Chapter 12 5. Tan Sitong raises his glass: We swear to the gods

"Xizi, when did you come?" Liang Qichao shouted loudly while extending a pair of big hands. Yang Du stretched out his hand and said with a smile: "I've been waiting here for a long time. It's not a coincidence that I came here. When I first arrived at the concierge, I met Mr. Xuetai. There is nothing I can do. The common people have to be officials." "What?" Liang Qichao grinned wide, revealing two rows of white teeth, which formed a strong contrast with his dark skin. "The concierge doesn't know anything, how can you let your brother, Xizi, sit here. In fact, Mr. Jianxia said goodbye, you come in, and we just happened to talk together."

Liang Qichao let go of his hand: "Let me introduce you." Pointing to Yang Du, he said to the people beside him, "This is Mr. Yang Xizi, a native of Xiangtan, Guizhou Province." introduce.Everyone clasped their fists together and said repeatedly: "Long-awaited, long-awaited!" Yang Du pointed to Wang Daiyi who was standing behind him and said, "This is Mr. Renqiu's fourth son, Ji Guo." Dai Yi bowed to Liang, Xiong and Tang.Liang Qichao hastily returned the salute, bowed deeply and said, "Don't you dare! Mr. Renqiu is Mr. Liao Jiping's teacher, Mr. Liao Jiping is Mr. Kang Nanhai's teacher, and Kang Nanhai is my teacher. Mr. Renqiu should be my wife teacher, There is only the courtesy of me bowing to Mr. Ji Guo, there is no reason for Mr. Ji Guo to bow to me!"

These words made everyone laugh, making Dai Yi blush, both happy and embarrassed. "Two gentlemen, please come into the school to talk." Xiong Xiling stretched out his left hand as the master, pointing to the gate. Yang Du didn't give in, he dragged Dai Yi to the front, and everyone walked into the neatly furnished reception room together, and the worker made tea for everyone.Tan Sitong was the first to speak: "I have heard for a long time that Mr. Xizi participated in Yi Weinian's bus submission, and Sitong is very impressed. It is a great honor to meet you today at the School of Current Affairs."

Looking at this young man who is thin but full of boldness and bold eyes, Yang Du also expressed his thoughts: "Mr. Tan is famous all over the world. He has long been known as Pingyuan and Xinling. Yang Du has admired him for a long time. It’s been a long time, and it’s really God’s cooperation to meet unexpectedly here.” After all, he smiled heartily. Liang Qichao said happily: "You guys are sympathetic, heroes admire heroes, drink tea first, and I will be the host after a while, just in this reception room, let's have a few cups to our heart's content." Xiong Xiling hurriedly said: "Mr. Zhuo Ru is a guest, how can I make you spend money, this time I will do it."

Tang Cai often said with a smile: "What this time, you have been the owner for several months." "Buddha made fun of me!" Xiong Xiling, who was round and chubby with a happy face, laughed and narrowed his eyes, "If you want to say that the owner of the School of Current Affairs is not me, but Chen Futai, I will only be the owner this time. Invite Xi Zi and Ji Guo, two distinguished guests." Liang Qichao waved his hand and said, "I usually eat your food, but this time I will return the gift, not only to invite two guests, but also to have another meaning."

"What do you mean?" Xiong Xiling asked. "Let's talk later!" Tan Sitong was the most straightforward, saying: "Zhuo Ru wants to be the host, let him be the host!" Then he shouted to the door, "Old Yu!" The servant who poured the tea just now came in.Tan Sitong told him: "Go to Quyuan Restaurant and order a table of dishes, and they will be delivered to the school in an hour." Old Yu promised and went out. Dai Yi said, "I'm really sorry to bother you as soon as I come here." Liang Qichao said: "You should entertain your wife and teacher. Xizi, I just learned from Liu Linsheng a few days ago that you are studying with Mr. Renqiu in Hengzhou Prefecture. I have been in Changsha for three or four months. If you don't come to see me, you are not enough friends!"

"I'm very closed in Dongzhou." Yang Du picked up his teacup and took a sip, "I only found out last month that the chief Chinese teacher of Shiwu School is you, Brother Liang. You see, I didn't come all the way from hundreds of miles away. Did you see me?" Everyone laughed happily again. Yang Du said to Xiong Xiling: "Mr. Bingsan, your School of Current Affairs is also really powerful, and you have recruited all the leaders of our Chuanshan Academy students." Xiong Xiling asked: "Who, who is the head of the students of Chuanshan Academy?" "Liu Kuiyi!" Dai Yi said, "We saw him in Youyi Village today, and within a few days, he helped you to promote it to the citizens."

"Really?" Liang Qichao grinned his big mouth and said with a smile, "That Liu Linsheng, he is more radical than me. I said that the Qing Dynasty could become prosperous and powerful through the Reformation. Guess what he said!" "What did he say?" Yang Du and Wang Daiyi asked in unison. "He said tinkering may not solve the root cause, it is best to do it all in one pot, learning from the United States, France and Italy." "Liu Lin eats the guts of a leopard!" Dai Yi was surprised. "His idea is actually not very scary." Liang Qichao put away his smile, "Liu Linsheng is not the only one who has this idea among the more than 200 students in the School of Current Affairs. Did you two follow the orders of Mr. Renqiu to Take Liu Linsheng lock back to Dongzhou!"

Dai Yi glanced at Yang Du, and Yang Du hurriedly said: "No such thing, Mr. Renqiu is very generous. He told me that people have their own aspirations, and you don't have to force them. He also said that we should look more and ask more questions about current affairs. Learn from the school's strengths." "Mr. Renqiu is so enlightened!" Xiong Xiling was moved by Wang Kaiyun's broad mind. Tang Cai often said to Xiong, Liang and others: "Since the two of you want to see more of the School of Current Affairs, before Qu Yuan's food arrives, I will accompany them around. You are all busy, let's talk about it later! "

Liang, Tan, and Xiong said together: "That's good, I'll work on you." Tang Cai often accompanied Yang Du and Wang Daiyi to watch the class first.There are four classrooms, some are in class, some are in self-study.A classroom with fifty or sixty seats was full of people, and there were a dozen others standing behind. A foreigner with blue eyes and a high nose was teaching English.Dai Yi felt very fresh, and stood outside the window for a few minutes, then asked Tang Caichang: "Do all the current affairs schools learn foreign dialect?" Tang Caichang nodded: "You have to learn. You have to learn from the good experience of the West. How can you do it if you don't know English!"

After watching the class, Tang Caichang showed them the dining hall and dormitory.There are more than a dozen long wooden boards in the dining hall, with simple stools on both sides of the boards.Tang Cai often told them that in the current affairs school, regardless of promotion, general teaching or sub-teaching, students eat three meals a day with the students, and eat the same meals.After hearing this, Yang Du praised again and again: "Teachers and students are truly equal!" "Teacher-student equality is also reflected in the playground after class." Tang Caichang said, pointing to the large soil flat beside him. Yang Du and Dai Yi began to pay attention to this empty space, and saw a bunker in front of it that could accommodate more than ten people. The bunker was covered with flat sand, and several wooden pillars were erected up and down to frame it.There are two wooden frames more than ten feet apart on the other side of the bunker. A large wooden board is nailed to the frame, and there is only an iron ring on the wooden board.Wang Daiyi pointed and asked, "What are those?" "Those are used by students to practice their bodies after class. They are called uneven bars. When people turn up and down on them, their bodies will be strong and flexible. The two frames nailed with large wooden boards are basketball hoops. Everyone holds a ball and puts it on the bars. It is thrown into the hoop, and it is considered a win if the shot is hit. It not only exercises the body, but also cultivates the mentality to strive for improvement." Yang Du and Dai Yi listened with great interest. "These are taught by the foreigners who teach in the school. After class, there is no distinction between teachers and students. Everyone plays together, holds the ball together, laughs and laughs, and is happy." "It's so interesting!" Dai Yi expressed envy from his heart. "Current affairs school is a true teacher-student equality, which is not only reflected in eating and playing together, but more importantly, teachers and students can discuss knowledge on an equal footing, and students can refute the teacher." "Is that good?" Yang Du and Dai Yi exclaimed excitedly. All the academies uphold the ancient motto of strict teacher dignity, and there is absolutely no reason for the teacher to eat and play with the students, let alone allow students to refute the teacher's strange things.Wang Kaiyun walks and chats with the students after school, and he has been regarded as the most enlightened and easy-going gentleman. Compared with this place, there is still a difference of 108,000 miles!No wonder so few young people are willing to come here.Both Yang Du and Wang Daiyi thought so in their hearts.Old Yu came over and said that the food had arrived. "Okay, let's go eat!" Tang Cai often said to the guests. A clean white cloth was spread on the simple wooden table in the reception room, and it was filled with more than ten bowls of exquisite and delicious dishes from Quyuan Restaurant.In order to take care of Liang Qichao, there is no chili in the dishes, so the restaurant stir-fries another dish with strong Hunan flavor, black bean sauce, ginger, and dried chili.Liang Qichao said to everyone with a smile: "Everything of Hunan cuisine is delicious, but this dish is inedible." Tan Sitong also said with a smile: "If Hunan cuisine lacks this dish, all the dishes will not taste good." Yang Du noticed that there was another handsome and handsome young man added to the banquet, Liang Qichao hurriedly introduced: "This is my most proud student in the current affairs school, his name is Cai Genyin, his name is Songpo, don't look at him Although he is young, he is very imposing. I specially asked him to accompany you two." Yang Du paid his respects to Cai Genyin, and Cai Genyin also stood up and called out "Mr. Yang, Mr. Wang". After everyone sat down, Tan Sitong said: "There are seven people sitting at the Eight Immortals table, but one party is missing." Liang Qichao looked at a person passing by the door, and hurriedly said: "This person has to fill the vacancy!" As he spoke, he walked out the door and pulled a person in, and said to Yang Du, "Who do you think he is?" "Linsheng!" Dai Yi yelled first, and then Yang Du yelled too. Liu Kuiyi said happily: "Mr. Liang said that you two are here, I still don't believe it, but you are here." Xiong Xiling said: "Sit down, I'll wait for you alone." Liu Kui sat on the vacant side generously. Before dinner, Yang and Wang saw something new in the atmosphere of the School of Current Affairs: Mr. invited guests to accompany him, and there is no such thing in any academy! Liang Qichao raised his wine glass and said, "It is a pleasure for us to have a few drinks together today for the sake of entertaining Mr. Xizi and Ji Guo. All of you here are famous people in Central Hunan. Although Liu Linsheng and Cai Songpo are students Although they are not of the same generation, but they are full of heroic spirit, they may become the pillars of the country in the future, so today is considered a small meeting of heroes. Come, let’s have a toast to our party!" After Liang Qichao finished speaking, he stood up, and everyone followed suit, clinked glasses with each other, and drank in one gulp.At the banquet, Tan Sitong was the oldest, thirty-three years old, Cai Genyin was the youngest, sixteen years old, and the other six were all in their twenties. They were all passionate young people, and they were all well-educated people. We gathered today and had a very good conversation. speculate.Everyone was informal, did not shy away from taboos, opened their hearts, and showed their hearts. The banquet was full of enthusiasm and enthusiasm. "Brother Zhuo Ru, you just said that you will be the host this time. What does it mean?" Xiong Xiling asked Liang Qichao.He doesn't drink very much, and after drinking two glasses, his face turned red. Liang Qichao had a huge amount, he drank the most, and still acted as if nothing had happened.He put down his chopsticks, leaned against the back of the chair, and said, "I plan to leave Changsha soon." "What? You are leaving Changsha, where are you going?" Xiong Xiling was greatly surprised, and everyone at the table was also surprised. They all leaned towards Liang Qichao and listened carefully to what he had to say. "Mr. Nanhai has a letter asking me to go to the capital next spring." "Are you going to the exam?" Yang Du asked, he and Xia Shoutian were ready to take the exam next year. "No." Liang Qichao smiled slightly, "I am busy teaching all day long, so I don't have time to write stereotyped essays, and the exams are useless. Now I see more clearly that many talents with real talents will definitely be missed by selecting scholars with stereotyped essays. I This time, we are going to unite a group of like-minded individuals to write a letter requesting that stereotyped essays be abolished, and that the examination of poems should be done, and that we should only examine classics, history, and policy theory." "This is an earth-shattering event." Tan Sitong stared at the head teacher of Chinese with piercing eyes. Yang Du said: "It is not fabricated out of thin air not to take the examination of stereotyped essays. During the Kangxi period, the examination of policy theory with stereotyped essays was once abolished, and many national scholars came out at that time." "Xizi is right." Liang Qichao admired Yang Du's familiarity with the story. "At present, the country is full of troubles, and there is an urgent need for people who manage the army, resist insults, and manage business and finance. However, the imperial court uses poetry and regular script to select scholars. How can we get talents to save the time? At the same time, the imperial court's selection of scholars is the standard for all people to establish talents. If the way of obtaining scholars is not changed, scholars all over the world will still use memorizing the words of the sages as the means in the past, and take the empty and useless beginning and transfer as the most important task. Facing the covetous neighbors, there is only the ability to cede land and pay compensation, and there is no ability to submit to the barbarians, isn't this country dying in front of our eyes?" Everyone nodded, their faces solemn. "Mr. Nanhai will set up the National Protection Council in the capital next spring, and loudly appeal to the officials, gentlemen and people in the capital that the danger of subjugation of the country and species is imminent, and they must be defended together." "This is a patriotic feat. It is better to invite some princes and ministers to participate, and the effect will be even greater." Xiong Xiling interjected.He is a new Hanlin, has entered the officialdom, and his perspective on issues tends to shift to the upper echelon. "I don't think it's necessary." Liu Kuiyi, who was born in the lower class, said, "Those princes and ministers are all useless people. They never think about whether the country is strong or not. As long as they can keep their official titles and titles, it will be fine. I think The key is to mobilize a group of ambitious young scholars, the future of the country depends on them." "What Bingsan and Linsheng said makes sense. I am Mr. Nanhai's assistant, not only contacting princes and ministers, but also mobilizing young scholars. As long as these two people are motivated, China can be preserved." Liang Qichao said between words , quite a bit smug. "Mr. Liang, the current affairs school has just set up a shelf, and you are leaving Hunan. What a pity, can you go later?" Tang Caichang stretched out his arms and made a gesture of convincing him. "I could have left Hunan later, but I still have to go to Shanghai. In summer, I worked on the current affairs newspaper with Wang Kangnian in Shanghai, and there was still a little dispute in it. I have to take care of it." Liang Qichao took another sip of wine, and continued. , "Current Affairs School, thanks to your efforts, has opened up the situation. After I leave, it will not have much impact. Gong Seren said, but opening up the atmosphere is not a teacher. Once the atmosphere is opened, my work will basically be completed. In my opinion, there are three main things that Hunan should do in the future.” "Which three?" Tan Sitong asked. "The first is to develop the wisdom of the people, the second is to develop the wisdom of the gentry, and the third is to develop the wisdom of officials. These three are the foundation of everything. If all three are promoted, the affairs of the whole province are like grasping the fur and pulling the collar." Everyone nods. Liang Qichao continued: "To develop these three wisdoms, as far as the imperial court is concerned, it is to change the imperial examinations and abolish stereotyped writing to test policy theory. At the local level, it is to run schools, not only in provincial cities, but also in prefectures and counties. Let’s make it look like our School of Current Affairs. In two days, I will suggest to Master Futai that three to five patriots with knowledge and reform ideas should be selected from each prefecture and county to come to the School of Current Affairs in groups. The School of Current Affairs will set up a special school like this The class trained them for half a year, and let them go back to run an hourly service school in their own prefectures and counties. Zeng Wenzheng, a great politician in your province, had the ambition to cultivate a group of good officials and spread them to various places, so that They have cultivated a good atmosphere in various places. Zeng Wenzheng has a long-term vision, but it is a pity that the year is not a holiday, and it has not been successful. I hope that all Zeng's villagers here will realize Wen Zhenggong in cultivating the seeds of establishing an enlightened school. last wish." Everyone responded with applause. Liang Qichao said more vigorously: "Guizhou is a place with a long history of culture and talents emerging in an endless stream. The Neo Confucianism founded by Zhou Lianxi has benefited the Chinese nation for thousands of years; Wang Chuanshan is profound and profound, and Chuanshan's theory is actually the culmination of Confucianism; A group of disciples from Sanxiang, represented by Zeng, Zuo, Peng, and Hu, practiced the world, rescued the crisis and helped the difficult, and earned a lot of demeanor for the scholars all over the world. Qi Chao has longed for this land of outstanding people since he was sensible. Township, this time I was able to live in Changsha for three months, and I got to know all of you here, it is really a blessing for Sansheng." Tan Sitong got up and raised his glass, saying: "Mr. Zhuo Ru is well said, we can fully explain his deep affection." "Okay!" Everyone drank in one gulp. Xiong Xiling said: "Your province is located in the coastal area, and it was the first to get the atmosphere. It has nurtured Mr. Nanhai, a saint of today, and also created a great talent like Mr. Zhuo Ru." "I don't dare to call me a great talent, but Mr. Nanhai is indeed a saint." Liang Qichao said solemnly, "Mr. Nanhai has studied both Chinese and Western, ancient and modern. It turned out that Confucius was the earliest and greatest reformer. Confucius’ thoughts of Tong Santong and Zhang Sanshi have been like a jewel sinking in the sand for two thousand years, and have been unknown to the world. Mr. Nanhai dug out this pearl again and told People of the country, the era of chaos has come to an end, the era of peace is coming, and the era of peace will not be far away." When Liang Qichao said this, he was very excited. He waved his right hand, as if he was crying and giving a speech on the bus. Everyone listened quietly, but Yang Du put forward a different opinion: "Kang Nanhai's profound knowledge is indeed admirable to my generation, but it is the Eastern Han Dynasty's He Xiu's point of view to understand the Three Traditions and Zhang Sanshi, not Confucius. Why did Kang Nanhai insist on blaming it on Confucius?" Dai Yi also said: "Yes, my father has criticized Mr. Nanhai many times on this matter." Liang Qichao smiled and said: "Although Confucius didn't explicitly say the words of the Three Traditions and the Three Generations, his essence is exactly what He Xiu explained. Mr. Nanhai pointed out that this is Confucius' thought, which is not bad. Why stick to the words?" Tan Sitong continued: "Mr. Nanhai's theory has been questioned by many people. In fact, many people have not read his book carefully, but because of the strange title of his book, they are criticizing each other. It is like "Xinxue Apocrypha" , if the name is changed to "True Classics of Old Learning", people will be overwhelmed, fearing that it won't be enough, and how dare they slander it." Seeing that Yang Du still wanted to argue with reason, Xiong Xiling hurriedly changed the subject: "Mr. Zhuo Ru just said that running a school to develop knowledge is indeed a very insightful idea. Let me ask Mr. Zhuo Ru again, what do you think is the largest school in China?" Where is the problem?" "The biggest problem in China is that the power of the monarchy has flourished while the power of the people has declined." Liang Qichao replied without hesitation. Yang Du felt that this issue was very important, but he didn't think much about it, so he said, "Please explain it in detail." Liang Qichao talked eloquently: "In China, there has always been only a monarch but no democracy. What a monarch is, it's private. What he does is a family name; what a democracy is, it's just public, and what he does is the people. The country is regarded as the private property of the emperor's family. Such an emperor, to put it bluntly, is not a sage, but a thief of the people! There is no real sage in China, and there are very few in the world. In modern times, there is only Washington, the first president of the United States of America. He is the real monarch with noble morals. The affairs of the country are the affairs of everyone. If the country is to be strong, everyone must take responsibility together, and responsibility and rights are closely related. At present, the power of the monarchy is becoming more and more respected, and the rights of the people are declining. It is actually the root cause of China's weakness. Therefore, fighting for civil rights and practicing democracy is a good plan to save the country today, and to achieve this goal, reforms must be done!" "Zhuo Ru's words are good!" Tan Sitong put down his wine glass and said calmly, "The root of the badness of Chinese politics is that it reverses the relationship between the ruler and the people. Only when the people are the ruler, can the ruler be born, so the ruler is the last, and the people are the foundation. Confucius abolished ancient learning, changed the current system, abolished the monarchy, advocated democracy, and changed inequality into equality. He wrote "Spring and Autumn", It is mainly to oppose the monarchy and advocate the people standard. After the death of Confucius, its academics are divided into two branches. One is passed on from Zengzi to Zisi to Mencius. Mencius speaks freely about the theory of democracy and follows Confucius' ambition. One is passed on by Zixia Tian Zifang came to Zhuangzi, and Zhuangzi slandered the monarch and denied the monarchy. But later these two branches were lost, and Xun Kuang took the opportunity to advocate that the queen of the law should respect the throne, so that the monarchs of all dynasties after Qin used this fake Confucianism to practice Mr. Nanhai's merit lies in restoring the original colors of Confucianism." "Brother Fusheng's search for the source just now is the most reasonable." Tang Cai often said, "In a word, to save China today, if we don't reform the law, there is no way out!" Liu Kuiyi also said: "You guys are right. Only reforms can survive in China, and major changes are needed, and small changes won't work." "Brothers!" Tan Sitong unbuttoned his leather robe, rolled up his sleeves, stood up abruptly, and said loudly, "If China does not reform and reform, it will perish on the outside by captives, and on the inside by treacherous officials. Jianer. I am a dignified descendant of Yanhuang, a dignified man of seven feet. When I see the country is in peril, can I stand by and watch? Can I just survive for my wife and children? Can I not fight hard and die to save the country?" "No!" The seven hot-blooded men suddenly stood up. "Zhuo Ru, after you arrive at the capital, you will immediately assist Mr. Nan Hai in building the Baoguo. As soon as the Baoguo in Beijing is established, I will immediately sell the 500 acres of fertile land in my hometown in Liuyang and set up a Baoguo branch in Hunan. I will echo you from afar!" Liang Qichao held Tan Sitong's hand tightly and said excitedly, "Thank you, Brother Fusheng!" Tan Sitong raised his wine glass and said loudly: "The people under the world rule the world; The heavens and gods swear: the eight of us, no matter what kind of political ideas we hold in the future, and whether we are in politics, the army, or studying, first, we will continue to strive for the prosperity of China; second, no matter who we are, as long as his behavior For the benefit of the country and the people, everyone else must try their best to support; three, when necessary, don’t hesitate to dedicate your life to our cause. You are a real man, please drink this cup!" After all, he raised his wine glass to the table.Everyone was overwhelmed by Tan Sitong's awe-inspiring righteousness, and everyone seemed to have added a lot of courage. They raised their glasses together, clinked them with a clang, and the spirits poured down their throats.