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

When Li Yu was in Copenhagen, Denmark, he was also invited to the Copenhagen Observatory.

After all, the discovery of Pluto, and the recent articles published in Science on exogalaxies, redshift phenomena, and the spiral arm structure of the Milky Way are all incredible achievements in the field of astronomy.

The reputation of the Copenhagen Observatory is obviously not comparable to that of several other observatories in Europe, but Denmark's research on astronomy is actually very traditional.

More than 300 years ago, the famous Tycho Brahe started large-scale astronomical observations, and his data directly helped Kepler complete the brilliant Kepler's three laws.

More than 200 years ago, Ole Romer, who was the first to measure the speed of light more accurately, also came from the University of Copenhagen. After years of development, the fact that the speed of light was measured was crucial to the creation of the theory of relativity.

At this time, the Director of the Observatory was an astronomer named Hans. When he saw Li Yu, he said in Chinese: "Hello, Mr. Li Yu!"

Li Yu was taken aback for a moment before replying in Chinese: "Hello!"

Principal Paterson said with a smile: "Director Hans is a 'China hand', he can not only speak, but also write Chinese!"

For foreigners who are learning Chinese, the difficulty of writing Chinese is more like a nightmare than difficult to speak. It is really not easy for a foreigner to be able to write Chinese.

Hans is also very proud of this: "I have also compiled Chinese codes about your country. There are so many square characters, and I feel like my head is about to explode when I compile them."

Almost 30 years ago, in 1873, there was a Chinese code for the first time in the world, referring to the "Kangxi Dictionary", which used nearly 7000 Chinese characters.

Zheng Guanying, who Li Yu once met in Guangzhou, combined them into a "New Edition of China Telegraph".

Later, Wang Chengrong, an overseas Chinese businessman who was the first to develop a telegraph in China, cooperated with others to develop China's first telegraph, and petitioned the Qing court to run the telegraph, but the Qing court directly refused.

Because the Qing court felt that things made by foreigners were better.

However, the imperial court's codes were completely made by foreigners, so it is very difficult to encrypt, and it is not complicated for others to decipher.This is a huge loophole.

Today, most of the cross-sea telegraph lines in Shanghai are constructed by the Great Northern Telegraph Company in Denmark.

They also signed a contract with the Qing government, obtained privileges such as borrowing routes and patents for sending and receiving newspapers, and operated the business of sending and receiving newspapers.

The key point is that the Qing court really didn't understand communication, and completely handed over the core business to the big powers.

Hans is the Chinese code produced for the Great Northern Telegraph Company in Denmark.

Paterson said: "If the academician needs to communicate with the country, he can directly send a telegram in Chinese in Denmark."

They didn't seem to know that Li Yu had mastered radio technology.

So Li Yu said casually, "I don't need it for now."

Hans pointed to his own observatory, and said: "During this time, I have been using Academician Li Yu's method to observe and find Pluto and extragalactic galaxies. It is a pity that my small observatory equipment cannot achieve such a high precision, so I just submitted an application for renewal to the Academy of Sciences. one time."

Li Yu said: "If the funds can be approved, it will indeed be very convenient to upgrade the telescope."

Hans said with a smile: "At that time, I also submitted your thesis together with the application form. I think they approved my application because they saw your article and realized that there is such a vast field of astronomy yet to be discovered. Academician, your contribution is not small!"

Li Yu had mixed feelings in his heart. If he wanted to get some equipment, he had to pay for it himself.

The key observatory is really expensive.

Hans continued excitedly: "After the equipment is updated in the future, it may be possible to use it to make even greater discoveries."

Li Yu said: "Good equipment is one aspect, and people are needed to maximize the value of equipment."

"That's why we'd love to have you come over," Principal Paterson said.

Li Yu had no choice but to say: "If there is a chance, I will."

They really want to keep Li Yu to stay for a while now, but Berlin, Germany sent another urging telegram.

The senders were Siemens and the University of Berlin. They already knew that Li Yu had arrived in Denmark, but they had stayed in Denmark for a few days before leaving for the south, so they sent an inquiry.

Li Yu expanded the telegram:

"Dear Mr. Li Yu, with all due respect, we have vacated a laboratory and got in touch with Professor Max Planck of the University of Berlin. Everything is waiting for your arrival. ——Karl Siemens."

Li Yu said with a smile: "It seems that I really have to leave."

Everyone at the University of Copenhagen knew that Li Yu came to Europe this time to make an appointment in Germany, but they still have time to invite him in the future.

Paterson said: "Mr. Academician can come to Denmark at any time after finishing his work."

Denmark and Germany are neighboring countries, indeed very close.

But Denmark is not alone in thinking this way.

Li Yu had no choice but to prevaricate a few words, then packed his luggage and continued to set off.

Li Yu boarded a ship from the port of Copenhagen, went to the nearest port of Kiel, Germany, and then took the train all the way south, turned southeast via Hamburg, and headed for Berlin Railway Station.

In the following decades, Germany has been very strong in science, even affecting all aspects of Germany.

It's hard to imagine the enthusiasm of the Germans for technology. Even during World War II, when the Soviet Union fought a war of national annihilation, the rear had to study hundreds of new types of weapons and equipment at the same time.

The routes of Germany and the Soviet Union are obviously different. Germany really uses technology as a magic weapon to win, and many fields are indeed very pioneering, and rockets have begun to be launched.

The Soviet Union's route is mainly easy to use and durable, and the model is relatively simple. For wartime, the logistics are actually easier to operate.This also affected the manufacturing principles of Soviet-made weapons to a certain extent, and also led to the large-scale popularity of AK in the world.

The journey was boring anyway, so Li Yu talked to Lu Bicheng about the history of Germany, especially Bismarck's great contribution to Germany.In terms of culture and history, Lu Bicheng can still understand quickly, and those parts involving modern science are too difficult for her.

Germany rose relatively late among the European powers. It has almost no colonies. The road to becoming a strong country is a difficult start. Several large-scale foreign wars are almost all taken by tigers.

After that, the development of industry was also very brilliant, and over the past few decades, it has abruptly become the number one power in the European continent.

However, Lu Bicheng is more interested in literature and art, and he is not very interested in the history of fighting and killing.

Li Yu thought for a while and said, "In terms of literature... By the way, Germany also has very famous fairy tales."

"Like Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale in Denmark?" Lu Bicheng asked.

Li Yu said: "Naturally, the German Grimm's fairy tales are not weaker than Andersen's fairy tales."

Like Andersen's fairy tales, Grimm's fairy tales have not entered China.

Li Yu then told her about famous novels such as "Cinderella", "Snow White", "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Sleeping Beauty" that have long been popular in later generations.

Compared with the previous Andersen's fairy tales, the Grimm's fairy tales are more romantic and naturally more popular with girls.

Many of Andersen's fairy tales are more moral and have certain connotations, such as the very typical "Emperor's New Clothes". In fact, children don't understand why everyone talks nonsense with their eyes open.

Of course, both are classic fairy tale collections, there is no distinction between good and bad, but the difference in the author's life time makes the stories different.

Lu Bicheng really likes the Grimm's fairy tales more. After all, China is currently being bullied by foreign powers, and the domestic mood is generally not optimistic and relatively depressed. Such a beautiful story can give people some room for imagination.

For Chinese people in the early [-]th century, Grimm's fairy tales are more like the "fairy tale world" in their dreams.

——It's a pity that everyone can't live in the dream all the time.

Lu Bicheng said: "I want to bring these stories back to China!"

Li Yu encouraged: "Of course it is possible. The difficulty of translating fairy tales is not that great anyway. If you go to France and see those tomes and masterpieces, you probably won't have the motivation to translate them at all."

After telling a fairy tale in a country that respects technology, they finally arrived at the Berlin train station.

Kohlrausch, director of the Imperial Institute of Physics and Technology, brought along Kurban and Rubens from the laboratory to welcome Li Yu.

Li Yu could immediately feel the Germans' obsession with technology: Korrausch and the others drove a fashionable new Mercedes-Benz car to meet Li Yu.

After a few introductions, Kohlrausch took off his hat and said: "Mr. Li Yu, I'm sorry that there are only a few of us here to greet you. We really can't make up so many cars of the same model, but Mr. Siemens and Mr. Planck are both at the headquarters. waiting for you."

If Planck came to pick him up, Li Yu really couldn't bear it, so he said with a smile: "It's okay, I just want to drive a car."

Kohlrausch asked in surprise, "You can also drive a car?"

Li Yu said: "Not only can I drive, but I'm also studying automobile patents!"

Kohlrausch hadn't heard about Li Yu's patent in the United States, after all, it hadn't been mass-produced yet, so he asked, "Car patent?!"

Li Yu said: "That's right, including electronic start system, four-wheel drive system, electric lights and so on."

As soon as he heard these technical terms, Kohlrausch knew that Li Yu was not bragging. His eyes almost popped out, but he still couldn't believe it. He asked again: "Is this true?"

Li Yu spread his hands: "Why are you lying to me? If you don't believe me, you can go to the US Patent Office to check the patent documents."

"My God!" Kohlrausch exclaimed, "It really surprised me, your brain is a hundred times as big as mine! You can still have such advanced patents in the automotive field! Now the most My headache is the way the joystick is activated, it is so ungentlemanly, and sometimes the oil will spray on my hands and even my clothes.”

Li Yu said: "Your ideas from real users are the driving force for me to improve the car."

Kohlrausch said excitedly: "I'm going to tell Mr. Benz and Mr. Daimler after get off work today. They will be very interested!"

These two are naturally the founders of Mercedes-Benz.

Li Yu sat in the driver's seat, and said to Lu Bicheng, "Get in the car."

Lu Bicheng looked at the thing in front of him in surprise: "This is?"

Li Yu said: "A car is a tool that can walk."

Lu Bicheng said, "A train? I've seen it before, and this one is too small!"

Li Yu said with a smile: "You can use it as a mechanical carriage, and it will have the power to move forward, without the need for additional horses."

Lu Bicheng was amazed: "Unbelievable!"

Li Yu stretched out his hand to help her up, "There will be more in China in the future, so you won't be surprised if you see more."

Lu Bicheng touched the iron lump, and continued to ask: "Such a small car, can it really drive by itself?"

Li Yu wanted to show off in front of his sister, and proudly said: "You will know when you run, you can sit still!"

Then skillfully put into gear and open the accelerator to go out.

"Ah!" Lu Bicheng exclaimed, "It's really amazing to be able to run!"

Li Yu smiled and said: "Of course! You can still turn around, watch!"

Turning around a big bend, Lu Bicheng leaned against Li Yu's shoulder; then Li Yu swung the car over, and Lu Bicheng was thrown to the other side.

Although the speed is only about [-] to [-] kilometers per hour, it is astonishing to those who see a car for the first time.

Li Yu said happily: "It's interesting!"

Lu Bicheng stroked his somewhat messy hair: "It's really interesting, there are such interesting things in Xiyang. But how can you control a lifeless machine so skillfully?"

Li Yu said with some complacency: "It has life, and its life is my life. A car is the love of a man's life!"

Lu Bicheng looked at Li Yu's expression and whispered, "The love of my life?"

She heard "beloved" as "beloved", a word difference, there is still a big difference in women's inherently delicate psychology, and she can't understand what kind of complex this is.

Li Yu said, "What did you just say? The engine was too loud, I couldn't hear it clearly."

Lu Bicheng quickly said, "No...it's nothing!"

Li Yu had already driven for a kilometer or two at this time, and suddenly realized that he didn't know the way!
Although I spent a period of time as an exchange student in Germany before crossing, but basically in Munich, now it is the streets of Berlin 100 years ago.

Li Yu suddenly felt his eyes darken, but after a few minutes, Kohlrausch chased after him in a car.

"Mr. Li Yu!" Cole Rausch said, "I am also very surprised by your driving skills. I seem to be able to introduce you to Mr. Porsche to participate in racing competitions."

Li Yu smiled and said, "Then you must convey it properly."

Kohlrausch said, "Could you slow down a little bit? I'm not very good at shifting gears yet."

Li Yu said: "Of course, I still have to rely on you to lead the way."

Kohlrausch breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't expect the Chinese to be so wild. When they arrived in a strange city, the first thing they did was to drag their girls on the streets of Berlin!
Fortunately, after this, Li Yu drove behind honestly.

Lu Bicheng is still very interested in this car: "In the future, can such a mechanical carriage appear in Beijing or Tianjin?"

Li Yudao: "Sure, why ask?"

Lu Bicheng said: "In the future, I also want to learn to drive such a mechanical horse."

"Um, its name is a car," Li Yu said the name again, and then asked, "Why do you want to drive a car?"

Lu Bicheng said solemnly: "Because you said that this is the love of a man's life, I will do everything a man can do, and...seeing driving a mechanical horse, oh, driving a car is quite chic."

Li Yu said with a smile: "It turns out that's the case. It's easy to say, and I will give you one when the time comes."

Lu Bicheng blushed: "I didn't tell you to give it to me, I will buy it myself."

Li Yu was in a good mood driving the car, and he was able to supply products for the car himself, so a car was not a problem, so he said nonchalantly, "It's just a car, it's nothing to be polite about!"

Lu Bicheng said angrily: "Why is it 'who is with whom' again, I... I said I would buy it myself!"

"Okay, okay, just as you said!" Li Yu said with a smile, "But in my opinion, riding a horse is much more chic than driving a car."

Li Yu didn't lie. In his previous life, not many people had the opportunity to ride a horse.

Today's Berlin city is of course not as large as later generations, and it didn't take long for them to arrive at Siemens.

Li Yu also stopped laughing with Lu Bicheng, and his expression immediately became serious, because the founder of quantum mechanics, the great god Planck, had appeared in front of him.

His image was so famous that Li Yu recognized him immediately.

But...it's kind of sloppy...

Historically, Max Planck's famous unkempt photo was taken around the beginning of the [-]th century.

Li Yu couldn't help feeling: "Like, it's really too similar!"