Due to the anti-Chinese trend at the University of San Francisco in California, the graduation ceremony specially prepared for Asian international students was officially opened after a delay of two months.
Those attending the graduation ceremony included 13 local Chinese young people, 10 self-financed overseas students from Han China, four young students from Hong Kong, Macau, and Shanghai Concession Area, three Japanese beautiful students, dozens of students’ family members, friends, and
In order to commemorate the first batch of Japanese female college students to obtain American bachelor's degrees, the Japanese Minister to the United States came specially from New York.
In accordance with the tradition of giving priority to women, Yamakawa Shesong was elected as the graduate representative of the University of San Francisco and was the first to step onto the podium and deliver a graduation speech.
"Before delivering my speech, first of all, I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Dean, Professor Henry, Professor Robert... Mr. Bacon, Mrs. Bacon, and Miss Marianne for their continued help...
I’m causing trouble for you.”
Wearing a gorgeous kimono, Yamakawa Shematsu behaved dignifiedly and bowed to everyone in the audience.
"Wow, wow, wow"... Amidst the applause, Yamakawa Shematsu stood up and began to give a speech titled "British Foreign Policy towards Japan".
"Japan and Japan are both island countries far away from the mainland. The two countries share a common island culture and maritime culture. The British Empire is the leader of the world's civilized society and the disseminator and defender of modern culture. Japan, as a country that pursues civilization and enlightenment
The country hopes to establish close cooperation and close ties with the British Empire and the United States.
However, the current series of terms imposed by the United Kingdom and the United States on Japan are not in line with the spirit of freedom and equality. If the United Kingdom and the United States continue to implement extraterritorial policies in Japan based on unequal treaties, friendly and civilized
The Yamato nation will be forced to engage in a confrontation with both countries that neither side wants to see for the sake of national independence..."
Before the Sino-Japanese War of 1895, Japan, like the Far East, was forced to sign a series of unequal treaties by Western powers. However, in the face of aggression by the powers, Japan carried out a top-down reform that imitated the West and vigorously dispatched officials
International students go to Europe and the United States to learn scientific and technological knowledge.
Under the craze of the whole people to learn from the West, Nagai Shigeko (born in 1863), Yamakawa Shematsu (born in 1860), and Tsuda Umeko (born in 1864), whose average age was less than ten years old, followed the Japanese mission and set out in 1871
, rush to the United States and start the road to study abroad.
Yamakawa Shematsu was born in the family of the lord of the Dounan Jin Domain. His father was killed by the royalist general Oyama Iwa during the Tokugawa War. After the end of the Tokugawa War, the people in the area under the Dounan Domain were living in poverty. The new lord of the Dounan Domain was also Yamakawa Shematsu.
The eldest brother Yamakawa Hiroshi, who is fifteen years older, leads by example and lives a life of rough clothing and poor food. In the second year of Keio (1866), Yamakawa Hiroshi visited Russia with the foreign ministers of the shogunate in order to sign a border agreement between Japan and Russia.
Si is a character who has experienced life in various European countries.
But even if the feudal lord is wise, in this situation, he can only let the young people go to various places as foster children. Although Shematsu is the feudal lord's sister, like other children, she was fostered to a French family in Hakodate.
In 1871, at the beginning of the Japanese Restoration, because the powerful families were unwilling to allow their daughters to travel across the ocean and study abroad, Shematsu, Shigeko, Umeko and two other 13 or 14-year-old daughters of feudal lords who came from families who were rebels in the shogunate were forced to
The elders in the family, who were eager to get rid of the crime and meritorious service, partly encouraged and partly forced me to embark on the road of studying in the United States.
After entering the United States, the two older Japanese girls could not bear the bullying and discrimination in all aspects by white Americans, and were sent back to the country in 1872 by the minister to the United States. However, Shesong persisted at the request of his third brother Kenjiro Yamakawa.
.
Kenjiro Yamakawa and his brother were both sons of Yamakawa Hiroshi, who were influenced by modern Western culture while retaining the spirit of traditional Japanese warriors. Before his sister studied in the United States, Kenjiro Yamakawa had already rushed to the United States and completed his college education at Yale University.
After arriving in the United States, Kenjiro Yamakawa was worried that his sister would lose her patriotism and become a fan of the United States.
Girl, teach your sister Japanese once a week and teach her the principles of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism.
In 1880, after Kenjiro Yamakawa returned to Japan, he also sent letters to his sister several times to explain to her matters such as international politics. Under the influence of his two brothers, Yamakawa Shematsu, although on the surface, was just like the other two female students studying abroad.
, in essence, she has gradually transformed into a woman who has been influenced by Japanese Bushido.
Shankawa Shesong, who is generous and capable of learning Western scientific knowledge while adhering to the traditional culture of Japanese elites and possessing tough Eastern and Western characteristics, quickly became a celebrity among the Asian international students at the University of San Francisco. Not only was he recognized by his Asian classmates, but also
He was favored by the white professors and teachers in the school.
Unlike Shematsu, who is in the center of the public and always attracts the attention of classmates and teachers, Shigeko Nagai and Umeko Nakeda, who are three or four years younger, cannot forget the hatred of their relatives who were killed by rebel soldiers when they were young. After studying in the United States,
The American society with different customs cannot give them a sense of security and intimacy. During their eleven-year study abroad career, they gradually came out of their lonely and closed individuals after coming into contact with Chinese students who were also of Asian descent.
small circle.
Seeing Yamakawa Shematsu on the podium delivering a speech in a manly tone, Umeko Tsuda and Shigeko Nagai raised their hands and applauded like other students, but they were thinking about something else.
"Shigeko, has the minister agreed to our request?"
The applause stopped, Yamakawa Shesatsu stepped down from the podium, and Shigeko Nagai asked in a low voice.
"No, Minister Okazaki did not agree to our request to postpone our return to China for two years. In another half month, we will return to Japan by boat with Shesong."
"I don't want to go back to Japan. My brother has betrothed me to a rebel soldier. They are the murderers of my father. I will not marry him!"
"It is not up to us to decide whether to marry or not. The rebel faction is now in power within the government. In order to gain power, the family elders will definitely let the women of the family marry into the alliance with rebel soldiers. This is a fate we cannot escape."
"Is the same thing true for Sister Shesong?"
"Yes, I heard that Shesong is going to marry the enemy who killed her father, the overthrown official Da Shanyan. The wedding will be held after returning to the country."
…………
In the United States, the University of San Francisco is one of the few places that is relatively friendly to Chinese people. However, the Chinese students sitting under the podium cannot be completely isolated from the outside world. Outside the university, compatriots with the same skin color as them are
Their relatives are suffering persecution and discrimination brought about by the Chinese Exclusion Act. They cannot remain indifferent to the plight of their compatriots and relatives living in various parts of the United States.
"Brother Ouyang, brother Juncheng, something big has happened!"
A Chinese student ran over from the teaching area of the University of San Francisco and said anxiously, "Rongguang, Jingyang, and Zhixuan have been imprisoned by the Americans. They were also arrested together with nearly ten second- and third-term students studying in the United States!"
"Is it possible that there is a mistake? Students studying in the United States are official officials of the imperial court. Even if the United States promulgates the Chinese Exclusion Act, it cannot arbitrarily arrest students studying in the United States?"
"It's absolutely true! It was the imperial court that ordered the suspension of the program for young children studying in the United States. Chen Lanbin, the minister to the United States, personally notified the U.S. government, asking the San Francisco city government to cooperate with the Qing government in arresting and repatriating international students who insist on staying in the United States!"
"Huang Miao! Huang Miao! Rong Guang, Jing Yang, and Zhi Xuan studied abroad and studied hard. The Qing government did not encourage them properly, but punished them arbitrarily. They accused them of persisting in their studies and delaying their return to China. It is really a joke in the world!"
A student with pigtails angrily said, "You, Rongguang, Jingyang, and Zhixuan are all classmates and close friends of mine. Today, my classmates and friends have been wronged by the imperial court! How can we ignore it and are willing to petition the Minister to the United States to request the release of the arrested classmates?"
Or, follow me to the embassy in the United States!"
"Go together! Go together!"......
"What happened over there?"
"It seems that more than ten Qing students studying in the United States were arrested by the San Francisco city government."
The news that the Chinese international students were arrested spread quickly. The three girls, Meizi, Shesong, and Shigeko, squeezed into the crowd. When they heard that some of the arrested international students were familiar to them, Tsuda Umeko asked anxiously, "Has Xu Jun been arrested too?"
"After Rongguang and Jingyang were arrested, brother Zhixuan was angry and confronted the foreigners, and was also imprisoned."
"What should I do? Will Xu Jun be in danger?"
Tsuda Umeko grabbed a Chinese international student she knew and kept asking.
"Don't worry, Meizi. We are going to petition the embassy together to ask the minister to release the arrested classmates. Brother Xuan and the others will not be in danger!"
"No! I want to go with you. Xu Jun is a good man. He has helped me many times. I can't do nothing when he is in danger!"
Recalling in her mind Xu Zhixuan's fight with the two white gangsters who were making trouble in order to help herself and Fanzi, Meizi suddenly put aside her long-standing entanglements and made an important decision for herself in her heart.
"Okay! One more person means more strength. Mei Zi, you can come with us, but you have to follow everyone's arrangements."
"I can take care of myself and won't cause trouble to anyone."
"Okay, let's gather our classmates and friends separately and go to the embassy in the United States to petition together before noon!"
Zhong Juncheng stood in the middle of the crowd and arranged loudly.
"The Qing court is unethical! If the Qing emperor could really listen to honest advice, how could he cancel the plan for young children studying in the United States!
Dear students, listen to the next sentence and advise that it is useless to go to the Chinese Embassy in the United States. Only by asking for help from Minister Huang Shengui, the Chinese Minister to the United States, can the more than ten students who were arrested be rescued!"
On the periphery of the crowd, self-financed overseas students from Han China expressed different opinions.
"The South American Han Congress will take action to rescue the students sent by the imperial court?"
An overseas student who was leaning toward the Qing court questioned.
"We are all Chinese compatriots. In times of crisis, there is no distinction between Han and Qing! Dear classmates, don't listen to the false accusations made by the Manchu and Qing Tatars. The Han is the orthodox Chinese! His Majesty the Han Emperor has no distinction between overseas and local Chinese descendants.
Treat everyone equally!
Now every time the arrested students stay in jail, the danger increases. For their safety, we can’t waste any more time and must take action immediately!”
"I think Brother Ouyang's suggestion is feasible, but you must also go to the imperial embassy in the United States."
Zhong Juncheng made the decision on behalf of the self-financed students from the Far East studying in the United States and said, "We divided our forces into two groups. One group asked Mr. Chen to release the arrested classmates, and the other group followed Brother Ouyang to the Chinese Embassy in the United States.
Time is tight, which way you want to go is up to your own free will, everyone makes a decision quickly!"
"I will follow Brother Ouyang,"
"I am coming too."…………
According to different political tendencies, the Chinese students were divided into two teams, and they chose to go to the Han Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty embassy in the United States for help and petition respectively.
"Mei Zi, you are Japanese, how can you mix with them?"
Meizi was about to leave with the Chinese students, and Shanchuan Shesong hurriedly grabbed her to dissuade her.
"What's the difference between Japanese and Chinese? I only know that Xu Jun often helped me before, and he also saved you. Now Xu Jun is imprisoned by Americans. As his friends and classmates, shouldn't we
Do you try to help?"
"Xu Jun is a good man. I am very grateful to him for helping us drive away the harassing white gangsters. But Meizi, you should understand what I mean. You have been betrothed to the eldest son of Earl Miyamoto's family and you can no longer have feelings for a Chinese.
!I am not stopping you from going to the Qing embassy to petition with them, but I am advising you to retract your thoughts and stop taking dangerous actions!"
"Shigero Miyamoto is the murderer of his father! I will never marry his son!
Shematsu-chan! During the battle of Aizu Castle, Oyama Iwa was the cannon captain of the rebel army. Your father and uncle committed suicide because of the defeat of Aizu Castle. The hatred between the Yamakawa family and Oyama Iwa is as deep as the sea, and Oyama Iwa (Ozan Iwa)
He was the founder of the Japanese Army. He was the commander of the Second Army of the Japanese Army during the Sino-Japanese War. He was the commander-in-chief of the Manchurian Army during the Russo-Japanese War. He later became a marshal. He was canonized as a Duke by Emperor Meiji.) He is eighteen years older than you, and his name is
I have three children, the oldest one is only one year younger than you. Are you willing to marry such a person?"
"Marrying the Councilor is a decision made by my eldest brother and the palace. I cannot go against their opinions."
"Can you really give up the family feud?"
"Without the Tokugawa War, the country would not have embarked on the road of restoration and self-strengthening. Although my father and brother died because of the overthrow of the Tokugawa army, I am very sad, but I will not blame all this on the Councilor."
"Satsu-chan, I respect your decision, but please also respect Meizi's wishes. Meizi will never marry into the Miyamoto family!"
Meizi, who is usually weak and reserved, looked at the sisters who had been together day and night, but suddenly became strangers, and said firmly, "Meizi's heart only belongs to Xu Jun. Wherever Xu Jun goes, Meizi will definitely follow him!"
Shematsu-chan, Shigeko-chan, after you return home, please tell the Tsuda family that Tsuda Umeko will not marry an enemy of the family, and ask for their forgiveness!"
Tsuda Umeko bowed deeply to the two of them, and then left with the Chinese students regardless of the two women's repeated dissuasion.