Training the Heavens

Chapter 281 Lecture
"Brothers, what is there that we shouldn't say? Just speak it out."

Ah Zhang finally spoke out, "As you know, I've been preparing to attend the Jiangnan Naval Academy this year, and I've made many friends and professors who are learning new things. Yesterday, a teacher at the Qiushi Academy in Hangzhou wrote to me, asking me to invite you to give a lecture there, to introduce the students to Europe and encourage them to study hard."

"This is a good thing, but you finally came back home, and since you've been busy with your wedding, you haven't had much time to spend with your parents. I really don't want you to waste your time."

Qiushi Academy? Isn't this the future Zhejiang University? I just married the daughter of the founders of Fudan University, Fu Jen Catholic University, and Aurora University, and now I'm giving lectures to Zhejiang University students. It's quite interesting.

So he agreed without hesitation. "Young people are the future of a country. A strong youth means a strong China. If I can inspire the young people in the academy and enable them to strive for strength, so that the Chinese nation can regain the glory of the Han and Tang dynasties, what does it matter if I spend a little less time with my family? Just write them a letter and tell them that I was going to pass through Hangzhou on my way home, and I'll spend half a day teaching them."

"If the youth are strong, China will be strong?" Zhang pondered this sentence carefully. "It makes so much sense. I wish I could have your literary talent!"

"Ahem!" Zhang Xingjiu almost choked. You are the greatest literary giant in modern China. How can I feel comfortable praising me like that?
After finding out the time Zhang Xingjiu would leave home, Ah Zhang immediately said, "Then I'll write him back right away. You'll arrive in Hangzhou at noon that day, and they'll have lunch with you. Afterwards, we'll go to the academy for a lecture. Mr. Qian has already made it clear in the letter that you'll have the final say on everything you say. As long as it doesn't offend any taboos, it's fine."

"Then thank you very much. I just need to mention in the letter that you don't need to eat West Lake Vinegar Fish. I really can't get used to it!" Zhang Xingjiu joked.

He had been to Hangzhou many times and had eaten this food many times. He even tried the West Lake Vinegar Fish Ceiling recommended by Sui Po and the Ziwei Hall in the State Guesthouse. He could taste that the fish was indeed very tender and had no earthy smell, but the taste was really not to his liking.

"Haha!" Ah Zhang also laughed after hearing this. The taste of food in Shaoxing is indeed a little different from that in Hangzhou, and he actually doesn't like it very much.

After staying at home for a few days, Zhang Xingjiu took Ma Zongwen to bid farewell to his parents and prepared to leave. They would not be able to return for at least three years, so everyone was reluctant to leave.

This time, A Zhang, Xu Xilin, Wang Ziyu and others will accompany him to Hangzhou, mainly to listen to his lectures. They have talked a lot about Europe in their daily chats, but they have not heard the formal speech yet, and they are very curious about what Zhang Xingjiu will say.

So everyone simply chartered a passenger ship and arrived in Hangzhou before noon. Several teachers from Qiushi Academy had been waiting at the dock for a long time. After meeting them, they expressed their gratitude and invited them to get on the carriage and head towards the city.

Qiushi Academy is not far from West Lake, so the teachers of the school decided to have their meal at Louwailou. This restaurant has been in business since the Daoguang period and has a history of nearly fifty years.

People in later generations said that Hangzhou was a food desert, but if you think about it, you will realize that Hangzhou is a prosperous city for thousands of years. There are fish and shrimps in the water, bamboo shoots and mushrooms in the mountains, and there is no shortage of good chefs in the city. How could there be no delicious food?

It’s just that compared to major cuisines such as Shandong cuisine, Cantonese cuisine, Huaiyang cuisine, and Sichuan cuisine, Hangzhou cuisine is not as universal. It is more in line with the preferences of locals and is generally not easily accepted by outsiders.

Furthermore, Hangzhou's reputation stems from its preference for West Lake Vinegar Fish over other dishes. While Louwailou hasn't yet become a restaurant catering solely to tourists, its signature dishes are quite good, especially the bamboo shoot dishes that Zhang Xingjiu praised highly. Hangzhou cuisine is truly first-rate in bamboo shoot preparation, and it's a nationally recognized leader.

After dinner and a short rest, Zhang Xingjiu came to Qiushi Academy, which was initiated by Lin Qi, the then governor of Hangzhou. He devoted himself to running schools in Hangzhou for four years. He founded Qiushi Academy, the predecessor of Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Sericulture Institute, the predecessor of Zhejiang University of Technology, and Yangzheng Academy, and cultivated outstanding talents such as Chen Zhongfu, Li Suizhi, Shi Chengzhi, Shao Piaoping, and Xu Shoushang.

The academy was originally converted from a temple. When Zhang Xingjiu arrived at the original main hall, he saw a group of students of the same age as him who had been waiting for a long time.

Mr. Qian first introduced Zhang Xingjiu's identity to the students. When the students heard that Zhang Xingjiu had become famous in France with Western scientific knowledge, they were very excited and looked forward to his speech.

After Zhang Xingjiu came to power, he began by recounting French history. "Twenty-six years ago, the German army invaded the French capital, Paris, and the German Emperor Wilhelm ascended the throne in the French palace. The humiliation France suffered was far greater than ours!"

"However, in just over twenty years, France has risen again, becoming a world-class power. Everyone, I'm sure you're curious about the reasons behind this. Today, I'll explain it to you!"

This opening immediately aroused the curiosity of all the teachers and students, as well as A Zhang, Xu Xilin, and Wang Ziyu. They all pricked up their ears and listened carefully to Zhang Xingjiu's lecture, fearing that they would miss even a single word.

Unfortunately, Zhang Xingjiu was unable to satisfy all their curiosity. After all, this was an imperial academy, so some things still needed to be noted. "This topic is actually very broad, involving politics, economics, military affairs, and many other fields. I don't know much about other fields, so I dare not speak rashly. Today, I will only talk about France's progress in science and technology."

"Today, competition among nations around the world spans a wide range of areas, and technology is undoubtedly the most important. The country with the strongest technological capabilities can produce heavier warships, longer-range cannons, and more powerful bombs! These can help them achieve military victory."

"And how did France achieve these technological breakthroughs? The story begins with Emperor Napoleon, who established a sophisticated education system in France."

"French scholars enjoy ample funding and a relatively free research environment, allowing them to pursue research based on their talents and interests. The results of their research can bring them both honor and financial benefits, creating a positive cycle."

Zhang Xingjiu spent about two hours giving a brief account of the history of French scientific and technological development. These things were still very new to the teachers and students of Qiushi Academy, and they were fascinated by what they heard.

After his speech, Zhang Xingjiu gave them some more opportunities to ask questions. A student about sixteen or seventeen immediately raised his hand. "I'm Qian Junfu. May I ask Mr. Zhang, how can China catch up with Western countries in science and technology?"

Hearing this name, Zhang Xingjiu’s eyes widened immediately. Of course, it depends on your son!

(End of this chapter)