Literary Master 1918: Starting with New Youth

As soon as Cai Yuanpei finished speaking, the professors, who had been making a fuss, immediately became serious.

The news of these three clubs' active preparations has been making waves at Yenching University in recent days, and everyone has heard about it to some extent.

Although these disciplines are not directly related to science, law, or engineering, students in these fields often have literary and intellectual inclinations and are very interested in participating in these clubs. Therefore, non-humanities councilors can also express their opinions.

Seeing that everyone was in high spirits, Cai Yuanpei cleared his throat and said loudly:

"Let me briefly explain the situation; you can refer to the documents in front of you."

The professors all bowed their heads.

"First, with Fu Mengzhen, Wu Zhu, Luo Jialun, Gu Jiegang and other liberal arts backbone members as the core, and taking 'New Youth' as ​​the model, we proposed to establish a 'New Tide Society' to advocate literary revolution and intellectual enlightenment, and actively prepare for the publication of the magazine 'New Tide'. People like Shi Zhi and Shou Chang would serve as advisors."

"Secondly, led by students such as Xu Chusheng, Deng Kang, and Zhang Mingte, a group called the 'National Society' was founded to care about the fate of the nation and social politics. The members were a mixed bag, with many not being students of Yenching University and having relatively radical tendencies. They also planned to publish a magazine called 'National Society' to awaken the nation. Shouchang and I strongly supported this to prevent the students from going astray."

"Thirdly, it was initiated by liberal arts professors such as Huang Kan and Liu Shipei, with the participation of students such as Yu Shizhen and Zhang Fengzai. The aim was to promote 'our country's inherent scholarship' and organize national heritage. Similarly, it was planned to establish a journal called 'National Heritage' to compete with 'New Tide', in the spirit of academic freedom and inclusiveness."

"What are your thoughts on this, colleagues?"

Cai Yuanpei calmly read out the prepared text.

These three clubs have very different styles and inclinations.

Leaving aside the National Society, which has little to do with literature, wouldn't the remaining two societies, the New Trend Society and the National Classical Society, be met with fierce criticism if they were to be established?

In addition, we are now going to establish three clubs, and since we have submitted the proposal to the council, we are seeking the support of the school.

But the school's resources are limited, and with several powerful high-ranking officials favoring modern literature, support for various societies can't be evenly distributed; there's a high probability that a particular society will receive preferential treatment...

Two rival organizations might even be hoping the other fails to succeed...

This requires taking sides again, which means offending colleagues you've worked with for many years...

It's better to abstain; it has nothing to do with them anyway!

The professors of science, law, and engineering present exchanged glances with the deans of their respective departments. After confirming a consensus, the deans announced their abstentions, citing the same reasons as before.

We're a bunch of roughnecks, what do we know about literature, philosophy, or politics? Don't call me on anything that's not related to our academic field...

They're practically a bunch of non-stick pans from Yanda University.

Cai Yuanpei's lips twitched; he was utterly speechless.

We agreed to let a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend. You don't want to get involved in new trends and traditional culture, but you still have to express your opinion on the patriotic tendencies of the Nationalist Party, right?

"Since science, law, and engineering majors have collectively abstained, what do you humanities colleagues think?"

"Master Cai, since Shouchang is not attending the meeting, as an advisor to the Shincho Society, I will speak on his behalf."

Hu Shih stood up again, looked around, and made sure no one was vying to speak:

"Fellow colleagues, the students formed the New Tide Society and founded the magazine with the aim of transforming Yenching University into a pure academic institution with 'a critical spirit, scientific principles, and innovative writing.' The members of the society are academically excellent and of pure thought, and their extracurricular academic practice is a beneficial endeavor."

"Therefore, I believe the university should provide strong support, offering club funding and allowing them to use an empty room in the Red Building as their club address. We also hope that the Yenching University Publishing Department will handle the printing and distribution of the magazine, and that our club will not handle any financial matters."

As an advisor, I must definitely fight for the best treatment for the students.

This move immediately drew criticism, and Ma Yichu, a staunch advocate of traditional Chinese culture, slammed his fist on the table and stood up:

"I object!"

"What exactly is being criticized in your so-called 'spirit of criticism'? Does 'innovative language' mean abandoning classical Chinese and exclusively using colloquial language?"

"Judging from your tone, your New Tide Society is following in the footsteps of 'New Youth,' specializing in destroying traditional Chinese culture. How dare you ask the school to provide funding and land!"

"In my opinion, your trendy ideas are a breeding ground for radical thought. The school should not only not support them, but should also take drastic measures to suppress them, otherwise it risks causing trouble!"

The string of words left Hu Shi no room to interject.

Shen Yinmo, also a fellow writer of "New Youth," spoke up:

"Ma Gong, you've distorted the ideals of *New Youth* and the New Tide Society so much; I think you have your own demands, don't you? Everyone here knows you're close to Huang Kan and the others, and I heard you're even planning to become an editor for *National Heritage*. Why don't you just state your demands directly and let everyone vote on them!"

"Hmph! In my opinion, Hu Shih's demands should be fulfilled by the National Heritage Society in order to revitalize traditional Chinese learning."

"This isn't something you or your company can decide on your own; ultimately, it has to be decided by everyone."

"Lord Cai, what are you going to do?"

Ma Yichu turned to Cai Yuanpei.

Cai Yuanpei did not answer directly, but instead changed the subject:

"Since the new trend and the traditional culture are going to clash, let's put that aside for now and talk about the National Society."

"Although Shouchang didn't come, if he were here, he would definitely try his best to get the school's support. In your opinion, how should we deal with this club?"

The judges had differing opinions:

"I heard that most of the members who prepared the National Society were members of the 'Student Salvation Corps'. As Mr. Cai said, the members were a mixed bunch, and many of them were not students of Yenching University. Although they upheld the principle of 'enhancing national character and instilling national common sense,' their internal ideology was chaotic and they were quite radical overall. I do not agree with the school's support."

"Yes, schools are places for academic research. If you want to engage in politics or patriotism, you should do it outside of the school. We have the support of Cai Gong and Shouchang, so we shouldn't be using Yenching University's name."

"I agree. We need to take this outside the university. Yenching University should sever ties with them. It's fine for Tsai and Shou-chang to participate privately, but they absolutely cannot provide support in the name of the university."

"With the nation in peril, don't you all find it laughable that we don't discuss politics?"

"Zhongfu, I know you have a quick temper. Everyone has a patriotic heart. Schools can tolerate its existence and not restrict students' participation, but giving it official venues and funding is tantamount to endorsing its political activities. If the National Society causes trouble in the future, how will Mr. Cai deal with it?"

"..."

Overall, because the National Society was not related to academics but rather promoted patriotism, anti-imperialism, and anti-feudalism, its radical political orientation was unacceptable to most of the council members at Yenching University.

Although the participants were mainly Yenching University students, there were also many people from other schools and the community. From this point of view, it is even more inappropriate to display the sign within Yenching University.

Although Cai Yuanpei provided personal support, he couldn't make the decisions unilaterally to support the National Society in the name of the university. Therefore, the National Society ultimately had to find its own solutions for funding, location, and other matters.

"Alright, now those who agreed to abstain have begun to speak. Let's vote by raising hands. Councilors who support the school's support for the National Society, please raise your hands."

As soon as he finished speaking, only a few people, including Chen Zhongfu, raised their hands.

This means that most people agree with or do not support the National Society.

It's a democratic vote, and no matter how much power the Dean of Arts has, he can't go against the wishes of his colleagues.

"Then it's settled. Yenching University will only provide moral support to the National Society. The faculty members serving as advisors are acting in their own private capacity and have nothing to do with Yenching University. All their activities must comply with national laws."

The judges unanimously agreed.

Leaving aside the National Society, which is unrelated to literature and academia, we should then proceed to discuss matters of new trends and national heritage.

This time, Ma Yichu did not give Hu Shi the opportunity to speak first, and stood up again:

"In my opinion, the establishment of the National Heritage Society by Brother Ji Gang and Brother Shen Shu is a move to rectify the past and preserve the lifeline of traditional Chinese learning amidst turbulent times. Especially considering the increasing number of criticisms of traditional learning both inside and outside the university in recent years, if this continues, the nation will cease to exist! Therefore, I propose that the New Tide Society, which is currently being prepared, be shut down!"

"Ha! Is scholarship the private property of your old-style learning? Promoting the study of traditional Chinese culture is naturally welcome, but judging from the attitudes of Ji Gang and others in recent years, their advocacy of organizing traditional Chinese culture is probably just a desperate struggle by defenders of the old order, intended to oppose the new literature. School resources are limited; if we support such societies that aim to counter other organizations, how can we improve scholarship?"

Chen Zhongfu finally couldn't hold back and spoke in his capacity as the Dean of Arts.

But Ma Yichu was not afraid and stubbornly continued arguing.

The two groups of intellectuals argued more and more fiercely. We intellectuals should be magnanimous, and we could vaguely hear a few blunt curses. The principal's office was more lively than the execution ground.

Cai Yuanpei listened quietly and did not rush to express his opinion.

Freedom of thought, inclusiveness...

This does not mean that he had no personal stance. When he served as Minister of Education in the early years of the Republic of China, he had already fiercely criticized the old school of thought.

The old eccentrics at Yenching University advocated reading the classics simply to promote Confucianism and, in the end, to uphold the rites and revive the autocratic imperial system.

How could he, as a representative of bourgeois democracy, possibly strongly support the National Heritage Society?

Only after the two opposing factions were separated by councilors from other disciplines did he slowly begin to speak:

"The arguments among my colleagues are all valid."

"The Shincho Society aligns with the direction advocated by the school, and should therefore be strongly supported. It should be allowed to have a venue for its activities and should be given appropriate financial subsidies. As for academic journals... they should be published by the school itself."

Some were surprised, while others were used to it.

After all, the person speaking was a champion of modern literature; how could he not support the child he had raised?

But people like Ma Yichu and Chen Hanzhang felt a chill run down their spines.

Since the decision has been made to support the new trend, the fate of traditional culture is predictable; they can't even win the vote on their own side...

Cai Yuanpei said in a deep voice:

"As for the National Heritage Society... since Professors Huang and Liu have initiated the organization of national heritage, it is an important academic undertaking. The university supports such research and allows it to conduct academic research as a society, and can access relevant academic resources. However, the availability of venues and funding will be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the specific needs of the society."

Compared to the Shinchosha's clear stance, his attitude towards the Kokugosha was much more ambiguous.

Not only did it clarify its position as an academic group rather than a society opposing the new literature, but it also made no specific promises regarding resource allocation, more like appeasing a disgruntled child.

He didn't give the old school representatives another chance to start an argument and announced a vote by raising hands.

There weren't enough people on the old school side to begin with, and centrists like Ma Yuzhao even abstained, so in the end they could only accept the conclusion reluctantly.

Cai Yuanpei, finally able to have some peace and quiet, stood up and announced:

"Okay, meeting adjourned."

"Based on what was discussed at the meeting, the founders of each student organization are requested to come to the principal's office for a detailed discussion."

The council members dispersed.

In the end, only Hu Shih was still there, and he went forward to help Cai Yuanpei get the documents:

"Mr. Cai, what exactly is your assessment of the New Tide Society?"

"Your budget is 1,800? I'll approve 2,000."

"Take the young master!"

"Two thousand, is that too much?"

"No, no, no! Mr. Cai is truly wise and courageous, destined to be remembered in history. We would like to ask Mr. Cai to nominate the magazine in his honor."

"No problem. When did you, a high-achieving student who returned from studying abroad, learn to flatter?"

"My praise of Lord Cai is all sincere."