In early 1923, 55-year-old Cai Yuanpei traveled to Europe due to the "Luo Wenqian case".
The so-called "Luo Wenqian case" was a trick played by Cao Kun to forcibly shift charges in order to overthrow the cabinet at that time. The judicial authorities found Luo Wenqian not guilty time and time again, and Cao Kun instigated his subordinates to protest again and again. Judicial officials were unwilling to pronounce judgments indiscriminately, and Cao Kun
They simply dismissed all the prosecutors handling the case and replaced them with a new group, but Luo Wenqian was still found not guilty.
Speaking of which, there was no shortage of officials who adhered to principles during the Republic of China, such as the two groups of prosecutors who endured tremendous pressure to maintain judicial impartiality.
Unfortunately, it was of no use. In the end, Cao Kun forced the prosecutor general to prosecute Luo Wenqian.
Cai Yuanpei left at that time. He was completely disappointed with the Beiyang government and simply went to Europe to travel and study.
Originally, the Ministry of Education was short of money and could not pay salaries, so it relied on Cai Yuanpei to maintain it, and he tried his best to protect the teachers and students of the school in the turbulent situation. Once he left, Peking University's life would become even more difficult, and everyone was looking forward to it
Principal Cai can come back soon.
At the end of 1924, President Cao Kun resigned due to bribery. Teachers and students at Peking University called Cai Yuanpei: "Principal, please come back quickly. That bastard president has run away!"
In early 1925, Duan Qirui held a follow-up meeting. Peking University teachers and students called Cai Yuanpei: "Principal, please come back quickly. Old Duan is a good and reasonable man!"
In April 1925, the Beiyang government signed a contract with France. Teachers and students at Peking University called Cai Yuanpei: "Principal, please come back quickly. The Boxer Indemnity has been paid. This time it is gold francs!"
At the beginning of 1926, Cai Yuanpei finally returned to China, but he always stayed in Shanghai and refused to go north. Peking University teachers and students called again and said: "Principal, please come back quickly. The country can be without a president, but Peking University cannot be without a president!"
In April 1926, Zhang Zuolin sent troops to surround Peking University. Peking University teachers and students called Cai Yuanpei: "Principal, please come back quickly, these soldiers are so scary!"
Cai Yuanpei did not dare to go back because he was afraid of being killed by Wu Peifu.
Marshal Wu said in an interview with an English newspaper a while ago: "Extremism exists in China, starting from Sun Wen... In the north, there is Cai Yuanpei... Young people in China are poisoned by it, and if it is not curbed, the government will be uneasy."
Although Wu Peifu compromised with Zhang Zuolin, he was still very powerful in Peiping. He believed that Cai Yuanpei instigated the student riots. How could Cai Yuanpei dare to go back under such circumstances? What's more, Cai Yuanpei was actively building momentum for the Northern Expedition and was wanted by Sun Chuanfang.
People at Peking University are almost crying. Because the government does not pay wages, teachers are already having a hard time. The authorities also wantonly arrest and torture scholars and celebrities, and often accuse them of being red elements and shoot them. Now many professors have gone south. If this continues
The school is just empty.
So——Principal, please come back quickly, we really can’t hold on any longer!
…
Shanghai Concession.
His beloved wife Zhou Jun brought three letters and a newspaper and said with a wry smile: "Another letter has come from the north, and one of them is an open letter published in a newspaper."
"Well, in this situation, what can I do?" Cai Yuanpei first took the newspaper and looked at it.
The open letter in the newspaper was written by Zhou Zuoren. He first eliminated the political concerns about Cai Yuanpei's reinstatement, and then cited the difficulties Peking University faced that year.
come back!"
Cai Yuanpei glanced at it a few times, put the newspaper aside, and opened the other two envelopes, all of which advised him to return to Peking University as president as soon as possible.
It wasn't until the third letter was opened that Cai Yuanpei read it carefully. It was a theory of national salvation through education written by Liang Xuming, hoping that he would take the lead in rebuilding the China Education Association.
Cai Yuanpei has been engaged in education for many years and is well aware of the hardships involved.
At the beginning of the founding of the Republic of China, the Ministry of Education clearly stipulated that primary schools, normal schools, and higher normal schools are free of tuition.
The Education Constitution also stipulates that funding for education, science, and culture shall not be less than 15% of the total budget at the central level, 25% at each province, and 35% at cities and counties.
However, there are no eggs!
Not even well-known universities like Peking University can afford to pay wages, let alone those small schools in remote areas. Various laws and regulations of the Republic of China look beautiful, but they are just castles in the air and cannot be implemented at all.
Liang Xuming wrote in the letter that he hoped to bypass the government and warlords, run schools through social fundraising, and concentrate the funds on basic education in primary schools.
Even if the citizens have great merits.
Most of the literati in the Republic of China shouted slogans loudly, but did not take any practical actions. However, Liang Xuming was a pragmatist. He would study and do things when he thought of it. He later wrote a couplet: If you are not a sage, you are a beast. Don't ask about the harvest.
But ask about hard work.
After Cai Yuanpei read this letter, he was quite moved. His academic research in recent years has come to an end. Apart from publicizing the Northern Expedition, there is no other serious thing to do in Shanghai. There is still much to do in rebuilding the China Education Association.
As for Zhou Hexuan and "The Rise of the Great Powers" mentioned in the letter, Cai Yuanpei said to his wife: "I'm going out for a trip."
Cai Yuanpei naturally went out to find the Beijing-Tianjin Times. He had many friends and great reputation, so he quickly got the last twenty or thirty issues of the newspaper.
Cai Yuanpei couldn't help but feel astonished as he read the articles one after another. He has been traveling in the West for many years and has a deep understanding of the situation in European and American circles. There is really no Western scholar who can study the rise and fall of the world's major powers so clearly and thoroughly.
Such high-end historical academic talents can definitely easily hold a professorship in any European university.
But which crack in the stone did Zhou Hexuan pop out from? How come I have never heard of it before?
Cai Yuanpei finished reading "The Rise of the Great Powers" overnight, and first wrote a reply to Liang Suming, and then wrote to Jing Hengyi, Chairman of the Education Committee of the National Government and Acting President of Sun Yat-sen University: "My disciple Yuan Huijian: Recently I came across a book called
"The Rise of the Great Powers" recounts the rise and fall of the world's great powers, and the entire text is incisive. I read it like an enlightenment and benefited a lot..."
Cai Yuanpei's letter was to recommend "The Rise of the Great Powers" to Jing Hengyi, hoping that he would invite Zhou Hexuan to teach in Guangzhou and never let this talent go. Even if he couldn't invite anyone, he could still use the content of "The Rise of the Great Powers" as extracurricular readings.
Show it to the students.
Jing Hengyi was also a legendary figure in the educational circles of the Republic of China. When he was transferred from Zhejiang No. 1 Normal University six years ago, all students in the school spontaneously went on strike and marched, and several people were shot and injured by military police. One classmate named Zhu Zantang was filled with grief and anger.
He actually took the knife from the policeman and committed suicide on the spot.
The students were willing to risk their lives to save the principal, which shows how respected Jing Hengyi was. The supporters around him once included these people: Feng Zikai, Zhu Guangqian, Zhu Ziqing, Xia Zunzun...
Cai Yuanpei sent the collected newspapers to Guangzhou together with the letters. After Hengyi read "The Rise of the Great Powers", he frantically inquired about Zhou Hexuan's whereabouts. Finally, he got the news from a reporter from "Zilinxi Daily" and immediately called his friends in Tianjin.
On behalf of the invitation, I hope Zhou Hexuan can become a professor at Sun Yat-sen University.
At the same time, "The Rise of the Great Powers" also spread rapidly in Guangzhou, a revolutionary place. "Zilin Xibao" and "Beijing-Tianjin Times" were hard to find, so young students compiled them into books by handwriting, with various versions.
The manuscripts were circulated in schools.
Students majoring in economics regard the Netherlands as a role model and believe that commercial finance can also enrich the country and strengthen the people; students in the military academy believe that China should learn Germanism, and only people of iron blood can achieve national rejuvenation; students majoring in mechanical chemistry respect the United Kingdom and pursue the line of strengthening the country through science and technology and saving the country through industry.
…
It seems that everyone can find a way to save the country from it. For a time, "The Rise of the Great Powers" became a popular reading book in major schools in Guangzhou. Zhou Hexuan, whose name is only heard but not seen in person, is also regarded as an idol by young students, and some even praise him.
