Chapter 338: Going North
In the past few years, Peking University has been tossing and turning. Yan Fu resigned after serving as president for a few months. In the second year, the Ministry of Education ordered Peking University to merge into Tianjin Beiyang University. President He Renshi submitted a letter of opposition. The Peking University Alumni Association also wrote to the President to appeal, forcing the authorities to revoke the order.
In the spring of 1913, Peking University enrolled more than 200 preparatory freshmen, the first batch after the founding of the Republic of China. In November, 226 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 liberal arts; Xia Yuancong, Hu Junji, etc. in the science; 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 first returned to their alma mater to teach after completing their studies, opening courses in modern mathematics, physics and chemistry and becoming the founders of these new disciplines.
Now that Cai Heqing had taken office, he had carried out reforms on Peking University, proposed the school policy of "freedom of thought and inclusiveness", and was eclectic, recruited famous teachers, and 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 into being.
Taking into account Zhang Xingjiu's status, position 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, and explained the difficulties of Peking University today. Finally, he invited him to Peking University to serve as the Dean of the School of Science.
"With your talent, you are more than qualified to be the president of Peking University or the Minister of Education. If you are willing to serve as the president, I will resign immediately. It would be a great honor to serve as your assistant. If you don't want to be disturbed by daily trivial matters, you can also serve as the dean of science and teach students."
"Now that Aurora University has been on the right track, even if you leave for the time being, it can still maintain its position as the top science university 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 would begin 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 go to Beijing can go together and the laboratory can be transferred 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.
So Zhang Xingjiu found Ma Xiangbo and talked about his idea, "I plan to stay in Beijing for a few years to help Peking University improve the quality of science teaching. By the way, I can also promote our Aurora University to attract more students to apply. When Peking University's science is on the right track in the future, I will return to Shanghai."
Aurora University now has enrollment points in multiple cities, and holds exams to recruit students during the summer vacation. However, due to inconvenient transportation, many students are accustomed to studying locally, especially in the north. Students here still prefer to study in Beijing, Tianjin and other places.
Now that Zhang Xingjiu has come to Beijing, he can also take this opportunity to demonstrate the teaching ability of Aurora University. In this way, those young students may 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 not enough, we need 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 about Zhang Xingjiu's children? They were all studying now. If they rashly went to other places, they might delay 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 several days of preparation, Zhang Xingjiu and several teachers boarded a train to the capital. They first took a train to 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 train journey takes 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 he produces is of high quality and low price, making 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 talked about this relationship, "My brother has achieved what he has today in Shanghai thanks to Mr. Zhang's care. Now that you are in Beijing, we must keep in touch with each other more often in the future."
Cai Heqing also shook Zhang Xingjiu's hand excitedly, "With Zhou Ping coming to Beijing, our Peking University's science will surely usher in rapid development!"
The science teachers at 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 a very high output over the years and has the potential to be the world's number one physics expert. What else can they object to such a master coming? Most of them thought about whether they could take advantage of this opportunity to ask Zhang Xingjiu for some advice, and perhaps they could make some remarkable breakthroughs 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)
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