Chapter 48 Section 3 Farewell, Mengzi professors

The debate on the success or failure of the Anti-Japanese War is still going on, and all the teachers and students are looking north, paying attention to this war that determines the rise and fall of the nation with a complicated and sad mood. On July 7, 1938, Chiang Kai-shek published the "Letter to the National Army and Civilians", "Letter to the Allies of the World" and "Letter to the People of Japan" to commemorate the first anniversary of the Chinese military and civilian war of resistance.In the "Report to the National Military and Civilian", Jiang asked the national military and civilians to take "military first, victory first" as the goal, and make every effort to promote the victory of the Wuhan Battle.

On this day, all the teachers and students of the Mengzi branch of the United Nations University held a ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the Anti-Japanese War in the open area of ​​the old customs.Fan Jichang served as the chairman and delivered a speech, and Feng Youlan, dean of literature, delivered a speech.Feng's tone was calm, saying that "China has won but not lost in the past year, and the language is extremely optimistic."Unexpectedly, there was an unexpected episode during the speech, which disrupted the venue.An old Russian professor named Gabangfu, who was employed in the History Department of Tsinghua University before the war, also came south with the school and participated in this activity.In the middle of Feng Youlan's speech, the Russian professor with fluttering white beard screamed and fell to the ground.Seeing this, the teachers and students around him thought that the Russian fell to the ground holding his breath because he couldn't breathe out after shouting slogans, or that he was deliberately playing some puppet show to enliven the atmosphere of the speech.After taking a closer look, I saw that the professor's face was blue, tears were streaming down his face, and his face was full of sadness, and he felt that there was something else hidden.Everyone hurriedly carried Gabangfu out of the venue to seek first aid from a doctor, and recovered after half an hour.It turned out that Professor Kabang Phudang had been a Russian military officer and participated in the First World War.In the battle on the western front, as a subordinate commander, Kabangfu was ordered to lead his troops to charge, but was suddenly shot by enemy machine guns, so he urgently ordered to lie down and take shelter.When the gunfire stopped, Kabangfu waved his gun and ordered to advance. He was the only one who got up, and all other officers and soldiers were killed.This cruel past was recalled again with Feng Youlan's speech on the Anti-Japanese War, and there was a scene where the professor suddenly cried out in grief and fainted to the ground.All the teachers and students heard the inside story and were affected by it, they were all sad, and a few girls covered their faces and wept.

Fortunately, the tragic episode caused by Professor Gabangfu passed away quickly. After the ceremony, "classes continued on this day, and activities such as donating money to save the country" were held.In this donation activity, all teachers and students actively donated money under the circumstances of rising prices and difficult life.At first, Professor Chen Daisun's 25 yuan was the leader, and then there were some students who donated 30 yuan. Some girls donated their gold rings because they had no money, and everyone was greatly moved.Instigated by Ye Gongchao, Jin Yuelin and other parties, the amount of donations from the professors began to increase, from forty yuan to fifty to sixty-five yuan, until Feng Youlan climbed to seventy-five yuan, becoming the number one.This donation has received a total of more than 2,000 yuan, more than half of the donations from the whole city of Mengzi.

At the end of July, the Mengzi campus of the United Nations University completed the exam, and this semester's studies came to an end.Previously, because Mengzi was located in the southwestern border, and there were many inconveniences in transportation and life, Southwest Associated University successively built campuses in Kunming and reached a certain scale. The school committee decided to move the branch campus back to Kunming. Central Aviation School relocated to the site.At the same time, the school committee of the United Nations University decided to start the summer vacation on August 1 and end at the end of November. During the holidays, the relocation of teachers and students to Kunming will be completed one after another.

Since Southwest Associated University was not established long ago, all graduates of this year will be issued diplomas in the name of the original school.Tsinghua graduates specially compiled a commemorative book of "Tsinghua Tenth Grade Annual", and asked Zhu Ziqing to write a few words to commemorate it.Zhu Xinran agreed and wrote: "Those who have always criticized Tsinghua graduates say that they are too elegant and arrogant in their conduct. But this year's graduates, who have been in the midst of this serious national crisis for a year, must be different. Yes. This year is the beginning of the Anti-Japanese War and the founding of the country, and the beginning of national rejuvenation. Thousands of soldiers died heroically, and tens of thousands of compatriots died tragically. But you can still complete your own It can be seen that the country and society treat you very kindly. You have traveled so many roads and learned more about our inland, our countryside, and our country. You will definitely live up to what you have learned. Do your best to serve our nation and complete the great cause of the War of Resistance and the founding of the nation.”

At the beginning of the summer vacation, the students carried their bags, bid farewell to their teachers and friends, and got on the bus from Bisezhai.In the send-off team, apart from professors such as Zhu Ziqing, there were also more than 50 local teenagers, namely students of the Union University.In a short period of time in Mengzi, Lianlian students immersed themselves in their studies, established the "Nanhu Poetry Club", and also established a night school for civilians, recruiting more than 50 young students who were out of school from the local area, and taught them cultural knowledge, explained current affairs, and taught singing. Anti-Japanese songs and so on.The evening school is located in a large room with two rooms on the first floor of Gelushi foreign company. The students are full of enthusiasm and the local people are extremely satisfied. The relationship with the teachers and students of the United Nations has been further communicated and sublimated, and the seeds of progressive ideas have been sown. Although the time is short , the impact is profound.When these more than 50 evening school students heard the news that their teacher, the Lianhe University student, was going to Kunyang, they spontaneously organized and went to the station to see him off.Some were carrying bags for the students of the United Nations University, and some were holding each other's hands for a long time and refused to let them go.According to Zhou Dingyi, a member of the "Nanhu Poetry Club", there was an older cripple among the students, who was seen running back and forth through the car window, with his head bit by bit, his face full of sweat, handing luggage to the students of the Union University. Shake hands and bid farewell to the students one by one, with tears streaming down their faces.Seeing his sincerity, honesty and reluctance, Lianlian students also shed tears.Later this young student led several representatives to Kunming to see their teachers.

Amidst the long beeping, the teachers and students of the United Nations set off with the car, and the beautiful Mengzi and Nanhu Lake gradually went away. Regarding this special life in Mengzi, many years later, Feng Youlan recalled: "Mei Yiqi said that it is like a troupe with a troupe. The troupe of the United University is composed of famous actors sent by Tsinghua University, Peking University and Nankai University to perform together. But the steps were coordinated, and the performance was very successful. At that time, there was also a Northwest Associated University, which was also formed by the union of several schools that moved from Beijing, and it was located in Chenggu, Shaanxi. But there were often conflicts and quarrels within them. Jiang Menglin Said, they are like three people wearing two pairs of trousers, intertwined with each other, and no one can move.” This statement and metaphor has been recognized by teachers and students of Southwestern Union, and Zheng Tianting specifically mentioned in his memories that the beginning of this spirit of cooperation began in Mongolia. From: "In the eight years of Southwest Associated University, the most valuable thing is dedication and solidarity. This is true among teachers, teachers and students, and between the three schools of Southwest Associated University. The half year in Mengzi has made a good start. When the students first arrived in Mengzi, other professors and I went to the station to greet them in person, took good care of them, and helped carry luggage. When Peking University considers cadres, it also takes dedication, diligence, and unity as the starting point to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings."

This passage has another deep meaning behind the praise, and what is most valuable for research is the sentence "unnecessary misunderstanding". What does this sentence refer to? Xue Feng can know a thing or two from his memories.At the beginning, the preparatory team headed by Jiang Menglin advocated moving the Faculty of Arts of Southwest Associated University to Mengzi. Some professors of Tsinghua University, including Pu Xuefeng, disagreed. The airport is close to the school site. I immediately wonder why the United University authorities are so confused. The reason why the move from Hunan to Yunnan is purely for safety, so that teachers and students can have long-term careers. It is not in the suburbs of Kunming or Xishan. The area around was turned into a school because it was crude and simple, and they didn’t listen to the instructions of the Yunnan Provincial Government. They went to Dali once and for all, but they were greedy and moved to Mengzi for a while.” When Pu Xuefeng, Chen Yinke and others arrived in Mengzi, they saw the airport It is almost connected to the school site, and they are all in a vast flat land. If an enemy plane flies over, they will be destroyed. "So selfishly think that it is not appropriate to move to Mengzi."At that time, most of the professors in Beijing believed that Pu's views were unfounded, and enemy planes would not patronize such remote Mengzi.As a result, shortly after the fall of Xuzhou, the government began to expand and renovate Mengzi Airport, and Liuzhou Aviation School will move to Mengzi to meet the enemy planes that are going to bomb the southwest region.Under such circumstances, the UNGA, which was in danger, had to be forced to relocate. "However, when the relatives first came, those who had just made up their breath were very displeased when they heard it... and in the middle of July, they knew that they had made a decision and moved to Kunming. It's strange that they know Kunming and can do something, why not stay here early. If it is perfunctory for a while, then Don't take this opportunity to make a thorough calculation. In short, the committee system of several principals cannot handle school affairs quickly."

From Pu's remarks, we can see that the Yunnan government at that time had the intention of moving the Faculty of Arts to Dali.Dali is a well-known city-state in western Yunnan. It not only has the famous Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, but also has beautiful scenery surrounded by mountains and rivers. It also has many temples and many spare houses. It is a good place to run schools and study. In 1939, Central China Normal University in Wuhan moved from Guilin to the small town of Xizhou in that place, and borrowed the local Confucian Temple, Daci Temple, Zhang's Ancestral Hall and some folk houses to open classes and passed the years of the Anti-Japanese War safely.For some reason, Jiang Menglin, a representative of the Southwest Associated University, and others rejected the Yunnan government's suggestion, leaving Dali and Kunming Xishan and other places unavailable. .This upside-down toss is really depressing. It is not surprising that some professors, especially Tsinghua professors, were dissatisfied and criticized because the move was promoted by Jiang Menglin as the main representative.

After Mengzi started school, Mei Yiqi and Jiang Menglin came here to inspect and live here respectively.Mei's arrival and return were very low-key, but Jiang Menglin brought his sociable wife Tao Zenggu when he arrived, and he kept calling Peking teachers and students to hold tea parties, which aroused suspicion and dissatisfaction among some teachers and students of Tsinghua University.Regarding this, Pu Xuefeng said: "I heard that there are some opinions from the students of Peking University and Tsinghua University. It is said that it originated from walking into the Yunnan regiment. They were united with each other. They used to compete with each other everywhere, and there were small conflicts. There are very few students in Nankai. It doesn't really matter. Peking University has held talks many times since President Jiang arrived. I heard that Qian Binshi once singled out all opinions, saying that the spirit of Peking University does not matter at this moment. Tsinghua University is still individualistic. For example, when Mr. Mei came, colleagues never thought of hosting a banquet. "

Pu Shi heard that there were some small conflicts between Peking University and Tsinghua students in the tour group in the camp, which is not difficult to understand, but it does not seem to be the main conflict.The "Peking University spirit" and "individualism" mentioned later are the key points related to the unity and division of this group.It's just that Pu's words are vague, and it's rare for those who don't know the inside story to get the essentials. Only by referring to Qian Mu's memories can they understand the general context.Qian Binsi, who Pu said was "repelling all opinions", was the participant in this incident, Qian Mu (word Binsi), a professor at Peking University.Qian said: "One day, Jiang Menglin, the president of Peking University, came from Kunming (Mengzi). At night, the teachers and students of Peking University gathered to welcome me, and some students came to the other room to invite me to attend. Both invitations were declined. Sitting in the Si Nian room is also boring. Naigu went. Various professors took to the stage to say that the United Nations University was unfair. At that time, Zhang Boling, the president of Nankai University, and the president of Peking University both stayed in Chongqing, but Mei Yiqi, the president of Tsinghua University, was always stationed in Kunming. The deans of the schools and the heads of the departments were sent For example, Feng Zhisheng of Tsinghua University is often re-elected as the dean of the Faculty of Arts. Why not go to Peking University, such as Tang Xiyu, who is unworthy of the election. Yu Wenzhi couldn't help sitting up and begging to speak. The chairman asked Yu to take the stage. Yu Yan, when will this be? When the victory returns in the future, wouldn't the schools still be independent. Now they are fighting for independence in Mongolia. I don't know when Principal Menglin will return. Where will Chongqing speak? At this point, Principal Menglin stood up and made a statement. Mr. Qian’s remarks have now become a conclusion. If there is any dispute on this issue, we should discuss other matters. The group is speechless. We will meet soon scattered." This episode is an explanation for Pu Xuefeng's above-mentioned ambiguity.The problems Jiang Menglin encountered in convening the meeting not only related to Peking University itself, but also related to the rise and fall of Southwest Associated University.The reason why the Southwest Associated University did not "three people wear two pairs of pants" like the Northwest Associated University, because of the inevitable friction and contradictions, led to mutual arguing, self-government, and even independence, and finally made it known to the world with brilliant results. In addition to the fact that Jiang Menglin is a "courageous and responsible" principal (according to what Hu Shi said at the 50th anniversary meeting of Peking University), he is also inseparable from the joint efforts of professors like Qian Mu who understand the general situation and take into account the overall situation. In the spirit of unity and humility, Southwest Associated University, especially in the later period, is very likely to cause three people to wear a pair or compete for a pair of trousers, until they fight, and all three losers end.This can be described as the greatest fortune in misfortune. After the students from the Mengzi campus left, the professors withdrew to Kunming one after another. Several of them were preparing to return to Kunming after the summer vacation.Because Chen Yinke is also the director of the History Group of the Institute of History and Philology of the Academia Sinica, he returned to Kunming earlier than his good friend Wu Mi and others. Before leaving, he gave Wu Mi a poem "Don't Mengzi": When I came here in the past, spring water was scarce, but when I go today, autumn grass grows. After a few months of coming and going, the lakes and mountains have been vicissitudes. With the departure of a large number of students and professors, the Mengzi campus suddenly became desolate and lonely, which is a pity.Wu Mi wrote in "Rain Monk's Diary" on August 29, 1938: "In the afternoon, Mi walked back from the west gate of the city. In the street and on the edge of the city, there were not many boys in yellow military uniforms gathering with girls in blue robes or flowered shirts. , not to mention the pure and clean Peking Mandarin. So the whole city of Mengzi became lonely and empty, and there was no one in the halls. And when Mi walked past the girls' dormitory on Guilin Street and the corner house on Zao Street, there were no people talking by the windows, and there was no one there. There is a feeling of peach blossoms on someone's face! When you go out of the city, walk around the South Lake for a week, the scenery is still the same, the lotus is just right, and the so-called "shadows by the bridge, singing outside the building" in Yinke's poems are rarely heard. That is the residence of Professor Kalos' students Upstairs and downstairs, the doors and windows are tightly closed, and the railings are covered with dust." Facing the desolate and silent scenery, the sentimental Wu Mi felt desolate. In order to get rid of the sadness in his heart, Wu thought of Professors Tang Yongtong and He Liner who still lived in the "Tiannan Jingshe" and had not yet left. On the 30th, he simply packed up and moved to the "Jingshe" to live with Tang and He. On September 7, Qian Mu, Yao Congwu, Rong Zhaozu, and Shen Youding, who were temporarily staying in Mengzi, also moved from the school building to "Tiannan Jingshe", and lived upstairs and downstairs together with Tang, He, and Wu.Among the seven people who lived together, most of them were immersed in reading and discussing knowledge. In addition to studying business books, Wu Mi also brought Tang Yongtong's "Lecture Notes on Indian Philosophy", "History of Buddhism in the Han, Wei, Western Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties", and Xie Zuoyu's "Lecture Notes on Philosophy of Life" study it.Only the young Shen Youding refused to study, and often made some abnormal behaviors, which annoyed and disgusted other professors, especially Wu Mi. Shen Youding, who was born in Shanghai, graduated from the Philosophy Department of Tsinghua University in 1929. In the same year, he was admitted to Harvard University with public funding. He received a master's degree in 1931. From the same year to 1934, he studied in Germany. He studied in Heidelberg and Freiburg Universities. Engaged in philosophical research under the guidance of Er. He returned to China in 1934 and taught at Tsinghua University, where he became a professor the following year.As early as when he was studying at Tsinghua University, Shen Youding impressed teachers and students with his outstanding talents. His mentor Jin Yuelin and philosopher Tang Yongtong, one of the "Three Heroes of Harvard", both believed that Shen Youding was very talented and would be worthy of a great job in the future.And Shen herself felt good, and she couldn't help being conceited.Jin Yuelin's favorite student Wang Hao once had such a memory: Taiwan published a book "Spring Silkworm Spinning Silk" (edited by Chen Guying) about Yin Haiguang (Fusheng), a student of Jin Yuelin at Southwest Associated University. Haiguang's experience of interacting with Jin Yuelin and his evaluation of Lao Jin includes a passage about the Peking Logic Research Association before the Anti-Japanese War.It was said that at a party, someone mentioned the importance of Guodel’s work, “Jin Yuelin said he wanted to buy a book from him, and his student Shen Youding said to Mr. Jin, ‘To be honest, you don’t understand’. Mr. Jin heard the words , First: Oh, oh! Oh twice, and then said: 'Forget it.'" Yin Haiguang was surprised to see the conversation between the teacher and the student.The student criticized him bluntly, and the teacher immediately accepted his suggestion, which has never been done in the Mainland.Wang Hao, who was in the United States at the time, read this record and thought it was "generally true".And I feel that "everyone should have Mr. Kim's 'magnanimity'. If in a society, such a reasonable reaction is considered a miracle, it is really sad." Jin Yuelin's magnanimity is awe-inspiring to future generations, but Shen Youding's informal practices and outspoken statements in daily life cannot make everyone treat him with such magnanimity.During the Nanyue branch of Changsha Temporary University, professors Qian Mu, Wu Mi, and Wen Yiduo from the School of Liberal Arts shared a room with Shen Youding.According to Qian Mu's recollection: "There is a long table in the room. At night, one person ignites and one lamp is placed in front of his seat. During the time, one person reads "Chu Ci" frequently, and when he encounters new insights, he divides it into chapters. One person sits silently under the lamp and writes. Yu Sheng (according to the south: that is, Wu Mi) wrote the outline for preparing for tomorrow's class, and wrote it down one by one. Some merged, some added, and the rules were outlined with a red pen under each article. Yu Sheng has taught at Tsinghua University for at least more than For ten years, I have been attending classes in this exile apartment. It is so rigorous and meticulous. Shen Youding muttered to himself, "It's such a good night, you can chat and spend your time. Why are you here?" Find a friend by yourself. Otherwise, go to bed early, so don’t disturb others here. If you have a tripod, you have to be silent. Yu Sheng also said that the lights are off at ten o’clock, and don’t exceed the time, so as to hinder others’ sleep. The next morning, Yu Sheng got up first, One person went out alone, in the light of the morning light outdoors, read all the articles he wrote last night, and recited them over and over again. When everyone was exhausted, he returned to the room. I have known Yu Sheng for many years, and I have heard others talk about his daily life His words and deeds, but from the beginning to the beginning to know the person deeply, there is something truly outstanding. It is not easy to know if you are not in a daily relationship." What Qian said obviously meant to praise Mi and hate Shen, but he did not blatantly criticize Shen's words and deeds.But similar things are very different in Wu Mi's eyes.In Wu's eyes, although Shen Youding is smart and hardworking, "he is extremely despicable. He has no emotion and no manners. His clothes are dirty and torn, and his clothes are like workers. When eating, he rushes to eat and grab vegetables, and his ugliness is publicized. I don’t care about my wife, but only save money. The bank stores it out, and stores seven or eight hundred yuan in a small box. I don’t want to use a penny, but I’m afraid of losing it. Or close the account and open the box late at night, count the silver coins again and again, and arrange them The exhibition is fun. Tong said that it looks like Milas Marner, a weaver (Note: the protagonist in the novel "Marnan the Weaver" written by the British female novelist George Eliot, published in 1861). People can eat or chat Sometimes, I always use Shen Jun's various jokes as a source of jokes. Sometimes Mi can't bear it, or even reprimands Shen Jun. Shen Jun is calm and comfortable, neither angry nor angry. I don't know that there are shameful things in the world. Hey, this is smart Another bit of selfishness." After mocking and reproaching, Wu Mi said with emotion: "In all fairness, all gentlemen are rare good people, and treat Mi very kindly, but they are unavoidably ordinary Chinese gentlemen. Mi emphasizes feelings and likes to be in charge of rectification, taking care of both the root and the bottom, and taking care of the group and himself, and sometimes feels its shortcomings." Wu Mi's meticulous observation of characters' psychological behavior and vivid descriptions are almost astonishing.But after the slightly harsh criticism, he treated him with generosity and sincerity.Although the scholars have different families, educational backgrounds, and personalities, and there are some places that are enough to be ridiculed or criticized by others, after all, they are "the same people who have fallen into the end of the world", in order to preserve the seeds of reading for the nation and the nation. Living in exile in the southwestern border, life has to go on, solidarity and mutual assistance are not only a personal issue, but also a need for national righteousness.Therefore, the seven professors who stayed in the "Tiannan Jingshe" spent the last period of Mengzi in a friendly way with mutual understanding and tolerance.And these last years, in the memories of the professors, also have their own ups and downs.According to what Qian Mu said, after the seven of them lived in the same place, they soon heard news from the air force base personnel stationed in Mengzi that the Japanese army was likely to launch an air strike. The place is very close to the air force base. Once the enemy plane drops a bomb, it is inevitable that the base will catch fire and bring disaster to the fish in the pond. Your lives are in danger.When everyone was anxious and didn't know how to deal with it, Shen Youding used his expertise, saying that he was an expert in the study of "Book of Changes", and he knew the way of divination, and he could use gossip to predict good and bad luck.Everyone was very happy when they heard it, so they asked him for divination on a dark and windy night.Shen Youding rolled up his sleeves, cast spells, and played with them in a mysterious way, he got ninety-two of the festival, and verified it in the book, it turned out to be the five characters of "do not go out to kill the court".Everyone was horrified, so they held a collective meeting, and decided that from tomorrow, after breakfast every day, they would go out immediately with dry food, water bottles and the books they were reading, and go to the wilderness and remote places in the outskirts of Mengzi to study individually, and return home after four o'clock in the afternoon.In order to keep its word and make it effective, the meeting decided to elect Wu Mi as the former commander-in-chief of this operation.Every morning, Wu Mi knocked on the door to call for supervision, and those who came late were criticized.After breakfast, Wu Mi led the team to the suburbs to avoid air raids. Commander Wu issued orders for several days in a row. After spending several days like this, on October 17, Feng Youlan sent a letter from Kunming to Tang Yongtong, Wu Mi and others, saying that all schools of the United Nations University were scheduled to start classes in Kunming ahead of schedule on November 15.Therefore, the seven professors of "Tiannan Jingshe" agreed to leave Mengzi for Kunming on October 29th, and elected Tang Yongtong as the head of the tour group to Kunming, and Wu Mi as the accountant to make arrangements for the trip to Kunming. On October 27, Wu Mi, together with Qian Mu and Shen Youding, went for a walk around Nanhu and Junshan to visit the autumn scenery of Mengzi.Returning in the evening, I read the newspaper and learned that Wuhan had fallen two days ago, and everyone was sad. On the evening of the 28th, Wu Mi came to Nanhu alone, stood on the embankment for a long time, and wrote a poem: From Mengzi to Kunming for half a year to live in peace and get on the car, the green mountains and green waters are dotted with red flowers. Qunfei's journey is full of hardships, and the end of life knows all wishes. Sitting and looking at the narrowness of the southwest world, Gu Tinglin's poem said: "The southwest world is narrow, and the mountains and waters of Linggui are deep."Heartbroken Cosmic Poison Plus. Life and death have obeyed the destiny, laughing at Yongyu for making mistakes.A few days ago, "Yunnan Daily" published Shen Congwenjun's article "Reflection on the Intellectual Class", and I strongly agree with it. The next day, Tang Yongtong led Wu Mi and others packed their bags and left "Tiannan Jingshe", and boarded the train bound for Kunming from Bisezhai.At this point, the last group of members of the General Assembly bid farewell to Mengzi.The Nanhu Lake, which once left the laughter and spiritual comfort of the teachers and students of the United Nations, together with the beautiful buildings engraved with the brand of time, constitute an eternal landscape, which has been left in the memory of the teachers and students for a long time.