Training the Heavens

Chapter 338 Going North
In the past few years, Peking University has been in turmoil. Yan Fu resigned after serving as president for a few months. In the second year, the Ministry of Education ordered Peking University to be merged into Tianjin Beiyang University. President He Renshi submitted a letter of opposition, and the Peking University Alumni Association also wrote to the President to appeal, forcing the authorities to revoke the decision.

In the spring of 1913, Peking University enrolled more than 200 preparatory freshmen, the first batch since the founding of the Republic of China. In November, 11 students from the old class of university majors graduated. They were the first batch of undergraduate graduates in the history of Peking University.

In 1914, President Hu Renyuan formulated the "Peking University Plan", proposing measures such as expanding the enrollment of new students, improving teaching methods, compiling teaching materials and lecture outlines, purchasing teaching equipment, and organizing books.

As the school expanded, a group of well-known professors gathered at Peking University, including Chen Fuchen, Huang Kan, Zhu Xizu, Chen Hanzhang, Gu Hongming, Lin Qinnan, Ma Xulun, Qian Xuantong, Shen Yinmo, Ma Yuzao, etc. in the humanities; Xia Yuancong, Hu Junji, etc. in the sciences; Tao Lugong, Zhang Yaozeng, etc. in the law; Wen Zongyu, Sun Ruilin, etc. in the engineering.

Feng Zuxun, He Yujie, Yu Tongkui and other students sent by the Imperial University of Peking to study abroad were the first to return to their alma mater to teach after completing their studies. They opened courses in modern mathematics, physics and chemistry and became the founders of these new disciplines.

Now that Cai Heqing has taken office, he has carried out reforms in Peking University, proposing the educational policy of "freedom of thought and inclusiveness", and recruiting famous teachers in an eclectic manner. He has hired Chen Duxiu, the spiritual leader of the New Culture Movement, as the Dean of the School of Arts.

At the same time, considering that Peking University now has many masters of liberal arts, and the corresponding science masters cannot be compared with those of liberal arts in both quantity and quality, the idea of ​​asking Zhang Xingjiu to come and help came up.

Considering Zhang Xingjiu's status and qualifications, Cai Heqing spoke very politely. In the letter, he praised Zhang Xingjiu's contributions to the development of world science and domestic education, explained the difficulties faced by Peking University today, and finally invited him to Peking University to serve as the Dean of Science.

"With your talent, my dear brother Zhou Ping, you are more than qualified to serve as either the president of Peking University or the Minister of Education. If you are willing to take on the position of president, I will resign immediately. It would be a great honor to serve as your assistant. If you do not want to be bothered by daily trivial matters, you can also serve as the dean of the science department and teach the students."

"Aurora University is already on the right track. Even if you leave temporarily, it will still maintain its top position in science in the country and even in Asia. Your continued stay at Aurora University is just icing on the cake, and coming to Peking University is a timely help. Please do not refuse. I am waiting for you in Beijing."

What Cai Heqing said in the letter did make some sense. In addition, it was already 1917, and the end of World War I was not far away, and the trend of studying in France began to rise in China, so Zhang Xingjiu accepted his invitation.

Ma Xiangbo is still in good health now, and Zhang Xingjiu has always paid attention to cultivating talents over the years. Even if he leaves, it will not have much impact on the daily teaching work of Aurora University.

The only thing we need to worry about are the several cutting-edge experiments that are currently being conducted, but it is not impossible to arrange them. Those who are convenient to take to Beijing can go together and transfer the laboratory to Beijing. Those who are not convenient can stay behind to continue the experiments and keep in touch on a daily basis. When encountering critical moments, we can return to Shanghai by ourselves. With the current train speed, we can arrive in two days, so it won’t be delayed too long.

Zhang Xingjiu then approached Ma Xiangbo and shared his thoughts. "I plan to stay in Beijing for a few years to help Peking University improve its science teaching quality. I can also promote Aurora University and attract more students to apply. I will return to Shanghai when Peking University's science program is on the right track."

Aurora University now has enrollment centers in multiple cities, holding exams and recruiting students every summer. However, due to current transportation difficulties, many students prefer to study locally, especially in northern China, where students still prefer to study in cities like Beijing and Tianjin. With Zhang Xingjiu's arrival in Beijing, he can use this opportunity to showcase Aurora University's teaching capabilities, potentially encouraging young students to consider Aurora University when applying for university.

"A single flower does not make spring, a hundred flowers in full bloom make the garden full of spring; if China wants to be prosperous and strong, Aurora University alone is far from enough, and it needs more good schools. Now that you are willing to help Peking University improve its strength, I also strongly support it." Ma Xiangbo was very generous and did not stop Zhang Xingjiu from going.

There was only one problem: what would happen to Zhang Xingjiu's children? They were all studying, and if they rashly left for other places, they would probably miss out on their studies. So Ma Zongwen had to stay in Shanghai, teaching and taking care of the children, while Zhang Xingjiu took some science teachers to Beijing to support Peking University.

After a few days of preparation, Zhang Xingjiu and several teachers boarded a train to the capital. They first arrived at Nanjing Pukou Station, then got off the train, took a ferry across the river, and then changed to another train to continue north.

The fastest journey time for this train is 50 hours. In reality, the train is often delayed and usually takes 50 to 60 hours. Sometimes it takes four days or even longer. However, compared with previous modes of transportation, it is already very advanced.

When the train arrived at the Beijing Station, Cai Heqing brought teachers from Peking University to greet them. Even people from the Ministry of Education came. The then Minister of Education, Fan Yuanlian, personally led people to wait on the platform, giving Zhang Xingjiu enough face.

Actually, he is not an outsider. Fan Yuanlian's younger brother is Fan Yuanrang, a student of Zhang Xingjiu. He is now running an alkali company in Shanghai. The soda ash produced by the company is of high quality and low price, which makes it difficult for foreign soda ash to enter the Chinese market. At the same time, it also provides ample funds for Aurora University.

So when they met, Fan Yuanlian brought up this relationship, "My brother has achieved what he has today thanks to Mr. Zhang's care in Shanghai. Now that you are in Beijing, we must keep in touch more often in the future."

Cai Heqing was also very excited as he shook Zhang Xingjiu's hand. "With Zhou Ping coming to Beijing, our Peking University's science department will surely see rapid development!"

The former science teachers from Peking University behind him had no objection to this. When most of them were still in college, Zhang Xingjiu was already a Nobel Prize winner. He has maintained extremely high output over the years and is poised to become the world's number one physicist. What objections could they have to such a master coming?
Most of them were thinking about whether they could take advantage of this opportunity and ask Zhang Xingjiu for some advice. Maybe they could make some remarkable breakthrough themselves.

Ah Zhang also came. He is still working in the Ministry of Education, but he is a little tired of dealing with inscriptions all day long and is thinking about whether he should change his lifestyle.

Zhang Xingjiu did not waste much time on socializing. After attending the welcome banquet that evening, he started teaching Peking University students the next day.

(End of this chapter)