Chapter 310: Hot Pot
Zhang Xingjiu happened to have no classes at the time, so he was explaining the Nobel Prize judging process to Ma Xiangbo and others in his office. "In fact, my winning this time was also due to a certain amount of luck. If it weren't for the fact that the profits from wireless telegraphy were so high, many large European and American companies would have been looking forward to my winning so that they could use the opportunity to promote me. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy to win the prize."
"You have to know that European and American countries discriminate against other races very severely. If we only look at the results, there are some scholars in Japan who are qualified to win 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 the serum therapy for diphtheria. In fact, the antitoxin immune serum therapy was jointly developed by him and the Oriental scholar Kitasato Shibasaburo. Behring separated the diphtheria serum, and Kitasato Shibasaburo separated the tetanus serum. These two achievements belong to the same level. The Nobel Prize Committee only awarded Behring and ignored Kitasato Shibasaburo. This is naked discrimination."
Zhang Xingjiu had seen a question on Zhihu before, "Why did the Republic of China have so many masters, but was beaten so badly by Japan?"
Someone immediately answered 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 had a longer time to learn from Europe and the United States, which gave birth to many masters over time.
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 gone for so long, and my China has still not carried out drastic reforms to this day. If it happens again 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.
Just at this moment, someone outside came to report that the envoy from the court had arrived to announce the imperial decree. Ma Xiangbo did not dare to neglect him. He quickly took out a false braid for Zhang Xingjiu to wear, and prepared some silver bills. Then he 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 official hat, they showed envy on their faces. In their opinion, this was a great thing.
But Zhang Xingjiu's reaction was beyond their expectations. Zhang Xingjiu first stuffed the banknote to the eunuch who was delivering the imperial edict. The eunuch glanced at the number on the banknote and smiled immediately. Taking advantage of his happiness, Zhang Xingjiu quickly said, "I am flattered by the court's kindness."
"Originally, I should have gone to Beijing immediately to receive the imperial decree, but the academy has only been open for a short time. If I go to Beijing now, I am afraid it will delay their studies. So I still want to wait until I have taught them well before going to Beijing. I am now in Shanghai to train talents for the court. The court has always been lenient, so I think they will not 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 accomplish anything. He might also be involved in fierce struggles, and his life might be in danger if he was not careful. So he tactfully declined the summons.
He had already been very polite, but the eunuch was still unhappy after hearing it. Zhang Xingjiu stuffed two more silver notes into his mouth to ease his expression. Finally, he said indifferently, "In that case, you should take care of yourself!"
After saying that, he turned away, even refusing to eat. The other teachers were very worried, but Ma Xiangbo was relatively calm. "Zhou Ping, don't worry too much. 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 when 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 has 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 learning, the court cannot easily punish you! 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, to show the court's determination to implement new policies and establish new schools, so you can rest assured and don't worry too much."
Both of them had worked 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. If the court asked, they were also asked 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 attempts to win him over in their words.
The Governor-General of Liangjiang, Liu Kunyi, 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 courses 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 popular figure. Officials from the imperial court, various parties, 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. He was still given the status of Jinshi and the fifth-rank official 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 had to go to the Imperial University of Peking, but not now. He would not go to Beijing before the demise 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)
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