Since the middle of the 19th century, more and more people have studied Oriental culture in Europe, and gradually formed a mature school. However, because the study of oriental culture is a partial discipline in the west, its influence has not been very large.

If Zhou Nan hadn't been obsessed with academic research in his later years, he wouldn't have known who Gao Benhan was. However, this sinologist has played a very positive role in the spread of Eastern culture in the West.

He has been interested in dialects since childhood, became fascinated by Oriental culture in secondary school, and while at university he went from Sweden to St. Petersburg for further study, where he received a scholarship.

With this scholarship, he came to the Qing Dynasty and experienced the era from the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China.

During his two years in the Far East, he learned a total of 24 Chinese dialects, including 19 pronunciations of northern official dialects, as well as Shanghai dialect representing the Wu dialect, Fujian dialect representing the Min dialect, Guangzhou dialect representing the Cantonese dialect, and Japanese and Vietnamese pronunciations of Chinese borrowed characters.

In addition, he collected the pronunciations of nine other dialects based on published material.

In other words, there are 30 kinds of Chinese pronunciation that he can fully understand, far surpassing Zhou Nan, a native of Han. This point, not to mention Zhou Nan, is that the vast majority of Han people are ashamed.

He also wrote "A Study of the Book of Poetry", "The Rhyme Examination of Laozi", "Chinese Word Classes", and "The Rhyme Examination of the Ode to Poetry". Based on his knowledge of linguistics, his research methods have opened up a scientific path for the study of Chinese phonology and the identification of ancient books.

He is not the most powerful Westerner in the study of Sinology, but he is almost the most top-notch expert. The "Dictionary of Ancient Chinese" compiled by him has always been a reference book for Westerners to learn Chinese, which is equivalent to our own "Xinhua Dictionary", and the "Study of Chinese Phonology" compiled by him is also the most authoritative book for Westerners to learn Chinese.

Almost all the books that became popular in Europe for learning Chinese were written by him, and in this respect, he was a role model for Zhou Nan in the future.

In addition, his greatest achievement is to train a large number of sinology experts in Europe, whether it is Germany, Austria, France, or England, and his students are all over European universities, sowing the seeds of the East.

One of his most famous students was the Westerner Yue Ran, who was known as the most eastern.

Although Ma Yueran, like Gobenheim, also has an oriental name, he is also an authentic Swede. He has served as Professor and Head of the Department of Chinese at the School of Oriental Languages at Stockholm University, a member of the Swedish Academy of Letters, President of the European Association of Sinology, and one of the eighteen lifetime judges of the Nobel Prize in Literature.

He was also the first to translate the Chinese classics "Water Margin" and "Journey to the West" into Swedish, and introduced the Chinese "Book of Songs", "Analects", "Mencius", "Historical Records", "Book of Rites", "Shangshu", "Zhuangzi", "Xunzi" and other works of pre-Qin princes to the West.

He also translated most of Xin Qiji's poems and organized the compilation of Handbook of Chinese Literature: 1900-1949. His translations and commentaries on ancient Chinese classics cover almost all periods and all genres of ancient Chinese literature.

It was because Zhou Nan saw their names in the guest list that he deliberately pushed other people's invitations and invited them to his home as guests.

If you want to promote Chinese culture in Europe, it is not enough to rely on Zhou Nan's strength alone. There are two scholars obsessed with oriental culture in front of him, and if Zhou Nan doesn't know how to use it, he will be really stupid.

However, at this time, Ma Yueran was still a college student under the age of 23, and he would not go to the Far East for the first time until next year.

However, since he has hobbies in this area, Zhou Nan doesn't mind helping him financially and ideologically.

A literati who is proficient in ancient Chinese literature and history, married a Westerner whose two wives are Chinese, and is known as a bridge between the East and the West, Zhou Nan's liking for him is from the heart.

In the small living room, Etinny was chatting with the guests, and when Zhou Nan returned, everyone stood up.

Zhou Nan stretched out his hand as he walked briskly towards Gao Benhan. He said directly in Chinese: "Mr. Gobenham, welcome to Jonas Farm. ”

He stretched out his hand and shook it with Zhou Nan, and said with a smile: "Since I knew that Mr. Zhou was from the Far East and was a Taoist child, I had the heart to have a chat with Mr. Zhou. ”

"I'm ashamed that I should have taken the initiative to visit Mr. Gobenheim in Sweden, but I couldn't make it out of time. Please be seated ......."

The latter sentence is spoken in French. In this era, there were many Europeans who could not speak English, and there were many people who did not know German, but basically everyone could speak a few words of French.

Although Zhou Nan is young, his reputation is much higher than that of everyone here, even if these professors are not convinced of Zhou Nan's academic status. But Zhou Nan is not only a scholar, but also a politician and a social activist. Just organizing this grand forum is not something that ordinary scholars can organize.

So their attitudes were very friendly and humble, they shook hands with Zhou Nan one by one, complimented each of them a few words, and sat down first under Zhou Nan's insistent invitation.

"When I was in Paris, I had a brief conversation with Mr. Condemo, an expert in Sinology, and it was from him that I learned about Mr. Gobenheim's name. So this time, I saw Mr. Goldenham's name in the guest list, so I took the liberty to invite him. ”

Gao Benhan laughed: "I know that Mr. Zhou has been busy with official business these days, and many heads of state expect to have a private communication with Mr. Zhou, and we are flattered that Mr. Zhou can attach so much importance to us." ”

Zhou Nan also said modestly: "The direction of our research is different, the academic research I study is what those politicians pay attention to, so I have received some attention, in academics, I admire you people who specialize in learning more." ”

After greeting him a few words, knowing that all of them could speak German, Zhou Nancai switched to German and said: "After listening to Mr. Kandermo's introduction, I learned that Mr. Gao had also been to my motherland and had a deep study of ancient Chinese culture. Later, I bought "Chinese Dictionary" and "Chinese Language", "Laozi", "Zhuangzi" and other works written by my husband. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Gao Benhann for his contribution to the dissemination of ancient Chinese culture. ”

Speaking of this, Zhou Nan stood up and bowed to him. He hurriedly stood up, held Zhou Nan's arms and said: "Because of his hobby, he is enthusiastic, and because he is enthusiastic, he will learn, and if he succeeds in learning, he will give feedback." Mr. Zhou, don't think I'm selling my reputation and reputation, don't dare to be Mr. Zhou's such a promotion. ”

The Chinese of the others is obviously not as good as Gao Benhan, and they all don't understand the meaning of Gao Benhan, but Zhou Nan has no intention of explaining.

In my impression, Ma Yueran, who has become an old man, is still a young man two years younger than himself, he has not been to the East, and Chinese has not yet been introduced.

But Zhou Nan loved them from the bottom of his heart, and accompanied them for a while, saying: "It's fun to have friends from afar." I'm going to cook a few small dishes myself tonight to show my welcome. Please sit down for a moment, and I'll come as soon as I go. ”

Gao Benheim laughed: "When I return to Europe, it is difficult to taste Chinese food again, and I am looking forward to this opportunity today." ”

In the Western kitchen, the two palace chefs have already prepared most of the meals, and in the Chinese kitchen, a few dishes have been washed and cut, just waiting for Zhou Nan to stir-fry.

Zhou Nan didn't care about them stealing teachers, while stir-frying, he told them these tips, and in less than ten minutes, the four dishes were fried.

Marita lives here, Kelly almost doesn't have to work in the kitchen, the two imperial chefs also pack Zhou Nan's food, and they can have a big meal every day, of course Zhou Nan will not hide it.

Because Zhou Nan had guests, Marita did not go downstairs today, but asked people to bring the meal to the living room on the third floor to eat.

Zhou Nan also beckoned Gao Benhan and them to eat in the small restaurant, and served them home-brewed rice wine.

During the dinner, Zhou Nan carefully asked Gao Benheim about his experience in promoting Sinology in Europe, although he had a lot of experience to learn from, he was still only a newcomer in the field of propaganda.

Moreover, the propaganda experience in his mind may not be suitable for the current era, and Gao Benhan, who has been propagating Sinology in Europe, learning some practical experience from him and learning from him is the biggest purpose of Zhou Nan's invitation to him.

Of course, he also wanted to encircle their group of people and unite them, which would be much more effective than if he were fighting alone in Europe.

Gao Benhan did not hide anything from Zhou Nan, and discussed with Zhou Nan his own basic methods of propagating Sinology in Europe. For example, the Department of Sinology is set up in the university, and the philosophical stories in Sinology are translated, including some Chinese works.

However, due to the decline of the East, Western society has not paid much attention to Sinology, and books such as "The Book of Songs" are not worth mentioning in Europe, and the best selling ones are "Laozi" and "Zhuangzi", which are philosophical books.

Zhou Nan also had a discussion with Gao Benhan about Taoist classics, and took him into his study and showed him dozens of Taoist scriptures in his collection.

He immediately took refuge in his study as if he had found a treasure.

Facing Ma Yueran, who is still a young man, Zhou Nan is much more comfortable, no matter how much he achieves in the future, he is now just a young man who comes to see the world after his teacher.

Zhou Nan also chatted with him briefly, encouraged him, and gave him a set of German editions of the "General History of the World".

He was a little embarrassed for a long time before he mustered up the courage to ask, "Mr. Zhou, can you help me sign this set of books?" ”

Zhou Nan couldn't help but laugh and immediately agreed. Opening the title page of the book, Zhou Nan thought about it, and wrote on it in Chinese of the dragon flying and phoenix dance: "The beauty of Chinese characters, the beauty of Sinology, the beauty of rhythm, the beauty of elegance, and the beauty of literary brilliance." ”

He also left a phrase: "May Goran Malmqvist become a bridge between the East and the West." "The last thing is my signature.

His understanding of Chinese characters may still be limited to square character regular script, and he was a little dumbfounded when he read Zhou Nanlong's cursive writing. "Mr. Zhou, what does this mean?"

Zhou Nan laughed and said, "When you can read this passage yourself, your Chinese attainment will definitely be qualified." ”