Yanjing, Jurentang, Admiralty of the Republic of China.

"The Paris Peace Conference has come to an end." Tang Qianming, who had just returned to Yanjing, said to Yang Shuoming, acting Minister of the Navy, "This peace negotiation not only succeeded in abolishing the treaty, but also won 100 million pounds in compensation, which is really an unprecedented diplomatic victory!" ”

"With all the shackles gone, and with the start-up capital, my China can stride forward from now on." Of course, Yang Shuoming knew why he was so excited about the 100 million pounds in compensation, and said with a smile.

The total amount of German reparations that China won at the Paris Peace Conference was 100 million pounds, which was more than the sum of all the foreign reparations paid by China in the late Qing Dynasty, and such a huge amount of money would have a tremendous effect on China's future development. In fact, not only Tang Qianming was excited, but also from the political leaders to the ordinary people of Limin, many people were so excited that they couldn't sleep now.

The reason why Ben was able to succeed was not unrelated to the huge indemnity he obtained from China for the victory in the First Sino-Japanese War. And now, China will have the opportunity to write the same myth.

"In fact, this diplomatic victory can be achieved this time, and it has nothing to do with you, Yang Hanzhi." Tang Qianming looked at Yang Shuoming and said, "I heard that before Gu Shaochuan went to Paris, he didn't go to the presidential palace, and he went to the Li Mansion to ask for advice." ”

"I didn't talk about asking for advice, I just exchanged views on some issues." Yang Shuoming didn't want to reveal the content of his conversation with Gu Weijun, but just smiled slightly and replied vaguely.

"In fact, if it weren't for you, Yang Hanzhi raised a large amount of money from overseas to return to China, and reconciled with the southern provinces to deal with it, I'm afraid that these major wars would not be able to cope with it at all, and it would be unknown if the political axe would collapse and the country would fall into division." Tang Qianming looked at Yang Shuoming and said.

Yang Shuoming listened to Tang Qianming's words, and still smiled faintly, but his eyes stayed on Tang Qianming's face, as if he was waiting for him to continue.

"I've heard that you, the acting secretary of the Navy, are stepping down." Tang Qianming said, "Is it true? ”

Yang Shuoming immediately understood the intention of Tang Qianming's question, and couldn't help but smile.

"It's true." Yang Shuoming nodded, "When the new president is elected and the new prime minister forms a cabinet, my agent will be done." ”

"I thought you could 'straighten' with the great merit of reviving the navy." Tang Qianming's words couldn't hide the disappointment and regret.

"Anyway, I'm not a real navy background, this navy minister is actually quite tired, and it's a good thing to abdicate and let Xian." Yang Shuoming said with a smile, "At present, the country's various systems are in the initial stage, and if you want to get on the right track, this price is still worth it." ”

"Apart from you, who can build a navy stronger than the Navy?" Tang Qianming said unwillingly.

"But that's also a disturbing place." Yang Shuoming said lightly.

Hearing Yang Shuoming's words, Tang Qianming immediately understood, and a strange bright color flashed in his eyes.

"A few days ago, a congressman pointed out that the post of border defense supervisor is not a state custom, but a temporary subordinate authority, but now the authority is too large, and he is actually the commander of the navy and army, while the president is the supreme military chief of a country, and the border defense supervisor is implicitly the military head of the country outside the president, and it should not be set up for a long time, and should be abolished." Yang Shuoming said, "I think what he said is very reasonable, so I already plan to resign and ask the political axe to remove the post of border inspector." ”

"You really dare to be the first in the world." Tang Qianming looked at Yang Shuoming and said, "People like you who don't love power, with the size of our China, we really can't pick out the second one." ”

"If the post of border defense supervisor is not removed for a long time, the president will be a fictitious position, and if the border defense supervisor is held by a good person, it will be fine, and if it falls into the hands of bad people, it is very easy to form a situation in China in which military personnel are studied." Yang Shuoming smiled and said, "I'd rather not have this position than let it ruin China's Mingzhuo constitutional process." ”

Tang Qianming listened to Yang Shuoming's words and couldn't help but stand up.

"Tang Mou was a former officer of my navy, for the people of the world, thank Hanzhi." Tang Qianming said, bowing deeply to Yang Shuoming.

Yang Shuoming smiled and got up to return the salute, but didn't say anything more.

At this time, Tang Qianming was completely impressed by Yang Shuoming's mind and strategy, he didn't know that the reason why Yang Shuoming made such a choice was entirely because he was a "descendant" and had seen the harm caused by the "dualization of the head of state and military and government" in China in the future!

"If the post of border inspector is abolished, what will Hanzhi do after handing over military power?" Tang Qianming asked.

"Aren't there still two titles of superintendent?" Yang Shuoming laughed and replied, "There are actually many things to do, and if possible, I am quite interested in education." ”

Tang Qianming looked at Yang Shuoming with an unbelievable gaze, he even thought that Yang Shuoming was joking with him, but when he saw Yang Shuoming's solemn appearance, it didn't seem like he was joking, and his face was full of doubt.

"I have a lecture on education at the Women's Normal University this afternoon, if you are interested, you can listen to it." Yang Shuoming said.

"I'll go." Tang Qianming said.

In the afternoon, Tang Qianming came to Yenching Women's Normal University early, wearing a straight navy uniform, he aroused the curious and unfamiliar eyes of many female students on campus, Tang Qianming could feel the vigilance in the eyes of students and faculty members, and he tried his best to smile friendly to everyone who made a "gaze salute" to him.

Although the large-scale student protests in China have subsided with the conclusion of the Paris Peace Conference, there have been many "nine? Tang Qianming can still feel that the atmosphere of the student movement has not completely disappeared.

Tang Qianming walked quickly to the teaching building, handed his invitation to a faculty member in charge of reception, who recognized his navy uniform, smiled kindly at him, and led him to a large lecture hall.

There was still a moment before the start of class, and the female college students were sitting in groups with their books in pairs, and although they saw a Navy soldier sitting in the auditorium, the students did not pay much attention, some of them opened their books and read the books, and some of them whispered to each other about the speeches that were about to start for a while.

"Have you heard General Xiao Yang's last speech at Yenching University? It is said that the seats were full, and many professors came......"

"I heard that he is a man with a great sense of humor......

"Yes, he also spoke once at Peking University, and it can be said that the grand occasion is unprecedented."

"However, I heard that he was disgusted with social favoritism and Bolshevik ideas......"

"He's a warlord, haven't you heard of his nickname? It's called 'high-tech warlords'. ”

"Isn't it? I don't think he's the same as those tyrannical warlords......"

"He is not a warlord, a warlord would not advocate the freedom of science and boiling, I think his thinking is actually the same as ours......"

"You like him so much, it's not that you have a crush on him, haha......"

"Yes, I'd rather be a general's concubine than a peaceful wife......"

"Nasty! You ......"

Tang Qianming still wanted to hear them continue to talk about Yang Shuoming, and the laughter of the female students drowned out the words behind them, and at this time, there were more and more students, and after a while, the staircase classroom suddenly became quiet.

Yang Shuoming's figure appeared in front of the pulpit.

At this time, Yang Shuoming was dressed in Hanfu casual clothes, looking gentle and elegant, he smiled and greeted several professors and teachers, a beautiful and eye-catching female teacher introduced Yang Shuoming to everyone, and the students welcomed his arrival with warm applause, after this brief welcome ceremony, Yang Shuoming's speech began.

"Today, I would like to discuss with you the topic of education that fosters reading and thinking."

"Before getting down to business, let me first talk about a fairy tale that everyone is familiar with, and just this morning, a drama made from this fairy tale was staged in the auditorium -- I think you already know which fairy tale it is, and some students have already said it, yes, it's "The Little Match Girl."

"The Little Match Girl is a famous fairy tale by the famous Danish fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, published in 1846. It mainly tells the story of a little match girl who froze to death on the street on Christmas Eve when the rich had a happy family and raised a glass to celebrate. The little girl dies with a smile on her lips, and the beautiful fantasy of lighting a match is in stark contrast to her starving real life. Through this fairy tale, Andersen expressed his deep sympathy for the tragic plight of the poor people and his dissatisfaction with the society of the time. ”

"Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, 'The Little Match Girl' has been an important text in the sixth-grade textbook for primary school students -- many primary school Chinese teachers have emphasized in their classrooms that its 'basic idea' is Hans Christian Andersen's 'bloody and tearful indictment' of capitalist society. If it is an accusation and tears, then for the subject of the accusation - capitalist society, according to Marx, "the weapon of criticism cannot replace the weapon of criticism" - so there is only revolution. ”

"But I would like to ask you today, is the conclusion of such a 'revolution' the result of reading and thinking? If we think about this, can we draw other conclusions? ”

There is no doubt that "The Little Match Girl" is indeed Andersen's tearful work. It is indeed a mirror of the injustice of the world. But it seems to me that what Andersen wants to evoke is not hatred and revolution; Rather, it is sympathy and national humanitarianism. ”

"For a nation, for a country, humanitarianism is an indispensable education. Hans Christian Andersen understood this. Otherwise, he wouldn't have written "The Little Match Girl" and so many popular works. ”

"A person's mind is not born with the idea of humanism as the supreme principle, or as the basic feeling of man. As a human being, there is a need for humanitarian education. ”

So, speaking of which, I would like to ask, who is "The Little Match Girl" for? You may also answer that as a fairy tale, of course, it was first written for children, but I would say that it was definitely not written first for little match girls. ”

"The little girls who sell matches can't afford a collection of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales."

Actually, "The Little Match Girl" was written for little girls who don't have to huddle in the snow on New Year's Eve and freeze on street corners and shout matches sellers in a trembling voice. In fact, it is written for little girls from families who are not very poor, and even from rich families. Often, the little girls of these families lie on soft beds or sit by the warm fire at night and listen to their parents or maids or governesses read to them "The Little Match Girl". The tears in their eyes mean that there will be one more compassionate and kind mother in the world. Mothers, on the other hand, are the best at planting their compassion and kindness in the hearts of their children. In this way, generation after generation, a hundred years later, everyone thinks, what kind of results will there be? ”

"This may be the reason why all mankind is grateful to Hans Christian Andersen."

"When culture loses its conscience and the collective turns its back on the classes and people who are supposed to be sympathetic and pretends not to see it, then a nation turns its back on the good purpose of peace. And suppressing the conscience of culture is the conscience of suppressing the bottom line of the whole society. And the part of the population that cannot even gain cultural sympathy is the most unfortunate people. ”

"As far as I know, the cultural significance of the cultures of economically developed countries has been manifested in two particularly important aspects - enlightening the poor and educating the rich; Thus, the culture of the country. I think that's something bigger than revolution. ”

"Culture certainly has more than just these two aspects. However, if it has never played a good role in the above two aspects, the quality of its culture, no matter how it is improved to comment on it, is suspicious, and there is what is now called Soviet Russia. ”

"Some days ago, everyone was celebrating the 'triumph of justice', and we Chinese like to celebrate, and the primary purpose of celebration is usually to look back on the past, especially to commemorate those who have received special honors for the development of cultural life. This friendly commemoration of our forefathers should never be overlooked, especially since this kind of remembrance of past events can inspire the fearless efforts of today's good people. But it must be done by someone who was intimately connected to the land in his youth and familiar with its past, and not by a man who wanders around like a beggar, gaining experience in all sorts of countries. ”

"Talking about the issue of linkages with educational matters. I'm not much of an authority. For wise and well-meaning people from ancient times to the present have discussed the question of education, and have repeatedly and clearly expressed their views on these issues. As a half-layman in the field of education, where does my courage come from to articulate ideas that have no basis other than personal experience and personal convictions? If this were really a scientific question, people might be silent about these considerations. ”

"However, for active people, the situation is different. The knowledge of truth alone is not enough here. On the contrary, if knowledge is not to be abandoned, it must be continuously updated by constant efforts. It is like a jade statue erected in the desert, which is threatened to be buried by quicksand at any time. The hand of service must work constantly so that the jade will always shine in the sun. My hands are also among the hands that serve jade. ”

"Schooling has always been the most important way to pass on traditional wealth from one generation to the next. Today this is more important than before, because the family has been weakened as a carrier of tradition and education through the modern development of economic life. As a result, the continuity and health of human society is more dependent on schools than before. ”

"There are a lot of times when people see schools as just a tool to pass on as much knowledge as possible to the growing generation. But this is not right. Knowledge is dead, but schools are at the service of the living. It should develop in young people the qualities and abilities that contribute to the public welfare. But this does not mean the eradication of surnames and the use of individuals as mere tools of society such as bees or ants. For a society made up of standardized individuals without individual originality and individual goals would be a pitiful society with no possibility of development. Rather, the goal of the school must be to develop individuals who can read, act and think, and who in turn view service to society as the highest issue of life. ”

But how can we achieve this ideal? Is it through moral preaching? Definitely not. Words are, and will be, empty voices, and the road to destruction has always been accompanied by flashy rhetoric about ideals. But personality is not formed by what is heard, but by labor and action. ”

Therefore, the most important means of education is to motivate primary school children to take action. This applies to elementary school students learning to write for the first time, to their doctoral dissertation at university, or to memorize a poem, compose a song, interpret or translate an article, solve a math problem, or play sports. ”

"But behind every achievement there is a driving force that underpins it, which in turn is strengthened and nourished by the success of the undertaking in which it is engaged. Here there are the biggest differences, and these differences are crucial to the educational value of the school. The origin of the same work may be attributed to fear and coercion, to the ambition of power and fame, or to the hobby, interest, and demand for truth and understanding of the object, and therefore to the divine curiosity that every healthy child has, but which has been weakened very early. The educational impact of the same task on a pupil can vary greatly, depending on whether the intrinsic factors that make him accomplish the work are fear of harm, egoistic feelings, or joy and satisfaction. The management of the school and the attitude of the teacher have a decisive influence on the shaping of the psychological basis of the pupil, as we often say, the teacher is the shaper of the student's soul, the engineer. ”

(To be continued)