Chapter 119 The Rise of Great Powers
"The rise of a great power?"

"What do you mean?"

When they heard Li Changhe speak, several people who were discussing heatedly in the dormitory stopped at the same time and looked at Li Changhe curiously.

“Although the school did not offer us a Western economics course, everyone should have read some materials this semester and know some things about Western economics.”

"From the Age of Discovery to the present, there have been nine major countries that have influenced the world economy."

"In terms of timeline, it is Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Britain, France, Germany, Japan, the United States and the Soviet Union"

"These nine countries are different, but without exception, they all had a significant impact on the world economy at the time."

“I think we can analyze the rise and fall of these countries from an economic perspective!”

"But most of these countries are capitalist countries!"

Li Shaomin on the side hesitated and said.

The country does not have a clear attitude towards capitalist countries now, but in the past few years there was no doubt that they were all enemies.

Even the course on Western economics in Peking University’s graduate economics is called “Critique of Capitalist Economics”.

"We just study its rise and fall from an economic perspective. What do you call this? This is called studying their essence, discovering their weaknesses, and then publishing them!"

“You have to know that Marx wrote Capital through personal research and practice in the capitalist world.”

"Moreover, as far as I know, our economics department has opened two majors in the college entrance examination this year. In addition to our political economy major, there is also a world economy major."

"What does this mean? It means that the higher-ups have started to pay attention to the world economy. Otherwise, they wouldn't have opened a new major in world economy."

"Of course, this is just my personal idea. Anyone who is interested can participate, and anyone who is not interested can choose not to participate."

Li Changhe said gently.

Peking University used to have a Department of World Economics, which was established under the instructions of a great man some years ago, but was later closed due to special reasons.

In the 1978 college entrance examination, Peking University's Economics Department has expanded its enrollment to two majors, one is their political economy major, and the other is the newly added world economy major.

In Li Changhe's view, this itself is a sign of the wind direction.

"What's the big deal? We are a school magazine anyway. We run it ourselves. It's not a public magazine."

"I think Changhe is right. Even for capitalism, we have to study it thoroughly before we can find its shortcomings."

"This is called knowing yourself and knowing your enemy, and you will win every battle."

"This column is great. I'll participate and research British materials."

Liu Wei was brave and was the squad leader, so he was the first to speak up and support Li Changhe.

"Then what else is there to say? Just write. I will also participate. I will write about Germany."

As Li Changhe's best friend, Haiwen had to stand up and show his support at this time.

“Then I’ll write about Japan.”

"I Write About France"

“I’m looking for Spanish.”

Soon, the students were divided into different countries.

Li Changhe smiled and then said, "There's no rush for this. To be honest, it takes more than three or five books to fully study the economic rise and fall of a country."

"Anyway, our magazine hasn't been launched yet. What I mean is, let's make this "Rise of Great Powers" series into a contingency plan first."

"If other students are interested and want to join us, that's fine too. We can divide each country into a research group and discuss with each other, or even between groups."

"For example, the collapse of the Spanish economy had a lot to do with its Invincible Armada being defeated by Britain."

"Japan's postwar rise is also inextricably linked to the support of the United States."

“What I hope everyone can do is put aside national sentiment and class standpoint, and objectively approach the issue from the perspective of an economic researcher, describing their past and present.”

Li Changhe spoke to these students seriously.

A group of people nodded, feeling that what Li Changhe said made sense at the moment.

"Okay, I think what Changhe said makes sense. I think this story can be used as the opening chapter of our "Xueyou"."

"If it is successful, I think our Xueyou magazine may not be inferior to the Literature Society's Weiming Lake."

Liu Wei also said excitedly at this time.

Their economics department has a very low status in the school now, and people don’t really teach them Chinese and philosophy.

In the past, there was a fellow student from the law department who was ranked below them. But now, the law department has jumped up and become a major with a very high level of confidentiality. It is obvious that the country will need it.

In other words, their Economics Department earned a lot of face thanks to the emergence of Li Changhe.

Liu Wei thinks that the series on the rise of great powers proposed by Changhe is a very good direction.

Seeing that they were discussing enthusiastically again, Li Changhe lay down on the bed with a smile.

The series "The Rise of Great Powers" was a documentary produced by CCTV in its previous life. Li Changhe also wanted to restore the core of the documentary at the beginning.

But then he changed his mind!

Because this documentary was filmed very early, in 2006, the country's perception of the West at that time was still very different from what it is later.

Li Changhe feels that the filter of this documentary is still obvious, or perhaps it is a national media, so they cannot show many in-depth things.

Li Changhe feels that people of this era have always had an subjective understanding of the world and are easily influenced by the wind.

For example, now many people still think that the West is an enemy and an opponent, but in a few years, it will suddenly become a paradise and the light of freedom.

It went from one extreme to another, which gave rise to a large number of public intellectuals in later generations who blindly praised the trend.

Li Changhe never thought about changing the public's perception, and he could not accomplish such a great thing alone.

However, he can use the series "The Rise of Great Powers" to correct the cognition of students in the Department of Political Science and Economics of Peking University, and even students in other departments.

Li Changhe even considered that after the reform and opening up, the topic of the rise of great powers could be further expanded from the economy to culture and daily life, and a series of books showcasing foreign information could be made.

He doesn't have high demands. He thinks it would be a good deed if he could make one-tenth or even one-percent of those university elites who originally went abroad to change their minds and return to contribute to China.

As he was thinking, Li Changhe slowly fell asleep.

After all, the walk from Beijing Hotel to Peking University is about 20 kilometers, and it took them four or five hours.

When Li Changhe's snoring started, the students who were originally discussing enthusiastically reacted.

It's getting really fast now.

The group of people were very tired when they came back, but the excitement brought by the magazine made them feel less tired.

But now Li Changhe's snoring suddenly woke them up. After the excitement passed, a feeling of fatigue came over them instantly.

"It's getting late. I think everyone should go back to bed first. We can study the magazine matter slowly."

"I didn't feel it just now, but now I am really tired."

"I was too lazy to leave, so I slept on Brother Wenxiang's bed."

Haiwen lay down directly on Zhang Wenxiang's bed and said lazily.

"Then I'll sleep here with Yi Gang. I don't want to move."

Lin Shuanglin was originally sitting on Yi Gang's bed, and now she also lay down.

Anyway, many classmates were not here at this time, and there were many empty beds in the dormitory. It was normal for a group of old men to sleep on each other's beds without being as particular as later generations.

"You guys, come on, let's go back to the dormitory."

Liu Wei took a look and found that there were some empty beds in Li Changhe's dormitory, but they were all upper bunks. It would be better for him to go back to his dormitory and sleep on the lower bunk.

It’s not many steps anyway.

Soon, the originally noisy dormitory became quiet, but then the snoring sounds began again.

Li Changhe slept until almost noon the next day, and when he opened his eyes, everyone else in the dormitory was still asleep.

Sitting up and taking a look, Haiwen and Shuanglin were sleeping in their dormitory, and He Xiaofeng was also still fast asleep.

Li Changhe did not disturb them. He stood up and walked out quietly with the basin.

When Li Changhe came into the public restroom in the corridor, he saw Liu Wei taking a shower.

Naked, with a basin of cold water poured directly on the body.

Peking University has bathrooms, but students from each department are given bath tickets on a regular basis and are required to bathe at designated times.

It’s not so bad in the winter, but in the summer when it’s hot, many boys just take a basin and splash water to wash in the public toilet, which is quick and comfortable.

"Changhe, wake up!"

Seeing Li Changhe come in, Liu Wei greeted Li Changhe while washing.

"Why are you up so early?"

Li Changhe asked curiously.

Before he fell asleep last night, he remembered that Liu Wei was still in their dormitory and woke up earlier than him.

"I don't sleep much and I'm afraid of the heat, so I woke up a little earlier than you and came to take a shower."

"Are you going home or to school later?"

Liu Wei asked with a smile.

"I'm going to the Jingcheng Hotel later. We left yesterday, so I have to go thank Lao Qi today!"

Li Changhe said with a smile.

The main reason was that the Beijing Hotel had air conditioning, and he had to go there to finish his manuscripts. Within just a few days, he received two more commissioned articles.

"Okay, then go ahead!"

Li Changhe then washed up, changed his clothes in the dormitory, soaked the clothes he had thrown away in a basin of water, then came out and took the bus to the Beijing Hotel.

While Li Changhe was busy with his daily life, also in Haidian, in a house in a large courtyard.

A few strong young men were sitting there, with some side dishes and a bottle of Erguotou on the table.

"Brother Cheng, is Chang He really a student at Peking University now? Or a writer?"

"Donkey head, you've asked me so many times. I told you a long time ago that Changhe was even published in the People's Daily."

Men Saner on the side spoke for Shen Juncheng.

Although he doesn't talk much and his nickname is Mensan'er, he doesn't mean he doesn't talk. He just doesn't talk much in front of outsiders. He will still talk in front of his brothers.

The two rooms in the large courtyard in front of them were where he and his sister lived. The old tube-shaped building is gone.

"Damn, come to think of it, when I saw Chang He's name in the People's Daily before, I didn't think it was him. I thought it was a coincidence."

"Later, when I saw Changhe in the Peking University area, I realized it was him!"

At this time, Men San picked up a piece of pork head, put it into his mouth and said in a low voice.

"Why don't you go and say hello to him?"

Donkey Head said in confusion.

"What are you saying hello to? Ren Changhe is now a college student and a well-known writer. He will be a government official in the future. So, why are you still going to be a troublemaker with us?"

Men San glanced at Donkey Head and said in a cold voice.

"Then Jun Cheng is also a government official, so why doesn't he still drink with us?"

The donkey said with his neck erect.

"What kind of cadre am I? I just took over my mother's job as a security guard in the security department."

"Changhe is different from me. He is now a scholar and has joined the Writers Association. He will be different from us in the future."

"But he's not the kind of person you think he is. He's very busy right now. He's in school, in the Writers Association, and he's teaching foreign languages ​​at the Beijing Hotel. These are all important things. We shouldn't go looking for him if we don't have anything to do."

"San'er, how is the matter I asked you to find out these days going?"

Shen Juncheng first explained Li Changhe's current situation, and then asked Men Saner.

Men Saner put down his chopsticks and said seriously: "Brother Cheng, I have already found out that there are currently three main Buddhist temples in our area."

Men Saner told Shen Juncheng what he had found out over the past two days, and Shen Juncheng nodded.

"As usual, wash the Buddha first. After that, if those people come looking for us, just beat them into submission."

"Also, when you go out, tie two books on your stomach and lower back. Damn, these people are really ruthless these days, be careful of those thieves who might do something ruthless to you."

"Everyone, cherish your life, especially you, Laojiu. Don't act like a madman and force yourself on others, okay?"

Shen Juncheng said to a sturdy man next to him, this is the buddy who came back with him from the countryside.

"Brother Cheng, those Buddhas, if they really wash themselves, will they be sent to the police station? If this gets out, we will be considered breaking the rules."

Mensan hesitated for a moment and asked hesitantly.

"Bullshit rules, the rules we set in the future are the rules. If we don't send these cheating Buddhas to the police station, they will continue to harm people."

"San'er, remember, we are not going to be those hooligans. What we have to do is to assist the GA agency in maintaining local order and arresting criminals."

"Don't bring back the old ways of thinking. Times are different now."

Shen Juncheng said seriously.

Donkey Head on the side spoke up again at this time: "Brother Cheng, what's different about the times? Tell us about it!"

After hearing what Donkey Head said, Shen Juncheng opened his mouth and was about to ask what was the difference, but then the words stopped at his lips.

How the hell does he know what's different?
This is what Li Changhe told him.

"You're the only one who talks too much. If Cheng-ge says it's different, then it must be different. What the hell are you asking?"

Seeing that Shen Juncheng was unable to speak, Men Saner hurried to rescue Shen Juncheng.

Shen Juncheng sighed.

"If you want to tell me what's different, I can't say it, but this is what Changhe told me, and he repeatedly asked me to tell you."

"Our old ways don't work anymore. If we continue, we'll get shot."

When they heard that it was Li Changhe who said this, their expressions changed slightly.

"Changhe is a college student now. He is well-informed. He will definitely not lie to us."

Men Saner said in a low voice at this time.

　I was reborn and went to take the college entrance examination. I remembered that the manuscript had not been updated yet, so I decisively gave up the exam. I just came back!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)