After Qu Hongji left, Yi Kuang also took out a memorial: "Old Buddha, this is a memorial from Ding Weiliang of the Capital University." Upon hearing that he was a foreigner, Cixi perked up and asked, "What does he have to say?" Yi Kuang Said: "Master Ding said that he hopes to build an observatory in the capital."
"Observatory?" Cixi asked,
"Is it for telescopes?" Yi Kuang nodded: "Yes, Lafayette." Cixi said: "Master Ding is really thoughtful. I have several telescopes paid tribute by foreigners, and he actually offered to build an observatory for safekeeping. However, It’s a bit troublesome to think about, I can’t take it and take a look at it anytime.”
"Lafayette, that's not what you meant," Yi Kuang quickly corrected,
"Master Ding is talking about building an observatory dedicated to observing astronomy, just like, oh, by the way, just like our observatory." Cixi was a little embarrassed and said: "The observatory is an observatory. What do you mean by Lao Shizi's observatory?"
"Lafayette, foreigners all have this stuff, and England also has a Royal Observatory." Yi Kuang said.
"Isn't it just a calculation of the calendar? I know, but our Qintian Prison has not always had this function, why should we build it again?" Cixi asked.
Yi Kuang had no choice but to explain: "Not only for the calendar, but also for observing the stars in the sky, and I heard from Mr. Ding that this kind of telescope is very large and can see very far."
"Okay, since it is something that foreigners have, it means it is good. Just build one and let the Ministry of Household Affairs allocate the money." Cixi nodded.
Yi Kuang said: "In addition, Mr. Ding also suggested that Li Yu be in charge of the observatory."
"Li Yu?" Cixi was deeply impressed by Li Yu.
"Yes, Lafayette, Mr. Ding said that he is very knowledgeable in astrophysics. He is the most knowledgeable person in the country, oh no, in the world." Yi Kuang replied.
"Celestial bodies? Physics?" Cixi obviously didn't understand this term. However, Yi Kuang couldn't explain the reason, so he said: "Maybe it's something Li Yu published in foreign newspapers." Cixi didn't want to dwell on such a troublesome issue: "It's not a big deal after you think about it. Just do what Ding Yuliang wants." Wang Wenshao, a bachelor of Wenyuan Pavilion who had been standing aside, said at this time: "When it comes to Li Yu, I have received a letter from Konoe Atsumaro, the chairman of the Japanese House of Nobles. I asked this person many times and even asked him whether he served in the imperial court."
"Oh?" Cixi raised her eyebrows,
"President of the House of Nobles of Japan?" Konoe Atsumaro has many contacts with important officials in both the government and the public, and has frequent correspondence with Yi Kuang, Wang Wenshao, Yuan Shikai, Zhang Zhidong, etc.
Wang Wenshao said: "Konoe Atsumaro is a very influential politician in Japan." Yi Kuang affirmed Wang Wenshao's words: "Mr. Konoe also mentioned Li Yu many times in his letter to me, and said Several large consortiums in Japan, such as Mitsubishi and Mitsui, are paying great attention to Li Yu." Among the four major consortiums in Japan, these two are relatively early.
Cixi did not expect that Li Yu had such great energy. There were some things that she usually did not pay attention to, but she would only really pay attention to them when outsiders suddenly expressed interest.
Cixi said: "In this case, we must follow Ding Haoliang's proposal. The observatory he mentioned should be built quickly to avoid foreigners saying that we do not value talents."
"I obey the order," Yi Kuang said. Cixi was very face-conscious and was also very afraid of foreigners. When Ding Haoliang and Konoe Fumima moved in, the effect was astonishing.
But I don’t know what it can be built like. As soon as Cixi opened his mouth, the observatory started construction immediately, and Ding Haoliang was responsible for purchasing large astronomical telescopes. On the other hand, the Ministry of Commerce quickly approved a piece of land for Li Yu to use as a factory.
The land Xu Shichang applied for was outside today's East Fourth Ring Road, close to the East Fifth Ring Road, and had not yet reached Tongzhou.
The city of Beijing has always been small in history. Even before the reform and opening up, the area outside the Third Ring Road was basically wasteland.
At least the Beijing Public Transport Company even once believed that areas outside the Third Ring Road should be considered suburbs. According to the bus company's regulations, if you take a bus with line 300 or above, you must purchase
"Monthly Pass for Suburban Workers", and most buses with a price of less than 300 travel within the third ring road.
There had been some industries left by foreigners there before, but they were destroyed during the Boxer Rebellion. They could be used after being renovated, at least faster than rebuilding.
It actually saved a lot of money. Xu Shichang was very active and efficient in doing things, and immediately urged Li Yu to recruit people quickly.
Although Li Yu wanted to say that the company was not built overnight, he also understood their eagerness to become stronger, so he agreed to place a notice in the newspaper to recruit talents.
In future generations, the recruitment conditions would seem like a joke, but currently, they are just one out of ten thousand.
"With the approval of the Ministry of Commerce of the Qing Dynasty, I, Li Yu, need to establish a modern enterprise to recruit talents from all walks of life. I need to understand basic mathematical knowledge, and have certain financial knowledge and legal knowledge. It is best to be proficient in English, because future products will require Production and sales abroad. The above positions are all middle and senior management positions in the company, and you can get preferred shares." Translated into modern terms, it is best to have a junior high school diploma.
Li Yu posted notices in the Ta Kung Pao in Beijing and Tianjin and the Shenbao in Shanghai, and received a response quickly.
Xie Yuxi found Li Yu with a letter from Shanghai.
"This is a letter from Bu Fangji, the president of St. John's University in Shanghai. He mentioned that his students are very interested in Chinese companies, especially after hearing your name, they all asked to apply." Li Yuxi said: "St. John's University? Great!" Nowadays, very few Chinese people have heard of the name St. John's University, let alone know the specific details of this university.
But during the Republic of China, this university was known as
"Harvard of the East" and
"Diplomatic Talent Training Institute". Many big figures during the Republic of China graduated from this school, such as
Gu Weijun, the "first diplomat of the Republic of China", Song Ziwen of the Song family, famous scholar Lin Yutang, architect I.M. Pei, talented girl Eileen Chang of the Republic of China, etc.
St. John's University attaches great importance to English teaching and stipulates that all subjects should be taught in English, and English should also be used for communication on campus. St. John's has therefore become the first school in China to teach exclusively in English.
The school's tuition fees were very high. During the Republic of China, tuition fees were as high as more than two hundred silver dollars per semester. Therefore, those who were admitted to St. John's University were all children from rich families. Every weekend, cars taking students home would line up in front of St. John's University. This was also a spectacle in old Shanghai.
Looking at the country, the quality of students at St. John's University is definitely one of the best. The principal, Bu Fangji, is an American and graduated from Columbia University, so he got in touch with Xie Yuxi first.
St. John's University basically grew from his hands, and he served as president for more than fifty years. This person practices
"Separation of church and state," that is, the separation of politics and education, advocates that students should not interfere with politics and opposes the use of schools as the launch center of political movements.
Although students' enthusiasm is difficult to suppress, from the perspective of future generations, it is actually a kind of protection.
After all, students are too passionate and easily influenced, and it would be bad if they become angry youths. Not only St. John's University, but also the students of Nanyang Public School, where Cai Yuanpei taught before, also very much hope to help national enterprises.
Cai Yuanpei was very enthusiastic about the national industry and wrote a letter to Li Yu himself. Li Yu was somewhat inspired, they were all motivated young people.
At this time, most Chinese people who have received a little education are relatively patriotic and motivated. Know your shame and then be brave!
Li Yu didn't want to disobey them and decided to leave for Shanghai. At this time, I always lament how convenient it would be if there was a high-speed rail. In later generations, the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail took a few hours, but now it takes several days to take a ferry.
When arriving at Tanggu Port in Tianjin by train from the capital, Tang Shaoyi temporarily intercepted Li Yu.
"I heard Brother Juren mention that if you want to open a factory, don't forget our Tianjin Beiyang." Tang Shaoyi said.
Li Yu said with a smile: "Of course I remember that the first branch factory of the automobile and radio industries will be located in Tianjin!" Tianjin is the base camp of Beiyang, and it is even relatively safe.
In the future, it will be necessary to set up another factory in Shanghai as a response. With the promise, Tang Shaoyi
"Let" Li Yu get on the boat. St. John's University President Bu Fangji and Cai Yuanpei came to the pier to greet Li Yu.
Nanyang Public School is the predecessor of Shanghai Jiaotong University and Xi'an Jiaotong University, and St. John's University is not simple either. Although it was abolished, its various departments were merged into major famous universities, such as: the Department of Journalism, Foreign Languages, Chinese Language, and History were merged into Fudan University; the Department of Civil Engineering and the Department of Architectural Engineering were merged into Tongji University; and the Department of Mechanical Engineering was merged into Fudan University. It was merged into Jiaotong University, namely Shanghai Jiaotong University and Xi'an Jiaotong University; the School of Science, the Department of Chinese Language, and the Department of Education were merged into East China Normal University; they are all now well-known 985, double first-class universities.
"Mr. Li Yu, by the way, I should call you Mr. Academician!" Cai Yuanpei stepped forward to welcome him.
"It's an honor to meet again!" Li Yu said with a smile: "You don't have to be so polite, principal." Cai Yuanpei introduced Bu Fangji next to him.
"Principal Bu has always attached great importance to education. Nowadays, the supply of students trained by St. John's University exceeds demand." The United States has only entered China for a relatively short time, and it is too late to engage in British colonialism, so it is a relatively smart way to attach importance to education. I hope it can By influencing China's younger generation in order to influence China in the future.
Therefore, many foreigners engaged in education in China are from American churches. Bu Fangji and Ding Liliang were similar. They were both missionaries at first, and both of them were bachelors of theology.
——Of course, it is really difficult to implement missionary work in China. And education is easier for people to accept. After all, China has attached great importance to education since ancient times.
Bu Fangji said: "Academician Li Yu, my students are all first-class talents, and they are often robbed before they graduate. But when they heard that you were going to start a business, they all wanted to join you. You can It really has extraordinary magic!" He was right. Graduates of St. John's University were very popular during the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China.
In fact, as long as you can understand English, you can already eat well in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China. Li Yu was not polite and said bluntly: "I will never let down the students' hopes." Several people came to St. John's University first.
In terms of organizational structure, St. John's University is currently almost the most complete in the country. There are a complete set of subjects, especially science and engineering, which were difficult to establish during the Republic of China. They were also established here early.
President Bu Fangji has always been a strong advocate of natural science. A few years ago, he raised 15,000 US dollars and 4,000 taels of silver to build a
"Gezhi Building" has physics and chemistry laboratories. Even though every domestic high school now has these laboratories, at that time, there were almost no similar universities.
"Sir, please come to the auditorium first. The students have been waiting for a long time." Bu Fangji said. When Li Yu entered the auditorium, the students immediately became excited. How many Chinese people can be recognized by foreigners today?
What's more, Li Yu can serve as an academician from many countries. In the eyes of students, he is simply a god-like figure. Bu Fangji maintained discipline: "Everyone, be quiet! Let Academician Li Yu, the most brilliant person in the scientific world today, give you a few words!" Li Yu looked at the hundreds of pairs of sincere and excited eyes in the audience, not only those who were about to graduate. , there were also lower grade students. He cleared his throat and said, "Seeing your enthusiasm makes me a little scared. Everyone must know that compared to foreigners, we are too weak now, so weak that we can't even make a few decent screws." Not coming out. Even if we keep emphasizing our self-confidence, it pales in comparison to the facts. That’s why we have to change this situation little by little, starting from small things. What you want to do after me, even foreigners can’t create. Things! At that time, you may be able to see a trace of real respect!" In the era before Li Yu traveled through time, although a considerable number of European, American, Japanese and Korean people still looked down on the Chinese, the situation had long since changed.
However, at this time, when Chinese people faced foreigners, most of them saw only arrogance and contempt. People who can be respected by foreigners are very impressive in the eyes of Chinese people.
Now Li Yu even dares to say that the company he established will produce things that even foreigners cannot master, which is simply exciting.
No one would believe it if it were told by others, but Li Yu's profound knowledge of science has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and everyone admires and absolutely believes in him.
Li Yu added: "The talents I need to recruit this time will not only enter the best companies in the world in the future, but also enter the most advanced laboratories. If you want to do something big and make the Chinese people raise their heads, then Join me!" Although Li Yu is not good at human affairs or drawing cakes, the effect of a few straightforward words is very good.
The students were indeed very excited: "We want to follow Academician Li Yu! Be proud Chinese!" Principal Bu Fangji said: "I have prepared a form. Anyone who is interested in applying for Academician Li Yu's company can fill it out." He As soon as I took out a stack of watches, they were all sold out quickly. There was not even enough. Some people could only write directly on the white paper.
Li Yu's main targets are the departments of science and engineering, economics, medicine and law. A young man who was only fifteen years old suddenly came to Li Yu with a form: "Mr. Academician, I have filled out half of it, but suddenly I found out why there is an age limit. You must be over 18 years old?" Li Yu explained with a smile: "Because I don't dare to recruit child labor." His eyes suddenly caught sight of the boy's name.
"Gu Weijun"! Well, he happens to be studying in this school now. Gu Weijun was dissatisfied with this: "My father said that when he was fifteen, he was already working with his grandfather, why can't I?" According to historical trends, Gu Weijun will study in the United States next year and enter Columbia University.
Li Yu said with a smile: "You still have a long way to go. At least you have to finish your studies first." Gu Weijun could only say regretfully: "Brother academician, you must remember to leave a good place for me!" Li Yu couldn't laugh or cry: "I Remember." But once he goes to the United States, he will have to stay in the United States for almost seven or eight years.
