1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 168: My dear Li, please be my imperial teacher!

In real history, Guangxu was also an emperor who worked hard to govern the country.

He supported political reform and put it into action, employing talented people with Western education, etc.

However, he encountered a palace fighting bug, Cixi.

He ascended the throne at a young age and was inherently suppressed by Cixi, which led to his complete defeat.

Most of the stupid things that the Qing Dynasty did in the late period were caused by Cixi.

This old witch is cruel and ruthless, greedy for pleasure, and has an almost pathological desire for control over power.

The key is that she is still arrogant and refuses to open her eyes to the world, dreaming of becoming the most powerful country in the world.

But Guangxu was different. He knew that only by reforming the country could the Qing Dynasty become stronger and be free from bullying by the great powers.

But can an emperor without power still be called an emperor?
Since the failure of the Reform Movement of 1898, Guangxu was officially squeezed out of the core of power and became a puppet and mascot.

He was just a tool used by Cixi to silence the protests of Western powers.

But ordinary people would not accept humiliation, let alone humiliation of an emperor.

In ancient times, Goujian slept on firewood and tasted gall, and today, Guangxu may also be able to turn the tables in Yingtai.

If it weren't for the variable Li Qiwei, Guangxu really would have no choice.

All officials of the Qing Dynasty did not dare to approach him, let alone work for him.

In this case, no matter how great your ambitions are, it will be in vain.

Power is not given by status.

It doesn't mean that just because you are the emperor, the people below have to listen to you.

Power is a net, and in the center of the net is the emperor.

If the emperor wants to influence people outside the network, he has to pass it through each node.

Big nodes are big officials, and small nodes are small officials.

The more nodes you can control, the more power you have.

If the ministers and vice ministers of the six ministries all follow the emperor's lead, no matter how difficult the task is, it can be accomplished.

As for how to control the nodes by yourself, this is the art of emperors.

To put it bluntly, it is the art of controlling people.

Whether it is the emperor or the ministers, they are all human beings. As human beings, they have weaknesses and can be swayed by emotions.

Those mysterious and high-end appearances are all used to confuse the lower-class people.

Because the rulers are afraid that the people will find out that the Emperor is just like that. I will study for a few days and I promise to do better than him.

By then, who will respect the emperor?

Power is invisible and intangible and exists only in people's hearts.

If you have concerns in your heart, you will inevitably be controlled by power; if you have no desires or demands, then no power will be of any use to you.

At this moment, Guangxu, who had become a penniless emperor, finally found his first node, which was Li Qiwei.

Although Li Qiwei is only a small node, this node is extremely strong and no power of the court can destroy it.

Guangxu believed that he could control Li Qiwei because the other party had his own wishes.

Since Li Qiwei wanted to run an education business, he was given a righteous title and was directly appointed as an official in the name of the emperor.

Even, you can consider going a step further.

"Lord Li, you just said that the strength of Western countries is due to education."

"Then if the Qing Dynasty also starts to provide new-style education, it will be able to quickly become powerful and even surpass the great powers."

Li Qiwei said: "Your Majesty, education is a long-term plan, and it will not bear fruit overnight."

"The Western powers have hundreds of years of experience and cannot just catch up with them by overtaking them in a curve."

"Your Majesty, please have a long-term vision."

"With the eternal foundation of the Qing Dynasty, Your Majesty will sooner or later see the day of its rise."

"By then, China will be full of universities, and there will be more students than we can use."

"Your Majesty, don't be anxious."

Li Qiwei started to deceive people and gave Guangxu a reassurance.

At the same time, he was also speaking to Cixi and those in power in the Qing Dynasty.

Because the content of today's conversation will definitely be reported to Cixi without missing a word.

"But I am anxious."

“The Western powers changed slightly in three years and greatly in ten years.”

“Perhaps in a dozen years, more advanced weapons will appear in countries like Britain and France.”

"Their cannons can fire farther, and their warships can carry more men and ammunition."

"By then, no matter how many universities we have, what will be the use?"

"If we can't turn it into combat capability right away, we'll only get further and further behind."

After listening to Guangxu's heartfelt words, Li Qiwei was a little moved.

As a feudal emperor, Guangxu was undoubtedly qualified. All he thought about was how to improve the national strength of the Qing Dynasty.

However, the limitations of the times and the inevitability of historical development destined him to become a tragic emperor.

Even if there was no Cixi, Guangxu's New Deal reforms would have led to the demise of the Qing Dynasty.

This is determined by the laws of historical development and has nothing to do with personal ability.

Therefore, although Li Qiwei sympathized with Guangxu, he would never help him prolong the life of the Qing Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, don't worry. I have studied in the UK for several years and am familiar with their development."

"The UK is currently undergoing a second industrial revolution, which is based on electricity, replacing the steam engine of the first industrial revolution."

“Although it is more powerful and technologically advanced, there is no fundamental breakthrough.”

"A spear is still a spear, a cannon is still a cannon. The products manufactured by the Hanyang Iron Works of the Qing Dynasty can definitely compete with them."

"The increase in strength brought about by technological breakthroughs will take decades."

"I am well versed in physics, so I am naturally aware that the West has entered a bottleneck period in scientific development."

“It is impossible to have a huge breakthrough in a short period of time.”

"And this is a good opportunity for our Qing Dynasty to catch up."

"While there is no generation gap now, as long as we make up for it with manpower, we will soon be able to catch up with the great powers."

"We don't seek to surpass the other party, as long as we can protect ourselves." After listening to Li Qiwei's explanation, Guangxu suddenly looked excited.

"Lord Li, is everything you said true?"

Li Qiwei said firmly: "Your Majesty, I have never lied."

No wonder Guangxu was so excited, although he often heard officials say that the Western powers were strong on the outside but weak on the inside and could not compare with the vast territory and resources of the Qing Dynasty.

But no one has ever been able to produce evidence like Li Qiwei, who, through well-reasoned analysis, proved that the Qing Dynasty still had a chance.

There was no one in the entire Qing Dynasty who understood Western learning better than Li Qiwei.

As a citizen who is so loyal to the Qing Dynasty that he is willing to return to his country to establish education, his words must be from the bottom of his heart.

Guangxu felt that every pore of his body was extremely transparent, and it was a pleasure of a closed logical loop of thought.

Finally, there was someone who could unravel the various situations in Western countries for him, just like reading a book in the palm of your hand.

Instead of listening to the nonsense of those ministers who know nothing.

Guangxu thought that today's discussion would surely impress the Empress Dowager, and he hoped that she would never obstruct the reform again.

At this moment, Guangxu's eyes suddenly lit up, and he looked at Li Qiwei as if he were a rare treasure. He gritted his teeth and made a decision.

"Lord Li, please be my imperial tutor!"

"It specifically teaches me Western knowledge so that I can learn more about Western countries."

"Ah?" Now it was Li Qiwei's turn to be shocked.

Has Guangxu's thirst for talent reached such an extent?
We haven't been chatting for long, but he wants me to be his teacher.

Imperial Teacher, what a noble title.

If Li Qiwei suddenly turned evil, he might become Zhang Juzheng of the Qing Dynasty and extend the life of the Qing Dynasty for another hundred years.

But if he really dared to do that, he would probably be close to death.

Do you really think the revolutionaries’ guns are vegetarian?

However, if he could really become the Emperor's Teacher, things would be different when he returned to Europe.

With this identity, he can directly become a guest of honor of the kings of European countries.

Since Guangxu has taken the initiative to lower his stance, Li Qiwei should not be arrogant.

He immediately stood up, and said in a terrified manner, "How could I, a humble minister, deserve such trust from Your Majesty?"

"However, I am a humble official with limited knowledge and talent, and I dare not accept it. Your Majesty, please think twice."

Guangxu suddenly smiled bitterly and said, "My dear minister, do you think highly of me as the imperial tutor?"

"That's right. Throughout history, has there ever been an emperor like me?"

At this moment, Guangxu's true feelings were revealed, and he didn't care even if there was a little eunuch watching him.

"Everyone in the world envies the emperor, believing that he is the supreme ruler, with the final say in the law, and that a single word can decide the life and death of thousands of people."

"Is there anything in the world that is not the land of the king?"

"But who knows the pain of being an emperor?"

"Li Qiwei, sometimes I envy you. You are so young and can go wherever you want."

"And you were able to learn Western knowledge so well that they even awarded you the highest prize."

"I'm afraid that in the eyes of those great Western scholars, you are a hundred times more important than me."

It seemed that Guangxu was really irritated and he called Li Qiwei by his real name instead of "My dear".

Li Qiwei was speechless. Such a Guangxu did not allow him to even think of joking.

"But I am unwilling to give in."

"I don't think I'm inferior to anyone."

"Perhaps in the field of physical science, I am not as good as you, Li Aiqing."

"But in the field of governing the country, I have my own thoughts and pursuits."

“I also want to achieve something.”

"But the world is developing too fast, and science has emerged as a force that can change the world."

"Those medieval ways of thinking have become obsolete."

"As an emperor, I must also learn from him."

"Don't the crown princes of those European countries have to learn various scientific knowledge since childhood?"

“Even if you don’t need to be proficient in it, you at least need to understand it.”

"Because science is the foundation for the future development of the world, it is something that no country or individual can avoid."

“Whoever refuses will be eliminated by history.”

"But there is really no one in the Qing Dynasty who understands science and the study of things better than you."

"Lord Li, I need your help."

"Are you willing to help me?"

"Are you willing to be my imperial teacher?"

The emperor of the great Qing Empire was so respectful to the wise and humble as to say so.

Even the young eunuch opened his eyes wide in shock, as if it was the first time he saw the emperor like this.

When an emperor uses his true love killer move, I am afraid no minister can remain calm.

Even if your heart is as hard as stone, it can be melted.

Since Guangxu had said so much, Li Qiwei no longer pretended to refuse.

He actually wanted to be Guangxu's teacher, which would be very beneficial to his future plans.

And you can gain huge fame.

By then, the president of Whampoa University of Technology will be the teacher of the current emperor.

How many talents would that attract to join, Li Qiwei wondered.

"Your Majesty, even if I die, I will still serve you wholeheartedly and devote myself to your service until my death."

"I am willing to be your majesty's imperial tutor." Li Qiwei said in a firm tone with a resolute face.

When Guangxu heard that Li Qiwei agreed, a smile instantly appeared on his face.

He stepped down from the throne, personally helped Li Qiwei up and said with a smile: "I have found you, my beloved, just like Liu Bei found Zhuge Liang."

At this point, Li Qiwei, the imperial tutor of the Qing Dynasty, officially takes the lead in the educational reform of the Qing Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)