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

Chapter 329 Sequel
Li Yu and Liu Chunlin came to the library of Jingshi University Hall. After more than a year, there were a lot more books on Western studies, mainly bought by Martin from the United States and Japan.

However, if you want to understand them, the first thing that is very troublesome is the language problem. Most of the Western learning books are in the original English version.

In terms of high emotional intelligence, it is authentic; but in reality, the threshold for early Western learning is very high, at least the language barrier.

Especially for professional books, there are so many terminologies that people who are studying in graduate school must have a deep understanding when reading the literature.

At the beginning of the [-]th century, this problem was even more serious. There was basically no ability to translate professional books in China, and at most there were only some introductory books.

Liu Chunlin was dazzled: "I heard the dean said that there are several sages in the West, called Euclid and Pythagoras, who were in the same era as the most holy teacher Confucius. Do they have classics?"

"Of course." Li Yu took the famous "Elements of Geometry" from the bookshelf, "This book is a classic of mathematics. But I don't recommend that people who study mathematics read this, it is better to read the one I wrote. A few introductory books."

Liu Chunlin was greatly surprised: "Su Wendi's masters are skilled at home and abroad. Could it be that he has really reached the level of a sage in the way of science?"

"That's not what I mean," Li Yu waved his hand. "The way of science is very different from Chinese studies. If you want to learn science, you don't need to read the works of these great sages. It's not that they are bad, but that the new books have already extracted the essence. It’s a waste of time to look at the tome again, because science is always developing after all. Especially in physics, if you always stare at past works, it will be ridiculous.”

Liu Chunlin asked: "Does that mean that these Western sages did not have such high achievements?"

Li Yu said: "It cannot be understood in this way. As I said just now, science is always developing, just like building a house. Without a foundation, there is no superstructure."

Physics is the most typical. Li Yu still remembers that some students from his alma mater in high school asked him if there are any classic books and papers to read, because he loves physics and those famous physics masters in history.

Li Yu told him that if you really like the sages of physics and physics, you might as well read their biographies.

As for the original works of Galileo, Newton, and even Maxwell, Planck, Einstein, Bohr, Schrödinger, etc., there is no need to read them.

Because they were the elites of human wisdom at that time, the essence of their theories were written into later textbooks.

The original works of the above-mentioned physics masters are naturally called brilliant masterpieces, but their sincerity is far less approachable than textbooks.

If you haven't gone to college yet and want to read the original works of physics experts, it is better to read Feynman's lecture notes or Landau's ten volumes.

And after going to university, I guess I don't even want to read textbooks...

Liu Chunlin saw that his head was buzzing: "It's a pity that I have spent more than ten years studying Confucianism, and I can't understand these strange characters at all."

Li Yu said: "Your Excellency, why don't you finish this year's imperial examination first."

Liu Chunlin said: "The emperor's teacher is right. Regardless of whether it is useful or not, after completing this year's scientific examination, it can be regarded as an account of my Confucian career of more than ten years."

"Yeah, I'm afraid I won't have a chance in the future." Li Yu said.

Liu Chunlin also heard the news of the abolition of the imperial examination, "One day, I will definitely devote myself to learning the knowledge that the dean said is truly world-class."

Liu Chunlin had nothing to do, and he heard that there was a laboratory in Li Yu's home, so he wanted to go and see it too.

Today, Li Yu's test equipment is definitely the most advanced in the country.

However, when Liu Chunlin saw it, he found that it was not the beakers and test tubes in his impression, but some strange instruments.

"I heard that foreigners can change several things into other things through some magical operations, just like charlatans." Liu Chunlin said.

"You mean chemistry, right? In the West they are called alchemists. Although chemistry has a lot to do with them, today's chemistry is pure science."

Li Yu showed him Yu Heqin's chemical laboratory.

Liu Chunlin pointed inside: "That's it!"

From his performance, it can be seen that the first thing foreigners are interested in in Western science is mechanics and chemistry.

Li Yu casually gave him a small experiment on chemical discoloration in junior high school.

Seeing this, Liu Chunlin was taken aback for a while, "It's so interesting!"

While speaking, Zhu Guozhen, a former Jinshi, came to Li Yu to read a report, "Sir, a customs list came from Tianjin, which seems to be the equipment you bought."

Li Yu took a look at it, and was very happy in his heart. These things finally arrived after crossing the ocean, and hoped that they were not damaged.

Liu Chunlin seemed to know Zhu Guozhen: "Are you among the top ten in Guimao Enke last year?"

Zhu Guozhen smiled and said, "Yes."

Liu Chunlin bowed to him: "Senior, I never expected to see you here."

Zhu Guozhen said: "It seems that I am a few years younger than you. And now it doesn't matter to me whether I am a Jinshi or not. I am just an employee in the Dishi Enterprise."

Liu Chunlin asked suspiciously, "You defected to the emperor's teacher?"

Zhu Guozhen said: "I feel very happy, and I can learn new things every day."

Liu Chunlin was quite moved: "Unexpected, unexpected!"

Li Yu said with a smile: "Don't get too excited, don't think too much, you can still prepare for the exam with peace of mind in the past few months."

It was late in the evening when Liu Chunlin reluctantly said goodbye: "A place like the emperor's mansion is really hard to come across. I will definitely visit again if I have the chance!"

Li Yu said, "We will meet again in the future."

Liu Chunlin walked out and lingered beside Li Yu's car for a while before leaving. The feeling of riding in the car just now made him very happy.

After Liu Chunlin left, Li Yu gave Zhu Guozhen a sum of money to transport the landed instruments to the factory.

The group of Chinese workers brought back before basically stayed in the capital for the Chinese New Year. Apart from wandering around for the holidays, the factory has been successfully developed.

Although this group of people has not been in the industry for a long time, their quality is not low. Li Yu will be more at ease with them in the future.

But the experimental equipment sent from Europe has not yet arrived.

The next day, Liu E, the author of "Lao Can's Travel Notes", approached Li Yu again.

Holding the "Tianjin Daily News" in his hand for the past few days, he said angrily: "I didn't expect this newspaper to slander the Chinese people so much. I really regret continuing to serialize "Lao Can's Travels" on it!"

There are not many serialized novels now, and Liu E's is one of them.

It seems that he also saw the battle between Li Yu and the Japanese in newspapers during this period.

Li Yu said, "Brother disabled, don't be angry."

Liu E said: "Can you not be angry! I heard that the Japanese almost killed you, it's just crazy!"

"They haven't reached the point where they're really going crazy," Li Yu said.

Liu E asked: "Is the emperor's injury not serious?"

Li Yu stretched out: "With the care of Miss Bicheng, it's much better."

Liu E cupped his hands and said, "Fortunately, Madam's wonderful hand has rejuvenated!"

Lu Bicheng said awkwardly: "I'm not a doctor, nor a wife..."

Liu E went on to say: "I am going to change the newspaper to submit the article, and I certainly cannot continue to serialize it in a Japanese newspaper."

Li Yu asked Lu Bicheng's "Ta Kung Pao" to attract customers: "Now there are a lot of domestic newspapers. For example, "Ta Kung Pao" in Tianjin is a good choice."

Liu E said: "I will write to the editor-in-chief Ying Lian of Ta Kung Pao tomorrow."

Liu E's actions showed that he was really angry.

Because he was originally friends with Fang Yaoyu, the traitorous editor-in-chief of "Tianjin Daily News", but the two are mainly friends in collecting, and both love gold and stone collecting.

Liu E once also purchased 1000 pieces of oracle bones through Fang Yaoyu.

"Ta Kung Pao" must be happy to have such an excellent novel submission.

After chatting for a while, Liu E asked Li Yu another question: "I know that the emperor knows a lot of Western instruments. May I buy some magnifying glasses, microscopes, telescopes, etc. from you so that I can study oracle bones and gold stones?"

Li Yu said, "These three things are very different, and I'm afraid you won't be able to use a telescope or a microscope, right?"

Liu E said: "They are all mirrors. I heard they are very interesting. Anyway, I have nothing to do at night. Looking at the starry sky can pass the time."

It is estimated that the place where he lives is not connected to electricity, so it is really boring at night.

Li Yu immediately agreed: "Well, I'll give you a set."

Liu E hurriedly said: "You can't be rewarded without meritorious service, that's impossible!"

Li Yu said with a smile: "As long as you promise to continue serializing "Lao Can's Travels" in "Ta Kung Pao" and send me some manuscripts at that time, it will be enough to repay you."

Liu E said, "Where can I get the broken characters with my hand?"

Li Yu said: "A word of money is worth a fortune between friends."

Liu E clasped his fists and said, "Thank you so much, Master Emperor."

The arrival of Liu E reminded Li Yu that he should also finish the draft of the Star Wars series as soon as possible. On the same day, he worked hard to complete the first draft.

Then the next day, I walked through several courtyards with the manuscript and found Lu Bicheng: "I need you to polish it again."

Lu Bicheng asked: "How can novels be written volume after volume like this? How many more are there?"

Lu Bicheng's complaints were almost a century ahead of schedule.

The American dramas and Hollywood movies of the later generations love the prequels, sequels, series, and extras.

Basically, as long as the first one becomes popular, the second one will be made.

If the first part does not achieve the expected commercial results, it will be cut decisively.

Anyway, Li Yu has watched a lot of similar American dramas. After digging a lot of holes in the first season or the first two seasons, when he was full of expectations for the follow-up, he saw the news that the follow-up episodes were cut, and he felt really uncomfortable.

Li Yu naturally planned to follow through, and said, "There should be three sequels."

Lu Bicheng said: "If the number of words is similar to the previous one, it can be called a long masterpiece overall."

"I still have confidence in Star Wars," Li Yu said, and then suddenly saw that Lu Bicheng's eye circles seemed a little red, so he asked, "Are you... crying?"

"Ah!" Lu Bicheng hastily picked up a handkerchief and wiped his eyes, "I, am I translating Andersen's fairy tales? I read an article written by him today called 'The Story of a Mermaid', and I was a little moved by the story it told."

Andersen's fairy tales do have a lot of morals, which are not suitable for very young children.

Especially if she knew the magical story of "The Little Mermaid Turns Black" in later generations, she would definitely not be able to understand...

I don't know if Andersen's coffin board can hold it down.

Then Lu Bicheng saw that Li Yu's eye circles were a little dark, and asked, "Did you stay up late again yesterday?"

Li Yu said, "It doesn't count as staying up late, it was only twelve o'clock when I went to bed."

"Twelve o'clock!"

Li Yu replied casually, "That's right."

For people of later generations like Li Yu, going to bed at twelve o'clock is too common.

But people in ancient times went to bed very early, even with candles, it is impossible to be so late.

The light of a candle is really incomparable to that of an electric lamp. Many ancient literati suffered from myopia, such as the great writer Ouyang Xiu.

Lu Bicheng said a little angrily: "Work at sunrise and rest at sunset, it's no wonder you don't suffer like this!"

"Huh!" Li Yu suddenly had a flash of inspiration, "You are right! It reminded me that there is still a lot of room for improvement in the electric light. In order to protect my eyesight for many years, I should also make some major improvements to it."

Lu Bicheng was puzzled: "What did I say?"

As a high-achieving student without glasses, Li Yu can actually be said to be relatively "rare".

Because he dreamed of becoming a pilot when he was young, he has taken special care of his eyesight since he was a child. Others do eye exercises to cope with it, but he really does it seriously.

And I rarely lie on the bed and play with my mobile phone, which is really super difficult to do.

The dream of flying a plane in the previous life was shattered, but it is possible in this life.

Li Yu replied: "You are simply a lucky star, I'll go back to the study first!"

Lu Bicheng looked at Li Yuyuan's back feeling baffled, shook his head, put down the manuscript of Rogue One, and prepared to concentrate on polishing it.

But Li Yu returned to the study, and before he had time to sit down, Feng Ling came over with a telegram: "Sir, it was from Germany, and it was Mr. Planck. You said that the telegram from him I want to bring it to you as soon as possible."

Li Yu picked it up and looked at it. At the beginning, he was still urging the manuscript:
"Little friend Li Yu, first of all I wish you a happy holiday!
"Also, you know, I haven't seen the post-Star Wars sequel that I promised."

Li Yu laughed when he saw it, and his estimation of Chinese festivals was too bad.And he really likes the Star Wars series, and he has never received a reminder from the editor, but it is the physics super tycoon who cares most.

Planck went on to write:

"I chose a batch of experimental equipment of the same level as the University of Berlin and sent them to the capital. Some of them were provided by Mr. Siemens, and there was a letter from Mr. Siemens along with the equipment."

"Finally, I asked my assistant to search journals during this time, but I didn't find any new papers that are useful to my theory. I don't know who you mentioned?"

Li Yu put down the telegram, feeling that it was almost time to mention Einstein to Planck.

Calculating the time, the letter I sent should have arrived in Switzerland.

So he picked up a pen and wrote a reply to Planck:

"First of all, I would like to thank Professor Planck and Mr. Siemens for helping me choose the experimental equipment in their busy schedule. I will repay you with the actual results.

"In addition, this young man who is very interested in your quantum theory is called Einstein. He is about the same age as me, and he is a very talented person. He even applied your quantum theory to a deeper level, I think You'll be able to see a second draft of his paper soon, as I've just made some minor math corrections to the first draft. All I can say is, it's brilliant and you won't be disappointed.

"By the way, he is currently working at the Patent Office in Bern, Switzerland, as a temporary third-level patent officer."

(End of this chapter)