Chapter 55

On the afternoon of October 12, 1905, Mr. Gu Hongming led Chen Ke into the lecture hall of the Imperial University. Many people were already waiting in the hall. Chen Tianhua was very smart; he had already entered the hall and sat in the last row. When the other students saw the two men enter, almost all of them turned to look at Chen Ke.

"Is that the Chen Ke who wrote the book?" The whispers contained surprise, shock, and even disdain.

Since everyone was cultured, their voices were not loud. Thus, Chen Ke could hear the following subtle sounds clearly.

"To be able to write such things at such a young age? I don't quite believe it."

"The book is full of errors."

Scholars often belittled each other, and Chen Ke, who had watched many lectures on TV, often mocked them while watching. He was not bothered by such treatment. He still wore his habitual smile as he looked at the students on both sides. Gu Hongming briefly introduced Chen Ke and then asked him to go up and give the lecture.

The widespread implementation of compulsory education resulted in students being of similar ages. The longer compulsory education was enforced, the smaller the age gap among students in the same grade. Chen Ke, who had grown up in the 21st century, was already accustomed to this. He started school a bit early, and as a result, he was always one of the youngest in his class, often the second youngest, until he went to university. In the lecture hall of the Imperial University, Chen Ke looked at the students below and found the age difference quite unsettling. There were students ranging from their twenties to their thirties, and a few uncles who looked to be in their forties, whether they were students or teachers, it was hard to tell. The Imperial University was transformed from the old Imperial College, so it was not surprising that there were some older students.

Chen Ke scanned the students below, about fifty or so, and their appearances gave him a good impression. More than sixty percent of them had short hair, and those with braids mixed in did not seem particularly unpleasant. "Hello everyone, my name is Chen Ke. Today, I have some personal insights to share, and I hope you will correct me if I am wrong." Chen Ke's opening remarks were quite standard.

However, the people below were not very polite. Those who could study at the Imperial University were all elites from various regions, each considering themselves extraordinary. A young man, about the same age as Chen Ke, stood up. He had short hair and was wearing a suit. "Mr. Chen, I have read your book, and I believe many of the people here have as well. After reading your book, I have a question. What is your view on the imperial examinations?"

On September 2, 1905, high-ranking officials such as Yuan Shikai, the Viceroy of Zhili, Zhao Erxun, the General of Shengjing, Zhang Zhidong, the Viceroy of Huguang, Zhou Fu, the Viceroy of Liangjiang, Cen Chunxuan, the Viceroy of Liangguang, and Duanfang, the Governor of Hunan, jointly submitted a memorial to the court, explicitly stating: "The critical situation of the country is urgent, and to save the times, we must start by expanding schools; and to expand schools, we must first abolish the imperial examinations." They strongly requested the "thorough and swift" abolition of the imperial examinations. Faced with the joint petition of these influential officials, the court could no longer treat it lightly. On the same day, September 2, an edict was issued in the name of Emperor Guangxu, announcing to the whole country: "All provincial and metropolitan examinations are hereby abolished." This edict marked the end of the ancient Chinese imperial examination system.

Chen Ke did not know why this young man would ask such a question. Seeing the intense gazes of the people sitting next to him, Chen Ke felt that he could not easily answer and finish. He asked, "In my book, I highly praise the imperial examination system. If this gentleman has read my book, you should know that, right?"

"Hmph." Chen Ke heard someone sneer. Most of the students did not look very approving of Chen Ke.

"I'll do a small survey. How many people support the abolition of the imperial examinations? Please raise your hands."

The students looked at Chen Ke, but no one responded. Chen Ke found it strange, "Do these people all support the imperial examinations?" he wondered.

The young man who stood up raised his hand, and then others followed. In the end, out of the fifty or so people, more than forty raised their hands in agreement. It seemed that the earlier reluctance was just due to their high self-regard and not taking Chen Ke, a young man, seriously.

"Please put your hands down. And this gentleman, please sit down," Chen Ke said.

Once the hall returned to its original state, Chen Ke asked, "Who supports the imperial examinations? Please raise your hands."

A few people, about seven or eight, raised their hands. Their expressions were quite agitated, showing a firm stance in support of the imperial examinations.

"We are all scholars, and we care about national and family affairs. If we were to discuss the merits and demerits of the imperial examinations, I believe everyone has their own reasons. But today, I am here to talk about my book, and I cannot avoid discussing the political aspects. From a political perspective, I oppose the abolition of the imperial examinations."

There was a buzz of reactions from below. Some people showed disdain, while others looked excited, as if they had found a kindred spirit.

"Does Mr. Chen like the eight-part essay so much?" the young man mocked.

"Sir, I don't know the curriculum of the university. May I ask if you have studied mathematics?"

"Yes, I have." The young man replied with a clear tone of challenge.

Chen Ke did not respond. He turned around, picked up a piece of chalk, and started writing on the blackboard. Everyone saw that he was writing simple math problems, such as 1+1=? and 4*()=16. These simple questions were child's play for the students of the Imperial University. Some people laughed softly, "Are these questions for children?"

As Chen Ke wrote more, the laughter increased, but as the discussions below grew, the sarcastic comments gradually decreased.

Chen Ke turned back, and many people had already understood his point. Their expressions became more serious.

"The eight-part essay for selecting officials indeed no longer fits the modern trend and needs. However, standardized exams will never go out of style." Chen Ke pointed to the problems on the blackboard.

These students were not uneducated. The content Chen Ke wrote on the blackboard was simple, but his purpose was not to test them. The key was the classification of the exam questions: fill-in-the-blank, multiple-choice, true/false, short answer, and long answer. Chen Ke briefly outlined the exam format from his time.

"Let me explain, I have only read a little of the eight-part essay. I myself cannot write it." Chen Ke did not pretend to know what he did not. "But I have always believed that without rules, there is no order. The eight-part essay, at least, is a form of standardized exam. I value this aspect of it."

Upon hearing this, the hall erupted in various reactions. Some supported Chen Ke, while others opposed him. It seemed that those supporting Chen Ke had a slight advantage.

"Mr. Chen, these are the courses of new-style schools. What do they have to do with the imperial examinations?" the young man continued to ask.

"The court's abolition of the imperial examinations, I must say bluntly, is a path to self-destruction." Chen Ke responded sharply. As soon as he said this, the hall fell silent. Chen Ke calmly put down the chalk and brushed off the chalk dust from his fingers.

"Regardless of how you criticize the imperial examination system, its significance lies in providing a relatively fair path for advancement. Even with rampant cheating, most of those who passed the exams were ordinary scholars. I think everyone can agree on this."

No one objected. Everyone looked at Chen Ke with their own emotions, eager to see what he would say next.

"Abolishing the imperial examinations and promoting new-style schools, should we maintain this fairness? If we want to maintain fairness, we can increase the content of the imperial examinations. Subjects like mathematics, physics, and chemistry can be gradually added. If we want to increase the number of educated people, we can incorporate new-style schools into the imperial examination system. I strongly disagree with abolishing the imperial examinations."

"How does this relate to the court's self-destruction?" another man, who looked to be in his forties, asked, frowning. It seemed he did not understand Chen Ke's abstract argument.

Chen Ke turned around and picked up the chalk again, realizing that his earlier calm demeanor was unnecessary. But now, it was too late to worry about it. He wrote a large line on the blackboard, "The king enriches the people, the hegemon enriches the scholars, the surviving state enriches the officials, and the fallen state enriches the coffers and treasuries." The people below were scholars and recognized this quote from the "Wangzhi" chapter of the "Xunzi." Many quick-witted people nodded slowly.

"In today's world, enriching the people is not even a topic. To pay reparations, the court has been enriching the coffers and treasuries, which is extremely dangerous. In the past, due to the Opium War, the court increased taxes to pay reparations, leading to immediate public unrest. The Taiping Rebellion broke out, and Zeng Guofan led the Xiang Army to fight the Taiping forces, enriching the Xiang Army of Hunan. This can be considered enriching the scholars. The Taiping Rebellion was eventually suppressed. The Self-Strengthening Movement enriched the Self-Strengthening officials, which can be considered enriching the officials. The court seemed to have a period of revival during the Tongzhi and Guangxu reigns. Now, with the abolition of the imperial examinations, whether for officials or scholars, the relatively fair path for advancement is gone. If we add mathematics and physics to the imperial examinations, although it would make the exams more difficult for scholars, at least they would have hope. To pass, they would have to learn new knowledge, and the new-style schools could take advantage of this. Now, by completely abandoning the imperial examinations, what do the scholars think? The imperial examinations were already a narrow path for many, and only a few passed. With the new-style education, the number of official positions has not increased. Moreover, the sudden implementation of new-style education has cut off the path for scholars. Those who can read are not poor. They are closely connected with local gentry. Now, the court has already offended the people by paying reparations, and if it offends the scholars as well, it will only have the officials to rely on. The southeastern self-preservation movement during the Gengzi year shows that the court cannot rely on the provincial governors."

Chen Ke's words were powerful. Neither the teachers nor the students who came to listen could immediately refute him. After a moment of silence, someone asked, "Isn't the court promoting new policies and constitutionalism?"

"In our hometown, there is a saying, 'No early rise without profit.' Who is the main proponent of constitutionalism? Isn't it the officials from the southeast and the local gentry? Why constitutionalism? One important reason is that the court is enriching the coffers and treasuries, and they cannot bear it. Even if constitutionalism succeeds, they cannot defeat the foreigners, and the reparations will still be paid. The gentry, once in power, will not pay a single extra coin but will try to pay less. The foreigners, like wolves, will force the burden onto the people. Since some have read my book, you might remember that during the late Ming dynasty, the southern tea tax was once 12 taels in a year. If it happened then, it can happen now. If the people are pushed too far, what will be the result? You are all well-read, so I don't need to elaborate."

No one spoke. Those who could enter the Imperial University were all intelligent, and they knew Chen Ke was not lying. The way they looked at Chen Ke no longer contained any disdain. Originally, people's opinions of Chen Ke's book were similar to those of Yan Fu and Ma Xiangbo, finding his theories very "domineering." Many thought Chen Ke was a "mad scholar." The student who asked the question originally wanted to discuss the eight-part essay with Chen Ke. But Chen Ke's perspective was not on the small details but on the national situation, with a profound analysis. Although some still disagreed, they did not dare to speak lightly.

"If no one has any other questions, I will start the lecture." Chen Ke, seeing no one else speak, resumed his usual gentle demeanor.

After the lecture, Mr. Gu Hongming insisted on inviting Chen Ke to dinner.

"Chen Ke's words are sharp, worthy of being Yan Jidao's disciple," Mr. Gu said at the dinner table.

Yan Fu's letter clearly stated his relationship with Chen Ke, and Mr. Gu Hongming had no doubts.

"Chen Ke, I didn't realize you were so well-informed about court affairs."

"Mr. Gu, I spoke somewhat freely today. I am very regretful now. If I have caused any inconvenience to Mr. Gu, please let me know."

"Chen Ke, your words today about the eight-part essay are mature and wise. The court lacks people like you who can see the problems and are steady and reliable. Everyone is obsessed with party struggles and acts hastily. I didn't think much about it, but after hearing your analysis, I am increasingly worried. The court is in a difficult position, and the new policies must be implemented. What are your thoughts on the new policies?"

"Mr. Gu, as the saying goes, 'Heaven's wrath can be avoided, but self-inflicted calamity cannot be escaped.' Regarding the new policies, I still believe that the court is courting its own destruction. No matter how the new policies are implemented, they are a struggle for power between the court, the gentry, and the provincial governors. No matter which side gains the upper hand, the people will suffer. Once the people's hearts are lost, it will be a matter of time before the two people take over."

Upon hearing this, Mr. Gu Hongming frowned and remained silent. Chen Ke did not hold back and continued to eat. When he was half full, Mr. Gu asked, "Chen Ke, you wrote a book, presumably believing that the new policies you outlined could save the country and the people."

"Yes," Chen Ke replied firmly.

"Chen Ke, in the letter Yan Jidao sent me, he mentioned writing to Yuan Weiting, recommending you to meet him. Yuan Weiting, as the Viceroy of Beiyang, is a smart man. I wonder if Chen Ke could write an article about the new policies. I will personally take you to meet Yuan Weiting."

"That would be difficult to write. It will take some time."

"That's fine. You can lecture in the afternoon and write in your free time."

"Once I finish, Mr. Gu, you must correct it for me."

"Of course."

After dinner, Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua returned to their residence.

"Chen Ke, your straightforwardness was unexpected."

Chen Ke did not respond to this. He was more concerned about something else, "Xing Tai, what do you think the students' reaction to my lecture was?"

"I think the reaction was good. What's the matter, Chen Ke, are you planning to develop supporters at the Imperial University?"

"Not really. I'm like Jiang Taigong fishing; I don't have the time to focus on them. The Self-Strengthening officials need to be cultivated. After the Gengzi year, their power was greatly diminished. They are the most dissatisfied with the court, and they can be developed."

"How do you plan to do that, Chen Ke?"

As they walked and talked, it was already October, and it got dark early. By the time they returned to their residence, it was completely dark. Chen Ke reached for the lock but found it empty. He was startled, thinking his place might have been burglarized. He pushed the door open and saw that the main room and the side rooms were lit. Several shadows were cast on the bed. Hearing the sound, a tall figure stood up first. Chen Ke relaxed, and a moment later, Wu Xingchen walked out of the main hall. Chen Ke closed the courtyard gate and turned back to see Wu Xingchen and a few others on the stone steps in front of the main room. One of them was Pang Zi.

After exchanging greetings, they returned to the room. On the table were a pile of wine and meat, but they had not been touched much, indicating the gathering had just started. Chen Ke was surprised to see Wu Xingchen bring Pang Zi to Beijing. As he wondered about Pang Zi's intentions, he saw Pang Zi stand up to pour wine for Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua, then raise his own cup, "Mr. Chen, I did not treat you well in Xingtai. This cup of wine is to apologize to both of you."

Chen Ke and Chen Tianhua quickly stood up and raised their cups. They clinked glasses and drank in one go before sitting down.

"Chen Ke, you and Pang Xiaodi are both straightforward. Especially you, your words are often harsh. Pang Xiaodi said he regrets the way things ended. He has come to Beijing to apologize to you."

Hearing this, Chen Ke quickly stood up and poured wine for Pang Zi and the others. He raised his cup, "I speak my mind. If I have offended you, Pang Xiaodi, please forgive me."

Everyone stood up, exchanged a few polite