1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 161 Li Qiwei has another capable general!
When Li Qiwei saw Zhou Ziyu in the reception room, the other party was drinking tea leisurely, with no sign of anxiety on his face.

Li Qiwei looked at him carefully. His face was calm and honest, as if he was bathed in a spring breeze.

Wearing a pair of round glasses that reflected wisdom, with a smile on the corners of his mouth, he looked approachable.

"Sorry, Brother Zhou, I have something to do today. I kept you waiting for a long time."

The moment Zhou Ziyu saw the person coming, he knew it was Li Qiwei.

He walks like a dragon and a tiger, is in high spirits, tall and handsome, and has a dignified bearing. What a handsome man who is well-versed in both Chinese and Western culture!
Zhou Ziyu was shocked. Li Qiwei's appearance alone gave him a strong sense of mental oppression.

If I don't have real talent and knowledge, I'm afraid I won't even have the courage to look the other person in the eye.

"Brother Li, please forgive me for coming to your house without an invitation."

"Your name has long been well-known, and seeing you today, I can see that it is indeed worthy of your reputation."

Li Qiwei smiled and said, "Brother Zhou, you are too polite. I, Li Qiwei, like to make friends with people with lofty ideals the most."

"I think Brother Zhou is not an ordinary person."

Zhou Ziyu was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. He really liked Li Qiwei's temper.

Then, the host and the guest sat down separately, and Zhou Ziyu began to introduce his life.

Zhou Ziyu is from Shaoxing Prefecture, Zhejiang Province, and is 35 years old this year.

He passed the imperial examination at the age of 17, became a Jinshi at the age of 26 with the 34th place in the second class, and became an editor in the Hanlin Academy at the age of 28, a seventh-rank official.

However, not long after, he witnessed the disastrous defeat in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, the failure of the Reform Movement of 1898, and the imprisonment of Emperor Guangxu.

At this point, he completely lost confidence in the Qing government, began to come into contact with Western learning, and sympathized with the Reform Movement.

He gave up his position as an editor in the Hanlin Academy and resolutely went south to become a revolutionary, attempting to reform the country by establishing education.

In 1902, he and his good friend Jiang Guoliang founded the Hua Xia Education Association in Shanghai, and he served as its president, contacting private educators.

In the same year, he also founded the Patriotic Society, which secretly engaged in educational and revolutionary activities.

Moreover, she was a true feminist pioneer and founded the first modern girls' school in China: the Patriotic Girls' School.

However, this year, his Patriotic Society aroused the attention of the Qing government and was ordered to be investigated.

Zhou Ziyu himself was also wanted, so he had to travel to Qingdao, Shanghai, Shaoxing and other places, and he was also planning to study in Germany to avoid the limelight.

After listening to Zhou Ziyu's introduction, Li Qiwei thought to himself, this is a real big shot.

He was willing to give up his job as an editor in the Hanlin Academy and go straight into business to start his own business. His spirit is commendable.

After Zhou Ziyu finished talking about himself, he smiled and said, "Brother Li, you won't send me to the government, will you?"

Li Qiwei took a sip of tea.

Since returning to China, he has also started drinking tea.

There is no other way, otherwise it would be too awkward. If the two of them have nothing to say, a sip of tea can at least ease the awkward atmosphere.

And while drinking tea, I can still think of how to reply.

"Brother Zhou, you should have had the answer in your heart when you stepped into my house."

Zhou Ziyu laughed wildly, "I really didn't misjudge you. Brother Li, you and I are the same person."

"I have carefully studied the interview you gave in The Times."

"Your views on education coincide with mine."

"Today's China must attach importance to education and develop education. This is a long-term plan."

“Only education can help the people get rid of ignorance, understand the nature of the Qing government, and welcome a new future.”

Li Qiwei listened to Zhou Ziyu talking. He felt that the other party was indeed a wanted gangster and had already begun to bewitch him.

If the passionate young people heard this, they would definitely swear an oath of blood and follow Brother Zhou's lead.

Li Qiwei has a firm faith in Taoism and will not be easily persuaded. He has his own pace in doing things.

"May I ask, Brother Zhou, what are your results?"

“How many talents have been trained? How many products have been produced?”

"Uh." Zhou Ziyu was speechless. How could he have achieved anything? He was hunted to death by the Qing government's spies every day.

Even teaching is done secretly and privately. Once it is made public, it will be reported.

Because what he advocated was overthrowing the Qing Dynasty and establishing Western democracy.

The rulers of the Qing Dynasty would certainly not tolerate him misleading the people.

"Although there are no results yet, I believe that as long as I persist, I will eventually see the light at the end of the tunnel."

"Moreover, as long as you join us, Qiwei, the Patriotic Society will definitely be even more powerful and will have great potential in the future!"

Zhou Ziyu looked at Li Qiwei with burning eyes, his gaze full of anticipation.

With Li Qiwei's current status and position, his position in the field of education is unmatched.

When the servant of Li's house entertained him before, he said that Li Qiwei was invited by the Guangdong Provincial Education Commissioner. This honor is not available to ordinary people.

Therefore, Zhou Ziyu was eager to impress Li Qiwei.

In this way, the careers of themselves and others would have a layer of official cover and they would no longer have to hide from place to place.

Li Qiwei did not refuse directly, but said: "Brother Zhou, I already know your intentions."

"And if you are willing to trust me, you can stay in my house for a while."

"As long as I'm here, the Qing government won't do anything to you."

There was so much domineering in his words that Zhou Ziyu was deeply shocked.

"Qiwei, I studied abroad since I was young, majoring in physics."

"All I know is how to teach physics. I know nothing about revolution or the will of the people."

"I am also confused and unclear about the current complex political situation in the country."

“But my goal is clear, which is to improve the country’s science and engineering capabilities.”

"As for establishing some kind of academic society or some kind of organization to promote certain ideas."

"I am a small person with little influence and insufficient ability, so I am afraid I am not up to the task."

"I won't hide it from you. I just came back from Yu Shimei, the governor of education in Guangdong, and asked him to pass on my outline of education reform."

"I have a copy here, you can take a look." After saying that, Li Qiwei got up to find the copy, and then showed it to Zhou Ziyu.

Zhou Ziyu didn't care at first, but soon he became more and more shocked the more he looked, and the more he felt that Li Qiwei was simply stunning.

The other party's plan is huge and complex, but also well-organized.

The goals are clear and the steps are feasible.

There is not a single utopian concept; all are concrete plans that can be implemented directly.

In contrast, the so-called Hua Xia Education Association that he founded has not achieved any outstanding results so far.

At most, they published some newspapers to criticize the Qing government.

As Zhou Ziyu was watching, Li Qiwei continued, "I agree with you on the goal of change and innovation."

"But we need to carefully consider what measures to take."

"Although the Qing Dynasty is unjust and its demise is inevitable, it still has enough control over the country today."

"We must not rush for success and provoke the Qing court to the point of destroying everything."

"We should secretly accumulate strength and wait for the right opportunity."

"In three to five years at the shortest, or seven to eight years at the longest, the domestic situation will inevitably change drastically. That will be a great opportunity for our generation to showcase their talents."

"Brother Zhou, you are well-versed in history and the present, combining Chinese and Western cultures. You are truly an elite."

"Why be so radical and put yourself in danger?"

"It would be a pity if there was any accident."

"If you keep the green hills, you won't have to worry about running out of firewood."

At this time, Zhou Ziyu had been completely persuaded by Li Qiwei.

He wants to revolt, but he won't die to prove his point.

The body is the capital of the revolution!
"Brother Li, I am more than ten years older than you, so I will just call you Qiwei."

"Brother Zhou."

"Hey, after reading your plan, I realized that there are always people who are better than you."

"I never thought that Qiwei, despite your young age, has such profound thoughts."

"Your reform outline is simply cutting off the source of the Qing dynasty's firewood."

"This is a true conspiracy. The Qing Dynasty has to eat it whether it wants to or not."

"By then, with China's size and excellent talent, we will surely be able to learn from European countries, start the industrial revolution, and greatly enhance our national strength."

"The far-reaching plan, the huge system, and the sincere and innocent heart make me admire them."

"Qiwi, you are amazing. I came to the right place this time."

Li Qiwei quickly said modestly, "No, no."

Suddenly, Zhou Ziyu changed the subject and said, "However, this outline is good in every way, except for one thing I don't understand."

"Brother Zhou, please speak."

"Scientific knowledge must ultimately be mastered by humans."

“If students don’t know why they should learn and for whom they should learn, then no matter how much knowledge they acquire, they cannot use it in the right direction.”

"The purpose of my founding the Patriotic Society is to let young people know that they should always study for the country!"

Li Qiwei thought to himself, he is indeed worthy of being a revolutionary leader, he can see the problem at a glance.

"Brother Zhou, to be honest, I did this on purpose."

"We are relying on the power of the Qing government. If we continue to publicly publicize its badness, how can we reform it?"

"Cixi is not a fool either."

"So I have another set of supplementary plans."

"I have suggested to the court that private schools should be encouraged."

"I will fund and build my own university."

"In my university, even if there are spies from the Qing court, I have ways to avoid them."

"A single spark can start a prairie fire."

“Once the situation changes, I will raise the flag and shout, become the leader and set an example for all universities in the world.”

After saying that, Li Qiwei briefly introduced his ideas to Zhou Ziyu.

Including the goals of the Polytechnic University, how to educate young people without leaving any traces, etc.

Li Qiwei even used the Chinese language class as an excuse to deceive everyone.

Trickery.

However, Li Qiwei also made it clear that his approach was not to establish any organization or promote any extraordinary ideas.

It is just to let students understand that they are not studying for the Qing Dynasty, but for China.

His lifelong goal is to improve China's scientific and technological capabilities and narrow the gap with the West.

Zhou Ziyu finally understood what was happening. It turned out that the other party had even considered this. It was truly terrifying.

Is Li Qiwei really a 23-year-old young man?

"I wonder who your university will hire as a Chinese teacher, Qiwei?"

Li Qiwei said mysteriously: "I have found the most suitable candidate."

"Oh? Who is it?"

"Far away, yet so close."

Zhou Ziyu was stunned for a moment, then the two of them smiled at each other and chatted happily over tea.

Since entering China, almost every chapter has been reviewed.
So if you find that some parts are not coherent enough, it is not my problem, it may have been revised during the review.

Please forgive me, dear readers.

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(End of this chapter)