When Yung Hong entered the school, there were five China children in the school. Rong Hong is the sixth student and the youngest. Children study arithmetic, geography and English at school in the morning and Chinese in the afternoon. Hong Rong studied there for six years. 1846 One day in August, a decision changed Hong Rong's life. That day, Mr. Brown came to the class and told the class that he had decided to go back to America for health reasons. He said he wanted to take some classmates with him so that they could finish their studies in America. If anyone wants to go with him, Mr. Brown said, please stand up. At this time, the whole class was silent.
Rong Hong stood up first. Then, a child named Huang Sheng stood up. Then, another child named Huang Kuan also stood up. In the evening, when Hong Rong told his mother his decision, her mother cried. Going overseas at that time probably meant where you would go. But the mother finally agreed to let her children go to the ends of the earth.
Four months later, Yung Wing, Huang Sheng and Huang Kuan boarded the sailing ship "huntly Si" bound for the United States in Huangpu Port. None of them thought they were making history at that time. Shortly after arriving in the United States, Huang Sheng returned to China in the autumn of 1848 due to illness. Two years later, Huang Kuan also transferred to Scotland to study medicine, and Yung was the only one who stayed. From 65438 to 0850, he entered Yale University, where he completed his studies.
/kloc-in the winter of 0/854, Hong Rong returned to China. He not only brought back a diploma from Yale University, but also brought back a dream-a dream that influenced the fate of several generations of China youth and the whole historical process of China in the future. "In the last year of college," Rong Rong recalled in his later years, "I had a preliminary idea of what I wanted to do. I firmly believe that the next generation of young people in China should have the opportunity to receive my education, and through western education, China may be reborn and become civilized and powerful. Achieving this goal has always been my lifelong ambition. "
Many years later, Hong Rong returned to his motherland full of war, poverty and ignorance with this dream. For the realization of this dream, he struggled all his life. This made him not only the first overseas student in China's modern history, but also a real pioneer in studying in China.
1854+0 1 month, Hong Rong returned to China, aiming at "giving people who have received such civilized education, so those who should be given in the future will also enjoy the same benefits". It turned out that his book "Young Children Studying in America", which will go down in history in the future, was held in his arms as soon as he left school. But for the next ten years, he never mentioned it again.
Because he has to make a living first. I first worked as a secretary for foreigners, then went to Hong Kong as a translator, and then worked as a clerk in the customs. In less than a year, I quit all three jobs. Hong Rong blamed himself: "If you watch this for a long time, your career may be like a mirage." So he switched to the tea business, that is, to be a tea merchant, and sold the low-priced tea from A to B at a high price. Unexpectedly, he met bandits, who "had a nervous shock" and became seriously ill. It took him two months to recover. I can't help confessing: "I aim to reform China, so I should make great contributions." If the bandits killed him, it would be as light as a feather. Running around all day to earn some tea money, my big career is not like fishing for the moon in water. "
Suddenly one day, a friend spread the word that Zeng Guofan, the leader of Xiang army stationed in Anqing, wanted to summon him. Hong Rong asked: What did Zeng Guofan want with me? A friend said that in today's world, experts in law, mathematics, astronomy, machinery and other fields and talents from all over the country gathered in the shogunate of Governor Zeng Guofan, and now there are as many as 100 people.
Hong Rong asked: What do you want me to do? A friend said that the governor wants to build a foreign machine factory, knowing that you are studying in the United States, and wants to send you to the United States to inspect foreign factories and buy foreign machines for my use. Hong Rong understood that his plan to let young children study in the United States and this visit to Zeng Guofan could not be mentioned. If he wants to gain a foothold in officialdom, he must "conform to the opinions of the governor first". Rong Hong accepted Zeng Guofan's dispatch, went to the United States again, purchased the machine and returned to China, and won the fifth prize. It was the spring of 1865, and it was 1 1 year since he returned from studying abroad.
Yung Wing did not expect that he could not speak directly to the imperial court after he became a five-grade official. In the Qing government, only officials above level 4 had the right to speak. Rong Hong tried his best to make friends with Ding Richang, the governor of Jiangsu Province, and asked him to submit an invitation to the court to invite young children to stay in the United States. Ding Richang said that there was no one to help you in North Korea, and your passbook was flooded. So first, transfer the passbook to Wen Xiang, a college student known as the "enlightened leader". Unexpectedly, Wen Xiang coincided with "Ding You", that is, his parents died, and the son of an official had to leave his job and go home to pay his respects. Wait till he gets his job back. Looking forward to the stars, looking forward to the moon, three months later, the news came: Wen Xiang also passed away. Hong Rong was "disheartened and hoped for extinction".
This is another six years. It's a great honor. 1870 in the spring, one night, Yung Hong fell asleep, but Ding Richang went into his room and woke Yung Hong up: "Zeng Gong fought in the court about young children studying in the United States." Hong Rong was overjoyed. "I am so happy that I can't sleep. I kept my eyes open all night, like a nighthawk. "
Three years ago, Ding Richang reported to Zeng Guofan the proposal to let his graceful youngest son study in the United States, and Zeng Guofan said "wait". What is he waiting for? It turns out that although China and the United States have diplomatic relations and send officials to study abroad, there is no treaty basis. Unexpectedly, an American made this treaty. After the expiration of U.S. Ambassador to China Pu's term of office, he was asked by the Qing court to be China's envoy to Europe and America. Pu Chen An then signed the Pu 'anchen Treaty with the United States on behalf of the Qing government. Article 7 of the treaty: "The people of the two countries can enter each other's official schools and get preferential treatment; Both sides should set up schools in each other. " This provision provides a legal basis for China to send overseas students to study in the United States. The approval date of the Sino-US exchange notes is1869165438+1October 23rd. Three months later, Zeng Guofan went to court to send students to study in the United States. "It can be said that it is fast." Empress Dowager Cixi replied: "I will discuss this!"
1in the summer of 872, Yung Wing organized the first batch of 30 young children studying in the United States to cross the ocean to go to the United States. The curtain of studying in China was opened, but Zeng Guofan died in the winter of 187 1 a year ago. Hong Rong said frankly: It's a great pity that Ceng Gong didn't see the peaches and plums planted by himself. "However, this entrepreneur planted seeds in the world, but his people died and the seeds were bred and propagated." Rong Hong's remarks were based on Zeng Guofan's being "the father of overseas students in China" and accepted as public opinion. Today, Hong Rong is the only one who has won this honor. I really don't know where the so-called historical theory begins.
Many of the first batch of international students in China entered Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and other famous American universities. Their achievements have witnessed Hong Rong's historical vision and become his best return to the motherland.
19 12 Yung Hong died in America at the age of 84. On his deathbed, he was still concerned about the prosperity of the motherland and advised his two children to return to China. The New York Times and other newspapers in the United States commented that "every nerve fiber in his body is patriotic from head to toe ..."
1876, Yale awarded Yung Hong a doctorate in law. His portrait hangs on the campus of Yale University, and students can watch it side by side with the portraits of political celebrities who also graduated from the school, such as Bush and Clinton.