British writer

Gu Hongming looked at Lu Shi carefully,

young……

too young!

Wouldn't it be a pity for such a young talent to stay in the UK?

Gu Hongming pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked in a low voice: "Why did Mr. Lu cut his braid?"

in Chinese,

Obviously, there is an intention to make use of the problem.

Lu Shi was like a mirror in his heart, thinking about it, and didn't rush to answer.

Gu Hongming will not be in a hurry anymore, just wait quietly.

I thought that Lu Shi would give an answer such as "integrate into the UK", but unexpectedly, Lu Shi said: "The braids are too laborious to take care of, and it is convenient to cut them. You know, water costs money here in London, and I alone Poor students must live frugally."

Gu Hongming couldn't fix a sentence, he choked on the spot and couldn't say a word for a long time.

The atmosphere is weird,

The editor-in-chief's room was quiet.

Scott coughed lightly.

"Two, can you communicate in English and let me join in?"

Gu Hongming took a deep look at Lu Shi, then nodded, and said in English: "Mr. Scott, please forgive my excitement when I first met my compatriots in a foreign country. The accent has not changed, the accent has not changed..."

Scott is not stupid, how could he not see that Lu Shi and Gu Hongming had already fought each other just now?

But some things can't be seen through,

He chuckled and said, "Mr. Gu is here to discuss Mr. Lu's editorial?"

The topic was circumvented lightly.

Gu Hongming also borrowed the donkey from the slope,

"That's right. After reading those articles, I felt enlightened, so I came here from China to ask for advice."

This is talking nonsense with your eyes open.

From Foshan to London, it took forty days at least. At that time, Lu Shi hadn't traveled through it yet, and "Guns, Germs and Steel" hadn't even happened.

In fact, Gu Hongming "escaped" to London.

From July to August 1900, the Eight-Power Allied Forces successively occupied Dagu and Tianjin, and increased their troops to 34,000 to prepare for the invasion of Beijing.

Anyone with insight knows that Beijing is about to collapse, so they must have made plans early.

Gu Hongming went south at that time.

Later, the news that Guangxu was kidnapped and fled to Xi'an, Gu Hongming boarded the ship in despair, came to London, and prepared to transfer to Edinburgh, but he did not expect to read Lu Shi's article by accident, which gave birth to his future. The idea of ​​visiting.

But Lu Shi was not going to expose Gu Hongming,

He said modestly: "It's just a work behind closed doors, Mr. Gu has too much reputation."

Gu Hongming waved his hand,

"Why should Mr. Lu be modest? Your article is very exciting and has answered many questions."

Lu Shi said: "My article has too many conclusions, too little evidence, too much fantasy in the room, and too little practice when I go out. That's why I say it's a 'work done behind closed doors', if I feel that I can enter the room , that would be ridiculous."

This passage is very sincere.

It was the first time that Gu Hongming saw someone demeaning himself like this, and he couldn't help being dumbfounded.

He took another high look at Lu Shi in his heart,

It is not easy for young people not to be dazzled by temporary success.

Seeing that the two had stopped talking, Scott took the initiative to assume the role of host and asked: "Mr. Lu's articles always mention the history of civilization development, so what do you think of China? Why is the technology so advanced? Will China be caught up by the lagging Europe?"

This question is fairly neutral and insensitive.

Moreover, in "Guns, Germs and Steel", there is really a chapter "How China Became a Chinese China\

,"Lu Shi took it easy,

"I wonder if Mr. Scott has ever heard of Zheng He's seven voyages to the West?"

Scott was dazed.

Gu Hongming helped to explain: "Three years in Yongle...well...I think...from 1405 to 1433, the Chinese fleet made seven voyages to the West, and the farthest reached the coast of the Red Sea and the east coast of Africa."

Scott looked shocked.

"So far? Then China's navigation technology should be very strong."

Lu Shi said: "You don't need 'should', but you are very strong. However, the imperial court later issued a ban on seas, and the dock was abandoned."

Scott wasn't too surprised.

"The beginning of a beautiful story always has an ugly end. This kind of backtracking is not only in China, but also in countries all over the world. In the 1980s, London passed a bill to continue using gas street lamps~"

After hearing this, Lu Shi and Gu Hongming looked at each other, their fists hardened, and they even wanted to slap Scott hard.

The use of gas street lamps can be compared with the prohibition of the sea! ?

Lu Shi said: "However, the example in China is a little different. The Ming Dynasty was a unified feudal empire. As long as the emperor made a decision, he could stop the national fleet and technology stagnation. Moreover, the consequences of such a decision are irreversible. .”

See the big from the small,

On the surface, this statement refers to the ban on the sea, but in fact it refers to the reason why the germination of capitalism and the industrial revolution were strangled in the cradle.

Gu Hongming fell into deep thought,

"Great unification is a bad thing? Is the division of Europe a good thing?"

He can't understand.

Lu Shi didn't answer, because there was no need to answer at all.

Scott, who was on the side, figured out something interesting,

"Lu, you have been emphasizing the role of geography and ecology in your articles. Now that I think about it, the unification of China may have a lot to do with geography. The coastline is straight, the plains are vast, and the Yangtze River and the Yellow River have huge water volumes... Heh... Europe exactly the opposite."

Lu Shi smiled,

"Then if China is the first to achieve technological breakthroughs and colonize the world, will this geographical determinism have to be changed again?"

Scott was stunned on the spot,

"ah?"

He never thought that Lu Shi would refute himself.

Lu Shi said: "Mr. Koo asked me just now, 'Is unification a bad thing? Then the division of Europe is a good thing?', I didn't answer because I couldn't answer it. Many historical questions are like rolling dice. I don't know whose point is bigger."

Gu Hongming frowned,

"Could it be that Mr. Lu forgot to 'take history as a mirror, and you can know the ups and downs'?"

The corner of Lu Shi's mouth curled into an arc,

"That being the case, Mr. Gu, let me ask you a question, what will China be like in the future?"

Gu Hongming was momentarily at a loss for words,

If he could know the answer to this question, why would he be so entangled?

Lu Shi said: "Those articles I wrote are just taking out a little material, and then compiling grand theories. What I say about the 'development of human civilization' is actually rhetoric. History can be used to summarize, but it is difficult to use. to prophesy."

According to a theory, Lu Shi came to the window and stood with his hands behind his back.

The demeanor of a master is unobstructed.

Gu Hongming's breathing became rapid,

Great talent!

This is a great talent!

What the current weak Qing government lacks is this kind of young and energetic talents who are well-versed in both Chinese and Western cultures.

Gu Hongming took a deep breath and said, "Mr. Lu, let's talk about things that can only be said behind closed doors."

Words that can only be spoken behind closed doors...

This statement is too kind.

Lu Shi couldn't help thinking of attending some important meetings before crossing. When the leader said, "Let's whisper something behind closed doors", it meant that the content of the next meeting was closer to the truth. It could not be recorded or passed on, but could only be listened to.

Scott on the side didn't understand Chinese philosophy. He walked to the door and shook the doorknob.

"It's closed. It's closed."

Gu Hongming's head is full of black lines, ￣□￣｜｜

Lu Shi said awkwardly: "Mr. Scott, please allow us to occupy the magpie's nest and occupy your editor's room for a while."