A Man of Science and Engineering in Troubled Times Wandering in the Late Qing Dynasty

At this time, Japan was still keeping a close eye on China. Since Li Yu’s game theory was published, Japanese institutions in China bought it early.

After reading it carefully, although I don't understand the mathematics part later, I can also feel that this is a book about winning and losing. It seems that it is not just as simple as mathematics works, but of course it is very important.

Japan's current formidable enemy is Tsarist Russia, and in the eyes of Japan, Tsarist Russia at this time is a behemoth that cannot be provoked, let alone won.

Japan thinks that it is on the weak side, but it wants to engage in another "down to the top" to defeat the polar bears, so many viewpoints of game theory can be used.

The Japanese nation is really a bit elusive. It seems that there has always been a natural sense of crisis. Even though it has become a developed country and its level of development is not low, it is proud of its achievements, but it still respects Europe and the United States. manner.

That is to say, it looks very proud on the surface, but deep down there is still a sense of inferiority.

Perhaps it is also because of being defeated by the United States, and the long-term presence of the US military does not care, and there is a deformed characteristic similar to Stockholm syndrome.

This feeling is exactly the opposite of that of China. Although we have been very unhappy for more than 100 years, we have been bullied all the time, and many people seem to be unable to straighten their knees, but overall there is still a sense of pride in our hearts.

In Jingshi University Hall, the office of Hattori Unoyoshi, professor of psychology, he is talking with a professor Fujii Hisahisa who also came to China from Japan.

Fujii Hengjiu will soon be appointed as the dean of Beiyang Craft Academy.

Anyway, most of the education system of the Qing court now is to learn from Japan, and it is very common to ask Japan to teach.

"Hatbu-kun, have you ever read this "Game Theory"?" Fujii Tsunehisa asked.

Hattori Unokichi looked at the signature and said, "It's the work of Li Yu, a student of our school. I have read some of it, but I don't understand the part involving mathematics."

Fujii Tsunehisa said: "This book can be called the theory of opening up the world, and the guidance of war and even commercial war."

Hattori Uzhikichi wondered: "How can a math book have such an effect?"

Fujii Tsunehisa explained: "It's hard for me to describe the specifics, but Li Yujun's knowledge is really amazing. As you know the current situation, our frontal enemy is the powerful Russia, which prevented the Great Japan's westward strategy. To overcome It, and many of the models mentioned in this book should make use of it."

Hattori Unokichi asked: "What does Fujii-kun mean to translate this book into China?"

Fujii Tsunehisa said: "I have this intention. I believe domestic scholars, the military and even the emperor will be interested."

Hattori Unoyoshi graduated from liberal arts and doesn't know much about advanced mathematics, but Fujii Hengjiu is a graduate of science and engineering. Since he said so, do as he said, "Understood, I will contact Li Yujun immediately. With my relationship in the Imperial University , I believe I can introduce it to you and get the translation and publication authorization of this book."

Li Yu soon received an invitation from Hattori Unokichi to come to the Imperial University Hall.

Now the school is not big, it is easy to meet someone, like Gu Hongming who is taking a walk.

He is also studying the popular game theory recently, in order to find the loopholes in it.But after reading a few simple models at the beginning, I got stuck on the question of "life and death", and I was too embarrassed to ask Li Yu, so I had to think about it myself, still muttering to myself: "Why do two people know each other?" Pointing to the same path, why, why!?"

Li Yu said hello, "Good morning, Mr. Gu!"

Gu Hongming looked up and saw Li Yu and Hattori Unokichi together, so he said: "Haven't you already graduated? If you don't go to serve as an official, what are you doing here?"

Li Yu said with a smile: "Can't I come back after graduation? I seem to have heard that Mr. Gu is also studying problems in game theory?"

Gu Hongming coughed and said: "I have studied this kind of pediatric theory thoroughly!"

Li Yu said: "Mr. Gu is indeed a great talent. It happens that the student has a question and wants to ask him."

Gu Hongming asked: "Do you want to test me?"

Li Yu said: "Don't you dare? It's just a discussion. Don't you mean that you have studied it thoroughly."

After all, Gu Hongming was teaching, so he bit the bullet and asked, "What's the problem?"

Li Yu said: "Where I am, I heard such a story:
It is said that there was a student who worshiped a debater as his teacher.However, the students are poor and cannot afford the full tuition fees.

So the teacher said: You pay half of the tuition first, and the remaining half will be given to me after you become a lawyer and win your first lawsuit.

Unexpectedly, after the student completed his studies, he did not become a lawyer, nor did he pay tuition fees.

So the teacher went to court to sue the student.

The teacher thinks this way, if I win, you will naturally pay me the tuition; if I lose, according to the agreement, if you win the first lawsuit, you still have to pay me the tuition.

Unexpectedly, the student said, on the contrary, if I win, I don’t need to pay you the tuition fee; but if I lose, according to the agreement, I didn’t win the first lawsuit, so I still don’t need to pay you the tuition fee.

Now, Judge Gu, what do you think should be the sentence? "

This is the famous "half fee problem" in history, and it is also a typical paradox.

Everyone in Gu Hongming was dumbfounded: "This... tuition fee, I... I think about it..."

Li Yu bowed: "After thinking about it, sir, I hope to enlighten you."

After finishing speaking, he followed Hattori Unoyoshi and continued to look for Fujii Tsunehisa.

Gu Hongming stood where he was, thinking over and over whether he should pay the tuition fees. Originally, the question of "life and death" was quite a headache, but now the half-fee question is even more explosive.

Stamping his feet angrily: "What! Children's theory, children's theory, don't study it!"

-

In Hattori Unoyoshi's office, Fujii Tsunehisa immediately bowed deeply after seeing Li Yu, "Li Jun, it's an honor to meet you!"

"Mr. Fujii, don't be too polite." Li Yu said.

He is no longer a student, otherwise he really wouldn't be able to stand such a courtesy.

Fujii Tsunehisa said: "After I read your game theory masterpiece, I couldn't let go of it for a long time. I also heard that this book has been published in China, Europe and the United States. Can I translate it to Japan so that Chinese scholars can study it?"

Li Yu knew that this kind of knowledge would flow through all countries sooner or later, so there was no need to cover it up.

Besides, in order to steal the technological secrets of other countries, Japan in later generations will do everything possible, and it cannot be prevented at all, so let him do it.

"It is of course possible to publish in translation, but it can only be used for academic research." Li Yu said.

Fujii Hengjiu fully agreed: "This is natural! After I go to the Beiyang Institute of Technology, I will definitely propose to the General Office of Zhou to invite Li Jun to the school to guide."

The general office of Beiyang Institute of Technology is Zhou Xuexi, a tycoon of northern industry, and this school is the predecessor of the later Hebei University of Technology.

Zhou Xuexi is also Yuan Shikai's confidant, and he is in charge of Zhili's industry. If he wants to do something in this area, he will really have to deal with him in the future.

So Li Yu said, "It's easy to talk about."

Fujii Hengjiu said: "After the translation is completed, I will entrust the publishing house to publish it, and the royalties will be handed over to the husband."

Anyway, academic works can't earn a few manuscript fees, mainly for invitations, so Li Yu said casually: "Just follow the rules."

Hattori Unoyoshi said: "It is estimated that it will not be long before this book will become a must-read for the highest universities in Japan, including the University of Tokyo, and even become a course in mathematics and science."

He was right.

But now the Japanese are racking their brains everywhere to study how to deal with Tsarist Russia. If we talk about academic research, it will take a few more years.

Fujii Hengjiu saw Li Yusong, and continued to ask: "I heard in the newspaper that Mr. has written many books before, and I want to translate them together."

Li Yu rubbed his forehead and guessed that he would say that. Fortunately, Li Yu's content is pure mathematics and physics research.And even if they disagree, they will get it through other means, such as translating from the English version, so they can only say: "Okay."

Fujii Hengjiu excitedly said: "Thank you Li Jun!"

Anyway, Japan didn't pay much attention to science research in a short period of time. Now they care more about the same as the Qing court, mainly in the fields of politics, law and heavy industry.

After Li Yu came back from the Imperial University, Yu Deling contacted him.

She has completed the translation of the last two "Star Wars" books, and has produced both English and French versions.

The translation of science fiction works is not particularly difficult, and with previous successful experience, Li Yu has great confidence in De Ling's level.

"Thank you so much, you are really quick." Li Yu said.

De Ling smiled and said: "I am very interested in the follow-up story. Now that the emperor's birthday is coming up in the palace, I have nothing to do with it. I just tried my best to translate it and wrote it without stopping."

It is said that in the court, the emperor's birthday is called the Longevity Festival, which is a big festival like New Year's Day (that is, the Spring Festival at this time) and the winter solstice.

But what is Guangxu's current situation... Wanshou Festival has basically become a festival for Cixi's birthday.

Moreover, Cixi's birthday was simply the effect of carnival before the subjugation of the country.

Li Yu said, "I guess it won't be long before they become popular all over the world."

"With your ability, it's definitely fine," Yu Deling said again, "By the way, I heard from my father that it was Tang Daotai who secretly used money to make Prince Qing speak well of you to the Queen Mother, Lafayette."

Li Yu said in surprise, "So it's Tang Daotai!"

Then he sighed, he didn't expect to let others care so much.

But think about it, how could it be possible to fight alone, if there is no noble person to help, it is impossible to live so smoothly in the rotten late Qing Dynasty.

It's just that he also knows the extent of Yikuang's greed for money, and it is estimated that Tang Shaoyi spent a lot of money.

After bidding farewell to Yu Deling, Li Yu immediately sent the manuscript to the Commercial Press and the American Collins Publishing Group respectively.

What was sent to the Shanghai Commercial Press was a complete set of three volumes, which were issued separately after the covers were prepared by Zhang Yuanji.

The manuscript sent to the United States has to spend three weeks at sea first, but compared with the years-long interval between the later Star Wars trilogy movies, it is already very, very fast.