In Li Yu's understanding, Confucian classics can be regarded as a Chinese subject. No matter how bad his Confucian studies are, Chinese is always a major subject in the college entrance examination, so it cannot be really bad.
It's just that the language he used in school was vernacular, and he was indeed not proficient in classical Chinese. Moreover, he did not understand or even understand the practice of ancient classics scholars who had to give more than a dozen interpretations to a certain word in an ancient text.
Li Yu said: "According to the principles of establishing a university, we are to learn from the academic system of Europe, America and Japan, and the style of writing I write is in vernacular. This is the future trend, because it can be better integrated with science."
"Vernacular?" Gu Hongming said with a smile,
"It is vulgar and crude, and it is difficult to reach the level of elegance. How can it be compared with classics?" Li Yu said: "Elegance is elegance, and elegance is elegance. With the advancement of the current academic system, I think universities will replace the imperial examination in the near future. At that time, how many people do you think will study those scriptures again?" Zhu Zumou, unlike Gu Hongming, was a rewarded Jinshi. He passed the examination of the Eight Classics. He refuted: "That's nonsense! The imperial examination has been passed down for thousands of years. How can you, an idiot like you, be able to refute it in just two sentences?" Li Yu mocked: "You have to look forward to everything, otherwise you will be a frog in the well. Vernacular literature can be closer to the public, easier to spread, and easier to be related to modern disciplines. Combined. Adults, open your eyes and look at the world! It’s not just classics, but also mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, history, geography, politics, surveying, economics, finance, materials, engineering, etc. If all People who only study the so-called superior Confucian classics are standing still and will only allow us to continue to be beaten and forced to sign traitorous treaties." What Li Yu said is naturally reasonable, but as a debate or sophistry, Gu Hongming must Sticking to his argument, he said: "Confucian classics have been studied for two thousand years, but they are still not thoroughly studied. Science is only a few hundred years old. I don't need to say who is superior or inferior." Li Yu smiled and said: "The history of science is very long, sir. If you don’t know, don’t draw this conclusion. Human beings began to study mathematics thousands of years ago. As for your claim that you have not been able to study the classics thoroughly for more than two thousand years, I would like to ask, is it true that you cannot study it thoroughly?” Eight-part Quotation After so many years as a scholar, the Four Books and Five Classics are very thick, and I have long been bad at studying them. Later, the questions in the imperial examination were really a bit ridiculous and far-fetched, and they were almost divorced from the origin of Chinese studies.
Gu Hongming was not really a master of Chinese studies. He could only say: "Even so, you cannot pass because you are good at the vernacular that is the favorite of ordinary people." Li Yu understood that the point of debate actually became whether vernacular can be used as a language. Passed the subject.
Anyway, Li Yu's biggest problem now is that he failed in one subject of Confucian classics. Therefore, Li Yu wanted to connect the vernacular to science as much as possible. If it has great effect, it will naturally be qualified to be listed as
"Literature" and passed. And Gu Hongming is trying his best to belittle science and prove that Confucian classics is still orthodox, so
Articles written in "vulgar" vernacular will not pass the test. The two people's ideas were quite clear. Li Yu said: "Mr. Gu, you know so many Western languages, and you must have read many Western masterpieces. In your opinion, the literary works of Tolstoy, Maupassant, Hugo, and Balzac are... Classical Chinese or vernacular?" Li Yu immediately picked out a few of the most powerful Western writers.
Gu Hongming naturally knew that Western writing is actually very straightforward in expression, which is the so-called vernacular category.
But Gu Hongming certainly couldn't admit it like that, so he said: "How can Western writing be compared with our Chinese language. When it comes to Western countries, their strength is nothing more than strong ships and cannons, and these can be bought, but our Chinese studies Don't throw it away!" Gu Hongming really knew how to argue, and wanted to deliberately lead Li Yu astray with seemingly correct words.
But Li Yu also understood his intention, so he said: "Mr. Gu, please don't oppose the two. Science and Confucianism are not the same. Every culture has its own Chinese studies and history, but this does not prevent the study of Chinese studies at the same time. Study science carefully. Just imagine that gunpowder, one of the four great inventions, was invented by us, but now it has become a weapon used by the great powers to oppress us. Why do you think it is?" Gu Hongming said: "Gunpowder was just a detailed craft in the past. It should be We just don't pay attention to it." Li Yu said: "Okay, you said it's a detail! Let's look at our four great inventions. The great powers relied on printing and papermaking to spread scientific knowledge, then used the compass to open sea routes, and then used gunpowder to create The ammunition smashed the country's gate and forced us to sign a land cession treaty. Do you think it is still a detail?" Gu Hongming was speechless for a moment.
Gu Hongming organized his thoughts for a while before continuing to change the topic and said: "Even so, your current research is mostly focused on theory. You can't come up with anything useful, so what's the use?" Li Yu said: "If Mr. Gu has studied Western science would not say such a thing. Theoretical science is the foundation of applied science and the relationship between father and son. Without theory, there is no application." Li Yu picked up a piece of paper on the table and said
"Just like this thin piece of paper, how do you think we can hold up this book?" This is a truth that all students in later generations will understand, but Gu Hongming was really a little stunned.
"How can a piece of paper hold up a book, and a small tree can shake a tree?" Li Yu rolled the paper into a tube, then placed the book on it and stood firmly.
"Why not?" Gu Hongming said awkwardly: "You are just opportunistic." Li Yu said: "This is physical force analysis, basic mechanical knowledge." Gu Hongming still said stubbornly: "If this is the so-called physics, Then even children on the street can learn it easily." Li Yu said: "If children on the street can learn it, do you know how to use force analysis to design and construct high-rise buildings? Not to mention that there is not only physics, but also mathematics and Material science, engineering, surveying, mechanics, etc." Li Yu saw that Gu Hongming and the others were a little confused, so he quickly continued to lead his own way: "If these are not easy to understand, I can even teach you a physics lesson. I wonder if the children on the street understand the story of the four mythical beasts." Gu Hongming snorted: "Mythical beasts? When did science also have religious overtones?" Li Yu said: "You will understand after listening to me. Everyone knows, The turtle runs very slowly, but I think Mr. Gu won't be able to catch up with it after opening a hundred meters away from it." Gu Hongming said: "Joke! Will I not be able to catch up with a turtle?" Li Yu said: "Because If you want to catch up with the turtle, you must first go to the 100 meters position where the turtle was just now. But at this time, the turtle has already run forward for a short distance, and then you have to continue running to the position of the turtle at this time. But at that time, the turtle is again Run forward a little, and if you continue like this, won't you just keep getting closer to it, that is, you won't even be able to catch up with a turtle?"
"I, I really can't catch up with a turtle?" Gu Hongming didn't understand the profound mathematical principles behind Zeno's paradox, and he couldn't get around it at all.
After all, Zeno’s tortoise is also one of the four mythical beasts of physics. Zhang Baixi and the students below also laughed,
"It's so interesting. In this way, Mr. Gu really can't outrun a turtle." Li Yu chose one of the most famous and easiest-to-understand paradoxes in history, but it is very difficult to understand.
Of course, Zeno's Paradox itself was originally a sophistry, but the best way to defeat magic is definitely magic.
"This...this..." Even if Gu Hongming is good at sophistry, he can't explain why. He could only jump away from this paradox and said: "I lose this round, but you can't deny that science is indifferent, cold and inhumane. Just look at how they bully us with their strong ships and cannons. Therefore, scientific training Those who come out must not know benevolence, justice, propriety, wisdom and trust. If they become ministers of the court and rule the people in the future, how dangerous it will be!" Li Yu did not expect that Gu Hongming was still using sophistical theories with him. The research has really gone down the cold scientific road.
But that’s also because Japan is so inhumane. Li Yu said: "Mr. Gu still deliberately separates science and Chinese studies. I emphasize again that the two are complementary to each other. The humanistic feelings in Chinese studies are naturally very important, but I also want to send a message to Mr.: Humanities without science is nothing. It is sentimental; science without humanities is arrogant." This sentence comes from the "Lecture Notes on General Medical Science" written by Bo Shining, a later generation, and it is very summarized.
Yan Fu couldn't help but clapped his hands and said: "You can say such exquisite words, how can you fail in Confucian classics! Mr. Zhang, Mr. Gu, I think this sentence alone can give Li Yu full marks in Confucian classics." In ancient times, with one or two exquisite sentences There are many things that make poetry famous.
When Yan Fu said this, Zhang Baixi also agreed very much.
"This sentence can almost be used as an aphorism, engraved in the classrooms of our university halls." Before, he was worried that Li Yu was too poor in Chinese studies, but now it seems that he is still very talented and capable.
Li Yu added: "The former is due to ignorance or ignorance. Regardless of ignorance or ignorance, they cannot be called qualified graduates." Li Yu's words were deafening again, and the students present were cheering for him. : "That's so good!" Zhu Zumou, a former Guangdong academician and Jinshi, saw that Gu Hongming was speechless and ignored him. He said abruptly: "Don't say so much. I don't understand science at all. I don't want to be a scholar." It shows that science is not useful everywhere, at least it is useless in officialdom, which is the most important thing in the eyes of scholars!" Li Yu said: "Master Zhu, I'm afraid you don't understand what survivor bias is in mathematics. , it’s not what you see. As what you call a scholar, you should see more of the people and the world." Li Yu continued: "From knot counting to the Pythagorean theorem; From the Elements of Geometry to elliptic hyperbolas; from Fibonacci numbers to the drop test of the Leaning Tower of Pisa; from calculus to Taylor expansion; from analytical mechanics to Euler's identity; from Fourier transform to electromagnetic theory... no matter you It doesn’t matter if you listen or not, but this is the reality. Everyone, science has developed to a point you can’t even imagine. If you still sit here and think about the futility of science, I’m afraid we will really become the dust of history!” Li Yu This speech was so wonderful that after a few seconds of pause, Zhang Baixi led everyone to applaud.
Gu Hongming sighed and applauded Li Yu a few times at the end.
"I admit, if you put the last words in the article, even if it is because the vernacular article cannot give you high marks, I will let you pass." After all, Gu Hongming is a madman, and when it comes to this, he has given up.
Li Yu smiled slightly: "The question you gave me is not this. If I go off topic, I'm afraid I won't pass."
