History of Human Space Exploitation

Chapter 18 Overview of the Lithium Standard Interstellar Credit Point System
But Xiaoxi asked the old sheep: the human universe, chaos and change, every 500 years is limited. However, although wars and chaos occurred frequently during this period, and fires were merged every year, it did not appear that the starvation and death of thousands of miles and the loss of life during the conquests and mergers of various civilizations in the earth age, how?

The old sheep said: "Speak human words."

Ke Xiaoxi said: We humans have explored the universe for almost 3000 years, and every three to five hundred years we have to split up and have wars. But I found that these wars and splits did not happen when humans were still on the earth. Those incidents of starvation for thousands of miles and large-scale loss of life, why is that?

Lao Yang said: It all benefits from the lithium standard currency system!

But Xiaoxi asked the old sheep: I would like to hear the details.

Lao Yang said: During the first three or four hundred years of exploring the universe, the Earth government maintained its influence on newly developed galaxies in the fields of politics, economy, and culture.As far as the economic field is concerned, the earth is due to its advanced technology and control of almost the entire solar system's resources.In this context, the credit system of the earth, as well as the credit currency based on the political, military, technological and economic power of the earth, were recognized by the entire supergalactic cluster for a long time before the 400th year of the cosmic era. Currency and means of payment.

But Xiaoxi said: Then what?

Lao Yang said: However, it is not that the earth itself is regressing or that the people who survive on the earth are slack in their own development, but that the process of human development is always accompanied by the crazy pursuit of wealth, money, power and status.In this way, when more planets that are richer, more suitable for human development, and more readily available to humans are developed, inhabited, and prosperous, a new transaction, payment, and credit system will quietly spread among the planets and The galaxies slowly formed.

Ke Xiaoxi said: Oh.

Lao Yangdao: This end is a slow and natural stage. In the eyes of many people, it seems to be a process that flows along the long river of history, and a few points in time that are easily overlooked may be the key to this silent revolution. time.In the year 379 of the cosmic era, several civilians boarded a huge immigration mothership, and went to those known rich star regions through more than a dozen star tunnels known at that time to seek a new life.Or, a few adventurers boarded their crude but well-equipped exploration spacecraft, and went to those galaxies that had just opened star tunnels but had some basic planetary data nearby, to win future wealth and prestige for themselves.In the era of national exploration, the desire for more efficient technology made scientists work hard day and night while pursuing the boundaries of knowledge and thinking about considerable financial returns.Because any technology that helps make people faster, safer, and more accessible to new worlds, someone will pay a high price for it.

But Xiaoxi said: Oh, there must be powerful scientists on stage.

The old sheep said: Guess what?This year, Yu Minzhong, a professor of nuclear physics at Xiaoyunta Star Central University in the Luozhuoer star region, led his team to achieve controllable nuclear fusion using lithium as a material for the first time in human history.Although controllable nuclear fusion, and even the miniaturization of this technology to the size of a kilometer-class spacecraft, has become very popular in the few years when human beings left the earth, most of the nuclear fusion materials at that time were helium-3 and other light-density materials. substance.Although the discovery of star tunnels has allowed humans to get tickets to enter distant galaxies at a speed much lower than the speed of light, not all galaxies have gas giant planets with a mass and composition similar to Neptune for blasting to form new stars. tunnel.Under such circumstances, space traversal spacecraft with stronger endurance and better survivability became a topic of concern to the entire society at that time.And the node of this problem is whether the spacecraft can travel a longer distance between the stars or support more human life on planets that are not habitable but have development value under the condition of refueling the same volume of nuclear fuel at one time. ?
But Xiaoxi said: How do I know?

Lao Yang replied: Under the expectation of all mankind, Dr. Yu Minzhong's team finally developed the initial prototype of lithium metal controllable nuclear fusion after 17 years of research and experiments.Although the Q value of the prototype machine, that is, the energy gain value only hovers between 17 and 23, it can only reach about one-third of the deuterium-based controllable nuclear fusion that has been practical for a long time.But this kind of data is much better than the Q value of less than 21 when human beings first started to use controllable nuclear fusion in the 22st and 10nd centuries.

Ke Xiaoxi said: This is good!The name of Dr. Yu Minzhong is very similar to that of a scientist who studied nuclear fusion weapons in ancient China?
The old sheep continued: The legend goes like this.Professor Yu's family is of Chinese descent. When he was born, his parents engaged in scientific research also hoped that their children would make achievements in scientific research, so they married him the same name as that ancient scientist.

The news of Dr. Yu Minzhong and the successful development of the lithium metal controllable nuclear fusion prototype was spread among various inhabited planets and space stations for three to five years, and then cooled down, because this technology is still boundless on the road to miniaturization.In the era when deuterium, helium and other elements were used as nuclear fusion materials, people only needed a temperature of 250 million degrees and a strong magnetic field to confine enough plasma to discharge and achieve the effect of generating electricity.And if it comes to the age of metal lithium, this kind of matter that needs 5 million Kelvin (approximately Celsius) in stars to start nucleosynthesis, but within the controllable range of human beings, it needs a temperature of nearly [-] million Kelvin and under extremely strong pressure. for nucleosynthesis to occur.

After several failures and unremitting efforts, Dr. Yu Minzhong's team finally found a method that has been used to this day to control lithium combustion by constraining and controlling high temperature.However, it was not until nearly 300 years later that the miniaturization and generalization of this technology was basically realized, and nearly 200 years later, the silent "money revolution" without gunpowder caused by the large-scale use of this technology was quietly completed.

Ke Xiaoxi said: It's really not easy

Lao Yang continued: If we look at the "credit standard" that has been implemented for nearly a thousand years since the earth took the lead in politics, economy, technology and many other aspects from today's perspective, it has gradually transformed into the "lithium metal standard" that has been in use for more than 2000 years. In the credit point system, there should be several factors worthy of our attention:

50. After the initial Big Bang, the abundance of lithium in the universe is very stable.At the same time, because of its own nature, the overall abundance of this element ranks only about [-] among more than [-] common elements, which is three to four orders of magnitude less than copper, which ranks more than ten.Lithium is actually three orders of magnitude more abundant in the universe than gold, which is still an important element in people's definition of wealth in the earth age until today.

500. In stellar systems that are usually collapsed by gravity and centered on brown dwarfs, in solid planets formed by molecular clouds and orbiting stars, the content of lithium in the crust usually reaches 700/[-] to three.On these solid-state planets, the value of elemental lithium mined by current technology is usually [-] million to [-] million tons.During the major split periods when human beings opened up the universe, because the production and reserves of lithium metal in the areas under the jurisdiction of each star area government were almost equal, so that in those times when swords were frequently used, no impressive events occurred. trade war.To some extent, this also reflects that at least within the range of human beings, the distribution of gold, silver and many precious metals is still very uneven on the scale of galaxies.

Third, because of the controllable nuclear fusion technology of lithium metal, this element is very practical in the entire universe where human beings live.From the fuel needed for interstellar travel, to the energy supply on several barren planets or space stations, to the flux, catalyst and lubricant of various industrial products, lithium's practicality has been indisputable since the age of the earth.From the perspective of the largest consumption project of lithium metal-controllable nuclear fusion, because its density is more than 5000 times that of the nuclear material of the previous generation of helium-type controllable nuclear fusion-helium and its isotopes, lithium metal and its isotopes It has better storage conditions and energy density than helium.

21. With the above characteristics, lithium metal is similar to precious metals such as oil from the [-]th century to the beginning of the [-]st century, or grain, salt, gold and silver in a longer historical period. It can be used as a "casting" object or The role of general equivalent reserves.

[-]. Under normal circumstances, if the star regions that humans set foot in are in a state of division under the control of independent governments, the economy of each star region naturally needs to have currency in circulation as a guarantee.They will still issue multi-point certificate encryption credits based on quantum superiority algorithms with the known controlled reserves of lithium on the solid planets they control, plus the mined lithium in the area as guarantee or reserve.Of course, the digital signature of each credit point transaction records the identity information of the two or more parties involved in the transaction, as well as the information of the credit point issuing area.

[-]. For the star regions with unbalanced economic levels, although everyone uses lithium metal as the reserve for the issuance of credit points, the credit points between different star regions still exist, such as the exchange rate mechanism between the sovereign currencies of various countries in the earth age .The "value" of a credit point is often based on the area's technological level, production capacity, population, and many other factors.

2000. In the past 23 years since lithium metal was issued as a common credit point reserve, especially after the invention of Wells information flow, the timeliness of inter-satellite communication for human beings has returned to the near real-time transmission similar to that on the earth in the 97rd century. The proportion of the credit point system carried in information transmission in the overall transaction volume is constantly increasing.As far as today is concerned, except for a very small number of illegal transactions between stars, criminals use illegally stolen lithium metals to barter, almost [-]% of the transactions in the entire human universe have been credited or networked .

But Xiaoxi said: I understand, I understand, thank you, thank you.

The old sheep said: Are there any questions?
But Xiaoxi said: "It's gone."

The old sheep said: I have a question for you.

Ke Xiaoxi said: Can I know the answer to your question?

The old sheep said: I will ask you.

Ke Xiaoxi said: What's the problem?

Lao Yang said: Guess, who is the economist I admire most in ancient China?
Ke Xiaoxi said, "King Wu of Zhou?"Shang Yang?Sang Hongyang?Wang Mang?Cao Cao?Zhuge Liang?Yu Wentai?Yang Yan?Wang Anshi?Zhang Juzheng?Yongzheng?
Lao Yang said: They are knowledgeable, they are all great, but in terms of admiration, I admire Sang Hongyang first, and Zhang Juzheng second.Why are you talking about these people?
Ke Xiaoxi: Many important reforms in Chinese history were carried out around land and land-related production. The state of land directly affects the social stability of the underlying building, and thus affects the stability of political and other factors at the top.Although some dynasties collapsed due to military reasons (Jin, Song, Republic of China), the land problem did not disappear, but got some repairs and changes in the hands of the rulers who succeeded them.

Most of the above-mentioned figures have carried out successful, or partially successful, land-related reforms at several points in time.The time is respectively, King Wu of Zhou (before 1045) - Shang Yang (before 356) - Wang Mang (the first year of AD) - Cao Cao and Zhuge Liang (around 220, Zhuge Liang was later) - Yuwentai (540) - Yang Yan (780) - Wang Anshi ( 1070) - Zhang Juzheng (1578) - Yongzheng (1725) - New China (1950).

Lao Yang: Yes, yes, please continue.

Ke Xiaoxi: Some of them are thorough, some are not thorough, and some fail, but generally speaking, the rulers hope to make changes to the social and economic system, including but not limited to land, and the interval between them is 700 years (weeks -Pre-Qin), 350 years (Former Han), 230 years (Later Han), 300 years (Northern Zhou), 240 years (Middle Tang), 300 years (Northern Song), 500 years (Middle Ming), 150 years (Middle and former Qing) , 225 years

The above chronological distinction is not accurate, because it would be inaccurate to only take the time when Shang Yang became Daliang Zao as the time point of the entire pre-Qin reform, and it would also be unfair to other ancestors who made efforts in this regard, such as Li Kui, Wu Qi, etc. , so the interval between the actual entrustment and the equalization of land in counties and counties is actually less than 700 years.On the other hand, the interval between Wang Anshi and Zhang Juzheng was 500 years. I personally think that the extensive rule of the Yuan Dynasty for nearly a hundred years is already a change compared with the Tang and Song Dynasties, but this change is more reflected in the practical level than in the Tang and Song Dynasties. top-down institutional level.

During these times, except for the land reform in New China, which was a make-up lesson around the future industrial revolution, the previous several reforms were all reforms centered on the agricultural economy, and the average interval between each reform was between 200 and 300 years. For example, ignoring the change of dynasties caused by the military collapse in certain periods, this time interval can basically correspond to the actual change of dynasties if it is shifted back and forth by several decades.However, judging from several dynasty changes caused by military collapses, we can roughly conclude that most of them are caused by the chain reaction caused by the collapse of land and agricultural economy due to policy factors.

Lao Yang: Wonderful!awesome!Great insight!

Ke Xiaoxi said: Well, thank you for your compliment!I have a little question that has never been answered.Sang Hongyang is a character I have always admired, but... what is Sang Hongyang?
Lao Yang said: Oh, it’s impossible to test, such a great figure doesn’t have his own biography in the Han books...it’s a pity

Lao Yang continued: Since you can name these people, can you tell me about Sang Hongyang's deeds?

But Xiaoxi said: I can't say it well, let me talk about it and try?If there's anything wrong you correct it.

Lao Yang: All right.

Ke Xiaoxi: Sang Hongyang was killed because he was involved in the rebellion between Yan Wang Liu Dan and Shangguan Jie, and his previous economic policies were very different from the Confucian ideology that had already formed at that time. Ban Gu's "Hanshu" and other official historical materials of the Han Dynasty have not been biography.

Lao Yang: Right.

Ke Xiaoxi: In the sixth year of the first Yuan Dynasty after Emperor Zhaodi Liu Fuling ascended the throne, the imperial court summoned virtuous and literary scholars from all over the country to the capital Chang'an, and held the famous "Salt and Iron Conference" to discuss the future economic policies of the Han Empire.During the meeting, Sang Hongyang, as a representative who advocated the continuation of the government-run economy during the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty Liu Che, including the monopoly system of salt, iron, and wine, the system of equalization of output, and the system of property taxation for merchants such as calculating vehicles and boats and calculating money, advocated not to The scholar-bureaucrats and representatives of the landlords who "competed for profit with the people" started a debate.

Lao Yang: Please continue.

Ke Xiaoxi: After the Salt and Iron Conference, Huan Kuan, a participant at the time, added some of his own opinions based on the records during the conference, polished them, and wrote the book "On Salt and Iron". In "Salt and Iron Theory", Sang Hongyang's own words, or his own polished and revised remarks, accounted for almost half of the book.There is no separate biography in history, but for Sang Hongyang, such an important historical figure in the Wu and Zhao dynasties of the Han Dynasty, later generations generally feel that "Yalt and Iron Theory" is no different from his personal biography.

Lao Yang: Well, yes.So what is your opinion on Sang Hongyang's economic policy?

Ke Xiaoxi: From the perspective of a virtuous writer, if you quote the relevant expressions in the biography of Huo Zhi in Sima Qian’s "Historical Records", Sang Hongyang and the policies he represents are in the "because of it, to it (Li Daozhi), Among the several economic management strategies of teaching, ordering, and competing with others, they undoubtedly belong to the category of "competing with others" for the "lower".Of course, I personally feel that Sima Qian's thinking is more inclined to Huang Lao than to Confucius and Mencius, but in terms of economic policy, he must criticize the models represented by Sang Hongyang and others.

Looking at the previous problems with the God vision of our later generations, in fact, after the "Salt and Iron Conference", those who wanted to use this to suppress Sang Hongyang did not fully achieve their political wishes.After that, the policies of the public economy were only "discussion", that is, the policy of liquor monopoly, and the iron officials in the pass were cancelled, while others were not affected, which shows that Emperor Zhao himself was well aware of the significance of these economic policies. Ming.In addition, if we see that Emperor Zhao's successor Xuandi Liu Bingji commented on his successor Yuan Emperor Liu Shi that "the punishment is too deep, it is better to use Confucian scholars" to express "those who mess up my family must be the prince", Naturally, it is basically understood that the Han Dynasty, including the later ancient rulers, actually had a special dependence on Sang Hongyang's set.

(End of this chapter)