Russia's Enlightener

Upon hearing the voice, Andrei knew without even looking up that it must be his nemesis Anatole.

"Here, take a look at this first. I'm looking for 'Science Truth Daily' newspaper," Andrei said, tossing the "The Sun" newspaper in his hand to Anatole.

Anatole took the Sun and began to read it. Andrei also quickly found the Science Truth Daily and began to read it carefully.

"Oh, I see! That makes sense. Actually, I should have known earlier. We just learned about resistance and heating last month. And didn't we already have incandescent bulbs with platinum filaments? I should have realized it was an incandescent bulb!" Andrei was so excited that the newspaper in his hands trembled.

"Hmm, that's what happened last night. Oh, there was a promotional event. Oh dear, I've already overspent a bit lately..." Anatole, holding the Sun, also began to ponder.

The two of them stood by the roadside reading newspapers, so much so that they didn't even notice the public carriage approaching.

Finally, it was Vasya who reminded them, "Young master, young master, the carriage is here!"

"Ah!" Andrei snapped out of his daze. If he didn't hurry and get on the carriage, he might be late. He grabbed Anatole, who was still calculating how much money he had left, and ran towards the carriage.

During the class that day, Andrei learned more about electric lights, and he also received news that the library would soon have electric lights at night.

It is said that this was a benefit that Dean Bonaparte requested from the Bonaparte government, specifically to secure for schools of all types in France. Currently, this benefit is limited to Paris, but it will soon be extended to the entire country. This benefit involves the state providing each school with more than one hundred students with two free electric lights and six hours of free electricity per day for lighting. If the school purchases and installs its own lights, the electricity bill can be reduced by 50% within certain limits.

When he returned to his lodgings and met up with his newest friends from the "National Salvation Society" at a café near the school, he told them the news.

"I heard about it too, Andrei. Sigh, we probably can't come to this café after school anymore to drink coffee and study. We'll all have to fight for seats in the library."

The speaker was Levin, a chemistry student. His studies weren't as demanding as Andrei's, but they weren't as demanding as those of the art students. Fighting for a spot in the library was a must for them.

"Yes," Andrei sighed, "But my teacher said he's applied to have one installed in our lab too, so maybe then I won't have to go to the library anymore."

"What? Oh, do you think our teacher might install one in the lab too? I read in the newspaper that the cheapest light bulbs are actually quite inexpensive, even though they only last about half the time of the high-end ones."

"Sigh, it's clear that Russia has fallen behind the civilized world again," Ivan, a literature student, chimed in. "It's one thing to lag behind in science and technology, but with people like you who love learning, we can still see a glimmer of hope. But in terms of systems, we're really far behind France. You see, the France aren't any less intelligent than the Russia, are they?"

Andrei and Levin nodded in agreement. France was now clearly ahead of Russia in science, and frankly, in the eyes of Western Europeans, Russia were only half-civilized. Most Europe thought Russia were rather stupid. Although Russia hated this racially discriminatory view, they couldn't bring themselves to say that the France or Britain were stupider than Russia.

"We are all human beings. Russia has intelligent people, and so does France; Russia has fools, and so does France. The key is that the France have received more education," Andrei said.

"That's right, Andrei. Russia aren't any less intelligent than the France, but Russia's population is far smaller than France's. Ah, don't rush to refute me, I'm referring to the actual number of people. Andrei, can those unfree, uneducated serfs really be counted? Can the chances of them producing scientists, writers, and artists compare to those of free France people, even the lower France? If you count the number of people with upward mobility, with opportunities to showcase their talents, Russia's population is actually far smaller than that of Europe countries like France Britain," Ivan explained.

"You're right," Levin agreed. "Look at France, they're even going to equip every school with electric lights! And I've heard that this is just the initial plan, and they will continue to invest in education. Imagine the development France will achieve when France children who are now widely educated grow up."

If the lower classes in Russia had the opportunity to receive compulsory education like children in France and Prussia, we could surely become great again, perhaps even recreate the glory of the Eastern Roman Empire. But now, we treat too many people like livestock. This will only push us further and further behind the level of Europe.

Do you know, my uncle also studied in Europe. Back then, I asked him how big the gap was between us and Europe. He thought for a moment and said, "Probably about the same as the gap between us and the Turkey." At the time, I thought he was exaggerating, but now it seems either he lied out of pride, or during that period, Europe, represented by France, was accelerating its progress, and we were left even further behind. Now, the gap between us and them is no longer the gap between us and the Turkey; it's even approaching the gap between us and the Tatars. If this continues, we will be expelled from the ranks of civilized people.

We must change! We cannot watch great Russia fall into darkness! Therefore, Russia must undergo change, it must have a revolution!

"Revolution?" Andrei was taken aback. He was indeed dissatisfied with the current state of affairs in Russia, but he preferred to change things through gentle reforms, or even less gentle ones, like those of Peter the Great. But revolution...

"Yes, revolution!" Ivan's face flushed red as he said the word "revolution," as if he had drunk fine wine.

"Many people are using various means to slander and defame the revolution, portraying it as a mob's revelry, unnecessary violence, and a betrayal of God. But I say, that's all nonsense! If we're talking about mobs, aren't those who reduce people who were born free to livestock mobs? Unnecessary violence? Doesn't the slaves' rebellion come after the slave owners' swords and whips? If the slaves' rebellion is called unnecessary violence, then is the violence of those slave owners necessary? As for God, when God created our ancestors, did He teach them that their descendants should not live in equality, should not love one another, but should oppress and persecute one another? Who betrayed God after all!"

Andrei, Levin, think about it again. Will what you've learned really be useful when you return to Russia? Look at those who studied engineering, how many of them actually go back to Russia? Why? Is it because they're not patriotic? No, it's simply because what they've learned has no place in Russia in this era!

So what about France? Is it naturally a place where all learned people can put their talents to use? No, it isn't! At least not before the revolution! France is what it is today precisely because during the revolution, they used thunder and fire to sweep away all the dross that hindered France, Forward!, allowing France to flourish as it is today.

The Russia people have suffered far more than the France. One-tenth of the suffering our people endured, if it had been in the hands of the France, would have been enough to incite a hundred uprisings. We Russia have a bad habit: we always like to glorify suffering, always like to glorify the endurance of suffering. But isn't the endurance of suffering precisely the condoning of evil?

Andrei, Levin, I am certain that if one day Russia rises to the top of the world, it will be after a revolution like the France Revolution, sweeping away all the scum with thunder and fire. I believe this is the only path for Russia to become great."

"You're right, Ivan." Andrei also became excited. "When I first came to France, I only thought about learning science and technology so that I could either open a factory or teach at a university and pass on the knowledge I had learned to others, thus gradually increasing our Russia' faith in science."

But you're right, we don't have time to take it slow. The gap between us and France isn't narrowing, it's widening, and it's widening at an accelerating pace. As I used to think, Russia could also progress slowly, and perhaps in a generation we could approach France's current level. But by then, the France will probably be far ahead. We're chasing a horse-drawn carriage at a snail's pace. So, tell me, is there anything I can do for Russia, for the revolution?"

"Andrei, my friend, my brother. The time for revolution is not yet fully ripe, so for now you only need to continue your studies. If you return to Russia in the future, you can spread science and democracy and inspire more people who are willing to participate in the revolution."

Andrei, I've studied the France Revolution. It didn't happen out of thin air. The France were once very resilient to suffering, just like our people. But France first saw the emergence of Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu —the Enlightenment. After that, more France people awakened, leading to the France Revolution and the France we know today.

What about us? We haven't even finished our enlightenment. How can we reap without sowing? We still need to sow. Of course, spring and summer are very short in Russia, so we must act faster than the France did back then.

I believe that if we do what the France did yesterday, then what the France did today will surely become our tomorrow."