Chapter 185 Opening Ceremony, Li Qiwei’s Speech
On April 6, 1904, the admission notice of Huangpu University of Technology was being sent to all parts of the country at the fastest speed.
27 lucky people will become the first undergraduate students and start their learning journey.
In Panyu, Guangdong, Li Yaobang excitedly showed the notice to his father.
"Father, this is a university founded by the current Imperial Master. Look at this notice and it is different from other schools."
Father Li smiled and said: "You can see the big from the small, and you can see the leopard through the tube."
"Being willing to work hard on such inconspicuous details shows that Principal Li has lofty aspirations."
Father Li is a businessman, so he naturally knows that the quality of a product often depends on the details.
"It's just Bang'er, you are lively by nature and a good business prospect. Now you want to study science. As a father, I don't know whether it is right or wrong."
Li Yaobang said with a smile: "Father, this is not contradictory. When I graduate, I can still do business."
"And after learning Western scientific knowledge, it can broaden my horizons."
"Why can foreign things be so good and cheap, such as that lighter, it is so clever and practical."
"I also want to make something like this in the future. All this requires scientific knowledge."
Father Li was very pleased. He seemed to see his son surpassing himself in the future.
“My son Yaobang is very rich!”
In real history, Li Yaobang gave up his studies and went into business after serving as a university professor for a few years, failing to persist on the path of science.
Zhang Yihui is listening to his father's teachings in Quanjiao, Anhui.
Zhang Yihui was born in a scholarly family. He was admitted as a scholar when he was 12 years old. His father was a Jinshi in the current dynasty and is currently the Secretary of the Cabinet.
After Jinshi participated in the imperial examination, in addition to selecting the best ones to be appointed as concubines of the Hanlin Academy, some of the inferior ones were used as cabinet secretaries, in charge of records, translations, etc., and their official rank was Cong Qipin.
“Yihui, at your age, you should have taken the provincial examination this year.”
"However, you have already made up your mind, and as a father, you will not force me."
"I hope you will stick to your heart, and you can save the country in any way."
"But if you want to save the country, you must first take charge of it. Since you are on the road to science, you should climb the path of science."
Zhang Yihui said respectfully: "My father's teachings, please remember them."
My father said again: "If it is appropriate, your brother will do the same. You can go.”
In real history, Zhang Yihui and his younger brothers Zhang Yitong and Zhang Yizhi both specialized in mathematics, physics, and chemistry.
In Leluo Village, Qiongzhou, Guangdong, the Yan family is a famous declining scholarly family in Leluo. They are also descendants of Fu Sheng Yan Hui, the kind who can continue the family tree.
Yan Renguang’s father was a Gongsheng student studying in the Imperial College.
"Ren Guang, now that the imperial examination has declined and science has become more popular, I think there will be big changes in the future."
"This trip may be an opportunity for you."
"Principal Li Qiwei is an imperial teacher and a great master of Western learning. His vision is always right."
"Your notice even contains his message, which shows that he values you very much." Don't let it down."
Yan Renguang said respectfully: "Don't worry, father, your child will study hard."
Such father-son conversations, or elders teaching younger generations, are happening all over the country.
Any open-minded person can almost judge the value of this notice.
Prospective college students who have received the notice have also begun to gear up, preparing to work hard and stand out from the crowd in the next four years of their study career.
At this moment, their principal is busy with the opening ceremony.
It’s June and the list of faculty, staff and students of Huangpu University of Technology has finally been finalized.
Looking at the list, Li Qiwei felt a sense of pride in his heart.
It was he who built the entire school from scratch, making it the first private university in China and the most famous university in the future.
This will become the starting point of his educational history in China and will be admired by future generations.
Whampoa University of Technology, which later became world-renowned and could even rival a whole country, had a very poor situation among its first class of teachers and students.
There are 8 teachers, 27 students, 1 secretary to the principal, and 12 security team members.
The details are as follows:
Principal: Li Qiwei
Office Secretary: Yu Tianchi
Security Captain: Li San
School of Physics: Dean, Li Qiwei; Vice Dean (temporary), He Yujie
Teachers and students of the School: He Yujie (Professor); 11 students, including Li Yaobang, Zhang Yihui, Yan Renguang, etc.
School of Chemistry: Dean, Li Qiwei; Vice Dean (temporary), Xu Qitai
Teachers and students of the college: Xu Qitai (Professor), Xu Jianyin (Professor); 8 students, Wang Jidian, Wang Jing, etc.
School of Mathematics: Dean, Li Qiwei; Vice Dean (temporary), Xia Yuan Wei
Teachers and students of the college: Xia Yuanzhen (Professor); Wang Jitong (Associate Professor); 5 students
School of Life Sciences: Dean, Li Qiwei
The College Teachers and students: 3 students
College of Humanities: Dean, Zhou Ziyu
Teachers and students of the college: Wang Guozhen (Professor); The college does not implement independent closed teaching for the time being, and all students are required to take Chinese courses.
——
On September 1, 1904, the construction of Huangpu University of Technology, which took one and a half years, was finally officially completed.
All buildings are ready for use, and the university covers an area of approximately 37,000 square meters (55 acres).
Those related to teaching include: administrative building, teaching building, experimental building, library, auditorium, etc.
Things related to life include: gymnasium, dormitory, canteen, etc.
The main entrance of the school is a classical and elegant three-arch archway-style building with blue bricks and white columns.
On the lintel, the book "Whampoa University of Technology" is engraved in Li Qiwei's handwriting.
Li Qiwei is a master of Western learning, but he also studied traditional culture before he was 17 years old, so he can naturally write calligraphy well.
Although he is far from the level of a calligrapher, his calligraphy is majestic and full of his majestic ambition to transform China.
Therefore, the six characters of "Huangpu University of Technology" are vigorous, vigorous, free and easy.
Even if everyone comes to calligraphy, they have to say hello.
There are also school mottos engraved on both sides of the school gate: on the left is "use righteousness to make wonders" and on the right is "renovate the old and restore the new".
Today is the most important day for Huangpu University of Technology.
The opening ceremony for the first undergraduate class will be held in the auditorium.
The Qing Emperor’s imperial teacher and principal Li Qiwei will give a public opening speech.
In addition to the teachers and students of Huangpu Polytechnic, many other people were also invited to this opening ceremony.
For example, the presidents of national universities in various provinces, celebrities in the educational circles of Guangdong, etc.
So, this opening ceremony has attracted much attention.
In the auditorium, Li Qiwei was wearing a Western-style dress, his hair was meticulously combed, and he was extremely handsome.
"Dear guests, colleagues, and classmates:"
"Welcome to the opening ceremony of Huangpu University of Technology."
"Here, I have four aspects I want to share my feelings with you.”
“First, what are the responsibilities of college students?”
"I think there is only one thing: you all have expertise in your studies. After graduation, you should do your best to contribute to the country."
"China is weak, surrounded by great powers, eyeing it with eager eyes, and all it has to fight is a strong ship. Just sharp guns."
"The core of these powerful tools is natural science." "However, there is no distinction between people and things. Westerners can master science, why can't we Chinese?"
“All the gentlemen are selected, and they are all the pride of heaven. Their intelligence, heart, and physique are not weaker than those of others.”
“When I studied in the UK, I didn’t find anything special about Western students.”
“They also need to eat and drink, and they will also fail exams.”
“ Even stupid people can’t even read numbers.”
“But they are still arrogant. Why?”
“Because Britain is an empire on which the sun never sets.”
"A strong country gives them strong self-confidence."
"So, everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the world, and it is our duty to make the country strong."
"I hope you can all contribute to China. Study to be inspired!”
The 27 freshmen in the audience immediately applauded wildly, and their emotions were instantly ignited by Li Qiwei.
A surge of pride rises in my chest, do it!
Li Qiwei looked at their expressions and was very pleased, and then said:
"Second, what are the responsibilities of professors?"
"Today is the first day of school. Are there any of you?" Many students may have already met professors.”
“They are knowledgeable and have deep insights in this field.”
“Perhaps all of you here can also become professors. , pass knowledge to more people.”
"When you first arrive at our school, you will definitely be shocked by the architecture and environment of the school."
"I once heard someone say: Wow, the school is so big."
Audience There was a roar of laughter.
“But what I want to say is: the so-called great scholar does not mean a building, but a master.”
“The goal of a professor is to be a master.”
"The responsibility of a professor is not only to guide students how to study and study knowledge, but also to guide students how to be a human being."
"Because studying and being a human being are related."
"Anyone who can work hard and seriously Scholars will not be opportunistic, and their academic career will eventually be successful."
He Yujie and others nodded solemnly and kept it in mind.
“Third, don’t abandon knowledge.”
"You may be curious, we have just entered school and haven't started studying knowledge yet. How can we abandon knowledge?"
"I know that some of you may value diplomas more than knowledge. Itself."
"In school, there are teachers who guide you and force you to study, but after graduation, no one may be willing to study freely according to your heart."
"You may. Said: After you go out to work, how can you have time to study; even if you want to learn, how can you do it without a laboratory? "
"But what I want to say is: Anyone who wants to wait until there is a library to study, there is. The library doesn’t know how to read.”
"Anyone who wants to wait until there is a laboratory to do research will not do research even if there is a laboratory."
"If you really want to study a problem, you will naturally forget about food and sleep, trying to find ways to solve problems with instruments and time." Questions, any questions."
"Abandoning knowledge is abandoning yourself."
"After graduation, you have the following options: continue to do research, become an official, and enjoy yourself at home. , unemployed and idle, etc."
"Except for the first one, the other paths have the risk of falling."
"The way to escape the trap of depravity and maintain a positive attitude towards life is not to abandon knowledge."
"Whether it is knowledge of natural sciences or knowledge of humanistic ethics, they are all a type of knowledge."
At this time, the students in the audience began to commotion. It was obvious that the principal's straightforward words contained profound truth.
It has dispelled the negative, depraved and dark side of many students' minds.
The more Li Qiwei spoke, the more passionate he became, and his gestures kept waving, tugging at everyone's heartstrings.
"Finally, academically, you must pursue an independent spirit and free thoughts."
As soon as these words came out, there was a huge reaction in the auditorium.
Fortunately, Li Qiwei added restrictions in front of it to require this to be done academically, otherwise it might cause ambiguity.
You must know that there must be people from the Qing Dynasty attending the opening ceremony today.
They have extremely strict control over their thoughts.
If Li Qiwei had promoted free thought on the spot, I am afraid this university would not be able to survive.
Those who supported Li Qiwei could not help but breathe a sigh of relief, not bad, not bad.
How could Li Qiwei not know this, so he deliberately added the prefix.
But as long as these students have a heart, they will definitely feel the innocence of their Principal Li.
“I believe that the most important quality for academic research is not intelligence, but an independent spirit and free thinking.”
“When I was studying in the UK, all Western physicists respected Newton.”
“His three laws of mechanics are the absolute truth in physics.”
“No one dared to object. ."
"But I objected, and I proposed quantum theory and relativity, believing that Newton's ideas had limitations."
"This caused an uproar in the Western physics community."
"It turns out that Newton is indeed wrong."
"Why am I the one to prove that Newton is wrong? Don't Western physicists have free thoughts?"
"Of course they do, But when it comes to Newton, they don't, and will never be able to point out Newton's mistakes. "
"And I am a Chinese, I don't care about Newton and Maton, if I'm wrong, I'm wrong. . ”
“I only care about whether the theory is correct, not who proposed it. ”
"So my spirit is independent and my thoughts are free."
"So I am famous."
Everyone laughed at Li Qiwei's humor.
“Therefore, in the academic field, you can refute the professor in class, and you can even refute me.”
“At Huangpu University of Technology, people are not judged by their status, but by their status. Discussing Taoism at an academic level."
"If you want to achieve something in the field of natural sciences, you must question the theories of your predecessors, be brave in innovation, and dare to break authority."
"This is the correct attitude and method of learning."
"This is the end of my speech. I hope you will all support me."
The auditorium suddenly burst into endless applause.
Li Qiwei’s speech at the opening ceremony has also been regarded as a model by countless future generations.
Subscriptions have been dropping like crazy recently. It seems that everyone really doesn’t like domestic dramas.
I plan to end the domestic plot in Chapter 200. I hope everyone can support the domestic plot, otherwise the data will be too ugly. I beg you all.
I will definitely take your words to heart.
(End of this chapter)