What a sad, indignant and cursed era this is: the naval battles that began last summer, one after another, the loss of soldiers fleeing, ship destruction and death, announced to the world that the Qing Empire has been ruled. The ruthless fact of Japan's complete defeat.The government and the public were shocked, and the whole country was shocked!At the beginning of this year, Weihaiwei Port was lost overnight, and the Beiyang Fleet, which had been in operation for ten years and cost tens of millions of taels of silver, was wiped out.Immediately afterwards, the "Treaty of Shimonoseki" was signed. China ceded the Liaodong Peninsula, the entire island of Taiwan, and the Penghu Islands, and compensated military expenses of 20 million taels of Kuping silver, equivalent to more than twice the country's total annual fiscal revenue.The ancient country of China, which has a 5,000-year-old culture and once dominated the world for hundreds of years, has suffered a rare humiliation.The emperor was shaken, the civil and military officials were shaken, the scholars, farmers, businessmen were shaken, and even the aborigines in the border areas were also shaken.Since Jiaqing, the century-old dream seems to be awakened, and people are thinking: Why is the country so weak that a small country with an area less than one-thirtieth and a population less than one-tenth can defeat it?Can it still be strong in the future?Can the prestige of the Han and Tang Dynasties, the Kang and Qian Dynasties, be restored?Where is its road to self-help and self-improvement?Some insightful people can face the reality despite their hatred, and think calmly: Why does that island country with the same language and the same species as us have such a strong national power? Can China learn from its opponents?Fierce failure brings shame, shame wakes up a sound dream, wakes up from dream, causes thinking, and thinking breeds great changes.An era of violent turmoil and rapid fission in modern China that lasted for half a century began at this time.This sign has already appeared in the capital, and it is prominently reflected in the scholars living in the capital.

It was mid-autumn, and on a secluded path in Xishan, Beijing, there was a young man who was so absorbed in thinking about state affairs that he was walking alone.He was only twenty-one years old, his name was Yang Du, and he was the first candidate in the examination.The majestic mountains, the quiet blue sky, the withered yellow thatch, and the fiery red cotinus leaves are just a vast background intertwined with splendor and loneliness, which set off this young man very clearly: he is of medium height, thin in stature, Rong Chang's face has prominent browbones, two big eyes shining brightly, and a deep lip groove between the straight bridge of the nose and well-defined lips, giving people an unforgettable impression at first sight.Today, he is wearing a white-washed blue cloth clip robe, black coarse cloth shoes with single beam and thin sole, no hat on his head, and a braid of hair that is more than a foot long hanging down the back of his head.The young man climbed up step by step along the rugged mountain road, and finally reached the peak.

Now, the 800-year-old ancient capital, which is both majestic and empty, has appeared in all directions in his eyes.He gazed into the distance, his thoughts flying.The extraordinary ten months of life in the capital left an unforgettable memory for Yang Du, who was new to the world.What a rare time! He remembered that as soon as he lived in the Changjun Guild Hall, he was moved by the patriotic enthusiasm of the Sanxiang Juzi.They pay attention to the war ahead every day, talk about the country, criticize the current malpractices, hate the corruption of the government, and reprimand Li Hongzhang for his incompetence. They are all impassioned and passionate. , Swear to live and die with the country.When the Beiyang Fleet was completely taken over by the Japanese army, they wrote to the Ministry of Rites overnight, requesting to join the army and fight the Japanese captives to the death.Hu Yujie, a Liuyang candidate, took the lead in signing with finger blood, and more than 50 other candidates followed suit.He also bit his index finger and wrote his name with a drop of blood.

He remembered that when the news came that Li Hongzhang signed the treaty in Maguan on behalf of the imperial court, they were filled with righteous indignation and cursed Li Hongzhang as a traitor of Li Er, who should be cut to death.At this moment, a young man hurried in, claiming to be a candidate from Guangdong who had come to Beijing for the examination. His name was Liang Qichao, and he was ordered by his teacher Kang Youwei to contact him.Kang Youwei was famous, and when everyone heard it, they all gathered around.Liang Qichao said that tomorrow, the candidates from Guangdong will jointly submit the papers, requesting the imperial court to refuse to recognize the treaty signed by Li Hongzhang, and go to the Metropolitan Procuratorate to deliver the papers. Anyone who wants to go can go together tomorrow.He immediately endorsed it, and the others agreed.The next day, more than a hundred candidates from Guangdong and Hunan provinces came to the Metropolitan Procuratorate.Later, the candidates from all provinces followed suit and came to the Metropolitan Procuratorate one after another, please forward the joint memorial.At this time, he met Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao.He admired Kang Youwei's profound knowledge, and even more admired his majestic spirit.This person dared to directly shout to the queen mother and the emperor: "If China does not change its course today, it will be annexed by outsiders!" How courageous this must be!With great respect for Mr. Kang Nanhai, he borrowed Kang's "Xinxue Apocrypha" from a friend.This book, which was destroyed by the imperial court, opened his eyes.Later, he read the manuscript of Kang's "Confucius Restructuring the System", which was even more enlightening.He also likes Liang Qichao.Although this young man from Guangdong Xinhui was only two years older than him, he had much richer and deeper insight into social experience and world affairs than he did. Liang Qichao's cheerful personality and generous demeanor were also in line with his personality fit.After meeting several times, they became very close friends.

In particular, he couldn't forget that a few days later, Kang Youwei launched a big meeting, inviting the eighteen provinces to gather together to discuss the important event of joint letter, and the place was chosen at Songyun Nunnery.Songyun Nunnery is the former residence of Yang Jisheng, a loyal minister of the Ming Dynasty. His famous memorial to the impeachment of Yan Song, "Please Punish the Thieves and Ministers", was written here.As a result, Yang Jisheng caused a strange misfortune, and finally died tragically on the execution ground. It was not until more than ten years later that he was exonerated and posthumously named Zhongmin.Later generations admired his integrity and often came to pay homage to his old residence.During the Qianlong period, Songyun nunnery was converted into the ancestral hall of Yang Zhongmingong.In the past few years, Li Hongzao, Zhang Zhidong, Zhang Peilun and others, the leaders of the Jingshi Qing school, often gathered here to encourage each other with Yang Jisheng's strength of character.He has always admired Mr. Yang Zhongmin, but he has not been to the old residence.

Early this morning, the Hunan natives came to Dazhiqiao Hutong together. Yang Du and everyone walked into Songyun Nunnery and came to the statue of Yang Jisheng.But seeing the loyal ministers standing proudly in front of the hall, there is a pair of sonorous couplets hanging on the left and right sides: Don't be of the same generation as Yanhuang, stay alone for thousands of years.Inscribed on the plaque above are four solemn characters: uprightness and evil.He couldn't help admiring him, vaguely feeling that he was inheriting Yang Jisheng's career, and wanted to get rid of the current Yan Song with the righteousness of worrying about the country and loving the people.Examiners from all provinces poured into Songyun Nunnery in an endless stream, and the number reached as many as 1,300. Almost all the candidates who participated in the Yiwei Division Examination came.

The meeting begins.The fat and white Kang Youwei gave a passionate speech, from the Opium War in the Gengzi Year to the naval battle in the Sino-Japanese War, from the ancient system reform to today's reform, and when he talked about the emotion, he burst into tears and choked up.Yang Du and the 1,300 disciples listened attentively, shouting wildly, stomping their feet, applauding, and wailing.Then, Liang Qichao, who was thin and lean, read out Kang Youwei's 10,000-character book written in a day and two nights.Every word of this article organized with loyalty and blood and tears caused a strong shock in his heart.In particular, the four national policies listed in it are engraved in his heart: issue an edict to encourage the spirit of the world, move the capital to establish the foundation of the world, train troops to strengthen the power of the world, and reform to rule the world.

The Wan Yan Shu was unanimously approved by all the candidates.Everyone lined up to the Metropolitan Procuratorate.It was an unprecedented anecdote that all the students in the National Examination jointly signed the letter, and the capital was boiling.Along the way, pedestrians gave way to him, carriages and horses stopped for him, shops fired cannons for him, spectators cheered for him, and even the Imperial Envoy of the Metropolitan Procuratorate was moved to tears.But the treaty has been used up, and they are powerless.Although this action had no direct effect, its impact cannot be estimated.Since that day, the phrase "the letter on the bus" has become a popular colloquial phrase in the official circles and folks in Kyoto and even the whole country.As one of the letters submitted to Yang Du, for him, this day is naturally engraved in his heart and will never be forgotten in his life!

After the test results were released, Yang Du lost his name to Sun Shan, but he didn't feel disappointed.He participated in Kang Youwei's Strong Society, and eagerly read "China and Foreign Chronicles" founded by the Strong Society.Like him, many failed young candidates were not in a hurry to go home, but stayed in Beijing. On the one hand, they wanted to do something for the reform movement, and on the other hand, they also took this opportunity to experience their talents.These naive patriotic youths are immersed in the joy of self-creation every day.Fortunately, at the beginning, some officials from various ministries were named in the Institute of Great Powers. The elders of the DPRK and China, such as Li Hongzao, Weng Tonghe, etc., all expressed their support.But soon the wind turned in the wrong direction.Some people criticized the Strong Society for forming a clique and plotting chaos, while others attacked the "China and Foreign Jiwen" for spreading rumors to confuse the public. From time to time, there were rumors that the Strong Society would be dissolved and "China and Foreign Jiwen" would be shut down.Most of the students staying in Beijing saw that the momentum was not good, so they packed their bookcases and went home.Kang Youwei also left Beijing to set up a branch of the Strong Society in Shanghai, and Liang Qichao also planned to go to Shanghai.The Changjun Guild Hall also became desolate, the bustling scene a few months ago was gone, and only three or four people were still watching.

Yang Du is faced with several choices: one is to stay in the capital, the other is to go to his uncle's house in Guide Town, and the third is to take neither and go back to his hometown.He couldn't make up his mind for a while, and he was a little upset.He got up early this morning, and when he returned to his room after practicing morning boxing, Li Chuan, the son of Yiyang who lived with him, had already gotten up and gone out.Li Chuan's family was poor and had no travel expenses to go home. He wanted to find a position as a school teacher in Beijing.Yang Du was not in the mood to do anything, so when he saw a book beside Li Chuan's pillow, he picked it up and flipped through it.

It turns out that this is the "Central Banknotes of the Eight Great Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties" compiled by Mao Kun in the Ming Dynasty.This is a very famous Tang and Song anthology.It is precisely because of Mao Kun's anthology that Han Yu, Liu Zongyuan, Sansu, Ouyang Xiu, Wang Anshi, and Zeng Gong became the famous Eight Great Masters of Tang and Song Dynasties.Yang Du had heard about this book earlier, but he never had the chance to read it. He flipped a page casually, saw that it was Han Yu's "Book of Giving Things to Chen", and read softly: As Yang Du read it, he frowned unconsciously, and muttered, "This is not a letter written by a scholar to an official, it's clearly a concubine begging for love from a man!" He read on: "Is this the masterpiece of Han Wengong, who has been in decline for eight generations? Why are you so self-deprecating and begging for mercy!" Yang Du said angrily. He skipped "Changli Wenchao" and turned to Liu Zongyuan's "Preface to Yuxi Poems", scanning the first few lines with his eyes: Yang Du thought to himself, why is this article so long-winded?He sneered again and said, "You relegated this place because you were stupid, so you changed your name to Yuxi. Others may move to this stream because of their ingenuity, why don't you change their name to Zhixi? It's really arbitrary and absurd!" The writings of Han and Liu, who are known as the generation of Wen Zong, are no more than this, so there is no need to read the writings of others.Yang Du pushed aside "The Eight Great Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties" and sighed: "There is no hero in the world who made Lizi famous. Can such an article be passed down to the world?" Ten times more articles to come! He got up and went to the window.The empty courtyard is full of fallen leaves of poplar trees.A gust of autumn wind blew, and more than a dozen dead leaves were blown down. "The autumn wind blows the Wei River, and the fallen leaves are all over Chang'an." He recited a famous line from the Tang Dynasty lightly, and a trace of sadness for autumn suddenly appeared in his heart. "Yang Xiaolian, Tang Xiaolian came back from Xishan yesterday and said that the cotinus leaves there were all red. The red leaves on Xishan are a great sight in Beijing. Don't you want to go and see it?" Uncle Jing, who was guarding the guild hall, came over with a big broom and saw Yang Standing by the window in a daze, he greeted him with a smile. Really, the leaves of Cotinus xishansis are now red, why not go and appreciate them!Juzi, a young man who has always loved to visit mountains, was attracted by the beauty of red leaves in Xishan, and the resentment just now was washed away without a trace.As soon as he said it, Yang Du hurried out of the guild hall, hired a mule cart, and came to Xishan alone. The red leaves of Xishan, at a rough glance, are just as Du Mu’s famous poem said, they are as red as flowers in February: one tree after another is red, piece by piece, slope by slope is red, all over the mountains and plains, It seems that red azaleas are blooming.If you look closely, there are differences: some are bright red, like a raging fire; some are deeply red, like cinnabar accumulated in a pot; red wall.This is a magnificent and magnificent beauty created by nature for human beings, but it is not the same as flowers in February after all. While it is magnificent, it also quietly brings visitors a heavy feeling of the twilight of beauties and martyrs in their old age! It is in such a complicated mood that Yang Du appreciates the red leaves of Xishan Mountain.He walked from one mountain to another, lingering in the autumn scenery of nature, wandering among the monuments left by the predecessors, chewing on the extraordinary years that have passed away, and thinking about how to go in the future Walk. A few low-pitched calls of cows came from the woods on the hillside.After a while, a calf emerged from the bushes, responded with a tender cry, and ran happily in the direction of the cow.The cow also came out from the forest to meet her, and the calf came to the cow, shaking its head and tail affectionately.The cow sticks out the tip of her tongue and licks the calf's head and face caressingly.Yang Du was fascinated by this scene and stared at it obsessively.The image of his mother gradually emerged in his mind, and the landscape and countryside of his hometown emerged... It was a remote mountain village in Xiangtan County, Hunan Province, and the place name was Shitangpu.There lived a family surnamed Yang in Shitangpu.According to the genealogical records, the ancestors moved from Jinling Shangyuan to Hengshan during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, and then moved from Hengshan to Xiangtan during the Tianqi period.Over the past five hundred years, the Yang family has produced several low-level officials, but they have never made a fortune.More than 40 years ago, the situation in southern China suddenly changed dramatically.Under the leadership of the heavenly king Hong Xiuquan and the eastern king Yang Xiuqing, the Taiping Army who launched a campaign in Jintian Village in Guangxi quickly turned Guangxi upside down.Then they marched into Hunan, besieging cities and conquering land all the way, beheading passes and seizing passes, local civil and military soldiers fleeing with their heads in their arms, and the Green Battalion of the Eight Banners were defeated.After the Taiping Army besieged Changsha for more than 80 days, they suddenly changed their strategic policy. They sent troops northward, crossed Dongting Lake, entered the Yangtze River, and captured Hanyang, Wuchang with lightning speed. Break into Wuxue, take Huangzhou, conquer Jiujiang, restore Anqing, and finally capture Jiangning in one fell swoop, so it was renamed Tianjing and the capital of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was built here.At that time, the kingdom of heaven was rising like the rising sun, and it was about to overthrow the 200-year-old rule of the Qing court and take away the beautiful country from the Aixinjueluo family. At this time, a minister of the Ministry of Rites named Zeng Guofan set up a group training in Hunan under his orders.Although this person surnamed Zeng is also a member of the corrupt officialdom, he is smarter and more capable than his colleagues.The Hunan Army he founded from scratch, after several setbacks, finally took back Wuchang, Hanyang, Tianjia Town and other important military places for the imperial court, and immediately became famous.Many people in the Hunan Army were promoted, and those who were not promoted also made a fortune, so there was a wave of enthusiasm for joining the army in Xiangxiang, Xiangtan, and Baoqing.How many farmers who have no power, no power, and suffer from hunger and cold do not want to be promoted and get rich?Yang Du's grandfather, Yang Litang, was in his prime at the time. Under the influence of the enthusiasm for joining the army, he also bid farewell to his wife and children and joined the general of the Hunan Army Li Xubin.Not long after, he really became a whistle chief, and the court rewarded him with a set of python-claw robes with the rank of the fourth-rank captain.A low-browed and stooped farmer became a fourth-rank official just because of fighting a few big battles. Yang Auditor really tasted the sweetness of joining the army.He asked someone to write a letter to his family, and asked his eldest son Yang Ruisheng to also come to the front line. In the past two years, relying on his father's trophies outside, the four sons of the Yang family have all been educated.After receiving his father's letter, 15-year-old Yang Ruisheng immediately put down his books and flew to Jiangxi to become a soldier in his father's post.A year later, the Binzi Battalion and Huazi Battalion led by Li Xubin and Zeng Guohua were ambushed by Chen Yucheng and Li Xiucheng in Sanhe Town, Anhui Province.Only two or three hundred people escaped by chance, and Yang Ruisheng was one of them. He was recruited into Bao Chao's Tingzi Camp, and was promoted to Shichang after a few months.Later, he switched to Zeng Guoquan's Jiziying, followed Zeng Laojiu to recover several cities, and was promoted to the rank of garrison chief.When Jinling fell, he became a sentry officer with the rank of general.When the Hunan Army was disarmed, he was not laid off, but was incorporated into Zhang Shiri's Department, and went north to fight against the Nian Army in the fourth year of Tongzhi.After the Nian army was pacified, Yang Ruisheng was actually appointed as a general, and later he was promoted to a deputy general. Soon after, he was ordered to transfer the general army of Guide Town, Henan Province, and became a senior military officer guarding one side.The Yang family, which has been impoverished for generations, has finally produced a big man who is famous for his ancestors. Although Yang Ruisheng's official fortune was prosperous, the fate of his three younger brothers was not good.The second and third child died young, and the fourth child, Yisheng, was gifted and intelligent, but his body was weak and he could not go out to do things. He had to farm and study in his hometown. gongs and drums.Yisheng married his wife, Li Shi, and gave birth to two sons and a daughter.Unfortunately, life doesn't last forever, and he passed away at the age of thirty.The eldest son was only ten years old at the time.Ruisheng has a deep brotherly love, and he takes good care of the widow and orphan left by his deceased brother. He often sends some money to help them, so that their family has no worries about food and clothing.Both sons can go to private schools, and the daughter can also learn to read and become a female celebrity at home.The three brothers and sisters are all smart and talented, and their qualifications are far above ordinary children.In particular, the boss Yang Chengzan not only has excellent poetry and prose, but also has lofty ambitions and grand ambitions. He has heard grown-ups talk about the Hunan Army since he was a child, and he admires Zeng, Zuo, Peng, Hu and other township sages who made great achievements from scholars.At the age of sixteen, he changed his name to Du, styled Xizi, and his younger brother's name Jun, styled Zhongzi.His mother asked him why he changed his name like this, and he replied that he changed his name because of his determination, and the brothers determined to be people who weigh the world.My mother was very pleased to hear that.Uncle also wrote a letter of appreciation and asked them to come to Guide Mansion to study.So he left his hometown and went to Guide Mansion with his younger sister Yang Zhuang. During the three years in Guide Mansion, Yang Du made faster academic progress under the guidance of a good teacher.Regardless of the three tombs and five classics, nine hills and eight books, four books and five classics, various schools of thought, official and unofficial histories, he read as soon as he saw the book, and he understood it as soon as he read it.In the morning and evening, after school, he followed his uncle's teachings, practicing boxing, swordsmanship, horseback riding and archery.When my uncle went out, he deliberately took him with his cousins.Yang Du was able to visit Songshan Mountain, climb Daiyue Mountain, observe the majesty of the Yellow River, and see the relics of Bianjing. His mind became more open and his aura became more magnificent.Last fall, he passed the high school Shuntian Township Examination in one fell swoop.When the good news reached Shitangpu, Mrs. Li was so happy that she burst into tears.Younger brother Yang Jun and younger sister Yang Zhuang who just returned home from Guide Mansion are both proud of their uncle's talent.Mrs. Li asked her youngest son to write a letter to his elder brother. After the meeting, no matter whether he was selected as a Jinshi in the Imperial Academy, or he was temporarily unqualified, he must go home for a visit.Mothers who have been separated for three or four years are eager to see their sons who have grown up. It is really that the Xiangshui River is not enough to describe his length, and the Dongting Court is not enough to describe his depth.Having lost his father since childhood and growing up in a difficult family environment, why doesn’t the son miss the mother who gave all her heart and soul to her children?At the moment when he saw the old yellow cow licking the love, the young student who had been away from his mother for a long time could no longer restrain his strong nostalgia. He decided to go back to Shitangpu first and live with his mother and siblings for a while before deciding where to go. The sun is gradually setting in the west, and the evening sunset, with its blood-colored flame, reflects the red leaves of Xishan dazzlingly, and even the withered yellow thatch is also inlaid with dazzling gold.Look far and wide.The mountains are undulating, the Great Wall is continuous, the sky is boundless, and the ancient capital is dense.This picture of mountains and rivers aroused a sense of tragedy in Yang Du's heart at this moment.A gust of mountain wind blew, and he felt a bit of coolness.Yes, it's time to go down the mountain.