Literary Master 1918: Starting with New Youth

October 16th, cloudy.

Inside the offices of the Beijing Daily, the air was thick with the acrid smell of burning tobacco.

Liang Jiqing gently sucked on the new cigarette holder his son Liang Shouming had bought, while intently reading the latest issue of "New Youth," his brow furrowed.

His partner, Wu Zizhen, was the same. Wearing reading glasses, she stared intently at "Kong Yiji," reading each word carefully, her fingers trembling slightly.

As the dark clouds grew thicker, the wooden door to the office was pushed open.

Liang Shouming came in and placed the plastic rings and soy milk he had bought downstairs on the table.

"You two writers, please have breakfast before you start reading."

No one responded.

Liang Shouming lowered his head and chuckled softly, without urging him, and silently sat down to the side.

The two old men were busy with many things, so publications like "New Youth" were usually brought to the newspaper office by them so they could see the opinions of the new literary school and occasionally offer a few comments.

Overall, however, the two elders were not particularly fond of the academic school of thought.

They read magazines to understand the trends of their peers; those essays on literature, drama, and writing were far less appealing to them than translated Western novels.

The reason they're so obsessed now is largely because Wu Zhu's latest novel, *Kong Yiji*, has struck a chord with these two old Confucian scholars...

In the end, Liang Ji was the first to put down the magazine, rubbed his sore nose, exhaled a puff of smoke, shook his head and sighed softly:

"Shouming, do you know what your Uncle Peng thought of Chinese novels when we were debating the enlightenment of newspapers?"

"I don't know."

He said that Chinese novels have two major flaws. First, in order to cater to the tastes of the common people, they call murder and arson chivalry and romantic love affairs beautiful stories, which is very harmful. Second, they frighten the minds of the ignorant people by fabricating gods and ghosts out of thin air, which confuses people and causes the most harm.

Liang Shouming nodded, but he didn't know what his father's words had to do with "New Youth".

"Don't be fooled by the novels published in our newspaper; I'm never satisfied with their content, but I put up with it for the sake of making money. It wasn't until Brother Wu suddenly appeared and brought us a story about Xiangzi that I finally felt satisfied."

"Now he's written another book, 'Kong Yiji'... which is about us old Confucian scholars who have spent our whole lives studying the classics..."

Liang Ji slumped in his chair and sighed deeply.

Nowadays, there are many stories mocking Confucianism and Confucian scholars, and some of the articles in the debates are even more radical.

For example, the slogan of "Down with the Confucian Shop" in "New Youth" was used, but no one could write such a story, write that feeling of "disappointment in the lack of progress", and bring the Confucian scholars living in the old era to life.

No matter how he looks at it, he can find himself in Kong Yiji, and he can empathize with many of the passages in the novel.

Especially that ending...

Are we really going to be forgotten by the world...?

"Having spent half my life studying the classics and spouting benevolence and morality, I end up being unable to lift a finger or carry a load, and completely helpless in the face of the world's ways and people's hearts."

"This young Wu really doesn't hold back. He stripped away all the ingrained pedantry, stinginess, and uselessness in us, as well as that last bit of self-deceiving fantasy!"

Wu Zizhen threw the magazine and her reading glasses on the table, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

The young man's pen was faster than that of the old man who was half-buried in the ground, which made this old journalist, who had lived through the late Qing Dynasty, feel ashamed and indignant.

Liang Shouming couldn't offer any words of comfort to the two elders; he could only be a listener.

Liang Ji, supporting himself on the corner of the table, got up, went to the window, and looked at the gloomy sky:

"Although the characters in 'Medicine' are foolish, most of them still retain their simplicity; Xiangzi in 'The Story of Xiangzi' suffers, but he still struggles to survive; but what about Kong Yiji? From the beginning, he was like a piece of wood hollowed out by termites, and the indifference of those around him could not save him..."

His voice gradually lowered:

"I, Liang Ji, have devoted my life to the teachings of sages and virtuous men. I know that the world is difficult to change and that traditional learning is useless. I have used my own experience to oppose the empty talk of pedantic scholars. I promoted vernacular Chinese, advocated science, and sought reform... all these efforts were made to save the country and its people. But now it seems that they have not been of much use..."

"I always believed that ethics and moral principles were the foundation for maintaining social order and people's hearts. But in the eyes of young people, the things I believed in, along with us, have become objects of ridicule, and in the end, only people remember Kong Yiji, who owed nineteen coins..."

"Shouming, do you know, if the world were truly getting better every day, becoming like Kong Yiji would be perfect. But look at what this world has become, and what is the Beiyang government doing?"

"Busy selling out the country! Busy with political infighting! How are they any different from the Qing Dynasty!"

In the end, Liang Ji became emotional and pounded on the windowsill.

Liang Shouming was speechless for a moment.

Just last month, the island nation's government notified the Beijing government that it would increase its troop presence in northern Manchuria in accordance with the "Army Joint Defense Agreement." By the beginning of this month, the island nation's military presence in the north had reached 60,000.

At the end of last month, Duan Qirui signed a loan agreement with Japan for the Manchuria-Mongolia Four Railways and the Jilin-Shunde and Gaoxin-Xuzhou Railways, with each loan amounting to 20 million yuan. In exchange for Japan obtaining railway construction rights in Jiaodong and other areas, the agreement sparked public outrage.

On the same day, Zhang Zongxiang signed "Gladly Agreed" on the exchange of notes regarding the Jiaodong issue. (Note: This was a secret diplomatic transaction, unknown to the outside world at the time.)

On the same day, a loan agreement for 20 million yuan to participate in the war was established, on the condition that Japanese soldiers be hired as military instructors. Two days later, Zhang Zongxiang signed the contract on behalf of the Beiyang government.

On October 10th of this month, the internal struggle within the Beiyang government came to a conclusion, with Xu Shichang taking office as president and Duan Qirui being relieved of his post as premier.

As a well-informed journalist, I should be fully aware of these events.

Indeed, as Liang Ji said, warlords were willing to sell out the country in order to strengthen their own power.

The warlords themselves paid no attention to this, focusing only on political struggle and electing a "president" who could be accepted by all sides.

The newspaper office fell into a deathly silence, with only shouts coming in from outside the window.

After a long silence, Liang Shouming finally spoke:

"Father, I believe that Wu Zhu's article is by no means a mockery. Rather, it targets the environment that created Kong Yiji, which is in line with the ideals of 'New Youth' and has absolutely no intention of targeting any particular person."

"You and Uncle Wu and your group are dedicated to popular newspapers and magazines to educate the citizens. You are taking practical actions to prevent more young men from becoming like those in the book. There is no need to be discouraged by this."

Liang Ji slowly turned around, first looking at Wu Zizhen, then at Liang Shouming, his emotions unreadable.

He wasn't frustrated, but he felt that his decades of consistent work was somewhat incompetent compared to the sharp and thorough style of "New Youth".

The concepts of moderation and reform that they believed in... seem like a joke in the face of the pens of the youth of the new era.

"How can I not be frustrated...?"

He muttered to himself, sat back in his chair, as if all his strength had been drained away.

"Oh no!"

Wu Zizhen had a bad feeling.

He had known Liang Ji for decades and knew his old friend's strong character and his adherence to old morals to the point of being stubborn.

In recent years, he has often expressed pessimistic views about the decline of morality and the difficulty of realizing ideals. Last year, when Zhang Xun attempted to restore the monarchy, he asked why no one had died for their cause. He even told the participants, "I will die in your place!"

Now, Wu Zhu's novels are peeling back the layers of the truth he has been clinging to, which may become the last straw that breaks the camel's back!

"Shouming, take your father back to rest."

"it is good."

Liang Shouming also noticed that his father's condition was not right.

In this era of great change, the clash between old and new ideas is more intense than ever before.

When ideals are shattered, reality leaves only a mess, and the impact on individual thought far exceeds the imagination of mediocre people without principles or beliefs.

Otherwise, why would we say that suicide is so prevalent? It's not just because people can't go on living...

He was about to pull Liang Ji up when Liang Ji waved his hand to stop him.

"Have the copyright issues for 'The Story of Xiangzi' been settled?"

"It should be ready in the next few days. Wu Zhu said he's giving us more authority; we won't need to ask him about reprinting or publishing a separate book."

"Okay, okay... When you have time, go and urge him to see if he has any more works to show for it."