Ernest Renan, seeing it was Lionel, hesitated, took back what he was about to say, and decided to wait and see how things unfolded.
Lionel Sorel stood directly on his seat so that everyone could see him.
"Quiet!
Please listen to me!"
His voice wasn't loud, but because he was looking down from above, it cut through the noise, drawing everyone's gaze to him, and for a moment, silence fell.
Lionel, going all out, directly stepped on the backs of the chairs in each row to reach the front, and amidst the exclamations of the crowd, he leaped down and stood beside Tomson Ku.
He first glanced at this young man, who was about his age, and noticed that although he had a Chinese appearance, his expression and posture were entirely European, completely different from the old scholar with a pigtail and a skullcap in his impression.
He couldn't help but feel a little lost in thought.
But he quickly composed himself and turned to the audience:
"Professor Renan, you champion rationality, and I wholeheartedly agree.
However, what I see here today is the light of rationality obscured by clouds of prejudice and arrogance."
Before Renan could lash out in retaliation, Lionel turned to Chen Jitong and the young man, his gaze sincere and serious:
"Gentlemen, I admire your courage and knowledge in defending the dignity of your nation!
Your love and confidence in Chinese culture are deeply moving.
"However, gentlemen, do you realize – when you, in anger, declare Chinese civilization to be a 'precocious giant' and the West merely a 'toddling child';
"When you dismiss Western philosophical and artistic achievements with disdain, you are merely countering arrogance with the same arrogance, using another form of 'theory of civilizational superiority and inferiority' to combat the prejudice before you.
"Danger, two Chinese gentlemen, you are sliding into the abyss inhabited by those you criticize!
"Please remember – never argue with an arrogant fool, for he will drag you down to his level and then defeat you with his ample experience!"
Chen Jitong and Tomson Ku were stunned; they had initially thought this Frenchman was on their side, only to unexpectedly receive a lecture immediately.
The Sorbonne students present were also bewildered; they had originally thought Lionel was criticizing the Chinese, but how did the last sentence sound so harsh?
Louis-Alphonse nearly jumped out of his chair:
"You scoundrel, who are you calling an arrogant fool?
I challenge you to a duel! A duel!"
Albert de Rohan, also a noble student, watched Louis-Alphonse's exasperated reaction, finding it both amusing and unsettling.
Ernest Renan, as if he had caught a scent, sat back down silently, his face dark.
Lionel ignored Louis-Alphonse and instead swept his gaze across the hall:
"People of Sorbonne! Look at yourselves! Look at this lecture hall today!
When a scholar from a distant land, with full sincerity, shares the cultural treasures he takes pride in, what do you offer in return?
"It's frivolous mimicry, malicious mockery, and cultural discrimination in the name of academia! You cling to your limited understanding, refusing to comprehend the essence of another great civilization!
"Is this the 'tolerance' that Voltaire and Diderot taught us?
Your arrogance stems from ignorance!
Your discrimination stems from narrow-mindedness!
"Mr. Chen's pigtail may indeed be incredibly ugly, but are our ladies' ribs, deformed by corsets, beautiful?
Are the rotten teeth of our gentlemen, corroded by syphilis, beautiful?"
Chen Jitong: "..."
The Sorbonne students: "..."
Both sides felt as if they had been slapped by Lionel.
Lionel paid no attention to their complex feelings:
"The purpose of a lecture is to share knowledge, not to display superiority.
Your arrogance stems from ignorance! Your discrimination stems from narrow-mindedness!
"Sorbonne, today is your day of shame!"
Lionel's voice wasn't loud, but every word was powerful and resonant:
"True dignity, Mr. Chen, Tomson, does not lie in proving oneself 'older' or 'superior' to others;
"But in upholding the bottom line of civilization, no matter what prejudice or injustice one faces, instead of rolling in the latrine with pigs!"
Chen Jitong showed a hint of shame, while Tomson Ku looked indignant but did not retort.
Lionel's voice still echoed in the auditorium:
"Similarly, true rationality and civilization, Professor Renan, fellow students, lie in acknowledging one's own limitations, and in having the most basic respect and thirst for knowledge towards different civilizations!
"If Sorbonne loses this spirit, then its proud 'knowledge and rationality' are nothing but empty words!"
He then turned to Louis-Alphonse: "Monsieur Montferrand, I hear you're also attending the 'Poetry Gathering' this weekend?"
Louis-Alphonse, his face still flushed with lingering anger, snorted upon hearing this:
"Not only will I attend, but my father will also deliver a speech at the 'Poetry Gathering'.
Don't think publishing a novel makes you a big shot, Lionel Sorel!
"At the 'Poetry Gathering', you are merely a commodity!
Hahaha, a commodity for others' amusement, to be chosen at will!"
The scene suddenly fell silent, as if the air had stopped moving.
Everyone looked at Louis-Alphonse with surprise and unease, and even Ernest Renan showed a look of disgust.
Louis-Alphonse then realized with a shock that he had spoken wrongly — some truths, even if everyone knows them, become a transgression when spoken aloud.
Lionel, however, was not angry.
He merely nodded calmly:
"Very well, Monsieur Montferrand.
I originally only intended to say that I would be ashamed to associate with you at the 'Poetry Gathering', but you seem to have given me an even more compelling reason.
"Since you are participating in the 'Poetry Gathering', and you yourself have said it is a den of iniquity — then I apologize, I am not a commodity, nor do I intend to be chosen by anyone."
Lionel's words exploded in the auditorium like a clap of thunder.
Attending the 'Poetry Gathering' was the dream of many Sorbonne students, especially those from ordinary backgrounds.
Was Lionel actually going to withdraw?
Their first thought:
"With the patronage of a noblewoman, his back is indeed stiff!"
Then they reconsidered:
"Wouldn't that open up a spot at the 'Poetry Gathering'?"
Thinking of this, many students cast envious, supportive, and grateful glances at Lionel — no matter how unpleasant Lionel's earlier words had been, at this moment, he stood with the people!
Chen Jitong and Tomson Ku felt a mix of emotions.
Lionel's words struck them like a heavy hammer.
They realized that in the face of great humiliation, their counterattack had indeed almost fallen into the trap of mutual recrimination.
Chen Jitong took a deep breath, adjusted his attire, and faced the audience again, his voice returning to its initial calmness:
"I thank this gentleman for his candid words.
He has made me feel the greatness of Sorbonne."
He turned to Lionel and the other young Chinese man:
"Monsieur Lionel Sorel?
And, Tomson Ku..."
Lionel nodded: "Yes, Lionel Sorel!"
Chen Jitong did not shake their hands; instead, he cupped his hands and bowed to both of them:
"Many thanks!
Today is not a day of shame for Sorbonne; it is honored by your righteous words!
"If you two have time, you are welcome to visit the Great Qing Legation; both I and Lord Guo would warmly welcome your arrival!"
He then turned to Professor Latour:
"This lecture began as a drama and ends as one. This was not my intention, yet perhaps it holds more value.
Professor, it seems today's lecture must end here!"
Having spoken, Chen Jitong looked at no one else, straightened his back, and, just as he had arrived, exited the auditorium accompanied by Professor Latour.
Ernest Renan did not lose too much face this time; he merely tapped his cane on the floor again and turned to leave, with Louis-Alphonse following behind him, his face full of shame.
As people gradually dispersed from the auditorium, Tomson Ku remained.
He extended his hand to Lionel:
"Are you Lionel, the one who wrote 'The Old Guard'?
In the two weeks I've been in Paris, I've heard your name and discussions about 'The Old Guard' everywhere."
Lionel shook his hand and nodded:
"Yes, I wrote 'The Old Guard'."
Seeing Lionel's amiable demeanor, Tomson Ku became cheerful:
"I never expected you could not only write novels but also speak so sharply.
I've rarely encountered such figures in England – well, perhaps Oscar Wilde is one."
Then he looked over Lionel's build and appearance, and couldn't help but remind him:
"But he is truly an eccentric; you'd best not meet him... or rather, it's best not to let him meet you..."
Tomson Ku then looked towards the auditorium exit, as if Chen Jitong's retreating figure was still there:
"Chen... although I defended him, his queue is truly hideous!
"If you ask me, if China wants to become a powerful nation, the first thing it must do is cut off that damned pigtail!"
Lionel glanced at the back of Tomson Ku's head again and said meaningfully:
"Tomson, you must understand, some people have their braids on the back of their heads, while others have their braids in their hearts.
"The braid on the back of the head is easy to cut, but the braid in the heart is not so easy!"
Tomson Ku was taken aback by these words, instantly feeling that this was the most exquisite and profound maxim he had ever heard regarding China's transformation, and it was uttered by a Frenchman.
He looked at Lionel again, his eyes filled with shock and admiration, and directly grasped Lionel's hand:
"For that one sentence alone, tonight I'll treat you to 'Chabanais'!
I'll cover all the expenses!"
Albert, who stood beside the two, struggling to get a word in, was practically salivating — 'Chabanais', located in the Second Arrondissement, was the most exclusive and expensive brothel in all of Paris.
Even Prince Edward of England would discreetly cross the sea for its services from time to time.
It was said to have private rooms in various styles, encompassing customs from all over the world, even featuring beauties from Japan and India.
Furthermore, its decor was lavish, boasting hot and cold running water and marble bathtubs.
Albert couldn't afford 'Chabanais' with his meager living expenses, so his gaze at Lionel kept repeating one sentence:
"Take me along! Take me along! Take me along!..."
Gu Hongming (Ku Hung-ming) used many English names; initially Koh Hong-beng, then Ku Hweng-Ming upon returning to China, and also Kaw Hong Beng, Amoy Ku, but he is most widely known as Tomson.
(End of Chapter)
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