The Rise of the Writers of the Republic of China

Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao, Sun Yat-sen, Huang Xing, Zhang Taiyan, Gu Hongming... these people all represent an era and reflect the magnificent modern history of China.

Now, Zhang Taiyan is also dead.

His last words were: If a foreign nation takes over China, my descendants will never be able to serve in their official positions.

To be able to utter such last words, Zhang Taiyan must have been unwilling to give up before he died, and he was also filled with fear and determination. He could feel the danger of Japanese invasion, but he was unable to turn the tide, and he couldn't even see a glimmer of hope for China's victory.

Zhang Taiyan was just a scholar. No matter how crazy, crazy or unrestrained he was during his lifetime, he returned to the essence of a traditional Confucian scholar when he died.

Don’t eat Zhousu!

This is the sorrow and helplessness of Chinese literati, and it is also the heart-wrenching cry of Chinese literati.

Perhaps, when Lu You was about to die and he paid homage to his son, Wang Shibei fixed the day of the Central Plains, and he never forgot to tell Nai Weng during the family ceremony, his mood must have been the same as Zhang Taiyan's.

Just when Zhou Hexuan was preparing to move his family south to attend Zhang Taiyan's memorial service, Hu Shi suddenly came to visit.

To be precise, Hu Shi was passing through Tianjin this time and was about to go to the United States for exchange and inspection.

"Mr. Mei left at the wrong time." Hu Shi sighed after meeting him.

Zhang Taiyan, nicknamed Uncle Mei, and "Gong Mei" is the most respectful title for him.

However, it is well known that Hu Shi and Zhang Taiyan had conflicts. The two had academic disputes all year round, and they disliked each other. Now that Zhang Taiyan is dead, Hu Shi suddenly calls him "Mei Gong", which shows that he respects Zhang Taiyan from the bottom of his heart.

Hu Shi was such a person. No matter how flawed his ability was, at least his moral character was impeccable.

Historically, Hu Shi went to the United States this time and could not come back until the end of the year. He happened to encounter two things: first, the Xi'an Incident, when Zhang Xueliang detained Chiang Kai-shek; second, Lu Xun died and Su Xuelin whipped his body.

Hu Shi was once forced to go overseas by Chiang Kai-shek because he wrote articles on freedom and democracy. However, in the face of the Xi'an Incident, Hu Shi stood up and cursed Zhang Xueliang. He believed that the most important thing for China was to have a unified government and leaders. This was the key to China's ability to resist Japan. He loudly called for the immediate release of Chiang Kai-shek.

Hu Shi and Lu Xun were also "enemies", and he was once scolded to death by Lu Xun. After Lu Xun's death, Hu Shi did not have any offensive words. Instead, Lu Xun's student Su Xuelin jumped out and whipped the corpse. Hu Shi immediately wrote a letter to criticize Su Xuelin. The content is summarized as follows: first, Su Xuelin's recent articles are still in the sour tone of the old literati, and they should not be better; second, Lu Xun has his own strengths, which cannot be wiped out; third, Mr. Tong Bo It is a big mistake to say that Lu Xun's "A Brief History of Chinese Novels" was plagiarized from a Japanese work, and Mr. Tongbo should apologize.

Of course, Hu Shi also looked down on Lu Xun. In his letter, he described Lu Xun's articles as "狋狋", which, to put it bluntly, is like a dog barking. He asked Su Xuelin not to whip the corpse blindly, which was too ungraceful. While he disliked Lu Xun, he should also see Lu Xun's advantages.

Hu Shi is one of those people who can still greet you with a smile even if you slap him in the face. He is the best gentleman in the Republic of China.

"The death of Mr. Taiyan is indeed regrettable," Zhou Hexuan said with emotion, "but his time has passed. It is better to die now than to die during a full-scale Japanese invasion."

"Is a war really inevitable?" Hu Shi asked depressedly.

Zhou Hexuan nodded: "I have said before that there will be a war between China and Japan."

"But China will lose the war!" Hu Shi's voice became louder, with a little anger.

"China will win." Zhou Hexuan said firmly.

"What can China use to win?" Hu Shi became more and more excited. "Economy, military, science, diplomacy... In what way is China stronger than Japan?"

Zhou Hexuan smiled and did not argue, but said: "I heard that you have proposed yourself and want to be China's ambassador to Japan. If you really become the ambassador, how do you propose to conduct diplomacy with Japan?"

"Of course it is to repair the relationship between the two countries," Hu Shi elaborated his proposition without reservation. "I think that instead of seeking peace after defeat, it is better to seek peace before the war. China has lost the land in the three eastern provinces, so it is better to recognize the Puppet Manchukuo. , fundamentally adjust the relationship between the two countries and eliminate the hostility and hatred between the two nations. This is the key to peace!"

Fortunately, no matter how much Hu Shi jumped up and down, Chiang Kai-shek never asked him to serve as ambassador to Japan.

This argument is a complete traitor.

Even Wang Zhaoming did not dare to say "recognize the Puppet Manchukuo" at this time. Hu Shi was simply going against the will of heaven.

Zhou Hexuan asked with a sneer: "If we give up the three eastern provinces and recognize the puppet Manchukuo, do we have to give up the five provinces of North China and recognize the puppet North China?"

"The five provinces of North China must be preserved," Hu Shi said, "and if we want to preserve the five provinces of North China, the prerequisite is to give up the three provinces of Northeast China. We are at a disadvantage, and if we want to ask for peace, we must show sincerity."

Zhou Hexuan was so angry that he laughed: "If China really loses, you will be the contemporary Qin Hui."

"If we don't take the initiative to seek peace, China will really be defeated, and you and I will both be slaves to the country's subjugation!" Hu Shi retorted.

Zhou Hexuan said: "The people in the four eastern provinces are already slaves to the subjugation of their country."

Hu Shi's tone paused and he sighed: "The key now is to maintain a peaceful situation. Have peace first, then seek development. One day we will fight back. A gentleman's revenge is never too late in ten years, not to mention the hatred of the country and the family. If we start a war with Japan now, we will lose all our land, and there will be no hope of revenge."

Zhou Hexuan shook his head and said: "The most terrifying thing is to be eaten away step by step. Taiwan has been occupied by the Japanese invaders for 40 years. How many people still remember it? How many people want to regain Taiwan? If we really recognize the puppet Manchukuo, no Say 40 years, just 20 years later, how many people are still shouting to regain Northeast China? I am not afraid of a war between China and Japan, I am afraid of Japanese encroachment."

"Once China and Japan go to war, how long do you think China can hold on? By then, the country will be devastated and the country will be destroyed, and China will have no hope at all!" Hu Shi beat his chest anxiously.

Zhou Hexuan sneered: "The Chinese are not papery, and they will drag Japan down."

Hu Shi begged: "Mingcheng, I have nothing else to do here. I just want you to persuade the chairman of the committee and the war-fighting bureaucrats in the government. You are a Nobel Prize-winning writer and an international scholar. You must speak for sure." It’s more effective than me. We can’t fight this battle. Once we fight it, we will be hopeless. Look at what those soldiers in China are! Song Zheyuan was an anti-Japanese hero praised by the whole people two years ago, but what about now? In North China, he has great power. Disobeying government orders, colluding with Japan, and actually suppressing patriotic students! I think when the Japanese come, Song Zheyuan will be the first to surrender. Even the anti-Japanese heroes are like this, how can other generals resist the Japanese?"

"The whole people are fighting against each other and are united as one. Whoever surrenders will be cut off from the people!" Zhou Hexuan said.

"Anti-Japanese War? Haha," Hu Shi sneered, "Anti-Japanese is just a gimmick, and those who shout anti-Japanese have different intentions. The Red Bandits in the northwest chanted anti-Japanese slogans, but in the end, they fought Yan Xishan. Chen, Li, and Bai from Guangdong and Guangxi They are also fighting against Japan recently, and they are fighting the Central Army! Even before Japan fully invades, China has already fought on its own. When Japan really comes, there will be countless kings and hegemons in the country, waiting to be chased away by the Japanese invaders. Let’s solve it! If we can all unite to fight against Japan, do you think I don’t want to fight? How can we unite? Ah, tell me how to unite!”

Hu Shi became more and more excited, and the last few words were shouted out.

Zhou Hexuan couldn't answer. He was a time traveler, so he naturally knew the answer. But we cannot convince Hu Shi with empty words, because judging from the current situation, all forces in China cannot cooperate at all.

"There's no need to talk, Brother Shi," Zhou Hexuan shook his head and said, "I stick to my opinion. I am the main militant. Let's stay for dinner tonight and we will set off together tomorrow."

"You can eat it yourself. If there's a war, you won't have to eat!" Hu Shi walked away angrily.