Training the Heavens

Chapter 310 Sweet pastry

Zhang Xingjiu happened to have no classes at the time, so he was explaining the ins and outs of the Nobel Prize to Ma Xiangbo and the others in his office. "Actually, my winning this time was also somewhat lucky. If it weren't for the extremely high profits inherent in wireless telegraphy, many major European and American companies would have been eager for my winning so they could use it as a publicity opportunity. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy to win."

"You have to know that European and American countries are very discriminatory against other races. If we only look at academic performance, there are also some scholars in Japan who are qualified for the award, but they didn't win it."

"For example, this year's Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology was awarded to German scientist Behring for his contribution to serum therapy for diphtheria. In fact, antitoxin immune serum therapy was developed jointly by Behring and the Oriental scholar Kitasato Shibasaburo. Behring isolated diphtheria serum, and Kitasato Shibasaburo isolated tetanus serum. These two achievements are of the same level. The Nobel Prize Committee only awarded Behring and ignored Kitasato Shibasaburo. This is blatant discrimination."

Zhang Xingjiu had previously seen a question on Zhihu: "Why did the Republic of China have so many masters, but was defeated so badly by Japan?"

Someone immediately responded that the masters of the Republic of China could not be compared with those of Japan in terms of either quantity or quality. After all, Japan opened up earlier and spent more time learning from Europe and the United States, and over time it produced many masters.

Before World War II, Japan had produced no less than ten Nobel Prize-level achievements, but it was not until after World War II that they won their first Nobel Prize. Apart from discrimination, Zhang Xingjiu really could not find any other reason.

Thinking of this, Zhang Xingjiu couldn't help but sigh, "Dongyang has been ahead for so long, and my China still hasn't carried out drastic reforms until today. If it continues like this in the future, I'm afraid it will be unimaginable!"

"Oh!" Ma Xiangbo and others sighed when they heard this, and Zhang Xingjiu's joy of winning the award was also dissipated a lot.

At this moment, someone came to report that the envoy from the court had arrived. Ma Xiangbo did not dare to delay and quickly took out a false braid for Zhang Xingjiu to wear. He also prepared some silver notes and then took Zhang Xingjiu out to greet him.

The eunuch unfolded the imperial edict and began to read it. When many teachers heard that the court had granted him the status of a Jinshi and a fifth-rank hat, they were envious. In their opinion, this was a great thing.

But Zhang Xingjiu's reaction was beyond their expectations. He first stuffed the banknote into the eunuch's hand. The eunuch glanced at the number on the banknote and smiled. Taking advantage of his happiness, Zhang Xingjiu quickly said, "I am truly flattered by the court's generosity."

"Originally, I should have immediately received the imperial edict and gone to the capital. However, the academy has only just opened. If I were to go to the capital now, I'm afraid it would delay their studies. So I'd like to wait until I've taught them well before going. I'm currently in Shanghai to train talents for the court. The court has always been lenient, so I don't think they'll blame me, right?"

Zhang Xingjiu certainly did not want to go to Beijing. In Shanghai, he had Ma Xiangbo and others to help take care of him, so he could devote most of his energy to teaching and research. If he went to Beijing, he would be restricted and unable to do anything. He might also be involved in fierce struggles, and his life would be in danger if he was not careful. So he politely declined the summons.

He had already spoken very politely, but the eunuch was still unhappy after hearing this. Zhang Xingjiu stuffed two more silver notes into his mouth to soften his expression. Finally, he said indifferently, "In that case, then you can take care of yourself!"

After saying this, he turned away, even refusing to eat. The other teachers were very worried when they saw this, but Ma Xiangbo was relatively calm. "Don't worry too much, Zhou Ping. I have some acquaintances in the court. I will send a telegram to ask them to help keep an eye on you. If the court is dissatisfied with you, you can take your wife and children abroad for a while and come back after the storm has passed." Ma Jianzhong also added, "Besides, your reputation has spread far and wide in the West. Even if the court wants to punish you, it will have to consider the views of Western countries. In addition, the calls for the court to implement new policies have been getting louder and louder recently. As a master of new studies, the court will not be able to punish you easily! So in my opinion, even if the court finds out that you refuse to obey the imperial edict, at most they will be a little unhappy, but they will not really issue an imperial decree to punish you!"

"Perhaps another imperial edict will be issued to encourage you, demonstrating the court's determination to implement new policies and establish new schools. So you can rest assured and not worry too much."

Both of them had experience in officialdom and were well aware of the court's working practices. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they heard this.

The Ma brothers quickly sent telegrams to Sheng Xuanhuai and other familiar court officials, and wrote letters to their relatives and friends, asking them to help keep an eye out for news in this regard, and if the court asked, ask them to say a few good words for Zhang Xingjiu.

As a result, not long after the letter was sent out, and probably before it reached the recipient, Zhang Xingjiu received telegrams or handwritten letters from many court officials. Governor-General of Huguang Zhang Zhidong, Minister of Railways Sheng Xuanhuai, Governor of Shandong Yuan Shikai and others all congratulated Zhang Xingjiu on winning the award.

In the letter, they praised Zhang Xingjiu highly and invited him to give lectures in Huguang, Shandong and other places, with many words of flattery.

Liu Kunyi, the governor-general of Liangjiang, took advantage of the geographical location and directly sent his trusted aide to Aurora University to invite Zhang Xingjiu to give lectures in Nanjing. Even though Zhang Xingjiu used the excuse that he had missed the course because he went to Europe to receive an award and had to make up for it with the students first, the aide was not unhappy. He just said that he would go when Zhang Xingjiu had time. Before leaving, he also donated a sum of money to Aurora University on behalf of Liu Kunyi.

Consuls and wealthy businessmen from various countries in Shanghai also sent invitations, inviting Zhang Xingjiu to attend the banquet.

Suddenly, Zhang Xingjiu became a hot commodity. The imperial court, dignitaries from all sides, and foreigners all vied to win him over. If Zhang Xingjiu wanted to pursue a career in politics, this would be a good opportunity. However, he had no interest in this and continued to lecture at Aurora College.

After a while, Zhang Xingjiu finally made up for the missed courses before the winter vacation, and then prepared to take his wife and children back to Shaoxing to celebrate the Spring Festival.

At this moment, the messenger who announced the imperial edict arrived again. Ma Xiangbo was not at all panicked. He had already known the content of the imperial edict from Sheng Xuanhuai's telegram. He calmly took Zhang Xingjiu to receive the edict.

Sure enough, this imperial edict did not blame Zhang Xingjiu for resigning from his official position. He was still given the status of Jinshi and the fifth-rank hat. He just didn't need to rush to report to the Imperial University of Peking. He just needed to continue teaching at Aurora College. It would not be too late to go to Beijing after this batch of students graduated in a few years.

Zhang Xingjiu agreed verbally, but he didn't agree in his heart. He must go to the Imperial University of Peking, but not now. He would not go to Beijing before the fall of the Qing Dynasty. If he wanted to go, he would wait until the Republic of China, preferably in the late period of World War I, so that he could get to know the librarian.

　There will be more later
　　
　
(End of this chapter)