Chapter 748 747 [Speaker Zhou]

In Hu Shuhua, we can see the epitome of the literati in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, and we can also see the spirit of intellectuals at that time pursuing progress.

Hu Shuhua has been studying for 30 years——

In the first ten years, he read the Four Books and Five Classics. He was enlightened at the age of six and became a scholar at the age of seventeen, which was already very rare for a child of a rural school teacher. But Hu Shuhua did not choose to continue taking the imperial examination. Instead, he entered the private Mingde School in Hunan and began to learn Western knowledge.

In the intervening ten years, he received a new education in China. He dropped out of the Translation Institute of Beijing Normal University at the age of 25 (his studies were interrupted due to the Revolution of 1911). At the age of 27, he was admitted to Germany as a publicly funded student abroad, becoming a member of the wave of studying abroad in the early years of the Republic of China.

In the last ten years, he received higher education in Germany, studying in one sitting, and finally received a doctorate in metallurgy at the age of 34.

After returning to China, although Hu Shuhua joined the Kuomintang, he did not choose to become a government administrative bureaucrat. He first became the director of various factories, such as the director of Shanghai Iron and Steel Plant and the director of Hanyang Arsenal. He was also invited to help Tang Shengzhi organize the Hanyang Iron Plant. During this period, he published "Iron Metallurgy", "Metallurgical Engineering", "Iron and Steel Industry", etc. monograph.

It can be said that Hu Shuhua made great contributions to China's modern national industry.

This kind of academic talent is obviously not suitable for being an official. Hu Shuhua has served as director of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education, director of the Central Farmers Department, and director of the Central Department of Agriculture and Forestry, but he finally chose to be a principal. From then on, Hu Shuhua became the president of five universities in one go, including three times at Hunan University.

Hu Shuhua had several Central Committee member positions in the Nanjing government at this time. Why did he come to remote Chongqing to become the principal?

Of course it's because of political suppression.

Hu Shuhua also serves as the chairman of the Shanghai Federation for National Salvation. He has repeatedly issued telegrams and declarations calling for "an end to the civil war and a unified response to the outside world." This made him unable to continue his job as the president of Hunan University, and he had no choice but to go to Sichuan to accept Liu Xiang's asylum.

With Liu Xiang's emphasis on talents and his policy of vigorously developing Sichuan's internal affairs, Hu Shuhua became a popular figure as soon as he arrived in Chongqing. At least Sichuan's arsenals and steel plants need academic experts like him to be in charge.

It can be said that he can enter and leave Liu Xiang's official residence at will, but Chongqing Mayor Li Hongkun can only perform discipleship ceremonies in front of him.

This can be seen from Li Hongkun's reaction before. Li Hongkun sat on a sliding pole at first, but after meeting Hu Shuhua, he could only get off the sedan and walk together.

When a cultural person encounters a gun, he may be useless, but most of the time he will be respected by the gun.

At this moment, in the living room of Zhou Mansion.

Chongqing garrison commander Li Gengu took the initiative to give up the chief guest seat to Hu Shuhua, and Hu Shuhua sat down without any hesitation or psychological burden. Chongqing Mayor Li Hongkun could only take the second seat, Li Gengu took the second seat, and teachers like Fan Haer obediently stayed at the bottom.

Although everyone had something to talk to Zhou Hexuan, before Hu Shuhua finished speaking, everyone else unanimously chose to shut up.

"Principal Hu," Zhou Hexuan asked, "when I came to Chongqing last time, there were only a few preparatory classes in Chongqing. How is the school developing now?"

Hu Shuhua stroked his long beard and said with some pride: "There are three colleges of liberal arts, science and engineering in JJTU. The college of engineering only recruits preparatory students for the time being. After the summer vacation this year, undergraduate classes will be opened. The three colleges plus preparatory courses have a total of 400 students. I am the leader of Sichuan!"

Hu Shuhua is fully qualified to be proud. Although he did not found the major engineering college, it is flourishing under his hands and has invited many engineering scholars to be professors. Just looking at the faculty of major engineering schools, they can already be ranked among the top ten engineering schools in China.

"I didn't expect major developments to happen so quickly. Principal Hu is running the school well." Zhou Hexuan flattered him smoothly.

Hu Shuhua said happily: "When the engineering college is on the right track, I will also prepare to establish a business school, a law school and a medical school in the major. By then, all six subjects will be available. Although it will not surpass Tsinghua, Peking University and Central University, it will at least be as good as To catch up with Fudan Tongji."

"There will be such a day." Zhou Hexuan nodded.

Chongqing University was very good during the Anti-Japanese War. Even the Central University lived in a major campus. It can be said that there are as many masters as dogs and scholars everywhere.

Just like Central University and Tsinghua University, the super universities during the Republic of China were split up after the founding of New China.

The major medical school was later merged into West China University of Medical Sciences and eventually became part of Sichuan University; the School of Liberal Arts and the School of Science were also merged into Sichuan University; the railway engineering major was merged into Southwest Jiaotong University; the School of Business was merged into Southwestern University of Finance and Economics and Sichuan University of Finance and Economics. University; the School of Law was split and merged into Southwest University of Political Science and Law; the Department of Geology was split and merged into Chengdu University of Technology; the Department of Architecture was split and merged into Chongqing Jianzhu University; the Department of Physical Education and the Department of Agriculture were merged into West Normal University and Xinong University respectively, all of which became It became part of Southwest University; the Department of Chemical Engineering was merged into Chengdu University of Science and Technology, and later became part of Sichuan University...

In later generations, more than half of the universities in Sichuan and Chongqing inherited the important genes of the Republic of China. In addition, many majors were split into Guida, Yunnan University, Hunan University, Wuhan University, etc.

The reason why it is so important in history is because Chongqing served as the wartime capital, and elites from all over the country gathered here.

Hu Shuhua stroked his beard and said: "Nowadays, the national crisis is at hand. North China and East China are not able to defend themselves. Sichuan will be the rear area of ​​the Anti-Japanese War, and Chongqing is the throat of Sichuan. Chongqing University should seize this opportunity and quickly expand the strength of the school to accommodate more people." There are many scholars and students. Over time, China’s hope lies in Sichuan, and Chongqing University should cultivate more talents for the country’s rejuvenation.”

"Principal Hu has far-reaching vision, I admire you!" Zhou Hexuan praised.

In fact, at this time, people with understanding can see some future situations clearly. When Chiang Kai-shek inspected Chongqing University last year, he already said something similar, which shows that he also knew something.

After talking about education for a while, Hu Shuhua glanced at Li Hongkun and said, "I won't delay any more. Mayor Li has other business to attend to, right?"

"Education is also a business." Li Hongkun said with a smile.

Zhou Hexuan asked: "Mayor Li, do you have any advice?"

"I don't take advice seriously," Li Hongkun said sincerely. "Although Li has studied for a few days, he only went to a military school. He is a rough guy. Now that he is appointed as the mayor by Commander Liu, he is rushing to the shelves and issuing orders. We are frightened and trembling. Mr. Zhou is a great talent in this world. Since he has settled in Chongqing, how can he leave his talents in the countryside? Please don’t refuse, Mr. Zhou, and take up the post of Speaker of Chongqing City."

During the Nanjing National Government, a provincial and county-level administrative system was adopted, and cities could be established only if certain requirements were met. There are also some places that have met the criteria for establishing cities, but due to the large administrative overhead of municipal institutions, they are still governed by counties, such as Suzhou County, Wuxi County, Yantai County, etc.

In the local administrative system, the parallel approach of party and government is adopted, with local party committees and local governments jointly governing.

Chongqing was a municipality under the provincial jurisdiction of Sichuan at this time. The highest governing bodies were the municipal Party committee and the municipal government, and there was also a "Municipal Council". This is a lame institution that learns from Western democratic politics, and is somewhat similar to the local people's congresses of later generations. Li Hongkun now wants Zhou Hexuan to serve as the top leader of the Chongqing Municipal People's Congress.

According to the "Organic Law of the Municipal Council" promulgated by the Nanjing National Government, public servants are not allowed to hold concurrent positions as members, and the Municipal Council can propose bills. If the mayor has different opinions on the council's bill, he can file for reconsideration. If there is still a conflict with the mayor after the reconsideration, the city's citizens will have to vote.

This rule seems very beautiful, but in fact it is nonsense. Are you asking all local people in the Republic of China to vote? hehe.

However, since Li Hongkun personally recruited Zhou Hexuan to be the Speaker of Chongqing City, the situation is different again, and he attaches great importance to Zhou Hexuan. In the future, if Zhou Hexuan makes municipal development requirements for Chongqing, Li Hongkun will basically agree to it as long as the content is not too excessive. Otherwise, he will slap himself in the face.

Zhou Hexuan felt very new about this. Chiang Kai-shek had previously recruited him as a minister or director of a department, but he had never been asked to serve as Senate President.

This is very interesting!

"Since Mayor Li sincerely invites you, I can't refuse." Zhou Hexuan said with a smile.

Li Hongkun laughed loudly: "With Mr. Zhou's participation, Chongqing's future development will definitely be faster."