In fact, Gu Hongming's contact time with East China ** was much earlier than Yan Fu's, when East China ** just established the Shanghai New Area, East China ** had organized a visit to Qingdao by people from Shanghai's business circles, and Gu Hongming also participated in this trip at that time, it should be said that in that trip, East China ** still left a good impression on Gu Hongming.

However, since then, there has been no direct contact between East China and Gu Hongming, Bi Jing East China's energy is mainly in the development of industrialization and economy, and he values technical talents like Zhan Tianyou, rather than academic masters like Gu Hongming; If he didn't come to invite, Gu Hongming naturally wouldn't take the initiative to come to the door, and he deliberately made a disdain for East China.

However, Gu Hongming lived in Shanghai most of the time, and also got many opportunities to understand the situation in East China, and although Gu Hongming showed disdain for East China on the surface, he actually paid considerable attention to the trends in East China.

It should be said that Gu Hongming is quite disagreeable with the land system of East China, and he also has a lot of complaints about the governance of East China bypassing the gentry class and directly facing the grassroots people, but he still admires the effect of East China's governance, after all, Gu Hongming studied in Europe for 14 years and got 11 doctorates, and the experience of studying abroad is mainly in the United Kingdom and Germany, and he has a considerable understanding of the governance environment of European countries.

For example, he is very disdainful of the land theory theory in East China, and he is not very concerned about the theory of industrialization, but he is not very interested in the theory of industrialization The concept that China is a civilized country, rather than a nation-state, has a considerable sense of identity, because Gu Hongming admires the traditional Chinese Confucian and Mencian ideological theories, which is very consistent with the theory that China is a civilized country, and this theory has also given Gu Hongming a great inspiration, so that his theory that Chinese civilization is superior to European civilization can be more perfect.

There is also East China's criticism of the system, social system and civilization of European countries, and Gu Hongming agrees very much. Unlike other Chinese scholars of this era, who generally admired the system, ideology, and civilization of European countries, Gu Hongming was quite disdainful of the system, system, and culture of European countries. This is also related to Gu Hongming's experience of studying abroad for 14 years, because other Chinese scholars such as Yan Fu have only studied abroad for 4 years, and their understanding of European countries is inevitably a little superficial, only seeing the superficial prosperity of European countries, and lacking practical understanding of the deep social depths of European countries. It is precisely because of his long-term overseas life experience that Gu Hongming has a deeper understanding of the society of European countries, and is not confused by the superficial prosperity, development, and science and technology of European countries, but also sees the dark, falling, selfish, and greedy side behind the social prosperity.

However, Gu Hongming Bi Jing is not a sociologist, although he sees the social system of European countries, The shortcomings of culture, but there is a lack of sufficient understanding of the root causes of these shortcomings, and the solution is not to promote social progress, improve the overall moral level of society, or establish a higher level of social system, but the way of benevolence and righteousness of traditional Chinese Confucius and Mencius, which is also the most important factor in Gu Hongming's admiration of Confucianism, and even to the extent that he resolutely supports traditional Chinese culture, whether it is the essence or the dross.

In fact, this is also a common feature of this generation of Chinese scholars, with the deepening of the understanding of the society of European countries, after seeing the social and cultural limitations of European countries, almost all of them invariably returned to traditional Chinese culture, in the old time and space, Yan Fu also began to respect traditional Chinese culture in his later years.

However, after reading the in-depth analysis of the institutional formation of European countries and the reasons for cultural deficiencies in East China, combined with his own experience of living in Europe for many years, Gu Hongming also has a feeling of being stunned. Bi Jinghuadong**'s analysis of the institutional and cultural limitations of European countries is based on the exploration, research, division, and experimentation of countless scholars in the old time and space for more than 100 years, which is by no means comparable to Gu Hongming's life experience of more than ten years.

Although this does not mean that Gu Hongming has given up his thoughts since then and completely bowed down in front of East China, Bi Jing An academic master like Gu Hongming, once he has formed his own ideological views, will not easily change, although this does not prevent him from absorbing from other theoretical ideas that are beneficial to his own ideological views, or have complementary excellent parts. Therefore, in Gu Hongming's later articles, lectures, and exchanges, he also quoted a large number of these theories from East China.

However, Gu Hongming's attitude towards East China ** has not changed, he is still disdainful, and from time to time he also publishes articles in newspapers, or ridicules, or grasps hardships, or accuses East China ** of some behaviors or some specific figures. Of course, he likes to scare people, which is a major characteristic of Gu Hongming, he is not specifically aimed at East China, to the Qing court, to other countries, to the Qing court officials, foreign dignitaries, as well as other scholars, celebrities, are correct, in short, to see who is not pleasing to the eye, to see what is not pleasing to the eye, will be opened, and try his best to ridicule and sarcastic.

After East China took control of Shanghai, of course, the newspaper did not dare to publish articles against East China, Gu Hongming's scolding of East China was usually on the occasion of banquets and academic exchanges, but Gu Hongzhang was not messing with East China, and he was quite careful about proportion, often playing on the sidelines, and more of a ridiculous nature, and in addition to scolding East China, Gu Hongming also acted according to the principle of seeing people and scaring people, seeing things, and doing the same. Therefore, Shanghai ** didn't care too much, and still stayed away from him, but it didn't stop Gu Hongming from writing, teaching, giving speeches, etc. in Shanghai, as long as he didn't cross the line.

In fact, although in the old time and space, Gu Hongming is known for daring to speak, dare to scold, and dare to scold, but he is not really cynical and sophisticated, in fact, he pays attention to the scale of proportion, knows who can scold, when he can scold, to what extent, and to ensure his absolute safety, so although in the last 10 years of Gu Hongming's life, despite the ups and downs of the political situation, changes are commonplace, and many scholars are on the wrong side. said the wrong thing and suffered a big loss, but Gu Hongming has always stood tall, no matter who is in power, he is treated like a guest, and Gu Hongming still scolds and scolds people.

Qin Zheng has actually been paying attention to the actions of scholars such as Yan Fu and Gu Hongming, and is well aware of some of their changes. Having demonstrated the ability to completely overwhelm the Qing court, and when a change of dynasty was inevitable, it was only natural that many scholars would change course and side with the future victors.

Moreover, this cultural exchange activity on behalf of East China and Germany is the first cultural exchange activity led by the official in Chinese history, representing the entire Chinese civilization, no matter who can participate in it, it is the highest honor enough to leave a name in history, for scholars, honor is more important than economic interests. Therefore, Qin Zheng thought that Yan Fu and Gu Hongming could be invited as representatives of East China.

After the discussion of the Executive Yuan, they finally agreed to Qin Zheng's suggestion, of course, first of all, it depends on the attitude of Yan Fu and Gu Hongming, if they are unwilling to go to Germany on behalf of East China, then there is no way. And the task of inviting Yan Fu and Gu Hongming naturally fell on Li Songchen.

In fact, this matter is not big or small, and it is really not small to say that it is small, although it cannot be done, it will not have any impact on Li Songchen's future, if Bi Jing Yan Fu and Gu Hongming really don't want to go, they can't take the two of them away! But if it is done, it will undoubtedly be a plus for Li Songchen.

Of course, Li Songchen also knows that this kind of academic master is not easy to invite, because they all think very highly of themselves, compare themselves to Kong Ming, although they have a thousand wishes in their hearts, but they still have to pretend to be a posture, pushing left and right, and finally they seem to be unwilling to come out. Therefore, after careful consideration, Li Songchen first sent a request to Gu Hongming to meet him, and Gu Hongming finally postponed the meeting time to three days later under the excuse of "I am very busy and have no time". And Li Songchen immediately went to meet Yan Fu again, this time it was much smoother, and the meeting was scheduled for the next day.

Such an invitation was arranged successively, of course, intentionally, because Yan Fu was born in the military, and his personality was more open-minded, and his self-cultivation was good, and his sense of identity with East China was also stronger. It can be regarded as avenging the revenge of the Beiyang Naval Division, and Yan Fu is also one of the founders of the Beiyang Naval Division, so he can't help but be touched; and Gu Hongming's literati popularity is heavier, although it can't be regarded as narrow-minded, but his character is too radical after all, so if Yan Fu is invited first, it may make Gu Hongming unhappy, thinking that East China ** values Yan Fu more, maybe in a fit of anger, he refused the invitation, and invited Gu Hongming first, but it was because Gu Hongming himself pretended to meet in three days, so East China ** Meet Yan Fu first, and Gu Hongming will have nothing to say.