Chapter 4 1909~1912: years of apprenticeship 1909~1912: years of apprenticeship -2

As I told you, in the letter to the ABC Weekly article, there was a whole set of stamps of the French version of Indochina with the not-so-recognizable "Chongqing" stamp on it, which was sent to For you, I want to gain appreciation.The stamps are interesting, and Sichuanese are desperate to get postmarks from foreign post offices.If you are also interested, I can also ask someone to send you the British, German and Russian series.I don't think there are any other countries. In China, a signed treaty stipulates that all European housing enjoys diplomatic immunity, as does French embassies and troops abroad.Here at the consulate, just like in France, not in China, the police have no power to break in.It must be confessed that I was not aware of all the advantages here, and my valet undoubtedly knew the treaties better than I did, and profited from them.He opened a small casino in his house, and naturally he had to pay to enter this small entertainment place.Because I never go out of the office or patio at night, I don't know anything about it. .If sometimes I heard the sound of coins colliding, I thought it was him and his colleagues who were trying to settle accounts.

Yesterday, we said goodbye to a Chinese official at the consulate.He is Mr. Zhang, a Chinese official translator, one of the very rare Catholic officials in China.He relayed my landlord's word that the police had found the casino and that gambling is banned in China.You can imagine the scene when I went back and lost my temper. I have never used such a loud voice, even when I was angry.Today, I jump up at the sound of metal clashing.If I catch a gambler, I'll wrap him in a mat and throw him into the police station, and at the same time, I'll fire everyone who gambles. Chengdu, August 8, 1909

dear mom: Your letter of June 18 arrived in less than an hour after I left it at the post office on Friday.The letter is full of serious advice, just at this time to help me see the year ahead.You say you may not be suitable to guide me.If not you, who has the affection and power to do it?No matter what bad mood I might have, I never said a word to hurt you.Please forgive me if I did this.I also ask you to continue to help me in this way: it is easy to break the pot, and there is really no one here to lead me seriously.In Paris, I have only you. At night, I slept soundly when I suddenly heard the sound of drums beating at the door.It was your affectionate telegram that arrived at 11pm.I thank you for thinking of this.

Monday, 9th I was at Mr and Mrs Ecedo's on Saturday night.They are my closest neighbors and I visit them every now and then after get off work no matter what time of day it is.They also invited me as a "neighbor".I know I'm the only "neighbor" who's been so favored, which means I'm not making a bad impression on the community, and I'm glad.The streets of China are interesting at night.Apart from the storefronts of money merchants, there are very few gasoline lamps, most of them are ordinary oil lamps, or rather, small lighting lamps.The same is true of the house.Since there are no windows, only shutters, you have to open a little space to breathe.Small lights hung from the ceiling, and I saw these huddled figures next to each other.They burn small incense sticks in front of the ancestors' spirit tablets, and the bitter smoke mixed with the oily fumes of lighting, the smoke from restaurants and factories, just like the effect produced by our merchants who sell fried potatoes.

Major Dorona actually stayed in Chengdu for a long time.Mr. Bonsdowne often spoke of him to me.Dorona wrote a book called "China as Innovator and Fighter".According to The Diplomat, the book is more about what the author would like to see than reality.Who is right and who is wrong?I don't want to answer this question.I have a lot to do these days: I have to transcribe two copies of Mr. Bunce's reports, a total of thirty pages on dot-dot paper.It's scary when it's hot!To hell with Bunce and his report.I was in the office until 6pm.But everyone still says that diplomats have nothing to do.Luckily Bunce had said he would be away for a full month.

kiss you very tenderly Jules Jules strictly adhered to the rules for writing official documents.Almost every day he wrote a letter to each of his numerous correspondents, which he planned in a peculiar way, though he complained from time to time that there were no replies.This attention to detail and documentation allows us to access his daily life a century later.When Jules explored the old town, tasted new dishes, or began to realize the lack of bacon and cheese, Bonsdandi granted a wish: to have Jules play music on an organ that he used in this place. Rented from Chengdu at the end of the world.His mother was curious about the many Catholic missions in Chengdu, and stimulating this curiosity gave Jules a sense of accomplishment.He keeps showing us a part of his character: "I'm not in the habit of being surprised by big things".He entered this extraordinary new world with astonishing calm.He proves to us that he is sensitive to this calm.He also gave us some preliminary explanations: "I have a happy foundation in me, and maybe a real adaptive nature. It makes me a clown in the community, a lecturer in the classroom, a foreigner in China, a leader Diplomat in the embassy. Hey, but it doesn't allow me to show my literary air now."As he later expressed on other occasions, Jules did not think he had the qualities of a writer.He poured a lot of painstaking effort into correspondence, which is a different kind of work than that of a writer.Yes, the literary effect of his correspondence is weaker, and perhaps he does not seem to have the same talents as his French compatriots, and he has neither the ambition to write a great book nor the desire to enrich literary history.Only in private, in special conversations with his correspondents, he spoke modestly about his daily life.From time to time, the reporter's ability to reproduce reality, the poet's sensitivity and the novelist's imagination are revealed.History, just like this, reappears between the lines.

Newspapers in Shanghai informed Jules of the collapse of Clement's government, while a war for the throne in Peking roiled China.Since the death of Guangxu and Cixi, in 1908, the power in China has been in the hands of a 3-year-old child, Puyi, but actually in the hands of his father. In 1900, animosity between one of Guangxu's chosen successors and the young emperor was growing, which Jules said would "become very serious for China."Because the heir's father was the head of the Boxers, foreign powers had exerted pressure to hinder the promulgation of the decree.Nine years later, however, the candidate who had missed his chance came to court again.

In January 1901, a huge plan for the "New Deal" was launched, calling for Confucian morality and at the same time trying to reform the system of the Chinese Empire.So in the first decade of the 20th century, a series of policies aimed at modernizing the country were promulgated.The educational system was reformed, administrative measures were rationalized, and ministries were established.With regard to the army, the traditional system was replaced by a "new army" under the direct control of the empire, and provincial assemblies were established in place of the traditional self-government.And it was in 1909, when the first parliaments were convened in the provinces, that Jules confided to his mother his doubts about this "modernization" of China.

Let me tell you a story that makes you appreciate this "innovative China".Today, people are talking about the Constitution.People talk about it because no one knows what it really is.Before the old lady died, she issued a decree, planning to realize China's political modernization within ten years, with a parliament and a series of important facilities.There must be real progress every year.This year we started by nominating some "self-governing" senators to advise the Premier.Municipal and sub-municipal governments gather people and explain to them what to do.Note that there is only one election, so only the upper class of the population can participate.So, in Hunan Province, do you know who gets the most votes?A Hunan singer!After that, we can really start to reform China so dearly to Mr. Dorona.

This Major Dorona whom Jules mentioned many times is a man who thinks he knows a lot about China and its changes, and he seems to be always ridiculed by foreigners stationed in China.Bonsdowne also has reservations about this modernization process.He wrote in a report in July 1909: "I think that the evolution of China under the influence of some new ideas has here and there produced a confusion and a natural maladaptation which will cause serious repercussions. concern".The efforts of the regent and the development of modernization did not produce results, let alone save the Manchu dynasty.

The imperial atmosphere was tense again, and Jules felt it amply in his consulate.He was almost on the front line, because the wave of "revolution" basically started from Sichuan. Chengdu, August 13, 1909 dear mom: I really appreciate people who get bored even in Chengdu.Until now, I have never been so fulfilled, not only because of the consulate, but also because of my own affairs.Early in the morning, I started writing as soon as I woke up, and from noon to 2 o'clock, before going to work at the consulate, I was writing again.By the time I got home at 6:30 or 7:00 p.m., I would write and write until I fell asleep or had hand cramps, which was inevitable.My correspondence partners don't blame me as much as I blame them.I send an average of one letter per day, the size is like yours, with large paper and small characters.Moreover, I feel more and more the charm of writing letters. I try not to repeat things to this person or that person, which often surprises me.I carefully put the letters of fifteen correspondents in a large folder, and I also put the content of each reply letter as a small summary on the card to prevent me from writing the same thing to others over and over again.Other, less faithful correspondents, were placed in the usual pile of letters, marked "Other," and there was a form recording the arrival date of the letter.The only misfortune is that I will continue to have special (letter) compartments made if need be, and my drawers are full.Unless your (copy my letter) book is very thick, it will soon reach this state. Mr. Bunce rented a fine organ (Japanese or American) from a European dealer.It's good as furniture: walnut-coloured wood, the shape of a large cupboard with shelves for knick-knacks, a mirror, and so on.A wise man like Mr. Yan also told Mr. Bunce that he saw a very convenient and practical piece of furniture, with a slanting table for writing and a mirror for dressing.Thanks, I have an organ, but it's not for shaving me or anybody else.The rent may be twenty francs a month, a nice gift from Mr. Bons.Now, of course, sooner or later, as soon as I'm done earning a living, I'm asked to play a piece.I improvised various funeral marches (since they were all slow and I had plenty of time to figure out what to do next).I can't play him hymns all the time, my repertoire is not rich at all.He thought it was fine. August 16 You ask me, what is the difference between the Catholicism here and the Catholicism I believed in in France?When I tell you that there is no difference, you may jump to the ceiling.But it's true.First of all, you know my character, never being surprised by big things, from this point of view, is the good side of me as a Belgian.But after all, what is there to be surprised about, and what about those who impress?It's not that I wasn't prepared to meet missionaries in China, because I had a card that specifically introduced them.Might be agitated if I don't find a church on my travels, however: In Berlin, I went. In Warsaw, I went. In Moscow, I know there are. In Beijing, I also went. In Hankou, I went In Yichang, I went. In Wanxian, I saw it. There are one or two other places, I have seen. In Chengdu, I went. So nothing worth mentioning. If I go back to Paris, in the center of Paris, I will be even more surprised to see a mosque or a pagoda on the rue de Segou.Because it would be a "surprise".Contrary to what you might imagine, I didn't find anything that surprised me. To those who are wondering if I have changed, I don't think so.It's still the same, it's just that there are more memories in my mind.I feel flattered when people from far away come to see me as a hero.I'm not actually a hero, it's just tender affection that makes you think I am.You think I'm a hero because you're in Paris and don't really know me yet.In those days, indeed, I never experienced a shipwreck, not even on the little lakes of the Bois de Boulogne! important news.A prince rebelled against the young emperor, and the emperor's father was regent.What will this lead to? Chengdu, Friday, August 20, 1909 dear mom: The rioters always create momentum, but China is so big and Sichuan is so remote that the rioters have been making trouble for six months, and there is no sign of a coup here.However, there is a branch of the "New Army" here, which is why Major Dorona talks about "a China of innovation and fighting."old joke!In order to send two teams of 300 people, it takes a month to prepare.A quarter of the population has contracted dysentery and half of the patients have died because of the neglect of health services in fighting China. And a revolutionary China!We have a Mr. Zhou here who is a sincere evolutionist.One day he suddenly wanted to build a reservoir above the city wall.People set up water diversion equipment and carefully guided upwards.It's just that Mr. Zhou ignored the pressure problem, and he used bamboo as the water pipe.Their first construction naturally collapsed under the water pressure.Mr. Zhou then wanted to use electric lighting for us.He bought a cheap German generator for this.When the machine was delivered, it couldn't start, and he didn't know who to turn to for help.I think it was Dr. Miyak who was called up.Mr. Zhou also wants to establish a long-term steamship shipping company, running the waterway from Yichang to Chongqing, and even to Soueifou.Shares are registered, but investments are made separately, and people no longer respond to calls for new capital needs.The plan was improved, but this improvement did not take into account the rise in taxes.The salt tax has risen from 18 yuan to 60 yuan a liter.What else can the people do?To the north of us is Gansu Province, which has experienced three years of drought and famine everywhere.The governor did not report to the court at all.Today, there are registers for the hungry everywhere.Those Parisians who only know the street with the same name as Paris and don't know anything about China are talking nonsense.Regardless, China is still innovating and fighting. Monday, 23rd Dinner at Esado is good.I find it very delicious.To try something new, I ate lotus seeds like hazelnuts: so-so, neither good nor bad.We sat on the terrace after dinner, and as we talked, I discovered that Mrs. Essedor shared a common sorrow, that of wanting to eat Brie's sausage and cheese, and wanting to die.To die is of course too exaggerated.Cheese, of course not.But what about sausage?Wrap them in tinfoil and seal them nicely in a tin box?I think this New Years gift is going to be...delicious!You see if this works. On Sunday, I set off to explore the Tatar "city," inhabited by the Manchus who came to conquer the province for the imperial court two hundred years ago.They burned, killed and looted in the name of conquest, so that almost none of the Chinese families in Sichuan today have a history of more than two hundred years.Today these Tatars live in peace.Their city is more like a park: all the houses are in the garden.The wide, tree-lined streets appear fresh, laid-back and less crowded.This city within a city is also walled.Access is through different doors.When I came out, I thought I was behind the Ping An Bridge again.But I'm really far from there.In short, I have explored the city carefully, and now I know every detail of it, from head to toe.When we entered the Pingan Bridge again, the bell for evening prayer at 6 o'clock had already sounded.I must have walked more than twenty kilometers during the day today.I was so tired at night that I fell asleep without writing anything.I was very annoyed because I hadn't heard from anyone. During my travels, I revisited Zashi.It deserves a second comment, not because of itself, but because of the pride of the Chinese who designed it, especially Chengdu Daotai (already commissioned), its creator.The market is a kind of street inside the building: there are only small shops selling European goods on the first and second floors.From lace-up shoes to uniform collars to floor lamps with shades to $29 figurines and more...the Ministry of Electricity is there too.There's even a "European" restaurant.This street is relatively long.However, architecturally speaking, only the street entrance has two opposing staircases.If there is a fire, people on the second floor will either jump into the store on the first floor and break their heads, or they will be roasted.The editorial office of one of the more popular newspapers is also there.The editor-in-chief's thinking is very modern.The evidence is: this outstanding patriot received a relatively high secret fund from the consulate, 10 yuan a month.Here, I agree with Major Dorona's statement: China is becoming "civilized". kiss you Jules, who has been working at the consulate for two months now, has quickly grasped the gist and the reasons for France's presence in the region. In 1908, a French government record shows the province's attraction to France: "Sichuan, population fifty million, one of the richest provinces in China, bordering Tibet, one of the most conservative regions in China, unexplored by Europeans Here, the ancient Chinese spirit is completely preserved."In two months he had fully understood this richness and potential, certainly helped by Bonsdowne's experience.Therefore, in his letter to his mother in September 1909, he comprehensively presented Sichuan to her, from property economy to geopolitics.This introduction is full of his passion and curiosity about this land.In the city of Chengdu at the end of the world, Jules was so comfortable and at ease. In his report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the end of the year, he summed up his experience in this way: "(This is) a position that I hope to continue to hold", and then added another sentence, "I'm very happy in Sichuan, and I don't want to work elsewhere." But now, his attention is all focused on the real problems of the Chengdu Consulate, because Bang Sidangdi is suffering from a strange disease, and he is worried that if his boss leaves office, his position will be changed.Bodar from Chongqing will replace Bangsi in the future, and he will have to go down to Chongqing. Chongqing Consul Albert Bodar is a person who "same journey but different destination" with Jules.His first wife, Anna Marie, once said to him: "You are still a person who is eager for quick success, you are servile, you are vain. You always cause complaints from others. You lose any delicate considerations...".In fact, their careers evolved similarly. They both started their careers as diplomats in Sichuan, China in their 20s, but Jules eventually became a first-class consul, while Bordard became an Asian minister.Jules was not lacking in ambition, but he would not create the effect of making the higher authorities pay attention to him.He is discreet in society, and for the good of his practical work, tries to maintain the rules so long as he can write letters freely and be happy.He was not a career man, never diligently devising schemes or attracting the attention of the big men to climb the ranks.His daughter Marie reported that he once refused to meet the famous French explorer who was involved in the secret arms trade.That is to say, he always refused to sacrifice his own life principles to serve his career ambitions.And his mother, Maria, always reminded him of this family and spiritual code. Chengdu, September 1, 1909