The Shanghai Scientific Instruments Museum opened by Zhong Guanguang is located on Fifth Avenue in Shanghai, which is today's Guangdong Road, and is within the scope of the public concession.
The location is very good, very close to the Bund. About 500 meters to the north and three blocks away is Nanjing Road, the core of Shanghai today.
The Commercial Press is on Henan Road, which is even closer, less than ten minutes' walk. The two of them arrived at Zhong Guangguang's Shanghai Scientific Instrument Museum. There were indeed many instruments inside, and it felt like they had entered a laboratory in school.
Zhong Guanguang immediately called to his friend Yu Heqin: "He Qin, look who's here!" Yu Heqin was one of the earliest chemists in modern China, and the first to systematically propose a Chinese naming scheme for organic substances.
Yu Heqin had a good relationship with Zhong Guanguang, and they had been studying mathematics, physics and chemistry together. Of course he knew Li Yu's name, and said excitedly: "It's actually a real person! Incredible, incredible! Come in and sit down, you have to guide us two brothers well today." Li Yu said with a smile: "Guidance is out of the question , but there will be cooperation. In the future, I plan to establish schools in Shanghai and other places, and it is indispensable to purchase your instruments and equipment."
"New school? What a great idea! If you can do it yourself, it will definitely be better than the foreign missionary schools." Yu Heqin praised.
Li Yu took a look around their instrument store, and found that the basic experimental instruments such as beakers, flasks, capacitors, wires, etc. were quite complete.
However, basically all the instruments have Japanese characters on them, which means they are imported.
"Have you ever thought about giving birth yourself?" Li Yu asked. Zhong Guanguang said helplessly: "To be honest, we two brothers had this idea at the beginning, and even thought about building a phosphorus plant, but it failed not long ago. Because everything has to be imported, even instruments, Equipment and chemicals must be entrusted to foreign companies to buy them. Such a high cost makes it impossible to operate." Li Yu nodded: "The phosphorus plant is indeed a bit difficult." This is almost the situation. The phosphorus industry is very hungry for mineral deposits. Our country Most of the phosphate mines are basically in the southwest region. The current development is still too backward and it is really impossible to mine them.
Not to mention mining, exploration is very troublesome. Just a little phosphorus can make a match. Yu Heqin was not discouraged at all: "I think it is better to make glass in the future. Being able to make instruments is indispensable for sales. Now we rely solely on imports, and the profit is too weak." Li Yu said: "I heard that there is a glass factory in Zibo, Shandong. You You can go find them." The current information is quite backward, and many people don't even know that China has always had glass, but it has never been taken seriously.
In ancient China, the focus was on ceramics, while in the West, the focus was on glass, which resulted in very different technological trees thereafter.
After all, glass seems unimportant, but it has actually affected many categories such as optics, chemistry, astronomy, and microbiology.
Yu Heqin was very interested in glass. After all, he was passionate about chemistry and could not do without bottles and jars of various experimental instruments. He was surprised and said: "I really didn't know that such a place existed." Li Yu encouraged: "You can go and check it out." Since decades ago, the glass production in Boshan, Zibo has implemented a corporate model, with large production and sales volume. The products are also exported by Qingdao and sold abroad.
However, Boshan's glass mainly produces glazed ware and flat glass for export and domestic high-end markets. It is still a bit far from ordinary life. It is filled with jade, screens, chess pieces, rosary beads, Buddha eyes and the like. The playthings of some dignitaries.
Including the glass manufacturing in the Qing palace, the glass products were purely used as luxury handicrafts.
As for the actual daily use of glass, the products produced by many domestic glass workshops cannot be compared with foreign products.
Yu Heqin was really interested in this: "I wonder if they can build experimental instruments." Li Yu smiled and said: "Even if they can't, we can try to discuss it." Yu Heqin said: "If we can learn Craftsmanship is the best, and it will be more comfortable to make it yourself in the future.”
"That's good. In a market as big as Shanghai, it will definitely be very popular," Li Yu said.
"But if you really want to learn some advanced craftsmanship, it would be better to go abroad for further study." The factory is not responsible for teaching, and there are barriers to apprenticeships now, so if you really want to learn manufacturing, you still have to go to school.
"I am planning to study abroad in Japan, not only to learn glass production, but also to learn the latest chemical theory," Yu Heqin said,
"Also, a few days ago, when I was reading a chemistry book I just bought from abroad, I suddenly found Mr. Mendeleev's periodic table of chemistry and mentioned that you inspired him to make a new periodic table." Li Yu said: "Your information is quite fast." Zhong Guanguang also said: "At that time, we thought it was the same name, but Mr. Mendeleev emphasized that it was Li Yu from China." Yu Heqin said: "I have always admired him. I never thought that Mr. Li Yu would have met him in person and could help him with his research work." Li Yu said with a smile: "It's just a whim. The main job is Professor Mendeleev. Has been completed."
"That's not easy!" Yu Heqin sighed,
"Hey, my knowledge is still too behind. If I want to catch up, it seems inevitable to study abroad. I have also heard that many people go to Japan to study."
"Then go," Li Yu said,
"Although Japanese universities are still not as good as Europe and the United States, they have reached normal levels." Yu Heqin said: "It is really good to go to Japan to study. I also want to know how they developed from a poor country. ." Yu Heqin would later go to the Imperial University of Japan to study chemistry. It is said that after returning to China, he was awarded the title of Jinshi in the Study of Knowledge and Knowledge by the Qing government and was reviewed by the Hanlin Academy.
Li Yu chatted with them for a while. They were very interested in Li Yu's scientific research results. After all, they had been studying science on their own. However, Li Yu's things were relatively advanced. At present, they were confused and confused. Paint.
Li Yu talked to them about the mathematical knowledge required to learn these things, and they were already exclaimed in disbelief.
Li Yu stayed for most of the day, leaving his telegram contact information before leaving. ——Now that Xie Yuxi had a lot of money, they stayed at the Shanghai Huizhong Hotel, which would become the famous Peace Hotel in later generations.
The view from this place is really great, and the food is pretty good, but it's just not as grand as the renovated Peace Hotel.
This morning, while Li Yu was still eating, Cai Yuanpei and another person came over. Anyway, the concession is not big now, so it is easy to find him.
Cai Yuanpei said: "Mr. Li Yu, this is Father Ma Xiangbo. I heard that you have arrived in Shanghai again and I must come to see you." Before Li Yu finished his meal, he stood up quickly and said, "Father Ma, I have admired you for a long time!" He was in his sixties and said, "I wanted to see you last time, but unfortunately you left too fast." This Ma Xiangbo is the founder of Fudan University.
Since he is called a priest, it means that he believes in Christianity. ——The missionary work of European and American missionaries in China has been a failure overall. As an authentic Christian, the number of believers and appeal is not even as good as that of Hong Xiuquan.
"Worship God Meeting". Really drunk too. However, despite the failure of the European and American missionaries, after so many years, it finally had some effect.
Ma Xiangbo's parents were devout Christians, so Ma Xiangbo was baptized as soon as he was born. When he grew up, he also received the title of Doctor of Theology.
However, in 1876, he was imprisoned by the church because he raised 2,000 taels of silver to help the victims.
"Save it", break away from the Jesuits in anger and return to the secular world. But he still believes in Catholicism. Ma Xiangbo was proficient in many languages and was highly valued by Li Hongzhang. However, what he never expected was that what he did most was to follow Li Hongzhang to various negotiation tables, act as an interpreter, and sign one unequal treaty after another that was humiliating and humiliating the country.
It's so sad. After Li Hongzhang was accused of treason, Ma Xiangbo was also accused of being a traitor and Li Hongzhang's watchdog and lackey.
He couldn't figure out why he was scolded by people all over the world when he clearly dedicated himself to serving the country. At this time, Ma Xiangbo was already in his sixties. Ma Xiangbo suddenly realized that he wanted to stop working in the officialdom and started to engage in education instead.
It happened that the Nanyang Public School strike happened just after I returned to Shanghai. Cai Yuanpei asked Ma Xiangbo, who lived near Nanyang Public School, to set up a school to teach Latin, French and mathematics to accept these students. Ma Xiangbo readily agreed, which was Aurora College.
In fact, Cai Yuanpei, including Zhang Yuanji, Li Shutong, Yu Youren and other famous people can be regarded as Ma Xiangbo's disciples.
When Cai Yuanpei went to Ma Xiangbo to learn Latin, Ma Xiangbo said to him: "You are alone and middle-aged, what use can you learn?" The implication is naturally to find some young people to come, and the young people will be the ones in the future. The pillar of the country.
This time Cai Yuanpei attracted so many people, Ma Xiangbo was very happy, so with the help of the French Catholic Church, he opened Aurora College at the former site of Xujiahui Observatory.
Cathay comes from Sanskrit and is the ancient Indian name for China. Li Yu said: "It was indeed a bit hasty to go to Wuchang to see Mr. Zhang." Ma Xiangbo said: "I have just founded a Aurora College, and many of the students there know your name. I must ask you to come and be a I wonder if I can give a speech to save face?" Li Yu said with a smile: "Of course there is no problem." Although Aurora College cannot be regarded as Fudan University in the strict sense, the origin is too deep, and since then Aurora College has been cancelled, many colleges The department was transferred to Fudan.
Ma Xiangbo said: "Your Excellency is an imperial teacher and is proficient in science. He has won the honor of being a foreign academician of the Royal Society. I think the students will welcome it very much." Cai Yuanpei also said: "I also include people from the Patriotic Society. Come and listen."
"Very good," Ma Xiangbo said,
"Maybe we can recruit some students for my college." Aurora College can be regarded as China's first private university in modern times. It has just opened this year, only a few months ago.
The church does not currently interfere with school operations. But the Christian Church will take over Aurora College by force in two years and turn it into a church school.
At that time, Ma Xiangbo led a group of students to leave the school angrily and founded Fudan University. so-called
"Fudan", there is
"Restore Cathay, revitalize China" has a dual meaning. This shows the difficulties and failures of Christianity in preaching in China... Even converting it into a church school will not work.
The first class of students at Aurora College was very small, only twenty people. Professionals are only
"Literature" and
"Science" two subjects. Li Yu's name was very loud in the school, and with the two principals coming together, all twenty people plus hundreds of people from the Patriotic Society crowded into the small Aurora College campus.
Ma Xiangbo is not young, and his voice is not small: "Quiet down, everyone! Everyone has seen that Mr. Li Yu, the imperial master and scientific giant, is here today. There are not many opportunities to hear Mr. Li Yu's teachings. From now on, you should be like Li Yu Like Mr. Yu, he improved his knowledge and became famous all over the world." Li Yu walked up to the crowd and said loudly: "Principal Ma asked me to talk about something. There is obviously not enough time to talk about science, and today is not a seminar. So I want to talk about it. Faced with such an era, how should we find a way in science. Since everyone is determined to enter the school of Western learning, of course, they all understand the importance of science. Strong ships and cannons are only the appearance of the strength of foreigners, and their political, legal and industrial levels are The key behind it. What determines the level of industry is the level of science. I want to tell you that once you want to take the road of science, you must first know that it will be a long and tortuous route. The scientific theory that supports strong industry or The categories of science are extremely complex. Not only are the familiar ones such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, etc. - they are also just broad categories. What you will learn in the future are the subjects that continue to be subdivided, such as electromagnetism, structural mechanics, and materials. Science, pharmacy, etc., there are many majors, but each one is important. So this is a comprehensive matter. One person can only make a breakthrough in a certain direction. Then thousands of people can gather to make science powerful. Then it promotes the development of industry. This is completely different from the past pure study of classics. It requires everyone to spread out and delve into new things, instead of staring at ancient books and wondering why the ancients said this. Science requires innovation, not retrogression. Of course, I’m not saying that there is no need to study Confucian classics, but we are short of scientific talents. So I hope that you can lay a solid foundation when learning elementary mathematics and science, because these are the most basic contents written in textbooks. .Yes, they are all the most basic things, nothing new, because for foreigners it is all primary and secondary school knowledge. Since foreigners are not afraid of us learning, it means that we can’t do much by just learning them. What you need to learn in the future , is a hundred times more difficult than what is in the textbook, and the difficulties encountered will be countless. But you have also seen that now we are riddled with holes, so no matter how hard it is to study, it is not as painful as being ridden on the neck. "After Li Yu finished speaking, Cai Yuanpei was the first to applaud: "Wonderful, no matter how hard it is to study, how can it be as painful as being bullied." This sentence is actually a famous saying in the adult education field in later generations: Those who can't afford to study If you are bitter, you have to suffer the hardships of life.
At this time, Li Yu made some changes, and the effect was very good. When Ma Xiangbo was negotiating with Li Hongzhang, he saw so many arrogant foreigners that tears came to his eyes. He held his crutch hard and said, "It's hard! We are the ones who suffer the most in the world!" He came from Nanyang Public School and Patriotic Society. The students were all passionate young people, including Zou Rong. They had also seen enough of the mountains and rivers being shattered, and Li Yu's words spoke to their hearts.
"It turns out that it's so difficult to be strong."
"So, if we want to defeat Tsarist Russia, we need thousands of people who are proficient in Western learning. What kind of volunteer team should we do? Only by learning the real thing can we defeat them!" Li Yu watched Kang Gai's speech at their anti-Russian conference. I felt that they were all basic people. It was okay to march and protest, but it was really unnecessary to form a volunteer team. It was better to put their real effort into studying.
If a group of students think about being a volunteer team to fight against the Russian regular army every day, they are just being cannon fodder, which is unwise.
Originally, this kind of thing was what the Qing court should do. If the Qing court didn't do it, the root cause would still be the Qing court, and the target selection would not be accurate.
The Aisin Gioros of the Qing court had been traitors to the country for so many years, and they had almost sold out all their money. Instead of thinking about solving the problem, now they are desperately trying to solve the problem. After that, they will try their best to suppress the students who participated in the anti-Russian movement. It is really ridiculous.
It's not enough for people to reject Russia. If they gather together, they think it's a revolution. But Li Yu's speech was very successful. With his fame, Aurora College will soon become famous everywhere, and many students will come to sign up.
Among them were those who specialized in revolution since then: Yu Youren, Shao Lizi, etc.
