Literary Master 1918: Starting with New Youth

Wu Zhu felt extremely uncomfortable under the watchful eyes of everyone.

He never expected that his first death at Yenching University would happen in this way, and that he would be publicly executed!

The principals and professors he knew in the front row were all winking and gesturing at him, trying to get him to explain the situation quickly.

Many classmates started to chuckle, and Guo Xingang next to him also suffered, almost burying his head in his drawer.

"Wu Zhu, say something..."

"What did I say...?"

Wu Zhu's face turned as red as a monkey's bottom as he frantically urged the brainless man to come up with a solution. His eyes caught sight of the newspaper on the table, and a brilliant idea came to him.

Under everyone's gaze, he stood up angrily and slammed his arm on the table.

Snapped--!

Everyone was startled, not understanding what kind of trouble he was up to.

"Damn it! Damn it!"

"This muddle-headed Beiyang government! By publishing the draft 'Newspaper Law,' they are perpetuating the reactionary rule of Yuan Shikai's government and attempting to stifle press freedom. We students simply cannot tolerate this!"

"I spend all my time holed up in my study, and when I first saw this news, I was truly outraged. I couldn't control my emotions, and I'm so sorry everyone, especially Mr. Shao!"

Wu Zhuyi criticized the "Public Opinion Daily" with righteous indignation. After he finished speaking, he bowed and apologized, his face more sincere than anyone else's.

Perhaps because he acted so convincingly, or perhaps because of his reputation, the professors and students nodded in agreement and believed his nonsense.

As the pen of modern literature, it would be strange if they didn't think that way!

"Zhenqing, let me introduce you. This is the 'Bamboo Gentleman' you've been wanting to meet. You must know his writing style. Besides, young people are impulsive, so he certainly didn't mean to offend you."

"This old man should apologize to you on behalf of his students. Please forgive me."

Cai Yuanpei stood up to smooth things over, and the remaining liberal arts professors all stood up, bowed, and spoke well of Wu Zhu.

The students were stunned by this scene. They never expected that Wu Zhu was so important in the eyes of the senior management of Yenching University that the president would bow and apologize to him.

Is this the youngest sword in modern literature?

Shao Zhenqing was a kind and gentle person, and he certainly wouldn't hold a grudge against a student, especially since this student was a leading figure in the new literature movement and someone he had always wanted to meet.

Now that I've finally met him, I'm amazed at how young he looks and how modestly he's dressed; he seems like a very humble person.

"Seeing is believing! I've heard so much about you!"

"You're so young, it surprises me!"

Shao Zhenqing walked down from the podium in a few steps, went to the last row, took the initiative to shake Wu Zhu's hand, and exchanged polite greetings.

This scene made Guo Xingang extremely envious. He had admired Shao Zhenqing for a long time, but his roommate had made him take the initiative to reach out his hand. He would definitely touch Wu Zhu's hand properly when he got back!

"Not at all, Mr. Shao's iron will and ruthless approach are the role models for us young people to learn from."

"Excellent! Excellent! I see you are very knowledgeable and passionate; I'm sure you can offer some insights into the 'Newspaper Law.' Since I'm giving a lecture on journalism, would you be willing to come up and share your views with us?"

"..."

Wu Zhu originally intended to just brush it off, but she never expected Shao Zhenqing to pull this stunt, and she was immediately put on the hot seat again.

"Alright! Let Wu Zhu tell us about it too!"

"I want to hear his opinion!"

"Yes, yes! One, please!"

It's unclear which student started it, but the professors joined in as well.

Caught between two difficult choices, Wu Zhu glanced angrily at Guo Xingang, who was making the most noise, and agreed to Shao Zhenqing's request. He took the "Public Opinion Daily" into his hands and stepped onto the podium as if going to his execution.

But once he actually reached the front row, he wasn't so hesitant anymore, and he gestured towards the air as if pressing down:

Please be quiet.

There were definitely some people present who wanted to see Wu Zhu make a fool of himself, but the academic atmosphere of Yenching University set the tone, and the room immediately quieted down.

Shao Zhenqing sat in Wu Zhu's original spot, which thrilled Guo Xingang.

Amidst everyone's anticipation, Wu Zhu picked up the chalk and wrote five large characters on the blackboard—

What is the law?

No one expected him to take this approach, and the audience immediately started discussing it.

"Teachers and students, if we are to discuss this Newspaper Law, we must start by talking about what the law is."

"During my time in the reading room, I happened to learn about Western European sociological theories. The answer of the materialist historians to this question is very simple: they do not believe that law is some kind of 'mind' or 'way of heaven,' but rather..."

"The manifestation of the ruler's will."

As soon as Wu Zhu finished speaking, the audience erupted in uproar.

In an era before the new literature had reached its peak, it was naturally not easy to accept the sudden introduction of historical materialism, which had been learned in Mao Zedong Thought classes in previous lives, into the classroom of Yenching University.

Wu Zhu didn't intend to explain further, and continued:

"Who is the ruler now?"

"Naturally, it refers to the Beiyang government, or more precisely, its bureaucrats, warlords, and the wealthy gentry and compradors behind them."

"In my view, the reason they are pushing through this version of the Newspaper Law is to protect their own interests. And their interests often come at the expense of the people's interests, so this version of the Newspaper Law is needed to silence dissenting voices."

"Therefore, their swords are aimed at those newspapers that speak out for the people and those newspapers that expose the current situation."

"If you don't believe me, think about it: will this Newspaper Law target newspapers like the Public Opinion Daily? Or will newspapers like the Public Opinion Daily, which operate on their knees, be affected in the slightest by the so-called 'regulation of journalism'?"

"No, when the opponents of the Anfu faction shut up, they will become the only powerful force and actually benefit from it!"

The audience was silent.

Snap, snap, snap—

Guo Xingang led the applause, and thunderous applause erupted, with everyone giving their all.

Wu Zhu bowed to the crowd, and just when everyone thought he was about to step down, he stood still, signaling for silence.

"Clap your hands after you've finished speaking!"

"Hahaha! Great!"

The outgoing Chen Zhongfu livened up the atmosphere, while Li Shouchang looked pleased, whereas Hu Shi looked rather grim.

"What I just said was a broad assessment of the Newspaper Act, which many people may not understand. So let me list the 'crimes' of this bill!"

"Let's look at this registration and approval system first. The Newspaper Law stipulates that newspapers must be approved by the authorities and pay a high deposit before they can be published smoothly. At first glance, it doesn't seem like a big deal, but the entire law doesn't specify the standards for review. Doesn't that mean it's driven by subjective assumptions? And it deprives those who lack funds of their freedom to publish newspapers, turning newspapers into playthings for the powerful and wealthy!"

"Looking at these so-called strict prohibitions against publishing 'disturbing public order' and 'corrupting public morals,' it's simply a disgrace to legal history. Using such vague clauses allows the authorities to interpret things arbitrarily and find any excuse to suppress dissent."

"For example, if this version of the Newspaper Law is passed, and Mr. Zhongfu promotes new literature in the future, can't we label him as 'disrupting public morals'? After all, old literature also belongs to traditional customs! It's simply absurd!"

"Furthermore, while the newspaper requires the approval of the newspaper official before publication, there's a 'punishment' clause afterward. What does this mean? The authorities can edit the content in advance, but if the newspaper official neglects their duties and causes adverse consequences, the responsibility lies with the newspaper's publisher. How can there be such a double standard!"

As Wu Zhu finished speaking, the entire audience stood up and applauded in waves.

This was the first time Wu Zhu had felt so spirited; a surge of passion rushed to his head, and he held the newspaper high:

"The Provisional Constitution recognized our freedom of speech, but this new Newspaper Law stifles it. The Duan Qirui government wants to implement cultural dictatorship, and we will never agree to it!"

"We can no longer accept a repeat of the 'Guichou disaster'! We must reject this reactionary proposal! We cannot let the blood of the martyrs of the Republic be shed in vain!"

"Reject the proposed Newspaper Law and defend freedom of speech!"

He unwittingly became an opinion leader, leading students and professors to echo his sentiments, and their shouting nearly overturned the classroom.

"No! No! No!"

The roar echoed throughout the entire Red Building, attracting students in the corridors to peek out. After figuring out what was happening, they also chose to join in and express their opinions.

This era has no shortage of courage to save the nation from peril!

"Everyone, please be quiet."

"That concludes my 'one, two, three' sequence. I've made a fool of myself!"

As Wu Zhu stepped down from the stage and returned to the back row, everyone's eyes seemed glued to him, filled with admiration, approval, and appreciation. It was as if they were seeing him for the first time. They never expected that someone with such eloquence could stand up and confront such a powerful force to fight for everyone's right to freedom of speech!

It is foreseeable that he will become famous after this class, and may even come into the sights of the police department, but there is no turning back.

"I will relay your opinions to my colleagues in the press; Duan Qirui can't just do whatever he wants. Leave the rest to us!"

Shao Zhenqing stood up, put away his notebook, and gently patted Wu Zhu's shoulder, his eyes filled with memories of his younger self.

Once upon a time, he was just like that, and his passion remains undiminished to this day!

Kuretake is actually quite arrogant at heart, but he definitely can't respond to that now:

"You flatter us. In the end, we still need pillars like you, sir, to fight for our rights."

"Alright! I will certainly live up to your expectations! You absolutely must attend the 'Yenching University Journalism Research Association' I'm organizing!"

"OK!"

The attendees were no longer bothered by Wu Zhu being personally invited by Shao Zhenqing. After all, given his performance just now, it was only natural for him to attend the research conference!

Having found a promising talent, Shao Zhenqing turned his attention to Chen Zhongfu:

"Brother Zhongfu, my newspaper, the *Beijing Daily*, is opening in a few days. I'll need to borrow your penmanship for a while!"

"I'm not holding back; if you can get him to move, use whatever you need!"