbow Fart behind her back.
But Li Yu was very clear about Cixi's abilities. Every memorial she wore was full of typos. How could she be expected to know anything about science?
Li Yu felt like his whole body was numb.
Just when he was at a loss, Ruizheng came in and announced: "Your Majesty, Timothy Richard wishes to see you."
Yikuang immediately said: "Invite him in quickly. It just so happens that he also wants to see the Queen Mother today. Please cooperate and make the Queen Mother believe that I will never dare to deceive her."
Li Yu was so excited that he almost shed tears, feeling like he had grasped a life-saving straw.
Who was Timothy Richard? Among the Westerners who came to China at that time, his influence was definitely ranked first in the late Qing Dynasty.
He came to China in 1870 and had a good relationship with Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, Li Hongzhang, and Zhang Zhidong, the four famous officials of the late Qing Dynasty. He also served as an English teacher for Zeng Guofan's son.
Timothy Richard mainly served as a missionary in Shandong in his early years. There is still a church commemorating him in Qingzhou, Shandong, and it is the largest Christian Baptist church in the area.
Later, with Li Hongzhang's support, he did a lot of disaster relief, gave lectures, and wrote books.
Timothy Richard also had a great influence on the reform movement. His translation of "The New History of Taixi" was an important reference book on the desk of Emperor Guangxu. Reformers such as Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao regarded him as a spiritual leader and were extremely enthusiastic about it.
He issued the Gazette of Nations and most of the reform plans of the reformers also incorporated Richard's suggestions.
Moreover, he was passionate about education. He published "Seven Countries' New Learning Preparations" more than ten years ago, which introduced the education situation in Western countries in detail and suggested that the Qing government allocate 1 million taels of silver every year as funding for educational reform.
This time I came to the capital to apply for the opening of Shanxi University, which is the third of the three earliest national universities in China. The first two are the famous Beijing University and Beiyang University.
Of course, many of this person's views still have great limitations, but they are ultimately limited by the times: not only his concepts of the times, but also those of the Qing Dynasty at that time were too backward.
"I've met the Prime Minister!"
Timothy Ricci bowed his hands to Yi Kuang. He was a British man who knew how to be diplomatic and tactful. He learned from Matteo Ricci in dealing with many daily affairs and adopted the way Chinese people like to interact.
"The bishop came all the way from Shanxi and worked hard!"
Yikuang asked Timothy Richard to enter the hall and take a seat, and ordered people to watch the tea. "I have already read your memorial. In view of your previous handling of the teaching plan and Governor Cen's memorial, the Queen Mother must agree."
Last year's Shanxi missionary incident, when Yu Xian, the then governor of Shanxi, led the Boxers to kill hundreds of missionaries, and also killed more than 10,000 Chinese missionaries and their families and children, was the most serious missionary incident in the country at that time.
Timothy Richard played a great role in the follow-up handling of this matter, mediating left and right, which made Cixi very satisfied.
"The Prime Minister has a far-sighted vision. Education is of great importance to the rejuvenation of the country and the people." Timothy Richard knew how to add it at the right time.
Yi Kuang said: "The Queen Mother cares about all the people. I am just trying my best to help her elderly people share their worries."
After the two exchanged a few official polite words, Yikuang introduced Li Yu to him. Unexpectedly, Timothy Richard had heard of him.
"So you are Li Yu! I read the newspaper, and I never thought that a Chinese who is proficient in Western learning could be so young."
Li Yu said: "Sir, you are too well-respected, but I cannot say that I am proficient."
Timothy Richard was very interested in him: "Although I didn't see the paper you wrote in the newspaper, I heard that Sir Huggins, the president of the Royal Society, praised you highly, which really surprised me.
"
As a native Englishman, Timothy Richard must have known the importance of the Royal Society.
"I wonder which prestigious school you graduated from and which professor you studied under?"
Li Yu said awkwardly: "I don't have a diploma yet, and I'm preparing to apply for the Capital University to get a degree."
"No diploma? It's unbelievable! With your level, I'm afraid it won't take a few months for Professor Ding to issue you a graduation certificate," Timothy Richard said with a smile, "If he doesn't give it to you, come to Shanxi Province
I will send it to you in the university hall! I have the final say on this matter."
Timothy Richard is about to start poaching.
Li Yu smiled and said, "Thank you sir for your concern."
"Okay, okay, you will have plenty of time to chat later," Yi Kuang interrupted them, "When we go to Xiyuan today, you must tell the Queen Mother in detail why she turned into a monkey, otherwise I will really be embarrassed to see the Queen Mother."
Timothy was stunned: "What kind of monkey changed?"
Li Yu explained from the side: "Your Majesty wanted to explain the theory of evolution to the Queen Mother yesterday, but it seemed not very thorough."
Timothy Richard laughed heartily: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, what you said is not wrong. The theory of evolution can still be false."
Li Yu was secretly happy that there was a foreigner to talk to, and he was a foreigner with a distinguished status. He was not afraid that he would not be able to coax Cixi!
Yikuang stroked his beard and was very satisfied with his arrangement. When Ronglu left yesterday, although he endured it, when he turned around and left, his whole body immediately trembled, and he must have been snickering.