Because "I Am a Cat" is so popular, almost all the limelight in the publishing industry and the newspaper industry has been stolen.

The ordinary citizens of London did not notice that a new book on popular history had been published by Lu—

"The Nature of Japanese Civilization".

But for politicians and professors, Lu Shi's every move is worth noting.

There was "Guns, Germs and Steel" before,

After "The Fifteenth Year of Wanli",

Which is not an innovation?

Downing street

Office of the Prime Minister.

Arthur James Balfour has been Prime Minister for a few months, and the situation has stabilized.

Opposite him sat a drooping old man,

The old man's hair was already thinning and gray, and the years had carved deep wrinkles on his face, like ravines in a field,

If you don't prompt, no one can guess that this person is the former Prime Minister Cecil,

The loss of power seems to drain his power,

Shrewd and capable, old and strong......

None of these words have anything to do with Cecil today.

Fortunately, his slightly sunken eyes still shone with the light of wisdom, indicating that he is still a trustworthy senior, just like "Yes! Sir Arnold Robinson in The Prime Minister.

"Have you read this book?"

Balfour shook "The Nature of Japanese Civilization" in his hand.

Cecil nodded,

"Well, I'm done."

Saying that, haha laughed,

"That's the benefit of retiring early, having a lot of time to read books and fish. How? Do you have any thoughts on this book? Could it be that you ...... because of a book Hiss...... You can't really be swayed by your thoughts, right? ”

Balfour couldn't help but fall silent.

It must be admitted that "The Nature of Japanese Civilization" is indeed very inflammatory,

He had to consider the possibility of Japan suddenly stabbing him in the back.

The so-called "hunting geese all day long, making geese peck their eyes", stabbing knives is something that only Great Britain can do.

Cecil raised an eyebrow,

"Have you ever thought that it was a discordant plan for land time?"

That's outrageous.

Balfour resisted the urge to laugh and said, "Uncle Robert, it is too ...... to write a historical monograph to drive a wedge between Japan and Britain It's so inefficient......"

Secildon Stopper,

“……”

Balfour continued: "And what politician will be judged by a book? ”

Cecil pouted,

"You."

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

Balfour was caught off guard and hurriedly said, "I think Professor Lu is really for the good of Great Britain." ”

He lowered his voice,

"You should know that His Majesty is going to award him a medal. Of course, this is not the main reason why I say that he is for the good of Great Britain, after all, not every scholar will be bought in a false name. I think he's doing it for the good of Great Britain because he really ...... Hmmm......"

It seems that for a while no suitable wording can be found.

Cecil was puzzled,

"How?"

Balfour pointed to his temple, lowered his voice, and said, "Don't you think that His Majesty is suddenly normal?" ”

In the past, Edward VII was lazy in thought, and there were many frivolous people left and right.

But he was manipulated by Lu Shitong, and he was fooled into making great efforts, and there is a tendency to become a generation of Ming Jun.

Doesn't this mean that Lu Shi is good to Daying?

Cecil muttered, "That's true. ”

He pondered for a moment and asked, "What do you think of Japan?" ”

Balfour flipped through the book, thinking and replying: "After reading this book, the first question that came to me was, where is Japan's ambition? ”

I know the answer with my knees,

Cecil Says:

"China."

Historically, every political leader who could unify Japan would have set his sights on the Korean Peninsula.

After that, it was put on China.

Balfour smiled,

"Yes, that's my answer as well. However, if Japan had such ambitions, it would inevitably have contradictions with Russia in the north. ”

This judgment is undoubtedly correct,

In 1904~1905, Japan and Russia fought the Russo-Japanese War in order to compete for the interests of the peninsula and the northeast.

The child is too big to be a mother,

If Japan really fought and won, how could it not stab the British with a knife?

It's impossible to think about!

What's more, the new president of the United States, Theodore, is a stinky and shameless double-standard man, who misinterpreted the Monroe Doctrine as soon as he took office, took a formalist draft in Congress, and then stretched out his hand to Latin America, preparing to dig the Panama Canal.

It's likely that this product will also be involved in the Japanese issue.

Belfort sighed,

"That's how complex international politics is."

Cecil glanced at his nephew, but he was insightful.

"Excuses."

was commented on in person, Balfour couldn't hold his face, and said embarrassedly: "Uncle Robert, why do you say that?" ”

Cecil said: "The main reason why you want to cool down with Japan is Chamberlain. ”

Because Britain was gradually losing the leading position in trade that it had enjoyed since the Industrial Revolution, Joseph Chamberlain began to bring the issue of "imperial preferential tariffs" to the forefront, much to the deflated Conservatives.

For this reason, Balfour had to find a way to counteract,

Japan is a great place to start.

Belfour shrugged,

"I don't deny it."

Cecil said helplessly: "I think, you should have also watched "Inconsequential 1587", there is a word in it, 'party struggle', do you remember?" ”

He is clearly alluding to the current Conservative-Liberal rivalry,

It will not do Britain any good.

However, when it comes to Cecil, it seems very unconvincing,

In order to deal with the Liberal Party, he insisted on doing more things,

Boer War,

Continental Balance of Power Policy,

opposition to Irish self-government,

……

This is more stubborn than Belfort.

Belfort sighed,

"Uncle Robert, if I want to stop ...... in Boer now"

The voice did not fall,

"Why stop!?"

Cecil looked so agitated that he coughed incessantly.

Balfour hurriedly walked around to the desk, poured a glass of water for the other party, and then said: "Look, I haven't finished my words yet~"

Cecil finally calmed down,

"You...... I ......"

His face turned red,

Apparently, he already knew the reason why his nephew mentioned the Boer War.

I saw Belfort pacing to the window, holding the windowsill with both hands, looking at the traffic outside.

"I heard that there is a saying in China, 'If you use people as a mirror, you can see the gains and losses; With history as a mirror, we can know the rise and fall'. Thanks to Professor Lu's historiographical works, we can gain room for reflection and improvement. ”

Cecil's face darkened instantly,

It can be heard that Balfour wants to solve the problem of the Boer War as soon as possible.

Once a son of heaven and a courtier,

What else can be said?

Cecil sighed,

"yes, it's indeed become a wound for Great Britain."

He can only say words that cater to him.

Balfour couldn't help but hook the corners of his mouth,

Chaotic party struggle is internal friction, and orderly party struggle is a ladder.

I won't let Britain become a Ming dynasty.

Thinking so, his gaze swept over "The Nature of Japanese Civilization", and remembered the sentence "Using history as a mirror, we can know the rise and fall", so he said slowly: "To tell the truth, we really have to thank Professor Lu. ”

Cecil "forehead......

After a long time, he admitted, "I really should be thankful." ”

"He's really doing it for our good!" ×2

The two spoke in unison.

……

Blya Road.

Tatsunosuke Hasegawa, Fujimura Shimazaki, Ziki Masaoka,

Three Japanese people gathered here.

They have also finished reading "The Nature of Japanese Civilization" and are devious to the insights contained in the book.

It's just that there are some points of view in it, which still makes the three of them a little awkward.

Shimazaki Fujimura asked, "Professor Lu, for some reason, I feel that your book contains some hostility and dwarfing towards Japan. ”

Natsume Soseki on the other side is teasing us,

He said with some dissatisfaction: "Shimazaki-kun, I advise you to think about it before you speak, Lu Ke is a famous historian, how can he not be objective?" ”

Lu Shi listened, and was speechless in his heart,

How could he not have the slightest hostility towards Japan?

Despite his efforts to remain objective, some emotions cannot be completely eliminated.

He shrugged his shoulders and said, "Mr. Shimazaki has ever read my "Fifteen Years of Wanli"? Do you read my regret in it? ”

Shimazaki Fujimura scratched his head,

"Frankly, no."

He asked curiously, "Professor Lu, why do you ask that?" ”

Lu Shi replied with a smile: "But I did write the history of the Ming Dynasty with great regret at that time." Of course, it's more of a frustration. Shen Shixing, Zhang Juzheng, Wanli...... There is nothing they can do about Daming. ”

Masaoka Zigui on the side nodded,

"Indeed, it is difficult not to regret the identity of Chinese."

Lu Shi continued to ask, "Then, why didn't Mr. Shimazaki read it?" ”

Shimazaki Fujimura said, "I'm not Chinese...... Hmmm......"

He understood what Lu Shi wanted to say,

Reading "The Fifteenth Year of Wanli", I can't read the regret in it;

Reading "The Nature of Japanese Civilization", one can read the hostility and disgust in it.

Why is there a difference between the two?

At the end of the day, it's the butt that decides the head.

Shimazaki Fujimura said, "Professor Lu, do you want to say that I am too sensitive? ”

Lu Shi smiled, did not pick up the stubble,

It's best not to answer this kind of question directly.

Shimazaki Fujimura sighed,

“

The Japanese concept of religion is a contradiction. A Japanese person can use a variety of religions without barriers, such as going to a shrine when a child is born, going to church when getting married, and going to a monk when he dies. Shintoism, the state religion of Japan, is actually polytheistic, and in principle, anyone can become a god. ’

”

It's such a long time, and you can open your mouth to come.

Lu Shi was surprised, but he didn't expect the other party to even recite it.

He said, "Isn't that right? ”

Shimazaki Fujimura shook his head and explained, "There's nothing wrong with that. But I think there is something wrong with Professor Lu's writing. Your writing inevitably leads to the idea that the Japanese practice of religion is utilitarian, and even to the point that the Japanese do not have a strong sense of good and evil. ”

Lu Shi: "......"

I didn't have those thoughts when I wrote this paragraph.

It's just an optimistic description, and it's true that the other party is sensitive.

But it's also right to think about it, although Japan is greatly influenced by Chinese culture, it does not particularly emphasize the teachings of saints and moral standards.

Confucianism, it seems, only because it is practical?

If this is the case, then there is nothing wrong with the word "utilitarian".

Lu Shi glanced at Shimazaki Fujimura and said in his heart, it is still the Japanese who know themselves.

He coughed lightly,

"So, Mr. Shimazaki, how do you think it should be written?"

Shimazaki Fujimura immediately came to his senses and replied, "Professor Lu, have you ever heard of Sensoji Temple?" ”

Lu Shi nodded,

"Of course, legend has it that fishermen found a statue of Kannon in the Sumida River, so Sensoji Temple was built to enshrine the statue."

Shimazaki Fujimura couldn't help but be proud,

He said, "It seems that even Professor Lu knows the name of Sensoji Temple. However, you must not know that there is also a Asakusa Shrine next to Sensoji Temple. ”

Lu Shi felt slightly embarrassed,

"I know."

Shimazaki Fujimura froze,

"Huh?"

Lu Shi said, "The god enshrined in Asakusa Shrine is the fisherman who fished out the Buddha statue in the river. Mr. Shimazaki, if you have anything to say, just say it. ”

Shimazaki Fujimura is really familiar with Japan when he sees the land, and it is inevitable that he will have a trace of weakness.

He said cautiously: "Professor Lu, anyone can become a god, not to encourage everyone to believe in gods utilitarianly, but to encourage everyone to be pious, as long as they are pious, patient, and serious, there is room for improvement." ”

God's "upside"!

Lu Shi glanced at the other party,

"Mr. Shimazaki, do you believe this in the context of the rule of the shogunate?"

"Ah......h

Shimazaki Fujimura was speechless.

It doesn't matter when it's land,

"Of course, you can hold different views with me and seek common ground while reserving differences~"

That's a lot of magnanimity.

Shimazaki Fujimura said, "But ......"

Before the words fell, he was reprimanded by Masaoka Zigui:

"Shimazaki!"

Shimazaki Fujimura's face couldn't help but change, and suddenly put his hands on his knees and bowed deeply to Lu Shi,

"Sensation your intimate Marseille!"

Lu Shi was speechless,

"It's okay, it's okay, it's just a normal academic exchange."

Hasegawa on the side said, "Professor Lu, let him apologize." If you are willing to write a book for Japan, and you will not hesitate to learn and guide you, how can we be so disrespectful to you? The book ......"

Before he finished speaking, there was a knock on the door outside,

"Professor Lu."

It sounds familiar.

Lu Shi recalled for a few seconds, and then remembered the voice of Spencer Cavendis, the Chancellor of Cambridge University.

He went over and opened the door.

Cavendish greeted him and immediately said, "Professor Lu, long time no see. ”

When the land is out of the way,

"Headmaster, please come in. What are you looking for me? ”

Cavendish flashed into the room and said, "There were two scholars before, Sigmund Freud and Harlow Gale, who had very different academic views, so I wanted to give them a debate in Cambridge. ”

Headache when landing,

Sure enough, the two brothers found that spraying each other online was not enjoyable, so they changed to an offline appointment.

I knew that my hunch would not be wrong.

Just like writing and playing, there is a Chekov principle of the gun:

If a gun is seen in the first act, it should be used in the third act in a story that follows the traditional three-act structure. And vice versa, the act of firing in the third act should have been foreshadowed much earlier.

To put it simply, as long as the flag is set, it must be recycled.

Lu Shi's hunch was Chekov's gun.

He asked, "So?" ”

Cavendish smiled,

"Didn't I come to ask you to come out of the mountain and 'be a referee'? As you may know, neither of them said it explicitly, but they both regarded your advertisement in the Mirror as ...... Hmmm......"

Cavendish stopped,

"Got guests?"

The three Japanese quickly stood up.

Masaoka Zigui said, "Professor Lu, we are here to express our gratitude to you, and at the same time to say goodbye to you and Natsume-kun. We're going back to Japan. ”

Lu Shi nodded,

"Okay, we'll see you later."

Natsume Soseki got up,

"I'll send you one."

Masaoka Zigui shook his head again and again, saying "No, no, no", and pulled Tatsunosuke Hasegawa and Shimazaki Fujimura to leave Blaya Road.

Out of the gate, Hasegawa glanced back,

"Just now...... That was the headmaster of Cambridge just now? ”

Masaoka Zigui nodded,

"It seems so. I've just heard the words 'headmaster' and 'Cambridge', but my English has always been weak and far away from me. ”

He turned to Shimazaki Fujimura and asked, "Did you hear that?" ”

Shimazaki Fujimura is thinking about something,

When asked, he suddenly came back to his senses and nodded,

"It's the headmaster of Cambridge, yes. I didn't expect Professor Lu's contacts to be so extensive, and even the Chancellor of Cambridge was his guest, and it was really a shame that he could find time to write "The Nature of Japanese Civilization". ”

Masaoka said: "Most importantly, there are many criticisms and encouragements of Japanese civilization in the book, and we must be ashamed and courageous. ”

If Lu Shi is present, I'm afraid it will be difficult to hold on.

Why are these Japanese getting more and more complained about?

Masochistic tendencies?

Masaoka Zigui said in a low voice: "Professor Lu, a scholar with a true internationalist spirit, worked hard to create "The Nature of Japanese Civilization". He really did it for our good! ”

Hasegawa and Shimazaki Fujimura followed with a big nod,

The three of them exchanged glances, and suddenly, they turned to the gate of Blaya Road together, bowed deeply,

"Aligado, how much is Yimas!"

The sound was not small, and it frightened passers-by.

There was a drunk crew member who happened to pass by and saw three short Japanese hunched over, bowing to Blaiyalu and licking their lips curiously,

As a result, countless stories similar to "Lu Shigao Yi Helping Others" were brewed in my mind.

(End of chapter)