Early morning. Pen, fun, and www.biquge.info

Gu Hongming stood in front of the mirror to tidy up his appearance, he wore a new silk shirt, and held his braids upright, before putting on the hat sewn by his deceased wife.

Gu Hongming is very etiquette, because he respects the way of Confucius and Mencius, and "etiquette" is the core element.

But this kind of "courtesy" is only shown to those who can afford it. For example, Zhang Zhidong, such as Cai Yuanpei, reluctantly added Zhou Hexuan today.

There hasn't been a book for a long time, which made Gu Hongming forget to sleep and eat. He is a person who knows all the countries of the world, but "The Rise of Great Powers" still allows him to see different things, and some doubts that have been in his heart for many years can also be answered in this book.

The rickshaw stopped at the north gate, and Gu Hongming walked tremblingly inside with a cane. He has been in poor health in recent years, and it is precisely because he feels that he will not live long that he resigned from Japan and returned to China, and he wants to die in his ideal hometown.

"Mr. Koo? What are you doing here! Peking University professor Ma Heng looked at him in surprise.

Gu Hongming nodded, and said in a commanding tone: "Where is Zhou Hexuan?" Take me to him. ”

Ma Heng had worked with Gu Hongming, knew his temper, and helped him to say, "You go slowly." ”

A moment later, the two came to Zhou Hexuan's residence.

Ma Heng was about to knock on the door, but Gu Hongming stopped him, knocked on the door and shouted: "Principal Zhou, Gu Hongming is here to visit!" ”

Zhou Hexuan opened the door and was about to speak, when Gu Hongming suddenly clasped his hands together.

This is an ancient ritual that has always been used by the Chinese, and if used daily, it is equivalent to the handshake in the West, but it is also often used in solemn occasions, such as meetings between officials and friends, and is often used in the late Qing Dynasty. However, it is too cumbersome, and the waist is bent very deeply, like the Japanese who bow at 90 degrees.

Zhou Hexuan was stunned for a moment, immediately returned the salute, and then said to Gu Hongming and Ma Heng with a smile: "Mr. Gu, Professor Ma, please come in." ”

Ma Heng felt very interesting and didn't leave, sitting next to him and wanting to listen to the two chatting.

Zhou Hexuan took out the tea leaves and pastries, and said with a smile: "Mr. Gu, in response to your needs, I specially got a good Longjing, and the pastries are also made by the chef." ”

"I have a heart," Gu Hongming and yesterday judged the two of them, he took out a book very gracefully and politely and said, "Yesterday I read President Zhou's masterpiece, and I was quite touched. This is a clumsy work "Spring and Autumn Righteousness", please also Yajian. ”

"Spring and Autumn Dayi", also known as "The Spirit of the Chinese", this book caused a sensation in the West, was translated into many languages and reprinted, and even set off a decades-long craze for Gu Hongming in Germany.

Gu Hongming is also a writer, and he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature along with Rabindranath Tagore.

Zhou Hexuan took the book and said with a smile: "I have read this book a long time ago." ”

"It's good to have read it," Gu Hongming said straight to the point, "In order to avoid verbal conflicts, today we will make three chapters of the law." First, there is no talk of women's emancipation; second, don't talk about vernacular writing; Third, we should not talk about constitutional democracy. ”

These are all strongly opposed by Gu Hongming, who opposes women's emancipation, opposes vernacular writing, and opposes constitutionalism.

"Yes." Zhou Hexuan nodded.

Gu Hongming said: "I look at "The Rise of Great Powers" and have a lot of admiration for the great powers, does President Zhou think that Chinese are inferior to Westerners? ”

Zhou Hexuan shook his head and said: "I think all people are equal, and there is no one who is superior to the other." ”

Gu Hongming smiled: "There is always a difference, can African blacks be equal to yellow and white people?" In my opinion, the Chinese are the best ethnic group in the world, what do you think? ”

"I don't agree with that," Mr. Zhou said, "not to mention the blacks, even the blood-drinking cannibals in the South Pacific, as long as they are humans, I think they are equal." ”

"Your name is fraternity, a believer in the Mo family?" Gu Hongming was noncommittal.

Zhou Hexuan said: "It has nothing to do with the Mo family, that is, human beings, and nature is equal." ”

Gu Hongming asked: "Since we are equal, why is there such a big difference between the nations of the world?" This difference is not only reflected in cultural customs, but also in terms of intelligence, morality and character. ”

"This question is very complicated," Zhou Hexuan said, "Let's talk about the Indians and South Pacific savages in the Americas, why are they primitive and backward?" Because of the isolation overseas, there is a lack of communication and communication with the outside world. China and Europe have always influenced and promoted each other, and this kind of exchange has greatly accelerated the cultural and scientific development of mankind. ”

Gu Hongming said with a smile: "The four major inventions of the Chinese have indeed promoted the development of European science. As for China, it has been making progress alone before modern times. ”

"You can say that, but China has been affected a bit," Zhou said, "such as the erhu and pipa, which come from Central Asia and West Asia." The Western horoscope theory was also introduced to China early, and Su Dongpo was a loyal horoscope fan, and he often laughed at himself that Capricorns were unlucky. ”

"Oh, Su Dongpo still believes in the constellations?" Gu Hongming was surprised.

Zhou Hexuan said: "There is a record in "Dongpo Zhilin". Retreat Poetry Cloud: On the day of my birth, the moon is straight to fight. It is the grinding scorpion (Capricorn) that knows the retreat as the body palace, and the servant is the grinding scorpion as his life, and he has many slanders in his life, and he is also the same disease. ”

The general content of this passage is that Su Dongpo complained that he and Han Yu had the same fate and sympathy, and they were both related to Capricorn (one life palace Capricorn, one body palace Capricorn), and his life was not good, and he was often slandered and attacked. (Lao Wang's words: I feel that this is the worst time Capricorn has been hacked.) ）

Gu Hongming laughed when he heard this: "Haha, I didn't expect Han Yu to be a Capricorn too, it seems that I will study more constellations in the future." ”

Zhou Hexuan also said: "The characteristics of a nation are related to its original birthplace. In areas suitable for farming, agricultural civilizations developed, while in places with shallow soils, nomadic civilizations developed. In the case of China, why did it originate in the north? Because with primitive agricultural technology, the hot and rainy climate in the south is not suitable for farming. ”

"Kind of interesting, you go on." Gu Hongming's research on Chinese is carried out from the perspective of cultural morality, and Zhou Hexuan's views are refreshing to him.

Zhou Hexuan continued: "Chinese civilization is a typical agricultural civilization, and the development of ancient agriculture requires order and stability, so the Chinese advocate collectivism. Confucian etiquette and morality are nothing more than a claim for collectivism. And then it gradually evolved, and it became something like the Three Principles and the Five Constants. ”

Gu Hongming wanted to refute, but when he thought about it, it seemed to make sense.

"And what about the West?" Zhou Hexuan also said, "The countries that are thriving in Europe today were still barbarians in ancient Greece and Rome. But barbarism conquered civilization, and the darkness of the Middle Ages ushered in, and it was not until the Renaissance that the light was restored. Because of their proximity to the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, they eventually gave birth to a maritime civilization that was different from agriculture and nomadism. The maritime civilization is a commercial civilization, and if it is exposed, it is profit-seeking. The Industrial Revolution was for profit, the colonial massacre was for profit, and the Great War in Europe ten years ago was also for profit. ”

"That's a good point, and it's very much in line with me." Gu Hongming also believes that Western civilization is a civilization of interests, but he also emphasizes that Chinese civilization is a moral civilization.

Zhou Hexuan said: "I have read Mr. Gu's "Spring and Autumn Righteousness", and I agree with your analysis of ethnic groups in various countries. In my opinion, this national difference is not innate, but the result of long-term historical influences. ”

Gu Hongming asked: "Then do you agree with the views in my book?" ”

Zhou Hexuan said with a smile: "I very much agree with what Mr. Gu said, the Chinese nation is indeed a great nation, and the Chinese also have the virtues of profoundness, broadness, simplicity and spiritual loyalty. As Mr. Gu said, China is a nation that never ages and has the secret of eternal youth. I dare to predict that in less than a hundred years, China will once again stand at the top of the world's nations. ”

"Haha, people in the same way." Gu Hongming said happily.

Zhou Hexuan's tone changed: "But I don't agree with what Mr. Gu said about moral rejuvenation." ”

Gu Hongming was a little unhappy and asked: "Do you think the Western way of governing the country for profit can be effective for a long time?" I don't think the Western countries have been manipulated by a consortium of businessmen, and one day, these countries will be crushed by unscrupulous businessmen. ”

Therefore, Gu Hongming is familiar with the West, and his vision is very accurate. From the 20th century to the 21st century, European countries were indeed bound by the interests of conglomerates and gradually went downhill, and there is some truth in his view. In his book The Spirit of the Chinese, he predicted the destruction of German militarism.

It's a pity that we saw the problem, but the prescription was wrong, our Mr. Gu said that love and morality can save the world.

How naïve this must be!

Zhou Hexuan smiled helplessly: "What Mr. Gu said in his book is that he wants to be the Confucius of the Republic of China." However, the chaotic times of the pre-Qin dynasty ended with the unification of the world by the Qin state, and the Qin state relied precisely on profit-seeking. You talk to those warlords about morality, and I heard that Zhang Zongchang invited you to be the president of Shandong University, you can talk to him about morality, and see if he listens or not. ”

Gu Hongming was speechless for a moment, and then retorted: "Although the Qin State unified Liuhe, it died in the second. The pursuit of profit can only lead to collapse, and morality can be stable for a long time. ”

"But profit gathers people's hearts, and as long as the majority of people are profitable, China can be unified," Mr. Zhou said, "but I also agree with Mr. Koo that morality can make a country last." My view is that we should seek the country with profit and govern the country with virtue. ”

"Seek the country with profit, rule the country with virtue," Gu Hongming muttered these words, and suddenly laughed, "These eight words are well said, if you had become a warlord a few years earlier, I would definitely be a strategist for you." ”

The two continued to chat, and in general, the atmosphere was still very harmonious, but there were occasional differences of opinion, and no one could convince anyone, Gu Hongming was panicked.

Gu Hongming didn't stay for lunch, he happily returned home, and wrote a subtext for the servant to send to Zhou Hexuan. At the end of the year, when the old gentleman was interviewed by a German reporter, he said unashamedly: "There are only two people in China who understand, one is Zhou Hexuan, and the other is me." ”