Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 363: Courage is the product of intellectual activity

When Fujii Jushiro finished speaking, Watanabe Tsuneo stood up from the sofa unconsciously and was about to scold him.

Not only because of his anti-war stance, but also because such remarks in the interview might trigger an excessive backlash from Zhang Chao, causing the program to get out of control.

For both moral and logical reasons, he wanted to skip this section.

However, Watanabe Tsuneo glanced and found that Zhang Chao, who was listening to Wang Zhenxu's simultaneous translation, did not show any change in expression because of Fujii Jushiro's words. He was still very calm and did not even frown.

"Did the translator fail to convey Fujii's words completely? Or did he express it more tactfully?" Watanabe Tsuneo hesitated for a moment, then sat back on the sofa, ready to act based on Zhang Chao's reaction.

After listening to Wang Zhenxu's translation, Zhang Chao showed an expression of sudden enlightenment, and extended his hand to Watanabe Tsuneo to indicate that there was no problem and he could answer it.

After everyone's attention was focused on Zhang Chao again, he picked up the microphone and said, "This audience member just introduced himself as a middle school history teacher, right?"

Fujii Jushiro stood up again and said proudly, "The best middle school in Tokyo, Kaisei Junior High School!"

There was a burst of exclamations from the audience, full of envy.

Wang Zhenxu added some background when translating: "Kaisei Junior High School is the best private junior high school in Tokyo, with a deviation value of 78. It is known as the 'cradle of Tokyo University students'."

Zhang Chao nodded and said, "Since you are a history teacher from a prestigious school, your professional level must be good. You should know that history is not a series of solidified fragments, but a flowing river.

I guess you have told your students about what you just said in class? Have you told them where the river actually flows?

Fujii Jushiro stood up again, with a contemptuous smile on his face, and said: "Are you saying that Japan was defeated again in the end? But don't you want to say that our Yamato people lack courage?

The result of failure cannot be used to deny the courage to challenge! Although Japan is a small island, the Japanese are not cowardly! "

Zhang Chao sighed and said, "It seems that your understanding of courage is too superficial. In your mind, using force to challenge the existing order and rules is a symbol of courage?
Why challenge then? Don't tell me your answer is to "win a wider living space for the Yamato people."

Fujii Jushiro did not stand up this time. His face began to look embarrassed and he just shook his head repeatedly.

This was the rhetoric used by the upper class elites to fool the lower class people when Japan launched its war of aggression. It was severely criticized after the war and it became a taboo that right-wing elements could not speak out loud even if they approved of it in their hearts.

If he admitted it, he would most likely lose his position as a history teacher at Kaicheng Middle School.

Other excuses are also useless, because all the examples he cited were of Japan fighting on other countries' territory. No matter how he tries to cover it up, it cannot dilute the smell of blood, so he might as well keep silent.

Zhang Chao waited for a while, and seeing that the other party did not answer, he continued: "Well, let's bypass this question that you don't want to answer and not discuss the motivation of the 'challenge'.

What happened after Japan used force to 'challenge the old order'? What 'new order' did it bring? "

Fujii Jushiro seemed even more uneasy, and he also couldn't answer this question. A major feature of Japan's war of aggression was the lack of long-term strategic planning and short-term strategic goals, only slogans one after another.

These slogans eventually turned into an infinite nesting doll of one "challenge" after another, an endless sacrifice, and finally destroyed themselves.

Zhang Chao smiled at Fujii Jushiro, this kind of typical fool who digs a hole for himself to fall into, is very Japanese - some things sound good when they are said, but they cannot be said openly, you are a middle school teacher, not a politician like Ishihara.

Ishihara has someone to back him up and he can even get votes, but if you say something wrong you will just lose your job.

Zhang Chao sighed and said, "What supports these so-called 'challenges' is not courage, but impulse. If courage is so cheap, it would not become one of the noblest virtues of mankind.

As I said before, athletes participate in competitions because they have undergone long and arduous training; they put forward opinions in discussions because they have studied for many years.

These ‘challenges’ are based on self-awareness, understanding of the objective situation, and clear goals and paths to achieve them, and are by no means ‘board-board’ charges.”

When Wang Zhenxu translated the last sentence, he hesitated for a moment, but still translated it truthfully.

The faces of the Japanese present all changed. Regardless of their stance, the Japanese who heard this word would have a similar picture in their minds.

Watanabe Tsuneo suddenly felt what Zhang Chao felt when he heard Fujii Jushiro talk about "occupying most of China".

Zhang Chao's tone did not change at all, and he remained calm as water: "Since you like military affairs, let me give you an example from the military field. The great Clausewitz, in his immortal work On War, once spent a whole chapter discussing the role of 'bravery' in war.

Let me summarize it in one sentence: "Courage is the result of intellectual activity, and true courage only exists among those with higher intelligence."

If the previous sentence only made the Japanese present feel bad, this sentence directly caused an uproar at the scene, and even Watanabe Tsuneo changed his expression.

Fujii Jushiro's face turned red, and he could no longer hold back. He stood up, took the microphone and refuted: "Are you saying that the Yamato people are too low in intelligence? We have so many Nobel Prize winners, so many great inventions, and so many artistic creations that have amazed the world... We are the most intelligent nation!

It is ridiculous for a Chinese to talk about intelligence in front of Japanese people! "

Fujii Jushiro's words were echoed by many Japanese people, and some even shouted at the scene: "Sbarasi (good job)!"

After all, they are still very proud of the achievements Japan has made in the more than 60 years since the war. In the 70s and 80s, there was a wave of "Japan-blowing" in European and American societies, and the Japanese were once praised as the "smartest, most united, and most tenacious" nation.

"Smartest" comes first.

Zhang Chao directly denied their "intelligence", which indeed made all the Japanese present feel a sense of shared hatred and a sense of "this is intolerable and what is not".

If it weren't for the 21st century, someone would probably immediately propose a duel with Zhang Chao, with the loser committing seppuku.

Wang Zhenxu, who was interpreting for Zhang Chao, was already nervous. After all, Zhang Chao could just go back home, but he still had to stay in Japan. Zhang Chao still looked nonchalant and calmly said with the microphone: "So, it is wise to have failed every time you launch a war against other countries, and there are still only these four large islands; it is wise to have troops from other countries stationed in your own land, and the local courts cannot try the crimes committed;

They were so wise as to sign a piece of paper and give up almost all the fruits of 40 years of development... Do I need to give more examples like this?"

The noise at the scene began to die down after Wang Zhenxu translated the first sentence, and when the last sentence was finished, the studio was dead silent.

Fujii Jushiro shrank in his seat, as if he didn't want anyone to notice him; when others saw Zhang Chao's gaze sweeping over them, they began to avoid him.

Watanabe Tsuneo also calmed down at this time. He said thoughtfully: "This is what you said, Zhang Chaosang. Individuals are not lacking in courage, but the whole is lacking - similarly, Japan has many smart individuals, but as a nation as a whole..."

Watanabe Tsuneo didn't say anything else. After all, he was also a Japanese, and it would be hurtful to both himself and others if he directly stated this conclusion.

Zhang Chao did not want to embarrass the old man. He said, "As a nation, it is too easy to be held hostage by individuals who lack true courage and only have impulse.

So it seems... well, not very smart."

Watanabe Tsuneo showed a bitter smile and said to Zhang Chao seriously: "Mr. Zhang Chao, you are indeed the bravest young man I have ever seen."

Zhang Chao smiled and said, "I haven't finished what I'm saying yet. You are indeed very 'smart' at times, but you don't realize this 'smartness' and don't cherish it.

Always want to go back to that kind of 'unintelligent'."

Watanabe Tsuneo was a little surprised and asked, "When was that?"

Zhang Chao said: "Your 'elites' once told everyone that the resources here are too scarce, and only by killing and robbing can those resources belong to you. What was the result? How much of the looted resources did the common people get? If you don't know, you can ask Mr. Fujii Jushiro to make up for it after the show.

After the war, it took you only 20 years to rebuild the first developed country in Asia from the ruins. The things that you thought you needed to steal in the past - Indonesian rubber, Chinese coal, Middle Eastern oil, Australian iron ore... are now flowing into your factories through legitimate trade channels.

Then you used them to produce cheap and fuel-efficient cars, easy-to-carry walkmans, sturdy and durable refrigerators and color TVs - my mother bought a Honda women's light motorcycle in 1992 and has been driving it until now, a full fifteen years, without any major overhaul.

I think this is when you are at your 'smartest'.

The truly "smart" people among you - scientists, engineers, technicians, salespeople, artists... are courageous because they are using their wisdom to create beloved products to challenge the "old order" in which American industrial products dominated the world at that time.

Toyota replaced GM as the world's largest automaker. Japanese electrical appliances and digital products are symbols of quality all over the world. Everyone likes the anime works of Akira Toriyama and Hayao Miyazaki...

I think this is the real 'challenge', this is the 'new order' that is valuable to the world, and this is the moment when your nation is the 'smartest' and 'courageous'.

Zhang Chao spoke a long string of words in one breath before stopping. Wang Zhenxu almost couldn't translate it. Fortunately, he heard the recording specially transmitted to him by the director through the headphones he was wearing, so he was able to successfully convey Zhang Chao's words to the Japanese at the scene.

The place was quieter.

It’s just that the silence this time was different from the previous ones - the last time it was quiet because they were embarrassed, because Zhang Chao hurt their hearts but they couldn’t refute; this time, the silence was because they were all in confusion and contemplation.

Watanabe Tsuneo is the oldest person at the scene. Born in 1926, he has witnessed the country's most insane and bloodthirsty moments, as well as its most devastating situations.

Of course, he also witnessed the process of Japan's resurgence and fall at its peak, so he was particularly touched by what Zhang Chao said.

He said meaningfully: "I am 80 years old and have interviewed countless celebrities, including politicians, stars, artists, writers, scientists... This is the first time I have heard someone comment on Japan in this way.

'Smart', 'Courage'... Zhang Chaosang, I suddenly understand why you hate Ishihara so much. Maybe it's not just because of your personal national sentiment, but also because of your opinion of the class that Ishihara represents, or in your words, the 'elites'.

In your eyes, what determines whether a nation as a whole is wise is not the ‘elite’ but the ‘people’.”

Zhang Chao nodded and continued, "Elites like Ishihara, whose heads are full of old-fashioned ideas, always think that the masses are ignorant and worthless, so the ideal society is to brainwash them with militarism and make them work for them.

In fact, mass production of fools means only one thing: when any social contradiction occurs, the possibility of rational compromise is decreasing sharply. The more fools there are, the greater the social risk.

I just talked about those historical events. If you don’t know them, you can also ask Mr. Fujii Jushiro for a lesson after the show. ”

Fujii shrank even more, and all his body language was saying one thing: "I'm already honest, don't cue me."

Watanabe Tsuneo recalled the early 80s, when Japan's economy was booming, and said with emotion: "Wasn't it a group of impulsive 'elites' who shouted 'buy half of America' that eventually planted the seeds of the bubble burst?

In fact, it was not the agreement that took away the fruits of Japan's 40 years of development, but our arrogance, impulsiveness, and stupidity. If Japanese society at that time was still led by those "smart people" mentioned by Zhang Chaosang, instead of political animals like Ishihara who think with their mouths, perhaps there would be different results...

I finally understand what you said, that the reason why Japanese young people as a whole are not brave enough is indeed because our entire society is not wise enough! "

After saying this, Watanabe Tsuneo suddenly stood up, bowed to Zhang Chao, and said, "Thank you for your honesty, Zhang Chao-san! On behalf of the audience who just offended you, I apologize to you."

The eighty-year-old man saluted him. Of course, Zhang Chao couldn't sit still, so he quickly stood up and bowed to return the salute.

After they sat down again, the atmosphere was no longer as solemn and tense as before. Watanabe Tsuneo's tone was also much more relaxed. He jokingly said, "Isn't Zhang Chaosang afraid that we will 'know our shame and then be brave' and become a 'smart' nation again?"

Zhang Chao was about to speak when he heard an old but powerful voice coming from behind: "You are too confident in the Japanese!"

After Wang Zhenxu finished translating for Zhang Chao, he turned around and saw the person coming: a short old man in a suit, black-framed glasses, and a head full of white hair, a very elegant man, who was walking towards the few people from the waiting area with steady steps.

Before Zhang Chao could react, Wang Zhenxu was already so excited that he could not control himself. He said in a trembling voice: "It really is... Mr. Oe Kenzaburo!"

(End of this chapter)