Chen Chao's courtyard is in the center of Zhuangzi, a courtyard house with two entrances of blue bricks, which stands out from the crowd in Chenjiaya, which is mostly made of stone houses. The location of the courtyard and the building materials all highlight Chen Chao's status.

Because of the terrain of Chenjiaya, the courtyard of Chenjia is different from the pattern of the northern plain, the whole courtyard is high in the north and low in the south due to the terrain difference, the front yard in the south is obviously the residence of the subordinates, climb the steps made of stone on three levels, enter from a moon gate on the west side of the main house of the south courtyard, which is the main courtyard where the master lives.

The north courtyard is obviously cleaner and more atmospheric than the south courtyard, and the courtyard is much more spacious. As soon as the main room was five, it was the host's residence, "Mr. Long, please," Chen Chao, who led the guests to the main courtyard, made a gesture to Long Qian, Long Qian was just about to speak, the door curtain was lifted, and a tall girl came out, and when she saw the two people in the courtyard, she couldn't help but say "ah", and then asked, "Who are they?" ”

"Shu'er," Chen Chao seemed dissatisfied with the girl's faux pas, "these two are friends who just met, hurry up and make us water and tea." After speaking, he smiled apologetically at Long Qian, "She is my niece, so it's no wonder that she is rude." ”

"How dare you, Mr. Chen is too polite." Long Qian smiled, before she could see the girl's face clearly, she had already agreed and turned around and walked towards the east wing, the thick black braid was thrown mischievously, leaving Long Qian with a graceful back.

Chen Chao let the guests into the living room and study, which is two rooms located at the west end of the main house, with blue brick floors, four white floors, and a table of eight immortals and two Taishi chairs in the front. On the wall behind the table of the Eight Immortals, there is a picture of landscape leisure, the paper has turned yellow, and it looks a little old. On both sides of the painting, there is a couplet: first-class people are loyal and filial sons, and two things are reading and plowing the fields. The quaint official book, I don't know if it is the handwriting of the owner of Chen Zhuang.

"Mr. Long, please take a seat," Chen Chao gave his seat, "this little brother also takes a seat." ”

"Thank you." Long Qian was not polite, sat down in the guest seat, looked at the layout of the room, and saw that there were wooden bookshelves at the bottom of the east wall, and half shelves of wire-bound books were placed on them. A desk painted red in jujube is placed in front of the bookshelf, on which are neatly placed the four treasures of the study. Long Qian noticed that the two wooden square boxes on the side of the bookshelf had been rubbed dark red due to their age, and they were probably a pair of Go.

Living in the cottage for a long time, seeing such an elegant study, I couldn't help but feel kind, "Mr. Chen, a gentleman, living in this paradise, a cup of tea, a book in hand, is really a fairy-like day." I think that the owner of Chen Zhuang should have a meritorious reputation, right? ”

"I'm ashamed to say that. I entered Beijing twice, but I returned disappointed, and the imperial examination was a journey, and I Chen Chao had no chance. ”

"It turned out to be a gentleman, disrespectful. Disrespectful. Long Qian bowed slightly.

"Hugh mentioned something," Chen Chao looked gloomy.

The door curtain was lifted, and a middle-aged woman dressed as a subordinate came in with a tea tray and placed three cups of hot tea on the table of the Eight Immortals, "Guests, please use tea." The woman spoke in the authentic Lunan dialect and turned away.

Mr. Long drank tea. This tea is a new tea from this spring given by a friend, and the road is not close, it is brought from Fujian. See how it tastes? ”

Long Qian took a sip of the cup and praised, "Good tea." Famous teas are mostly produced in the south, and it is a great pleasure to drink authentic white tea here. ”

"I don't know where Mr. Long's ancestral home is? Is this time in Shandong just to enjoy the mountains and rivers? ”

"The ancestral home of the contemptible people is Taiyuan Mansion in Shanxi. However, the generation of the ancestors had left their hometowns and went to Guangzhou first, and then to Nanyang to do business. My father crossed the ocean to the land of America. It's a shame to say that Long is twenty-five this year, but he is very unfamiliar with his homeland. ”

"I see," Chen Chao stared at Long Qian, intuition that this person had vicissitudes on his face, and he definitely looked older than he said he was, "I also heard that the United States is a new power, and the country is thriving, why does Mr. China want to return to China?" ”

"I'm ashamed to say that. My father died early, and the business he left behind was handed over to me, but he was not good at taking care of it, so he was the kind of authentic loser. My mother died unexpectedly last year, and I felt disheartened, so I wanted to return to China. In fact, there is another reason. Chinese, even if they have become American citizens, are still alien in the eyes of whites. It's not immune to discrimination. If you return to China, you will feel cordial when you look at it. ”

"I see." Chen Chao nodded, "Mr. Long has seen the world, and Chen has lived in this remote mountain for a long time, and he doesn't hear anything outside the window, and he wants to ask Mr. Long about many things." ”

"Don't dare, Mr. Chen is polite."

"Sir must have heard of 'Shingaku', right?"

"When I was in the U.S., I didn't hear the term 'new learning'. On the contrary, I didn't hear about it until I returned to China. In Shanghai and Guangzhou, scholars are enthusiastic about 'new learning'"

"What is 'new learning'? Chen, a village man, has long wanted to find out, please teach me. ”

Long Qian glanced at the books and newspapers spread out on Chen Chao's desk, thinking that although this person lived in the mountains, he didn't look like the rotten Confucian who was poor, and after a little consideration, "Don't dare." I'm not very interested in learning, otherwise I wouldn't have wasted my time and run around. The so-called new learning, I think it is for the old learning, and the Chinese in the United States call the old learning Chinese culture, which I think is very appropriate. The subset of economics and history is mostly the knowledge that domestic intellectuals have studied all their lives. However, Xinxue is a general term for the natural and social sciences of Western intellectuals, and the study of sociology is somewhat hindered by the ban of the imperial court, not to mention it, but the natural sciences and the deep knowledge are the shortcomings of our country. For example, physics, chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, geography, etc., we are indeed inferior to the Taixi countries. ”

"Mr. Long's explanation of Xinxue made me feel uncomfortable. Don't hide it from Mr., contemptible people also think that Western Studies has something extraordinary. Mr. Long just talked about education, which is quite insightful. Do you think that a private school professor like Zhuangzhuang is a waste of effort? ”

Of course, Long Qian can't speak ill of private schools, not to mention that private schools at least have a positive meaning for literacy, "Of course it's not in vain." As a Chinese, the classic culture of our ancestors is the root of national cultural inheritance, and it is necessary for Mengtong to learn. However, relying on the articles of the saints alone will not save the times. What's more," Long Qian sighed, "When I returned to my home country this time, I felt that the literacy rate was extremely low, and the citizens were illiterate, whether it was new learning or old learning, I don't think I could talk about it at all." Private schools are of great significance to the eradication of illiteracy, and they are of great merit. However, with all due respect, there are a lot of drawbacks. ”

"Oh, I want to hear about it."

"Today's world is a world of the jungle. They all know that the wars caused by the two opium trades in the years of China, Daoguang and Xianfeng, especially the First Sino-Japanese War five years ago, were even more tragic and unusually painful. So the imperial court learned from the pain and decided to learn foreign affairs and control the razor. After 30 years of Westernization, a gun factory was built, and ironclad warships were bought, so it should be safe for national defense, right? Who knew that the First Sino-Japanese War completely tore the bottoms of the Westernization movement to shreds. ”

Chen Chao sighed in his heart, "This person has good knowledge, but he has lived overseas for a long time, and he has not been influenced by my holy studies, so his speech is inevitably vulgar. Thinking like this in his heart, he didn't say it, still listening to Long Qian's explanation of the Westernization Movement.

"The Beiyang Fleet is said to be the sixth in the world and the first in Asia, and the tonnage is much larger than that of the Japanese fleet. When we, the overseas Chinese, heard this, we were all overjoyed and rushed to tell each other. This is true of the navy, and it is said that the equipment and strength of the army are not inferior to Japan. However, the whole court and the whole court, since the foreign affairs have strengthened the army, they can't help but be complacent, and they feel that although they can't defeat Britain, France, Germany, the United States and other Western powers, they will naturally have a good chance of winning against Japan, a small country. Therefore, from the shore of Korea, the whole court was actually a voice of war. The result? Ye Zhichao was in Korea, fearing the enemy like a tiger, and returned without a fight and lied about the military situation, what about the fleet, in the battle of Dadonggou, even if the losses exceeded the Japanese, there may not be no room for a war, but Li Zhongtang felt sorry for the fleet piled up with silver, and strictly ordered the turtle to retreat in the military port and wait for the fleet to be destroyed. As everyone knows, the significance of the navy lies in going to sea and retracting to the military port, which is a scenery only for enjoyment! After the most Lu suffered from the defeat in the land battle, the gate was blocked by the Japanese, and the self-sinking self-sinking, and the surrender of surrender...... Ding Ruchang, the commander of the water division, finally committed suicide and martyrdom. It is really embarrassing that the fleet built by the imperial court with all the effort of the people and the people should end up like this. What are the consequences? Taiwan's Penghu was cut off by the Japanese, and if it weren't for the people who were worried about Liaodong, I am afraid that it would be a place in the northeast and would no longer be owned by China. And the amount of compensation amounted to 250 million taels of silver, which is equivalent to three to four years of revenue from the Qing court.

When Ryukyu said this, he saw that Chen Chao closed his eyes slightly, looking in pain, so he kept his mouth.

The defeat of the First Sino-Japanese War and the Treaty of Shimonoseki the following year were particularly heart-wrenching for Chen Chao. Although he lives in the mountains, he is very concerned, but he has never heard such a concise comment, especially for the general process of land and naval battles, Chen Chao has heard of it for the first time, "Mr. Long is really knowledgeable. In the past, I heard from a visiting friend that it was the imperial court that embezzled the navy's military funds in order to prepare for the queen mother's birthday, resulting in the navy having no ships and no ammunition.

Long has also heard of this kind of rumor. However, from Long's point of view, if he really embezzled military funds to build the Summer Palace, it would not be a bad thing. Long Qian interrupted Chen Chao's words very rudely.

"Oh, why do you say that?"

"Only those who have mastered advanced ideas can bring out their due power with advanced weapons. With the emperor's strength, even if there are a few more ships, the final outcome will not change in any way. Long Qian smiled slightly, "It's different to build the Summer Palace, the garden is built there, as long as there are no more tragic events in the Xianfeng period, one day, maybe the ban may be opened as a resort for the people to visit freely, if you charge a few more tickets to subsidize the country, it is still a good deal for the benefit of the country and the people." ”

But these words are inevitably poisonous. However, Chen Chao was not angry, "Mr. Long is really amazing, so I'm not afraid that Chen will sue you for slandering the court?" ”

"Mr. Chen helped the needy, benefited the township, and was well-known, and he was a true Confucian. I don't want to do anything boring. In addition, if the imperial court does something that is not good for the people, it can't help but let the people complain. ”

Chen Chao smiled, "Mr. Chen doesn't deserve such praise." However, what is the connection between what Mr. said and the issue of private schools just mentioned? ”

"Mr. Chan's question is a big question. In addition, there are a few tricks in between, and Long did not understand__Long dared to ask Mr. Chen, what do you think of the word "world"? ”

"This__" Chen Chao was stunned and didn't know how to answer. As a Confucian student, of course, he knows the meaning of the world, and "self-cultivation, family harmony, governing the country, and leveling the world" is the highest ideal of Confucianism, plus "learning things, enlightenment, righteousness, and sincerity" constitute the basic moral norms and life ideals of Confucianism. If understood literally, "the world" is the territory of China, and the so-called "leveling the world" is not to pacify the world, but to flatten and divide the territory and unify China. But the world proposed by this uninvited guest is obviously not a corner of China__"The world that Mr. Long said probably refers to the five continents mentioned by Xinxue, right? ”

"Exactly." Long Qian bowed slightly, "For a long time, China has thought that it lives in the center of the world, and it has the name of China. Actually? China lives in the eastern part of Asia, and there are dozens of countries in Asia, except for China. Not to mention Europe, the Americas, Africa and Oceania. ”

Chen Chaodun was interested, "In the past, when I read the history of the Ming Dynasty, a Yi man named Matteo Ricci came to China and drew a map for the Wanli Emperor, which caused a lot of trouble__"

"I haven't read the history of the Ming Dynasty. But I've heard about it. That Matteo Ricci was a European, whose country was called Italy, in the southern part of Europe, and most of the land jutted into the sea. Matteo Ricci faithfully painted the position of China in the world, and when the imperial court saw it, how could he paint China on the periphery instead of the center? Is this worth it? Matteo Ricci, who consciously caused trouble, redrew a map of the world and the world, and this time he learned to be obedient and drew our country in the center of the world world, but it was too late. The shock that Matteo Ricci's map of the world gave to the imperial court is indescribable. ”

"Mr. Long is well-read and admirable." Chen Chao praised it. He has a wide range of knowledge, and he understands the term "Shilu Realm", which is originally a Buddhist scripture term, such as "Daqianshi Lujie", which refers to the world, but it is also appropriate, "Mr. Long means that there are many powerful countries in the world, and I am not the only one in China." ”

That's exactly what it means. China's geographical location and the development of its agrarian culture have led to its closed character. In all dynasties, the danger came from the nomads in the northern desert going south, so since Qin Shi Huang, the Great Wall was built to defend their agricultural civilization. You see, Long Qian dipped his finger in the already cooled tea, and drew a map of China on the desk, "The southeast is the sea, the west is the high mountains and snowy mountains and endless deserts that are difficult for humans to climb, and only the north is the vast Siberian plain. Therefore, the danger of the Han nation always comes from the north. The origin of this dynasty was out of Manchuria, and after the establishment of the government, it adopted a policy of marriage and other policies towards Mongolia, and the danger in the north was temporarily eliminated. I didn't expect a bigger danger to arise, and that was at sea__"

"Shu'er," Chen Chao suddenly shouted.

"Hey," said crisply, and at the top of the curtain, the girl with big pigtails just now came in.

"Shu'er, quickly change a cup of tea for the guest, and tell your aunt that I want to have a few drinks with Mr. Long when I kill a chicken at noon and scald the pot of old wine!"

"Hmm." The girl glanced at the patterns on the several cases that had not yet dried, and couldn't help but glance at Long Qian, who was meeting Long Qian's eyes and hurriedly bowed her head.

"Mr. Chen doesn't have to be polite__" Long Qian withdrew his gaze from the girl and smiled at Chen Chao.

"There are friends from afar, deserve it. Living in the mountains for a long time, it is rare to have such a smooth conversation. Chen Chao smiled, "Regarding the danger at sea, there is no need to say it, now I am afraid that there is no defense in the sea__ Mr. Long went around for a long time, is it said that in today's world, it is completely useless to learn the subset of scriptures and history?" ”

"Long traveled overseas in the past, and knew that the Western power is not only the strength of the ship and the artillery that we see, but also its social stability and cultural prosperity are not comparable to China, and the living standards of its people are beyond the imagination of our people. Take the United States of America as an example, its country is on the other side of the ocean, if you take a sea ship from Shanghai and cross the Pacific Ocean, you need to walk for more than a month. The area of its country is a little smaller than that of China, but it is not much smaller. The wealth and strength of his country is beyond the imagination of ordinary people. The country is only 200 years old, but it is already very rich, and there are many metropolises near the sea, and the population is so dense that it is simply shoulder to shoulder. The width of the streets and the towering of the buildings are unimaginable unless you see them with your own eyes. The country's transportation is convenient, not to mention trains and ships, and there is also a thing called a car, which has entered the homes of ordinary people. The car is not more than a foot long, four or five feet wide, do not want to be dragged by cattle and horses to be able to walk like flying, people sit in it, go to work to meet customers, I don't know how convenient the road is, a family of four or five, can all sit in, Sunday family travel, it is a great beauty. Hundreds of miles away, see the sun on both sides. If you go to Jinan Mansion from here, you will set off after breakfast and eat lunch at the old restaurant in Jinan Mansion, which is okay. Besides, we use oil lamps for lighting at night, and if you light a wax, you will enjoy it very much. But its national electricity is popular, the countryside is not easy to speak, but its city, has used electric lights, such a big bulb, after the electricity, the whole house is bright, men read and write, women cut clothes, completely unaffected by the night; There is also water, every house has introduced tap water, a water pipe is connected, and as soon as the faucet is turned on, clean water will flow out, and it will be inexhaustible. How convenient do you want to live? There is also a kind of phone installed at home, you can talk to friends hundreds of miles away without leaving home, as if it is right in front of you__"

Chen Chao was dumbfounded when he heard this. Even Jiang Yun, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, was also shocked, but Long Qian did not allow them to question, and continued to speak, "To be honest, we are greatly behind. Mr. Chen, please think about it, behind the strength of the ship, is the prosperity of science and technology, how to mine ore, how to smelt steel, how to float in the water without sinking, and how to float in the water without sinking? How to turn on the lights and how does the phone work? These things, the ancestors didn't teach us, the Four Books and the Five Classics, Zhu Zi's family motto, and he didn't talk about __"

These words not only made Chen Chao stunned, but even Jiang Yun was stunned. I have been following Long Qian for a long time, and I have never heard Long Qian speak, and I was about to speak, but I only listened to the crisp words outside the curtain, "You really know how to make up stories to make up people, how can there be such a novel thing?" How can a car walk without being pulled by an ox or a horse? How can a lamp be lit without oil? What else is the phone number, it's even more made up"__The door curtain was raised, and the girl with big pigtails just now walked in and looked straight at Long Qian.

"Shu'er, don't be rude to guests__"

Long Qian saw the girl's appearance head-on, only to see that she was eighteen or nineteen years old, with a pair of big eyelashes on her melon seed face, smart and energetic, probably living in the countryside for a long time, with healthy black and red skin, carrying a teapot in her hand, looking straight at Long Qian.

"This is my niece, nicknamed Shu'er," Chen Chao coughed dryly, "Why don't you apologize to Mr. Long?" He seemed to have forgotten that he had introduced Long Qian.

"It doesn't matter. The girl's question is normal, isn't my little cousin also writing disbelief? If you don't see it with your own eyes, where can Long make up so many stories? Long Qian smiled slightly.