The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 312: I met a revolutionary soulmate! (Please subscribe and vote)

"Master Li, do you think we should ask these two foreigners for help?"

Wang Libin really wanted to accept the help of the two enthusiastic Prussians, but Lord Li Hongzhang was beside him, and as an attendant he did not dare to act on his own, so he turned around and asked for instructions.

Li Hongzhang knew that Wang Libin came to Europe to buy teaching materials and run education on the orders of Luo Xueyan, and he did not dare to ruin the Minister of Trade for the Five Ports.

Li Hongzhang smiled and nodded to the two Prussians, saying in English: "Thank you very much, but this is not the place to talk. We live in Brown's Hotel on Dover Street. If it is convenient for you, please come back to Brown's Hotel with us after we buy the books."

"Oh," Moore nodded slightly, looking at the two young and energetic Qing officials in front of him, and asked curiously: "Are you buying Prussian textbooks in order to establish an education system in China?"

Li Hongzhang could not answer Moore's question, nor did he quite understand it, so he looked at Wang Libin. The latter nodded and said, "Yes, Mr. Moore, I am entrusted by Mr. Luo Xueyan, Minister of Trade of the Five Ports and Governor of Shanghai, to come to Europe to purchase Prussian textbooks. Mr. Luo Xueyan has long heard that Prussia's public education is very good, and he hopes to follow Prussia's example and establish a similar public education system in his jurisdiction to impart Western scientific knowledge and philosophical ideas and cultivate talents for China's future rise."

Moore and Friedrich nodded in agreement. Moore smiled and said, "I think the Governor-General has found the right path to make his country rise! I am now more and more interested in what is happening in China. By the way, Mr. Wang, Prussia's elementary and middle school textbooks are actually just the most basic things to build a public education system. You must have a lot more things to purchase, right?"

Wang Libin nodded and said with a wry smile: "Yes, but we know very little about the European knowledge system, and we don't know what books we should buy. In addition, we only have some people who know English and French, and we don't have people who are familiar with other European languages. If we buy books in German or Russian, it will be difficult to translate them into Chinese for a while."

Moore smiled and said, "Then I will do you another favor. I will make a list for you now. It contains textbooks, reference books, teaching aids and experimental equipment in the fields of natural science, European philosophy, sports, geography, etc. that are needed to build a good public education system. There are not only those needed by primary school students, but also those needed by middle school students and college students. Moreover, these can all be bought in the UK, and most of the books are in English."

Moore himself was a scholar trained in the Prussian education system. After graduating from high school, he was admitted to the University of Bonn, and later transferred to the University of Berlin to study law. Finally, he obtained a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Jena. He was very familiar with the Prussian education system.

Although in his opinion, the universities in the Kingdom of Prussia lack the necessary academic freedom, its public education system is still excellent! It is very efficient, inexpensive, and very easy to popularize. Once successfully built, it can mass-produce skilled workers, engineers, and soldiers. It is especially suitable for countries that want to lag behind temporarily but are determined to become stronger.

If China can introduce and promote such an education system, it can at least ensure that China will not follow in India's footsteps and become another colony of the British Empire in the future.

Wang Libin was naturally overjoyed when he heard this, and immediately bowed to the warm-hearted Mr. Moore: "Mr. Moore, thank you so much. If you want to know anything about what happened in China, just ask me later. I will tell you everything I know!"

Brown's Hotel on Dover Street is one of the best hotels in London today. The Su Shun delegation that visited Britain this time, including their entourage and servants, had a total of more than a hundred people. Wade, who accompanied them, asked the British Foreign Office to help book the entire Brown's Hotel.

So when Moore and Friedrich followed Li Hongzhang and Wang Libin into the cafe on the first floor of the Brown Hotel, there was only a listless waiter besides the four of them.

Wang Libin ordered a cup of coffee for himself, Moore and Friedrich. Li Hongzhang didn't like the bitter taste of coffee, so he ordered a cup of milk tea to sip by himself. Anyway, with his English level, it was impossible for him to participate in the conversation, so he just sipped the milk tea to practice his listening skills.

"Mr. Moore, Mr. Friedrich, this is the book I translated on my way to England. If you want to know what happened in China, take a look at it first. It doesn't have many words, so you should be able to finish it quickly."

After returning to Brown's Hotel, Wang Libin first put the several large boxes of books they bought from Hatchards Books back to his room with several servants, and then went to the cafe to meet Moore and Friedrich. He also took two volumes of the first, second and third volumes of the Anti-Canon translated by himself. He also gave the Anti-Canon a high-sounding name - "The Book of Revolution"!
When Moore and Friedrich heard the word "revolution", they were also excited and immediately took the "Book of Revolution" handed over by Wang Libin and started reading it. After reading for a while, the excitement on their faces could not be concealed.

The first half of The Book of Revolution is Volume 1 of Anti-Scripture, The Rebellion of the Common People.

The so-called "rebellion of the common people" is, in the final analysis, nothing more than...
Moore and Friedrich certainly felt that they had found a soulmate!
"Abolish debts, divide the land equally, and liberate serfs." Moore said with surprise, "There is no doubt that this is a revolution!" Friedrich asked Wang Libin: "Mr. Wang, what is the current situation of these Chinese revolutionaries? Is it possible for them to achieve the final victory?"

This question is a bit sensitive!
Wang Libin glanced at Li Hongzhang who was still sipping milk tea, and then said in fast and urgent English: "Before I left China, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom had achieved great success. I think they will soon become the master of southern China. But it may not be easy to unify China. As for the reason, the second half of "The Book of Revolution" mentioned that there were many participants in this revolution and the relationships between all parties were very complicated. The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom achieved great success with the help of the power of the poor people, but at the same time, the power of the gentry, landlords and local officials was also released, and these people sometimes opposed the Tatar Dynasty and sometimes supported the Tatar Dynasty.

In addition, the Tatar dynasty, which is in a crisis of survival, is also trying every means to save itself, which naturally includes asking for help from European powers! Prince Sushun came here for this reason! "

After hearing what Wang Libin said, Moore and Friedrich continued to read the second half of "The Book of Revolution".

The second half of "The Book of Revolution" is composed of Volume 2 of "Anti-Classic" on the Rebellion of the Gentry and Volume 3 of "Anti-Classic" on the Rebellion of the Han Officials.

In the eyes of Moore and Friedrich, it is worth learning from for the revolutionary patriots in Europe - these two "anti"s are successful experiences summarized from the practice of "rebellion" in China.

Although the research on revolutionary theory in Europe is relatively in-depth, there is not much practice. It is nothing more than the British bourgeois revolution, the French Revolution, the Revolution of 1830, the Revolution of 1848, and the Decembrist uprising in Russia.

The revolutions that took place in Europe were generally "different revolutions for different reasons". It was rare for the revolutions described in "The Book of Revolutions" to mix the revolutions of the working people with the rebellion of the middle and upper classes, and to add a religious cloak. Not to mention, the working people were still the dominant force in this "composite revolution".

Thinking of this, Moore closed the "Book of Revolution" in his hand and asked with a smile: "Mr. Wang, can Friedrich and I publish this "Book of Revolution" in the UK? In Europe today, many people want to know what happened in China. I think this book, combined with our interview with you, will definitely attract many readers."

Friedrich added: "Mr. Wang, the more people who are interested in China, the easier it will be for you to attract intellectuals who are willing to work in China, which will also be very beneficial to Governor Luo's plan to introduce the Prussian public education system."

Wang Libin nodded and said, "Mr. Moore, I certainly have no objection to your publishing of The Book of Revolution, but this book was not written by me. I just translated it into English."

"By the way, who is its author?" Moore asked.

Wang Libin said: "It is the Holy Angel of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Wu Wang Luo Yaoguo. He is the so-called devil!"

"Devil? Hahaha." Moore laughed, "Mr. Wang, there is no devil in the world!"

Friedrich also laughed and said, “Moore, maybe he is the real devil to the emperors, nobles, officials and European colonists of the Tatar dynasty?”

Obviously, Moore and Friedrich did not believe that Luo Yaoguo was a devil or a prophet. They still defined him as a revolutionary with flexible means - in order to achieve the goal of revolution, he could even rebel against the feudal landlords and officials in the church, so what was wrong with him wearing a religious cloak?
Wang Libin did not say anything more, nor did he take out the second volume of "The Book of Prophets" that Luo Xueyan had stuffed into his hand to prove that Luo Yaoguo was really a devil. Anyway, Moore and Friedrich had already agreed to help translate the textbooks.

Thinking of this, he smiled and nodded, saying: "You are right, he is a devil to the emperor, dignitaries and those foreigners who want to invade China!
I think he must be very willing to have his "Book of Revolution" published in Europe so that Europeans who agree with his views can know what is happening in China. Let's sign a contract. I authorize you to publish "Book of Revolution" and I can also write a report on the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Revolution for you, and you can help me translate Prussian textbooks. "

"Okay!" Moore said with a smile, "I studied law, so let me draft the contract!"

(End of this chapter)