January 2, 1902,

That is, the day after Lu Shi was awarded.

London Politics and Economics,

Superintendent's Office.

George Bernard Shaw sat in an armchair and looked at the newspaper in turn,

Le Figaro,

Le Monde,

"Dawn",

……

Because it's all in French, I can't read it fast.

Opposite George Bernard Shaw sat an old English gentleman,

He's almost bald,

Starting from the forehead, the hair in the middle area is gradually thinning, and the vast majority of the scalp is exposed, while the hair on the sides is slightly thicker, which contrasts with the middle,

It looks like two pinches of hair sticking to the side of a braised egg.

This man's name was William Randall Kremer,

A well-known social activist, he was a member of the First International and, like Frederick Passy, was the founder of the Parliamentary Coalition for Arbitration and Peace.

In two years' time, he will be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

"Whew~"

George Bernard Shaw let out a sigh of relief.

"I don't think it's optimistic."

Kremer let out an "um" and said, "I didn't expect Mr. Zola's posthumous name to cause such a wide discussion." ”

The two smiled wryly at each other.

After a moment, Kremer asked, "Will Sir Lu come today?" ”

George Bernard Shaw was curious,

"How did you meet him?"

Do you still need to know?

As far as Britain is concerned, whether it is in the academic circle, the literary circle, or the political circle, who does not know Lu Shi?

But in a way, Kremer does have his own "way",

"Frederick told me about him."

George Bernard Shaw recalled,

"Ah...... As I remember, Mr. Passy is this year's Peace Prize laureate. ”

Kremer nodded: "When Frederick talked about Sir Lu, he focused on his two identities: first, internationalist; Second, humanitarians. Coincidentally, his KBE was awarded the title because of this. ”

George Bernard Shaw hooked his lips,

In the eyes of a thousand people, there are a thousand land hours,

These "1,000 land hours" are either positive or negative, but all of them are impressive.

George Bernard Shaw said, "Listen to you, Mr. Lu and Mr. Passy met in Stockholm?" ”

Kremer nodded,

"Sir Lu also helped write the "Parliamentary Union Charter", which is really brilliant and makes people listen to it with enthusiasm."

He even began to recite:

“

'We will unite in our determination,

To save future generations from the scourge of war that has been the unspeakable scourge of mankind in this generation......

”

George Bernard Shaw shook his head when he heard this,

As a fellow social activist, he supported women's rights, advocated income equality, and advocated the abolition of private property, so he deeply identified with Lu Shi's IPU Charter.

When Kremer finished reciting, he even took out a bottle of wine,

"Lu's charter is well written! It made me feel the urge to have a drink! ”

He raised his cup,

"William, are you coming?"

Kremer waved his hand and said in a low voice: "I'm old, quit early~"

He turned the subject back to Emile Zola and asked, "Mr. Shaw, do you think Mr. Zola should be honored?" ”

Although the mountaineering in the literary circle is not as good as the academic circle, let alone the political arena, it has been tilting against each other since ancient times.

For example, Hesse,

Because of the discussion of naturalism, he and Zola scolded in the newspaper,

But one of them was German and the other was French, and the newspaper was slow to deliver information, so it was over after a few rounds.

Similarly, George Bernard Shaw was not necessarily fond of naturalism.

Fortunately, he nodded: "Mr. Zola deserves to be buried in the Père Lachaise cemetery or the Montmartre cemetery and treated with a high standard." ”

Kremer was relieved,

"That's how it should be, and I think so."

The corners of George Bernard Shaw's mouth hooked,

"Why, you probed my tone first, because you were worried that I would 'slander' on the land?"

Kremer is really worried about this,

I heard before that George Bernard Shaw and Lu Shi were friends for the New Year, and they were very close to each other.

If George Bernard Shaw really had the intention to sabotage, it would certainly have an impact.

Of course, this cannot be said explicitly.

Kremer laughed,

"I'm just worried that you and Mr. Zola don't agree on ideas."

George Bernard Shaw looked indifferent,

"Naturalism, you say? Indeed, I think that kind of writing like a cat and a tiger is a bit childish and unaesthetically devoid. But it is a battle of creative ideas, and it will not affect my judgment of a person's character. ”

Kremer replied: "That's not what I want to say. You support the abolition of private ownership. And Mr. Zola, in his book "Labor", predicted that if he did so, there would be a very funny situation in the future. He gave an example: sometimes, soap is not available in the store at all; Sometimes, the shelves are filled with soap, and demand exceeds supply. ”

Or they all say that Zola is a master,

His prophecy would indeed be fulfilled in the future when the regime that succeeded Tsarist Russia would be fulfilled.

But George Bernard Shaw could not see that far and was about to retort,

Then there was a knock at the door,

Knock Knock Knock –

At the same time, there was Lu Shi's voice: "Lao Xiao, it's me." ”

George Bernard Shaw went to open the door,

"Land ......"

He smacked his lips and quipped, "Sir Lu." ”

Lu Shibai glanced at the other party,

"Big brother, we've known each other for so long, don't you make fun of me, right?"

George Bernard Shaw spreads his hands,

"It's because I've known you for a long time that I'm joking with you."

He brought Lu Shi into the office,

"If this Mr. Crimer calls you 'Sir Lu,' that's sincere."

Lu Shi knew Patsy, and naturally knew Kremer,

He stepped forward to shake hands with the other party, and then asked straight to the point: "Why is there a controversy after the death of a writer like Mr. Zola?" Are the French brain-pumping? ”

Kremer was helpless,

"It's not ...... if the brain is down. Well, it's true that some people have their brains pumped. ”

He pointed to the newspaper spread out on the table,

"Of course, there are also some people who are sober and determined."

By implication, the French view of Zola was divided into two factions.

George Bernard Shaw prompted: "Lu, you should read Le Monde first, that is a positive point of view. ”

Lu Shi picked up the newspaper from the admonition,

He read in a low voice:

“

Emile risked his own safety, reputation, and even his life to use his talents to put pen to the service of the truth.

He was an outstanding literary warrior and a defender of ethics and morality.

When others remain silent, he expresses his opinion. ’

……

”

It's very smooth.

Kremer was stunned next to him,

Although I knew that Lu Shi could write in French, I really felt different when I saw that I could read the newspaper at a glance and ten lines.

No wonder Frederick said that Lu Shi was a genius,

Indeed Ox X.

Lu Shi put down the newspaper,

"This is Mr. France's article, and the evaluation is very objective. No, it should be said that the words he used were not rich enough, and Mr. Zola deserved even more praise. ”

He sighed,

"Speaking of which, how did Mr. Zola die?"

Zola dies of gas poisoning in his Paris apartment on September 28, 1902.

Now it's even early, which is really a loss for literature.

Kremer glanced cautiously at Lu Shi,

An eerie silence,

“……”

Faintly, a strange feeling rose in Lu Shi's heart.

He didn't squeak either, quietly waiting for an answer.

It took a long time for Kremer to spit out one word: "shipwreck." ”

Lu Shi was confused,

"What?"

Kremer said helplessly: "Sir Lu, you have a very high rating of Mr. Zola in Stockholm, which makes him very proud. So, he wanted to go back to England to see ...... Of course, these are just speculations, and there is no evidence. ”

The reason why I say "back to England" is because Zola's first stop in exile was in London.

Later, I went to the United States.

Lu Shi waved his hand,

"It's not going to be hearsay. I know that there must be some reason for the so-called 'speculation'. ”

Kremer let out a soft "um",

"Yes. While sorting through Mr. Zola's belongings, the crew found his notes, which contained his mental journeys. He chose to return to the UK for two main reasons: first, he wanted to communicate with you face-to-face; The second is to revisit the old place. ”

Lu Shi still doesn't understand,

Zola had just been released from prison, and there was no reason why he should be thrilled after hearing a stranger's evaluation.

Just when he was puzzled, he thought of a work-

Upside Down.

That's a drama about equality, and it's all over the U.S. colleges and universities.

And Zola devoted his life to equality,

Coupled with the fact that he had lived in exile in the United States, it was normal to hear about it.

Lu Shi is helpless,

"That's ...... so"

George Bernard Shaw patted him on the shoulder,

"Lu, don't think about it, I don't blame you for this."

Lu Shi is not a moral guardian, of course he will not blame himself for this,

But thinking that a great writer in the distance admires himself so much, it is impossible for him to have no thoughts in his heart, and it is impossible for him to have no emotional fluctuations.

At the beginning of the crossing, he thought about self-preservation and being able to survive.

But now, his mind has changed,

Now that you have integrated, there are some things that you should stand up for.

What's more, he now has the ability, status, and money, and many things are just a matter of raising his hands.

Lu Shi said: "Let's talk about it specifically? ”

Kremer shook his head,

"Sir Lu, let's take a look at the opposing point of view first. Just look at Le Figaro. ”

Lu Shi smiled,

"Mr. Kremer doesn't know. I know very well the circumstances of Mr. Zola's exile, so I don't have to ......."

Kremer interrupted: "Let's see before we decide." ”

"Ah......h

Lu Shi was surprised,

"Since you've said so, well."

He opened Le Figaro and found the page of Zola's evaluation,

Unexpectedly, the title of the article was "Protecting Innocence",

——

Innocence is the most beautiful part of life, it represents innocence, innocence, kindness and happiness.

Children always express their emotions and thoughts in the most authentic way, they do not hide their joys and sorrows, and they do not deceive others.

……

It's a pity that in Mr. Zola's pen, innocence seems to be filthy.

That famous female character -

Nana

By the time she was six years old, she "already looked like a scoundrel";

At the age of ten, "the wicked boy walked like a woman, staggering before Londiere, and squinting at him, with evil in his eyes";

At the age of fifteen, she was "plump like a calf, with very white skin, very red lips, and eyes like two lamps, on which all men wished to light pipes."

Soon, she began to charge for her body.

……

——

Lu Shi was stunned,

"How so?"

Zola was exiled because of an espionage case -

Dreyfus case.

Dreyfus, who was of Jewish descent, served in the French army with the rank of captain.

He was convicted and soon sent to prison.

Zola stepped forward and published the article "Scherel Dreyfus",

Later, he wrote "My Complaint: Letter to the President of the Republic", exposing the misdeeds of the military and accusing several high-ranking French military officials by name as masterminds.

(PS: The article "I Accuse" is very famous.) ）

Around the Dreyfus case, there was a split in France:

One side advocates a retrial, calling for the truth to be disclosed and the mistakes corrected;

One side opposed the retrial, arguing that the traitor must be put to death.

Both sides have names, the former is called the "League of Human Rights" and the latter is called the "League of the French Fatherland".

The impact of this incident on society can be seen.

There is even a new word popularized -

Intelligentsia.

As a class, it is given a special meaning,

Intellectuals have their own expertise, but at the same time they are concerned with public affairs, uphold fairness and justice, and strive to tell the truth to the people.

But speaking out comes at a price, and revenge comes as scheduled,

The military sentenced Zola to one year in prison and a fine of 3000 francs for defamation,

Zola was forced into exile.

Later, although the military court retried the case, it upheld the original verdict and declared Dreyfus guilty, only adding: "The circumstances of the crime are special and extenuating." ”

But even so, it still makes many people feel that they have been refuted.

But it also allowed Zola to return to France and continue his struggle.

Lu Shi scratched his head,

"I thought they would make a fuss about the Dreyfus case, starting with patriotism~"

George Bernard Shaw on the side smoked his pipe,

"Before the closure of "Chaowen Dao", they might have done that."

Lu Shi smiled dumbly,

Because of Nicholas II's two-fool operation, the media all over the world understood a truth:

If you want to get off the hot search, it is absolutely impossible for the two sides to fight back and forth.

That would only make things hotter.

The way to reduce the heat is to find a new hot spot to cover the previous hot spot, or start from somewhere else to discredit the person concerned.

And Zola's problem is precisely clear,

There are too many erotic descriptions of his!

It is true that there are many French people who write about it, and there are not a few people who are explicit.

But as the report said, Zola's portrayal of Nana appeared as a supporting role in "Tavern" at the age of six, and in "Nana", she became the gorgeous protagonist who made all men fall under the pomegranate skirt.

No matter how receptive the French are, if they tell them,

"Three-year-old looks young, seven-year-old looks old, this girl is destined to come out to sell in the future."

They must not agree.

This is the logic of the article "Protecting Innocence".

Lu Shi snorted coldly,

"These guys are pretty smart. Don't dare to start from the front, but play some moral smear. ”

George Bernard Shaw's expression was also very cold, and he said: "The French literary circles are on the side of Mr. Zola, those people can play with the pen?" And it's not just the pen, but also Mr. Monet who sought justice for Dreyfus. ”

Monet's set of "Water Lilies" exhibited at the World Expo, which has become a cultural symbol of France, and no one can afford to mess with it.

Lu Shi fell into deep thought,

Suddenly, he asked Kremer as if he remembered something, "Mr. Kremer, how did you get involved in this?" ”

Kremer shrugged,

"Where humanitarianism is needed, there is me."

Lu Shi heard a chill,

This old man, you don't think you're handsome when you talk like this, do you?

He and George Bernard Shaw looked at each other,

Eye contact, everything is in plain sight.

Kremer is full of black lines,

￣□￣｜｜，

"Hey, hey! Don't stop talking! I'm super embarrassed like this! ”

He said helplessly: "Actually, there is nothing wrong with what I just said. But the matter was mainly Frederick's idea, and as a Frenchman, he thought that the military's retaliation against Mr. Zola was very excessive, so he ran around. ”

Lu Shi is clear,

"It turns out that the court's concession is a credit to Mr. Passy."

"This ......"

Kremer seemed to get more embarrassed,

After a long time, he said: "No, he ran to try to commute the sentence of Mr. Zola. Didn't the French military accuse Mr. Zola of defamation and imprison him for one year? ”

"Tsk......"

Lu Shi was speechless and didn't speak.

George Bernard Shaw, who was next to him, asked very insightfully: "Mr. Zola ended up in exile outside for four or five years, is this a reduction or not?" ”

My brother is indeed a ghost in chatting, and he died of chatting in one sentence.

The room fell silent again,

“……”

“……”

“……”

No one spoke.

George Bernard Shaw felt something, and looked at Lu Shi,

"Lu, that ...... Do you smoke a pipe? ”

Lu Shi: "......"

"Old Xiao, you know I don't smoke. Besides, in order to ease the atmosphere, don't harm me! ”

George Bernard Shaw muttered, "Lu, you really can't chat. ”

Lu Shi:!

10,000 grass and mud horses rushed through the heart.

Kremer said, "Professor Lu, do you have anything to do about this?" ”

Lu Shi fell into deep thought,

In fact, France, as an old revolutionary area, is the same every year.

At the beginning of 1902, nationalists were still able to make a fuss in the newspapers denigrating Zola.

According to the original timeline, if Zola had died on September 28, 1902, he would have no problem with his burial in the Montmartre cemetery.

Despite the harassment organized by nationalists, the funeral procession still numbered more than 20,000 people, including Dreyfus.

In 1906, the French High Court declared that the charges against Dreyfus were no longer established.

Soon after, he was reinstated in the ranks and promoted to major.

Therefore, Lu Shi can do nothing at all, and the wheel of history will correct Zola, and it will not take a few years.

But now that the matter is in front of me, there is absolutely no reason for me to stay out of it.

"I will respond with literature," he said. ”

"Whew~"

Kremer let out a sigh of relief,

"If only you said yes. Otherwise, Frederick would have to come from France and try to convince you. Of course, how could the compilers of the IPU Charter stand idly by and watch such a thing? ”

Next to George Bernard Shaw is more practical,

He asked, "Lu, what are you going to do with your creation?" ”

Lu Shi pondered,

"Since the other party wants to talk about innocence, then I'll play with them."

He glanced at the two of them,

"Old Shaw, Mr. Kremer, how do you think the innocence of children should be understood?"

This proposition is too big.

George Bernard Shaw frowned and said, "Lu, this subject matter is very dangerous. ”

Kremer shook his head,

"Mr. Xiao, I think it's too early to say that. In today's world, changes are very fast, and various themes are blooming. Just a year ago, you could have thought of "The Country Teacher", "Yes! Works like "The Prime Minister", "Animal Farm"? ”

George Bernard Shaw groaned,

Then, he smiled convincingly,

"At the end of the day, it all comes down to the quality of the work. If it is well written, dangerous subjects can also become safe; If it's not well written, safe subjects can become dangerous. ”

That's to the point.

Lu Shi found a pen and paper,

In an instant, countless works crossed his mind.

Kremer was curious,

"Sir Lu, are you also going to write a girly theme?"

Lu Shi couldn't help laughing,

"Why does Mr. Kremer ask?"

Kremer shrugged,

"Human hypocrisy. Even though many girls now start selling their bodies at the age of twelve or thirteen, adults still like to pretend not to see, and it is a good idea to pierce this hypocrisy. ”

was reminded by him like this, Lu Shi instantly thought of "Lolita",

But after a moment's hesitation, he shook his head,

That book shouldn't have been taken out directly.

"In that case......

He muttered, writing the title of the new book on the paper—

"The Hunt".

(End of chapter)