The next day, at noon.

When Lu Shi got up, Natsume Soseki had already woken up and was sitting in an armchair not far away to open the letters.

Lu Shi rubbed his eyes,

"So early?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a soft cry of "meow~" came from under the bed,

I jumped on the bed.

Lu Shi stroked the cat and said, "I didn't bring you food from the United States." ”

The back of my hand when I arched my brain shell when I landed,

"Snorr~"

Lu Shi yawned and asked, "Natsume, is there something wrong?" ”

Natsume Soseki pursed his lips,

After a moment's hesitation, he said, "I think I'd better show you." ”

As he spoke, he shoved the letter back into the envelope and handed it over.

Lu Shi was a little confused,

"Isn't this letter addressed to you?"

He glanced at the envelope and saw that it was written in a straight envelope,

The recipient's name is written in the middle of the envelope from top to bottom, in neat handwriting and large font, while the sender's name is in the lower left.

Natsume Soseki,

Masaoka sub-rules are delivered.

Lu Shi took out the letter inside and began to read,

——

Natsume-kun:

When I saw Professor Lu the day before yesterday, I knew that there was a sky outside the sky and there were people outside the world.

He is also the successor of the Confucian sage, although his understanding of Japan is insightful, there are also misunderstandings, the so-called "dragon gives birth to nine sons, not dragons, each has its own good".

However, the disorganization of the branches does not affect the accuracy of the context, and it would be a great blessing if Japan could obtain Professor Lu's writings, such as "The Inconsequential Year of 1587".

I just don't know if it's possible?

This heart sincerely asks, do not vomit unhappy, I hope to forgive.

Best regards to Autumn Ann.

——

Lu Shi was speechless, and secretly said in his heart that the Japanese are really interesting,

On the surface, this letter is written to Natsume Soseki, but the content is not separated from himself, obviously hoping that Natsume Soseki will take it to himself to read,

Thinking about this little carefully, I went around in such a big circle.

Lu Shi chuckled and couldn't help muttering:

“

'The dragon gives birth to nine sons, not a dragon, each with its own good. ’

”

That's all too true.

The Confucian rites and teachings of the Confucian saints have developed into such a strange appearance in Japan, which is really outrageous.

Natsume Soseki touched his nose awkwardly,

"Lu, look at this ......"

Lu Shi waved his hand,

"It doesn't matter."

He brought a piece of paper and wrote on it, "The Nature of Japanese Civilization."

Natsume Soseki looked at it and said in a low voice: "Lu, I don't think that a civilization will have its nature, and the differences between people should be distinguished by individuals, not by groups. ”

It's a very modern and sharp view.

Lu Shi said: "I also agree. For example, the Germans are rigorous, the French are romantic...... Is the train often delayed and rigorous? Or is it the romance of urinating on the street? ”

Natsume Soseki was stunned for a moment, and then laughed,

"Hahaha!"

After coming to London, he had indeed heard too many similar complaints from Europeans from all walks of life.

He shook his head, dispelling the smile,

"What about you?"

Lu Shi replied: "But it is precisely because a group has common characteristics that it can have borders with other groups and be considered different civilizations. It is true that there are individual differences, but 'the disorganization of the branches does not affect the accuracy of the context'. ”

These are the exact words of Masaoka Shiki's letter.

Natsume Soseki: "......"

"I still don't get it."

Lu Shi smiled and said, "You said that all people are different beings, including different wills. Materialistically, this is true. But human beings are the sum total of social relations, and it is not appropriate to separate the individual from society as a whole. ”

As he spoke, he bowed his head and pondered,

"There is a saying...... 'Clever idealism is closer to intelligent materialism than stupid materialism.'"

Natsume Soseki was surprised,

"How come I haven't heard that."

"Ah......h

Lu Shi was speechless, and then remembered that the Russian macho man had not yet taken the throne.

He waved his hand away from the subject,

"Taking a step back, when I use this title, I am actually quoting the works of my predecessors."

"Is it the work of the past?"

Natsume Soseki fell into memory,

A moment later, a name rushed into my mind—

Koizumi Yakumo.

The writer had written "Japan and the Japanese," and "The Nature of Japanese Civilization" was the title of the first chapter of the book.

Natsume Soseki was surprised,

"Lu, you are really knowledgeable."

He was amazed at how much Lu Shi reads, and even more surprised at Lu Shi's memory.

In Japan, "Japan and the Japanese" is the unpopular among the unpopular, a little colder than the "Floating Clouds" of the four fans of Futabatei.

Natsume Soseki said, "You like this book? ”

Lu Shi does not deny that

"I agree with some of them."

Natsume Soseki's face was complicated, and after enduring it for a long time, he still couldn't hold back, and asked in a low voice: "Lu, do you know that Koizumi Yakumo is not Japanese?" ”

Koizumi Yakumo is of mixed race, his father is Irish, and his mother is Greek.

however

The father marries another, and the mother is remarried;

Dad doesn't hurt, Mom doesn't love.

He became an orphan at the age of seven, lost his left eye in his left eye because of a fight with his classmates at school, dropped out of school at the age of sixteen and entered society, earning a living at the bottom, and spent most of his life adrift.

Later, he went to Japan to work, during which he fell in love with the customs of Japan at first sight, so he became a Japanese citizen in his 40s and changed his name.

Koizumi Yakumo was thus given a new lease of life.

With such a background, it's no wonder that Natsume Soseki doesn't approve of it.

He sighed, "It is said that Koizumi Yakumo is extremely emotional and capricious. When he wants to be good with someone, he can't wait to dig out his heart and lungs; Once you turn your face, you will leave the other party behind. His friends in his early years were estranged from him, his sister corresponded with him, and he often handed back empty envelopes. ”

Lu Shi was a little surprised,

Even he doesn't know this paragraph, why is the unsociable Natsume Soseki clear?

Perhaps sensing Lu Shi's doubts, Natsume Soseki said, "Lu, do you know that Koizumi Yakumo is the author of strange talks?" ”

Lu Shi nodded,

"Well, "Strange Talk" and "From the East"~"

Natsume Soseki went on to explain: "The ghosts created by Koizumi Yakumo are willful, self-willed, moody, unwilling to be bound by morality and even emotion, and love people first, and then kill and eat people when they turn around, which is very unreasonable. ”

Lu Shi understood,

"You think those ghosts are a reflection of his soul."

Natsume Soseki said cautiously: "'Soul' is not, I think, it can be regarded as a reflection of his experience and heart." In short, I don't endorse...... Not only me, but also the vast majority of Japanese people do not approve of the ghosts he creates. Those are not Japanese ghosts. ”

After a moment of silence, he came to a conclusion,

"Although Koizumi Yakumo lives in Japan, he doesn't know Japan."

Lu Shi: "......"

I somehow felt like I was a little persuaded.

The main thing is that Natsume Soseki is too reasonable!

He coughed awkwardly,

"Goblins? Only this reason? ”

Natsume Soseki shook his head again and again,

"How so? The main thing is that what he writes is outrageous. Let's not talk about his description of Japan, but some of the ideas, such as, 'In the future, abundance will be the source of weakness', how outrageous is this~"

"Poof! cough cough cough ......"

Lu Shi laughed out loud and hurriedly covered it up with a cough,

It is estimated that Natsume Soseki has 10,000 brains, and he can't imagine the changes of the Showa boy → Heisei waste→ Reiwa and the fierce man.

It can only be said that Koizumi Yakumo understands.

Natsume Soseki poured water for Lu Shi,

"It's a long journey, look at your cough like this, don't get sick."

Lu Shi took a sip of water and suppressed his smile.

He said, "Do you remember the content of 'Japan and the Japanese'? What is written in the first chapter, "The Nature of Japanese Civilization"? ”

Natsume Soseki stroked his beard and recalled,

"I want to think about it...... It seems to be ...... Well...... Something like 'the adoption of Western civilization'. After all, when this book was written, Japan was still under the control of Great Britain, and the "Japan-Britain Treaty of Commerce and Navigation" was signed later to balance Russia and the United States. ”

Lu Shi said "um" and said, "Wen and Hua." ”

Natsume Soseki nodded,

"That's right, it's this 'cultural and transformational'. Koizumi Yakumo believed that it would be very difficult for Great Britain to reorganize the thinking of the Japanese. In the eyes of the Japanese, there are some things that are not spared at the cost of life, and the cost of culture is very high, but it is ineffective. ”

Lu Shi asked rhetorically: "Then do you agree with this point of view?" ”

One sentence made Natsume Soseki stunned.

It's a question that really needs to be thought about.

Lu Shi doesn't need an answer,

He said: "I just said that Koizumi Yakumo is a writer of Shikai, so I will also tell a ghost story?" ”

Natsume Soseki chuckled,

"I'm afraid it's not a ghost story, it's a fable, right? It's okay, you can talk about it. ”

Lu Shi recounted: "A soldier carried out his mission, then returned to the barracks safely, and completed the handover. When everything was done, he suddenly collapsed. Doctors later found out that he had been dead for two hours. ”

Natsume Soseki was speechless for a while,

I thought Lu Shi would tell some fable~

Unexpectedly, it's really a ghost story.

He complained: "Your story is too ...... Hmmm......"

As a result, before the word "boring" was finished, he remembered the source of the story-

Sino-Japanese War.

This was a false deed fabricated by Japan at that time when it was propagating the war.

It really looks like nonsense, and Natsume Soseki's first reaction is that only people with water in their brains will believe it.

However, the Japanese just believe,

This is because in the propaganda, the military department added the words "with infinite loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor" and "the sacred mission entrusted to him by His Majesty the Emperor."

In the eyes of the Japanese, the emperor is a son of God!

As a result, they also appear to be gods, psychopaths, and big fools.

Lu Shi said: "There are several chapters in Koizumi Yakumo's book, "Several Thoughts on Ancestor Worship", "The Religion of Loyalty", and "The Concept of the Soul First", which are quite well written and have merit. ”

Natsume Soseki is irrefutable.

He suddenly remembered something and said curiously: "Lu, there is a chapter in the book, "The Future of the Far East", which also talks about China. What do you think? ”

Lu Shi thought for a moment and said, "Koizumi Yakumo has already given the answer in the book, 'The hundreds of trillions of people who will never change in Ina have been subjugated to foreigners several times, and the result is only like a clump of reeds, swept by a few gusts of wind. ’”

Natsume Soseki himself is an anti-war activist, so he is highly recognized.

He couldn't help but smile bitterly,

"Koizumi Yakumo said that the Japanese are the Greeks of the East, and if this is really the case, then China is not the Rome of the East?"

Lu Shi was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help laughing,

My roommate is indeed no longer the original serious, and the jokes are slippery.

He patted the other man on the shoulder,

"You're doing well in European history."

Natsume Soseki waved his hand,

"Not as good as you, the 'founder of the new historiography.'"

The brother is getting more and more humorous.

Lu Shi laughed again.

Natsume Soseki didn't talk about the topic of China and Japan anymore, and instead said, "So, if you really want to write, you're going to learn from it...... Forehead...... A tribute to Koizumi Yakumo's "Japan and the Japanese", and to write in the same way? ”

The word tribute is used as if Koizumi Yakumo is dead,

They can live for another three years.

Lu Shi shook his head,

"Nope. I do quote him, but not much. ”

In his mind, there are many excellent books written about Japan, but none of them are independent.

"The Chrysanthemum and the Knife",

This book has been skipped many times in Lu Shi's mind, and the shortcomings are obvious, but in short, it is two words:

One-sided.

There are too many procedural errors.

But the advantages of this book are just as obvious,

Its author, Ruth Benedict, has extremely profound historical essay writing skills, and the text is extremely readable, even higher than "The Fifteenth Year of Wanli".

In this way, it can ensure legibility, which in turn increases sales and topicality.

"Japan and the Japanese",

This book has already been talked to Natsume Soseki, and the downside is that the writing is obscure.

As for the merits, it is the author himself,

Koizumi Yakumo is a European but integrated into Japan, so his works are not erudite and equal.

He really put himself on an equal footing to understand a country and contributed his own tangible experience.

History of Japan,

The author is Taro Sakamoto,

As an academic monograph, it is authoritative and comprehensively written.

However, because the book was written in World War II, the modern history part lacks objectivity, and the content is very boring, which makes people want to sleep, and not many people can finish it.

……

If you really want to write about Japan thoroughly and sell well, you must consider it in a comprehensive manner.

There is a saying:

"The Chrysanthemum and the Knife" is a glimpse of the light; "Bushido" knows probably; "The Book of Ye Yinwen" is in a good situation; You will know it if you read "History of Japan". ”

This is the proof.

Lu Shi slowly lifted the pen and pondered for a moment, feeling that the beginning had to be the most eye-catching thing in "Chrysanthemum and the Knife".

He wrote hard.

Natsume Soseki reads on the side,

"Kikuku is the family crest of the Japanese imperial family, representing gentleness and humility; The sword is a symbol of bushido culture and represents martial and aggressiveness. These two things carry the spiritual core of the Japanese, who are polite but arrogant; They are stubborn, but they are very fickle; They are loyal and generous, but they are rebellious and resentful......"

Reading and reading, Natsume Soseki's cold sweat suddenly came down,

Chrysanthemum and knife ......

That's a pretty accurate summary.

Lu Shi was about to go back, but he heard a sudden knock at the door.

"Lu!"

It seems to be Wardhouse's voice.

Natsume Soseki: "Huh? He said, "Lu, Sir came to look for you this morning, but seeing that you were sleeping, he left first." said that he was going to Buckingham Palace to restore his life, and he could do it alone. ”

Lu Shi said clearly: "So he came back from the palace." ”

As he spoke, he went over and opened the door.

Wardhouse stood in the doorway,

"Lu, I have just met with His Majesty the King, and he is very pleased with the results of our visit to the United States. He wants you to get the Mirror into action as soon as possible and publish the global university rankings early next year, with official endorsements from the Royal Publishing House and the Privy Council. ”

Lu Shi nodded,

"That's fine."

Wardhouse lowered his voice and said, "Then there's the honor." The Order of the British Empire has been designed, and you will be able to award it on New Year's Day next year. ”

In this regard, Lu Shi is already bearish,

As for Edward VII's whimsical idea king, thank God for not making any more moths.

"Anything else," he asked. ”

Wardhouse took out a telegram and handed it over,

"From Mr. Goodman."

(End of chapter)